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by One Citizen
The WV Division of Natural Resources conducted a poll to elect a state animal as a symbol for West Virginia in 1954, and as a result, the black bear has been one powerful symbol promoting our forests. Since mountaintop removal takes more and more of its natural habitat, it may be time to consider replacing the state animal with one which is more appropriate for us.
Sort of puts a more honest slant on the tradition of politicians "stumping" in our southern coalfields, doesn't it?
It may also be time to consider changing the official West Virginia state fish, due the recent news that the hatchery in Man, WV (Logan County} is closing.
West Virginia designated brook trout as our official state fish in 1973. To thrive, brook trout require water conditions that are cool, clean and pure. And although none of the newspapers bothered to mention it, the entire Guyandotte River Watershed has been compromised for so long that it is likely impossible to verify that fish from any coalpatch hatchery won't cause cancer, even if it does survive the pollution. Reportedly, Logan County Commission President Art Kirkendoll says he plans to talk with the company about finding a buyer.
Good luck with that.
Given the high number of mutant aquatic life found within the Guyandotte watershed lately, it'd be more helpful if he'd lobby to pass legislation to change the official state fish to the Guyandotte Triple Orb Rainbow.
Mr. Kirkendoll should definitely try contacting one of his carny pals who deals with fire eaters, snake handlers and the geek, freakshow traveling tent industry, because its obvious that no southern WV coalfields fish hatchery will be able to guarantee a non-toxic sport fish. At least not until after huge amount of remediation is done. Given the political climate, it's a safe bet that the Logan County Commission won't be applying for that any time soon.
Anyway, once they make the three-eyed trout the state fish, the coalition of coalfield county commissioners could then bribe ...er "lobby" the WV legislature to pass a law requiring their freakshow fish to be stocked throughout West Virginia, and paid for out of excess school levy funds in each district. After all, taking off a school day to watch em' stock their local streams every year would be an educational experience. And just imagine all the sportsmen dying to drop a line in WV's many streams just to hook a real live three-eyed freak of "nature"!
Come to think of it, that's exactly why Kirkendoll will give nothing but lip-service when it comes to helping out anyone who might even remotely obstruct his precious coal extraction industry. There's already too much attention and too many witnesses to what's going on down there. |
