APRIL
2008
April 30th p Better hurry up with
them "Illegal Meetings" look like the painful sensation may get to come
home tonight; "hopefully"!!!
April 28th a That Mel Gibson look alike is at CAMC Memorial
Hospital with a Rock of Gibraltar kidney stone lodged sideways and a blood
infection.
April 28th a No updates for a couple of days.
April 28th a You're on your own.
April 28th a That Award Winning Paper The Communicator
made it out the doors yesterday.
April 28th a 24 pages of the best of the news and views
in Clay County.
April 24 p The little rotund guy that
gives everybody double H. He's sick.
April 24 p The COmmunicator will be
published on Monday. Deadline for submissions is Friday April 25 at 6pm.
April 23 a Today is the first day to
vote. Stop by the Courthouse and get it over with. Remember, if you are
registered as an Independent, you can vote for anybody BUT BUT you have
to ask for a Demo or Repub ballot. Poll workers are not allowed to say:
Which ballot do you want?
April 23 a Lots of scanner activity
last night. Will update when we know the details
April 23 a Gas prices around $3.75
per gallon and dizzying profits. Food prices sky rocketing and medicines
out of the reach for the majority of Clayonians. Home foreclosures
up 327%
from last year. Are you at wit's end?
April 23 a The Communicator would love
to have your thoughts on where and what you're cutting to get by. Is it
food? Clothing? Medicine? Let us know but please keep your chatter down
to 6 paragraphs or so. . If you want your chatter printed in the award
winning independent newspaper, you have to include your name.
April 23 a Refinery profit margins
have more than doubled since last fall, according to one rough measurement,
and now stand at $39
per barrel on the West Coast. That's more than double their average
of $17 for the last five years. That $39, that's last years figures!
April 23 a Get your answers in
on questions one and two. Question 3 is coming this afternoon.
April 22 p Clay Roane PSD went
at it hot and heavy during their last public meeting. The topic was their
30% rate increase request to the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
In the end after a secret time, the Clay Roane voted to withdraw the request.
Before the group were concerns on adhering to West Virginia Open meeting
laws and the actual need for such a drastic wa wa rate increase since much
of the problem stems from loss of the product, millions of gallons spilling
out on the ground at the various storage tank sites.
April 22 p Seems like, if you ask to
withdraw a request, that should work. WRONG
April 22 p Monday a week ago the PSD
asked to stop the rate increase process. The WV PSC has now said NO to
the request. Turns out, during the last big rate increase, there was fine
print wording in the document mandating another rate review as soon as
the Roane County water line extension project was completed. That rate
review was never done. It will be now. Hold your britches clickers.
April 22 Late am
Frank Bullard of Maysel died April 21, 2008. Wilson-Shamblin-Smith Funeral
Home, Clay, is in charge of the arrangements
April 22 a Today is the last day to
register to vote in the May 13th Primary contest. Head over to the County
Clerk's Office today or quit your complaining for ever more!
April 22 a Long time House of Delegates
member and now up for reelection, John Pino now has a homepage button.
Check it out
April 22 a There's also a new button
on our Obits page. Just click it to go directly to the Wilson Shamblin
Smith Funeral Home web site.
April 22 a Interested in the film about
Widen? See ADVISORY page for details and transportation to the event site
in So Charleston.
April 22 a Here's the run
down for the week. County Commission meets in the morning at 10am. Two
page agenda ready for tackling by Kookla Fran and Ollie. Wednesday night
Clay Roane PSD meets in Special session at the Procious Water Plant beginning
at 7:30pm.
April 22 a Our Business Development
Authority convenes this Thursday , 5pm, in the Courthouse. Also on Thursday,
the Health Sept gang meets for their quarterly meeting, 6pm is the start
time.
April 22 a Should be lots of newsy
stuff for the next edition of The Communicator.
April 22 a Thanks for the many email
responses on Question One of our online survey. Well, except those smarty
pants turkeys! Mr Mackeral, McCain is a Republican at least in writing!
Victoria, your vote doesn't count.
April 22 a For those that don't check
this site daily, check down below and email your responses post haste.
April 22 a Question Two: If your
Demorat candidate doesn't take the party's nomination, are you willing
to vote/support the other? Email your responses.
