JULY 2004 NEWS

  • July 31 am  You can tell when there's a full moon by the scanner traffic. Like last night came audio of a couple of drunks in and out of traffic on Main Street
  • July 31 am Later in the evening came word of a family fight on Independence Mountain. Snippets from the scanner chatter:  911 .. girl with face thru a windshield... law enforcement needed..... "You might want to step it up"; Badge: "I'm running as fast as I can"; Second badge to first Badge: " I hate for you to go in there by yourself if anyway possible." 15 minutes later from 911: No one will press charges.. the Mom just wants the windows put back in her car.... there was some screaming in the background...
  • July 31 am Somewhere in there the Badge ended up at the wrong trailer and the neighbor provided directions to the family fight. Finally Badge #1: There it is..there's a guy in the driveway with a ball bat....; A little later from badge #2 (maybe): The woman is breaking up all the stuff in her house... We're going to leave her alone.
  • July 31 am Still later from 911 came a new problem: Now we have a prowler on the Left Fork of Sandy.
  • July 31 am  Lots going on the County today. Big car wash  today at GO Mart Two Run beginning at 9 am. Lots of music during the Allen Ramsey BEnefit Sing at Maysel Park. Sounds begin at 9am with Karoke at noon.
  • July 31 am The 2 hour live music show, Summer Jam 2004 at WYAP-LP, starts up at 6 weather permitting.  Check the EVENTS page for more
  • July 31 am All right all you women. The Pope is peed at you if you have a job, maintain a career.. something other than staying pregnant. Click POP for details of the new report.
  • July 31 am  And boy those pesky new comers are rocking the boat over in School Board land. Newbee School Boardster is providing an agenda of what's going to happen at this coming Monday night's Board meeting. That's something Link never never does. Click on Cercone's web site then click the button Board notes.
  • July 31 am  For those interested in campaign money, who donated what, who got what... Click OPEN SECRETS for more
  • July 30 am Barbara L. Collins  see FUNERAL page
  • July 30 am  Maycle Marie Samples, see FUNERAL page
  • July 30 am  There have been 1,035 coalition deaths, 913 Americans, 61 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, seven Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and seven Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of July 29, 2004
  • July 30 am Last night just after midnight, over the scanner came a report of a hit and run at the Big Otter Go Mart. Not so news worthy except both vehicles were tractor trailer rigs and the one that drove off wrecked getting back on I-79 S. From a responder, 12:19am, " He's got the entrance ramp blocked.." 12:22am  "The trailer is loaded with cheese... the undercarriage is badly damaged.....  it's twisted side ways".
  • July 30 am The Hur Herald picked up on the dismal performance of our Prosecutor Daniel Grindo.  Click SAD for more.
  • July 30 am TV viewers suffered thru four nights the Demorat Convention minus any mention of breaches in security or the 100s of protesters outside the convention hall. The 100% choreographed extravaganza went smooth until last night when an off air mic was patched into the live feed on CNN. For a complete transcript of the %%@@@ language and the only interesting part of the convention, click FOUL!
  • July 30 am Wonder if Dubbya's decency police will step in and fine the network for the F word employed by the Director of the Demorat Convention?
  • July 30 am We're polishing off another week, another month as Summer zooms past. The heat and humidity are upon us. With bright red tomatoes and sweet corn to fill our plates, the bounty is worth the rest.
  • July 30 am  To Roy Cunningham Happy Anniversary  to my loving husband, whom I love now, tomorrow ,and forever. You are my world. From you wife, Holly Cunningham
  • July 30 am Behind the scenes a hand full of volunteers have been working to set up a fall event to lure visitors into the county during the peak fall colors season. The plan is to get "yanks" in here for a few days, get as much $ out of them as possible via, flea markets, yard sales, craft sales, and such and then send them on their way back home. If you're interested in helping to set up the Fall Foilage event or participate in it, call CAEZ's Michelle, Connie, or Stacy at 304-587-2034.
  • July 30 am Last night the folks that put on the Apple Festival met at the Lion's Club Casino on Main Street. This year many new events are being added including a skillet throwing contest for irate wives.
  • July 30 am Don't say there isn't anything to do this weekend. Check out the EVENTS page for lots of cooool stuff to do.
  • July 29 am Last night just after midnight, Buckshot Butcher reported over the scanner that the pop machine in front of the senior center at Two Run was cracked open with bolt cutters and "be advised that the money and everything is gone." A few minutes later ( 1:03am), Town Cop Butcher reported thugs tried to open the pop machine at Dawson's Service Center but we're unsuccessful.
