A big year for the R&L

With this edition, we close the book on another year.

On today’s front, we wrapped up our annual countdown of the top local news stories of 2007. Selecting and ranking these stories has never been more difficult. This was the fifth year I’ve been involved with this project at the R&L, and I can’t remember a year with more tragic news stories.

Aside from the 10 homicides in the Statesville area, there were numerous fatal car accidents that took people away from their loved ones far too soon. Covering these stories is a difficult undertaking for our staff of professional journalists, who do their best to respect the privacy of the grieving families while also reporting the news of the day.

There was plenty of news involving the Statesville City Council and Iredell County Commission in 2007, and I don’t believe we missed a public meeting. The council’s dynamics changed with the retirement of long-time public servant Pete Peterson. Near the end of the year, veteran Commissioner Sara Haire Tice announced she would not seek another term in 2008. The long hours Peterson and Tice put in during the past two decades would be difficult to quantify, as would their contributions to this great county.

The ongoing drought was big news throughout the year and will no doubt continue to be a major story in 2008. Due to the vision of our elected city officials and their staff, we’re fortunate to live in a city rich in water resources. Let’s hope that continues.

This spring, our staff had fun — as many of you did — following the filming of “Leatherheads” in downtown Statesville. Like everyone — except the locals who were fortunate enough to land a role as an extra — we had limited access to the stars. But we managed to snag a few photos of actors George Clooney and Renee Zellweger between shoots on Center Street.

We also began producing news and information in ways we had only dreamed about. Under the leadership of Web content producer Jessica Norman, we began posting video to www.statesville.com, including our 5@5 Webcast and the weekly sports show. We’re also distributing more news via text messages to cell phones and e-mail. All of these efforts will intensify in the coming weeks and months.

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The opinion page was as vibrant as ever in 2007. We printed letters from more than 550 readers. Thanks to all of you who took time to weigh on the important issues of the day. Your views matter, and we’re proud to host a debate every day.

There was plenty to write about. The most popular topics were the city council’s attempt to ban panhandling, the county commission’s decision to allow a biodiesel plant to be built in a rural neighborhood and residents’ pleas for a traffic signal at the intersection of the new U.S. Highway 70 and Triplett Road, where three people were killed in a pair of tragic accidents in October.

Our most prolific letter writers in 2007 were Paul Lowe, Thomas Palmer and Neal Grose, each of whom had 14 letters published. It’s a safe bet that all three will be regular contributors in 2008 once the presidential election kicks into high gear.

Former governors James Holshouser and Jim Hunt and Rep. Virginia Foxx also contributed their views.

On a sad note, this page lost the voice of a long-time writer — and one of my favorite people — when World War II veteran Charlie Benbow passed away.

As always, thanks to all of you for reading the R&L.

Mike Fuhrman

Editorial: Four years later

It’s been 1,461 days since a group of teens who came to be known posthumously as the Statesville Seven died on a dark stretch of U.S. Highway 21 while running from a Troutman police officer.

They were killed four years ago today, just after midnight, when their vehicle, which had three good tires and a donut spare and was later reported stolen, careened off U.S. 21 at a high rate of speed, struck an embankment, overturned and hit a tree.

You don’t hear as much about the Statesville Seven these days. In fact, there’s not a public event this year commemorating the loss of these young lives. More recent tragedies and acts of senseless violence, instances when other misguided teens made the wrong choices and got hurt or hurt others, are now etched in the forefront of our collective memories.

Despite the calls for change brought on by the events of Dec. 29, 2003, enduring, life-altering change has been too slow to take hold in our communities. There’s still too much crime, too many dope pushers and too little hope.

But change is coming. A small band of community activists, true leaders with a vision, is working to save the current generation of children from the trappings of the streets, the lure of drugs and easy money.

This band is raising money by the hundreds of thousands of dollars to make sure teens in South Statesville and in the rest of the city have positive role models and alternatives to joyriding. When the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont finally opens its doors, there will be a real reason to have hope for the next generation.

Until that day comes, remember John Lindsey Myers, David Wayne Summers, Quentin Maurice Reed, Antonio Miller, Domnick Hurtt, Erica Stevenson and Antoinette Griffin were all our children. They are still missed by those who loved them.

We should remember their names and the unfortunate circumstances that led to their deaths. Not just on the anniversary of their deaths, but every day.