April l22 a We're doing a different
question each day this week and plan to print the results in the now award
winning Communicator. Nothing scientific about it mind you, just input
from folks on the street.
April 22 a A man with a
gun went into a bank and demanded their money. Once he was given
the money, he turned to a customer and asked, 'Did you see
me rob this bank?' The man replied, 'Yes sir, I did.' The robber then shot
him in the temple, killing him instantly.
He then turned to
a couple standing next to him and asked the man, 'Did you see me rob this
bank?' The man replied, 'No sir, I didn't, but my wife did.'
April 21 a Mary Joanna Kincaid,
55, of Lizemores, WV, see OBITUARY page
April 21 a Betty Lou Starcher,
68, of Procious, see OBITUARY page
April 21 a We're starting off slow
this week. Other than a self inflicted gun shot wound out Widen way Sunday
afternoon, the weekend was equally quiet.
April 21 a A few days back the
Town of Clay voted in a water rate increase over the objections of the
two taxpayers in attendance during the public hearing on the matter. Now
there's another protester.
April 21 a Wed evening Clay Roane
PSD will hold a special meeting of the group where they plan to vote on
a protest of their own. If the WV Public Service Commission receives formal
protests on the rate increase, a PSC public hearing hearing will be held
to hear the issues.
April 21 a Usually such WV PSC Hearings
are little more than a formality before doing as they darn well please.
According to their mission statement, the PSC is there to protect the interests
of the PSD and NOT us.
April 21 a As for Clay Roane's request
to withdraw their own rate increase, the PSC has until April 24th to make
their decision.
April 21 a Let's do an online survey.
Here's question one: For Demorat President, who you going to vote for?
April 21 a Email in your answer ASAP.
Please vote just one time clickers. We will have a couple questions later
this week and publish the findings in the next edition of The Communicator.
Thanks.
April 20 p Quiet best describes
the past week. Even Town Council behaved itself. Three days of bright sunshine
and warmth turned Clayberry to short pants and tee shirts. Four wheelers
roared around the back roads. Almost secretly, anglers headed down Laurel
Creek in search of trout. Fruit trees made it thru 30 degree early morning
temperatures.
April 20 p Some of us get confused
easy. For instance
April 20 p Mr. Pope is in the news
for talking to those abused by pervert Priests. With admiration galore,
the Popester is on every TV screen. The confusing part is, nothing really
happened to sexual molester Priests. Other than told to take off the collar
in some cases, nothing happened.
April 20 p Now down in Texas a bogus
phone caller, most likely conjured up by the Govt., set off a fire
storm which resulted in hundreds of little kids being removed from their
Mothers. Removed forever unless the Mom renounces her religion. Sure
child welfare but something ain't right with this picture.
April 20 p One talking head this isn't
about polygamy. Your email comments please.
April 20 p The smell of yum yum ramps
is in the air over at the Big Otter Community Center. Details on the EVENTS
page.
April 20 p I'm heading to Big Otter.
More later.
April 19 a Are you registered to vote?
Last day to sign up is the 22nd with early voting beginning the following
day.
April 19 a How many grew up in Clay
and haven't been back for years? A bunch of ya for sure. If there was ever
a good time for a return visit, it's this weekend. Spring colors are back
along with tons of stuff to do. Spaghetti dinners, fishin derby, ramp feeds,
gospel sings come to mind. Check out our EVENTS page for details.
April 19 a It's a great time
to walk Clay County Park, Sampson Lake, and the Clay Loop in downtown
Clayberry.
April 19 a Leroy goes to the
revival and listens to the preacher. After awhile, the preacher asks anyone
with needs to be prayed over to come forward to the front of the altar.
Leroy gets in line and when it's his turn, the preacher asks, "Leroy, what
do you want me to pray about for you?" Leroy replies, "Preacher, I need
you to pray for my hearing." The preacher puts one finger in Leroy's ear
and he places the other hand on top of Leroy's head and prays and prays
and prays. After a few minutes, the preacher removes his hands, stands
back and asks, "Leroy, how is your hearing now?" "Leroy says, "I
don't know, Reverend. It's not until next Wednesday."
April 19 a Anybody else bitter?
Those seeking office tell us they have a new game plan. That's same thing
heard each and every election cycle. Promises kept are few if any.
