Dear Editor:
A letter to the editor by Doug Cooper, of Valley Head, was published in last week's Times. Its tone was alarmist and its basis for inciting action was inaccurate.
In southern Pocahontas, the area of the Proposed Birthplace of Rivers National Monument, there has been significant citizen input and support in multiple public meetings for the preservation of the Monongahela's wild treasures, including the areas currently under consideration. Local citizens were strong advocates for additional Wilderness designation during the campaign leading up to the Wild Monongahela Act, which, despite this local support, ultimately protected very little land in Pocahontas County. The Monument concept is even championed by former Wilderness opponents The International Mountain Biking Association and West Virginia Trout Unlimited.
The land contained in the Birthplace of Rivers National Monument is owned by the US Forest Service, and would remain so under the proposal. Perhaps Mr. Cooper is confusing our citizen backed proposal, Birthplace of Rivers National Monument, with the National Park proposal for the Blackwater Canyon area?
The Birthplace of Rivers National Monument seeks to celebrate and preserve our cultural and natural heritage not so much for ourselves, but for future generations. Additionally, studies done in the areas of other National Monuments consistently document real, solid economic benefits to nearby communities. As many business owners in West Virginia will tell you, we could use solid economic benefits, and promoting our public lands gives us a significant opportunity to enhance local economies.
Please know that if the Birthplace of Rivers National Monument becomes a reality, there will always be a place there for outdoorsmen of all stripes, including hunters and those who manage our wildlife resources. In fact, the management prescriptions for the area within the National Monument will remain mostly consistent with current management emphasis on backcountry preservation and ecological restoration. Monument designation simply ensures that these areas are not subject to future bureaucratic changes, which may someday threaten their unique natural character.
I urge everyone to get their facts straight before raising a public alarm, particularly over a proposal that is potentially highly beneficial to our area and the children of future generations.
Frank Gifford
Hillsboro

Dear Editor:
I am pleased that we are having an intelligent discussion about making the Cranberry area a National Monument. I believe that we all want the best for the area. In my previous letter I stated that this had the support from Congressman Rahall. In talking with his office, I was told that he did not have a hand in this right now.
I am hearing two main reasons for having a National Monument designation. The Wilderness Coalition wants added protection for the area. I am not clear what restrictions will be enforced. I am also hearing from some local residents that they want to bring more people into the area because it will help economic development.
My concern is that the two reasons may not be compatible. More people visiting the Cranberry area may degrade a very fragile area. My other concern is that even though we are being told that the Forest Service will remain in management of the area and no changes will be made, this may not be the case.
It is likely that the National Park service would be given the area to manage. The increase in public visitation to a National Monument will require more amenities such as lodging, snack bars, souvenir shops, etc. Visit other National Monuments and you will see what my concerns are.
I have dealt with the National Park Service along the New River National River, have found that management to be excessively controlling, and my advice is to leave the Cranberry area as it is - protected and managed by the National Forest Service.
Doug Cooper
Valley Head

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Dear Editor:
Monongahela National Forest alert.
Good citizens of Pocahontas County and all of West Virginia. Please pay attention to what is happening without public input. There is a campaign to designate a portion of the Monongahela National Forest as a National Monument.
The Wilderness Coalition, with support from Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV), is petitioning for the area including the Cranberry Glades, the Highland Scenic Highway and north to the Randolph County line to be designated a National Monument. If this happens, it will not require an act of Congress, only an executive order from the President of the United States. There will be no public meetings and even the Forest Service will not have anything to say about it. It will only require a stroke of President Obama's pen.
The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorized the President to declare areas as National Monuments, originally to protect and preserve Indian sites out west. There is a good chance that the new National Monument area will be put under the management of the National Park Service, as are most other such designated areas. This means that hunting and vehicle access will be restricted.
Probably because of the recent number of executive orders "protecting" a variety of sites, there is currently a bill in Congress (S. 407) that would require the smallest area necessary to ensure management and sets requirements for designation. It probably has zero chance of passing.
I fail to understand what the benefit would be for such a designation and such a large area, and why Congressman Rahall would support such a recommendation. Please contact Congressman Rahall (304-252-5000, Beckley office) and tell him not to jeopardize our "land of many uses," the Monongahela National Forest.

Doug Cooper
Valley Head

Dear Editor:
On behalf of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, I thank the people and businesses of Marlinton for their tremendous welcome this past weekend.
Our Midwest regional trail manager Eric Oberg, my wife and I were in town to host a celebration marking the induction of the Greenbrier River Trail into Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. What we experienced spoke to some of the very reasons we selected the Greenbrier for this honor - the people of Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties know and appreciate the trail, respect its importance to the community, and know how to make those who come to use it feel welcome.
And we saw all the ingredients that make communities like Marlinton well-placed to capitalize on the natural advantages they have as "trail towns;" the food and accommodations are a good value, there are plenty of options close to the trail itself, and while the town has made an effort to cater to trail users, the trail hasn't compromised the character that makes the community such a great place to visit in the first place.
Many local businesses supported RTC and the event: the Greenbrier Grille and Lodge, River Pub, Dirtbean, the Old Clark Inn and the Fas Chek Super Market. As always, it is important to recognize the Greenbrier River Trail Association, the Pocahontas County Visitors Bureau and West Virginia State Parks for their continued efforts to promote the trail and, in turn, support the life and commerce of Marlinton and other communities in the region.
(Now, to convince my bosses here at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy of another reason I need to spend a weekend in West Virginia...)

