This is a follow up to an earlier letter in which I referred to improvements needed in our aging town and its streets. I was referring to Ohio Street and alley south behind the Post Office and the courthouse, the area of our proposed amphitheater. Another is the alley on the east side, or rear, of our downtown businesses, from North Street to City Hall. Howard D. Jeffers Drive should be extended to, or hook up with, Maple Avenue and extended north along the tracks to the north end of town to form “Route 2 South” to downtown New Martinsville business section. First Street from Duerr Street should be extended north to Walmart. These are some improvements needed to improve driving in our fair city.

We should be lobbying our politicians, Edgell, Kessler, Manchin, West Virginia Governor, etc., and the drilling industry for financial aid for these improvements at this time, while the money is being spent by these drillers. We should also try to convince them to build a new beautiful “office only” building here in New Martinsville employing locals.

The pot holes mentioned are mostly in the plazas, the street north of Arby’s and west side of the Mexican restaurant being the worst. The Peebles plaza has many pot holes caused by big rigs and trucks who park there while dining and shopping.

I mean not to criticize, but to help bring to light our need for improvements. While there is lots of money floating around, to help us with these improvements, these and any improvements should help our image to newcomers and visitors. We should utilize all our resources to better our town while we have our best chances.

These are my thoughts as well as others I have talked to each day. I, we, wish everyone involved the best in our endeavors to improve our town and our countryside and its roads. We love our town and its people.

Robert Hoffman

New Martinsville