  • July 29 am In yesterday's posting, scanner traffic included shots fired. We have an update. What that caller heard was not a gun but rather, firecrackers.
  • July 29 am During last weekend's Ag Fair at Maysel Park, an 800 pound cow got loose and remains are large. Most feel, the animal is now in someone's freezer.
  • July 29 am Sometimes when we spout off too soon, often apologies have to be employed. Today is not one of those times. Our postings of Prosecutor Daniel Grindo blowing the opening statement in the State vs Salisbury murder trial were sadly, correct.
  • July 29 am Yesterday, the felony murder charges against Tonya Salisbury were pled down to the misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter. By pleading guilty, Ms Salisbury will be sentenced in Sept. for up to one year in jail and/or up to a $1000 fine.
  • July 29 am Since Salisbury has already spent 6 months in the slammer for failing pee tests while out on bond, and with the sentencing in Sept, the young woman should be out and a free person again in early fall.
  • July 29 am  As Judge Alsop went through the routine of informing the defendant of her rights, the Mother of the deceased, went to tears. Afterward Chad Salisbury's Grand Mother asked Grindo if he had a son. Grindo responded. The lady told him: IF he should get killed,  I hope you can find a better lawyer than yourself.
  • July 29 am Our appointed by the County Commission, Prosecutor Dan Grindo screwed up and as a result of his dismal performance.... well, he leaves office in Dec and that's none to soon.
  • July 28 am  First some puter housekeeping... Over on the CLASSIFIED page is an ad mentioning a lost boxer. An emailer thinks she has found the dog. Here are some excerpts from that  Email:   I am writing in regard to an ad published in your paper regarding a missing 1 year old Boxer, last seen in Procious wearing a blue collar.  I have called the number listed with the ad, but reach a gentleman who says I've got the wrong number and that he doesn't own a Boxer.  I am therefore assuming the number was printed incorrectly and am asking your help in locating the person who submitted the ad or a new number to contact the person as I believe I may have found the dog???  Could you please email me back to let me know if you have another number ,or you may call me during the day at 872-0813 and evenings at 651-6261.  Thank you so much for your help  Clickers, as soon as we post the ads, we toss the paperwork. If anybody can help, call the emai lady. Thanks
  • July 28 am Last night over the scanner around 10:36pm, 911 Dispatcher called for law enforcement for distrubance on High Street in Clay," Jonathan Sizemore pulled a gun on Tommy Holcomb." Sounded like Tpr Bailey went to the scene.
  • July 28 am And we're asking clickers to support efforts to save the Elkhurst Swinging Bridge. Many feel the landmark is worth keeping as a means for many residents to cross the Elk River and a tourism draw for the area. Here's the post we listed Monday: Take five minutes away from your busy schedule and call Thelma Hughes in the Governor's office at 1 888-438-2731. It's  a toll free call too.
  • July 28 am  Since that Monday posting, we received this from Ms Hughes: Who gave you permission to include my name on your web site regarding the closure of the Elkhurst Swinging Bridge?  Please delete my name from your publication as soon as possible.  Should anyone call this office regarding the bridge in question the call will be forwarded appropriately.   Thank you for honoring my request.   Thelma Hughes Governors Office of Constituent Services
  • July 28 am Sounds like they're getting some calls in Charleston doesn't it! IF you're interested in saving one of the few  landmarks in the county, call 1-888-438-2731 today. It's toll free and will only take a few minutes. Tell em to fix our swinging bridge!   Ahhhhhhhh, don't ask for Thelma. She might be a little testy today
  • July 28 am  Get your Rolaids, this one is going to pee you off reaaaaaal bad.
  • July 28 am For nearly 18 months, murder charges have been on record against Tonya Salisbury in the shooting death of her husband Chad. After the family of the deceased realized the local Prosecutor's office was doing nothing with the case, they hired attorney Dan Dotson to come in and see justice done. They paid $10,000 for his service. After a long delay, the State vs Salisbury trial began last week. After two days and 50 prospective jurors later, a jury was seated yesterday around 12:20pm.
  • July 28 am Shortly after lunch break, Daniel Grindo, our own Prosecutor provided the Opening Statement for the state. Dressed in his finest matching suit and socks, dressed to the T, the  banny rooster sounded good, used good body language, and came across convincing. So far so good? WRONG
  • July 28 am Within a nano second of Gringo proudly completing his oratorical exercise, the aging and portly defense attorney, John R Mitchell Sr, nailed Grinfo's arss!!!!!!!!! According to Mitchell, Grinpo had forgot to link Tonya with: a weapon, the crime scene, a motive, pulling a trigger, or even being in Widen Sept. 23 when Chad died!  Mitchell told the court that his client had not been mentioned during our youthful Grinto's opening statements and asked for a directed verdict from Judge Alsop. Mitchell cited a 1987 "Smith" case. According to Big Mitch: if there ain't no allegations against Tonya Salisbury, turn her loose!!!!!!!!   Judge Jack Alsop gave Grinlo and Dotson some time to dispute Mitchell's request.
