APRIL NEWS 2004
April 29 am We finally
received official word on the Queen Shoals PSD Boil Water Order that was
issued April 21st. Boil It First or your kids may be born with flippers
instead of arms.... Well not really but boil it first anyway
April 29 am Hold your quarters
readers. The Communicator is NOT NOT NOT coming out today. We're moving
it back to Monday afternoon late late. Lots of juicy stuff that HAD to
go in this time around.
April 29 am A few weeks back a meth
lab was discovered by local law enforcement on Reed Fork after a
call was received, " shots fired". An arrest warrant was issued for
a Thompson subject. Thompson was finally arrested and today in Magistrate
Court land, young Thompson will have his preliminary hearing.
April 29 am Maybe some action
going on with QS PSD. From the WEST VIRGINIA INFRASTRUCTURE & JOBS
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL April 30, 2004 Funding Committee
9:30 am 180 Association Drive Northgate
Business Park Charleston, West Virginia Business
Items: Pocahontas Memorial Hospital -approval to
prepay loan Projects Recommended to Pursue Funding Sources Other than Infrastructure
Fund Assistance: Adrian PSD 2003W-729 Cottageville PSD 2004S-789
Farmington, Town of 2004W-805 Kenova, City of 2003W-743
New Creek PSD 2004S-808 Pendleton County PSD 2004W-804
Queen
Shoals PSD 2004W-809.....
April 29 am Remember the Sam
Murphy shooting of Thomas Holcomb? Many people rumored that the malicious
shooting case would be swept under the rug. Not so . Mr. Murphy appeared
before Magistrate King Thursday afternoon for the preliminary hearing,
even after attorney worked about every angle imaginable to get the charges
dropped... Didn't happen. King found probable cause and to trial the case
will go.
April 29 am Asst. Prosecuting Attorney
Barry Keorber's last day on the job was yesterday. Budget cuts removed
the $ to pay him. Hate to say it but now, the full burden of trying
criminals is in the arms of Prosecutor Grindo. Better lock your doors,
hide your children and cars and hunker down and wait until a new Prosecutor
comes on board in Jan 2005.
April 29 am So how tough is it to
get charges and jail times to stick in Clayberry. On Monday one of our
worstest juvenile's was picked up for violating his probation and sent
off to Salem Detention Center. On Tuesday the bird flew the nest so to
speak and was back on the streets as if the Deputy never existed!
April 29 am This weekend there are
tons of events to attend as you travel thru Clayberry. Make sure you head
down to HE White for the annual ramp feed this Sunday afternoon. Mark it
on your calendar now! Some of the best ramps to be had anywhere!
April 28 pm We've got four Demorats
running for County Commission this time around. We have the results from
our online survey. With right at 50 clickers responding, the results are
interesting: 22 for Harald Fields, 21 for Fran King, and 3 each for Rodney
Bullard and Brian Holcomb. 1 emailer voted for Mickey Mouse. Consensus
from the coffee cup crowd had it that Fran's the front runner by a mile.
Based on our findings, Fields may be 600 years old but he ain't out of
it yet!
April 28 pm We now have a Clay County
Litter Control Officer in the County of Clay. Four days ago our County
Commission OK'd the new spot for Dawn Whiteley from the Solid Waste Authority.
Details from Monday's CCC meeting Friday afternoon in the only source for
news in the county, The Communicator
April 28 pm Talk about creating
a stir, that little paper over in Clay has done it. In their latest edition
is front page candidate profile coverage. In one of the most hotly contested
contests, the Assessor race, Suzie Legg and Teresa Lane (the challenger)
are considered neck and neck. In that other paper's coverage, Teresa Lane
name is listed as Teresa Sams. Since Lane has been running paid ads in
that rag for months, most feel, the misnaming was intentional and not just
a typo.
April 28 pm So how close is the
Assessor's race. Incumbent Legg has Fayette County Assessor Tom Aiello
campaigning for her and paying for ad space
April 28 pm Also from that
little paper in Clay is a nice big ad for Mathew Bragg for Sheriff. The
disclaimer at the bottom of ad reads: Paid for by friends to elect Mathew
Bragg for Sheriff. A disclaimer is mandated by state code. The question
is, who are the "friends" group? Properly organized and chartered committees
are required as well.
April 28 pm It's quiet this last
week of the month. There's little in the way of public meetings and Election
2004 has gone behind closed doors. Our blue bloods are quietly making phone
calls firming up support, who will work which polling place, who has to
be dropped from the ticket to keep incumbent Suzie Legg. The election is
being decided now.
April 28 pm We made mention in an
earlier post on JD Morris squealing on his buddies to get out of prison
early. The Feds said Morris' insight had helped with their investigations.
April 28 pm Since that post we've
received emails on the subject. Based on that handful of email, it is felt:
When the Feds got Morris, they were done looking at the Clay County Bank;
since Morris had big time contacts in the Legislature, maybe his snitching
was directed Bob Kiss who is now the subject of some pretty serious allegations
in Charleston newspapers.
April 28 pm Unless there is some
kind of emergency, there will not be any new postings until after the Communicator
comes out Friday around 4 pm.
April 27 am This week's online
survey is: Who do you think will be our next County Commissioner? Not who
you want to win or who would do the best job but rather, who do you think
will WIN in the Clay County Commission race May 11th. The contenders are:
Harald Fields, Fran King, Rodney Bullard or Brian Holcomb. Use the email
link at the bottom of this page and have your results in by Thursday evening.
Let's ee how accurate our online clickers really are!
April 27 am Queen Shoals PSD
gave notice to that little paper over in Clay of their Boil Water Order
issued on April 21. April 21st!!!!! As of yesterday, QSPSD failed to inform
the county's most up to date news source, this site.
April 27 am Little happened
during Monday's County Commission meeting except Fred Sampson was presented
a real nice award. Details this Friday in the Communicator. One thing of
note from the CCC meeting. Commissioner Bragg brought in his recently
killed turkey to the Courthouse dripping blood and yuck everywhere.
April 27 am During that meeting,
Bragg was asked if his father in law, Jerry Bird, was still employed as
Asst. State Road Commissioner. Bragg replied Yes. A call to the State Road
office in Charleston Tuesday found something different. According to the
secretary, Bird was no longer employed there and had changed jobs. Mr.
Bird is now an employee of the WV Public Service Commission.
April 27 am We reported on the actions
of Clay High students last week during the lunch time cat fight. Sure don't
want to miss mentioning the HE White Elem. school kid who smashed the crap
out of a skinny little class mate Monday April 19th. The kid was knocked
out cold. With the guardians of the little kid reaal upset over the handling
of the bully, watch for excitement during the next board meeting.
April 27 am Sunday, 3 am, a stolen
American Electric Power truck was rolled down the hill out Ovapa
way. After tumbling and rolling several times, the truck was stopped by
a tree just before hitting a trailer owned by the Koch family. Now who
could have done such a thing. Deputy Sizemore is investigating the incident.
April 27 am Charleston newspapers
reported last week that our local felon JD Morris snitched on a bunch of
people in order to get an early release from prison. On the street people
are asking, Who? With all the recent media attention to Bob Kiss
& WV Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta's alledged wrong doing, maybe
we have an answer.
April 27 am And this one is
just for recovering from surgery, BDA Chair, Paige Willis. Everybody else,
go back to work please. Hope you're feeling better and while
you're at home recuperating, tune your FM radio to 101.7. And one question
sir, where's that industrial site?
April 27 am that little newspaper
over in Clayberry sure knows how to get attention. There must be a newcomer
in the Assessor's race. According to those folks, Teresa Sams is running
against incumbent Suzie Legg. Other snaf foos tonight! That means you Mathew
Bragg!
April 26 am This online survey is
a quickie. The question is: Who do you think will be our next County Commissioner?
Not who you want to win or who would do the best job but rather, who do
you think will WIN in the Clay County Commission race May 11th. The contenders
are: Harald Fields, Fran King, Rodney Bullard or Brian Holcomb. Use the
email link at the bottom of this page and have your results in by Thursday
evening. Let's ee how accurate our online clickers really are!
April 26 am For many, the
proud of the county is our educational system. Young and old alike....
we have the best! The goal of the local $14 million dollar
school business is to prepare the kids for working, making a living, and
having a basic knowledge level. Maybe a second look is in order..
April 26 am From the most recent
WV Higher Education Policy Commission comes some alarming stats on our
Clay High School graduates. In the fall of 2002, we had 35 first time CCHS
graduates in state colleges and universities including 16 at WVU. One year
later, in the fall of 2003, 30% of those did NOT return to college.
April 26 am Yell we know about money
being hard to find, college classes being tough and such BUT doesn't it
sound like the kids we proudly send out the door should be aware of the
humps and bumps and be ready to deal with such? We'll have the full story
in this Friday's Communicator
April 26 am Word on the street
has it Clayonian Jerry Bird bailed out of the Asst. State Road top spot
and is heading over to the WV Public Service Commission for employment.
