Candidate’s story doesn’t ring true
I have served as captain for the past three sheriffs of Rowan County. Recent public misstatements by sheriff’s candidate Brian Kiever should not go unchecked.
Kiever told The Rowan Oath Keepers that while he was working for now-deceased Sheriff Bob Martin, he completed his shift at the jail when Martin requested that he get in the car with him. They drove to a residence in the county where federal agents were conducting a seizure of property. Kiever alleges that Martin ordered the federal agents to leave Rowan County, and then escorted them to the county line.
The inference, of course, was that Martin was either obstructing justice or thought so highly of Mr. Kiever that he hand-picked him to assist.
None of these scenarios could be further from the truth. The veracity of Mr. Kiever’s statements should be considered questionable. I suspect the self-aggrandizing statements were made to lend credibility to Mr. Kiever’s lacking law enforcement and leadership experience.
I also resent the diminution of the legacy of a deceased sheriff unable to debunk this nonsense. In defense of Martin’s reputation, I personally talked with his former chief deputies, Tim Bost and Ed Haupt, along with captains Rick Thibodeau and John Lookabill. None of Martin’s command staff remembers this incident at all. They do remember that Martin would have never considered acting in this manner, as he was a retired federal agent himself, and ended his career with impeccable integrity.
Those of us who knew Sheriff Martin know that the events portrayed by Mr. Kiever are totally inconsistent with the Sheriff Martin we knew and worked with daily.
The statements can be viewed on You Tube’s Oath Keeper’s meeting. This is one of many misleading statements Mr. Kiever has made. Rowan County citizens deserve better than him.
— John C. Sifford
Salisbury
The writer is a captain in the administration/support division of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

Great theater experiences
In the past week my wife and I have been enriched by three excellent productions right here in our city. Lee Street Theatre’s “The Sugar,” Piedmont Players’ “Chicago” and the Catawba College presentation of “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
(Time prevented us from attending “On Striver’s Row” at Livingstone College and “Annie” at Carson High School. Not enough time for all the good live theater in town, what a good problem to have!)
We want to express our appreciation to all of the talented, disciplined people whose hard work made these productions possible. As a past participant in the Livingstone Theatre program (“Miss Evers’ Boys,” 2002) I have some awareness of the commitment of time and effort required to bring such quality theater to our city.
It is very important to let the artists know how deeply their work is appreciated!
Thank you to all the young (and not so young) people whose efforts have enriched our aesthetic, spiritual and intellectual life. Your efforts help make Salisbury a great place to live and grow.
A recent letter to the editor mentioned the possibility of an arts festival. We should do that.
This week Joyce Ann and I will relax and catch our breath!
— Jim Spiceland
Salisbury