EDITOR’S NOTE: Iredell Free News invited candidates in the run-off election for two at-large seats on Statesville City Council to make their final pitch to voters, outlining their experience, vision, goals and
Category: Perspectives
EDITOR’S NOTE: Iredell Free News invited candidates in the run-off election for two at-large seats on Statesville City Council to make their final pitch to voters, outlining their experience, vision, goals and
EDITOR’S NOTE: Iredell Free News invited candidates in the Statesville mayoral race to make their final pitch to voters, outlining their experience, vision, goals and plans for the city. This is
Contract dispute with volunteer fire departments brings real issue to light BY MIKE FUHRMAN The rift between Iredell County government officials and many of the volunteer fire departments that honorably
BY DARREN CAMPBELL Recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers is challenging nationwide. To recruit top-tier law enforcement officers, agencies must compensate and provide benefits that compete with similarly situated positions
BY DAN GITRO This week I am going to highlight the important work done by ECOM, a department within the county that most of you would think I would never
BY STEPHEN DE MAY From the grocery store to the gas pump, North Carolinians are all feeling pinched by the rising costs of many of the products we rely on daily.
BY JEFF JAMES On June 1, the results from the latest North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWCS) were released. The survey began as part of the North Carolina Governor’s
BY DAN GITRO As we celebrate our nation’s 246th birthday on Monday, Americans are divided more than at any other time in modern history. One thing we can’t lose sight
BY DAN GITRO Two big things happened at Tuesday night’s Iredell County Board of Commissioners meeting that will directly impact residents and fire and rescue personnel of this great county:
BY DAN GITRO Iredell County officials are moving forward with a plan to implement a countywide radio system for emergency responders. Iredell County currently uses three primary radio systems utilizing
BY MIKE FUHRMAN In most elections, you can classify candidates for elected office into two distinct groups — the known and the unknown. The first group is typically made up
BY JOHN GREEN What an absolutely eventful and wild year we have had in healthcare. Each May, in conjunction with National Hospital Week (May 8, 2022 – May 14, 2022), I
BY BECKY WAGNER Over the course of the last two years, we’ve heard a lot about nurses all across the globe as they’ve helped navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. National Nurses
BY RUSSELL W. CHAPMAN JR. This letter is in response to your recent editorial regarding Maureen Purcell and her competence to continue to serve as Iredell County register of deeds.
BY MIKE FUHRMAN The Executive Committee of the Iredell County Republican Party handed Maureen Purcell the gift of incumbency in January 2021 when its members nominated her to serve as
BY MIKE FUHRMAN After more than 30 years in this business, I am rarely surprised by anything that happens at a local candidates’ forum. On Thursday night, during the Iredell
BY MIKE FUHRMAN The stakes are incredibly high as Statesville voters prepare to go to the polls to select the city’s next mayor. It has become abundantly clear to me
Books that deal with controversial topics often reflect teens’ real-life situations BY COOPER HALL All around the world books are being banned in schools. This means a lot of students
BY SHELLIE TAYLOR This year, the Statesville library will celebrate its 100th anniversary. To wrap up Women’s History Month and celebrate National Library Week in April, I’d like to highlight
BY TODD CARVER The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education has experienced a great deal of scrutiny lately due to certain books in our schools’ libraries. I would like to take
BY JOE HUDSON Don’t bother calling me for continued discussion of the Duke and Carolina basketball game; I’m not home. I must go down to the seas again, to the
Edtor’s Note: Paula Price made the following comments during the April 4 meeting of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. BY PAULA PRICE Good evening, Mr. Chairman and Members of
BY JANE HINSON April 4-10, 2022, is National Public Health Week. I want to take this opportunity to thank the individuals who work at the Iredell County Health Department, which
BY THERESA KNIGHT The Mooresville Graded School District Board February meeting included over three hours of school improvement plan presentations by the principals of each school in the district. Presenter
BY MIKE FUHRMAN The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education has taken a stand for common sense and for parental rights in the face public pressure from a group of would-be
BY SHELLIE TAYLOR During Women’s History Month, it’s important to recognize the contributions of women from around the country. It always means a little bit more to us when we
BY BLAKE PALMER During their March 1 meeting, our Board of Commissioners approved of an astounding $11 million in corporate economic incentives for two companies. In one meeting, our Board
BY JOE HUDSON Iredell Free News recently reported that the Statesville City Council “waded through eight separate public hearings for residential and industrial projects that city officials believe signal a
BY JOSEPH GLASGOW If I was the mayor of Statesville, my involvement with the selection of the next police chief would be paramount given the city council-manager system that our
“Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.” President Ronald Regan BY DARREN CAMPBELL I have struggled to comprehend that 2021 was one of the deadliest years on record for
Correction: An earlier version of this column incorrectly reported that Councilman Frederick Foster represents Ward 4. He represents Ward 6. BY MIKE FUHRMAN If you were expecting – or hoping
BY AMY FREEZE Fifth Street Ministries saw growing needs, change and so much community support in 2021! In 2021, Fifth Street’s emergency shelter provided 8417 nights for 131 men, women
BY MIKE FUHRMAN As we mark our sixth anniversary today, I want to take the opportunity to thank our readers and advertising partners for your continuing support of Iredell Free
BY BLAKE PALMER A conservative governing philosophy encompasses fiscal discipline. Such self-restraint has eluded our Board of Commissioners, which has engaged in reckless spending that has led to a ballooning
BY MIKE FUHRMAN Too many Iredell County residents continue to be admitted to the hospital — and far too many are dying — after testing positive for COVID-19. During the