All the very best,
Jake Lynch
Communications Manager
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
2121 Ward Court NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
www.railstotrails.org
jake@railstotrails.org

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Dear Editor:

In each of the last two years, prior to the County Commission announcing bid requirements for the animal shelter contract, Pocahontas SPCA requested that the Commission sever the portion of the county-owned Hanover factory building that was modified with county funds to serve as an animal shelter and then allow third parties to propose how a county-owned shelter could be operated. Each time the commissioners cited the inviolability of the lease held by ARC for the entire building until 2013 - and if ARC was unwilling to sublease the shelter space there was nothing the Commission could do about it.

This year, after publishing bid requirements but before opening proposals, the County Commission entertained a proposal by the Sheriff to operate the county's animal shelter in the ARC building. The Commission thought it was great idea and commenced negotiations with ARC in open session to cover the shelter's portion of electric and water/sewer bills. Only then did the Commission open the bids and reject both out of hand. If the Commission was willing to assert control over the shelter space this year in a manner consistent with the SPCA's prior request, why weren't qualified humane organizations given the chance to propose an alternative approach just as the Sheriff was?

The County Commission has chosen four different approaches to the animal shelter problem in the past four years. With a new commissioner being seated next January it seems probable that yet another approach will be chosen this time next year, especially if the Sheriff is not re-elected. The Commission has developed a habit of using organizations and people dedicated to the welfare of animals - and then discarding them at their whim - in a manner that can only charitably be called arbitrary and capricious.

Jay Miller
Hillsboro

Dear Editor:

I first learned about the Cranberry Glades as a 20-year old Midwestern college biology major studying an ecology textbook. I was intrigued at the uniqueness of this Canada-like biome so far south. A few years later, May 1972, my wife and I, then teaching school in Wayne County, West Virginia, took a mini-vacation to the Potomac Highlands over the extended Memorial Day weekend. I still vividly remember topping over Kennison Mountain and looking out over the vista, awestruck at the beauty. One year after, we moved to this area, where we continue to believe that we live in the most beautiful place in the world.

I say this to preface my support for the proposed Birthplace of Rivers National Monument. Quite a number of us have moved to, or grown up and remained in Pocahontas County in large part due to its jaw dropping beauty, marvelous nature and rich culture. The fact of large tracts of National Forest and federal Wilderness certainly drew me in.

I encourage my county neighbors to consider the multiple benefits of a Birthplace of Rivers National Monument. For one thing, it would in a sense be "a brand" that would enhance our prestige and attractiveness in the eyes of many of our fellow countrymen. According to Kurt Repanshek in an article, "Is There Economic Value to That National Monument in Your Backyard?" (National Parks Traveler, March 17, 2010), "A sure-fire way to boost the economy in Western states is to designate a national monument or establish a national park, as past performance shows these landscapes bolster the surrounding communities with long-lasting jobs and revenue streams tied to much, much more than simply tourism." I would assume this statement would hold even more true in eastern states with their much higher population density ratios to public land acreages.

The article goes on to say, "When national monuments or national parks are created, they often act like magnets for both those who make their livelihoods in those settings and those who want to live nearby for the quality-of-life benefits that come with these places."

Speaking from my own personal perspective, I fully understand.

Respectfully,

Allen Johnson
Dunmore

Dear Editor:

Thanks for the good coverage of the June 5th county commission meeting. And warm thanks to the Commissioners for voting to support the proposed "Birthplace of Rivers National Monument."

I was happy to hear fishing and hunting will be allowed in the national monument - since these are two of the many reasons this county is beloved by folks around the state and elsewhere. I'm glad to hear that having a "monument" here won't limit other activities already allowed right now in the proposed areas. All the areas in the monument proposal are already managed by the Monongahela National Forest, so activities currently going on will be able to continue just as they have before. That's great.

So the Birthplace of Rivers National Monument is a "win-win" proposal. 1) It addresses areas that are our precious heritage (Cranberry Glades and Wilderness, Falls of Hills Creek, Scenic Highway, Tea Creek Backcountry, Turkey Mountain Backcountry, and Headwaters of the Cranberry, Cherry, Williams, Gauley, Elk and Greenbrier rivers) and "puts them on the map" as a monument.

2) A national monument would bring the best kind of economic growth to Pocahontas County. This is something a local businesswoman, Blair Campbell, brought up at the meeting and I agree with her.

The whole country will recognize our uniqueness every time they scan their eyes over a road map of the East Coast. For the following reason: a big part of the monument proposal is Cranberry Wilderness which is the largest U.S. Forest Service wilderness east of the Mississippi River. In other words, we have the largest forested wilderness on the East coast!