  • July 28 am But   But  But, based on reaction in the Courtroom, the trial is over. Mitchell won the case based SOLELY on the performance of our Commissioner Tim Butcher and Jimmy Sams appointment, Daniel Grindo. After months and months of work by Dotson, Grinto blew the case in less than 11 minutes.
  • July 28 am Prediction for this morning when the trial continues: The murder charges will be dropped and plea deal like loitering with intent to pick your nose in public  will be advanced to save face for Daniel Grinpo.
  • July 28 am If tossing a case isn't bad enough, think about what a morale buster such stuff is for law enforcement. And it gets worser...........
  • July 28 am On Ms Salisbury's side. The 30 something year old has been saddled with murder charges, lost her husband, cuffed, arrested, spent time in the jail, has been the subject of front page media hype for months.... Her life is shot! The 30 something female and mother will forever be the target of street talk.
  • July 28 am Maybe it was Mitch's years of experience and training as a Rhodes scholar 800 years ago, but all of a sudden, heck, even Jeff Davis is starting to look like F Lee Bailey in hindsight!
  • July 28 am  Action starts again this morning at 9 am sharp.
  • July 27 am  If all goes as planned, jury selection will continue today in the State vs Salisbury murder trial beginning at 9 am. After selection comes opening statements and then most likely a trip to the crime scene, Widen.
  • July 27 am You've been hearing about the new  firewood distribution co-op starting up in the county. See the EVENTS page for their first meeting date.
  • July 27 am Last night rain and flooding set in during the State Baseball Tournament in Chapmanville.  We're done!  Our home team came home bringing with it memories of a great ride in 2004. With 29 wins and only 3 post season losses, we had a heck of a year. Statewide, we finished the year in 8th place!
  • July 27 am It got interesting yesterday during the County Commission meeting. Lots of discussion on grooming Spread Park, our only picnic place. At issue was the maintenance and vandalism of the public rest rooms there. Norman Wilson started talking about the need to keep open the already paid for facilities instead of renting a stinky ports potty. Somewhere in the middle of his talk he switched gears and promised his full efforts to seeing Commissioner Sams ousted from office in two years and added that Commission President Pete Triplett would be a one term guy. Didn't set too well as Wilson left the room.
  • July 27 am  CCC gave the thumbs up to our Business Development Authority replacing the CAEZ as our Lead Economic Development agent. With the title comes $30,000 from Charleston coffers for the county.
  • July 27 am Remember that little Doris Summers who asked something be done with culverts installed 15 years ago and since then have been a major reason for flooding in the Summers Fork area? The Commission voted to demand Frank Murphy remove the offending pipes. Don't know if anything will really happen but here's an example of one person standing up, making a demand of public officials and getting results!
  • July 27 am Did we mention that lame duck Commissioner Mathew "HAC" Bragg was again absent from service? Is it just this web site hyping his dearth from duty? Nope. Yesterday the CCC voted to send the wayward HAC a letter asking him to come to work and earn his public $.
  • July 27 am The next links work best with Internet Explorer... sucks on Netscape if you're having trouble.
  • July 27 am And with the Demorat Convention in full swing, how about some political $. How much has our Congressional delegation raised this year? Answer: Bunches.
  • July 27 am  And who are the top contributors state wide? Answer: Many.
  • July 27 am And the names of those conributors for our District 2? Answer: Special Interest of course!
  • July 27 am And how about who contributes county wide? Answer: NOT DEMORATS.
  • July 27 am And who has raised the least? Not Robert C but close. Answer: #2.
  • July 26 am This morning at 10 the Clay County Commission meets in regular session at the Courthouse. They've got a big long agenda to go through today.  Tonight the top secret Clay Primary Health Board of Neglecters meets behind closed doors.
  • July 26 am On Tuesday, before Judge Jack Alsop, the State vs Tonya Salisbury murder trial takes off again after jury selection is completed from a new pool of jurors.
  • July 26 am It was just a few years back no one expected a Clayberry ball team to compete on a statewide basis. It was considered a great year when one of our teams made it to District Tournament action. Not so anymore with the current group of 13 - 14 year old All Stars who have won on District level regularly over the last five years.
