Welcome to HickoryRecord.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

HickoryRecord.com - Hickory Daily Record

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Thumbs up, thumbs down

Our Voice

Hickory Daily Record Editorial

Published: August 9, 2008

THUMBS UP to Alex Hughes and Andrew Benton who spent their time this summer getting food for the Hickory Soup Kitchen. The 17-year-olds raised $427 for food. They had to chip in 11 more cents to pay for all the stuff they bought for the soup kitchen. The pair spent five weeks raising money for their purchases. Hughes volunteered to work at the soup kitchen one Thanksgiving. He was 13. He likes to be involved and still helps out. Benton was a willing recruit in the plan to help people who can't afford decent meals. Together, the two friends bought 400 pounds of food. Their hard work and good deed will feed many people. Their compassion and understanding are examples for all of us. These two teenagers have put themselves on the right road of life.

THUMBS UP to the General Assembly for creating another tax-free holiday to encourage consumers to buy energy-efficient appliances. In November, consumers can buy air conditioners, washing machines, dryers and other appliance and North Carolina forego sales tax. The appliances must be Energy Star rated, energy efficient, to qualify for the tax-free holiday. The holiday gives many people the opportunity to go green and conserve energy. It's a great idea and one we're sure will stir considerable interest in efficient purchases.

THUMBS DOWN to whoever put a dog into a Catawba County resident's peacock pens. The dog killed nine of the exotic, expensive birds before the man terminated the carnage — and rightfully so — with a shotgun blast. Melvin Lafone is retired. Raising peacocks is a side business for him and his grandson. Lafone is offering a reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of whoever put the dog in his peacock pens. It's a grievous loss for Lafone. We hope the culprit meets the harsher side of justice.

THUMBS UP to our brave men and women who continue to lay their lives on the line in Afghanistan, Iraq and other trouble spots around the world. The number of U.S. deaths in Afghanistan has reached 500. That's a high price to pay in pursuit of terrorists and repression of the violent Taliban. Our warriors still answer the call, however. We mourn every death and pray for every wounded soldier. How proud we are of our sons and daughters whose sense of duty puts them in harm's way for our sake.