“They are pouring money into their schools. That was a striking difference.”

— Cassie Thompson, Rowan County teacher, after visiting schools in Singapore

“It could actually not rain for several months and we would still be OK.”

— Jim Behmer, director, Salisbury-Rowan Utilities, on local water supply

“It put me on a different plane in my walk with the Lord.”

— Tom Speaks, Jobs for Life volunteer, on benefits of being a mentor

“I just want to thank Mark Zuckerberg for what he did. No, really. If he hadn’t created Facebook, it would have been impossible for me to find her.”

— Ruzica Sadowski of France, who reconnected with longtime pen pal Kay Baker of Kannapolis through Facebook

“It’s like going to the ABC store.”

— ‘Matt,’ local addict, on how easy it is to buy heroin