SPEAKOUT

School district comments

IN RESPONSE to the Speak Out comment that said Amy Randol represents "self-serving viciousness at its best." What does Dr. Niggle's comments concerning Amy Randol represent? Dr. Niggle met Ms. Randol as she entered the front door of the board office and yelled "Get out" at her face and pointed to the front door. He was also quoted by other personnel at the board office as saying in an angry and raging voice, "I'd like to blow her head off." I would call Nickels comment viciousness at its best. Is this the type of person our community wants to continue to hold a position of director of human resources?

DR. CLARK, you remind me of what President Clinton is going through. You have some sore losers who wanted you out from the beginning. And that is the only thing that is going to make them happy. Most of the students are very happy and content with the way things are going under your administration. I don't think the people of this town deserve you. Hang in there. You're doing a good job with the students, and I think you have really brought this school district up to par.

I WOULD like to make a comment about the problem with the Cape Girardeau public schools, school board and the superintendent. In Speak Out I just read a statement that says this is not something that should be griped over and forgotten, and that is exactly what will happen this time. I work for the public schools, I see it. You've got Ed Thompson, Kathy Swan, Dr. Clark, people in high positions who cannot be hurt publicly by being griped over and forgotten. They have hurt people who are very credible who have stepped back and backed off from the problem. There will be no solving the problem if you don't get rid of these three. I'm serious. It's sad but true.

SINCE the remarks about the Cape Girardeau school board have subsided, I thought this would be a good time to share my thoughts. One of the school board members made the comment: Maybe I should charge mileage. This statement says a lot about certain board members' priorities. Board members are not school district employees. They are elected officials. They should not have access to any school funds of any kind. Their desire to be elected to the board meant they were willing to expend their time and resources to benefit the school system, not use the school system's money for play time. There is no doubt they need to be reprimanded in some way.

Social Security safe

HALLELUJAH! The balanced budget amendment failed. So the Republicans won't be able to get their meat hooks on Social Security.

Six shots is enough

I'M CALLING in reference to that concealed weapon thing. If the only purpose that a person is carrying a concealed weapon is for self-defense or protection, usually the sight of the weapon is sufficient to end any dispute. So if they just made the law read revolvers only, six shots, no semi-automatics, either they could be double action or single action, and only carry enough bullets for the gun itself. In other words they can't carry a pocket full of bullets. This way if someone decides to shoot it out with a cop, the cop knows he only has six shots. The felon who may come against someone who is armed knows the man has got six shots and usually all it is a deterrent. You want the gun for the purpose of letting the person that is intending to rob or harm you know that you are not going to stand for it and anything past that is overkill.

IF YOU feel you have been treated unfairly by a Missouri lawyer, is there a Missouri Bar Association number you can call to report it and have it investigated?

REPLY: The Missouri Bar Association's disciplinary council can be reached by telephone at (314) 635-7400 in Jefferson City.

Kinder is commended

I WOULD like to commend Peter Kinder for closely following what will be taught in our classrooms as a result of Senate Bill 380. What is going in Jeff City right now is going to have a tremendous impact on what our children are going to be allowed to learn in the classroom. I thank Sen. Kinder for his concise, yet informative articles. Finally, I want to thank you for your obvious intentions to keep us informed in this area. What our children will learn in school is where the tire meets the road, so to speak. This is important and this is where we should be spending our time and energy, studying these matters.

Sports names in paper

I WANT to make a comment on Marc Powers' column: If he had taken all kids' names who scored in the Optimist league basketball, it wouldn't have taken up as much space as he wasted. He is half right. Yes, the kids do like to see their names in the paper, but saying that that's the only reason is wrong. That is a nice congratulations to the kids for an effort well done. I understand that there is concern from other places but this is Cape Girardeau. In his article, he talked about St. Louis. This is not a St. Louis paper.

School comments

I'M CALLING in support of Neyland Clark and the school board and the school district regarding their credit card situation. I think Amy Randol is out to get Dr. Clark's job. The district would be better served if she spent her time and money trying to doing something supportive of the school district, like pass the bond issue, instead of trying to tear down the school board.

THE SCHOOL board should reimburse Amy Randol for the amount she was charged while making her investigation. It seems unfair that Amy should spend her own money to uncover corruption and greed on the part of the superintendent and school board members.

Broadcast journalism

WITH THE airing of the Camilla Foulks interview, KFVS-TV has managed to slither down to a lower level of broadcast journalism. My family and I found it to be completely tasteless, insensitive, demoralizing and totally void of anything which might be considered newsworthy. The interview was nothing more than a display of the miserable anguish of a woman so despondent she feels she has nothing to live for. Our Heartland news channel shows no regard or respect for victims, surviving families or Heartland viewers. Eight children died in a fire, and KFVS is so proud to have presented its viewers with the epitome of the charred and smoldering remains. In keeping with what seems to be their current forte, Heartland news has once again left us with that familiar close-up of a pool of blood.

Tuition growth

IN 1984-85, the tuition for college was $775. With the proposed raise, this year it will be $2,790. I'd just like to know what in the world they're doing with all that money.

What standards?

THIS IS in reference to the letters to the editor in Friday's Missourian concerning the remarks about the commission on retirement, removal and discipline of A.J. Seier. Why does the Missourian continually try to cover up for Mr. Seier? The guy had to resign from his office or be removed from office. How many standards does the Missourian have? You've never cleared that up. The Missourian said what a great person he was. He was no better than anyone who steals money, but I guess he's important. We never get the facts, all we get around here is the rumors. You have to read the facts in an out-of-town newspaper.