  • July 26 am Our All Stars took it on the nose in the heat afternoon yesterday as Fairmont took the game 7 to 3. We looked reaaaaaaaal good but were just out gunned in the 90 degree temps. Tonight the boys head back to Chapmanville for their third and final game of the tourney. We play Chapmanville around 8:30pm. If we win tonight, we'll finish the state wide action in 5th place. Not bad in anybody's book and considering we don't even have lights at the ball field to practice under, a darn good performance and year. 28 wins and no losses during the regular season!
  • July 26 am Last week we asked for responses in our online survey. The question centered around the arson of the little green house owned by the Town of Clay and located right beside the water plant. We asked if anyone expected any kind of prosecution in the torching three Monday's ago today. Sadly we report the findings.    100% of the responders said NO. Nothing will be done. Most added other comments on such illegal activities and life in the Great Nation of Clay.
  • July 26 am  Clay County has one of the few remaining cable bridges in the state. We call it the Elkhurst Swinging bridge. Up until 2 years ago, vehicles regularly used the somewhat rickety wood planked crossing to get home across the Elk River. The state closed the 300+ foot span and blocked off the entrance ways with big boulders. For many the swinging bridge was the shortest way to get home until something happened to one of cables.
  • July 26 am Locals raised H. The County Commission wrote letters to the suits in Charleston. Word came that money had been appropriated to repair the span compliments of our Legislative delegation applying pressure. Since then, locals found out, Yes , the money was available but one person stopped the project dead in its tracks. According to reports provided during various public meetings, that one person stopping the project was our own Clay County politico and Charleston big cheese, Jerry Bird.
  • July 26 am A couple groups have tried to save the bridge for three reasons: It can still serve the public in that area; It has historic importance as one of the last of its kind in the state; and, the cable span could be developed into a tourist draw. A way to make some $ in the county.
  • July 26 am It is our understanding that very very few people ever called Charleston and said: "I want the Elkhurst swinging bridge fixed and reopened and I mean NOW!"
  • July 26 am Want to do something? Won't take but a minute and it won't cost you a penny! Take five minutes away from your busy schedule and call Thelma Hughes in the Governor's office at 1 888-438-2731. It's  a toll free call too.
  • July 25 pm Last night the Clay All Stars went down in flames as Princeton burned fast ball after fast ball to claim victory  6 to zip. Of course having a female ump calling strikes in  t he dirt and at shoe top didn't hurt a bit either. Today at 4 Clay takes on Fairmont in the State Tourney action. From Clay allow almost 2 hours travel time. Head down to Charleston, out Corridor G, use the Chapmanville exit. Go straight at the stop sign about 2 minutes. The field is right across from Chapmanville High School. Last night nearly 100 Clayonians made the trip to support our 13 - 14 year olds. We;ve got some new pictures over on the PHOTO page under the heading  All Stars. Enjoy
  • July 25 pm Some ramblins from the week that past....
  • July 25 pm There have been 1,028 coalition deaths, 907 Americans, 61 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and seven Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of July 24, 2004
  • July 25 pm Here at home, we're eating fresh corn and tomatoes from the garden. The humidity of summer has slowed our pace if that is possible.
  • July 25 pm The Ag Fair came and went this past week. One 800 pound calf remains loose after breaking free of Don Gray's grasp. Gray ended the tussle with a broke hip with surgery performed Saturday am.  Other than that, the Fair netted a bunch of kids with much needed $ after hours of long work caring for livestock. Kids had fun riding ponies and running bare foot. Weather co operated for the most part this year bringing out larger crowds during the day and evening auction. America at its best for sure.
  • July 25 pm A murder trial was delayed. Turns out, jury selection in the State vs Tonya Salisbury trial produced few people that didn't know the family. New jurors will be pooled this coming Tuesday. It's hard to get a murder suspect to court in Clayberry. In this case, the family of the deceased , Chad Salisbury, had to hire a private Prosecutor ($10,000) to go to bat for the law of the land.
  • July 25 pm  With a huge debt load and finishing 8 of the last 10 months in the red, Clay Primary Health Director Simon laid plans to expand the Two Run operation, buy two houses across from the facility and rent high dollar office suite space in a local bank building. Since those first details became public in Friday's Communicator, the festering medical sore got juicier with tales of the Board being left in the dark on many of the decisions and with some Boardsters not being told of meetings.
