Speakout 9/14

Sunday, September 14, 2003

Here in our community of Charleston, it is truly a shame when partisan politicians use a church facility to allow Governor Holden to attack members of the other party. Regardless of either being a Democrat or a Republican, no politician should be allowed to use a church facility for such partisan attacks.

Why don't the spray trucks come all the way down on a dead-end street? Don't they know that we pay taxes, too, just like the people on the other end? Please send the sprayers down here too.

Call city hall at 471-2512.

I am a student at Southeast Missouri State University. I learned in my business law class today that currently there is a bill in the Missouri Congress that will outlaw people smoking in any public place in the state of Missouri. I think this is wrong. Our teacher suggested we call our local newspapers and contact our representatives. The people of Sikeston have the right to know about this.

One way to save Missouri taxpayers some money would be to cut that $49 million courthouse out in Cape Girardeau. That would save us all a lot of money.

There is a teen-age boy who is homeless and needs help. His adoptive parents who kicked him out because he didn't turn out like he should. If there is a church or someone who is willing to help him, he is a friend of our son's, but we have done all we can. Please, someone help.

Contact the Juvenile Court in Sikeston at 472-2554.

I am calling about a family in need of a refrigerator and an electric stove. They are in dire need. If you have one to give away or sell at a small price, please call 667-9036.

Move industry here

On the Sept. 4 news they talked about the Briggs & Stratton plant possibly closing because their engines don't meet all the air standards in California and they say the plant isn't big enough to hold any extra equipment to manufacture the parts, so it could be closed. Why don't some of the good people in Sikeston donate some land or sell it at a reasonable price to Briggs & Stratton, like they did supposedly for all the subdivisions in Plantation Acres in Sikeston, and bring Briggs & Stratton to Sikeston, where we need jobs? We have an industrial park north of town. Why don't the city fathers see if we could bring that plant here? We could use the jobs very much.

I called SpeakOut and said I had sold the wrong lamps in a yard sale at 312 Scott St. but have never heard from the lady who bought them. If the lady would please bring the lamps back I would gladly giver her money back.

What are the rules?

This question is for someone who works for family services or the welfare department. If a man is working and they quit their job, they are entitled to no benefits at all. But if a woman is working at that same business, she can quit her job, come to the welfare office and apply for benefits for welfare and she's going to get benefits if she has children. My question is, why don't they check on that woman's past history where she worked and ask why she quit her job. She knows she can make it better on welfare than she can by working if she gets all the benefits (medical, food stamps, welfare). If a man quits his job, he can't get anything. This isn't right.

Call the Missouri Division of Family Services at 472-5222 and they can explain how the law works in welfare situations.

I thought the Miner Police weren't supposed to clock people speeding on the interstate. I was driving south between exits 69 and 67 and saw a Miner police officer cutting across the median, tearing up the grass, and go after someone else going in the southbound lane. By the time he catches up with the driver, the officer will be out of Miner's jurisdiction.