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Opinion

  • Daniel is 'caring, honest,...

    My name is Mary Phillips. I am the aunt of Daniel Workman, who is 10 years old and attends Erwin Elementary. Daniel was recently baptized at White Springs Baptist Church.

    Recently, while I was shopping for groceries at Wal-Mart, Daniel and my daughter, Karli, were in the game room playing.

    After checking out, I went to the game room to get them and Daniel was standing beside the huge bubble gum machine. Daniel said he couldn’t go then because he was guarding the machine. It seems the back had come off of the machine and piles of quarters were in full view.

  • We're all responsible for our...

    I was sitting at home with my pit bull dog and was thinking about a lot of things. The television was off and the only sound I could hear was her breathing. I realized how many people have their own look at things – how we perceive, assume and anticipate things.

  • Give some serious thought to 60/40...

    It’s not rocket science. If you clearcut the land, build multi-housing developments and move people in, you are going to increase the need for services. Those services include adequate infrastructure – roads, utilities, etc. – more law enforcement and emergency medical services.

    And it’s a good bet that many of those moving into the new housing developments are children, children who need to be educated – in our schools that are already bursting at the seams.

  • Miller touts experience, passion...

    Recently, I received a mailer from my Republican opponent. It was excellently prepared, and was an example of the value in hiring professional campaign management.

    As a fiscally conservative Republican, I chose not to expend my resources for this style of campaigning. I write my own material, without the aid of experts and express my own thoughts and feelings on the subjects I address.

  • Do we really want change in our...

    Looking back on the last century, I can’t help but imagine what life will be like during the coming century. I wonder what advancements will be made technologically, politically and religiously.

    We’ve come a long way since the Industrial Revolution. Automobiles are far more efficient than ever. Planes have gone from unstable gliders to space shuttles taking man to places we previously only dreamed of.

  • County courthouse needed now

    One would think that the editorial board of our principal local newspaper would be capable of displaying an understanding of the structural needs of Lancaster County.

    However, the editorial which appeared in Wednesday’s Lancaster News demonstrated again the shortsightedness that has brought us to the point where we now find ourselves.

    This year, we are commemorating 180 years since the erection of the Lancaster County Courthouse. This is a significant milestone.

  • Public works employees deserve...

    As you read this, please reflect on how many times a day you depend on our public works professionals in our community.

    Imagine what life would be like without these professionals keeping our drinking water safe and reliable, our roads open, our houses warm, our lights on, preventing diseases by treating our wastewater and disposing of our trash.

    In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, public works is there supporting our firefighters and law enforcement.

  • Plenty to do this weekend in county

    From time to time, area folks say there’s little to do in Lancaster.

    At times, there might be some validity to that claim, but the upcoming weekend would certainly dispel that notion.

    Lancaster County has a plethora of area events on tap.

    Actually, the busy weekend run began Thursday with Street Fest in downtown Lancaster. If you missed out, don’t despair because the Lancaster County Council of the Arts Spring Arts Walk will be held tonight from 5:30 to 9.

  • Cancer victim grateful for support

    Each day when I take my medicine and see my scars I am reminded that I have had cancer. Every few months when I visit the lab and my oncologist I am reminded that I have had cancer.

    Each year, usually in April or May, I am again reminded that I have had cancer. This is a reminder that comes not only to me but also to hundreds of others who have had cancer. This reminder is different, however, because it comes as a celebration and I am one of those being celebrated.

  • Get facts right before voting

    During election years it is understandable differences of opinion will exist on the priority, focus and importance of public policy. During this discussion, however, rhetoric should not replace factuality and personal attacks should not replace personal preference.

    Recent opinion letters by Wynette Birchfield and Shannon Catoe unfortunately suffer from both factual errors and suggestions of personal exclusivity.

    In an effort of full disclosure, I should preface my statements by saying I had two children who went to Discovery School from the time the school opened.

  • We, not courts, should make...

