Veterans appreciate this good deed

On Thursday, Nov. 10, Register of Deeds John Brindle and his staff honored military veterans with a breakfast and luncheon. Approximately 280 veterans attended this event. The veterans appreciated their sponsoring the event in their honor.

So far there has been approximately 300 discount veteran identification cards issued.  These ID cards can be used at various local retailers for 10 percent to 25 percent off.  This is a wonderful thing that John and his staff did for military veterans.

I would like to personally thank John and his staff for showing their support to veterans.   They also had a drawing and my name was drawn for $50.  Thanks again, John Brindle and staff, for your support of local veterans is greatly appreciated.  If you would like a veterans identification card issued, go to the Register Deeds office and register your DD-214.

— Dale Newark

Salisbury

Prayer beats protest 

Just sayin’ … I was a freshman in college during the Cuban missile crisis. Wanna know what we (the students) did? We gathered in the student union and, in silence, watched it unfold on television. No one talked … complete silence. And then, we turned it over to God and our government.

May I suggest to the students, so many of whom never cast a ballot in this election, to try doing the same. Gather in a common area and pray! Ask the Lord to protect you from the evils you believe will befall our country with Donald Trump as our president.

Hold hands … sing … chant … and then, go about living your lives — attending class and loving your neighbors. Go to a football game. Help little old ladies cross the street; send Christmas cards to our veterans; fill shoe boxes for children in third-world countries who otherwise wouldn’t be receiving any Christmas presents; plant a tree; make cookies for the homeless; work in a soup kitchen; hug a person who’s hurting; call your mother and tell her you love her; and thank God that you live in a country that allows you to raise your voice in protest.

— Kathryn Dews

Salisbury 

A time to heal

To those who dislike the presidential election results: I think I know how you felt on Nov. 9. After the 2008 and 2012 elections, I felt disappointed, depressed and despondent.

I had worked hours and hours for my candidate. I had prayed to God that my candidate would win, but with the caveat, “Not my will, Lord, but Thine be done.”

Please do not alienate family, friends and acquaintances because of this election. People are precious: handle with care. I pray that God give all people the wisdom to see that He has given free will, the freedom of choice, to each of us. I pray that in the future we can calmly and rationally listen to and speak about political ideas with family, friends and others.

— Margaret Smetana

Pinehurst

Support our officers

Our Shield A Badge with Prayer program has been in operation for 21 years. We ask the community to pray for our officers every day. We ask that you send a birthday card, Christmas card or thank you card to the officers at the agency where they work. Our officers deserve our prayers and support. Your prayers can make a difference.

Every year at Christmas we raise the funds to give each officer at the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies, as the funds are provided, a Christmas gift. If you would like to adopt an officer for prayer or if you would like to give a donation, please contact me by phone at 704-782-7201 or by mail:

Chaplain Michael Taylor

2675 Phaniel Church Rd.

Rockwell, NC 28138

Shield A Badge with Prayer Ministries is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit ministry. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

— Chaplain Michael Taylor

Rockwell

Watch out for deer

According to statistics, the odds of hitting a deer with your car more than double during November and December. When hunting season makes a deer’s territory a war zone, it’s no wonder that they panic and run — often right into our roadways.

To avoid collisions, drivers should slow down and watch the road carefully in areas posted as a deer crossing and places where deer are more likely to travel, such as near bridges, railroad tracks, streams or ditches. Deer are the most active in the hours between dusk and dawn. Be aware that deer often travel in groups, so if you see one deer, slow down and watch for more. Drive with high-beam lights when possible, and if you see deer in the road, slow down and blow your horn in a long blast to frighten them away.

By following these tips and exercising caution, we can help keep the roads safe. For more tips on how to live in harmony with wildlife, visit www.PETA.org.

— Amy Elizabeth

Norfolk, Va.

Amy Elizabeth works with the PETA Foundation.