What happened to money meant to fix our roads?
I have to agree with two letters about the Division of Highways (DP-3-4). Because it seems no one is doing anything about fixing our roads, maybe all the citizens of West Virginia should insist that a complete and detailed audit of the DOH be done to find out just where and into whom’s pockets the money to fix our roads has been going.
There have been articles in The Dominion Post stating how much money the state had and surplus money to fix roads, but no roads have been fixed to last. Instead, Band-Aids have been put on our roads as a short term solution.
The main question is where is the money for our roads? I think there is a lot of waste of DOH money being spent on making the Mileground road wider. It has worked for years the way it is, except it needs resurfaced to get rid of the potholes.
Yes, maybe the DOH needs a complete overhaul from the top all the way down to the district offices. This is the election year that changes can come about if the voters really want change. Like I said, start at the top with the governor. We can do better.
Ralph Correll
Morgantown
Star City connector should be MPO priority
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, The Dominion Post published an article concerning pedestrian safety. These projects are being overseen by the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization.
One project I didn’t see any mention of concerns the Star City Bridge. At the crosswalk of Mon Boulevard and Boyers Avenue, there are six lanes of traffic, including turning lanes into Sheetz and the Aldi/CVS plaza.
The original Star City Bridge was built in 1950. It was replaced by the current bridge in 2008. All public bridges built after must be handicap accessible, also known as ADA compliant. This means there must be an alternate way for pedestrians to cross for their own safety. Every time a person crosses Mon Boulevard at that crosswalk, they are putting their lives at stake.
The project to make this a reality is called the Star City Rail-Trail Connector. This is an approved MPO project. This project is already funded by the state.
The Star City Rail-Trail Connector should be one of the top MPO projects for pedestrian safety.
Again, every time a person crosses there, they are putting their lives at stake — a pedestrian, bike rider or wheelchair bound person.
Margaret Carrico
Star City
Need leaders who will fight for everyone
Years ago, a poll counter said, “We are going to have a change,” then got upset when he found out I voted for two people in a different party.
West Virginia, it will soon be time to vote. Are you going to vote for someone like Keith Judd? You remember — he was a federal inmate in Texas and ran against Obama.
Let’s not forget Don Blankenship, a former coal executive who ran for Senate in 2018, spent a year in prison and won 19.97% of the vote for a Republican senate seat.
You did not want a black man or a woman for president, and Donald Trump came and spoke “coal” and you fell in love, but then you crossed the ticket to vote for a Democrat billionaire for governor, who can’t pay his taxes, gets a salary for governor and got a subsidy for farmer’s farm land.
Has the coal industry been any better these last four years? Technology is moving in with wind and solar. It is time we catch up and not hold on to the past.
Then there are the electric cars with charging stations at the local gas stations. We need clean, sustainable energy sources. Coal’s role in our past may be our legacy, but it certainly need not curse our future.
As our world changes, we need leaders who fight for everyone and understand technology.
Dan Carnegie
Morgantown
In support of Elijah Dean for W.Va. Senate
Please allow me to recommend a former student of six years, Elijah Dean, who is running for state Senate. In and out of school, I have found him to be a studious, trustworthy, athletic, helpful, strong and godly worker. Even in high school and junior high, he spent time volunteering and serving others in church, school and nursing homes in Marion County. He is a hard worker, industrious and shows himself capable of accomplishing tasks by himself. He is a self-starter.
Elijah is a faithful husband, father, friend and church member. He is humble and respectful. He excelled in all his school subjects and participated in many extracurricular activities.
Elijah was an excellent student in my speech, government, economics, history and science classes, all of which will help him to be a good state senator.
Elijah knows how to ask opponents probing questions to get the facts. He knows a great deal of the history of those who have fought for our freedom, from visiting the only site where George Washington had to surrender all the way through the centuries to Elijah meeting Woody Williams in person.
As a teenager, Elijah stood at the grave of three infant sons who were buried in a Monongalia County churchyard and prayed for his own future son and for the future children of his classmates.
I am pleased to recommend this young man of character. Elijah Dean is a West Virginian through and through. He is worthy of your support.
Dan Manka
Fairmont
