Eight Rivers Council, an organization that focuses on improving the land, water and air of Pocahontas County, West Virginia through community action and education, offered an award of $1000 for the best essay entitled “How I might contribute to saving the planet starting in Pocahontas County.”  The award was available to Pocahontas County residents of high school age, and there were 28 entries.  Many of the essays concerned trash – plastic, recycling, the landfill, etc.  We could be an example to the world if Pocahontas County residents would follow suggestions from our young people.  Other topics were cowpots (planting containers made from dried manure), road salt, outdoor wood furnaces, renewable energy, logging, the destructive impacts of cars and roads, and various impacts to water quality from litter to pipelines.  The winner is Jennalee Meck, a junior at Pocahontas County High School, whose essay is entitled “The Way to Waste Reduction through Minimalistic Mentalities and Recycling.” 

Our original plan was to present the award at an Earth Day event, April 22, at the Hillsboro Library.  Needless to say, that has been cancelled, but Jennalee will be getting a check.