FEBRUARY NEWS 2004

  • Feb. 29 pm Before the weekend wrap up, a great big thanks to everyone that donated to our online fundraiser. We're not sure if any other donations will arrive but with what we've received so far, it looks like this site can grow a little more this next 12 months. Thanks again and remember, you are appreciated.
  • Feb. 29 pm We had quite a week in Clayberry. Election 2004 fired up with allegations of questionable and unethical electioneering by Sheriff candidate Mathew Bragg followed by  candidate Roger Hunt's request to investigate. By the end of this past week, Braxton County's investigation was under way. Bragg claimed he didn't pull the illegal background check but another "person" did it and he just ran with the info. The question about the county now: If Bragg didn't do it, what buddy did?
  • Feb. 29 pm In the Courtroom, Elvis Dawson testified that David Starcher jumped over a fence into Dawson's yard and stabbed him last Spring. In self defense, Elvis pulled out a 25 pistol loaded with 9 slugs and fired one into Starcher's arm. On Wed a jury of his peers determined that wasn't a good enough reason ( self defense) and found him guilty of battery.
  • Feb. 29 pm By week's end we reported alarming statistics on crime in this county. The AP data showed some arrests were made. Still, based on the performance of Prosecution rates in this county, many walked free. Crime touched home this week again, as thugs stole Town Councilman's Phil Morris's S-10 pickup from his driveway as well as stole a nice looking Jeep from draught Chevy lot for the second time.
  • Feb. 29 pm On a larger scale, more jobs were lost around the country without much notice as people feel victim to Dubbya's rhetoric on gay marriages instead of more important civil rights and equality issues like: 2.4 million jobs lost since Dubbya came to power; our $127 billion surplus has sunk to a $455 billion deficit; 9000 people have died in Dubbya's Oil War; education funding was cut another $6 billion; and, Medicare needed $400 billion to operate but was only provided $40 billion.
  • Feb. 29 pm With Spring like temperatures this week, gardens were turned over, seeds were ordered and at least one dumb*%! was seen cutting his yard.
  • Feb. 29 pm And finally, ending 6 year's of draught, Clay Middle School brought home the coveted 2004 CWVAC Championship.
  • Feb. 29 pm We enter March with Roane County's elected leaders publicly saying they are tired of all the foot dragging here in Clay and are looking at other sources of water for the Amma/Left Hand water line project stagnant for 6 years. Our County Commission told us the consolidation of all PSDs is back on the table and moving along. Water remains a top issue in all third world nations like Clay County West Virginia.
  • Feb. 28 am With elections just around the corner, many locals are fuming over increased crime in our small county. We've done a little surfing to find some hard numbers on Clayberry. The latest numbers come from 2001 and are noted on the AP crime data page, like....
  • Feb. 28 am  In the Town of Clay NO crimes were reported. Click NOTHING HAPPENED
  • Feb. 28 am The WV State Police reported 2001 crimes as:  43 Assaults, Click Breakdown for the individual stats; To see how many arrests were made on the 29 burglaries in 2001 click Look See
  • Feb. 28 am  And of the 29 larcenies in 2001, only 6 arrests were made
  • Feb. 28 am Reported by the high Sheriff, 5 Burglaries and only 1 assault. Now we blame the Sheriff's office for doing nothin or little but in this just mentioned catagory, arrests were made in each! Not bad for a 99 year old Sheriff.
  • Feb. 28 am This is it clickers, the last day of our online fundraiser. You won't have to listen to our plea for another year. For those that donated, thanks and you are appreciated. For the rest of you.... last call. Send over your hard earned loot to: Delta; PO Box 14; Procious WV 25164.
  • Feb. 28 am How about some more stats on Clay County. What's our total hispanic population? 42; The number of households with incomes greater than $75,000? Answer: 209; How much did the average person pay in property taxes in Clayberry? Answer: $233.00; How many houses are there in our little county? Answer: 4,836;  How many males in this county? Census says 5,109!  For the complete run down click Census Report
  • Feb. 28 am To get the latest  on what's going on at the Legislatuer in Charleston, walk over to the ADVISORY page last updated Feb. 27th.
  • Feb. 28 am Get out and enjoy the  weekend clickers. There's lots going on too.
  • Feb. 27 am Maysel Marie Blankenship, 70, of Maysel, see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 27 am We've just about made it thru another week clickers. The weekend is here and nice weather is predicted. Instead of looking at the  window and thinking about snow, it's time to open up those seed catalogs and start making decisions. It's time to turn the dirt over!
  • Feb. 27 am Just a couple notes this morning from Wed's county wide water meeting. Commissioner's Sams, Bragg and Triplett were in attendance along with reps from the Town and the three PSDs. Shortly into the meeting Commissioner Bragg left the front perch and moved to the peanut gallery. He said he could hear better from there. That's OK of course but then.....
  • Feb. 27 am Bragg asked some down right crazy questions. It was as if he had never been to a Commission meeting. As if he hadn't paid attention to any of the water issues besieging the county for the five years he's been on the bench. Bragg didn't know what the $12 million in Fed loans and grants were for. He didn't know the break down on which PSD got how much nor how much originally had been designated for the Town of Clay to build a water plant.
  • Feb. 27 am  At least 4 different people worked to explain the water money to Bragg. At other times during Wed's meeting, Bragg came across as just plain silly. As the explanations and re-explanations came, the eyebrows went up.
  • Feb. 27 am As for the May election. In the School Board and Sheriff's races, it's wide open and "single shoting" will play a major role in who gets elected. Single Shoting?  That's when you have a chance to vote for 4 candidates  (School Board race) and you only mark one.
  • Feb. 27 am With 4 of the 5 School Boardsters on the ballot, single shoting can make a big impact. Since the top four vote getters will get elected, if a voter only marks one, that's equal to three others getting a vote taken away. If there is ever a time incumbents have a chance of getting beat, 2004 is such a time.
  • Feb. 27 am Ballot positioning is also important when the candidates are many. The ballot line up for the School Board from first to last: Kim Sams, Rick Tanner, Wide Glide, David Derby, Gene King, RB Legg, Charles Vance, Herschel Shamblin, Dawn Schultz, Llyn Drake, George Workman, and Beth Cercone
  • Feb. 17 am In the Sheriff's race, the ballot will read in this order: Randy Holcomb, Robert Boggs, Mathew Bragg, Jim Paxton, Roger Hunt, James Paxton, Buckshot Butcher, Scott Legg, Joe Morris, Donny Triplett, Morgan Gibson.
  • Feb. 17 am  Saturday is the final day of our online fundraiser. Dig deeeeeeep! Every little bit helps. Keep this platform of instant news growing! Send bucks to Delta; PO Box 14; Procious WV 25164. Thanks.
  • Feb. 26 pm Just got word. Tonight's Solid Waste Authority meeting has been canceled. It should be rescheduled for next week. You'll just have to find something else fun to do this evening.
  • Feb. 26 am  Mildred Dobbins, 81, see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 26 am  We've got  a lost lab. See classified page
  • Feb. 26 am  CCHS Lady Panthers beat out  Roane County to win the sectionals last night. It always feels good to beat Spencer. Next week: The Regionals! Friday night at Webster, Clay Middle takes on Glade in Tournament action
  • Feb. 26 am So you think you want to learn a little more about puting? See Events page for freebee classes at CCHS next week.
  • Feb. 26 am We had a big day in Clay yesterday. Lots went on. Support your only source for nearly instant news on the Great Nation of Clay. We're nearing the end of our two week campaign. Can you help? ES and MS did. Thanks!  Send $ to Delta; PO Box 14, Procious WV 25164. muukus grassyass ameco. Bet you didn't think we knew spanish!
  • Feb. 26 am  Last Spring Elvis Dawson and David Starcher continued their family feud. On April 16th, Elvis drew a pistol while Starcher pulled a knife and stabbed Elvis. Elvis claimed self defense. Cops charged him with malicious assault among other things.  Elvis had his two days in Court this week where a jury tossed out the malicious part and found him guilty of the lesser charge of  battery. Kelvin Duffy guided the defendant thru the trial while ... HEY Even Prosecutor Grindo did a pretty good job.  Sentencing for Dawson is slated for April 19th. He remains on bond until then or until another altercation with Starcher
  • Feb. 26 am  Carolyn Rogers was to have her day in court Wednesday too. Court time set for 3pm in front of Magistrate Jeff Boggs. Boggs was backed up the ying yang and as of 5:30 yesterday, the lights remained on and court action continued. As soon as we hear something, we'll so post.
