4A The Mountain Messenger, Thursday, September 6,1990
J
O
ornl]
One of the most gratifying things about conducting the
Public Opnlon Poll regarding the proposed consolidation of
Ea3tern Greenbrier County junion high schools was the num-
ber of people who said "Thank you for at least letting us have
the chance to say how we feel."
Less than one per cent of our total readership responded in
that poll so "public" may not apply well in this situation.
"Public" usually means more than a handful. Apparently a
large majority feel their opinions are not important•
This apathy is not just a local phenonenon -- there are
more than 400,000 West Virginia cit ens, 18 years of age or
older, who are not even registered to vote! Add to that the
pitifully small number of registered voters who even bother to
go to the polls and you have a very. small number of persons
ruling the destiny of our country.
You can't blame those who do vote for excercising their
privlledges as free and democratic Americans. Th ere are some
democracies where voting is mandatory! In requiring citizens
to vote they take their responsibilities just a little more seri-
ously than we do.
Interesting, perhaps, thai our little poll had a larger sam-
piing base than the much-touted Gallop polls and Neilson
ratings -- and those two companies greatly influence national
political and social policies and national television viewing
habits!
There is no way we can. or wish to, roister our poll off
as being definitive. We undertook a questionaire only to
give you the opportunity to voice your opinion on a matter
which influences us all (whether we have children or not l.
--Chas. A. Goddard
Letters to the
Dear Editor:
I agree with Retus M. Ramsey.
A public vote held at the voting
precincts would be the accurate
and best way to discover the
wishes of the public. After all we.
the parents, are the people who
should be allowed to decide
where to send our children to
school, not the Board of Educa-
tion!
I am a parent of two children•
who in the years to come• wotfld
be traveling 73 minutes on the
bus each way according to the
lYom early morning until altel
the fireworks.
My brother Robert and I knew
every inch ol• the grounds anti
every exhibit. We knew all the
secress of the games on the Mid-
way. My brother was a lbnner
Stale Cop In Lewisburg. My fa-
ther and mother both worked at
the fair. Daddy parked cars and
Mother was in charge of canned
goods and baked goods.
latest survev. Yes. the travel My father was a blacksmith
t• -- " "'" -u~ w~t by trade and tie died when I was
ime~.a Ix)met me, o ~ rill .t- ,_ _ . .
chil-
concerns me tI:ie~ n{osS IS th'e ....... to year~ ore, reaving four
drug situation. Consolidating all dren Ruth, Robert• Gay and
of the eastern junior highs into
one big school Is only going to
make this drug situation worse.
Not to mention the location of
the school building, which is
next to Greenbrier East High
School, so rumor has it. That
complicates matters even more.
In today's world children are
much more easily influenced at
those age levels and consolidat-
Ing the schools Is only going to
make it worse. I believe you have
enough money to fix what is
wrong with the six existing jun-
for high schools, and forget
about consolidating all together.
With due respect. I believe
that the Board of Education and
Legislatures main concerns are
the teachers and their pay
raises. Not our children or their
well-being. "l~e word consolida-
tion never came up until after
the teachers went on strike this
past school ter~. Is this your
way of giving some teacher what
they want at the eJcpense of our
children? I say si)me teachers
because if they d~ go through
with their plans for consolidation
there will be some teachers job-
less.
Sure, some of you mlghS get
your pay raises but the others
will be terminated due to con-
solidation. Now is that whal you
want to do -- stand in the un-
employment line? It's certainly
not going to make you any
richer. But I think it's a shame
that our children may have to
pay the price so to speak.
Think about it people, do you
want your children subjected to
more drugs due to consolida-
tion? I certainly do NO'I~ Say No
to consolidation! Help us fght
the battle for our childrens'
sakes.
Judy Whitt
Frankford
Dear Editor:
What a pleasant surprise to
have a copy of Mountain Mes-
senger of August 16, and to see
a picture of my great grandson
on the front page. His name is
Brian Fitch of Pottstown. Penn,~
sylvania. His father is the Fitch
Electronics owner who does the
amplifying at the fair. He has
done this for quite a few years.
His father. Btll Fitch did it for
years before him.
I am now 79 years old. My
maiden name was Rulh "lab-
scott, daughter of Harry and
Elva Tabscott of Richlands. My
Uncle William Tabscol [ of Lewis-
burg was one of the first officers
of the Greenbrler Valley Fair. We
started going to the lair from the
very first one. Not one or two
days. but every day it was open
Charles.
My nmther will be remem-
bered as a nurse. We went to
Calvary M.E. Church where my
mother was organist and Daddy
sang in choir.
After quite a few years, my
mother nmrried Cecil Brown who
was well-known in Lewisburg,
Both of them are gone. My step-
father al 80 years and Mother at
93 years.
I came to Pennsyh,anla and
married Paul Fitch 56 years ago.
We are both very active. We have
seven children, 13 grandchildren
and I1 great-grandchildren. We
are very proud of all of them.
I think there are possibly a
few persons living who remem-
ber this gang.
