Cemetery fence needs some repairs

Booher Cemetery, located in Washington County, Va., between Oak Grove Road and Tranbarger Road (entrance is on Tranbarger Road) has been damaged by horses and cattle. Some repairs have been made to the fence, but not completely all the way around the cemetery. Stones have been knocked over and broken. Some have been repaired, but not all.
If you have family or friends buried in this one and three-fourth acre cemetery, it would be advisable for you to make a visit to it. Perhaps if enough people can work together, this cemetery can be put in a better state of repair. Contacting the owner of the land adjoining the cemetery and the owners of the animals to encourage them to build a fence, as well as calling the trustees would be a start. A good fence would offer protection for graves and stones. It is hard to imagine letting a cemetery with burials taking place in the late 1800s and as recent as 2007, and including Civil War veterans and other veterans, being neglected.
Many years ago this cemetery was called Oak Grove Cemetery and Mumpower Cemetery. Hopefully, people will go to the cemetery and check on their relatives’ gravestones.

Sally Heltzel
Bristol, Va.

Diet, exercise key to preventing illness

Last week, President Barack Obama signed sweeping health care legislation that created a major rift over costs and other issues.
In 2009, we spent $2.5 trillion, or more than $8,000 per person, on medical care. That’s 17 percent of our gross domestic product – more than any other country. And even these outrageous numbers don’t account for the economic toll of lost productivity, or the emotional toll of disease and death.
Ironically, these costs and the legislation have nothing to do with health care and everything to do with medical care, directed at alleviating chronic killer diseases that are largely self-inflicted through our flawed lifestyles. Actual health care is absolutely free! It involves exercise, rest, and abstinence from smoking, drugs, and meat and dairy products.
Yes, meat and dairy. According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 1.4 million U.S. deaths annually, or 58 percent of the total, are caused by heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, which have been linked conclusively with consumption of animal products.
We have no control over national medical care policy. But, each of us can exercise a great deal of control over our family’s health every time we visit our favorite supermarket.

Bart Slovan
Bristol, Va.

Writer firmly backs U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher

I am offended by Morgan Griffith, who does not live in the 9th Congressional District, tearing down Congressman Rick Boucher. In a lengthy interview in this paper, he threw lots of mud but I’ve heard absolutely nothing positive in terms of what he would do to advance the needs of 9th District residents. It is the height of arrogance to presume that as a resident of another congressional district with concerns very different from ours that he is prepared to represent this congressional district in Congress. He has even gone so far as to say that even if elected from the 9th District he will continue to reside in another congressional district and will not move into our district.
I can’t believe the Republicans are serious about nominating this man as the candidate from the 9th Congressional District. His whole career has been spent obstructing those who would use the instruments of government to address the needs of our region’s citizens. He tried to block everything that Gov. Mark Warner attempted to do. He was successful in blocking the efforts of Gov. Tim Kaine to address our urgent transportation needs and he prevented legislation that was intended to help with our soaring electricity costs from being debated in the Virginia House of Delegates.
I will do everything that I can to re-elect Congressman Rick Boucher, who has done more to meet the needs of Southwest Virginia than any congressman in history.

Jennifer Maggard
Pound, Va.