I am writing in response to the editorial “Gas drilling: Permits canceled, but state should continue study” (Jan. 24 Times-News), in particular, three statements.
I was shocked to read that shale fracking is now a “moot point.” You must be kidding! This is only a delay. There is no guarantee these permits will not be re-energized, along with many more, at any time.
If we advertise it is now “moot,” we should be clear that this is a “temporary mootness.” Otherwise there’s a good chance of us being caught with our pants down. There’s always been a good chance of that ... at an extremely high price.
It is also stated that environmentalists have been wary of shale drilling. That is true, but it is a bit misleading for there are many other groups and individuals quite concerned about the sure-to-happen terrible effects.
For example, dozens of small business owners are very afraid of the economic impacts. Should drilling come to our area— an area that depends on its beauty and cleanliness to sustain itself with the tourism industry — well, we can just forget about any sustained tourism.
I predict dozens of business collapses and an economic catastrophe. The areas where drilling has taken place do not depend on tourism as a major economic factor.
I’m not so sure there has been any “economic boon” where this type fracking has taken place at all. It is just too difficult to put a price on scenic beauty and clean water.
I’m of the mind that if this valuation was possible, the high cost of the loss of these, plus much more, would greatly offset any temporary increase. And yes, temporary.
Linda Herdering
Accident
Editorials
Gas drilling could cause tourist businesses to fail
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High priority
Maryland school officials on Tuesday put an exclamation point on the need to take student-athlete concussions more seriously.
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Cashing in
As anyone who lives in the area knows, economic gains have been hard to come by in recent years. The opening of the Rocky Gap Casino Resort is one of the biggest boosts the region has seen in some time.
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Why have the media been silent all this time?
When I read the Cumberland Times-News Editorial this morning, Friday, May 17, entitled, “Outrageous,” I laughed like a kid at a birthday party!
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What are chances this much money will be spent on road?
I was intrigued by cost data summarized in reporter Kathy Mellott’s recent article, “Completing southern link of U.S. Route 219 said to be best use of highway funds,” which appeared in the Cumberland Times-News on Tuesday May 14 (Page 1A).
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School board should be doing better job with less money
The Allegany County Teachers Association (ACTA) board of directors recently submitted a letter to the editor asking the Allegany County commissioners to fully fund the Board of Education’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year (“Commissioners should fund school board request,” April 29 Times-News).
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Better ‘Click It’
If you notice more police on the highway this week, it’s for a couple of reasons.
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They do bite
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. For anyone thinking that is not such a big deal, consider that 4.7 million Americans annually are bitten by dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Stop buying licenses; let them find the money somewhere else
A few months ago, I received two cards from the National Rifle Association. These were dealing with a legislative alert.
They asked that I should contact Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Kevin Kelly concerning the anti-gun legislation. -
Strength of gun laws is not reflected in grisly statistics
According to the FBI’s uniform crime reports, California had the highest number of gun murders in 2011 with 1,220, which makes up 68 percent of all murders in the state that year and equates to 3.25 murders per 100,000 people.
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An old story
What for years has been an on-again, off-again battle over funding between the Allegany County Commissioners and the Allegany County Board of Education seems to be growing even uglier.
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