The town speaks out about the death of the local teenagers:
“I’m an old-fashioned cop. I don’t waste time talking about it. We use the facts to solve cases: keeping watch on what’s going on in town, sorting through evidence, talking to witnesses and then thinking it through. It’s not my job to fix how people feel about it.”
Herb Wyman, Sheriff
“Everyone assumed that the deaths of Billy Willard and Melanie Flowers had to be a mistake or was, in some way, because they were young lovers who shouldn’t have gotten together in the first place. No one imagined the real story.”
Simon Parker, editor of the Sweet Water Gazette
“When there is trouble in town, we leave it to Sheriff Wyman to take care of it and keep the streets safe. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Jake Griffin, owner of Jake’s Salvage and the Stop n Snack diner
“Our village is usually a peaceful and normal place. Law-abiding citizens go to church on Sundays and a night on the town is a hot dog and a minor league baseball game. We get up, go to work and raise our families like we should. Here in 1960, it is the kind of town where everyone knows each other. We keep away from the crime in the cities. Unsavory characters are not welcome.”
Kermit Foster, pharmacist and mayor of Sweet Water Springs
“I’ll tell you what. Things aren’t like they used to be when the McCauley Mill was running three shifts spinning cotton and wool. I mean the big-shot businessmen might not have been on the up and up and the politicians had their fingers in the pie, but everyone got along pretty well. You know, people knew their place.”
Charlie Madison, owner of the Roadhouse
“Oh, I disagree with you, Mr. Madison. I certainly do. This is a new decade. We have to look forward and take care of Mother Nature, social justice and most, of all, to saving the children.”
Dorothy Paddington, librarian
“Listen to me, brothers and sisters, our town is going to Hell in a handbasket, and that satchel is the godless path our children are on. What with jive music on transistor radios and them sneaking off to Hooverton to see an immoral movie. It’s no wonder that a farm girl finds herself in trouble when a rich college boy fills her head with all kinds of ideas.”
Cyril Bogman, pastor of Faith Baptist Church
“When the rules are broken, there must be punishment. Someone has to pay so that order can be restored. It’s just the way things are.”
Frankie ‘the Cheese’ Ricotta, businessman