Midnight on the Ridgeline
/Midnight on the Ridgeline
By: Leonard Sipes. Jr.
If you have been where I’ve been, you would understand. I was lost in a cloud bank in a wilderness area at close to 5,000 feet. I’ve traveled icy mountain roads. Who would come if I got in trouble?
I traveled the roads of West Virginia beginning at the age of five with my parents. In my 20s, I used my Jeep Wrangler(s) to explore West Virginia’s mountain roads and have been doing so since.
There are two amazing things about West Virginia: it’s incredibly beautiful, and there are people who like to live far off the beaten path on mountain roads. I always wondered if there was a fire, medical, or police emergency, especially during the winter, who would respond? How would they respond?
West Virginia is close to major cities to the point where, unfortunately, some wilderness dirt roads are clogged with out-of-state vehicles. But I’m not talking about tourist spots for this article; I’m addressing well-paved and gravel roads (some without guardrails) that literally take your breath away. You travel up the mountain for miles only to come to a farm at the top. You travel down the mountain and find a sleepy little village dedicated to world-class trout fishing.
West Virginia is all about friendly people and magnificent beauty. But again, how does the state protect its citizens (and endless visitors) in challenging conditions, especially during the winter?
I have found that West Virginians like and respect law enforcement, which is evident in the work of the musician described below.
Kaleb Cecil
A West Virginia friend sent me a song about the West Virginia State Police. It was written and sung by Kaleb Cecil, and the links to his music are below. He is the person behind Cecil Odell Music. He writes about first responders and police-sheriff agencies throughout the state.
He writes original country and country-rock songs rooted in West Virginia — the roads, the towns, the people, and the kind of work that doesn’t ask for attention but still deserve respect. Long shifts. Late nights. Family ties. Small communities where everyone knows the weight of responsibility.
His Dad is a retired Sheriff from Lincoln County, WV.
One of his long-term projects is The Sound of the West Virginia Line — a county-by-county music documentary told through original songs written for sheriff’s departments and the communities they serve. Each song is personalized to its county: the county seat, the roads, the landmarks, and the people who live and work there.
These songs are not political, not promotional, and not written at the request of any department. They are independent tributes meant to honor service, restraint, and professionalism. He writes these songs. Like most modern recordings, the vocals are enhanced in production — but the words and the stories are his.
He states that this project is about documenting West Virginia with honesty and respect — one county at a time. He writes, “If you’re here because you’re from one of these communities, thank you for the support. If you’re just discovering the music, welcome. More counties are coming.”
He’s building a charity called The Voice of the West Virginia Line First Responders Relief Fund, to donate a minimum of 50 percent of all net proceeds from these releases to support law enforcement and first responders.
Links
You can listen to the song on Facebook.
His Facebook page is Cecil Odell Music
His Apple Music page: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cecil-odell/1865994725
His Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oUxHLBa7IRVpyOZi4fzyA…
Wet blacktop, blue light
West Virginia, clear…
From Cecil Odell Music. Written, produced, and sang by Kaleb Cecil.