His son in law Commissioner Mathew Bragg was asked if there was any truth
to the rumor. Bragg said Nope , that Mr Bird had been off on medical leave
but remained in the number two spot with the State Road.
April 26 am With the less than 2
weeks to go, Election 2004 is quiet. You know what that means? Deals are
being made, favors are being called in and slates are being prepared. The
late night phone calls are being placed... you remember when I helped you....
Remember when I got your son that job......
April 26 am One way to get out of
the arm twisting part of the election is to go ahead and vote ahead of
time! Others have been doing the "motor voter" no excuse needed ballot
all week. Just head to the Circuit Clerk's office during regular business
hours and mark your ballot. Poof!! All done and then you can say: Sorry
Mr. Politico, I've already voted!
April 26 am We're just getting wind
of the latest recovered vehicle from the Ovapa area of the county. We'll
post as soon as we get something solid.
April 26 am A young ventriloquist
is touring the clubs and one night he's doing a show in a small town in
Arkansas. With his dummy on his knee, he starts going through his
usual dumb blonde jokes when a blonde woman in the 4th row stands on her
chair and starts shouting: "I've heard enough of your
stupid blonde jokes. What makes you think you can stereotype women that
way? What does the color of a person's hair have to do with her worth as
a human being? It's guys like you who keep women like me from being respected
at work and in the community and from reaching our full potential as a
person. Because you and your kind continue to perpetuate discrimination
against not only blondes, but women in general... and all in the name of
humor!
The embarrassed
ventriloquist begins to apologize, and the blonde yells, "You stay out
of this mister! I'm talking to that little s*** on your knee."
April 25 am Clay County Commission
meets in regular session this morning, 10am. Stop in our see our elected
leaders at work.
Apil 25 am Come back often
this week. No big meeting stuff to speak of, but always something goin
on!
April 25 am Two little potatoes
are standing on the street corner. One is a prostitute. How can you tell
which one is the prostitute? It's the one with the little sticker
that says: I - DA - HO
April 25 am Baptist preacher and
his wife decided to get a new dog. Ever mindful of the congregation,
they knew the dog must also be a Baptist. They visited kennel after kennel
and explained their needs. Finally, they found a kennel whose owner
assured them he had just the dog they wanted. The owner brought the
dog to meet the pastor and his wife. "Fetch the Bible," he commanded.
The dog bounded to the bookshelf, scrutinized the books, located the Bible,
and brought it to the owner. "Now find Psalm 23," he
commanded. The dog dropped the Bible to the floor, and showing marvelous
dexterity with his paws, leafed through and finding the correct passage,
pointed to it with his paw.
The
pastor and his wife were very impressed and purchased the dog. That
evening, a group of church members came to visit. The pastor and his wife
began to show off the dog, having him locate several Bible verses. The
visitors were very impressed.
One man asked,
"Can he do regular dog tricks, too?" "I haven't tried yet," the pastor
replied. He pointed his finger at the dog. "HEEL!" the pastor commanded.
The dog immediately jumped on a chair, placed one paw on the pastor's forehead
and began to howl. The pastor looked at his wife in shock
and said, "Good Grief! He's Pentecostal !"
April 25 am Don't forget the
first big Ramp Feed this afternoon at Big Otter. See EVENTS page for details.
April 25 am In the week that
was, the dogwoods turned to green as trillions, pansies, tulips showed
their colors. We saw heavy rains turn to sunshine. Spring and not a minute
too soon.
April 25 am In school land kids
were sentenced to four days of testing. If the results come back strong,
Administrators will be able to stand before cameras and pat themselves
on the back. During the School board meeting Monday, the tight knit little
group of power brokers OKed Levy funds for a new year and as well as the
04-05 School year calendar.
April 25 am Last year America
saw fuzzy security camera coverage of a bus ride where kids beat the crap
out of young student while other kids cheered the attackers on. They have
nothing on Clayberry as over 30 high school students demonstrated their
strong citizenship training by standing on cafeteria table tops to get
a better view and cheering during a noon time Wednesday fight. Although
adults gained control of the situation in less than a minute, the
encounter demonstrated what's wrong with the future of this country.
April 25 am A much more polished
WV Public Service Commission gave their best spin on how they will force
Queen Shoals and Clay Roane into submission. Both local water providers
have said they want no part of entering into an operation and maintenance
agreement. The O and M will happen as will rate increases in the very near
future.
April 25 am On the national scene,
the death toll rises as our service people prepare for an all out
assault on Fallujah and no doubt, major losses in the upcoming street to
street guerilla battle. 2 reporters were fired this past week for
taking pictures of flag draped coffins in route to their final resting
place. While our government is proud to show pictures of Dubya in a flight
suit they won't allow the face of death to be shown.
April 25 am We had hope this past
week. Kids and volunteers of all ages went to work Saturday morning under
sun bright skies removing trash and junk from one of the worst county eye
sores, the little island under the Dundon bridge. Tons of diapers, bottles,
cans and worse were boated across the Elk along with nearly 100 tires.
Naysayers said Why bother? Answer: Because we can! We can make our home
look better.
April 25 am In Election 2004 stuff...
More signs went up as others were torn down. In our online poll for the
School Board race, clickers logged in their predictions. Based on
that less than scientific poll: Other than Gene King and RB Legg ( at a
distance), there are no clear cut bam bam bam consensus. With so many candidates
running this time around, we could easily have three new Board members
representing our interests and $14 million in taxpayer dollars. With less
than three weeks to voting, some campaigns are racheting up a notch while
others have been lost in the dust.
April 24 am A bunch of the high
school kids are cleaning up along the Elk today. More volunteers are needed.
Interested in making the place clean again? Be at the wide place in the
road just over the Dundon Bridge at 8 am this morning. Plenty of work for
everyone!
April 24 am Don't forget about the
car washes going on, the Fleece the Candidates dinner at the Two Run Senior
Center. Darn good food and a chance to see and hear the next batch of Clayberry
leaders.
April 24 am With the West test over,
it's Spring Break for Clay County students. And none to soon according
to Clay High Principal Phil Dobbins. On Wed a noon time fight in the cafeteria
was bad enough but when other students got up on table tops for a better
view and to cheer on the two up front, enough was enough. After reviewing
the security cameras, 35 or so students were sentenced to D Hall.
Something about Citizenship going to all to H in about 32 seconds! The
30 some kids got 5 days in D Hall for their actions. As for the fighters,
the one that threw the punches has been suspended indefinitely.
April 24 am And now the results
of our completely unscientific online survey for the school board contest,
we have some answers from our 50+ respondents. The top vote getter was
hands down Gene King. Number two vote getter RB Legg was much closer to
the third and fourth place finishers. Third place was nearly a dead tie
with Rick Tanner and Earnie Sirk neck and neck. Does that make Sirk the
#4 finisher? Not here. Tanner and Sirk were very very close with a big
gap to the next tier of candidates. We're calling the fourth
place spot a DEAD Tie between Herschel Shamblin, Ben Murphy, and Kim Sams.
April 24 am And something else from
our online poll, Single shoting, the practice of voting for just
one candidate when 4 slots are open. In our little poll, 10 folks chose
to single shot. That may be an indication the same tactics may be used
during the May 11th primary election.
April 24 am And our last note from
this week's survey. Watch for voter turnout to be low this year. Based
on receiving just 56 entries, and even with school consolidation on the
table in the county, we're predicting a light voter turn out on the 11th.
April 24 am Wednesday night out
at the Wallback exit of I 79, one of those great big expensive Elect Roger
Hunt for Sheriff signs completely disappeared. Not torn up or knocked down
or defaced, but POOF! Gone
April 24 am Sheriff candidate Joe
Morris was at it hard Wednesday night. All over the county, Team Morris
put up bunches of new red, white, and blue attention getting signs. Everywhere
you look, another new sign. Morris may not win but he sure knows how to
blanket a county.
April 23 pm Our school systems
places great emphasis on high technology, connecting with the internet,
virtual classrooms, the future is technology... you've heard it before.
Setting the example might be a good idea for the system. For those that
do depend on the internet for info, the Clay County Schools web site is
waaaay behind. Walk over to CLAY
SCHOOLS and see the lunch menu for instance.
April 23 pm Don't say there's nothing
to do in Clayberry! Take a look at the EVENTS page for details. For Saturday:
9 am get your car washed at Foodland and support the Clay Humane Society;
9:30am take a CPR class, 11 am have a great lunch at the Senior center
and support the Radio Station. Sunday? Head up to Big Otter and partake
of Ramps while supporting the Fire Dept.
April 23 am Earlier in the week
we posted the ball bat beating of a Juvenile. Since then we've received
a better accounting on the affair. Here's what we've pieced together. The
boy , his girl friend and an Uncle went to Dundon where the alcohol and
more were consumed. The boy and girlfriend got into a fight. Later, the
boy was found laying on the bridge. He was taken to the Clay Apartments
where more fighting took place and the drunked up lad was beaten senseless
with a bat. Once again unrestrained drugs and alcohol have gone unchecked
in this county.