  • Feb. 26 am  Last night reps from all the county water service providers met with the County Commission. WV Water was suppose to be there. They never showed! With 25 or so in the meeting room ( Commissioner Mathew "HAC" Bragg  showed up late) the 1 1/2 hour session was designed to get everybody on the same sheet of music. That sheet is to once again try and consolidate Clay County PSD, Clay Roane PSD and Queen Shoals PSD into one mega PSD serving the entire county.
  • Feb. 26 am  Remember when QSPSD Chair Jimmy Kearns said his customers wanted no part of consolidation? According to WS Boardster Ann Anderson, that's all changed now! Clay County PSD Office Manager Cindy Schoolcraft wasn't so agreeable.  Don't know what was behind it exactly, maybe someone crapped in her oatmeal or something..... Cindy was not a happy camper and at one point had Commissioner Sams' neck looking blue. She said something about him calling her a liar the last time she spoke up.
  • Feb. 26 am One more note from last night's water meeting. Queen Shoals PSD received that $60,000 grant from the Governor yesterday. Pictures were taken and the whole bit at the Capitol Building with our Delegates, Ann Anderson, Don Jarvis and Commissioner Mathew Bragg. Commissioner's Sams and Triplett said no one told them about the hoopla. Only up for election Bragg went high tailing to Charleston.
  • Feb. 26 am Sometime late this evening we'll post news on the ballot position drawing & re drawing for the school board candidates, and the latest on Sean Andrew Thacker, our in trouble Maysel 28 year old. See you then clickers.
  • Feb. 25 am  Lewis McLaughlin, 73, see FUNERAL page, this site
  • Feb. 25 am We've been tracking the quickly developing Election 2004 story on Sheriff candidate Mathew Bragg. See below for the rundown. We obtained a copy of the formal complaint against Bragg and the investigation request made by fellow Sheriff candidate Roger Hunt yesterday. That nicely worded request can be found on the ADVISORY page , this site.
  • Feb. 25 am Last night in first round CWVAC Middle School action Clay beat out Spencer 43 to 20. Next game comes this Friday in Webster Springs, 7 pm.
  • Feb. 25 am Great big thanks for those that have made donations to our online fund raiser. You are appreciated. Sometimes at 2 am when we're still working on postings, when everyone else is fast asleep, we often wonder: Is this worth the effort?   The donations and words of encouragement from around the country give us the answer and the reason to continue on. If you like getting a little dose of Clayberry everyday, how about some help. Nothing big, just  $1000 or so dollars will help. Send your taxed to the max by Dubya donation to Delta; PO Box 14; Procious W 25164.
  • Feb. 25 am Feuds come and go with most going without much notice. Not so with the Starcher/Dawson affair. 14 months ago shots were fired as the warring Big Otter area families went at it. Elvis Dawson went on trial Tuesday with the state resting it's case at the close of the day. Today, Dawson gets his chance with what happened. No popcorn allowed but the action is free.
  • Feb. 25 am Later in the afternoon, the lady charged with driving her daughters truck without proper WV license plates is scheduled to be heard up on the hill in Magistrate Court land. Carolyn Rogers is that defendant.  Before making the trek, better call to make sure the trial hasn't been rescheduled. Happened before when Roger's attorney Jeff Davis was a no show.
  • Feb. 25 am And then at 6 tonight, all the PSD's, County Commission and WV Water Co. are suppose to sit down in the Commission room and hammer out the future for water service in Clayberry. WV Water Co? 'Thought they bailed out 10 days ago?  According to Commissioner Sams during Monday's CCC meeting, WV Water is willing to assist the county in making the long range plans. Quite a change from just a few years ago when Clay Roane PSD Boardsters threatened to run off any WV Water reps that attended their meetings!
  • Feb. 25 am Question time clickers. School Boardster Gene King represented District A for nearly 30 years. A few weeks back during an away from the public school Board meeting held on a  Saturday, King resigned that spot and was appointed to fill Scott Legg's spot in District B.  Since then King has paid his filing fee and is running for office from B District. But running for what? Is King running to fill the unexpired term vacated by Legg or a full four year spot?  By the way, for those interested or confused about the May primary, voters will be making their marks for 4 School Board candidates.
  • Feb. 24 am With I 79 open again after being closed for two days and on an overcast rainy winter afternoon, sadly we report the passing of Lewis McLaughlin of Maysel yesterday afternoon around 1pm. McLaughlin spent a lifetime working in the Clay County School System before retiring as Principal of the Vocational School.  Funeral will be held at Maysel Baptist Church Wed.
  • Feb. 24 am Happy Birthday wishes to Eagle Waddell along with lesser known people like Sen Edward Kennedy 72; Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin 42; Julius Erving 54, and Drew Barrymore 29.
  • Feb. 24 am As of dark last night, I 79 remained closed from Clendenin to Wallback
  • Feb. 24 am Interested in what's going on down at the Legislature? Read Senator Shirley Love's column over on the ADVISORY page, this site.
  • Feb. 24 am Now let's pee off Republicans and right wingers supportive of Dubbya... After a strong public outcry, some of the American detainees in Cuba are finally getting a military tribunal trial. Unfortunately, human  rights observers won't be allowed to watch. Full details click IT'S A SHAM
  • Feb. 24 am Labeled as an official visit, W went to the Daytona Raceway last weekend at taxpayer expense. From the Brandenton Herald click LOCAL THOUGHTS. Did we mention W left before the race was half over?
  • Feb. 24 am This is our second week of the online fundraiser. Where else can you go and get a more biased, slanted, accounting of the goins on in Clayberry and the world. This online monster is time consuming and down right expensive to keep up. Last year we asked for help and raked in enough for a new digital camera and more web space. That money has been put to good use.  This year, with your help of course, we hope to upgrade a little more and maybe even take some spelling, grammar, and typing lessons. Send in you hard earned bucks to: Delta; PO Box 14 ; Procious WV 25164. Big thanks to LJ!
  • Feb. 24 am  And now the reason you're here. Politics! Down and dirty politics.  The nice and pretty, clean shaven, Mathew Bragg is a sitting Clay County Commissioner and is running for Sheriff in 2004. Bragg is employed  as a policeman in Gassaway. There's the background.
  • Feb. 24 am On the first day to sign up for elected office, Sheriff candidate Mathew Bragg went over to Roger Hunt's house and asked him not to sign up, that Bragg needed the job to support his family. Hunt came back with : Too late, you should have said something a long time ago.
  • Feb. 24 am Since then Bragg passed some stories against his fellow Democrat hopeful Roger Hunt. When asked ( by this rotund one) about the underhanded stories, Bragg confirmed that he had said them but had not intended them to travel. That was in Jan. Now starting a rotten rumor is fine and dandy in Clayberry but experienced politicos don't get caught! Bragg was caught.
  • Feb. 24 am Confirmed by his friend Jim Perdue, and an unnamed third fellow, according to Hunt, Bragg has done two stupid things. One, Bragg did an illegal  background check on Hunt. Two, he told people he did it.  We broke that story ( not the part about being dumb) in yesterday's am posting
  • Feb. 24 am During yesterday's County Commission  meeting, near the end, Bragg said he read the stuff on the web, he  DIDN'T do a 10 27 search on Hunt,  that another person did it and told him about it! Somewhere in his denial statements, Bragg reflected on Jim Perdue with " well, consider the source!" Now remember, Hunt is saying a background check not a 10 27 (driver's license check). After many many years as a sober, caring, thinking, practicing Christian, have we mentioned that Perdue is NOT a happy camper? And Perdue ain't even running for office! Back tot he story clickers....
  • Feb. 24 am Mid afternoon on Monday, Gassaway Police Chief John McKown (that's Bragg's supervisor) let us know, after reading Monday's web posting, he checked the Gassaway records and said: there is no evidence here that Bragg performed a back ground check on Hunt. Hummmmmm.... No evidence.
  • Feb. 24 am  Yesterday evening we learned that Roger Hunt has filed a formal complaint with the Sec of State's office and is seeking an investigation into abuse of police powers and election ethics violations. He has also retained a Charleston attorney.  We hope to get a copy of that complaint and post here late tonight.
  • Feb. 24 am Now just a few weeks into Election 2004, it's starting off pretty nice don't you think? If this is any indication of what lays ahead, 2004 has all the markings of a winner.
  • Feb. 24 am  Here's our part to stir things up:   Fran King is too whiny to be a Commissioner; Dave Mullins is to ball headed to be Sheriff; Harald Fields is too #*** old; Ben Murphy and Morgan Gibson are too ugly to run for anything; and don't call Randy Holcomb "Poopy" or "The Poopster" or the "Little Honey Dipper".....  That ought to get things stirred up enough for a Tuesday.