Editorial: Playing the Game

Rep. Virginia Foxx’s recent proclamation that she will not seek congressional earmarks to steer federal funding to local projects is a noble idea.

If that idea were to be universally embraced by members of both major political parties, who too often tend to view taxpayers’ money as their own, Americans might begin to hold their elected representatives in higher esteem.

Don’t expect that to happen.

And, if Foxx sticks to her guns, residents of the 5th Congressional District will be worse off for it.

Without her advocacy, federal money that could have gone to important projects in Foxx’s sprawling district will instead be gobbled up by other members of the U.S. House and Senate for pet projects in their states.

Foxx is right to bemoan the use of irresponsible earmarks, which politicians use to build goodwill with voters back home. And what’s good for the voters back home is usually good for the politicians. Everyone knows that’s how the game is played and how many elections are won.

Working with Sens. Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole, Foxx has played a hand in making sure a good chunk of federal funding has made its way to her district during the past three years.

In 2007, when Democrats controlled both chambers, the trio still managed to get $1 million in funding for transplant research at Wake Forest University, $300,000 for biofuel research at Appalachian State University and $100,000 for technology for rural schools in North Carolina.

Foxx has also helped secure millions of dollars in federal funding to pay for improvements at Statesville Regional Airport.

In 2008, when Foxx’s seat is up for grabs, we recommend that she continue to play the game by the rules that were in place when she was elected.

Letter of the Day: Sheetz is good for motorists, bad for its small competitors

Sheetz gas station is welcomed in Statesville, as any gas station selling cheap gas would be. For working people with a limited budget, cheaper is better.

It gets old hearing the cost of gasoline being compared to milk and orange juice, as people say that gas is cheap compared to milk. I’m glad I don’t have to buy 25 gallons of milk every week. In this premise a gas retailer like Sheetz is welcome.

Sheetz is reminiscent of Wal-Mart. A lot of people don’t understand that just because the gas station has a BP sign out front that it is independently owned. These small business owners are required by the oil companies that own the pumps, tanks, signage and the gas that is in the ground to lay out enormous amounts of cash and lines of credit to be able to sell gas. In return, the oil companies call the gas stations, sometimes twice a day, and change the gas prices.

To be competitive, the oil company will let the owner lower their price to compete, but the owner is working on commission from the oil company. So if the oil company is demanding $3 a gallon, and the owner is selling for $2.85, the oil company will bill the gas station owner for the 15-cent- per-gallon loss next week. The gas station owner is also responsible for any credit card fees.

These owners make their money on the things that they sell inside the store, not on the gas. I worked at a gas station, and I personally saw a gas station pump 7,000 gallons of gas in one week and the owner still had to pay the oil company. He made no money on 7,000 gallons of gas. The fat cats are the executives who have paid off politicians in Washington and whose companies are posting record-breaking profits, while Americans are being destroyed at the gas pumps.

Owning a gas station used to be profitable, but now these independent owners are just trying to weather the storm. There is no “savings account” that they have built up from charging high gas prices that they can dip into because Sheetz has set up shop.

And, before it’s all over, they’ll be lucky to get out with the shirts on their back.

Marcus Troutman
Troutman

Editorial: Some good news

Korean-based manufacturer Doosan Infracore confirmed what has been widely known this week when the company announced it had purchased the Dana Corp. plant and would employ 400 workers at the site.

Long considered one of the county’s most attractive industrial sites, the plant will be used by Doosan Infracore to manufacture air compressors, light towers and portable generators. The company’s regional headquarters will move to the site from nearby Davidson.

Displaced workers have held out hope for years that the county’s economic development team would land a major manufacturer for the site, bringing hundreds of high-paying jobs to a community that needs them. In fact, the prospect of creating new jobs was one of the major reasons county commissioners were opposed to a proposal to convert the site into a 21st Century education complex.

That’s not exactly how it worked out.

The vast majority of the jobs are already spoken for. Some 340 employees will likely transfer from other regional offices, leaving about five dozen jobs for the company to fill in Statesville in the coming year. We expect there will be no shortage of qualified applicants for these jobs.

Still, in today’s competitive global marketplace where cheap labor and government incentives tend to conspire against cities like Statesville, Doosan Infracore’s announcement was a banner day for Iredell and one that should be celebrated.

