Candidate should not be ruled out for past
I have never met Laura Lyerly. I did hear her speak at the candidates’ forum at Catawba College and was favorably impressed.
To oppose her candidacy for county commission because of a prayer for judgment, which is not a conviction, when she was 19 years old is a most narrow-minded view.
While the purpose of this communication is not to endorse or oppose her candidacy, I feel very strongly that she should not be penalized for something she admitted doing 10 years ago. Many of our current politicians have been forgiven for much more serious offenses!
We are a forgiving society and we should forgive her of a 10-year-old offense. Instead, we should reward her for seeking public office in an effort to build bridges among the various constituencies in our county. Surely she knew that someone would bring up this mistake in her life, but her desire to make Rowan County a better place in which to live took precedence over her private life.
I do agree with the Post that she should make herself more accessible to the public and the media. She should explain and apologize for her transgression of 10 years ago and explain what she has learned from that unfortunate error and promise that it will not occur again.
óPhillip J. Kirk, Jr.
Salisbury
Stand up, North Rowan supporters
The school board needs to do something about North Rowan. I am a 1988 North Rowan graduate. I went to Winston-Salem State and recently achieved my M.B.A.
I have been coaching an AAU basketball team this spring of mostly North Rowan kids. I live in Charlotte, so when I hear information it is usually a few days old. I have been over to the school and spoken with Principal Bass and Assistant Principal Watkins, and I have never seen this zoo image that North Rowan is tagged with.
The school board needs to reinstate programs like auto mechanics, wood technology and business programs. This will attract students because it gives them hands-on experience.
Parents: We need stop waiting until the kids get in trouble and then storm over to the school and bless out the administration. Get involved at home and spend some time with our kids.
Teachers: Stop looking at this as a paycheck. I remember teachers like Jean Kennedy, Delores Morris, Vivian Kesler, Virginia Ramsey, Brenda Arthur and Robert Steele. They cared about the students. Speak to some of these teachers and get advice from them.
Administration: Don’t suspend kids to avoid conflict. Address their issues, talk to them. They are not wild animals in a zoo. Most of them are searching for help.
Alumni: It is a crying shame that we are not knocking down the doors of the school board office. This our family. We all want to show up for games and trash talk the coaching staff. My concern is our kids. If our kids are not attending school and passing classes, our sports will continue to vanish. We need to stand up and show that the North Rowan community ó East Spencer, Spencer and Salisbury ó will not accept losing our school.
ó Derrick Foxx
Charlotte
Student: It hurts to hear North criticized
I love North. I love seeing my friends and teachers, and I go to school with people I’ve known forever. It hurts me that people talk so meanly about North. It is a nice school with nice people.
Why people are so judgmental I don’t know, but I do know that the Bible states “Judge not that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). So I implore all those who say mean things about North, please think before you judge.
ó Amy Morgan
ó Spencer
Off to the Ukraine
May 13 was my 67th birthday. I want to share some things that have been dear to me.
A good mom and dad, Bob and Edith Murdock, who lived in Statesville all their married life ó parents who loved and took care of their children. What a treasure that was.
I remember the outdoor john, the big tin tub to take a bath in by the wood stove in the dining room. Climbing into the cold bed in the unheated bedroom with lots of covers to stay warm in the winter.
I remember walking to school. The older neighbors who helped watch the local children as they played are now passed away. The first store-bought flowers I received came from my third-grade class when I was home with polio.
I will never forget Aug. 2, 1970, on a Sunday night, when I ask Jesus Christ to come into my heart and become my savior.
We will spend three weeks as missionaries in the Ukraine working with children. Thank you to the churches in Statesville, Troutman, Rowan and Mooresville that have helped us go each year. May God bless those caring individuals who have donated summer after summer. We ship a total of eight skids each winter up to the Little Lambs Ministry to feed hungry orphans in Russia and the Ukraine during the winter months. See www.littlelambs.com.
ó Linda Murdock Harmon
Statesville