SpeakOut 11/18

Call 471-6636

I'm calling about motorcycle riders who let kids ride on the back and have their arms on the waist of the driver. Don't make the same mistake I made with my daughter. I was driving and swerved and there was a bad accident. If you are riding your child around on a motorcycle, take a minute and think about if it's worth it. Believe me, it isn't worth it one bit. Let them grow up a little bit, at least enough where they can put their arms around your waist. If they can't get their arms around your waist, don't put them on the back of your motorcycle. It's too unsafe. Just think before you do it. I made that mistake and I'm real sorry for that mistake.

In the Nov. 8 Bulldog Barker, you had a thing in there about the high school boys and girls wanting to give their definition of a serial killer. It wasn't supposed to be a contest between the boys and girls or anything. But I'll tell you whose answer I thought was the best. Zach Casey. To my estimation, he gave the best definition: "A serial killer is someone who just kills for no other reason than their own enjoyment." He was so right. That was good, Zach. That took some good thinking. All the other kids had good answers too. Our country is just filled with sick minds like that. I hope that man gets the death penalty. I believe in the death penalty and will until the day I die. I hope they stick it to him hot and heavy.

I am a friend of Scott Matthews. I have known Scott all of his life. I want to address my remarks to the caller who defamed his good name in the Standard Democrat last week. What Scott Matthews is doing to the south end of Sikeston has needed to be done for many years. He is not taking anything from anybody; rather he has a civic mindedness that is necessary to create wealth for others. He does not have to do what he's doing, he is doing it out of the goodness of his heart. We need more people like him who are willing to extend their own personal fortune for the betterment of others. There has not been a civic leader of Scott Matthews' stature since Charles Matthews IV who died in the 1960s. Thank you, Scottie, for caring so much that you want to make middle class housing affordable for middle class people.

I noticed that Mississippi County election judges received a large increase in pay, retroactive to last November's election, but Scott County election judges received no increase in pay. I think the Scott County officials owe the Scott County election judges an explanation. Surely the Scott County election judges aren't 50 percent less appreciated than the Mississippi County election judges.

How much does it cost the taxpayers for Mary Myers to provide spiritual support and encouragement to farmers?

It doesn't cost the taxpayers anything. Mrs. Myers is a full time volunteer. Her work with Rural Restoration Adopt all comes from voluntary contributions.

I'm calling about an incident I witnessed Saturday while I was shopping in a local discount store here in the middle of Sikeston. A woman really showed out bad, claiming that someone was watching her, as if she was shoplifting. She talked really ugly to the two women who were working there. I have shopped at this store many times and have gotten a lot of bargains. We don't have many stores in Sikeston that have that kind of bargains. The lady then went on to a store across the street and continued to holler and raise her voice and even police officers told her not to do this. That was disturbing the peace and was very disrespectful. It's people like her who give black people a bad name. This store is a wonderful store and I shop there all the time. I plan to continue to shop there, but will never go there again if she is allowed to shop there.