Walk went to the dogs
If you are out and about in Clay County, you may see a beautiful boy, light colored lab mix from the Valley River Humane Society. He’ll be riding around in style and is being fostered by Pat and Jeannette Kern of Hayesville.
His luck is the result of the Freedom Walk held on Feb. 1 at Konehete Veterans Park in Murphy. Staff and shelter volunteers taking time to walk dogs and converse about these animals led to several adoptions.
Pat volunteers weekly, spotted Butterball and fell for him even before the walk. He and his wife are adopting him.
At this time, the humane society wishes to thank Robert Seibert, owner of Prints Plus, for designing and printing the Freedom Walk fliers as well as the Clay County Progress, Cherokee Scout and The Graham Star for helping get the word out. We thank Dan Silva of Signs Fast 2 and Highway 69 Storage for a hand truck to be used at the shelter. Also, many thanks to WCNG and WCVP radio, all the staff, walkers and all those who donated to honor the memory of former animal shelter manager Kirsty Waller.
The humane society is very excited to thank Hayesville Elementary School students, teachers, staff, children and parents for hosting a coin drive and raising $2,126.34. So many animals benefit from the generosity of our community. When children choose to help our animals, it touches our hearts. Manager Cheyenne Spicola, the entire staff, volunteers and animals are thankful for the support of these children.
Spay and neuter your pets, adopt from the humane society, donate to our thrift store and volunteer.
For details about the Valley River Humane Society and how you can help, please call 828-837-2304.
Debbie Graham, Hayesville
The writer is a volunteer with the Valley River Humane Society in Marble.
Mountain folks nice
Having enjoyed a second home here in Murphy for over 20 years, I have great respect and appreciation for mountain culture and its differences between city life. Of course, there are exceptions, but overall, mountain folk are just plain, nice people.
When I first experienced mountain living, I formed a perspective and image that still exists today. I described those feelings within the verses of this poem, written many years ago.
“Within these mountains, there are kind people, who share the decent, subtleties of life.
“A tip of the hat, or the raising of palm, a howdy or a hey, a smile or a nod.
“Who talk about old friends, spring gardens and summer tomatoes, further away than a next door neighbor, but close if you need them.
“Showing respect for God and country, for elders and children, for the military and for each other.
“Not rich, but far from poor with uncommon appreciation for the common necessities of life and its simple pleasures.”
Robert Karl, Murphy
Glimmer in the garbage
Over the years, much has been written about the litter problem in Cherokee and surrounding counties.
Repeatedly, volunteers give of their time and energy to clean up the mess left by others in our beautiful mountains and waterways. Who knows why so-called God-fearing people choose to trash His creation – leaving ugly scars on the natural beauty we have been given to enjoy?
My friend John and I pick up trash on Martins Creek Road. Like other volunteers, we do our best to avoid the distracted drivers, NASCAR wannabes, unleashed dogs and occasional chickens to keep our corner of North Carolina “clean and green.” It’s steady work.
Nine years and nearly 400 bags later, there may be a glimmer of hope among the garbage.
Some fine folks slow down and say “thank you.” One man stopped and handed us a $20 bill. I said we were volunteers, but he insisted. It made our day.
Recently, three gentlemen stopped along our route and asked how they could go about picking up trash in their neighborhoods. One man lived near us and suggested he could continue the pickup routine where we end our walk on Martins Creek. Another said he and his wife would like to do the same in their area.
I suggested they start the way we did – by contacting the N.C. Department of Transportation in Peachtree to inquire about bags and procedures for pickup. There are also numerous organized cleanup events throughout the year which are generously covered in this newspaper and other local media.
We may not be able to change irresponsible behavior, but we can make a small difference and enjoy a “clean and green” environment until the next cleanup.
A glimmer of hope in a world of litter? Stay tuned.
Bob Sharp, Murphy
A travesty of justice
I have written many letters over the last year keeping fresh the tragic events of Dec. 13, 2022. If you do not know what transpired on that date, you have my permission to remove your head from wherever you may have it stuck.
The North Carolina special prosecutor’s office has chosen not to file criminal charges against officers for shooting and dragging an unarmed man, along with his wife, from their home while they slept.
District Attorney Ashley Welch was due to testify for the state against the sheriff’s office. Refusal to prosecute does not mean a crime did not happen.
You do not need to look any further than the White House to see that government has weaponized itself against its citizens. If you believe government will not reach out and touch you hiding in your little corner of paradise, you are being obtuse.
“Therefore, lions from the forest will kill them; wolves from the desert will devour them, and the leopard will prowl through their cities” (Jeremiah 5:6).
“We the people” did not ask for this fight, but it must be us who finishes it.
Darrin Wright, Murphy
Cult of DEI continuing
Whenever I hear these cult words – diversity, equity and inclusion – I start to retch. In their original context, they are splendid words. Unfortunately, the Democrat Party has distorted their interpretation and context to signify the opposite of core definitions.
Democrat Party leaders employ DEI to create division, hatred and exclusion. Party activists claim DEI originated from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and “affirmative action” legislation. Nothing could be further from the truth. DEI ideology is rooted in the communist philosophies of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Saul Alinsky and Frank Marshall Davis – Barack Obama’s mentor.
The most successful accomplishment of the Democrats is the “balkanization” of society. Their perverted version of diversity – under the stewardship of Obama – fomented division and hatred after promising the opposite. Instead of unifying Americans, the Obama presidency morphed into the Marxist strategy of “divide and conquer.” Obama’s destructive vision flourishes under the Biden-Harris administration.
DEI ideology has replaced the core liberal values of merit, fairness and equality in academia, professional organizations, media, government agencies and Big Tech. DEI bureaucracies and groups have mushroomed with ambiguous definitions, goals and policies.
The left’s version of diversity means giving special privileges to protected classes of people – people of color, LGBTQ, women – so they can acquire socio-economic control over the majority, which is white. This is “tyranny of the minority.”
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ethics resonate decades after his death because he’s revered as a civil rights leader. This quote resembles a constitutional amendment on equality: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
There is nothing equivocating about King’s views on race and equality. His vision is the antidote for DEI’s civil rights Marxism.
Terry Payne, Marble
Watch for gas station drugs
Tianeptine is an anti-depressant not approved by the FDA. Not only is tianeptine an anti-depressant, it can also induce similar effects to morphine. This is what causes tianeptine to be so addictive. What makes tianeptine so dangerous, is it can be purchased at gas stations, so it is readily available and easily accessible.
Tianeptine has many names such as Tiana and more commonly known as Zaza. It is important to know the signs of use, withdrawal, and overdose in the event you have a loved one struggling with Tianeptine addiction.
Signs that someone may be overdosing from Tianeptine include having an irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, seizures, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness.
Finding out your child or loved one is using drugs can be scary and overwhelming. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, reach out for help before it is too late. We help people find treatment all across the United States to end the web that traps someone in addiction.
Alina Snowden, Denham Springs, La.
The writer is with Narconon New Life Retreat in Springs, La. Visit narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/tiana.html.
When raining, use headlights
I am a senior living in Murphy, and I see people driving without headlights so frequently. I suppose such drivers think their vision is fine, and therefore don’t need headlights at that time. But the actual problem is other drivers seeing you.
I know my vision is diminished. I’ve had to give up driving after dark for this reason. I have difficulty seeing cars in the rain – especially silver and white cars. In the rain they become almost invisible, and I may turn in front of a car I can’t see.
Murphy has a high percentage of retirees – we may have cataracts, or our prescription glasses may be out of date. In rain, fog or haze, I may not see your unlit car.
Thank you for your time.
Barry Holcomb, Murphy