There are 26 states east of the Mississippi, and they hold more than half the U.S. population. So in this huge section of our great country - we have the largest forested wilderness right here.

I'll be proud to live in the county with the Birthplace of Rivers National Monument.

Sincerely,

Ginger Must
Hillsboro

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Dear Editor:
I am in total agreement with the recent letter written by Cheryl Jonese concerning Norman Alderman.
Alderman goes above and beyond in harassing people, including my niece, Magistrate Kathy Beverage. After she lost the Primary Election, he boasted about helping put the cow out to pasture. I hope people will see what he has done to her.
My sister, Dortha Pyles, was buried last week, but I did not attend the services because they were held in Norman's church. Other family members did not attend, as well. I do not respect him and refuse to set foot in his church.
I could not attend Dortha's husband's funeral because of an injury.
I agree his blog is trash and I will no longer read it.
Della Fleury
Marlinton

Dear Editor:
Behind the scenes...
It is in our nature to ignore what is not clearly visible. For example, when we drive over a new bridge we may remember a traffic jam or a guy leaning on a shovel, but we did not see, and do not recall, the hard work the bridge required.
The Farmers Market is another example. In the past few years, dozens of individuals and organizations pulled together to make it an important part of our summer life. All donated their time, effort and resources. All deserve our thanks.
These community builders include: former and current Market officers Doug Bernier, Tolly Peuleche, Marcia Laska and Larry Lucas. Strong supporters Phyliss Lucas, Margaret Worth and Rachel Tompkins. Skilled marketer Dawn Baldwin Barrett. Enthusiastic fundraisers Lois Young and Laura Brannon.
Tireless Market "staff" Woody Walker, Adrienne Cedarleaf, Bruce Carr and Pete Tinney. Generous contributors Pete and Elaine Tinney and Dave Young. Friendly neighbors Crystal Dean and her family. Delightful musicians Paolo Marks, Homer Hunter, Corey Bonasso and a half-dozen others.
Organizations who helped the Market grow include: just about every retail outlet in the Marlinton area, the County Commission, NRAO, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Town of Marlinton, the Marlinton Housing Authority, the USDA, The Highland Center and, of course, The Pocahontas Times.
Each individual and organization was key to building a successful Pocahontas County Farmers Market. All should have the entire county's appreciation.
Rich Laska
Bartow

Disclaimer: Letters to the Editor express the opinion of the writer and are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper's ownership, management or staff. 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 pepritt@pocahon tastimes.com

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Dear Editor:
I have resisted writing because I do not want to give any legitimacy whatsoever to the hate blog that Norman Alderman has spawned. It has reached a point, however, where I feel I must speak out and encourage others to critically evaluate what they read. Alderman publishes half-truths, sensationalized information and misleads unsuspecting readers. I don't routinely read the trash, but occasionally people will urge me to look for myself.

The post that prompted my response is "The Secret Meeting." Stinkwell Tater (one of Alderman's alias names) has said he is trying to find out who was in attendance at a secret meeting at the Pretty Penny on the Friday before the Republican meeting in Hillsboro. I suppose he is talking about the well-publicized meeting held at the Pretty Penny on Tuesday, April 24. The April 19 Times published an invitation for all to attend "a conversation with the sheriff."

It was well attended and was a success, with many people asking questions and getting answers. The lies Alderman has printed includes that it was a "secret meeting" of Jonese's "thugs," and that it was intended to "plot" against a Republican magistrate candidate.

For those of you who attended the open, public meeting, how do you like being called "thugs?" Do you remember anyone plotting against a magistrate candidate?

It is clear that Alderman has an intense dislike for the sheriff and this loathing stems from Alderman's arrest for stalking and harassing a county commissioner. It also seems he did not learn anything from his arrest and time spent in jail. I feel he uses his blog to continuously bully, stalk and harass people in our county. If you get on his bad side, God help you, because your name will likely show up on the blog accompanied by anything he can print to make you look bad whether it is true or not. The really hilarious thing to me is that Alderman apparently believes himself to be a reporter.

I don't know what has happened to our society that we allow such trash to be disseminated.

For years Alderman has printed racist comments about my husband, myself and my children. My husband has been called "Chief Run-A-Muck," my daughters and I called "squaws" and my son a "brave." A recent anonymous poster on the site referred to my family as a "tribe."

In the correct context, these same words associated with Native Americans are not offensive. From my perspective it is clear, however, that Alderman uses these words with hate and hostility and their use is intended to be derogatory.

My family is very proud of our Native American heritage. His racist comments are especially hurtful as we have just had the first anniversary of the passing of the proud and wonderful man who gave us our American Indian heritage, Joseph Jonese. My father-in-law was a full-blooded Shoshone Indian. He served our country in the Army for 21 years and then served our county for 18 years as PCHS custodian, and was for many years the mascot for our mighty Warriors sports team.

