When it comes to naming streets, weíre all over map
I truly enjoyed Mark Winekaís Sunday article concerning Rowan County street names.
It is interesting to learn who or maybe who did not inspire the names for the streets we walk and drive daily. It was also interesting to learn that some of the names were inspired by historical events or the existence of the physical items (i.e., water wells, market building) associated with the location.
It was most interesting, however, to learn that the spellings for some of the streets have been changed over time. The most intriguing is Innes Street. Being a person of detail and a student of history, I find it interesting that local residents, government agencies and map makers had no qualms in changing names of streets or omitting them altogether. I got the impression that Rowan County had made this somewhat of a tradition.
Well, let me say the tradition lives on in Granite Quarry. We have a street, or is it road? Anyway, less than 10 years ago, a housing development was created. One of the streets is named Claiborne or something similar. Sorry I donít know what person or event inspired the name. But on the west end of the one block street, the government-installed street sign identifies it as S. Clairborne St. On the east end, the street sign reads S. Claiborne St. But if you GPS it, the satellites ó and, I presume, alien life forms ó identify it as S. Claiborne Road!
The plan could have been for us to remain hidden in plain sight. No, you say? Try mailing a letter to an address on S. Claiborne Street or one of its variations in Granite Quarry, N.C. Now thatís a completely different discussion, letter (if you could mail it) or article.What do you think, Mark?
ó Randy Meeks
Granite Quarry
Even presidents need a life
Regarding the March 17 letter from Steve Owen:
I have it on good authority that President Obama went to bed at 12:30 a.m. instead of midnight to offset the 15 minutes he ěwastedî on the NCAA brackets. Come on, Steve, give us a break! He is a man and deserves a life!
By the way, your Hussein inclusion was not wasted on me!
ó Demps Brawley
Kannapolis
Lobbyist is a waste of money
In response to Larry Bowyerís March 18 letter to the editor:
I am proud that people are standing up for their rights and telling it like it is about the City Council. All they want to do is waste money that belongs to the taxpayers, like paying for a lobbyist in the political arena.
They should be taking care of the city, not trying to make money off taxpayersí money. Remember to vote them out in November 2011. Put people on the City Council who will work for the taxpayers of Salisbury, not themselves. We need people who think before acting; a $70,000 bonus would help save at least three hardworking peopleís jobs.
ó Charles Black
Salisbury