April 2009

 
  • April 30 a Happy Birthday CORKEY COTTRELL
  • April 30 a Happy 12th Birthday to JOE RUNION
  • April 30  a We're holding up Friday's Communicator until Tuesday afternoon. Will be a good one
  • April 30 a Forgot to mention yesterday, the bid opening for the new but unneeded Clay Water plant is today at 1:30pm at the water plant. Public too
  • April 30 a Normally we hype up weekend activities on Friday morning.  Got something that starts up Friday midday...
  • April 30 a  The Kitchen Restaurant is cooking up a Prime Rib dinner special Friday beginning at 11am. Prime Rib with 2 sides for less than $14. Not too shabby and close to home. They're doing up a Turkey Dinner Special Sunday afternoon. Yum Yum
  • April 30 a Llynn Drake was elected to Town Council 22 months ago. Last year she was  left the Council slot and was appointed to Town Recorder replacing Dwana Murphy.
  • April 30 a Since getting elected to office, Drake has been the center of attention many times over. For the most part, her actions and words left many with the idea that she was out for herself, for her own enrichment. What ever her intentions, that's what it looked like
  • April 30 a Word has it that Recorder Drake is ready to move from the municipality (and county) and leave office. Rumors are just that but the real seed for thought is, who would be her replacement?
  • April 29 p Betty Jane Sutton Bush, 81, see OBITUARY page
  • April 29 p  Robert D. "Buddy" Shelton, 71, see OBITUARY page
  • April 29 p Happy 6th Birthday  JADEN STARCHER
  • April 29 p Happy Birthday Jack Deems
  • April 29 p Happy Birthday Brandon Nottingham & Lyndsey Nottingham
  • April 29 p The Clay County Board of Health meets Thursday evening in the NH Dyer bldg on Main St. Not too much in the way of agenda items. Not even mention of hiring a new Medical Director to replace Dr Gately who is leaving in June for VA.
  • April 29 p During their last regular meeting, the Bd set up interviews for two candidates including Dr Sarah from Clay Primary Care. Word on the street has it, the new Director will be Dr Leela Petel who once worked for Primary Care. If the rumors are correct, what a good choice!
  • April 29 p As we polish off the last of April, there's little in t he way of scuttlebutt to report.
  • April 29 p  Brooks Stover knows a bunch about the old BC&G RR. His web site offers a wealth of knowledge and presented in an easy to navigate manner. The link is also posted over on our LINK page.
  • April 29 p Senator Randy White continues to keep us informed via his web blog. Now posted there is a summary of all the bills that passed during the regular session of the 09 Legislative Session.
  • April 28 a  A web portal, a web site, can be a very useful tool to grow a business, provide services, and keep people informed. To provide those services and make a difference, web sites have to be easy to read, easy to navigate, and be updated regularly. And, they have to be updated regularly and be current.
  • April 28 a The Central Appalachia Empowermnet Zone and the Clay County Business Development Authority  both have web sites.. Both were set up by professionals but both are worthless.
  • April 28 a In both cases, the problem is not with the person that set up the site but the government's inability to keep the vehicles current. Take a look and you will notice the BDA site has zero info.  For month's BDA Boardster Mike Boggs has asked for info to put on the site and for months he's gotten zip. That's tax payers $$$ at waste.
  • April 28 a It's even "worser" with the CAEZ site. There they have information but it's all outdated. They haven't updated the thang in two years. Now the CAEZ has voted to spend $5000 to start from scratch and create another site. During their last meeting, they said the new web designer would also research and provide newer info.
  • April 28 a After spending more loot, the problem will be the same, government inability to keep the site up and running woth timely information. That's another $5000 down the drain and they ain't got a clue!
  • April 28 a  The same guy that worked up the CAEZ site a few years ago also set up the Clay Library site. Easy to follow and easy on the eye too. Although it needs more info, the site has been updated recently and provides the basic service it was intended to do.
  • April 28 a When will the BDA and CAEZ ever learn.
  • April 28 a We don't know if Obama De Bama's recent announcements on Mountain Top Removal rule changes is a 100 day political ploy or not, if successful, there will be an impact on Clayberry.
  • April 28 a For all us old geezers that hate the thought of having a garden hose run up our butts, an influential doctors group is backing off its call for annual tests after age 50 to screen for prostate cancer. Truth is, early detection makes no difference with survival rates. That includes breast cancer victims too.
  • April 28 a Calhoun's OES Director has issued a Swine Flu Alert.
  • April 28 a Communicator comes out Friday. Deadline for submissions is Wed evening at 6pm. Email your stuff ASAP.
  • April 27 p  From the email bag: Young male yellow lab mix. I can tell he had a collar so maybe he has gotten loose. He was found in the Jacks Bend area of Elk River Rd (Elkhurst). If he's yours please call 304-548-4049. He is very friendly and I am sure missed lots.