April 19 a America is appalled when
Obama de Bama calls Appalachians bible thumping, gun toting, plain white
trash but little is said when Hitlary flat out lied about landing amid
bullets flying left and right in a war torn region. We keep on supporting
the business as usual candidates. When national debates bring out the candidates
unwillingness to provide Yes or No answers, we pay no attention. I'm bitter.
April a Gas prices went up another
twenty five cents yesterday afternoon. Food prices have increased 17 percent
this year alone. Politico's say the increases are something other than
corporate
greed. America believes 'em. Eight years ago th Shrub told us: Gov.
George W. Bush of Texas said today that if he was president, he would bring
down gasoline prices through sheer force of personality, by creating enough
political good will with oil-producing nations that they would increase
their supply of crude. I'm bitter.
April 19 a They never loved us but
now the Arab
world hates us.
April 19 a Public hearings come
and go without YOU in attendance. This week the municipality held a hearing
where only two people spoke out on an unneeded water rate increase agreed
upon during an unlawful meeting. Two weeks ago a PSD held a public meeting
after announcing a 30% wa wa rate increase and again, the pews were nearly
empty. Government regularly breaks it off in us and many don't mind. I'm
bitter
April 19 a Dubbya's Oil War rages
on with April the deadliest month for soldiers and civilians alike (this
year) and we just utter Ho Hum. I'm bitter.
April 19 a In the background, the New
World Order marches on.
April 19 a Instead of outrage,
we're content with watching the boob tube, surfing the web, and allow the
government to stuff it down our mouths without a complaint. I'm ....
April 16 a From the Braxton Citizen's
News: Bill Martin presented the Braxton County Commission a written
request at last Friday’s regular meeting to allow the him to hire temporary
assistant prosecutors until the a full-time replacement would be found.
“This is to request your approval to employ the following persons on an
as needed contract basis to act as assistant prosecutors until the position
can be filled with a full-time person,” Martin wrote. Those proposed by
Martin were: Clinton Bischoff, assistant prosecutor in Clay County, Jim
Samples, prosecutor for Clay County and Dewayne Vandevender Webster County’s
prosecutor. After a brief discussion with Martin, the request was approved
on a motion by Terry Frame
April 16 a From Mike Shamblin:
College scholarship applications from the Clay County Agriculture Youth
Fair are now available at the Clay County Extension Office. For more
information, please call 587-4267
April 16 a Yesterday public hearing
was pretty well hyped and still only three showed up. The Mel
Gibson guy asked Council to reconsider the notion of raising water rates.
On two points: since the number of customers for the new water plant will
actually be going down, you don't need a new debt laden water plant. He
mentioned the log factory just down the road as an example of the last
colossal mistake by the Council; and, the April 1st meeting, the meeting
that got all this started, was unlawful. Council made no comments
April 16 a After demanding to
see their annual report and crunching some numbers, engineers do that you
know, our very own Jess Sizemore came up with something very interesting.
According to the official numbers provided by the Council, the existing
water plant SOLD 7,023.000 gallons of wa w a MORE that than they
made at the plant. You read that right, they sold more, a bunch more, than
they produced. Around the Council table, there was silence. Truth is, NO
ONE AT THE TABLE, had bothered to even read the latest annual report. Sizemore
asked Council: How can you base a rate increase on such bogus figures.
No answers came
April 16 a How could this be?
Certainly fast running master meters hooked to the lines running
to Clay County and Clay Roane PSDs could be the culprit. Translation: The
town is over charging the PSDs for water not made! Hear
that Alex and Dave?
April 16 a With no answers in hand
for any of the concerns brought up by the public, Council went right ahead
and voted unanimously to proceed with the water rate increase. It wouldn't
have mattered if God himself had asked for a reconsideration. They were
H bent on a rate increase and in a hurry up way.
April 16 a Council was unanimous on
the rate increase, Mayor Brown was a big NO vote.
April 16 a As for employees being
allowed to be paid for fringe benefits like hospitalization coverage. Still
no Yes vote but it's coming during the May meeting of Council. Once again
the Mayor asked about the legality of such a pay raise tied to fringe benefits
April 16 a Remember when DEP"s
Kevin Lilly told the town they MUST have a qualified log factory operator
on the job? That was two months ago.. Still no Class IV log herder hired
and now the only person that works down, a Class I operator, well he's
going to be on medical leave for a minimum of 2 months when he has knee
surgery in a couple weeks.
