SPEAKOUT

HATS OFF TO the Southeast Missouri women's basketball team. Way to go, ladies. We're really proud of you. Congratulations especially to Coach Ed Arnzen for a spectacular season, and thank you for providing us with wonderful basketball all year long. Couldn't happen to a better man.

I'VE WENT TO the game last night with the Southeast Missouri Otahkians and I noted that in the final four they only had two officials. I would kind of like the Missourian to find out why they only have two officials when, at just a regular college game for the men, they always have three officials. And this is the final four.

The NCAA does not require three officials. The MIAA requires three officials for men's games only.

REMARK IN SUNDAY'S Speak Out that money is the root of all evil. That is not what the Bible says. It says the love of money is the root of all evil. The same is true of alcohol. It's not the alcohol, it's the wrong use of alcohol. The Bible actually encourages it. The book of Timothy tells us a little wine is good for the stomach. Emphasis on the word little. And other places in the Bible do encourage moderate use of alcohol.

WHAT IS THE proper etiquette concerning an engagement ring or a wedding ring? Well, it depends on who you ask. Proper etiquette, I suppose, is for a lady to return an engagement ring if the engagement is broken, but under any circumstance a divorced lady should keep her rings. As far as I'm concerned, a lady should keep the rings whether it's a broken engagement or a broken marriage because the grief most men put you through isn't worth returning it. They owe you at least that and much more. Well, I did, and I melted my down and made a neat piece of jewelry. I hope it works for you.

CONCERNING THE SPORTS viewer who sympathizes with the lady who called in complaining about basketball taking place of soap operas: Well, I think you kind of jumped the gun. How does he know that this is a lady who called in? No sex was specified. He told her to get a job. Well, how does he know that she doesn't have a job or that she is not a he. Don't men like soap operas also or do they all like sports? Thank you.

I WAS WATCHING C-SPAN the other day and a caller called in and wanted to know why the mayor of Los Angeles didn't resign because of the beatings as well as the chief of police. If the chief of police wasn't there at the beatings and has to resign for something he didn't take part in, then why should the mayor, who wasn't there either, have to resign? After all, the mayor is the head of the city and the police department and everything else that goes with the city.

I WANT TO tell everyone how much I appreciate the noonday program of the Cape Nutrition Center. For several years I quilted at the Nutrition Center every day I could. After being in a nursing home for six months, I am now home and getting the noon meal delivered to me. They are good, nutritious meals. They are heaven-sent, as I do not have the strength for much cooking as I am handicapped. I do try to do some craft items at my home. A person looks forward to the friendly greeting from the volunteer bringing the meal to me. It's really appreciated by this senior citizen.

IT COSTS ME 29 cents every time I mail a first-class letter, and almost without exception anywhere from hospitals to churches to insurance companies to banks send a first-class letter for 25 cents. I just wonder why. Thank you.

Most such institutions, which have lots of mail to send, use a meter and some form of pre-sorted first-class mail. This means added efficiency for the post office from the heaviest users, so the mailers receive a break on their postage costs.

THE TEACHERS DID not use your tax money to take a day off and go to Jefferson City. The teachers went to Jefferson City at their own expense. The day of school has been made up. Please get your facts straight. Thank you.

NATURALLY EVERY STATE and federal employee will tell you that their jobs are necessary, and that they need more and more. If we realized that their services were not really necessary, those people have sense to know they would be out of a job. Thank you.

IF THE LOS Angeles police chief is a conservative Republican, I sure am glad I'm a liberal Democrat. Thank you.