I have someone close to me in my family that is an addict. I have seen them struggle for about 12 years now with this. The people that sell this to him; make me sick. I have seen crazy, crazy things that have been done so that he can purchase or trade for his drug of choice. He is not the only one I know with this problem; I have learned that they will say or do anything to get what they need & they also turn into pathological liars. They care about nothing or no one other that their selves & have nothing because they have lost it all due to their addiction. This includes...family, children, friends, jobs, homes, cars, license; pretty much anything of value. We have no help for this except for us as a community to stand up to these dealers selling right here under our noses. I think we should make it known who these dealers are that are helping kill our loved ones. Here's a hot area for any law abiding officers that want to make a difference: Any where in the South Toe Community would be a great start, especially Poplar Grove Store(where school buses load & unload our children), I could give lists of names of people that sell in this area but then this wouldn't get posted. Not enough is being done to truly help our community. I suggest purchasing a gun if you truly want to protect your property & loved ones.I know I will be doing so!
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In regards to men or women whatever sex you are,bottom line... if you have a child or children you should pay your child support! It should not even have to be brought to court & be court ordered by lawyers & judges; it's only common sense that both parents are responsible for all expenses and if they truly care for their child or children; they would pay their part regardless. I know in my case, ex is a drug addict but funny thing is he sure can keep his cell phone paid & turned on so that he has all of his inside connections. He only has very limited time with his kids because he's not responsible enough to have them for any longer & sets a bad example. He lives with parents for free & has no responsibilities. Has had many jobs & lost them due to his stealing & other poor habits over the last 10 yrs. He has paid NO...not 1 dime towerds his children in 2 yrs. My kids have suffered enough by just losing a parent due to drug addiction. He can also come up with money for the methadone clinic for a quick fix but nothing for his kids that understand none of this. We all have different situations but no matter what we should make sure that our children are taken care of...whatever it takes! If they don't pay their part, why should they have any rights to children they helped create but not take care of physically or financially!
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To the individual beginning their comment with "As far as alcohol being the same as illegal drungs, there are SEVERAL reasons why you're entire argument is false." Actually, the consumption of a alcohol is a sin. Yes, Jesus did turn water in to wine (and it was fermented alcohol; Jesus would not have done an imperfect miracle)! According to scriptures Jesus even drank wine with his meals. BUT, if you examine the scripture you will also see that he put that "custom" away before he was crucified. "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom" (Matthew 26:27-29 KJV). So, Jesus began a new custom whereby he (and those who claim to be Christ like) should no longer consume "the fruit of the vine." The bible indicates in several places that drunkeness (or as you put it the excessive consumption of alcohol; over indulgence) is wrong. For example: "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine" (Proverbs 23:29-30 KJV) "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty" (Proverbs 23:20-21 KJV) "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess" (Ephesians 5:18 KJV) "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." (Romans 13:13 KJV) Alcohol consumption becomes a sin when it corrupts righteous thought or behavior, harms health, or violates any civil law. It also becomes a sin when it causes other's to be tempted. Biblical teaching on this subject can be found in Romans 8. The scripture refers to the eating of meat that has been offered to idols. Gentile customs were different than Jewish customs, but they were living in proximity and were experiencing the salvation of Jesus Christ at the same time. The writer of Romans then expounds that: 8:9) But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10)For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11)And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish,for whom Christ died? 12) But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13) Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. There are unbeleiver's in the world that live a life of drunkeness or excess. After conversion they are faced with the difficult task of living a sober life. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for a person with an alcohol addiction to drink in moderation, or to drink socially. They must completely abstain from the use of alcohol. When other "Christians" are "allowed" to drink then how does this new convert react? Those of us that have the liberty of being free from an addiction to alcohol and feel as though we can drink in moderation, or with our meal, are still bound by the scripture in Romans. We can not consume alcohol if that causes our brother to offend. The scripture says that if I do, then "ye sin against Christ." So, although I may not be a drunkard by drinking a glass of wine with my meal or a beer with my pizza I can still sin by drinking alcohol. If my brother, or sister in Christ see's me drinking and it causes them to sin then I too have sinned. What does our consumption of alcohol say to the unbeliever who has a problem with the excessive use of alcohol? How can they be convicted against their excess, if they see "Christian" folks drinking. They don't know that all you have is one glass of wine or one beer. They just know you are drinking too. And if you are then they can. Order a glass of iced tea, or a pepsi, or a glass of water. Enjoy your meal! Take consolation in knowing that you have followed scripture and that you have made efforts to "condescend to brethern of low estate." Remember that being a Christian is about Jesus not about us. Maybe you have to sacrifice the quality of your meal because it is not paired with a great wine selection. Your sacrifice will be worth it if another soul can escape hell. God Bless you friend! 

