Great days at Senior Games
The year 2023 has been great for the Cherokee/Clay Senior Games/SilverArts, and your generous sponsorship and support has gone a long way to making it the success it is.
We again set a new record for total participants this year with 207 (a 21 percent growth over last year) and of the total participants, with 76 being first-time competitors. A total of 850 medals were awarded to participants over four weeks of competition, including 46 sporting events and 35 SilverArts categories. Many are looking forward to taking part in the State Finals.
We also have plans to continue some activities throughout the year such as Bocce Ball, Cornhole, Mini Golf and maybe Disc Golf to keep our seniors active and connected. Needless to say, Pickleball is alive and well all year long and continues to grow among the local senior community.
But the Senior Games & SilverArts is not just about medals. I want to share how the Senior Games are inspiring many other seniors in the community.
This year, four long-term residents of Murphy Rehab joined us. While they are not able to compete in the physical sports and games, they entered the SilverArts Showcase with crafts they make – a stunning beaded necklace, a beautiful journal, cards and other paper arts. Each of them spent hours on their beautiful crafts, they looked forward to this for months and they joined us at the closing ceremony.
Another group of elderly seniors, who are involved in a Cardia Drumfit class at Andrews Senior Center, joined us at the closing ceremony and had the audiences literally dancing in the aisles. The Senior Games provided something to look forward to, something to be involved in and a special time they will never forget.
Without your support, this would not be possible.
Terence Faries, Murphy
The writer is local coordinator for Cherokee/Clay Senior Games & SilverArts.
Biden’s plan creates chaos
Why is French President Emmanuel Macron cozying up to China while trashing his oldest ally, the United States? Why is there sudden talk of discarding the dollar as the global currency? Why is Israel suddenly facing attacks from their enemies in all directions?
How, in just two years, has President Joe Biden and his team created such global chaos? This self-inflicted mayhem has 0humiliated America and our allies.
- Biden inexplicably pulled all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. He abandoned billions of dollars in U.S. equipment, the largest air base in central Asia – recently retrofitted at a cost of $300 million – and a $1 billion embassy.
- The administration allowed a Chinese high-altitude spy balloon to traverse the continental United States, spying on key American military installations.
- In March 2021, at an Anchorage, Alaska, mini-summit, Chinese diplomats unleashed a relentless barrage at their stunned and reticent American counterparts.
- In response to Russian 2021 cyberattacks against the United States, a meek Biden asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to limit attacks on certain critical American infrastructures.
- When asked what he would do if Russia invaded Ukraine, Biden replied that would depend on whether the Russians conducted a “minor incursion.”
- Biden bragged that he would not meet Muhammad bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, and one of our most valuable allies in the Middle East.
- The Biden administration in 2021 disclosed it was eager to offer concessions to re-enter the dangerous Iran nuclear deal.
- Upon inauguration, the administration moved the United States away from Israel, restored financial aid to Palestinian terrorists and publicly and privately alienated the Netanyahu government.
These examples explain why our enemies are emboldened, our allies judge us unreliable and calculating neutrals assume America is descending and too dangerous to join.
Terry Payne, Marble
Music & Brews & maybe more
Murphy, I am so grateful for the way y’all came out and supported the inaugural Murphy Music & Brews.
Through your incredible support, we were able to raise $125,000 for Shepherd’s Men. The organization is comprised of dedicated patriots committed to creating advocacy and opportunity for our nation’s veteran heroes who have been affected by the hidden injuries of war. They serve our noble warriors by means of outreach, empowerment, and funding of treatment.
It is their belief that victory in combat is achieved on two fronts: on the field and in the mind. Unlike other charity organizations, Shepherd’s Men staff do not take any income so 100 percent of what you give goes straight to providing resources for veterans.
We are so thankful to live in a community that showed up like you did for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country.
We plan on making this a yearly event so please mark your calendars for June 2024.
We can’t wait to see what we raise for our veterans next year.
Sarah Wright, Murphy
No charge for Honor Guard
For many years, we’ve had the honor of playing “Taps” and giving a 21-gun salute to our fallen comrades. We want you to know the only thing that has changed is our uniform.
Upon the demise of the veteran, all the family has to do is notify the funeral clerk – and we do the rest.
People, please understand that there is no charge to honor a veteran. We are all veterans ourselves.
