By Beth Preston

This is a response to Irene Stevens' Jan. 17 op-ed column.

I was a resident of Cape Girardeau for almost 33 years, but I did not decide to go someplace else. I kept on living and working in Cape Girardeau -- in particular, in the east part of Cape Girardeau.

Like the woman from Evergreen, Colo., I am also appalled. Unlike here, I am appalled that people all over America read her op-ed column, especially the undeserved comment about the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Located in the H&H building on Broadway, one of the grand dames of edifices in Cape Girardeau, the CVB is a huge, sunny, beautiful suite. The suite is located right next to easy street parking and a large parking lot. See the 6-foot-by-5-foot sign located prominently on the street facing the window, identifying the resource center. Once within, a wonderful staff will be your guide to anything you wish to see or do in this area.

Mountain lady, listen to me. For every empty, decaying storefront you cited there are five healthy businesses: mechanics shops, day cares, preschool, medical facilities, stores, restaurants, law firms, corporate offices and humble storefront churches. The east side of Cape Girardeau is full of citizens laying everything they have on the line to run a business or buy a home or both. Hundreds of people make their living from these enterprises.

There is no "tide to change" around here, ma'am. We have a river, and it has currents. The currents of economics are tough, and they are affecting our part of the community in the same ways as other places. Yet people continue to work on legislation, purchase property and start up businesses. Thank you to all the Cape Girardeau families who have spent generations running businesses here in this section of Cape Girardeau. Thank you to Capaha Bank and Rhodes 101 Stops, just two of the companies that lend corporate support.

And thank you for this opportunity to respond.

Beth Preston is a Cape Girardeau resident.