SpeakOut 2/10

Monday, February 10, 2003

Call 471-6636

Let's keep our foster homes up and keep the foster homes that can handle children and give these children a home. I agree with the person who wrote about DFS giving children back to their parents too soon. They say their main goal is to keep families together. But when do they quit thinking about Mom and Dad and their wants and think about giving the child a good life? Also, we have a lot of good foster homes in this county. There are plenty of homes in this county that have openings and are willing to help children in need. Why doesn't DFS quit thinking about having to do a little extra paperwork and give some of the children from the cities a good home? There are plenty of children who really need a good home. Children from abused homes need a good home. The DFS office is denying them homes, telling other counties there are no homes with openings in this county. Although there are good foster homes that give their all, there are also foster homes that need to be watched carefully.

I am calling about Sikeston's leash law (I'm assuming they have one). I live on East Gladys Street (it's 5:15 p.m.) and I saw two pit bulls, a rottweiler and a German Shepherd run loose. Is the dog catcher not out after 5 p.m. and people are allowed to let their dogs run wild. He needs to come down here at 5:15 p.m. There are vicious-looking dogs running around and for children go by on bikes pose a possible danger.

I read the Jan. 30 article about a body being found in Puxico. Steve Fish, you are a dandy law enforcement officer and you'll work hard on this, but you have your work cut out for you. I wouldn't be surprised if whoever murdered that person lives in the Puxico area. Why would they drive from Bernie all the way up there (30 or 40 miles) to get rid of the body? Why did that body lay there four or five months before somebody discovered it? You ought to bring the Puxico law enforcement officers and every bit of help you can get to investigate. This is a mysterious case.

This is in regards to the people who live in the West End. Have respect for your fellow man and keep your rental property cleaned up and presentable. That would make a drastic change in how people see us. Chief Juden is doing all he can to change things over here. What does it take for you to get the message? People, let's get in there and help the officers get the West End cleaned up. Unity means so much in so many ways. Our children learn what they live and right now our city is in bad trouble. Please, please, sit down and think about this.

I'm inquiring about the separate books at the local cemetery. When you bury one of your loved ones, they sell you that burial plot and you own that plot. What right did the cemetery have in taking away the Shepherd Hooks? I had four Shepherd Hooks and they took the away and didn't offer to give them back to the local people. You are the owner of the burial plot so you should be able to put what you want on that site. I just wanted to voice my opinion.

I was watching CNN news on Jan. 31 and saw President Bush making a speech. He is wanting to give Africa billions of dollars for HIV and AIDS patients. I agree people like this need help. But I think the President should keep that money here in this country. We have people in the United States, today as I speak, who have no food, no shelter and so many of us need medical assistance. But he wants to give billions and billions to Africa to help with HIV and AIDS patients. I don't think this is right. We should look out for our people here in this country, the American people. We should come first. But this is ridiculous. We just can't get any help. There are too many homeless and hungry people in our own country. I think President Bush is doing wrong on this subject. I respect our President but I think he is definitely wrong for sending this money to a country that won't even appreciate it.