  • April 27 p Happy 40th Birthday Patrick Joe
  • April 27 a  We've got an oppps. Last week during the CCC meeting, Clay County PSD Chair Greg Fitzwater said the Procious Water plant was now operating at just 9 hours a day after a leak was found and repaired in Roane County.  This just in from the head honcho at the Procious plant: .....the leak was found and fixed, but the Procious Plant still runs 16 hours a day, the difference is in the amount of water we purchase from The town of Clay. We are now pumping most of the water ourselves to Roane Co. at a cheaper cost.
  • April 27 a Thanks Will Miller for the update.
  • April 27 a Need a full time job? See JOBS page this site.
  • April 27 a  We're all red necks today. After two days of bright sunshine with grass cutting, clean up and garden duties... WASP Clay County is red from overexposure
  • April 27 a  Today is the first day of Spirng Gobbler season. Schools out.
  • April 27 a Other than the Thursday evening Health Board meeting, going to be a quiet week
  • April 27 a  Banks are being bailed out, Top executives kept their bonuses. And, no one had to account for anything. Banks won... again.
  • April 26 a Jerry Ryan Sizemore, 65, see OBITUARY page
  • April 26 a From the last few days....
  • April 26  a  Wayne King has spent decades dumping his business junk in the Courthouse dumpster. He overstepped the line when he filled the green box up with dead carpet. Getting caught on security camera, the CCC sent him a $42 bill which he refused to pay. During Wed's CCC meeting our Top Badge said he would collect $42 cash ( no bouncy checks) or arrest the guy.
  • April 26 a There are many laws on the books which no one follows. One of those is mandatory trash pick up in West Virginia. During a recent Solid Waste Authority meeting, Brown Shirt Stuart Simms made that info public as well as the possibility of that private use fee being added to tax bills.
  • April 26 a Just like the Ambualance fee 13 years ago and more recently the proposed flood plain zoning, word is now spreading on the make the Waste Management Co folks rich scheme. Many in the county are about ready to lynch the Commissioners if they try and force another tax burden.
  • April 26 a Clay Roane PSD has had a  major water leak for a decade. The big time lead resulted in half of their product running into the dirt instead of making money for them. During the CCC meeting, it was reported that after a leak was fixed near Hollywood in Roane County, pumping at the Procious Water plant dropped to just 9 hours a day. That's down to 9 hours a day from 16 to 20 hours a day for year after year.
  • April 26 a Mostly this site relates  dumb bunny stuff that goes on Clayberry. Saturday morning a band of volunteers organized the Lake Sampson Fishin Derby. Under blue skies and bright sunshine, 150 kids came out and caught fish, threw rocks, ran around, laughed and  had a bunch of fun. Moms and Dads too!
  • April 26 a Volunteers, what makes this county so very special.
  • April 24 a Ronald “Ronnie” Wayne Lambert 46, of Strange Creek, see OBITUARY page
  • April 24 a Belated: Happy 22nd Birthday Danielle Whaling
  • April 24 a  From the email bag:  I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading the communicator on line each day to keep up with what is going on in the good old town of Clay, WV. I am currently serving in Afghanistan with the US Army Special Forces. I am originally from Clay and was in the Class of 1990. I have not lived in Clay since 1997 but my family still lives in Clay and I still like to know what is going on in my town time to time. Being over here in this environment can be quite stressful at times but I try to take time each day to release some stress by reading your paper and there is nothing like a good laugh every once in a while and some of the guys here read the communicator also and they are not even from Clay just because they get kick out some of the childish things that go on there. Even though I live in Braxton I will always be from Clay. So keep up the good  work and if you think Clay has problems just spend a week over here and then you realize that you have no problems at all. CPT Samuel King
  • April 24 a For anybody that wishes to say hello and offer words of appreciation, here's Mr King's email address: Samuel.L.King@us.army.mil
  • April 24 a The right to privacy.... "I don't care!.. The Govt can look all they want, I have nothing to hide."  is a standard response when many are asked about losing civil rights. For those many that  keep that cell phone glued to your ear, you might want to look at this link.
  • April 24 a All you kids that have half your hind end hanging out with your pants below your crack, it's now legal.
  • April 24 a There's a bunch of us ole hippies that grew up on corn flakes and pot. During the last couple years there has been an effort to make pot legal again in the USA. Such talk makes us smile and try to remember those hazy days of old.   Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) insisted that marijuana legalization should be "on the table." Such joy and on a Friday to boot.