  • July 25 pm Stuff like:  Additionally, those closest to the action have come forward with even more details; Few of the Administrative Staff works a full 40 hour week; summer bonuses were denied hourly workers but were used to pay for MD signing bonuses; things are so bad, there is talk of merging our locally controlled medical provider with a tri county conglomerate; and, some employees were told to keep their pie holes shut and absolutely, DO NOT CALL Board members with complaints or attempts to get on a meeting agenda. How substantiated is this last claim? Two unnamed employees told this webmaster:  they would be fired on the spot if they attempted to go over Director Simon's head to the Board.
  • July 25 pm Secrecy is all important to maintaining the status quo at Primary Health. While the Board is kept in the dark, the public is excluded from attending Board meetings.
  • July 25 pm the next meeting of Clay Primary Health Board of Non Directors is Monday evening July 26th. Max Moore heads up the Board
  • July 24 am  Happy Weekend all. Looks like the rain is about gone and none too soon!
  • July 24 am The Communicator made it to the news stands Friday around 4pm. 16 pages of fine news and views found no where else.
  • July 24 am Secrecy in Clay has always been hard to swallow. Those behind the scenes dealings leave many upset. Such is the case with Primary Health, our only public medical provider in the county. Primary goes thru management like corn thru a goose. The results are much like the goose too.
  • July 24 am In this edition of the Communicator is a short piece on Primary Health operating in the red. That's nothing new for the non profit group nor the secrecy they try to maintain. It's the secrecy that pees off most people.   You can tell when a government agency is in trouble. Folks start speaking up. Such is the case now with emails flowing! For those sending in the insider info, thanks. We'll use in the next edition as background.
  • July 24 am  Enjoy the weekend. Go out and do something! See EVENTS page for ideas.
  • July 24 am  Joe Manchin showed up last night during the Clay County Ag Fair. An irate cow got the best of Don Gray earlier in the day. Get well wishes extended.
  • July 24 am A good-ole-redneck boy staggered home late after another evening with his drinking buddies.    Shoes in left hand to avoid waking his wife, he tiptoed as quietly as he could toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom step in the darkened entryway. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around and he landed heavily on his rump. A whiskey bottle in each back pocket broke and made the landing especially painful. Managing to suppress a yelp, he sprung up, pulled down his pants and examined his lacerated and bleeding cheeks in the mirror of a nearby darkened hallway, then managed to find a large full box of band aids before proceeding to place a patch as best he could on each place he saw blood. After hiding the now almost empty box, he managed to shuffle and stumble his way to bed.   Morning, he awakens with screaming pain in head and butt to find his wife staring at him from across the room, and hears her say: "You were drunk again last night!!!"
  •     Forcing himself to ignore his agony, he looked meekly at her and replied: "Now Hon, why would you say such a mean thing?"   "Well," she said, "there is the front door left open, the broken  whiskey bottle glass at the bottom of the stairs, the drops of blood trailing through the house, your bloodshot eyes, and all that blood in the bed, but, mostly....  it's all those band aids stuck on the mirror downstairs!"
  • July 22 am Don't say there isn't anything going on in the County! Check the EVENTS page for plenty of action. With dry weather predicted for the area, the county AG Fair would make for a nice reason NOT to cut grass. Don't forget fine musicians Saturday night at the radio station too
  • July 22 am If you're interested in a new dirt track for stock cars in the county, this afternoon's Communicator is the source! The 1/4 mile oval should be open the first week in August and the paper should be out about 4pm today with details.
  • July 22 am How would you like to work for a place where the company has finished 8 of the last 10 months in the red. That's what's going on at the county's only health care provider, Primary Health. Details on being management top heavy, motions to rent high dollar bank space for the big boys, and votes to go ahead and purchase property. You know where to find the info but don't tell Rick Simon or the Board. It makes them soooooooo mad when the public finds out about the secret dealings funded by public dollars!
  • July 22 am Remember when Clay Roane PSD employee Dale Deems filed a formal complaint against the PSD? The WV PSC has a decision. Click ALL GONE
  • July 22 am Ivydale's Larry McLaughlin is upset over NO water service at his home. Larry's getting a day in court. Click TIME FOR HELP for details
  • July 22 am And now a story from a Republicat emailer:  There was this new bar in town that everyone was talking about because it had a robot-bartender. A man walks in to see this for himself.  He sits at the bar and sure enough, a robot was bartending. The man orders a drink, and the robot asks him what his IQ is.

  •      The man replies that his IQ is 150.  So the robot begins discussing nuclear physics, hydrogen power cells, and the current state of the global atmosphere.   The man is amazed.  He has to see how good this robot really is. He leaves the bar and comes right back in and sits at the bar. Again, the robot asks him for his IQ.  This time the man replies "100."  So the robot discusses football, basketball, and the proper way to grill a steak.
