SPEAKOUT

I ADMIRE THE former smoker who said prayer helped her most of all in quitting the addiction cold turkey. I hope that many smokers will follow those examples.

I SELDOM RESPOND to a criticism, but before a torrential rain of Speak Out comments pour in as to my remark about May Greene School being in a crime zone, I'd like to set the record straight. That information was reported inaccurately. I advised my fellow board members that I had been told of a house not far from May Greene School where drugs were sold. The wording in the paper came out as May Greene School being in a crime zone. If it is true that a house not far from the playground is reportedly dealing in illegal drugs, that bothers me for the children in that area and it should bother you too. We are concerned as a board. Thank you. Carolyn Kelley.

The article did not say May Greene is in a crime zone. It said: "...Teachers and students at May Greene deal with situations that don't occur at other schools. For example, Kelley said, crime is often just a few blocks away from the school..." It also quoted Kelley as saying, "We have some of the same problems at some of our other elementary schools, but not in the concentration that we have at May Greene."

I'M A SOUTHEAST State University student and below me I have people who are from the Orient. These people have a right to be here in the United States. They have a right to a good education. They have a right to be here period.

I REALLY RECOMMEND the article by Jack Stapleton in Friday's St. Louis Post entitled Missouri Gets Credit for it's Stinginess." He points out the reduction of some $200 million in really essential state services for our public schools, health services for the elderly, young children and poor. It will also have a drastic effect on the lack of securing matching funds from the federal government. So, as we're getting a good rating for our bonds we are selling, we're also in for tragic consequences on overall funding. I think everyone should read this article by this good-old Kennett writer.

I WONDER WHY REP. Richard Gephardt has spent the first six months of this year raising almost $100,000 for his campaign. What has he done for us, the ones who pay his handsome salary?

WHY DOESN'T THE Greyhound bus stop at the mall parking lot? If the people who ride the bus get there 10 to 15 minutes before the bus is supposed to depart, surely they could wait in their car for that amount of time. That would be very convenient for Greyhound to stop there because the mall parking lot has a lot of space and it's not very far from the highway. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO give someone credit to the folks who made the old Buick place at Sprigg and Independence into a beautiful building. They must have had faith in the community and pride in the ownership. It's a real asset to our community.

CAN YOU AND will you in your Speak Out on your next publication give me a very definitive explanation of reality?

No.

IF CAPE GIRARDEAU wants to clean up this mess of drunks on Good Hope, why don't they find them and put them in jail? You just put them in for 12 hours and turn them loose. Then they go home and abuse their folks, raise cane all the time. If it was a juvenile you'd throw him in jail and do something about him.

I'M CALLING REGARDING Brad Harris' column in Friday's Missourian about the three Notre Dame kids who spent $500 a piece to attend a baseball camp and didn't bother to stay for the final session. As a parent of a Notre Dame student I just want people to know that not all of us could afford to send our kids to a $500-a-week baseball camp. If we could we'd be sure they stayed for all the sessions. Thank you.

IN TODAY'S SPEAK Out the person commenting on the cry babies should first of all walk in the shoes of Scott City residents, or at least research the problem before shooting off their mouth like that. Thank you.

SCOTT CITY MAYOR Shirley Young's statement showing contempt for those who do not vote is a correct one. If you don't vote you should lose your right to gripe. It is a sad state of affairs when such a low percentage of voters bother to go to the polls. Shame on them.

THIS IS IN rebuttal to the person who criticized Mayor Young for her remarks. She is right as rain. There are 2,000-plus non-voters who are apathetic and uncaring concerning Scott City. Mrs. Young did not find fault those who voted no in the recent election; she was just disgusted that only 20 percent of the people voted. It is sad. If they don't vote they have no right to say anything about the mayor or the city council.

IN THE THURSDAY, Aug. 8 newspaper, the American Legion team in 1973 was left out as far as being recognized at the dinner. I hope that they do get recognized. That's the 1973 team. Thanks.