May
30

Viewpoint: Statesville High students call out I-SS Board of Education for illegal meetings, jokes promoting school violence and attitude toward LGBTQ community

Editor’s Note: Statesville High School students wrote the following letters to Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education members in response to an Iredell Free News investigation detailing the board’s secret meetings

May
30

Letter to the Editor: I-SS Board members should resign and allow people who care about students’ welfare to lead district

To the Editor: If Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education member Anita Kurn thinks that adding fight classes at Statesville High School will solve the discipline problems there, we should all

May
24

Letter to the Editor: Working at Statesville High School is a blessing

To the Editor: “Oh, bless your heart.” That is the response I often get when I tell people where I work. While I am thankful for the sentiment, I would

May
22

Viewpoint: This is what happens when voters elect partisan extremists to the school board

BY BETH KENDALL There was an accident, so traffic was at a standstill. The gravitational pull of the moon causes the tides of the ocean. I stuck to a training

May
21

Letter to the Editor: Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education members have demonstrated they are unfit to serve

To the Editor: After reading the text messages exchanged between members of the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education, I would like to say that I am highly disappointed in the

May
19

Viewpoint: An Open Letter to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education

“Suggesting that student violence be encouraged and used for profit is not funny. It is a ‘joke’ of the worst kind — one that devalues human life and reveals your

May
10

Viewpoint: Nurses make a difference in our community every day

BY BECKY WAGNER What profession provides world-class care and is considered the most honest and ethical profession? Individuals working in this career field can walk an average of 4 to

May
09

Viewpoint: Green Street Cemetery project casts light on Statesville history

BY SHELLIE TAYLOR The study at the Green Street Cemetery in Statesville has been one of the most important and rewarding projects I have ever been involved with. Last year,

May
07

Viewpoint: National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week provide opportunity to reflect on past year

BY JOHN GREEN It seems like just a few days ago I wrote an editorial regarding National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week. Obviously, time flies, as it has been

Apr
30

Viewpoint: Historic inflation rate, growing tax base will factor in Iredell commissioners’ budget decisions

BY JAMES B. MALLORY III Iredell County Manager Beth Mull is putting the finishing touches on her budget message and recommendations to the Iredell County Board of Commissioners for the

Apr
28

Viewpoint: Statesville firefighters grateful for outpouring of support

BY GLENN KURFEES The City of Statesville Fire Department would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Statesville Community for all the prayers, words of encouragement, and food during

Apr
20

Viewpoint: Spring Games provides a magical day for group of extraordinary children

BY MIKE FUHRMAN There’s something absolutely magical about the Special Olympics. In an era where reports of mass shootings, civil unrest and political rancor dominate nearly every news cycle, there

Apr
09

Viewpoint: Will elected officials do anything after students across nation protest against gun violence in schools?

BY COOPER HALL Uniting a high school is hard work, but I watched it happen at South Iredell High on April 5 as students participated in the national walkout to

Apr
07

Viewpoint: The Cross and the Lynching Tree are entwined

BY REV. H. STEPHEN SHOEMAKER Today is the day we call Good Friday, and on this day we gathered by the old tree standing outside the Old Jail in Statesville.

Apr
03

Viewpoint: Iredell’s public health team has remained mission focused during challenging times

BY JANE HINSON April 3-9, 2023, is National Public Health Week. The last three years have been difficult ones for our public health team at the Iredell County Health Department.

Mar
30

Viewpoint: Female assistant district attorneys in Iredell, Alexander counties dedicated to keeping community safe

BY SARAH KIRKMAN March is Women’s History Month, and I almost let it get by me without recognizing it. The observance of Women’s History Month began in California in 1978

Mar
23

Letter to the Editor: N.C. lawmakers should give local governments ability to require developers to pay impact fees

To the Editor: An impact fee is typically a one-time payment imposed by a local government on a property developer. The fee is meant to offset the financial impact a

Mar
14

Viewpoint: Two new I-SS Board members display arrogance, insult professional educators

BY MIKE FUHRMAN There were a couple of very telling moments at Monday’s Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education meeting, including one in which a board member claimed he could run Statesville

Feb
15

Viewpoint: Keeping justice-involved students in school leads to better outcomes for all students

