Straightforward look at raceway issues
After reading some of the on-line comments from Friday’s Post article regarding High Rock Raceway, I wanted to express just a few thoughts.
I don’t believe Jessie Burchette should be criticized for her reporting of the story. Jessie has always done a good job of gathering facts, and I don’t believe her reporting is or ever has been biased against the raceway.
I don’t believe Lloyd Pace should be criticized or his qualifications brought into question. Again, Lloyd has always dealt with the raceway on a totally professional and courteous basis. In reporting the infractions that occurred, Lloyd was simply doing his job.
The same goes for the town of Spencer. The town does not oversee erosion control, and they have been nothing but supportive of our project.
Lastly, it was noted that we still have not paid the $100,000-plus in wages that are due Color-Tex workers from their last week of work. We have paid over $70,000 in 401k contributions that were lost, and we absolutely intend to make good on our promise to reimburse the wages. We are at present working with our lender to close on our long-term financing and as that occurs, we will pay those long-overdue wages.
ó Dave Risdon
Risdon is the developer of High Rock Raceway and chief executive officer of High Rock Properties.
Ironic timing
Here it is Saturday morning and I just watched the WCNC story concerning the fine imposed on High Rock Raceway. How ironic that the Salisbury Post and local TV would decide to air this story during the biggest NASCAR week in North Carolina! Once again this propaganda is being seen by all of the potential tourists who perhaps would have been interested in investing in this fantastic endeavor. Yee-haw, your uninformed and unsubstantiated “‘reporting” has again perpetuated the image of the inept good ol’ Southern boy. Did I fail to mention the fact that these potential investors would be taxpaying North Carolina/Rowan County citizens?
Has our economy and unemployment in Rowan County improved so much that we can thumb our nose at this group of futuristic planners and continue to drag their name and dreams for our county through the mud?
The Salisbury Post continues to use N.C. laws and statutes to evaluate High Rock Raceway ó as it should. However, let that same evaluation tool be used to ensure that the people (Lloyd Pace and Jay Dees) are in compliance with these same laws and statutes. All government and state agencies have accrediting bodies that have requirements for their representatives ó is Rowan County in compliance? Are you looking over their shoulder as closely to ensure your sources are qualified and have the specific educational credentials to make these decisions?
How embarrasing it would be if these comments were made by someone without at least an engineering degree.
P.S. to Ann Brownlee: Perhaps you can contact the contractor responsible for the construction of I-85/U.S. 29 to get those artifacts back?
ó Kimberly G. Cannon
Salisbury
Faithful stewardship
How are faith and the environment connected? What is our responsibility to God’s creation?
It seems that more and more people in the pews are raising these questions. We want to know what we can do as members of the faith community to address the environmental challenges we face. A conference this Thursday-Saturday called “Faith, Spirituality & Environmental Stewardship” promises some answers. It is hosted by the Center for the Environment at Catawba College, which has built quite a reputation as place where people can come together to discuss environmental issues and develop innovative solutions.
The center’s lineup of keynoters is impressive: Evangelical Dr. Matthew Sleeth, author of “Serve God, Save the Planet”; The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham of Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco, who founded Interfaith Power & Light; Gary Gardner of Worldwatch Institute and author of “Inspiring Progress: Religions’ Contributions to Sustainable Development”; and Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb of Bethesda, Md., who serves on the board of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.
I hope you and your friends will join us at this conference. (Details are at www.Center ForTheEnvironment.org or 704-637-4727.) Wouldn’t it be exciting if people of faith took a leadership role in addressing our environmental challenges? This conference may be just the place to start.
ó Cathy Green
Salisbury
‘Gateway Issues’
Do you think the state of North Carolina is going to do what they say they are planning to do?
I’m an eighth-grade student here at Southeast Middle School, and I think there is an issue on the “Gateway,” where students have to score well
on a written test ó in other words, the End of Grade tests ó to advance on to the next grade. All I hear is there was going to be no summer school, and if you fail
on either your math or reading EOG, you would be held back.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think the state is going to do what they say they are. See, I don’t think the state has done the greatest on keeping their word. I
haven’t ever worried about the EOGs, so I said to myself, “Why now?” I say,
don’t make promises you can’t keep. I don’t think it’s fair to ut more pressure or stress on us kids if you’re not even going to do what
you say. That just bothered me when they say they are going to do something when you know they aren’t.
ó Jared Books
Salisbury