Publicity trumps serving the public

Editor:

I just read two articles in the Oct. 19 Gazette that really ticked me off.

The first was a story about "Big" John Perdue calling Matt Lauer of the "Today" show to tell Matt that he had unclaimed property totaling $65 from an old checking account. I had to jump through hoops to get unclaimed property that my father had left.

The first two times I called the treasurer's office, no one would tell me what or how much it was. One lady did say it was more than $50. After filing a claim I received a letter telling me it was an insurance policy that my father had. The letter did not say how much or with which insurance company, but it did say I would have to contact the unknown company to proceed with my claim.

I called the treasurer's office a third time and spoke with a lady who was helpful but spoke in a hushed voice like she didn't want anyone around to hear. And "Big" John goes out of his way to call the "Today" show.

But wait. It is an election year. And "Big" John just lost my vote.

The second story was about the money left over from the $126.3 million stimulus and what to do with it. Some idiot suggested buying a bus that cost $1.1 million to use to advertise. Here's a novel idea: Give it back to help pay our national debt. Bus indeed.

Terry Sigler

Kimberly

School lunches don't satisfy food needs

Editor:

Is school food desirable for teenage kids? When students depend on the school for food, they expect the food to fill their hunger. As required by the school board, the food must be healthy, but "healthy" doesn't always mean small portions.

An average teen needs around 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day. This is about 500 to 600 calories per meal. This is impossible with what students are served. One cinnamon roll for breakfast or one pepperoni roll for lunch definitely does not satisfy the hunger needs of students who are working all day long.

To be "healthy," schools also provide salad bars. This may sound like a good idea - and it is, if the salad bar actually has stuff on it. Our salad bar usually has salad, cheese, maybe carrots and tomatoes and some type of fat-free dressing. In a salad, people want more than just lettuce. With what they are served, students are hungry again by their next class.

Besides small portions, some school foods aren't even edible. Apparently salt is not allowed, but when the cooks serve hamburgers and fries, people expect somewhat salted fries. Who would want soggy, half-cooked, unsalted fries? Even those on diets wouldn't eat fries if they weren't salted.

I understand the concept of eating healthy, but school food takes "healthy" to a new level.

Kayann Hare

Scott Depot

Kids with disabilities not getting help

Editor:

There are thousands of children in West Virginia who have some sort of disability.

In the past, the state has given them help through different programs so they can live a better life in the future.

But lately the state has cut out several programs to save money and cut down on education of these little ones.

These precious children have been given a disadvantage from birth. Some have no sight, some cannot talk, some have Down syndrome and many other disorders.

I have a granddaughter who was getting one-on-one training for the past two years. This year the state stopped that program and replaced it with a half-hour-a-week speech therapist.

So far, all the teacher has done is let her play with toys for the half-hour, and now it's time for school to start, so that program is over.

The children have lost what little training they were getting, but the state has gained the money it saved at the expense of the children.

Doesn't that make you proud of our state government? May God have mercy on these little ones and on the ones who have taken away their chance for a better life.

Donald Duley

Kingwood

Student requests info from W.Va. residents

Editor:

I'm writing from Rhode Island, the smallest state in New England. I am a seventh-grade student at Goff Junior High School in Pawtucket, R.I. In my geography class we are going to be working on a project that requires an oral, written and poster project on a U.S. state. I chose to do my report on West Virginia. Could you please publish this letter in your paper so that your readers could help me with this project? Our class was told that information from the actual state is better than the information from books. If your readers could send some information, pictures or tourist information, it would help me so much with my project. Thank you.

Devon D.

Mr. Gilmore's period 3 class

c/o Goff Junior High School

974 Newport Ave.

Pawtucket, RI 02861