  • Feb. 24 am  And Yes the County Commission did meet and do stuff Monday. We'll get to that as soon as we can.
  • Feb. 23 pm As of lunch time today, I 79 is still closed to all traffic North and South bound between Clendenin and Wallback exits due to a tractor trailer turning over. The truck ended up well off the concrete and is not leaking toxic stuff. Before the roadway can be reopened, the acid base chemical has to be removed. Until then, Rt 4 in Clay County is the main artery for all the interstate travelers. Needless to say the 2 lane is packed.
  • Feb. 23 pm We'll provide more complete coverage of this morning's County Commission but related to this morning's postings of Sheriff candidate Mathew Bragg conducting a background ground on opponet Roger Hunt.... Bragg says he didn't do it. That another person did the illegal check. And one comment from Sheriff candidate Bragg sure to  kick things up a notch or two... As for Jim Perdue saying Bragg did the background, Bragg, "Just consider the source." Bragg works as a police officer in Gassaway, Braxton County.
  • Feb. 23 am  Greetings there Monday morning clickers. You might have noticed Rt. 4 clogged with traffic yesterday from noon thru last night. Some kind of truck wreck yesterday morning closed I 79 by 1 pm thru last night. Everything was diverted at the Clendenin Exit thru this county. Talk about a mess!!! Fire Depts and State Road crews helped confused looking foreigners on up Rt. 4 to the Big Otter Exit.
  • Feb. 23 am Last night scanner listeners heard Dusty call out for help  with traffic control as a truck load of hams went off the road on Daubenspeck Road.
  • Feb. 23 am This is week two of our online web site fundraiser. So far we've received a few donations,  Thank You and one fellow has offered us a used computer. Big Time thanks LJ. With that being said,  if you're one of the more than 600 people a day coming here for a dose of what's going on in this place we call Clayberry, how about a hand. Let's keep the only source for instant news, views, and crap alive and well. It does take money you know. Send in your donations to Delta; PO Box 14; Procious WV 25164.
  • Feb. 23 am With that out of the way, here's the reason to come to this site.....
  • Feb. 23 am The drug culture has taken over Clay County and is threatening to take our youth down that scummy road of no return. After a recent big time drug bust in Granny's Creek, Roane County Sheriff Todd Cole has asked for help. Click LETS STOP THiS CRAP NOW
  • Feb. 23 am  When you hear the big boys talking about changing plans and "maybe" doing something different, rest assured something is in the works. This time  Roane County Commissioner    has talked to WV Water about supplying water for the long stalled Amma/Left Hand Project controlled by Clay Roane PSD. For years residents from Roane County have asked for water service most importantly but almost as many have asked that the water NOT come from this county. To read the latest hints that something is up click the Times/Record for the scoop. Last week WV Water Co bailed out of Clay County and service for Queen Shoals PSD customers.
  • Feb. 23 am And here's another reason for donating to this site. Where else can you get on the ground floor to the secret Election 2004 scuttlebutt? Here we go clickers. Round One.
  • Feb. 23 am How would you like it if a candidate for Clay County Sheriff got mad at you and did a background check on you? Not related to a ticket, or to an investigation, just out of the blue decided to use the Federal data base to snoop on anyone they wanted to.  Just happened here to one time police officer and now Sheriff candidate Roger Hunt. Who pulled the underhanded trick on a private citizen? County Commissioner and Sheriff hopeful Mathew Bragg that's who!!
  • Feb. 23 am So how can Hunt be so sure Bragg did such an illegal and scummy thing? We confirmed with Ovapa resident Jim Perdue. Bragg told Perdue ( his neighbor and relative) he did it. Additionally,  collaborating what Hunt is saying, about three weeks ago in the Courthouse hall during a County Commission pee break, Bragg overheard others talking about Hunt and his chances at winning in the May primary. Bragg came over to the group and with glee in his eyes, told them THEY should do a background check on Hunt and then decide if they would want him as Sheriff.
  • Feb. 23 am We asked Hunt if there was ANY kind of conviction, or anything hangin over his head and the answer was NO!
  • Feb. 23 am So how much does Bragg want to be Sheriff? What will he NOT do to get the job?   Well, just be careful when you're talking to him, you too may have your privacy invaded!
  • Feb. 23 am This election cycle is just starting to warm up clickers, come back often, tell a friend and be sure to donate to your only source of near award winning news.
  • Feb. 22 pm Before the weekend update, at 1pm Sunday, we've got a chemical spill on I 79. All traffic is being diverted from the Wallback exit to Clendenin. I 79 is closed.
  • Feb. 22 pm We were quiet this mid Feb. week. Some of us ventured out the door in shirt sleeves as the sunny skies brought winter time temps into the 60s. Pneumonia weather as Gramps would say.
  • Feb. 22 pm More political signs went up. As of now it looks like 5 trees and 2 telephone poles will be voting for candidate Mathew Bragg as well as one rock cliff for Mr. Vance. Fund raisers have became the name of the game with every non profit group in the county holding a spaghetti dinner or hot dog sale. Making the most of the election year, the non profits know, those politicians better show up and drop some coin or face the wrath of the non profit group.  Politicians will be crapping spaghetti and ramps for the next three months.
  • Feb. 22 pm  As for Clay County's need for safe drinking water, we've had a set back. WV Water told the folks in the Queen Shoals/Glen areas, Clay County's so screwed up, they, the state's largest and most well financed water provider, wouldn't touch us with a 10 foot pole.
  • Feb. 22 pm By Friday, Renee Boyd from Murder Mountain granted The Communicator and interesting interview of what goes on behind the scenes during a School Board closed door meeting and we learned of another bunch of grant money coming into to Clayberry to help our high schoolers out during the summer youth program.
  • Feb. 22 pm The week ended on a high note as the Clay Middle School girl's basketball team put it all over Spencer to clinch the CWVAC Championship for the fourth year in a row. The CMS team continues to dominate under the direction of Coach Sean Krajeski.
  • Feb. 21  am  For those interested in all the juicy details of life in Clayberry, The Communicator made it to the news stands Friday afternoon. 16 pages of the best kept secrets and only 50 cents too!  Do you know the name Renee Boyd? That's Tommy Young's long time companion. Ms Boyd provided us her thoughts on school system treatment of her son Tommy Jr. before and during the last School Board meeting. Pretty cool thoughts.
  • Feb. 21 am Last night during the CWVAC B Ball tournament Clay Middle Girl's put it all over Richwood for a win. Tonight CMS goes for the Championship at 7:30pm when they battle with The Lady Yellow Jackets of Spencer. Winning has been the norm for Clay Middle. 60 wins in a row!!!!
  • Feb. 21 am Can't say the same for CLay High Girls who lost to Nicholas County in their final game of the season. Sectionals start for CCHS Monday.
  • Feb. 20 am Feels like Spring for sure in Clayberry. Temps are suppose to rise into the 60s.
  • Feb. 20 am Want to have some fun tonight and support our youth? Action starts at 6 when the CWVAC Girl's B Ball Tournament gets under way. Clay Middle Mustang take the court around 7:30pm.
  • Feb. 20 am Tomorrow is the big pancake breakfast over the the Clay County Senior Center at Two Run. Come out and support the local radio station.  Be sure to check the EVENTS page for more fun things to do while the weather is pretty.
  • Feb. 20 am We almost had some action last night. Somewhere mid afternoon Clay Roane PSD called for an Emergency Meeting to be held at the Procious Water Plant beginning at 6pm. There were a couple things on the agenda with the most notable one being a Personnel matter in secret session.
  • Feb. 20 am  Putting our ear to the ground we understand meter reader, maintenance man Dale Deems has been working for Queen Shoals PSD during his time off from Clay Roane PSD. The guess is, Deems was going to get the axe. Didn't happen. An hour or so before meeting time, Chair Postelwait canceled the gathering saying that a quarrel I mean quorum could not be mustered on such short notice.
  • Feb. 20 am  So what's wrong with Deems working at two local PSDs. Well, think about it for a second. Lets say that a leak developed in each water system. With only one repair man, Dale Deems, which leak would he fix first and who would he have to leave in the lurch?