April 16 a Why even bother to have
a public hearing when good points are raised and Council ain't listening?
April 16 a More than 7,023,000
gallons sold than produced. It's no wonder the town has $180,000 in the
bank!
April 16 a On Frontier DSL? Think it
was slow last night, even late last night? You're right, a snail could
out run it.
April 15 p May 10th is the big film
premier of the Widen Story movie down in So Charleston. The theater can
hold around 300 people. For details on a bus ride down there contact the
CAEZ office at 587-2034
April 15 p Just below is the Obituary
notice for a 2 1/2 month old baby. Scanner listeners heard the traffic
last weekend, deceased taken to WIlson Funeral Home and then a request
to take the body to Pennington Funeral Home.
April 15 p About as quick as the radio
traffic cleared, rumors spread that Wilson Funeral Home had denied
service to the family.
April 15 p Truth is, according to co-owner
Ron Shamblin, the funeral home has NEVER denied service nor would they
in the future.
April 15 p For rumor resolution
and to find out the truth, ask the right people, Dial 304 587-4244.
April 14 p Courtney Elizabeth O'Dell,
2 1/2 months, of Lizemores, see OBITUARY page
April 14 p The Communicator is out
the door and ready for your reading pleasure. The best 70 cents you've
ever spent!
April 14 p Tuesday afternoon the people
of Clay County have a chance to speak out during the Town of Clay's Water
Rate Increase Public Hearing to be held at the Town Water Plant building
on Main Street beginning at 5:30pm.
April 14 p The norm is for Clayonians
to sit on their butts and do nothing until it's too late. For those butt
sitters, it will be too late after Tuesday's hearing.
April 14 p Candidate for Sheriff Tom
Auxier says his political signs are showing up missing quicker than he
can put em up. Auxier is claming the State Road folks are taking his signs
down and leaving other candidate campaign signs alone. Foul ! Auxier claims.
April 14 p A man from up
on Elk Mountain registered in at the hotel in Clarksburg with a woman with
whom he shouldn't've and when he registered , instead of puttin' down his
X which he does because he can't write, he put down the X and put a circle
around it. When he was asked why he done that, his reply: Why, you didn't
expect me to sign my real name did you?"
April 13 a John Edward Douglas, 87,
of Ivydale, see OBITUARY page
April 13 From this past week... Clayberry
enjoyed bright sunshine and warm temps. Kids home on Spring break enjoyed
shirtless days and bare feet. On the hillsides, trees began the new season
with little green leaves budding out. Tulip's bloomed. Ramps were dug.
And the annual search for the ever so tasty molly moochers got underway.
It's Spring time in the Appalachian Mountains of Clay County West Virginia.
April 13 a Secret's Kept: During Wed's
Commission meeting, after questioning by Kookla Fran and Ollie, it came
to light that the Clay County Ambulance service operated without proper
licenser last fall and had to return $$$ for services performed to medical
providers. It sounded like the often troubled agency continues to operate
under a temporary license even today.
April 13 a There was fire in the air
Thursday night during the Clay Roane PSD meeting. Commissioner Peter Triplett
asked too many questions Thursday night resulting in Chair Dave Grigsby's
unbridled wrath complete with beating fists on the desk. Not bowing to
bogus answers, Triplett had caught the group in back room voting on rate
increases, outrageous overtime rates, and shameful budgeting predictions.
April 13 a After the tirade, apologizes
came from Grigsby and a vote to kill the already in progress 30% water
rate increase. The Board was told, since starting the rate increase
process, the West Virginia Public Service Commission may NOT allow the
change of mind.
Aril 13 a Yelling and fist beating
is always fun for for a reporter but most important from the meeting, the
PSD was told what they have been told many times before by the common sense
public, it's cheaper to buy water than use the Procious Water Plant, shut
down the plant ASAP, and a big part of those million gallon water leaks
came from employees not doing their job of monitoring two storage tanks.
The PSC rep told them, the WV Public Service Commission COULD come and
take over the entire operation. Gulp!
