SPEAKOUT

(Tuesday's Speak Out contained some incorrect information. Plastic newspaper bags are recyclable, but the Cape Girardeau recycling center does not accept them. The city center takes only plastic with the recycling logo. The only exception is milk jugs and 2-liter bottles. All plastic recyclables must be rinsed and their lids and caps removed. The city also takes all dry newspaper, slicks removed; all colors of glass, without lids and rinsed; any kind of aluminum; and corrugated cardboard boxes only. The center will not take magazines or any paper other than newsprint. Also incorrect in Speak Out was the address of the city recycling center. The center recently relocated to 120 N. Broadview. An open house is planned there in the near future, said Doug Kaminskey, environment services coordinator for the city. Collection hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.)

WHY DOES THE city refuse to allow the Red Cross blood unit to use the Arena Building for collecting blood from donors? The Arena Building is more accessible than the Holiday Convention Center, and I believe blood donations would increase if the city offered the facility again.

Red Cross blood services account representative David Palmer said the city has not permitted the Red Cross to use the A.C. Brase Arena since last fall because of space taken up by the relocation of city recreation services to the building. Donations have been down since the drive was moved to the Holiday Inn Convention Center in October, said Palmer. He said he cannot explain why. "If the trend continues, we will see if there might be other options," said Palmer. Since the drive moved, its goal has been exceeded only one month, he said, explaining goals were exceeded eight or nine months each year when it was held at the Arena.

IF YOU WISH to know why more taxes for schools is not the answer, read Pat Buchanan's column in the Southeast Missourian Wednesday, May 22.

I'D LIKE TO commend Peggy Scott for her article featuring Calvin Chapman in today's paper. The article itself is a very accurate reflection on what has happened in the last 10 years in special services and on the kinds of challenges that are ahead. Furthermore, it paints a good picture of the contributions of Calvin Chapman to our school district. So I'd like to extend thanks to Calvin and also to Peggy Scott.

COULD SOMEONE EXPLAIN to me, in referring to auctions, what a 10 percent buyer's premium means?

I WOULD LIKE to commend Southeast Missourian staff writer Jim Grebing on his fair and accurate reporting of statements made Monday, May 20, by Democratic gubernatorial candidate, St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoehmel, in a dialogue with several Oran teachers concerning education. Good work, Jim.

I WOULD LIKE to express my appreciation and thanks to the city council members who voted down a proposal to let our trash collection out on contract. We remember the time that we had contract service, and although it was adequate they had to go out of business for some reason or another and the city had to take it over again. Our men on this job in the city do a great job. The city is responsive to complaints and rates are very reasonable. I would rather really give a little bit more money to the city for trash collection than to have some contractor doing it when we never know when they will unionize or raise rates arbitrarily, and then we will be paying more than we are now. So I want to thank the city employees for the great job they're doing. Keep up the good work up. Thank you a lot. Bye-bye.

I'M A CITIZEN OF Cape Girardeau and have been following with interest all the information on the Broadway Community Theater's production of "Our Town." This is one of my favorite plays. I teach it in my classroom and it's just a shame to me that this is only going to be given as a dinner theater at a price of $25 an individual or $50 per couple. My students want to see this. I want to see this, but I just quite honestly cannot afford that price. I realize that the point here is a funding effort for the community theater, but is there anyway this can be done without the dinner end of it with just the production itself at a cheaper rate for the community? I would really be interested. Thank you.

I WISH TO TAKE this opportunity to speak out concerning a matter that irks me to no end, and that's on these highway construction signs telling us that we're receiving that project through 20 percent state funds and 80 percent federal. I would like to see an addition to that sign that says 100 percent taxpayer funds. I wonder if someone doesn't think that we know that is 100 percent taxpayer money regardless of the source. Thank you.

THIS LITTLE MESSAGE is to the two big, older women in the gray car that stole my daughter's pink bike from our carport while we were gone. My neighbor saw you and got your license number, so I'll give you a couple of days to return it before the police call you.

WHEN DRIVING IN the rain my wipers are on so I can see you. My headlights are on so you can see me. Thank you.

WELL, WE SEE where the House and the Senate have given President Bush more leeway in his free-trade agreement with Mexico. What are these politicians thinking of to allow these foreign countries to ship more imports into our country, putting our people out of work? I simply cannot understand why our elected officials feel it's a priority to let these foreign countries fill our country with cheap imports, putting the American people out of work. There have been thousands and thousands of people who have lost their jobs because of this. We do not need more trade with foreign countries; we need to look out for the American people. It's no wonder that our country is in a recession, with politics the way it is in Washington, D.C. Thank you very much.

I HAVE A CHILD attending Jackson R-2 and I'd like to say a great big thank-you to all the wonderful teachers who have had a positive effect on my child and other children. Thank you so much.

I'M CALLING IN regards to the comment in Thursday's Speak Out about loose men and low morals. Come on, ladies, look at yourselves. I'm a 30-year-old male, new to this area, and have yet to marry due to the simple fact I have yet to meet very few women with any morals at all. I do believe true romance has died.

I'M CALLING IN response to the comment that we in the Sunset addition of Cape Girardeau are fed up with the church chimes. I heard them this week for the first time this year and I thought it sounded very pretty. I live within two blocks and I'm not a member of that congregation. I think it is nice. I'm sorry it bothers some people.

I WOULD LIKE to comment about MTV on cable television. I feel MTV should be made optional where you pay for it. This is just something that the rest of us are having to pay for that really you should have to sign up for. If you want it, fine, get it; but I don't think the rest of us should have to pay for something we don't watch and don't want and don't really appreciate. Some people think it's improper to have it come into your house. I don't want it in my house and I'm ready if anyone else is to sign a petition and make it optional where you have to sign up for it.

I LIVE IN a quite-nice neighborhood with small children and birds, squirrels and dogs. I have seen many careless drivers exceed the speed limit of 30 mph. Last evening one of these drivers hit a dove. My sister saw it happen and my mother took it in for care. The dove had a bump on the head, a cut on the abdomen, and his left food was broken. We each took turns giving him water and changing the towels we had wrapped him in to keep him warm. This afternoon the bird died. It does upset me terribly but even worse, what if this had been one of my neighbor's children? These drivers don't pay attention when they speed over the hill on my block. If there were little children there, there would be no way the driver could stop. Please think before you speed, especially in residential areas. Thank you.

THIS IS FOR the middle-aged, middle-upper-income Christian lady who has two dogs that bark and so on: You are what I call a very liberal Christian. I wonder if you really know what a true Christian's mission is on the Earth. You claim we should leave the homosexual and lesbian alone and let them live their way and to love them. You've got that partly right, but we're not to condone it either. We are to love the sinner but hate the sin, and live and let live is not the mission of Jesus on Earth. He told us to go and preach the gospel, lay hands on the sick, and cast out demons in Jesus' name. That is true. We are to follow Jesus and do the work that Jesus did on Earth by the precious holy spirit that Jesus said he would send. Your heart is in the right place but your theology is wrong. I suggest you look at the whole word of God before you talk about your liberal views that are contrary to scripture. I love you and I will pray for you to know the full truth. Thank you, Speak Out, for allowing me to speak out also.