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There has been intense pressure in the rural Elliston area that the intermodal rail facility will diminish the community's rural charm and bring increased traffic to the area ("Board to sue over rail facility," Aug. 27).

The final product of land is people and jobs. The percentage of Montgomery County population in this area is minimal.

The quote made by Supervisor John Muffo, "It's David versus Golaith, there's no question about it," really means, "Mimimal rural population and board of supervisors versus the honorable state of Virginia." In addition, Montgomery County residents are out $250,000 dollars in legal fees.

Nine chances out of 10 this will be thrown out of court.

Supervisors shouldn't fight intermodal yard

As a taxpayer, I would like to know why the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is wasting my tax money to fight the intermodal facility in Elliston.

Don't we have better things to take care of than fighting a losing battle with the state and railroad?

Don't you realize the jobs that will be created by having this facility in our county?

Can't you see the added revenue in taxes this facility will bring in?

You are stymieing growth and jobs. I am very disappointed by the commissioners' actions in this matter.

Instead of welcoming this with open arms, they spend our tax money to try and stop it. They constantly raise our personal property taxes, to the point that some elderly residents will have to sell out and move away, instead of seeing this facility as a cash cow that will keep our taxes low.

Other areas of the state that have had an intermodal facility built in their locality have flourished. Why are they trying to keep this out? Why isn't this decision on the November ballot as a referendum to see what the citizens of Montgomery County have to say instead of deciding this important issue all by the board's lonesome?

Deal with feral cats humanely

I was appalled by Dick Culbertson's letter ("Don't waste taxes on feral cats," Aug. 24) and his proposed solution to the feral cat problem. The code of Virginia defines a feral cat as a companion animal not a moving target as Culbertson does. Quite simply, the feral cat problem has been caused by the irresponsibility of humans and a decades long lack of action by Montgomery County.

Spaying and neutering all cats and dogs is essential if we ever hope to control the overpopulation of these animals. As long as people allow their pets to remain intact and to have litters so they can "witness the miracle of birth," this problem will be with us.

The feral cats that Culbertson abhors are victims of human abuse, and it is our responsibility to solve the problem we created.

As we progress, I hope we become more compassionate and humane. For the county to continue to ignore this problem is neither, and Culbertson's solution is just plain wrong.