Thank you for publishing more of the "good" news and putting it on the front pages. As a former teacher I was thrilled to see the article about the West Junior High teacher who humbly and graciously received her award and thanked all who work so hard with her. That is the real truth of most teachers. I was also thrilled to see the Alton and Belleville East bands joining and working hard to go to the Chicago parade. And the story about the 20th anniversary of the Franklin Neighborhood Community Association with big, bright pictures right on the front page was wonderful to see.

I also believe you have hit on an answer to your own question put forth in a recent editorial. Those four young teens accused of the murder of Charles Weiss were once beautiful, innocent baby boys arriving into this world. Their lives were probably all downhill from that day forward. I would bet they had no opportunity to be in a marching band, or be fortunate enough to be part of a Franklin type neighborhood association. And even though I'm sure they had many caring teachers, they still had to go home at the end of the school day.

If you want society to figure out a way to get kids like these four boys to think about more than the moment, you will have to figure out a way to get their parents and caregivers to start caring about them.

Barbara A. Uhrig

Fairview Heights