SPEAKOUT

Working in the heat

I WAS amused by the story of the federal employees who went home when the air conditioning failed and the offices heated up to 90 degrees. We should invite them to come visit our schools when school starts in August and check the thermometers there. They might be in for a surprise.

Royko, Stapleton both good

I JUST wanted to say that I hope you keep Mike Royko. I've considered myself a feminist, and I don't think that he has ever offended me. He just tells it like it is for both men and women. Also Jack Stapleton is excellent.

Pay plan for police cars

AFTER READING Sunday's Southeast Missourian I came up with a great idea for the Cape Girardeau Police Department to buy some new cars. Captain Boyd said the city needs new cars and can't afford them. The city of Kennett said it is going to start patrolling and ticketing violators in handicapped parking spots. I have never been in the parking lot of one of the largest retailers in Cape Girardeau when there weren't violators parked in handicapped spots, usually kids who get out of their cars laughing and smiling, especially on a rainy day. Let's do some multiplication. At $50 a ticket and 20 cars a day, that's $1,000 dollars a day. Cape Girardeau could buy two police cars a month from this parking lot alone. Let's use a little bit of economic common sense here and buy some new cars and take care of the handicapped at the same time.

Age limit for jurors?

I WAS wanting to know what the age of jurors selected for jury duty would be in Missouri. There are some old ladies who are over 75 and can't walk too good and say they have tried to get out of it but can't. If you could put an answer in on that, a lot of us would like to know.

REPLY: Prospective jurors must be at least 18 year old and registered to vote. There is no maximum age for jurors. It is up to judges and lawyers to decide who is suitable for jury duty in a particular trial. Serving on a jury is a civic responsibility shared by everyone. Many older jurors bring insight and wisdom to the proceedings.

Medicare scare tactics

MEDICARE IS in trouble. I think that is a big Republican scare tactic to kick a national health care bill that is needed under the rug. It's just like the energy crisis, that's all it is.