Name the Coliseum for the late Jerry West
WVU Athletics has announced that they will honor the legacy of the great Jerry West throughout the 2024-25 athletic season. Jerry West touched the lives of so many West Virginians. He was a basketball legend and icon, and he has impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes. Jerry West inspired West Virginians to believe that no matter how humble an upbringing, achieving greatness was still possible.
I worked at the Coliseum for 35 years and had the good fortune of meeting Jerry West. While Jerry’s college basketball days were at the old WVU Field House, a statue of Jerry West adorns the entrance to the Coliseum, home of Mountaineer basketball.
While purchasing naming rights to WVU buildings is an option, an exception should be made for the Coliseum. As a culmination to the activities planned by WVU Athletics, the Coliseum should be named the Jerry West Coliseum — a name to be designated and remain in perpetuity.
I encourage West Virginia citizens, and state government and university officials, to stand united in this request.
Andy Ostrow
Morgantown
Thankful for kindness during tragic loss
The early hours of May 30, 2024, I lost my soulmate and love of 61 years. I dialed 911 and answered the questions they asked. Within a very short period of time, someone from the county sheriff’s department and two EMS workers arrived and pronounced my soulmate dead.
As they took care of his body, the lady stayed with me in another part of our house, talking to keep my mind busy, and said, “I live right down the road from you. If you need anything please let me know.”
These were the most caring and kind people to take care of a situation that involves family.
I apologize for taking this amount of time to recognize and tell you how much I appreciated your kindness and caring and remember how sincere you were in making sure I was OK.
I hope that Christ Mentzer, Brittany Ball and Walter Augustine realize how much they were and are appreciated. May God bless your life as he did ours.
Linda Newcome
Masontown
Can’t let Trump’s lies go unchallenged
It is hard to ignore people who use mean-spirited language to counter what he describes as “mean spirited,” and further applies mean-spirited words to describe the current, duly and fairly elected president of this country. Mr. Waybright (Aug.4) terms President Biden “senile old fool” and denies the truth about who described Trump as Hitler. As for name calling, Trump spews hate-speech and spreads lies about candidates’ ethnicity: recall Obama and the birther lies told by Trump, and now Trump’s alleging that V.P. Harris is not biracially Black and Indian.
The former president chose a running mate who once called Trump “America’s Hitler.” That term did not originate with the Democrats. JD Vance used it. Look it up if you doubt the veracity.
Search Factcheck: In 2016, Vance wrote in a private message to his former law school roommate: “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a**hole like Nixon who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he’s America’s Hitler. How’s that for discouraging?”
Vance does not deny his 2016 words, but says he now believes differently.
I will always defend someone’s right to express their beliefs and positions, but I will not sit by and ignore the distortion of the facts. Personally, I detest liars, bullies, sexual predators and wannabe dictators. (Ooops, I forgot convicted felons!) Trump has proven himself to be all of those; that’s why I could never vote for him.
Jane C. Michael
Morgantown
Proposed camping ban not fully thought out
As I watched last Tuesday’s Morgantown City Council’s discussion of the proposed “camping on public property” ordinance, I was extremely dismayed. None of the council members who favor the ordinance addressed the costs and practical problems associated with its enforcement.
The ordinance requires the city manager to retain a case manager. After three violations, an individual can be incarcerated for up to 30 days. It’s not clear how the city intends to pay for the regional jail, medical care for those incarcerated or the salary of the case manager. To cover these costs, will city services be curtailed? Will the already short-staffed city police department need to overlook other law enforcement priorities to make arrests, attend court hearings and drive affected individuals to the regional jail?
Because of the documented lack of shelter space and housing, as well as rehabilitation and mental health services, there is a great likelihood that individuals arrested would be back on the streets as soon as they are released. Will taxpayers be forced to bear the costs of these multiple incarcerations?
Homelessness is a complex problem that can’t be addressed in 300 words. However, I am certain rushing into a solution without a study to assess its cost, the police resources needed for enforcement and its potential for effectively resolving concerns of city residents is irresponsible.
At the council meeting, residents who live and work on Wall Street expressed legitimate concerns, which included sanitation, breaking and entering and drug dealing. Sanitation issues could be partially resolved by providing public restrooms and garbage cans. And, instead of spending city dollars to incarcerate sleeping individuals, money would be better spent increasing police presence downtown and enforcing current laws.
This approach will not help to resolve the underlying causes of homelessness. But, it would target individuals actually breaking the law rather than all unsheltered individuals.
Kathleen Abate
Morgantown
