Emergency Requirements Increase, Volunteer Firefighters Dwindle
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Updated: 8:27 PM Mar 7, 2010
Emergency Requirements Increase, Volunteer Firefighters Dwindle
As the amount of training needed to become a basic firefighter increases, the number of willing volunteers is decreasing.
Posted: 7:08 PM Mar 7, 2010
Reporter: Carrie Jones
Email Address: carrie.jones@wsaz.com
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SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- As the amount of training needed to become a basic firefighter increases, the number of willing volunteers is decreasing.

Volunteer firefighters were required to have 60 hours of basic training, now it's doubled to 120 hours. That extra time is proving to be a problem for many Volunteer Fire Departments.

Along with the added hours comes more responsibility. Dealing with hazardous materials, technical rescues and basic first response medical skills are becoming mandates for volunteers.

"We can get folks in and they are gun-ho, then the time demands sit on them and they are confronted with family life, work life and they have to choose and a lot of times we are left out," said Jeff Cash.

Cash is part of the National Volunteer Fire Council and also Chief of the Cherryville Volunteer Fire Department in North Carolina. This weekend, he made the trek to West Virginia to offer some advice on recruiting and retaining volunteers at the 4th Annual Sissonville Fire & Rescue School.

Cash says "the volunteers save communities all across the nation over $37 Billion in fire protection. So, we are going to have to look at some of those tax dollars to be used to implement incentive programs to keep volunteers."

Many firefighters are in favor of incentives like tax breaks for training and even insurance benefits.

In West Virginia, statistics show that departments are losing 5% of their volunteers each year.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 10, 2010 at 10:58 AM

So DCFF, one example proves your point? It is a simple FACT that in WV volunteer response times are much worse than career. I'm not knocking those guys, they have to sleep, work etc. Its just the nature of volunteer service.
Posted by: dcff on Mar 10, 2010 at 07:15 AM

go look up the response times for davis creek fire dept. we get 9 people out (two full crews) at 3 in the morning marking in route within a minute of being dispatched
Posted by: volunteer on Mar 9, 2010 at 08:06 PM

it would be nice if there were still companies that are willing to let their employees leave work when there is a call. very few if any will alloy their workers to leave.
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The Yell: Comments this Week
The Yell: Comments for the Week of 7/25
  • Posted By: By the gods, man.: I wish I could temporarily transfer intelligence to some of you so you could see the stupidity you convey when you post on here. I want you to hear what you sound like from the vantage point of having an ounce of common sense. Every other post is "Woe, the end times are upon us! God will step in and save us all." Why not read a book or do something productive rather spend your life warning others of the impending apocalypse. Maybe if you studied history you'd realize that people have been waiting on Jesus to come save them for over two thousand years. He was supposed to come right back, but like many frustrated men he went out for a pack of smokes and never came back. Time to move on.
  • Posted By: Rick turner (I): Keith, "please provide factual basis for your statements" that the GLBA is a not a conservative piece of legislation.
  • Posted By: price of hotel room?: a person who spends 3000 dollars of your tax dollars cant be greedy.make that 3000x30.you must be racist to complain about another elite luxurous vacation on the taxpayers dime!the rangle thing has been known for monthes,maybe years.but dont forget he served in korea.kerry wont pay his fair share of taxes,but you and i are selfish not wanting to pay more taxes.and dont forget he served in vietnam.how many starving children have gone to bed hongry cause they wanted to keep their money.can we also blame kerry for the millions of vietneses,cambodians,who ever, after he denegrated america and helped stop the war!left the alies we had to be slaughtered.is the leaky papers dajavo over again.remember these dems were for the war before they were against it.ninty thousand leaks and not one mention of obama.can we say the alies outed,their families who will surly be tortured and killed,cant we put them on obamas lack of conscience.cold,cold,cold human being!
  • Posted By: Jeannie: Keith - your last post is lacking any factual basis. To paraphrase your oft-used quote "please provide factual basis for your statements."
