A proud moment for team, Rowan

As a native of Rowan County and one who continues to be interested and involved in the community, I want to congratulate the WORLD champions in Little League softball. While I do not know any of the players personally, but probably know some of their grandparents, I cried tears of joy when I saw them win the international title on ESPN.

What a positive group of young ladies who represented Rowan County/Salisbury at the highest level possible. Their enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and team work were evident throughout the season. Their coaches and supportive parents, families, and fans also deserve a tremendous “thank you.”

It has been a great spring and summer with the successes of the Catawba College baseball team and the American Legion baseball team, thanks to the leadership of Coach Jim Gantt and the tremendous fans and players … all of which make me proud to be a native of Rowan County.

— Phil Kirk

Raleigh

 

Home memories

As I watch “The Waltons” on TV, I think about how my mom and dad (Rose and J.C. Arey Jr.) enjoyed watching the program. They lived during the Depression, and my dad served in the Army Air Corp during WWII. Both of my parents have passed within the last eight years, and I miss them both very much.

As I was growing up, we lived on Faith Road, and my mom’s parents (Bertha and Garner Kepley) lived in the house that stood back off the road. Their house was close enough for me to go and visit them often. Over those many years, our family grew and the memories grew along with them. I remember the Christmases, Easters, Mother’s Days, Father’s Days and  birthdays that our families spent visiting them in that old house. I have a lot of cousins who I keep in touch with.

I remember one Mother’s Day when a gentleman and his son rode up to the house, and I went out to meet them and ask if I could help them. The older gentleman told me that his grandfather brought him years ago to this house to show him where the Confederate troops would march and drill in the back field behind the house.

The house on Faith Road was bought by my grandfather, and his family moved in on Thanksgiving Day 1945. The house was built by Mr. Earnhardt, over 100 years ago; my grandfather was the last to live in that house, and lived with my aunt Shirley until his death in 2007.

Every time I pass the house I always look up the driveway to quickly see the house. From time to time I drive up to the house and look around, to think back on the grand times we had growing up around that old house. The house still stands and is a part of the housing development called The Gables at Kepley Farms.

I was recently told by my aunt Shirley that the house is to be torn down. When I was told this my heart sank as the memories flooded in. It’s like a member of your family is passing away.

No, I am not a Walton but I am part Kepley, and proud of it!

— Tim Arey

Salisbury

An unfair test

I don’t know what day last week, between Aug. 10-14, a job fair was held for Hobby Lobby. A friend of mine who went to it was given a math test. My friend was told not to use a computer. Lot of good that did! The applicants from the “old school” before computers did fine. The ones who had used computers in schools couldn’t do the tests, so they sneaked and used computers.

My friend had a hard time with it because she had computers in school. She did the best she could. She even told a lady conducting the tests about the computers, and she turned a blind eye to it. Not a fair interview at all.

— Shirley N. Smith

Salisbury