Go back to tending the garden

April 25, 2026

I have felt led to write this letter for some time. I am not writing in a state of judgement, but more to ask a question. I was never called to be a judge. What is God’s relationship with man? Has man lost contact? This may sound like an odd question, but look around. Early before dawn, I fill the stove with wood. I sit before the bay window as the sunshine begins to rise. It cuts the fog and sparkles in the water of the flowing brook. The shadows of the tree limbs are quite still and nature is at peace with God. I call this God’s garden. This was a beautiful blessing to ...

Reader is in favor of electric cars

April 4, 2026

As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution, and the growing impacts of Global Warming, one solution is becoming increasingly clear; the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Electric cars offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. By producing zero tailpipe emissions, they reduce air pollution and improve public health, especially in urban areas where smog and poor air quality disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. When you factor in that EVs cost roughly 40% less to fuel, and with fewer moving ...

Harman resident pleads for school

March 28, 2026

I’ve been a resident of Harman for nearly 60 years. My wife, my three children and myself all graduated from Harman School. I’m writing to you because of your decision to close Harman School; a beautiful school with a sense of pride that no other school has. A school that remains today because of a supportive and hardworking community that built it back after the 2017 flood. Do your realize what your decision will do to our part of Randolph County? Yes, Harman School is a part of Randolph County, and it and its people deserve the same respect as any other school in the county. ...

Harman fighting to save school

March 21, 2026

The West Virginia State Board of Education is facing sharp criticism after approving the closure of Harman School, along with an appeal from community members that sat unanswered — a move that parents and local advocates say exposes a breakdown in the state’s oversight process. The appeal, filed by residents of the Harman community, challenged the West Virginia State Board of Education as well as Randolph County Board of Education’s justification for shutting down the K–12 school. It included transportation data, and Impact Statement information that advocates say directly ...

Reader supports river designation

March 14, 2026

I am a landowner next to the lower Glady Fork River in eastern Randolph County.  I’ve had an association with this stream and its tributaries for sixty-five years.   Hiking, biking, skiing, camping, fishing, or hunting along Glady Fork has brought immense joy to me and my family and friends over the years.  My father was an avid outdoorsman and he brought me into the mystique of the Glady Fork region at a very early age. Elkins was my dad’s hometown and I still consider it my hometown despite having lived in numerous places around the country. The U.S. Forest Service ...

Former mayor says ‘socialism’ isn’t scary

March 6, 2026

Do not be afraid of the word socialism. The multinational corporations and billionaires have used such fear as a means to stifle small businesses and local communities and keep people divided.  Elkins has a socialized water generation and distribution system. It has a socialized sewer system. It has a socialized garbage collection system. It has socialized parks and recreation. It has a socialized police department. It has a socialized fire department. It has a socialized street department.                 These were all put in place democratically to help the people — all ...