SPEAKOUT

THIS IS a comment about Wal-Mart losing its power and the staff spent the day throwing away milk and other stuff. Why didn't they call FISH or Salvation Army and let the lower income people have it? I was in the store shopping, why didn't they offer it to the customers for free rather than throwing it away? That would have been better.

Reply: A store spokesman said they had no idea the power was going to be out that long or plans would have been made to give away the food to charitable organizations. The power went out at 11 p.m. last Tuesday and by 5 the next morning, all the refrigerated items were already spoiled. The power was out about 18 hours in the grocery section of the Superstore. The spokesman also pointed out that many of the relief agencies handle only dry goods, as opposed to refrigerated items.

JUST WANTED to comment on an article I read in Thursday, June 22 paper. I think it's fantastic that Dr. Robb Hicks is opening this new office called Immediate HealthCare Incorporated. I think the cost of health care in Cape Girardeau is too high. It's impossible to get my children into the doctor's office in a timely manner so I took advantage of a local hospital. For just the cost of a common cold, it cost me $350 for one of my children. So just as soon as this clinic opens and the need arises for one of my children to go there, I'll be there and give it a try.