Thanks for Field Day
On June 22-23, the Appalachia Amateur Radio Club held their annual 48-hour emergency preparedness drill in unison with the Amateur Radio Relay League’s Field Day 2024.
This event is held yearly to allow amateur radio operators commonly referred to as ham radio stations to go to a public location and set up their radio stations, antennas and emergency power supplies and then operate those stations contacting other amateurs across the U.S. and Canada.
Members of the Appalachia ARC would like to take the opportunity to thank the following individuals for their recognition and appreciation by elected officials.
Cherokee County commissioners and the county manager’s office, along with the Towns of Andrews mayor and aldermen, as well as Murphy mayor and city commissioners, for signing resolutions declaring June 22-23, 2024, Amateur Radio Appreciation days.
A huge thank you as well to state Sen. Kevin Corbin, District 50, and state Rep. Karl Gillespie from District 120 for going before the N.C. General Assembly requesting official recognition for Appalachia ARC members and their dedication and service to not only local, state, district and federal agencies when needed.
We would also like to thank our local news agencies the Cherokee Scout, Local TV4, WCNG-WCVP, WKRK and WJRB radio for their assistance with coverage of our event either in print, social media or via radio. We would like to acknowledge Walmart and Ingles for providing donations of food, water and paper products so we could keep our volunteers hydrated and fed.
Lastly, we would love to express our thanks to all of the volunteer amateur radio operators and non-licensed volunteers that joined us this weekend, as well as the general public for coming by to inquire about amateur radio and licensing.
Special thanks to Commissioner Jan Griggs for stopping by as an elected official to again show support for our club and the amateur radio community.
Shannon Greathead, Murphy
The writer is public information officer of the Appalachia Amateur Radio Club.
Grateful for track respect
As a long-time resident of Dog Branch Road in Brasstown, I was concerned that the first event of the new Elevated Motocross close to my property would be noisy and trashy.
Our street is 1 mile long, and I watched vehicles carrying spectators and motorized contest equipment as they slowly cruised to the entry gate. With a six-hour event looming, I expected a flood of noise from contestants and guests alike.
But the long vehicle entry and following six-hour event were quiet on the street below, and my walk of our entire roadway the next day revealed no discarded trash whatsoever.
My thanks and welcome go to the motocross enthusiasts for their respect for the surrounding residents.
Bob Grove, Brasstown
Biden doesn’t support bill
Murphy is my hometown, I am serving in the U.S. Army and attending college for political science in hopes of becoming a U.S. marshal. I am writing this letter to inform you of the new bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act” was passed in the House. It was proposed by Republicans, and every single Republican voted for the bill. The bill will force the president to enforce sanctions on Palestine.
I am sure you are aware of the war going on in the Middle East with Israel and Hamas, a terrorist organization within Palestine. Six Americans are in captivity by Hamas since 2023. The United States supports Israel, so we are backing them to fight against Palestine and bring back the Americans in captivity.
Every single Republican representative agrees with the bill; Joe Biden’s administration, on the other hand, does not. The White House “strongly opposes” the bill, but has yet to veto it. Sen. Tedd Budd supports Israel and the efforts to defend themselves.
This matter is important to know. The American people should know about the events our nation is putting their hands in, even if it is happening in another country.
Nicolas Gamble, Marble
Top business says thanks
Andrews Valley Rail Tours would like to thank everyone who has supported our new small business in 2023 and now into 2024. It is an honor and privilege to be chosen as the Andrews Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year for 2023.
We appreciate all of the customers, fellow business owners of Andrews, the chamber and Cherokee County for voting and awarding us this great achievement.
Our goal and purpose is to continue to grow the Town of Andrews and surrounding areas with consumers from all over, who are supporting all of our local small businesses.
This award touches our hearts, and we are all truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful community of Andrews. Our team thanks and appreciates you all.
Judy Fitzpatrick, Andrews
Seeds of Abraham
In Genesis 12:2-3, God spoke to Abraham and said: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
So, does all mean only families alive on earth at the time or all families in the future? Does the study of history answer the question? Does life as it exists on earth prove the Holy Word?
I wonder how many reading this can remember the plague of paralytic poliomyelitis, or polio for short? On April 12, 1955, the U.S. began widespread vaccinations of a vaccine invented by Dr. Jonas Salk. By 1979, the virus had been completely eliminated across the country. Today, polio is on the verge of being eliminated from the entire world.
Salk was born Oct. 28, 1914, to immigrant Jewish parents. His vaccine invention is calculated to be worth $7 billion had it been patented. When asked who owns the patent, he answered, “The people.” There is no patent. Do the research and see how many inventions the seeds of Abraham are responsible for.
In 2005, Ariel Sharon gave the Gaza strip (some of the most desirable land in Israel) to the Palestinians by forcibly removing Jewish settlers and destroying their homes. Benjamin Netanyahu was opposed to the idea.
This brings me to the events of Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel with a vengeance. Fortunately, Israel has a brilliant Bible-believing leader in Netanyahu. Because he believes the Bible, Israel will be spared. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The word of God begins at Genesis 1:1 and ends at Revelation 22:21. It’s written as true today as it was yesterday and will be forever. Deuteronomy 7:1-14 is being played out before our very eyes.
Ed Huber, Copperhill, Tenn.
Immoral wars, man’s decline
Political decline hastened the factors making for the economic decline – like small farmers, the backbone of the Roman Republic, the United States and other nations. The purchasing power represented by these small farmers disappeared and helped ruin city artisans (skilled craftsman), who produced manufactured goods for sale to small farmers. An important source of tax revenue also disappeared, as with the ruin of the small farming and artisan classes, the state became the primary producer of goods, a factor, which destroyed the initiative of the whole system.
Resulting shortages of goods produced a steady inflation. Coinage began to disappear; what remained was debased and became worthless. The result was and will be a reversion to barter. This had a tremendous impact upon the trading or middle classes.
They were made responsible for the collection of taxes in the municipalities. When they did not raise the quota assigned them, they had to pay out of their own pockets with more taxes. They could not meet their quotas because the artisans (skilled craftsman) had been ruined with the decline of small farmers and themselves. Soon the middle class will follow the artisans into ruin, because of the unions and welfare for people and big business.
Some social factors entered the picture, too. Wars, epidemic disease and plague were chiefly responsible.
For the rapid, widespread occurrence of a fad, belief, and the loss of patriotism to God and mankind and giving way to one’s own desires and desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm (1 Timothy 1:7). Affirm – 1. Assert to be true – 2. But not under oath.
Cotton Allen, Brasstown