I may have overlooked it but others have also said they have seen nothing in the paper about George Hamilton IV’s passing. A friend called to tell me she heard it on the radio and later saw a piece from the Charlotte Observer.
He was such an outstanding person as well as a super entertainer. There have been lengthy articles on so many lesser subjects and celebrities.
He gave programs in both Methodist and Lutheran churches in Rowan County. I also heard him in Moravian churches in Charlotte, at Spirit Square before he moved to Nashville and several times in Concord. He never (as far as I know) performed in Kannapolis — much to our loss!
My daughter asked me once if I had liked Elvis. I replied, “No, but I liked George Hamilton IV.” He was so clean cut and a Carolina graduate.
Once I was able to sit on the stage behind the entertainers at the Grand Ole Opry and heard both George Hamilton IV and V.
Since he was a North Carolinian and an exceptional entertainer of varied talents, I was very disappointed that the Salisbury Post did not write a good, long piece about him.
— Judy Goodnight
Kannapolis

The total ineptness of every facet of government in Washington, D.C., is so alarming to me that some days I wonder if we will survive as a country another five years.
Where do I start? We have a do-nothing Congress that is more interested in lining the pockets of its members and big business than actually doing their elected jobs. The speaker of the House, John Boehner, can’t or won’t control a facet of his party that, if they can’t get their way, they hold the whole nation hostage. Then, on the other side of the coin, Mr. Reid, the Senate majority leader, won’t call a bill to the floor if he thinks the vote won’t go his way.
The rest of Congress is content to sit on their duffs and pick up a healthy paycheck and most generous benefit package while pointing the finger at the other side and accusing them of causing the gridlock.
Neither party will do anything on immigration, as the Republicans need cheap labor for corporate farms and Democrats are afraid to alienate Hispanic voters. The IRS and the VA are rife with scandal and mismanagement. The Secret Service is rife with scandal and mismanagement, even allowing a man with a knife to jump the White House fence and reach the building.
Both administrations have allowed this on their watch. It didn’t just start, as Republicans would like to believe, and Democrats have done little or nothing to stop it.
Now our president seems disconnected from the rest of the world, although I will give him credit for finally trying after so many failed foreign affairs blunders by his people, and I sincerely believe that he needs some new advisors. You don’t draw a line in the sand and then allow the bully to cross it without knocking his block off!
— Jim Hopkins
Salisbury

I would like to take a few minutes to tell you about our school fundraiser called “Invest in a Child.”
As an eighth-grade student at Knox Middle School, I think our school could benefit from donations from the community because we don’t always like what people say about Knox. It drives me crazy.
Before I leave Knox, I want to help change this school. I want to have people talking about Knox Middle School and what’s great about our school. One thing we need would be more people to help us with sports, and we need supplies for the students. We know there are many groups asking for donations, but we hope you will consider us.
We are building excellence at Knox Middle School and we hope you can join us!
— Isaiah Baker
Salisbury

I enjoyed the recent article on Jim Greene, a candidate for Rowan commissioner. I first met Jim Greene when I moved to Salisbury in 2003. Since that time I have had the opportunity to work with Jim on many civic club projects. I have found him to be a hard working, honest conservative businessman who is truly concerned with the future of Rowan County. Because of this I feel he will be an excellent Rowan County commissioner.
— Gene Wall
Salisbury

My wife and I moved to Salisbury in June 2013. Since then, we have visited several churches in search of a place of worship. Here are some of my observations:
All of the congregations we visited, except for one, lacked diversity — more than 95 percent one ethnic group or another. The exception reflected the ethnic makeup of the greater Salisbury community.
All the churches, except for one, were at best half-full. The exception was 75 percent full.
In all the churches, except for one, the congregations were mostly people more than 50 years old. At the exception, the worshipers were all ages, including families, young adults, single moms and the elderly.
At all the churches, except for one, the sermons were traditional — lectures about that Sunday’s scripture and reflections on how the lessons could be applied today. At the exception, the pastor spent time encouraging students in the congregation to set a good example for the community and lead. He asked parents to pray for their children, asking God to give them the spiritual strength and courage to resist the temptations of sexual promiscuity, drugs and violence. He asked everyone to pray over the students and teachers, inviting the teachers to stand before church as they prayed.
The exception in all cases was Cornerstone Church led by Bill Godair.
— Roy Lucas