Speakout 8/16

Call me naive, or too pro-veteran, but it seems to me we should be thanking every Purple Heart recipient for their duty to country, not demanding of them explanations for why their wounds weren't bigger or fatal. Only somebody craven - or with a political agenda - could stoop so low. Ridicule Kerry on his liberal Senate record, or even his outspoken Vietnam Vets Against the War protests, but leave his old battle scars alone.

It is not the President who is sending the businesses to foreign countries - it is the unions. VAW is going on strike with 9,000 members. It would be sad if they went overseas. They better thank Caterpillar that they have a job. God bless America!

I would like to know how local restaurants can keep kids under the age of 17 at work until 2:30 in the morning? Can anyone explain that to me? It really bugs me because that is past our curfew. What if we get stopped on the way home from work or something?

We contacted the Sikeston Department of Public Safety with your question. Curfew Law 9.28.010 curfew does not apply to a juvenile who has bona fide employment. They can go from home straight to work and then from work straight to their homes after curfew hours and not be in violation of the curfew law.

This is to the farmers that farm rice. They say on the news about standing water in flower pots, old tires, etc., are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Well what about the standing water in the rice fields? I live in the country and have for 15 years. My children can no longer play outside when it starts getting late because of them. It is terrible out here. You can literally hear them come out of the fields like a colony of bees. What happens to one of them if they get the West Nile Virus? Are you going to pay their medical bills? It's all over the news about how to help fight the breeding problem, but how can we fight the standing water in the rice fields? What about the animals that have died? What about the people who have already died? How many more have to die before you get the picture? Let the other countries raise the stuff. I would rather import it than see any more of our people die from this disease. If you won't stop raising rice then why can't someone come up with some kind of spray that can be used that won't hurt the crop and will kill the mosquitoes? Are children's lives worth losing over mosquitoes? I think not! Don't get me wrong. I have all the respect in the world for farmers, but let someone else raise rice.

If it's the goal of the Jaycees to cut down on the number of people getting intoxicated, job well done. Who in their right mind would pay $4 for a cup of beer? Wasn't that rainbow the greatest? Wow!

This is to the guy who drives the white pickup truck who lives in the 600 block of Moore Street. You obviously are proud of your loud pipes, but your neighbors are very irritated by the racket you make when you drive up and down the street. The police have already warned you once about the noise you make. Why don't you install a muffler or whatever it takes to dampen the sound?