VOICE OF THE PEOPLE | August 29, 2009

Community responded to school supply drive

To the Rock Hill community: On behalf of Rock Hill schools and the hundreds of students who benefited from the recent school supply drive co-sponsored by The Herald and the York County Sheriff's Foundation, thank you for the overwhelming response to our families in need. We received over $5,300 in contributions, enough supplies to fill almost 900 book bags, and additional supplies to provide every school to be used as needed.

I want to express special appreciation to Toya Graham, the Fort Mill Times reporter who envisioned and organized the drive; Debbie Abels, publisher of The Herald, who with her staff promoted the drive through weekly articles and advertisements; Sheriff Bruce Bryant and his employees, who not only contributed to the drive but also purchased and delivered supplies from monetary donations made to the Sheriff's Foundation; the Rock Hill faith community; and all citizens with or without children in our schools who made donations, large or small.

I must say that I'm never surprised at the generosity of the Rock Hill community, but the outpouring of care and love for our students in need has surpassed every expectation.

Thank you, Rock Hill!

Lynn P. Moody, Ed.D

Superintendent

Rock Hill school district

Majority in district support Spratt

Simple question, simple answer: How does John Spratt continue to be elected? He gets the greatest number of votes.

I don't know that the writer of the letter the other day will accept that, but it sounds like a typical “Rushesque” answer, so maybe the so-called conservatives can understand. Seriously, though, the real answer is almost as simple. There is a chunk of votes on the right and a chunk of votes on the left that realistically pretty much balance. The difference is in the middle, and John appeals to the middle.

Those of us who remember the Republican party of the 1960s see John as a more sensible choice than anything else offered by the current Republican party that the Pat Robertsons and Lee Atwaters made into the party of God and the Taliban of the West.

In addition, there is an intellectual segment that actually listens to the words the candidates are saying and makes its decisions that way.

In the last decade, John has had no real opposition that could do anything other than scream that he was a Pelosi Democrat. Well, sticks and stones and all that, so how's that working for you?

Bottom line is that John takes care of the 5th District. His job is to see that we get a return on all the federal taxes we send to Washington first, and to do his best to assist in seeing that the citizens of the district have one more voice in government to speak out for them. He does a masterful job at that.

It's not like I'm giving away any secret to defeat John. I don't think the Republicans can field a candidate who can carry on a legitimate debate about real issues that face the typical citizen in the district, the state or the nation. John is a good, decent, responsible representative. To the people who want to ask him questions, here's a clue: Give his office a call, tell them your concerns, and ask for a response. Might just work.

It is sometimes strange hearing him called a liberal by people writing letters who have most likely never heard him speak, nor have taken the time to talk with him. Personally, I find John a little too conservative for my taste, but for the last three decades, I have yet to see a reasonable option.

He still has my vote.

David Griffin

Rock Hill

Brother remembered as great musician

My dear brother Kerry died on June 12. By age 14, Kerry was playing piano and rhythm and lead guitar skillfully. He learned to play by ear and played improvisational jazz on piano. He was very good with Spanish guitar. He also played saxophone, harmonica, bass guitar, banjo and drums.

He played and sang gospel music at nursing homes. He was known by his friends for his sense of humor. He had lung problems and ended up on a ventilator in the hospital for two years. He was sent to a nursing home in Concord, N.C., and after five days, was sent to the hospital there.