SPEAKOUT

I AGREE WITH the senator who stated that the new Civil Rights Act is equivalent to posting an Irishman-need-not-apply sign in the window. It does not show that X number of blacks or Hispanics will be qualified for the positions if they are hired. Thank you.

THIS IS IN regards to the person asking why KFVS-TV only says hello to Union and Mississippi counties. Who cares? As much as we hear this day in and day out I'm sick to death of it. If I had a dollar for every time they played this I could buy TCI Cable. In regards to TCI, all these people who are complaining, wanting KPLR or another sports channel, we've got enough sports on cable TV. On Saturday or Sunday you might be able to find one channel that isn't either selling something or showing a stupid basketball game. Why is it that by rescheduling the programs on the different channels, we're getting one less channel but we're having to pay the same price. By adding the movie channel we've lost a channel. I'm tired of people manipulating everything we see or do. I'm tired of the city and their silly ordinances about smoking and non-smoking. In general, I'm sick of people and their penny ante stuff.

WELL, THEY'VE DONE it to me again. Scott City Hall has made me get rid of my pigs. Now I've got to buy the wife a garbage disposal.

I SAW the article on KFVS-TV where Scott City wants to put the proposed sales tax on the fall ballot to fix the streets. I spent the day driving over Scott City, and for the most part Scott City streets are in good shape. Thank you.

I READ IN Speak Out where supermarkets had been banned from smoking. So, in my opinion they shouldn't be able to sell cigarettes now. Give it to the convenience stores. Thank you.

Smoking has not been banned in supermarkets. The council has been asked to consider an ordinance that would do so.

I WOULD LIKE to remind everyone in Cape that safe driving is very important. If you are blind or stupid, please stay off the road. Here's a helpful reminder: that little bar on the side of your steering wheel is called a turn signal. Please use it. Thank you.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE still a few smokers around who can't quite get it through their head that they are a public health hazard. You might as well look at the handwriting on the wall. One day soon you will not be able to smoke anywhere in public, and that is as it should be. Why not take the initiative in not offending and harming others rather than being forced? It is amazing that you don't feel guilty. Thank you.

ONCE AGAIN I would like to thank the Southeast Missourian for the newspapers that they supplied Cape Girardeau public schools and the surrounding areas. It was a big part of the school year and we enjoyed it greatly. Thank you again.

NOT MUCH OVER one year ago a highly named city official admitted that they were in the black on the trash and sewer taxes. Now suddenly they claim they are not in the black. The other garbage contractor has made it plain that they can pick up trash for less than $9.80 a month. If this is true, then I see no earthly reason in the future for the city of Cape Girardeau to charge for the Wednesday pickup except for out of pure greed. Thank you.

TO THE PERSON who was concerned about having his rights violated for smoking, what about the rights of the non-smokers? Shouldn't they have their choice on whether to have smoke or not to have smoke? Thank you.

KBSI, WE'VE SEEN enough of the "Golden Girls." Do we have to have them two times a day? Where in Southeast Missouri can somebody find "Love Connection"?

I QUESTION THE closing of public streets for two-and-a-half days for private gain, which is what the downtown merchants hope for. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a Riverfest in the first place. Thank you.

I JUST CAN'T believe this Encore channel on cable. It was my understanding it was going to be a family channel. I went in tonight after a long, hard day's work. It was 8:30 and I thought I would see what Encore has to offer. Here's a Tom Selleck movie. Fifteen minutes into the movie, he's using one of the dirtiest words in this language. The fact is, it's not part of most people's vocabulary. Thank God the 9- and 11-year-olds were not in the room. Tomorrow morning I will call the cable company and I will tell them that not only do I not want it, I want mine shut off right now. Thanks a lot, TCI. You shafted us again!

I CANNOT BELIEVE this. It is 10 o'clock in the morning and Encore, the new cable channel, is showing the movie, "A Quest Line," in which there is a nude woman in a G-string dancing all over the place with other half-clothed men and women in sexually suggestive poses. If this is an example of what they're going to show this time of day for young children to possibly see, they can cancel this new Encore station immediately. I thought sex trash could only be shown in the evenings. I think TCI needs to clean up their act.

THREE CHEERS TO Councilmen Richards and Mayor Rhodes for trying to help the people of Cape make a living. Unfortunately, the other council members have shot down every proposal that has been made. When we need a better trash pick-up service, the council voted against Mr. Richards. Now he's trying to cut back on spending and save the taxpayers money through budget revisions. History has repeated itself. I'll sure be glad when they get more council members like Mr. Richards who can care about the average citizen instead of just those with prestige and names associated with wealth. Hats off for you two.

WELL, CARDINALS FANS, I just received my new TV guide for this week and in it I noticed that KPLR in St. Louis is showing four Cardinal games. Well, KBSI is showing none. Maybe, just maybe, one of these days we will see KPLR St. Louis. Thank you.

THURSDAY'S INSERT in the Missourian about the state PEO convention was interesting; however, like college and universities sororities, it is a secret organization. There are many chapters and members, but there are also many deserving, personable and talented women who are snubbed and never asked to be members. Why? It brings back memories of college days.

WE'RE WONDERING WHAT'S happening at the Show Me Center. It seems that it's so far between shows. Are things of good talent coming to town anymore? If it wasn't for the basketball games, we really wouldn't have much use for this place. Oh, certainly the circus is coming, but when's a good show been there? We'd like to see some good shows, and, if not possible, why do we have such a staff? Thank you.

I WAS WONDERING if the city has a target date as to when they're going to start picking up recyclable items at the curbside. I am very conscious about the environment. I am most anxious to recycle everything I possibly can. Thank you very much.

The city staff has said the city plans to begin a citywide curbside pickup of recyclable items in October.

I AM SICK and tired of all the complaining about cigarette smokers. I am also sick of paying more and more taxes to buy cigarettes. I would just like to know where all these complainers think the tax dollars we smokers pay are going to come from when we are forced by our society to give up our freedom to smoke. I sure hope those taxes are distributed equally among all those who complain so much. Thank you.

READING IN THURSDAY'S paper about the proposed smoking ban in supermarkets brings to mind for me a smoking ban at the mall. I am sick and tired of buying clothes, brand new off the shelf, that smell like smoke. It seems to me that the mall should be able to have a smoking area and a non-smoking area so that non-smokers don't have to put up with the smokers. Thank you.

IT IS IRRITATING to me to read an article about different organizations or such when the reporters only use initials. You would think somewhere in the article they would use the full name of the organization so that the ordinary people would at least know what is being discussed. Thank you.

I THINK SOMETHING should be done about the buses being dismissed and leaving Schultz School before all the children were dismissed. I don't know what happened to the ones who had parents that could not come and get them. Thank you.

REGARDING THE BOARD of Regents recent decision to recheck the faculty senate merit plan, everyone should understand the faculty in fact did not want a merit plan but were told they had to develop one. Then, after they developed what might be a workable system, the Board of Regents said, no, that's not it. These are the kind of decisions you get when they're made by the people who do not understand the academic world, have had limited exposure to it and have no appreciation for the collegial process.