  • April 23 p From TV 8: April 23, 2009 12:36pm; Eyewitness News; Four coal miners are injured when a rock falls on them at the Consol Fola coal company in Clay county. It happened around 7:00 a.m., Thursday morning. Eyewitness News has been told that the injuries are not serious, but one man did complain of a shoulder injury. Mine Safety inspectors are investigating
  • April 23 p  From TV-3: CLAY COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Four people have been taken to the hospital after an accident at a mine in Clay County. The accident happened around 6:50 a.m. Thursday at the Fola Coal Company. Mine Safety Communications Director, Jama Jarrett tells WSAZ.com four coal miners were heading into the mine on a man-trip when a rock fell from the roof.  The rock broke into pieces. Jarrett tells WSAZ. com the men were not seriously hurt, but taken to the hospital as a precaution. Consol Energy owns the mine. A safety inspector is on the way to the mine to investigate.
  • April 23 p Just a week ago Clay County physician Doc Jamie's family made the national media spotlight in the Parade magazine. His  son Jimmy reported earning over $2m in the family business during the previous year. That article on high earners came just a day after IRS officials ceased a bright yellow Porsche and gray SUV from the good Doc.
  • April 23 p Maybe Jimmy could loan Pop some $$.
  • April 23 p On May 20, 2008 a Federal tax lien (Form 1044) totaling $1,368,931.40 was lodged against Doc Jamie for the tax years 2001 and 2002
  • April 23 p In the way of an update... In the The Communicator back during the winter, a letter to the editor brought to light great wage increases for some of the state road workers in Clay. The writer called the increases, raises.
  • April 23 p We spoke with County State Road Head Honcho Clark Samples this morning. He said none of the crew nor him had had a pay raise. The higher wages ($15,000 for Clark) were a result of lots of overtime work.
  • April 23 p There's a big fishing derby  slated for this Saturday out at Lake Sampson. Some of the kids event flyers say Wallback Lake while others call the place, Lake Sampson. Fishin Derby organizer Connie Sizemore asked this morning about the varying names. She said, everybody she talked to knew nothing about the name being Lake Sampson
  • April 23 p Truth is, by a vote of the Legislature, 18 months ago, and signed into law, Senate Concurrent Resolution 47 made it official, the name of the place is Lake Sampson. The confusion comes with the DNR given name for the dam, Wallback Dam.
  • April 23 p With warm dry weather expected Saturday, hope there's 1000 kids having fun at the Lake Sampson Fishing Derby. Don't have kids at home? Come out anyway and see smiles from ear to ear on every face ... well, except on the sore lipped trout!
  • April 22 p  Thursday's bid opening for the new Town Water Plant has been delayed until April 30th at 1:30pm
  • April 22 p Need a Summer Job? During this morning's CCC meeting, Slinky announced Obama De Bama syphilis dollars will be funding 50, 6 week, summer jobs in the county. He said that Pat Black with WorkForce is in charge with applications available at the WVU Extension office, DHHR, FSRN, and WorkForce in the CAEZ office on Main Street. Applications have to be in by the first week of May.
  • April 22 p On the other side of the coin, if you're a non profit group needing summer time workers, contact Pat Black for placement at your organization.
  • APril 22 p 50 and maybe more coming.
  • April 22 p One time Prosecutor and attorney, Wayne King has been quietly dumping his personal trash in the Courthouse dumpster for oh say..... 20 years. County Commission has been arguing behind the scenes with the Waynester for a couple months telling him he can't do that. Bad Boy Bad Boy. He says he only unloads in the dumpster one day a week and shouldn't have to pay.
  • April 22 p Without mention or vote during a public meeting,  Slinky invoiced King $42 on Feb 19th. In response King in a lawyerly way King penned a letter demanding information like: how did the CCC calculate the bill; wanted a copy of the official CCC order for the invoice; copies of any rules allowing such an invoice; where the $42 would be spent... all kinds of lawyer talk.
  • April 22 p  This morning Larry Darryl and Darryl voted not to follow the letter requests and instead put the Sheriff on Wayne.
  • April 22 p Lets see know, anybody at any time can dump junk in any of the silver metal trash cans around the Courthouse. That's what they're there for! There ain't no "No Dumping" signs on the big green dumpsters. The things aren't locked at night. And, he's been doing the weekly deposits for decades.
  • April 22 a  Nolan Edward Lambey, 91, of Ivydale, see OBITUARY page
  • April 22 a With a fairly short agenda, the County Commission meets this morning at 10am.
  • April 22 a Yelp, the latest edition of Clay County's independent news source , The Communicator, is now on news stands in four counties. 24 pages of knowledge found no where else. Lead story delves into the CDC Whistleblower lawsuit where allegations brought by Brenda Baird are substantial enough to have brought a $150,000 settlement offer.
  • April 21 a This edition also includes the  Sunday afternoon actions of Magistrate Jeff Boggs. Ahhhh... yelp, he showed himself and did so in front of a bunch of people.. voters.
  • April 20 late p Talk about scanner traffic. It was alive mid day as a white Jeep with a lady inside getting ball batted near the Two Run Ginos. Minutes later the action continued behind the Courthouse.
  • April 20 Late p  We're in typing mode. No new updates until after the Communicator gets out the door Tuesday around 4pm
  • April 20 a It's peaceful today. The rug rats are back in school.