        The man leaves and comes back in for a third time. This time he tells the robot that his IQ is 50.   The robot replies: "So, are you democrats really going to vote for Kerry?"
  • July 22 am how about a famous quote this morning: "Whenever I  watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't  help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." --Mariah Carey
  • July 22 am And one more: "Smoking  kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life," --Brooke Shields, during an  interview to become Spokesperson for federal anti smoking  campaign
  • July 22 pm If attorney Kevin Duffy is taking a looksee while recuperating from surgery, get well soon Kelvin
  • July 22 pm  David L. Johnson, 47, see FUNERAL page
  • July 22 pm Win an Apple Orchard, see ADVISORY page now
  • July 22 pm Sorry for the slow update for today, no excuse other than having TB, tired butt
  • July 22 pm How about some speculation clickers. Lots of coats and ties have been seen over the last couple weeks in and around the Clay County Bank. The coffee house crowd has them pegged for auditors. At least two of the java drinkers commented that it's more than just a routine audit and suggested that one time Bank President JD Morris may have provided more  info on corruption to the Feds. The name Pork Chop keeps coming up.
  • July 22pm  How about a Courthouse update...
  • July 22 pm Scheduled for yesterday was the State vs Tonya Salisbury murder trial. Jury selection got started but didn't get too far. Seems nearly the entire jury pool knew the deceased, Chad Salisbury, or some member of the immediate family. Action will resume next Tuesday when a new jury pool will be seated.
  • July 22 pm James C Rogers plead no contest yesterday to charges of firing a weapon at the Dimple Rogers residence in July 2003. Dimple is James' Mother. Judge Alsop will sentence Rogers later this summer.
  • July 22 pm One time Prosecutor candidate Barbara Schamberger received some attention this week. On Tuesday, during Grand Jury arraignment day, Judge Alsop dressed down Ms Schamberger for not showing up for duty sometime last week leaving the court hanging. Alsop said he wouldn't put up with that stuff!. Schamberger is setting up her law practice in that big frame home on Main Street across from the Welfare Office.
  • July 22 pm Charleston newspapers mentioned Barbara in a Wednesday story on businesses in the state not paying Worker's Comp premiums. From the Gazette: Barbara Harmon-Schamberger, former state secretary of education and arts, is listed with Schamberger Legal Services in Clay. Harmon-Schamberger could not be reached for comment.
  • July 22 pm  And for those seeking humor: Brenda and Steve took their six-year-old son to the doctor. With some hesitation, they explained that although their little angel appeared to be in good health they were concerned about his rather small penis.    After examining the child, the doctor confidently declared, "Just feed him pancakes. That should solve the problem."

  •     The next morning when the boy arrived at breakfast, there was a large stack of warm pancakes in the middle of the table. "Gee, Mom," he exclaimed. "For me?" "Just take two," Brenda replied, "The rest are for your father.
  • July 22pm We're putting together Friday's Communicator. Did you know Clayberry has a 1/4 mile dirt track coming? Details Friday if possible.     Unless there is some kind of emergency, no new postings until Friday evening.
  • July 21 am Sadly we report the 900th death in Dubbya's Oil War. For a full report from Reuters, Click The Numbers Keep Climbing.
  • July 21 am DOn't forget about our online question concerning last Monday's arson investigation of the old green house beside the Town's water plant. Here's the question once again: Will anybody get in any trouble for torching that frame structure... any charges?  Use the email link at the bottom of this page please. Results will be posted later this week.
  • July 21 am Hello Wednesday Today Tonya Salisbury goes on trial for the murder of her husband, Chad two years ago. It's not too often we have a murder trial in Clayberry and if left up to the Prosecutor, it would have been left a little longer.
  • July 21 am With foot dragging and worse, the parents of Chad Salisbury paid out $10,000 for an independent Prosecutor to come in and get the case to trial. Happens today with jury selection to begin shortly after 9 am this morning.  As soon as opening arguments are heard, look for court to head over to Widen for  a first hand look at the crime scene.
  • July 21 am So you're in a dead end job. Can't quite make all your bills. Maybe things will improve over the next few months or years. And then maybe not... here's a pretty good write up on the future of our fair state. Click YUCK.
  • July 21 am  We'll get to yesterday's court action later today.
  • July 21 am This Saturday's Summer Jam live outdoor music show at the radio station will include that skinny kid Travis Bryant who works at the Farm Store in Clay. If you see Travis, give him some words of encouragement.
