‘Freedom from Alzheimer’s’
On Sept. 11, your local Rotary and Lions Clubs partnered for a Freedom from Alzheimer’s Walk on the Murphy River Walk.
The purpose of the walk was to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease and raise money for the prevention, treatment and cure for the disease.
More than $1,000 was raised and donated to The CART Fund (Coins for Alzheimer’s Trust Fund). The executive director of The CART Fund, Tiffany Ervin; the Rotary District 7670 CART Fund, Michele Garashi-Ellick; and Rotary District 7670 Past District Governor Billi Black drove to Murphy to be a part of the fundraising walk.
We would like to thank the following sponsors who helped support this event:
Unaka Community Development Club, Ogreeta Baptist Church, Grape Creek Homemakers, Grape Creek Community Development Club, Badcock Home Furniture & More, Tri-County Democratic Women’s Club, Rotary Club of Murphy, Andrews Lions Club and photographer Cyndi Martin.
We would also like to thank students with the Interact Club and all the volunteers, young and adult, for their interest and participation in a successful fundraising event.
Tim Radford, Murphy
The writer is with the Rotary Club of Murphy.
No open containers
I’m confused. I read in the Cherokee Scout’s Sept. 14 edition that the Murphy Town Council voted to ban smoking in the downtown alleyway off of Valley River Avenue.
While that’s probably not a bad decision – as smoking and secondhand smoke cause respiratory issues, cancer and death – some of these same people favor open container carrying. Bodily harm and death often result from drunken driving for the alcohol user as well as innocent victims. So, why the double standard?
This council considers smoking a big no-no, yet fail to see alcohol’s traumatic effects. It also appears some don’t care if people stumble around outdoors in an inebriated state, giving visitors a terrible impression of Murphy and setting a deplorable example for young folks.
In conflict with its own unbalanced conclusions, I’m not the only one who’s confused. While using the excuse that this half-witted idea “works in other small towns,” the council fails to realize Murphy doesn’t have to stoop to the same stupid mindset. Why don’t wisdom and common sense prevail?
Council member Keisha Dockery proposed this dreadful idea, with Downtown Development Director Laura LaChance agreeing with it. Council members Gail Walker Stansell and Barry McClure, who said open container carrying is “a great idea,” also want to incorporate this into the Murphy Art
Walk.
Why can’t adults enjoy themselves without consuming alcohol? Doesn’t anybody wonder why today’s young people think drinking is a good activity, and therefore overindulge, putting themselves and others in danger when they drink and drive?
Why would anyone in their right mind want to encourage this behavior? Reckless adults put this into motion, whether within or outside the home environment.
Open container carrying in Murphy is a bad idea in every way. The possible serious consequences are a hefty price to pay for such folly.
Tamara Phillips, Murphy
How did all this happen?
I want to know why these people (DSS employees) who illegally stole other people’s children are not in jail, and why are they not liable to pay for these multimillion-dollar judgments?
Lien this money against everything they own – not punish us residents and expect us to pay for their dirty deeds. Also, maybe it should be divided up among the Cherokee County commissioners who allowed this travesty to happen.
I am embarrassed to be a resident of Cherokee County right now. This tax raise is a hardship on all the senior citizens who live here.
How did they let this happen to innocent children and parents?
Lorraine Kozlowski, Murphy
‘Going country’
I was raised in a city and lived most of my life in big cities. I have traveled to the major cities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. I have always loved the vitality and variety of the city.
But I am changing.
My eyes have become allergic to endless steel, concrete, glass and neon signs that surround me. My ears have become allergic to the sounds of congested lanes of traffic complete with sirens and horns. The bustle of the big city that I once loved has become stressful to my soul.
My eyes have become accustomed to the sight of the trees and mountains that now surround me. The farms, ranches and fields of flowers that I pass as I drive to town delight me. The night sky is filled with stars not visible in the city.
My ears have grown accustomed to the sounds of the songbirds in the morning, the buzzing of hummingbirds around the feeder, the chorus of chirping crickets at night, and the rushing creek after a summer rain.
Living in the mountains, on the edge of a national forest, in a valley of small towns connected by two lane roads with a few traffic lights has changed me. Each day, I am thankful to live amidst such natural beauty of God’s creation.
I guess you could say I’m “going country.” Shucks, I even bought my first pickup truck.
Dr. J. Michael Donovan, Andrews
The writer is professor of management at Young Harris (Ga.) College.
More babies on the way
I want to present a scientific fact that, if it hasn’t crossed one’s mind yet, may necessitate that one find a seat. Sit down, this one is going to bite us, bad. I will call it Satan’s “Operation: Border Babies.”
Why I have not heard this aspect of the border-crossing invasion discussed on all the news reports and debate, I don’t know. As a great-grandmother, a born-again follower of Jesus, an American patriot, and a breeder of cattle and bloodhounds, I am raging with anger at the future dilemma about to unfold … in about 9 months.
We are flooded with reports of raping by the border, authorities who say girls as young as 9 years old are gang-raped by drug cartels. Countless reports from women who have been raped by other migrants as well. A “pantie tree” of underwear decorated by bragging evil rapists who may be infiltrating America was shown nationwide sickened me.
In other words, we have an invasion of pregnant young ladies, and the blood is on our hands if it isn’t stopped.
The wicked perpetrators gain two ways, and more: they double the amount of slaves they create or increase in astounding, staggering statistics, the number of lucrative abortions.
And you think we have a baby formula shortage now?
Betty Luckey, Murphy