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Letters to the Editor

Reader: County shelter not needed

I don’t know how many Randolph County citizens have read the notice from the Randolph County Commission that they are wanting to build their own dog facility and run it.   It will be paid for with our tax dollars and I am sure it will be a kill shelter. I heard Mineral County does it better. I spoke to the enforcement officer there, who gave me some information. Any dog that is sick, hurt, or aggressive is put down immediately. If they deem a dog adoptable (at their discretion), they call the humane society. The humane society has no facility and is run out of two private ...

RCHA Board responds to county’s proposal

RCHS has served Randolph County abused, neglected, and homeless animals for 64 years and as cooperative County partners for animals picked up by their animal control (AC). Our staff covers after-hour 911 calls, assists on legal cases, and guides law enforcement through triage/proper documentation. We do not euthanize healthy, adoptable pets to make room for other healthy, adoptable pets. This often results in a full shelter but is the reality of this philosophy. Spay/neuter is the most effective way to control pet overpopulation, so we have issued 600+ vouchers (grants and savings) ...

Societies fall apart just like an old car

We all know an old car will fall apart if you don’t work on it. So will a sane society. Just like a neglected car, things are much worse, readers. There’s been little effort to repair the inevitable implosion of our nation or the fact that it’s breaking down. Now the government. Biden is touting the economy and singing his song that his policies are working. Poppycock! The only reason some of the numbers are rising is we are still in pandemic recovery and he thinks we are gullible enough to believe he’s the reason. The only people who believe him are Democrats ...

Letter seeking to ‘clarify’ TIF issue

There has been a lot of information about the City of Elkins’ application for a TIF. This letter is an attempt to provide some clarity to the TIF. What is a TIF? TIF stands for Tax Increment Financing. The purpose for a TIF is to provide funding for projects that will spur economic development. Funding for a TIF comes from an increase in property tax. Property tax typically goes to the county. In a TIF district, the county gets the same amount of tax revenue as when the TIF was established. Only the potential increase in property tax from any new buildings or ...

Reader upset by changes in W.Va.

“Never again will one generation of veterans forget another.” This is the motto of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). The VVA has done much at the local, state and national level in being there for veterans, not just of the Vietnam War, but of subsequent wars. The VVA was founded in 1978. Jake Roberts, past president of VVA Chapter 812 gave me the most recent copy of the Vietnam Veteran, the magazine of the VVA. An article by the current national president, Jack McManus, states that the VVA should begin operations to close chapters and for the national organization to ...

Reader upset by changes in W.Va.

I don’t even recognize my “Wild and Wonderful” State of West Virginia anymore. Spent much of my childhood moving around to different places, facing down people who spoke disparagingly about my home state. I was always so proud to be from a state that was not only beautiful, but valued the working class and took care of our elders. We proudly claimed our status as a Union state that fought for freedom and the United States. Hunting was more about spending time with friends and family and putting food on the table than about the gun culture. We even had middle school classes ...