Words just cannot describe how we felt when we walked into Cartoogechaye School and saw the number of people that had turned out for the benefit for me. It is amazing how Macon County cares about people and want to help. I am blessed and so thankful to have so many friends! There is no way we will ever be able to thank everyone for all they have done. There were so many that gave of their time and talent to make the benefit a success.

We would like to thank each one that came out whether for a hot dog, to drop off a cake or to participate in the cake walk or auction. Also to everyone that donated - food for the dinner, items for the auction or raffle and all the monetary donations.

I think it’s wrong for the state to close all the sweepstakes game rooms. They create jobs for people out of work and provide rent to property owners. If they consider them gambling machines, then what is “Bingo” or “scratch-offs” or lottery tickets? They all require you to pay money for a chance to win money. So, if sweepstakes machines are illegal, then why aren’t the rest of them? It seems like “the casinos” are paying someone to keep the sweepstakes out.

Ronnie Holland — Franklin, N.C.

Ed Morris criticizes the Republican legislature and Gov. Pat McCrory for their decision not to expand Medicaid in our state to accommodate Obamacare. Morris tells us that the Federal government will pay for 100 percent of the increase for three years and 90 percent afterwards (with our taxpayer money, of course). To understand the Republican viewpoint, Dr. Morris may benefit from some local political history.

Kent Coward from Jackson County was a respected GOP activist. To explain how a government program works, he liked to use an anecdote on how to get wild hogs into a cage. According to Kent, you start by scattering corn near the cage. Keep the corn coming for a few days then move it a little closer to the cage. Over time move the corn into the cage, and when the hogs go in to eat, shut the door.

There he goes again. I mean, of course, Sen. James Davis, with his proclivity for bogus and unsubstantiated "facts." He tells us most recently, in a meeting with county commissioners, that a proposed Republican- sponsored voter ID law is supported by 70 percent of the state's citizens and should be the legislature's top priority. How does he know it's 70 percent? ESP, I suppose, since he offers no verifiable statistics from a surveyor poll. Curiously, he remains mum on the fact that voter fraud is now virtually non-existent in the United States, (ref. Jane Mayer, "The Voter Fraud Myth," The New Yorker, Oct. 29, 2012). He is also silent on the fact that the proposed Republican voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements will disenfranchise thousands of previously valid voters in North Carolina who typically vote — you guessed it — Democratic: Minorities, women, the elderly. The proposed law would also place restrictions on absentee balloting and early voting.