World Changers are coming to Rockingham County – in less than three weeks. On July 5, hundreds of young people from across the country will descend upon Rockingham County. Over 300 young people and chaperones will call Rockingham County “home” for a week – working in sometimes oppressive temperatures and conditions to renovate and refurnish homes and lives throughout the county.

All American city, huh? I can’t help but wonder if the committee that bestowed this title on the city of Reidsville would rethink it if they knew that year after year this city uses city employees and city money to help carry off an event with segregated overtones, called Black Family Day.

As our community aspires to apply for All America City status in 2009, my family and I traveled to Tampa, Fla., last week to see the presentations from many of the 2008 applicant communities. I must tell you that the vast numbers of strong, vocal and passionate residents of Reidsville was wonderful to see. The judges were wowed, the other communities’ representatives were awed and the impressions left by your contingent will not be forgotten. All of the residents of Rockingham County, indeed – North Carolina – are proud of you all.

I would like to thank a very special group of young men.
These young men are the 21 graduating seniors on our football team

Before disturbing a church, remember that Christ is preached, and their calling could be for that reason. Some might have expanded into areas they do not understand.

To make up for wasteful spending, the city of Eden wants to annex and extend Eden’s territorial jurisdiction to other parts of the county surrounding the city.
Eden needs money bad.

I would like to express the overall joy I personally felt while in attendance at the Friday, May 16, “Relay for Life” American Cancer Society event at McMichael High School in Mayodan. All the “love” that was “manifested” was simply amazing of all those who participated in this most worthwhile cause. Not to mention how well organized and planned everything had to be due to the facts that everything ran “as smooth as clockwork.”

I would like to offer some clarification on two points mentioned in the May 14 article “Aldermen debate joint library funding” in the Madison Messenger.
It is the library board of trustees that has been tasked with the responsibility of raising the library’s portion of the project’s cost. However, the library board looks forward to working with the Friends of the Library, as well as other community groups, on this project.

Last year in North Carolina, more than 100,000 children were reported to Child Protective Services as alleged victims of child abuse or neglect. In 2006, 34 children were victims of child abuse homicides in North Carolina.

Over the past several weeks the Rockingham County Student Health Centers have provided more than 460 free sports physicals to our high school students. One evening was set aside to conduct these free physicals at each of our four high schools. This would not have been possible without the generous support of many local health-care providers and volunteers who donated their time to ensure that all students received a free sports physical.

We the people of Eden declare that when government spending soars and our tax bills rise faster than our incomes, we lose freedom.
Our city manager says “lean times are ahead” and “spending will outpace revenue.” He recommends the city council “consider how to reduce spending internally before the city faces a funding crisis.”

I am writing concerning traffic safety at Stoneville Elementary in the future. For the past 16 years, Tammy Evans has been traffic safety officer at Stoneville Elementary. During this time there have been no major accidents or injuries to anyone.

On April 30, South End Elementary School held its annual Career Day for students to learn about different types of careers. Volunteers from our community willingly gave of their time and resources to expose different career paths to the students at our school.

Decisions about identification of state roads, timelines for maintenance
or paving and repaving, and any other decision regarding a county road
is made, not by Rockingham County, but by the Highway Maintenance
Division of the N.C. Department of Transportation or by
municipalities in incorporated areas.

Shame on Rockingham County for not treating all of its taxpaying citizens equally.

Our county is in economic distress, and business owners looking at Rockingham County for potential job sites take the quality and capability of our school infrastructure into account when making their decisions about where to locate. Voting yes for the one-quarter sales tax increase Tuesday will help attract employers as well as to better prepare our children for jobs in the 21st century

The sales tax increase amounts to 25 cents for each $100 spent or one penny for each $4. The tax will not be charged on unprepared food, prescriptions or gasoline at the pump. Sales tax is a point of purchase tax and what is collected stays in the county.

The WRCC Board of Directors supports public education and the many professionals who daily take an active role educating our children. But, we do not support a Sales Tax Rate Hike to be placed upon the citizens of Rockingham County to achieve revenue for school construction

At least five to six days a week I find myself following or passing a

mo-ped or scooter riding on our roads, and I wonder if this is legal?

But if one looks around Rockingham County today, increasingly, government and society have become one.
Can you name the largest employer in Rockingham County? How about the second largest? If I told you they both began with the words “Rockingham County” and are taxpayer funded, would you be surprised?

Exercise your right to vote May 6. If you believe more tax money is needed for government services, or that the new tax is critical for education regardless, then vote for it. If you think reducing and prioritizing government spending makes more sense, then vote against the higher tax. At least you have a few more of the facts.

According to the school board, Douglass Elementary, Draper Elementary, Stoneville Elementary and Reidsville High School are the top priorities. The total cost of renovation or replacement of these four schools is approximately $60 million dollars depending on specific decisions made for each.

Your loving support shall forever impact the individual lives of the neighbors that come through the shelter. Your deeds of service exemplify the words of Christ, “When you have done it unto the least of them; you have done it unto me.” I pray the Lord will rain his blessings upon your ministry and organizations for answering that call to provide for those who are less fortunate.

If you haven’t been downtown to visit lately, please stop by any of our shops, restaurants, salons, theater, antique and art galleries and see what’s new.

When grocery stores run out of groceries to sell, when gas stations have no expensive fuel to sell, when you can’t even go to a florist and buy a flower … the politicians who created this mess will hear from the people. As for me, I see it coming and intend to buy a lot of dried pinto beans. It’s gonna be an eye-opening two weeks.

Outreach Center thanks residents for making the grand opening a success.

Readers are hungry for local news.
Can some way not be found to feed that hunger, so that each community feels it has been covered?

Business owners should stop the whining

On Feb. 23, Rockingham County showed its heart. Despite soaring gas and food prices, a slumping housing market, tighter credit and a tougher job market, Rockingham County residents, donned in their loveliest attire, ensured that the only free clinic of its kind in the county would remain a viable health-care resource for a very vulnerable population: the working uninsured.

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