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Well hello again all you good coal miner people of WV and there kin have any of you people ever heared of what is called a Trole and no you hippies I am not talking about a little man what lives under a bridge giving greif to the three grim little Billy Goats trying to cross apparently these is people what gets on the computer and writes up a bunch of nonsense over and over saying stuff like coal miners hurt the planet people should not eat animals the WV State Police should not arrest dopeheads you people down to the TV station keep a eye out I seen proof of it did any of you see the story in that newspaper said the city of Louisville has told these PETA types to go jump in the lake seems they want to build a statue of a 512 foot chicken right downtown throw red paint all over it chop its head off to boohoo and protest wave there signs agin the Colonel say he bothers chickens hey you PETA types throw brown paint on it make it look like gravy order up some mashed potatoes and biscuits Ill bring the Mountain Dew you treehugger types come on over to guess what there is a free lunch after all thank you Colonel Sanders
  • Posted By: sorry buck,but: sorry buck but GOD keeps HIS promises.unless there is strong moral change in this country we are doomed to a dictatorship.lets count the ways we,re going down that road.the first and most despicible example is obama whom GOD allowed to be elected.a man who believes in the slaughter of the most innocent.he believes in infanticide,partial birth abortion.that alone is reason enough for GOD to abandon this nation.covetness and greed,your whole family should have to work to provide for the will nots.the encouragement of breaking up families.the drugs,porn,the thieves,minimal punishment of murderers,even of babies and children,and the list goes on and on.HE will step in,HE promised,but it aint gonna be a pretty picture.the people who do all the lawlessness and evil will wonder where and why we are punished,there is no GOD so it cant come fromHIM!just hang on and those who are moral stay that way,those who are immoral are certainly going to because evil cant be defined as evil.GOD BLESS!
  • Posted By: RoaneCo.: Buck... God, Keith and Rush all three couldn't repair the damage done by the years and years of corporate greed. Now Keith you know that I just couldn't pass up that opportunity. But I do agree with you on the TO matter. I don't follow pro ball that much anymore, but I wouldn't want him. As for your poll, I don't want my neighbors wealth but does coveting his wife count?
  • Posted By: buck: We are a broken nation. I do hope God steps in because that is what it will take.
  • Posted By: Tax avoidance and greed: I hear Senator John Kerry, D-MA, bought a big yacht from out of the country and then registered it in another state to avoid paying his "fair share" of the taxes on it. Is this true? Can't be; probably came from Fox News. Kerry would NEVER seek to avoid taxes. Does anyone know where Obama is vacationing this week? I heard Michelle rented a bunch of rooms in a 5 star hotel in Spain. They should run a contest so the Obama's could adopt an out of work family, get a stereotyped hillbilly clan, and take them along, that would make great reality TV-a snooty, rich $100 per lb roast beef family with a regular hot dog eating working Joe. What about Charlie Rangel, D-NY, who heads the Congressional Committee that writes tax legislation? The target of a House Ethics Committee probe? The only conclusion, and let me be clear, is that this committee is racist. Lastly, where's all the oil? Everybody is looking for it but can't seem to find it. Who said the ocean would deal with it naturally?
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): "Your Bill was passed overwhelmingly by liberal democrats in the House and signed into law by a liberal democrat president" - KEITH, why would liberals vote for less government and deregulation? KEITH, this doesn't make any sense, can you clarify please?
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): "your pet Bill was passed in the House overwhelmingly by democrats, and opposed overwhelmingly by republicans" - Really KEITH? 92% of Republicans voted for it, I don't understand your math.
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): "How do you explain the fact that 159 house democrats voted for your Bill and 130 house republicans voted against it? " Again KEITH, that's the reconciliation vote.
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): "If I have the right bill, Graham, Leach and Bliley, I found 179 House Dems voting for it, 2 against, only 59 House Republicans supporting it; 130 against." - No, KEITH, that's the reconciliation vote to address privacy concerns. Read again KEITH.
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): "It is impossible to say, based on one vote, whether or not someone is conservative or liberal." Really KEITH? So if someone votes for less government and less regulation of the banking and finance industry, you wouldn't be able to make a general determination whether they were liberal or conservative?
