Local issues offer little cause for encouragement
Selecting a site for the school administration building, then going about the task of finally building something has been kicked around like a tin can. The progress along the path to success by either the Rowan County Commission, the RSSS administration or the Board of Education has not been encouraging. It’s like golf played with ping-pong balls. The Salisbury City Council shouldn’t have become involved at all. The council only muddied an already entangled situation in something that wasn’t city business.
If the BOE insists, let them build on South Main Street and take responsibility for its success or failure. Having the school offices uptown is not going to draw other businesses or new building projects into already crowded uptown Salisbury. But let the “visionaries” have their way and see what happens within a few years of occupancy.
As if the central office hubbub isn’t confusing enough, the county commissioners want to saddle themselves with more real estate, namely an outdated shopping mall. I wish someone on the commission would kindly explain to us taxpayers, in 50 words or fewer: Why do you want to pay more than $3 million for a used building that will likely cost several million more to upgrade?
And speaking of growth, where has the EDC been lately? Recently in Walmart, tables were set up at both front entrances. A marketing person at each table was handing out brochures to encourage shoppers to drive to the new Sam’s Club in Mooresville. Why are shoppers being asked to take Rowan-Salisbury dollars to Mooresville instead of the other way around? And what of the jobs that could have come here if the new Sam’s Club had opened in Salisbury?
Finally, the county commission has too much on its plate to be concerned about the difficulties of one commissioner. Mac Butner’s recent letter was right on point about Jon Barber. A great many of us have had our fill of Barberisms and excuses for bad and illegal behavior. It’s time for Barber to man-up and resign so he can spare Rowan taxpayers further embarrassment from his juvenile antics. While not legally binding, the other commissioners should pass a resolution asking for Barber’s resignation.
— Bill Ward
Salisbury

Where’s transparency?
I will preface my letter with the following disclaimer: The mall purchase is likely a great deal that will solve the space problems facing county departments. I support pursuing the purchase, but only with full disclosure to the public.
The problem I have is the lack of transparency. In 2012, Jim Sides preached on government transparency and made very effective changes in approving the rating of our county with the John Locke foundation. I am never hesitant to give praise where it is due: that was a good thing for our county and I applaud Jim for those efforts. I will also not hesitate to call him out publicly when he (and other commissioners, sadly) demonstrates blatant hypocrisy by restricting access to information and ongoing negotiations regarding said mall purchase. It is no surprise to me that this is occurring, but that is not a reason to allow it to be left unsaid. Shame on any commissioner taking part in this (or any other) clandestine behavior.
We, the people, deserve to be fully aware of the goings-on within our county government. You were elected to office to conduct the business of the people. For the past several years, it seems our county has been the source of controversy, bickering and ridicule. Commissioners: you were elected to office by the people. Stop conducting business behind closed doors. I’ve heard it said by a commissioner directly that most business is taken care of long before the commissioners public meetings are held. This is unacceptable, and you demonstrate a clear lack of integrity by conducting yourselves in such a manner.
— Joel Johnson
Rockwell

Thanks from veterans
On behalf of the members of J.C. Price American Legion Post 107 and Auxiliary, I would like to thank the many people of the Salisbury-Rowan area for the honor and the strong support shown to us on Veterans Day, namely the parades and the many organizations that donated free meals and/or discounts on store items and supplies to us.
To paraphrase from our officer’s guide: We believe that our strength on the field of battle, on the supply lines, lay in the justice of our cause against the forces of evil. We believe our determination made us better warriors because we fought with our minds and our hearts, as well as our bodies. Today, we continue our endeavors on behalf of an honorable world peace with a profound gratitude to God. Out of blood and sweat, we have learned of purpose, tolerance, bravery and discipline.
In time of peace, we have been taught to use these virtues of war to move forward in the sight of God as a strong nation in a peaceful world. In peace, we can scale new heights of achievement in unity of purpose, in sacrifice for the common good, in tolerance of those of different faiths and creeds; in bravery to fight for social and economic gains and the discipline of good citizenship. During this Veterans Day celebration, let us all move forward in the sight of God as a strong nation in a peaceful world.
Again, we are very grateful to all who exhibited kindness and appreciation. It made us feel brave, proud and patriotic because we wore our uniforms and fought for the freedom of the United States of America.
For God and country, we say thanks again.
— Ollie Mae Carroll
Salisbury

Carroll is commander of Post 107.
Hagan’s record
Well, the real Kay Hagan is in full view; one has only to look. After more than four years of carrying the Democrat water bucket, irregardless of impact on N.C. citizens, Ms. Hagan is suddenly concerned about how the Affordable Care Act is adversely affecting our citizens and what it will mean for the future. After five years on the committee that helped write the ACA, she’s just now getting concerned? Really? Sorry, Ms. Hagan, you can’t slobber all over it for three-plus years, then make anyone believe the result is such a surprise when ACA face-plants in the dirt.
While I happen to agree with the court decision on prayer at county commission meetings (our commission was just about as clueless as Forsyth), there’s a possible reason all those progressive rulings come the way they do — federal judgeships and U.S. Supreme Court appointments.
Guess what — the U.S. Senate just voted to change Senate voting rules in place since the inception of our government, requiring only a majority vote to shut down debate on presidential appointments. Granted, Senator Reid has said the rule won’t apply to SCOTUS appointments, but with a slight party majority, President Obama now has a clear path to appoint just about any left-wing wacko he wishes to a federal judgeship! And Kay Hagan just voted in lock-step for the rule change.
One of Ms. Hagan’s current campaign ads would have you believe she’s an “independent. Maybe we’d see the independent side of her if she had ever deviated from the progressive Democrat party line after an election instead of just before. Time to wake up, Rowan County citizens, time to discover what your elected officials are doing to you, not just for you.
Ms. Hagan doesn’t have presidential coattails to ride next year, nor does she have Liddy Dole to run against. Next year she will run on her own record, a record with lots of noise but little of substance actually benefiting Rowan County citizens.
— James G. Grizzard
Faith

Ghastly geese slaughter
I was angered and appalled when I read your gruesome story concerning the slaughter of the geese and ducks at Rowan Memorial Park. I have a plot there, and my family is buried there because of the geese and ducks that reside there. I feel the ball has been dropped in holding to account those responsible.
It doesn’t matter who owns the land; a law has been broken and the perpetrators need to be charged. One person in your story said she knew they were coming that night, so others must have known who had committed this heinous crime. They should be found and questioned. I love animals and always felt good knowing that there would be geese and ducks enjoying the park where I would be buried. I hate to now think they would be routinely slaughtered as I rest in peace.
— Marty Barnes
Salisbury

End the gassing
I recently moved here from Florida and could hardly believe my eyes when I read that animals are being gassed at the county shelter!
That is to me archaic. Sadly, I had to put my 16-year-old pet down before I moved here. Thank God they do it by injection. I held her and cried, but it was done humanely. Please change to injection; show some compassion!
— Ethel Porter
Salisbury
Redbuds, not Rosebuds
Thank you so much for the nice article and “laurel” about the Rowan Redbuds Garden Club planting the planters in the downtown area. We are proud of our new garden club and look forward to more service projects for the county in the future.
Please note that the name of the club is Redbuds, not Rosebuds. The club was named for a garden club that existed for many years in the eastern part of the county.
— Carolyn Alexander
Salisbury

Alexander is the secretary for the Rowan Redbuds Garden Club.