Those of you who knew Joe, knew how very proud he was to be Indian, and how much he did to instill pride and spirit at PCHS. It sickens me that someone like Alderman is allowed to make openly racist comments about such a proud heritage.

We are not the only people he attacks. Daily posts on his blog target people he dislikes for whatever reason. The only reason I can think of as to why people do not stand up to him is because they do not want to appear on his site. In my opinion, he is a bully, a coward and fails to speak the complete truth, hiding in the shadows of the Internet. He will spew nasty comments on his blog, but when seen in public he hides behind his camera or tucks his tail and runs. It is truly a sad affair when a so-called "preacher" demonstrates this type of behavior and leaves his disgusting hate blog as a legacy. He hides behind his claim to being a man of the cloth, but honestly, I don't see how anyone with any amount of sanity could listen to him, much less support him.

I encourage anyone who reads the blog or hears about what is being said on the blog to carefully read and distinguish between what is fact and what may be fiction.

Cheryl Jonese
Green Bank

Dear Editor:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In 2010-11 West Virginia spent more than $13.5 million just on substance abuse and more than $44.6 million on mental health. Of those totals, only $300,000 was spent on homelessness.

As many as one in three people suffers from a mood disorder (mental illness) at some point in their lives. Mood disorders range from mild depression to severe Schizophrenia. People with a mood disorder may experience anxiety, bipolar and ADHD, PTSD or severe depression. The person with a mood disorder is not the only one to suffer. Families, friends and co-workers also suffer.

There is help.

If you think you are suffering from a mood disorder, you can go to www.DBSAlliance.org and take a quick quiz for bipolar or depression. Some of the signs and symptoms of depression are: prolonged sadness, worry, irritability, anger, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, restlessness, loss of energy, drug and alcohol abuse, inability to concentrate, feelings of guilt or hopelessness and thoughts of suicide.

Some of the warning signs of bipolar mania are: high energy, less need for sleep, racing, speech, exaggerated self-confidence, excessive irritability, grandiose delusions, reckless behavior such as excessive spending, rash decisions and sexual indiscretions. These mood changes can be severe and last for a few days or even weeks. A person with bipolar can also change back and forth between the depression state and the manic state.

A person who feels he or she is having symptoms of bipolar disorder should seek help from mental health specialists, community mental health centers, outpatient clinics, clergy, family services and peer support groups. Equally important is to be informed and be educated about the illness.

For more information, visit the website, call 304-472-1947 or email dianathompson222@hotmail.com.

Sincerely,
Diana Thompson
DBSA WV
Buckhannon

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Dear Editor:
I have resisted writing because I do not want to give any legitimacy whatsoever to the hate blog that Norman Alderman has spawned. It has reached a point, however, where I feel I must speak out and encourage others to critically evaluate what they read. Alderman publishes half-truths, sensationalized information and misleads unsuspecting readers. I don't routinely read the trash, but occasionally people will urge me to look for myself.

The post that prompted my response is "The Secret Meeting." Stinkwell Tater (one of Alderman's alias names) has said he is trying to find out who was in attendance at a secret meeting at the Pretty Penny on the Friday before the Republican meeting in Hillsboro. I suppose he is talking about the well-publicized meeting held at the Pretty Penny on Tuesday, April 24. The April 19 Times published an invitation for all to attend "a conversation with the sheriff."

It was well attended and was a success, with many people asking questions and getting answers. The lies Alderman has printed includes that it was a "secret meeting" of Jonese's "thugs," and that it was intended to "plot" against a Republican magistrate candidate.

For those of you who attended the open, public meeting, how do you like being called "thugs?" Do you remember anyone plotting against a magistrate candidate?

It is clear that Alderman has an intense dislike for the sheriff and this loathing stems from Alderman's arrest for stalking and harassing a county commissioner. It also seems he did not learn anything from his arrest and time spent in jail. I feel he uses his blog to continuously bully, stalk and harass people in our county. If you get on his bad side, God help you, because your name will likely show up on the blog accompanied by anything he can print to make you look bad whether it is true or not. The really hilarious thing to me is that Alderman apparently believes himself to be a reporter.

I don't know what has happened to our society that we allow such trash to be disseminated.

For years Alderman has printed racist comments about my husband, myself and my children. My husband has been called "Chief Run-A-Muck," my daughters and I called "squaws" and my son a "brave." A recent anonymous poster on the site referred to my family as a "tribe."

In the correct context, these same words associated with Native Americans are not offensive. From my perspective it is clear, however, that Alderman uses these words with hate and hostility and their use is intended to be derogatory.

My family is very proud of our Native American heritage. His racist comments are especially hurtful as we have just had the first anniversary of the passing of the proud and wonderful man who gave us our American Indian heritage, Joseph Jonese. My father-in-law was a full-blooded Shoshone Indian. He served our country in the Army for 21 years and then served our county for 18 years as PCHS custodian, and was for many years the mascot for our mighty Warriors sports team.

