By WILSON BUTT
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
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Five-term Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito’s decision not to make a run for U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Robert Byrd disappointed many Republicans.
Capito was probably the party’s strongest potential candidate and best shot at capturing the seat for the GOP. Her decision not to run against Gov. Joe Manchin may have been based on the governor’s popularity. Manchin carried all 55 counties in the 2008 gubernatorial election. Capito may bide her time. There is speculation that Senator Jay Rockefeller may not seek re-election.
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Stadium Committee Chairman John Beckett said, “All we’re trying to do is raise funds to do things that haven’t been done in 50 years.” Then do that. The residents of the Bluefields will have more appreciation for the committee’s efforts. The area residents saved a train; surely they can help revitalize the stadium.
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“My high school coach, the only man who would ever be ‘the coach’ to me, he was like a monk, withdrawn personally and unsociable in town circles; unreachable by the powers of the company, the church, the bank, or the mayor; rigid with discipline and sparse with compliments, inspiring boys like me, cruel to hose unprepared or unwilling ... he aspired only to be the coach. It was a calling ...” — Bill Bradley
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There are a number of teachers in our area who are exceptional and noteworthy educators. We are blessed to have these many exceptional educators, yet we often fail to honor their achievements and ethics dictate that we can only reward them in a token manner with an apple or other small gift of appreciation. The honor and reward that most of our educators receive is through the good works and achievements of their students, both in the classroom and beyond. I would expect that most teachers would rather have it that way.
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“When they ask me what they can do to find personal and professional satisfaction, my advice is simple: become a teacher ... The challenges of teaching are outnumbered only by the rewards that come from helping children realize their dreams.” — Laura Bush
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The Virginia Highlands festival held in Abingdon is underway. The annual event began last Saturday and will end Aug. 8. Robert Porterfield held the first festival in 1948 on the front porch of the Martha Washington Inn. The Desert Sands Shrine Club provides an “All Shrine Parade” to entertain and delight both youngsters and oldsters. The Bluefield Shrine Patrol has, in the past, participated in the parade.
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Even the noted Telegraph sportswriter “Stubby” Currence voiced a little humility. In one of his 1939 “Press Box” columns, he wrote, “In fact the most amazing thing of all is that the paper has continued to grow with the town, in spite of Currence.” or was that a little jab.
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Senator Jay Rockefeller put his foot down on the FCC’s proposal to auction 10 megahertz of spectrum to the highest bidder putting the nation’s emergency communications bands in the hands of private companies. The FCC apparently did not like Rockefeller’s move, but there is no reason to play games — especially with American lives. The Obama administration had supported the FCC position but the nation’s public safety agencies wanted no part of that and probably for good reason. The public safety people are the experts in the field, not the FCC. Secure communications for emergency and police matters are extremely important.
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The intersection of Bluefield Avenue and Spruce Street (U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 52) is extremely rough and should be repaired.
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There you have it, a few comments on items of interest to the area. May you have another blue sky day. Incidentally Adams Street was renamed College Avenue on March 20, 1923. Emory Mitchell held his first meeting as Bluefield City Manager on March 31, 1925.
Wilson Butt, a resident of Bluefield, is a retired Department of Highways official.
