I’m not sure if I’m angry, embarrassed, disappointed, or a combination thereof, because of an event that was held here in Franklin, Saturday, Jan. 22. The American Legion Post 108 held a Constitutional Speech competition for high school students. Students were to give an eight to ten minute prepared speech on the Constitution of the United States. The second part of the contest was a three to five minute extemporaneous speech on a selected amendment to the Constitution. Prizes were awarded and the winner is eligible to participate in the next level of the contest to be held in Hickory. As the student continues winning in the competitions, he or she is able to win large sums of monies for their college education.

Recently the National Science Foundation (NSF) granted Professor Thomas Ford (WCU) and Associate Professor Julie Woodzicka (Washington and Lee University) $300,000 to research how sexist humor contributes to imbalanced relations between men and women. Naturally it’s assumed that men have the sexist attitudes and women are the victims of it. The participants in this project will perform such tasks necessary to help the researchers determine how exposure to sexist humor affects perceptions of women and discrimination against them. According to Professor Ford, “ultimately this research addresses issues of critical social relevance.” Really? I have my doubts.

First, we want to apologize for this not coming in a timelier manner. During this difficult season of our lives with Gabe’s illness there have been so many individuals, churches, schools, and members of the community that have shown our family an outpouring of love, support and prayers. Many of you we know and some we have never met but our lives have been touched by your kindness. We would like to express our gratitude to all who have shown such kindness and love to our family.

A special thank you to Sheriff Robbie Holland, Lieutenant Brian Leopard, Judge Downs, Congressman Heath Shuler and the entire Macon County Sheriff’s Department.

My friend, Norma Ivey, and I are riding along when she suddenly sings out this little rhyme, “Goodbye trees, you gotta go... Macon County’s gotta grow... Roads go here, roads go there...Seems like there’s asphalt everywhere!” We’re on Route 28, driving toward Cowee.

Yes, big machines are ripping trees out of the earth and tossing them into piles. Properties have been bought out and gaping holes and ditches appear where wildflowers used to grace the roadside.