Here are some of the issues area residents are discussing. The statements were phoned in anonymously, so the Courier does not vouch for their veracity, nor do we know what motivated the calkers:

School was in session only a couple days when they started sending stuff home with the kids for the parents to buy. They know nobody else will buy it. Parents do so, so their kids will look good in class.

 How can someone on Social Security, which is supposed to be fixed income, afford satellite, cell phone and all the extras in life, as well as the essentials, but my husband and I work full-time and we cannot afford none of those extras?

 Don’t people work anymore? Every time I go to Wal-Mart during the day, there’s tons of people. Are they all on disability?

 AARP did endorse Obama’s health care. But after they got so much heat — even I called in — about accepting his plan, then they backed out. It looks like they can’t decide what to do.

 I was in a fast food restaurant, in the restroom, and saw two employees leave without washing their hands. I will not go back there. Managers need to be aware. Their employees need to be sanitary.

Twenty years in the Army I had to spit-shine my boots. Now I use ArmorAll on my shoes.