SPEAKOUT

I WOULD LIKE to thank the officials and the maintenance people in Jackson for the super job they did restoring power to the residents on Sunday. They did a super job also on our streets with cinders that were available. It's just a great place to live here and we thank everyone.

I WOULD LIKE to say that I have the best husband in the whole world and I love him to death.

ON THE TV news we just saw a truck coming across the bridge with one light. Everyone reading this should go out to their car, turn on the lights, and see if they have two lights. Thank you.

I THINK IT'S A crying shame that we have policemen and highway patrolmen who are supposed to be doing their job and they're not doing it. I thought the speed limit was 55 mph for trailer trucks going down the highway. When there was ice on the road I was doing 40. Highway 55 was clear on my side, and they came around me like I was sitting still, going on down the road passing other cars. What is going on with our country? Why can't our highway patrolmen slow this traffic down? All they have to do is give stiffer fines. I think if they're not going to do their job, it's time to get rid of them. Thank you.

I WORK IN A local restaurant and I recently witnessed the most disgusting and unsanitary act I have ever seen in four years of working in a restaurant. The customer put their chewed chewing gum on top of a salt shaker. I wish all customers would have the consideration to practice more sanitary habits in a restaurant. That is very foul and very disgusting. Thank you.

I WENT TO (a bar) on New Year's Eve and I was appalled to see all the young-looking kids in that bar. I watched the doorman at the door for a while and they did not appear to be carding anyone. I think that the local bar should take the responsibility in hiring efficient doormen to watch and make sure no minors enter the establishment. This is where the problems with children drinking in Cape Girardeau begin. Thank you.

I JUST WANT to say I think our boys over in Saudi Arabia ought to be able to fly the American flag and read their Bible and believe in their God. I'm telling you, if they're over there for war they ought to be speaking our peace, not adherence to what Saudi Arabia wants them to do. Thank you.

I CAN'T EVEN GET my family to give me what I want for Christmas. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff they get me. I sure hope I don't get in a situation where I have to count on them to figure out whether I want to be starved to death or not.

I AM A CAPE Girardeau resident and I was just driving down Broadway when I saw a homeless man all bundled up freezing to death. I offered him some money and he turned it down because of pride. I think it's about time that we as Cape Girardeau citizens start helping the homeless by offering them shelter in our homes or have a shelter for them to live in. If they would like one, have them a part-time job so they can feel independent and be worth something. I think it is appalling to have some people freeze to death and not have enough food to eat and to drink and to survive. In this time of cold weather, I think that we need to help others instead of ourselves. Thank you very much.

AS THE NEW YEAR starts I have noticed several states taking a firmer stand against DWIs. I'd like to see Missouri instigate some new programs for drunk drivers to keep them off the road and help them with their problem. For first, second, and sometimes third offenses, drunk drivers are fined and put on unsupervised probation; sometimes on the third offense they are put in jail. These consequences are a financial hardship on their families, who are already socked with higher insurance rates and possible loss of a job because of the alcoholic. I do not feel prison is the place for drunk drivers; they should be forced to get help before they kill someone. Alcoholism is a disease and should be treated as such. I'd like to see all alcohol and drug users have supervised probation after the first offense for a minimum of two years. After a second and third offense, they should be made to attend at least two AA meetings a week for a minimum of two years on supervised probation. After the third or fourth offense I'd like to see Missouri instigate the military type of program that some states have. I think community service work helps along with AA meetings. If the judges would make AA meetings a must, I feel we would have fewer traffic accidents and repeated DWIs. Sometimes when someone has a problem they're the last to admit it and must be forced to get help. Our judges have the authority to do that if they will. I, for one, would volunteer my services to help in any way in any program that was implemented such as this. Thank you.

I'M VERY SURPRISED when I read in Speak Out that senior citizens get a 10 percent discount on all they buy. I don't and I'm over 65. I pay full price for groceries and medicine. There is a discount on drugs purchased. To get a discount at the department stores one must shop on a specific date. I'd like to say that as a federal, civil-service retiree I pay federal income tax on my full retirement the same as if I were still working. Thank you, Speak Out.

I'M READING IN Speak Out where senior citizens get 10 percent on their groceries and 10 percent on their medication, doctor bills, and so on. I am 75 years of age and I have never gotten one free thing in my life, and I have worked up until not-too-many years ago. It sure would be interesting to know where those places are that give a discount or give things that are free. Thank you.

I SEE THAT Pat Roupp has filed for re-election to the school board. I remember reading in the Missourian Dr. Roupp's statement that he did not have the time nor did he feel qualified to search for a new school superintendent. Isn't it interesting that he felt qualified to vote against rehiring the present superintendent?