Thank you so much lbr She
picture and I hope this letter has
not bored you too much.
Thank you,
Mrs Ruth Tabscott Fitch
Route 2
Pottstox~m, PA 19464
Dear Editor:
The onslaught of radio and
television commercials regard-
ing excess acreage tax -- ap-
pears to have overwhelmed our
current representatives in state
government now in Charleston
(John Doe Voter. beware, keep
your hand on your blllfoldl be-
fore the special session got un-
der way, the news releases ad-
vised that this source of revenue
was not to be tinkered with (talk
about special interest clout). The
decision had been made. There
remains a drop of blood in this
old turnip that exercises no
clout (John Q. Public). A means
had been discovered to do it so
Mr Apathy that would go unno-
ticed, hopefully for years to
come. it's called trickle down, or
pass it on down, but watch who
pays.
All the data tossed around
concerning who owns what was
as full of holes as a good slice of
Swiss cheese. Reliable sources
say 45 per cent of the surface
and 75 per cent of the mineral
rights are owned by col~orate or
out of state owners. Their scare
tactic of en masse exodus Is
about as fctttious and full of
holes as their ownership data,
and Is another arrogant Insult to
the intelligence of the average
state citizen. How in H - - can
70 per cent of the mineral re-
sources of this state be stuffed
into a briefcase? What such ac-
tion may do is encourage devel-
opment and produce jobs.
J.W. Pennlngton
Lewisburg
The Mountain
STAFF
Chas. A. Goddard, Editor
Dotty Brackenrieh, Office Manager 122 N. Court Street
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To the point
By Jonathan Wright
Public officials, especially
those on the local level, give up a
lot to carry out their duties• I
think it's high time we gave them
credit for their sacrifices.
As a private citizen. I can
make my views known, circulate
petitions, drum up support or
opposition to various causes.
campaign ior various candi-
dates, and become involved in
issues in many other ways vol-
untarily.
As a public figure, however--
one who actually sets policy and
establishes laws and ordi-
nances many of iny decisions
come under the close scrutiny of
those I serve. These decisions
are often extremely difficult. No
matter which way I decide to go
on some issues, one side is
bound to be hurt in one way or
another. There is often a fine line
of distinction drawn between the
advantages andtlISadvantages of
one decision over another.
Of all the times of being a
member of the Greenbrier
County Board of Education,
right now is certainly one of the
worst imaginable. If Board mem-
bets had taken a stand against
junior high school consolidation,
they would have had the monu-
mental task of coming up with
some way to keep schools oper-
ating in the growing shadow of
dwindling funds and deteriorat-
ing buildings• Since the majority
of the Board have come out in
Iavor of consolidation, they have
predictably drawn the ire of per-
sons fighting to keep those
schools open. It is clearly a no-
win situation for these public of_
fcials---certainly not an enviable
posiSion for anyone•
It is unfortunate there is no
way for average cit~ens to expe-
rience temporarily the responsi-
bilities and pressures public offi-
cials shoulder--the stress they
experience in stretching avail-
able funds as far as they can
possible go--and still not having
enough to meet day-to-day op-
erations.
I salute our Board of Educa-
tion members, city council mem-
bers. commissioners, mayors,
delegates, and all others who go
into the local public spotlight to
do what they can to serve us. We
may not always agree with their
decisions, of course, but we can
recognize them for what they are
giving ut>--a 'life free of public
confrontation--to do what they
can for us.
Dear Editor:
Is it worth it? To some of us.
it is not.
Some of us do not believe the
slaughter of possibly twice the
number of those honored on the
Vietnam Memorial is worth this
unthinkable war• nor is it worth
the young women who will also
die painfully and horribly not
in defense of their country this
time, but for oil.
We will Mways remember that
"Day of Infamy," December 7.
1941 "the character of that das-
tardly Invasion." Our great Presi-
dent Roosevelt told us "A state of
war has existed since that date.
with the Empire of Japan•" We
all knew why we fought. Those
gallant men and women (nurses)
knew they were offering their
lives to save their country and
their loved ones.
We also know this time why
we fight.., for oil.
Once again two men of great
power face each other as the
world waits to see if one blinks•
As we know, one did blink in
1962 as World War Three, the
Final War. was set to begin. The
other one saved the world that
time, We wonder and pray for
deliverance this time.
We can live without the pre-
cious oll and without the satanic
horror of the killing and the fi-
nalliy of World War "three.
Now, today, September I,
1990. two men, one holding a
golf club in his hand. and the
other holding hostages in his.
hold the fate of life on this planet
In their hands•
It would give the good people
on this earth a ray of hope if
these men would appear on tv
with a prayer on their lips and a
Bible in their hands.
To borrow a few words of elo-
quence from a great American
and to add a few of my words to
express abhorrence of war.
I know not what course others
may take but. as for meI say,
forbid it, Almighty God!
Sincerely,
Henry Dunn
Lewisburg
Dear Editor,
I find the front page August
30, picture of the pig at the
slaughter house to be very, very,
offensive as well as in poor taste.
