Robbery response raises question
Some major mistakes were made during the robbery of the Country Cupboard in Spencer earlier this week. When the men entered the store, the owner immediately set off the panic button and security contacted Rowan County dispatch. Her employee fled to the back and called 911. County dispatch kept her on the phone for four minutes and 31 seconds before Spencer police were dispatched. To get a police officer to the scene took nearly 10 minutes.
Every small town in the county is dependent on Rowan County dispatch for service. In extreme emergencies, county dispatchers must drop protocols and questionnaires and directly dispatch local law enforcement.
Had the county acted accordingly, three armed thugs would be sitting in jail awaiting trial.
ó Reid Walters
Spencer
A promise kept
My husband is 39 years old and was a high-school dropout. When we met 15 years ago, he asked my dad for permission to marry me, and the one thing my dad made him promise to do was get his GED. Well, 141/2 years later, he got it. He was laid off from work three months ago. At the time we were very upset and worried about this for our family and how we were going to provide. My husband then went to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and asked about the GED course. He was hesitant at first. But with the push of my family and myself, he went. It only took him two weeks to finish.
What an accomplishment. At 39, how many people would have done that? We are so proud of him, and his comment was, “Now I can get any job I want.” He even wants to go to college. Don’t give up. Go for your dream. He promised my parents this, and he fulfilled his promise.
ó Tammy Whitlatch
Salisbury