SpeakOut 2/26

Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Call 471-6636

Your article, "Conflicts are found in Sikeston school schedule" struck a nerve. I get so tired of hearing about what the teachers want. What about the parents? If your schedule hadn't been a joke, these half days for Wednesdays, Easter would be cut down to nothing and even less now since that Monday will be used as a snow make-up day. And you will find that this year's spring break is also conflicting with some school activities. Why do we need a spring break, anyway? Why don't you prepare a survey for the parents? Find out what we think or might want? Then maybe we can come to a mutual agreement that all could live with.

I was so disappointed this weekend when I went to church Sunday morning and it was so noisy around here in my neighborhood with these people running around in their cars. My friends just ask why we don't move. They don't understand. We're older and cannot move. We have a lot of money invested in our home. Why can't Chief Juden just make his officers enforce the noise ordinance. Why should we have to move and why do we have to put up with it? The people driving around in their cars and making all this racket for us don't even work. How long would this neighborhood last if we did pull up and move?

According to Sikeston Department of Pubic Safety Director Drew Juden, residents can file a complaint with DPS concerning noise pollution. Filing a complaint will assist DPS in solving the problem.

I saw an ad in the Standard Democrat. I read where Morehouse has an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter but whoever runs that ad needs to include the time and location of its meetings.

I'm calling about the person who said the Sikeston Housing Authority should cut out all the housing authority. I don't think that is the answer. Spending less money is the answer, but instead of cutting it out for everybody, there are people out there who need it. I make my living by inspecting Section 8 and taxpayer apartments. There are actually people out there who need it. They should spend more money by doing criminal background checks on applicants and inspecting units, searching for drugs and things like that. Kick the people out who don't need it, who are lazy and don't work, but there are people who are mentally handicapped or are just too old to work. They do need it. They deserve it but people who are just too lazy to work don't deserve it. Check them out, make sure their history is correct and go from there. It all saves money in the long run and provides assistance to the people who really need it.

I found a little female beagle in Benton near Boomland, down from where you get to the interstate. She's beautiful and in real good shape. We took her to the humane society. If you live in Benton and lost this beautiful little beagle, she's at the Sikeston Humane Society.

One evening an old cowboy told his grandson about a battle that was going on inside himself. He said, "My son, it is between two wolves. One is evil. He fights for anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other wolf is good. He fights for joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old cowboy simply replied, "The one I feed." Which wolf are you feeding?

This is in response to the person who said wealth is not a necessity. These people didn't take into consideration children of stepparents who don't take out support, one parent who pays child support out of that income, insurance costs, accident and medical costs. Obviously the person who put that in doesn't make $7 an hour.

I am a parent of two children in the East Prairie Elementary School district. We do have an excellent school system, one to be proud of. Recently I have seen that we have a new addition to our four-year program. This disturbs me. I have always believed in the Drug Awareness Program and have been proud that our schools are clean. I do believe that this program (drug awareness) needs to be acknowledged. Our elementary is too early for such awareness of this sort. Please clean up this mess.