I congratulate, with heartfelt appreciation, the Salisbury Police Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Department, State Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney’s office for their continuing efforts to bring law, order and peace to our community.

Our City Council and County Commission are also actively involved in attempting to find positive directions for our local governments, but I admit disappointment in the recent political cartoon portraying our mayor as shouting at a citizen during the Council meeting.

The news report stated that this action was prompted by the citizen’s inappropriate conduct before the council, which was supported by the city attorney, who interpreted the rules of conduct in favor of the mayor’s effort to bring order to the meeting. The council and city attorney are to be commended for their steady hand and clear thinking.

Our community is now progressing as we all make a conscientious effort to obey local ordinances, statutes, and to support the rule of law. May this well continue as we go, but, if not, may the hammer continue to drop, as it has so forcefully in recent days.

— John L. Holshouser Jr.

Salisbury