Thursday, February 07, 2008
Protecting Porta-Johns
Bill Cochran
Recent mail
BILL: My concern is that someone at the Hardy launch on Smith Mountain Lake decided to burn the Porta-Johns down. The culprit burned them all the way to the ground. Now we have no bathroom facilities.
There are no bathrooms at the Scruggs public launch nor is there accessibility to the Penhook launch unless the restaurant is open.
We all know that unsupervised areas can be a haven for crimes. I would like to find a way to Web cam all of the launch areas. Hardy, Scruggs, Penhook, all of these areas have bad activities. The camera, if maintained and installed properly, would make these public facilities safe, clean and a treasure for all Virginians.
As a Virginian, I understand money is hard to come by. I do believe that in the long run the use of cameras at these facilities will save everyone.
BEN WILLIAMS
BILL: The Virginia Hunting Dog Association has yet again stooped to a new low. The proposal of HB 1352, a bill that will remove current Department of Game and Inland Fisherie board members and virtually appoint pro-dog members, is a shameless power grab. How could anyone support such blatant arrogance?
The need for compromise is ruefully apparent; how blind can any group like this be?
The decision to harass and intimidate landowners, politicians and public servants will surely backfire on all hunters if the VHDA is allowed to succeed with this farce. God help anyone that enjoys hunting. The knuckleheads among us will ruin if for us all.
P. GRIFFIN
Hustle
BILL: Here’s an idea for a column on Sunday hunting. Get all the reasons that people give for not wanting hunting on Sunday. Then write a rebuttal by a well-known hunter and an everyday hunters for each of the reasons. I would place bets on who makes the most sense. It would be real interesting to see it all in black and white.
JERRY FROWLEY
BILL: It seems to me if the hunting season west of the Blue Ridge was the same as east of the Blue Ridge, Sunday hunting would be a moot point.
JEFF REPASS
BILL: I was reading your article on Sunday hunting and the reasons given why the bill to remove the ban failed. I have a question that seems to be the ugly wart that festers in other states, like Maine and Pennsylvania. That is the threat from landowners that they will post their land and close it to all hunting, perhaps all the time. Is this prevalent in Virginia?
THOMAS REMINGTON
Managing Editor
U.S. Hunting Today
TOM: Polls taken in Virginia reveal that rural landowners have less tolerance for Sunday hunting than do urban residents. Would they post their property if the Sunday ban is lifted? Certainly they have the option to vote with a “No Trespassing” sign, but I don’t see that occurring widespread. For one thing, many landowners need help reducing the deer herd on their property.
Landowners simply like a day when they don’t have to wonder whose car that is parked near their gate or who fired the shot on their back 40.
BILL