  • Posted By: Keith...hey RC...good one Buck, Austin...: I would say because that would take away people's freedom of choice. There needs to be two good, strong parties, or more, to give people choice. I would suggest that both parties immediately quit spending they way they are/have and immediately make massive, deep cuts in the government. Say, did anybody hear where the 3 richest counties in the USA are? N. VA? A DC suburb? How? Who employs these folks, and who pays their salaries? Government/working folks, like some of us. So what do you guys think of TO coming to Cincinnati? I fear the Bengals have made a mistake...lets take a poll: who is the biggest hog at the government trough here on the Yell? Be honest; in Obamaville there is no shame; after all, you are entitled to the hard earned wealth of your neighbor, just because they go to work and earn an honest living, why should that mean you are not entilted to what they earn? Spread the wealth, let's see who our proudest Marxist is on here; you can volunteer or nominate someone else.
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I) - debate, discussion, good things: Which brings us to the following. KEITH - would you characterize less government and deregulation in general as characteristics more in tune with the CONSERVATIVISM or LIBERALISM? Again, let me know when you're ready to answer. Very simple question, KEITH, are you up for having a debate?
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): Hugh, it should be noted that Keith and Austin are more disappointed by the failure of cap and trade than the liberals are. It's one less argument they can cling to with their cold dying hands.
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): Keith, the only time wasted has been in your denial of reality. I think the term delusional has come up in the past. Jeannie, when you say "hard time dealing with the facts" are you referring to the equivalent of throwing oneself on the floor, crying and screaming like a child, having a temper tantrum?
  • Posted By: RoaneCo.: If the intelligence level of a state is based solely on voting practices as Keith suggests then why don't we just force everyone to register republican and do away with our entire educational system. We could all become geniuses and save the state all kinds of money at the same time. West Ditto Virginia, where a subscription to the Limbaugh Letter is more valuable than a Doctor's degree!
  • Posted By: buck: Our troops/vets don't even get the respect they deserve.
  • Posted By: buck: I think its over for the U.S. Won't be long and we will be a third world country. Mexico is gonna win their battle and our entitlement section is gonna win theirs also. So all you people who do pay taxes get ready its comin.
  • Posted By: Keith...hey Hugh: I would really enjoy delving into this topic with you but I must ask first, is your post a gag, or serious? Just don't want to waste time, i.e., Rick Turner's.
  • Posted By: Austin:to Hugh: So when President Obama said anyone who wanted to open a coal fired power plant could but they would go bankrupt trying, he was supporting coal? And when VP Biden said there was no such thing as "clean coal" he was just supporting clean coal technology? So when Cecil Roberts threw his support behind President Obama and this administrations EPA pulled permits for mining, they had the miners best interest at heart? We all know what Massey and Don Blankenship are all about, profits, thats why they call it a business and not a hobby. Its the politicians that seem to be decieving. Do you know anyone who goes to work to make the least amount of money as possible? I dont. I understand that companies should be made to provide a safe work enviorment and suffer the penalties if they do not. And has WV keep the same old Dems in office who supported these anti coal people? How is their lying any different from every other politician?
  • Posted By: Keith...funny stuff on Thursday...: One thing I do know that is a fact, is, the people of KY and WV, as a whole, were smart enough NOT to vote for Obama. He was beaten overwhelmingly, by any measure, by all candidates. What does that say about you? Oh-of course, smarter than all the rest of us. You guys own it now, you are responsible, let's see how things go in the country.
  • Posted By: To Marty: Please report what you saw to the corporate headquarters as soon as possible. Most likely he will have to answer for those actions.
  • Posted By: obama dont lie sometimes...: hugh ,blankenship didnt have anything to do with obama,bidens promise to destroy this ecconomy by getting rid of coal.go back to their campaign promise on coal and other energy scources.the more expensive coal gets the higer our energy bills and every thing associated withit will be!all companies pass on to consumers.yeah lets double,triple,quadruple greedy dons and all mine companies expenses,that,ll show them!by the way,i suppose you dont use any electricity,eat,drive,heat,cool, your home.good for you for standing up for what you believe in.we need more people to make that sacrifice!
  • Posted By: Hugh: It really sickens me to see all the hard working miners supporting the Republican party because they have bought into the lies of Don Blankenship and the greedy coal operators who have them believing that democrats and Obama are against coal. They really should read up on the facts instead of listening to Blankenship and all the millionaire coal operators who are getting filthy rich off of the hard work of the coal miners. Obama and the dems are not against coal,they simply want the companies to spend some of their BILLIONS of profit to convert to clean coal technology which just may allow your children and grandchildren to be able to breath the air in the next few decades. Also,the dems want worker safety,more deep mine jobs instead of mountaintop removal..deep mines employ MORE men for LONGER periods of time but the coal companies like to destroy the mountains because it is a bigger profit and they can mine it quicker...not good for the miners. Wake up WV and turn off Fox news.
