Yes we are a quiet group.   I want to start a discussion that has been on my mind for quite awhile now.  

In some of the research I have done over the last few weeks I have spent a lot of time looking at plat maps.  That coupled with my profession has lead me to knowing lots of people in Columbiana county over the years- and of course living here my whole life.  While most of the landowners of our county live and work here, we still do have a fair proportion of out of town landowners.   Many of these landowners own some of our larger parcels, particularly in the southern part of the county.    

The last few days have literally put the "handwriting on the wall".  We are living on top of one of the most lucrative pieces of real estate in the country, perhaps in the world.  If you don't read all the oil and gas news like a junkie ( guilty) you may have missed the news that CHK has basically just flipped our leases for 15K/acre.      Big oil has entered the picture with gusto it appears.   The economic potential of "what lies beneath" is probably beyond our imaginings.

Bottom line.... money is going to flow.  A lot of it.   To many of us.  Also though to many absentee land owners, people who live out of the area, out of state etc.   Other than paying their property taxes, we may not see that money in our area.   West Virginia's coal industry is a classic example of a situation in which the resources produced money which by and large was sent outside of the area from which it was produced.    So my charge to you.... to those of us who are going to benefit financially from this situation is to take care of "us" - of this place we live in first.    Of course take care of yourself and your family but after that- let's take care of the place that is going to bear the brunt of producing  this bonanza.   I mean environmentally ie lets spend our money and talent making sure our own properties are protected and enhanced,  I mean structurally- let's make sure the places that add to our quality of life and make people like living here are "taken care of".  I mean small businesses, let's try and support all of our locals.   Let's buy everything we can here from people who are going to be affected daily by the drilling activities.  Let's try to make sure if/when this is over and done with, if it's 20 years or 100 years people can look at our area and say "Wow, didn't those people step up and make sure this would be a great place to live for generations."  

I know for us personally we have made a list of "areas" we would like to support.  For us we would like to support things like 4-H.  Every year there is a serious budget struggle to even get the extension office funded.   Our fairgrounds could use many different infrastructure repairs/expansions to make it more attractive.  Since 4-H/FFA seem to have the largest proportion of kids involved who are likely to return/stay in our community, I want to support that.    There are many other things but that one comes to mind.  

How about you?