  • Feb. 20 am  Last week we posted the arrest of Maysel resident Sean Andrew Thacker. He's was charges with kidnapping, holding a hostage and  sexual assault stuff involving a 23 year old woman and her very  young daughter.  As they say on TV, But wait there's more!  Thanks to some investigative work by the Hur Herald web site, we now know Thacker had charges against him last summer here in Clayberry and guess what.... those charges were dropped and he went free. For more details click CLAY PROSECUTION FAILS
  • Feb. 20 am  Our online fundraiser continues. Have you mailed in your check of support? How would you like to wake up some morning, head to the Clayberry site and find a blank white screen?  Send in those million dollar checks to Delta; PO Box 14; Procious WV 25164
  • Feb. 19 pm Feels like Spring in these parts with temps expected to rise into the upper 50's today and continue thru Friday. Even the crocus are starting to sprout. For those that partake of ramps, over in Webster County, the tasty Spring eatins have just started to pop thru the dirt. Yum yum!
  • Feb. 19 pm Yelp, it's just getting started. Yesterday the newly bricked old folks center at Two Run put up a nice looking sign proclaiming, Clay County Senior Center. Sound's tame enough doesn't it? Not in Clayberry clickers. Over in town Clay Development Corp (CDC) claims to be the sole owner of the name Senior Center for the county. The battle has raged for years in this county. Behind the scenes, it's there's the money issue. CDC knows during an election year and with this county loaded with people over 60, more money could come to them if they were the sole recipient.
  • Feb. 19 pm This morning CDC emailed over an event posting for  for March 3rd. Take a look at the post over on the EVENT page. Notice "the ONLY senior center" wording. Watch this one to grow especially when the Senior Center at Two Run puts up an even larger sign in the near future.
  • Feb. 19 am   Louis (L.P.) Means, 73, of Ivydale, see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 19 am Care to take an online look at our Southern border colony Clendenin? Click DOWN YONDER  for a look see
  • Feb. 19 am  And there's new bug about ready to zap your puter if you're not real careful. From TechWeb TV click  NEW WORM
  • Feb. 19 am For those that think the School Board and others violate state open meeting laws, you can check out the law online. Click ETHICS COMMISSION for an in depth look see.
  • Feb. 19 am  It's quiet in Clayberry. Warm temps and dry conditions have brought out the locals but they ain't talking. Not even much about the upcoming election. Sheriff  Candidate Mathew Bragg  signs have been sprouting up here and there along with Charlie Vances' and even a couple of Ben Murphy signs.
  • Feb. 19 am Charlie Vance isn't the only candidate with a web site, Secretary of State candidate Earl Daughtery has a nice one too. To view, click  EARL of ELKVIEW
  • Feb. 19 am Speaking of Bragg, or HAC as he has been labeled in the past, Tuesday evening the County Commission held an evening session for residents to come in and try and get their taxes reduced. Not one person showed to seek a reduction in property taxes. Not one! Everyone must be happy with their tax tickets.  Ahhh, Commissioner Bragg was one of the no shows as well
  • Feb. 19 am The first donation from our online Support the Clayberry web site fund raiser has arrived. Thanks and a bunch more is needed. Just think about it along these lines, isn't it nice to go to a web site without ANY pop up ads? That's the next step readers if we can't muster up enough funds to keep this thing alive. Send in your donation to: Delta; PO Box 14; Procious WV 25164. Thanks again.
  • Feb. 19 am And as a note, we regularly update this site around 11pm nightly.While uploading new stuff, the site may come up as unavailable. Sorry for the inconvenince but for now, that's the best we can do.
  • Feb. 19 am   Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.    Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7 of your life.    A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.    Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.   Get a new car for your spouse.  It'll be a great trade!     Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow.
  • Feb. 18 pm We forgot to post this morning the lifting of the Boil Water Order from Clay County PSD for the Ivydale area of Clay County. The BWO was lifted Tuesday Feb. 17 around 11am. They say it's safe to drink again.
  • Feb. 18 am  Hello Marcel N.
  • Feb. 18 am  Frank and Betty, we're almost out of peanut butter. It's time to come home please.
  • Feb. 18 am  Clay County WV has never been a hotbed of growth, industrial development, or for that matter, not known for any kind of development or plans for development. Today the future looks even more dismal.   For over five years this county has been holding on to over $8 million in grants/loans for water line extensions and upgrade. For over 10 years people have been promised "city" water.
  • Feb. 18 am  WV Water Company rep Den Bikerton told Queen Shoals PSD's Jimmy Kearns last Friday, WV Water would NOT be operating the QSPSD system as had been planned. According to QSPSD Board President Kearns, WV Water felt Clay Roane PSD could NOT supply enough water to meet the short term needs of QS and the Clendenin Water Plant ( feeds WV Water) was also unable to help out. We smell something else clickers....
  • Feb. 18 am On the plus side, look for a big announcement later this week when Queen Shoals is scheduled to receive a $60,000 grant from the Gov. As of Feb. 17th, QSPSD has just $114 to their name and debts from all the Dec 2003 water leaks owed to Clay Roane PSD. Clay Roane PSD supplies QSPSD wa wa .  Full details in this Friday's Communicator
  • Feb. 18 am Last year as a result of Feb. Online Fundraiser, we were able to purchase a new digital camera and increase our web site storage capacity. As most will attest, the camera has been put to good use on this web site as well as in the Communicator newspaper. To those that donated last year, thanks. This year we have even greater needs. Back in Dec our primary computer melted down as the processor glowed red as a beet and went up in smoke. Since then, we've been using a $75 puter from state surplus. Keep in mind, neither Terry, Lindy of myself, have taken a single dime from this operation ( that's this web site nor the Communicator)  in more than 10 months and even before that, we netted less than $200 total for the year! Everything has been free gratis.
  • Feb. 18 am Can you help out? Send your $ to Delta; PO Box 14; Procious WV 25164
  • Feb. 18 am From around the country......
  • Feb. 18 am  Police in Oakland, California spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting, "Please come out and give yourself up."...........   An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced him to drive to two different automated teller machines, wherein the kidnapper proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts........   A man walked into a Topeka, Kansas Kwik Stop, and asked for all the money in the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too small, so he tied up the store clerk and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and grabbed him.
  • Feb. 17 am   Mr. James Wilson Reed, Sr. of Clay, see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 17 am  We're on day two of our "Hey buddy can you give us a dime" online fundraising campaign. Nearly 500 people a day turn to this site for a glimpse of Clay County West Virginia with all its warts and blemishes. We're your source for fast breaking stuff like the day JD Morris plead guilty to stealing your money. At other times, we've been the only source for ANY word on things like Gene King resigning his school board seat, on secret meetings around the county, and we were the lead on Tattoo Vince Golosow's gruesome murder of Judd Reid. Help keep us alive and growing strong. Send your check of support to Delta Communications; PO Box 14, Procious WV 25164. Thanks
  • Feb. 17 am Last night a group of 2o or more met in the County Commission room to start mapping out the future of Clay County. Over the next four months, the group of volunteers will laying out where: roads should be built as well as industrial parks, housing developments, infrastructure upgrades, and more.
  • Feb. 17 am in the way of an update, We posted that Prestera client Danny Workman laid in the alley for 45 minutes until an ambulance arrived to take him to a hospital. While that's true, and maybe to matters even worser.... the ambulance was summoned at 10:14 and responded by 10:34. That means the hapless helpless Workman was on the cold pavement dazed for nearly 30 minutes before the private mental health provider knew he had even jumped from a second story window. Is anyone else saying lawsuit?
  • Feb. 17 am  This is for Marlyn Starcher.  Yesterday's Morgantown plane crash post was suppose to be humorous like the next one
  • Feb. 17 am    The owner of a golf course in West Virginia was confused about paying  an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical  help. He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the WVU and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?" The secretary thought a moment, then replied, "Everything but my earrings."
  • Feb. 16 am  Happy Monday morning there cyber world visitors. Welcome to Clayberry in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. You're visiting the home of misspelt words and pretty raw grammar.   This is the first day of our Feb. 2004 Fundraiser Campaign. If you like being able to catch up on life in Clay County, now's the time to contribute. Send in your $$$ to Delta; PO Box 14; Procious WV 25164.
  • Feb. 16 am Feb. is also the only time of the year you can ask the County Commission to reduce your property taxes. So far this month only Tom Dawson has asked for such reduction and guess what? He got it. There's only two chances left this year. Tuesday night at 6 and again on Friday during the day time. Dial 304 587-4259 for an appointment NOW!
  • Feb. 16 am   NEWS FLASH! - Morgantown, WV-----West Virginia's worst air disaster occurred when a small two-seater Cessna 150 plane, piloted by two West Virginia University students, crashed into a cemetery early this morning in Morgantown. Mountaineer search and rescue workers have recovered 300 bodies so far and expect the number to climb as digging continues into the evening.  The pilot and  copilot survived and are helping in the recovery efforts.