  • Posted By: Jeannie: Keep up the good work, Rick! Keith does have a hard time dealing with facts.
  • Posted By: Marty: I was in the Wurtland Ky Dollar General today around 1:pm. They have a young smartaleck manager named Michael. He lit into one of his employee's and in front of several of us customers. She stood her ground but he told her her hrs would be cut and cut again until she quit. She works so hard and didn't deserve this shameful bawling out. I think if we all stayed away from this store, Michael might get the message that employee's DONT need this kind of treatment.Most of the argument was about her being one second behind her co-workers. Big deal. The rest of the workers stay on their cell phones all shift and Sarah does all of the work. Keep the hard worker and get rid of Michael. My business is going to the dollar tree from now on. Thanks
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Hello to all good WV coal miner people salt of the earth I seen one of them news trucks out today looked up in my rearview saw that big number 3 on the hood coming up behind me for a minute I knowed what it was like to be Cale Yarobourough getting put into the wall and runned off the road by the late great Dale Earnhardt to bad Junior don’t win nothing Cale he used to be on the Dukes of Hazzard that show where Waylon sang the coming on song have any of you people noticed the News has done went and turned into a freak show out of the Circus nothing but a bunch of potheads pillheads and dopeheads plastered all over the front page ever day hey you people down to the TV station lets here some good news if it aint this bunch its these hippies and PETA types screaming and boohooing and waving your signs protesting a bucket of chicken trying to beat some coal miner out of his job I don’t eat the plain no more went and switched to the extra crispy I agree with Charlie Daniels lets turn lose some of the gorillas and lock up the dopers amen Charlie im a simple man to.
  • Posted By: new definition of humanity..: the ruling class and obama newspapers are inhumane!strong statement.the ingrate who leaked 90,000 classified papers in the name of stopping the war and the killing of innocent people in afghanistan has published names of people who were helping us to get rid of terrorist,now these innocent people and their families will be hunted down,tortured and killed.that seems to fall right into obamas stragety to wound down the war.why would any of these innocent people help now.remember obama doesnt like the word victory,his words not mine.can he have a conscience,if so explain to me his humanity.his name wasnt mentioned any time in these 90,000 pages.that tells me he santioned and approved this sacrifice of these innocent people.
  • Posted By: What!!!: I vote we should change our form of government to absolute monarchy in the USA, and I become the King!!! Which of you subjects will follow my lead? :)
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I) - Grammonomics and Chicken Recipes: KEITH, why are you reposting comments from others that highlight incorrect statements you've made? Here I thought that less government and deregulation were CONSERVATIVE ideals. Are you saying that less government and deregulation are LIBERAL concepts? I'd say that goes against any persons better judgement. Please clarify, and do so without any chicken recipes please, these are not relevant to the topic at hand.
  • Posted By: to frustrated...: u didnt ruin my day,we all get frustrated and side tracked and diverted in our thinking.i honestly understand.but you still werent specific,the water dept covers many things.but gave you ever called the police for anything pertaining to criminal activity.u know what they do,they give out your name and address for the criminals to come after you for complaing!believe me that stops a lot of calls to try to stop criminal activity!less work for the police and criminal justice?????system!
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I) - no more chicken recipes from KEITH: KEITH, how could you characterize this as "more liberals cheerleading" - 92% of R in favor, only 66% of D in favor in the House. That sounds just silly to me KEITH. It doesn't sound very bipartisan either KEITH. Although at least you aren't posting chicken recipes.
  • Posted By: Dumas: Bluebird how long have you been going now?
  • Posted By: Dumas: Yes good job Keith it is very educational to say the least to see who said what and when I see more liberals cheerleading it than conservatives. Rick is a stuck record, stuck on stupid.
  • Posted By: Frustrated: Specifically, the people making the decisions regarding the water dept.. Complaining to the city only makes it worse, because then you end up with a letter telling you to fix this or that or be fined a huge amount. I can't afford to complain to them anymore. And, if I had enough left after paying all the fees, I would move. But, so sorry to have ruined your day with my little post.
