West Newsmagazine 8-15-18

4 I OPINION I
August 15, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Regarding the tragedy
on Table Rock Lake
To the Editor:
I arrived in Okinawa in 1958, two weeks
after a typhoon roared through a Marine
Corps artillery base there killing 29 men.
DUWKs [ducks] were employed out of
de-activation to recover the bodies swept
out to sea. The ducks were ideal for this
task because they could drive over the
unseen underwater boulders while traversing
shallow water [waist high]. The ducks
served a purpose, but they were difficult
to maintain [water seepage around the
wheels, continuous pumping needed, top
heavy, limited human capacity, tended
to roll lengthwise] and the Marines were
scared to death to ride in them.
After the recovery, the ducks were deactivated
again and sold to the tourist trade,
never to be used again by the Marines.
Could the tragedy on Table Rock Lake
be prevented? Perhaps. But ducks are
not seaworthy. Maybe the passengers in
Branson rushed to one side to observe
something. If ducks are going to be used,
mandatory life vests need to be worn and
more frequent inspections by Coast Guard
are needed.
Tom Paton
Let’s remember Mike Matheny
with grace
To the Editor:
There is so much talk and everyone has
an opinion about Mike Matheny being
fired. The news follows all of it, the good
and the bad.
Let’s remember the man and his abilities
and his kindness.
He was a great catcher for the Cardinals
in his youth, and we all watched and
admired that talent for several years.
In this Issue
He learned to speak fluent Spanish,
which helped our foreign men feel welcome
when they were drafted by the St.
Louis Cardinals. You could tell in his
speaking and watching him in the dugout,
he had so much respect and friendship with
the players. He had been in their shoes,
and knew the responsibility and hard work
it was to be a major league baseball player.
Personally, I remember, with tears still
in my eyes when I think of it, being in
Chesterfield Valley on the day he opened
the baseball field he had sponsored and
funded for children with disabilities. He
gave a beautiful short speech, not bragging,
but explaining his mission.
Shortly after that, several school buses
drove up and children poured onto that
field with laughter and smiles. I will never
never forget that sight. He welcomed them
and, a short while later, it was announced:
“Let’s Play Ball!” And they did.
My husband and I and our friends sat
through the entire game with our hearts
pumping 100 beats per minute. We were
so elated. I so remember one little boy on
second base in a wheel chair, and being
there was the thrill of his life. I am sure
they all enjoyed that field many times, and
to this day it is there. I hope it still is being
used.
Mike was not playing for the Cardinals
at that time and had played for other teams.
I am not sure if he even lived here at that
time, as was after his retirement.
I am sure many of you also have fond
memories of Mike. Let’s remember those.
Greta Clark Corkhill
RTW voting fallout
To the Editor:
Choice. Each of use the blessing of
choice when we decide to acquire goods,
services, solutions, friends, mates and so
on. Choice is so embedded in our culture
and heritage that removing it would be
tantamount to a deep infringement on our
being and perceived right.
Like our own lives, companies enable
the same process when looking to find
the best location and offers to grow,
expand or start an operation. Every state
in the U.S. faces a very competitive environment
with a long list of items that are
used to try and lure a business to stay,
move to or expand within state lines.
The economic impact to the state and the
people who live in such a state is too long
to enumerate but here are a few highlights
– fuller employment, increased tax revenue,
lower taxes for the people and more jobs.
Once more jobs occur, the items listed
above continue and become stronger.
The legislators in Missouri have been
very focused on making Missouri an
attractive place in which to have a business
begin, land or grow. It is similar
to our processes of showering, getting
dressed up and shaving or applying
makeup to meet someone we would like
to impress.
A key aspect of this “dressing up” of
Missouri was right to work legislation.
Now, it is gone! And no matter how much
we shower, shave or apply makeup, our
appearance is determined by a group of
tailors who are more concerned with the
fees gathered from us using their outfits
than applying the right style for the environment.
The tailors have just set Missouri to
the back of the line for consideration of
a greater economic impact for Missouri,
and our children and grandchildren. On
the plus side, the tailors still get their fees
– at least until the jobs they count on disappear
to another state.
Ken Ketsenburg
Want to express your opinion?
Submit your letter to: editor@newsmagazinenetwork.com • 636.591.0010
11
Decision Delayed
A decision regarding the rezoning of property
abutting the Clarkson Woods subdivision has
been delated by Chesterfield’s City Council.
17
Celebrate Wildwood
Everything you need to know before
heading out to this family-friendly annual
event in Wildwood Town Center.
26
Football Preview
Area coaches offer their assessments
of their teams’ prospects for the
2018 high school football season.
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© Copyright 2018.
A PUBLICATION OF
Linda Joyce
Joe Ritter
Sheila Roberts
Bonnie Krueger
Warren Mayes
Jessica Meszaros
ON THE COVER: Marquette squares off against Lafayette on the grid iron in 2017. [Photo by Marlo May, Lafayette High Class of ‘18]