April 23 pm By the way, it is completely
legal to publish a juvenile's name in print but we choose not to include
the name.
April 23 pm One time Clay
County Bank President JD Morris got out of prison early. So is JD Morris
ratting on his buddies? Here's what the Hur Herald web site reports. Click
SPILL
YOU GUTS JD.
April 23 pm Yesterday word
came that Clayberry would receive $80,000 for homeland security. Look for
a new communications center to be set up this summer. Watch for the local
health dept. folks to try and snatch up the windfall. Isn't it nice to
know, even while locals are drinking frog pee instead of potable water,
if Osama comes to Clay County, we'll have a phone bank ready to report
his travels?
April 23 pm Last night a special
Queen Shoals PSD meeting was held. 25 locals attended the WV Public Service
Commission called meeting. Those in attendance heard the PSC folks say
in their nicest, friendliest tones: QS PSD and Clay Roane PSD , we recommend
that you all enter into an agreement combining the billing , meter reading,
and maintenance duties of the two water service providers. What they
didn't say was: IF you don't do this, the WV PSC will ram the proposal
down your throats just as they did in Feb 2003! That Feb 2003
contract was later voided for technical reasons.
April 23 am We'll provide more info
from this meeting ( poor condition of the QSPSD system, how much money
they have left, grant requests for $600,000, and tension between two participants
etc) over the weekend. But if you're looking for some out on
the limb, wild arss quote from the PSC's Jim Weimer ( Hello JW), there
ain't one! Sorry clickers.
April 22 pm We had some excitement
yesterday at Clay Middle School. Around noon students noticed flames and
smoke in Cheryl Thomas' basement classroom. Vice Principal Joe Paxton
manned the fire equipment and the Fire Dept was not needed. The air conditioner
was the culprit. No major damage or injury was reported.
April 22 am We've got a new
online survey going on. Name the top four vote getters in the Clay
County School Board race. Remember, NOT who you want to see get elected
but who you think WILL get into office. Candidates are: Herschel Shamblin,
Earnie Sirk, Kim Sams, RB Legg, Gene King, Dave Derby, Charles Vance, Beth
Cercone, Rick Tanner, Llyn Drake, Ben Murphy, George Workman, and
Diane Shultz. Use the email link at the bottom of this page.
April 22 am Get well wishes extended
to Paige Willis. The BDA Chair was carted out Friday evening. Most are
saying it's a gallbladder attack. Others are saying he's just full of it
and some got caught sideways!
April 22 am Tonight Clay Roane and
Queen Shoals met at HE White Elem. for a meeting of the minds sort of...
The WV public Service Commission is demanding QS PSD enter into another
operation and maintenance agreement with Clay Roane. Last week Clay Roane
voted against entering into any agreement with QS. Should be a fun one
to watch.
April 22 am Of course all this
in house bickering may be for naught soon. WV Water has plans to go around
the Town of Clendenin with water pipes and come right on up Rt. 4 and serve
whom ever wants water. If that happens ( either up Rt. 4 or near the Sandy
Brae Golf Course) the folks in Roane County can finally get water service
and leave us to wither on the vine another 10 years.
April 22 am hard core Demorats are
still fuming over Republican Dave Mullins hosting Demo Lloyd Jackson around
Town last Friday. Some are wondering if Mullins will pay for Jackson for
Governor ads in the newspapers.
April 22 am Other than the
uproar with Mullins, about the only thing going on Election 2004 , a few
signs being torn down along the roadways.
April 22 am demorat Sheriff hopeful
Roger Hunt was accused of having a sordid criminal background by challenger
Mathew Bragg a few weeks back. Hunt asked for an investigation of Bragg
and his back door dealings.
April 22 am Law enforcement was
scarce as hen's teeth yesterday. All the badges were in Charleston receiving
terrorist traning.
April 22 am Hunt says he can prove
he's clean. According to Hunt, his March 2004 Concealed Weapons
Permit (which requires a background check), shows his record is clean!
April 21 am We've got a new online
survey going on. Started Monday. Name the top four vote getters in the
Clay County School Board race. Remember, NOT who you want to see get elected
but who you think WILL get into office. Candidates are: Herschel Shamblin,
Earnie Sirk, Kim Sams, RB Legg, Gene King, Dave Derby, Charles Vance, Beth
Cercone, Rick Tanner, Llyn Drake, Ben Murphy, George Workman, and
Diane Shultz.
April 21 am You may have noticed
school board candidate Charlie Vance hasn't been seen much this past couple
weeks. Just got this email: just wanted to let everyone know why
I have not been to any dinners for the past few days. We had our
little boy on friday and is doing well. If you would please pass this along
I sincerely apologize for not making it to them. Some things just
have to come first. Charles Vance
April 21 am Just before yesterday's
Special Town Council Meeting, volunteer Chief of Police Buckshot Butcher
announced that he resigned from duty last Saturday April 17th. Buckshot
was pretty much peed to say the least. Mayor Jarrett said he would
assume the duties of town cop for now. When asked if he responded to Monday
night's late telephone call from a local, Jarrett said no, he laid back
down and went to sleep.
April 21 am During Monday's Motion
day, Prosecutor Grindo got caught with his pants down again. Grindo had
not prepared the required court order allowing the Judge to put Elvis Dawson
behind bars. Dawson had been found guilty of battery two months earlier
by a jury of his peers. When asked where the order was, Grindo mumbled
something. Always ready to rub salt in a wound, attorney Kevin Duffy (
Elvis' lawyer) spoke right up: Judge, if Grindo doesn't have time ( to
do his job), I can prepare the order in 15 minutes. 26 minutes later Duffy
was back in Court with the order fresh off the printer.
April 21 am Also from Monday, Judge
Alsop ( Yep, Alsop not Facemire. Our goof up clickers) gave the OK for
Fariview Baptist Church to sell their old church building at Two Run. Years
ago, the old building was donated as a church and had a clause in the deed
that mandated the place to always be used for "the Lord's work". With the
Judge's decision in hand, it is our understanding that Morgan Gibson has
plans for the building for use other than a church.
April 21 am Last Friday the Lloyd
Jackson for Governor team came to town and held a rally at the School Board
office before heading over to a Fleece the Candidates function downtown.
Wouldn't you think the Demorat hopeful would have been escorted around
the board office, the courthouse, etc. by County Demorat Chair Harald Fields?
Didn't happen. Instead of Fields, dressed in white shirt and with all three
hairs on his head, Republicat Dave Mullins provided the escort service.
Here in Clayberry, Fields has takin a ribbin ever since. Fields has laughed
about the incident. Behind the scenes, demorats are peed.
April 21 am Monday night juvenile
thugs put another juve in the hospital. Here's what we think happened.
Around town a teenage girl took a ball bat to a young man. Friends of the
lad moved him to the Clay apartments where drinking and more escalated
to more kicking and beating. The boy was taken to a hospital where he remains
in intensive care.
April 21 am Also from one day prior,
Green shirts cuffed a male out Ovapa way. Passersby saw the officer unloaded
a long gun and noticed a truck a little farther down the road over the
hill. 'has all the markings of another stolen vehicle escapade.
April 21 am Just got this email:
I
just wanted to say hello from my deployment. I am the military guy
from Rush Fork who e-mails from Altus AFB. I am half way through
and can't wait to get back. Well, just wanted to say hello.
Take care and keep feeding us the info, it makes the day pass!
Jim, JAMES L. HENDRICKSON
II, TSgt, USAF AF Liaison
April 21 am Clay Roane PSD Chair
Melissa Postelwait emailed us. According to Ms P, Boardsters receive $50
for a special meeting and NOT $75 as we reported.
April Clay Roane PSD has a new Board
member. Susan Beard is the new appointee from Roane County.
April 21 am Interested in the Clay/Widen
Alumni Association? Check out their wdeb site. click CWA
to have a look.
April 21 am We'll get to last night's
school board coverage ASAP.
April 20 am We've got a bunch of
postings this morning, This is going to take a while, go get a cup of java.
April 20 am First some house keeping.
We've got a new online survey going on. Started Monday. Name the top four
vote getters in the Clay County School Board race. Remember, NOT who you
want to see get elected but who you think WILL get into office. Candidates
are: Herschel Shamblin, Earnie Sirk, Kim Sams, RB Legg, Gene King, Charles
Vance, Beth Cercone, Rick Tanner, Llyn Drake, Ben Murphy, George
Workman, and Diane Shultz.
April 20 am Notice who we forgot
to list yesterday? Dave Derby. We goofed and have thrown out the emails
from Monday. We're starting the survey over. Use the email link at
the bottom of this page . Remember on May 11th, you get to pick 4 names!!!
Results this Friday.
