All in Letters to the Editor
It has been an honor to serve as your Lenoir County Clerk of Court for the past 18 years. I have worked with thousands of local families through the Estate process, Adoptions, Civil and Criminal cases. I have also had the privilege to work with Representative Chris Humphrey when he served as a Lenoir County Commissioner for 8 years. Chris has been a good friend to Lenoir County ever since. He has supported our court system and law enforcement. (continuing reading….)
I am an African American unaffiliated voter, and I am also a pastor. I find comfort in the love of my savior, not in any political party. Like many of you, I am tired of listening to double talk from all sides of the political spectrum. I am voting for Jim Perry to represent our district in the NC Senate.
“I had a preconceived notion of Steve Saint-Amand as a redneck character running a redneck school. That notion couldn’t be further from the truth…For two years, I have witnessed Steve Saint-Amand go the extra mile for ANY of his students. Didn’t matter where they lived, didn’t matter who their people were . . . he was ready to be there for them.” - Dr. Janet Stivers-Blaebaum
While visiting a section of Maplewood Cemetery in search of our second great-grandfather’s resting place, I came across a monument to a fallen World War II hero, Vernon Hardison. The inscription revealed the dates of his young life, putting his 100th birthday on the 22nd of this October. Lenoir County’s Veterans of Foreign Wars is currently researching options for replacing the medallion on Mr. Hardison’s memorial. As his 100th birthday approaches shortly before Veterans Day, let us take a moment to remember and honor all of our veterans.
We would like to offer heart-felt gratitude to our community for supporting this year’s “Wings Over the Neuse,” the major fund-raiser for the CSS Neuse Foundation. The foundation is charged with the responsibility of maintaining, repairing, and improving the historical experience of those who board the CSS Neuse II, the world’s only full-sized replica of a Confederate ironclad.
“In the wake of several high-profile killings of black people by police, the Black Lives Matter Organization (BLM) has taken the world by storm in 2020. You can’t turn on the TV, watch sports, attend a meeting, or drive down the street without encountering BLM in every facet of society. I agree with the statement and belief that black lives matter, but I will never support the BLM organization. You may be shocked to find out what the organization is truly based upon, and I seek to inform fellow Americans, not to enflame, so hear me out.” - Seth Hobbs, Kinston
When one argues for the increase of the minimum wage to a “living” wage of $15 per hour, one can easily see the benefit to the employee that may have had their wage rate doubled. Yet, more difficult to see is the employee who lost their job. Employers do not have an endless budget, and if the wage rate doubles, the staff will be cut in half.
The Art Council, a 501(C)3 non-profit, knows how important the arts are to a strong and vibrant community. For over 50 years, YOUR Arts Council has been the consistent cornerstone in supporting artists of ALL genres and abilities. From Kindermusik to pottery/painting classes, theater art camps, local and internationally renowned art exhibits, jazz concerts, dance competitions, being the hub of the African American Heritage Music project and county trail, developing our impressive public art project with the largest number of artworks developed into a trail by an arts council in North Carolina, YOUR Art Council has been the cultural mecca for our region.
Parents are scrambling to find other options for kids to be in front of teachers and with other students, not dismissing COVID-19 risks, but acknowledging the comprehensive needs of students. Our neighboring Pitt County experienced a 60/40% in-person to remote learning sign-up, which organically provides additional space for meeting social distancing requirements. The same result would likely occur in Lenoir County, if given the option.
I am emailing you to respectfully request your consideration in publishing my response to the LCPS reopening plan. I have started a petition asking the LCPS School Board to reconsider their reopening plan. I posted the following response to their Facebook page:
Through COVID 19, we have seen essential workers (doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, cashiers, mail delivery and the list goes on) step up, take care and go out each day to serve others. There are around 265 early childhood teachers employed in Lenoir and Greene County. Sadly, the median income is $10.50 per hour and most do not have benefits such as, paid leave and heath care.
In the wake of all our eyes have seen and our ears have heard over the past two weeks, we find ourselves confronted with the relevant question, “Where do we go from here?” The Kinston Lenoir County NAACP’s response to this question is as follows.
We, the members of Lambda Pi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., chartered in 1974 in Kinston, NC, would like to send a clear and direct message to the Lenoir County community. The Brothers of Lambda Pi are empowered to be community change agents, while standing for social justice.
Last Sunday, May 3rd, my family and I participated in a very awe-inspiring Parade at Kinston Veterans Home. We took our place in the long line of decorated cars, trucks, fire engines, EMS trucks, and motorcycles. We were there to salute our heroes, our veterans for their dedicated service to our country. We were there to thank the Veterans Home Staff.
The Coronavirus has wreaked havoc in agricultural markets by disrupting supply chains and dramatically changing consumer markets. This is most evident in markets for perishable and time sensitive products like fresh produce, livestock and poultry. But tobacco is not immune to the disruptions in markets.
