SALISBURY POST

Laurels to all the police and emergency crews who have fielded the public’s calls about anthrax and other scares over the past couple of weeks.

Everyone is skeptical that a terrorist threat could surface in Salisbury, but you never know. So dispatchers and officers and hazardous-material crews take each call as seriously as they can and investigate every possibility.

They deserve the public’s thanks for their patience, their skill and their reassuring presence.

n n n

Dart to the bitter feelings that are surfacing on the Rowan County Planning Board over a proposed sign ordinance.

The board held a public hearing on the proposal last week, but the most powerful sentiments came from board members themselves, who are deeply divided. Half of the members supported the ordinance; the other half wanted to dump it, and the member with the tie-breaking vote was out sick.

As much as Rowan needs a sign ordinance, it also needs consensus —or something a little less bipolar —from its own planning group. Perhaps opponents on the board could suggest a compromise less drastic than killing the idea outright. County commissioners say they want a sign ordinance of some kind. Can the planning board develop one that more of its members are comfortable with?

n n n

Laurels to the Rowan Museum, which celebrated opening up in new-old digs last weekend. The museum now has room to spread out more displays in the old, old courthouse in the 200 block of North Main Street, a building most recently known as the Community Building.

A progressive move by Rowan County officials a few years ago made much of this possible. They vacated the Community Building and opened up shop in the renovated federal courthouse on West Innes —now labeled “Rowan County Administrative Offices.”

The job the county did of breathing new life into that building was truly magnificent. It is a beautiful and well-used structure. That, in turn, freed up a building where Rowan Museum could display more of its treasure trove. Finally, Rowan citizens can appreciate even more of our history.

n n n

Dart to the recent vandalism at South Rowan High School, but laurels to the speed with which authorities charged suspects. Thanks to a surveillance camera and a tip to a school resource officer, authorities have enough evidence to make a criminal case against two high school students who allegedly made a mess of the stadium grass, cut soccer nets, broke tables and performed other senseless acts of destruction that may cost up to $10,000 to repair. Fortunately, vandalism on this scale is relatively rare in the Rowan-Salisbury school system — and the speedy action in this instance should help keep it that way.