SPEAKOUT

Confused by pooch

OK, I give up. Does the little white poodle that's telling me the weather wear booties and carry an umbrella when it's raining and smile broadly when it's sunny? I am very confused.

REPLY: The new Weather Pet at the top of the front page will brighten the day of every animal lover, even if it is cloudy outside. Thanks to the dozens of cheerful pet owners who already have sent in photos to be used. It is obvious there are a lot of Weather Pets out there.

Scott City's stand

COME ON people. If you think that Scott City has even a remote chance at having a topless bar, then I have some swamp land in south Florida to sell you. The mayor of Scott City is taking a holier-than-thou attitude on this issue, but on the riverboat his stand is bring it on. If nude dancing provided the kind of money and jobs to the economy as gambling supposedly will, you can bet they would be for it.

Can't forgive lies

REGARDING the naming of Dr. Foster as surgeon general: I think the most grievous thing he did was lie, and that cannot be forgiven. The abortions are his business, and Roe vs. Wade is legitimate. But when someone will lie, he should not be one of our representatives.

Russian welfare

LOOKS LIKE what happened in Russia is going to happen right here in the United States. Maybe the taxpayers will be saved thousands if not hundreds of thousands of tax dollars being wasted by these people on the so-called welfare system. Thank God it's finally happened.

Friendly Scottie gone

TO ALL the people driving by Kingsway and Ranchito, I have bad news. Our Scottie that loved sitting on the corner and watching you all come home from work is now in dog heaven. No, he did not get run over. His loving little heart gave out. I know you will all miss seeing him for several of you have called and told me how you watched for him. I just wanted to let you all know why he won't be on his corner anymore. He was a wonderful little companion.

Good college students

I WANT to tell you that the greatest majority of the students up at Southeast Missouri State University are decent kids. I am a late middle-aged non-traditional student attending classes after many years out of school. It has been my experience that the young people that I meet while on campus are uniformly polite and considerate and behave as decent citizens. It gives me great confidence in the future of our area, and of the younger generation in particular. I am here to tell you that those classes up there are tough, and the transgressions of a few are far outshined by the enthusiasm and energy of the great majority as they go about their studies. Thank you for the opportunity, Speak Out, to offer an observation from an older citizen, and a positive word for the other students up at the college.

All are judged

TO ALL the people in Speak Out who refer to President Clinton as Slick Willie: Don't forget when you're judging him that God is judging you. That includes Rush Limbaugh too.

Taking a cheap shot

I WOULD like to ask Patrick Ruopp why he waited until Dan Milligan was out of the state before her took his cheap shot at him. Why didn't he speak up when Milligan had a chance to answer? If he can back up his charges with facts, why doesn't he give the Southeast Missourian the information and let them investigate? I think it is time for him to put up or shut up.

Caring for everyone

I AM a pastor of a small independent community church. Recently I heard some people say the reason they wouldn't attend certain churches is because of the people who went there, referring to those who are less economically fortunate or because handicapped in one form or fashion. My heart goes out to these high-headed people, for they are the ones who are the less fortunate. Jesus said, "I haven't come for those who are whole, but those that are in need of a physician." He also said in Matthew, "Whatsoever you have done unto the least of these you have also done it unto me." It's time as Christians we came down off our high horse and find the cross once again.

Cut pay in Congress

CONGRESS NEEDS to be reminded that they were elected by the people. They gave themselves a pretty big raise three or four years ago. If welfare is cut, I suggest strongly that they cut their own salaries back to the date they gave themselves a raise, if they are really serious about reducing the budget. I think they forget who put them in Congress. It's not the rich, not the poor. It's the middle class people who pay the most income tax.

Central High's games

I'VE BEEN going to all the basketball games at Central High School for years. Cheering your team on is one thing, but picking on one boy the whole game is another. Yelling "air ball" at everyone is OK, but the Central kids usually pick out one and yell when he gets the ball and only him. I've never heard other teams carry on like the Central kids. When the kids were told to quiet down at the game in question, it took a while. Then after being asked by Coach Kitchen and others, some parents went over to sit with the kids to back the kids up, showing no respect for Coach Kitchen or the school. How are the kids to show respect to our teacher and other adults, if the parents show its OK to do as you please? My kids go to Central.

Headline scores

IN REGARDS to 11-8 Notre Dame cry-babies, the 19-3 Central Tigers get headlines the old fashioned way, we earn it. Besides, Notre Dame was in the headlines twice this year when the Tigers blew them out. So keep up the good work, Southeast Missourian.

Welfare to the wolves

YOU SELF-righteous Republicans. You want to turn welfare over to the states. That would put a lot of needy people into a pack of wolves, and I think you know that. You don't want to punish the adults. You want to punish the children over this matter. So, let's get the facts straight about this welfare system. You can only kill welfare by giving them good jobs and a minimum wage law.

Gambling disappointment

MANY SUBSCRIBERS of the Southeast Missourian have been disappointed at the promotion of riverboat gambling by a conservative family publication. Now you want allowances to be made for the Boyd Gaming Corp. for a possible problem with the gambling commission. The Boyds are new kids on the block. They know exactly what they are doing. They knew who Bob Griffin was. Many gambling companies have been involved with government officials, which has led to many problems. This situation needs to watched very carefully. In light of this, our city officials may need to reconsider their association with the Boyd group. Many in our community do not trust gambling companies.

Tough on prisoners

THIS IS in reference to the sheriff on the national news who put prisoners in tents without mollycoddling them with gym equipment and sexy magazines. I wish the sheriffs here in the Midwest would take a lesson from that man. He is my hero. He ought to continue doing what he's doing. More power to him.

Cheers for Heidi

I WANT my Heidi. Heidi, I love your column. It so nice to see a female's point of view in there, especially after all the male-run papers we have around here. I suggest you do a column on Brad Pitts' parents. Go out to Springfield and interview them. That's the first step in meeting him. Good luck.

Need Barney cake pan

IF IT would be possible, I have a little granddaughter who's having a birthday and is an admirer of Barney. I was wondering if there would be anyone in the area that knows where I might find a cake pan that's in the shape of Barney.

Congratulations, students

I'D LIKE to call and congratulate the two students from Central, Gabe Jenkins and Marcus DuSchell. Both are wonderful football players. Also I read your article today on what happened down in Bertrand with the animals. I called the humane society, and I get to go see about a dog this week, so thanks a lot.

Pageant was a joke

THAT MISS America pageant was a joke. All the girls were very pretty, although they plastered on enough makeup and glitz to paint and redecorate my house. I thought these sexist meat markets, which all pageants portray, were no longer considered socially correct behavior. And I'm not surprised an African-American girl won either. She was just as pretty and talented as the rest of them. Besides, it's Black History Month. Here's what really infuriated me. The judging panel was just a bunch of blubbering, liberal celebrities. You could tell by some of the stupid politically correct questions they asked. And the final blow at any credibility and dignity the pageant may have had was that final moronic question those poor three finalists had to answer. They were forced to babble apologetically about Hillary's policy and public image screw-ups and her silly attempts to revise the public's awareness of them. I'm sorry those girls were forced to stoop so low just for a chance to win.

Bloomfield Road is OK

IN REGARDS to Bloomfield Road, there's been a lot of discussion about it. If you cannot drive out Bloomfield Road without having a problem, then most of you need to go back and have driver's education. There's nothing wrong with Bloomfield Road.