SPEAKOUT

(Editor's note: K.J.H. Cochran thanked the reader for the additional information on the Popeye comic strip. However, she explained her information for the article came from an encyclopedia and several books on comic strips.)

I WOULD LIKE to thank the person who found my purse at Schnucks. I thank God there are still good and honest people in this world. Thank you.

I WONDER IF ANYONE has tried "Where There's A Will There's An `A'" for students in grade school, high school and college. I wondered how it worked for them. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to commend the coach at the baseball game Sunday night at Arena Park for a fine display of sportsmanship.

I WONDER WHY they never had anything on local TV about Harris Trucking Co. going out of business. It was one of the biggest trucking companies in this area for around 40 years. There was a closing of Sam Tanksley Trucking mentioned several times. Also, Riverside was mentioned.

I READ A WEEK OR TWO ago in a article you did on seat belts about a local police officer saying that he gave tickets for not wearing seat belts to 60 or 70 percent of those to be found in violation. Maybe I'm wrong but the first thing that crossed my mind after I read this was why not 100 percent of the time? I got the distinct impression that whether he gives a ticket or not depends on his mood. If I got a ticket for this I would not be happy, but I would feel better if I knew that enforcement of this law was the same for everyone and not 60 or 70 percent. Thank you.

I JUST GOT back from the Central pool and I was very rudely told to get out of the swimming lanes because they were for the swim team. I was wondering, since the pool is only open from 3 to 6 to the public, if it wouldn't be a good idea for the swim team to have their swimming classes after that so they would benefit from the use of the whole pool and the public wouldn't be cut down to just half of it. If not, I think a sign should be put up to say that half of the pool will be given to the swim team so the public is not rudely handled in the future. Thank you very much.

IN MONDAY'S PAPER it appears that the city is driving another nail in the coffin in its effort to keep Cape a small, backwards city. Many organizations sold beer on the streets at past Riverfests. People enjoy walking around visiting with friends they have not seen for a while and being able to do so with a cool one, which, I bet, more than 50 percent do. Having to do your drinking in a pen will not benefit anyone; after all, there's no traffic. I just can't imagine what is gained. What will the next county fair be like?

AFTER WATCHING THE City Council meeting, I have to wonder why the mayor's against the city so much. Seems like he should be leading the city rather than always scolding the city staff for everything they're doing. Thank you.

I WOULD GIVE up at least 10 of our cable stations, which are worth nothing, for KPLR. Thank you.

THIS IS TO THE guy on my street who mows his lawn at 6:30: Get a clue, guy, people are sleeping.

I'D JUST LIKE to say keep up the good work, Bill Heitland. I think it's kind of sad that while you were writing about the Cape Central coaches you didn't do a little investigative reporting and find out some of the things that go on in the girls sports area. Check into that a little bit. Thank you.

I'M GLAD ANOTHER parent is concerned about our children suffering at school in the heat. Just think what it will be like if they extend the school year an extra month like some legislators are proposing. An even worse scenario is having school year-round. When that happens my kids will go to private schools. P.S.: I love your idea of turning off the air conditioning at the board of education office on Clark Street.

EXCUSE ME, ROGER Harms, manager of TCI Cable, but you said the majority of the subscribers loves this new channel and 75 to 80 percent of the subscribers will want it. I will watch it while it's free but I think 75 to 80 percent will call you up and cancel when you start charging. Forget it.

IF ANYBODY SAW the only movie Vanna White ever made, "Venus," and the last one, I pray, she ever makes then surely you know that her only abilities are to grin like a horse and turn letters. Just close your eyes and listen to her speak her lines. She's such an amateur. A third-grader can act better than she can. Thank you for letting me get this off my chest.

IT'S ALMOST TIME for the MMA test results to be back, and I'm hoping my children did as well as the Franklin School children who got to preview the test and answers.

I WAS JUST reading your Speak Out column. The person who is so informed on the Popeye series needs to be told that Pluto was Mickey Mouse's dog and Brutus was Popeye's rival. Thank you.

I SEE BY THE morning paper that our city council is now going to pass an ordinance banning smoking in grocery stores. This is just another case of freedom of choice being taken from the populous, along with many others. There's also a question of whether it is even legal or constitutional to even pass such an ordnance. Thank you.

IT HAS BEEN noted that our city council has caved in to a petition from university students to ban smoking in supermarkets in Cape Girardeau. The freedom of an individual action is being destroyed by our politicians. No more does an individual have the right to make this choice. This is being done by our city council for their own gratification.

The council has not enacted such an ordinance, but has asked the city staff to prepare for its consideration an ordinance proposal banning smoking in supermarkets.

I'M VERY CURIOUS why KFVS-TV only sings this ditty of "Hello" to Union County and Mississippi County. Don't they have any for any of the other counties? It would appear that singing about just those two counties all week long and continually would be kind of boring to most people. Thank you.

I'M COMING TO Cape Girardeau from out of town for the Riverfest and I want to be sure that I'll be able to see the fireworks this year. Can you tell me where they're going to shoot them off so that no matter where I am downtown during Riverfest I'll be able to see them? Thank you.

The fireworks will be discharged from outside the floodwall just north of Riverfront Park. The display will begin at 9:15 p.m. Saturday and will last about 30 minutes.

AT THE SANITATION meeting this spring at Jackson Riverside Regional Library, they said home catering would be inspected. Does that mean also that people who bake wedding cakes at home and sell them will be inspected? Thank you.

A spokeswoman for the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center said the kitchens of people who cater food, including those who bake and sell cakes, must be inspected. She said for additional information contact the center at 243-5233 or 335-7846.