Manchin?Tours the Region
Governor Wants Residents To Take Ownership, Work With State GovernmentBy ANTHONY GAYNOR, Staff Writer
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Gov. Joe Manchin visited numerous communities throughout the area on Monday bringing a message for residents to take ownership and work with the state government.
"I do not know of another county that has stepped forward like you," Manchin told Tucker County Reserve Deputies in Parsons. "You all have stepped to the plate."
Manchin began his day in Parsons by honoring the reserve deputies with certificates of appreciation. Tucker County Sheriff Tom Felton said there were 11 reserves who help with numerous functions throughout the county. He said they help with prisoners' transport, court duty, event security, building checks and traffic control.
"We could not function without them (reserves)," Felton said.
Manchin said the state receives requests for funding from every county and municipality in the state and he likes to see the local government agencies take a leadership role in trying to solve the issues.
"He (Felton) reached out to you and you took ownership of this city and county," Manchin told the deputies. "You have to put value into your county. People should be extremely excited about this."
Manchin handed out certificates to 10 reserve deputies including Jim Buddigh, Michelle Felton, James Lipscomb, Joan Lipscomb, Whitney Matlick, Rebecca Myers, Holli Owens, Darl Pine, Ricky Rosier and Fred Trader.
Manchin then went to Parsons City Hall to award grants to the cities of Parsons and Thomas and the Tucker County Family Resource Network. Manchin urged those in attendance to "take ownership" of their city and county. He said cities cannot always do everything by themselves, but if they work together with state it will work out great.
"The communities that do that go straight to the top of the heap," Manchin said.
Manchin awarded the city of Thomas $45,000 to finishes the Western Maryland Engine Building 208. Thomas Mayor Dottie Wilson said there was $11,000 in local money being used to finish the building.
"I can tell people are making a difference in this community," Manchin said.
Manchin also awarded an $80,000 grant to the city of Parsons to convert the old railroad bridge into part of the Allegheny Trail. Parsons Mayor Bill Rosenau said the project will make the town look nicer and be used by walkers and bicyclists.
"These trails are giving people no excuse not to go out and walk or bicycle," Manchin said.
The Tucker County FRN was awarded a $30,000 Safe and Drug Free Community Grant. Manchin said everyone probably knows someone who has at least experimented with illegal drugs.
"There are so many other ways to explore," Manchin said. "This is not just for the youth, but also for adults. You reached out and asked for help to fight drug use in the county."
Manchin then made his way to the grand opening of the Tucker County Democratic Headquarters in Parsons.
"There is so much to work on in West Virginia and we are working hard," Manchin said. "We are proud of the people of the state."
Manchin highlighted some of the problems facing the state when he took office four years ago. He said workers' compensation and the tax structure in the state needed to be addressed.
"I really believe we have to have better jobs with benefits," Manchin said. "We also have to be better stewards for the environment."
Manchin said the state needs to make better use of the biomass left in the forest from timbering and that the country needs to reduce the dependency on foreign oil.
"We are a better state than what we perform," Manchin said. "Every West Virginian that gets up and goes to work should have health care."
He said the elderly, the youth and criminals all receive health care benefits and the only people the state is not taking care of is the working class.
Manchin also urged the Democrats to discuss the qualities of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"There are a lot of reasons that people say why they will not vote for Barack Obama," Manchin said.
Manchin said Obama is being judged on social values and people believe Obama will take away their guns and other social concerns. He said with former President Bill Clinton and current President George W. Bush, the social values did not change and they would not under an Obama presidency.
"I did not agree with Bill Clinton socially," Manchin said. "George Bush performance wise has done terribly, but didn't change anything socially.
"You need to ask people to give change a chance. We have got to change not just for this state, but for this country and the world. America has been recognized as the world leader for the last eight to 10 decades. I think this country needs a change."
Manchin said no president has ever left office with 19 percent favorability adding that the percentage says everything.
"They (the Bush administration) have not fixed the mistakes they made," Manchin said. "They have compounded them."
Manchin said Obama truly wants to listen and that he has never met anyone who is more comfortable with who they are.
"I never felt so strong than I do know that we need a change," Manchin said.
Manchin then made his way to Petersburg and Moorefield. In Moorefield, he attended the grand opening of the Hardy County Chamber of Commerce next to McCoy's Grand Theater. After taking pictures in the office, the chamber members and Manchin moved into the theater to speak to the crowd in attendance.
"This is a big day for us," Hardy County Chamber of Commerce President Don Baker said. "I want to thank the theater board for leasing us the office next to the theater."
Baker said the only way the chamber can be successful is to have a large number of businesses. Manchin was introduced by Moorefield Mayor Gary Stalnaker.
"He (Manchin) has always provided assistance to our town and county," Stalnaker said.
Manchin delivered a message similar to the one he did earlier in the day at Parsons.
"When you can keep a community together, you can get things done," Manchin said. "It has to be done through cooperation instead of conflict."
Manchin again spoke about the timber industry and the use of biomass.
"I cannot control the market," Manchin said. "You have to make a decision if you want to compete in the market. We need to use the biomass that we leave in the forest."
Manchin said that $249 million in state funding has gone to Hardy County, but most of it was for Corridor H.
"We are going to get it open one way or the other," Manchin said. "We have been doing more highway work now than ever before."
Manchin highlighted worker's compensation reform saying it is the state's "Achilles Heel."
"Our cost was too high to do business in West Virginia," Manchin said. "We had to change worker's compensation."
Manchin said the judicial system is another area where attention needs to be focused.
"You have to have a judicial system that does not have ownership," Manchin said. "People have to have confidence in the system."
Manchin said West Virginia is currently in the best financial state it has ever been in.
"We are managing with the best practices," Manchin said. "We have to put value back into West Virginia."
Manchin said the entire country needs education reform.
"If the country does not change the education system, we will not be a superpower by 2020," Manchin said.
Manchin also spoke about the dependency of the United States on foreign oil.
"We are the most dependent we have ever been on foreign oil," Manchin said. "We have got to change."
Manchin said West Virginia could be on the forefront in new coal technology.
A person in the crowd asked Manchin about Corridor H and when it would be connected to Virginia.
Manchin said he has spoken with Virginia Gov. Tim Cain and he supports the completion of the road. He said western migration could pose a problem if a disaster happens in Washington D.C.
"If a dirty bomb goes off in the D.C. or Baltimore area, we cannot handle the migration of people," Manchin said.
He said he is working to get the road recognized as a National Defense Highway. He said once it is defined that way, it must be funded and completed.