Those of you who knew Joe, knew how very proud he was to be Indian, and how much he did to instill pride and spirit at PCHS. It sickens me that someone like Alderman is allowed to make openly racist comments about such a proud heritage.

We are not the only people he attacks. Daily posts on his blog target people he dislikes for whatever reason. The only reason I can think of as to why people do not stand up to him is because they do not want to appear on his site. In my opinion, he is a bully, a coward and fails to speak the complete truth, hiding in the shadows of the Internet. He will spew nasty comments on his blog, but when seen in public he hides behind his camera or tucks his tail and runs. It is truly a sad affair when a so-called "preacher" demonstrates this type of behavior and leaves his disgusting hate blog as a legacy. He hides behind his claim to being a man of the cloth, but honestly, I don't see how anyone with any amount of sanity could listen to him, much less support him.

I encourage anyone who reads the blog or hears about what is being said on the blog to carefully read and distinguish between what is fact and what may be fiction.

Cheryl Jonese
Green Bank

Dear Editor:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In 2010-11 West Virginia spent more than $13.5 million just on substance abuse and more than $44.6 million on mental health. Of those totals, only $300,000 was spent on homelessness.

As many as one in three people suffers from a mood disorder (mental illness) at some point in their lives. Mood disorders range from mild depression to severe Schizophrenia. People with a mood disorder may experience anxiety, bipolar and ADHD, PTSD or severe depression. The person with a mood disorder is not the only one to suffer. Families, friends and co-workers also suffer.

There is help.

If you think you are suffering from a mood disorder, you can go to www.DBSAlliance.org and take a quick quiz for bipolar or depression. Some of the signs and symptoms of depression are: prolonged sadness, worry, irritability, anger, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, restlessness, loss of energy, drug and alcohol abuse, inability to concentrate, feelings of guilt or hopelessness and thoughts of suicide.

Some of the warning signs of bipolar mania are: high energy, less need for sleep, racing, speech, exaggerated self-confidence, excessive irritability, grandiose delusions, reckless behavior such as excessive spending, rash decisions and sexual indiscretions. These mood changes can be severe and last for a few days or even weeks. A person with bipolar can also change back and forth between the depression state and the manic state.

A person who feels he or she is having symptoms of bipolar disorder should seek help from mental health specialists, community mental health centers, outpatient clinics, clergy, family services and peer support groups. Equally important is to be informed and be educated about the illness.

For more information, visit the website, call 304-472-1947 or email dianathompson222@hotmail.com.

Sincerely,
Diana Thompson
DBSA WV
Buckhannon

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Dear Editor:
Citizens of West Virginia:

I am writing to correct misinformation which has been circulated in print and social media, relating to the appearance of a convicted felon, as a candidate for United States President, on the recent democratic primary ballot. I am concerned that because of misstatements and inaccuracies, the confidence of the electorate may have been shaken.

The law is simple. The qualifications for President of the United States are set only by the U.S. Constitution. Those requirements are three:

1. Native born citizen;
2. At least age 35; and
3. Resident of United States for last 14 years.

No other qualifications are set for that office. Individual states cannot impose their own qualifications. Some publications have quoted, in part, a section of the West Virginia Constitution as support for the interpretation that a felon cannot be a candidate. However, the section applies only to "any state, county or municipal office" and does not apply to any federal office such as President. National constitutional experts confirm that a felon may run for federal office. At least 20 court decisions have upheld that principal; according to an Associated Press story of May 11, 2012.

Many passions have been raised by this situation. Those passions have caused otherwise intelligent individuals to suggest that I should have rejected the filing. To do so would have violated my oath to uphold the constitutions of West Virginia and the United States. Also, to do so would have overruled the previous practices of every Secretary of State since 1992. In 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 a convicted felon was a candidate for president on the WV ballot. In 2008 a convicted felon would have been on the ballot but was not only because he missed a filing deadline. Even after the felon missed the deadline in 2008, the office of Secretary of State continued to assist his attempts to run for office as a write-in.
I have followed the law. You can be confident that I will continue to do so. Sometimes following the law leads to an unpopular result. But, I refuse to substitute my opinion of what the law should be for what the law actually is. I understand the passion and even the embarrassment that many citizens feel, but it was not within my power to break the law and deny the candidate access to the ballot. That is exactly the same constitutional position taken by Secretaries Hechler, Manchin, and Ireland, and others before them.

I regret the misinformation which has been circulated. I hope that damage to the voters' confidence can be contained. I can only speculate that persons have let their passion get the better of their reasoning.

