I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for March to head on down the road. Enough of these open windows one day, turn on the furnace by nightfall the next day.

Speaking of roads, I need you to understand something. If you happen to be driving behind me as I am traveling on just about any road in Ohio County, please know that I am completely sober. I do not drink and drive.

However, I am weaving in and around potholes to avoid losing a tire or two, not to mention an expensive wheel alignment. Yes, I even go on the opposite side of the road on certain less-traveled lanes to avoid the pitfalls of potholes.

I realize that this is a natural and cyclical occurrence in our fine state of West Virginia. So I am not calling out the state road folks for our road issues. At least not yet. Let’s face it, the constant freeze and thaw, coupled with hefty rainfalls are asphalt’s greatest enemies.

At one point lately, I was mentally and physically exhausted driving on Boone Hedges Road. It has been much like playing that pop-up gopher game at the arcade. It requires my complete attention to avoid the deepest of the holes in the road while keeping an eye out for deer and other wildlife.

The intermittent pothole patching lasts but a day or two after it rains. Only a real paving job will fix this problem.

Don’t get me wrong, I love living in a rural setting in our beautiful state. I just sometimes feel the country roads are not given the same thought or attention as the highways and byways. We all pay taxes, right?

My complaint on this topic is directed strictly to our state lawmakers who control the purse strings. From what I have read of the goings-on in Charleston, there isn’t much talk about the issues of which most Mountaineers are concerned.

Let me refresh the memories of those who claim to have our best interests at heart. We want safe, navigable roads, clean water sources, safe infrastructure and real help in times of natural disasters, i.e., flash floods. We wouldn’t mind more reliable no-nonsense public education, better care for our seniors and veterans, affordable housing for all ages and jobs that pay a living wage.

Those are just as few of the things on the minds of every-day West Virginians. Just ask them. I guess we will wait to see if progress is made in any of those areas or if our concerns only fall into another pothole.

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.