By Tim O'Shei
News Staff Reporter
Welcome to another year in which confusion is our most predictable reality.
kAm{:76 H:E9 r@G:5\`h 92D >256 :E 5:77:4F=E E@ 4@F?E @? 2?JE9:?8] {:<6 =2DE H66<[ H96? E96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@? C6=62D65 ?6H 8F:52?46 C64@>>6?5:?8 H92E A6@A=6 D9@F=5 5@ :7 E96J 2C6 6IA@D65 E@ E96 G:CFD @C 86E :?764E65] pD H6 6>6C86 7C@> E96 9@=:52J D62D@? 2?5 9625 324< E@ D49@@=[ DA@CED[ 52?46 2?5 E962E6C 4=2DD6D[ EF4<65 2H2J :? E96 8F:52?46 H2D 2 D6E @7 56E2:=D E92E D66>65 A@E6?E:2==J 5:77:4F=E 7@C 2 8C@FA @7 J@F?8 A6@A=6 :? 2 5:776C6?E H2Ji <:5D 286D `a\`d H9@ 2C6 D:I >@?E9D 36J@?5 E96:C @C:8:?2= G244:?2E:@?]k^Am
kAmx? E9:D !2?56>:4 {6DD@?D[ H6 5:8 :?E@ H92E :E’== E2<6 E@ <66A E9@D6 25@=6D46?ED 2EE6?5:?8 D49@@= 2?5 24E:G:E:6D] qJ 6IE6?D:@?[ H6 2=D@ 6I2>:?6 H92E AF3=:4\962=E9 8F:52?46 =@@<D =:<6 :? AC24E:46]k^Am
People are also reading…
- McDowell County native started mowing lawns at 15. 5 years later, he has a business, employees
- McDowell Endowment giving $56,950 in grants to local nonprofits
- Marion sixth graders say city needs a dog park; family nonprofit aiming to create toddler park
- One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County
- Where Duke basketball stands after one week in transfer portal
- McDowell County man charged with sexual assault of employee
- McDowell legal leaders: Justice denied is a public shame
- First freight train to return to Old Fort this Saturday. When can you see it come through McDowell?
- McDowell County leaders to hear updates on trains, parks Monday
- For McDowell High alum Michael Smith, education is a lifelong journey
- This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer
- Marion native assumes command of U.S. Army rapid response task force
- Marion City Council recognizes Betty Lynch as Citizen of the Month
- Public hearing on Duke Energy rate increase request to be held in Morganton.
- McDowell County quilters guild donates to Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort
kAmk6>mkDEC@?8m(92E’D 8@:?8 @? :? E96 rsr 8F:52?46 7@C J@F?8 25@=6D46?ED H9@ 2C6 7F==J G244:?2E65nk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am
kAm%9:D :D 2 4=2DD:4 6I2>A=6 @7 9@H 3C@25 AF3=:4 962=E9 CF=6D 42? D@>6E:>6D >:DD 2 DA64:7:4 8C@FA]k^Am
kAmz:5D 286D `a\`d H6C6 2AAC@G65 7@C !7:K6C D9@ED =2DE |2J[ H9:49 >62?D E96 7:CDE @7 E96> E@ C646:G6 E96 EH@\D9@E C68:>6? A2DD65 E96:C D:I\>@?E9 H:?5@H :? s646>36C] qFE 2D @7 E96 6?5 @7 a_a`[ E96 u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? 2?5 rsr 925 2AAC@G65 3@@DE6C D9@ED @?=J 7@C E9@D6 `e 2?5 @=56C]k^Am