April 20 am Today at 2. Clay Town
Council meets in special session to discuss the new cable TV provider CeQuel
coming into town. If you're not happy with the old provider, maybe you
should stop by the meeting and tell the new folks what you want for your
$30+ a month fee.
April 20 am Tonight at 6 our School
Boardsters meet in the Annex building on Gump Street.
April 20 am Police Blotter: a 1997
Chevy Cavalier was stolen in Clay Friday night. Sunday night Buckshot Butcher
was awakened in the middle of the night by foot steps on his roof. No it
wasn't Santa or the Easter Bunny. Before getting a shot off, the guy jumped
from the roof and took off running.
April 20 am Long time Clay County
Bank President and State School Board President JD Morris was released
from Ashland Correctional Center yesterday before noon. His 18 month prison
term was reduced 5 months as was his probation sentence, down to 3 years
from 4. Morris is once again a free man. Click FREE
MAN to see the post from the Bureau of Prisons.
April 20 am It costs this county
$48 per day to house an inmate in the Central Regional Jail. Once
the bad guy gets to the pen, this county doesn't have to foot the bill.
Robert Preston Taylor has been in jail since Jan 8 2004 waiting to be moved
to the pen. What's the hold up? Prosecutor Daniel Grindo. According to
Sheriff Fields, our Prosecutor has yet to write the proper order which
would allow the move to the big house. That's $4800
this county lost due to Prosecutor Grindo NOT doing his job. $4800!!!!
April 20 am And by the way, according
to the Sheriff, this ain't the first time either. Fields said an earlier
screw up cost the county $9000.
April 20 am A week ago today,
around 9 pm, Green Shirts ML Bailey and new guy on the block RE Stephenson
stumbled on a meth lab on Reed Fork while responding to a "shots fired"
call. The lab was in a cellar building behind a double wide trailer.
An arrest warrant for Gerold M Thompson Jr was issued that night. As of
yesterday noon Mr Thompson was still on the loose. If anyone sees Marty
today, please tell him to report to the State Police office in Maysel and
bring his toothbrush too.
April 20 am Our School System administrators
are paid to tell parents how good our school system is doing. How smart
they're making our kids. How well prepared our high school seniors are
for the vigors of college and the world. During various public meetings,
leaders and residents alike openly say: We have an excellent school system.
The kids can go out of here proud. We really get our money's worth!
April 20 am If you say it enough,
some people will actually believe that crap. A recent WV Higher Education
Policy Commission report disputes that all to H. Only 45% of the CCHS Class
of 2002 went on to college. Less than half! Of those that went to college,
only half of them took core classes and even with the weak scheduling,
they were only able to muster a 2.28 grade point average! Don't believe
us? Read page 3 the report for yourself. Click Someone's
Fibbin for the full picture
April 20 am Don't go away now clickers,
it gets worse. 44% of our Clay High Seniors had to take bone head courses
in math just to get into college. Can they speak, read and understand english?
14% couldn't and had to take remedial english classes.
April 20 am Can it get worser? Sure
can. Of our bestest and brightest in college, a full 48% were required
to take some bonehead course just to get into college.
April 20 am Wait to you read about
the college drop out rate of Clay County Graduates.
April 20 am Over at the Clay Christian
Academy, 100% of their 2002 graduates made it to college. See for yourself
Click REAL
PICTURE and go to page 7.
April 20 am More coming stay
tuned and what a great night for a school board meeting. if any of the
Boardsters are reading are reading today's postings; keep this in
mind, your employee Suprintendent Link has had these figures and more all
along but under wraps. Just one of the little secrets in Clayberry.
April 19 am If you need an
air conditioned place to hang out today, Judge Facemire's Court room is
the place to go. This is Motion day. Action starts at 9 am. Not sure what's
on tap but at least the air conditioner works good.
April 19 am No school board meeting
tonight, that's rescheduled for Tuesday evening at 6 at the Board office.
April 19 am This is the week we've
spent the last 6 months getting ready for. This is Wes Test time. That's
the statewide exam that replaced the Stanford 9. Remember that? Our
state leaders came up with this new exam after years of not being able
to do good enough on the old one. Got to make the administration look good
you know!
April 19 am So... is Clay County
a rural place with little rural schools? Nope! Not according to the recently
revised No Child Left Behind folks. Pocahantas County has the only rural
setting in WV. Click, WE
AIN'T RURAL NO MORE to see what we're talking about.
April 19 am So where will the thugs
attack this week. Steal another truck and motorcycle from the Northern
end of the county? Maybe break into Clay Elem. again and steal more digital
cameras and money? Maybe Bullard's Exxon again?
April 19 am And the body county
rose to over 700 this past weekend as 5 more service personnel perished
in Iraq.
April 19 am Use the link below please
and respond to this online survey. Name the top four vote getters in the
Clay County School Board race. Remember, NOT who you want to see get elected
but who you think WILL get into office. Candidates are: Herschel Shamblin,
Earnie Sirk, Kim Sams, RB Legg, Gene King, Charles Vance, Beth Cercone,
Rick Tanner, Llyn Drake, and Diane Shultz. Did I forget anyone?
April 18 pm First a correction.
In the latest edition of the Communicator we listed the expenses and contributions
of candidates seeking office in 2004. Sheriff candidate Mathew Bragg received
a $100 contribution from Doc Boggs and we neglected to include that entry.
Sorry.
April 18 am And now for the week
that was. after four days of strong rain, sleet and snow left the county
flooded and schools closing early, Spring temps in the upper 70s arrived.
It felt great.
April 18 am The body count of good
young Americans spiraled upward. Dubbya said we would continue the course.
Kerry said we needed to send more troops to Iraq. We blasted churches and
church leaders.
April 18 am Politics was the talk
of the county this past week. Early in the week at Ivydale Elem. at their
ice cream social for politicians, School Board candidates Llynn Drake and
Earnie Sirk spoke from the gym floor. Next and from the bleachers Rick
Tanner: I'll stay up here until they get that mess cleaned up down there....
Humor or acid? Tanner and fellow incumbent Kim Sams told the crowd,
they have seen no evidence of a "good ole boy network in Clayberry"
Magistrate candidate Boggs made it clear: We need a Prosecutor. Sheriff
candidate Roger Hunt voice his resentment for the backdoor election year
tactics of candidate Mathew Bragg by only acknowledging 10 candidates for
that office this May.
April 18 am Word on the street has
that there was an meth lab bust on Reed Fork Tuesday. As late as
Thursday, 4pm, there was no paperwork in the Magistrate's Offices.
Over the scanner was the announcement of the mobile meth lab clean up task
force from Charleston coming into the county to clean the place up.
April 18 am Thursday evening Clay
Roane PSD held a not so Special meeting to consider raising water rates
again. The late for duty Chair Postelwait was out voiced. No rate increase
for now. Part time maintenance man Dale Deems quit. Chair P said charges
will be filed against water customer Bob Deems who got hot after not being
allowed to buy wa wa from the plant, spun gravel with his tires on
an employee as he sped from the Procious Water Plant. So what was accomplished
Thursday evening? Each Board member got to pocket another $75 for attending
the meeting.
April 18 am Friday afternoon Prosecutor
Dan Gringo was once again no place to be seen as another case was rescheduled.
Gringo was appointed to the post by Commissioners Sams and Tim "No Show"
Butcher Dec 8 2002 and has been the subject of well deserved scorn by law
enforcement and Magistrate Boggs. Case after case has been dismissed for
lack of follow thru by Gringo.
April 18 am Yesterday's Fleece the
Candidate festivity was a financial bonanza for the HE White Elem. PTO
bringing in much needed $ to improve the community school once closed down
by Superintendent Linkinnnnnooooooger and crew.
April 18 am With gardens plowed
and seed in the ground, we've made it thru another winter. One fellow at
Go Mart Saturday night said "It's too d*** hot!" Three people turned around
and told him to shut up.
April 18 am No evidence of the Good
Ole Boy Network? Where do they come up with stuff?
April 16 pm The Communicator hit
the news stands around 4pm today. 20 pages of the best news and views,
second to none
April 16 pm This site and local
yocals have been giving our little Prosecutor double H over pee poor performance,
never on the job when you need him, and a general attitude of who cares.
Sometimes we dish it out a little too heavy
April 16 pm Not so this time. Friday
afternoon the Judge was there, Defense Attorney Michael Farber was there,
the defendent was there, the clerks were there.. and they waited... and
waited.... Clay County Prosecutor Daniel Gringo was a no show. Taxpayer
dollars wasted once again.
April 16 pm We're taking a couple
of days off from web duty. No posts until late late Saturday night.
April 16 pm Enjoy the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 16 am Henry L White, see FUNERAL
page
April 16 am And thank goodness we
made it thru the rain and sleet and it's Friday!!!
April 16 am Today the fellow that
engineered all the school consolidations around the state is coming to
Clayberry. During recent trips to Roane County, candidate for governor,
Lloyd Jackson was greeted by hecklers and the like. And where do
you think Jackson would turn to for a safe and friendly spot to hold his
Clayberry stump speech? Well of course, the School Board office!
