SPEAKOUT

(Editor's note Capt. Elmer Trapp of the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau offered the following response to a Speak Out caller's claim that the Salvation Army is delivering Playboy magazines in Chicago to the Institute of the Blind, where they are being transformed into braille for blind people to read: "The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that works to support family values and is against all forms of pornography. It is not true that the Salvation Army had dealings with Playboy magazine, as a caller to Speak Out indicated." The caller's remark appeared in the Sept. 8 edition of the Southeast Missourian and in the Sept. 11 edition of the Southeast Missourian Plus.)

I WOULD LIKE to compliment the participants and the people who attended the SEMO District Fair Parade. It is such a pleasure to perform in a parade when so many attend. I love to see so many smiling faces of boys and girls and the older boys and girls too, like moms and dads and grandpa and grandmas. This is one of the best parades and one of the best attended parades I have ever seen in Cape Girardeau. The pleasure was all mine and I loved it.

I HAVE A recommendation for everyone who's bothered by these harassing phone calls at home with people trying to sell you things on the phone. All you have to do is ask who is calling and then they will give you their first name. If you ask them what company they're with they'll ask you a couple of times who you are, but you just keep asking what company they're with. They'll hang up on you. It just happened to me. I don't mind if they hang up on me; I'm probably not going to buy anything from their company to start with. But definitely, if they act so rudely, I will never buy anything from their company. Always remember, everyone out there, if somebody calls you, you're in control of the call; they're invading your privacy. You don't have to tell them anything. You don't have to tell them who you are. If they don't know who they're calling, you don't have to tell them. All you have to do is find out who they are and what company they are with. If they won't tell you, ask to speak with their supervisor.

I WOULD LIKE to say to the person who called in about the Jackson Indians football team, congratulations on winning your first game against "Farmtown" or something like that. I just wonder if the Indians will still be able to kick butt and take names when they start playing some stiffer teams within their own conference. Thank you.

WHY CAN'T THE stoplight at the Wal-Mart intersection be made to blink after the stores close like the ones at the hospital and at Mount Auburn do? It's really ridiculous to have to stop for a minute at two in the morning, which I have to do every night. Also, coming off the hill going west, people who don't know that the stop is there almost run through it and have to slam on their brakes. Thank you.

I AM A parent of two children in the Cape Girardeau public school system. Yesterday afternoon I visited one of their classrooms. The classroom was so hot that effective education could not be accomplished in this environment. I would like for all citizens of Cape Girardeau to please call the Cape Girardeau school board and all Cape Girardeau school administrators and ask them to turn off their air conditioners so they can experience the same environmental conditions that our students are experiencing in their classrooms. Thank you.

I SAW THE parade here in Cape Girardeau on Monday afternoon. I was very upset when I saw those beautiful Clydesdale horses followed by some group with rap music. Those poor horses were jumping and skittish. I felt sorry for those horses and thought that the parade people who set them in line should have had some consideration for the horses and the people driving those horses. Next time the parade officials should think about the animals instead of the music. Thank you.

I'M SICK OF PE at my school. I'm fat, I'm lazy. I don't intend to change that, so PE is just wasting my time. Thank you.

AFTER READING MARTY Mishow's comments on Jackson's football team, it's obvious he's not quite the expert he thinks he is. He said Jackson doesn't have the individual talent as past teams. Bull, this is one of the most talented teams in years. If we can stay healthy, I promise you Mr. Mishow will eat his words. Thank you.

I AM EXTREMELY upset after just visiting the doctor's office. My appointment was for 10:45 a.m. I arrived at the office at 10:35. After a wait of one hour and 20 minutes, I was ushered into an examination room, where I waited another 15 minutes. Finally the doctor came in and devoted a total of four minutes to my problem, and sent me on my way. How much longer are we going to allow this to happen? They need to be more responsible with their patients' scheduling and should be accountable for the time anytime one waits after a lapse of 30 minutes beyond the scheduled appointment time. Thank you.

I'M A PARENT of a Central High School senior and I was very pleased when she got her senior pictures taken at Cheekwood because we didn't have to pay anything. We really don't have the money to get a nice picture taken, but she could still get in the yearbook and I was real pleased about that. Thank you.

WHY DID THEY ruin those good chicken and dumplings by cooking vegetables with them? Thank you.

I'M ANOTHER CITIZEN concerned about not having stop signs down here on the south end of Cape. If one of the city officials almost gets clobbered by a trash truck doing at least 40 mph, then maybe something will be done.

DURING THE FAIR every year between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Lombardo Drive has a steady stream of cars almost bumper to bumper to get to Cape Rock Drive, and then you have to make a left on Cape Rock Drive, and that's hard enough to do daily. Where are all these people coming from and why don't they use Clark to Broadway to get there or Perryville Road to Cape Rock? I couldn't even get out of my driveway last year and I couldn't get in at all. What if there was an ambulance or fire truck needed during that time; not to speak of the fumes that are spilling out into our homes. I am so tired of it. It is even during the peak hours at a.m. and p.m. every day. Can't something be done about this? Cape streets certainly aren't very well planned. That's all I can say. Thank you, Speak Out.