Oscar Valdes, Murphy
Rudolph left imprint here
Long before fugitive Eric Rudolph was captured, I had a close encounter with him on a road leading to my house. It’s a long story, and I won’t bore you with the details, but after we parted ways, I noticed a 12-gauge shotgun shell on the road, which I picked up.
When I got home, I called the FBI and, although there were over 200 agents bivouacked somewhere around Andrews, the closest person I could speak to was in Charlotte – and they blew me off.
I still have the shell and always meant to have it checked for Rudolph’s prints.
John B. Robert, Indian Rock Springs
Library event was good time
The annual Friends of the Andrews Public Library fundraiser was a smashing success this year.
We want to thank everyone who participated in this event. All the volunteers who worked up front and behind the scenes, all the people who donated food and cakes. The merchants and artist who donated to the silent auction and the yard sale.
These are a few, but not all that donated: Tennessee Aquarium, Rack Room Shoes, Otter Creek Trout Farm, Publix Super Markets, Darlene Waldroup, Jeff Murphy, Tom Vogler and Darlene Robey for the Little Debbie Snack Cakes. I want to thank everyone that purchased items and made donations.
We can’t wait until next year.
Kelly Bryant, Andrews branch manager and Friends of the
Andrews Public Library
Thanks for the great egg hunt
Your local United Way chapter would like to thank everyone who came out Memorial Day weekend to support the egg hunt (which was originally scheduled for Easter) and Rubber Ducky Race.
Proceeds from the event will help 13 local nonprofit agencies. Thanks to all of the volunteers, along with churches that helped provide 10,000 stuffed eggs – Shepherd of the Mountains, Murphy Presbyterian and Freewill Baptist.
Special gratitude to these sponsors for backing the event:
Andrews Chamber of Commerce, Andrews Lions Club, Baker’s Auto & Tire, Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp., Carolina Mountain Homes, Clean Labs, Dockery Auto Parts, Cherokee County Department of Social Services, El-Khouri family, Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, Expo Management, Farley Insurance, Gibson Furniture, Industrial Opportunities Inc., Jaime Futch Edward Jones, Locust Flooring, Market Place Antiques, Spies Team (Carolina Mountain Homes), Mimo’s Ice Cream, N.C. Designs, Rare Bird Emporium, Snap-on Tools, Steven Aft State Farm Insurance, Turner’s Family Pharmacy, United Community Bank, Vaya and Wayne’s Feed Store.
Thanks to everyone for making this a great family event.
Linda Ray, Murphy
The writer is a board member of the United Way of Cherokee and Clay Counties.
Bipartisan still needed
Congress has reached a bipartisan solution to raising the national debt limit.
Most Republicans don’t like it, and most Democrats don’t like it. That sounds like a compromise.
“Don’t sacrifice the good to chase the perfect” is an old but wise saying. This resolution shows what can happen if both sides sit down together knowing that they have to find a solution for the common good. Treat each other with respect and appreciation, and listen to the other side to truly understand their concerns.
That is the only way we can find the answers to the great problems of our times-like economic development for all, racism, climate change, proper health care, poverty, immigration and many more. If I, or any person, believes our way is the only right way, that is true ignorance.
Now let us pray that this lesson leads to a new atmosphere in Congress.
Dr. Vernon Dixon, Hiawassee, Ga.
Never forget the sacrifices
This past weekend, we honored all those in wars past and present who gave the supreme sacrifice by dying defending our beloved America, the land we so cherish and love.
No words can express our sorrow and heartfelt remembrance of our brave men and women who wear their allegiance by serving and protecting our God-given rights to defend our nation against any enemy who would attack the land of the brave and free.
Our prayers go out to all families down through the ages that also paid a dear price by losing a loved one.
Our hearts go out to each one that still grieve and still lose sleep wondering is it worth it all. The ultimate answer is a resounding “yes,” so that we can stand in the gap knowing that freedom is not cheap, but worth dying for to keep our country free from those who would overtake the land of the free.
Our family lost our uncle Robert Gildersleeve Jr., who was a Marine pilot. His plane went down in the ocean and was never recovered back in World War I.
Though it has been many years since he gave his life for our freedoms, his memory still lives on in our minds and hearts. I know if he had it to do all over again, he would.
This is why our beloved America shines brightly in the midst of conflict and toil. We know serving our country always has a heavy price to pay, but pay we must to remain free from all enemies whether on foreign soil or in our own land.
May God be with us all as we never forget our men and women who wear their uniforms with pride and integrity, serving the greatest nation in the world.
Frank Combs, Blairsville, Ga.