West Virginia Highlands Voice

Dear Governor Manchin,

I have been very impressed with the new theme of “Coming Home to West Virginia” and the articles in the “Wonderful West Virginia” magazine.

The stream discussed in the letter. It is bright orange.

I grew up on the banks of Buckeye Run, a tributary of Middle Island Creek in Doddridge County. I am a 5th generation West Virginian, my great great grandfather built the house I grew up in and that has always been a point of family pride. Our creek was quite a popular spot and many of the local churches used our swimming hole for their baptisms. I still have a picture on our wall at home of all the people in their white clothes, before heading down to the creek. Long, lazy summers at our “Swimming Hole” and riding my pony around the fields, provided a foundation for the love of my home and I have been determined to pass this on to my three sons.

I married and moved away to Colorado, having been blessed with a wonderful husband who also appreciates the beauty, traditions, and the people who work hard. here Though we live near Vail Colorado during the school year, we love our cabin on the banks of the Greenbrier River in Pocahontas County and our farm near Lewisburg and are making preparations to return “home” in the future. My sons have been brought here to West Virginia every summer since they were born as I felt it was important for them to experience “real living” and not only the glamour of the ski resort community in Colorado. All my sons are thriving musicians, largely due to the nurturing environment provided by many of the locals here in Pocahontas County. My oldest son is a passionate fiddler and has been taught by the best West Virginia has to offer. His interest turned to classical music and he became the principal violinist/ concertmaster for the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra at the age of 17, and was recently accepted into the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. All this brings me to here, where I begin the rest of my story of returning home to West Virginia.

Last Monday night, August 24th, I went ‘home’ to Doddridge County to spend the night with my oldest son as we were going to Oberlin Ohio the next day to get him settled in at college. My son chose to take that route as it would give him just one more opportunity to cast his line in the waters of Buckeye Run Creek. He headed down to the creek at 9:00 pm and came back saying there appeared to be a “problem”. We took flashlights down to our fishing hole, the acrid, oily smell of this red/orange gel met us almost up to the house. I got it on my hands, the smell of which didn’t go away for some time despite repeated washing.

Is this the “Come home to West Virginia” we deserve?

It is now Sunday, August 30th. After having called the DEP, oil and gas division, we STILL do not know what this is. Though they were quick to respond, and have been very polite, information has been sketchy. Clean up has been ongoing, the employees of which, were in the water with this contaminant all over their bare skin. I have been told that they don’t know yet what it is. If you don’t know ‘what it is’ how do you know you are cleaning it up properly and it is safe for people to touch. When I notified my neighbors downstream, they stated they had seen before that time, that the water appeared ‘funny’ and red. There is no educational outreach to people who live downwind, downstream from possible pollution sources, informing them what to look for and who to call when there is a suspected problem. Neither is there a system in place to notify the people who live along the stream. My neighbors down stream had not been notified, many children play in the creek as mine do.

A sound business climate is very important in keeping and attracting people to our home state. But if we foul up our waters and our lands, keep antiquated laws in place without updating these as new technologies leap ahead through loop holes, we will all be losers. Who wants to live in a state known for razing and polluting their own home? West Virginia’s biggest asset lies in our bright and hopeful children. Their heritage is being plundered and altered by others who do not respect other people’s homes and safety. We need to make sure that we are passing on a clean environment, to do otherwise is dishonorable to those who came before us. West Virginia has such bright, passionate people, we could become a leader in this nation in renewable, clean energy, along with industries that abide by good, strong laws to keep our drinking and recreational waters safe.. We can become a state others look to instead of down upon. Laws need to be changed quickly and closer scrutiny of industries with the potential to pollute our homes and make us sick.

The pictures I have sent are not pretty, cancer is not pretty either. I just lost my third sibling to cancer, my sister, who “came home to West Virginia” and used to swim side by side with me in Buckeye Run Creek.

Louanne McConnell Fatora

More Problems With Gas Wells

Dear Mr. McFerrin

Thank you for the articles on drilling in the Marcellas Shale. Roger and I invite you to come to our home and see firsthand the drilling operation 300ft from our front door. Patterson UTI Rig 738.

This company drilled here last July. We got little sleep for about 6 months. I heard some tools got lost in the well. Then last week the head of our water district said the bottom fell in. Anyhow , they are here drilling yet again. We tried to deal with the company but they lied to us, and only consider their own agenda.

We have also read the Dominion Post, and have so many concerns about the air we are breathing and the water supply. We invite someone from the Conservancy to come here-we will provide you food and lodging if needed. They tore up the tar and chip road that we waited 40 years for. They used 90 million gallons of water for the well drilling operation over the hill. Don’t know how much they will use on this one-the second time around.

Thank you for your advocacy for the people of WV and for our beautiful state.

Sincerely
Kay and Roger Findley