  • April 20 a If the boss is away and you have a little time to waste...
  • April 20 a  Taking a little too long to play on the web? Robert Atkinson from the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information said this week at a forum on broad-band access, that "West Virginia is still in last place."
  • April 20 a Lets talk dumb dumb dumb. from the Hurherald: A Sutton woman thought she was offering a friend some drugs, but she mistakenly sent the text message to the Webster County prosecutor.
  • April 20 a  We're the founders of the country deeply religious with references to Jesus and Christianity in their many speeches. Loud mouth Rush Limbaugh says Yes. That ain't true and here's the facts.
  • April 20 a With school back in session, do administrators have the right to strip search a student that they think MAY have contraband? The DC Big Robes will decide that this term.
  • April 20 a  Unemployment rose in 46 states last month.
  • April 20 a Need to get rid of bunch of old worn out tires? See ADVSIORY page
  • April 20 a Forgot to wish 600 year old Alan Exlax a Happy Birthday over the weekend
  • April 20 a Senator Randy White's final Legislative Update column for this session is now posted on the ADVISORY page
  • April 20 a With blossoms galore and lush green grass, tourism season is here. For racing fans, the latest news on O'Brion International Dirt track is alos over on the ADVISORY page.
  • April 20 a Dirt track racing, Lake Sampson, Elk River, Friday night music at Big Otter, Saturday night Summer Jams & Consignment Auctions all good reasons to come visit West Virginia's best kept secret, Clayberry. Be sure to spend the night or nights in the county over at the JG Bradley Campground.
  • April 20 a Town Council is hosting a special meeting Tuesday at 5pm to approve the new year's budget AND discuss a resignation. Over at Town Hall, nobody's talking right now
  • April 20 a County Commission meets twice this week for budget OKs and a regular meeting Wed at 10am
  • April 20 a We're getting all kinds of emails on the actions of Magistrate Jeff Boggs during Big Otter's Fire Dept Ramp Dinner yesterday. So far none have been supportive of his wordage
  • April 20 a Communicator comes out Tuesday afternoon and Yes, with new drugs, the Mel Gibson look alike is feeling much better.
  • April 19 Late p Nathan L. Triplett, 75, of Maysel, see OBITUARY page
  • April 19 Late p Sylvia Genevieve King Grogg, 94, of Duck, see OBITUARY page
  • April 17 p We made it thru another week. Beautiful weather is predicted for Saturday. Been to Clayberry  lately? Now's a good time to visit
  • April 17 p Fola Coal likes the folks that support their operation. Each year they host an appreciation dinner in Summersville where they invite their buddies for an evening of good food and gifts
  • April 17 p After a $6m tax value write down, our County Commission is expected to attend tonight's foray.
  • April 17 p It's the gift part of tonight's fun that may be interesting to watch. The WV Ethics Commission has issued many official opinions on gift giving to elected officials. Commissioners in other counties have been taken to Court over questionable thank you proceeds.
  • April 17 p A couple weeks ago Town Council held a secret time where they discussed and decided to purchase security cameras at the water plant. Right after that behind closed doors session, they held a second one to discuss personnel matters.
  • April 17 p Sometime yesterday Llyn Drake posted a special meeting notice for next week. The agenda mentions a resignation.
  • April 17 p Wonder what's up?
  • April 17 p For those wondering... now on new drugs, feeling muuuuuuch better and if anyone sees the ace cub reporter eating one of those peanut butter eggs, smack him!
  • April 17 p Communicator comes out Tuesday afternoon.
  • April 16 late p  Mary Hanshaw, 89, see OBITUARY page
  • April 16 a Paul Bird, 75, of Mount Nebo died April 15, 2009. Wilson-Shamblin-Smith Funeral Home, Clay, is in charge of arrangements.
  • April 16 a The Ace Cub Reporter is feeling a little lazy and didn't get his typing done last night. We're holding up Friday's Communicator until he gets over his TB (tired butt)
  • April 16 a Had a real interesting Solid Waste Authority meeting Wed evening... Seen those No Litter, You're on camera signs? Last night the Solid Waste gang voted to lease cameras to  catch those dumping trash along the roads. At one point someone mentioned 20 of the rascals for the county
  • April 16 a Did you know that you are required to have proof of trash pick up service? It's the law. According to Brown Shirt Stuart Simms in attendance, some counties are attaching the trash service bill to property tax tickets.
  • April 16 a  Bet that last post got your blood boiling!  More later today.
  • April 15 p Intruders coming into a home and blasting away.Violence is not just a big city problem. Take a look over in Calhoun County for instance.
  • April 15 p We're typing ont he Communicator tonight. No updates until we get the rascal to bed.