Almost as noteworthy was Dana’s decision to move its remaining Statesville workforce of three dozen to the downtown. The old Wachovia bank building had been vacant for too long and it’s exciting to see a new occupant.

Editorial: Make holidays bright for foster children

Year in and year out, we’re consistently impressed with this community’s compassion for those who are less fortunate.

In 2007, Iredell residents and businesses have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the capital campaigns for Fifth Street Shelter Ministries and the Boys & Girls Club. Your annual contributions to the United Way of Iredell County have helped support the work of member agencies like the Salvation Army and American Red Cross, which change the lives of your neighbors for the better every day.

And, every year since 1960, you have supported the Iredell County Department of Social Services’ efforts to raise money for the Lonely Children’s Fund, which provides financial assistance to the 100-plus foster children in our county.

For 46 years, you’ve helped DSS reach its goal by contributing enough money to provide Christmas presents and other extras throughout the year — like summer camp and band instruments — for Iredell children who, through no fault of their own, are in the custody of the state.

This year’s goal is $25,000.

So far, you’ve contributed more than $22,000, making it extremely likely that DSS will extend its streak to 47 consecutive years.To those who have given, thank you for spreading a little holiday cheer to a group of children and teenagers that truly appreciates your generosity at Christmas and throughout the year.

To those who haven’t, there’s still time. We can’t think of a better last-minute gift or memorial contribution and we’re proud to publish the names of the contributors every year.

Editorial: Tip scales of justice

Even the smallest piece of information can result in getting a potentially dangerous person off the streets and into custody.

That’s what happened Monday, when Statesville police officers arrested Andrew Darrin Ramseur in connection with the shooting deaths of two people early Sunday morning.

Assistant Chief Tom Anderson said tips from the public led to Ramseur’s arrest.

The department needs the community’s help again.

Early Saturday morning on Fourth Street, a verbal dispute resulted in a shooting that claimed the life of one Statesville resident and injured another.Robert Erskine Young, 36, was shot and later died at Iredell Memorial Hospital.

Robert Lee Ferguson was treated and released after being shot in the leg.

Two people, Darien Price and Tshilanda Rachelle Stockton, both Statesville residents, have been arrested in connection with the shooting. A third suspect, Tshilanda’s brother, Torrey Odell Stockton of Charlotte, remains at large.

If you have any information on Torrey Stockton’s whereabouts, call the police department at (704) 878-3406 or Iredell County Crime Stoppers at (704) 437-COPS.Robert Erskine Young won’t have another chance to walk the streets of Statesville, but it’s not too late for city residents to make them a safer place to be.

Letter of the Day: Sheez brings welcome relief from gas prices

Welcome, Sheetz!

It’s about time someone brought the gas gougers in Statesville to their knees. If they are losing money, let them dip into all the extra they have been charging their customers in the past. It’s been cheaper in Alexander County all along and in Mooresville, where I live. Statesville always has the highest prices around.

I stopped at Sheetz today, and that will be my gas station from now on. Thanks, Sheetz, for coming to Statesville.

We love having you here.

Peggy Hill
Mooresville

Letter of the Day: Murder suspect should have faced charges last summer

It has been brought to my attention that the same guy charged with committing the robbery and murder at the Shell gas station was suspected of robbing one of my employees.

We have an ice cream truck business, and in summer 2006, an employee was robbed.

The suspect was identified by a witness who even provided the perpetrators’ name. The Statesville police responded but no charges were ever filed.

Crime starts somewhere, and if this incident had been taken more seriously by the police department, maybe two people would still be alive. I know the police department does what it can, but they need to realize that a criminal starts somewhere, and they need to take each and every crime, whether it’s petty or not, seriously.

Once a criminal gets away with something little like robbing the ice cream man, he begins to wonder “What else can I get away with?”

Jose Gamez
Olin

Editorial: A family in need

Jennifer Vincek probably kissed her three daughters good-bye Saturday night before heading to work the third shift at the Shell service station on East Broad Street.

Following what Statesville Police Chief Steve Hampton described as an “especially heinous” crime, that would be the last time the 29-year-old mother would ever see Areyal Sherapita, 7, Jazmyn, 2, and Samara Wright, 6 months.Vincek and regular customer Jeffrey Peck, 52, were shot and killed early Sunday morning during an armed robbery.

