“I failed her as a dad. I also failed my other kids.”

— Sandy Parsons, the adoptive father of Erica Parsons, who pleaded guilty this week to second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, concealment of death and child abuse

“Jake said to me, ‘You could fill Catawba College’s football stadium with people he had helped.’ That may have been an understatement.”

— Bill Burgin, a local architect and friend of Johnny Safrit speaking about the impact his friend had in the Salisbury community

“Shelby is a great football team. I call them a machine because they keep pumping out great football teams.”

— Brian Hinson, football coach at Salisbury High School, after a 34-0 loss in the 2AA football state championship game against Shelby High School.

“As a member of Congress, there are votes that you sometimes struggle with, but today’s vote on impeachment is absolutely not one of them.”

— Rep. Tedd Budd, whose 13th Congressional District covers part of Rowan County and who voted ‘no’ on both articles of impeachment Wednesday night

“These funds were raised by the community and they should be open to the community to apply for it.”

— Jeannie Sherrill, executive director of Families First NC, who was speaking about the United Way’s new funding model

“We need a higher educational level for the population of Rowan County to meet the needs of 21st-Century jobs.”

— Jim Greene, vice chairman of the Rowan County commission, who was speaking before voting to put a $45 million bond referendum on March’s primary ballot