Speakout 4/10

Call 471-6636

I have a suggestion for the Kmart store that is closing in Sikeston. It would be nice if they relocated to Charleston. They only have a Dollar General store there. It's just a thought.

Michael Jensen, you sure wrote a good editorial in the March 28 paper about Memphis hosting Mike Tyson in a boxing match down there in June. You and I both know that when something big like this comes to Memphis that organized crime isn't far behind. Some of those dudes will be sitting there watching the fight that night and neither of us would know who they are. But they're a smooth bunch of operators, they're tough and they could hit these city officials like the mayor and things like that. That's who they zero in on. And they know if they'll listen to them, they'll cave in let things like that happen. I feel sorry for Memphis that it's going that way, but there isn't much we can do about it. If the people in Memphis won't speak out against it themselves, then it leaves a lot to be desired.

I'm sure the people calling about a 40-hour work week have never been in business for themselves. I have been a businessman in Sikeston for the last 30 years and pay some of the highest wages in Sikeston. At one time, we had more than 10 employees making over $25 an hour. Most of them thought they were worth that much money. They would be late and still put down that they started on time. They would come back from lunch 20 minutes late and still write down they only took an hour and it was all you could do to get the kind of production you needed from them to do the job. It has been my experience that most people are looking for all they can get for a minimum of work. You never hear anyone say, "Hey, work real hard today, Buddy." It's always, "Don't work too hard today," and most people mean it.

I am looking for my dog. He is half pit bull with a little boxer in him, has white down his chest and has a little white down his nose. If anyone has seen him, please call me at 667-5742. The last time I saw him, he was on Miner Street at a friend's house. It is very important that I find this dog.

I am calling about my earlier call about the workers at Kmart and it being their fault for the store's closing. I didn't expect the hostility my comment generated among some of the elderly readers. My comments were not, I repeat, directed at you, per se. But yet I must reiterate that there are small gangs of elderly who are rude and discourage shopping, and yes, they go roughshod through the aisles. I stand behind this statement and I know there are many who wholeheartedly concur. I realize that the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow and I know that we'd like to believe that all seniors are all models of politeness and are generally well-behaved. But for the few who are rude and insensitive, I again say, shame on you and you know who you are.

This propane tank valve thing, what a rip-off. People are getting paid to think up such crap. Do they think people haven't got enough sense to get in from the rain anymore?

This is to the person who was asking why tomatoes turn yellow right before they produce fruit. You can call the University of Missouri Extension Office in your county and they will be able to answer your question.