10 reasons to love Murphy
Enjoyed the “You’re so Cherokee County if you can laugh.”
The editors note said to said to share additional ideas on this topic, so here’s my “Top 10 reasons why I love Murphy, N.C.”
No. 10: No parking meters.
No. 9: No interstates.
No. 8: A finger over the wheel means hello.
No. 7: Hardly ever hear anyone honk.
No. 6: The mountains above.
No. 5: The valley below.
No. 4: The rivers running through it.
No. 3: Your dog is welcome nearly everywhere.
No. 2: Most anyone will greet you.
And the No. 1 reason I love Murphy, N.C., is: Sunday really is Sunday.
Robert Karl, Murphy
You’re so Cherokee …
Editor’s note: The guest column published in the March 22 edition inspired the above letter writer this week. The writer was also kind enough to send in some late additions. Keep them coming!
You’re so Cherokee County if …
- Your family photo was taken in a field of flowers … next to U.S. 64.
- You think IOI is when you owe yourself money.
- Your favorite billboard is a semi-trailer in a field beside the highway.
- You see a sign that says “Hanging Dog” and don’t call the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
- You call your local newspaper publisher “Murphy Brown.”
Harrison Keely, Brasstown
Save our children
People of Martins Creek, the people in charge of our laws want to lease the building at the old Martins Creek elementary school for a halfway house to let people rest. It is for people who are on drugs.
We already have five or six places on Martins Creek selling drugs now. They are having a meeting to take over the building by the old school.
What the people in charge need to do is to get rid of the drugs already killing our children.
If they do take over the building we need to fire the ones in charge now and get honest people to be in charge and save our children from drugs.
P.S.: I am 86 years old and won’t be here much longer. So please save our children.
Ben H. Ashe, Murphy
In awe on Easter morn
As we approach Easter season, we are once again in awe of what Jesus did for mankind on the cross.
Oh, that we might embrace the love of a Savior and the wondrous love He showers on us each day and night. To feel His eternal love cascading down into the depths of our soul. To know the love of Jesus as He hung on that cross and shed His blood for the sins of mankind. Our Lord and Savior, while dying on the cross, still took the time to think of us, and even to pardon a thief who called out to Him as Jesus said to the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
The cruelty and beauty of that cross where Christ died on that Friday as Jesus’ last words were , “It is finished,” and then He died and was put into a borrowed tomb. Satan was dancing and shouting, for he thought he had won the victory, but little did he know that on the third day, Sunday, Jesus arose from the dead victoriously over and the grave – and another nail was put in Satan’s quiver of defeat.
Lord, we cannot express our humble gratitude when you said your final words, which means those who follow Jesus can have the abundant life here and now. No other religion in the world can lay claim to the promise of an eternal life with God when He calls us home or comes back to gather His own upon Himself.
May this Easter Sunday not only bring you joy unspeakable, and full of praise for the One true living God, Who has a better plan in eternity for all who come and embrace the wonder of His amazing grace and everlasting love.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.
Inflation act is perplexing
The 10-year plan, dubbed the “Inflation Reduction Act,” passed in Congress last year is a travesty because the bill betrays promises to support everyday, hardworking Americans. The name is a subterfuge.
President Joe Biden and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi celebrated the act at the same time the market was being battered. Contrary to Democrat Party claims by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) that this bill will:
- “Reduce inflation.” There is no credible evidence it’s reducing inflation.
- “Displace dirtier products.” It subsidizes electric vehicles, which emit more pollution over their lifespans than fossil fuel-powered cars.
- Will bring “good paying energy and manufacturing jobs back to America.” It enriches billionaire green energy investors, while neglecting workers and harming the manufacturing sector.
- “Lower energy costs.” It enacts a form of stealth spending to subsidize green products that are far more costly than other options.
- Not raise taxes on “families and small businesses making less than $400,000 a year.” It enacts hidden taxes that fall on Americans of all income groups.
- “Lower the cost of health insurance.” It makes taxpayers pick up the tab by forcing them to pay Obamacare subsidies for people with incomes above 400 percent of the poverty line.
- “Lower the cost” of prescription drugs. It simply shifts more of those costs onto working Americans.
- Ensure people “making less than $400,000 and small businesses will not be targeted” by the IRS “because they are already paying their taxes.” The bill allows the vast bulk of tax-dodgers to continue cheating honest American taxpayers.
Manchin’s press release decries “the severe threat of inflation and the consequences of unprecedented domestic spending,” but this bill increases spending on a host of categories. Contrary from a course change, Democrats voted for “taxing and spending” instead of mere “spending.”
Terry Payne, Marble
Bound for the 41st parallel?
I thoroughly enjoyed Harry Holdorf’s letter “Oil destroys global society.”
While I could take apart his letter in totus, my question is since he sees us as “Red Asleep Petroleum Right to Life Southerners,” why does he reside below the 40th parallel?
By the way, which landfill is he going to put all those electric batteries? Vroom, Vroom!
Michael Berlin, Murphy
Trump back again for more
By putting America First and going to aid the people in Ohio for the contaminants of the railroad disaster spill, Donald Trump is back fighting for America.
What could this mean potentially for our future? Good things may come from his relationship with Russia President Vladimir Putin and stopping the war in Ukraine and getting back to business as usual so we can move on.
If Trump can control his rhetoric when he disagrees with others, he would be a great leader for our country. Can he pull this off?
Shelley Dietrich, Murphy
No LGBTQ in our libraries
During a trip to Arlington, Texas, I had a chance to stop and talk to one of the librarians. It was stated that libraries’ broad demographics take into account the young and old, and materials of both local and world involvement, in the placement of materials. The discussion was of the American Library Association and other associations that libraries can be involved in.
This is in conjunction with local governments and citizen boards. It’s a reflection of the community at large.
It’s become obvious that the forces or powers of the ALA or that of our local library board seem to pay little attention with what our community’s concerns are. I see absolutely no reason why any government system be involved in any sexual identity education or open display; and why they themselves have given themselves the sole right to do so, and take that right away from what should only involve the parent or guardian of the child.
What boundaries do you have that protect the most innocent among us? Does everything become allowed?
If the display of LGBTQ materials is OK, what within your ethical standards is something not allowed?
Where is there a line drawn that says, “We cannot go down this road?” Or we must respect and honor the ethics of our community and its concerns.
If the display of sexual explicit materials or lifestyles is openly allowed you will find yourselves as a government entity in conflict with another part of government – law enforcement.
I have nothing against the LGBTQ community. But I am against the forcing a display of their lifestyle upon our children and those who oppose such a lifestyle, just because you feel they have a right to do so. I see no need of any library board if everything becomes acceptable.
Deni Shepard, Franklin