Here are some of the issues that 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 callers:

Thank you, Mary Herring, with the Liberty County Building and Licensing Department. You’re the one who seems to have a lot of sense about what you think of children when they’re playing. It’s true — law enforcement officers should have bigger fish to fry than shutting down this little lemonade stand.

I would like to congratulate the Midway police chief for a major bust. She shut down an illegal lemonade stand put up by kids.

I read the article about the little girls selling lemonade and was just blown out of the water by the way they were treated, but the little girls brought it on themselves. They shouldn’t have charged the police for the lemonade; they should have given it to them for free because they’re used to getting it free everywhere else.

I think our city of Midway has gone to the lowest point to bust kids for selling lemonade. What is this world coming to? It just goes to show you that our people have no hearts.

The story about the lemonade stand is simply outrageous. Morningstar and her department are acting like bullies, and everybody knows it. To the girls who were selling the lemonade, don’t let this discourage you. You guys should ask for donations instead of selling it, that way you can get around it.

My comment is for the Midway Police Department. Who’s next? Little old ladies having a bake sale for the church? Come on. What’s the matter? Did you not sell any lemonade when you were kids? These girls were just having fun, trying to raise money to go to a water park. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Dateline Midway: Lemonade gig exposed, city officials deny little girls of American dream. More at 11.

Now, along with speed traps and arrogant-attitude officers, we have officers insulting minors. What’s next, Midway Police Department?