  • July 21 am  From Chris Rock:  "You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy,  the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese,  the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of  arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named 'Bush', 'Dick', and 'Colon'.
  • July 20 am From our selected leader:  NEWSWEEK reports that George W. Bush, appearing before a right-to-life  rally in Tampa, Florida on June 17, stated: "We must always remember that all  human beings begin life as a feces. A feces is a living being in the eyes of God, who has endowed that feces with all of the rights and God-given  blessings of any other human being." Bush repeated his error at least a dozen times, before realizing that he had used the word 'feces" when he meant to say "fetus."
  • July 20 am One day early but, Happy Anniversary to Bob and Marni Killingsworth
  • July 20 am And some follow up. 8 days ago, on the third attempt, that little asbestos laden house beside the water plant was successfully burned down. Arson is suspected. By the next morning, with the place still smoldering, town crews began "clean up" with a backhoe. We understand when the State Fire Marshall arrived and with any evidence of arson destroyed, he was peeeed bad. By the end of last week, the EPA folks came for a look and investigation on the fire. Yesterday, investigators called around the county seeking info on the torching. The bet is, there's some bunched up shorts in the county.
  • July 20 am So why would the Environmental Protection Agency get involved? About five years ago, the Town had every intention of burning down the old eye soar ( Richard Williams home for many years) to make room for the water plant expansion. The EPA got wind of the plan and found asbestos in the structure. With asbestos a hazardous material, the  Town was forbid from even touching, torching, or even tampering with the building and mandated proper disposal of the asbestos. In Clayberry, that means light a match, run north along  the river bank, and then cover up the debris before any investigator can get to the scene.
  • July 20 am OK clickers, here's the online question of the week. Will anybody get in any trouble for torching that frame structure... any charges?  Use the email link at the bottom of this page please. Results will be posted later this week.
  • July 20 am Tommy Young Jr. is no angel. Even his parents will agree to that! Last night our School Board expelled the 17 year old from public school. Gene King made the motion, Dave Pierson provided the 2nd and no Nays were heard. Such a vote means Young will not be allowed in ANY WV school. With threats of violence the issue, during the hearing, Deputy Belt was on hand just in case ...
  • July 20 am The Youngs did not go behind closed doors for last night's hearing. They asked that their kid NOT be expelled from school and even made promises that they would move the troubled boy to Herbert Hoover this Fall. Didn't work. He's out.  Full details on this meeting coming this Friday in the only source of news in the county, The Communicator!
  • July 20 am And on Young Jr... $75000 bond was set and made last week after being charged with 6 misdemeanors in the "going after" CCHS Vice Principal Jim "John Wayne" Haynie four weeks back.
  • July 20 am  And the "On The Ball" Award goes to brand new School Boardster, Beth Cercone! Within hours of the last night's school board meeting, the up to the minute notes from the meeting were posted on her web site and available to read.  Click Ata Girl to see for yourself. Ahhhh...  Beth is the one in the red shirt on the homepage. Be sure to book mark the link for easy reference.
  • July 20 am And from GC: A drunk goes into a bar with a set of jumper cables around his neck.  He sets down at the bar and orders a beer.  The bartender brings him the beer, looks him over and says, "You can stay and drink the beer but don't you start anything".
  • July 19 am  Happy birthday to Bob Killingsworth from Holly, Marni and Roy
  • July 19 am The School Board meets tonight at 6pm. Against state open meeting laws, Link and Co. post meeting agendas less than 2 hours before meeting times. Keeping the public in the dark is critical for control over there.
  • July 19 am Newbee School Boardster Beth Cercone has launched her own web site to keep the residents of the county informed. Click Cercone for a look.  A Boardster trying to keep the public informed? Now that will pee off Link!
  • July 19 am  This is a week for Court room action. Tuesday is arraignment day in Circuit Court land beginning at 9 am followed by the big murder case , State vs Tonya Salisbury also opening at 9 am. In the Salisbury trial, the parents of the deceased, Chad Salisbury, hired attorney Dan Dodson to "assist" our able Prosecutor Daniel Grindo.
  • July 19 am We had this link posted a couple months back but a couple emailers say they've lost it. Here it is again clickers, an official source for the exact time of day. Click The Time is. This time book mark it Tom!
  • July 19 am  The plan was to put in a porta potty at Spread Park to meet the needs of the picnic crowd. See details below on Norman D Wilson buying and installing a real commode last Friday... here's a stinky story from Southern West Virginia: BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. - Warning: smoking in the toilet can be dangerous. A portable toilet exploded Tuesday after a man who was inside it lit a cigarette.

