SPEAKOUT

I NOTICED YOU didn't print what I called in about thefts from Bollinger County. Well, you can bet your boots if it had been Wayne Cryts it would have been printed. Remember the way you smeared his name all over the paper when he stole his own beans? Thanks for nothing.

You bet we won't publish your earlier comment, or any like it, because it was totally out of line. No charges have been brought against anyone concerning alleged thefts of Bollinger County money, so we're not about to let you level wild accusations. Robert Fuchs, special prosecutor appointed to conduct an investigation into possible thefts, said an investigation based upon the state auditor's findings is continuing. By the way, Cryts taking of mortgaged beans from the Ristine elevator became a story that gained national attention, and we certainly didn't "smear his name all over the paper" when he did it.

I LIVE IN Scott City. I'm against the tax increase. I'm for fixing the streets but not the other improvements. Thanks.

SCOTT CITY TAX increase: No, no, no.

I'M FROM SCOTT City and I just read in the paper where the city council was wanting to have a tax increase. I'm against it. It said the tax was for city streets and other improvements. The other improvements are what I'm against. I don't know how they're going to spend our money. If it's to fix the city streets and to take care of chuck holes in the road, I'd be all for it.

You obviously have misunderstood. The story on the half-cent sales-tax increase said it would fund street repairs and improvements for the next five years. Scott City officials drew up the tax proposal, which states: "The funds generated by the tax shall be used solely for the purpose of payment of contract labor and materials for repairing and improving existing streets and shall terminate five years from the effective date of the tax." Moreover, city officials have continually stressed that the tax is for the sole purpose of fixing the streets.

I'M CALLING CONCERNING the senior citizens tax that will be voted on April 2. I am a senior citizen, but I am not actively participating in their programs. I think the average person is not aware of the type of programs that they have and the number of senior citizens that are enjoying or participating in these things. The times that I have gone, there were people who could well afford to provide their own entertainment. I think that when people are this affluent, we should not spend the money so that they can have those pleasures at the expense of many poor families. I think that if they really want to do this, they should pay for this themselves. The meals that are being sent to shut-ins is a worthwhile project, but I think someone needs to get in there and determine just what is helpful and useful to the majority of the older people, and what is going for entertainment and matchmaking only.

IT'S AMAZING TO me how such an individual like Pete Kinder could be allowed such trash as he does in the March 19 issue of the Southeast Missourian. Thank you.

THE AIR FORCE doctor who delivered my first child in 1952 at the Air Force base in Rome, N.Y., had the audacity to put me on display with my permission to show off his new stitch. It was embarrassing for me. I felt like a guinea pig. If only I had known then what I know now, and if only a person's rights were as important then. Thank you.

I AM SO sick of rap I could throw up. That's about the best way I can put it. Thank you.

A LOT OF US were guilty of saying what are we doing over there? Why us? Now we realize there are plans we know nothing about, things for our country's good. The next time our president says we're going to do something, I'm going to keep silent because that's his job, not mine. Thanks, George Bush.

I'M INTERESTED in knowing how all these people who are calling in saying that the senior citizens didn't approve the park tax, so now nobody's going to vote for the senior citizens tax coming up, know who voted for what. Nobody tells anybody who. The only people who call in Speak Out are the people like myself who are vocal. People who would have voted yes for the park probably weren't even heard from, so how do they know? It's unfair to say one sector voted one way when they had no proof of that since you don't put your name on your voter ticket. Thanks.

I'M CALLING IN reply to the Tuesday, March 19, person who was replying about not having Missouri sports in Cape Girardeau. Well, turn to KBSI because KBSI has Cardinals baseball. They showed Mizzou basketball this winter. I think we should pat KBSI on the back for showing Missouri sports in this area and this market. Again, turn to KBSI. They've got all the Missouri sports you can handle.

THIS PANHANDLER WANTS to know how that young punk thinks Cape Girardeau got the parks, schools, and library that are now available. I'll tell him how: We senior citizens paid real-estate and personal-property taxes for many, many years. We even paid taxes on our furniture most of those years and are still paying on our house and vehicles. He doesn't.

THE CAPE GIRARDEAU Public Library is already open from 9 to 9 on days during the week. This, along with the Friday and Saturday hours, should be ample time for any person to visit the library. Thank you.

I WONDER IF someone would answer a question for me. How come here in Cape Girardeau we cannot pick up channel 11, KPLR, out of St. Louis, when Sikeston and Perryville have access to this?

SOMETHING NEEDS to be clarified. The senior citizens drum player from Scott City did not retire. She was replaced and told she was no longer needed. She had no other choice. Thank you.

THE SENIOR CITIZENS band used to be my favorite band, but I want to know now what happened to the drummer. It sure won't be the same. We're going to miss her.

The drummer, Alma Welter of Scott City, said, contrary to reports that she had quit or retired from the band, she was told she was no longer needed in the band.

I'M DISABLED AND I can't get out anymore and I want to thank KFVS for putting on basketball and all the other sports they put on. I really think they should become just a sports station. I really enjoy the sports. Thanks again.

CAN YOU OR anyone give me any information on building a home above or around a lake? I was interested in some property above a lake and someone told me that there's a lot of state health regulations that are kind of hard to comply with about building a home around a lake, sewer systems, in particular. Does anyone have any information that can help me before I might make a mistake? I'd appreciate any help I can get. Thank you very much.

