A Bridge for Evacuation

Prior to the 1950's if there was a train derailment on the tracks through Keyser there was a way for those on the north side of the tracks to escape. The could simply drive across the bridge into Maryland. For the past 50 years that has not been an option. When Memorial Bridge was completed at set of stairs were added for evacuation in an emergency. That is fine if you are able bodied, but not if you have health issues. A question ask is will the new bridge even have a set of stairs for evacuation of the north end? There is another escape route, the Porter St tunnel, but if the water is high it will be blocked as well.

While nothing has happened for the past 50 years it does not mean that nothing can happen. Consider trains hall many types of hazardous materials; Explosives, Chlorine Gas, Fuel and things we many not even want to think about, then it would be very easy for a train to derail and block both crossings which are only about 350 feet apart. What if the derailment causes a fire on the north end? Most modern fire and rescue equipment can't fit through the Porter Street tunnel. Many homes could be lost while trying to build an emergency rail crossing in a different location.

The intent of this story is not to be alarmist or predict catastrophe, but to make a simple suggestion. The city could take an opportunity to look in to building a small bridge to McCoole at the end of Main Street where the original US 220 bridge once stood. It may not be something that is economically feasible, but if we don't check we will never know. Perhaps there is money available from Homeland Security to provide and escape route. Perhaps not, but if we never ask the question, then we will never know. Maybe we should just ask to see if it is something that is feasible to add to our community.

US Falls to 22nd Most Stable Country

The US fell to 22nd in Jane's Country Risk Assessment which ranks the 235 countries and independent territories in the world on risk and prosperity. The top ten were the Vatican, Sweden, Luxembourg, Monaco, Gibraltar, San Marino, the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands and the Irish Republic. The bottom ten included the West Bank and Gaza, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.

The top 30 countries in the world are considered stable. The US scored 93 out of a possible 100. Christian Le Mière, managing editor of Jane's Country Risk Assessment stated the reason for the drop to 22nd was "partly because of the proliferation of small arms owned by Americans and the threat to the population posed by the flow of drugs from across the Mexican border."

While I agree with the study that says our border security increases the risk to Americans. It is not just from drugs as it allows for the possibility for terrorist entering the county. I strongly disagree that gun owning American's increase the risk. The facts are that those citizens exercising their 2nd Amendments add to the security of America.

This study is flawed. Most of the top 10 are the worlds smallest nations. They are not exactly secure. Consider that when Germany invaded Western Europe in 1940, Luxembourg was nothing more than a speed bump in the Blitzkrieg race to the Channel. With the exception of the United Kingdom the rest of the counties in the top ten primarily rely on the goodwill of one country to maintain their freedom. That country would be the United States.

The study does not take into effect the stabilizing effect the United States has on the world. The study is flawed in that respect.

Shelley Moore Capito Delivers on National Security Again

The nightmare scenario that few of us want to think about and that the liberals want to pretend won't happen is all too possible. Imagine a WMD strike on Washington DC, turning the metropolitan area too "hot" for habitation. Hundreds of thousands flee the stricken area. Our region turns into the front line of the war on terror.


In such a situation, those guarding the ramparts ensuring our safety become our National Guard, state troopers, and fire fighters. That is why Representative Shelley Moore Capito's work to secure a $66,500 grant for the Capon Springs Volunteer fire department is so vital. As Capito explains, “The Capon Springs Volunteer Fire Department is vital to the local community, but faces challenges with limited financial resources." The equipment such grants help these departments obtain will prove vital whether these men and women respond to a local emergency or regional disaster. According to Capito, “This grant will help purchase a much needed mobile compressor trailer that will service all fire departments in the area. These are volunteers that willingly serve their neighbors in need and it’s important that they have the resources to do their job.”


Once again our Republican Representative in Congress has shown that her office can bring home needed help for some of our most necessary organizations, even when hers is the minority party. We should be thankful for Representative Capito. While liberals in the House of Representatives raise the bar on foolishness, for example debating articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney of all people, at least Representative Capito and other Republicans get some real and important work accomplished.

Is Mineral County running out of water?

At several planning commission meetings over the past 2 years I have heard people claim that Mineral County is running out of water. Now living here my entire life I have never thought that Mineral County is running out of water. The water may not be distributed properly throughout the county currently, but it is nothing that couldn't be done. There is a fair amount of water at Jennings Randolph Lake that could be accessed if we needed, so the people saying we are running out of water are just trying to scare people.

If anybody has driven past the filtration plant in Keyser and looked at the dam, you may have noticed that the water is not going over the spillway. New Creek is very low right now, but money was available through Homeland Security provide backup water supplies throughout the country. 18 miles of pipe would be needed in Mineral County to provide that security.

4 miles of pipe could connect New Creek Water to Mountain Top Water System. 4 miles would connect Keyser to Piedmont, 1 mile to connect Keyser/New Creek to Burlington/Fountain and the long one of 9 miles to connect Fountain to Frankfort's system. At about $200,000 per mile of pipe construction, this would be about a $3.6 million project. Once completed in an emergency any water system could pull off another to continue service. Put in perspective the $3.6 million water security project is less than a 10th of the $40.0 million north end sewer project.

It is hard to say which is the most important project. I would tend to believe that clean drinking water would top the list, but we don't have to pick as the funding sources are different. We have an opportunity if we choose to take it. I will build better infrastructure for future economic growth in the county, and because it will help bring jobs to the county some will oppose it.