  • April 15 a  Deadline for this week's Communicator is tonight at 6pm. Email your stuff ASAP. What\s our lead story? Clay County's top secret social service provider, CDC
  • April 15 a Every study on earth shows the need for a mini park, a green space in downtown Clay. The obvious spot is just across from the Courthouse beside the Clay PSD office. Not so anymore
  • April 15 a Yesterday the PSD announced they plan to build a garage on the small lot after purchasing it recently.
  • April 15 a Suppose to have been a Clay Housing Authority meeting yesterday. The agenda went up last week but the members were a no show yesterday.
  • April 15 a America may have changed from a run up the credit card mentality to one of saving a few $$$ and paying with cash.The scare of an even deeper depression seems to have hunkered us down. Great.
  • April 15 a Around the country people people are turning to the internet for local news. A bunch of local citizen journalism news outlets are starting to pop up. With Clayberry on line for years, for once, we're ahead of the pack.
  • April 14 p  It been years since the Clay County Public Library provided much of anything in the way of fun stuff for the kids. With the new Director in place, it's starting now. Check out the May 9th post on our EVENTS page.
  • April 14 a Clay County PSD hosts their monthly Board meeting this morning at 11 am. Open to the public.
  • April 14 a Getting ready for summer bake sales and the like? Foodhandlers class now being offered. See ADVISORY page
  • April 14 a Free food giveaway Thursday. See EVENTS page for details
  • April 14 a Josephine Sanders Childers, 79, see OBITUARY page
  • April 14 a We note the passing of every teenage boy's dream, Marylin Chambers.
  • April 14 a Ethanol is being touted as the best thing since canned soup. Scientists say differently with the fuel process sucking up tons of water.
  • April 14 a The tax deadline is just a day away. The 2009 U.S. tax season promises to see a large uptick in first-time delinquent income taxpayers.
  • April 14 a For a government to operate in the dark, they have to have control of the media. They cannot allow independent anybody's to get the truth out to the public.
  • April 14 a The internet has become a source for news not found on comeercial outlets. How would you like to wake up one morning and see your favorite news portal shut down. Could happen if Senator Jay Rockefeller's bill passes. Very scary.
  • April 14 a We're seeing a trend to cleaner energy plants and away from unclean coal fired facilities. Here's another example of what's ahead for our fossil fuel future.
  • April 14 a By the way, all that talk about 100's of years worth of  coal reserves. The US Geological Survery says, we've got about 20 years of mineable coal in the USA.
  • April 13 a Happy 2nd Birthday ALAINA NICOLE
  • April 13 aToday is the first official day of Spring break in Clayberry. Been listening to the scanner and so far no parent has tried to mash a snot licker.
  • April 13 a We know the last frost date is around May 14th. With beautiful sunshine and dry weather, a bunch of us jumped the gun Sunday and planted tomatoes. True True True, they'll probably get frost bit but what the heck, it's Springtime right?
  • April 13 a  The average U.S. retail gasoline price rose about 10 cents a gallon over the past three weeks
  • April 13 a For all us old pot heads, here's some fresh reading on the legalization of pot efforts. Prosperity is just around the corner!
  • April 13 a The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is objecting to three more Appalachian surface mining permits, saying the operations would cause unacceptable damage. It's about time.
  • April 12 a Senator Randy White's Legislative Update column is now posted on our ADVISORY page
  • April 12 a Happy Easter to one and all. During this holiday weekend we're doing light postings.
  • April 12 a From the Hurherald web site: Former Roane County magistrate, Denver R. Gandee Jr., 56, of Spencer died Friday. Gandee, according to unofficial sources, died in his sleep. Gandee was defeated during the last election cycle. He was the son of well-known WWII veteran Denver Gandee, Sr., who survives, known for his involvement in a famous military event, from which a movie was made - "The Bridge at Remagen." Services will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer. Friends may call one hour prior to service. Burial will be in Eventide Cemetery, Spencer.
  • April 12 a Primary Care receives grant dollars on a regular basis. The money comes but the announced health care center and pharmacy never showed up. They get those grants about as often as they receive bad press for not paying employees on time, not paying property taxes, leaving employees without healthcare care coverage and doctors being as hard to find as hen's teeth.
  • April 12 a Compliments the syphilis $$$ (that's what we're calling the stimulus funds), Primary Care is getting another $171,000+.
  • April 12 a Councilperson Betty Murphy said during the most recent Town meeting, there's too many activities going on the county. All those radio station activities in particular have a negative affect on others, others like the BC&G railroad group.  She was referring to the summer time Memorial, Independence, and Labor Day weekend Celebrations hosted by 101.7FM
  • April12 a Last night, CCHS held a fundraiser dinner, the Consignment Auction did their thang, and the radio station held a Bunny Hop  fundraiser. All were successful.
  • April 12 a Betty Murphy is in the group of old line bluebloods that use to have some control in the county. Her dated thoughts are a good indication of  how things use to be when a small group could keep a thumb on the county. Her bitterness and longing for times gone by are without any merit in the 21st century.
