Let's have a quick show of hands. Who else came to work Monday feeling like we just came off a national gastronomic holiday? Those 2.5 billion chicken wings didn't eat themselves.
With the Super Bowl in mind (and stomach), we're looking at reader mail, updates and other squib kicks today.
Not that it should come as any great surprise, but a column Friday about a profanity-laced tirade launched by a high-school coach (and school-resource officer) against a 15-year-old student at East Forsyth prompted a large response. Especially the part where it was suggested that the coach, Mike Muse, be made to take a few unpaid days off — and writing "I will not bully a kid" on a blackboard — for losing his cool.
The first response — presumably from a teacher — expressed "disappointment" for the criticism. The rest, though, were overwhelmingly in agreement, a rare thing in this line of work.
"I just finished reading the column and I completely agree with you," said Stephen Hairston, a former president of the Forsyth County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter. "We plan to address those issues at the next (school board) meeting."
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools board meets next Monday. Stay tuned.
Community continues to rally
While tirades make for interesting reading — and lively debate — there are some things way more important. One such item is the struggle of Luke Hampton, an 18-year-old kid from Alleghany County who broke two vertebrae in his neck in a freak accident during a wrestling tournament in December.
Again, it shouldn't be a surprise but the community rallied around the Hampton family in a big, big way.
The average household income in Sparta, according to the Census Bureau, is $28,124, but the residents raised more than $50,000 in three short weeks after his injury. His friends and classmates at Alleghany High are building a wheelchair-friendly addition onto the family home using supplies donated by local businesses and contractors.
Nice job.
Now for some good news. "We just got another letter about Luke Friday," said Debbie Weaver, the school secretary. "His mom says he's doing better all the time."
Though Luke Hampton remains in a spinal-cord injury rehabilitation center in Atlanta, he has regained feeling in both legs, has been able to move his foot and a couple of fingers. He reports feeling a burning sensation in his legs.
"All of those are good signs," Weaver said.
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