April 13 a This time, Dave Grigsby,
Jon Dobbins, Brian Holcomb, and Shayne Sams, Clay Roane PSD Boardsters
present, may have heard the message. What a pity the PSD never listened
to the public when they said the same thang over and over during the last
decade!
April 13 a With word of Jeremy
Hanshaw moving out of the municipality, questions come on his qualification
to remain on Town Council and the votes already cast. We've been thru this
before when Leonard Williams "abode" was challenged and he was forced off
the elected group. Some think a back room deal has already
been made to replace Hanshaw with out of office, one time Town Recorder,
Dwana Murphy.
April 13 a Saturday morning the BC&G
RR Co-Op met for their quarterly meeting. With all minds on the same page,
they laid plans for re-opening the JG Bradley Campground complete with
20 rustic campgrounds; changing the Two Run based Whistle Stop Welcome
Center to a true welcome center complete with crafters, tee shirts, ball
caps and other trinkets PERFECT for bringing in out of county, out of state,
tourist bucks; and completing work on the group's lodge building conference
center. The group came together and in short order got back on track.
How refreshing!
April 13 a Saturday afternoon the Buffalo
Creek Watershed Association opened the Spring Ramp Season with the tasty
morsels galore. The smell and taste, Wonderful!!
April 12 a This morning
at 11 the BC&G RR Co Op meets in the CDC building on Main Street
April 12 a The first Ramp Feed
of the season begins today at high noon out at the Widen Community building
in the metropolis of Widen. Events page for details
April 12 a Got a hang up
with The Communicator. We did the all night typing thang Thursday night
and got the 24 pages all printed up Friday morning. The paper will
be at news stands Monday morning.
April 12 a Clay Roane PSD
held a blow out meeting Thursday night . Three biggies
April 12 a First, folks from
the WV PSC made a major presentation on the numerous problems with the
water service provider. Center to it all is the 80 gallon per minute Procious
Water Plant. According to the Suits, there is no way to make wa wa at that
plant and keep customer rates reasonable. Making the wet stuff at Procious
costs double the price of buying water from the Town of Clay. Consensus:
Shut the plant down!
April 12 a Second biggy from Thursday.&
April 5 a Pay raise for
the Ambulance Director, new uniforms, nearly new ambulance truck on the
job, another new one coming, new employees hired and promises of better
scheduling.
April 5 a 8:24 am
Over the scanner, driver needs a paramedic. Response "No medic available"
April 5 a Last night Clay Town
Council met in Special session to appoint a new Town Recorder. After the
Mayor suggest a couple names and recommendations, on a unanimous vote by
Council, Llynn Drake was appointed to the slot vacated by Dwana Murphy.
With Drake in as Recorder, there was a vacancy on Council. Masterminded
ahead of time, King Arthur Jarrett was voted back into office. Also, bargaining
with benefits, water plant operator Drema Thomas was provided a $2.50+
pay raise plus back pay in lieu of free hospitalization insurance.
April 5 a Disputing early in the week
online coverage from their regular meeting, Llyn Drake retorted she NEVER
said: Jack Brown you're crazy. With the Mayor saying, Oh Yes you did!,
Drake informed all she merely said, Jack Brown that's crazy!!
April 5 a There may be a couple itty
bitty problems with Friday's meeting..
April 5 a For instance, the meeting
was held on April 4th but the agenda said April 7th..
April 5 a And, Llyn Drake was
voted into the Recorder's position without first resigning her Council
position. That means she was holding two offices at the same time, a real
no no.
April 5 a Oh well, this is the Great
Nation of Clay. What's it matter anyway a law here and then...
April 5 a With a rainy day predicted,
why not enjoy some good food and auction at HE White Elem, today, beginning
at 2pm. All proceeds from the fundraiser help cover the cost of a
field trip for 5th graders.
April 5 a Harold Allen and Terri Lively
are playing at The Chilton house. See EVENTS page for details
April 5 a This internet business has
really changed the way people live.
April 5 a I can no longer drive
my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!
April 5 a I no longer shop at Target
since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation
Army
April 5 a I no longer receive packages
from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.
April 5 a I no longer go to shopping
malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.
April 5 a I no longer check the coin
return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected
with AIDS.
April 5 a Thanks for letting
me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it
will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.
April 5 a I no longer use Saran wrap
in the microwave because it causes cancer
April 5 a I no longer drink Pepsi or
Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse
to put 'Under God' on their cans.
