Our Readers Speak — March 09, 2008

March 08, 2008 10:23 pm

—

Dayton’s column hit the nail on the head

I appreciated reading Dawn Dayton’s column on the Internet about the importance of coal mining in West Virginia.
I work as a volunteer in the Coal Creek watershed of Tennessee where coal reserves are nearly depleted after 140 years of mining. You hit the nail on the head about how difficult it would be to survive without the jobs and tax revenue from coal mining. Coal Creek, Tenn., is a perfect example of what folks in West Virginia would face without coal.
We started making progress in Coal Creek after getting folks to quit blaming coal mining for all the problems in the watershed. For example:
Low income levels in the watershed are not due to coal mining, but to a lack of education. That’s why we started our Coal Creek Scholars program to teach students to be proud of their coal mining heritage, develop good study skills in middle school and high school, participate in community service projects, and go to college. Our scholars who have gone to college serve as role models for younger students, telling them, “If I can go to college, so can you” as described at http://www.coalcreekaml.com/ScholarsProgramPage.htm.
Flooding in the watershed is not due to past coal mining activities, but to the fact that folks built their homes in the floodplain. Flooding was exacerbated by deadwood and debris that accumulated at bridge piers and by unstable creek banks. Volunteer efforts to keep the deadwood and debris removed and to stabilize unstable creek banks have paid dividends as evidenced by reduced flooding in the past eight years as described at http://www.coalcreekaml.com/BANKstabLINKpage.htm.
We found that the lack of fish diversity is not due to coal mining, but to the cold water of the Clinch River below Norris Dam that releases cold water
in the generation of electricity. Water quality in Coal Creek has improved dramatically in recent years due to enactment of stringent mining regulations in 1977, but native warm-water fish species are reluctant to swim through the cold water of the Clinch River to repopulate Coal Creek. That’s why we have a fish restoration project to give Mother Nature a hand as described at http://www.coalcreekaml.com/CoalCreekRestoration.htm.
Please continue to tell folks who demonize coal mining that they may regret it if their wishes come true.

Barry Thacker, P.E.
Coal Creek Watershed
Foundation Inc.
Knoxville, Tenn.

Editorial gave only
one side of the story

Dawn Dayton wrote in her March 1 editorial that she is “still not there” on her perspective of mountaintop removal coal mining. That is because her perspective was provided both literally and figuratively by Walker Machinery, and has only one leg to stand on.
An editorial shouldn’t simply transmit information from one source and call it good: The media should mediate the message of special interest groups like Walker Machinery. Walker would have us believe that all mining is equal, and that an attack on mountaintop removal is an attack on all mining. Dayton happily rubber-stamps this message with quotes from the most heavily- invested industry sources.
Unfortunately, too many perspectives about southern West Virginia are formed from the comfort of a company helicopter. From on high, the world seems intact and problem-free. Those of us down here on the ground have a better view of the specific details that make and break individual lives.

Ole Bye
Mullens

Can’t we eat with no TVs and music?

Everyone eats out from time to time; some more than others. I personally have not ordered a meal out recently that was something to write home about. How about the server who almost always manages to totally rearrange your order that you just gave a few moments ago because he/she is not listening to what you are telling them?
This state is famous for promoting tourism; if this is the direction that we are going to keep our economy growing, the managers and owners of some of the food chains better start hiring some individuals who actually care and know about what they are doing in the kitchen as well as on the floor.
Beckley and the majority of its restaurants are a far cry from other franchises offered in other cities. Here is some food for thought ... maybe the server cannot hear or is not paying attention to the customer’s order because of all the noise and distractions, such as the radio blaring or all of the TVs that are displaying images that are not always appropriate for all viewing audiences. Has today’s society forgotten how to sit down at a table together and just eat with small chit chat? Do we constantly have to be entertained in every aspect of our lives?

Monica R. Kern
Kilsyth

Lawmakers must hear from workers

We the injured workers of West Virginia demand a public hearing where we can give depositions to the legislature to state our cases. To show how we are unjustly treated by Gov. Joe Manchin, insurance commissioner Jane Cline, BrickStreet and other third party administrators. When all the facts are laid out for all to see it will be plain that all the fraud and corruption comes from the commissioner’s office and BrickStreet. Gov. Manchin’s view of West Virginia is a nightmare to some of us. When he looks through his eyes all he sees is the haves, when we look we see the have-not’s. Joe has no compassion for the working man. If you don’t own a coal company or a large out-of-state interest he has no time for you.
Thank God we have representatives of the people like delegates Ricky Moye and Melvin Kessler who stand up for us when nobody else will. Ricky’s hard work sometimes goes unnoticed. Let me say thank you, Ricky. District 27 is lucky to have concerned delegates like these. We call upon you again to demand a public hearing so we can have our voices heard and to show everyone how badly we are being treated.

Timothy Arrington
Glen Daniel

Maybe impossible things are possible

“Ooby Dooby, Ooby Dooby! Do Wah, Do Wah, Do Wah” and other foolishness.
Add Sue White’s recent letter to the editor to that category, too. Of course OVEC is a charity although their giving aid to the poor is not the same as The Salvation Army’s giving to the poor. It all depends on whom we define as “the poor.”
Why shouldn’t the Kroger Company include the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition in their Kroger Cares program?
Maybe Sue White has a hidden agenda for her protest.
In Lewis Carroll’s “Alice In Wonderland,” Alice said, “There’s no use trying. One can’t believe impossible things.” And the Queen replied, “I daresay you haven’t had much practice.” Maybe Walker Machinery’s talking bugs are one of those impossible things for us to believe.
The gay deceivers would have us believe that valley fills are stable, that very little water ever flows in mountain streams, and that water runs uphill.
But we can see through the deception of the bugs, and we can see through the deception of Sue White’s attack on Kroger.
Maybe impossible things are possible in a state where the governor is the No. 2 man.
When we drink our last cup of sorrow, then we might know the truth.

Richard A. Bradford
Naoma

Game should never have involved fans

This letter is in regard to the Mount Hope High School versus Greater Beckley Christian school basketball game recently. The article in the paper made it sound as if a Mount Hope player started the fight near the end of the game.
Some of the GBC fans had been calling Mount Hope players the N-word throughout the game and while this may not excuse the Mount Hope player for talking back to the GBC fans, a person that has been subjected to racism can be expected to have a negative reaction.
The game should have been just between the teenage players on the court and racial attacks should never have been a part of it.
Since GBC’s season is done, they now have time to dust off their Bibles and read it to see how they should treat their fellow man.

Douglas Wallace
Mabscott

Instructional days need to be updated

I would like to respond to your article titled “Spring Break.” You described it well: ridiculous.
I have lived in Nicholas County for 20-plus years. We have already had 12 snow days this school year and six two-hour delays. And we still have the month of March to go. Some are due to snow and black ice and some are because the temperature is low.
If it is for the safety of the kids, that is fine. But I have seen no attempt or desire by higher-ups to change any laws to try to make these days up. This is just a poor reflection on the state of West Virginia regarding the importance of academics and as you said “instruction time is precious” and important for our children.

Laura Krese
Summersville