  • Feb. 16 am And there is always the story of exploding commodes. Here's a true one. Click EXPLOSION for details.
  • Feb. 15 pm The week that was ......    In Clayberry, the talk was: Is winter over? With a warming trend later in the week and the snow  gone from the hollows, fingers are crossed. Spring may be coming.
  • Feb. 15 pm   Last week opened with Bill Moss victorious in Court with the Judge giving attorney Wayne King a tongue lashing before ordering the prominent Prosecutor candidate to turn loose of  Moss's $6,600 within 24 hours or else!
  • Feb. 15 pm  By mid week, the Town found and was repairing a major water leak half way up Maysel Hill as Clay County PSD invoked another Boil Water Order for the Ivydale area.
  • Feb. 15 pm In politics, a few more signs went up around the county as wantabes knocked on doors and sought support. Over in Clay Roane PSD land, Chief Water Operator Jennifer Traub found out what's it's like to give orders and then have her governing Board not back her up. Clay Roane Boardster Larry White bailed out mentioning he could not get along well with others.
  • Feb. 15 pm As the week ended yesterday, Shawnee Hills client Danny Workman jumped from a second story window. Workman laid in the alley for over 45 minutes before medical assistance was provided.
  • Feb. 15 pm  For this week, and with school in session Monday, our School Board meets at 6pm in the HE White Elem school gumnatorium. Also tonight, the newly formed Clay County Master Land Use Committee meets at the Courthouse at 6pm.
  • Feb. 15 am We're not quite ready to wrap up last week.
  • Feb. 15 am  Remember Shawnee Hills client Danny " Give me a quarter"  Workman from last summer? He's back in the news. Saturday morning around 10 am Danny jumped from a second floor window in the Prestera Center on Main Street. Since the front door was locked down tight, the guess is, Danny wanted out and found a way, a way that was an 18 foot first step, straight down to the pavement.
  • Feb. 15 am Here's the sad part, Workman laid in the alley for nearly 45 minutes in the near freezing temps before an ambulance arrived. Those at the scene said the mild mannered man was dazed, talking little, and complained of his leg hurting. There's little doubt, this latest bizarre event will add more fuel to the long standing question: Is Prestera taking proper care of the patients.
  • Feb. 14 am  Noble Ray Pettit, 74, see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 14 am  In our latest edition of The Communicator comes a story of Carolyn Rogers who asked the County Commission to investigate Deputy Delk. Within minutes of asking for the investigation, Rogers received a ticket from Deputy Robert Belt. That made the second ticket for the diner co owner for the same charge, driving her sister's Ford Ranger pick up with Virginia license plates. Rogers plead not guilty to the charge as Delk handcuffed the middle aged woman and hauled her off. That ticket is scheduled to be heard in Magistrate Court next week.
  • Feb. 14 am On Thursday, right about 2:15 in the afternoon, over the scanner came chatter between Delk and a Green shirt as the Green Shirt asked about giving the "Ranger" another ticket. Delk came back with words not to go after her for that.
  • Feb. 14 am Also from the last Commission meeting.... Town Cop Buckshot Butcher asked the CCC boys to cover the cost of some "winter equipment" like boots and a jacket in addition to a bullet proof vest. Cost for the request: $1530.00.  Down near the bottom of the request and not mentioned during the meeting was another item, an breath a lyzer for $409.99. According to the same paperwork, Buckshot has spent over $100 in ammo out of his own pocket. Now that's a lot of shooting clickers
  • Feb. 14 am Yesterday we posted news from Bill Moss's case over in Roane County where attorney Wayne King was held in contempt of court and ordered to pay what he owed Moss since July of last year plus pay court costs for not showing up when he was suppose to Jan 27th.  As King was being dismissed, Judge Evans scolded King over clients needing to have confidence in their attorney.   We now understand that another case is firming up over Wayne's performance in the Bill Moss case.
  • Feb. 14 am One more follow up from Thursday night's Clay Roane PSD meeting where Boardster Larry White resigned from office. From his resignation letter: "..... recent occurrences demand that I resign my position..... disagreement with the goals and philosophy has hindered my performance and negated my ability to assist ...."  Full covered in the next Communicator.
  • Feb. 14 am  And wrapping up today's Valentine postings....  From Andy Ronney, An over 40 woman will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask , "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think;    An over 40 woman usually has had her fill of "meaningful relationships" and commitment." The last thing she wants in her life is another dopey, clingy, whiny, dependent lover;    Over 40 women are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it;     Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to an over 40 woman. They always know;    Yes, we praise over 40 women for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 40+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress
  • Feb. 13 am  Friday the 13th. X it out three times real quick.
  • Feb. 13 am Send in your Valentine's Day poem. Men, if you're thinking about going to GO Mart late tonight to buy your wife a Valentine's Day present, forget it, won't work. To make her real happy this year, how about a new ride, maybe a Trans Am? Walk over to Hop's Used cars. Use the home page button.
  • Feb. 13 am In Jan The Communicator ran a story on Newton resident Bill Moss and his State Bar complaint against  local businessman and Prosecuting Attorney candidate Wayne King. Back then Moss was real all bent out of shape because Wayne had not given him the Court ordered $6,600 held by King. In a reply to the complaint, King disputed about everything Moss said. That was then...
  • Feb. 13 am On Tuesday Feb. 10th, Roane County Judge Evans gave our man Wayne a tongue lashing and said Moss had very reason to be mad and file a formal complaint. Evans gave King less than 24 hours to give Moss his hard earned money or be in deep stuff. With 20 minutes left on the Court ordered mandate, King showed and provided Moss the money.
  • Feb. 13 am Tuesday's hearing was originally scheduled for Jan 27th. On the 27th, King was a no show. Judge Evans was reaaaaaaaaal peed and during the Feb. 10th proceeding, Wayne King was held in contempt of court and ordered to pay all costs for others that showed up as he played hooky.
  • Feb. 13 am Think everything is goin smoothly water wise in the county? It's not. Clay County PSD has a Boil Water Order in place for Ivydale, the Town of Clay has found a big leak near sue Whiteley's place and is doing major repairs, and folks in the Queen Shoals areas are once again without water service. Others in the Clay Roane PSD system that live near the top of mountains have net to no water service much of the time.
  • Feb. 13 am Last night's Clay Roane PSD meeting was very interesting. It'll take a couple of days to get it all in here.  Here's part one:  Something's going on personnel wise. It appears that employees within the agency are paying little attention to orders given  by Chief Operator Jennifer Traub. So serious is the problem that PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait tried to get some new policies passed and into effect. Didn't work. So fired up was Traub, loudly she yelled back to the Board: You were suppose to support me on this. Traub was madder than H.
  • Feb. 13 am After a big long discussion on getting all the PSD's in the county together for a huddle to discuss the future of Clay County water,  Boardster Larry White resigned. He said he planned this action Jan 27th.
  • Feb. 13 am Check back this weekend for the WV Water part of the meeting.
  • Feb. 12 am Boil Water Order for the Ivydale area of Clay County PSD.  Boil it first
  • Feb. 12 am Things got stinky yesterday in Clay as construction crews tore out a chunk of the high speed poop line heading into the Johnny Wooofter Log Factory (sewer plant) yesterday about noon. With the plant and line located just a few feet from the mighty Elk River, the brown stuff went everywhere. State Health officials were notified as required by law.  So....
  • Feb. 12 am When you're out angling this weekend for that big Musky, remember what he ate for lunch Wednesday.
  • Feb. 12 am This evening at 7 is the Clay Roane PSD meeting at the CDC building on Main Street. Be sure to come out and watch the action first hand. Best entertainment in the County and free too. the PSD has held a top secret closed door session during the last many many gatherings and each time, they emerge and say: No decisions made.
  • Feb. 12 am Of course, after so many times of this, something has to be decided. Who knows, maybe something will happen tonight. Don't miss it
  • Feb. 12  am And a note on Queen Shoals PSD and their choice to have WV Water take over the operation for now and take the entire system over down the road. Some in the county feel, if Queen Shoals stops buying water from Clay Roane, with those 150 fewer customers, they may find them in financial hot water.  Maybe not.
  • Feb. 12 am  With 150 fewer QSPSD customers to supply, Clay Roane can cut back on operating times and save big bucks on labor costs. In the long run, loosing QSPSD may work out better for them!
