Helps kids have shoes
As we approach the end of 2022, the economic climate and job market continues to make it difficult for families in our community to make ends meet. In addition to the unprecedented impact Covid-19 and inflation has had on all of us, parents struggle to take care of their kids’ school needs, and at times, come up short fulfilling all of them. We receive calls daily from parents in our community requesting help.
We are requesting your assistance with the annual Cherokee County Shoe Fund drive to help provide the means for proper footwear for our community’s youth. Children are our future and helping to provide basic necessities – such as shoes – is a rewarding way to support them.
Please make checks payable to: Cherokee County Shoe Fund, P.O. Box 279, Murphy, N.C. 28906.
On behalf of the children of Cherokee County, thank you in advance for your donation.
Steven Aft, Murphy
Schools need $50 million
Bravo and thank you for such a well thought-out and informative editorial about school consolidation. I strongly agree with what the Cherokee Scout wrote (in the Dec. 14 edition).
Education of our children should be one of everyone’s priorities. As a parent and grandparent, I can sympathize with folks who oppose losing their local schools. However, it is the duty and responsibility of our elected officials, school board and county commissioners to protect the welfare of all citizens. This includes responsible fiscal policies.
I cannot understand anyone refusing a $50 million grant. Our school facilities are in poor shape and will require millions of dollars in upkeep in coming years. This will have to be paid by the taxpayers of Cherokee County. We have already seen increases in taxes due to poor performance by elected officials. We cannot afford more tax increases to support school buildings that are in deplorable condition.
This grant is an opportunity to begin to make Cherokee competitive with other counties. Our students deserve our best and this consolidation plan has been studied and discussed with care.
I will be very disturbed if our elected leaders let a small vocal minority rule their decisions. I ask Cal Stiles, where is the data to support your claim that a majority of people do not support the current plan for consolidation? We need to consider the needs and best interests of the students – not the opinions of parents.
We cannot afford to lose this opportunity to continue to improve education. I urge all concerned citizens to speak in favor of keeping the plan. We do not have the luxury of beginning again for a new plan with no guarantee of maybe getting a grant. Folks, please read David Brown’s editorial so you can be informed of what is at stake at this time.
Barb Bleaking, Murphy
Differences, no judgment
An opinion shared in the Dec. 7 edition of the Cherokee Scout puzzled me. It addressed the “From the Front Porch” column on Nov. 30.
The opinion had a strong, aggressive tone. I went back and reread the article to understand the negative reaction to the Nov. 30 piece, but remained perplexed. My assumption is that different life experiences lead to different perspectives.
Hopefully, I will continue to grow and learn to embrace differences without judgment. Some look into a dark night and see danger and are fearful. Others look at darkness and know it enables the beauty of starlight. Perspective is an amazing thing.
Merry Christmas to all!
Tammy Pearson, Brasstown
We deserve better here
The Cherokee Scout’s editorial on school consolidation last week was excellent. It was factual and thorough.
I’ve lived here since 1976. On the Cherokee County and Murphy town boards I’ve seen both Republicans and Democrats work in harmony with little conflict. I didn’t always agree on what they did, but I never doubted their honorable intentions.
The Murphy City Council still has a good thing going. Not so for the county commissioners. For the last several years, they have fought like cats and dogs. I’ve never seen anything like it.
What has that got us?
1. The taxpayers paying much more for schools than our neighbors – and getting much less. Pay more, get less. Should be the other way around.
Going to sporting events in other counties, the first thing you notice is how much better facilities they have compared to us. We have families with school-age children and good teachers moving to other counties because of the school situation.
2. The $50 million-plus Department of Social Services debacle that has raised taxes for years. Bet no other county can top that.
We need to get our act together. The overburdened taxpayers and children in our county deserve better.
Curtis Brown, Murphy
Some people believe it all
Evidently, some people can only focus on the negative. I am not one of them.
Overall, I think the economy is in good shape. There are jobs everywhere. Wages are going up. As gasoline prices decline, so does the high inflation.
The infrastructure bill is providing many good-paying jobs. The same with the computer chips bill.
The president has vowed to bring manufacturing jobs back to America and he has. In fact, it’s at the highest level in 14 years.
The newest bill will help us transition to a cleaner greener economy. It also lowers the price of prescription drugs, saving many families from bankruptcy.
Not one Republican voted for this. They don’t care about you, their allegiance is to Big Pharma. They are basically bribed to hurt you.
The statement “electric vehicles, which emit more pollution over their lifespans than normal cars,” defies all logic. How can a vehicle that burns a fossil fuel emit less than zero emissions?
The stock market is not “crashing.” Some people will believe anything.
Jack Montgomery, Ogreeta
Consolidation makes sense
I’d just like to thank Cherokee Scout Publisher David Brown for having the courage and conviction to stand up for the young people and taxpayers of this county. His well-thought-out explanation for why high school consolidation is in all of our best interests was one of the better arguments I’ve heard in a long time.
The argument that we should turn down $50 million because we’re not sure of the exact cost is senseless. All you can expect in a project of this magnitude is a fair estimate.
What we know for certain are the terrible costs we absorb in trying to keep three outdated facilities afloat. But even more unforgivable are the lost opportunities for our children. In a consolidated school, they’d have the opportunity to take advanced coursework that doesn’t even exist in the current curriculum.
Our county has suffered so much due to poor decisions by the commissioners. Don’t let this be another one.
Glen J. Kolp, Andrews