  • April 12 a Speaking of the BC&G group... their Board met Saturday morning. At that meeting, it became official: Sen Byrd found $190,000 to be used to complete the interior of the campground lodge building; a new septic system and grease trap facility will be completed for the summer camping season; and, professional wiring will be done to keep things safe at Clayberry's only public camping area.
  • April 12 a Over Darryl & Darryl and Betty Murphy's outdated thinking, slowly but steady, our county is turning the corner for a new economy, tourism.
  • April 12 a It's about time
  • April 12 a What's it take to get the Town's Log Factory operating in the black? Are you sitting down? Somewhere close to a $30 per month increase for each and every customer. Gulp.
  • April 12 a We had snow this past week. Most likely the last of the stuff this year. Kids finished up WestTest testing and schools closed for Spring break. With testing complete, for all intents and purpose, school is over for another year. The kids know it, teachers know it. Someone should tell Smokin Joe.
  • April 11 a Jerrold Murphy reported , this morning's BC&G RR meeting will be held at the CAEZ office on Main Street beginning at 10am
  • April 11 a In addition to the consignment auction at Two Run, lots of fun, munchies and dance tonight beginning at 7pm when WYAP's Bunny Hop Dance gets underway. Full details on the EVENTS page
  • April 11 a THis holiday weekend we're going to take some time off. Few posts expected but you never know when some dumb bunny politician does something.
  • April 10 a It's Friday morning at it ain't raining yet. Had a little sunshine for a few minutes.
  • April 10 a  Happy 2nd Birthday  Isaiah Lacher
  • April 10 a Dave Walker and Dave Perry have their latest Legislative Updates on the ADVISORY page
  • April 10 a This is the last day of school and Westest for county snot lickers and teachers then a week off. For all intents and purposes, school is over for the year.
  • April 10 a Some have asked why we don't have more stuff to do on the EVENTS page. We post as emails come in and try to do the updates nightly. We also look around for more info. In this age of technology, some web sites are way behind with info.
  • April 10 a Take the High School site where the library page is still welcoming kids to school from last Sept and sports schedule is from 12 months ago.
  • April 10 a Don't even think about looking at the CAEZ, BDA or CLay County Public Library sites which haven't been updated in three years.
  • April 10 a  When new faces start attending Commission meetings, people start scratching their heads.. or butts.
  • April 10 a One time Coach and now Athletic Director Ron "Droopy Drawers" Sirk has come to a few CCC gatherings since Mikey Pierson took his perch on the bench. With Fran King up for reelection in 8 months, speculation is that Sirk will run for her District A seat. Sirk would make a more "workable" triumphrant for Slinky.
  • April 10 a When Fran King spoke out against ripping off  business leader Dave Pierson with unrealistic tax increases, when King voted against giving Fola Coal a $6,000,000.00 sweetheart tax reduction; and when she made public Darryl and Darryl's vote to raise Mom and Pop landowner tax values by over $13m, her goose was cooked. She has to go. Slinky cannot work his backroom magic with the Fransters not playing well in public.
  • April 10 a The coffee-house crowd also speculates that School Boardster Ric Tanner may run for the Commission as well as a Brian Holcomb from CCHS.
  • April 10 a The Town is H bent on going into debt and building an unneeded water plant that will supply wa wa all over the county and a bunch of folks in Roane County. Many in the county know the water plant is not needed since West Virginia Water has excess capacity and is already in the county at Queen Shoals. The new Summersville Plant produced 15 m gallons a day and can feed the county many times over. Not to mention the Spencer plant which could easily handle their residents in Roane County.
  • April 10 a To pay for the new Clay plant, it'll take many new customers. Commissioner Slinky says he'll work for getting new customers post haste. Ditto for Mikey Pierson who came to office with the promise of water for the Blue Knob area.
  • April 10 a The need for new customers and promises of getting them have stunk up the air before. Take the Town Log Factory which was built twice too big and now operates at a costly, half capacity. That lack of elected thought is expensive. Already in debt $52,000 (last 10 months), the poop factory is seeking a rate increase most predict will add $25 to $30 on each monthly bill.
  • April 10 a  By the way, the new water extension and upgrade in t he Queen Shoals area, the water source on either of the two plans is West Virginia Water. That's a concept some in the county have preached for a decade. Someone is finally listening.
  • April 10 a Someone should also listen  to something else. Close the never economical to operate Procious Water Plant and have those customers also feed off the WV Water Service which provides potable wet stuff cheaper than current rates. Cheaper and always has been no matter who says differently.
  • April 9 p Tonight at 7pm the Clay Roane PSD meets in regular session at the Procious out dated Water Plant.
  • April 9 p From the email bag: There is a horse hanging around on Maysel-Laurel Ridge Road if anyone is missing a horse, this would be a good place to look. The horse seems perfectly content to eat grass in the yard and hang around, it's super friendly but not really a pet we need.  :)  If you are missing a horse please call us @ 304-587-7796. We don't have the horse tied up so it may be an adventure to find it and take it home.