Sincerely,
Natalie E. Tennant
West Virginia
Secretary of State

Dear Editor:
The Pocahontas County Commission president, David Fleming, (in The Pocahontas Times dated May 3, 2012) informed his constituents that he was "still hurting" two days after the March 20, 2012 commission meeting. What from? Things not going HIS way? The people at that meeting learned at least two things. First, he was not listening to his constituents who attended the meeting to explain their reasons for opposing the nine-acre Meck sewage "deal." Secondly, when his "deal" was defeated, he was very angry - so angry that he did not even finish the evening's agenda.
During the next two years of Mr. Fleming's term, perhaps he can show an improvement. It is not hard to listen to the majority of the people. In my opinion, his biggest priority as an elected county commissioner should be to the people that elected him - not to the GVEDC board or any other board that he sits on. The next time he writes, he could tell us about his actual responsibilities to the voters of Pocahontas County as our elected commission member and also his responsibilities as he represents the Pocahontas County citizens while sitting on the GVEDC Board. That way, there cannot be a conflict of interest because then his individual job responsibilities would be in line with the people who elected him and not with the boards that he sits on.
We, the people, of Pocahontas County want Mr. Fleming to consider our opinions as more important than his alone. If he will give priority to the voters of this county and keep an open mind to our perspectives and opinions and work with us, then we will be able to say that he has an open mind.
One more issue that some of us have discussed - why should the taxpayers of Pocahontas County pay for the clean-up of the tannery in Frank and then have the proceeds from the lease or sale of that land go to the GVEDC?
Tony Byrd
Green Bank

Dear Editor:
In response to the Letter to the Editor submitted by Tony Byrd, of Green Bank, and published in the April 12 edition of your newspaper, the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (GVEDC) wishes to clarify certain statements made by Mr. Byrd regarding funding provided by the Pocahontas County Commission to the GVEDC and leases handled by the GVEDC on behalf of the county.

The Pocahontas County Commission named the GVEDC its economic development organization for the 2012 - 2013 program year. It does so as a requirement of the West Virginia Development Office Local Economic Development (LED) Grant program, a matching-funds grant. Greenbrier and Monroe counties also designate the GVEDC as their economic development organization. The match is based upon population, with each county paying a set amount per person. Pocahontas County's contribution will drop this year due to population loss as determined by the 2010 census. The GVEDC received $10,899 last year from the county commission. This money is paid to the GVEDC for economic development services, among which is the disposition of property the county wishes to lease or sell to the private sector for business development. It also includes Business Retention and Expansion (BR&T), Farmland Protection Board participation, small business consulting, small business loan programming and the development and management of an industrial park at Edray.

As pertains to Interstate Hardwoods, the money paid to the GVEDC is, in effect, a lease for the development of two building at their location totaling 46,000 square feet. All the funds paid per month save $750 go to the loan taken to develop these structures. The money retained by the GVEDC is for the costs of the project, including engineering, legal, continuing administrative costs and the land lease.

Sun Propane began as a lease of 1.1 acres for $50 per month, which is now $75 per month. The term of the lease is five years with a five year renewal option.

The total per year income to the GVEDC is for its participation in business development activities in Pocahontas County, including the management of leased properties and buildings is $22,599 per year.

It is the intent of the GVEDC board, including the six members from Pocahontas County, and its staff to provide the best economic development service it can to the Pocahontas County Commission and all the people they represent. This office has an open door policy for the citizens of all three counties it serves. Our telephone number is 304-497-4300 and my e-mail address is sweir@gvedc.com. I hope this information clarifies the issues mentioned in Mr. Byrd's letter.
Sincerely,
Stephen Weir
Executive Director

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Dear Editor:

September's West Virginia RoadKill Cook-off and Autumn Harvest Festival appears a long way off, but for those of us preparing for the big occasion, it seems just upon us. The Pocahontas County Chamber of Commerce will once again bring this nationally acclaimed festival to the streets of Marlinton. So now is a good time to say how much we appreciate the residents, the business owners and the Town of Marlinton. We are proud and honored we get to hold such a large and well-known event in this lovely town.

This year we'd like to invite everyone in the county, and particularly Marlinton, to help us with the festival. There's plenty of planning required when we have almost 20,000 people coming for lunch.

We'll need people to sell tickets, cookbooks and t-shirts, help advertise, give directions, set up tents and road blocks, order trophies and ribbons, register country fair exhibitors, help with the dog show, secure talent, serve as emcee, host the beauty pageants, order trophies and ribbons, coordinate with the merchants and restaurants, coordinate the music and other entertainment, assist with the newest annual activity - the Possum Trot, help with setup the night before, direct traffic and, of course - listen to visitors tell us what a good time they're having here in Pocahontas County. There are dozens more tasks, some dealing with the beauty pageant, some with the West Virginia RoadKill Cook-off and others with helping the actual day of the event - this is just a sampling. And we have lots of new ideas and activities in mind, also.

Our first planning meeting will be Wednesday, May 2, at the Marlinton Municipal Building from 4 to 6 p.m. If you can come for a little while and offer to help or present an idea that you are willing to foster through the festival, then by all means, you will be welcomed. It will take all of us to join together to continue this wonderful festival that truly has put Marlinton on the map. For those of you who have asked yourself or one another why we didn't do certain things during the festival - this is your opportunity to show up and be heard.

Please take this as my personal invitation to help continue to make the Autumn Harvest Festival what my friend Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods called the "real deal." If you cannot attend on that evening and still want to help, please call me directly at 304-799-2228 and I'll make sure there's room for you on the team.

