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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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