  • Posted By: Bluebird...before I go,: I feel the need to undo some damage. This is for Christians. 1 John 1:9 is an often quoted scripture. But does this give us a license to sin? One book is not so often quoted, and I urge you to study it,hopefully with a good commentary along with it. Hebrews. It contains at least 5 grave warnings not to be taken lightly. I'll list one. "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment..." Heb.10:26,27 This is a warning against the willful, deliberate disobedience of God. What does it mean? This is why judgment is left to God. He is the only one who can search our hearts and minds to know our hidden thoughts. There are more warnings in that book. Check them out, please. What we do today has a ripple affect. We touch other lives, who touch others, etc. How many do we lead astray with our wrong actions and teachings? I love you all. I will miss you.
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I) - prescription for attention deficit disorder: "More House Dems voted for it than Republicans" - Wrong as always, KEITH, 205 R to 159 D for the bill in the House. 92% of R in favor, only 66% of D in favor in the House. KEITH, you do realize you are highlighting your own incorrect statements, right?
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): WOW look at all the trolling, good job Keith.
  • Posted By: Keith...hey COT: I vote for the Reds. When Homer Bailey comes back, if Volqeuz stays ok; don't forget The Cuban Missle in Louisville-wow! What a pitching feast in Cincy. Now if only we could get Brandon Webb out of AZ. Hey COT-don't you get sick of some people who can NEVER talk about anything but politics??? BTW-Thanks Chuck Schumer, only time I'll ever say that...
  • Posted By: Rick: Hey everybody lets take a poll who caused the 2nd worst economic crisis in our country's history, do you think the CONservatives will go down in history as owning The Great Recession?
  • Posted By: to frustrated...: you didnt say what the problem is.either be honest and informative or dont complain.every one has problems with the kingdom of ashland except the ruleing class.be specific!
  • Posted By: Broken Record: "More House Dems voted for it than Republicans" - Wrong as always, KEITH, 205 R to 159 D for the bill in the House. 92% of R in favor, only 66% of D in favor in the House. ADD to blame, no doubt. Again, you're looking at the reconciliation votes to address privacy concerns. Still haven't answered the question KEITH, just more denial of the truth
  • Posted By: The Administration: Administration officials and many Republicans and Democrats said the measure would save consumers billions of dollars and was necessary to keep up with trends in both domestic and international banking. Some institutions, like Citigroup, already have banking, insurance and securities arms but could have been forced to divest their insurance underwriting under existing law. Many foreign banks already enjoy the ability to enter the securities and insurance industries.
  • Posted By: Congress: In the House, 155 Democrats and 207 Republicans voted for the measure, while 51 Democrats, 5 Republicans and 1 independent opposed it. Fifteen members did not vote.
  • Posted By: The White House: The White House has estimated the legislation could save consumers as much as $18 billion a year as new financial conglomerates gain economies of scale and cut costs.
  • Posted By: Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY: ''If we don't pass this bill, we could find London or Frankfurt or years down the road Shanghai becoming the financial capital of the world,'' said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York. ''There are many reasons for this bill, but first and foremost is to ensure that U.S. financial firms remain competitive.''
  • Posted By: Senator Bob Kerrey, D-NE: ''The concerns that we will have a meltdown like 1929 are dramatically overblown,'' said Senator Bob Kerrey, Democrat of Nebraska.
  • Posted By: Bill Clinton's Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers: ''Today Congress voted to update the rules that have governed financial services since the Great Depression and replace them with a system for the 21st century,'' Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers said. ''This historic legislation will better enable American companies to compete in the new economy
  • Posted By: Jim Leach, R-?: There's probably a little greater case for pessimism than optimism. But I do not rule out optimism
  • Posted By: Phil Gramm, R-TX: Quite frankly, I think nothing could do more to immediately bolster national security then enabling us to produce more oil and gas here at home at a price consumers could afford
  • Posted By: Phil Gramm, R-TX: “Half the world does not know the joys of wearing cotton underwear.”
  • Posted By: Keith, R-TX: It says "One Secular Nation" on our dollar bill, but you could have fooled me. Especially with my condition and everything.