  • Feb. 12 am From Tuesday's Clay Town Council meeting:  Jeff Davis was hired as the attorney for the Maysel water line extension project at $75 per hour. He was the lone bidder.  With an attorney on board, the $1 million project can start digging dirt late Spring, maybe....... The Town Christmas decorations finally came down Tuesday ......  FEMA appears ready to grant  more $$ to the Town to repair shoreline damage just up river from the Log Factory behind Johnny Osborne's home. FEMA has already agreed to $150,000 for repairs behind the Log Factory as a result of the Nov. 2003 flooding.
  • Feb. 12 am Word of Wisdom:  Save the whales. Collect the whole set.    A day without sunshine is like, night.   On the other hand, you have different fingers.
  • Feb. 11 pm NEW BOIL WATER ORDER from CLay County PSD for the IVYDALE water service area issued at 4pm by Cindy Schoolcraft
  • Feb. 11 am For those in the Lizmores on south section of the county. Your Communicators made it to the news stands by 10 am yesterday morning. Just 50 cents for 20 pages of the best near award winning paper in the state.
  • Feb. 11 am Tied her up (twice), rape, weapons, threatened the 23 year woman's young daughter as well ..... No it's not New York or Cleveland, it's right here in West Virginia. Sean Andrew Thacker. Remember him? He's just an average guy, 28 years old. Attended Clay County Schools. Lived at Maysel, kids of his own....  He's now in Jail.  Full details, click ONE OF OUR OWN.
  • Feb. 11 am And then the followed up, click  THACKER.
  • Feb. 11 am If convicted, Thacker faces 2 life sentences
  • Feb. 11 am And the answer to yesterday's movie trivia question: Silence of the Lambs.  Clarisse came to Clay County to investigate one of Buffalo Bills murders after a body had washed up on the shore of the Elk River. About 35 clickers emailed correctively. Your million dollars is at the Clayberry Bank in the form of food stamps. Just stop by and tell them you're there to pick up your prize.
  • Feb. 11 am And we have another Valentine poem: Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.   But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head. Keep em coming clickers, use the email link below
  • Feb. 11 am  Had some excitement in our Southern border colony of Clendenin... Sunday night about every fire department in Kanawha County was called in for help including the foam truck from Yeager Airport. Around 9 pm motorists noticed a big fire and smoke billowing up from the Cobb Station gas plant just North of Clendenin. One of the boilers ruptured and fire broke out.
  • Feb. 11 am Also from Clendenin, about 2:30am Sunday morning, over the scanner came a 911 call as the Town's police Jeep got it in the side by a state road vehicle. Here's the way we've got it pieced together.
  • Feb. 11 am On a cold snowy early morning shift, new to the police force Zack Conrad was hiding beside the old Pennzoil filling station waiting for some unsuspecting motorist to issue a citation (and enlarge the Town's Court room coffers).  A fellow didn't come to a complete stop at the sign and turned across the bridge. Lead foot Conrad, hit the gas and crossed the three lanes in hot pursuit. What he forgot to do was see if anything was coming. There was. The state vehicle wiped out the side of the white Jeep. No injuries during the costly, on the job training, accident. Officer Zack Conrad is the son of one time Clay County Sheriff and current Clendenin Police Chief, Larry Conrad.
  • Feb. 11 am And here's one that has been weighing heavily on our minds... When the snow melts, what happens to the white?
  • Feb. 11 am We'll get in a post on yesterday's Commission meeting and Town Council gathering late today.
  • Feb. 10 am Edgar Romey Jeffrey, 83, of Indore, see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 10 am Keep those Valentine poems coming clickers. And TP, you know we can't print that one!
  • Feb. 10 am The Communicator made to the Northern end of the county yesterday late late with the balance being delivered to the 5 county area by 11 am Tuesday. Sorry for the slowness but we've got 20 pages of some pretty good stuff this time including the truth about a rumor on the son of an elected official and political favors. Now if that doesn't get you out to buy the paper nothing will!
  • Feb. 10 am Today at 11am our County Commission will meet. On the agenda is mention that the proposed Emergency Service Excess Levy vote may be delayed until later this year. We'll know more after this morning's meeting
  • Feb. 10 am Yesterday's post included mention of the Elvis Dawson trial for today. Before you make the trip to town to sit in, you might want to check with the Circuit Clerk's office. Often court stuff changes without much notice.
  • Fen 10 am OK, here's the question: What famous movie mentioned Clay County and a body washing up on the shore of the Elk River? Email your answers with the link below. Winner will receive a million dollars....just kidding about that last part.
  • Feb. 9 am Greetings there clickers from around the world. Glad to have you aboard for your daily dose of Clay County West Virginia happenings.
  • Feb. 9 am The Communicator will finally make it to the news stands later this afternoon. 20 pages of near award winning info found no where else!
  • Feb. 9 am County Commission will not be meeting this morning .The meeting has been postponed until Tuesday at 11 am. Seems the Commissioners are away for paper training as they call it. This time if they crap in the corner instead of on the paper, we're going to be reaaal upset.
  • Feb. 9 am Tomorrow if you're in town, the Elvis Dawson trial is scheduled to begin at 9 am and later , at 3pm Tuesday, Clay Town Council meets at the water plant. more as the weeks moves along.
  • Feb. 9 am  From the AP wire: American soldiers are dying at a rate of more than one a day in Iraq, despite some leaders claiming we've broken the back of the insurgency. The toll in January was 45 , five more than in December despite hopes that deposed President Saddamn Hussein's capture would stop the killings. All told, 525 US troops have died in the war including 5 so far this month. the number os seriously injured is in the 1000's.
  • Feb. 9 am Send in your Valentine poems for posting. Nothing too nasty please. For example, My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife: Marrying you screwed up my life .      I see your face when I am dreaming.  That's why I always wake up screaming
  • Feb. 9 am For those interested in what the nuts in Charleston are up to, we've got Senator Shirley Love's Legislative Update over on the ADVISORY page.
  • Feb. 8 am  And never say that the internet hasn't hit Clayberry. School Board candidate Charlie Vance has his own web site. Click First for the County
  • Feb. 8 am Don't forget to send in your Valentine's Day poems. Nothing too filthy please!
  • Feb. 8 am And the week that was...
  • Feb. 8 am As for Clay Development Corp living within the boundaries of a recent court order, not a chance. The Family clan couldn't take a chance, they tossed out those needing a free lunch  Monday and held a meeting to retoss Earnie Wide Glide Sirk. With job security at issue, employees were told to be there! And come they did, the place was packed as Sirk was once again illegally tossed from the super secret "play it our way or out you go" social service provider.
  • Feb. 8 am Monday evening it became apparent, the School Board had held another one of their away from the public "special" meetings. Most anytime they need to do something sensitive, away they go. With Gene King appointed to Scott Legg's Board position during the secret time, Rick Tanner was selected to represent District A, King's old spot of 30 years. Maybe the next election cycle will put an end to such end run plays in Clayberry.
  • Feb. 8 am By Tuesday evening, after the CAEZ meeting, we knew of a new plan to try and regain the ever so controversial Filcon Inc. industrial site near Valley Fork. After spending 100s of $1000s of taxpayer dollars only to have a local bank seize the taxpayer land in a court proceeding, it was time to try it all over again. Later last week, our  Business Development Authority OK'd the plan for CAEZ to come up with $50,000 to satisfy  the bank lien in return for half ownership.
  • Feb. 8 am  Within days of laying off two employees, Clay County PSD restarts and completes construction of a new storage building behind their Main Street Clay digs.
  • Feb. 8 am By week's end the various and many Boil Water Orders around the county had been lifted. Once again the over treated and fowl tasting high dollar wa wa was running through the pipes. The WV PSC told Clay PSD they had four months to pay off an old lingering water Debt to their supplier, the Town of Clay.
  • Feb. 8 am  Construction began on the Town's Sewer plant $100,000.00 bank restoration project in an attempt to save the  log factory from slipping into the Elk River.
  • Feb. 8 am This past week, the weather outside was frightful. The freezing and thawing brought up pot holes better known as tank traps. As one crew went South to scrap off ice and snow, another went North with hot asphalt to fill in the craters.
  • Feb. 8 am  In the way of tidbits last week: You can call CCHS Principal Dobbins, Sugar Ray Dobbins from now on...... the Communicator was delayed a couple of days to try and get in one more juicy story .... 12 Sheriff candidates jockeyed for position as election signs started to sprout around the county..... More formal complaints were received on the performance or lack of performance of local PSDs.
  • Feb. 8 am Snow and cold blanketed the county yesterday once again. We're having a real winter this time around.
  • Feb. 7 pm We're finishing up a week of extremes. Weather wise, we've had it all from warm moderate temps to last night's rain, flooding, turning into ice followed by snow continuing today. This is beginning to be a real winter.