  • April 9 p Update: Walter Schoonover found his lost dog. Call off the hunt!
  • April 9 p Happy 4th Birthday  KAEDON JAMES
  • April 9 p Sorry for the slow poke updates. Here goes
  • April 9 p  Tuesday's Town Council meeting brought no major outrages or scream sessions. Much of the meeting was done behind closed doors. Before the first secret time, talk centered around the need for recording cameras both upstairs and down at the water plant. Since the second secret time came for personnel matters, sure sounded like concerns were being raised over sticky fingeritus problems. Just a guess
  • April 9 p Also from the Town meeting, that long awaited log factory rate increase, the CPA for the thang has needed paperwork from the town for 7 months. She's still waiting with the Recorder dragging her feet. As for the amount of poop factory increase, the Town needs a little less than $9000 per month MORE to make ends meets. That's $9000 divided by the 280 customers or about a $30 per month increase per customer. Get the Crisco clickers.
  • April 9 p Tuesday's CAEZ meeting included a comment on local projects in the county were "going nowhere" and the Director would cut back on those efforts.
  • April 9 p Commissioner Mikey Pierson (Darryl #2) provided no parasite comments during Wed's CCC meeting. Was something of importance there.
  • April 9 p  An out of county guy who owns minerals here sought a roll back on his 07 property taxes. He said a year earlier, his holdings netted a very fair $9 tax. In 07 that $9 tax went to $7900 on the same parcels. That buster tax fell back to $9 during the next tax cycle. County Commission agreed to do the paperwork to get rid of the bogus $7900 buster tax.
  • April 9 April 9  p During the discussions, Darryl #1 admitted to other tax problems that year, his first year on as a Commish and the CCC did nothing to correct the errors
  • April 9 p See the importance? The guy got screwed in 07. That's not the $13m rip off the CCC got caught doing this year and the CCC is willing to correct their mistake.
  • April 9 p How about you. Check your tax statements for 07. Did you get ripped off? If they can correct an error for one they can do the same for you.
  • April 9 p Two weeks ago the Legislature named a section of roadway for fallen soldier Jamie Nicholas. Now the House of Delegates is working to name a I-79 overpass for WWII killed in action Carey K. Stockwell. Letters, emails, and phone calls to our Senators may encourage them to get the measure passed on their side of the Capitol.
  • April 8 Late p  Lester Tanner, 91, see OBITUARY page
  • April 8 Late p  Emilou Morris, 78, of Dixie, see OBITUARY page
  • April 8 Sorry to be slow with updates. Been running around a bunch. Updates coming ASAP.
  • April 7 late p County Commission meets Wed morning in the Courthouse beginning at 10am.
  • April 7 late p  While we're working on a juicy update and if the boss ain't around, here's a cool video.
  • April 7 a CAEZ meets today at 4 and again at 6
  • April 7 a Clay Town Council meets at 5 pm today. Bring your own popcorn please and share with starving reporters
  • April 7 a Happy Birthday Kathy Runion
  • April 7 a From the email bag: Black female dog in the Hansford Fork/Camp Run area.  Very sweet.  Please call and identify.  587-2242
  • April 7 a Most people don't know but, if you cross over the Hartland bridge and keep driving, that's part of Clayberry too. Yelp, people, homes, businesses....
  • April 7 a Last night Lizemores Fire Dept held their monthly meeting with Pete Johnson at the helm. Not going to believe this but, they got stuff accomplished, there were a couple dozen in attendance, no one got into a fight, and in 55 minutes, all the important stuff was accomplished.  The rest of the county could take a lesson from LFD meetings and leadership.
  • April 7 a  How well oiled is the group? They're paying off their ambulance ($41,000) early, looking for a fire rescue truck to buy; and have an ambulance crew supervisor to handle volunteer complaints before they fester in front of the full Board of Directors.
  • April 7 a  Some old, some young, some fat, some in work clothes covered with coal dust, some disabled, and all volunteering their time to provide a service that County Govt wouldn't. How refreshing!
  • April 7 a Want to know what's going on at the Legislature? Updates are on the ADVISORY page.
  • April 5 a William W. “Bro Bill” Eagle, see OBITUARY page
  • April 5 p  from the email bag:   Anyone in the Horse Ridge area missing a boxer pup?  It is brown and white, very friendly, and hanging out at Dawson's on Dee Road. Someone is home all the time, so just come and pick it up.
  • April 5 p  from the email bag:  MISSING DOG: Black spayed female Lab. $25 reward for return. Walter Schoonover 304-587-4683
  • April 4 a In the new Communicator we've got the latest on Jim Knotts' delay in going to trial and all those juicy details Mikey Pierson doesn't like in print. Knotts nor Pierson like the news just the way it is, but that's what it is, news found nowhere else but in The Communicator and the Great Nation of Clay.