I also find it hard to see the liter-
ary value of said picture.
Big issues, some age-old, face us today.
The Mountain Messenger
Encourages you to
Let us know how you feel about:
Schools
Taxes
Abortion
Politics
Economy
Religion
Ethics
Morality
Ecology
Health
Communications
Your opinion is as important as ours.
It is through sensible discussion that we
grow and learn.
Ednor's Note: Mary Ash Casto Lawhorn of White Sulphur
bets what It was like to grow up In the 1930s. She shares her
vignette, with us. Mrs Lawhorn's "A Child o| the 1930s" will
Installments m the Mountain Messenger.
A Cltild of the 1930's ••.
• . . heard the hens up at the barn on a summer
the clucking sound a hen would make after laying
"Look. look; an egg" -- "Ix)ok, look, an egg"
• . . walked tip to Mrs Clement's place just beyond
to get some buttermilk -- went out to the cellar (or s
remembers the large crocks of buttermilk and sweet
how cool and damp the cellar was built into the
shelves of home-canned food in the cellar and a
from the churn stamped with a design in the mold ---
• . . heard the sound of laughter from where a game
was in progress -- on a Sunday morning when the
wet with dew remembers the pegs were set up in the
below the apple trees -- and the fine figure of Daddy
horseshoes -- wearing his gray suit. white shirt and
-- a man of Spanish descent --
•.. remembers the noonday dinner meal in summer
potatoes were dug to cream with green peas from the
the roasting ears (corn on the cob) were straight from
and green beans cooked down and seasoned with
pork were served with sliced homegrown tomatoes
good biscuiis --
• . . remembers when the parlor door would be opened ---
Wllly's house on a Sunday afternoon a round table
middle of the room with a fringed table covering that l
the floor -- a large globed lamp was set on the table ~- t
the pleasant setting -- a red velvet settee and
walls in a red velvet covering
• . • watched for the smoke from the chimney down all
house when we started the evening firebuilt with
get supper ready in the summertiine if sntoke of
fire, in the valley, hovered the ground we could took Ibrl
members a song of the 1930's "Rain When yott
again Rain . . . "
• . . remembers when someone came running on a
ing in summer Uncle's horse had fallen with him
Narrows -- and broke his leg Daddy grabbed the shot
went out the door -- and when he got up there it was
broken (stories were told and repeated for humor )
Uncle Oscar (lived two more miles up the road) farmed
with two big workhorses -- our horse was named
Uncle's horse was named Charlle
• . . remembers how Uncle Oscar would grin and
bunch of foolishness anyway" -- Uncle was born the
family of eight children -- had been ill the worst fl
of the Argonne Forest, in France, of World War I
with a wife and four children, in the midst of
Depression --
. . . started down the well-worn path to Mr
summer afternoon with Lindy and our clog,
E-guy-low) met a black racer snake coming
path screamed and our dog killed the snake nty
the snake over a tree limb -- to draw rain --
• . . went barefoot in summer -- and sometimes ste
remembers the little operation with a needle -- and
to get the thorn out -- and how some iodine was
place
. . . sat with my little sister, Lindy -- in the shade of a
behind the house -- and held our dolls -- would s
morning -- until the shade moved --
To Be Continued
I am a vegetarian, though not
a fanatic nor am I narrow
minded. I realize (and accept) the
faci that animals are killed for
people to consume as food. I also
realize that this food is also
eventually eliminated• I certainly
wouldn't care for a picture of
that in my newspaper either."
Linda E. Hammer
Lewisburg
Dear Editor:
In general you have a very
good paper• I especially enjoy
"About herbs."
The photo of Sheldon Risser
and Porker on the front page of
the August 30 Mountain Mes-
senger was
know that "Porker"
pain, terror, and
notching,
castration, and
are performed
anaesthetic or sm
And this is a
local tourist
from Transylvania or
"But for the
mouthfid of flesh
soul of I/~ sun
that proportion of
that it had been
world So enjoy.
By U.S. Senator Robert
1990 Update on Free Federal
The following list of toll-free Federal hotlines can
ginians obtain information about Federal programs and
about regulations and opportunities that may affect
Retired Army Pay Problems .....................
Cancer Hotline, Department of
Health and Human Services ................
National Runaway Switchboard .................
(For parents and runaways to leave messages)
Parents Anonymous (child abuse). .1-$
Consumer Product Safety Commission ...........
(Product recall, complaints, fact sheets)
Environmental Protection Agency ................
(Hazardous-waste information)
Financial Aid for College Students (National)
Department of Education ....................
AIDS Hotline (National) ........................
(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
Pesticide Emergency Information
Clearinghouse ...............................
Federal Emergency Management Agency ........... 1-t
(Flood-insurance information)
National Health Information
Clearinghouse ................................
Hill-Burton Free Hospital Care Hotline ............
Small Business Administration ....................
(Answer Desk)
Social Security Administration ....................
(Medicare questions)
Veterans Benefits Counseling
Transportation Department ..... ................
