Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter in response to recent letters that have been published in your paper regarding our county and our county commissioners.
Our heritage and our way of life in this county were established many years ago by our ancestors.  I have lived here all my life, and I can honestly say at one time I could tell you who lived in every house in the southern end of the county. But, many years have passed since then and many outsiders have found reason to move in to this county.  That is all well and good, and I’m assuming they chose to move here because they liked what they saw.  So, my question is this: Why are they so determined to try and change our whole lifestyle?
If they don’t like the way things are done here, why did they move here?
This whole issue of the Cranberry being made into a National Monument is nothing more than another attempt for a tourism attraction.  What about the folks who live here and want it to stay a wilderness area as it has been all our lives?
In closing, I’d just like to say, the last time I looked, the same roads that led you to Pocahontas County will take you away.  If you don’t like the way of life here, maybe you should check it out.
Shirley Walker
Hillsboro

Dear Editor:
Independent analyses rating the viability of each State demonstrate a consistent pattern. West Virginia routinely occupies one of the worst positions on the lists when it comes to education, health, obesity, intelligence, standard of living, environmental degradation, political corruption, lawyer atrocities, apathy, etc.
Interestingly it seems that Pocahontas County is a true reflection of the above. The County Commission meeting in regards to the Cranberry Wilderness area becoming a National Monument and the subsequent letters to the editor clearly demonstrate that there are many here who take pride in using their heritage of a hundred years or more to demonstrate that all those assessments of West Virginia’s inferiority are correct.
I was born in Washington, D.C. and was considered an outsider because both my parents grew up in an orphanage and my mother was an immigrant. Before coming here I lived for more than thirty years in a suburban neighborhood where I was considered to be unworthy by some because they had lived there longer.
In West Virginia I have been called everything from a carpetbagger, to an outsider, a no-good, a pilgrim, a worthless immigrant and of course much more that cannot be printed, and now an “import.” Many have told me to leave or be run out.
I just laugh. I love it.
I did not come here to associate or make friends with those displaying such ignorance, but I truly appreciate those who voice openly their dislike of me. At least they are up front with it. But, of course, they are bullies and cowards and just do not know any better. They think that only those born in Pocahontas County should have an opinion.
In reality I am but a harmless, little, old, grey-haired, hillbilly, mountain hermit who wishes nothing else but to be left alone on my place with the animals. I really do not care about economic development and it would be fine with me if the county lost a thousand or more in population every year, if all the young people were to leave to see the world and seek their fortunes elsewhere, if all the schools closed down, if Snowshoe went belly-up, if Marlinton became a ghost town and if all those farmers with Fracking money sold their cows, took their booty and moved to Florida.
I am not a politician, I hold no public office, I make no decisions for the county, I belong to no groups which desire to influence policy, and I personally cannot influence anyone.
I had my first gun before I was a teenager and was hunting before most of you were born. I can only surmise that those who criticize me and what I say do so because they know that my words have veracity and are creditable. So why are these guys so scared of the truth?
In Pocahontas County I have the best place east of the Rocky Mountains and I pinch myself every day because I cannot believe that I am really living this wonderful dream of mine. So hunt all you want in the National Forest, kill everything that moves; if you think it makes you a man. Just keep yourself and your dogs off of my place and I will not be in your face. Oh, yes. I do wonder what all those indigenous cultures who were here for thousands of years before any of us would think of the recent claims of ownership and assertions of dictatorial powers?
Joel Rosenthal
Hillsboro

Dear Editor:
The Pink Out basketball games at Pocahontas County High School Saturday night were the most enjoyable community event I’ve seen in years.  
Thank you, Lady Warriors, cheerleaders and Karen Murphy, for initiating the idea.
 It certainly was a great community affair.
Many things happened to make this a successful event.  
The stands were filled, and I haven’t seen that since the Lady Warriors basketball team played Hinton High School in 1994 at home.  Young and old were present.  All parts of the county were represented, and everyone seemed to be talkative and happy after the games.  
Even a contingent from Pendleton County showed up dressed in pink.
The common purpose was more than just ourselves and our own teams.  The Pink Out was a fundraiser for finding a cure for cancer.  
Probably all of our families have been affected by an early death from cancer.
Cakes were auctioned and bought and returned again for auction.  
One hundred and fifty pink basketball T-shirts were sold out in two days.  The school donated one dollar for each admission ticket.  The 50-50 raffle by the cheerleaders gave the full proceeds to the cancer fund.
Thank you, Allegheny Mountain Radio, for coming on board on very short notice.  
Rachel Thompkins, Toney Minter and I enjoyed broadcasting the very exciting games.  
There were great interviews by athletes Heather Snead, Olivia Workman, and Cary Robertson who laid in the winning basket to win the boys game 62-61.
Well done Lady Warriors, PCHS, AMR and the community.  
Let’s do this annually!
When people help people, it’s a win-win situation.  
That’s what life should be all about on this earth.  
What a nice success for our community.  
I hope other high schools will also join in.
Sincerely,
Jason Bauserman
Bartow

Letters to the Editor: The deadline for Letters to the Editor is Monday at noon. Writers may use a maximum of 600 words. Letters should be issue-oriented and never personal. Send letters to jsgraham@pocahontastimes.com