Way to go Rabbit

Dear Editor:

Hats off to Garland “Rabbit” Thompson and the Tug Valley Panthers for reaching the state tournament in Charleston. As one of Rabbit’s friends for many years and a fellow “Chattaroy boy,” I know he has dreamed of this moment for a long, long time -- and I also know that he is more than deserving, having worked very hard as an assistant coach and student of the game for many years. During my tenure as the sports editor of the Daily News during the ‘80s, Rabbit accompanied me on many occasions to various basketball games throughout the area and we made a handful of trips together to the state tournament at the Civic Center in Charleston to cover the local teams. What I learned about Rabbit during that time was that, first and foremost, he is a gentleman and a genuinely nice guy. However, I also learned that there is a passion and absolute love for the game of basketball that burns deep inside of him (probably ignited from the countless pickup games we used to play at the Chattaroy school ground with guys named “Razor,” “Peanut,” “Hot Dog,” “Blinky,” and “Spunky,” among others).

There is no doubt that Rabbit has passed along that same passion and love for the game to his Tug Valley players, who obviously give their all each and every time they step onto the court. So then, it goes without saying that Mingo County will be very well represented this week at the Civic Center by Coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson and the Tug Valley Panthers.

Jim Barker

Kingsport, Tenn.

Supporting HB 3007

Dear Editor:

In regards to House Bill 3007 introduced by Delegate Craig Blair (R-Berkeley County) to test Welfare Recipients for drugs, I would like to lend my support. Now we all know that the number of people in Mingo County who are actually on Welfare (Aid to Dependent Families etc) is small but this bill includes people who are on SSI and unemployment.

The fact that most of these people paid unemployment insurance tax and Social Security Tax while they were working and probably are drawing unemployment because they lost their jobs because of NAFTA, Madow, AIG, etc..or were injured while working a minimum wage job with no benefits is not relevant. Just think of all the Vets who came home with head injuries and the only time they feel good is when their high on some drug prescribed by a welfare doctor. What is relevant is all the money we can save and the people we can punish. If we could only punish everyone we know that has cheated the system, avoided paying taxes, gave a 5 percent tip to a waitress making $2.50 an hour, tithe the church 9 percent, got a job because of their blood line, etc. When we test these people we can “cut off their projects.” Sure some children will suffer, but if their spending one-half their food stamps on drugs then it won’t matter that we take the other half. I mean the children will be more malnourished and the brain damage will be more severe but as Ebeneezer Scrooge said, “Are there no work houses, are there no prisons, to deal with this “excess population?” This is the perfect chance to rid ourselves of this “excess population.”

Contact name to call if needed:

Noble Harper

Williamson, W.Va.

Avoid

cigarettes, high-calorie foods

Dear Editor:

What’s more dangerous – a cigarette or a fattening school lunch like the ones many kids eat five days a week?

According to a new study, it may be a tie. Researchers found that obese teens, like heavy smokers, were twice as likely to die early, compared with normal weight nonsmokers. As a dietitian, I think it’s critical that we encourage youth to stay away from unhealthy, high-calorie foods, in addition to cigarettes.

Healthy school lunches, including fruits, vegetables and low-fat vegetarian meals, could help improve students’ health and decrease their risk of obesity and oher chronic diseases. Yet most school cafeterias continue to serve processed meat and cheese products and other foods too high in fat and cholesterol.

Schools want to serve better food, but they need help from the government. Let’s ask Congress to help schools offer healthier options in the lunch room, where so many students learn lifelong eating habits. Sign the petition at HealthySchoolLunches.org.

Sincerely,

Kathy Strong, M.S.,R.D.

Physicians Committee for

Responsible Medicine

Washington, D.C.