If you care to mingle , call Link for details
April 16 am Since Tuesday
evening we've heard the rumors of a drug bust on Reed Fork. We checked
with Sheriff Fields and the Magistrate office. Full details as best we
can put it together later this afternoon in Clayberry's only source for
real news and views, The Communicator.
April 16 am Our front page above
the fold lead story is an interview with the Sheriff on how loosing two
deputies to budget cuts will affect Clay County. We've also got the latest
Clayberry crime stats.
April 16 am We're taking the evening
and Saturday off for some R and R. Unless there is a real emergency, like
an elected official growing a brain, no posts until late Saturday night.
April 15 pm Cathy Ann Smith
47 see FUNERAL page
April 15 pm Nola Frame, 83,
see FUNERAL page
April 15 am Henry White wasn't the
average guy on the street. 'Worked for the railroad for years, operated
the local taxi cab business, ran a game room. For the student workers at
the local non profit radio station WYAP, Henry White will be remembered
as a quiet steadying force of reason and resolve. HEnry White died at 10
pm Tuesday night in his home near the Hartland bridge. As of Wed night
10pm, funeral services were incomplete
April 15 am Yesterday on our
home page we posted a picture of areas flooded by the recent storms. One
of those pictures we labeled as the site for the new consolidated ValleyDale
Elem. school in Big Otter. School Board member Ric Tanner has since said
that wasn't the site for the school
April 15 am Our picture was suppose
to show the flooded easement to the school site. Tanner said if anyone
wants to see the map of the new school, just ask him. Thanks for
keeping us straight Tanner.
April 15 am Tonight Clay Roane PSD
meets in Special session to vote on a rate increase for its customers.
Action starts at 7 in the CDC building on Main Street. Incidentally, Clay
Roane and Queen Shoals PSD will hold a joint meeting next week with the
WV PSC to try and work out a new and improved operation and management
agreement between the two PSDs. So far, such behind the scenes negotiations
have netted little
April 15 am Another thing
we forgot to mention from Monday's County Commission meeting. During the
gathering was discussion on a $100,000 Budget Digest grant to the Ambulance
Service ( Ambulance Authority back then) 2 years ago. The discussion
was between Director Bev King and Commissioner Jimmy Sams.
April 15 am King said, the folks
in Charleston questioned how the $100,000 was spent. It was suppose to
pay off a $100,000 bank loan. Ms King said they NEVER got the loan? Commissioner
Sams replied that he had been promised the loan for the ambulance service
two years ago but they NEVER got it! Sams said he would look into the matter.
April 15 am So.. what happened
clickers? Full details as best we can put together in Friday's Communicator.
April 15 am Seems that David Walker
guy from Abel Software has stirred up some interest in county wide high
speed internet service coming later this summer. Here's the way we've got
it figured so far: If you live within 5 miles of a Clay County School or
anywhere in the county, you can have the fast service. Although not
as fast as DSL (650 kbs down or better on Frontienet currently), the Abel
deal will come in several times faster than dial up. Maybe 250 kbs down!
No telephone connection is needed, the system will be entirely wireless.
Earlier this Spring, the school system gang said the cost for the customer
would be around $20 per month.
April 14 am And the rains
came yesterday forcing an early out for Clay County Schools. Be sure to
check the weather report button on our home page. Snow is in the picture
once again. That's right snow and rain!. Be careful clickers, the roads
may get bad reaaal quick
April 14 am So are our new School
Board members Kim Sams and Ric Tanner blind? During the Ivydale Elem. Meet
the Candidates dinner both commented publicly : in the months they have
been on the Board, they have seen no evidence of the "good ole boy network"
in Clayberry. Surely yeh surely that demands a great big Hmmmmmmm
April 14 am Clay County PSD met
yesterday and sure enough, the County Commission asked them to return the
$5000 given to the PSD several months back. The money was to help fund
a study to build a PSD owned water plant in the county. More recently,
PSD reps have said, the study was never done.
April 14 am There's one problem
with the PSD giving the $ back. Some of it has been spent. $1600 to be
exact.
April 14 am We still haven't seen
an agenda posted for Thursday night's Special Clay Roane PSD meeting.
We understand the meeting was called last week. Expect Clay Roane to discuss
and vote a rate increase.
April 14 am Walk over to the CLASSIFIED
page please. Grace Stone is needing a little help.
April 14 am Total number of Circuit
Court papers served by the Sheriff's office in 2003: 937.
April 14 am Total number of vehicle
crashes investigated by the Sheriff's office in 2003: 103.
April 14 am Citations issued in
2003 by the black shirts: 229.
April 14 am How many hours did the
black shirts spend doing reports in 2003 ( like B & E and Assault)?
372 hours. A complete listing coming this Friday in the Communicator!
April 13 am A great big Clayberry
Howdy to Sgt. Scott Holcomb serving at the Rough Rider forward operations
base in Iraq. Stay safe and keep your head down!
April 13 am This morning at 10 Clay
County PSD meets in regular session. The agenda calls for another one of
those cut and dry 10 minute meetings with one exception. According to the
agenda, our County Commission is asking for some $$$$ to be returned.
April 13 am Back 18 months ago,
Clay County PSD asked the CCC for $5000 to help pay for a $20,000 Chapman
Technical ( Hello Greg B.) report to see if and where Clay PSD could
locate and operate its own water treatment plant. CCC coughed it
up. Since then and as late as four months ago, the PSD hadn't come up with
other funds to pay for the study. It looks as if, CCC wants their
$ back.
April 13 am Remember when getting
a government job meant security? Times have changed.
April 13 am Yesterday's County Commission
was a sad one. The termination of custodian Patty Fugate and 911 Emergency
Service's Director Dave King ($1500/month) was made official. So struggling
is this county, those jobs once considered secure are a thing of the past.
Maybe Commissioner salaries should be based on performance.
April 13 am So how's our Ambulance
service doing? Better according to Director Bev King. She reported yesterday
that since putting on a second crew in Feb. 2004, only 10 runs have been
done by outside the county ambulance providers.
April 13 am Commissioner Bragg made
a comment as the meeting ended yesterday. According to Bragg, another dog
was killed in Ovapa. Bragg didn't say Michelle Deyton's name but a big
dog killed an older "toothless" as Bragg put it, dog. But , that's what
he meant.
April 13 am Remember the Deyton
story from four weeks ago. Bragg intervened for a neighbor after Deyton's
dog got out of it's enclosure and attacked the neighbor's dog. Deyton got
all fired up while visiting the courthouse and according to Deyton, Bragg
threatened to fire her.
April 13 am Hope it's not
too late for an Easter joke: three blondes (natural) died. They found
themselves at the gates to Heaven, standing before St. Peter. He said,
"before you can enter heaven, you have to answer a question - what is Easter?"
The first blonde said, "Easter is a holiday... when we have a big feast,
and we give thanks, and eat turkey." St. Peter said, "noooooo," and he
banished her to hell.
The second
blonde said, "Easter is when we celebrate Jesus' birth and exchange gifts."
St. Peter said, "noooooo," and he banished her to hell.
Finally, the third
blonde said, " i know what Easter is,".... and skeptically, St. Pete said,
"go, ahead....tell me." Confidently, the third blonde stated,
"Easter is a Christian holiday, which coincides with the Jewish festival
of passover. Jesus was having passover feast with his disciples,
when he was betrayed by Judas and the Romans arrested him. The Romans
hung him on the cross and eventually he died. Then they buried him in a
tomb behind a very large boulder .." St. Peter said, "verrrrrry good."
Then the blonde continued, "now every year the jews roll away the boulder
and Jesus comes out. If he sees his shadow, we have six more weeks
of basketball."
April 13 am Time to pay your taxes.
Put extra postage on the envelope because it is
going all the way to Iraq according
to Garrison Keiler of Prairie Home Companion fame.
April 13 am Is there another
word for synonym? If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish
his wages?
April 12 am Locals volunteers
manned the 911 spot until money became available to pay for the work. With
$ in hand, our Commissioners immediately hired Nicholas County resident
Dave King to fill the part time position for $1500 per month.
April 12 am The gravy years are
gone in this county. Looks for 2 employees to be eliminated from each department
before July 1 this year.
April 12 am Many years ago in England,
pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic
cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some
service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
April 12 am In English pubs,
ale is ordered by pints and quarts.. So in old England, when customers
got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and
quarts, and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and
Q's."
April 12 am It was the accepted
practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding,
the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could
drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar
based, this period was called the honey month...which we know today as
the honeymoon.
April 11 am Happy Easter to all
good luck at finding those colored eggs.
April 11 am For all the juvenile
thugs out there, there is a place for you. Click ACCOMODATIONS
to see opportunities in WV.
April 11 am And
some breakfast mind food: Only two people signed the Declaration
of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most
of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until
5 years later; Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would
you have to go until you would find the letter "A"? A. One thousand;
Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day; and one
more for today: In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on
bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened,
making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep
tight."
