Speakout 7/15

I was wondering if there were any plans for a 10-year class reunion for the Class of 1997. I live out in Oklahoma and don't get home much, but I was curious.

I'd like to speak out about the fireworks here in Sikeston. Here it is July 7th, and the people in our neighborhood are still popping fireworks. I have been calling DPS since July 3rd, that's when all this fireworks started. They said they didn't have enough officers to come all over town. They either didn't come out, or come out and warned them. As soon as they left, it started right back up. It's against the law to pop fireworks in Sikeston, just like it is drinking and driving or drugs or anything else like that. If DPS would enforce this law and give these people, or their parents fines, we wouldn't have this problem every year. Also they could take the money they get out of these fines to pay more officers. We also have a fireworks display out at the Complex these kids could go look at. That should be enough.

This is in regards to the teenager that called in about the phones and Wal-

Mart. You don't have to take a phone call while you are in the store. The point is people are getting in there, they're holding up the lines, somebody is behind you, somebody is in front of you. They are talking on their cell phones. You are trying not to listen in, but you can't help it. You have nowhere to go. People get loud, they almost scream on the phone. I don't want to hear that. I want to go to Wal-Mart, get my stuff and get out of there. Not waiting because somebody is on the phone in front of me, not getting stuff out of their basket, not getting through the checkout, not getting their money out or anything. If it's an emergency, that's fine. But the calls are not emergencies. I hate going to a restaurant, sitting down, everybody's phones start ringing. And their yelling, Yeah, I'm at such and such restaurant eating. Just use a little common sense is all I'm asking. Otherwise, I think they ought to outlaw the dad-gum things. I use them for emergencies, and that's it. I don't want anybody else calling me for any other reason. You don't need 1,000-something minutes on your phone. A lot of people have that much and it's just ridiculous.

Good morning. I just seen where a local gas company made a donation to some development group. Well, if they would go ahead and quit giving so much money to these other people and they'd give other people a chance to pay their bills and not cut them off, I think they'd be a lot better off. These companies, gas and electric, are always in the paper giving scholarships and this and that. Why don't they help the low-class people and give them a little money? If they don't have their bills paid within a month, they're cut short. They are gain a lot more by helping people like that, who can't help themselves, than these big shots that don't need it.