Andrew Darrin Ramseur, 19, has been charged with the murders.As Ramseur awaits his day in court, Vincek’s three daughters await their next meal, their next diaper change, their next bedtime story — and they wait without their mother, who just wanted to take care of her girls.

“She really wanted to provide for her family,” said Scott Eanes, senior pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, where Vincek attended services. “She was a wonderful mother.”Driven by that love for her daughters, Vincek took to working third shift, which co-workers said she feared — and perhaps rightfully so.

Now less one parent and one income, Vincek’s family is strained.Some members of the community have already stepped up to help: a memorial fund for the girls has been set up through Wachovia Bank; the Troutman Kangaroo station has a donation jar on the counter; and diapers, formula and other items can be dropped off at the Shell station on Broad Street.

Those three girls are already without their mother; they shouldn’t have to go without anything else.

Letter of the Day: A near miss at another deadly intersection on Highway 70

Thursday night, Dec. 6, was a night to remember for three of us. We were traveling on Stamey Farm Road in a newly fine-tuned car, came to a stop sign, stopped, looked carefully both ways and, when safety allowed, proceeded into the intersection to cross U.S. Highway 70, onto Bethlehem Road.

There is a curve right by the church on the corner, and to our horror a car came barreling out of the darkness from that curve.

My very best girl friend was in the back where the car was hit and received a broken collar bone. Many thanks are due to passers-by who stopped to inquire if we need help, and to the caring and gentle emergency workers, N.C. State Trooper Crane and friends who came to stand by us.

The driver and I were not injured and it is a miracle that we all survived. My friend was treated and released from Iredell Memorial Hospital and is on the mend, thanks be to God. This hampers her work as a church secretary and we ask your continuing healing prayers for her.

There is a white cross at this intersection where, I understand, a motorcyclist lost his life. This is a very dangerous area, day or night, and even though the sign reads, “Reduce Speed Ahead,” there needs to be additional signage.

Marian S. Morgan
Statesville

Editorial: Teens making name for themselves

There’s rarely a shortage of news to report about teens and young adults breaking the law in Iredell County. Our police blotter on Page 2A is rife with such accomplishments on an almost daily basis.

While it’s important to document criminal activity, we try to publish just as many articles celebrating the good deeds and triumphs of young people in our community. We know the troublemakers represent only a small percentage of people in any age group.

A group deserving some positive publicity — and public support — is the Teen Entrepreneurship Program. Coordinated by nonprofit Teen Health Inc., this program gives at-risk teens the knowledge and support they need to start their own business ventures.

The 15 participants have completed a 14-week program in which they have learned the basics of owning and operating their own businesses. They’ve learned how to write business plans, how to take care of their customers and how to manage money.

They’ve taken that knowledge and turned it into an array of products and services. They produce music, build skateboard decks, bake cakes, wash cars and take care of little kids.

Now they’re looking for customers.

Like any business owner, they cannot make it without a paying public. If you’re in need of any of these goods and services, stop by the Teen Expo 2007 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the South Statesville Skills Center.

We can publicize their efforts, but only you can turn this feel-good story into a great success story.

Editorial: Sub-prime bailout at taxpayers' expense

It’s becoming popular in some political circles to push for the federal government to bail out mortgage lenders and homeowners in foreclosure who are being run over by the sub-prime bandwagon.

With the presidential primary season around the corner and the general election now less than 11 months away, many in Washington will try to make political hay by saving the people from themselves and, in some cases, predatory lenders.

This is not a good expenditure of the public’s money.

We don’t think taxpayers should have to bail out these lenders, who hawked loans to people they knew would not be able to afford them when rates reset at higher rates. The scope of the federal government’s involvement with these lenders should be an investigation into their unsavory tactics and, where warranted, a tightening of regulations and oversight.

Similarly, the folks who signed on the dotted line for these risky loans should have known the deals were too good to be true. We doubt it stated in the fine print that taxpayers’ would pick up the tab if they suddenly could not make their payments.

For homeowners who are anticipating the date when their sub-prime interest rates reset in the coming months — and there are many, many more to come — now is the time to take action. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5th) is encouraging those who are having a difficult time making their mortgage payments to contact a group called HOPE NOW Alliance, which can help consumers save their homes and their credit. The phone number is 1-888-995-HOPE.