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Reading over the previous postings I wanted to add some things. This column is about standing up to the judicial system and this posting fits in with the topic. Just because something is legal by law doesn't mean that it is right. It is legal to be a homosexual, it is legal to be a satanist, it is legal to gamble in some parts of the country, it is legal for same sex marriage in some states. Are those issues ok because they are legal under law? No they are not. Public opinion has declined over the years and that's why those issues are legal. Lawmakers enforce some laws based on public policy. Public policy is based on public opinion. We are living in a time where it is illegal to have prayer in school but when a prayer is said in public, an evil satanist can charge discrimination against them. What kind of law and judicial system are we living under? Just because the sale and consumption of alcohol is legal doesn't make it right as is the other issues I mentioned. One person mentioned that there is nothing wrong with having a glass of wine or beer. That would be the same as having a small snort of cocaine, a small puff of marijuana or part of a pill. There is no difference in it. Some people think that going out and having a drink is sophisticated. Would going out and having a puff of a joint be as sophisticated to them? Probably not because they look on people who do drugs as being lowlifes. For which drugs and alcohol result in some of the same effects. It's all in public opinion. They don't look at it in reality, they go by what looks sophisticated to them. Alcohol causes disease, ruins lives, ruins marriage, quality of life, alters a person's way of thinking leading to making bad decisions and causes many, many deaths.
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In response to alcohol being as dangerous as drugs. There are many deaths every year that are alcohol related. The argument stated earlier in this column is not at all false. It is your opinion that it is false. These are facts (not opinions) that happen in real life daily. Alcohol IS just as bad as illegal drugs. I will name several reasons why it is just as bad. 1.) They both alter one's way of thinking resulting in bad decisions which effect themselves and others. Both can also change ones personality. 2.) They both are deadly and harm others like second hand smoke. Just think of how many people are killed yearly by drunk drivers. 50% of vehicular accidents are alcohol related. 3.)Alcohol is addictive just as drugs are. Ever heard of alcoholics? 4.) Alcohol can cause liver disease, pancreatitis and other diseases. An enormous amount of people die from these diseases yearly. There are many more reasons why but there are too many to name and I will not go on and name them all. Look at the statistics and you will see how dangerous both drugs and alcohol really are. You say the problem is people's self control. It could possibly be but i'm sure there are many people who think they use drugs responsibly as well. The only reason that alcohol is legal is because of lawmakers who don't want to do with out their alcohol and the biggest part is public opinion of those who don't want to see the dangers in alcohol. If one has a drink around their kids, they are going to think it is ok to drink because their parents did it. These are facts that are TRUE. They are not at all false. If one thinks that alcohol is not dangerous they are in self denial. All in all there are NO difference in drug use and alcohol use. The sale of alcohol should be prohibited. It causes death just the same as drugs, guns, etc. Think about it. 
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as i read over the post i do not believe no Drug Dealer should get any breaks by the way that's not what the opinion said, as i read over it it said that a young person who had bought drugs and got caught maybe deserved a break meaning the sentence these repeat offenders were receiving time after time would be the break these first time offenders deserved supervised probation,community service,substance abuse classes,court cost and fines.If they were charged with simple possession not Dealing. If you have a child and they bought a joint to try because their friends were smoking, and got caught to me the above punishment would be appropriate but as much as I Love my child if they were caught again or caught selling as much as I Love them they deserve stiffer punishment. my opinion is just that my opinion that if it was their first offense that if they had to work out the court cost and fines as well as pay for the classes and community service and be dealt with by DAD AND MOM that maybe they would realize that this was not the life they want.
As for the men who will not pay Child Support it's my opinion that there should be some kind of program worked out with the state they had to dig ditches by hand or dig hole's and fill them back up, or make little rocks out of BIG ROCK"S or put them to work at the sewer plant and pay their wages with the check going to the child or children's needs.some may say the state would have to pay this, is it not the state who pays benefits when the deadbeat dad won't? by the way working at the sewer plant won't hurt nobody i worked there for a while.put a ankle monitor on them make sure they are there for work and bring them home, any child deserves to be taken care of if not by a parent then by D.S.S. Every Child Is A Special Gift From God!

