Dear Editor:
I want to thank Mayor Sam Felton for his article on the 19th of May on the proper wear of hats.
Too many times proper hat etiquette is not being shown especially in public places. As we approach the summer season and the myriad of public parades, I would like to re-emphasize the proper respect to the American flag as it passes during a parade and as it relates to the wearing of head gear (hats).
If an individual is in military uniform, they do not have to remove their “cover” (hat) while rendering a proper salute to the flag while standing at attention as the flag passes.
Past or present members of the US military not in uniform may render a salute while at attention in the same manner as those in uniform, without removing their hat. All other individuals should face the flag as it passes and stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, and men who are not in uniform or a veteran, should remove their hat with the right hand and hold it by their left shoulder with the right hand placed over the heart.
The key words in all of these solemn acts are “at attention” and rendering the “proper salute” whether you are a civilian or a military member.
Sincerely,
Rick Wooddell
PCVHC Commander
Green Bank
Dear Editor:
Deer are having their fawns right now.
The fawns do not simply follow their mothers around all day. The does bed down their fawns during the day and then go off to feed. They come back to nurse the fawns.
It is important to remember that 99.9 percent of fawns are not orphans.
Yes, sometimes does are killed on the road.
If you see a fawn, leave it alone unless you see its dead mother.
I can only care for a limited number of fawns.
I ask that people, please, only call me about true orphans.
Joel Rosenthal
Hillsboro
304-653-4766
Dear Editor:
I want to encourage the people of Pocahontas and surrounding counties that are 45 years old and younger to speak up about the need for the Atlantic Coast pipeline, its jobs and effect on the economy.
This pipeline is about what matters to my generation and younger.
Every complaint about the pipeline comes from my parent’s generation, who earned their early wages from industry, whether it was the Bath County Dam project, coal mining or similar earth changing, earth-moving pro-jects.
Many of us have been fed on an economy produced by people of industry. People working these good jobs came to Pocahontas County to spend their vacation money which also allows us to thrive.
Our parents and friends bought their homesteads, paid off their own college education debts, built their homes and put a generation of kids through college. After these projects, some of these workers pursued government grants that gave them their paychecks.
When did they forget that the construction jobs made income taxes that loaded these Golden Grant Spoons.
These programs and funds are being cut because now fathers don’t want to have industry in West Virginia and Virginia.
Wake up and tell your community it’s okay to do real work to have money to live on. Work hard. Build communities and praise God for jobs.
Pendleton County has a pipeline and it hasn’t hurt the hunting and fishing, and it’s a lot safer way to transport fuel.
Sincerely,
Rachel E. Meck-Vance
Marlinton
Dear Editor:
This letter is from a homeowner in Pocahontas County expressing opposition to the routing of the ACP in our county.
My hope is that my words will emphasize our opposition to the ACP being routed through southern Randolph and north-central Pocahontas counties.
The proposed route of the ACP would threaten our residents on many fronts. I will try to make this concise.
~ The ACP will threaten our pristine ecosystems, including our springs and streams.
~ The ACP will mar our scenery.
~ The ACP will devaluate our properties.
~ It will impair our tourism economy.
~ And more importantly, the ACP will threaten our safety. Let me repeat. It will, without a doubt, threaten our safety. We will no longer feel comfortable in our homes.
~ Our well waters may be contaminated by herbicides. Not to mention the fact that an explosion anywhere along the pipeline could level our homes and anyone in it. There have been four natural gas pipeline explosions within the last several months.
~ The ACP will not create permanent jobs to our local citizens.
~ Property tax from the valuation of laid pipeline (the only thing taxed) would depreciate over time and would be offset by neighboring property devaluation.
~ We will receive no gas.
~ And, it is my understanding that economic studies by Key-Logs Economics points to major economic loss for pipeline “pass-through counties.”
~ Perhaps many of you have done the research. There are already existing pipelines that are underutilized. Therefore, why is there need for another?
We need to ask our senators about eminent domain when locals receive no benefits, but face significant loss.
Now, from a personal point of view, my husband and I have worked our entire lives as educators. As you well know, it’s not a profitable profession.
We decided to use our savings to buy property and build a home in Pocahontas County. We spent a huge amount of our savings to build a home for not only us, but for our children and for generations yet to come.
My grown daughter, with two daughters of her own, cries when she leaves our home in Sunset Mountain Village in Slaty Fork which borders Randolph County. She has spent many years abroad and claims that our home in West Virginia is her favorite place on the earth. Hence, the tears when she leaves. Her daughters cry, as well.
My husband and I couldn’t bear to tell either of our children about the ACP running through West Virginia. It would break their hearts.
As a mother of two, and a grandmother of six, I fear for their safety if the pipeline runs anywhere near our county. As all of us know, homeowners near the pipeline will no longer feel safe. Our lives will be in danger.
The proposed route of the ACP should be reconsidered. My hope is that it would run through a less inhabited area if it is needed at all.
The operative words here are, “is it needed at all?”
My hope is that both of our senators and Representative Jenkins will address this question and, as residents, will keep our best interests in mind. I would like for them to respond to us as their conscience dictates.
Kathleen Smith
Slaty Fork