If you’re in this sinking boat, you’re better off taking action now. Counting on the federal government to save you is always a risky proposition.

Letter of the Day: NCDOT wasting precious time studying deadly intersection

The N.C. Department of Transportation is lucky no one else has lost their life at the deadly intersection at U.S. Highway 70 and Triplett Road. It’s taken nearly two months for DOT to make a decision on a red light, and three lives were lost there in less than two weeks.

The first, Mike Dishman, who was in his 50s, who lost his life because of the new road. Looking back and reading the past newspapers, his family said they need a light up there, but DOT didn’t listen. So the new road took the lives of a grandma, Cathy Tolbert, in her 50s, and the life of our step-granddaughter, Casey, who was 3.

There are no “what ifs” about it. There needs to be a light there to save someone else’s life. And if one had been there Oct. 20, we might not be having to spend Christmas without Casey, and her grandpa would still have his wife for Christmas.Our hearts are still breaking inside for a little girl who just last year was throwing Christmas balls off my tree and laughing about it. Only this year the balls still hang in place. But if one falls off, I think it’s Casey doing it and playing her little game with me.

So many families are grieving this Christmas for their loved one because of a new road the state had to make and didn’t have sense enough to put a light where it was needed.

So now we wait again for the DOT’s final decision that should have been done long before now. But we’re praying for the right one to be made. Maybe this Christmas we can’t give Casey any presents for her to open, but we can give her a red light with the Christmas colors — red, yellow and green. I think she would like that.

And name it after her. After all, she lost her life because of this new road. And I’m sure she would be smiling down from heaven knowing she may save someone else’s life, even though she never got to live to see another Christmas.

I told her when we were at the grave site we’re going to get her a red light, I promise. It won’t bring Casey back, but it will save someone else.

I just hope DOT says yes to a red light. I want to be there when they put it up. For God only knows how much our hearts are breaking this holiday season.

Margie Teaster
Woodleaf

Letter of the Day: Criticizing methodology will not fix what’s broken in I-SS

I am responding to your recent article titled “I-SS has room to improve.”

It is obvious that the I-SS management system was behind this poorly disguised attempt to mislead the public on the true state of our educational improvements over the past two years — to the extent of discrediting the method used in grading school achievement progress levels.

Our illustrious top administrator even attempts to blame the system’s failures on poor performance of less gifted students or an unfair grading methodology.

The truth is that the areas requiring greater emphasis are not being aggressively addressed where weaknesses are apparent and common to many school districts across the nation.

The most effective way to improve the educational achievement level is to get out of the office and coffee shop and make an in-depth comprehensive evaluation of the current failures and refashion the teaching policies to directly confront those areas which contribute to and promote the status quo. Placing the blame on others can never improve a broken system.

Eugene Bost
Statesville

Editorial: We love a parade

Hundreds of families lined Center Street on Sunday afternoon for the latest installment of the Statesville Christmas Parade.

An unusually warm December day took a turn toward the nippy just in time for the parade, and the hundred or so entries did the rest to make it a day to remember.

There were Scouts of all ages, a dozen beauty queens, youth football teams, motorcycle clubs, firetrucks, cowboys and the jolly old elf himself.

As always, the marching bands and JROTC units did their high schools proud.

Throngs of people show up each year expecting a good show with little or no thought given to the work required to pull off the parade.

They’re rarely disappointed.Thanks, Statesville Jaycees, for a great Christmas present.

Online only: Check out photos from the parade. Go to www.statesville.com and click on photo galleries.

Giving back ignites Christmas spirit

You can learn a lot about a community by ringing the Salvation Army bell for an hour.Here are a couple of lessons I learned this year:

• It’s often the people who can afford to give the least who dig the deepest in their pockets and purses to help those in need.
• The Salvation Army helps folks who need it the most. Invariably, someone who has benefited from the Red Kettle Drive will drop a handful of change or a couple of crumpled up bills in the bucket. “You never know when you’re going to need help,” a woman told me Thursday.
• During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we need to slow down and remember to let folks in the crosswalk, particularly the elderly and moms with little children, get across the street.
• Too many of us are grumpy during what’s supposed to be the most joyous time of the year.

Helping the Salvation Army — with a fit of money or your time — is the best way to get in the Christmas spirit.