  • Posted By: Phil Gramm, R-TX: “It says 'In God We Trust' on our coins, but it isn't that way in our hearts"
  • Posted By: Jim: Roane Co good to have you back know where your coming from seems it gets more hectic by the day,Bluebird dont go,you have helped me and I really enjoy our conversations,guess we should have known they would have been taken out of context along the way and maybe I should have kept my outspokeness to myself and never named anyone,guess you see why I'm at the place I am,is it any wonder when this sort or madness happens when ever religion is brought up.But I will find the answers I seek you can count on it.For now I will be signing off for a few days heading to Lake Erie on a much needed break.You take care and God Bless
  • Posted By: Keith: Hey everybody lets take a poll who wins the National League this year, do you think the Reds have a real shot?
  • Posted By: Phil Gramm (R-TX): The world changes, and Congress and the laws have to change with it. In the 1930s, at the trough of the Depression, when Glass-Steagall became law, it was believed that government was the answer. It was believed that stability and growth came from government overriding the functioning of free markets. We are here today to repeal Glass-Steagall because we have learned that government is not the answer. We have learned that freedom and competition are the answers. We have learned that we promote economic growth and we promote stability by having competition and freedom. I am proud to be here because this is an important bill; it is a deregulatory bill. I believe that that is the wave of the future, and I am awfully proud to have been a part of making it a reality.
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I): "More House Dems voted for it than Republicans" - Wrong as always, KEITH, 205 R to 159 D for the bill in the House. 92% of R in favor, only 66% of D in favor in the House. ADD to blame, no doubt. Again, you're looking at the reconciliation votes to address privacy concerns. Still haven't answered the question KEITH, just more denial of the truth.
  • Posted By: Tilton, Popoff, Grant, etc..: Robert Tilton copied a real estate sales pitch used in the Dallas area, "Christianized" the terms, and made himself a millionaire. His pitch was totally unscriptural, that if you would send HIM $1000, God would give you anything you wanted; the program was an hour long infomercial with "testimonies" woven in of folks who had sent Bob a thousand, even in installments, and gotten the million dollar home, house boat, whatever material thing their greed could imagine. Grant and Popoff used greeters at the entrances of their services, who would approach people in wheelchairs, on crutches, canes, etc...fill out cards with them, gather information, then, go upstairs and talk to the "minister" via an ear piece; the "minister" miraculously, would know intimate details about "that gentleman in the yellow shirt...sir, your father..." What a shame; it all went well until someone picked up "God's voice" on the radio and figured out the scam. Judge righteous judgment; it begins in the House of God.
  • Posted By: Mockingbird: Keith, did you say, "the point is, when God forgives, we have no choice to do the same, especially if we name the name of Christ. Remember, if you don't fogive, you are not forgiven; and once forgiven, He never brings it up again...never. What amazing grace. If David, Paul, Peter, etc...can be forgiven and restored, then so can Jim and Jimmy?" Did you say that?
  • Posted By: : The story of the St. Albans man accused of sexually assaulting an 11 yr old girl and getting her pregnant makes me so sick to my stomach! What's wrong with these people!!!!!!!
  • Posted By: I didn't, God did: 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • Posted By: Frustrated: Warning to the non-rich of Ashland: The city does not want us here and will do whatever they can to get rid of us. I would like to start a fund to collect donations to purchase a heart for the people who run our city. The people we have to hand our money to should remember that karma will catch up to you. How will you feel when someone else smirks and tells you it's not their problem. I used to love this city, but the people who run it and work at the city building have made me hate it. They could learn something from the employees that actually have to do the dirty work the city tells them to do. They do have hearts and are compassionate because they're in the same boat we are. And while we are sinking, the big guys in the big offices refuse to throw us a lifeline as they sail by on our tax dollars and will only help their friends. I think Portsmouth citizens have the right idea by standing up and fighting back with a recall.
  • Posted By: Sadie: I don't understand a thing Big Earl said. Does he always ramble like this?
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I) - bloated, fringe, CONservative ego's: Keith, I might consider addressing your poll question when you tell me whether you think Clinton's vote on GLBA was CONSERVATIVE or LIBERAL, and overall if GLBA was a CONSERVATIVE or LIBERAL bill. Shouldn't be too difficult to answer now, should it? Keith, it looks like its just you and "no shift key guy" for now. Fringes indeed....
