SPEAKOUT

National Guard help

I WAS wondering why our local National Guard isn't helping the people around Cape Girardeau, Commerce and Scott City with the flood. Seems like they can go out of the country to South America to help those people, and I was wondering why. I know they are helping the people in Ste. Genevieve.

REPLY: The National Guard has been helping in Commerce, which was hit harder by floodwaters this year than during the Flood of 1993. The National Guard's assistance must be requested by emergency preparedness officials through the Guard's Jefferson City headquarters. So far this year, the only requests in our area have been from Commerce and Ste. Genevieve.

Tornado warning

I HAVE a question: Recently when we had the tornado go over, did the tornado alarm sound in Cape? If it did I missed it. If it didn't, why not?

REPLY: Cape Girardeau doesn't have a weather warning siren system. It did several years ago, but it didn't work very well, and it was decided the high cost of the system wasn't worth the limited benefits.

News priorities

ON MAY 23, the story about three men waiving extrication on the recent murder was on page 6A, and on the front page you put a story about a 70-year-old lady helping with sandbagging. Where are our priorities?

REPLY: The Southeast Missourian reported -- on the front page -- the details of the murder and the fact that there had been arrests and other suspects were being sought. As part of our flood coverage, we reported about a 70-year-old woman who worked long and hard to battle the rising water and who inspired many other volunteers. In the eyes of those involved, she was a hero. We think heroes deserve to be recognized on the front page of the newspaper.

School turbulence

MEADOW HEIGHTS School District's administration and the majority of the board members, in my opinion, find it difficult if not impossible to comply with state and federal laws. Deliberately putting blame on one or two persons for all the friction in the district is ludicrous. If those troublemakers, as they have been labeled, had the power to do all that they have been accused of, they would wave their magic wands and all the problems and distention would vanish, thereby enabling us to dwell in perpetual bliss. Those same troublemakers would rid the neighborhood of their persecutors before solving the world's problems. There would be no need for deputies to be stationed at the door during the Meadow Heights school board meeting. No further problems would exist.

Respect for president

PLEASE stop calling our president Slick Willy. He is our president. That's what's wrong with our country today. We don't have enough respect for our president. Please call him Mr. President.

Automatic weapons

I AM a member of the NRA. If the politicians would be honest with the people, the government is not trying to take our rifles and our handguns away from us. They are trying to get rid of these automatic weapons. They took away the machine guns years ago, and we didn't miss them. There's a lot of politics in this, and a lot of people are taking advantage of the situation to try to make their point or to hurt the government. The NRA is for sportsmen, hunters and what have you, and it will always continue to be that. Sure, there are a few hotheads who get in once in a while. But the government is not trying to take away our hunting rifle or our hunting privileges or our right to bear handguns, rifles or shotguns. Let's get the thing straight.

Some difference

DO YOU know the difference between God and Rush Limbaugh? God doesn't think he is Rush.

Presidential favoritism

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian believes in freedom of the press but doesn't not believe in freedom of speech. They screen out all articles that are favorable to President Clinton. The other day you had three articles comments about the president and four the day before, but none in favor. I know you get calls complimenting the president as I've called in and you won't publish them. I wish they would be a little more lenient with their praise toward the president and not running him down.

REPLY: While the Southeast Missourian doesn't run every comment made in calls to Speak Out, there is absolutely no attempt made to keep calls that take one position or another out of print. Rather, every effort is made to make sure the comments that are published are representative of the calls that are received. There have been many comments favorable to the president published in Speak Out. And there will be many more.

Commerce's opportunity

AM I right in remembering that the people of Commerce turned down an offer by the federal government to construct a levee because it would obstruct their view of the river? And also didn't they turn down a federal buyout?

REPLY: The caller correctly remembers that the federal buyout offer was turned down after the Flood of 1993. However, there was never a federal offer to construct a levee.

Rush outlasts Connie

TO THE people calling in and complained about Rush Limbaugh, calling him a slob and all that: You need to get your facts straight. Who was on the air first, Rush Limbaugh on the radio or Connie Chung on the TV? It looks like Rush out lasted Connie Chung. It looks like the conservatives are gaining control, and you liberals better get use to it.

Valve-stem thief

THIS IS to scum who stole the valve stem covers off my truck. I just want to let you know that where I come from we work and earn our money, then we buy something. I know maybe your parents may have raised you to be the way you are, but you're lucky I didn't catch you.

Flood sentiment

I THINK one of the reasons that the public is not responding to this flood is because that the public feels these people shouldn't be there anymore. They should have learned from the 1993 flood. Why should the taxpayers keep bailing these people out over and over again? They've had the chance to be bought out in most cases.

Clinton and guns

BILL CLINTON is far from being anti-gun owner. He hunts. He's a sportsman. Also he certainly enjoys the outdoor life. He is not anti-gun owner, but he is against assault weapons. I notice that these Republicans calling in don't like to mention George Bush. I think the National Rifle Association is a terrible thing. I like to hunt, and I'm a sportsman myself, and I am a liberal.

Teen-age workers

I HAVE read with interest comments in Speak Out about employers needing workers. I have a daughter who is very mature, an honor roll student, with multiple references about her character and work habits who can't find a summer job because she is 15 1/2, and employers won't consider anyone under 16. I think these businesses are passing up excellent employee potential, so they have no reason to complain.

REPLY: Some companies have policies against hiring teen-agers under the age of 16. There also are some federal restrictions. For example, teen-agers under the age of 14 may only be hired in businesses owned by their parents. There are other federal guidelines on the hours that teen-agers under the age of 16 can work: not more than three hours a day or 18 hours a week during the school year and not more than eight hours a day during the summer. Teen-agers may not operate power equipment until they turn 18. For further information on the hiring of teen-agers, you may call the federal wage and hour office in St. Louis at 314-539-2706.

Using power trimmers

I'VE ENJOYED reading the article about how to cut your grass, but I think another issue that could be addressed is how to use power trimmers on lawns. It seems like a lot of our professional lawn mowing services don't really know how to use them, because they dig into the grass. That has been my experience. I'd like to hear some comments. Maybe I'm the only one having this problem.

Balancing the budget

IN THE '92 campaign Clinton promised to balance the budget in five years. Now he's complaining that the Republican's seven-year plan isn't long enough.

Progressive Jackson

IT SOUNDS like sour grapes and some old bitterness when Jackson officials are criticized for appointing an excellent new alderman as the ordinances require. Jackson is progressive now. Keep us moving forward.

Too much pavement

ACRES AND acres of farmland have been covered since 1993. Mile after mile of roads have been built since 1993. Something has got to be done about this, and I mean fast. We'll have floods every two or three years.

Medicaid to blame

THE COST of Medicaid, not Medicare, is what is costing the taxpayers too much. There are too many people under 62 who are collecting money to pay for their medical bills and haven't paid much into Social Security.