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<title><![CDATA[Morganton.com: Opinion]]></title>
<link>http://www2.morganton.com/content/list/opinion/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Morganton.com: Opinion]]></description>
<language>en</language>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Tilley: Why is board wasting money on conference?]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/tilley-why-board-wasting-money-conference/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/tilley-why-board-wasting-money-conference/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[I am appalled at the nerve of the school board members who continue to throw our money away on themselves, especially since we are all aware that attending the North Carolina School Boards Association conference is completely unnecessary.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:56:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Avery: America must defeat terrorists in Afghanistan]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/avery-america-must-defeat-terrorists-afghanistan/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/avery-america-must-defeat-terrorists-afghanistan/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[We know the terrorists that attacked America on Sept. 11, 2001, were supported by the Taliban and they would not give up Osama bin Laden, and this led to the invasion of Afghanistan. We cannot afford to have Afghanistan come under the control of these religious extremists ever again. We cannot fail.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:53:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Perrou: Petition drive in town of Valdese is continuing ]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/perrou-petition-drive-town-valdese-continuing/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/perrou-petition-drive-town-valdese-continuing/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[For weeks many of us in Valdese have been politely gathering signatures for the right to put on the ballot a vote, yes or no, to sell alcohol.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:52:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Mazaleski: People outside Burke have no right to judge us]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/mazaleski-people-outside-burke-have-no-right-judge/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/mazaleski-people-outside-burke-have-no-right-judge/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[To those people in surrounding counties who insist on submitting letters about Burke County's current state of unrest, mind your own business.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:51:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Nelson: Board members waited too long to speak up]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/nelson-board-members-waited-too-long-speak/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/nelson-board-members-waited-too-long-speak/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[How long have the problems with our current Burke County Board of Education been going on? Weeks, months? It seems like years. One week before the election, we finally heard from board members Rob Hairfield, Tim Buff and Karen Sain. Why wait so long?]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:49:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Bentley: Congress is out of touch with common people]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/bentley-congress-out-touch-common-people/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/bentley-congress-out-touch-common-people/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[One thing I am sure of. Congress is out of touch with the common man.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:48:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[O'Brient: Morganton needs industry]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/obrient-morganton-needs-industry/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/obrient-morganton-needs-industry/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[A new hamburger place may be nice and all that, but I think we need something in the line of industry to put people to work.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Grady: Demand more accountability from insurers]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/grady-demand-more-accountability-insurers/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/grady-demand-more-accountability-insurers/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[We must demand accountability and regulations for monopolies' profiteering from people's health. ]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:46:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Colbert: ]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/colbert/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/colbert/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[We need to look through the half-truths of those who choose to deceive. Give our schools people of integrity and character.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:44:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Brackett: Sound and fury]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/brackett-sound-and-fury/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/brackett-sound-and-fury/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[My response to the letter  by Rob "Give It Away" Hairfield (The News Herald, Oct. 28) is best described in a line from a famous play.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:43:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Cooke: Burke schools must regain full accreditation]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/cooke-burke-schools-must-regain-full-accreditation/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/cooke-burke-schools-must-regain-full-accreditation/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[The leaders of the school board majority have known the content of the SACS CASI report for months and have taken no action to correct the problems. ]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:41:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Tubergen: Cut out the middleman, donate money directly]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/tubergen-cut-out-middleman-donate-money-directly/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/tubergen-cut-out-middleman-donate-money-directly/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[Let's identify the source of the major problem with local charities. In past years the United Way has assisted greatly with many of our long-established charitable organizations. This year is what I consider as one of the worst support years I have seen since I returned to Morganton in 1991.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Kiddy: First responders work more than people realize]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/kiddy-first-responders-work-more-people-realize/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/kiddy-first-responders-work-more-people-realize/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[This letter is in response to Andy Carswell who complained of a lack of first responders at a child's ball game. If he is so concerned about the safety of children playing ball games, I would like to suggest he go be a volunteer himself.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:39:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Hughes: Small assisted-living homes deserve kudos]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/hughes-small-assisted-living-homes-deserve-kudos/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/hughes-small-assisted-living-homes-deserve-kudos/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[I am writing this letter for the small family care homes in Burke County. These small assisted-living homes do not get the praise they deserve. 
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:37:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Chapman: Tony Robinson earns praise for his school work]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/chapman-tony-robinson-earns-praise-his-school-work/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/chapman-tony-robinson-earns-praise-his-school-work/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[The purpose of this letter is to publicly commend writer and photographer Tony Robinson for his volunteer work.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:36:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Perini: County needs law about dogs' habitual noise]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/perini-county-needs-law-about-dogs-habitual-noise/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/perini-county-needs-law-about-dogs-habitual-noise/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[The Burke County commissioners need to update Burke County's countywide law concerning habitual dog noise.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:35:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Aulgur: All should help children reach their potential]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/aulgur-all-should-help-children-reach-their-potent/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/aulgur-all-should-help-children-reach-their-potent/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[We, in Burke County, through the hiring of a new superintendent, have been blessed with a gentleman who has the qualifications to take our school system and its young people to a new, higher level of performance. Of course, this task he cannot complete on his own. It will take a team effort from the support staff, teachers and administrators. 
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:34:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Henson: Don't forget the impact schools have on youth]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/henson-dont-forget-impact-schools-have-youth/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/henson-dont-forget-impact-schools-have-youth/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[With the school board election stealing headlines, I feel that we should keep in mind what it is that Burke County Public Schools stands for, as well as the successes that become it, and not just the negative or positive impact of the school board's recent decisions.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:33:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Abee: Put the schools back on path]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/abee-put-schools-back-path/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/abee-put-schools-back-path/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[I cannot tell you how excited I was to vote last week and feel like I have a little say-so again in what is happening in my children's school system. A turn of the tide is crucial. ]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:32:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Brank: Players' 'Sound' made a memory for child, 'Nana']]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/brank-players-sound-made-memory-child-nana/news-opinion/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.morganton.com/content/2009/nov/08/brank-players-sound-made-memory-child-nana/news-opinion/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[If they performed for no one else, the Old Colony Players performed for a 4-year-old little girl and her Nana and helped us to make one of the greatest memories we will share.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:28:00 EST]]></pubDate>
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