Drunk Drivers Kill Little Children

I never met Melissa Keif.  But I have known so many little girls like her.  I imagine she was like my daughter, Chelsah, vibrant full of life – not a care in the world.  But, Unlike Chelsah, who is asleep in her room as I write this; Melissa is in a world of permanent rest. Peaceful rest I hope, but her journey was not peaceful.

On Monday, February 21^st, Melissa was killed on a lonely stretch of Missouri Highway 37, near Butterfield, Missouri.  Melissa was a passenger in a car, which was struck by a 26 year old suspected drunk driver. 

The really sad part of this story, besides the loss of Melissa itself is - this is a repeat.  This story has been repeated hundreds, no thousands of times, since cars were invented.  Most of you will know someone who has been killed, injured or struck by a drunk driver.  But, what is sad is most of you bore at hearing “another drunk driving story”.  Well, this is not JUST another drunk driving story – this is the story of a family and a child.

It could have been your family – it could have been your child. When will we wake up and do something about this?  Our laws can only go so far, it takes a real change in mentality – we must not tolerate anyone driving under the influence.

I don’t care that driving while intoxicated is illegal – I care that drivers driving while intoxicated KILL little girls.  They kill little boys.  They kill people nearly everyday. 

This is senseless – take action and stand with me in solidarity for tougher penalties and action.  If not for me, will you do it for little 10 year old Melissa?

Nothing is more important than an Education, in America - NOTHING!

In the February 5^th edition of the Kansas City Star, there is an article about the academic success of Asian Students in Kansas City area schools.  The article may be found HERE.

Clearly, this article addresses a stereotypical issue in America, as there has always been a stereotype of Asians and their intelligence.  However, after studying this issue – I have found it interesting and believe we can all learn from what is taking place.

As you read the KC Star article (there are several others online, which are similar), it becomes clear – this is not about a stereotype – this is about a way of life.  It’s about an expectation.

The Asian Families discussed in the article clearly place a high value on the importance of education.  Education comes before all else.  Anything less than an “A” is not acceptable.  Many hours are spent, by every student mentioned, on homework.

We need to consider the values being taught by these families, as they are similar to the values placed on education by early American Families.  Today, however; it is “acceptable” to many families for their children to perform at a lower level than their capabilities.  I mean, if a student is capable of achieving an “A”, but brings home a “C”, many families have no consequences to the child.

Many parents refuse to partner with the school district, instead they wish to complain about the educators and blame them for the child’s failings.  If a child fails at an education – we ALL lose. 

I hope to become an advocate for greater change in this arena.  I want to do all I can to push our children to do more and succeed.  I recently spoke to a School Administrator, who expressed frustration at the acceptance of “mediocrity”.  I could not agree more.

I have long advocated for improved academics at Neosho’s Schools.  Our School System is good.  It is true Neosho has a higher proportion of lower income children, than some other Central Ozark Conference Schools, but I do not accept the notion lower income kids can’t perform as well as higher income students.  I flat out reject the argument. 

We must do as the KC Star article says and give kids the tools to succeed and then demand, yes demand, they perform at a high level!  America depends on great public education!

If we can't agree.....Let's at least be Civil!

Seat Belts SAVE Lives - it's not a cliche'

Fatal crash south of Neosho Wal-Mart - several years ago - victim was unbelted

The winter weather has been hard on all of us this past week.  As I watched the beauty of the falling snow, I was reminded of the danger to those driving. 

This took me back to the early 1990’s, when as a young police officer I came up on a horrific scene.  I was working in Neosho and patrolling the Crowder area.  It was after mid night. I came upon a vehicle upside down on the north side of D Highway, just west of Howard Bush Drive.

I jumped out of my police car to see if I could find out what happened to the people, in the car.  No one was inside.  I was so relieved, as I thought they had walked away.  As I used my radio to call my dispatcher, I heard the strangest noise.  A noise I will never forget.  I had never heard this sound before.  I won’t go into detail here, but it was the sound of someone dying.

