Letters to the Editor   Dear Editor, The Petersburg High School class of '09 had "big dreams" when planning this year's prom/after prom. A lot of work went into making this an unforgettable night. It wouldn't have been possible without the hardworking prom committee members who spent endless hours planning, painting and decorating. Special thanks go to all the parents who helped, especially Darlene and Rick Nazelrodt, for overseeing, and Kay Leslie, for her amazing designs. Thanks also to the many businesses and individuals who generously donated cash (over $2,600), prizes and food for the after prom. We tried something new and unusual this year. It was held in the old gym and we rented games, such as sumo wrestling, bungee basketball and even a mechanical bull. Eleven lucky winners received $100 each, while Chasity Crites won a laptop and Neil Garton won a flat screen T.V. In the mechanical bull riding contest, I won for the boys and Ashlee Mongold won for the girls. Prom Queen went to Amber Thorne, while Matt Porter won Prom King. Over 275 people attended and we hope they will agree with us that the class of 09's "big dreams" were realized. Thanks, Caleb Nazelrodt, Class President Dear Editor, May 6-12 is National Nurses Week and I would like to take this opportunity to recognize our team of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses for the work that they do every day. The lives of our residents depend on their skills, compassion and commitment to caring for their needs. Each nurse brings unique talents and abilities to our facility, but they all bring an amazing amount of love and dedication. I have worked in a variety of health care settings and so I am able to recognize that very special relationships develop between long-term care nurses and the people that are in their care. Our nurses don't just see a room number, a diagnosis, a treatment or medication to be provided. They see individual people who need care for the mind, body and spirit. I see nurses who really know the people inside those bodies, who try to meet their needs, who rejoice when good things happen and who cry when we lose a friend. Every day I see nurses putting the needs of others before their own. Everyone knows a nurse. Sometime this week, tell her or him how great they really are and how much you appreciate what they do. Most will be surprised - they just do their job and never realize they are God's hands at work. Susan Rogers, RN Director of Nursing, Grant County Nursing Home Intercepted letter The Hon. Harold K. Michael State Capitol Complex, Rm. 233-E 1900 Kanawha Blvd., East Charleston, WV 25305 Dear Delegate Michael, In response to your inquiry on April 21, 2008, concerning methods available for West Virginia farmers to protect livestock against rabies, you must recognize this vaccine by law is a prescription drug. The following information will clarify the steps farmers should take to protect their livestock against rabies. Farmers must purchase the vaccine from a veterinarian provided the veterinarian and consumer have a valid veterinary-client relationship. While it is, a favorable practice to immunize livestock (cattle, horses and sheep) against this disease, there is no law requiring vaccination of livestock in West Virginia. The current rabies vaccine is not approved for goats, swine or other livestock. The danger of using the vaccine on unapproved animals is that it may not provide immunization against the disease, and people in contact with animals will have a false sense of security about the animal's protection against rabies. Kind regards, Gus R. Douglass Commissioner, WVDA Legislative committee examines volunteer firefighter retention Legislative leaders have created a joint select committee to closely examine the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. At the request of Senate president Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, and House speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, the joint committee on government and finance recently voted in favor of establishing the committee, which will meet during the legislature's three-day, monthly interim sessions. "This is a pressing public safety issue that needs special attention," Tomblin said. "This committee can spend the next 10 months looking at why the number of volunteer firefighters in West Virginia has declined, and what we can do to reverse that trend." Thompson noted that the entire country is heavily reliant on the service of volunteer firefighters. "Seventy-three percent of the nation's firefighting forces are volunteer, and a rural state such as ours is particularly dependent on this vital service," he said. Thompson pointed to a 2007 study by U.S. Fire Administration which concluded that while the retention and recruitment problem exists nationwide, the solution must come at a local level. "These are a variety of factors that can be at play, including the hectic nature of today's society and population shifts from rural to more urban areas," Thompson said. "The good news is, the study also indicates that once local entities make the effort to zero in on the specific recruitment and retention barriers in their region, they have been able to increase their numbers substantially." Delegate Mike Caputo, D-Marion, will chair the committee on behalf of the House of Delegates. Delegate Kenneth Tucker, D-Marshall, has been appointed House vice chairman of the committee. Other House members are Delegates Sharon Spencer, D-Kanawha; Daniel Poling, D-Wood; Bill Proudfoot, D-Randolph; Mike Burdiss, D-Wyoming; Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire; and Robert Shadler, R-Mineral. The Senate appointments are pending. Caputo noted how reliant small communities are on the willingness of local men and women to serve, while now holding full-time jobs and caring for their own families. "It is a tremendous sacrifice, one that we as communities cannot take for granted," he said.

 

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