SPEAKOUT

New interstate would bring more billboards

I THINK it would be wonderful if I-66 went through. Just think of how many more billboards we could have in Missouri.

Blame put on cheerleading sponsor

CONCERNING cheerleading at the New Hamburg school: It was my understanding that the parents of cheerleaders all agreed these girls should be allowed to cheer. However, because of the sponsor not responding to the board's request to the parents' agreement, the girls were omitted again. Is this fair? What kind of person do we have for a sponsor?

Careful, you may get your wish

IN RESPONSE to the Speak Out caller who asked, "Who needs all that progress?" If that person wants to stop growth and enjoy what we've got, I suggest he take a visit to the two communities across the river in Illinois that have what he's wishing for: East St. Louis and Cairo. People stay away from there, all right. They don't have any people moving in or any economic growth. If the caller thinks that can't happen to Cape one day, drive around the Good Hope area and take a look at the empty, rundown houses. And for more fun, the caller can count the empty storefronts in downtown Cape. Be careful, you may well get more than you wished for.

Cape resident plays fine jazz clarinet

READING ABOUT the City of Roses Festival reminded me of an unforgettable musical experience I had at the Port Cape Sunday Night Blues Jam recently. One of the finest jazz clarinets I've ever heard -- and I've heard them all, coast to coast -- happened to be sitting in. His name is Jim McFarland, and he is a Cape Girardeau resident. That's all I know about him. But talent of this caliber is rare anywhere and should be recognized somehow.

Reno has a conflict of interest

I NOTICED some people, especially Democrats, complain about how much time and money we're spending on investigating all these scandals Clinton is involved in. I want to say what Janet Reno said the other day. She said the reason she has to consider whether they need a special prosecutor is because it takes time to do things right. Maybe the senators investigating Clinton might want the same: time to do things right. However, Janet Reno has a vested interest. That's her boss she's investigating. She could be fired. She owes him for giving her that job. She has a conflict of interest. I can't understand why they don't do something about it and get her out of there and appoint a special prosecutor so they can look into all this stuff.

Beware of garage-sale thieves

GARAGE SALE vendors, beware. To the woman who stole two crochet books from my garage sale: They were only marked 50 cents. You should have asked -- if you didn't have the money, I would have given them to you. Garage sale vendors, beware. They're out there.

Little respect for flag at parade

THE HOMECOMING parade was very impressive. The floats showed a lot of cooperation and teamwork. The marching bands were great. I'm calling to say that I was appalled that when our color guard passed by, only a very few people stood on their feet as a salute to the flag of the United States. I saw about four older men get to their feet and remove their hats. On the block on Sprigg where I stood I didn't need two hands to count the ones who stood in respect. My father was in WWI, my husband in WWII, and my son in Vietnam. Will it take another war for all those young men and women who were there to give the respect to the flag is it should be done? Do they know what our flag means?

Speak Out is a lot quicker

GARY RUST recently wrote that for a better life, you can read the entire Bible in 78 hours. I think the same thing holds true and only takes 76 seconds a day to read Speak Out.

Takes longer to really understand

A PERSON would have to be a super, super person to be able to read the entire Bible in just 78 hours and understand half of what they had read. It would really take more than 78 years of reading 10 hours a day, to know enough of the true contents of the Bible. And that's a questionable estimate.

Anti-smokers are destroying economy

ONLY IN America, the land of the free, could a town ban tobacco completely. For all of the anti-smokers out there, you realize that what you are doing is destroying the economy of the United States, especially the three states of Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia. I just wanted you to know what you all are doing.

Kelso school not teaching values

KELSO SCHOOL District belongs to the North Christian Youth League. This league is made up of several Catholic schools and Kelso, a public school. My husband and I have children who attended one of the Catholic schools. We don't have tryouts for cheerleading in our school. This is to ensure that no one is left out. These two girls would have been allowed to cheer at our school as long as they were enrolled by the first day of school. I sincerely hope that I'm not asked to judge Kelso's cheerleading squad during the season. I hate to admit it, but after all that has happened, I don't think I could judge them fairly because of the cheerleading sponsor's actions. I think Kelso should find another league to play in, because they are not setting a good example of the values we are trying to teach our children.

The president didn't swallow either

I WANT to comment on Clinton's trip to Brazil and how they threw manure on him. He threw enough at us. He deserves to get it back. I think the only reason he went to Brazil was because they have so much coffee, and you know he likes coffee klatches. In spite of all these coffee meetings he's had, now he claims he didn't swallow -- just like he didn't inhale.

Karl Marx: prophet of capitalism

THIS COMMENT is not designed to cause Gary Rust or other resident Southeast Missourian right-wingers to have a stroke, but guess who, according to the New Yorker magazine, is being revived as a prophet of capitalism? Karl Marx. If this catches on, will state Sen. Peter Kinder proudly proclaim himself a Marxist? Not likely.

No news, no interest in news

ACCORDING TO John Leo, conservative columnist for U.S. News and World Report, people are becoming less and less interested in the news. I tend to agree. In large part I think it's true because there isn't any.

Let teachers know about Missouri Day

I'M CALLING in regard to Missouri Day. It sure would have been nice if the Missouri tourism folks would have let area schools know that this day was to be observed. I am a teacher, and I would have done a lot to observe this day. It's a shame that our Missouri tourism department so much wants to promote tourism, but they do nothing with the schools to help promote it. I was just a little disappointed, and hopefully next year this will be addressed.

System is failing the children

IF THE children who attend Kelso school are being taught the ideals and moral values harbored by the school board and superintendent, then the system is failing these children miserably. The gentleman who wrote the article praising the school board for doing such a great job must be a graduate of this school. The solution to this problem is very simple. Put these two girls on the squad, and everybody's troubles are over. After all, the welfare of these two little girls should be the focus of everyone's attention.

Thanks for help with flat tire

I JUST want to say thanks to the two guys that helped me change my flat tire at Blomeier Junction. They said I was the second woman they had helped that night, and God will bless them, and God love them. I don't know what I'd have done without them.