To the editor:I would like to thank you for your recent positive comments about Cairo's potential for the future.

Cairo has struggled for many years with various economic and social issues, and there is no shortage of challenges for the individuals and organizations who attempt to initiate positive changes in Cairo.

In 2008 Capaha Bank will celebrate its 25th anniversary in Cairo, and through those 25 years, we have been impressed with the absolute refusal of the people of Cairo to give up on their community. The challenges for the city are real and many, but the opportunities and the potential are also very real.

The public and private initiatives that you mentioned, coupled with the strong resolve and the "can do" spirit of the people of Cairo, have a very good chance of moving the city in a positive direction over the next several years. Capaha Bank is proud of its 25 year involvement with the city of Cairo, and we look forward to being an active participant in the quest for Cairo's "silver lining".

JOHN R. ABERCROMBIE, Cape Girardeau