Uproar over wind farm not good for environment

The uproar here in Greenbrier County over the proposed wind farms is disappointing, and a real impediment to ever obtaining a clean environment. This opposition carries with it a hint of coal and other fossil fuels interests who have the most to lose from the development of clean alternate fuels.

A windmill high atop Cold Knob would be no more unsightly or intrusive than a radio tower, a ski resort or a scar from strip mining. There can be no more unsightly eyesores imaginable than the thousands of telephone poles in towns, on highways and blighting the countryside. These monstrosities holding up wires carrying power produced by fossil fuel plants are accepted because they carry a product we all need and use.

There is nothing ugly or intrusive about windmills. They have been around and used for centuries, in Holland and on farms around the world. I can think of nothing more ecologically pleasing than a windmill sitting peacefully on a hill three or four miles away cranking out clean requisite power.

Compare this to a co-generation coal-fired plant belching out tons of earth-warming, health-damaging contaminants into the atmosphere, earth and streams daily. Compare it to a nuclear plant that can melt down, killing and sickening hundreds or thousands as occurred in the USSR a few years ago. Also their susceptibility to terrorist attacks. There has never been a way devised to neutralize or safely store their harmful by-products which remain radioactive for thousands of years.

We must get away from these eco-damaging power sources sometime, and we’ll never be able to succeed with this “not in my back yard attitude.” Consider that a windmill can be disassembled in a day and leave no scars on the earth or the eco-system. It can be a transitory non-harmful beneficial resource.

Continuing this wanton destruction of the earth to which we have been given stewardship is no longer an option. The sooner we get started, the better chance we have to succeed.



Glenn McKinney

Lewisburg

Christians are trying to take over country

I believe certain people’s rights are at risk due to some recent actions by some local delegates. The Constitution is supposed to protect the rights of all Americans, but this “marriage protection act” is threatening the rights of homosexual couples. I am not a homosexual, but I believe that everyone deserves their rights and these delegates and senators are trying to use Christianity to override the Constitution.

Instead of doing what is right, they are using their Bible and are trying to twist the Constitution to what they want. People like Pat Robertson are trying to make people believe if you aren’t perfect or Christian that you’re going to have a stroke. Why can’t people see through these lies? Everybody has the freedom of religion, but Christians are the only group trying to force their religion down our throats.

I also hear Christians say how people are trying to take God out of schools and elsewhere. It should have never been there! It is unconstitutional. This country is not a Christian country, it’s a country of all religions. They use fear tactics like a dictatorship would — without fear they wouldn’t even have a religion. They need to get over themselves and step aside; 25 percent of Americans are not Christians! We 25 percent need to band together and make sure this country stays free and make sure they don’t take over.



Chris King

Beckley

I’m still incensed about toll increase

I am still incensed about the increase in turnpike tolls. This is taxation without representation.

I would like to thank Sen. Jesse Guills, Delegate Mike Porter, Sen. Russ Weeks, Sen. Don Caruth and others who have spoken out against the increase. I urge the voters of southern West Virginia to re-elect these gentlemen to office in the next election. These gentlemen are trying to look out for the average citizen, whereas people like Sen. Shirley Love, who introduced the bill to raise the tolls, need to be voted out of office.

Also Mr. Susman needs to go. This was strictly a political move on Mrs. Susman’s part to ask for the Shady Spring exit, to benefit the rich and famous at Glade Springs, and let the people of Mercer County and tourists pay for the project. These tolls were supposed to have been removed permanently in 1961, but instead have been increased by 660 percent. This is enough to make the people of southern West Virginia stop paying West Virginia state taxes. They can’t put us all in jail.



Jerry Raines

Princeton

Family grateful after loss of Deputy Back

Recently we lost our son, and son-in-law, Fayette County Deputy Christopher P. Back to an untimely and sudden death.

Although this tragedy became a media event, those involved in the media, primarily newspaper and television, chose to convey the information in a kind manner, and for this we are appreciative.

