Dear Editor: As a veteran of the U.S. Army and a concerned citizen of Patrick County, I’m appalled at some of the things I witnessed this past week while on the road. While on my way to make a delivery, I witnessed VDOT employees picking up trash off the side of the road. While I’m not offended that there was concern for the cleanliness of our area, I struggle to understand why our county has a jail full of inmates watching TV, playing cards, taking it easy (on my dime), while VDOT is being distracted from much bigger issues, such as long neglected potholes. Many of the inmates would be happy for the chance at productive work, all the while freeing up resources for VDOT’s more pressing issues. In my opinion, this is gross mismanagement of the taxpayer’s money. Additionally, the lack of respect for property, for each other, for God is just outright repulsive. I drove by a local church this weekend and saw one of the members working diligently to clean the property in preparations for the Easter services. As I later came through the area, I saw trash had been thrown out on the church lawn. Whatever happened to respect? We are living in a county that our forefathers fought for and/or died defending, and we can’t muster up enough gratitude to take care of it, of each other? Just something to think about. Donald C. Worley, Woolwine, VA