kAm%92E 492?865 |@?52J[ 2D E96 usp 2AAC@G65 !7:K6C 3@@DE6CD 7@C `a\ E@ `d\J62C\@=5D] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DE[ E96 rsr 2?5 :ED A2?6= @7 @FED:56 G244:?6 25G:D6CD :D 6IA64E65 E@ C6G:6H E96 usp 564:D:@?D E9:D H66<] pDDF>:?8 E96 p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66 @? x>>F?:K2E:@? !C24E:46D[ H9:49 :D D4965F=65 E@ >66E (65?6D52J[ D:8?D @77 @? E96 255:E:@?2= D9@ED[ rsr 5:C64E@C #@496==6 (2=6?D<J :D 6IA64E65 E@ @77:4:2==J C64@>>6?5 E96> =2E6C E92E 52J]k^Am
kAm&?E:= E92E 92AA6?D[ E96 rsr 8F:52?46 @? BF2C2?E:?:?8 27E6C 6IA@DFC6 AFED E9@D6 J@F?86C E66?D – 2?5 2?J@?6 6=D6 H9@ :D D:I >@?E9D @FED:56 E96:C !7:K6C @C |@56C?2 G244:?2E:@?[ @C EH@ >@?E9D 36J@?5 E96:C D:?8=6 y@9?D@? U2>Aj y@9?D@? 5@D6 – :? E96 D2>6 42E68@CJ 2D A6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 ?6G6C G244:?2E65 2E 2==] u@C 2?J@?6 H9@ :D 6IA@D65 E@ r@G:5\`h 3FE :D?’E C646?E=J G244:?2E65 @C 3@@DE65[ E96 8F:52?46 C625D[ :? A2CEi “rsr ?@H C64@>>6?5D BF2C2?E:?6 7@C 7:G6 52JD 7@==@H65 3J DEC:4E >2D< FD6 7@C 2? 255:E:@?2= 7:G6 52JD]”k^Am
kAm%96@C6E:42==J[ E9@D6 8F:56=:?6D 4@F=5 >62? >:DD65 D49@@=[ DA@CED @C 24E:G:E:6D 7@C 2 E66? H9@’D 366? 2C@F?5 D@>6@?6 H:E9 r@G:5 – 6G6? :7 E92E E66? :D D9@H:?8 ?@ DJ>AE@>D[ 2?5 H2D 7F==J G244:?2E65 =2DE DAC:?8]k^Am
kAm“%96 ?6H 8F:52?46 :D AC@3=6>2E:4 7@C E96>[” 24<?@H=65865 sC] %9@>2D #FDD@[ 49:67 @7 :?764E:@FD 5:D62D6D 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@]k^Am
kAmqFE #FDD@ 2?5 @E96C 6IA6CED 2?5 AF3=:4 @77:4:2=D H6 :?E6CG:6H65 7@C E9:D DE@CJ 2=D@ 24<?@H=65865 E92E >2D<:?8[ 4@>>@? D6?D6 2?5 2 A6?5:?8 492?86 :? 3@@DE6C BF2=:7:42E:@?D 7@C E66?D >2J >2<6 =:76 62D:6C 7@C 25@=6D46?ED E92? H92E E96 8F:52?46 >2J :?5:42E6]k^Am
kAm“rsr’D 72==324< 92D 2=H2JD 366?[ ‘%9:D :D y&$% 8F:52?46 – :E’D DE:== FA E@ :?5:G:5F2=D[ 2?5 :?DE:EFE:@?D E@ 5@ H92E E96J 766= :D 36DE[’ ” D2:5 sC] y6C@>6 p52>D[ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D DFC86@? 86?6C2= 5FC:?8 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^Am
kAmk6>mkDEC@?8mw@H[ E96?[ 2C6 E96D6 8F:56=:?6D 2AA=:65 – 2?5 H92E :D “36DE” AC24E:46nk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am
kAm%92E G2C:6D 3J =@42=6[ H9:49 :D E96 C62D@? H9J D49@@=D :? }6H *@C< 92G6 r@G:5 AC@E@4@=D E92E 2C6 5:776C6?E 7C@> :?DE:EFE:@?D :? @E96C A2CED @7 E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 3C@25 G:6H[ H6 EFC?65 E@ p52>D[ H9@ EC2G6=65 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2D DFC86@? 86?6C2= 2?5 ?@H D6CG6D 2D E96 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 962=E9 6BF:EJ :?:E:2E:G6D 2E !FC5F6 &?:G6CD:EJ] p?DH6C:?8 BF6DE:@?D :? 2 D6C:6D @7 E6IE 6I492?86D[ 96 D2:5[ “x7 6G6CJ@?6 :D >2D<65[ :E’D ?@E =:<6=J E@ BF2=:7J 2D 2 9:89\C:D< 6IA@DFC6]”k^Am