Although he will be missed by many friends and family, it is through his death that we have seen the general community transform into our “extended” family. Their response to our tragedy has been both overwhelming and touching to say the least.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, under the leadership of Bill Laird who has been there for the family from the beginning to the present), has shown us a different “side” of the law, and one that is sincere, caring and compassionate. Again, for this we are most appreciative.

Additionally, the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene conveyed their concern thanks to the efforts of Terri Lawhorn, by just recently hosting a spaghetti dinner to assist Chris’ wife and daughter with current and future expenses. And again, for this we are most appreciative.

Furthermore, we have been touched by the concern and kindness displayed by the citizens of Fayette County and surrounding areas; whether by spoken word, prayer, card or letter, donation or other gestures. We are truly blessed to live in such a community.



Kim and Lester Allen, parents

Kevin and Carla Garlow, in-laws

Fayetteville

Remember hospice as a worthy charity

In a time when we are approached by so many charities, it is often difficult to know how to choose an appropriate one. I want to tell you about the best group of any kind I’ve ever dealt with — hospice. If you’re interested in finding a worthy charity, I recommend you offer yourself as a volunteer or donate money. If you’re incurably ill or if someone you love is, ask for and welcome hospice’s help.

Hospice provides extraordinary care to people who’ve been diagnosed as terminally ill. Its medical professionals are experts on pain management. Hospice also provides spiritual and emotional counseling to the dying and their families. Somehow, it manages to do all this at no charge to patients themselves. Medicare and donations cover many of the costs.

Because hospice treats people suffering from incurable illnesses, and because many of us naturally try to avoid any acknowledgement that death is near, many sick people and their families shun the organization.

That’s a mistake, let me tell you. As my mother, Sarah Booth, fought lung cancer and congestive heart failure, she and our family received care from Hospice of Southern West Virginia, and they were wonderful, indispensable, sanity and money savers.

Hospice provided Mom with prescriptions (and believe me, there were a lot), pain medicines, oxygen machines, regular visits from nurses, social workers, doctors and chaplains. They even came and bathed her five times a week and offered to do her Christmas shopping last year.

Basically, they gave us anything we needed during the worst period of our lives, and a number of things we hadn’t realized we needed until their workers suggested them.

The nurses not only took care of Mom but also told the family what to expect as her body shut down. Hospice has sent cards and letters in the weeks following her death and offers free grief counseling.

We could not have endured those final months without hospice being there. They’re extraordinary people — truly doing God’s work. They visit the sick and dying in their distress; they comfort the brokenhearted.

I encourage you to offer hospice your time and money. You can donate to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802.



Frances Booth Allport

Lexington, Ky.

formerly of Oak Hill

We do need way to track wayward ATVs

In regard to the ATV bill to register 4-wheelers, we need some way to know whom they belong to and who is responsible for them. Four-wheelers whiz up and down Maple Fork all the time, you never know when you are going to have one come flying around the curve at you and you have to slam on your brakes to keep from hitting them.

There is a law that states 4-wheelers are not allowed on highways with a line, but that doesn’t bother the ones on Maple Fork. They do it anyway. When you call the law, they say that they have no way of knowing who they are — if they are registered with the DMV and have sticker or a plate on them, we know who the owner is. I also believe it will cut down on 4-wheelers being stolen if they have to be registered and issued a sticker or plate.

Take a look at what they have done to the seeded area on Route 19 next to Bradley. Some people may think it is all right to treat other people’s property that way, but I don’t, and whoever is doing this needs to be held accountable.

I agree with Bob Kiss on registering ATV’s with the DMV. So you have to pay to register them. So what? It needs to be done!



Donna Sifers

Maple Fork

Does mountaintop removal please God?

Let me tell you a fantastic tale of retribution.

Arnold Cooper was a Holy Ghost preacher in the community at the head of Peachtree. Some folks in the community were for him and some were against him. He predicted that God would send some disaster to punish those that were opposed to him and the Holy Ghost.

