Judge made wrong decision about bats



Permit denied for a wind farm because of endangering bats. Bats’ only weaknesses are parasites and disease; they maneuver in the dark; are you telling me they cannot avoid a slow-moving wind turbine prop?

Who is this apparently not-up-on-his-knowledge-of-any-bat judge? What ties does he have to the coal industry? This is pure ignorance on his part, and he isn’t even a state judge.

So this judge is telling me that mountaintop removal doesn’t harm or destroy wildlife or vegetation, doesn’t destroy trees that bats and the endangered flying squirrels inhabit. This judge is telling me that ginseng and yellow root and May apple and all the vegetation that needs heavy cover is not disturbed, the song birds are not displaced, honey bees are thriving, not.

So mountaintop removal is beneficial, yeah, to the pockets of people like this. I have seen the eradication of the flying squirrel because of this practice. And quit trying to shove down the people’s throat that we are against coal; we are not. We are against strip and mountaintop removal.

Like I said, this isn’t mining, this is scavenging. They aren’t miners, they are scavengers. West Virginians, open your eyes and mouths before we look like Ohio.



James Atkins

Oak Hill



Stand up for coal or leave the state



It just burns me up. To listen and read this “no coal” attitude that some people in West Virginia have. I think all kids living in West Virginia should learn about how West Virginia has made its living and supported its families. Coal is the history of West Virginia.

This is our history and we as true West Virginians should be very proud of it. If these so-called concerned citizens don’t like it, get out. I will help you pack and shove you across the state lines.

Coal is the foundation of West Virginia and is the future of West Virginia. If people want affordable power, they had better shut their mouths about coal. My family survived by the means of the coal jobs and still do today. Without their employment with Massey and other coal companies, we would be on unemployment, food stamps and Medicaid because there are no other industries in West Virginia that can employ people at the pay scale the coal industry offers.

There will be no West Virginia if coal leaves. It will be a desolate place that is a burden on the government just to keep people that are left fed.

These tree-hugging, anti-coal activists will leave and move on to another state to destroy it, leaving West Virginia with nothing.

Move these people out now. I am for coal and always will be. This is a way of life for West Virginia, and I am happy with it.

I say thank you to Massey and all the other coal companies for giving us the jobs you have. I support you and all the hard-working coal miners that risk their lives every day so that we can have affordable energy.

Let’s move these anti-coal people out of our West Virginia. We will help you pack and drive you to the state line and kick your butt over it.

I am a true friend of coal.



Lori Bennett

Beckley