By WILSON BUTT
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
— I was not quite sure what it was that I saw above me last Thursday afternoon. For some reason the sky was some other color than gray. I think it was something called blue. A little warmth from the sun’s rays sure was a nice break from the several feet of snow we have been looking at for three months. Someone said that this winter’s snowfall is a record, and it certainly isn’t one that I care to see broken. Spring is around the corner. Robins showed up at the house and the squirrels have been busy going after the corn and peanuts we have been putting out for them. Chip Simmons said he was looking forward to mowing his lawn. The snow was pretty, but I’m not going to miss it anytime soon.
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Last Tuesday night’s visit to the Bluefield Branch of the Tazewell County Public Library in Bluefield, Va. was a surprise. The parking lot was full. The library had an overflow crowd of parents and children and there was a cat in a hat entertaining everyone. They were having a birthday celebration for Dr. Seuss. The library was also celebrating “Read Across America Day” which is held on the famous children’s author’s birthday. “Cat in the Hat” hats, cookies and other refreshments were served. Cindy Irvin played the part of the “Cat in the Hat.” Sarah Murphy read a selection or two to the delight of both the children and the adults. Manager and librarian Jill Gates and Amanda Baker, the children’s services coordinator, directed the whole show. The library had about 60 visitors that night. However, that was not the only place in Bluefield that held a party for Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Whitethorn School had a special celebration, passed out hats with cats, served up green eggs and ham, and introduced the legendary author’s books to the children.
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Roman Stauffer, chairman of the Mercer County Republican Committee, is questioning the actions of Congressman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who secured $40 million in the latest “jobs bill” to purchase thousands of acres of beachfront property in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Congressman Rahall is the representative who shepherded the $40 million through the House of Representatives. “This is the type of frivolous spending of taxpayer money that the people of West Virginia will not stand for and do not approve. We are in an economic and jobs crisis. The unemployment rate in West Virginia is over 10 percent and Congressman Rahall is spending taxpayer dollars to create jobs in the Virgin Islands, it's unacceptable and an embarrassment,” Stauffer said. “Not one of the 17 counties in Congressman Rahall's congressional district received more than $40 million last year from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Think of how many more miles of the King Coal Highway that could have been built with $40 million. There are countless water projects, school buildings, and municipality infrastructure projects across the Third Congressional District that could have used $40 million to help West Virginians,” Stauffer added. The U.S Virgin Islands is a group of islands in the Caribbean that consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas, Water Island, and many other surrounding minor islands. As of the 2000 census, the population was 108,612.
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Those representing Bluefield at the Mercer County Day in the Legislature included Mayor Linda Whalen, City Board members Mike Vinciguerra and Pete Sternloff, City Attorney Brian Cochran, and City Manager Andy Merriman. Princeton Mayor Dewey Russell also traveled to Charleston to attend the affair. There were several other local leaders in attendance representing various interests throughout the county. Delegates John Shott, R-Mercer, Mike Porter, R-Mercer, and John Frazier, D-Mercer, and others addressed the group.
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There you have it, a few comments on items of interest to the area. I hope you have a blue sky day.
Wilson Butt, a resident of Bluefield, is a retired Department of Highways official.
