Dear Editor:

Smoking kills more Americans than homicides, suicides, car wrecks, fires, alcohol use, drug use, HIV and AIDS combined. If you or someone you know uses tobacco, call the West Virginia Tobacco Quitline today at 877-966-8784. It may save your life or theirs. It will definitely save money! If someone who smoked two packs a day quit, they would save about $272 a month, $3,314 a year, or $33,142 in 10 years based on the national average for cigarette prices.

The 2010 Surgeon General's Report states that more than 7,000 toxic chemicals are found in tobacco smoke. About 70 of these chemicals cause cancer. They include chemicals like Polonium 210 which is radioactive and toxic, Arsenic which is used in pesticides, Lead which was once used in paints, Ammonia, etc.

In the United States, more than half of the children breathe secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke can trigger cancer, heart attacks, asthma attacks, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Find out more by reading the full 2010 Report of the Surgeon General on how tobacco smoke causes disease at: www.surgeongeneral.gov.

The Tobacco Control Network 2010-2011 Policy Platform on Tobacco Prevention and Control recommends three proven policies which are known to reduce tobacco use. They are 1. Enact smoke-free air laws, 2. Raise state taxes on tobacco products, 3. Fund comprehensive tobacco control programs at CDC recommended levels. For more information on the recommendations from the Tobacco Control Network contact them at www.ttac.org/tcn*tcn@sph.emory.edu.

As a Regional Tobacco Prevention Coordinator in West Virginia, I work under a grant from the Clean Indoor Air Program with the Division of Tobacco Prevention (www.wvdtp.org ). I strive to build and strengthen coalitions in Region H which is made up of Nicholas, Fayette, Webster, Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. These coalitions are working to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. We work with boards of health and businesses to develop policies to protect the public, employees and clients from secondhand smoke.

Keeping our bodies, homes and businesses tobacco-free is a job for all of us. Would you like to help us be Tobacco Free WV? For more coalition information, to schedule a presentation, or to find out about a class to help you quit smoking or chewing call 304-799-6112.

Sincerely,
Karen Larson,
Regional Tobacco Prevention Coordinator
Region - H
Marlinton

Dear Editor:

I have been doing a lot of reading and thinking. After reading the donation agreement from Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Site 7 can only be used for the regional plant or one plant design and if not used for this purpose, the land will go back to Snowshoe in six months.

It is also my understanding that there might not be enough land at the other plants and Site 7 can only be used for a one-plant design. Are my fellow board members going to use eminent domain to obtain additional land?
I fought for Tom Shipley against eminent domain and I am strongly opposed to the use of eminent domain. I am worried that if the sewage treatment plant project is put into receivership, whoever is appointed as the receiver could go back to the original plans and the Sharp Farm site could be at risk to be taken by eminent domain.

The Snowshoe Design Review Board has to approve anything that is built at any of the existing plants or sites. I feel that they could reject anything that we propose or make it very costly to build. So I ask the other members of the PSD board if they are ready for all the legal battles that could result from these issues.

The only result that I can see are more costly delays, more DEP fines and legal battles that could last for years, resulting in a lot of money being wasted on attorneys and engineers. I feel that the ratepayers are paying out money for attorneys and engineers that are unnecessary.

They are paying for PSD attorneys, the SPOC attorney and also, the county commission attorney through their tax dollars. I feel that the vast majority of the taxpayers do not want their money wasted and just want a plant built, as most of them will not benefit from this plant.

Engineer David Rigby said at the last meeting that during September's meeting, the manufacturer of the EQ tank said that an SBR plant could be built inside of the EQ tank. I do not recall that ever being said at the meeting.

It is my understanding that the manufacturer of the tank does not recommend building anything inside of the tank and will not be liable if anything is built. If we have to shut down any of the plants to build or upgrade, it could take up to two years to get some of the work completed, so I ask how we are going to treat the sewage during this time. I recommend that we have a special meeting as soon as possible to try to reach an agreement as proposed by the Public Service Commission.

Or do we continue to fight these issues and pay more money to attorneys and other engineers with no results?
Amon L. Tracey
PSD Secretary

Dear Editor:

I think the lunatic who shot people in Tucson, Arizona, would have committed his deadly act, as horrible and insane as it was, whether he had to use a 9mm, a sawed off shotgun or drive a truck load of explosives into a building.

If someone wants to commit a violent act, he will find a way. I think I have a unique perspective as a biker and a former lobbyist who has worked on the floor of the Maryland General Assembly. We, as Americans, need to stop begging the government to come save us. New legislation is nothing more than a piece of paper to criminals. Illegal weapons are everywhere, and with modern electronic consecutiveness they are only a click away.

I applaud the brave men and women who answered the challenge and tackled the shooter. My heart goes out to the victims and families of those attacked in this horrible incident. My heart also goes out to the family of the misguided shooter.

The violent comments of people seeking a violent revolution, in order to change the United States toward a more progressive, global country concerns me deeply. There are already riots in Europe, and if people don't calm their call to take to the streets in violent protest, things are only going to get worse. Monday was Martin Luther King Day, I believe we need to follow a more peaceful example of change as he did.

This is the United States of America, you are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That means you are entitled to the right to happily work toward prosperity. No one is entitled to anything else. Not a weekly check, not a home, not healthcare, not a big screen TV with internet service and a iPhone. What we are guaranteed is the right to free speech, and freedom of religion, no one has the right to physically attack us for practicing our religion or speaking our mind. What is disgusting are the spin masters using a horribly wrong action of a mentally unbalanced individual to promote their political agenda.
Sincerely,
Dwayne Edward Kennison
Marlinton