kAmp52>D 7@C6D66D E9:D A=2J:?8 @FE “=:E6C2==J D49@@= 3J D49@@=” 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm“$@ E96 BF6DE:@? 364@>6D H96E96C E96 D49@@=D E92E 2C6?’E 92G:?8 DEF56?ED >2D< 4FCC6?E=J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 AFD965^A6CDF2565 E@ 6:E96C 2X >2D< @C 3X BF2C2?E:?6 >@C6 <:5D 27E6C 2? 6IA@DFC6[” p52>D D2:5] “|J 9@?6DE 8F6DD :D :7 E96J H6C6 5@:?8 :E 367@C6[ E96J H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5@ :E ?@H[ 2?5 :7 E96J H6C6?’E 5@:?8 :E 367@C6[ E96J’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 5@ :E ?@H]”k^Am
kAmk6>mkDEC@?8mw@H 5@6D E92E EC2?D=2E6 :? }6H *@C<nk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am
kAmv@G] z2E9J w@49F= >2?52E65 >2D<:?8 :? D49@@=D @? 96C 7:CDE 52J :? @77:46 :? pF8FDE] %92E CF=6[ 4@FA=65 H:E9 }6H *@C<’D 567:?:E:@? @7 2 “4=@D6 4@?E24E[” >2<6D :E A@DD:3=6 7@C >@DE 49:=5C6? E@ DE2J :? D49@@=]k^Am
kAmp 4=@D6 4@?E24E :D D@>6@?6 H9@ 92D 366? 6IA@D65 E@ 2 A6CD@? H9@ :D 4@?7:C>65 @C DFDA64E65 E@ 92G6 r@G:5] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 DE2E6[ E92E 42? :?4=F56 =:G:?8 :? E96 D2>6 9@FD69@=5[ 92G:?8 5:C64E A9JD:42= 4@?E24E[ @C 6IA@DFC6 E@ E96 :?764E65 A6CD@?’D “:?764E:@FD D64C6E:@?D” – 2 6FA96>:D> 7@C 92G:?8 E96 :?764E65 A6CD@? 4@F89[ D?66K6 @C DA:E @? J@F] p?@E96C 7@C> @7 4=@D6 4@?E24E :D 36:?8 H:E9:? e 766E @7 2? :?764E65 A6CD@? 7@C 2 E@E2= @7 `d >:?FE6D @C >@C6 H:E9:? 2 52J’D E:>6]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 2=D@ C64@8?:K6D EH@ A2E9H2JD E@ :>>F?:EJ H:E9:? :ED 4=@D6\4@?E24E 567:?:E:@?i ~?6 :D 7F== G244:?2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 @E96C :D A@DE\r@G:5 :>>F?:EJ 7C@> 2 C646?E :?764E:@?] x7 J@F’C6 EH@ H66<D 36J@?5 2 D:?8=6 y@9?D@? U2>Aj y@9?D@? 5@D6 @C 2 EH@\D9@E !7:K6C @C |@56C?2 D6C:6D[ J@F H@?’E 36 4@?D:56C65 2 4=@D6 4@?E24E] %96 D2>6 :D ECF6 :7 J@F’G6 C64@G6C65 7C@> r@G:5 :? E96 =2DE E9C66 >@?E9D]k^Am
kAm(:E9 H2?:?8 :>>F?:EJ 7C@> G244:?2E:@? 2?5 2 =2C86 ?F>36C @7 3C62<E9C@F89 42D6D H:E9 E96 ~>:4C@? G2C:2?E[ E96 ?6H rsr 8F:52?46 DF886DED E92E @?=J A6@A=6 H:E9 3@@DE6C D9@ED 42? D:56DE6A AC6\6>AE:G6 BF2C2?E:?:?8 27E6C 6IA@DFC6[ F?=6DD E96J 2C6 H:E9:? E96:C EH@\ @C D:I\>@?E9 H:?5@H]k^Am