Safety with automobile

THIS IS addressed to the blonde-haired woman driving the brown Oldsmobile Cutlass to Alma Schrader to pick up a child from school. Please, please when you go inside, turn off your engine or take that precious child in the back seat with you. Three times this week I have seen this child, who appears to be only three or four, climb over into the driver's seat and pretend to drive. In an instant, that car could be put into gear. I shudder to realize that you are endangering not only your child but others as well. Better yet, take her inside with you. You may just save her life.

Gripe, gripe, gripe

ALL YOU people in Cape Girardeau complain about this or that. Get a life.

Cut theirs, not ours

I'VE GOT news for you. The elderly are not willing to give up a darn thing that Congress got us into. Congress got us into it. Let them cut their own salaries to get us out of it, not ours.

School comments

I WOULD like to respond to Craig Billmeyer's letter to the editor. He seems intent on comparing Judge A.J. Seier's situation with that of Dr. Neyland Clark and certain school board members, so let's look at the scenario. Judge Seier mishandled state funds. Dr. Clark misused district funds for personal use. Judge Seier repaid the state of Missouri. Dr. Clark repaid the school district. Judge Seier was forced to resign. Dr. Clark, need I say more?

Thanks for mute button

I WANT to thank television manufacturers for the mute button on my remote control. I can block out every one of the same old commercials, same old companies. I don't have to listen to it. I really do appreciate that.

Call the governor

I STRONGLY urge all people who watched the TV program "20/20" on March 3, to write Gov. Carnahan urging a pardon for Johnny Wilson, the mentally retarded man falsely imprisoned for 10 years for murder he did not commit.

I'VE BEEN watching "20/20" about the ins and outs, the pros and cons or the facts about a murder case which took a four-month investigation. O.J. Simpson's case is not so unique other than that it has been more publicized than any other.

Congrats, Notre Dame teams

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Notre Dame boys and girls for wining districts on Friday night. You all played great games. Congratulations once again to Coach Janet and Coach Grim. Good luck in the next round.

Better TV schedule

I WANTED to thank you for changing the TV schedule. It is much improved over what it had been changed to. I called in a couple of complaints, but I certainly thank you anyway.

Jay's new picture

I WANT to congratulate Jay Eastlick on his new picture on the editorial page. I think he looks much more handsome and professional. I thought with his little beard he more looked like one of those yuppies on the O.J. trial that always has those beards that look about a week old. Keep up the good work, Jay. I like your columns, and now I can enjoy your smiling face at the same time.

Postscript on Carol

THIS IS just a postscript to the "Babbling Carol" comment. I would just like to say that this lady has made me very prejudiced. I never thought that I was prejudiced until she came on the air. When Carol first got here, I enjoyed listening to her. Now all I hear is that she goes shopping and because she's black the sales clerk will not wait on her or she does not get service because she's black. I've lived in Cape Girardeau for several years, and I can count the times, probably 500, that someone has been rude to me, but it hasn't anything to do with my race. Apparently all Carol sees when she looks in the mirror is black, and I get tired of this. I'm not listening to "Talk of Cape" anymore because of that. It has nothing to do with the school board, it has nothing to do with her any other way, but it's just a repeated thing because she's black.

No Mizzou on TV

I LIVE in the Missouri but yet I cannot watch a Missouri basketball game, the final game of the season. No, Channel 12, which is located in Cape Girardeau, shows a Kentucky game. KBSI, which is located in Cape Girardeau as well, is showing a Illinois game. I live in Missouri. The stations are located in Missouri. Why cannot I watch a Missouri basketball game but have to get the Kentucky game and the Illinois game? I'm sick and tired of this. I want Channel 11 from St. Louis and I want the cable station to hear me now. Now I can't even pick up this game on a local radio station here in Cape Girardeau. They're carrying the Otahkians. Can you believe it? I had to check out the Poplar Bluff station. They're the only ones carrying the Missouri game. This is disgusting.

U.S. not religious

THE UNITED States of America is no longer a Christian nation or even a religious one. A massive assault on the religious community is rapidly taking on the ugly character of open religious persecution. Religious speech is routinely censored. The creator of the universe has been excommunicated from the mainstream of American life. He is tolerated as long as he stays in his place. Religious apartheid is official U.S. policy. We're treated the ridiculous spectacle of missionary churches trying to get Bibles to foreign lands when they can't get them into the school house on the next block or the public arena buildings down the street. It's a sorry, sad spectacle that we're rapidly coming to in this country.

A word on coaching

I WANT to congratulate the Notre Dame boys and girls and coaches on their district wins, but Notre Dame assistant coaches in both the boys and girls need to leave the coaching up to the coaches. Last night was a perfect example at Bloomfield when Assistant Coach Larry Trickey received a technical and really should have had two technicals. He just about cost the girls the game. And Assistant Coach John Daniels is forever telling the coach who to put in and who to take out. I think these two men should find a seat on the bench and keep their mouths shut unless the coaches ask them for their help.

A lesson learned

TO THE kind man in the red pickup in the parking lot of Wal Mart, I want to say thank you for letting me know that my 6-year-old daughter dropped her purse as we left the front of the store. You kindness touched us. I wish I could say some kind words for the lady who picked up the purse and proceeded into the store. The purse was never turned in to the lost and found as we very much hoped it would be. In trying to teach my children responsibility for money I let them bring their money that they have saved up from allowances, holidays and birthday money. My daughter learned a valuable lesson today: Some adults are not always honest people. If you read this and picked up the purse would you kindly turn it in for the purse was a gift from grandma and has special meaning to my little girl.