Congratulations
to Lady Hornets
Congratulations to Coach Andrew Mitchell Jr. and the Lady Hornets of Salisbury High on a job well done. It has been a long and bumpy ride for you all, but I am sure your state title was worth the wait. This was one of the best displays of team ball I have ever seen. As I sat behind the bench, I never once noticed any panic from the team. When Si-Heria Shipp and Bubbles Phifer got in foul trouble, Kia Rice, whom I thought was the key to the victory, stepped her game up and put pressure defense on Graham’s point guard. I admired that Coach Mitchell rode it out with this young lady; she left it all on the court. This was a day that the role players got a chance to show what they could do. For anyone that missed this game, you missed a good exhibition of how basketball should be played.
Good job, Coach Mitchell and the Lady Hornets!
ó Derrick Foxx
Charlotte
Don’t raise taxes
I want to make a few comments about the March 12 article that stated the county would probably need to raise taxes to cover reductions in revenue in the current budget. Rowan County taxes are too high now! Homes are already valued 10-20 percent higher on the tax books than the current market value they would bring if sold. Residents are already struggling to repay mortgages and equity lines that are based on higher values than their current homes are now worth. If anything, property tax values should be aligned with the adjusted market values and reduced.
In addition, small businesses in Rowan County are suffering and struggling to hold on in this economic crisis. If taxes are increased, these businesses will go under, and more residents in our county will be without jobs. How do you expect to attract more small businesses to our county when they are doomed to fail and they have to pay higher taxes than surrounding counties? The idea of raising taxes to support the Tourism Authority is rather humorous because what advertisement could it have except “Come visit Rowan County with the highest taxes and small businesses that are going under.”
What about our senior citizens? Aren’t county commissioners sworn to help all county residents? They live on limited incomes and struggle to buy medicines or seek medical attention, and you want to raise their taxes again? It saddens me to be in line at the pharmacy and see an elder resident buying one or two pills because the money to buy more medication is just not there.
I also question that $22 million is sitting in reserve for emergencies. Is this not an emergency? If we must come up with $2 million or more to cover the budget shortfall, do it with our reserve instead of raising taxes.
ó Donald F. Marsh
Salisbury
Pork, anyone?
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
This is the oath every member of Congress swears to when they are elected or re-elected. I’ve read it several times but I can’t find the passage that says, according to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, that they “have an obligation to bring money back to their states.” They are supposed to be members of the U.S. Congress, charged with doing what is best for the country, not just what is best for their contributors back home. Despite President Obama’s campaign promise to stop earmarks and pork barrel spending, it’s business as usual in Congress. They claim it’s only a small percentage, but that’s just a lame excuse.
A budget with 8,570 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion is ridiculous. Wake up, Washington; the American people are tired of this.
ó Todd Morgan
Faith
Risky crossing
As my husband and I were headed to Gary’s Bar-B-Que for lunch recently, I saw something that has disturbed me greatly. As we approached the railroad crossing on Church Street, I could see the flashing lights indicating a train was approaching. We stopped behind a white Rowan-Salisbury school bus carrying a few students. As the arms of the crossing began to come down, the school bus took off across the tracks. My heart skipped a beat as I watched the arms nearly hit the bus. I don’t see how it missed hitting them. The bus did make it across, but as I looked to my left, a train was approaching.
I can’t imagine what this driver must have been thinking. He or she was carrying our most precious cargo. I wasn’t able to get the bus number or I would surely report them. As the train left the crossing, I noticed a police car waiting to cross in the other direction. Had it gotten there a few seconds sooner, the officer would have seen what happened or the bus driver would not have been so anxious to cross against the lights.
If the driver sees this, I hope he or she recognizes themselves and realizes that other drivers are watching and they might not get away with such behavior next time. I pray there won’t be a next time. Those children might not be so lucky next time.
ó Kay Musselwhite
China Grove
Valley Girl’s rescue
Bless you, Sharon Hucks and Bonnie Stevens, for rescuing Valley Girl from the Rowan County Animal Shelter. After reading the heartbreaking story of this young pup’s life, I lavished my pet with hugs and kisses and told him how much I loved him. What can we do to help these poor helpless animals?
We can help the Humane Society of Rowan County celebrate its 35th anniversary with a $1 donation in honor or memory of a loved one (human or pet) at Stitchin’ Post Gifts. For more information call the Humane Society at 704-636-5700 or Stitchin’ Post Gifts at 704-637-0708.
ó Sherry Lowery
Salisbury
Thanks for the help
The Faithful Friends Silent Auction benefit on March 7 brought about $19,000! Co-chairs Alex Kenny and Julie Pinkston did an incredible job planning this event. Our grateful thanks go to them and to F&M Bank for the use of the Trolley Barn, Barb Sorel, Frank Montgomery, Ott Pinkston, Gary Kenny, Peter Reinemann, Katherine Murdoch, Brenda Wood, Jan Samuelson, Jeanne Dennis, Lisa Humphrey, Terry Echeverria and all the generous sponsors, volunteers and supporters who made this such a success. The folks who came brought over 200 pounds of pet food for the Humane Society and Rowan Helping Ministries to give to pet owners in need.
Thanks also go to the students of Hanford Dole and Landis elementary schools and the staff at Knollwood Elementary School for collecting cans to recycle for Faithful Friends. Bernhardt Hardware was kind enough to donate a number of containers for the cans. North Rowan Elementary student Trey Childers collected 100 cans of pet food for Faithful Friends. Rowan Animal Clinic donated a large amount of food for our foster homes also. We, and the animals, are very grateful!
ó Anne Ingram
Salisbury
Ingram is president of Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary.