Letters To The Editor Archives

LETTERS: Sweeting – Wrong for Watauga County

October 15, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Victoria Smith / The best way to tell how someone will perform in the future is to look at how they have performed in the past. For that reason, the following are a few reasons we should REJECT Sue Sweeting for Watauga County Board of Commissioners. 1. Recused by her peers on Blowing Rock Town Council for Conflict of Interest. 2. “Vaccinate or Terminate” 3. Not able to work with the County or Board of Education

October 14, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Cullie Tarleton Rogers / I’m writing in support of Sue Sweeting as the Watauga County Commissioner for District 5 (Blue Ridge, Blowing Rock, Elk and Stony Fork) in the 2024 general election. I have known Sue for well over 20 years. She has always been a hardworking and dedicated individual. As a former elected official myself, I know firsthand the time it takes to be an effective elected official. You have to listen, know the issues and be willing to make bold decisions. Sue checks all these blocks

September 18, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Jorgann Bullard Rogers /Sue Sweeting is the epitome of a “public servant”. The citizens of Watauga County can be assured that their needs and interests will be seriously addressed by this dedicated and experienced candidate who desires to serve you as a Watauga County Commissioner. As her neighbor and friend, I have witnessed Sue’s constant determination to reach out to assist others meet their needs and reach their goals. She is involved in numerous community projects, serves on countless committees, and participates in many activities on a regular basis.

September 16, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Billie Rogers /Sue Sweeting, a long-time friend and acquaintance, approached me when she discovered I was involved in a Deep Gap community organization, and she knew she had resources that would benefit a project we are working on. Sue has been politically involved for many years and knows where to go to find the answers you need – places I am not familiar with, but they can be a great help to us. Several emails and discussions evolved to relay her knowledge and networking skills to us. We are grateful for all of them.

September 13, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Nancy Zeiss / I’m writing in support of Sue Sweeting as the County Commissioner for District 5 (Blue Ridge, Blowing Rock, Elk, and Stony Fork) in the 2024 fall election. Sue and I have been friends for 24 years, since my family moved to Watauga County. Our daughters were dear friends and grew up together from the age of 12. Sue also became my primary care provider. She was an excellent health care advisor and saw my family through a very difficult health crisis, expertly. I will always be grateful for her care. I am a retired Watauga County Schools employee, one of my highest priorities for a locally elected official is the care and support of our public schools, its students and dedicated employees. Sue is a supporter of public schools and will advocate to address school vouchers.

September 12, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Carrington Pertalion / I was fortunate in my early career as a Registered Nurse to work with Sue Sweeting, FNP at the Watauga County Health Department in the mid-1990’s. Her exemplary skills as a healthcare practitioner and as a patient advocate were impressed upon me in my early career. Sue has been a role model for me and a friend to my family for 3 decades. Sue Sweeting has served as County Commissioner in the past and was outstanding in her role representing and protecting local law enforcement, public school teachers, staff and students, healthcare workers, and all residents of Watauga County.

August 23, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Greg King / First, I labored under the impression that volunteers serving the Town in elected or appointed positions had a duty to promote confidence in Town decisions and contribute to the public trust fairly and honestly. They are, after all, part of the Town administration and if they found themselves unable to perform as required, they could or should resign. Bergstrom writes “…Blowing Rock has not been open, honest or transparent…”
And “The Town attempted to skirt…”. These do not sound like confidence building or building public trust. It may be better for Bergstrom to resign and simply state he is unable to fulfill his obligation.

August 23, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Craig Dudley / In ‘our’ democracy which isn’t, you vote in primaries to choose your candidate. We were established as a democratic republic: not a democracy. There’s a difference. Kamala wasn’t chosen in elections but installed by party bosses when the survival of old joe became questionable against the orange man. So the current ‘dance’ in Chicago touting a non-existent democracy is a sham designed to obfuscate. Mindlessness rules the Western world. This is even true of Trump supporters where one would hope awareness prevails. It doesn’t. There are many examples in American history in which the choice of the people was ignored in favor of the ruling ‘elite’. The Vietnam war is a good example as were our other various wars, all begun without congressional action, using doublespeak to ‘authorize’ them.

August 22, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Jean Kitchin / We recently came across the letter to the editor from Wayne Miller published in the High Country Press – Blowing Rock on August 15, 2024, and we would like to take this opportunity to address the insinuations in the letter regarding the Blowing Rock Civic Association (BRCA). BRCA is a North Carolina non-profit corporation formed in 2015. It has a 26 member Board of Trustees and a 7 member Executive Committee. It has several hundred individual members, nearly all of whom are Blowing Rock homeowners. They reside throughout the Blowing Rock community. A number of our members, including our Board and Executive Committee members, from time to time serve in leadership roles in Blowing Rock government, churches, charitable organizations, homeowners’ associations, arts organizations, clubs and business and professional organizations.