April 5 a I no longer can buy gasoline
without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't
crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas
April 5 a Thanks to the internet,
I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email
to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
April 5 a I no longer have any savings
because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the
hospital for the 1,387,258th time.
April 5 a TOO MUCH INFO!!!!
April 4 a Daisy E. Cadle Lane,
77, of Bomont, see OBITUARY page
April 4 a FOUND: Small black
& tan dog with no tail. possible terrier. Linda Fitzwater
548-7446
April 4 a Today is the last day
of school before Spring break. Next week the little crumb snatchers will
be home pestering parents. Check out the EVENTS page for lots going on
in the county this weekend.
April 4 a Today Clay Town Council
meets in Special session at 4pm. Under the guidance of a more concise agenda,
the troubled group will decide on the many items left over from the earlier
in the week regular monthly meeting. At the top of the list is accepting
the resignation of the Town Recorder and finding a replacement.
Llyn Drake was first to raise her hand seeking the $480 a month job. Any
Town resident can apply, see Mayor Brown if your interested.
April 4 a Hold your hats
clickers, something good happened during Thursday night's Business Development
Authority meeting. After more than a decade, the BDA voted unanimously
to pursue building a county recycling center to be housed in old State
Road garage at Two Run.
April 4 a The spark plug behind the
initiative is the newbee Boardster Tommy Fitzwater. According to Mr Pigtail,
state reps have deemed the place perfect for the operation, it could bring
a couple jobs to our economy, and state funding may be available to buy
the necessary equipment to get the place up and running.
April 4 a Instead of throwing
junk over the hillside, a place to take your junk (aluminum, glass, plastic,
paper, and metals). Who would have imagined that in Clayberry.
April 3 p Mardine Pierson,
86, see OBITUARY page
April 3 p Happy Birthday wishes extended
to 17 year old Timothy Deel from your Mom.
April 3 p Forgot to mention something
this morning. In addition to Ron Blankenship being at tonight's YAP radio
Candidate debate (6pm), WV Attorney General Darrell McGraw will submit
to questions at 7pm. Tune in on 101.7 FM as well as online by going to
their web site wyap.com and then clicking the blinking ON AIR button.
April 3 p OK, now for the troubles
down in HE White Elem school land.
April 3 p HE White is the very small
(88 kids) rural school near the Kanawha County line. School officials tried
to close it over 10 years ago. As a matter of fact, they did close it and
Judge Charles King (down in Kanawha County) ordered it reopened.
April 3 p HE White's principal
Bunnie Taylor has been there 3 years or so. Taylor got on the wrong
side of the parents and the School Board put Mike Mullins in as a part
time "administrator" to oversee the facility. That set up didn't go so
well with some parents and personnel lining up in support of either Taylor
or Mullins. The war was on.
April 3 p When Mullins transferred
to a high school teaching slot a month ago, parents went ballistic over
the thoughts of Taylor remaining as the principal. Immediately after Mullins
transfer, a petition was circulated around to hire retired principal Dave
Derby to replace Taylor.
April 3 p And then, Ms Taylor resigned
as principal a couple weeks ago. Four days ago, after some arm twisting
at the Pentagon (School Board office), Mike Mullins was rehired as the
08-09 Principal replacing Taylor. Those in support of Taylor, the Bunnittes,
began their own petition to keep Mullins from being the new principal.
April 3 p Parents in the area seem
content with either Mullins or retired Dave Derby as the head honcho.
April 3 p To add to all the confusion
and turmoil.... Hard working, money digging PTO parents and friends of
the school were smacked across the face with a new snarl.
April 3 p All year long, for
decades actually, the PTO has used the school gym, kitchen, and bathrooms
for fund raisers. This weekend they're hosting a Meet the Candidates Fundraiser
followed in May by the county's largest Ramp Feed. All in all, the PTO
has raised $1000s for school trips and improvements. Many $1000s!
April 3 p Earlier this week, the PTO
was told they could no longer use the kitchen or gym without them paying
a school cook and janitor to be present. To do the Ramp Feed, parents work
for days cleaning and parboiling ramps getting ready for the biggest fundraiser
of the year. Just the cost of the school cook there day after day , you
can see, the Ramp Feed would make little or no $ for the PTO.
