Hunting dogs trespass on private property
Hunting dogs and the COVID-19 virus are similar in one respect: Neither can read posted signs or respect boundaries. Humans have to do those things for them.
Most bear dog owners do, but some don’t. Therein lies the problem.
We lived near the Preston/Taylor/Monongalia county borders for over 30 years and experienced a lot of the latter. Several pickup trucks with bear dogs in dog boxes in the back would show up, and dog owners would let their dogs loose. Mayhem would commence as the dogs roamed wherever they wanted, baying away. Often for hours or even days. Otherwise calm, quiet, stay-at-home dogs in the area felt the need to bark in response.
Most property in our area was clearly posted. None of the bear dog owners noted above ever asked for permission of any kind. When confronted, they just moved farther down the road from our property and let their dogs loose.
State law favors the dog owners. From a WVDNR bear hunting website:
“A person may not be guilty of hunting without permission just because their dog, without their direction or encouragement, travels onto another person’s land where they do not have permission to hunt, providing no game is taken, livestock or domestic animals killed or damage done to that property. Dogs may not be retrieved without the landowner’s permission.”
Toting dogs in a truck to an area one doesn’t own and turning them loose appears to me to be both direction and encouragement. Apparently some bear dog owners can’t read, since the last sentence is often ignored. Or they don’t care about the law.
When we contacted the game warden, he was very aware of the problem, noting he received numerous calls about it.
His coverage area included several counties and odds of catching offenders was near slim and none.
Lew McDaniel
Morgantown
Another deceased woman gets stimulus check
I read in The Dominion Post (DP-05-08-20) where Larry Efaw said he and his wife received the so-called stimulus check, which he did not need. Good for him.
He said his sister received a stimulus check that was his late mother’s for $1,200.
By the way, my late mother received a stimulus check, but I did not open it. I marked an X on the envelope and put it back in the mailbox.
Clara Morgan
Morgantown
Health, economy should not be partisan issues
When do we reach our bankruptcy point to retain our democracy? How are we going to pay off the national debt if we keep borrowing and spending? Are we playing into a political trap by being duped by the government and governors by keeping people out of work until elections in November? We have a lot to lose if this administration makes wrong decisions that will jeopardize the future of our nation.
The next trillion in stimulus to be recommended by the House of Representatives will benefit the states that have the largest number of coronavirus cases. It just happens that they are the states that have Democrat governors.
The elderly who are the most heavily impacted are in the age group that will normally die in their 80s by other age-related illnesses. The charts presented identify that most people that contract COVID-19 are between the ages of 65 and 80.
Our nursing facilities with open beds and places where groups congregate in one room are most vulnerable to attract the flu and viruses. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy by not correcting our environment.
If we bail out states, the funds must be used for specific purposes to protect the elderly in all states, not just New York, California and Michigan. The big question is: “What plans do we have in place to recover our economy and reduce our debt before we lose control of our country?”
The political party that can present the best economic recovery while continuing to protect Americans will win next November’s election. We cannot continue to prevent businesses from reopening for people to feed their children, pay debts and continue their independence.
In the pyramid of life, the basic needs are food, water, shelter, clothing and air. In today’s environment, we still need our freedom of movement and independence from government to return to some kind of normalcy. The unemployment checks provided to those in need was a good thing and was distributed to all regardless of political party affiliation.
William R. Woodall
Waldorf, Md.
In support of Sen. Ron Stollings for governor
As I finish the last online final of my sophomore year at West Virginia University, I look back and feel the last few months have been nothing short of unusual. They have exposed issues in our state unlike any time before. These are issues like effective access to broadband internet in rural areas, treating the substance use crisis and forming a health care system that works for people.
The solution is to battle these issues together, not divided. This is why I am writing in support of Dr. Ron Stollings’ campaign for governor of West Virginia.
Dr. Stollings has served 34 years as a primary care physician, and 14 as a state senator from Boone County. His unique platform of engaging the economy, education and health care together sets him apart from other candidates. It was Sen. Stollings who led the charge to set aside $2 million in funds for West Virginia to fight the coronavirus pandemic. His past in the West Virginia Senate shows ability to work across the board in order to get effective legislation passed.
I had the chance to meet Dr. Stollings in Morgantown to talk about issues that students in the state face. I found him to be somebody who carries — a trait not many politicians have; he listens. Not only that, but he was very to-the-point with discussing legislation to solve these issues.
With regards to the coronavirus pandemic, there is a big debate going on right now about the economy and saving lives. Dr. Stollings offers a plan that doesn’t require sacrificing lives or tanking our economy. His plan involves rebuilding our health care infrastructure and making sure federal stimulus dollars go to small businesses first.
As somebody who lives with slow internet, I am often hindered by its limitations when it comes to my education. A lot of other students, children and family face this same issue. West Virginia’s future depends on having a strong broadband infrastructure.
Dr. Stollings’ campaign is the one that West Virginia needs, and I gladly pledge my support to his campaign.
Hunter Bennett
Morgantown
In support of Leonhardt for ag commissioner
The Commissioner of Agriculture has an important job, as they are responsible for the overseeing numerous USDA programs beneficial to West Virginians.
Two programs that have gotten a lot of attention under the current Commissioner Kent Leonhardt are the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
TEFAP is a federally funded program that provides emergency food assistance at no cost to low-income Americans while CSFP does the same for those 60 and older. Under his leadership and partnership with West Virginia’s two food banks — Mountaineer in Gassaway and Facing Hunger in Huntington — these programs have grown, bringing millions of additional commodities to our state.
This is not the only area of growth we’ve seen from his office. Under the guidance of the commissioner, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program has expanded from three deliveries each year to monthly distribution, with plans for more frequent deliveries of fresh produce for our school children.
Leonhardt’s goal is, clearly, to get more fresh, local produce on the plates of our youth so they can eat healthier while supporting in-state producers.
Commissioner Leonhardt’s team has improved service, increased efficiency and enhanced transparency and accountability that has made all this possible. Thanks to them, West Virginia has been able to feed more people and promote good health. No one should go hungry, and with a new outlook and better communication with federal allies, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture has worked to ensure residents of West Virginia don’t have to.
Alexander Dean
Morgantown