April 11 am Saturday afternoon around 2, scanner
traffic included a call by law enforcement for a wrecker big enough
to haul a stolen car and motorcycle from the Ovapa section of Clayberry
April 11
am And now for the week that was.... In Dubby's oil war, this past week
was costly. More death and injuries than when they were calling it a war.
This past week we began to bomb Iraq churches.
April 11
am Here locally Chris Hackney was killed in the early morning hours of
April 8th by a passing motorist.
April 11
am During Monday night's School Board meeting, Board Prez RB made a butt
of himself! Instead of just answering Wide Glide's questions on campaign
practices of school teacher Brian Holcomb, RB lost it. Such is the case
many times over when locals ask questions of our elected boardsters.
April 11
am We found out that Queen Shoals PSD has just $45,000 of the $60,000 Budget
Digest grant remaining. With word spreading that the Town of Clay is planning
to ask for a rate increase, Clay Roane PSD called for a Special meeting
where it is expected they too will seek an increase.
April 11
am During Tuesday's Town Council meeting: talk of banning ATVs on
streets came up; the need for a water rate increase was discussed; Council
woman Zegeer said they needed to build their own jail for the local thugs;
a new TV cable provider is on the job, Drema Thomas received a $1 per hour
pay raise, and that $400 Buckshot Butcher water bill that Council
voted to pay for him last month hasn't been paid.
April 11
am Word on the street had it that drug charges against Michael Butcher
had been dropped before his death two weeks ago. FALSE! Butcher died March
22 and the charges were dropped April 23 after receipt of the obituary.
April 11
am We found out last Tuesday, our Business Development Authority has two
requests in for $50,000 to maintain control of the Filcon Fields industrial
site and even though Commissioner Bragg says he's already found the needed
$, no one has seen it yet.
April 11
am In Election 2004: Sheriff candidate Morgan Gibson has spent $1186.56;
Jim James Paxton: $1571.35, Donny Triplett: $1093.22, Mathew Bragg has
spent $2007.75, Randy Holcomb: $1795.19, Roger Hunt: $2779.30 and Joe Morris:
$2110.00; Commission candidate Harald Fields has spent: $666.50, Fran King
has handed out $1043.50, Brian Holcomb: $910.44; Prosecutor candidate Jim
Samples has coughed up $2021.55; as Wayne King has tossed out just $$418.
April
11 am With the deadline passed to file campaign expense statements, Prosecutor
candidate Barbara Schamberger failed to comply with the law. We have another
first ( and second) in this campaign cycle. Joe Morris and Roger Hunt have
paid radio commercials as they both seek the voter's nod for the Sheriff's
seat.
April 11
am and late tonight we'll have the upcoming week's events like Courthouse
janitor Patty Fugate and 911 Director Dave King being terminated from their
jobs.
April 10 am It's ramp feed time
clickers. Check the EVENTS page for the smell that heals.
April 10 am How about some interesting
stuff: The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to
work: Alaska; The first couple to be shown in bed
together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone;
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury;
Coca-Cola was originally green; The percentage of Africa
that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...) The percentage of North
America that is wilderness: 38%; The cost of raising a medium-size
dog to the age of eleven: $6,400; The average number of people
airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
April 10 am and a little more. Hey
anything is better than going out and cutting the grass... The first novel
ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer; Each king in a deck
of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David
Hearts -Charlemagne Clubs -Alexander, the Great Diamonds - Julius
Caesar; 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
April 9 am Hello Good Friday. Teachers
have to report for duty until noon or so today while kids get the day off.
For much of the state, kids were off all week for Spring break. Not so
in Clayberry where preparing for the all important yearly testing is priority
one. Got to make the administration look good you know!
April 9 am Are annual rash of forest
fires got underway Thursday. Calls started coming in around 3:30 with several
fires reported in various locations out toward Widen. Fire crews spent
much of the afternoon tracking down the hot spots. At 4:40 over the scanner
came DNR's Joe Jolich: We have multiple fires in Harrison area.
April 9 am The WV Public Service
Commission laid the rules down on Queen Shoals PSD on what they can and
can't do with their $60,000 windfall. Click NO
OFFICE PLEASE for the full story
April 9 am IF you'd like to see
all the local PSD complaints lodged with the WV Public Service Commission.
Click, UPSET
WATER USERS
April 9 am The WV PSC made more
decisions on the private life of Clay Roane PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait.
Click Better
Pay That Bill Melissa for the details
April 9 am For all you clickers
that receive gas service from John Habjan's companies and remember last
summer's PSC order to put Habjan in receivership, an extension has been
requested and granted on the proceedings to take his company. Click STILL
DOIN TIME
April 9am Had some excitement
at the Procious Water Plant Wed when water hauler Bob Deems was refused
water from the plant until an operator was present. Deems doesn't have
water service at his home and has to haul water in the back of his pick
up truck. According to our sources, Deems got back in his truck
and spun parking lot gravel all over the place as he left.
April 9am And the winner is...............
April 9 am We received almost 80
survey's in our latest Election 2004 poll. By almost 4 to 1, our respondents
predicted Teresa Lane as the victor in the Clay County Assessor's race.
Not quite as many made a guess at the number of voters but from the 50
that offered a response, the number of those going to the poll May 11th?
Answer: 3600. Highest quess: 4800. Low guess: 1700.
April 8 am Last call clickers to
participate in our online survey. Here it is for the last time. Using the
email link below, answer two questions: 1 Who will win the Assessor's race,
Teresa Lane or Suzie Legg? 2 How many voters will come and cast their ballot
may 11th? and you turkey's that have voted 10 times.. stop it!
April 8 am In rural America word
spreads fast. Not by radio or TV but by word of mouth an tele. Such is
the case with School Board President RB Legg's public comments to Earnie
Sirk during Monday evening's meeting. (See below) For most, the question
comes: WHAT WAS HE THINKING??????????? Why didn't he just say, Mr. Sirk,
thanks for your time and we'll look into it. Instead Legg opened up political
tones which mentioned County Commission candidate Fran King's name. Talk
about dumb! Now the county is asking: What relation is Brian Holcomb to
RB?
April 8 am We mentioned the
anniversary of Joe Crow's death yesterday. What happened two
years ago this April 11th? Thinking? One of the largest employers in the
county, Pierson Saw Mill, caught fire and pretty much was gutted within
a few minutes.
April 8 am Let's get you up
to speed on Tuesday's Town Council meeting....
April 8 am Mayor Jarrett asked Council
to implement action to raise water rates to ALL customers. That will include
the wholesale customers like Clay County PSD and Clay Roane PSD. Think
that won't affect you that live outside of town boundaries/ WRONG!! When
the PSD receive higher water bills, they too must raise their rates!
April 8 am Jarrett also asked that
Council vote in an ordinance to ban ATVs from Town streets. The ordinance
provisions will be sent over to attorney Jeff Davis for proper penmanship.
Jarrett is upset that some guy rides thru town each morning about 6 am
on an ATV. Jarrett said , if the town votes in such a ban then the County
Commission would probably do likewise. If you like your freedom of the
open road clickers, better attend a public meeting and voice your opinion
before it's too late!
April 8 am Council persons
Zegeer and Big Murph were real upset that Town Cop Buckshot Butcher is
out riding around the county with deputies instead of staying put and taking
care of town needs. Zegeer asked why Butcher was still the volunteer Cop
when he was suppose to quit March 16th.
April 8 am And finally from
Tuesday's meeting, local residents have a new TV cable provider, Cequil.
During questioning, the cable rep provided few hard answers to poor service,
slow repair response time, and new rates. Got a complaint? Here's
the toll free number to call: 1 800 726-7737
April 8 am We'll get to the
most recent CAEZ meeting late tonight.
April 7 am Jo Retta Wyatt,
70, of Clay. see FUNERAL page
April 7 am Many of us have seen
the 20 something Chris Hackney walking along the road between Two Run and
Clay. You won't no more. Yesterday morning about dawn, the fair haired
man was struck and killed by a motorist.
April 7 am Yesterday was the one
year anniversary Joey "Crow" Smith's death. One day before his death, local
thugs smashed his head bloody with rocks and bricks in downtown Clay. Local
law enforcement reported Crow's death was from falling backwards off his
steps and rolling down a slope. No charges were ever filed on the skull
smashing thugs.
April 7 am Is your puter all
screwed up? Maybe got some annoying windows popping up? Time to get it
repaired! Josh Taylor is off school this week and has time to work
on Clay County Computers. Call Josh NOW 619-9012.
April 7 am We've got a new online
survey in progress. Use the email link at the bottom of this page and answer
these two questions: 1 Who will win the Assessor's race, Suzie the incumbent
or challenger Teresa Lane? #2, How many people
will come out and vote during the May Primary? Results from the survey
will be posted late Friday evening. Get em in now!
