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Letters to the Editor

We give politicians power by our votes

The next time you hear a politician say something crazy, remember that all it takes to be an elected official is your vote. The next time you hear some crazy rant from a socialist media commentator, remember he is there because you turned on that channel. Both commentators and politicians mistake their success as intelligence, but it is more likely a result of random factors that made them the lucky winners of the lottery. Their success usually is due to the failures of the competition, which are not within their realm of choice or control. In politics, you may be raised a ...

Reader upset by deer carcasses upon trail

‘Tis the season. The deer hunting season, that is. And that means that some local inconsiderate and irresponsible hunters will be illegally dumping deer carcasses, some almost the whole animal, on the Allegheny Highlands Trail along the Harpertown-Gilman stretch and on the paved path across 219. As of Oct. 30 there are two deer carcasses on the H-G stretch, with many more to come, I’m sure. In 2020 there were several carcasses. In 2021 there were seven. In 2022 there were eight on the H-G stretch and a couple on the 219 path. This is a wonderful recreational trail that many ...

Citizen objecting to Elkins charter change

Mr. Stokes and Honorable Council Members, Let this email serve as my objection as a citizen and voter of Elkins to Ordinance 276 whereas Section 3.04(b) would be amended. I object to the change of the charter of Elkins as proposed in ordinance 276. Any deviation or amendment of this type to the charter, should at the least be presented to the voters at the next scheduled city election as to avoid any excess cost to the City of Elkins and its citizens. City Charter changes should be done at the public voting booth. The proposed change to Section 3.04(b) shown below has my ...

Reader considers meat industry to be scary

I have no fear of zombies, witches or evil clowns lurking on Halloween. What really scares me is the meat industry. This is the industry that deprives, mutilates, cages, then butchers billions of cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens — animals who feel joy, affection, sadness, and pain, as we do… that exposes undocumented workers to chronic workplace injuries at below living wage and exploits farmers and ranchers by dictating market prices… The industry that contributes more to our epidemic of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer than any other, then bullies health authorities ...

Veterans Day Parade scheduled in Elkins

It is that time again for the Elkins Veterans Day Parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1a. Assembly time starts at 11:30 a.m., and jump-off time is 1 p.m. The assembly area is south of the tracks along Davis Avenue. The parade route will be from Southern States north along Davis Avenue, through downtown Elkins to Sixth Street, where we turn left between Walgreen’s and The Inter-Mountain offices. Turn left again at Railroad Avenue/Veterans Way and conclude at the Welcome Center Depot area for dispersal. And now the biggest problem to solve is the need for volunteers ...

Does the end truly justify the means?

When does the end justify the means? A question that has been asked for hundreds of years, with rarely correct answers. Do you say it’s OK to lie during an election cycle, whether you’re running for City Council or President of the United States? Do you say it’s OK to deliver a blow to your opponent’s record or to overstate your own? The line between outright lying and inflation of the truth is thin, and with so much at stake, it’s no surprise that the “end justifies the means” thinking rears its ugly head. When I was young it was easy to think that the end ...