Editor,

While reading the Logan Banner (on-line) on the 8th of November, 2007, I found myself amazed at the number of arrests that were made by local officers concerning people who chose to place innocent lives at risk by driving under the influence of alcohol. The list contained 21 names and provided a few details on each of the offenders concerning their crime(s). Out of the 21 names, 13 of them were for driving under the influence of alcohol. Eight of the offenders had no insurance and there were eight offenders that had suspended licenses or revoked licenses due to previous DUIs. Three of the offenders had no license at all and two of the offenders had children in their cars when they were stopped for driving drunk.

There was one offender that the Logan Banner decided to provide a history for and I felt this to be beneficial because it detailed what a particular repeat offender continues to do (get away with), over and over again! Obviously this is the mentality for a few individuals who have no fear of the judicial powers that be or people who just enjoy the niceties that the jail system provides. The offender in question has been arrested twice for Driving under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol. The same offender has been charged three times for possession of drugs (twice for having the drugs and once for trying to sell the drugs). Public intoxication, driving with a suspended license and even burglary were on the “Rap Sheet.” Now it is up to the judge (If the case makes it that far)! What are you going to do?

It seems that long arrest reports have become the standard in the Logan Banner on any given day of the week. Unfortunately there are too many people out there who will never learn their lesson unless they either go through a life altering experience (crash) or become the “example” that needs to be set to send the message to everyone that says “This type of behavior will not be tolerated”!

In the military, when a soldier mouths off to a Sergeant, that NCO will smoke that soldier (This is what it is called to be made to exercise until you go into complete muscle failure)! The next time the NCO speaks to the soldier you can guarantee that the soldier will address that NCO with respect. Why? Because he never wants to re-live the wrath of an NCO who has been disrespected! If the punishment is made to be painful to the criminals who commit the crimes, they will be less likely to want to get another dose!

Civilians are not soldiers but the same concept needs to take place for those that have no fear of the civilian legal system. If a person is caught on more than one occasion for driving on a suspended or revoked license due to DUIs then the county should confiscate their car and sell it at auction. The knucklehead gets fined, spends time in jail and last but not least, loses his car. The money made at the auction can go to school programs or modern equipment for the police and firefighters.

I have a few open questions for any local politician who will take the time to respond:

(1.) Is there a law that allows for the city/county to confiscate cars and homes from people who use them to deal drugs out of? If not, Why not? Is it a legal matter? If we could do it, think of the money that could be raised to support programs for the citizens of Logan County.

(2.) Apparently every tax payer in Logan is in support of mandatory drug testing before someone is authorized assistance from the state. Who do the people need to contact in order to get the ball rolling on this? Is it the Governor? Is it Rahall? Byrd?

(3.) Are there any plans to deal with abandoned or condemned structures? Cherry Tree, Mount Gay and Cora are filled with abandoned/dilapidated structures that should be destroyed! We should not wait until a dilapidated structure falls on a child or someone is pulled into an abandoned building and assaulted before we address these problems. Would structures like these remain standing in Middleburg or Mitchell Heights? I doubt it!

A terrible flood hit Logan a few years ago and FEMA came in and purchased many of the damaged structures. Does anyone have a clue as to when FEMA plans on cleaning up the mess? Can the politicians do something to speed up the process? Just because FEMA has big pockets doesn’t give them the right to allow this eye sore to remain forever.

The free dump program that was set up in Logan last year was great and resulted in large amounts of trash being dropped off at the sites rather than the creeks or the sides of the roads. I truly believe that if you start cleaning up certain areas, the citizens who live there will start to enjoy their surroundings and will do whatever they can to ensure that it stays that way. It is worth a try!

Are there any politicians out there that will take action? All I ask is for one politician to respond and tell the citizens in Logan what they plan on doing to clean up the county. Use the prisoners to clean up the creeks! Have them clean up after bulldozers tear down condemned structures. The beauty that comes from removing these structures will surely pay off by attracting tourists to the area. The work can create jobs. To maintain these areas once they are completed creates jobs also. People spend money to see the beauty of Logan! Logan needs to capitalize on this!

Stop re-electing people who just pass the time. If someone has been in office for a significant period of time and you cannot remember them doing anything other than putting a sign up in your yard, you need to vote for someone else! If you have only seen them when they are asking for your vote, you need to vote for someone else! If you ask them what they have done during their time in office and they cannot tell you something that impacted you in a positive way, vote for someone else!

Sappers Clear The Way!

Airborne All The Way!

MAJ Richard Ojeda

Balad, Iraq