April 7 am Time to talk about Monday
night's school board meeting. The meeting had the usual stuff... our kids
are the brightest and prettiest blah blah blah...
April 7 am The real meeting was
when Ivydale's Earnie Sirk asked the elected ones to make school safety,
priority one. Sirk was referring to County Commission candidate and
high school teacher Brian Holcomb handing out campaign posters and buttons
to students. Sirk saw kids getting off a school bus carrying Holcomb signs
and big long wire stakes and filed a formal complaint with the Secretary
of State's office. The full complaint can be found in the latest edition
of The Communicator. Sirk did his spiel on safety and a kid might get an
eye poked out if the campaigning on school property didn't stop.
April 7 am Here's
what makes Clayberry so special. School Board President and up for re election
himself, RB Legg let out with his smart arss remarks and attitude which
left many shaking their heads in disbelief. Legg asked Wide Glide: If those
had been Fran King signs, would he have been so concerned. Legg then told
Sirk he was doing Fran's dirty work! For our international clickers,
Fran King was a school board member until the first week in Jan and is
now running for County Commission herself. In reply, Sirk:
I'd expect something like that from you RB!
April 7 am Politically savvy Gene
King and new comers to politics, Kim Sams and Rick Tanner, remained reaaaaaaaaaal
quiet as RB dug himself deeper into the Sirk quick sand.
April 7 am Now we all know Sirk
is supportive of Fran as are a bunch others in the county. But for Legg
to show such political ignorance in public, well, he may have just played
into Sirk's hand. By the way, as for using students to campaign, Superintendent
Link told the packed room Monday night, he has asked all the candidates
to refrain from such actions on school property. Wonder if that includes
Sheriff candidates (and school bus drivers) Dave Mullins and Randy
Holcomb from wearing campaign buttons during bus runs?
April 7am One other note from Monday's
School Board meeting and Sirk's formal complaint.... The complaint included
this line: Clint Salyers, a private citizen, has witnessed this
practice on his daughter's bus and had informed Brian Holcomb several weeks
ago, that this was not a fair or ethical campaign practice.... Salyers,
in attendance, disputed everything Sirk said and said if his name comes
up again he was going to sue Sirk.
April 7 am Raise your hand
if you think Sirk is a slimy rotten puke... Yelp, about everybody has their
hands up. BUT .... Salyers can run away all he wants, but the truth is
the truth, Holcomb was pinning buttons on all the high school kids he could
and that won't pass the rotten fish test in anybody's book. Nowhere at
No time!
April 7 am One thing is for
sure, those 120 new high school voters are fertile ground for those seeking
office. With the high school door now wide open (thank you Mr Holcomb),
every person seeking office should run over to our one time National School
of Excellence and ask for equal time. Have Principal Dobbins call an assembly,
gather all the kids and force them to listen to YOUR campaign promises
It's only fair!
April 7 am We'll provide the scoop
from Tuesday's Town Council meeting and CAEZ gathering late late tonight.
April 6 am Queen Shoals PSD
is learning as they go. Last night the newly formed (reformed) governing
body amended some earlier decisions. As for allowing local churches free
water service... Nope. According to Chair Jimmy Kearns, the PSC said that's
a no no.
April 6 am As for hiring a
Board member's daughter to work as office clerk a couple months back...
The PSC says that's legal as long as the daughter, Sarah Anderson, does
not live with the Board member and doesn't depend on her (Ann) for $.
April 6 am We got word that the
regulators in Charleston wanted QSPSD to do away with their new office
and contract with Clay Roane PSD for billing and meter reading duties.
While the rumor was correct, QS said last night they weren't going to do
it.
April 6 am Remember last week during
the Clay Roane PSD Board meeting they said QSPSD wasn't paying their wholesale
water bill on time? QSPSD Chair Kearns said they ARE paying it on time
, NOT late! Sounds like grounds for a good knock down and drag out in the
near future.
April 6 am And a bit of hope was
mentioned. One big reason for WV Water Co. not coming into the county and
operating QSPSD was lack of an adequate water supply. QSPSD currently buys
from Clay Roane. According to the Chair, WV Water is considering building
a new water line around the Town of Clendenin and coming on up North. If
that happens, QSPSD could purchase an unlimited supply of wa wa from WV
Water! Of course, if that happened, Clay Roane could shut down their Procious
Water Plant and also buy from the mega national firm.
April 6 am OK, here's our next online
survey. Use the email link at the bottom of this page and answer the following
two questions. The results of the survey will be posted this Friday afternoon.
Question 1: Who will win the Assessor's race, the incumbent Suzi Legg or
challenger Teresa Lane? Question 2: How many Clay County voters (total
Demorats and Republicats combined please) will turn out for the May Primary
Election? Send em in now clickers.
April 6 am A senior citizen
in Florida bought a brand new Mercedes convertible. He took off down the
road, flooring it to 80 mph and enjoying the wind blowing through what
little hair he had left on his head. "This is great,"
he thought as he roared down I-75. He pushed the pedal
to the metal even more. Then he
looked in his rear view mirror and saw a highway patrol trooper behind
him, blue lights flashing and siren blaring.
"I can
get away from him with no problem" thought the man and he tromped it some
more and flew down the road at over 100 mph. Then 110, 120 mph. Then he
thought, "What am I doing? I'm too old for this kind of thing." He pulled
over to the side of the road and waited for the trooper to catch up with
him.
The trooper
pulled in behind the Mercedes and walked up to the man. "Sir," he said,
looking at his watch. "My shift ends in 30 minutes and today is Friday.
If you can give me a reason why you were speeding that I've never
heard before, I'll let you go."
The man looked
at the trooper and said, "Years ago my wife ran off with a Florida state
trooper, and I thought you were bringing her back."
The trooper replied, "Sir, have a nice day."
April 5 am Happy beginning of the
month. Today we have two public meetings of interest.
April 5 am With Earnie Sirk on the
School Board agenda for this evening at 6pm, anything could happen.
April 5 am Also this evening
Queen Shoals PSD will meet at HE White Elem. beginning at 6pm. The
word we're getting is: the WV PSC doesn't want QSPSD to set up an office
or buy equipment or do their own meter reading and billing. The folks in
Charleston (Hello JW) want QS to have Clay Roane PSD do the work for them.
Sure to be fun to watch since the office deal is already done and furnishings
too.
April 5 am Few of think enough about
the 13 month old Dubbya war where our young men and women are in harm's
way. Click 9
MORE DIE for the latest details from Reuter's news service. That's
at least 610 lost so far
April 5 am Jobs are hard to find
in these parts and many of those newspaper ads and such are little more
than scams. Here's one that isn't...
April 5 am According to the US Post
Office web site, 710 part timers will be hired at the Charleston hub station
out Corridor G. That starting pay is over $12 per hour for the flexi shift
evening work. Most will work two of three nights a week and more around
Christmas. Interested? Here's how to get signed up.
April 5 am Go to this site
,USPO jobs. Once there,
click the line that reads "If you know your announcement number" click
here. Once you do that , the screen will ask for the number. Cut
and paste this number: 90828
.
From there, you're on your own and should take about 10 minutes on a slow
connection to fill out the online application. Good Luck and last person
out of the county, please turn off the light.
April 4 am Josephine Keener,
86, of Dille, see FUNERAL page
April 4 am We've not doing
a weekend wrap up this time around , still stuff going on in Clayberry.
Like....
April 4 am We're doing some internet
housekeeping this week and removing a bunch of 2003 pictures from the PHOTO
page. If you want to make a copy of any of the images, enlarge the photo,
right click and hit "save picture as" and then figure out where you want
to save it. Here's what we're removing this week: Summer 2003; Town Election
2003; HE White Ramp Feed; Baseball 2003; Make It Shine; Gob Pile Gardens;
Spring 2003; Metal Recycling; Dist 8 Champs; Lizemores Fire Truck; Work
4 WV. Get em while you can folks. When they're gone, they're gone!
April 4 am Last night the
Bluegrass and Gospel Sing was attended by less than 100 people. With the
top notch entertainment on the bill... What happened? One darling lady
in our little community started a campaign to black list the event. Since
Sheriff candidate Roger Hunt was an organizer and billed as a singer for
the shin dig, this one busy body took it on herself to call the neighborhood
up and say: That's not really a music event, that's a secret fund
raiser for the Roger Hunt for Sheriff campaign. If you go there, you'll
be supporting Hunt for Sheriff.
April 4 am Of course, the plan was
to have a big event and then donate a portion of the gate to the Clay High
School Band. Thanks to the telephone work of one slimy puke, fewer than
100 showed up to see probably the finest mandolin player in the country
today (Johnny Statts), Ron Sowell from Mt State fame, Jimmy Martin , and
even ugly Roger Hunt and Bo Stephens carried tunes quite nicely!
April 4 am Also last night, Lizemore
Fire Dept. held a fleece the candidates dinner at Lizemores Elem. School.
