By WILSON BUTT
While we look forward to celebrating Independence Day on July 4, the first day of the month is also significant from a historic viewpoint. On July 1, 1863 the battle of Gettysburg began. Nearly 8,000 soldiers lost their lives in the three-day battle.
Closer to home on July 1, 1942, a stormy day, the war and all of its horrors fell from the skies over McDowell County. An Army transport plane droned in dark skies over Premier. Weather reports mention that the area experienced one of the season’s most severe rainstorms. Heading to a base in North Carolina, the plane encountered problems with an engine and began to lose altitude. The crew and passengers threw out duffle bags and other items to lighten the load, nothing worked. The plane lost a wing and a thunderous and fiery crash ensued. Twenty-one men lost their lives. Once again we remember these men who paid the supreme sacrifice for our country. Their names are enshrined on a monument placed near the roadside at Premier in memory of the day the war came home to our mountains.
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As the Independence Day celebration approaches, many patriots are flying “Old Glory.” The flag should command the respect of every free man in the world. For had it not have been for the nation that flag represents, many in today’s world would not know freedom. America is the defender of freedom. Yet many in this nation are recklessly endangering their own freedom by not taking an interest and active roles in civic affairs. Poor voter turnouts are a prime indicator. The privilege to proudly display our American flag and the freedom it represents was bought with courage, commitment and sacrifice.
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The turnpike authority will be meeting today. It is predicted that the group will vote for a toll increase. It is sad when most of the members of the board probably do not even have a clue as to how a pothole should be properly patched. The turnpike staff and its consultants have their own interests at stake and they have been painting their picture for the commissioners. They wish to prolong the goose and the golden eggs as long as possible.
Member Bill Seaver chastised senators Don Caruth and Truman Chafin in a Tuesday story in the Daily Telegraph. “They never pointed out anything positive about the (turnpike) interchanges and the development it has created here,” Seaver said. “While none of us like these tolls, I think sometimes you never hear any of the positives pointed out. When you look at the interchanges in Beckley and Princeton, and you look at the unparalleled development both with the hotels and motels and the jobs they have provided — the benefits are immense. If it hadn’t been for the turnpike, a lot of those things would never have happened.” That is where we differ. If the road had simply been constructed as part of the interstate system — and, incidentally the upgrade was paid for by the state and federal governments via road user taxes — the same development, if not more, would have taken place. The Beckley area has also enjoyed growth in the areas adjacent to I-64, a free road. The development is basically limited to Princeton and Beckley areas.
The furor was not created by Chafin and Caruth. The furor was created by mismanagement and deception. The public was promised a free road and that they have not received. Chafin and Caruth simply took up the charge. Remember, we pay to use the road each time we purchase a gallon of gasoline. In essence, we are taxed twice for using the road. Mike Vinciguerra is probably right. We don’t like the problem and the solution isn’t good either. Perhaps in 10 years or less the road will be free.
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Many people who live in the area near the East River playground in Bluefield are upset with the problems that are occurring at that facility. The city provides little to no supervision for the park. Many of the residents in the area are upset with the activities that are taking place in and near the park. Neighbors are complaining about the language used by some individuals, trash that is left there each day, and some have reported illegal drug activity.
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There you have it, a few comments on items of interest to the area. Enjoy the Fourth. Celebrate your freedom. We should love this country. There isn’t a better one. Fly the American flag, proudly. I hope you have plenty of red, white and blue skies and that you may face the rising sun of our new day begun.
Wilson Butt, a resident of Bluefield, is a retired Department of Highways official.
