Published: May 14, 2008 07:26 pm         

Our Readers Speak - Thursday, May 15, 2008

Planned pet rule harms responsible owners



What are they going to take away next? I just finished reading the article that the city of Beckley wants to limit people to three pets period. That is ridiculous. This is going to do nothing but hurt the honest person.

What about people who currently have more than three pets? Are they going to be forced to choose which ones they want to keep? What will happen to the ones they can’t keep? Taken to local shelters, taken out to the country and dropped off, or euthanized?

I know several people who are involved in animal rescue that take in dogs and/or cats until new homes can be found or can be transported to another area for placement. Under this new proposal this would be hard for the rescuers to do this. Not to mention the number of people in the area that are involved in dog sports (no, I am not talking about dog fights).

I understand about the odor from pet waste, but the responsible person takes time to clean up after their pets. I am sure another solution is out there instead of telling people they must choose which three pets they want to keep.

I sure am glad I do not live in city limits. Oh, but wait, if this passes in the city, I am sure it won’t be long before this is countywide. Heads up, people. This is not right!



Angela Sellards

Shady Spring



What is Manchin’s role in power project?



As a former teacher, I find the scandal involving the improper awarding of a West Virginia University degree to a member of Gov. Manchin’s family offensive. What is alarming as a father and property owner in West Virginia, however, is that this scandal reveals the governor's office’s openness to engaging in dishonest business.

The proposed Trans-Allegheny Transmission Line has been terrorizing my family and thousands of others for over a year now. If completed as proposed, the project would increase the risk of leukemia in my children, decrease our property value, and degrade our quality of life. Protest letters on the PSC Web site written by families, farmers, religious groups, Native Americans, conservation groups, and others illuminate the fact that this project is a civic evil.

Earlier this year I learned from Jay Ruberto, route engineer for the line, that agents of this project had trespassed and taken photos of my property and home. Mr. Ruberto and officials at the Louis Berger Group characterized the incident as an honest mistake. Byron Harris, consumer advocate of the West Virginia PSC, however, informed me that such trespasses were a pattern of behavior discussed at the PSC hearings. This week a neighbor observed and confronted project representatives on his property.

Trespassing and lying to West Virginia residents are unacceptable business practices. The cancerous relationship between Massey Energy and the West Virginia Supreme Court, the tragedy of Marsh Fork Elementary School, and the egregious deal recently struck between Allegheny Energy and the PSC occurred under Gov. Manchin’s administration. In 2006, the governor wrote a letter to the Department of Energy supporting the project and National Interest Energy Corridor designation in West Virginia. In past elections he has accepted substantial contributions from the energy industry.

West Virginians deserve to know the governor’s current stand on the project and the role he is playing in its advancement.



Ralph Wojtowicz

Yellow Spring