BY COSTI KUTTEH 2024 has been another great year in the City of Statesville. Local government is a team sport and many folks – past and present – have contributed
Category: Perspectives
To the Editor: On December 2, Troutman Town Manager Ronald Wyatt attended the Mooresville Town Board of Commissioners meeting and proceeded to make a public statement in defense of Mooresville
BY JEFF CORBETT While visiting a remote mountain town, a tourist walking down Main Street was approached by a scruffy hillbilly fresh out of the woods. Carrying a shotgun and
BY JEFF CORBETT At a hotel the night before I was to give a speech, I hung my shirt in the bathroom and turned the shower as hot as it
BY NANCY BEARD It is the time of year when we reflect on the reasons why we are thankful. We think about our family, friends, faith, career, community and so
BY JEFF CORBETT There was a busy candy store, and one clerk always had customers in her line, even when the other clerks had no one. The store owner asked
BY JEFF CORBETT Are you afraid of failing? According to Dr. Gary Winch in “Psychology Today,” “everyone hates to fail, but for some people, failing presents such a significant psychological
BY JEFF CORBETT An old dog was stretched out on the porch of a country general store, moaning and growling while lying half-asleep in the sun. “Why is your dog
To the Editor: We read the article in the Iredell Free News about the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education member proposing to require all district schools to display a poster with
BY REV. H. STEPHEN SHOEMAKER The National Institute of Mental Health defines psychosis as “a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact
BY SHELLIE TAYLOR A while back, I had the pleasure of working on a research project with an archeological field director for a surveying company based in Asheville. His company
BY JEFF CORBETT Some years ago, my pastor preached a sermon entitled “Pushing on Doors Marked Pull.” While I’ve long forgotten the details, the title never escaped me. Obviously, the
Dear Citizens of Statesville: The overwhelming outpouring of support from our community for the victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the
Editor’s Note: Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Jeff James sent the following letter to district parents and staff on September 19. BY JEFF JAMES Over the last week, our school and district
BY JEFF CORBETT A 10-year-old boy was captivated by a sign in his neighborhood advertising “Puppies for sale.” He went up to the house and rang the doorbell, and when
BY SHELLIE TAYLOR I recently came across a 122-year-old newspaper article that sent me down a rabbit hole. On December 19, 1902, the Landmark printed a brief story from the
BY JEFF CORBETT A friend of mine, an amateur photographer, was at a dinner party, and took along some prized photos to show the hostess. “These are wonderful!” the hostess
Editor’s Note: Ken Robertson delivered the following remarks during the Iredell County Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, August 20. BY KEN ROBERTSON H.L. Mencken said “for every complex problem,
BY JEFF CORBETT Taking oneself too seriously can derail any relationship. Queen Victoria of England learned this lesson very quickly in her marriage to Prince Albert. It was an extremely
BY JEFF CORBETT There used to be four stages of life, but New York Times columnist David Brooks writes the progression of life now has six stages. The four stages
Editor’s Note: This is part II of a two-part series. The first column is available HERE . BY SHELLIE TAYLOR I had a huge response to the first article in this
BY DAVID PRESSLY The Statesville City Council tells us its policy priorities through its annual budget-making process. This year, the City Council proposes to create a “revenue-generating Building Standards Department.”
BY WEST CAUDLE On May 15, N.C. State Senate Republicans took 46 minutes to advance a repeal legislation protecting the physical health and safety of their fellow North Carolinians and
BY MIKE FUHRMAN For the second time in less than six months, the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education is expected to consider a motion to censure one of its members
BY JOHN GREEN This week, May 12-18, is National Hospital Week, which gives me an opportunity to talk about hospitals, healthcare, and my teammates — three topics that are near
Editor’s Note: May is Cemetery Appreciation Month. This is part I of a two-part series. BY SHELLIE TAYLOR I have had several people in the last few months reach out to me
BY KARISSA MILLER I have fond memories of my brother and I waking up early to surprise my mom with coffee and breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day. My dad
BY BECKY WAGNER It is that time of the year when we recognize the work and dedication of the nursing profession by celebrating Nurses Week (May 6-12). The theme this
Editor’s Note: Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell delivered the following remarks during the Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony on Tuesday, May 7. BY DARREN CAMPBELL Good morning. What an absolute
Editor’s Note: Mr. Garland delivered the following comments on Monday during the Memorial Service for U.S. Deputy Marshal Tommy Weeks Jr. BY MERRICK B. GARLAND Good morning. It’s an honor
To the Editor: Public education has always been the great equalizer, and North Carolina has always been a “light in the South” as far as education is concerned. In recent
BY JANE HINSON It’s time once again to celebrate National Public Health Week. April 1-7 has been designated the week that public health is celebrated nationwide. Locally, we use this
BY SHELLIE TAYLOR If you make your way to Old Fourth Creek Burying Ground on any given day, you’ll probably see a man with a long grey beard and glasses
BY JESSICA HILL As temperatures rise in the Carolinas, our cold-blooded wildlife will be waking up and snake season will soon be upon us! I’d just like to remind everyone
To the Editor: So let me get this right. The taxpayers in the Town of Troutman have the privilege of paying for a community park that is not accessible to
To the Editor: During the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday evening, N.B. Mills Elementary was the school spotlight. The administration and staff at N.B. Mills is doing