N.C. law ensures city audits count
Regarding Joe Coladarci’s Nov. 16 letter to the editor of the Salisbury Post “Civil discourse,” Mr. Coladarci commented “When asked if he would welcome an independent audit of the city, he (Doug Paris) answered we are audited every year. The attendee meant to say a forensic audit — a close review of what the funds were used for, not just if the numbers add up.”
The attendee was unfamiliar with the N.C. statutory requirement of independent audits of governmental units like the city of Salisbury. Such audits are regulated by N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) and OMB, among others. Because of the LGC, North Carolina has a national reputation for quality governmental audits.
The audits of the city of Salisbury are available for public viewing at their website. The most recent audit posted is June 30, 2012, which earned a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the LGC. The city of Salisbury is audited by Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. (MSA). MSA has a large audit specialty, audits a number of government units in North Carolina, and has a reputation for high quality audits. MSA is also the auditor of Rowan County. As to the author’s comment “not just if the numbers add up,” l assure you there is quite a bit more to auditing to that. Perhaps MSA managing partner Vickie Martin could enlighten you as to what audit procedures are required in such an audit. I also encourage you go to the city’s website and read the audits.
Forensic accounting is the specialty practice area that describes engagements that result from actual or anticipated disputes or litigation. Forensic means “suitable for a court of law.”
So, you’re implying a crime has been committed? If you or the attendee have evidence of a crime, the greater public service would be to contact the police. If not, the attendee (with your words now in his mouth) now sounds not only uninformed, but also slanderous.
“You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts” — Patrick Moynihan.
— Alan Rutherford
Salisbury
The writer is a certified public accountant.

Knox donors rock
The Knox PTA and staff would like to send out an enormous thank you to the generous families, friends, alumni and community donors who contributed to our annual Knox ‘Invest in a Child’ fundraiser this year! Thanks to you, we raised $9,312!!!
We came very close to our goal of $10,000 (maximum amount matched by the county matching grant for technology) and we are still accepting donations.
We have submitted our request for the county to match $7,500 to fund the following technology:
Three Apple TVs, Apple care protection plans, three printers (one for each grade building), eight iPad dongles (to link to Promethean boards), four MacBook laptops, educational software and 54 graphing calculators.
The rest of the donated money ($1,812) will be used for PTA activities such as: teacher appreciation, teacher of the year reward, Why Try Mentoring program and student events — career day, dances and the 8th grade graduation luncheon.
Many great things are happening at Knox and we wanted to let everyone know the donated money will be well used. The new technology will help Knox on the path to becoming a STEM academy. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program is designed to help students be more creative and use higher levels of problem-solving by incorporating technology.
Thanks to your donations to Knox, our local students will be more prepared for tomorrow’s global challenges. You are truly making a great investment in the future of a child, Knox Middle School and our community!
We also want to thank the following businesses for their generous prize donations:
Alpha-One Air Service, SCarowinds, Salisbury YMCA, Eaman Park Pool, Pottery 101, Salisbury Art Station, Salisbury Parks and Recreation, NC Zoo, NC Transportation Museum, and NASCAR Speedpark.
If you would like to donate to Knox and haven’t had the chance, please send your tax-deductible donation to:
Knox Middle School PTA
1625 Park Road West, Salisbury, NC 28144
Thank you all for your support to make Knox Middle School great!
— Lori Goodnight
Salisbury
Goodnight is the Knox PTA ‘Invest in a Child’ fundraiser chairperson.

Remarkable lady
I wanted to thank Mark Wineka for his article about Alice Ross on Oct. 17. My friend and I have been delivering Meals on Wheels to Mrs. Ross for a number of years. She is a remarkable lady. We have shared her major surgery and treatments, and watched her fighting spirit as her good days outnumbered her bad ones. We were sad when she told us she would have to move. It is a fact that on the hottest day in the summer, it is at least 5 degrees cooler under those beautiful trees.
I deliver Meals on Wheels three days a month and, just like Alice, all our clients become like family to us. We deliver to those who have had strokes, heart attacks, have disabilities or can no longer prepare a meal for themselves. In many cases, there is no food in the cabinets. We share with them the loss of a beloved spouse, child, grandchild or pet. We are greeted with smiles and leave with thanks. It occurred to me that in this world of so much ugliness in politics, it is a blessing to see the goodness in so many people.
And so I wish Mrs. Ross well in her new home. We will miss her, but we are the better for having known her.
— Barbara Perry
Salisbury
Lies, liars and lying
The president is speaking again, revealing the evidence of his incompetence and another obvious assault on truth. He has, however, finally admitted some measure of fault on his part for this debauched rollout of Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act.
But this article is concerned with his handling of the truth and the confidence in his ability to manage anything other than his narrow attention to politics and how this affects his socialist agenda. From Benghazi to the IRS scandal he, the president, proclaimed he just didn’t know and, furthermore, he’s not responsible. So he speaks to the people about how bad this is and blames the Republicans, George Bush, the Congress (take your pick) — anyone and anybody but himself, when, it is totally his fault and responsibility for all these things.
Alexander K. McClure, a writer and historian, in his 1904 book, “Lincoln’s Yarns and Stories,” recorded the following and was about a conversation with Lincoln a caller had at the White House. Lincoln had this to say about the people having confidence with their leaders.
“If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all the time.”
How is it possible that anyone can still be fooled by this obviously flawed man?
— Richard Roberts
Kannapolis

