City’s annexation
is a ‘pig in a poke’
My husband, daughter and I moved to Rowan County 20 years ago and chose to live in Neel Estates, outside the city limits of Salisbury. From day one, however, we have supported the local businesses and been strong advocates for Salisbury and promoted it at every opportunity.
Now the city says it’s going to annex us whether we like it or not. Mayor Susan Kluttz says she is going to do what is best for the city of Salisbury, but I didn’t hear one word about doing what is best for the people. Remember the Constitution? “Of the people, by the people and for the people.”
What exactly is the city offering us besides higher taxes? Not to sound like a broken record, but we have sweet, pure well water and a septic tank that works fine. I can set my clock by Donny Morrison’s garbage pickup, and his bill is reasonable, year after year. Locke Fire Department has a three-minute response time and has never failed us. I’m not legal eagle, but I think, by law, Salisbury has to prove it can offer us services that we don’t already have. It’s going to be a short list!
I’m a mountain girl, and I know a “pig in a poke” when I see one. I also learned as a child that it’s wrong to take things that don’t belong to you, and that what you took will do you more harm than good. This whole annexation proposal reminds me of cod liver oil and my mother saying, “take this, it will be good for you,” and I knowing all the while that it was going to leave a bad taste in my mouth. Being annexed by the city of Salisbury is about as beneficial as taking our hard-earned money and shoving it down a rabbit hole.
ó Kathy Petrucelli
Salisbury
Sad but proud
I write this with a heavy heart, heavy with sorrow for Justin Monroe’s family and Vic Isler’s family.
But I am also proud. Proud to be from Rowan County this week. I am proud of the sacrifice these selfless, brave men and their families have made. I am proud of the community for pulling together for these families and the family of firefighters that work in Salisbury and the county. I am proud and astounded at the quickness of surrounding city firefighters who responded for their grieving and exhausted brothers. I am proud to be an associate of the Salisbury Wal-Mart. Our management team and associates came in early and worked late to feed and comfort firefighters and family members that live here and are visiting. Many of these hours were donated out of love and concern for our hard working civil servants, including police, EMTs and anyone else needing a lunch, dry socks or a thank you.
But more than anything, I am proud to be a Salisbury city firefighter’s sister. Veteran Engineer Bobby Burleyson is my brother. He is dedicated to his career.
I was privileged to be on the family bus for the funeral for these heros. The intense love and brotherhood the firefighters share is unbelievable. I know we have heard of this brotherhood and didn’t think it is real. I saw it this past week. What I saw was very real love and concern for each other. These men deserve our respect and admiration. It’s a special person who does this job.
To all the firefighters of Salisbury and Rowan, thank you for what you do! To my big brother, a special thank you and much love. To his brother firefighters, thank you for taking care of him, as I know he returns the favor to you.
ó Jan Harwood
Rockwell
A human life, gone
There are moments in one’s life that are forever etched into one’s memory. I had such a moment just before 10 p.m., March 13, 2008. I witnessed the passing from this life into the next of Shirley Ann Barnes as she stepped into the path of an SUV on East Innes Street.
As I dialed 911 and my husband yelled for help from the fire station across the street, Shirley lay in the roadway, broken and lifeless. Emergency personnel boiled out of the fire station, streaming across the lanes of traffic to help. All their efforts were in vain. Shirley was gone.
One gentleman (I use that term loosely) at the scene felt compelled to keep telling us that he thought the victim had been drinking. I say to you, even if true, what does that matter? Regardless of anything Shirley may or may not have done in life, a fellow human being lost her life in a horrific way, snuffed out in an instant. Shirley was once a little girl. She had hopes and dreams like the rest of us. She lived, laughed, loved, cried and was mourned, just as we all do.
She had good points and bad ones, as do we all. Shirley didn’t expect to die. She didn’t deserve to die. I saw her die, and I am forever changed.
I never knew you, Shirley, and I don’t know if there are any who grieve for your passing. You are not forgotten.
ó Rose Meeks Jones
Salisbury
Free?
Letter:
Just a thought ó wouldn’t it be nice if politicians were forced to replace the word “free” with the more accurate term “taxpayer funded”?
ó Randy Alley
Salisbury