News

2023 October activity Report. Much of this weeks Mayors Corner comes from the October Mayors Report to Town Council and is a collage of various meetings and topics. There is too much work going on to be specific about any one thing. Lots of effort is going into the Home Rule application before it can be presented to the public. Requests for water service seems routine. Some services take time. During October, I toured the Town with a mural artist. Attended County Commission meetings and GO402 Public Training. Met with Conservation Agency for a Team inspection at Smith Lake and [...]

Attitude or Perspective. Perspective or Attitude. It is all about both perspective and attitude. Two men looked through prison bars. One saw mud, the other Stars. Perspective depends on understanding the specifics of the matter. Attitude depends on how one or more set about addressing to the specifics of the matter. Some may just want to belly-ache without concern for either. The ad in last weeks Pocahontas Times suggested a new ordinance will set a monthly fee, because “Marlinton Town Council wants more money.” The ad itself suggests a lack of understanding wrapped in a poor attitude about the little [...]

As many of you know, the town has constructed a fence around the materials yard, at the 4th Avenue Shop. Some have wondered why, after all this time, would the town fence out our own citizens? Let me be very plain. The intent was not to fence out residents or make it harder for residents to dispose of trash. But, we did have to take measures to keep certain individuals off the premises during non-working hours. We had at least four reasons for doing so. Nightly dumpster divers would be reason number one. The mess left around the dumpsters was [...]

Although we should have several good weeks left in summer, it is easy to see the changes that lead into another season. Autumn is fast approaching. Again, I remember Richard Barlow saying every year, “he brought fall home with him from the state fair.” So, get ready, the Fall Fireworks are about to begin. You don’t have to go to New England to experience the fall foliage. Make plans for a trip around the county. Be sure to include the scenic highway on your drive. At any of the scenic highway overlooks, it is easy to imagine Almost Heaven. With [...]

As the name implies, The Conservation Fund (TCF) is another potential funding source helping to move the recreation economy forward in Marlinton and Pocahontas County. The TCF believes in conservation that makes economic sense. TCF is becoming more active in supporting initiatives that are “Activating the Natural Resource Economy” in areas such as the Okefenokee Region in southern GA, Coos County, NH, and PA Wilds in St. Marys, PA. Now, TCF has identified Mon Forest Towns Partnership as one of their “focus regions”. Recently, they provided funding for the design of the Marlinton Downtown Trailhead and have committed funds to [...]

Last Wednesday the nineth, was a beautiful day for the Ribbon Cutting of the Joe and Peg Greenlee Rural Health Clinic. This addition will provide space for new and improved services at PMH. This beautiful addition is a tremendous asset for our area. A new and updated workspace will be a treat for staff to work in and all employees seemed anxious to get to work. They have been waiting to utilize personal talents with new equipment, and in a modern facility. By now, it should be known this Rural Health Care Facility is way past being referred to as [...]

Some people look to the Town to correct the local homeless problem. That issue is already well beyond what the Town can deal with. We move them from place to place. When the Town breaks up encampments and moves squatters off private property, we are doing all we can do. Would I like to see a homeless shelter, that we could take the homeless to when discovered? Of course. But the reality is if we had a homeless shelter, it would soon become another unmanageable mess for others to deal with. INDIVIDUALS TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS WHAT WE NEED. Now, [...]

The Mon-Forest Towns Partnership quarterly Board Meeting will be held this month, on July 26th, in Marlinton. One of the MFT goals, yet to be completed, is to number the new business startups and/or expansions across the twelve gateway Towns, within the eight county region.       But, before those statistics are tabulated for Marlinton and Pocahontas County, I wanted to recognize present businesses that has been operating for many years, without the benefit of the fanfare that outside marketing campaigns can provide.     For instance, C. J. Richardson Hardware was a fifth generation business in Marlinton, before closing [...]

The Town election is over for another four years. Next is a canvassing of ballots that will determine the final count for certification. Swearing in of the new council is planned for Thursday the 29th. Before continuing, I want to commend all candidates who put themselves on the ballot for election this year. It takes a certain amount of confidence in self and a willingness to try (and sometimes fail) for the benefit of others. Candidates must be willing targets. Again, for the benefit of people they do not know, and for others who do not care. I can say [...]

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday were the best three days I had experienced for a while. Except for the midnight call about brush growing behind a residence, it was a near perfect weekend. On Friday, I took the afternoon off and rode my motorcycle to my brothers house. We visited on his porch for about an hour and I returned home. At home was an old friend, I had not seen in a couple of years. Also, a cousin from Colorado came to spend a couple of nights. He came to play in the Snowshoe Foundation Charity Golf Tournament and [...]