  • Posted By: Jim: Keith didn't say they weren't forgiven although it didnt do much good the first time for Swaggart less than 2 yrs and he done it again,this started as a statement that I spotted them a phoneys and that was before they were ever caught,you had better go back and re-read your having that comprehension problem again.And yes I have heard of all the scandals you mention plus many more,not focusing on a man focusing on organized religion as a farce and trying to determine where it fits in the big picture,you have evidently missed some post or just like to pop off the make noise but anyhoo I forgive you
  • Posted By: RoaneCo.: Doing just fine Keith, thanks for asking. Between work and family the past few weeks have been crazy. I have been trying to read the posts when I can, but you know me I'm not a big fan of religion and believe it or not I do try (emphasis on "try") to keep my comments to myself on that subject. Although I do enjoy the occasional debate, I still stand firm on my belief that our Country has past the point of no return. And I believe both parties know this also, now it's just a case of which party can gain the most profit for themselves and their supporters before we fall into the abyss. Looking for answers in the bible, reading Dr. Sowell, studying Stephen Covey or spending time in Michael Gerber's "Dreaming Room" is not going to repair the damage done by years of corporate greed.
  • Posted By: Bipartisan: The best you are ever going to do on your pet Bill is to say it was bipartisan. More House Dems voted for it than Republicans, so I suppose House Dems turned conservative; more Senate Republicans voted for it than Senate Dems, so they turned liberal; a liberal Democrat president signed it, and commended several leading liberal deomcrats, including Sarbanes of MD, and moderates like Gramm, for their leadership and hard work on it. Anyone can read the remarks that were made; Clinton, as always, dominated the room, sucked up all the oxygen, he said more, he praised it more, than anyone else in the room. No liberal will ever criticize Clinton for his actions on the economy, indeed, liberals are generally not capable or are unwilling to critique their own. Clinton signed it; that settles it; without his signature, the Bill would have gone nowhere; the best you are ever going to do is blame it one nearly everyone because if it even caused harm at all it was a team effort.
  • Posted By: Bluebird: I guess I should say what made me so angry is you should not assume everyone who reads your words on here know the wonderful things David and Peter and others have done. If any point was to be made, it should have been that God uses ordinary (flawed) people to do His extraordinary works. You might as well have stated the Bible was written by axe murderers and there is no hope for a lost and dying world.
  • Posted By: Bluebird: Well, how many more of God's servants can we Christians name and destroy on this blog? Who needs atheists to hinder the cause of Christ when we do it quite well ourselves? Now you see why I did not comment on the names the first time it was mentioned-it just keeps growing and growing. I was just content to rejoice because Jim said he had accepted Christ and tried to encourage him. Keith, you bloated ego, who are you to declare anyone was forgiven? That is God's department. Rejoice, people. I leave this blog for good. To try to throw out a few lines to the lost here is a hopeless cause.
  • Posted By: Craveontruth: Huntington is broke.They have laid off policeman,stop paving streets and tried to cut the city workers to a four day work week.No body wants to pay a workers fee or higher taxes.What will become of Huntington?
  • Posted By: Keith...hey Roane County: Where are you-hope all is well.
  • Posted By: Oh Shirley, where art thou???: Our media star of last week, Shirley Sherrod has vanished. Could it be over the stuff her husband said? Dynamite-look it up. Bigotry, unfortunately, comes in all colors...did Obama, or did he not, approve of releasing the Lockerbie Bomber???
  • Posted By: Fringes: Did anyone pay attention to the big lefty meeting out in Vegas? Did you hear the speakers? What they said? Who introduced Obama? What did she say? What network does she work for? One of the saddest spectacles in American politics is that the democrat party is in the grip of far left, liberal, America hating, radical, communist leaning, progressives-Harry Truman, you would be a war criminal today in this party; see what they stand for: high taxes, destroy our industry, put our folks out of work; surrender to terrorists; government takeover of everything; hijack and take over our healthcare system; you can't say it was Bush, because we are still in Iraq, still in Afghanistan, Club Gitmo is still rolling, Obama is still raking in money hand over fist from corporations, he lives and behaves like a millionaire while 15 million people are out of work, taking 5 and 6 vacations a year and using a private jet to fly his dog around the country. You will see the fringe in November.