kAm%92E H@F=5[ :? E96@CJ[ :>A24E E96 `a\ E@ `d\J62C\@=5D H9@ H6C6 G244:?2E65 =2DE DAC:?8 3FE 2C6 ?@H F?3@@DE65i x>28:?6 2? 6:89E9\8C256 >2E9 4=2DD E92E :?4=F56D E9C66 DEF56?ED H9@ E6DE A@D:E:G6] (@F=5 BF2C2?E:?:?8 2AA=J E@ 6G6CJ A6CD@? H9@D6 D62E :D =@42E65 H:E9:? 2 e\7@@E C25:FD @7 6249 @7 E9@D6 :?5:G:5F2=Dn p?5 E@ 6G6CJ DEF56?E D62E65 H:E9:? e 766E @7 4=2DD>2E6D H9@ E6DE A@D:E:G6 :? E96 52JD 27E6CH2C5nk^Am
kAm(:E9 2 BF:4<\>@G:?8 G:CFD =:<6 ~>:4C@?[ :E’D 62DJ E@ D66 9@H E92E 4@F=5 BF:4<=J D9FE 5@H? 4=2DD6D @G6C E96 ?6IE >@?E9] qFE :E’D ?@E E92E D:>A=6]k^Am
kAmz2C2 z2?6[ DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 tC:6 r@F?EJ s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 2?5 |:4926= r@C?6==[ E96 DFA6C:?E6?56?E @7 E96 w2>3FC8 r6?EC2= $49@@= s:DEC:4E 2?5 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 $FA6C:?E6?56?ED pDD@4:2E:@?[ D6A2C2E6=J A@:?E65 E@ }6H *@C< $E2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 CF=6D E92E ?2CC@H E96 567:?:E:@? @7 “4=@D6 4@?E24E” E@ DEF56?ED D:EE:?8 =6DD E92? b 766E 2H2J] %96 DE2E6 C68F=2E:@?D ?@E6 E92E E9:D 6I46AE:@? 2AA=:6D “:7 3@E9 E96 :?764E65 DEF56?E 2?5 E96 6IA@D65 DEF56?EWDX 4@CC64E=J 2?5 4@?D:DE6?E=J H@C6 H6==\7:EE:?8 >2D<D E96 6?E:C6 E:>6]” xE :?4=F56D DEF56?ED @?=J[ ?@E E62496CD @C @E96C 25F=ED]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ }6H *@C<’D “%6DE\E@\$E2J” AC@8C2>[ H9:49 2==@HD =6DD\E92?\7F==J G244:?2E65 DEF56?ED H9@ 2C6 566>65 4=@D6 4@?E24ED E@ <66A 2EE6?5:?8 D49@@= D@ =@?8 2D E96J 2C6 2DJ>AE@>2E:4 2?5 E6DE ?682E:G6[ H:== 2=D@ 36 6?24E65 :? 4@F?E:6D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 368:??:?8 E9:D >@?E9]k^Am
kAmk6>mkDEC@?8m(92E 42? J@F 5@ E@ <66A <:5D :? D49@@= – 2?5 E@ <66A 2== @7 FD 4=62C @7 r@G:5 :DDF6Dnk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am
kAm%96 32D:4D DE:== 2AA=Ji (62C >2D<D[ 86E G244:?2E65 2?5 D:8? FA 7@C 2 3@@DE6C D9@E]k^Am
kAmpD 4@>A=6I 2?5 F?4=62C 2D r@G:5 =:76 42? 36[ E92E :D @?6 D6E @7 AC:?4:A=6D E92E 92D?’E 492?865] (92E 92D 492?865[ D2:5 &q’D #FDD@[ :D E96 G:CFD :ED6=7 2?5 @FC H:==:?8?6DD E@ E2<6 AC642FE:@?D] (9:=6 ~>:4C@? :D =6DD D6G6C6 7@C >@DE[ :ED 4@?E28:@FD?6DD :D AC@5F4:?8 C64@C5\9:89 :?764E:@?D[ H9:49 4@F=5 DE:== C6DF=E :? E96 :?764E:@? @7 DFD46AE:3=6 A6@A=6 2?5 @G6C=@25 9@DA:E2=D]k^Am
kAm“%96 G:CFD 92D 6G@=G65 E@ 364@>6 :?4C62D:?8=J 256AE E@ :?764E 2?5 6G256 :>>F?:EJ 7C@> G244:?6D 2?5 AC:@C :?764E:@?[ 2?5 H6 D66> E@ 36 :?4C62D:?8=J >@C6 4@>A=246?E :? =6EE:?8 @FC 8F2C5 5@H? 2?5 6?23=:?8 @FCD6=G6D E@ 36 :?764E65[” #FDD@ D2:5] “%92E’D 2 325 4@>3:?2E:@?[ 2?5 E92E 4@>3:?2E:@? :D 8@:?8 E@ 4@DE FD]”k^Am

