SPEAKOUT

I ENJOYED THE picture of the horse and buggy in the paper. I, too, saw it Wednesday afternoon on Frederick Street. The lady and child looked so happy. It brought back childhood memories as my grandfather would give my sister and me a horse and buggy ride through the covered bridge to Burfordville. He would buy us a soda and he would visit with his friends. We always got our choice of the horses, either Fanny or Ribot. It's great when one sees such a delightful sight today to remind us of happy childhood days. Thank you for letting me share my memories.

I JUST READ in this morning's Southeast Missourian where the new mail center in Cape Girardeau is going to have some big changes for us with our mail. The primary changes they noted would be the nine-number zip code, the address should all be in capital letters, and there should be no punctuations. Maybe the post office has lost sight of the obvious, but they should also remind people to please use the correct address.

I'VE GOT A question about the Speak Out about the two young boys working at a Cape Girardeau restaurant. I'd like to ask this to the person that called this in: Did they do an adequate job? I grew up on a farm and I was working since I was 4 years old doing chores around there. If these boys are getting the job done, I say let them work. If their parents don't mind, I say let them work.

I AGREE WITH the person who said people in Washington, D.C., think more of the foreign countries than they do of our own country. I always thought that one helped your own people first and then helped your neighbors. They are doing just the opposite by forgetting their own people. Thank you.

I CALLED THE other day about Carolyn Kelley and the remark she made about May Greene School being in a crime zone. We do not live in a crime zone. Just because we don't live in a $75,000 house, we're not a crime zone area down here. Thank you.

ON TUESDAY EVENING about 6 I saw a city pickup truck that had some kind of an engine in the back of it and it was spewing out exhaust all over Westfield Subdivision. I wonder what that exhaust was, if it was a pesticide or what. Thank you.

The city recently has been spraying a number of areas of the city for mosquitoes, said a spokesperson for the public works department.

I CAN'T BELIEVE thousands of dollars of our taxpayers' money is going to be spent on Freddie the Fire Truck and on the Safety Village. Consider the condition of our streets around here. Thank you.

Other than money from the fire department's fire safety education fund, no city tax revenue goes to either the robot or Safety Village. The department's education fund, a portion of which was used to purchase the robot, is for the specific purpose of educating people about fire safety, which the robot is used for. As we have previously reported, the robot was obtained largely through a fund-raising campaign that involved business, corporate and individual contributions. We also have previously reported that the Safety Village is a community effort involving donated time and materials from businesses, organizations and individuals. The only tax money for it was a grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Neither money from the safety education fund nor the state public safety department can be used to repair the city's streets.

THE RESIDENTS OF Scott City are the biggest bunch of cry babies I have ever seen. The city council is trying to do something positive by renumbering the houses. You would think the people would be happy about it. Sure it will cause a little extra effort by a few people, but it will be worth it in the long run.

WE LOVE AND support Pee Wee Herman at our house regardless of the media, which is acting judge and jury in the charges filed against him. He is not our hero high upon some pedestal from which he could not possibly fall nor our children's role model. We parents should be an example and role model for our children instead of expecting society to do our job for us. Pee Wee is an entertainer who feels like a friend; someone to laugh with, not at. We should encourage our children who love him to continue to do so. After all, he is only human like the rest of us and we all need love and understanding. We all make mistakes but someone caught it. So think about it before you judge another for their mistakes.

I THINK IT'S high time they ground Air Force One and Two. I don't know what James Baker flies on but they need to ground it too and let these people get to work on what they were elected to do: protect the American people and help the American people out by making jobs for them, not the foreign countries. Stop giving away our money to the foreign lands that will turn around and spit in our face. Now we see that the United Nations has welcomed North Korea to the United Nations. It won't be months until North Korea will be getting foreign aid from the United States, the American taxpayer. This has gone on long enough. Every administration since I have been old enough to remember has given money to foreign countries. It is high time they cut this practice and keep this money at home and get these people working and off welfare. If these politicians would take care of the country they were elected to take care of, things would be a lot better. We wouldn't have a deficit out of reach. Thank you very much.

I WOULD LIKE to thank the two young men who helped me at the I-55 overpass as a whole truck load of landscape timbers fell out of my truck. One was from Elfrink Truck Line and the other in a red truck. Thank you both.

I'M CALLING TO congratulate myself, for this is my second anniversary of being without a cigarette, without smoking a one. I am so grateful. I was reading an article about a man saying get rid of your ashtrays, get rid of everything if you intend to quit smoking. My wife continued to smoke a year after I quit. There were cigarettes in the house, and for the first two weeks after I quit I carried my cigarettes in my pocket. I did it cold turkey. If you want to quit smoking there's nothing that can make you smoke again if you make up your mind that this is the last time you're going to smoke a cigarette. I am 71-years-old and I smoked since I was 8. I think once you make up your mind and say that's it, you can quit. God help those who think they have to have all kinds of props and things to help them quit because it will never work. I tried a lot of other things; but, when I made up my mind, my head got straight with my body and I was able to be free of them. I'm shouting victory today because I am free of cigarettes for two years. Thank you.

I HAVE A concern about the lack of Greyhound bus service here in Cape Girardeau. Transportation is very important when it comes to economic development in any region, any city. As we look at new companies moving to Cape or considering moving to Cape, we look at families, we look at retirement persons who have heard about Cape and want to move here. One of the things they want to know about is the transportation system. If Greyhound does not have a bus station and stops coming here, I think it will affect the economic development of this region. I think the city ought to take more of an interest in providing or at least helping the company find a suitable place within the zoning regulations for the bus station. We need it. The university students use it extensively. Many people who do not choose to fly, do not choose to drive, would rather leave the driving to the bus drivers and they use it. If you use it regularly you would know that it is very, very much needed in this city. I'm appalled that no one has taken an interest from the city to try and rectify this situation. Thank you.