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Cordially,
Gail Hyer
Pocahontas County Chamber of Commerce

Dear Editor:

After seeing and hearing how everyone on the Pocahontas County Chamber of Commerce pats each other on the back, it makes me wonder why. I can't think of anything good they have done for other business owners or the business community or the people. But ask what happened when Grandpa's Pantry needed help. Where were they?

Speaking of cronyism, what gives with our local Pocahontas newspaper? It seems that most people have to send a letter to the editor and then hope it gets printed. The office manager for Meck's gets to write a rebuttal, and more, and get it printed as an Op-Ed. Why is this? Maybe because Sherry Radcliff and Malinda Meck sit on the Pocahontas Chamber of Commerce, along with the editor of The Pocahontas Times.

When someone wants to put a human feces holding area for 400,000 gallons plus in the town of Green Bank, the Pocahontas County Chamber of Commerce seems to think this is good for business. Could this be because the business owner's wife and his office manager and other small support group are on this board? This same group of people doesn't seem to care about the many people who have signed a petition against this atrocity.

How can they say that this sewage business on a major highway leading to Snowshoe and Cass could be good for tourism, which is what they say they promote? Ha.

This cronyism comes close to corruption in my book.

If Mr. Meck can't afford to buy some land away from the main routes, then some of his cronies should assist by donating money or donating a few acres for this good cause. Then the good people in Green Bank will only have to live with his junkyard and not the smell of human waste.

Speaking of smell-what's with our upper Pocahontas County Commissioner David Fleming who was against putting a sewage treatment plant on the Sharp Farm in Slaty Fork, but is very adamant about placing a 400,000 gallon storage facility for human feces in Green Bank on county-owned land?

Please remember that Fleming was elected to represent and protect the residents of this county. This does stink to High Heaven.

I put all this controversy at the feet of David Fleming in the way he contrived to convey this land to Jacob Meck without the input of the people in Green Bank.

Stephen M. McNally
Arbovale

[ITAL]Editor's note: We received and printed several letters to the editor on one of the topics Mr. McNally writes about this week; instead of allowing a printed rebuttal to each one, we printed Ms. Radcliff's as an op-ed. The Pocahontas Times is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, but has no voting seat on its board.

Dear Editor:

Our local election has turned into quite a mud-slinging event. A local blog is a major source of half-truths and innuendos being spewed by some candidates as fact.

I'm specifically addressing the half-truths being told about my son, Deputy B. E. Nelson. A sheriff's candidate has said he would not hire a deputy who had been arrested and had his record expunged. This candidate did not approach my son to get the facts.

A candidate for magistrate used my son's name at a "Meet the Candidates" event in Marlinton to promote her campaign. Did she approach my son to see what the facts were about his arrest before using him in her mud-slinging campaign? She did not.

By the way, if anyone cares to read the original record of my son's arrest, the magistrate wrote "no evidence to support charges." My son was a teenager at the time and was defending himself on the lawn of his own property after numerous threats by another individual. He is an upstanding, honest, hardworking person who went into law enforcement to help make this county a safer place for his and others' children, as have numerous other deputies on the force right now. He is someone who cares; ask anyone who knows him about his character.

He follows in his grandfather's footsteps. C. E. Ted Matheny was a former deputy and sheriff. My dad would be so very proud of the outstanding young man Bradley has grown into and the job he does, just as I am.

There will always be dirt in politics. Sad to say, some want to use this drama to build their campaign.

Why not just tell us what you can do and not what, in most cases, is an opinion of what has been done?

What happened to running on your qualifications?

Sincerely,
Cheryl Matheny Nelson
Arbovale

Dear Editor:

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month here in West Virginia. I wanted to write in to let everyone know about the changes in mandatory reporting laws as of June 8.

The biggest change occurring is for coaches, as they are now mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse. This means that any coach who works with children must report to the proper authorities any suspected child abuse. The key word is "suspected," as the abuse does not need to be validated by the coach, just suspected.

This law also affects any person who volunteers with groups of children, as well as print photo developers. Obviously, these new laws come on the coattails of one of the most publicized child abuse cases in history. We have watched and judged the trials of Penn State, but now it is our turn to act. We need to work together to help prevent child abuse here in Pocahontas County. Keeping our kids safe, happy and healthy should be our number one priority.

If you suspect that a child is being abused, please call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-352-6513. Remember, it is your turn to make a difference. For more information, or to become a trained Mandated Reporter, call 304-799-6847.

