Dear Editor:

In the last two elections we changed two county commissioners. The upcoming will change the third.

The three once-popular commissioners we had two elections ago supported the seizure of a single man's private property. I believe that Pocahontas County has spoken clearly and correctly that the job of government is to protect the rights and property of the individual, not violate them.

Although our two new commissioners ran against that violation, it now seems that they do not understand the principle. They are moving headlong toward anointing a cabal of cronies, oh, excuse me, this is supposed to be called “appointing a Planning Commission,” to dictate how our private property may and may not be used, and how we will live our lives in many other respects.

Commissioner Saffer and county coordinator Jay Miller have both said that they do not want to discuss if “planning” is a good idea, or if the people want it, they simply intend begin the process. They would not waste time and energy on a plan if they did not intend to use force (yes, that is what government is) to make us follow it.

Let us remind them of the principle that got them elected. Let this year’s commission candidates speak very clearly on this issue.

Protect us, do not push us around. We can push back.

John Leyzorek
Elk Mountain


Dear Editor:

I was a guest at the Carriage House Inn in Huntersville on a recent Saturday evening and the guests were all enjoying a late evening meal when somebody came to the door.  I kick myself for not getting her name and that of her companion – their compassion surely saved a horse’s life that night, and quite possibly the lives of an unsuspecting motorist traveling along Highway 39.  In any event, these two local (Marlinton, I believe) residents stopped by to see if the innkeeper, Jeannie Dunham, might know of any neighbors who keep horses on their property.   

The young woman and her companion were on their way home when they rounded a turn on the highway to find a horse wandering along the side of the road.  Fearing for the immediate safety of the horse,  the two local folks abandoned their immediate plans for the evening with the hope of reuniting the horse with its owner.  
While the woman stayed to speak with Jeannie about the possible ownership of the horse, I accompanied the young man and we walked down the dark highway to retrieve the horse using the innkeeper’s dog leash.

I was dismayed to find the horse in poor physical condition but pleased that she was gentle in spirit.   

While we encouraged the bony mare to walk toward The Carriage House Inn, we were passed by cars from both directions and I was touched when several motorists offered to help – one car offered to turn around and use their headlights to illuminate the dark highway, while yet another offered to slow down to keep oncoming traffic from rounding the turn and hitting us.   Other guests from the Carriage House Inn walked down the road waving flashlights to alert oncoming traffic.   

The mare was seemingly oblivious to the commotion raised by her escape – her attention was on the tender grass along the side of the road and she continued to reach for each passing blade as we walked along.   Having few options so late at night, we left the mare in a pasture with several other horses.

The details of all our helpers are not as sharp today, as I was focused on the poor condition of the mare and my curiosity piqued by the fact that she has a BLM freeze brand on her neck, identifying her as a mustang. 

I could not help but wonder about the circumstances of this malnourished, diminutive mare.  How long ago was she roaming freely on government land, and how had she come to the rolling hills of Huntersville?  Had I been carrying a camera, I would have photographed her brand to see if I could decipher the markings and track down her original capture date and location.   

Although I am now back home in Idaho, the image of that scrawny little mare is still in my mind and I continue to wonder if her future is any brighter than the odds of her survival on that dark night along Highway 39.

I did not mean for this to be a rant about the plight of the American mustang.  I just wanted to let somebody know that I, a visitor to rural West Virginia, was extremely touched by the humanity of a bunch of strangers and their concerted efforts to bring that scrawny mare to safety.  

One can only hope that if the mare is united with her owner that something will be done to ensure that adequate care is provided to that horse and any others under his/her ownership.

Bottom line:  Kudos to the residents of Huntersville and Marlinton for their compassion and concerted efforts to bring that horse to safety.

Thank you,

Janet Qualls
Idaho