To save or not to save? That is the question being asked in the small coal town community of Pocahontas, Virginia. My name is Rodney Shortridge, Founder of Black Diamond Paranormal Society. I have been investigating the historical sites in Pocahontas for the past few months with the help of the late Mayor Brown, Mayor Cannoy, Amy Flick and Tom Childress.
  I have been noticing in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph editorials and comments that Pocahontas needs to tear down buildings that are historical sites because they are eye sores. I do agree there are a couple of buildings that need to be torn down because it would cost too much to rebuild those buildings and they are a hazard to the community. But, once those buildings are gone their stories, their beauty and rich history will be lost forever. Can you, or the people of Pocahontas, live with that? I feel we need to preserve all historical sites, as many as possible, along with the entire town of Pocahontas.
    This is a beautiful historical town. Pocahontas is on life support and is dying a slow and painful death with so many people wanting to pull the plug without first exhausting every avenue before doing so. I love this town and its people. They have welcomed me and my team into their homes and into their hearts. This town has become our family.
    There are unsung heroes among you. Like Amy Flick, that work hours upon hours tirelessly for little money and most of the time for free without pay, volunteering her time for the love and hope for the town of Pocahontas. Without a second thought, she selflessly sacrifices for her beloved town. What do you do? You complain about the ugliness of a dying town without even trying, or even asking people like Amy what you can do to help this town. The officials of Tazewell County, the State of Virginia and the US Government should act now in the preservation of each of these historical sites of Pocahontas so no one ever forgets what this town has sacrificed for this nation.
    Without the contribution of the miners of Pocahontas this nation would not have grown into an industrialized nation as we’ve become.  How can anyone say these historical sites and this town aren’t worth saving? Amy Flick resigned as president of the Historical Society to protest against the destruction of Pocahontas and its historical sites that she has fought diligently and tirelessly to save to no avail from the town officials, county officials, state officials and government officials. 
    My team and I have worked alongside Amy Flick, Mayor Brown, Mayor Cannoy and Tom Childress in an attempt to bring attention to the rich history that is Pocahontas. Pocahontas brought together people from other nations to combine their talents, skills and trades to make a small town deep in Appalachia the first booming coal town in America. This would be a tragic loss to the people and town of Pocahontas to lose all their historical sites due to lack of money.
    So many people with different languages, cultures and beliefs believing in the American Dream came here and gave their strength, heart, blood, family and lives for this small town we call Pocahontas. Black Diamond Paranormal Society with all its members, family members and friends will stand alongside Amy Flick and help her fight this war that has been going on too long. These historical buildings that can be must be saved. There should be no doubt or debate about the sacrifices so many people gave for this town.
    I ask you all to please contact Amy Flick, Mayor Cannoy, our county officials, our senators, our congressmen and let your voices be heard. I know and understand we’re in tough economic times, but every dollar raised can and will help save this historical town. If you cannot afford it, volunteer your time. Every hour you give is an hour that can save a community.
    Amy Flick has many plans and ideas to help her beloved Pocahontas but she is only one person and contrary to belief sometimes one person cannot make a difference. Amy has many programs and projects on the drawing table waiting for someone to share in her enthusiasm to rebuild the town of Pocahontas to its original glory that once was Pocahontas. Saving all the historical sites in Pocahontas that can be saved would be beneficial to the town and its people. This would create jobs and bring in businesses that Pocahontas so desperately needs.
    With everyone’s help we can make Pocahontas once again a booming and prosperous town. This will not be easy. It will take money, time and work from everyone. But, the rewards will be worth every dollar spent, sweat shed and tear dropped to show America that this small town can and will rise from the edge of destruction.
    Amy Flick spends many hours fighting the political forces that are determined to let this small coal town fall without a fight. They have washed their hands of the future of Pocahontas. Maybe because it’s too hard or maybe they don’t care. Lots of energy and time have been wasted on an issue that should have no merit for debate. This time is lost and could have been used in the saving and rebuilding of this historical town that everyone has forgotten.
    Myself and members of my team worked last year on the Historical Pocahontas Cemetery. We donated our time and expenses to rebuild two of the crypts that were destroyed by vandalism. It only took two days to rebuild these historical graves. With more money and man power we could have Pocahontas Virginia once again as a shinning tribute to all communities across America. If we pull together and save a town that means so much to so many it would be such a tremendous victory.
Thank you,
Rodney Shortridge, Founder
Black Diamond Paranormal Society
North Tazewell, Virginia