The rumor around the West Virginia Legislature is that there will be no bill authorizing timbering in State Parks this year.  Rumor has it that the public uproar at such a proposal was sufficient to dissuade the Legislature from any attempt this year.

Late at night, around the camp fire, long time Legislative observers have told tales of someone with enough power and pockets of favors to redeem who was able to take some idea that nobody saw coming and turn it into law.  Nothing is certain until the Legislature goes home.  From today’s rumor, however, the Parks are safe.

Note: “Scuttlebutt” originated as a nautical term.  It was a cask in which a hole had been drilled and was the source of the crew’s drinking water.  Because that was where sailors would gather, it was where rumors were passed along.