The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

March 11, 2010

Our Readers Speak — Friday, March 12, 2010


Readers love format of paper’s Web site



I grew up in the Beckley area, living on Maxwell Hill, and now living in the Richmond, Va., area since 1964. We subscribed to the Beckley paper for many years after leaving and kept up with “who married whom,” who passed away, all about Dear ol’ Woodrow Wilson, etc.

Then came the PC.

We have read your paper every day since on the computer.

To make a long story short, we love the new format of the paper because the letters are larger and it is so easy to read now with our “aging eyesight.” So keep up the good work and we thank you very much.



Rita and Norman Settle

Powhatan, Va.



Va. governor has right idea about AEP



I am writing in response to the article in the March 3 paper.

It is hard to believe that my bill was doubled from one month to the next. It went from $120 to $212.

We used about the same amount of electric, but they claim we used double the amount.

We did not have any Christmas lights on this year.

They want a rate increase now after what they have already charged everyone.

The governor of Virginia is planning to stop AEP from charging customers in his state the same way. Why didn’t we get the same deal?

I see AEP will charge the senior citizens less if the proposal goes through.

How are they going to know who the senior citizens are? Are they going to call everyone personally?

Are they going to go through the government to get our personal records? One wonders how far they will go.

     

Mary Nutter

Quinwood



More tips for dealing with icicles on homes



In the March 2 edition of the paper I read with interest the article on the dangers of icicles and the steps to take to lessen the impact on the home's gutters.

I would add this observation. A building or structure with no heat has no or few icicles. A heated structure will have icicles. If a home or structure has large icicles, it may be the result of poor or inadequate insulation above the occupied space.

This means that heat (and higher heating bills) is being lost from the structure into the attic, causing melting under the snow cover.

As the melted snow moves to the gutters hitting the cold temperatures, ice forms in the gutters until they are full. Then the icicles begin to form and grow and grow.

The larger the icicles the greater the danger and the poorer the insulation.



John Hymes

Beaver