We couldn't be happier for the Mooresville Soup Kitchen, which as found a place to call its own.
This week the ministry, which annually serves more than 24,000 free hot lunches to area residents, opened the doors of its brand new location on South Broad Street.
Located in the former home of an auto parts store, the soup kitchen has a spacious dining room and a well-equipped kitchen, all paid for by contributions from the community.
The best part, though, is simply the fact that the building gives the soup kitchen a permanent home. First Baptist Church generously lent the organization space in a fellowship hall for many years, but the ministry never really had its "own" site. Until now.
A community of churches, businesses and individuals that has been phenomenally generous with monetary and food donations for years is to be thanked for making the soup kitchen's new building a reality.
The beneficiaries, of course, are all those folks who depend on the good, hot meal available to them there each weekday. On their behalf we say thanks, Mooresville, for giving vibrant new life to the soup kitchen.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Our View: Judging candidates on their own merits
(This editorial, written by Tribune Editor Dale Gowing, was published Jan. 23.)
In a letter to the editor printed on this page today, a reader suggests that the reason we wrote positively Jan. 11 about Grey Mills’ candidacy for the N.C. House of Representatives is that Mills’ father-in-law is a major advertiser with the Tribune.
The writer is correct in stating the advertiser, Randy Marion, does significant business with our company.
But what is also true is that nobody’s dollars have anything to do with the news decisions of this newspaper. Mr. Marion, we are confident, would concur.
To the contrary, this newspaper has written many critical news stories about Mooresville people who spend advertising dollars with us. We welcome almost any advertiser’s business, but their presence on our pages is irrelevant as to how we go about covering the news.
In the case of Grey Mills vs. Karen Ray for the 95th district seat, we stated in a Jan. 11 editorial here that Mr. Mills’ candidacy is a welcome one in the wake of Mrs. Ray’s sleazy direct-mail campaign her opponent, Robert Brawley, in the 2006 Republican primary.
We believe Mr. Mills, and all candidates, deserve to be judged on their own merits. He is well qualified as a local attorney, local businessman and local Republican leader, and suggesting his candidacy is in some way dependent upon whom he married would be an insult to Mr. Mills.
In a letter to the editor printed on this page today, a reader suggests that the reason we wrote positively Jan. 11 about Grey Mills’ candidacy for the N.C. House of Representatives is that Mills’ father-in-law is a major advertiser with the Tribune.
The writer is correct in stating the advertiser, Randy Marion, does significant business with our company.
But what is also true is that nobody’s dollars have anything to do with the news decisions of this newspaper. Mr. Marion, we are confident, would concur.
To the contrary, this newspaper has written many critical news stories about Mooresville people who spend advertising dollars with us. We welcome almost any advertiser’s business, but their presence on our pages is irrelevant as to how we go about covering the news.
In the case of Grey Mills vs. Karen Ray for the 95th district seat, we stated in a Jan. 11 editorial here that Mr. Mills’ candidacy is a welcome one in the wake of Mrs. Ray’s sleazy direct-mail campaign her opponent, Robert Brawley, in the 2006 Republican primary.
We believe Mr. Mills, and all candidates, deserve to be judged on their own merits. He is well qualified as a local attorney, local businessman and local Republican leader, and suggesting his candidacy is in some way dependent upon whom he married would be an insult to Mr. Mills.
Our View: Educating boaters
Last week's manslaughter conviction of a Lake Norman boater in the 2007 death of another boater underscores the dire need for more on-the-water education.
The death, however, is far from being the first tragic incident involving alcohol on the lake. And, as many boaters would agree, there have been countless other near-misses.
Not all lake accidents and close calls are alcohol related. Some are merely the result of inattention, stupidity and lack of boater knowledge. The Lake Norman Marine Commission, Lake Norman Sail and Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Auxilliary and other groups regularly seek to address those problems through their annual offerings of boater safety courses.
Unfortunately, such courses are not required for adults to operate water crafts in North Carolina. Anyone over age 16 can hop in a boat and roar off. Toss in a cooler of beer and the scenario can turn deadly.
The agencies listed above are doing all they can to prevent boater negligence on Lake Norman. But it will take a legitimate measure of caring on the part of boaters themselves if we're to keep another senseless lake death from happening.
If you're a boater and haven't already done so, we urge you to sign up for a boating safety course as the 2008 season fast approaches. A listing of upcoming, one-day classes can be found at www.mooresvilletribune.com.
The death, however, is far from being the first tragic incident involving alcohol on the lake. And, as many boaters would agree, there have been countless other near-misses.
Not all lake accidents and close calls are alcohol related. Some are merely the result of inattention, stupidity and lack of boater knowledge. The Lake Norman Marine Commission, Lake Norman Sail and Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Auxilliary and other groups regularly seek to address those problems through their annual offerings of boater safety courses.
Unfortunately, such courses are not required for adults to operate water crafts in North Carolina. Anyone over age 16 can hop in a boat and roar off. Toss in a cooler of beer and the scenario can turn deadly.
The agencies listed above are doing all they can to prevent boater negligence on Lake Norman. But it will take a legitimate measure of caring on the part of boaters themselves if we're to keep another senseless lake death from happening.
If you're a boater and haven't already done so, we urge you to sign up for a boating safety course as the 2008 season fast approaches. A listing of upcoming, one-day classes can be found at www.mooresvilletribune.com.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Our View: A healthy ballot in '08
Spirited elections benefit everybody. Uncontested or weakly contested elections poorly serve the democratic process.
Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or other, you whould be applauding this year's ballot for the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. A whopping 10 candidates are seeking three seats, which is either a testament to their dissatisfaction with their government or they simply have the urge to serve.
Most impressive of all is the fact that five Democrats have filed. That's rare in Iredell. How rare? Consider this: Iredell County hasn't had a Democratic primary since 1992, but it will this year. Come May, the five Democrats will be whittled down to three for the November ballot.
Republicans will also have a primary, also with five candidates. But that's not rare here; the GOP has ruled county politics for more than two decades and always has lots of candidates.
Regardless of your political persuasion, look at this year's competition for county commission as a healthy one for Iredell.
Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or other, you whould be applauding this year's ballot for the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. A whopping 10 candidates are seeking three seats, which is either a testament to their dissatisfaction with their government or they simply have the urge to serve.
Most impressive of all is the fact that five Democrats have filed. That's rare in Iredell. How rare? Consider this: Iredell County hasn't had a Democratic primary since 1992, but it will this year. Come May, the five Democrats will be whittled down to three for the November ballot.
Republicans will also have a primary, also with five candidates. But that's not rare here; the GOP has ruled county politics for more than two decades and always has lots of candidates.
Regardless of your political persuasion, look at this year's competition for county commission as a healthy one for Iredell.
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