  • Feb. 7 am After months and months of the media exposure to the outrageous  consequences of new homeland security measures and reductions in civil liberties with the Patriot Act, finally Americans are beginning to realize how scary Dubbya's new USA has become. This past week even the Big Apple objected and formally struck down the extremist position and denounced the Patriot Act. Click Coming to our Senses for details
  • Feb. 7 am  And even in the depths of a long gray cold winter, there's a glimmer of hope, Jerry Linkinooooger filed for  County Commission in another county. Click He's finally Gone for the details.... Ahhh but don't get too excited, it's another Link and maybe just wishful thinking
  • Feb. 7 am Clay Roane PSD Boardster Larry White spoke out on citizen requests in Roane County who desire another source for water and the Amma Left Hand water line extension. Seems those folks know the problems with Clay County made water sources. Click Not Going to Happen for more.
  • Feb. 7 am If you plan on going today to pick up the newest copy of the Communicator, don't. We're not coming out until Monday evening. We've got something we think
  • Feb. 8 am Don't forget , the dip and donate dinner begins Sunday at 1pm. EVENTS page for details
  • Feb. 6 am Batten down the hatches, Clayberry is about to blow and wash away! Last night the winds howled and the sleety rain came. Snow predicted for tonight. Be careful out there.
  • Feb. 6 am The Boil Water Order for the Clay County PSD service area has been lifted.
  • Feb. 6 am Volumes have been written about the quagmire known as Filcon.  Even more has been written about the calamity of errors by the Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone, the Clay County Bank, and our Business Development Authority. At one point CAEZ Director Jerry Sizemore uttered, " I just away from that mess!!"
  • Feb. 5 am We're about to open another volume. Last night the BDA voted unanimously to go into partnership with CAEZ and purchase the 11 acre tract of land near Valley Fork,  again! Again is right. In Dec 2003, Judge Facemire decreed that the BDA already owned the tract of flood prone land.
  • Feb. 5 am The Clayberry Bank has agreed to turn loose the $147,000 lien against the Filcon land and sell the land back to the county for $50,000. In return for CAEZ's coughing up the $50,000, the agency will be given 50% ownership.  As stated during last night's meeting, owning half a loaf of bread is better than none.
  • Feb. 5 am  We're holding up today's Communicator until MONDAY. Someone tell Johnny Wooofter, Monday!  We've got a hot story we're working on for this edition.
  • Feb. 5 am Motorists noticed a big pile of steel I beams beside the radio station. The 16 beams will be cut in half and used at the Log Factory (sewer plant) at Pisgah. There is one tiny problem. Johnny Wooofter. Wooooofter , who owns the only paved road to the facility has forbidden heavy trucks.
  • Feb. 5 am  Send in your favorite Valentine's Day poem. Here's one to get you started: Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you. But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.
  • Feb. 5 am  Walter R. "Bud" Summers, Jr., see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 5 am Great big Howdy Doody to FM and BM on the South Padre resort island off the coast of Texas.
  • Feb. 5 am Last call for classifieds, event listings, and all you politicians wanting to get in this week's Communicator.  Email your info using the link below. Deadline is today at 5pm.
  • Feb. 5 am Today Clay County's Business Development Authority meets at the Courthouse beginning at 5pm. The top issue for the group is buying back the old Filcon industrial site from the Clay County Bank. Unofficially, the deal calls for the Bank to offer the 11 acre parcel for $50,000.00. On the plus side, taxpayers have already invested nearly $30,000 in 3 phase power, another $20,000 for site prep, and $90,000 to purchase the land. The idea of salvaging something from the mess sounds reasonable until you think about the flood plan issue, the site being locating on a trout stream tributary, and no deed search being done before the county bought the place in the beginning.
  • Feb. am State Code allows public bodies to call special and emergency meetings for well.. emergency situations. Last Saturday our School Board called such a meeting. According to the meeting minutes, three things happened: accept Gene King's resignation; discuss Shawna Fitzwater's request for Board to pay her insurance while on family leave; and discuss training slots for bus drivers. Does any of that sound like an emergency ? It's not. The goal was to meet away from the public's eye. They accomplished their goal. By the way, Dave Pierson motioned to accept King's resignation with Kim Sams seconding the motion.
  • Feb. 5 am One other note from that School Board meeting. The official minutes call it a "regular meeting". There's one big Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
  • Feb. 5 am It's the Prosecutor's job to prep witnesses before a trial. About 2 seconds into Tuesday's State vs Jeffrey Mollohan trial, a mistrial was called after Prosecutor Grindo asked the wrong question of Trooper Bailey. Booommm! Immediately, a mistrial. Chalk up one more for the youthful Prosecutor.
  • Feb. 5 am Also from Tuesday, the victim in that trial, Felicia Cottrell, was a no show. Judge Alsop ordered a capius on Ms Cottrell sending her straight to lock up, not a bail bondsman. With the case tossed , Felecia escaped the wrath of Alsop this time.
  • Feb. 5 am Clay County PSD buys wholesale water from the Town of Clay. Back a few months ago, Clay County PSD filed a formal complaint against the Town of Clay over super high water bills. The PSD asked for a reduction and a payment arrangement. They just got it! The WV Public Service Commission reduced the water debt load from $3121.42 down to $2092.82 and is allowing the PSD to make four payments of $530.00 each on the since June 2003 debt.
  • Feb. 5 am Also on Clay County PSD.... remember when they said the Town owed them money because of a faulty meter near Ivydale? The PSC boys ( Hello JM and DF) came to Clayberry Tuesday and low and behold, it ain't a faulty meter but rather, Clay County PSD has a 50 gallon per minute water leak. Full details this Friday in the Communicator.
  • Feb. 5 am  Some folks have suggested that the local PSDs and Town water providers should pay for customer gas and electric bills. With all the Boil Water Orders, it's getting expensive to boil gallons and gallons of wa wa!
  • Feb. 5 am   42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.  99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.   Remember, half the people you know are below average.   He who laughs last, thinks slowest.   Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.   The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.   I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.
  • Feb. 4 am  Jacob Allen Myers, see FUNERAL page
  • Feb. 4 am BOIL WATER ORDER for Newton, Valley Fork and Wallback. Boil it first
  • Feb. 4 am  You know Valentine's Day is right around the corner and buying your wife a hydraulic jack will get you no where. Ditto on buying something from Go Mart on Feb13th. We've got a couple of suggestions. Click over to our home page and check out the deals on "Not Bad Gifts" owned by Clay County folks. Or for some pretty weird stuff from a Clendenin kid, click Zag Shoppe.
  • Feb. 4 am So how did Gene King  from School Board District A end up replacing Boardster Scott Legg from District B? Last Saturday  a very very quiet, away from the public , meeting was held where O. Gene resigned from A district. During Monday night's regular school board meeting, first up, Gene was appointed to represent District B. With a vacancy in A district, Link and Assoc.'s appointed Ric Tanner to the spot. Isn't it great how the public is always informed?
  • Feb. 4 am  With that stuff out of the way, we've got something just as interesting...
  • Feb. 4 am  Last night during the CAEZ meeting, first official word came of a plan to re buy the old Filcon Inc. industrial site from the Clay County Bank. For those that have had their heads in the sand this last 24 months, briefly: Clay County Commission paid $90,000 for 11 acres of dirt so the Business Development Authority (BDA) could give it away to the now defunct Filcon Inc. The Clay County bank placed a lien against the land as Filcon's Manfred Kuentzer used the dirt as collateral.  After a 15 month court battle, a jury awarded the property ( for all intent and purpose) to the Clayberry Bank. The lien amounts to $144,000.00. The bank wants to unload the sometimes flood prone holding....
  • Feb. 4 am  According to CAEZ Director Sizemore,  BDA Chair Paige Willis has been in contact with the bank and the bank may be willing to sell the property back to the county for $50,000.00. The BDA has only $9000 to their name. CAEZ may get involved and cough up the $50,000 in exchange for part ownership. Last night the CAEZ Board of Directors endorsed the plan except for the $50,000 part. If negotiations work out, the CAEZ will hold  a Special meeting and cough up the loot. Full details in this Friday's Communicator
  • Feb. 4 am Our Business Development Authority will meet this Thursday at 5pm. Should be a good meeting.
  • Feb. 4 am Our loyal appointed Prosecutor Daniel Grindo has bailed out of Clayberry and is seeking elected office in Braxton County. Grindo will be on the ballot as will one time judicial candidate Bill Martin. Current Braxton County Prosecutor Brian Lanham is not seeking re election.
