Boone Trail cleanup appreciated

Thanks for the memories, Liberty

I am writing to thank North Wilkesboro-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Roadside trash in Wilkes appalling

Investments making a difference

Congratulations Wilkes Playmakers! We attended the Sunday matinee performance of "Elf" by the Wilkes Playmakers and were absolutely thrilled. The cast and crew transport the audience many times from the North Pole to NYC, Macy's, the Empire State Building and Central Park with a blink of an …

Our minister's sermon on Thanksgiving Eve was titled "Thanks Begets Thanks.” Rev. R.C. Griffin explained this by using the visual of dropping a pebble into a pond. Thus, if one lives with an attitude of thankfulness, that attitude will spread to others. It's an interesting premise but is it …

I read with concerned interest in the Nov. 9 Wilkes Journal-Patriot, “School board’s recent decision on books sends concerning message.” As a mother and grandmother, I want to show 100% support for the Wilkes County school board to allow Superintendent Mark Byrd to remove books or other mate…

Board’s action isn’t ‘book banning’

Bethany Medical was disappointed to learn of the North Wilkesboro commissioners’ split decision on Sept. 27, concerning the proposed state grant application that would have supported its expansion in downtown North Wilkesboro.

The Wilkes Journal-Patriot recently reported that our Wilkes school board is planning to give Superintendent Byrd sole power to ban books in our schools. This action would undermine our First Amendment rights and open the school district to expensive lawsuits.

Changes make pulling books too easy

Climate change threat worsens

After reading the Aug. 31 letter to the editor, “Time for an unmistakable lesson," in the Wilkes Journal-Patriot, it is evident how little many U.S. citizens understand about the realities of economics and drivers of inflation. There is also a significant disconnect with the options availabl…

Firefighters appreciated

Time for an ‘unmistakable lesson’

Don’t lose sight on what’s important. In everyday life we get busy doing things and forget to take a step back and realize what’s important and take stuff for granted. In today’s society everyone gets hung up on politics, religion, sexual preference, etc. I have learned a lot recently about …

Bring back Battle of the Books

For eight years, same-sex couples have enjoyed the right to marry in North Carolina. This right, acknowledged in October 2014 and then guaranteed in June 2015, is one I exercised in June 2021 by marrying my now husband. We bought a home here in August. We've been together for seven years. We…

If the Wilkes County commissioners adopt an occupancy tax, Wilkes citizens won’t pay it unless they stay overnight at local hotels, motels, rental cabins, AirBnBs or similar lodging.

Don’t let schools be ‘oasis of ignorance’

I was disappointed to read in the Wilkes Journal-Patriot that Wilkes school administrators decided to end the school system’s participation in the Battle of the Books program (June 8, “Battle of the Books program ended”). Respected and recommended programs like this offer enrichment opportun…

A 14-year-old boy begins attending secret meetings with an up-and-coming political party. He becomes so dedicated to their cause that he participates in the destruction of property and secures weapons for both himself and his friend, who later dies as a result of the conflict. The year is 17…

This is going to be hard to read, but facts are facts. A recent statistic indicates that so far this year, our nation has experienced 241 mass shootings of four or more people. It’s time to act.

The annual Wilkes ADAP luncheon, held April 26, was the most successful ever. We have raised over $70,000 so far. This includes tickets, sponsors, donations and tip money. The Health Foundation Challenge grant matched the $30,000 we raised to help us reach this amount. Ourr building will be …

School board candidates’ statements revealing

Rezoning will negatively impact area

Christians, not atheists, persecuted

In response to the letter concerning Christian religion being taught in our schools (March 23: “Keep religion off school property,” as a mother with five children ranging from kindergarten to 10th grade, I can attest that our schools in no way preach to, bully or exclude children period.

These are the words of the late John W. Luke, a Presbyterian minister who established Presbyterian churches in the mountains of northern Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties in the 1930s through the 1970s.

Here’s a piece of positive news. I noticed my wedding ring was missing recently when I was in Winston-Salem. I called the businesses I had visited there to see whether my ring had been turned in. No such luck. I decided to check on the local businesses I had visited recently. My first stop w…

We have heard discussions and read articles in the Wilkes Journal Patriot about how bad the litter problem is in our county. When you live and work in town, it’s possible that you aren’t aware of the volume of litter of which I speak, and it’s certainly not just on Rt. 421 or 268.

Officer’s kindness is reminder of service

How would Jesus feel in North Wilkesboro?

Action on Sixth Street traffic needed

At a political forum in October, candidates for offices in the Wilkesboros all said the same thing on an important issue. If elected, each vowed that job creation would be a top priority. 


The Board of Directors of the Friends of the Wilkes County Public Library read and heard questions and opinions expressed to the Wilkes County commissioners about the proposed decision to withdraw the Wilkes library from the Appalachian Regional Library system. In light of information presen…

I commend and thank Pastor David Dyer of Fairplains Baptist Church, who submitted the “Right to Life Resolution” to the Wilkes County commissioners. The standing room only crowd of about 250 people applauded when the resolution was unanimously approved by the commissioners.

Staying in regional library system is best

Being pro-life not a single-issue stance

I wish to respond to the letter to the editor printed Nov. 10, 2021 and titled, "Right to Life resolution worsens division.” The writer says the resolution stating that Wilkes County supports all life is absurd. Her rationale for this is the fact that the nearest abortion clinic is 50 miles …

The recent pro-life resolution stating that Wilkes County supports all life is absurd. The nearest location to safely obtain an abortion is 50 miles away, proving their claims to be debatable. Additionally, I question the churches supporting this resolution. When did we as a people start rem…

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 2 approved a resolution that stated Wilkes County will “defend the unalienable right to life…. of all human beings.”

Admittedly, I know very little about the politics, or administration, of the Appalachian Regional Library. However, the Nov. 3 letter by Dr. George Shafer (“Library should remain in regional system”) made several points worth considering. The takeaway from Dr. Shafer’s letter is that
 by rem…

I read with interest the letter to the editor (“Sources of Cooper’s funds concerning”) in the Oct. 20 issue of the Wilkes Journal-Patriot submitted by Andrew Palmer concerning the sources of Mike Cooper's campaign finances. Personally, I am not opposed to a candidate soliciting funds from ou…

Views of campaign donors cause concern

Candidate replies to comments on donations

Guardian ad Litem training starting soon

As newcomers to Wilkes County, my wife and I are very impressed with the quality of the local library. For such a small community, it provides big city services. I attended the last Wilkes Library Research Committee meeting on Oct. 18 and left with the following impressions. First, three mem…

It’s concerning that campaign finance reports for the North Wilkesboro mayoral race show that as of Sept. 21, mayoral candidate Michael Cooper had raised $18,533 in campaign donations. Of that amount, only $1,028 was donated by North Wilkesboro citizens who can vote in the current election.