Marian Wright
Pocahontas County Family
Outreach and Education Center

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Dear Editor:
Many concerned citizens of Upper Pocahontas County wonder why the commissioner we elected to represent us is going against the wishes of a very large number of Upper Pocahontas County citizens. He was not for putting the Snowshoe sewage treatment plant on the Sharp farm, but he is for putting large amounts human sewage from Snowshoe in a holding area in one of the beautiful towns of Pocahontas County. This smells and we will remember this at his next election.
If Snowshoe has a problem with the solid waste that continues to accumulate on the mountain, why not dig pits for the sewage on some of Snowshoe's land close to the source of the human sewage. This would conserve fuel and cut down on Mr. Meck's trucking expenses. Businesses and individuals do need to look for ways to cut back on the consumption of gasoline. It seems absurd to truck tens of thousands of this septic waste and all of its contaminants down the narrow mountain road from Snowshoe and then along the narrow and twisty road that comes out of Cass in order to deposit it in a residential community.
Commissioner David Fleming wears at least two hats - one as an elected Pocahontas County Commissioner and one as a board member for the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation. He can vote to send a deed for our public land (which belongs to Pocahontas County taxpayers and citizens) to the GVEDC so that they can lease it or sell it to whomever they choose and for any amount they want. Does this sound like a conflict of interest to anyone? If you ask Commissioner Fleming, he will tell you he is doing the right thing. How can it be the right thing when so many citizens are against this? How can it be the right thing when we, the citizens, lose the land and no money comes back to the county?
Do you, the taxpayers of Pocahontas County, know that Pocahontas County pays the Greenbrier Valley EDC $11,000 a year to handle this public land - even if they do not sell any land during the year? The GVEDC also receives close to $7,000 per month from Interstate Lumber for the use of 5.1 acres of your public land at Frank; that is over $80,000 a year. Then there is the $50 per acre per month that Jacob Meck pays for the three acres in Green Bank - $1800 per year. Also, Sun Propane in Frank pays for 1 acre at $50 per month for storage. These amounts add up to over $90,000 per year going to the Greenbrier Valley EDC with no return to Pocahontas County.
This situation needs to change quickly. Is Pocahontas County so wealthy that we can afford to give this land and money away? Perhaps there is something smelly here also.
Tony Byrd
Green Bank

Dear Editor:
In 2011, when some of us first heard of the plan to lease nine acres of public land in Green Bank for storage of human waste and sewage, we expressed our concern to the Pocahontas County Commission by emails, telephone calls, and a petition. A notice appeared in The Pocahontas Times inviting citizens to an event at the NRAO Visitor Center auditorium. We expected to attend this meeting and learn details of this plan - perhaps a proposal with information that would show how the land, water, and air would be protected from any contamination. At this event, we were shown a slide presentation of the Meck's business accomplishments and were introduced to their employees and families. We were told at the beginning that those of us who had prepared brief statements would be allowed to read those statements, but no questions would be allowed during the evening. We heard from other speakers who had been chosen by the Mecks, but none of them gave us any new information concerning the sewage tank issue.

Now there is this new plan. The survey that was sent to the Pocahontas County Commission in February 2012 shows a 100,000 gallon tank and six pits to hold 50,000 gallons each. That is a total of 400,000 gallons of sewage. Why should any small town anywhere become the storage place for this much sewage? And why should sewage from Snowshoe end up in Green Bank? And what is the purpose of storing 400,000 gallons? I have spoken with landowners who were approached by Mr. Meck and asked if they would be interested in spreading this human waste on land as fertilizer. I mentioned this when I read a statement at the NRAO Auditorium in 2011 and again at the March 20 PCC meeting. I did not get any response from Mr. Meck or the Commissioners about this. I have done some reading on the subject. It is a risky practice because this sewage may contain disease-causing pathogens, heavy metals and other contaminants. To remove all of this requires a very expensive facility and a complex process. I have to do more research about West Virginia's regulations concerning this, but I think I will find that the regulations are outdated and need to be revised due to the new pathogens and other contaminants that end up in septic tanks in our modern day world. If this sewage is not treated properly, there is the possibility of contaminating the soil and the water in our streams and wells - also contaminating the farm animals and the wild animals that graze on this land. I have spoken with an environmental scientist who is willing to travel to Pocahontas County (at no cost to Pocahontas County) to speak to any interested citizens who have questions about using septic tank sewage for fertilizer.

The potential use of human sewage on our land should be of concern to all Pocahontas County citizens as this sewage could be offered to landowners anywhere in the county and in other counties. Many landowners might not be aware of the newer types of contaminants in this sewage.

Those of us who live here are truly blessed to live in a part of America that still has clean and safe water to drink. God created this paradise and we should all work very hard to protect it.
Those of us who are opposed to the sewage plan are not villains. We are just citizens who have concerns and are exercising our First Amendment rights. We live in a democracy and have a right to speak freely and to sign petitions when we feel that our elected officials are not acting in the best interest of the public.

Sincerely,
Becky O'Brien
Green Bank

Dear Editor:
Elements of the same libertarian, property rights cabal that would welcome with open arms the depredations of the extractive industries that bring carcinogens and processes that threaten water and environment now want to deny these same property rights to a longtime county resident and respected businessman who provides multiple local jobs and a needed public service to the county.

Lacking courage, the county commission has bent its knee to these strident voices of reaction, resulting in the exodus of these jobs and economic development for our county.
Jacob Meck should sue the county commission for breach of contract.
Sincerely,
Dick Evans
Hillsboro

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