In the wake of Gov. Manchin's line-item cutting of $900,000 from the 4H budget for camp improvements, COG pundit jparriott pens an editorial regarding the 4H aspirations to have a "camp of their own."

Marshall County's 4-H Clubs, back in the 1920's or 1930's, had their own summer camp, about 1/2 mile downstream from Knoxville. It was near "Stumpy Pine," a well known popular swimming hole that was created by creek flood waters blasting into a ten-foot high stone cliff. A lone pine tree grew atop the rocky cliff. The State Highway Commission unnecessarily blasted this picturesque natural beauty site sky-high while constructing a new road in 1950.

The 4-H camp was too small, too isolated, and lacked utilities. It was consequently abandoned and the 4-H started attending Oglebay Park for its annual weeklong camping, which it is still doing. It has had a dream, since 1940, of having its own facility here in the county, and recently constructed a building on the former Maxwell Farm, near the Extension Services office. It is assumed that they plan to eventually construct a complete facility, located only four miles from Grand Vue Park.

Grand Vue Park already has cabins, a large swimming pool, a conference center, hiking trails, etc. The park is so underutilized that it has never broken even financially, and remains open only through public taxation. Whey can't the 4-H bury its dream, use Grand Vue Park, and direct its time and money to other worthwhile uses?