And the disaster did occur in the form of a flood — the Peachtree Flood of 1932.

During the flood, those people who supported Cooper saw their property untouched while his opponents just down the road suffered great damage.

Some people today see mountaintop removal strip mining as a great mistake our society is making. Some people see this destruction only in terms of economics — “Well, they do provide jobs.”

Will God vent his wrath again upon those who would destroy his creation?

As for me, I would rather be baptized by Minnis Holsten than by one of those preachers who support this havoc.



Richard A. Bradford

Edwight

Cheers for sponsors of ‘Logan’s Law’

Hooray to state delegates Linda Sumner (R-Raleigh) and Kelli Sobonya (R-Cabell) for co-sponsoring “Logan’s Law” which calls for a mandatory 25-year sentence for predators victimizing a child.

Child molestation seems to be reaching an epidemic proportion and does need to be addressed by harsher penalties.

Thank goodness that today’s children are telling what is going on and that the families are seeking help and not just sweeping the problem under the proverbial rug like they did in years past.

Child molesters are the lowest form of life on this earth, they are even lower than the lowest form of scum.

This proposed bill is a great step forward, but still not enough.

Let’s try this. Since the offenders subjects their prey to a lifetime of terrible memories, years of counseling and distrust of people, why don’t we try some kind of cruel and unusual punishment for them?

Oh yeah, that’s right, the Constitution won’t allow that. The offenders are the ones whose rights are protected.

Since that idea won’t work, why not bring back the death penalty? This would be an even better answer to this overwhelming problem.

Child molesters not only disrupt the lives of their victims, they also disrupt the lives of those who love them. Any form of punishment; existing proposed or future, is too good for these people.

Thanks again to the delegates for trying to protect our children.



Mark E. Legg

Harper

Coal industry affects nearby communities

With the 34th anniversary of the Buffalo Creek disaster upon us, we must all remember how safety in the coal industry affects the nearby communities. Especially in light of the recent tragedies that took the lives of 16 West Virginia miners, we must make sure the call for “never again” includes never again having a disaster that kills hundreds of unsuspecting citizens.

While newer sludge dams may be less hazardous than that at Buffalo Creek, they are certainly far from being safe. They haven’t become foolproof just because they are “engineered”; the space probes that crashed on Mars and planes whose wings fall off are “engineered.” So was the sludge dam that sent 309 million gallons of sludge into the Tug Fork and Big Sandy rivers in 2000, after Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors had determined it to be “engineered” well enough to continue operating after its 112 million-gallon spill in 1994.

The only “act of God” in the 2000 spill was His sparing of human life — a photo of sludge inundating a child’s swing set clearly shows His mercy. This dam was “engineered” for the same company that operates the 2.8 billion-gallon sludge dam above Marsh Fork Elementary and the 8 billion-gallon sludge dam above Whitesville.

Sludge dams are not rare or isolated; the two listed above are only two of more than 150 sludge dams in both southern and northern West Virginia. And because they’re filling up, coal companies have over 300 permits to inject sludge underground, where it seeps into well water making it unusable.

Ask your legislators to support sludge safety legislation. This may keep a new sludge dam from being built above your community or toxic sludge showing up in your well water. And it may prevent the next Buffalo Creek.



Vernon Haltom

Nomad

In defense of the smokers’ rights

I am a non-smoker and I want to say something in defense of the smokers. I think it is awful that the state facilities are banning smoking. What right does the government have to tell people that they cannot smoke on their breaks or lunches? Since there is a designated area for smokers, what’s the big deal anyway?

It has also been said that if you are a state employee, you cannot have tobacco products in your vehicle on state property. If that is not totally insane and communistic, I don’t know what is. All I can say is let someone try to stop me from eating my chocolate and drinking my sodas on my breaks and lunch. My advice to all the smokers; all of you need to ban together and protest this issue.



Monica Kern

Mount Hope