August 21, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Gregg Bergstrom / So, Wayne Miller is back to writing Letters to The Editor about his favorite Blowing Rock boogey man, the BRCA, and just in time to begin his campaign for Town Council in 2025. This of course comes off his letter writing campaign in the 2023 election in which he was rewarded with a seat on the Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors for his efforts. In his latest diatribe he states in emphatic generalities, and of course without any qualifications or facts, what the motivations and intentions of other citizens are. Mr. Miller is the epitome of the phrase; don’t let the facts get in the way of a good self-serving yarn.

August 20, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Delores Smith / Mr. Dudley’s response to my Letter to the Editor, yet again, pens the pejorative “joos” and, yet again, rants and rambles through 10 barely coherent paragraphs. He might do well to look into an adult education course in English composition. He challenges anyone to debate his awareness of history and geography, yet then doesn’t accept that debate by providing verifiable facts as counterpoints to my reply. What he does do is divert into a defense of conspiracy theories (so as to ensure that he doesn’t really ever have to provide actual facts, should he choose not to), and introduces new and exciting commentary regarding Israel!!

August 16, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Craig Dudley / Years ago when I first came to town I got entangled in a back and forth letter exchange with a Mr Ron Bill. It lasted until he got tired of it as he never could defeat any of my evidence or historical reference. I challenge anyone to debate on my awareness of history and geography. Few would rise effectively to the occasion. Because someone prints some allegations in an attempt to refute my points doesn’t make their words true. Its been a hobby of mine for seventy years to read those subjects. To go the mile towards proof that would satisfy, perhaps, ms Delores Smith would generate a small book so I’ll provide a few here.

August 13, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Charles Stafford / Christian nationalism, a minority movement within Christianity, seeks to impose its views on American society through disinformation, fear, and violence. This letter highlights the key issues associated with this ideology and its implications for North Carolina’s leadership: In conclusion, Mark Robinson’s views represent a dangerous intersection of Christian nationalism and extremist rhetoric.

LETTERS: A Response to “On Our Way to World War Three”

August 12, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Delores Smith / All letters to the Editor are the opinion of the writer. Some letters are testy, some are cheerful, and some are purely vile. Absolutely vile. Such is the case with the recent Letter submitted to the High Country Press by Mr. Craig Dudley (“On our way to world war three”). As a human being, a citizen of these great United States of America, and a resident of Blowing Rock I simply cannot permit his abhorrent “opinion” to stand unchallenged.

LETTERS: BRCA Wants It Both Ways

August 9, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Joe Amoroso / In support of Mr. Miller’s letter in HC Press yesterday about the BRCA and it’s other “concealed” partners, I wish to point out that there is a very descriptive acronym to describe what is going on: NIMBY (Not In My BackYard). Generally NIMBY’s don’t want anything in THEIR neighborhoods that bothers them, reduces property values, is something they disagree with in principle, and whatever else simply annoys them. They do not, however, have a problem with putting those things in any other neighborhood. Our NIMBY’s have over time gotten together to oppose several small developments in their neighborhoods through lobbying, legal action, and other means. So far their efforts have been successful. We’re seeing them now opposing something that is the Town’s best choice, both economically and functionally, to solve the serious problem of poor communications of our police, fire and EMT services.

LETTERS: Pay Attention Blowing Rock

August 8, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Wayne Miller / Well I thought my letter writing days were over but after attending the Blowing Rock Planning Board meeting on July 11 and viewing the most recent videos from the Blowing Rock Civic Association (BRCA) I felt another one was necessary. A little background, at the top of Green Hill there is a communications tower that allows the police department, fire department and public utilities to communicate with each other. Over the years the trees that border the tower have grown to a height that blocks the signal and creates disruptions in communications for these town services. The police chief, fire chief and public utilities have all publicly and emphatically stated that this creates a serious safety issue for all citizens of our town. Just imagine the police or fire department not being able to communicate with each other and how that could put any of us at risk.

LETTERS: On Our Way to World War Three

July 31, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Craig Dudley / We, America, are on our way to world war three, without, as it were, a paddle. This without a functioning ‘leader’ in charge inspiring confidence. The democracy illusion is seen as exactly that by more citizens than the ‘leaders’ imagine. At the same time the powers that shouldn’t be have succeeded in encouraging divided citizens to yell at each other at the same time, ensuring that no one will hear or learn, let alone settle any differences and thereby proceeding towards peace and cooperation. This as one ‘candidate’ said to be representing the party of democracy, wasn’t even voted into existence but was installed by sain’t Obama and the Clinton crime family.

July 15, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Charles Stafford / John Roberts when questioned by Senator Leahy (Dem. Of VT) in 2005 at Roberts’ Supreme Court confirmation hearing was asked, “is the president above the LAW?” Roberts said, “No one is above the law under our system and that includes the president. The president is fully bound by the law, the constitution, and statutes.” (Sept. 2005). Roberts in 2005 would have been consistent with the thinking of the founders of our country. The first grievance against King George III of Britain and his British Governors in America was the King’s failure to accept laws passed by the 13 colonies. A long list of grievances were listed in our Declaration of Independence ending with sentence: “A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” A Tyrant in the modern English usage of the word, is an absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law. It seems in 2005 Roberts was aware of the history as we read in his answer to Senator Leahy. But on July 1, 2024 the Roberts’ decision on immunity was aligning himself closer to a position of a Tyrant.