April 3p Parents went wild over the
end of the school year change in policy. Some say the policy change, a
sneak attack, was orchestrated by supporters of one of the warring sides.
Calls went out to up for reelection school board members as well as the
Somber Super. As of today, Saturday's fundraiser is a go but without the
use of the kitchen for hot dogs, nachos, BBQs and the like. No firm
word on if the kitchen will be available for the Ramp Feed volunteers.
April 3p Petitions for and against
principals, in house bickering between the warring sides, and now an about
face policy on volunteers trying to raise $$ for the school.
What a mess!
April 3 a Our Business Development
Authority is not known for much development. About the biggest accomplishment
last year was cutting the grass at the old Filcon site near Ovapa.
April 3 a Our lead development group,
the BDA, meets today at 5pm at the Courthouse in the CCC room. It's a public
meeting and the world is invited to attend.
April 3 a 10 days ago BDA Boardster
Tommy Fitzwater worked a deal complete with some financing to set up a
much needed recycling station at Two Run in the old State Road garage.
That topic is included on today's BDA agenda. Should make for some interesting
discussions.
April 3 a Tonight House of Delegates
candidate Ron BLankenship will be answering questions on 101.7 FM's Thursday
night discussion show with Fred Sampson. Show starts at 6pm. Know who you're
voting for before you vote!
April 3 a Later today we'll get into
the oh so messy and down right confusing HE White Elem school mess.
April 3 a Dear Abby, A
couple of women moved in across the hall from me. One is a middle-aged
gym teacher and the other is a social worker in her mid-twenties. These
two women go everywhere together and I've never seen a man go into or leave
their apartment. Do you think they could be Lebanese?
April 3 a Dear Abby, What
can I do about all the Sex, Nudity, Fowl Language and Violence on my VCR?
April 3 a Dear Abby, I have a
man I can't trust. He cheats so much, I'm not even sure the baby I'm carrying
is his.
April 3 a Dear Abby,
I am a twenty-three year old liberated woman who has been on the pill for
two years. It's getting expensive and I think my boy friend should share
half the cost but I don't know him well enough to discuss money with him.
April 2 p In this morning's post we
didn't have Glen Nichols phone number. We do now. If you have had your
water meter estimated instead of an actual read for two or more months,
give him a call at 587- 2863. Now on with the Main Event!!!
April 2 p It's been a while since
we had a good juicy meeting. Got one now.
April 2 p Clay Town Council has
pretty much done as they darn well please for years, decades. Other than
when they tried to impose a B&O tax on local business, the elected
group is able to keep things quiet, away from the public, and contribute
to the the Great Nation of Clay mentality. Their normal reply when caught,
"We've always done it that way!"
April 2 p With all members present,
Council met last night to vote up or down a long list of agenda items.
Within a couple minutes of opening, Mayor Brown had the group biting nails.
On the agenda, to accept the Recorder's resignation and appoint someone
new, Brown pulled a quick one. Before any discussion or decision, Mayor
Brown said the agenda was bogus, he wouldn't allow any vote, he wanted
things done legal. He was talking about the standard opening procedure
of posting an agenda which didn't provide the public with info mandated
by Sunshine Laws. To back up his end run play, Brown provided those assembled
with a letter penned by a lady at the WV Ethics Commission confirming the
long standing bogus style of Council agenda.
April 2 p How dare that guy try to
follow Open Meeting Laws. Off with his HEAD!
April 2 p In addition to
an unchecked Council, employees have operated with little supervision for
an equally long time. Whether it was overtime rates generously chocked
up or get the job done whenever... employees did as they wanted. Brown
has been mashing toes as he discovers long standing and new "problems".
April 2 p With blue and red splotches
showing on faces, Brown was in for a battle for the rest of the meeting.
April 2 p Some town employees receive
hospitalization insurance. Others don't. Instead of considering the hospitalization
coverage as a non taxable benefit (which it is), employees want paid in
cash for what the benefit would cost the town if they had taken advantage
of it. One water operator wants paid for the benefit she doesn't use and
paid in a lump sum for the months she hasn't had the insurance.
April 2 p It appears Council is ready
to provide the lump sum buy out in the form of $2.35 per hour pay increases
for one maintenance man and give in to the lump sum pay out request to
the other.
