SPEAKOUT

I'D LIKE TO say congratulations to the Southeast Missouri Cancer Control Coalition, which has sponsored the graduation class of the smoke-free class of 2000. Great job. Also a great job for all these businesses and health agencies that help support it

THE FACT IS that the main theme behind the campaign in favor of the lottery was more money for education. The majority of people aren't going to and didn't look beyond it; they didn't read the fine print. The whole lottery thing was handled poorly. Everyone I talked to about the lottery feels cheated; they can't see the revenue has improved our state financial situation in any way, let alone our educational system. If those funds had indeed been earmarked for a particular cause, then a report was published on how they were spent, there wouldn't be so many negative feelings attached to the whole issue. Thank you.

I WOULD JUST like to say I was at Benton race track Saturday night and I was really impressed with the facilities they had down there. I went into the pit area after the races and talked to a lot of the racers. It seems to me that the inner concrete wall either needs to be taller or taken out completely. It will do nothing but destroy cars. Thank you.

BOY, OH BOY. I often have to disagree with Peter Kinder but, by golly, he sure hit the nail on the head with a very large sledge hammer on the subject of the environmentalists. Thank you, Peter Kinder, for expressing my sentiments much better than I could.

SHAME, SHAME, PETER Kinder, for ridiculing our environmental problems. He should be more knowledgeable before speaking. And this is the same Peter Kinder who is on the board of the Missouri chapter of Nature Conservancy. His kind we certainly don't need on our board. With his narrow views he should resign.

I JUST READ Peter Kinder's article in the Thursday paper and I would like to say that although he can close his eyes to the problems that he knows are around him, not everyone can do so. I just would like to be around whenever his children inherit a planet that is only a rim of what it used to be. Thank you.

A SPECIAL THANK-you to Ralph Phillips of Cape Special Road District for an outstanding job he's doing on our roads. Thanks, Ralph.

AS A STUDENT of Central High School, I'm growing tired of sitting through six to eight weeks of the heat and humidity that the Cape Girardeau area experiences every summer. A hot and sticky atmosphere is not conducive to learning. Cape Girardeau is the most prosperous town in Southeast Missouri. Something should be done to see that our education is given the best possible environment in which to flourish.

THERE IS A city ordinance against leaving grass clippings in the street. Why is it not enforced? It only takes a few minutes to blow the clippings back into your own yard or against the curb to be swept up. It improves the appearance of your home and the entire neighborhood, and your neighbors will surely thank you.

IF THE FIRST Amendment had taken the hits the Second and Fourth amendments have taken in the last few days, your cry-baby editorial cartoons would be singing a different song. The fact remains, however: the editorial cartoonists are counting the chickens before the eggs hatch. The Brady bill is not law.

I AM SERIOUSLY trying to get into this recycling program but I'm running out of space. Doesn't anybody ever collect the papers and the newspapers anymore? And what about glass bottles. What do I do with them? Thank you.

No one collects paper. You may take your recyclable materials, including glass bottles, to the city public works department, 219 N. Kingshighway.

I WOULD LIKE to say that there'd be more dogs and cats adopted through the Humane Society if they didn't charge as much money as they charge for dogs and cats. I went out there to get me a dog and they wanted $45 for this dog. They wouldn't have to feed the animal if they took less money; but, no, they wanted $45. I cannot afford $45 plus the shots and everything else for this animal.

I'M SICK AND tired of hearing people, especially the news media and comedians, putting down Vice President Dan Quayle. They have unjustly bashed him since the day he was nominated. The fact is he is an experienced legislator. Did you know that he served on the National Defense Committee and was the person responsible for lobbying and getting the funding through for the Patriot missile? And you saw what a super idea that was. He also was the first Republican to be elected in a strong Democratic area in decades. So give him a break and a chance. It's time for new blood in our government anyway, and this bashing has caused the world to lose respect for the office of vice president.

I'M READING Thursday, May 16th's newspaper and I find it kind of funny. It says I'm tired of reading comments about Northbridge. Right below that, you, the newspaper, wrote that we think most readers are also tired of reading about it. We, therefore, will not publish any more comments on this matter. Right below that is another comment about Northbridge. So, could you get your facts straight?