    The editorial board of The Lancaster News contends that now is not the time to go to the voters with a ballot question for a 1 cent capital project sales tax to replace the courthouse.

    I contend the editorial board is looking at the wrong question. There is no doubt that we will not be holding court in the county courthouse much longer. The question is not do we sit around and wait two more years before addressing the problem; the question is do we address the problem in a proactive or reactive manner.

  • 1-cent local tax will be tough case

    Even when times are good, it’s always a challenge for officials to write the county budget. Conflicting interests are always at play, and the money can never be stretched as far as County Council would like.

    This year, of course, isn’t the best of times. Gas prices are at record highs, and the price of gas has started to affect the price of food and clothing. The local housing market, many say, remains good, but there has been a slowdown in the issuance of building permits.

  • Landscape around post office...

    I am appalled at the exterior condition of our local post office - the weeds that inhabit the landscape beds, the mildew covered crepe myrtles and the inattention given to the entry and sidewalks. I spoke to the former postmaster about the problems and no improvements were made.

    The plants and shrubbery look like what you would see around an abandoned building.

    I shared my concern with the current postmaster, at least I assume he is still there. He said he would correct the problem soon. Soon has come and gone and now it is much later.

    Tom Morgan

    Lancaster

  • Furniture and people can be a lot...

    I have wanted an antique mantle all my life. For my birthday I got $160. I took my money and found an old mantle in back of Southern Attic for $150. You could hardly see it because it had bird houses and hanging flowers on it.

    My mother, Jeanette Estridge, taught my sister, Marian Starnes, and me to look for treasures no one else sees. I found mine. It was beautiful. It had some pieces broken off and they were probably lost years ago, but it was beautiful.

  • Learn to never give up

    My name is Sheila Freeman, or Annette, as some may know me. I live in Lancaster and was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in December 2005. It was 5cm x 5cm in size. It had been there for awhile. It took me by surprise. The whole family was in shock. I kept thinking and saying Lord not me, what have I done to deserve this?

    I had just had my third son in June 2005. He was born with hydrocephalus, polymicrogyria and is legally blind. I had the cancer when I was expecting him, but did not know it. We are not sure if the cancer affected him.

  • Give serious thought about the...

    I don’t know why everyone is complaining about high oil prices. For the past 30 years, you have sent people to Washington who said they would not vote for drilling for oil or putting up refineries. Did you think this day would never come? Washington’s answer to problem: Alternative fuel. Well, they converted corn and wheat and now we have a food shortage and higher gas prices.

  • Be considerate, don't block...

    Be considerate, don’t block diesel pumps

    I stopped by a convenience store recently to fuel up, only to find all the end pumps occupied. Most of the pumps in the middle aisles were empty, but they are of no use to me because I drive a diesel. Oh, did I mention that all the vehicles occupying the end pumps were pumping gasoline and not diesel?

  • Organization's purpose to...

    Organization’s purpose to support patients, families

    On behalf of the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, I would like to thank Jonathan Ryan for his wonderful coverage of Parkinson’s disease featured in the May 2 edition of The Lancaster News. This article was a great wrap-up for our organization’s April Parkinson Awareness campaign.

  • Mothers deserve their own special...

    Today is special. We pause to pay tribute to those extraordinary women we know as mother, mama or mom.

    No matter her parental title, she is to have all the honor she deserves.

    Mom does it all – a little bit of everything – cook, cleaner, washer, doctor, cheerleader, driver, coach and teacher. That’s just the short list. The duties for this lady are endless.

    Through the years, the roles may have been different, but mom has always had a special place in our lives.

  • Help save Kershaw trees

    Kershaw’s mayor and Kershaw Town Council are cutting down many of the beautiful healthy trees on historic Matson Street in Kershaw. Matson Street is the bypass or alternate U.S. 521 route through Kershaw.

    It is the street most people think of when they think of Kershaw. This should not be done. The town council and mayor should look at the impact this drastic move will have environmentally, economically, historically and aesthetically in our town.