April 2 p Anybody ever hear of such?
Truth is, when you hire on, they tell you what you will be paid plus any
benefits. There is no negotiating which free benefits, you can't bargain
in or out of benefits. Council is fixin to get in heap big trouble and
ready to take action contrary to West Virginia Labor Law. Pay raises can
be given to any at will employee but those raises CAN NOT be tied to benefit
buy outs. The part about lump sum pay backs, that could get them in even
more trouble with regulators.
April 2 p Pay raises can NOT be tied
to benefits in any way. Council is fixin to do just that in a big way.
April 2 p There was a big skirmish
over the formal complaint filed by Glen Nichols over the town NOT reading
water meters month after month. Llyn Drake was appointed to reply to the
complaint. In a big long winded spiel, Drake's letter implied that Council
didn't have any idea the meters weren't being read. Truth is, Mayor Brown
told the group months ago that he wasn't going to volunteer to do the meter
reading. His decision came after Council voted to spend $$$
on other items instead of the needed manpower to do streets and meter reading
duties. On that part about Brown letting Council know, as a matter
of fact, after he made it public, Council person Betty Murphy retorted
that no one was asking him to do that job.
April 2 p Brown and Drake went back
and forth over the point with Brown loosing out on a unanimous vote by
Council to send the wordy reply to the WV PSC.
April 2 p Instead of a lengthy letter
to the regulators, Brown wanted something along the lines of: We screwed
up, we admit it, and we promise to correct the problem right now.
April 2 p Brown, "I think this
could have been done simpler. I vote No"
April 2 p At one point he told
Council person Jerry Stover he couldn't bring up another topic. That brought
a thunderous "JACK YOU'RE CRAZY" from Llyn Drake.
April 2 p Blood pressure was at elevated
levels nearly the entire meeting. Someone is going to pinch off Brown's
skinny little neck and maybe soon.
April 2 p On that water rate increase...
the entire group voted YES to raising the price of water to everyone in
the county by 6% minimum. We say minimum because once the new wages and
expenses like cell phones for the entire Council are added on, plus higher
costs with building a new water plant, 6% may not even come close to the
increase.
April 2 p Council decided to hold a
Special Meeting this Friday afternoon at 4pm to vote on most of the topics
from Tuesday's meeting.
April 2 p There just isn't a more fertile
place to have a newspaper than in Clayberry.
April 2 p Check back Thursday for the
latest on all the stuff going on down at HE White Elem school.
April 2 a Last night's
Town Council meeting was one filled with clinched teeth and blood pressures
soaring. Full details later today. And Yes, they
voted the first reading of the water rate increase. The vote was unanimous.
April 2 a Glen Nichols is the
guy that filled the formal complaint with the WV PSC over the Town not
reading wa wa meters each month. Instead, they've been estimating
bills. Nichols is asking for some online help from Town of Clay customers.
Go back and look at your old water bill stubs. If your bill has been estimated
for more than two months, get a hold of Nichols
April 2 a How do you know if
the meter has been estimated? There is a little E beside in the usage column.
I know, I know, there should be some kind of index to explain what the
letters mean, but there isn't!
April 1 a Watch out today, anything
could happen. Welcome to the day of jokes and pranks.
April 1 a The US Department
of Agriculture says the cost of feeding a low-income family of four has
risen 6 per cent in 12 months. With 28 million
on food stamps, is anybody saying depression? Yes.
April 1 a Talk about killing us, highest
gas prices ever.
April 1 a And the people with
all the wealth, not us, are constructing the
tallest building on earth.
April 1 a This evening both the CAEZ
and Town Council meet for their monthly gathering.
April 1 a CAEZ meets at 4 and
again at 6pm in their Main Street Clay digs.
April 1 a The Council meeting has the
best potential for being a juicy get together. Before Council is replacing
the Town Recorder and approving the first reading of higher water rates.
If Council person Llyn Drake has her way, she will become the $480 per
month book keeper (Recorder) to fill out the remaining three years of the
term left vacant by resigned Dwana Murphy. If Drake moves to the Recorder
spot, someone will have to be appointed to fill her Council slot. Either
or both votes have the potential to be explosive.
April 1 a Council meets in
the Main Street Clay Water Plant at 6pm. Bring your own popcorn