The Salvation Army is one of the best charities in the world. They truly are doing what Jesus would do — helping “the least among us.”

Being associated with such a noble cause makes you feel good about yourself — and provides a flicker of hope in an increasingly dark world.The R&L staff recently took a day ringing the bell outside Kmart. We try to do our part and I’m always proud of my co-workers, who are eager to lend a hand for a good cause whenever asked.

(Many of our journalists are volunteering as mentors in Iredell-Statesville Schools this school year.)

One of our newest reporters, Russell Ledbetter, was one of the first to offer to ring the bell this year even though he’s only been in Statesville about a month. On the way to Kmart, he was involved in an accident and his car was totaled, giving new meaning to the phrase “no good deed goes unpunished.”

A week later, I took a turn ringing the bell outside Wal-Mart for my Rotary club.The list of bell ringers on that day read like a who’s who of caring people in Statesville. I took the bell from retired Postmaster William Jones, whose name seems to be associated with just about every good cause.

It was chilly outside and Mr. Jones was just finishing up a two-hour tour of duty. But he still had that contagious smile and gleam in his eye that told me he would have gladly rang the bell until dark.

At both locations, I had one of my boys. They love ringing the bell and dancing around the red kettle. Their efforts brought smiles to all but the biggest Scrooge and, I’m sure, increased donations.

Mike Fuhrman is the editor of the R&L. He can be reached at mfuhrman@statesville.com.

Editorial: Federal mandate helps educators keep focus

Public school administrators across the nation have plenty of reasons to take issue with No Child Left Behind, the federal law that, simply put, requires all students to be on grade level and holds educators accountable.

Recently, Iredell-Statesville Schools officials have been critical of the law, which sets achievement expectations for individual schools and districts, because it attaches labels and doles out sanctions, for lack of a better term, on entities that fall short.

I-SS is now classified as “a school district in improvement,” which is a politically correct way of saying it has not met all of the goals spelled out by NCLB.

The labeling, I-SS officials contend, is detrimental to schools, administrators and teachers who have dedicated their professional lives to helping children reach their academic potential.

Superintendent Terry Holliday said the new label — and the letter sent to 15,000 homes notifying parents of the district’s dubious distinction — sends the wrong message.

The district has made great strides in recent years — from reducing the dropout rate to improving SAT scores — and met 91 percent of the NCLB goals.

Those achievements, Holliday said, should be applauded, not slapped with a label that would lead the truly uninformed to believe I-SS schools are not making the grade.

The superintendent is right.

We also believe Holliday when he says that I-SS teachers and administrators would be focused on the underlying goals of NCLB even if it were not the law of the land. The district’s schools are filled with educators who put in long hours to help our students succeed.

But it would be naive to suggest that every teacher and every administrator in every school in every state was on par with I-SS. Having a federal law — with some bite — helps keep everyone’s eyes and attention focused on doing what is morally and ethically right.

In a perfect world, Congress wouldn’t have to tell educators that every child, regardless of their skin color, native language or the amount of money their parents have, is deserving of a shot at a sound education.

But our state and our nation’s history proves that, without federal intervention, many children would be left way behind.

What should the city's resolution be?

As we all craft our new year's resolutions, on what do you think the City of Statesville should focus?

Leave your ideas in comments below.

Editorial: A waste of time

The brewing controversy over the state community college system’s requirement that its 58 member institutions admit and educate undocumented students would be laughable if it wasn’t such a colossal waste of time and energy.

The Southern border, the factory floor and corporate boardrooms should be the frontline for this battle.

Americans want their elected representatives to take a stand on this issue once and for all and secure our borders. The best way to do that is to ensure that illegal immigrants don’t find work once they get here.

Our chief executive and commander-in-chief, President Bush, has done nothing to stem the flow of illegal immigrants across our borders. If there’s been a genuine stand along our border or a major crackdown against companies for hiring undocumented workers, we missed the news flash.

Lawmakers in Washington — when the Republicans were in charge and now that the U.S. House and Senate are controlled by the Democrats — have done nothing.

Now some people want community colleges to enforce our immigration laws. That’s beyond absurd.

The fact that politicians in Raleigh and elsewhere are trying to make political hay on this issue shows their failure to grasp the root causes of this issue.

