SPEAKOUT

State dance is square

I ENJOYED the coverage of Legislature making the mule our state animal. But, hey, the square dance was made the state dance on the same bill, and there was hardly a mention of this. Square dancers worked hard and long to get this bill passed. There are two square dance clubs in Cape and two in Jackson, plus several in nearby area towns.

Photos of graduates

I JUST read the morning paper, and I think it's really bad because you only printed pictures of Notre Dame's and Cape Central's graduating students. I'm a longtime subscriber to the paper, and I live in Scott City, and my son is graduating this year. I thought this was called the Southeast Missourian, not the Cape Girardeau paper.

REPLY: Photos of graduating seniors at Scott City, Chaffee, Delta, Oran and Kelly were published in the Scott County Signal, a weekly publication that is delivered with the Sunday Southeast Missourian to all the homes in those areas. In addition, photos of Jackson's graduates were published in Jackson U.S.A., a similar weekly publication for that area.

Political junkets

I HAVE made my last political contribution after seeing on television this week how congressmen have wasted our money on junkets to Samoa and Paris.

Counting chickens

THE OLD adage about not counting your chickens before they hatch seems appropriate about now. A year ago, the city had already spent the proceeds from the riverboat gambling venture. Today that venture is in limbo for lack of a state gambling permit, which is about 1 1/2 years away from procurement. The recent Missourian article on this issue sounds like the Boyd Group is back peddling. And $5 million or so is a pittance to them, and liquidation of their assets in Cape with subsequent tax losses is probably better business to them than putting more money down a dry hole, so to speak. Don't hold your breath on this one. Yep, chickens do better if they hatch first. Thanks for the opportunity to speak out.

REPLY: The city has neither received nor spent any proceeds from the proposed gambling riverboat. Meanwhile, the city and Boyd Gaming Corp. continue to work towards an agreement. And Boyd Gaming continues to say it is committed to having a riverboat here.

Corrupting commercials

THERE ARE many ways of corrupting this planet: pollution, crime, pornography. But one hits us in our homes every day. Watch the commercials on television. There is nothing sacred or private. It is degrading and humiliating, especially to women. It's an embarrassment for family viewing. Can't we clean up this type of viewing?

Jackson's lawns

TO ANYONE who appreciates finely kept lawns and flower beds and things of that type: You might want to drive along Eagle Drive in Jackson. There are several yards there that are kept very nice, very pretty.

Mouthy volunteers

I TOOK my wife and two little girls to Dutchtown to help with sandbagging for those poor people. We started sandbagging, and we heard people saying there weren't many volunteers and asking where all the volunteers were. Then this crew with a pickup truck backed in to get some sandbags, and all the nasty, vulgar talk you ever heard in your life came out of those men. Somebody finally asked them if they would please quiet down in front of the ladies and children. That lasted for little bit. They come back for another load. Same group of guys. Same nasty, vulgar mouth. No wonder they don't have volunteers down there helping filling sandbags. I'm sure those men probably were not the townspeople. Some people have no Sunday schooling whatsoever.

Savings are shot

WE DON'T have a whole lot, but we started out with nothing and worked hard for what we do have. My van is paid for, but it took three years of payments, so it's hard for me to understand how someone out joyriding feels like they have the right to shoot the window out for the second time in three months. We've been saving for out first really big vacation we've ever taken. Now, thanks to whoever did this, $400 of our savings is gone. Yes, I have insurance on my van, but the deductible is high so we can afford the insurance. If the goal was to hurt someone and make them want to give up on ever getting ahead, congratulations. It was successful.

Dogs and tolerance

THE CALLER who doesn't like dogs in public places feels the same way quite a few other people feel about infants and children in public places such as weddings, restaurants, churches and concerts. These people should perhaps take the advice of the dog disliker. Maybe if they liked their kids so much, they would stay home with them and spend the day with them. Or better yet, maybe take them to a dog show. They might learn something about tolerance.

Dogs in the parks

ABOUT DOGS in public parks. These people pay as much taxes as anyone else. They help pay for the parks, so why not get back some of their money's worth? Apparently you should have paid more attention to the soccer games than to the pets and owners.

Roundabout traffic

LIVING HIGH and dry. That means when there is a flood and you live on Big Bend Road, you drive nine to 10 blocks to get home. First you pass your house, drive to Robert Street, turn up to Main Street, go down Main to the flood, back up Fourth Street to Big Bend Road to park in your driveway. That's advantage of living high and dry.