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Letters to the Editor

Reader unhappy about TIF issue

To: West Virginia Secretary of State, Elkins City Council, Randolph County Commission. As a former resident of Elkins and a frequent critic of local government, on this rare occasion I agree 100% with the county commission: Stop the TIF! I highly recommend that anyone with access to a computer, search and read this web site, “Good Jobs First, TIF 101: The Basics.” This is a well-written and well-researched 13-page education. This is truly an eye opener! Comes to mind the meaning of “tiff”? Merriam-Webster defines it as many already know, “a quarrel.” Along the way, ...

Residents thanked for charity donations

I am writing to thank Elkins-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected over 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is now sending nearly 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide. Through shoeboxes — packed with fun toys, school supplies, ...

Should Dems change their party symbol?

Should the Democrat Party change their symbol from a donkey to a sheep? I recall asking my uncle why he raised goats instead of sheep, he said, “Let me explain something to you. A goat is born looking for something to eat. A sheep is born looking for a place to die. When Edward R. Murrow said, “A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” What did he mean? He meant that when voters are simply sheep they will eventually elect wolves to control them. If you ask the typical Trump hater why he or she or whatever pronoun being used today, hates him, they will give ...

Darden Fest event deemed a success

It was an evening to remember! Music, friends and exciting raffle items to bid on in-between musician sets. The Darden Fest Concert that happened last Saturday was organized by Josh Wanstreet and all the proceeds were given to the Friends of the Elkins-Randolph County Public Library (Elkins Bookhounds) for use in the expansion and renovation of the old Elkins Library Our beloved community library was severely damaged by roof leaks in late 2021. The sold-out concert was sponsored by the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, AmeriCorps West Virginia Members, and the Elkins ...

Officials should be held accountable

The attitude coming from the nation’s capital these days when it comes to the law is, “Only for thee and not for me.” The president and the Congress have broken the laws concerning immigration and it’s affecting this country in a bad way. Biden made the call and Congress OK’d it. The president should be charged and impeached for breaking these laws, and Congress charged as an accessory.  Drugs are not just leaking over the border, they are pouring over the border, making the biblical “Great Flood” look like a creek crossing. Young teens all the way to the age of ...

Justice’s tax cut would hurt the poor

In response to the current large state tax surplus, Gov. Justice has proposed a 50 percent reduction in the state personal income tax. When fully implemented this would return roughly 800 million dollars to West Virginia taxpayers. The people that will benefit most from this are those who have larger incomes and therefore significant state income tax liability, that is, the wealthier segment of our population. However, nearly 15 percent of West Virginians live in poverty and over 20 percent are elderly and many of these have incomes too small to owe any income tax at all, so the ...