Letters: Alcoa committed to Rowan recreation

Published 12:00 am Monday, September 29, 2008

Alcoa committed to Rowan recreationI want to assure your readers that Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) is committed to developing a quality public recreation area for Rowan County residents who enjoy High Rock Lake. A recent article (“Boaters ask county’s help in getting better High Rock access,” Sept. 23) implied that a site near Leon-ard Road has already been selected for the new recreation area. That is not the case.
APGI has not yet identified a location for a new public recreation area in Rowan County. We will work together with Rowan County officials, appropriate state agencies and local residents to evaluate potential sites and determine the most suitable location.
Efforts by Stanly County to delay APGI’s new license have prevented the development of this new public recreation site from moving forward more quickly. When APGI receives a new long-term license from the Federal Energy Regula-tory Commission, we will begin developing and implementing the recreational improvement plan defined in the Relicensing Settlement Agreement. That agreement includes a new public recreation area for Rowan County residents, as well as construction of a new fishing pier on High Rock Lake and the donation of 63 acres along the lake to Rowan County as part of the Eagle Point Nature Preserve.
ó Gene Ellis
Alcoa Power Generating Inc.
Time for revolution
If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. In 1992, Bush I lost to Bill Clinton because the economy was in such bad shape. Under Democratic policies over the next eight years, our country enjoyed a robust economy and unprecedented prosperity for the middle class. Then came Bush II, and big business, oil companies and greedy financial institutions were given free rein to make obscene profits at the expense of average Americans.
Now our economy is in a shambles, and John McCain, who can’t remember how many houses he owns, says to trust Republicans to fix it.
I don’t think so.
Thomas Jefferson said that every democracy needs a revolution once in a while. Now is the time, so let’s give the other guys a chance.
ó Ann Overcash
Rockwell
Free to believe
America, politics, Christianity … These three things are all important to people, and all seem to be as one, when they all should be very separate things. These days, it seems that everyone is trying to be more American than others by questioning their patriotism. The political system is in a wreck, from the president to the stock market.
Last, but not least, there’s good ol’ Christianity, which seems to wrap itself around all of it ó from who’s more Christian than the other, to what religion is right or wrong. Christians can’t even decide what version of Christianity is right or wrong.
Where does it say that, to be American or in politics, our faith matters? If you hire someone for a job, judge them on their past work and for the job they do for you, not for their faith. Same for foreign policy. What gives us the right to tell others that our democratic system and Christian way of life are the only way to achieve peace and diplomacy? Seems to me that ours hasn’t been working too well for a while now, so here’s my opinion: If you live, work, and pay taxes in America, then you are American.
As for my political view, I am voting for Obama. I personally feel that he will bring our troops home, protect our borders, restore foreign relations, work toward fixing our economy and be more in touch with the middle/lower class of people, who keep this country running.
Just because you have your views of life and faith from a book and what was told to you as a child, that doesn’t make it fact.
Freedom: The right for everyone to be able to believe and do what they feel is right in their heart.
ó John Cannon
Salisbury