Challenges for the County in the Coming Year

In the large view, I see the job ahead to be education and opportunity creation. 1. Putting a strong college presence in the County 2. Continued promotion of the New River Nursing Program and college credit courses at PCHS and High Rocks Academy 3. Increased awareness of the crippling effects of drug and alcohol addiction and promotion of "Healthy Life Styles" through Parks and Recreation, 4H, FFA, libraries and arts and crafts. 4.Increased dialogue with our young people about their future and how it relates to the County's future. 5. High Speed internet access. 6. Development of a shared vision.. I believe personal success at all levels depends upon motivation and work ethic. County opportunities depend in large part on personal success and a work force that is trained, educated and motivated.

Been There, I agree we also need to promote non-college high valued professional skills such as plumbers, carpenters, electricians, small business entrepreneurs. I heard from the high school students that they felt if they became highly skilled they could not successfully practice their professions here at least in the sense of making enough money. So our most talented youth may not think it is financially viable to stay. We also need to try to make farming more lucrative by creatively promoting it to tourists who, like it or not, represent a significant income stream.

with the job market the way it is in the county most of our youth will have to leave the county to find work.a few farmers may make a little money from tourists but most don't have the money to creatively promote it. most of our younger people ,say 30 or younger,don't own a farm and can't afford to buy one. this county needs some factories and some type of industry that will provide jobs,which will lead to spin off jobs.as for plumbers in the upper end, two or three may make a living but any more than that and they wouldn't make a living. a law passed a year ago requiring plumbers to be licensed and have a certain amount of experience.

not every county or town in the u.s. has a four lane highway or interstate highway.we are within a day's drive of millions of people. we have one of the biggest family owned trucking companies in the u.s. located in marlinton. we had factories in the county before and can have them again. one of the problem is some of the people with power are afraid they might have to pay their employees more if something moves in or they can't sell as much property to outsiders. it should be clear by now that we can't survive on just farming and tourism,we need other business to make it. the people of the county deserve better from the people in charge.

Planning is like standing in front of a church choir and asking everyone to sing without first checking what hymn everyone has in front of them. Even though each person sings well and even though each separate hymn is worth singing, everyone needs to agree on the song. Not every hymn can be sung at once. Different points of view and different ways of achieving common goals like "economic prosperity" or "healthy communities" must be reconciled in a harmony of purpose and action. I also think there is not going to be any magic single solution like a factory coming to town; not at least without more education and training and a workforce that has a strong "work ethic".

you keep talking about work ethics as if every one in pocahontas co is lazy or dumb.every week i know of about a hundred people who have to leave their families to work away from home.you don't know how hard it is to find a job working away from home.only by being good workers and having skills are we able to keep jobs.companies are willing to hire people from this area because of their work ethics.not every church choirs sing the same song at the same time.different churches believe in different things just like the people in the county.