SPEAKOUT

Campbell commended

JUST A comment on the school board meeting. I would like to thank John Campbell his conduct at the meeting. He seemed to in charge.

A really bad day

YOU KNOW you're having a bad day when you call the emergency room and they put you on hold.

Taking O.J.'s money

THESE ATTORNEYS for O.J. Simpson make me sick to my stomach. The only thing these attorneys are doing is breaking this man of his money. He'll not have a dime by time they get through with him. They're attacking the L.A. Police Department. They act like they're God almighty, Shapiro, Cochran and Bailey. It's sickening to see the small inserts that's on TV of this trial. This man should realize, these attorneys are milking him for everything he's got. They could care less about O.J. Simpson.

I HAVE a question. I would just like have a ballpark figure of what it would cost to rent the Show Me Center for a week.

Reply: The standard rate for not-for-profit groups is $1,250 a day or 10 percent of the gate plus expenses. The standard rate for commercial groups is $1,750 a day or 12 percent of the gate plus expenses. However, these rates are negotiable. The use of the Show Me Center for the religious crusade is a contract rate, and officials can't divulge that charge.

What about families?

CAPE GIRARDEAU is getting a gambling boat. Cape Girardeau has a girlie topless bar. Now I just heard that Cape Girardeau has a new laundry mat that serves liquor. Is there not anybody in this city that would bring in anything that has to do with family entertainment? It seems that the money all lies in liquor or nude bars, and everybody seems to have forgotten about family atmosphere. This is why we have problem with our youth and this is why we have problems of crime. Cape Girardeau businessmen, take a different look at your type of entertainment that you prefer for I think it says a lot about your own morals.

Minimum wages

CONCERNING THE Illinois failure to pass the minimum wage law, which I'm sorry to say it may link over here to Missouri. Just what is the alibi? I hear it's hard on the small businessman, then I hear it's hard on the teen-agers. Who are they trying to kid? I say the Republican Party is insulting the intelligence of the people. Because you're working minimum wage, that doesn't make you unaware of situations they put on the small businessman. What small businessman? If you're talking about the fast-food franchises, those are wealthy franchises. These are big chains worth millions and millions, and they can afford to pay minimum wage. If you talk about the mechanics or contractors, I dare say, any worker would certainly be worth more $5 an hour. They're cheating the public, they're cheating every working man and woman. Let's get with it. Let's get us a minimum wage bill. Let's change things come election day.

A-plus questions

REGARDING the school board. I want to thank Dr. Bob Fox for questioning the A-plus program. Many parents and teachers and students grave concerns about the A-plus, alias outcome based education and better known as dummy up. Cape's school system has proven itself with above average MNAT, SAT and ACT scores and will match our number of merit students with any school in Southeast Missouri.

God is in charge

I AM so sick and tired of hearing the weather people talk about Mother Nature. Mother Nature doesn't exist. God is the one that controls the weather.

Recreation memberships

THIS REGARDS the membership that the recreation center at the Show Me Center sells to the community to walk the walk paths and you can lift weights and use the whole facility. My husband and I purchased memberships, and there are many times that we are not allowed to use the track because the college is having something. I'm not talking about classes. I'm talking about maybe they rent the center for teachers' meetings, different things. I think that's very unfair. I think the ones who buy memberships, unless it is a college class, should be allowed to the use the track anytime. The weight room is usually open.

Changing targets

THE LOW-cost timber sales cost the U.S. taxpayers $19.7 million a year. When is the Contract With America going to target corporate welfare instead of targeting the poor and kids?

Whose money is it?

I WANT to comment about the middle class tax cuts that Congress is wanting to give the American public. I see in the paper they say it will cost $189 billion over five years. How can it cost them anything? It's our money. Since we pay 59 percent of our salary to all forms of taxes, local, state, federal and license, I wonder the other 41 percent, how much does that cost the government, the 41 percent of our salary that we get to keep? How much does that cost the government?

Clean highways

I WOULD just like to say thank you to all the people that are involved in the Adopt-A-Highway program. I think it is a very big help.

Daylight drug deals

I'M CALLING in response to some of these niceties you've been putting in Speak Out about the city police here. I'm sitting here looking out my window right here right now on Lorimier Street and watching drug deals going down in broad daylight. The police never come by this area, because they're scared I guess.

Cutting the perks

IN THE list of cuts the Republicans are trying to make, I don't see anything about cutting the perks, pensions and salaries of Congress and the Senate. Why not? Would Mr. Emerson care to answer this question?