  • April 4 a Does anybody understand what a G-20 Conference is all about? Could it be  leadership really doesn't want us to understand?
  • April 4 a Think unemployment is worse than reported by the talking heads? It is. New unemployment figures are out: employers shed 663,000 jobs in March, hiking the unemployment rate at eight and a half percent – that’s up from 8.1 percent in February. The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures unemployment and also releases a table that calculates what it calls an alternative measure of labor under utilization. At the bottom of that table is what’s called the U-6, and in plain English, that’s the number of people who have given up looking for work, those who are working part-time because they cannot find full time work, those who have left the workforce entirely, along with the so-called “total unemployed”. The bottom line? 15.6 percent of Americans are under or unemployed – nearly double the eight and half percent unemployment rate we read and hear about.
  • April 4 a A record 32.2 million people -- one in every 10 Americans -- received food stamps at the latest count, the government said on Thursday, a reflection of the recession now in its 16th month.
  • April 4 a  During the last Great Depression FDR criminalized pot. Maybe this depression,  it will be legalized. Here's some history.
  • April 3 a  For the third week in a row, The Communicator will come out on time around 2 pm today. Inspite of what Mikey Pierson says, the absolute word on life in Clayberry.
  • April 3 a It's not often you see a dirty word on this web portal. This morning, Damn and Double Damn
  • April 3 a You won't believe it but last night the BDA met and got a couple things done.
  • April 3 a  Knowing tourism is our only area of growth, the Boardsters voted to put together and print a Summer time Tourism brochure to be distributed in the five county region. They promised to have it out and about by May 15th.
  • April 3 a To further spruce up the county's only town, the BDA OK'd the purchase and installation of $3800 in new Welcome to Clay banners to be affixed to Elk Power Co poles in downtown and Upper Class Two Run areas. They said the new attention getters would not interfere with the American flags and other seasonal banners.
  • April 3  Tommy Fitzwater said he has a new tourist info center , a "kiosk", ready for use and just needs help installing the info center, maybe Spread Park or Lake Sampson.
  • April 3 a On a roll, the BDA will approach the County Commission asking the CCC to do the hiring and paperwork for a new Economic Development Co-ordinator for the BDA. That would be someone to do the work the BDA is suppose to be doing.
  • April 3 a Not a bad night for the BDA who have managed to squander 13 years with little the show. Finally some progress.
  • April 3 a According to Fran King,  Mayor Jack Brown resigned from the BDA. Hmmmm....
  • April 3 a Don't let the rain and high winds slow you down. There's lots to do this weekend.. See the EVENTS page. By the way, two new stores have been added over at the Mountaineer Mini Mall at Maysel.
  • April 2 a Still typing on the Communicator but.....
  • April 2 a Don't forget the always fun to watch Business Development Authority meets tonight at 5 at the Courthouse in the CCC room.
  • April 2 a Tonight's the big Apple Festival Charity Auction in the Lion's Club Casino. Come out and support a good cause. See EVENTS page for details.
  • April 1 a Emmett Russell Ramsey, 40, of Ivydale. see OBITUARY page
  • April 1 a  Clifford R. Ramsey, 54, of Procious died March 31, 2009. Wilson-Shamblin-Smith Funeral Home, Clay, is in charge of arrangements
  • April 1 a April Fools Day. Was going to list a bunch of Clayberry miracles. Stuff like Slinky and Mikey apologizing for their votes to increase tax values  or maybe the BDA actually getting something accomplished. Not going to , don't want to get anybody's hopes up even for a split second.
  • April 1 a Did the cornficker bug get your puter? The way it works is to disable your anti virus ability to download security updates. There is a work around for those with infected puters. Download the anti virus updates on a friends machine and then install on yours. Good luck.
  • April 1 a Deadline for the next edition of the The Communicator is today at 6pm. Chatters, events, classifieds and such, email over now. Why today?
  • April 1 a FYI: Here's our new schedule. We spend Wed night typing and formatting. Thursday morning the completed layout is emailed over to Spencer for printing. Then it's nap time.  Thursday evening we pick up the award winning journal and distribute mid afternoon on Friday.  Then it's nap time again
  • April 1 a We posted a couple nasty garbage dump pics Sunday afternoon.  State officials showed up Monday and cleaned up the nasty Hansford Fork site as well as put up new signs: Video cameras  now in place.
  • April 1  a   Private employers cut jobs by a record 742,000 in March versus a 706,000 revised cut in February that was originally reported at 697,000 jobs
  • April 1  a  Great entertainment value: The BDA meets Thursday afternoon at 5pm in the CCC room. Big long agenda already posted .

  • April 1 a  At five minutes and six seconds after 4 AM on the 8th of July this year, the time and date will be 04:05:06 07/08/09.