1 month later, same roads still neglected
Since my last letter, nothing much has changed.
The tree canopy over W.Va. 7 and W.Va. 72 has only gotten worse.
However, all those trees that didn’t need cut beside Interstate 79 from Mount Morris, Pa., to the Interstate 68 split were not affecting anyone’s vision and were not a threat to the highway.
From Pioneer Rocks on W.Va. 7 to Cascade in Preston County and W.Va. 72 from Caddell on W.Va. 26 to Rowlesburg on W.Va. 72, it’s like driving under the sword of Damocles and running the gauntlet together. Will trees fall on you or will you hit one in the road?
As I write this, a winter storm is approaching.
There are trees lying across utility lines along on W.Va. 72 through Preston County. The U.S. Army Reserve training center is located on that 2.5-mile stretch of highway.
Guardrails are another issue. I see the ones that were bent from falling trees on W.Va. 7 from Pioneer Rocks to the Preston County line were replaced. I guess the guardrails sliding over the hill south of Rowlesburg on W.Va. 72 just don’t meet the criteria for being repaired.
And does the DOH really have a manpower shortage? It appears to me it is a manpower management issue. On Dec. 8 at 11 a.m., I observed four pickup trucks. One man was working with a torch — and six standing, one leaning on the hood of a truck. Later, the same day, at 2:30 p.m., there were three pickup trucks. One man was putting a bag of trash in the truck. Two men were using torches and three men were standing with their hands in their pockets.
I hope everyone has a merry Christmas. You might be spending it at home because of a tree across a highway.
Rick Felton
Morgantown
Honoring deceased veterans at Christmas
On Dec. 17, 2022, active duty and retired officers of the U.S Public Health Service Commissioned Corps participated in Wreaths Across America at Lawnwood Cemetery in Morgantown.
We were pleased and honored to attend the ceremony and lay approximately 404 wreaths. We encourage all active duty and retired members of the eight uniformed services to participate next year in this event to remember and honor our veterans.
Lt. Tia McClelland
Lt. Cmdr. Alyson Fortner
Capt. (Ret.) Margaret Filios
W.Va. Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
Thank you, Morgantown, for helping with WAA
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all who helped this year with Wreaths Across America in Morgantown.
A very special thank you to Jared, Janna and Grace Jenkins, as well as the staff of Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home for the wonderful ceremony Janna coordinated at Oak Grove. Thank you also to Jared, Janna and staff for receiving, unloading, storing and delivering wreaths to the cemetery.
Thank you also to Sip and Dip painting program and Angelina Jegede; University Town Centre BW3 Wings and Franco. Thank you, Signs Plus, for signage. Thank you to Carolyn Pugh of Alpha Delta Kappa of Morgantown for her chapter donation.
I also want to thank The Dominion Post for its coverage of WAA.
A big shout out to Morgantown Earl Anderson Marine Corp. League 342 for its effort of covering Grafton National Cemetery again this year. This huge undertaking is led by Clifford Van Gilder.
Thank you Hagans-Evans Chapter members for all your hard work under direction of our regent, Susan Arnold.
The bake sale led by Vicky Shears was a big success, as was the quilt raffle provided by the Shinkovich family.
Thank you, Anna Chandler, for all your hard work. Thank you to Post 548 Color Guard for your part in the program. Thank you to the Boy Scouts for assisting. Thank you to my wonderful Facebook friends and WVDAR sisters for several successful Facebook fundraisers and their generous donations.
This year, the Hagans-Evans DAR collected for cemeteries in Morgantown, Arlington and both veteran cemeteries in Grafton.
Right now, for 2023, Elizabeth Ludington Hagans-Col. John Evans Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution would like to ask your help in achieving the goal of honoring every veteran in these cemeteries again with a wreath for the 2023 holiday season.
Brenda Shinkovich
Elizabeth Ludington Hagans-Col. John Evans DAR Chapter
Wreaths Across America Volunteers