Too-quick work?
I was quite surprised to see how quickly the city of Salisbury cleaned up the corner where the old Service Distributors was located on 11th and Main Street.
I was so glad to see them react before some crazy citizens got to thinking about plans to re-purpose that area. Why they might have got to thinking about using the money the city spent tearing down and hauling away to put bathrooms in the small brick building and let a Farmers Market use the canopies already there.
I would much prefer to see a cleared grassy lot and spend another $100,000 plus if we decide to have another Farmers Market spot. Wouldn’t you?
— Richard Gazoo
Salisbury

Story brings despair
The paper presents feel-good messages and information about the community and the wider world interspersed with items, often about media celebrities, that leave me with a feeling of deep despair. Such was my reaction to the article concerning the act of wanton cruelty directed against non-threatening, defenseless and harmless creatures at Rowan Memorial Park. This was commissioned from afar, if the story is correct, as are closings of work centers and outsourcing of jobs, from executive locations where corporate corruption abounds and sensitivity to mortal concerns is scarce.
Who did the deed? Probably not employees of any sort but rather a bunch of stumblebums picked up to do some brief job for a bit of change. Did they care? No. Did they feel anything? Maybe the malicious pleasure of causing pain on the weak, as they would hardly have attacked anyone or anything capable of defending him/itself. Did they know what they were doing? You can bet your life on it.
Those who preach “love,” in short supply in our world, and quote the Bible about loving one’s neighbor and that sinners “know not what they do” are kidding no one but themselves. Whether such vile and vicious behavior is motivated for gain, pleasure or any other benefit, to pretend otherwise is to ignore the depths of human cynicism, indifference and even sadism, especially where cruelty and violence come into play, as they so clearly did in this miserable incident.
Anaximander once wrote that if the ducks had a god, he would look like a duck. I doubt there is a deity for these poor deceased animals, and those who like me mourn for them and suffer for this addition of ugliness to the world can only hope that someday the scum responsible for what has happened will receive their just retribution. As for pardoning them, that is for others, of weaker emotions and distant from this awful reality. I cannot, now or ever, and I will not.
— Richard Nash Creel
Salisbury

Out of dark ages
Recently, a same-sex couple appeared before the Cabarrus County Register of Deeds to apply for a marriage license; they were denied. When will North Carolina wake up? Gay rights, social injustice and yes, same-sex marriage appear to have been pushed to the back of the bus.
Our state simply does not want to accept or acknowledge gay couples that wish to marry and live happily.
Someday, a same-sex couple may apply for a marriage license in Rowan County. Will they be denied also?
I can only hope that our newly elected city council, alongside our county leaders, can be a little more accepting of our gay community, acknowledging and proclaiming the many attributes they give to the city of Salisbury. I support the Campaign for Southern Equality and the challenge they have taken on. There will come a day when compassion, understanding and equality will bring us out of the dark ages.
— Mark Williams
Salisbury

Quality care
I wanted to take a moment to thank the nurses and check-in staff at Novant Health Rowan’s Emergency Department. My child was brought in recently and the staff were as amazing as ever, and worked hard to keep me calm while caring for him.
Krista, Lynne, their nurse aides, the check-in ladies and campus police all went above normal expectations to care for my child and ease my anxieties during this traumatic experience.
The staff were efficient, extremely skilled and worked so well together. Though my family is fortunate enough to not need to seek care here often, we (like others I’m sure) were nervous when the hospital changed hands. Despite the major change, I’m comforted in knowing the quality of care remains a priority at this hospital, and will always be grateful for your care. Thanks again!
— Tushara Rhodes
Salisbury