Tuesday was a shocking day for many of us. We all knew the day would come; we just kept wishing for next year to be the year.

Fans and the Packers should just congratulate Brett Favre on a graceful retirement. He didn 't play games by stalling or hinting, and he was able to leave on his own terms. Think how horrible it would be if he 'd have been taken out early next season by some young-buck tackle wanting to make a name for himself.

With the stories of his enthusiasm, love of the game (which applies to whatever job you do -- be there and ready every day), love not only of teammates but competitors and respect for those around him, how could we do better than to tell our kids, "Be like Brett. "

We in Wisconsin cannot say enough thanks for the wonderful memories you 've given us, and the exceptional example you 've set. God bless you in all you do in the future.

-- Julie M. Brooks, Middleton

What about the rest of the kids?

Why is there so much concern about funding the education of 3,500 virtual school students, and so little mention of the sad state of affairs in the funding of Wisconsin 's public "brick and mortar " schools?

The current system has forced many public schools to make so many cuts that they are on the verge of collapse, and they have only three choices: referendum, consolidation or dissolution.

Referendums are not popular with anyone except politicians who claim they are democracy in action. They only put off the next crisis for a few years. Consolidation isn 't popular with anyone and can be a serious detriment to small communities whose identity, as well as jobs, rest in the schools.

And dissolution can have a domino effect on the surrounding school districts. When one closes, those around it have to take on the extra students and the extra debt.

So how come Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, so quickly introduced a bill to save virtual school funding, scheduled a hearing and had floor debate, but is not even willing to hold a hearing on a resolution to discuss changing public school funding?

Assembly Joint Resolution 35 was introduced by Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Verona, and Sen. Roger Breske, D-Eland. The Senate Education Committee held a hearing on this resolution including six hours of testimony, with only one person speaking against it. Yet Davis refuses to hold a hearing. Does that mean the students in public schools don 't matter?

-- Jill Gaskell, Blanchardville

Let property owners decide on smoking

I urge every smoker and non-smoker to speak up to their legislators to vote against the proposed smoking ban.

This country is based on individual rights. Anyone who buys a business and pays taxes on it should have the freedom to allow smoking, which is legal, or to ban it if they don 't want smoking in their place of business.

All Americans should oppose a government that is taking more of our rights every day. We have young Americans dying overseas to keep us free and preserve our rights.

What 's next on the government ban list? Will certain movies be banned? Or will Wisconsin copy Mississippi, where a law has been proposed to ban obese people from dining in restaurants?

-- Rosemary Halverson,

Readstown

Exempt bars; avoid smoking scofflaws

Currently five slot machines are allowed in Wisconsin bars. Why? Because law enforcement said we do not have the manpower to be concerned about gambling. The state decided that five slot machines were a minor problem, and therefore allowed law enforcement to overlook everything under five.

The state could pass a law allowing five slot machines in bars, but have not done it. Why? I can 't answer that, but when Wisconsin passes an illogical smoking ban, will some bars be allowed to have smokers? I think so.

If you 've ever been to the northern two-thirds of this state, you know they do things their way. Why wait for law enforcement to create a situation similar to the five slot machines allowed today? Allow the bars in the southern part of the state the same opportunity as those in towns Up North like Dallas. Therefore, why not give bars an exemption to the smoking ban? Law enforcement already has, before the fact.

A ban is nothing more than a political Band-Aid for the real need, universal health care.

-- Roland C. Beiswanger, Madison

Anderson's honor merits more space

UW Badger basketball players Michael Flowers and Jolene Anderson both have accomplished much during their college sports careers. I thought it was unfair to Anderson, after she was named Big Ten Player of the Year, to have it noted with a small photo and article at the bottom of the March 4 sports section. Meanwhile Michael Flowers, also an outstanding Badger basketball player, gets a huge photo with a lengthy article attached.

How do these compare? Considering the photo and article recognizing Anderson 's award, the size of the articles and photos should have been reversed.

Unfortunately this is typical of the coverage that women 's sports get in the papers, always minimal notice compared to men 's sports. Isn 't it about time that it changes?

-- Gale Hansen, Poynette