10/16/2024
To the people of my hometown (Belle) and area of my alma mater (Riverside) I have a few suggestions on what to do. I try to come "home" for events, graduations, etc even though I live in St. Albans now. I try to keep up with events.
I'm not 100% opposed to a new school, in the right circumstances. There's things a new school can offer that all the current schools cannot. But just to save money so they can hand out more special titles and 100k salaries to failed principals is not that.
Ask Eric Nelson, Tom Takubo, or Cheryl Miller, Gov Justice, or Shellie Moore Capito or anyone running for the position...
When was the last time they attended anything in the area.
When was the last time either proposed something for the area.
What have they been doing in terms of trying to bring economic development to the area.
Are there any plans for attempting to connect the eastern end of the valley so that they don't have to go all the way to Montgomery or Chelyan Bridge in order to go a mile across the river from Marmet to Belle or Pratt to Cedar Grove. Meanwhile heading west you have 7 miles between St. Albans/Nitro to Dunbar Bridges. 5 miles from Dunbar Bridge to Patrick St. Bridge. 3 miles from Patrick St. to South Side Bridge. 3 miles from South Side Bridge to 35th st Bridge.
Meanwhile we're left with 13 miles Chelyan to Montgomery, 30 miles from Chelyan to Rt 16 to cross the river.
Fortunately for us that useless carpet bagger eliminated himself running against Justice.
The area needs someone who can find some new economic development. We cannot rely on coal coming back, that as a career has been on life support most of my life. We need to find a new source for the valley. Until that begins to occur the services like schools will continue to dry up as there isn't enough people or money to keep it going.
You have an election coming up in November educate yourself on the choices. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. If you attend any of the other school closing meetings wear your colors. Ask the members if they've ever been to the school, when was the last time they took a tour and actually saw the students in action. If you don't like their answers vote them out and tell everyone you know. I know I'm looking very close at the options for the school board myself as that's one race we are tied together still with.
