Rexrode, Blagg voted right way Editor, The Recorder,
I picked up The Recorder dated Friday, July 22. I couldnt believe my eyes! The more I read the more frustrated I got! I cant believe people using these harsh words against our great supervisors, Mr. Rexrode and Mr. Blagg!
It appalls me to hear them called idiots, and foolish. My family has known Mr. Rexrode forever. And we believe in our hearts that he would not approve something if it were going to harm this county in any way shape or form. I have lived in this county all my life (26 years). My momma has lived here all of her life (62 years) and my granny (God rest her soul) lived here a couple years short of her whole life (82 years).
I love this county. I love most of the people who live here. But when people that are imports and part-timers put lifetime residents down, and start talking about people who have lived here all of their lives, like me, I get so frustrated and upset! Its like our opinions dont matter anymore.
Big wigs from away from here move in, take over and think they can do anything they want and well just go along with it. It has to be their way or no way. Well, what about us that have been here all along? What about us that aided in making the county what it is now? To the ones who said they would have to sell out and move if the wind turbines were OKd, we survived long before you moved here. I suppose we will survive after you are gone.
Mr. Rexrode and Mr. Blagg did what they thought would benefit this county the most. Yes, it has to do with money. I do not see what they voted for as selling us out, but making the county a better place. There are no pollutants from these wind turbines, which is a big plus. And as for the endangered species, if you go by that one, I guess every logger in this county would be out of a job. Whos to say the tree they cut down doesnt have a birds nest in it? Whos to say the birds nest doesnt belong to an endangered species?
It just doesnt make much sense to me. The people are worried their land values will go down. Well, if the land has been in your family for years, and youre not planning on selling it in your lifetime, maybe passing it down to children, why are you worried about the land value? Wind turbines are not such a bad idea after all.
I am not wealthy and cannot write out a fat check to the county or to the supervisors to encourage them to go a certain way! My husband and I are barely squeaking by with what he and I make. Its not enough. I would like to hold on to our land (that has been in my family for more than 100 years) after my momma dies.
Before the wind turbines were introduced, I thought with the rising land taxes, there would be no way possible for us to do that. Now there is a good chance I can do that! Am I out for money? No. I just want to keep whats ours and has been ours for a long time. You see, to the people that have not lived here as long as some of us have, it may not seem like much to you, but its our life, and our happiness too. I am not a moneygrubber, and do not want to line my pockets with gold.
Mr. McBride is not taking anything away from you or me. You do not own his land. I dont see how others can tell him what he can and cannot do with his own land. Im sure he and his family have worked hard (just as my family has) for what they own. He should be able to do with it what he wants. People telling him he cannot use his property the way he sees fit is like me saying to my neighbors, I dont like your house, its in the way of my view. Bulldoze it down and build a new one to my liking.
Who are we to say Mr. McBride doesnt have the right to do what he wants on his own property? I just wish people would have more decency and manners about themselves.
Some say the supervisors had the deputies there for their protection. If a couple people from the opposed side would be able to control themselves, there wouldnt have been any need for the deputies to have been there. Some people are acting like little kids.
There has been so much procrastination going on with the turbines and housing complexes in this county. Sometimes it makes me feel ashamed to even be part of this county! Its a terrible feeling, and I wish it would go away. But that feeling will not go away until the bad eggs in the county go away. The bad eggs are making this county look bad. I say let the officials handle this matter. They actually know what they are doing.
This project will be scrutinized. It will be picked over, and in the end the officials will do what is right just as Jerry Rexrode and Lee Blagg did. I would like to personally thank Jerry and Lee for voting yes to the turbines. You have helped our family out in more ways than one.
A genuine lifetime resident of Highland County.
Danielle Carter
Hightown, Va.
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