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Letters

  • Facts should have been disclosed earlier

    It was very disappointing to read [Carroll County Administrator Gary] Larrowe’s defense of his actions regarding [questions about any] conflict of interest in his land ownership near Wildwood.
    I am responding to Mr. Larrowe’s claims.
    “Two Board members looked into it, and neither had any issue with Larrowe’s ownership of the property.” Implicitly, Mr. Larrowe admits this isn’t enough when he says that for the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority, he made disclosure to the full board, as in the minutes.

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  • Daughter was humiliated by store, police

    This letter is addressed to the three officers and an overzealous Galax Walmart employee [regarding a Dec. 23 matter].
    Because my daughter was hyper on energy drink and too many Christmas cookies and because she has piercings and dresses outside "the norm," she was profiled, stalked and had the police called on her.
    The charge: "suspiciously" picking up a container of 97-cent deodorant.

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  • Addressing the irony of global warming

    A political cartoon in the Dec. 27 Gazette prompts me to write this letter. For those of you who missed it, two figures bundled against the cold are standing waist deep in the snow.
    One says, "Tell me again why global warming is bad..."
    The answer is in the cartoon. Extreme climactic events such as we are presently witnessing are in fact the direct result of the “greenhouse effect.”

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  • Thanks for keeping back roads clear

    We would like to say "thank you" to Charlie Wright and A-1 Paving for keeping the back roads clear and doing such a wonderful job!
    The drifts and high winds kept them rolling, but they worked around the clock and even kept the driveways clear of snow at the beginning of them, best they could — especially Charlie.
    Thanks, guys, for the long hours and hard work! We do appreciate it! Especially during Christmas.

    Ronnie and Julie Bourne
    Galax

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  • Respect anti-fluoride group

    I would like to thank all our local government entities, including the Virginia/North Carolina Water Authority, for taking time to hear discussion on the fluoridation issue.
    I would like to point out that there was never any intention to cast aspersions at the honesty of any of our local officials, nor was there any question of their loyalty to their citizens and their duties of office.
    We deeply appreciate the work you do and realize that in cases like this, it probably feels like a thankless job.

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  • IDA thankful for lounge's hospitality

    Mount Rogers Community Extended Care and the Industrial and Developmental Center join together in thanking Proximity Lounge for its hospitality to our group recently.
    This time last year we were devastated when Parrott Bay closed and our annual Christmas dance was scheduled the very next day. But Blue Ridge Country Club came to the rescue and we were able to pull it together (with their help) and Santa came right on time!

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  • Keep Christ in Christmas

    This letter is written to all who say they do not believe in Christ and want to remove His name from the Christmas Holiday.
    We Christians chose to celebrate Jesus’ birthday long ago and much of the world has adopted the holiday.
    I’m sure that at some point in your life, you have enjoyed some good from it. Maybe it was a Christmas bonus, ham, gift certificate or party that lifted your spirits, or maybe a day off or just a smile from someone who usually frowns at you.

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  • Greed reigns supreme

    Our current economic plight creates a lot of questions, mainly: "Who is to blame?"
    Perhaps the answer can be found at the enduring altar of the money changers and profiteers where gold is the deity to be revered, greed is the benediction, dominance is the credo and the covetous pray for "more, bigger, better, instant gratification. Too much ain't enough and make mine be the biggest."
    Prime examples of this century's old mindset are Wall Street, big business, war profiteers and big government.

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  • Help available for bipolar disorder

    If the following was told to the people of the Twin Counties: "Raise your hand if you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder," how many people would be honest enough to raise their hand?
    Who should raise their hand but have no idea or are in denial about their mental instability?
    It's time for the cycle to stop.
    The mental roller coaster of extreme highs and lows that are being hidden by alcohol abuse, drug abuse, domestic violence and poverty needs to come to a final end.

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  • Get involved in tax protest

    Like many others, I haven't been exactly front and center at the Grayson County Board of Supervisors’ meetings.
    When there's a big issue, we pack the board room, sign up to speak and wait hours to ask questions that they decline to answer.
    They know we will melt away as the heat dies down. But at the Nov. 30 tax protest meeting, we were standing-room only at the 1908 Courthouse, and I never before saw such a big mix of people — old-timers, farmers, move-ins and move-backs, old and young, some well-to-do and others barely getting by.

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