You’re loved – and worthy
Dear Friend,
If you are thinking about suicide right now, I want you to pause for just a moment and take a breath. I know the pain you’re carrying feels heavy – so heavy that it may seem like nothing will ever change. But I want you to hear this – you are not alone in this, and your life matters.
Many people have felt the same kind of despair you may be feeling. In fact, millions of people across the United States think about suicide every year. It doesn’t mean you are broken or weak – it means you are human, trying to find a way through pain that feels overwhelming.
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The thoughts you are having are REAL, but they don’t have to be permanent. Research shows that more than 90% of people who attempt suicide and survive go on to live their lives – often finding hope, healing, and reasons to stay. This means that even if it feels unbearable right now, there is a future beyond this moment.
You do not have to go through this alone. If you can, please reach out to a trusted friend, a family member or a professional who can listen and help you carry the weight. If speaking feels too hard, you can simply call or text 988. Someone will be there, 24/7, to listen without judgment and remind you that your story is not over.
You are loved. You are worthy. And even though you may not feel it today, the world is better with you in it.
Please hold on just one more day, one more hour, one more moment. Hope and healing are possible, and you deserve both.
With care and compassion, Someone Who
Believes in You.
Cecilia Crawford-Faulkner, Murphy
The writer is executive director of Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties. Call Reach at 828-837-2097, email director@reachofcherokeecounty.org or visit reachofcherokeecounty.org.
Cyclist did right things
My husband and I have bicycled on Airport Road many times. I also drive my car routinely into town. There are no shoulders or medians on that road.
Frank Mason rode as close to the side of the road as he could. He was a very good cyclist and had a flashing light, plus very visible colored clothing on. From the Sky Harbor Trace and Airport Road intersection, there is clear visibility to the hill where Frank was hit.
I believe you are about a half mile from the top of the hill. From that intersection, I can see cyclists, walkers, runners, cars, etc., to just beyond the hill. Drivers who are defensive drivers and aware of what is in front of them could not possibly miss any of them if looking.
I urge drivers to pay attention to the road and what is ahead. My husband and I have found most drivers are very cautious and patient with us when we are cycling. This was a preventable accident.
We will miss Frank, as he was an amazing person and good customer at FernCrest Winery.
Jan Olson, Andrews, The writer is co-owner of FernCrest Winery.
IOI’s growth thanks to you
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of Industrial Opportunities Inc.’s supporters that aided the IOI Board of Directors purchase of the V.F. Jeanswear –LEE facility – on Sept. 23, 2002, and continue to support IOI’s mission.
IOI moved from Marble into the former LEE facility in Andrews on Feb. 28, 2003, with the following goals:
- Increasing IOI’s floor space: Then 32,500 square feet; now 108,344 square feet.
- Increase sales and service revenue: Then $3,396,411; now $5,923,550.
- Increase the number of employees: Then 50; now 91.
- Increased number of individuals served: Then 80, with commercial revenues to support our mission of providing vocational training and employment to adults with disabilities. Today, 169 adults with disabilities, 59 working in the facility and 110 individuals receiving pre-employment transition services at Cherokee, Clay and Graham County Schools; 339 individuals with a disability have been successfully placed on a job in our community or at IOI, earning wages, paying taxes and contributing to our community’s economy, since 2001.
To date, IOI has completed $4,351,516 in new construction and renovations, bought $2,244,256 in equipment, invested $1,746,077 in vocational training wages, working capital and loan income, for total investment of $9,475,839.
I am proud to report that $139,320,028 in wages and benefits have been added to our local community since Feb. 28, 2003.
The IOI workforce of 151 appreciates all the support IOI has received over the last 23 years here in Andrews and the past 51 years serving Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
Tom O’Brien, Andrews
The writer is president/chief executive officer of Industrial Opportunities Inc.
Don’t kill all animals first
Can we even use the word “shelter” when the Cherokee County commissioners are threatening to withdraw needed funds unless the facility is turned into a killing one, only allowing 72 hours for an animal to be adopted after intake? That window of time is obscene.
As much as I wish we could save them all, I realize that is unrealistic. However, reasonably healthy animals should be allowed a reasonable length of time to be adopted. I think a year is fair. That’s not ideal; I would love it to be for as long as it takes, but I realize that is not really supportable.
An argument was made that the shelter isn’t meeting the needs of the community, as it is often too full to accept any incoming animals. What that says is additional funding is needed to expand the facility to be better able to take in more animals, not to start killing those there to make more room.
Education and incentive to get people to have their animals spayed or neutered and to participate in TNR programs might be a worthy endeavor. Encourage people who are considering a pet to adopt a shelter animal rather than buying one from a store or a breeder.
Killing perfectly good animals is not an answer. Help turn the tide toward kinder, more humane treatment of animals, write your representatives, write a letter here, make a donation to the shelter, think of ways to help.
Thank you for your time to read this and consider how you can help.
Kim Knebel, Murphy
Why accept a $53K gift?
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) is supposedly serving North Carolina’s 11th District. I contacted his D.C. office and asked, why did Edwards accept $53,000 from the American Israel Political Affairs Committee, an organization that serves the interests of Israel, a foreign nation?
The staffer stated, “Our legislative team can’t answer campaign-related questions because it would be a violation of the ethics code.”
What? How could explaining to a constituent why he took $53,000 from AIPAC be unethical?
What’s unethical is accepting that money, as it has one purpose, to vote in favor of all bills aiding Israel. Since 2023, the jackals in Congress have passed 24 bills supporting Israel. There have been more bills in the past two years concerning Israel than on any other issue. Disgusting.
Edwards voted in favor of every single bill. Shocker, right? Israel owns him.
Since Edwards’ job is to serve North Carolinians, why has he gone to Israel, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania? All paid by taxpayers. Why has he met with two warmongers, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? To ask them how much more taxpayer money and armaments they need?
Did Edwards demand justice for the 10 Americans murdered by Israel’s IDF in Palestine since 2023? Nope.
Americans funded Israel’s Iron Dome, $1.6 billion. In 2024, Congress passed an “emergency aid” package for $14.3 billion. In the Appropriations Defense Bill, Israel was given $500 million for missile defense. Taxpayers annually give Israel $3.8 billion. Americans have shelled out $320 billion to Israel.
What have taxpayers received in return? Nothing.
Why are we continuing to pay to defend Israel when they have an Iron Dome and 300 nukes? Israelis have free health care and college. Do struggling Americans?
When will Edwards focus on North Carolinians’ needs? Call his D.C. office at 202-225-6401.
Mary Mason, Murphy