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Letters

  • Police body cameras prevent mistreatment

    The massive public reaction to the tragic deaths of three black teens at the hand of white police officers has led to a national call for use of body cameras to record and prevent any future mistreatment of suspects.
    There is ample precedent. Animal protection activists have used body cameras to document egregious atrocities and safety violations by workers in the meat, dairy, and egg industries.
    The resulting videos have led to a number of corrective actions, as well as felony convictions, meat recalls, and even a $500 million civil settlement.

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  • Recourse needed when official channels fail

    I would like to make reference to the letter from local government officials calling for an end to the Hotline.
    We are not in favor of the trash fee instituted in of 2003, as when we moved here 1999, this was included in the regular real estate tax.
    We consider this fee double taxation. However we pay it and pay in advance so as it will not appear on the real estate tax bill, which goes to our mortgage lender.
    We are sure that there are other taxpayers in the same situation. Therein lies the problem.

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  • Church thanks community for years of assistance

    We regret to inform the public that we recently closed the Adventist Clothing Center after serving the Twin County area for many years.
    We express our sincere appreciation to the many individuals and businesses for their donations of clothing and household items so we could help those in need.
    We also thank all the volunteers who gave many hours of their time to process the donations and assist clients as they came to us for help.

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  • Theater Guild pianist Nuckolls remembered

    Eleanor Payne Nuckolls was a wonderful person and pianist who always helped with the Galax Theater Guild musical productions.
    We regret and commemorate her passing last week, but know she will rejoice in heavenly choirs.
    She was diligent, professional and passionate in rehearsals and brilliant in performance. She never missed a rehearsal and always inspired others.
    She played for “Music Man,” “South Pacific,” “Hello Dolly,” “The Sound of Music,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Oklahoma” and others.

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  • Public comment crucial to democratic process

    I write this to publicly thank the news and editorial staff of your paper for your response to the letter to the editor by local elected officials in the Dec. 8 edition.
    While I am and shall remain an advocate for any and all opinion, the letter submitted by these generically identified “public servants” was way off base.
    It showed, as well, an increasingly troubling tendency on the part of these “public servants.” A tendency to pay mere lip service to public examination and comment about social and political topics and trends.

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  • Hotline creates negative, divisive atmosphere

    Over the generations in our mountain communities, we have learned to get along with people of differing opinions by being civil to one another.  This enabled us to build relationships with our neighbors with more in common with each other and fewer differences.  
    Your Hotline feature increasingly creates a very negative and divisive influence on our community. Lately your callers seem more angry and ill-informed than usual and the intolerant, judgmental religious attitudes are especially shocking.

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  • Leaders' request at odds with First Amendment

    In reference to local government officials’ call for an end to the Hotline…
    As a citizen of Galax for 72 years, I read with sadness the letter signed by the mayor and city manager of Galax. I have known, respected and supported both the mayor and city manager until now.
    In my opinion this letter shows disrespect for our community and our citizens by resolving not to address publicly our concerns.
    They speak of the hotline being a disservice to community. The only disservice is the decision not to respond to issues in a public forum.

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  • Government officials try to stifle public opinion

    I agree with The Gazette’s response to the letter from local government leaders [regarding the Readers’ Hotline feature].
    Their letter appears to me as an attempt to stifle public opinion and uncomfortable questions these elected and appointed officials would prefer did not come up.
    Many times I will read a comment or issue raised in the Hotline and I have the same opinion or comment and want to hear the answer from these public officials.

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  • Best gifts are times spent with family

    The holidays are upon us once again, and parents are searching earnestly for the perfect gifts for children. The focus needs a bit of tweaking.
    A friend’s family surprised her and her husband with a celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary. The tributes by their adult children were heartwarming and impressed upon me what children cherish and remember most from their childhood.

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  • Reader shares thoughts on gay marriage issue

    After reading the Oct. 29 Readers’ Hotline with 14 responses criticizing the newspaper for the audacity to show a gay couple’s wedding on the front page, the first thing that comes to mind is why do these people think that only they have the right to free speech and not the news media?

    I call that being a hypocrite, pure and simple.

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