I searched the darkness and came across a 19 year old man, from Miami, Oklahoma.  He could barley speak.  He had been ejected from the car.  As I waited for the ambulance, the young man told me to tell his Mom he loved her.  Those were the only words I could understand through his injuries and his mumbling, until just before the ambulance pulled up, he said; “I should’ve had my belt on.  Mom will be mad.”

I have never forgotten those words.  For nearly twenty years now, I have been investigating or responding to vehicle crashes.  The physics and dynamics of wrecks fascinate me.  Why is it one person will die in a 15 mile per hour crash; while another person will walk away from a 120 mile per hour crash?

I have spoken to kids and adults alike about the need, the necessity, of wearing seat belts.  For such a simple act (in my mind), it is one of the most controversial “intrusions” to many people.  I have heard “it’s Government over reaching and violating my right to choose” or “I am afraid I will burn up, in a crash, and be trapped by my belt”. 

I must admit, laws requiring seat belts do intrude on your right to choose.  I also must admit, some people do get trapped in burning vehicles.  BUT, (you knew there was a “but” coming hear didn’t you?), this is one law that is based in common sense. 

If I could promise you your child was going to be in an accident 30 minutes from now and there was absolutely nothing you could do to prevent the crash from happening, would you want them to have a seat belt on?  If you answered “yes” (like almost all people do), then no other argument against seat belts matters.

As for being in a vehicle that may catch on fire, that so rarely happens its not even worth considering.  I have personally investigated or been on the scene of more than 1,500 crashes and of those only one had people die in such a way.  However, many others have died in these same crashes whom, I whole heartedly believe would have survived – if they had just made it CLICK!!!  Stop making excuses and BUCKLE UP!!!!

Differences in Humanity

As our area has endured a tremendous snow storm and a rare blizzard warning, I have been reminded of the vast contrasts in individual humanity.

On Tuesday, February 1, at the height of the storm, a hard working mother of three encountered the worst of humanity.  This mother of three lives in Verona, Missouri, which is 50 miles from Neosho.  She needed work to care for her children, so she took a job at the Green Forest Restaurant, on Neosho Boulevard.  She has a great personality and her customers love her!

As this hard working Mom drove home from her job, she became stuck in the snow.  Her car could not move.  As she sat stranded, a man pulled up in a large black one ton dually Dodge Ram pickup with dark tinted windows and the word “Playboy” in pink letters on the back glass and offered to pull her free.  She was elated!  The man asked her to pay him $50, to which she agreed.  She gave the man the money and he ran to his truck and drove away!!!!  He stole her money!!!

As she watched him drive away, she wondered what to do.  She called for help and the wonderful men of the Neosho Fire Department came to her rescue!  They freed her car and brought her to the Fire Station to warm up and make a theft report with the Sheriff’s Department.  We MUST find this man!  If you recognize the description of this truck, call the Newton County Sheriff’s Office at 417-451-8000 and leave the owner’s name or license plate number. 

In sharp contrast, as I patrolled the rather desolate roads of Newton County, on Tuesday; I came across a man helping a woman with her snow bound car.  They were on US 71, just north of V Highway.  I stopped to check on their safety and the woman said, “I am fine, my Guardian Angel found me!”

The Lady went on to tell me she slid off the road around 8 a.m. and this man was driving behind her.  As he stopped to check on her, she learned he was driving to work in Webb City.  She told the man she was fine and was going to call a wrecker.  He would not hear of such a thing.  She said he called his place of work and said he would be late.  He then drove her to Flying J and bought a tow rope and some hot breakfast.

After they ate, he drove back to her car in whiteout conditions and was now pulling her car free.  He refused any money from her.  As I stood there talking to the Lady, this good Samaritan said goodbye and drove on to work.  The Lady had tears in her eyes as she said she had recently moved here and knew no one.  She could not afford a wrecker.  This man made her day!

William Allen White, an American Journalist, once said; “If each man or woman could understand that every other human life is as full of sorrows, or joys, or base temptations, of heartaches and of remorse as his own . . . how much kinder, how much gentler he would be.”