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As far as alcohol being the same as illegal drungs, there are SEVERAL reasons why you're entire argument is false. But I will focus on one statement-- "In all reality there is no difference in one drinking alcohol as there is taking drugs". Actually, there are MANY differences, and more than I can cover so I will stick to two. 1. The sale and consumption of alcohol is LEGAL. It is distributed and regulated legally, and when used responsibly does not pose harm to it's users. Drugs when used in any way other than the way they are prescribed is in fact ILLEGAL. 2.Because you are obviously a religous person (as am I), I have one question to ask you. If drinking is such a sin, and using alcohol is such an UNGODLY act, why in the Bible does Jesus turn water into wine? Why does the Bible reference Jesus and the Disciples drinking wine during the last supper? These are just a few of MANY examples. Maybe what you mean to say is that gluttony, the act of over-indulging and over-consuming food, drink, or wealth items, is the same sin as misusing drugs. Ever since Yancey County voted to join the rest of the 21st century, I have been reading many of these same types of comments. Drinking alcohol is a sin, and it is destroying the principles that have founded this great God fearing land in which we live. However, alcohol is not the problem. The problem is people's self-control. Over indulging in alcohol is the SAME sin as eating too much at the buffet. Instead of condeming others for their lifestyle choices, such as enjoying a nice glass of wine or beer, why don't you pray for them to make good choices.

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This is in response to the child support issue. I have always known child support by terms of non-support. I have saw many women who use this support as a means of income because they don't want to work. I have also heard women say that they want to have these kids so that they will get as much money as possible. I have also heard women say that they want to sue their ex for child support to get revenge on them. What kind of world is this? How much of this money really goes to the kids? I have known women who spend this money on internet and computers so that they can talk to more men and probably have more kids. You people are right, there must be something done about the judicial and child support system. The money going to these kids should be spent on the kids and should be monitored on how it is spent. These kind of women like I have mentioned don't deserve to receive child support. It is their responsibility as same as the father's to support their kids. I also agree that if a father can afford to buy drugs they can also afford to pay child support.

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I agree alcohol is just as dangerous as many drugs and there is no doubt that it has ruined many people, many marriages and taken many lives the same as drugs. It just so happened that the topic of the opinion was repeat drug abusers and drug dealers receiving a slap on the wrist. As far as to why nothing being done concerning laws being broken while under the influence of alcohol my opinion is that's another question for the Judicial System Of Yancey County. I have gave my opinion on the alcohol issue in the past,And by the way not all people love alcohol more than the Lord," As For Me I Love The Lord" and if it were up to me the toughest penalties would be handed down by our Judicial System when laws are broken concerning alcohol,drugs." etc. Unfortunately" the sale of alcoholic beverages has been made legal to purchase and therefore making it legal for those who consume it to possess in their homes, as well as their cars as long as it is unopened and they are not possessing more than the amount set by the authorities. Be assured i am not making any excuses for the abusers of alcohol.When you get right down to it there are many Laws being broken in Yancey County as well as in Town limits that little or nothing is being done about some serious and some not so serious but still against the Law. for example speeding,reckless driving on streets in town limits, parking in fire lanes, even with all the patrol cars, and multiple officers on duty,radios,cell phones but still the problem continues.another concern is pedestrians in town just crossing the street wherever they choose whenever they choose making motorist slam on their brakes to avoid hitting them only to be looked at like it is your fault, It makes me wonder why we have all these designated crosswalks with signs stating it is state law to stop for pedestrians at said crosswalks is this not where pedestrians are supposed to cross? I regularly observe people step out into roadway only ten or twenty feet from a crosswalk Is there not jay walking laws? If not why all the crosswalks and signs "input welcome"

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Same with me for child support. Plain & Simple... if the parent that is supposed to be paying cannot pay because of their drug habits & lives at home with parents & can't drive because of no license, therefore can't get a job because of this...then why are they even granted any rights? All they are is a horrible example to the child or children. This is also a money racket in our court system. I tell you, if it wasn't for so many drug sellers & drug abusers & other irresponsible people not paying child support; what would our court & judicial system do without all of that? They take care of their selves & that's what matters I guess. Not the people of their community & children that need their child support!!