EVEN THOUGH I cannot stand it, and they really don't play any music I like, I do not agree that MTV should be banned. Thank you.

IT ALWAYS SEEMS funny to me that the school systems always find the money they need for new buildings and sports equipment and new buses and so on, but they never can find the money to give deserving employees a decent raise. We have some pretty nice school districts because of the dedication of the teachers and custodians and maintenance personnel. These are the only people that the school system depend on for everything, but they are the people who usually get thought of least and last when it comes to money. All they ever hear is the state is cutting back. It seems they only cut money needed for raises and not for the unnecessary things.

I WAS JUST wondering if the city of Cape Girardeau has any ordinances regarding extremely loud noises during the daylight hours. I live in a neighborhood where the young gentlemen crank up their stereos so loud it rattles my entire house. Do I have to wait until one of the windows shatters before I can get some help from the police department or is there an ordinance that would let me call before that happens?

The city has ordinances against peace disturbance. You may direct your concerns to the police.

IF THE AMERICAN Family Association wants to take MTV off the air, what about BET? That's nothing but sex and drugs. And what about TNN? That's drinking and cheating on your wife. And what about the news? It has way too much violence in it. I think they should just take it all off. Thank you.

TO THE PERSON who called in telling pro-lifers they should walk a mile in the place of the person who gets an abortion: I would not wish her to walk a mile in a place of the tiny baby in the abortion bucket, but maybe she should think about it. There are people reaching out to help. Call Birthright if help is needed immediately. There are plenty of people waiting to adopt a baby. We are Christians because we try to obey the commandments of Christ, including "Thou shalt not kill." And we are not judging anyone; we are just trying to save precious lives. Finally, those who are not pregnant yet, and don't want to be, how about encouraging self control?

ALL MEN NEED A study course in home economics, they are such wasteful slobs. Thank you.

I'M HOLDING a petition drive of my own to ban the AFA. Thank you.

CENSORSHIP, CENSORSHIP, CENSORSHIP. It doesn't surprise me when a few try to run things for the many. What does surprise me is that their efforts are taken so seriously. Why should I pay more than I do now to receive MTV? Your TV's get more than one channel. Do some of you not know how to operate the selector? The networks show movies that are questionable. I guess the local station should change its transmitting signals on those times. Thank you.

IT SEEMS LIKE I read in the paper awhile back where Cape Girardeau has 911, but not the enhanced 911 emergency number. I just don't understand why in Scott City everything has to be so fancy. Can't we just get the regular 911? It's free.

I'M CALLING IN regards to the people who want to ban MTV. Well, I hope you know I watch MTV a lot, and, if you don't want to watch it that's fine; just turn the channel. But for us people who do like to watch, I say leave it alone and let it stay here. Thank you.

I WISH MORE people would do their part to make the yards in our neighborhoods look more respectable. I live in the Franklin School area and am disgusted by the unkept condition of some of the houses. These houses are making what used to be a lovely older neighborhood an eyesore. I realize many people in this area probably don't have a lot of extra money for yard improvements; however, it doesn't cost anything to pull the weeds or pick up the trash, crates, junk and old furniture laying around. I'm sure that if you don't have a lawn mower one of your neighbors wouldn't mind lending you their's just to get the area cleaned up. Put a little effort in your yard and it will make the entire neighborhood more respectable. Thank you.

BANNING MTV. I'M sick and tired of turning on my television and hearing all of the negative remarks about MTV. If they ban MTV videos they should also ban soap operas, x-rated movies, magazines and TV ads. For example, Madonna's video, "Like a Virgin," was banned from MTV. If the video was banned so should the movies containing sex on HBO be banned. I agree there are some videos that should not be shown on television, but the people who think MTV should be banned have closed minds.

I WOULD LIKE to thank KAPE radio for announcing the Cape Central game the other night. I really enjoyed the broadcast and I wish that announcer who did the game would do the SEMO games. It would make it a little more entertaining. Thank you.

JUST READING THE article on the front page of the business section stating that Larry Miller has been named president of First National Bank of Cape Girardeau. It's my understanding that First National Bank of Cape Girardeau changed its name to Centerre Bank some years ago, and Centerre was subsequently acquired by Boatmen's Bank. I was wondering, where is the First National Bank of Cape Girardeau? Please answer.

You are correct about the history of the former First National Bank. The First National Bank of Cape Girardeau referred to in the article is a new bank. It is situated at 2027 Broadway, which housed the former Colonial Savings and Loan Association. It gets its connection from its affiliation with the First National Bank of Sikeston, Missouri.