The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Sierra Club, OVEC, E-Council and other citizen groups demonstrated on January 10th outside the Governor’s Mansion, to demand that Governor Underwood halt the logging that was set to begin in the Blackwater Canyon in Tucker County that day. Mary Ellen O’Farrell spoke eloquently on Blackwater saying that the real issue here is greed. Perry Bryant, democratic candidate for the House of Delegates addressed the crowd, promising to work for protection of Blackwater Canyon if elected. The event was covered by three TV stations as well as Metro News and Public Radio.

After environmental groups filed a injunction against new timbering, Allegheny Wood Products, having already logged over one thousand acres of the Canyon, scaled back its new logging plans to an additional 235 acres. But last Thursday, January 6, a federal judge in Elkins turned down a request for the injunction against the logging, saying that the harm to the logging company outweighed any harm to either endangered species or citizen enjoyment of the habitat.

"Now the roar of helicopters, dangling the carcasses of enormous old trees, will be heard over the Crown Jewel of West Virginia," said Frank Young, President of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. "We are outraged that the Governor would allow the destruction of this precious resource. The Governor has been making deals behind closed doors with John Crites that do

nothing for the people of West Virginia. But they will lead to the degradation of our most famous state park, and the beautiful Blackwater Canyon. When will we stop killing the goose that lays the golden eggs? We must protect our special places!"

Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that despite complaints from Cordie Hudkins, head of the state park system, Governor Underwood is also preparing to give John Crites a roadway through Blackwater Falls State Park. The roadway will lead to the timber job and a proposed housing development by Crites, on the edge of the state park. WVHC has filed an injunction in Kanawha County Court to stop the state from giving away this right-of-way through pristine areas of the park. A hearing on this issue will be held in Judge Stuckey's courtroom on January 26th at 3:30 P.M.

The Blackwater Canyon controversy became a statewide political issue, when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Wise spoke on out the issue in a letter to Underwood and in the rotunda on Tuesday January 11. Wise called for a cessation of all logging activity in the Canyon and its protection for future generations.

Jim Sconyers of the Sierra Club reported at the rally that Allegheny Wood Products threatened to arrest people taking part in a Sierra Club outing through the Canyon on January 15. In answer to this challenge, the hike has become a protest hike: STOP THE LOGGING...PROTEST WITH YOUR FEET. Starting in Thomas outside One World Concepts at 10:30 AM we will hike down all or part of the Canyon. Bring a camera. Let’s assert our rights as citizens to use our public lands in the Blackwater Canyon! [Sorry, folks. We went to press after this date. Hope the hike was fun and useful. Ed.]