Thanks to the "Social Climber," the newsletter of the Pittsburgh Climbers, and to Arthur Evans, Editor, for their pitch in the Nov. 98 issue on the good works of the WVHC to help save our natural areas, and for reprinting Frank Young’s plea for some financial assistance which appeared in the previous Voice. ª

Bob Mueller writes from "Virginians for Wilderness:"

In 1986 Virginians for Wilderness proposed a 65000 acre Shenandoah Wilderness for the George Washington National Forest. Although this wilderness was never designated, it received considerable publicity in the media and was supported by the Wilderness Society. We now suggest that this proposed wilderness be renamed the Ernie Dickerman Wilderness.

This would be the largest national forest wilderness east of the Mississippi. It would also have many features of outstanding ecological significance, such as an old-growth forest and many rare and disjunct species (Wild Earth 1 (3), 1991). It would provide remote habitat and solitude that is rare in the East. The location is near Ernie’s home place where he died and one of the few places where such a large wilderness could be created. During late years Ernie worked hard to preserve large parts of it.

Ernie was a charter member of the Wilderness Society, and several of the Society’s founders, namely Bob Marshall and Aldo Leopold, have had large wilderness areas named after them. Ernie deserves no less to commemorate his achievements. We ask everyone to support the Ernie Dickerman Wilderness. ª

 From Pendleton County Times, Dec. 10, 1998

Gov. Cecil Underwood used the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Allegheny Wood Products in Riverton last week as an opportunity to tout the state’s new timber management plan and urge the continued effort for the state to provide not only raw materials, but finished products.

The governor, who noted that his father was a timber cutter, said the timber industry was an important growth industry for the state and congratulated the mill on "25 years of looking to the future" and for good management of its timberland.

He said the challenge for the future was "how we can accelerate the finished product here in West Virginia to keep the value added here in the state."

The mill at Riverton was shut down for only the second time in its history Thursday for the ceremony, according to founder John Crites. The other time was for the death of his father.

In an emotional speech, Crites hailed the governor and legislators in attendance as "friends of the forest industry," paid tribute to the people of the North Fork who helped get the business started and to his employees, several of whom have been with the firm since its inception. They were honored with gifts. ª

Winner, drawn from a backpack in the WVHC office in downtown Morgantown on 12/1/98 is Bob Hogue from Martinsburg. This was from folks, nearly 100 of them, who returned a postcard located in the hiking guide they bought. Everyone who returned it was entered and given a free 6 month trial membership. ª

A West Virginia environmental issues forum has been established on the Internet at www.wvhighlands.org, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy site. Posts are invited. This provides an opportunity to reach a wider audience than the WISe subscription base. ª