Sep
23

Viewpoint: Book banners present real threat to freedom, unity

BY ERIC TODD SCOTT SR. The “book-banning mommas” in our community and elsewhere are consciously ignorant in their thinking. They say they are Christians, but remind me of Hitler’s Nazi

Sep
19

Viewpoint: Book bans can be detrimental to teens who have endured trauma

Editor’s Note: This viewpoint was presented during a recent Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education meeting. BY ARYA MEHTA I want all of you, real quick, to think of yourself when

Sep
16

Letter to the Editor: N.C. lawmakers should should pass overdue budget and let voters decide on casinos

To the Editor: I’m writing this in the hope that many will read it and respond appropriately. The N.C. General Assembly is still working on the State Budget that was

Sep
15

Viewpoint: Filmmakers, volunteers and community support made 2023 FBFF a truly memorable event

BY CHARLES ASHE The Full Bloom Film Festival is unique. We pour our hearts and souls into this event each year. A special thank you to Downtown Statesville for embracing

Sep
10

Letter to the Editor: City of Statesville should place permanent memorial at Green Street Cemetery

To the Editor: On Tuesday, September 12, at 6 p.m. a pseudo town hall meeting is planned at Statesville City Hall. This meeting was requested by community members in Ward

Sep
09

Viewpoint: I-SS Board members push back against Kubiniec and Kurn

BY MIKE FUHRMAN If Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education Vice Chairman Mike Kubiniec has any ideas for improving educational outcomes for students, he’s yet to share them with his fellow

Sep
06

Viewpoint: A behind-the-scenes look at the 2023 Full Bloom Film Festival and three must-see films

BY AMANDA CALDWELL The 2023 Full Bloom Film Festival is close at hand, and the tireless efforts of each of the FBFF committees will culminate in a stellar event for

Sep
01

Viewpoint: Multi-disciplinary approaching is critical to managing chronic pain

BY SALLY NIX It is increasingly common to see ribbons and wristbands of every color symbolizing various health initiatives. September serves as the cancer awareness month for childhood cancer, ovarian

Aug
28

Letter to the Editor: Community invited to help fill dog treat box at Stumpy Creek Park

To the Editor: I am a super senior a the CCTL early college in Statesville. For my graduation project, I decided to place two hand-built dog treat boxes at Stumpy

Aug
25

Fostering Growth and Nurturing Communities: A shared commitment for a flourishing Statesville

BY BRUCE A. JOHNSON Nearly three years ago, I was sworn in as a member of the Board of Commissioners for the Statesville Housing Authority (SHA) and the Iredell Statesville

Aug
22

Viewpoint: Vice chairman’s absurd war on books is an embarrassment to Iredell-Statesville Schools

BY MIKE FUHRMAN Less than a year after being elected to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education, Mike Kubiniec has certainly distinguished himself. In my opinion — and I’ve only

Aug
12

Viewpoint: ESL students at Mitchell Community College have helped me see language through a new lens

BY DALE GOWING After decades in the newspaper business, I’m seeing the English language through a refocused lens. Call it journalism vs. survival English. The former is that process I

Jul
25

Letter to the Editor: Please spay and neuter your pets, and consider adopting from a shelter before buying from a breeder

To the Editor: Thank you for publishing the beautiful piece Ms. Gatton wrote about her foster dog Khal. (Viewpoint: There’s nothing special about this absolutely amazing pup.) It’s folks like

Jul
24

Viewpoint: There’s nothing special about this absolutely amazing pup

BY JAIME GATTON He’s a mutt. There’s nothing special about him. But just hours before being scheduled for euthanasia because of sudden overcrowding at a South Carolina shelter, Khal lucked

Jul
10

A Call to Action: N.C. lawmakers should provide more funding to support struggling students

BY JESSICA SMITH Five years ago, we began to see dramatic increases in the presentation of serious mental health issues in our students. The Iredell-Statesville Schools Student Services Department staff

Jul
08

Letter to the Editor: Taxpayers should not have to cover the cost of tuition for UNC Chapel Hill students

To all taxpayers and state and federal government elected officials: I am writing this letter in response to the recent news that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jun
26

Viewpoint: Iredell-Statesville Schools’ innovative childcare program is a ‘blessing’ for new mom

BY HANNAH BRAWLEY All too often, all we talk about in regards to the public school system are negative things. While there are a plethora of things that need to

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