… A gift for Sue: Co-workers, friends make Sue Files’ path easier

We need more people like this in the world. Very thankful for friends who care. God bless you all. This is the news I love to see!

— Jolene Houchins

This is wonderful. Thanks so much to Sue’s friends and coworkers and the others who took time out of their schedules to help someone who needed it. GOD is good all the time.. Congratulations Sue. You deserve it.

— Bonnie Beaver

Stories like this renew my faith in this world! Good people doing great things for good people! Love this! Wonderful!

— Renae Beeker

Such a wonderful gift to a very deserving person.

— Phyllis Garrick

An exceptional gift from a special group of people for a special and deserving person!

— Robert Gainer

That was very nice of them to fix that for her. God always sends the right angels at the right time.

— Nickey Ramsue

This is why I am so proud to work at Rowan. Awesome people!

— Lynne Davis

.. County puts appeal on pause, takes back veterans home

By all means don’t do anything to help veterans; we are dying off pretty quick now. Spencer, do you realize that a lot of the very men that helped to make Spencer what it was, were the railroad men, and many were veterans?

Well at least say a prayer for a homeless vet that he not die alone on the streets of Salisbury or Spencer. Amen

— Ken Beck

No one wants to help veterans for anything what we do does not matter because all these politicians do not have to do it so they will do what’s best for them

— Chad Springer

… Local schools, local decisions

As an educator, I like neither schedule. I’m an advocate of year-round school with breaks between quarters of 3 weeks or less. (I’m not sure how it computes on paper, but year round would help with the summer slump.)

— Karen Puckett

As local school boards regain control, could there be a compromise, like allowing each family of school children a week of annual ‘secured leave’, that would not penalize the students’ attendance records?

— Jeff Morris

If local boards can’t be trusted with this decision…! They can!

— Ron Turbyfill

I teach instrumental music. My students last played on Dec. 18 for our concert, we reviewed for our exam, then had the holiday break, came back and had two weeks of exams, the Martin Luther King Jr.  holiday and two teacher workdays.

My students won’t play their instruments for close to five weeks. Students in other classes are out of their normal routine for that amount of time. The first semester should end at the holiday break and the second semester should start when we return.

Years ago we were told that block scheduling existed because it resembled a college/university schedule and it would prepare our students for that type of schedule. I don’t know of many colleges or universities that send students home for the holiday break and then have them return to take exams.

I don’t believe that the tourism industry should be allowed to drive our education system. Our education system needs to think of itself and what is in the best interest of students.

— Jeff Street

I think the tourism industry argument is a straw man. … I remember before the legislature finally stepped in and made the local school boards listen to what we parents wanted. There were large numbers of parents on petitions supporting starting the school year in late August or September instead of the first week of August..

— Axel Tavastia

… Solar farm approved after lengthy debate

It seems the commissioners came up with a win-win solution for everyone on this issue. The ‘right to an unimpeded view’ is not quite recognized in this state, but the buffer should help with the glare concerns.

— Jeff Morris

If you want to protect your view then purchase the property.

— Drax Felton

… Government leaders don’t know what they don’t know

It’s hard to beat Santa Claus, but last November’s elections, resulting in a “shellacking” of Democrats, proves it can be done. In his SOTU address last night, he doubled down on raising taxes, as if there’s any chance at all of Congress going against the American people’s wishes. It was just another campaign speech, pandering to the base.

— Steve Pender

… Rowan Little League must be doing something right

Our local Little League is doing a lot right, and has been for a long time. We were one of those four-through-twelve families, and the operation was top-shelf the whole time. Let’s don’t forget the seemingly tireless concession stand volunteers.

— Bruce LaRue

… In his second ‘American Idol’ run, Josh Sanders staying focused on faith, family

Just met you, Josh, at Mission Church last Saturday. Loved reading the story of your life up to this point. So thankful you are totally trusting God with your life and leading music at Mission. So thankful you are remembering what your earthly dad taught you and even more remembering what your heavenly father has taught you. Just stick with his plan, you will never go wrong. Praying you win, you deserve it.

— Marjo Almond

Proud of you Josh, you’re a great guy. Your dad would be so proud of you as a man now. I see the love of your life and family. God bless you.

— Denny Kempen

Way to go, Josh. We know you can do this. God is with you and He will see you through. This would be a dream come true, I am sure. God bless you and your wonderful family. Now, let’s show them how it is done from Cabarrus County. We will be voting every night.

— Sable Simmons