Dear Editor:

As many readers and citizens are already aware, I and my family have recently been through a divorce.  While this has been a mostly private and amicable process, it has among other things necessitated a change of living arrangements.  Specifically, I now temporarily reside on Sheets Road between Green Bank and Dunmore.

This is, of course, a private matter.  Yet there is a public aspect to it:  as the county commissioner representing the northern district, the law states that I must reside in the northern district.

The question of my residency was brought up recently on a local and popular website.  I wished to allay people's concerns, so I responded therein that I was in fact still residing in the northern district, and that due to divorce I was in the process of finding more permanent accommodations.  That should have been sufficient.

There are proper approaches for obtaining the answers to questions such as residency.  Given my and my family's circumstances, however, the approach that unfolded over time on the aforementioned website was not proper.  Subsequently, an attempt was made by the website's operator to address the county commission on the matter of my whereabouts.  I saw this as not only inappropriate, but also as a danger to the safety of myself and my family.  In the interest of defending both family and reasoned public discourse, I removed this item from the agenda.

As your county commissioner - northern district and beyond - I am driven by the need to nurture open, deliberate, and thorough discussion of all issues of concern to our people; to ensure that every reasoned voice has a seat at the table of the democratic process.  It is imperative that we as a county government safeguard this vision of discourse.  To this end, I cannot condone behavior that seeks to disrupt and destroy, and I will not tolerate tactics that are based on personal attack and the inciting of fear.  I don't accept such in my private life and personal being, and I won't allow such in our public process and professional dialog.

Lastly, I wish to express my gratitude to all those who have reached out to me and to Monica to express their support and well-wishes. Such has been most unexpected and appreciated.

Respectfully Yours,

David March Fleming
Pocahontas County Commissioner,
Northern District

Dear Editor:

I recently participated in the National Youth Science Camp as an Ohio Delegate. I would like to thank the State of West Virginia for its contributions to the camp. I personally believe that the experience I had at camp could not be replicated in any other setting.

The other delegates and I were treated very well when we arrived at the Chuck Yeager Airport. We enjoyed sightseeing with our host families and our lecture at the Clay Center. We were welcomed, once again, to West Virginia at the Governor’s Mansion at the end of camp. When it was time to leave camp, we were all tearful. We were not leaving just friends; we were leaving our home.

We had many wonderful experiences in the great West Virginia outdoors. We were able to kayak, rock climb and mountain bike. We participated in three overnight trips in which we were able to enjoy the wilderness of West Virginia as we hiked in many location, including Seneca Creek, Cranberry Glades and Dolly Sods. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sleep under the stars with a group of remarkable people who had become a group of life-long friends. We also participated in out-of-camp experiences that allowed us to experience more of West Virginia, such as picnics at Camp Allegheny and at Cass Scenic Railroad.

My time at the National Youth Science Camp was one of the best experiences in my life. West Virginia has made this camp a memorable opportunity for all delegates. From the unique history and scenery to the monetary contributions to the camp, the State of West Virginia has truly blessed my life with this opportunity, and I am extremely grateful.

Sincerely yours,
Rebecca McGrail
NYSC Ohio Delegate