SPEAKOUT

WE WOULD LIKE to take this method of thanking all the people who were ready to help with annual Red Cross blood drive at St. Joseph's Parish Hall in Scott City. Although the drive was postponed and then canceled due to the severe weather conditions, many volunteers and perspective donors were ready and willing to give someone another chance. St. Joseph Parish schedules the annual drive during the Christmas and New Year's period to help alleviate the critical need that usually exists during holidays. The drive is also scheduled at a time when it does not overlap with other nearby blood drives. A window of at least 56 days between drives gives the dedicated donors the opportunity to give blood frequently without traveling more than eight miles or even remaining within a much closer radius to their homes. Thanks again to those who were on alert to give blood or to help at the blood drive and for some, to do both. You are great people.

I'D LIKE to know if you sell back copies of the Southeast Missourian newspaper. Thank you.

Yes, we do. You may stop by 301 Broadway to purchase them.

A SPECIAL THANKS to the good samaritans who were kind enough to take in an old deaf dog on Christmas eve and care for her until they could locate us through her rabies tags the day after Christmas. We had spent three days looking for her. Your call was one of our best Christmas presents. Thanks again.

I JUST READ the following newspaper article entitled, Misused Words Put on the Dishonor List for Banishment. They are: If you will, two twins, rocket scientists, and student athlete. I'd like to add two more to that list on a local level. They are: Heartland and Storm Team. Thank you.

IN REPLY TO the reply to the so-called uninformed source with regard to Michael Dukakis and Ted Kennedy, the state of Massachusetts is now bankrupt. They have the lowest bonding, bond rate of return, of any state of this nation; not because Michael Dukakis was not elected president of the United States, but because the people of Massachusetts elected him as their governor. When he received the Democratic nomination for the candidacy there was a three-day celebration in Greece. Perhaps not so much for the Greek people honoring one of their own for achieving the great American dream as it was to the fact that Massachusetts, even at that time, used more foreign oil shipped on Greek-owned freighters than any other state in this nation. Of course, Michael Dukakis led the fight against nuclear power plants anywhere in his area. Of the dozen times I have seen Ted Kennedy, I have seen him sober only once, and that was at the wedding for Maria and Arnold. When he travels through the area of Cape Cod he is led and followed by seven to 10 young and middle-aged gentlemen who are all dressed like they came out of some ditto machine; not so much to protect him from the public but to protect him from himself. There's no way to trade Michael Dukakis or Ted Kennedy for Margaret Thatcher. It's a very poor proposition.