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This is in response to the issue on people getting a break on selling drugs. I'm not condoning or endorsing drugs in any way but isn't alcohol just as dangerous as drugs? You get about the same effects from alcohol as you do from drugs. Why hasn't anything been done about this factor? Many people have lost their lives and many lives have been ruined as a result of alcohol. Lawmakers and many others want to be able to go out and get their drink on though. I remember reading through the opinion column when the alcohol vote was about to take place and it was very sickening what many had written. People seemed to love their alcohol more than they love the Lord. Peoples minds are so twisted that they can't see reality as it is. In all reality there is no difference in one drinking alcohol as there is taking drugs. Drinkers are also no better than drug users. They all do what they do to get a high from it. Think about it. If people get by with drinking, they should get by with using drugs because there is no difference in it. Also, why would the drug dealer have to go to jail when one can walk in almost any store in town and purchase a poisonous drug portrayed as alcohol? 
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For some time i also wondered about the Yancey County Judicial system especially concerning the Illegal drug abusers and more so the drug dealers. Some time back a friend of mine was arrested then not to long after that was arrested for a different offense being concerned i attended on their court dates on each of the offenses they were arrested for, the case was continued three times. During the times i attended court which by the way because of the time between the arrest and the continuances several months passed, so this is when i first noticed the slap on the wrist that has been mentioned. As i sat in the courtroom and listened to cases i remember this person called to the front and listened as the District Attorney read the charges first of all was the charge of possession of three Illegal drugs with intent to sell as well as selling to some undercover official then it was brought to the Judges attention that this person was currently on supervised probation. then the attorney for this person began presenting his case i remember the attorney explaining their client understood they had broken the law and they had completed some kind of classes or something and was currently seeking employment. and ask for the Judges consideration. the Judge then began to hand down his judgment he started out by sentencing them to jail time etc: then he went on to say that this person would receive a suspended sentence in short more probation,court cost and fines. a couple other cases were dealt with then another case very similar to the earlier one another repeat offender this one was also currently on probation charged with possession with intent to sell and then it was brought to the Judges attention this person had been arrested for the same thing since the charges they were facing that day, I thought well they have had it! But to my surprise in the end when the Judge handed down his ruling you guessed it more probation,attend some classes,court cost and fines community service after going over to the court clerk they turned to exit and on their way out they had a smile on their face. Then i witnessed the last time i attended court these same people were there charged again.So in my opinion with more supervised probation MONEY, court cost and fines MONEY,classes MONEY,community service MONEY. these dealers are making money hand over first and apparently have no problem paying all this because you rarely hear of any jail time. I am not talking about any illegal money only what cost,fines and services set by the court system and service providers.meanwhile many young people as well as adults overdose and die! I understand that some young people don't realize how powerful some of these drugs are to late.also some buy and get caught with these drugs and i can understand them getting a break.but i think if these repeat offenders knew that the district attorney and more importantly Judges were not going to suspend their sentence but hand down the maxium sentence this would have a big impact! some may say well we will just have to keep them up and somebody else will just start where they left off,Ask most Moms and Dads who have lost their Child or Children who have lost their moms or dads because of Drugs their opinion. My prayer is the drug users as well as the drug dealers will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

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I would like to comment on our so-called Yancey County Court. Why is it that all of the drug sellers & drug addicts in our county are given a slap on the wrist & then set free again..just to see them re- appear in court again and again like every month? Yes, the sheriffs dept. has made many arrests within the past year, but what good is it to immediatly return them into our society? This is a disgrace to our town & our children! Also, regarding the low life people out there not paying your child support..I am in & out of court all of the time due to ex not paying anything to help take care of our children. They also get a slap on the wrist in our court system. The judges basically ask them what they can pay a month; what a crock! Why is it that they can go out & be drug addicts (with children involved), have no jobs due to their drug addictions, pay nothing to support their children & get to choose what amount they want to pay? The normal people here in Yancey County need to stand up to our judicial system!!