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Voice of the people

August 25, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

Proctorville is a speed trap again

I am writing this letter to warn people that the police in Proctorville, Ohio, once again have gone nuts. If you need to go to the store or anywhere in Proctorville, beware. They are out there to get you.

I know of a simple case that went to the mayor's court, and he wouldn't even accept the "not guilty" plea. He was real hateful with the people and would not listen. You would be better off to go around Proctorville. I know I will.

They have a different mayor now, and he sure isn't as fair as the other one was. I just want to warn you, Proctorville is on the loose again as it was some years back. Remember the speed trap? Well, it's back. Just be careful and make sure every light on your car is working, and be sure your car doesn't accidentally blow any fuses, or you will pay the price.

Just hope you get stopped by a state trooper so you will have a fair chance.

Carol Myers

Huntington

Parking deters downtown business

You want to know why businesses do not want to locate themselves in downtown Huntington? As someone who works on 4th Avenue, I can give you some very good reasons.

First of all, the city of Huntington charges you $2 per week just for working here. On top of that, you must pay for parking while you are at work. This costs me around $2 a day to park on the street and twice that if I park in the garage.

In addition, if I am too busy working to go out and pay my meter after the two hours it allots is up, I get hit with a $5 parking ticket. With the way funds must be stretched today and the fact that I am trying to work my way through college, sometimes I don't even have the $5 to spare. Then if I have to wait more than five days, I have to give the city $30.

Maybe these issues should be addressed before anyone complains about the lack of substantial, viable businesses being attracted to the downtown Huntington area.

Elizabeth Stewart

Huntington

Jesus would cry for mining destruction

Honoring God's good creation is a core Christian value; on what Biblical ground did Mr. Perry Stone at Christ Temple stand to blast "enviros" as tree worshipers, while lauding the coal industry?

Environmentalists do not deserve demonization; many are strong people of faith who have seen their communities and landscape torn to shreds by mountaintop removal coal mining.

Life is being aborted in the mountains. Is it consistent with the Gospel when an 80-year-old cancer patient gets put out of his home by a coal industry eager to "harvest" the coal nearby? Jesus often prayed in the mountains. If Jesus were to walk our country roads, I hope Mr. Stone would go along to see the tears in His eyes near Marsh Fork Elementary School, in the literal shadow of a large coal processing plant -- dwarfed by a huge sludge impoundment. If that breaks, those children's lives will be aborted.

Regarding God's good creation, it is time to ask: What would Jesus do? We can follow Jesus' message of Good News for all of creation and find our moral compass. Lauding the coal industry while demonizing environmentalists is bad news and bad theology.

Robin Blakeman

Barboursville

Letters
Reader looks for memories of school

December 01, 2008 @ 08:20 PM

I can still see it as I climb the ridge at the south end of Johnstown Road. And those who turn onto West Virginia 527 from Miller Road and Pleasant Valley Drive can see it, too. That is, if they attended the little red brick school that made its home in the valley where Interstate 64 now runs east and west. It sat in the middle of a vast green meadow. Johnstown Road ran past it, almost at its door, and there was a lazy little creek on the north side of the dirt playground where we spent many a recess. We played marbles in the dust. We played ball and jacks and all the things that can be done in 15 minutes worth of free time. We developed lifelong relationships there, and our teachers taught us so many things. What a wonderful place Pleasant Valley Elementary School was. The interstate took it years ago, but my mind's eye still sees it from the hill.
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Blogs
Tri-State Theater

On Stage in December

December 1, 2008 @ 11:26pm

Who says there's not much to see in December? (Well, I did, but I was way off base.) Here are the shows you should be watching for in the month ahead: - The 1940s Radio Hour - (ARTS) at the Renaissance Center in Huntington on Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. - Mary - (CYAC) at the WVSU Capitol...

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