Embrace love and conquer all
What comes to mind when you think of the word “love?” I think of tenderness, caring, sharing, giving, compassionate and commitment.
“Love” has a way of saying how one feels about another person.
“Love” reflects feelings of wanting to be with another to enjoy each other’s companionship.
“Love” means sharing all you have with your loved ones and sharing with others who are in need.
“Love” has a way of expressing itself with a spirit of joy and peace, and it also brings out the good in us all if used with a sincere heart of compassion.
When I think of “love,” I often ponder the words: No greater “love” has one who lays down His life for another.
Jesus Christ showed His “love” by coming down to a sinful world that did not receive Him with open arms, but rejected Him, beat Him, scorned and spit on Him, and put a crown of thorns upon His head and hung Him on a cross in order for Him to pay a debt we could not pay to save us from our sins.
Today, there is probably less “love” in our society because mankind’s sin has escalated to a deeper level of depravity, no sense of moral values and no sanctity of life.
When one lets Satan have a toehold in their life, then life has no meaning to those who choose the cunning ways of the devil, which will eventually lead them down a path of destruction with no hope in sight. God’s “love” overcomes the darkness with a glorious light that overshadows the grave and death, a light that will guide God’s children into His majestic throne room of “frace”and “love.”
“Love” conquerors all if one will embrace it with all their heart and soul.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.
The positives of unification
The wisdom of ancient Greek philosophers may be ages old but still apply in 2022: “The only constant in life is change“ (Heraclitus). “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new” (Socrates). Both insights clearly apply to school unification in Cherokee County.
I have no dog in this fight: I have no students in any school system in Cherokee County. I am a retired educator from another school system that offered AP classes, and had not only a performing arts center but also two swimming pools, and a vocational school adjacent. A branch library adjoined the high school campus.
I applaud all those who are on board to bring students out of 1950s buildings into modern facilities that will augment educational opportunities. This unification will not only provide a better physical environment, but also will afford all students the best educational opportunities. Quality teachers will be attracted to the kind of school being proposed.
Yes, the bus ride will be long. As a student in the 1960s, I had long bus rides to a newly built junior high, then later a modern high school. How did I use my time during the commute? I read, I did homework, I talked to others on the bus … and this was before any kind of cell phone or other device was invented.
Students in Cherokee County will survive the bus rides. Young people are more resilient in the face of change.
Yes, school allegiances will have to be amended as three distinct loyalties will have to merge into one. But for the good of all students in Cherokee County, unification of the schools will bring about far more positives than any negatives associated with a commute to school.
Wendy Paige, Marble
New sheriff’s admin needed
The office of Cherokee County sheriff is small, with around 35 officers:
- One chief deputy.
- One Office of Professional Standards (not needed).
- Three captains (not needed).
- Three lieutenants (two needed).
- Eight sergeants (four needed).
- 13 investigators (four needed).
The saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” appears to ring true with this administration.
The practice, among those with power, of assigning positions to friends, relatives or colleagues without regard to their qualifications are unethical practices that negatively affects the office of sheriff and its deputies.
Oftentimes, two deputies struggle to cover almost 500 square miles. Deputies’ response for service can exceed two hours in some cases. This can have a detrimental effect on deputies and residents safety.
Competent utilization of deputies can increase road presence and strengthen task force operations to battle the rise in drugs and crime. Doing what is right is not always popular, but it shows character and integrity.
This administration, mired in scandal, is as inadequate as a broken down car that won’t run.
There is a qualified sheriff’s candidate not affixed to this weak and failed administration. You can make the right choice, or begin developing a course of action to protect yourself.
D.L. Wright, Murphy