K-103 IS NOT continuous country music if they constantly put on Cardinals baseball games. I don't like it. Thank you.

THANK YOU SPEAK Out for putting a number in the paper for people who are discriminated against over 40 and 50 years old and who are looking for a job. Maybe we can get some action now. Thank you very much.

EVERYBODY SHOULD REMEMBER to give water to the birds. If you don't have a bird bath just put a trash can lid or anything out because they don't have any water right now. If you're going to be gone, have someone fill something up for you. Thanks a lot, Speak Out.

THE MAN THAT said on television that people don't give a hoot about the Iran-Contra affair, well, I have news for him. A lot of law-abiding citizens do care. Lawyers told it all and the part even that Bush played, and Bush says he knew nothing about it. It's a nice try, George.

I WAS INSPIRED to write in to Speak Out after reading about the woman in her early 40s who was discriminated against when applying for an office job in Cape Girardeau because of her age. My problem is different but I still feel discriminated against. I have applied at several of the nicer restaurants in Cape Girardeau for a waitress position. I have been asked questions like, are you married, single, do you have children? One interviewer even asked me if I had a steady boyfriend. I've also been asked about my age. Don't managers know these types of questions are now against the law? It's hard enough for a woman to find a good job in Cape Girardeau without being discriminated against. A woman should be hired on her ability to do the job, not because of her age or if she is single, married, or has children. Thank you.

MAYOR SHIRLEY YOUNG owes the citizens of Scott City an apology for the remark she made to the Missourian reporter. She stated that she had a lot more respect for the 316 voters who voted no for the street tax than she did for the 2,150 voters who did not go to the poll and vote. She took office to be the mayor of all the citizens of Scott City and this is outrageous, ridiculous and uncalled for. I am asking she either resign or she make an apology. Thank you.

I HAVE TWO nieces coming to college here this fall. Their only transportation is a bus. Now they'll have to get off in Perryville. They don't have a car and I don't drive. I think it's a shame a city this size doesn't have a bus. Thank you very much.

A Greyhound official said the company is hoping to resume bus service to Cape Girardeau by the start of classes at Southeast Missouri State University. A shuttle service connecting with Greyhound service is now operating to Cape Girardeau from Sikeston, Farmington, Festus and St. Louis.

THIS IS THE fourth time I have called Speak Out in regards to the city council, in regards to the people running around here with one light at night, and now the bus situation. They're depriving people that live here from getting on or getting off a bus. They have to hire somebody to take them to Sikeston or north of here to get a ticket. I think this is ridiculous. What I think they ought to do is get rid of the city manager, the city council, and have somebody in there who can zone for the bus. It is very important to people here, not only young kids, the college kids, but older people, too.

THIS GREYHOUND BUS situation is really a pain for the citizens of Cape. I don't ride the bus nor am I a big David Barklage fan, but its seems like the most logical place to have a bus stop away from the residential areas is Spanky's on South Kingshighway. It keeps diesel pollution out of downtown and no noise to bother a house next door. It's easy access for parcel delivery and pickup and easy for riders to find. Come on, city fathers or city council people, change the zoning. It's been done before. Mr. Barklage won't become a millionaire over the change. I-55 business loop makes the most sense. Make the change. Thank you.

I'VE BEEN READING in the Missourian this morning concerning finding a place for the Greyhound bus to unload and pick up passengers as well as freight they haul. I think it is ridiculous a town the size of Cape Girardeau can't find a place for a bus station. Spanky's was ideal. I do not ride the bus. I have a private automobile. I go where I please when I please. Many others do too, but I think we should consider those who are not as privileged as we are and rely on buses. It's a good asset to a city. When businesses come in looking they ask about transportation. We always show off the old airport, don't we? Go show them the river, and the other thing that unloads from the river are a bunch of tourists in the summertime who might spend a few bucks at a restaurant or a gift shop and that's it. I think it's time our city fathers got their heads together. They can rezone for any other thing they desire. Think about it, Cape. I think you're cutting off your nose to spite your own face. Well, when you want a piece of somebody else's property for a building or something you have no problem getting it rezoned. Let's get with it and find a good, convenient location where they can pull off I-55, pick up or unload, go right back on 55. It would be convenient for the people and they need a place that is open 24 hours a day. Thank you.

THIS IS IN response to the caller who said Pee Wee Herman was a bad influence on our young nation. Out of curiosity, what did Pee Wee Herman do that was so bad in your opinion? Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to know why companies sell beer, alcohol, and cigarettes. The reason I'm asking this is this kills a lot of people. Thank you.

JUST BECAUSE A guy watches a few nudity flicks is no reason to criticize. It adds character, believe me. I believe that Pee Wee Herman was simply broadening his horizons. If I had time I'd tell you about a few Bozo the Clown secrets I know. You can't tell me he didn't run a good kids' show. Pee Wee is a true entertaining role model for children. Three cheers for Pee Wee.

WHY SHOULD WE support gay rights? Isn't sodomy against the law? How can we support something that's against the law? Think about it.

SO UNION ELECTRIC wants to sell the city of Cape Girardeau a water system. I wonder what's wrong with it. They don't want to sell the city electricity or gas, why the water? The only reason I can think of is because it's not profitable for them. I wonder if it would be profitable for the city to buy it.

SHELTERS FOR HOMELESS is a good idea. I wonder if they would do a bit of community work such as using trash bags to pick up bottles, cans, and other litter to make our city cleaner as long as they are living in the free shelter. This could be a way of saying thank you.