Oct. 26, 2005
 
VOICES FROM THE MOUNTAIN
On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever; Genealogy
 
By William Paine
Bluefield News Network Writer
 
Bluefield, WV (BNN) -- This is the first installment of a series we call Voices from the Mountain where we meet people at the top of East River Mountain and ask them what brought them there. John from Bluefield just had lasik surgery after years of having to deal with blurred vision. He took this opportunity to test his improved eyesight by gazing at his hometown on a clear fall day.
 
“This is my third day after surgery, actually the first day I’m supposed to be out,” John said.
 
“This is actually the first day I’ve been able to test my new eyes. My peripheral vision…it’s beautiful, he continued. “The colors, the reds, the golds, the greens…it’s beautiful. It’s so nice to see things so crisp so clear,” John remarked as he stared down at the valley below.
 
VOICES FROM THE MOUNTAIN: Genealogy
 
As part our continuing series called Voices from the Mountain, Adventure Radio approached two fellows walking along the roadway on a sunny autumn afternoon to find out what brought them to the top of East River Mountain. “My name is Gene Farrar,” the older man said. “I was raised here in Bluefield. I left in 1955 but I come back periodically to visit and re-strengthen my roots.” “This is my nephew Ed, from New Jersey,” he said pointing to a man in his 50’s.
 
“This is beautiful,” Ed remarked. “Gene and his family are my family, after fifty years, I found them,” he said smiling. “That’s genealogy at its best,” he continued. “So I finally found out where my father and sisters are all from and it’s Bluefield.” “The Morris family of Bluefield.”