I’m writing to share with you the importance of The Arc of Rowan County Summer Day Camp for my daughter Caitlin. The Arc of Rowan is a Rowan County United Way agency that provides services and supports to people with intellectual/ developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Caitlin enjoys the summer day camp. She has one-to-one assistance to help her continue working toward her goals. This keeps her from regressing, which could happen during summer break from school. She enjoys going to the movies and swimming, as she loves the water. She likes the crafts and all the many other activities the camp offers.
Caitlin loves people and enjoys interacting with them. Her independence is very important to her. I could tell when we visited or was there to pick her up she was smiling and happy to be there.
I hope The Arc of Rowan continues to be able to provide the summer day camp to the children. I know the Rowan United Way dollars are used to support the program and for that we are grateful! Thank you, United Way, for the continued support of The Arc of Rowan so my child will have a safe place to go during the summer.
— Sherri Jackson (Mom to Caitlin)
Kannapolis

In the West End community of Livingstone College, we constantly hear rumblings of a top administrative change. These rumblings have surfaced in the past, but obviously there was no merit to them. However, something must be going on to bring this to the outside community.
If there is merit to them, I hope and pray the bishops and the Board of Trustees will seek to hire a qualified search committee to find a competent business person to lead Livingstone College. Reaching back and pulling some forward as a reward does not show real growth and leadership for the college.
College is a business, and it requires a professionally trained business person to be at the helm to steer it in the right direction (forward).
For the past 25 years, Livingstone College has had administrators who have not been successful in charting the course of this 138-year-old institution. Many will say a search committee is costly, but cost should not be an option when education is a priority. Cosmetic improvements to the campus buildings and to the grounds are necessary, but the inward improvements are not only necessary but cause for concern.
Livingstone College is a small, private institution where the morale and behavior can be channeled and a business leader would know how to adequately manage and regulate the changes needed to restore Livingstone College to the status of grandeur it once held in the community and city.
— B.B. Sherrill

Salisbury

Regarding possible changes to the local Veterans Services Office:
County commissioners, just remember all the veterans in this county vote!
I may not agree with Elaine Howle all the time, but at least she is honest in her dealings with veterans. I also wonder if there is someone else in the wings that will take her place?
William “Bill” Craddock

Salisbury (Retired military)

According to a recent lead story in the Washington Post, the meat inspection program that USDA plans to roll out in meat and poultry plants nationwide has repeatedly failed to stop production of contaminated meat. The program allows meat producers to increase the speed of processing lines and replace USDA safety inspectors with their own employees.
But plants operating under this program have experienced some of the worst health and safety violations that include failure to remove fecal matter and partly digested food, according to USDA inspector general. These contaminants may contain complex strains of deadly E. coli and listeria.
Traditionally, USDA has catered more to the interests and profitability of the meat industry than health and safety concerns of American consumers. Consumer interests come into play only when large numbers of us get sick. Having the USDA protect consumers is like asking the fox to guard the chicken house.
The Obama administration must reallocate responsibility for consumer safety to the Food and Drug administration. In the meantime, each of us must assume responsibility for our own safety by switching to the rich variety of plant-based meats offered in local supermarkets.
— Shane Pappadopolous

Salisbury
I’ve had some wonderful times in my life, such as getting married to the girl next door during World War II. My wife and I have been married 71 years, and I’m now 91. I spent a lot of my life in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying and as a passenger. The time spent flying was the biggest thrill of my life (other than taking the girl next door as my wife).
I have almost 3,000 hours military time in the air, and I wouldn’t trade anything for it.
After returning from the war, I went back to work for the company I was with before the war. My wife and I were enjoying life. During a visit to the Raleigh Durham Airport, I entered into flight training with Hudson Aviation. One of the pilots was Leo Tew, with whom I was acquainted while serving in China. He was a very good instructor. He went back to China and becme an airline pilot.
As I grew old, I became a longterm patient at the Salisbury VA Medical Center, where I became acquainted with some very nice people. I recently went to the Rowan Airport to a flying club, and my case was presented to them. Next thing I knew, I was being offered a flight with a local pilot, a very nice man, Danny Sloop.
Almost as soon as the wheels were off the runway, he says, “take hold of the yoke with just your fingers.” I had waited for this time for the past five years. During that time, my family’s needs came before my own, and I was increasingly disabled, so I didn’t think I would ever fly again.
Oh, what a thrill just to have that yoke in my hand!
My wife later said, “What if you have gotten killed?”
I said, “Ole girl, I didn’t go out there to get killed. I went out there to fly, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Thank you to Danny Sloop, Jack Neubacher and the EAA Chapter 1093 for making my dream come true. Thanks especially to Danny for allowing me to fly.
— Charles Hux

Salisbury