Help give youth positive options
In response to Lt. Mark Williams’ March 27 letter regarding the problem of cutting resource officers at the middle school level:
I agree that the problem with gang attraction will only continue to get worse if we as a community cannot provide more enticing alternatives to the lure of belonging to something larger than themselves. Our middle-school students are at such a pivotal and impressionable age, and connection and relationship with anything is paramount to them. We at Saving Grace Farm believe that providing an exciting opportunity to connect, learn, interact and relate to nature and the intuitive horse can be life changing and transforming for these youth. We have professional staff that have been trained in proven protocols to counteract the negative and damaging gang involvement mentality and give these children a chance to experience the healing of genuine relationship.
We need our community’s help to continue these offerings to our students, so please consider joining us on May 2 for a live demonstration of how these relationships have been helping us throughout history. You will be amazed at the power of horse to instill integrity and love in the hearts of us all. John Hart, Salisbury native and best-selling author, will be our special guest. You can make a difference in our community by helping us with our mission to empower our students. For information about this event, please call 704-638-2339 or go to our website at www.savinggracefarm.com.
ó Jill Hoben
Salisbury
Jill Hoben is executive director of Saving Grace Farm.
Research data on circumcisionThe March 26 page 2A article on research related to circumcision points out another health care disparity for mothers whose newborn sons are insured only by N.C. Medicaid.
Circumcision is a choice a parent makes for an infant. If desired, there must be a way to pay for the procedure. Medicaid pays for male circumcision only if there is a disease or abnormality found at birth, or later. How many males are we setting up for a sexually transmitted disease that in the future may cost our society much more than the disallowed procedure?
Hopefully our state legislators will take a look at the research, see the logic and go to bat to add this coverage to N.C. Medicaid. Disease is not limited to individuals with marginal income; likely HIV/AIDS touches most families somehow. Take a look at the statistics found at http://www.cdc.gov (the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
We do not have to travel to Africa countries to do research.
ó Audrey W. Belk
Salisbury
Let’s take care of America first
The recent article on the front page of the Salisbury Post headlined “$2.50 a gallon again?” is very confusing.
Throughout the primaries, both parties repeatedly echoed the mantra “eliminate dependence on foreign oil.”
Midway down in the article, it says: “West Texas crude is selling for much less than inferior grades of crude from other places around the world.” Inferior foreign oil prices are $7-10 per barrel higher, plus whatever the shipping cost might be, than the better quality Texas intermediate crude produced in the good, old U.S.A. Another intriguing comment in the article states, “A severe economic downturn has left U.S. storage facilities brimming with it, sending prices for premium crude to a five-year low.”
Dumb questions: Why do we buy inferior, higher priced foreign oil, which is what gas consumed in the United is made from, when we sit here with brimming storage facilities? Why don’t we use our own oil so we can decrease our dependence on imported foreign oil, which was a heavily used slogan during election campaigns? Why don’t we take care of America and its citizens first?
Somebody help me understand.
ó Ken Theye
Salisbury
Many other sites need spiffing up
Regarding the March 26 article about the Holmes Iron and Metal beautification project:
I have read so much against this company, I smell the stink of some personal issues.
If I had never been in the area or visited East Spencer and drove down North Long Street, looking for something that would attract me to buy or build a home, I would stop long before I reached Holmes Iron and Metal Co. There are other unsightly businesses, boarded-up houses, the old Dunbar School and unkempt properties that would deter me.
Holmes Iron and Metal employs approximately 25 people. The town and state get revenue from them. They support schools, sororities, churches, the fire department, police department and charities. During this time when the nation is in a recession, why would the East Spencer town board not find more important problems to focus on?
Holmes has already enclosed the yard and compacted or baled loose materials. They are members of the American Metal Market (Southern Region), the Chamber of Commerce and other associations.
Please let me read more positive things going on in your wonderful town.
ó Catherine S. Krider
Granite Quarry
A good month for execution foes March was a good month for people, like myself, who oppose the death penalty. The government of New Mexico did the right thing and repealed the death penalty in their state.
The New Hampshire state House did the right thing and voted to abolish executions in their state. Hopefully the state Senate will follow their lead. And Governor Timothy Kaine vetoed a bill that would have expanded the death penalty in Virginia.
The death penalty hasn’t deterred crime, war, spying or murder. Innocent people have been put on death row, and I believe innocent people have been executed over the years. Plus the death penalty appeals process costs more money than sentencing defendants to life in prison. No government should have the legal right to strap people down and take their lives.
ó Chuck Mann
Greensboro