Mixon family very grateful
We are writing to express our heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support and prayers you have offered our family during this incredibly difficult time.
As many of you know, our daughter, Peyton, has been diagnosed with GM1 gangliosidosis, a terminal disease that has presented immense challenges. Your kindness and unwavering support have provided us with strength and comfort as we navigate this difficult journey.
The prayers, meals and monetary donations from our community have been deeply appreciated and have made a significant difference in our lives. We are truly blessed to have you all by our side.
I am grateful to be able to be Peyton’s full-time caregiver, working my businesses as I have time, and Zach has been blessed by successfully starting his own landscaping company, allowing him more flexibility for Peyton and family time.
We apologize if we have missed anyone in sending thank-you cards, it has been close to impossible to keep up with them.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
This verse reminds us that even in our trials, there is a purpose, and we are grateful for every moment we share with Peyton.
Therefore, our focus remains the same: to support Peyton and give her the best quality of life possible and making as many cherished family memories as we can while we have time. Your unwavering support has made this possible for us.
Thank you once again for your love and support. We are eternally grateful to be part of such a wonderful community.
With all our love and appreciation – Zach, Jordan, Preslee and Peyton Mixon.
Jordan Mixon, Murphy
Harris a nail in U.S. coffin
Shirley Rochley’s paid advertisement in the Sept. 18 Cherokee Scout is highly inaccurate. I have no problem with a woman president.
The criteria is she must have my wife’s values: be a highly educated, Godly woman who loves Jesus and respects His commandments; loves our country, her husband and close friends; and cares very much about Israel. I would vote for a woman like that in a heartbeat.
Unlike your determination to vote for a woman regardless of her Marxist agenda, intelligent voting choices should have nothing to do with biological gender, skin color or race. It’s about preserving America’s values and future.
Kamala Harris’ incompetence required weeks of preparation for the presidential debate, being told what and how to say it. Her irresponsible and complete failure to protect Americans at the border is proof. Within millions here illegally, multitudes brought crime, drugs, diseases and even terrorist cells, confirming her disdain for us.
And you – yes you, Shirley – are suffering financial and other damaging consequences with us because of it.
Kamala launched into politics in San Francisco with her extreme liberal political agenda learned from her father, Donald J. Harris, a former professor at Stanford University described as “a Marxist” by Stanford’s student newspaper in the 1970s.
Under the guise of caring, among other nefarious changes, she wants to pack the court, which would end our entire constitutional order of checks and balances. The City Journal’s Rafael Mangual explains, “She’s an empty-vessel opportunist who will adopt whatever positions are convenient to her at any given moment.
“In other words, she’s a clear and present danger to the American way.”
Ignorance is not an excuse. Neither is it bliss. It can be deadly. Ungodly, fishy politicians in both political parties caused America’s cancer. Voting for Kamala puts the defining nail in its coffin.
Mike David, Murphy
Clear contrast in candidates
There is a clear contrast of presidential candidates to vote for in November. One side desires rule of law, integrity and positivity. The other wants project 2025, authoritarian rule and removing our Constitution. The result of the vote will determine the fate of this nation.
With former President Donald Trump, you have an arrogant, narcissistic person who uses put-downs and downright hateful language. When he mocked a disabled reporter, that should have been the end of his candidacy. He chose to continue his bullying by calling a woman candidate horse face, calling President Joe Biden “Sleepy Joe” and tweeting, “I hate Taylor Swift.” Calling our troops losers and suckers is the ultimate degradation. Both my boys served in Iraq and are not to be degraded.
Shameful, unprofessional and mean. What is sad is that some people laugh at Trump’s hateful remarks and think it funny.
Disrespect continues with Mark Robinson’s rant on women keeping their skirts down to avoid pregnancy and abortion. No exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. A woman or young girl may not have the strength or ability to resist a rapist. Clearly, no empathy for the woman or child who is raped.
We had a bipartisan border bill submitted by James Lankford (R-Okla.) that was ready to address the problems at the southern border. Trump called the Republicans to stop this bill so Biden would not get credit. What a selfish, power-hungry person to stop a bill that would help our nation.
Spreading lies about Haitians eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio, have placed that town in danger. The contemptible, disgusting, vile remarks made by Trump, vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson makes it clear they don’t belong in office.
Select candidates who respect the rule of law, have compassion, care, empathy and high moral character. We deserve a higher bar from our elected officials.
Mike Lalone, Murphy
Pet owners real problem
Altruism out of sync with reality will be the death of us.
Taxpayers are paying a quarter-million dollars a year to the Valley River Humane Society to house stray animals. Taxpayers are also paying other counties to house Cherokee County’s vicious dogs.
We do not have a animal control issue, we have a citizen control issue. It appears no one is being held accountable for creating this animal control mess.
Stray animals should be the exception, rather than the rule, in Cherokee County.
The Valley River Humane Society is consistently exceeding capacity of 300 animals. That is a considerable number of animals to begin with, with many more turned away.
No more money from a cash-strapped county to facilitate the altruistic idea that this unlimited supply of stray animals generated by county residents can be re-homed.
