Thanks for kind support after mudslide loss
My brother Steven Hadaway was working installing Dish TV at a home on Steelhead Drive in Oso, Wash., on March 22 when the mudslide happened. The house he was at was the first house to be hit and within 2-3 seconds one square mile was wiped out.
My reason for writing this letter is to find a way to say thank you for all the people who have prayed and comforted me as well as supporting me while I wait to hear that my brother is found. It has been over a month and only two people have not been found — my brother and another person.
Salisbury is a great community and Knox Middle school where I teach sixth grade has surrounded me to make sure I am OK daily. They have given me great comfort and support. I have received cards in my box from people I do not know as well prayers and comments on my Facebook page from people in Salisbury I do not know.
So I sent this letter in hopes of saying thank you for all the prayers and support and ask you keep paying they find him soon so my family and I can have peace and closure and he can be brought home.
I thought losing my mother was the worst thing on earth. I promise you the not knowing and waiting is the most horrible experience for anyone.
I close with thank you again. Love your family with all you have. Family is all one has and you never know when they will be gone.
— Christine Hadaway Stamper
Salisbury

Warning: Potential scam
Just a friendly warning regarding several phone calls I received April 24, from an individual claiming to be an “official representative” of Microsoft Windows.
His claim was that my computer is infected with numerous viruses, and I will “lose” my computer unless he takes appropriate steps.
Being immediately skeptical, I told him thank you but no thank you and hung up. He immediately called back, asking in an irritated voice why I hung up on him. When I explained that I do not trust unknown people who call wanting to fix my computer, or anything else for that matter.
In an effort to convince me of his authenticity, he said he would give me the serial number of my computer. He further stated that if I did not allow him to fix the problem he would shut down my server.
At this point I laughed, and told him there is no way he could do that and hung up-again. He called one more time and my husband answered, telling him that he must never call our number again, period.
My internal caution flags go up immediately when someone calls in similar situations, but this call was particularly disturbing. Thus, I am writing this letter to warn others in our community of this potential scam. As I am writing this, about an hour after the original call, the same number is appearing again on our phone. The man is persistent. If my computer goes down later today, I shall let you know.
— Jimmie H. Melton
Salisbury

Re-elect Sheriff Auten
Rowan County needs the continued leadership of Sheriff Kevin Auten. As a board member of a local non-profit organization, I have seen first hand the commitment Kevin Auten and the Sheriff’s Office has demonstrated to the protection of the children of Rowan County.
Sheriff Auten and his staff work tirelessly to encourage children to make good life decisions.
I have also seen Sheriff Auten behind the scenes. His actions are not based on accolades but rather his heart. Rowan County is extremely fortunate to have Kevin Auten as the sheriff. I encourage the citizens of Rowan County to continue our leadership in the Sheriff’s Office. Vote Kevin Auten.
— Matthew Marsh
China Grove
Marsh is with Prevent Child Abuse Rowan.

Knowledge and sense
Thanks to W.F. Owens (“Losing liberal record,” April 19) for reminding us about the baseball field, built next to the Cabarrus County line, and the amount of money Rowan County lost and is still losing.
I think (not the legitimate farmers that should have tax breaks that use their land for farming and producing products to sell to the community and help them survive financially) but those that have land to use for their pleasure (they raise a few horses, or have a small garden or leave fallow).
A former county commissioner who voted to lower taxes on farms and had a farm should have abstained from the vote. This same former commissioner voted to raise property taxes on everyone else’s property and is running again. Have you forgotten?
Some people talk against Mr. Sides and abuse him in words, when he is looking out for the people of Rowan County. County offices should be in the mall.
Our country is in a mess and who is running our country? Remember Nevada and the government trying to take a man’s grazing land. Government troops with heavy armor were sent to harass American citizens. Please wake up! But people had rather believe a lie than the truth.
The ones in charge are trying to scare the people concerning voter IDs, Why? They want the people to vote as many times as they can, dead people to vote, illegals to vote. They know that with an honest vote, they would lose.
When you stand before Our Lord God, you cannot plead ignorance. Life is short, death is sure, sin the curse and Christ the cure.
Lord, please open their eyes so the people will see the truth. We are pilgrims passing through this land.
You make your choice, heaven or hell. Not everyone is going to be accepted in heaven. The only ones who are accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
— Roby Snider
Salisbury

The only two to trust
I read over the weekend that Raymond Coltrain has collected over 4,000 signatures and earned a spot on the ballot for commissioner. As I recall, Mr. Coltrain never really accomplished much for our county during the single term he served from 2008 to 2012.
At meetings he invited outside “experts” to tell us what we should be doing for ourselves; 45-minute PowerPoint presentations added to the monotony, as did Mr. Coltrain’s uninspiring monologues. And he frequently reminded us that he had served as a career bureaucrat with the Department of Agriculture.
I can’t vote for him or the other career bureaucrat, Gene Miller, who is following suit with the collection of signatures.
But Jim Sides and Joe Coladarci have run successful businesses, without the expectation of handouts from government at any level.
They also know how to say “no” to Salisbury’s expectation of “economic multiplier effects” by hoarding all the county’s economic development to Salisbury and Salisbury-only.
Salisbury has squandered enough of its own resources with Fibrant, and we should not give them a “bailout” for their foolish actions.
Jim Sides and Joe Coladarci are the only candidates I can trust with my vote on May 6.
— Calvin W. Dover
China Grove

A vote for zero growth
A vote for Sides and Coladarci is vote against our children and grandchildren. It is a vote against education, business and decent paying jobs for our citizens. It is vote for stagnation, zero growth and further poverty. You get what you vote for.
— Donald Schumacher
Salisbury
Writing an endorsement?
The deadline for letters regarding candidates in the May 6 primary is Wednesday. Please get your letters to us by 5 p.m. that day in order to be published before the primary.