The fact is, our state’s community colleges have not been overrun by illegal immigrants. Here in Iredell County, Mitchell Community College officials are confident they don’t have a single undocumented student in their degree-seeking programs. And, given the fact that these students would be forced to pay more than $7,000 for tuition, they don’t expect the admissions office to be deluged with applicants.

All of the anger being directed at our state’s community colleges should be rerouted to Washington, D.C.

Letter of the Day: Democratic hopefuls cannot see all of the good Bush has done

We can — and should — forgive Jim Calabrese for his statement in his recent letter that “today we have lost the respect of the world.”

However, we cannot and should not forgive Sen. Hillary Clinton and others running for the presidency when they make such statements.

Mr. Calabrese is expressing his opinion, for which our troops have and are fighting to allow him and many millions of others around the world to be able to do so without fear of imprisonment or death.

This is one of the main things that makes America “the greatest nation in the world,” as French President Nicolas Sarkozy said of America in his recent speech before our Congress.

That is in stark contrast to statements by Jacques Chirac, who was president of France when Bill Clinton was our president.

Mr. Calabrese does not have the power to affect the lives of millions of Americans as well as millions of other people around the world. However, Hillary Clinton and the other presidential candidates could have that power if one of them wins the election.

Despite the best efforts of former presidents Jimmy Carter, Clinton and former presidential candidate John Kerry to turn the world against America because they did not agree with President Bush’s foreign policy, they have failed. In addition to France, Germany has elected a pro-American, Angela Merkel, as their leader. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a recent interview with Sky News that “great change is taking place, in addition to France and Germany the European Union is also moving more closely with America.”

Australia is very close to America. Libya gave up their weapons of mass destruction in an effort to move close to America. Canada is showing incredible steadfastness in taking disproportionate casualties while supporting the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Democratic presidential hopefuls cannot see those nations and people who have moved close to America with George W. Bush as our president. Yet one of them can see UFOs. God help us all if one of them moves into the White House in 2009.

Paul A. Lowe
Hiddenite

Letter of the Day: Today's politicians, campaigns are lacking in real honesty

One of the hardest things to bare in this election season is all the talk by candidates about the “greatness of the American people.” The Bible warns us repeatedly about speech like this. “By smooth talk and flattery they deceived the minds of naive people.” (Romans 16:18)

However, the electorate likes to hear it. It is reassuring to think that we are members of a multitude possessing supernatural wisdom.

Of course, such a wise assembly needs leaders to secure for all of us the rich and appropriate gifts we deserve, right? Accordingly, campaigners promise a host of things no one can afford.

Free elections are wonderful, but what if we begin to think that the government owes us a living? What if we come to believe all the drivel about our own superiority?

There is a greatness about America, but most of it was purchased by the blood, sweat and tears of men and women who came before us. Their footprints are still visible on the paths of humility and service.

However, the last time I looked, there were few George Washingtons in either political party willing to tell the people the truth about themselves and the God who enabled such a nation to rise.

Ted Simonson
Statesville

Editorial: Making the Grinch look good

It takes a special breed of criminal to use the name of a children’s home as part of a scam to line his own pockets.

That’s what Statesville police have charged Tony Lee Baynard with doing.Baynard, 47, is accused of ripping off at least three people by claiming he was collecting money for the Barium Springs Home for Children. He was not authorized to solicit donations for the nonprofit and never gave the organization any money.

This is the time of year when generous people like to share their good fortune by helping those who need a hand up. And there are plenty of local organizations who can turn those contributions into a better life for someone who is down and out.

It’s also the time of year when con artists are on the prowl trying to make a few bucks the easy way.

Don’t let the type of crime Tony Lee Baynard is accused of perpetrating deter you from helping others this holiday season. Most legitimate charitable organizations refrain from door-to-door soliciting.

You can protect yourself by contacting the nonprofits you want to support directly and asking how to give.

Editorial: Thanks for 22 years

Statesville City Council members and staffers will pay tribute Monday evening to one of the longest-serving council members in city history.Former Councilman A.E. “Pete” Peterson, who retired earlier this year for health reasons, will be honored for his 22 years of service to the city at the council’s regular meeting. The council will present Mr. Peterson with a plaque honoring him for his work and thank him personally for his efforts.It is a rare person who devotes that much time, for little money and even less notoriety, to working for the betterment of his community. We join the council in saluting Mr. Peterson for his commitment to our great city.