There are many people in our area who lack important literacy skills. However, there are also dedicated people in our community, creating events targeted at improving these poor rates in our area. I wanted to take a moment to tell the community about one such event held earlier this summer.

I would like to let the people of Eden know just what kind of people they have working and living in their community. This past Sunday my wife and I had the opportunity of visiting the new Tractor Supply Co. on Van Buren Road. We arrived about 5:15 and, after meandering through the store, ended up buying a few pet items for our dogs.

May the Lord bless you in a special way and please know that I will pass this good deed along.

It pains me that nowhere in the bickering and confusion about what to do with Eden’s Draper and Douglass schools were the children who attend them or learning objectives that might be accomplished there discussed.

I totally agree with the gentleman’s letter on Tuesday and I’m happy to learn that I’m not the only unhappy camper regarding the change of crossword puzzles.

Though I do not live in his district, I would like to urge every one who can to vote to re-elect Tim Scales to the Rockingham County Board of Education.

No doubt, you cater to your educated readers, but someone must ask that consideration be given to bring back the puzzle most readers can complete facilely, even if it means having two puzzles. Move something over to make room for it.

I would like to commend Hardee’s for its continued good work for the senior citizens of the area. It is wonderful to see so many seniors come out and enjoy the great country music and bluegrass music.

I want to thank everyone at Walnut Cove Healthcare for the loving care that was shown to Aunt Bessie Stultz during her stay there from February until the Lord called her home June 27. You went the extra mile in meeting her needs.

This letter is written in response to the comments made by Mr. Billy Vestal in the June 25 issue of the Eden Daily News concerning the municipal service districts. It was reported in the newspaper article that on June 17 the Eden City Council voted unanimously to approve the municipal service districts in the old Leaksville and Draper sections of Eden.

Rockingham County’s theatergoers of Eden, Madison, Mayodan, Reidsville, Stoneville and Wentworth love the live stage experience. We’ll travel throughout the Piedmont Triad, Virginia and New York City to keep up our role as the audience.

Sheetrock for a 3-bedroom house—Yes, thanks to you, the May 2008, first Rockingham Habitat for Humanity Yard Sale was a success. Your pocket change and spring closet clean-out provided $1,200.

Our dedication to the mission—“Heart to God and Hand to Man”—will remain as strong as ever. We ask for your continued prayers and support.

It is unfortunate some cannot accept Black Family Day after 12 years. Allow me to disabuse your minds of the notion that the city of Reidsville (government) supports this event.

With former Speaker of the House Jim Black in prison for accepting bribes in a restaurant bathroom, one might think that N.C. Democrats would make playing by campaign finance rules a top priority. Not so for the Rockingham County Democratic Party.

World Changers are coming to Rockingham County – in less than three weeks. On July 5, hundreds of young people from across the country will descend upon Rockingham County. Over 300 young people and chaperones will call Rockingham County “home” for a week – working in sometimes oppressive temperatures and conditions to renovate and refurnish homes and lives throughout the county.

All American city, huh? I can’t help but wonder if the committee that bestowed this title on the city of Reidsville would rethink it if they knew that year after year this city uses city employees and city money to help carry off an event with segregated overtones, called Black Family Day.

As our community aspires to apply for All America City status in 2009, my family and I traveled to Tampa, Fla., last week to see the presentations from many of the 2008 applicant communities. I must tell you that the vast numbers of strong, vocal and passionate residents of Reidsville was wonderful to see. The judges were wowed, the other communities’ representatives were awed and the impressions left by your contingent will not be forgotten. All of the residents of Rockingham County, indeed – North Carolina – are proud of you all.

I would like to thank a very special group of young men.
These young men are the 21 graduating seniors on our football team

Before disturbing a church, remember that Christ is preached, and their calling could be for that reason. Some might have expanded into areas they do not understand.

To make up for wasteful spending, the city of Eden wants to annex and extend Eden’s territorial jurisdiction to other parts of the county surrounding the city.
Eden needs money bad.

I would like to express the overall joy I personally felt while in attendance at the Friday, May 16, “Relay for Life” American Cancer Society event at McMichael High School in Mayodan. All the “love” that was “manifested” was simply amazing of all those who participated in this most worthwhile cause. Not to mention how well organized and planned everything had to be due to the facts that everything ran “as smooth as clockwork.”

I would like to offer some clarification on two points mentioned in the May 14 article “Aldermen debate joint library funding” in the Madison Messenger.
It is the library board of trustees that has been tasked with the responsibility of raising the library’s portion of the project’s cost. However, the library board looks forward to working with the Friends of the Library, as well as other community groups, on this project.

Last year in North Carolina, more than 100,000 children were reported to Child Protective Services as alleged victims of child abuse or neglect. In 2006, 34 children were victims of child abuse homicides in North Carolina.

Over the past several weeks the Rockingham County Student Health Centers have provided more than 460 free sports physicals to our high school students. One evening was set aside to conduct these free physicals at each of our four high schools. This would not have been possible without the generous support of many local health-care providers and volunteers who donated their time to ensure that all students received a free sports physical.

We the people of Eden declare that when government spending soars and our tax bills rise faster than our incomes, we lose freedom.
Our city manager says “lean times are ahead” and “spending will outpace revenue.” He recommends the city council “consider how to reduce spending internally before the city faces a funding crisis.”

I am writing concerning traffic safety at Stoneville Elementary in the future. For the past 16 years, Tammy Evans has been traffic safety officer at Stoneville Elementary. During this time there have been no major accidents or injuries to anyone.

On April 30, South End Elementary School held its annual Career Day for students to learn about different types of careers. Volunteers from our community willingly gave of their time and resources to expose different career paths to the students at our school.

Decisions about identification of state roads, timelines for maintenance
or paving and repaving, and any other decision regarding a county road
is made, not by Rockingham County, but by the Highway Maintenance
Division of the N.C. Department of Transportation or by
municipalities in incorporated areas.

Shame on Rockingham County for not treating all of its taxpaying citizens equally.