Speakout 1/4

I heard on KFVS on Dec. 28 where the environmental people are giving the people from Switzerland all kinds of heck about the cement plant again. To you people from Switzerland, stay in there. You have a good case. If you show the environmentalists everything in black and white about putting the right pollution controls, smoke stack and everything and show them everything is environmentally right, the environmental people don't have an argument at all. They just want to gripe, like they have in the last 50 years. We're hurting for jobs here in Southeast Missouri. I want to see that plant so badly I can almost taste it. If you can put the plant in Southeast Missouri, it will mean millions of dollars for the Bootheel. Ste. Genevieve needs industry just as badly as other towns in Southeast Missouri. The cement plant would bring a building boom in the area like we've never seen. That's just two reasons why the plant needs to be built there. You environmental people should put your heads somewhere and hide out. You're not helping. You're just stirring up trouble. Guys like Jim Talent, Christopher Bond, Peter Kinder (just to name a few) need to get in there and pitch for this project. I want to see your names in the paper for pitching for this plan and for helping people in the Ste. Genevieve area.

If you don't think Ruth Street has gone to the dogs, come over here now. There are about six out in the street right now and it's only 2:42 p.m.

I want to send a special thank you to a postal employee who helped a stranded family from Texas on Christmas Day at a convenience store. They provided them with gas, food and toys for their little girl. The postal service has good, kind people.

I would like to thank the Standard Democrat and Sikeston Jaycees for bringing such a nice Christmas basket, and also for whoever turned my name in. It was very nice and really made Christmas for me. I would like to thank each and every one of them who worked on that.

Why doesn't the city of Miner go out with the railroad and do something about the entrances to RaudMont and Ruby Tuesday's? It would appear that something could be done there. It certainly doesn't offer a very good appearance in entering into that very nice restaurant. I believe the city ought to get off their duffs and do something about those entrances where the water stands.

Is it the responsibility of the city or railroad?