In
this weeks edition:
Time fly’s…
Where has the summer gone??? For that matter, 2010 is
somewhat of a blur. Here we are, already past the half
way mark and it seems like only yesterday that we were
complaining about how cold it was. That certainly has
not been the case lately. It seems that whatever the
weather condition, they are a bit extreme. That was
the case last winter… worse than most in recent history.
The hot summer days… record breaking temperatures. Now
we have rain… and boy when it rains it pours. Our only
recourse is to make the best of it. Or… we could do
what we normally do… complain about it.
Interesting
meeting…
The Braxton County Commission meeting was an interesting
one. I didn’t think much about it when the move of the
Recycling Center was discussed at a previous meeting.
The facility has been located in a building in the lower
end of Gassaway that as a kid, I knew as the old Gassaway
Dry Cleaners. Memory doesn’t serve me as well regarding
the building near the Fire House that they proposed
to move to. My last recollection was when Mountaineer
Food Bank began operation there in the early 80’s.
The Gassaway Fire Department makes some good points
related to the adverse aspects of the relocation. I
tend to agree with them. I’m sure no one really thought
about the down side when the Tie Yard was located just
below the Dam here in Sutton. However, that operation
certainly has been a problem for many area residents
and businesses over the years. I am glad GVFD is making
their opposition known now, opposed to after the move
is made. There are a number of vacant or available buildings
in the county. I hope additional thought goes into this
venture, before it is moved into the middle of Gassaway…
almost next door to what will be a beautiful new elementary
school.
Also at that County Commission meeting, Craig Smith
voiced his opposition to something that happened at
a previous meeting. It also became the topic of this
space. I was not in attendance at the meeting, but Allison
questioned how Craig could charge $2,300 more for the
same legal advertisement than we did… when state law
says that, since our circulation is larger, we are entitled
to charge more. I understand Craig was at that meeting,
but didn’t say anything.
At last Friday’s meeting he used the letter you find
on this page as justification to say that he had been
exonerated of any wrong doing and demanded that I apologize
to him in these pages. When he ask me the question in
a public meeting regarding an apology. I told him it
would not be forthcoming. I still contend that regardless
of how you want to slant it... the state code sets the
rates. Yes, there is some gray area in the way the law
is laid out. Pricing legals, with the type styles that
are used, maps and tables that need to be included,
is very difficult, and that creates confusion. Our circulation
is indisputably larger, it is a waste of taxpayer money
to pay a smaller publication nearly one fourth more
money to print the same legal. Obviously, he and I are
not going to agree on this subject. I regret that the
Commissioners can’t see the obvious injustice, particularly
when they are constantly harping about how tight money
is. I did realize on Friday, what I already came to
realize, a Commission meeting is not the proper forum
to state this case.
Oil
in the Gulf, Dog Days, Bear and Senate appointment...
After
three months and countless tries to stop thousands of
gallons of oil flowing into the Gulf, either they got
it plugged or the well is dry. Many have lost jobs in
the fishing and vacationing industry in the area. So
much wild life has been destroyed and the area damaged
for years to come. Will the area be fully repaired quickly
or thousands of lives disrupted for many years to come?
Old folks always had the idea if dog days came in dry
it would not rain during that time. Fortunately, the
rains came and gardens and fruit trees received much
needed moisture. No matter how many water hoses are
used to refresh crops, nothing matches the rains from
the heavens.
People in southern Braxton County are seeing their share
of bears looking for black berries or anything to eat.
I’m hoping the nut trees have a good crop for the squirrels
and other wildlife.
Governor Manchin’s appointment of a person to replace
the seat in the senate is timely. It has been said that
no one could replace Senator Bob Byrd, but hopefully
we can have someone who is as interested in our state
and its people as Byrd always was. Seems we may have
an election in November to elect someone to the position.
lolabgiven@wildblue.net
