With all the talk I have heard recently about having a shortage of law enforcement people and no having the resources to hire a law enforcement person in the Town of Grantsville – at least I think I heard that during the internet broadcast of a recent town council meeting – it got me to thinking about yesteryear.
Yes, when I was a kid and we had to fight off dinosaurs on our way to school, you know the good old days, we had four or maybe five law enforcement for the entire county.
If memory serves me correctly, we had two state policemen, a sheriff, a city policeman and a constable. At least we voted for somebody to be constable and I honestly, I really am not sure what a constable did, but I don’t think we have them anymore.
But enough about constables since the only one I can remember was one who had his name written in by some people as a joke only to have him to go down and pay the fees and become a constable.
But enough of that.
Back the if memory serves me correctly our two state policemen were Lloyd Haynes and Calvin Beck. Both, I seem to remember, were nice guys. The sheriff was either Carl Morris or Jim Morford and the city policeman was Brian Ward.
That was it. That was our police force. And I always felt safe as I am sure most people did.
Was that because we did not have crime or people breaking the law?
No. We did. We had bad people doing bad things. We had had that since time began.
But not like today. Today we have more crime, more often and more people are involved in it.
Why?
Drugs.
Back in those days people got drunk and raised hell but we really didn’t hear much about anything else.
What we knew about marijuana we basically learned watching “Reefer Madness” or hearing all the things we were warned about if that movie. Was there marijuana here in central West Virginia? Maybe. I think it may have grown wild since hemp did grow wild in this area but if it did nobody, I knew cultivated it.
Meth? It wasn’t even a gleam in a derelict’s eye at the time. This was even before the government started secretly testing LSD on unknowing citizens. It was an innocent age that as much as I wish we could go back to those days we can’t.
We have turned a lot of corners during my life and marijuana is legal or close to it in many states now and people found they could make or buy their own drugs easily and relatively cheaply.
And the desire for these cheap and easy drugs is the biggest reason we need more police people today than we have while way back when half as many police kept us safer or at least feeling safer than we do now.
But bless the blue and thank them for their service. They do a good job.
THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL FORUM: I watched the GOP candidate forum on WSAZ Tuesday night, and I am more convinced than ever I am making the right choice voting for who I am voting for in the primary election – Chris Miller.
While I think any of the four major Republican candidates – Patrick Morrisey, Moore Capito, Mac Warner and Miller – would be a good choice and a better governor than democrat candidate Steve Williams.
Why Miller? He’s a businessman not a politician and the last time we elected a businessman to a big office we got Donald Trump as our 45th President and we prospered. Miller can do the same thing.
Some people only know Miller from his auto sales commercials which are very funny, but they are missing the man. He took over Dutch Miller auto and has turned it into a multi-dealership conglomeration that employes more than 750 people.
He has succeeded by using good business practices and common sense. Those are the things he would bring to the table as governor and those are the reasons he would be the best choice for West Virginia.
Other choices?
Jim Manchin as United States Senator, Carol Miller – Chris Miller’s mother – as First District Congressman. As the Second District Congressman I think Riley Moore the current West Virginia Treasurer and nephew of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito would be the best choice.
Other offices statewide and regionwide are up to you.
Locally I have certain people I support and recommend including both Eric Lupardis and Roger Propst for county commissioners even though I do also like Ari White. But in the choice between Roger and Ari I have known Roger for a lifetime, and I know his character and I would trust him with my life AND my money.
In the other races I have always say if you can’t make up your mind between two candidates vote for the Republican!!! Vote for the Republican!!! You won’t go wrong by voting for the Republican!!!
I voted Thursday but was disappointed by the fact that write-ins were not allowed because I was going to write in Hamilton Burger for prosecuting attorney. You got to be a fan of classic old television shows to get it.
Please go out and vote because it is not only your right and privilege but with the importance of this primary election this year it is your responsibility and duty to go out and do what is right for Calhoun.
DIFFERENCE IN GENERATIONS: But didn’t you have protests back when you were young, I was asked.
Yes, we did, I answered.
So, what’s the difference where you supported the protests back then but don’t now?
My first thought was “just how stupid are you” but I stopped myself and thought to me it was part of my life while to them it was history. There is a difference in how we look at things. I mean for them Vietnam was something long ago while to people may age it’s something that was yesterday no matter how you came down on it.
So, I measured my thoughts and answered.
Back then, I said, the protests were against war and hate and discrimination based on race or religion. Today the protests are in favor of war and hate and discrimination.
Today, I said, these protesters act like the horrendous acts of March 7, 2024, never happened that thousands of Jewish people were not raped, murdered and taken prisoner and that if it did it was OK because Jewish people need to be eradicated from the earth.
My God what is wrong with these people?
Back in my day we made a lot of mistakes. Lots and lots of mistakes but our protests were made to end a war, make peace not war and to have people judged by the content of their character not the color of their skin. And we really did not want to exterminate anyone.
Oh, yes, we made mistakes lots and lots of them, but we did not make the mistake of being godless and heartless.
Until next time stay safe but don’t live life in a bubble.
