We always thought we lived in a great community but after a tragic loss, we know we do. A few weeks ago, our home, owned by Steve Beck, our good friend of many years, was destroyed by fire. Not only was it a personal loss for Steve, but a great personal loss for us, the greatest was losing three of our family pets.

Fortunately for us our neighbors and friends the Spearmans and the Drakes saw the situation first and came to help us to safety.

Literacy is a cornerstone to academic success for all children. Reading is the access point for all other content areas during a child’s educational years. The sooner children are able to read, and read well, the more successful they are in school and in life.

Read2Me is a public awareness campaign recently initiated in Macon County. Its purpose is to encourage the community at large to become highly invested in promoting the goal of children learning to read early and well, helping each child realize his or her potential in school and in life.

“Real Jobs NC,” “Civitas Action,” and “Americans for Prosperity” are Political Action Groups bankrolled by Art Pope, his family and associates.

Art Pope resides in eastern North Carolina. It is unlikely that he or his associates have ever spent much time in our corner of the state.

In the 2010 election his PACs spend millions of dollars here, trashing Democratic candidates and supporting Republicans. Art Pope is a businessman. He and his associates are buying a product. The product is Republican.

Did you know that in Macon Co. that what you will be voting on in May is just not a "Vote" On Marriage Equality, but will also stop in the future Civil Unions.

It will nullify Civil Registry's such as Asheville passed for Basic Civil/Human Rights of visiting a Partner in the Hospital etc.