We suggest you contact the state Department of Health.

THIS IS A real-estate broker who is inclined to agree with the couple who commented in Cape Girardeau in Monday's Speak Out about the real-estate ads so often not having the price in them, and having to call and find out it was not appropriate at all. I've often said it's a tremendous waste of time, energy and effort on the part of both the buyers and the agents to advertise property without a price listed.

I URGE DEMOCRATS, working people of this here county, to get in gear and fight this redistricting of congressional seat. The rich and Republican Party will have a field day from here to now on. You working people, Republican or Democrat, but especially you Democrats, get in gear and fight this mad folly of Mary Kasten, Bill Emerson and the Republican move to completely own and dominate this area. Thank you.

I NEED AN OPINION. I had a dear friend that had a court case and she went around and asked people if they'd handle the case, and they said, yeah, they were well versed on the kind of court case it was. The guy that took the case said he would do it for between $400 and $600. Well, after he's about halfway into it, he said it was going to be a little more, and then finally he ended up charging the girl almost $5,000. After they argued about it, he dropped $1,000 off of it and keeps mailing her bills. I'd like to hear some other people's opinions on what should be done about it. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to comment about someone who called in and said the greatest president there ever was was F.D.R. Ask the men at Pearl Harbor if they think Roosevelt was the greatest president the ones at the bottom of the bay especially when Roosevelt knew about Pearl Harbor in advance. I'll tell you who the greatest president was. It was Reagan. Due to Reagan's buildup in the military, a lot of men are coming home alive.

IF THE CAPE Central Boosters Club is searching for an additional reason to donate money, they may want to look into the idea of having lights installed at the Central baseball field. This would benefit many players in the summer youth program at the Pony and Senior Babe Ruth levels and would allow better usage of that field by the general public.

I'M CALLING because I would like to find out why all the television stations in the area carry basically nothing but sports and news. I realize that sports and news are important, but we all need a break some time. The only time we did get decent viewing is when Desert Storm was going on. If you stayed up late or got off work late you could see something decent. I really wish they'd keep this up. It's kind of pathetic as far as the television stations are concerned. Thank you.

REGARDING RECENT comments in Speak Out about the Jaycees Golf Course being a burden on taxpayers: Perhaps people are not well informed about its operation. Golfers who played the course last year paid around $280,000 in green fees, cart fees, annual membership dues, refreshments, golf supplies, and so forth. Not a penny was tax revenues. A friend of mine paid $1,070 playing the course. It is the opinion of most people I have talked to that that amount of money should be more than adequate to maintain the course properly. In my opinion, the rest of the recreation facilities combined did not contribute even half of what the golfers pay. This includes tennis courts, swimming pools, baseball and softball diamonds. It would be interesting for the city to publish a report for 1990 showing revenue from each recreational facility together with cost of operation fees from each facility. I wonder how many people know that Kimbeland has a membership of 450 and maintains that course for less than it took to maintain the Jaycees. A great majority of the 450 members are from Cape Girardeau. In regard to a comment in the Public Mind about a golf course manager being a person who gives golf lessons, a golf course manager is a person who has received professional training in all aspects of golf-course management. I don't think the Jaycees course is a place for a golf instructor either; that should be in another part of the recreational program. A qualified golf-course manager is worth his salary and it wouldn't come from city coffers. Thank you.

I WAS WONDERING how many other people hate those television commercials where the little kid asks Why after everything. Why do I hate those commercials? Why? Because they're obnoxious. Why? Because they get on my nerves. Why? Because they're so repetitive. Why? Because you would think the commercial people could think of more inventive ways to do that.

I JUST WANTED to say I think things are in one heck of a mess when CBS cancels their scheduled programing so everybody has to watch 6-or-7-foot people throw a ball through a round hoop. I think it's disgusting.

IF I EVER wind up in a hospital in this area and they tell me I cannot smoke a cigarette in my room, with them charging outrageous prices to start with, then I will immediately get dressed and check myself out. Whatever happened to the majority rule in this country? I have a right to smoke if I want to smoke. If I'm going to pay their prices for a room, then I think I should have the right to smoke if I want to. Thank you.

I JUST WANT to thank KFVS. I'm sitting here watching basketball and all of a sudden "MASH" appears out of nowhere. I'd just like to thank them for another wise programming choice. Good job, fellows.

I JUST WANTED to say the taxpayer is getting a Yugo at a Mercedes price. This is the governor's statement on the $462 million educational package our legislators expect we, the taxpayers, to pass. Can you believe these people? If it wasn't for the Hancock Amendment we would not have an opportunity to say, hey, Mr. Representatives, you get this bill right or we will defeat it every time you bring it up. Signed, A Disgruntled Overtaxed Taxpayer.

THIS IS about the beating that took place in California, the one you see on television day and night. A lot of people out there are asking for the police chief to resign. Well, that doesn't seem fair. If they want to go one step further they ought to demand that the mayor resign too. Thank you.

CAN SOMEBODY tell me why, in this part of the state, we can go south of Cape Girardeau and see Cardinals baseball, and we can go north 30 miles of Cape Girardeau and see Cardinals baseball? Why is it right here in Cape Girardeau we cannot see Cardinals baseball, Mizzou basketball, and St. Louis hockey? Are we not part of the state? Do we not pay taxes? Why should we be exempt? Can somebody please answer my question? Thank you.