“I don’t want to work that hard, but I want to stay active. … I tell people to keep moving so your age can’t catch you.”

— Jim Carli, who at 80 is still designing and assembling stone- and brick-cutting machines after decades as owner and operator of N/C Machinery Parts Inc.

“It’s very, very time-consuming. It’s different from hiring a guy to cut the grass.”

— Mike James, police chief in Spencer, on the challenge of training and retaining police officers while competing with larger municipalities that pay more

“This is where you get to do things you’ve always dreamed of doing but couldn’t because the rules were in your way.”

— Andrew Smith, chief strategy officer of Rowan-Salisbury Schools, who helped lead teams of teachers as they opened talks this week on the choices that come with the ‘renewal’ status that will give RSS new flexibility on policy

“We always say she came with the building. She was part of the deal.”

— Karen Loflin, whose mother, Sue Carter, retired after 31 years as the ‘Voice of Honda’ as receptionist at the Gerry Wood dealership

“This is as real as you can get without actual bullets. You never know when you get in that actual situation.”

— Isaac Miller, a Salisbury police officer who was among those involved in active-shooter training Thursday for school resource officers at ForceTec training facility

“Never have five of us gotten together and stuck it to you on the same issue. So you can believe we believe in what we are saying to you.”

— Mike Easley, one of five former governors who held a joint news conference Monday to express opposition to two proposed state constitutional amendments that they say would erode gubernatorial authority

“I’m an old lady, and I have to keep moving.”

— Frances Staton of Landis, on why she volunteers with Main Street Marketplace in China Grove, an agency that helps people get out of poverty by addressing food, housing, jobs and other areas where they need help

“Football is back, baby.”

— Joe Nixon, the coach at West Rowan High School, during the first Rowan County Jamboree last Friday that featured six local schools in a preview of a new season that kicked off this weekend