Pray for tax relief — and our schools

I can’t believe that for the first time in over 20 years I was not able to pay my property taxes on time, partly because of the changes in the tax codes brought on by Raleigh’s lawmakers. I always take my refund and pay my taxes early, but this year I had to pay almost three times in N.C. taxes what I had received the year before. I had to take savings that I had inherited from my grandmother to pay my state income tax.

Now I keep reading and hearing how Raleigh agrees to give out vouchers for private schooling. But I don’t hear of anyone offering to reimburse me, being single and having no children, so my property taxes will be lower and I could pay them on time.

But just as others paid to help provide an education for me, I’m now doing the same so that other generations may benefit. I can testify to many times I was “light and salt” while attending public school. I hope that believers today will stand strong and do the same with their faith.

I also know what it is like to be harassed for the sake of righteousness. If you think the public school system is bad now, what do you think it would be like as you pull the support and examples out? I wish that all students today could have teachers like Jane Faggart and Carol Harrell that I had and remember dearly.

And for all you nonbelievers that think the Creator’s love letter given to us is harmful and unconstitutional to be taught in public school, tell me, is it harmful and unconstitutional to teach the Declaration of Independence that speaks of that same Creator?

— Chris Honeycutt

Landis

Congratulations for excellent job

I want to congratulate all members of the Rowan Veterans Honor Guard for a job well done and national recognition well-deserved. These veterans deserve the highest respect from all citizens in Rowan County. Each one of these men has dedicated many hours of service to show their respect at veterans’ funerals. In doing so, they have touched the lives of many families attending funerals of their loved ones who have given so honorably to serve their country.

Additionally, each one of these men takes his mission to serve in a very serious manner and demonstrate the same respect for fellow veterans, no matter what the weather conditions or time of day. They are there faithfully.

I want to thank the members of the Rowan Veterans Honor Guard for their continued service to the veterans of Rowan County. I am so proud of them for receiving this well-deserved honor. Thanks also to Mark Wineka for presenting relevant and interesting news and recognitions in Rowan County.

— Donald Marsh

Salisbury

Tired of all the take-downs

When is it ever going to stop? First it was the Confederate flag in South Carolina. Then a name on the building at the University of North Carolina. Then the name of the Dixie Classic Fair. Now in Texas, the statues of Jefferson Davis and Woodrow Wilson are being removed from the University of Texas.

Has anybody had enough of all the take-downs? Well, I want to know how many people in the U.S. are tired of seeing Martin Luther King’s name on all the streets and roads. No. It is OK for his name to be where it is and no one wants to speak out about it.

All the things I wrote about affect somebody, but no one writes or says anything about the streets and road signs with Martin Luther King’s name on them. So I guess it is safe to say that white people have no say.

— Jesse McBride Jr.

Linwood

Education needs more support

The school grades of “D” & “F” on the state report card will not attract companies and jobs to Salisbury/Rowan. (Concord is barely ahead.) The money holders of the tax dollar are the Rowan County commissioners. They should sell the West End Mall (no tax revenue for the county) and put that money into education .

We need less prayer and more education for “ALL.”

Be the best for our children’s future.

— Terri Day Burnham

Salisbury