  • Feb. 3 pm  The Town of Clay lifted the Boil Water Order for the town, Clay County PSD and Varneytown this morning. That's a good thing
  • Feb. 3 pm Clay Roane PSD issued a NEW NEW Boil Water Order this morning at 8:10 for Wallback, Valley Fork, and Newton service areas.
  • Feb. 3 pm That order was issued at 8:10 am but by 6 am local administrators had already closed Valley Fork Elem. Officials at Clay Roane said they found out about the leak from early morning school closure reports on TV.  By this afternoon, a leak was detected near the old Pennzoil station near I-79
  • Feb. 3 pm And one little note from yesterday's Clay Development Corp Special meeting. CDC is charged with helping senior citizen's in the county. Each day they provide a free lunch meal at the CDC center on Main Street. Yesterday. the needy seniors did without a lunch so the CDC family could gather their forces, have a special meeting and toss Wide Glide ( and retoss others) from the membership roles.
  • Feb. 3 am BOIL W ATER ORDER continues for Town of Clay, VarneyTown and Clay County PSD.
  • Feb. 3 am Today at 4pm CAEZ'z Eco/Dev Committee meets followed by the full Board at 6pm. Clay Town Council will NOT meet today. Their meeting was postponed until next Tuesday at 3 pm
  • Feb. 3 am  Things aren't going to so well for Clay County PSD. Last Friday Jimmy Summers and Beverly Duffield were laid off. According to the office manager, the PSD is in debt due to the rash of water line breaks and water loss.
  • Feb. 3 am  You got to hand it to the Clay Development Corp (CDC) gang. They know how to rally the family! During yesterday's Special General Membership meeting, the clan gathered more than 100 people to vote to toss one time CDC Board Chairman Earnie "We Don't Like Him Anymore" Sirk. To make doubly sure that no one remained that might ask embarrassing questions, a like number of voters reconfirmed  the hate for Herschel Shamblin, Denise Taylor, Mary Workman and Andy Waddell by voting to remove those four from general membership roles again. Again? Yelp, those last four were tossed from service more than a year ago.
  • Feb. 3 am CDC Chair Gary Whaling scolded Sirk for costing CDC big bucks for frivolous lawsuits. Of course, Sirk won the last lawsuit when the Judge ordered CDC to put Sirk back on the general membership. So what happens when the Judge orders one thing and the CDC goes and does it again?  The guess is, CDC will cough up more lawyer fees when Sirk or some other takes the private clannish social service provider back to Court.
  • Feb. 3 am  What did Judge Alsop say above removing ANYBODY from the CDC General Membership? According to the Court order : the secretary ( That's Janet Fitzwater) may strike names from the membership list after each REGULAR general membership meeting. Yesterday's gathering as not a regular meeting but rather a Special meeting.
  • Feb. 3 am More postings later this afternoon clickers. Subjects to cover: Queen Shoals petition to have WV Water Co come in and takes over the entire operation; Gene King resigning from School Board and Ric Tanner taking his spot. Check back late this afternoon.
  • Feb. 2 am  Happy Ground Hog Day. Jan is over and Spring is just around the corner, or so they say.
  • Feb. 2 am  If you haven't heard, the Town of Clay issued a Boil Water Order for the municipality , Varneytown and Clay County PSD Sunday morning. Boil it first please
  • Feb. 2 am  We forgot to mention Clay Elem. teacher Vicky Walker Schoonover filed for the House of Delegates race. On the ballot her name will be listed, Mrs. Randy Schoonover
  • Feb. 2 am We've got a couple interesting meetings today. At 11 am is a Special General Membership meeting of Clay Development Corp (CDC). The game plan is to toss out question raising members before they ( Earnie Sirk and crew) have an opportunity to remove general members who are also employees of CDC.
  • Feb. 2 am This evening our school board meets at 6pm. Watch them to announce they've already met and decided on Ric Tanner to replace resigned Scott Legg and made a decision on the site of the new consolidated school. Guess is, the Dice Boggs land will be the choice.
  • Feb. 2 am  So all well in Clay County PSD land? The WV PSC received two complaints and requests for a hearing last week . One from Larry McLaughlin and the other from Barbara Sears. Last year McLaughlin complained of no , none, zilch water service after 11pm nightly. After fighting a word battle with Clay County PSD Chair Keith King, PSC engineers cured the problem.  That was then... So what are the financial woes at Clay County PSD? Soon clickers, soon.
  • Feb. 2 am Take a look at your Elk Power bills. The WV PSC gave the green light to rate increases. From the WV PSC : IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the following fuel surcharges be, and they hereby are, approved for all service rendered on and after the date that this order becomes final: Black Diamond Power Company ($0.0029727) per kwh; Elk Power Company ($0.0069002) per kwh; Elkhorn Public Service Company ($0.0028673) per kwh; Kimball Light and Water Company ($0.0032507) per kwh; Union Power Company ($0.0028941) per kwh; United Light and Power Company ($0.0029679) per kwh; and War Light and Power Company ($0.0030329) per kwh.  Full details in this Friday's Communicator
  • Feb. 2 am  We mentioned an email received Saturday from an Ivydale resident complaining of no gas service Saturday morning when it was blue cold. A Sunday email said the no gas service continued Sunday morning when was even colder.
  • Feb. 2 am If you want to save some of the pictures over on our PHOTO page, better do so soon. We're going to remove the Town Election 2003 pictures, as well as older images on the Elected and Appointed page. It's easy to do, enlarge the picture, right click, and hit save picture as function.
  • Feb. 2 am  A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes. (In my next life, I want to be a pig.)
  • Feb. 2 am   A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Creepy.)  (I'm still not over the pig.)
  • Feb. 2 am  Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour. (Do not try this at home...... maybe at work.)
  • Feb. 2 am  The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head! off. ("Honey, I'm home. What the....?!")
  • Feb. 2 am  The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. (30 minutes... lucky pig... can you imagine??)
  • Feb. 2 am  The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
  • Feb. 2 am Some lions mate over 50 times a day. (I still want to be a pig in my next life...quality over quantity)
  • Feb. 1 pm Town of Clay issued a Boil Water Order this morning at 11 am. No chlorine in a section of line according to Dwana Murphy. This includes all Clay County PSD customers and Varneytown too. Boil It First !!!!
  • Feb. 1 am So what do we do in small town America on a Saturday night? Head over to the Courthouse and wait around until midnight to see who else signs up for office. And sign up they did!  Here's the rundown, For County Commission with no republican contenders: Fran King, Harald Fields, Brain Holcomb, and Rodney C Bullard. It's clear sailing for incumbents Mike Asbury and Judy Moore, no competition this time around. Not so for Assessor Suzie Legg with Teresa Lane in the race
  • Feb. 1 am  With Prosecutor Daniel Grindo not caring enough about this county run for office, candidates for the opening are: Wayne King, Jim Samples, Barry L Koerber, and Barbara Harmon Schamberger. Watch for this race to be a dandy
  • Feb. 1 am We've got 13 candidates for the four open School Board slots. Candidates and their respective districts this time around: Llyn Drake (B), Kim Sams (A), Earnie Sirk (A), RB Legg (C), Beth Cercone (C), Gene King (B), Dave Derby (B), Charles Vance (C), Rick Tanner (A), Herschel Shamblin (A), Dawn Shultz (A), George Workman (A), Ben Murphy (C). What a line up clickers. Incumbents may have their  work cut out!
  • Feb. 1 am  And talk about a heck of a turn out!!!!!!!!!!!! Candidates for the high Sheriff post, demorats: Morgan Gibson, Joe Morris, Randy Holcomb, Matthew Bragg, Roger Hunt, Donny Triplett, Robert Boggs, Buckshot Butcher, Scott Legg Jr., James Paxton, Jim R Paxton.  Don't forget the lone Republican candidate Dave Mullins. That makes  12 running for one $39,000 a year job.
  • Feb. 1 am  And a late filer in the Magistrate's race brings the contestants to 4: Jeff Boggs, Mike King, Russell Whiteley and Denise Taylor.
  • Feb. 1 am  And a couple of notes.... More could be added this week when the mail-in filing applications are received as late as Wednesday. And then it's not really over either! The Mountain Party has ballot access just like the Demos and Repubs. The Mt Party candidates won't be known until after their April caucus at Flatwoods. Watch for another candidate or two to be added then.
  • Feb. 1 am You think it was cold for you this morning and yesterday? Gas service went out for some residents in the Two Run area yesterday am. We received one email of  gas and electric outage in the Ivydale area.
  • Feb. 1 am Senator Shirley Love sent us this week's Legislative Update. Walk over to the ADVISORY page to see what's going on down in Charleston.