SPEAKOUT

Thanks for help

I WANT to thank the school teacher and her husband and insurance agent for helping me with my car. I do not remember their names.

Beautiful lights

WE JUST wanted to say thanks to the visitors bureau for the beautiful Holiday Tour of Lights. They performed their task very well. Everything was efficiently organized. They took us around to some of the most beautiful areas of Cape Girardeau. We really appreciate it, and thanks, especially to all the people who made the tour so pretty by decorating their homes.

Cutting the poor

WHY IS it that when the Republicans want to balance the budget, they always want to cut the poor people and dip into Medicare? They have wanted to dip into Medicare ever since they got into office. But when they get a big raise, that's different. Why don't they take a big cut? For the job that they do, they're not worth it. It seems like to me the Republicans don't care about the poor people. All they care about is themselves and the big-shot people.

Reason to gripe

THIS IS in response to the man talking about the gripers in the National Guard. I've been in the National Guard since 1989 after getting out of the regular Army. I've done everything my country's asked me to do and everything my state's asked me to do. When you've got some dope-smoking draft dodger telling me to jump into a meat grinder, there's something else to think about. I'm tired of us going out there just doing whatever we have to do, jumping into a meat grinder. We have no business in Bosnia. It's going to be another Vietnam.

Now you know

IT COULD be that the drop in crime is due to global climatic changes.

Computer help

I REALLY enjoyed Mike Royko's column Dec. 18. It told me so much that I had wondered about computers, and I thank him for his comments.

Work, not buyout

I'VE GOT a comment about the superintendent and the school board. I can understand why they would want to get rid of the superintendent. What I can't understand is why they would pay off that kind of money instead of putting him in a classroom and letting him earn some of his money. Then the school system would be getting something back, and you wouldn't be giving him a vacation at the expense of the taxpayers.

New style fad

NOTHING WAS so hilarious as watching the basketball coach, Ron Shumate, on TV wearing a paper bag over his head the whole time of his talk show. I would love to see 4,500 show up at the Show Me Center all wearing paper bags over their heads. What a fantastic expression.

Case well handled

I CANNOT speak too highly of the way the Cape Girardeau Police Department handled the Alvey Newcomb case. Throughout this investigation they were professional and intelligent as well as thoughtful, compassionate and supportive. We have a truly first-class detective division. My daughter and I congratulate the Cape police and the prosecuting attorneys with our very deepest gratitude and appreciation. We thank all of you in the community for your prayers and support.

Not my representative

I READ the comment about someone thinking that the Missouri license plate should have Rush Limbaugh's picture on them. Oh, heavens. Yes, he is a representative of Missouri, but a lot of us do not want to claim him as a representative of Missouri.

Hard-working teachers

I READ the criticism about Marc Powers' snide comment regarding elementary school teachers. I agree with the caller's criticism of Marc. My wife is an elementary teacher in a parochial school. During the past week, she averaged nine hours per day in school. I know some of those nine-hour days she didn't have a single break away from the students. She averages 2 1/2 hours per night at home on grading and preparation for the next school day. This past weekend she spent 11 hours on special projects for her children. I kept a log of activities without her knowing it. Her work week totaled 68.5 hours. She commented she sure had been ready for Christmas because the pace at school eased up during the holiday season.

Spirits are high

WE DROVE through Cloverdale Subdivision of Scott City the other night because we had heard that the Scott City mayor and council had destroyed some streets out there. But I will say one thing. They did not destroy those people's Christmas spirit because their homes and lights are just beautiful. We also heard the city had the authority to do that sewer work out in a field behind the houses. We think they did these people just terrible. Thanks, Southeast Missourian for letting me make these comments, and I wish all of your staff a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Shame, shame, shame

I WOULD like to make a comment on Coach Ron Shumate's show on TV the other day. He just made a fool of himself. Shame, shame, shame.

Childish columnist

THIS IS in response to the disgusting article that Marc Powers wrote about children. I just wanted to say that it's really sad that he feels the way he does about them, because from the appearance of his article he seems to be the most childish of all.

Poor exhibition

I SAW the Ron Shumate show on TV, and the exhibition of a so-called intelligent individual with a paper sack on his head left very little to be desired.