Editor’s Note: This column is adapted from a presentation to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education on February 13. BY TERRI MASIELLO For 26-plus years, I have been working to

Feb
13

Letter to the Editor: Troutman residents should demand better from Town Council

To the Editor: When discussing the town’s property tax rate, Troutman Councilman Paul Henkel recently said, “The town does not collect money for the fun of it.” I disagree! This

Feb
01

Viewpoint: Recognizing the historical significance of the Green Street Cemetery

BY SHELLIE TAYLOR Every February, the Iredell County Public Library staff joins the African-American community in celebrating the achievements of Black men and women in our county and promoting their

Jan
27

Viewpoint: Planned STEAM charter school will aim to boost academic achievement of at-risk students

BY PAMELA JOHNSON It is my passion and dream to bring a K-8 STEAM charter school to Statesville and Iredell County. I believe that we can build an education model

Jan
21

Viewpoint: A call for action to support our schools and community

BY ERIC TODD SCOTT SR. I would like to say thank you to Dr. Jeff James and the participants for the Iredell-Statesville Schools press conference. Great job! It was very

Jan
12

Viewpoint: State of North Carolina working to build reliable, sustainable grid powered by renewable energy

BY GOV. ROY COOPER RALEIGH — North Carolinians deserve reliable, sustainable electricity at a reasonable cost because of increasingly severe weather and aging fossil fuel plants that result could be

Jan
10

Local History: Unraveling the mysterious disappearance of Virginia Sneed

BY SHELLIE TAYLOR I don’t know about you, but I love a good mystery. While researching something completely unrelated, I came across a newspaper article that grabbed my attention and

Dec
23

Viewpoint: All I want for Christmas is a little less schadenfreude and a little more freudenfreude

BY REV. H. STEPHEN SHOEMAKER My worst course in college was German. Thank God I needed only four semesters to graduate. From my studies and experience, I am too well

Dec
16

Viewpoint: Iredell County GOP Executive Committee wisely rejects party disloyalty complaints

BY MIKE FUHRMAN During the two years leading up to the 2022 elections, there was a carefully orchestrated effort to undermine the public’s confidence in Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education

Dec
09

Viewpoint: Don’t be scared to talk about suicide

BY AMY FUHRMAN In December, my thoughts turn to death. I know that sounds morbid — and it is — but it’s impossible for me not to think about as

Dec
07

Viewpoint: Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County committed providing exemplary service to community

BY MIKE SMITH ProPublica and The New Yorker recently published an article entitled “How Hospice Became a For-Profit Hustle,” outlining multiple instances of fraud and malfeasance targeting the Medicare hospice

Nov
09

Letter to the Editor: Candidate appreciates community support during campaign

To the Editor: Thanks to everyone who supported me in the campaign through their efforts and their votes. I gave it my all, but the partisan headwinds were just too

Nov
05

Viewpoint: Will voters stop self-proclaimed ‘Puppet Master’ from taking control of Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education?

BY MIKE FUHRMAN A Statesville man who calls himself the “Puppet Master” is dangerously close to achieving his goal of taking control of the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education. Iredell

Nov
05

Viewpoint: AFSP working with community partners to prevent suicides in Iredell County

BY SUSAN TOLLE It all started five years ago. 2018 brought us our first Central Piedmont Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention right here in Iredell County. Our

Nov
04

Letter to the Editor: I-SS board candidates who did not participate in forum deprived voters of opportunity to evaluate their suitability for office

To the Editor: Four years ago I had the pleasure of running as an unaffiliated candidate for the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education in District 7. I strongly believe that

Oct
30

Viewpoint: One mom’s Halloween reflection

BY WENDY GORDON PAKE Halloween at the Pake house – with a child with food allergies – always went the same: My husband and I would spill out our son’s

Oct
23

Letter to the Editor: Some elected officials seem to have forgotten their purpose

To the Editor: An elected official’s role, whether it be on the school board, in the state senate, or in any other public office, is to serve its community as

Oct
22

Letter to the Editor: Pittman’s inquisitive nature, communication skills make her great candidate for I-SS Board of Education

To the Editor: I am writing to urge the citizens of District 3 to vote for Sarah Parker Pittman for the open seat on the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education.