Speak Out 1/2/14

PBHS student

fans were rude

As a member of the older generation, one of my lifelong passions has been watching spirited basketball games, especially high school. Over the years the definition of sportsmanship has evolved. When I was in high school when the opposing team shot a free throw it was considered rude to make a sound. Compare that to the raucous spirited behavior of the fans today. This past weekend was the perfect opportunity to enjoy high school basketball at its finest at the 1st Midwest Current River Challenge at Van Buren featuring 24 large and small schools. For most it was their first game of the season. I had highly anticipated the match between Rogersville and Poplar Bluff since I don't have the opportunity to see large talented schools play each other. As the starting lineups were announced, I was stunned to see the behavior of the Poplar Bluff student fans. As the Rogersville team was introduced, they turned their backs and booed as the individual names were called. I have not attended other Poplar Bluff sporting events and can only assume this is routine behavior and is condoned by the administration. Since when have we as a society gone from showing school spirit and pride by celebrating the effort and success of our student athletes to just being rude and disrespectful of our opponents.

Tired of Cape

TV reporters

Whoever called in about Cape Girardeau hiring all women, or mostly women, for news and weather, I'm in total agreement. They get up there and they talk in their little sing-song voices and they are just so cutesy! They tell you when it's cold like this to be sure and dress warm and then the lady doing the weather is standing there in a sun dress. I don't think they got sense enough to come in out of the rain. One time we were having a very bad storms and the lady said to take cover and to be sure and wake up the kids and take them with you. Actually I would just take cover and leave the kids to fend for themselves. C'mon! They're not very bright! And by the way, this is a woman calling.

Saved money

on Obamacare

This is for the person who put the thing in Speak Out, option for healthcare: if you like your healthcare, you can keep it or you can buy one twice as much. Thank you. Well, I want you to know that I'm paying $1,205 a month for my wife's medical insurance at this time, but I buy insurance from the Affordable Care Act, it will be $351 a month instead of $1,205, so maybe you ought to check up on these things or you're probably without medical. Maybe you ought to buy some and see what it costs or I guess you'll go to the emergency room and the rest of us will have to pay for yours. Thank you.

Use weather

recording

I am a full paying subscriber out in the country and I realize that the weather is bad that I would at least think that if our paper is not going to be delivered then on the circulation they would at least have a recording stating that. "Sorry, due to the weather conditions that we can't do as we had stated in the paper." So this is a very disappointed subscriber who does pay full price and not the discounted price. So I just wanted to give you my opinion about you all not being a very efficient regarding this weather. I mean, you know, it does snow in Missouri all the time.

Praise for the

police dept.

I want to say something good about the police department. They have been very patient. They've worked overtime. They have done a tremendous job and I think they ought to be honored for their efforts and I sure do appreciate the Poplar Bluff Police Department and the way they help everybody and everything. I wanted to speak out and let the world know it. Maybe somebody can do something to help them. Thank you.