SPEAKOUT

Getting to the PO

THE CITY needs to fix the holes in the streets coming in from the south to the Post Office. A lot of people use the south entrance, and there are holes you could almost lose a wheel in.

Cool and school

I THINK many parents who complain about their children going to school in classrooms that aren't air conditioned are more concerned about the fact that they have to make babysitting arrangements when they aren't in school a full day.

Student parking fees

I JUST graduated from SEMO, and students are angry because it is 80 bucks to park on campus. Plus they closed half the parking spaces this year. Petition SEMO to get some more parking spaces, open because the students are angry.

Library benefits

THIS IS for all you people calling in about the proposed merger of the two libraries in Jackson. Stop whining and start thinking about all the benefits you are going to have if this new library is built. I think it is the best use of the taxpayers' money. I wish they would have done this years ago.

Cost of air conditioning

I RECENTLY called in and complained about the schools not having air conditioning. I think a lot of people are upset by that. I really appreciate your front-page article on the cost of cooling schools. I didn't realize it was so expensive. Again, thank you for that article. Also, I really enjoyed and 100 percent agree with your editorial on the opinion page Sept. 1, "A fable about taxes."

Time for Democrats

THE POOR and the working poor voting for the Republican party would be like the Jewish people during the war voting for the Gestapo or else the hen house voting for the hawk. Congressman Emerson boosts about how better it is to be in the majority. I only hope his enjoyment is temporary because people, if they hate poverty, will turn it back to the Democratic Party.

Light is needed

WHEN THE city of Cape is trying to consider what improvements they want to make on the streets, I hope they give top priority to putting a four way stoplight at Clark and Broadway. It is practically impossible to leave the Cape Girardeau Public Library and get on Broadway without being hit.

For the library merger

I AM a Cape county resident, and I applaud the efforts of Jackson and the Riverside board in trying to promote one excellent library. One thing people don't know is that the Riverside Regional Library doesn't own the building in which it is located. Neither do they have any additional space in which to expand. All library patrons of both libraries should look closely at the possibilities this presents. If the county library would even hope to expand they will have to do it at another location. The merger is an excellent idea for all residents of both districts.

No federal building

I DON'T think the federal government needs a new federal building. They don't need to tear down historical houses and places for it either. They are always talking about buyout, buyout. Why don't they buy out Red Star or Smelterville and build it there? Then they would be doing people there a favor. I hope they do that and leave the rest of the city alone.

Southside cleanup

I HAVE noticed that a lot of people in the south end of town have really put out an effort to clean this area up. If the city would provide a big trash container permanently that we could use for the bigger items, that would help tremendously.

Raze the Marquette

I WONDER why the old Marquette Hotel could not be torn down for this new federal building. Why uproot and raze houses that have such historic value? The Marquette Hotel is a tremendous eye sore and is across from the existing federal building. I hope the people who are responsible will think twice and take away the eyesore and replace it with something nice and new.

Library information

THREE counties are represented by the Riverside Regional Library system. They are Cape, Scott and Perry. However, each county has its own tax that supports the Riverside Regional library. As a resident of the Jackson Library District, I think it would be totally absurd to build a new city library. We badly need to combine the two libraries and support it with one levy for all residents in the two districts.

Governor's column

I SEE someone is wondering if Peter Kinder will still have a column in your paper if he runs for governor against Carnahan and wins. First, I think it would be a wonderful thing for Peter Kinder to leave the Senate to run against Carnahan. Because Kinder's column is an uninterrupted and constant attack on Carnahan and public education generally, why don't you give Carnahan a column in response to each of Kinder's columns?

REPLY: The governor is always welcome to respond to Peter Kinder's column or anything else published in the Southeast Missourian. Indeed, on several occasions in the past year the governor has written special columns that were published. We look forward to more.

Smokers' rights

I WOULD like to comment on the 45-year-old male who dislikes anybody who smokes. I would like to say to him we have a right also.

Subdivision streets

IN ANSWER to the caller about the streets in Hillcrest subdivision: The streets are owned by the subdivision developer. I don't think any repairs have been made on the streets since they were put in. On Greenbriar drive, which is still gravel, a lot of property owners paid to have it concreted over 18 years ago and nothing has been done yet.

Clean up the signs

YOU HAVE done a couple of stories on the weeds along Kingshighway there by the ditch. Now you need to clean up all the signs that are on the right-of-way that don't belong there. They are blocking people's view as you pull out on the highway.

Parking for tennis

I AM calling in for a group of tennis players who regularly use the tennis courts at SEMO. A few days ago we met to play in on our usual day. Lo and behold, they put up no-parking signs on Henderson Avenue. We naturally parked in the two parking lots across from the courts. They were waiting for us over their when we parked. They gave us tickets. This is the university police. There is no place else to park.

Cellmates

I HOPE O.J. Simpson is found guilty of the double murder and Mark Fuhrman is found guilty of perjury. I hope they are both thrown in the same cell together, then we will see justice.

Americans in China

I WANT to comment on the conference on women going on in China. I noticed the Muslim women are protesting all the lesbians and gays who are in the American delegation over there. It is ridiculous that America is represented by these type of people. They do not represent women or anything in this country except the gay agenda. To send these people over there is ridiculous. No wonder the rest of the world looks at us like we are what the Muslims say, the great Satan.

A working mother

TO THE mother who called in to put all the working mothers in their place. So you stayed home, took care of your children, and didn't go to work until they were in school. Well, hurray for you. Comments like yours really anger me. How do you know what my husband's paycheck is? How do you know what our financial situation is? How do you know me? You seem to think all mothers who work do so for the luxury of having someone else sew on the buttons. Get real. Many mothers like myself work outside jobs because we have to. Would you suggest that I divorce my husband, the father of my children, because he doesn't make enough to support himself much less a family? Do you know how many jobs are dead-end, low-paying jobs? If I didn't work, we wouldn't have any a. groceries, b. health insurance, c. retirement for our future. My husband's job has zero benefits, zero for now or the future. Does this make me happy? What do you think? But I won't let some selfish, insensitive person tell me my children don't deserve to have food on their table and clothes on their back. Don't you know how difficult it is for a mother of small children to work? Unless her job is extremely easy, she will struggle through every single day sacrificing herself. Then there is the pious person who would lay a load of guilt on her overburdened back too. Buttons, no. Doctors, groceries and shoes, yes. Open your eyes.

It was really dry

I REMEMBER the Dust Bowl days while I was in college. The dust rolled in, the street lights were on, the sun looked like a little orange bowl in the sky. I graduated in May 1935, so it must have been in 1934. But we did have several hot, dry summers.

Bollinger cotton

AFTER READING the article about the cotton industry, I thought Ray Owens did a fine job. There was one bit of news he left out about the cotton. Bollinger County this year has cotton growing in it too. This is the first year for Bollinger County. We have had rice for several years, and now we have cotton.