Clarifying an editorial
I read the editorial in the Jan. 15 edition of the Cherokee Scout about the changes I am making as chair of the county’s board of commissioners.
I am very optimistic about the program. Our reservation requests at the community centers were approved with very positive comments.
Nevertheless, there were errors in the editorial that you should correct.
- Maria has already informed you that the Chairman’s Forums will begin the first Monday in March, not February.
- The Chairman’s Forums will in no way violate any provisions of the Sunshine laws. The motion that was made and passed only established the regular official commission meeting as the third Monday in each month beginning in February. The forums are not an official commission meeting nor a county function, as the Chairman’s Forums were not established by commission vote and are a voluntary outreach by me. Only two commissioners will be present, and no official business will be conducted.
- I made it clear that anyone from any district may attend a Chairman’s Forum no matter where it is being held. In taking questions and comments, however, preference will be given to people who reside in that district before listening to people from outside the district.
- Decorum at official meetings is to be enforced by the commission chair as allowed and required by N.C. statute law. There are some people who attend meetings and are disruptive either by trying to interrupt the proceedings or by loud interpersonal discussions that disturb others who want to hear what is going on. The chair is allowed, after one warning, to remove persons from the room whose behavior interrupts the orderly decorum of the meeting.
Before deciding to pursue that route, I discussed it thoroughly with Darryl Brown. You are welcome to do the same.
Thanks for your attention.
Dan Eichenbaum, Ranger
The writer is chair of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners.
What’s best for all others
As I read the Cherokee Scout edition of Jan. 1, I have to ask myself: “What are some people thinking?”
Even though Main Street Murphy saw a combined investment, it still looks really like former Gov. Roy Cooper seems to be wasting every North Carolinian’s money of launching this so-called website of his. This is the problem with some people, who dole what they think is best for other people or think they know a certain person can benefit from their lack of stupidity.
What this “me” North Carolinian needs is a small, new 4x4 truck that can get me places I need to go, like work and charity causes. I challenge Cooper to bring $350,000 to me so I can help more North Carolinians in a better way.
And please, Mr. Cooper, bring a pen and paper with you since some North Carolinians have a hearing problem.
Willena Helton, Murphy
Catholics are with you all
Inauguration Day is always special in the United States, as the freedom to self-govern is on full display through the seamless transition of power. We are grateful to God for giving our country the grace to celebrate the inalienable rights for which He created us and which we seek for all people to enjoy. It is this freedom that has brought so many of our ancestors to our shores and borders and continues to call to people of goodwill.
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With a new administration comes new ways of operating, and any such change can bring anxiety for those who are uncertain about the status of their freedoms.
I write today to those who find themselves in this country – and in particular the Diocese of Charlotte – without the benefit of proper documentation but of no less goodwill to express the solidarity of the Roman Catholic Church.
As executive orders are being considered for the early days of the new administration, please know we respectfully call on our leaders to consider the dignity of families and children, regardless of their status, and to take steps that respect and enhance their human dignity.
We stand with you – not to determine your legal status, since that is not our scope, but rather, as our brothers and sisters in Christ who find yourselves in a time of fear and uncertainty. We encourage you to place your trust in Jesus who, with Mary and Joseph, had to flee their homeland in search of security in Egypt.
Regardless of citizenship, as Roman Catholics we see all people as citizens of God’s kingdom, where we are all unworthy to claim any status other than what is given us by our Creator.
With Jesus, in these days of anxiety, we say to you – do not be afraid.
Michael Martin, Charlotte
The writer is bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, which covers 46 counties in the western half of North Carolina. About half are Hispanic.
Jimmy Carter and neighbors
This story starts in 1984 in Atlanta, where Amy, Gil, Nancy and Bill were living. Many years later, we have found God’s country. As a drywall sales manager, there were added responsibilities, including marketing a new product, vinyl siding.
John Weiland, one of Atlanta’s largest builders, committed to building 10 of the 15 houses for Habitat for Humanity. They were using a hardboard siding, so the plan was to have them experience vinyl siding and change their siding to vinyl.
If you understand building, you know that building with vinyl siding requires different construction concepts. I met with Gill and Amy at the Habitat construction office. We re-drew the plans to make sure the adequate framing was there to hang the vinyl siding.
Now the entrance of Jimmy and Roselyn Carter to help build the presidential home. The background many did not know was that Carter was a woodworker.
When people around him on this project tried to help by explaining that when you turn a screwdriver clockwise the screw goes into the wood, or the round part of the hammer drives the nail into the wood and the claw is for removing it. This did not go over well with the president.
Walking by the presidential home one day, a voice directed to me saying, “You are the vinyl siding guy? What is the correct procedure to case out a window?”
I responded as I reached for my samples of J trim and my snippers, and the gentleman who asked me the questions, stood up from the crouched position. All I could say was, “Hi Jimmy, how are you doing?” That was our first encounter.
The second was walking up the presidential home from the driveway on the left of the home toward the front door on the far right of the house. The president’s team installed three courses of vinyl siding, but you could see each lapping joint walking from that direction. I explained that since they were only up three courses, it would not be a big effort to just take it down and reverse the lap so it would not be so apparent for arriving guests.
Carter thought for a few seconds and said, “You know that the people go out of the house as many times they go in,” I said you’re right, OK and left.
We moved to Hayesville in 2009 and saw Gil and Amy Nicholson, who were now married, and both have been instrumental in helping less-fortunate people in Hayesville and Murphy. Gil and I always enjoyed watching Amy and Nancy dancing at the Friday night music.
We hope you enjoyed this old memory. When you run into Gil or Amy, thank them for all they do for our communities.
Bill and Nancy Meldram, Hayesville
Something wrong here
Something seems wrong, can we set it right?
Most everyone’s thinking goes directly toward political issues, but what’s wrong goes much, much deeper than pointing fingers – and balancing right and wrong.
Where within our modern thinking do we find some type of justice that makes sense, or do we just forgive and forget? Our world looks for what can be trusted and true. Many who are of power and great wealth seem least to be trusted and if true justice catches up, they rarely are held accountable.
Even with fact-checking and our high-tech modern lives, we feel this struggle more than ever before. We seem to make little headway of being truthful or just. Whether you believe there’s a God or not, many are tired and weary of endless world systems, which continually darken humanity’s hope of something better. We want – and search – for something better, but it’s never found, because we are no better than those we blame and point fingers too.
All of us have the self-centered pride of doing evil and what seems good. It’s not that we can’t do good, but often the good we do – over time – becomes tainted and not as good as intended.
This is what humanity struggles with and is so well known for: we all have this within each of us. This is easily seen by how we relate and deal with each other with all our differences, even with those we love and are close to.
If you view this with an open heart and mind, this is exactly why Christ came to witness to us that He’s our hope beyond all humanity – and is the only hope for each of us. As stated, “We all have done wrong; there is no one righteous or perfect.”
So if we as humans have failures and faults, we are in need of some foundation that gives direction in what is true, just, equal and forgiving.
It’s easy to see our world is set wrong; where do we – or you – begin in setting it right?
Deni Shepard, Franklin