SpeakOut 3/21

Call 471-6636

This is in response to the caller who keeps talking about Sikes Avenue behind Ferguson Medical Group. For one thing, it is not true that they are being chased by Beagles and Labradors. The other thing is, the car they were referring to, it's not mine, but it's also not a junk car. To be honest, the only thing that is a disgrace to this town is people like them who call in and apparently have nothing better to do with their time.

My child was part of an an attempted abduction from the bus stop at Ruth Street by a man in a silver car. We called the police and the school, and they both stated that they would make sure an officer was there to make sure this type of thing did not happen. This is a bad bus stop and should be watched daily. Last year there was an officer there everyday and this year, even after all of the shootings and assaults in the 800 block of Ruth, there is no one there to protect our kids!

Mr. Editor, for a change I agree with you that the city does not to spend $400,000 to build a walking/bike trail between the kindergarten and the sports complex. In a mostly unpopulated area, why will it cost $400,000? Do you have to buy a little strip of land? But pardon me, but the family owning that land could donate it for nothing as far as that goes. But, my point is the city streets are perfectly usable for most of our citizens except for the worst neighborhoods IF and I emphasize IF, one, if we had diligent, and I mean diligent, enforcement of speed limits. Two, if we had diligent enforcement of animal abuse and negligence laws. Three, if we had passing and vigorous enforcement of registration, vaccination and lease laws for dogs. Four, if we had the passing of an ordinance against the use of cell phones while driving. In other words, if our law enforcement here in Sikeston would hand out fines like they're going to go out of style our streets would be usable for pedestrians and bicycles most everywhere. And the lack of enforcement is what is rendering the streets unusable for anything but speeding cars and housewives zipping around town on their cell phones, or teenagers or men too.

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Mr. Editor, in pondering this little walk path/biking trail project, it is occurred to me that the real purpose of this path and development, which the taxpayer is supposed to invest $400,000 in, the real purpose of the project is to increase the profit of that land between the kindergarten and the sports complex, which is set for development. Development of private land I might add. Why should the taxpayer enhance land, private land mind you, set for development? In fact, while we're on the subject, why should the taxpayer pay for the sewer lines, electrical lines, laying of streets, etc. for any development of private land? The developer should pay that expense, not the taxpayer. And this town has been over developed already. And who is the winner throughout - the banker guys, we all know that, not the citizens of this community.

This is in response to the Obama Osama entry. I just wanted to say that it's a shame that Sikeston still holds ignorant white people that calls themselves Democrats, but is guilty of stereotyping the whole nation of black people. Sounds to me like they are jealous of Obama.

I'm calling in regard to people driving with cell phones to their ears. I think the state of Missouri should pass a law. It's too distracting in my opinion. Some people can't even chew gum and walk at the same time. Maybe they need to pass a law where it's illegal to do this.

My problem is with these inspections on your vehicles, where you can tag them for one year or two years. It doesn't matter when you go to have your vehicle inspected. Why do they charge you the two-year price and don't ask if you want the one or two-year tag? Then when you tag your vehicle for one year, you have to go back and have that same vehicle inspected again, and they charge you again the same two-year price. This has been going on in Sikeston and I think it should be addressed and people should inquire as to why this is happening. The license bureau states that if you have a one-year tag, you cannot have a two-year inspection. Because when you go to renew your vehicle, you have to have it inspected again. This is something I would like for Sikeston to look into and see why we're being charged the two-year inspection for a one-year tag.

This is in regards to the proposed walking trail that I read about in your editorial. The city says they do not have the resources to build a new DPS building, which is badly needed, yet they want to waste money on a walking trail? Where's the priorities? We need the DPS building. Folks that are there put their lives on the line all the time, the least we can do is put them in a safe building. Think about it. If I figured correctly, that amount of money would go a long way toward a DPS building.

I would like to invite anybody who would like to - including law enforcement, code enforcement, fellow neighbors, anyone who would like to - to come down to Sikes Avenue and take a bike ride or walk. I promise you you will not be greeted by Labradors and Beagles. Furthermore, people who have older vehicles to drive sometimes can't help that situation. And therefore I don't think other folks should be calling into a newspaper and telling them that they have a junk vehicle. Not everybody can afford brand new cars and brand new things. If everybody would just kind of back away and be neighborly instead of bringing a town down that is already suffering, then I think we would all be a lot better off.