Case in point – it is absolutely absurd that a 77-year-old man who no longer has the energy to continue feeding 25-plus dogs stops feeding them so they are left to roam in search of food.
As sad and awful as it sounds, given the extent of the problem and the potential costs to the taxpayers, it may be time to temporarily reconsider the altruistic idea of a no-kill shelter or institute strict enforcement on owners who are creating this mess.
Ron Gaynor, Murphy
Facility buy boosted IOI
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of Industrial Opportunities Inc.’s supporters who assisted the IOI Board of Directors is purchasing the V.F. Jeanswear – Lee facility on Sept. 23, 2002.
IOI purchased the facility 22 years ago and 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 annual sales and service revenue – Then $3,396,411, now $8,485,000.
- Increase the number of new employees – Then 50, now 125.
- Increase commercial revenues to support our mission of providing vocational training and employment to adults with disabilities. Currently serving 115 adults with disabilities, with 55 working in the facility and 100 individuals receiving services out in the community.
A total of 336 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, purchased $5,124,324 in equipment and in vocational training wages, for a total investment of $9,475,839.
I am proud to report that $134,107,297 in wages and benefits have been added to our community since Feb. 28, 2003.
The current IOI workforce of 180 appreciates all the support IOI has received over the past 23 years here in Andrews and the past 50 years serving Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
Tom O’Brien, Andrews
The writer is IOI’s president/chief executive officer.
Shriners help ACL surgery
Shriners Hospitals for Children are at the forefront of new technology that offers an alternative to major surgery for treating a torn ACL, a torn ligament. Known as the BEAR Implant, or bridge-enhanced ACL repair.
This surgery is currently being done in two East Coast Shriners Hospitals – Greenville, S.C. (our area), and Philadelphia.
You as a coach to these athletes must be made aware that this type surgery is available if the need should arise.
We are all sports fans, and our teams give us a lot of enjoyment. No coach/parent wishes to see a child injured playing a game they want to be a part of, but it does happen.
Should it happen, a Shriners Hospital can and will help. All surgical procedures of this nature are free of charge to any child under age 18.
To refer a patient, call 800-237-5055.
Ed Marx, Murphy
Jesus was ‘political’
Many well-informed pastors teach Christians to take a biblical political stance.
In his Sept. 1 “Wake up’’ sermon, seen on winningwalk.org or youtube.com/thewinningwalk, Second Baptist Church of Houston pastor Dr. Ed Young describes “the left-wing progressive, purposeful misinterpretation of the separation of church and state,” explaining, “The three basic institutions the world was founded on: family, government and church. Each one has God-given descriptions in the Bible. We’re to penetrate all areas of society.”
Baptist Standard Editor Eric Black agrees. “To say Jesus didn’t speak out on political issues or entangle himself in politics is simply to ignore or redefine what Jesus did through the
entirety of his ministry. In making the choices he made – going where he went, saying what he said, associating with who he did – Jesus did not stay out of politics.
“Jesus spent himself smack dab in the middle of politics. Not only was it unavoidable in first century Israel-Palestine, he assured his position by being obedient to God’s will. How else
was God’s redeeming and reconciling work even going to begin restoring this world if politics were off limits?”
In The New Testament and the State, biblical scholar N.T. Wright confirms, “He denounced rulers, real and self-appointed. He spoke of good news for the poor. He led large groups of people off into the wilderness, a sure sign of revolutionary intent. He announced the imminent destruction of the Jerusalem temple.
“At the start of a festival celebrating Israel’s liberation, he organized around himself what could only have looked like a royal procession. And he deliberately and dramatically acted out a parable of the temple’s destruction, thus drawing on to himself the anger of the authorities in a way which he could never have done by healing lepers and forgiving prostitutes. How could he not have been ‘political?’ ”
Tamara Phillips, Murphy
Check out candidates
I heard a pastor on television talk about the upcoming election from a biblical perspective. This is my take.
When you go vote, don’t just vote for any party until you check out each candidate’s agenda. What they stand for and who they stand with. Don’t just look at their personality, but look deep into what their beliefs are. Are they for “we the people,” or for their own personal gain and power over the people?
Both candidates have flaws and are imperfect, like the rest of us. But in the long run, which one has the best interest at heart for our beloved land of the brave and free?
If one party believes it’s OK to kill babies in the womb and agrees with same-sex marriage and that kids growing up can be anything they want to be, then why would one vote for that candidate, especially when the other candidate speaks against abortion and marriage according to God’s commands, which has always been one man and one woman in holy matrimony?
Another aspect to look at is their leadership. What does each candidate bring to the table that will lead our nation to be great again, instead of being the laughingstock of other nations?
This election will determine the destiny of America and if God is left out of the equation when folks go to vote, then we can expect great consequences to continue to plague our land because of the disobedience of God’s people that might choose to stay home instead of taking a stand for what is best for the next generation.
Let your heart be your guide, not your pride. Get out and vote, and let’s win our nation back under a leadership that loves America and loves the nation of Israel.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.