  • Posted By: to Jim: Who did Swaggart and Bakker murder? David was a murderer. Paul was a murderer. Peter denied Jesus 3 times. For people to get cheated out of their money, they have to be a party to it, willing accomplices. Don't send it if you are not sure where it is going. No more scams you say? Ever hear of WV Grant? Robert Tilton? Peter Popoff? IF you are focusing on a man instead of God, then sure, your foundation is sand. NEVER focus on men, never, not Jimmy, Jim, pope, Salt Lake City, Watchtower, etc...none. I have no idea about Bakker's IRS bill; the point is, when God forgives, we have no choice to do the same, especially if we name the name of Christ. Remember, if you don't fogive, you are not forgiven; and once forgiven, He never brings it up again...never. What amazing grace. If David, Paul, Peter, etc...can be forgiven and restored, then so can Jim and Jimmy. Sounder advice is to get the 2X4 out of your own eye before going after the splinter in someone elses.
  • Posted By: Keith...well...: Cite for us one poll, just one, that shows independents leaning for democrats. I haven't seen it; perhaps it is there, but I haven't seen it. Rasmussen has the Senate going Dem at 49-44 with 7 toss ups, and things are only getting worse for the donkeys. The generic ballot now has R's over D's by 10 points.
  • Posted By: Jim: Keith,did you really compare King David and Peter to Bakker,although they may have sinned I dont believe either one decieved 165,000 people out of their hard earned money with promises of a weekend retreat and a one way ticket to heaven for the mere price of $1000 a head.I know people personally who were devastated by his actions,the one good thing is they haven't fallen for any more scams by televangelist,but some have never returned to God.And we seen what Gods take on it was thru Hugo.As for Swaggart if it had just been once he may have survived,Guess his 87 book Wolf in Sheep's clothing might have had some real meaning and we thought it was over music.And whoever said that they were still doing fine must not realize Bakker still owes the IRS 6 million dollars.Like Bluebird said you better be able to distinguish between the real and the fakes or you will be hurting
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I) - Grammonomics 201. Gramm Leach Bliley - 54 (R) yeah. 44 (D) nay. Yep, everyday.: "Debate, discussion, good things" - Speaking of which, KEITH, this reminds me of my unanswered DEBATE question - would you characterize Clinton's position on Gramm Leach Bliley to be a conservative position or a liberal one? It seems to me most of what he said reflected Gramm's opinion of the bill, deregulation of the industry, getting rid of Glass-Steagall, i.e. LESS government. All conservative ideals if I'm not mistaken. What do you think, KEITH, Gramm Leach Bliley a LIBERAL or CONSERVATIVE piece of legislation?
  • Posted By: Rick Turner (I) - Gramm and Murdoch have more in common than you realized: Gandalf, regarding being entertained, I for one find it hilarious to watch conservatives destroy themselves pandering to the fringes. It hasn't quite registered with them that they are turning off the one key voting group they actually need - Independents. The same group responsible (along with Grammonomics) for electing our current president.
  • Posted By: Jim: Way to go Big Earl,tell it like it is.To bad lot things, not like they used to be. to bad seems like some people,forgot how to stand up for themselves.workin for a living and keepin your family,that's a matter of honor.to many dopers gettin that welfare ck,etc.
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Hello all you good coal miner people of WV and there kin did you people watch that movie Matewan about 2 Gun Sid Hatifield the mine wars and the great union organizing drive in Southern WV back in the 1920s there was a preacher on the movie he was a hardshell Baptist they was hardshells softshells and fruitjar Baptist preachers the oldtimers can tell you about that then there was the Methodists and the Holy Rollers werent no snake handlers though that was over at Jolo that preacher on the movie said The Prince of Darkness and no you hippies settle down Ozzie Ozbourne is not going to knock on your door with a bag of dope and roll up funny cigarettes is upon the land well that preacher is right its in the Bible I heard it yesterday a sign of the times earthquakes floods pestialiances fire rain the ground falling out under our feet I seen it on the TV 3 News Channel I heard a old Johnny Cash song about it went like this This Train Don’t Haul No Jokers No Dope Smokers Neither This Train.
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