Dear Editor;
“The cult of diversity, equity and inclusion,” wow, that is a bold statement. I have an issue with most everything in the letter from the August 8th edition of The Times. However, I will limit my comments to a couple of points made by the writer.
“Admitting individuals based on race who lack the academic ability to succeed at these institutions is a lose lose for everyone.”
This broadbrush statement assumes all Affirmative Action admits do not have the ability to succeed. Although Affirmative Action is not a perfect idea, it is intended to allow minority students an opportunity that for many years has not been available to them because of our long history of institutional racism.
The primary reason I was prompted to write this letter is the misinformation or possibly disinformation regarding the fire service. I am a retired firefighter, therefore I have some information regarding current hiring standards.
In 1997, a joint labor-management task force was formed in the professional fire service. The goal was to improve wellness and fitness in the fire service. One of the initiatives born out of this was the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). The purpose was to develop a fair and more standardized representation of the physical aspects of firefighting. The CPAT along with a written test are used by many jurisdictions to hire original appointment candidates. After a period of time spent honing the examination, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) agreed on the final version. Since 1999, more than 900 jurisdictions have adopted this exam. The agreed upon test consists of eight stations designed to simulate activities performed by firefighters on the fireground, and the circuit must be completed in under 10 minutes and 20 seconds. The test is pass/fail. If the circuit is not completed within the time limit, the original appointment candidate fails. I will not go into each part of the CPAT; it is easy to research. However, I will address the rescue drag portion of the test. The candidate is required to drag a 165 pound mannequin 35 feet, make a turn, and return another 35 feet to the starting position. Nothing in CPAT is modified for a candidate’s gender. Personally, I think this is a fair test and should not be modified. The work demands a person have the strength and endurance to perform the duties required. Unfortunately, the gentleman who wrote the letter did not name the department he referenced.
Generally, I am not prone to write letters like this. However, we are at a time in our society when people can be led in wrong directions by written and spoken words that are not always accurate. Just because someone says something loudly and confidently does not make it true.
Tim Dillon
Huntington
Editor;
I am writing in response to last week’s letter to the editor about Israel.
Let us not forget Israel’s role as a reliable ally and partner in the Middle East. Until the worst killing of Jews since the Holocaust, attacks by Hamas on October 7th rattled the fragile ceasefire already in place in a fraught region.
Imagine for a second a town near Marlinton invades killing everyone in the middle of the night including women and children, taking hundreds as hostage, and burns their homes.
Without a doubt Pocahontas County would be up in arms – and so too is Israel. There is no ceasefire while Hamas keeps hostages, some of them Americans!
As far as bombing hospitals, schools, etc., Hamas fighters use human shields in these places with no regard for their own people and this is tragic.
If the hostages were released, I am sure the violence would stop. It’s hard to have a dialogue with a group whose main goal is to kill you and destroy your country. So, Israel must be militarily strong and tough.
Until both sides respect their neighbors there will be no peace.
A. Rudley
Renick
Editor,
In September 2022, I learned that the Town of Marlinton had purchased the piece of property near the Greenbrier River on Sixth Street directly across from my property. I knew that the selling price could have a direct affect on me so, I went to the county clerk’s office and discovered that the town did not buy the property. The Housing Authority of the Town of Marlinton bought the property, however, there was no signature from anyone representing the Housing Authority.
To learn more, I read through 8 months of Marlinton Town Council minutes and could not find any information regarding the Town Council authorizing the Housing Authority to make the recent purchase. I called the Marlinton Mayor’s Office and requested a copy of the Housing Authority’s meeting agendas and minutes over the last 6 months. I was told that the Housing Authority hadn’t met in years, so the documents I was requesting didn’t exist. All of the terms of any prior Housing Authority had expired. I requested any information that the mayor’s office had on file and was given a copy of an agenda for a meeting on February 7, 2014. There were no minutes for this meeting. The mayor’s office was able to provide the names they have on record for the House Authority members whose terms are expired: Fred Burns, Jr; Jake Krack; Shawn Ervine; JoAnn Eddy; John Snyder.
I took this information to the September 2022 Town Council meeting and asked questions that remain unanswered.
In the meantime there has been an up-tick in new structures and new businesses as well as the town receiving a grant to help tear down dilapidated structures.
At the August 2024 town council meeting, Crystal Dean, local developer, was on the agenda to discuss the current status of the Marlinton Housing Authority. She noted that, just as I found two years ago, there were no current Housing Authority documents on file. She also presented to the Council a list of seven people she believed are interested in serving on the authority. Those names are Crystal Dean; J.L. Clifton; Heather Walton; Buck Morrison; Richard Gandy; Shelly Dean; Dawn-etta Evans. Knowing I had not seen any call for volunteers to serve on the Housing Authority, I asked if public notification in the media had been given to allow citizens an opportunity to volunteer. After further discussion about the importance of the Housing Authority, council voted to advertise for volunteers to serve. Councilman Scott Gibb asked me directly if I would like my name added to the list and I replied yes and that I would be happy to serve as a volunteer on the Marlinton Housing Authority.
Under WV State Code, The Housing Authority of Marlinton was created in 1986 by the town council and in 2011 they passed a resolution giving the housing authority the powers, duties and authority of the Urban Renewal Authority. Visit this site to learn more https://wvleap.wvu.edu/land-banks/urban-renewal-authority
The Town of Marlinton Comprehensive Plan adopt-ed in 2019 recommends that the town and housing authority, who owns many properties within the town limits, work together to develop a plan for the use of these properties that is in the best interest of all parties involved.
If the Housing Authority has not met in the past decade and has no current members, how does it have the authority to purchase and own property?
Thank you,
Caroline Sharp
Marlinton