July 2, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Jeffrey Smith / This holiday week is always a little difficult for me. At the same time the rest of the nation celebrates our independence, I am reminded that on July 5th, 1985, I lost a good friend and the Boone community lost one of its finest sons. I hope this letter reaches his family and friends so they will know that he is not forgotten, and his life has impacted me and everyone that knew him in immeasurable ways.

June 17, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By David Jackson / On behalf of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and staff, we would like to say thank you to the Town of Boone, the hundreds of festival staff and volunteers, local law enforcement partners, and the Downtown business community for the role each of you played in making this year’s Boonerang the best yet! Communities across North Carolina strive to find something to call their own. There is no mistaking that Boonerang brings out the best in our community and brings back people who have this place sewn into their heart for one reason or another.

June 3, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Charles Stafford / Team A upholds the fundamental principles of our Constitutional Republic, cherishing our representative democracy wherein the governed elect representatives to establish laws that govern us all. Disputes are resolved through the legal system, emphasizing non-violence as the means to settle differences. We hold steadfast to the belief that “no one” is exempt from abiding by the law. Team B: Our group holds the belief that representative democracy has failed and foresees a transition to autocracy as our next governmental structure. We assert that the efficacy of the rule of law hinges solely on our personal approval of the laws we favor. Team C: We acknowledge that we don’t completely resonate with all the stances of Team A or Team B. However, we strongly believe that another term for Mr. Trump poses a significant threat to our country. Another term of Joe Biden offers an acceptable level of stability as opposed to a revenge driven dictator on day one if Mr Trump is reelected.

May 16, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Mary Walker / Across Watauga County, more residents are voicing concerns about how health care costs have increased dramatically under UNC Health, a “not-for-profit” medical system owned by the State of North Carolina, which now manages many medical facilities in Watauga County. The cost of routine doctors office visits have significantly increased, as UNC Health now bills lab work and routine tests as “hospital services.” Residents are now being billed hundreds of dollars for appointments that used to be billed as a co-pay, as UNC Health has changed the billing practices and the codes the providers use.

March 29, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Craig Dudley / Western governments, most noticeably ours, have openly facilitated some of the worst crimes of our age but I don’t think the empire is ever going to recover from this Gaza genocide. Violence is democracy, and voting is not, we learn from watching ‘our free press’ these days, depending on who is wielding it. A gathering of black malcontents is commonly called a gang. Italians gathering the same way gets called a mob, while a similar group of jews is called a coincidence. That old saw is a clue to why ‘our’ government stands with the crimes of Israel for the last seventy five years but this Gaza genocide is way beyond all defense. Some fish just don’t belong in the same aquarium as others.

February 26, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Mary E. Moretz / February is Black History Month. Proportionately, there are as many great Black citizens as there are White or Asian. Those of us in the High Country do not have to search outside our own territory to find such people. They are living among us now and some have passed on. As a representative of all great Black Americans, I wish to honor the first great Black American in the High Country. He was a founding iconic pioneer, Burrell (c.1745-1845). Burrell was the “Joseph of His People” for his time and place. Like Joseph, son of Jacob, Burrell was enslaved through no fault of his own. In spite of that, he rose to become honored and loved within his community by both Black and White races.

February 23, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Sue Sweeting / Mr. Murphy, thank you for your well-written article on the candidates and issues for the 2024 elections in Watauga County. During my eight years on the Blowing Rock Town Council, I was an advocate for residents and employees. I was part of the Council who voted yes to give our employees more paid holiday time and increased their salaries, which were below the County and ASU salaries. I also accomplished the Bass Lake sidewalk connecting downtown Blowing Rock to Moses Cone Park. What an asset to our ecotourism Town!

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LETTERS: Sweeting – Wrong for Watauga County

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LETTER: Sue Sweeting: Prioritizing Local Public Schools in 2024

LETTERS: Sue Sweeting: Caring For Residents of Watauga County

LETTERS: After reading Greg Bergstrom’s August 21 Ed-op, I Have Several Observations

LETTERS: Reply to Ms. Smith 082324

LETTERS: Blowing Rock Civic Association Responds

LETTERS: The Perpetually Self-Serving Mr. Miller Writes Again

LETTER: A Response to Mr. Craig Dudley

LETTER: Reply to Ms. Smith

LETTERS: Christian Nationalism and Lt. Governor Mark Robinson: A Call for Reflection

LETTERS: A Response to “On Our Way to World War Three”

LETTERS: BRCA Wants It Both Ways

LETTERS: Pay Attention Blowing Rock

LETTERS: On Our Way to World War Three

LETTERS: We Can Do Better to Protect Democracy

LETTERS: The Loss of One of Boone’s Finest Sons is Not Forgotten

LETTERS: Another Successful Boonerang is in the Books!

LETTERS: What team are you on: A, B, or C?

LETTER: To: The Offices of the NC Governor’s Office and NC Attorney General

LETTERS: It’s Israel, It’s Always Them.

LETTERS: I Wish to Honor the First Great Black American in the High Country

LETTERS: In response to Mark Murphy Phd, Jd letter dated February 15, 2024