Although mostly candidates and family members showed up, at least the Fire
Dept. made some loot. Delegate Dave Perry in attendance brought along Budget
Digest paperwork for a $5000 grant to help the LVFD build their new building.
More $ is expected soon for the cause. Sheriff candidate Buckshot Butcher
donated a $400 leaf blower for forest fire work.
April 4 am At the Lizemores gathering
even Prosecutor candidate Wayne King attended and spoke as did, Schamberger
and Jim Samples.
April 4 am Our crime wave continued
Friday night as area thug crashed thru the Dollar Store door and attempted
to get into the money safe. This time they weren't successful.
April 4 am You might have noticed
the nice big Roger Hunt Sheriff sign beside the telephone building in town
this past week. It's not there no more. Vandals reduced it to itsy bitsy
pieces sometime after dark Friday night.
April 4 am For those that
keep track of this site. Clickers set a new record March 31st. We had over
1100 hits in that one day.
April 4 am We got our the results
from the online "Who's going to be our next Sheriff" survey. We had about
75 email entries. After sorting thru the stack..... Four names come to
the up as top candidates. They are in no certain order: Bragg, Triplett,
Holcomb and tied for fourth top vote getter, Hunt and Paxton (old). Those
of you that wrote Poopy... We counted that as Holcomb even tho he don't
like that name!
April 3 am The Communicator made
it to the news stands around 3:30 Friday afternoon. And boy are they juicy!
Get one while there hot.
April 3 am Old timers tell stories
of absolute isolation in years gone by. News traveled slow,
by horse back or by the once a week or month trips to the local store or
post office. How far have we come clickers? Not very.
April 3 am A house fire near Widen
severed the only tele line into and out of the county sometime before 3
am Friday morning. With that one fiber line down, the county was isolated.
No one could call out or into the county. When someone outside of the area
tried to make a phone call into Clayberry, all they got was a recording
to try back later. Tele service ( and internet service!) was restored
around 5 pm Friday. There for over 12 hours it was 1900 all over again.
April 3 am Thursday, Thursday night
and into Friday morning, snow was seen falling in higher elevations in
Clay and surrounding counties. Some school systems went on a two hour delay
schedule.
April 3 am get your ballot in folks,
we're doing an online survey. Use the link at the bottom of this page.
Here's the question: Name the top four vote getters in the Sheriff's race
this May. Contestants include: Legg, Hunt, Holcomb, Paxton (old), Paxton
(young), Boggs, Triplett, Morris, Buckshot, Gibson, Bragg.
April 3 am Lots going on this weekend
in the county. Walk over to our EVENTS page for details.
April 3 am One of the events
is a Fleece the Candidates dinner at Lizemores. We understand during the
dinner, a Budget Digest check to the Lizemores Fire Dept. to help with
erecting their fire house. How much? Our guess: $60,000.00. It is election
year folks!
April 3 am Also this evening is
a live bluegrass and gospel music show at the high school. If you've never
seen or heard Johnny Statts on the mandolin, it's time! Full host of other
quality musicians too. Get out of the rain & snow and tap your feet
to some sweet sweet sounds tonight!
April 3 am Reporters
interviewing a 104 year-old woman: "And what do you think is the best thing
about being 104?" the reporter asked. She simply replied, "No peer
pressure."
April 3 am The nice thing about
being senile is you can hide your own Easter eggs.
April 3 am Just before the funeral
services, the undertaker came up to the very elderly widow and asked, "How
old was your husband?" "98," she replied. "Two years older than me."
"So you're 96," the undertaker commented. She responded, "Hardly worth
going home is it?"
April 2 am Last night's Clay
Roane PSD meeting was a barn burner. The water provider has over $30,000
in bills and only $2500 to its name. Big long discussion on raising water
rates again. See this afternoon's Communicator for the hot scoop
April 2 am Also from last night's
public meeting stuff.... Our BDA received an offer from the CAEZ to front
them a $50,000 forgivable loan so the BDA could own lock, stock, and barrel
the old Filcon Field industrial site. Our appointed ones decided they didn't
want to own the land but instead they want to partner with CAEZ and only
control 1/2 the property. Full details in the Communicator around 4:30
today
April 2 am It was more than
a prank in Braxton County as both the High School and Middle School were
emptied out yesterday. Here's what TV 8 had to say. Click BOOM
for details
April 2 am Many in the Northern
end of Clayberry have watched three cows wither. Two are already dead.
Some have been emailing that they can't get the Sheriff to respond to the
starved needs of the bovine. Must be Republican cows. TV 8 lightly covered
the item yesterday during the noon news cast. Click MOO
MOO DOWN for more
April 2 am Don't ever say there's
nothing to do in Clay County. See our EVENTS page for fun stuff to do this
weekend.
April 1 am We cut and pasted
from Charleston newspapers the obituary for Kathy and Rachel Adkins. It's
now posted on the FUNERAL page. Wake is tonight.
April 1 am Something is goin on
with the internet clickers. For most Frontiernet subscribers, the connection
was lost from late last night into mid morning. If you're having
trouble accessing pages at this site or elsewhere, be sure to hit
the refresh button on your browser. If that doesn't help go the internet
connections in your control panel and delete the bad cookies and files
and try again.
April 1 am It's been our tradition
to do a bunch of April Fool's Day stuff. Stuff like JD reappointed bank
president... or an elected politician grows a brain... Not so this year.
don't want to confuse anyone with the following posts.
April 1 am That was Probation officer
Lucy Cruickshank in that car crash Tuesday night near the state police
detachment at Maysel. Many heard the scanner traffic as the helicopters
came around 11pm. Broken leg and head banged up pretty good for Lucy but
recovering. The other driver, we think from out of town, maybe Weston,
was also air lifted out. No word on her condition clickers.
April 1 am Last call to get your
event or classified listed in this Friday's paper. Deadline is noon today.
April 1 am Concerning Earnie Sirk's
formal complaint against County Commission candidate Brian Holcomb, we
received the following telephone message: Ms Elaine Stutler called
and wanted to clarify some things concerning Earnie Sirk?s complaint on
Brian Holcomb. She said the child Sirk witnessed getting off the
bus with Holcomb?s campaign sign was her son, not Edsel Westfall?s.
She also explained that her son, a senior, is 18 years old, doesn?t have
Holcomb as a teacher, was never offered extra credit, and had asked Holcomb
for the sign. Stutler said that most likely Holcomb did not know
her son would be riding the bus home. More details in Friday's Communicator.
April 1 am As of midnight
Wed, Wilson Funeral Home had no notice of the wake and funeral services
for Cathy Fitzwater Adkins and daughter Rachel. Sorry
APRIL 1 am With election slates
being formed, it's time for an online survey. Use the email link below
and give us your best guess on who will finish in the top 4 spots for Sheriff.
Running on the Demorat ticket for Clay County Sheriff and in no particular
order are: Legg, Hunt, Holcomb, Paxton (old), Paxton (young), Boggs, Triplett,
Morris, Buckshot, Gibson, Bragg. Sometime this weekend we'll release the
results. Thanks
April 1am This afternoon at
5 our Business Development Authority meets at the Courthouse. Tonight at
7 the Clay Roane PSD meets at the CDC building across from the Courthouse
April 1 am The Clay Roane folks
have revised their meeting agenda to include "rate increase" Hear that?
Just 16 months ago the WV Public Service Commission OK'd
a big one for the water service provider and now we understand there isn't
enough $ to make ends meet. From the outside looking in, it appears that
they need to add about $5000 a month to keep the operation afloat. What
went wrong? Why the need? It appears that customers have been conserving
water and many users are now using the minimums... being charged the base
rate only!
April 1 am Making matter worse for
the PSD, we understand a new $7000 property tax lien has been placed on
their Procious Water Plant. Look for full front page coverage of Clay Roane
PSD in this Friday's Communicator
April 1 am The Town of Clay
has received another $110,972.90 to repair flood damage at the sewer plant.
This grant money will be used to fix the main line coming into the plant
and well as the poop digester pond which is leanig toward the Elk River
now
April 1 am Remember last month when
Town Council at the Mayor's insistance voted to pay off Town Cop Buckshot
Butcher's $400 water bill as a thank you for him volunteering his services
to the town? Town Recorder Dwana Murphy didn't do it. She says such a pay
off is illegal and the town voted the motion illegally. It wasn't on the
meeting agenda! Watch for this one to be a knock down drag out during next
week's April meeting at the water plant.
April 1 am And back to that Earnie
Sirk complaint. Sirk has been placed on the Board of Education meeting
agenda for next week. Sirk says that in spite of the complaint and embarrasing
front page coverage in the Charleston Daily Mail, Superintendent Link has
done nothing to stop the campaigning and the signs on the vehicles parked
all day at the High School. Mark next Monday on your calendar, sure to
be a dandy meeting.
April 1 am It's time to start
typing the next paper clickers. Postings will be light until we get the
paper out. Emergency stuff will be posted and any word on Cathy and Rachel's
funeral service.