The comment below our response was not about Northbridge. Instead, the caller said the Northbridge situation brought to mind a situation in East St. Louis.

I'D LIKE TO know how many people attended the bingo games at Arena Park April 19 for Vision 2000. How much money was actually made for Vision 2000?

Approximately 950 people attended and $15,000 was donated to Vision 2000 by the four organizations that sponsored the bingo games, said a Vision 2000 spokesman. "All donated funds are returned to the community with the implementation of the Vision 2000 strategies," the spokesman said.

I'M VERY UPSET. I'm a junior at Central High School and today, which is Tuesday, we had Linda Godwin, the astronaut, come to our school, and the entire school was not allowed to go and listen to her. It was just some select American History classes, a few science classes, and that was it. I really think it is ridiculous of the school administration not to break up their perfect schedule to allow the entire school to get out and hear something as important as this. Thank you.

I AM VERY disgusted and frustrated with the way Cape Central High School handled its guest speaker Tuesday, May 14. I understand that my daughter was unable to listen to Astronaut Linda Godwin, who came to the school to speak, because this was not declared an all-school assembly. The very idea that an astronaut comes to Cape Girardeau and does not even have a full school audience is ridiculous. Cape Central is supposed to pride itself on its math and science students and their potential for the future, and they don't even allow all upper-level math and science students to attend this assembly. I am quite put out with this, Cape Central High School.

Dan Milligan, Central High School principal, said two biology teachers initially had requested that biology students be allowed to attend Godwin's presentation, and the request was made only the day before she spoke at the school. He said there was insufficient time to arrange for an all-school assembly. Students in all science classes did attend, he said.

PARENTS ON LEAF Street in Woodland Hills, wake up. Your very small children are riding tricycles and Big Wheels down the middle of the street; sometimes, even while you are watching. Don't you realize traffic literally flies around these corners at times? Please stop a tragedy from happening. Don't wait until your child is hurt or killed before you wake up.

I WANT TO know why Speak Out puts in Speak Out what they want to put in there. There have been several calls from the Tamms, Ill., area. (The topic) has been called in three or four times over there to Speak Out and you all have never put it in there yet. I want to see something in there about (it). Thank you.

Publication of a column that does not require callers to give their names particularly necessitates that we decide which comments are published. Comments on the topic you refer to the parentheses are ours were not suitable for publication.

I WONDER IF you could print your ground rules for getting opinions printed in your column. I've called in and have yet to see any opinion I had put in the paper. I also know of other people who have called in and not had their article printed. I was just curious. Thank you.

In a nutshell, we do not publish comments that are libelous, that we know to be untruths, or that criticize or otherwise attack individuals or businesses or invade their privacy, even if we know they are true. Neither do we publish personal messages nor attempts to sell, solicit or promote businesses. General gripes without meaningful substance are not published. Comments are subject to editing for content, clarity and brevity.

IN THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN there was a report that Dr. Stroup wanted to reduce the Board of Regents meeting from 12 to four annually. I believe it is incredible that she would make such a recommendation.

I DON'T KNOW why the city council in Cape Girardeau puts ordinances on the books. They don't seem to enforce them and, if they don't enforce them, why have them? I'm speaking of high weeds again this year. Do people have to continually call City Hall to get these weeds cut?

WELL, THE LATEST news is of the traveling Sununu; they say he hasn't lost his clout up there. None of the elected officials in this administration lose their clout. Bush did not lose his clout after the Iran-Contra affair and Abrams, after he said he had lied to Congress but told them he wouldn't do it again, didn't lose his clout. The powerful don't lose their clout up there; it's the little man that does.

COULD YOU PLEASE tell me whether the plastic bags which your newspapers are wrapped in are recyclable? Should they go with grocery store bags, milk cartons or two-liter bottles, or where? Thank you.

The bags are recyclable. They should be included with plastics accepted by the city public works department, 219 N. Kingshighway.