  •     Emergency workers said the man was not severely injured and drove himself to Clay-Battelle Community Health Center. He was later transferred to Ruby Memorial Hospital. His name and condition were not available Wednesday.
       The explosion, which occurred in Blacksville, resulted from a buildup of methane gas inside the portable toilet. The methane did not "take too kindly" to the lit cigarette, said a spokeswoman for Monongalia Emergency Medical Services
  • July 19 am   And something else to think about.  A cop stops a car for traveling faster than the posted speed limit.   Since he  is in a good mood that day  he decides he might give the  fellow a break and write  him out a warning  instead of a ticket. So he asks the man his name.

  •  "Fred," he  replies.   "Fred what?" the officer asks.   "Just Fred," the man  responds.  When the officer presses him for the last name, the  man  tells him that he  used to have a last name but lost it. The officer   thinks that he has a  nut case on his hands but plays along with  it."Tell me, Fred, how did you lose your last name?"         The man  replies, "It's a long story, so stay with me.  I was born Fred Dingaling. I know, funny last name......   The kids used to tease  me all  the time. So I stayed to myself, studied hard, and got good  grades.  When  I got older I realized that I wanted to be a doctor. I  went  through college medical school, internship, residency, and  finally got my degree, so I was Fred Dingaling, MD.
       After a while I got bored  being  a doctor, so I decided to go back to school. Dentistry was my  dream! Got all the  way through school, got my degree, so then I was  Fred Dingaling, MD, DDS. Got bored doing dentistry, so I started  fooling around with my assistant and she  gave me VD. So now I was Fred Dingaling, MD, DDS, with VD. Well, the ADA found out about the VD, so  they took away my DDS.  Then I was Fred Dingaling MD with VD. Then  the AMA found out about the  ADA taking away my DDS because of the VD, so  they took  away my MD leaving me as Fred Dingaling with VD. Then the VD  took away my Dingaling, so now I am Just Fred."
  • July 19 am  If you want any of the baseball pictures on the ADVSIORY page from last week's District 8 Tournament, save them now. We're pulling them Tuesday evening.
  • July 18 pm This last seven days have been eventful and telling in and around the Great Nation of Clay. Here's our weekend wrap-up from the week that was
  • July 18 pm There have been 1,014 coalition deaths, 894 Americans, 60 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and seven Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of July 15, 2004.
  • July 18 pm   Congress took the time to attack our Constitution with debate on marriage but decided they didn't have the time to investigate the atrocities at the Abu prison in Iraq. So arrogant are the rich  that they can escape the law. Martha Stewart may now disagree with that thought. And a now famous quote from the most dangerous man in America, Dubbya, " I'm the commander - see, I don't need to explain - I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting part of  being a president. Maybe somebody needs to explain why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation."
  • July 18 pm John Kerry came to the state this week where he  was greeted by 1000's. Unlike the July 3rd visit by Dubbya, protesters were even allowed to attend. During Kerry's stump speech a standing ovation was given the two July 3rd protesters by the Kerry supporters. On July 3rd a man and wife from Texas were handcuffed and arrested for doing something horrible, something unconstitutional, they  wore T shirts which read: Love America, Hate Bush.  Oh those dirty communists!
  • July 18 pm Our 13 - 14 year old Clay Jr League baseball team polished off  a perfect season (29 -0) by taking the District 8 Tournament in Glenville beating arch rival Summersville. Our local stars head into the State Tournament ( in Chapmanville) next weekend. Go Claaaaaaaaaaaaay!
  • July 18 pm Here in Clayberry, welfare reform changes were felt by many. Recipients saw cutbacks totaling 25% in their "checks".  In food vouchers, in pay outs, in gas reimbursements. For those on relief, a tough life just got tougher. With only 1200 jobs to be had in the entire county, struggling business owners also felt the cutback.
  • July 18 pm We had good news here at home. The long awaited Amma/Left Hand water line extension project finally came to bid. Local leaders told the public, the 33 mile long water supply endeavor could begin as early as Christmas. With the bids totaling nearly $4.5 million and only $3.4 million available, something would have to give. In Clayberry that means cutbacks in distribution of even higher water rates.
  • July 18 pm  A public outcry and a front page Charleston newspaper black eye brought attention to this county.... Mary MaWalls White was finally laid to rest July 17th after being in cold storage since June 30th. Reason for the delay? There wasn't enough money to pay burial fees.
  • July 18 pm On the plus side and what makes Clayberry so special.... After the County Commission decided they had no $ to replace vandalized commodes at our only public picnic area, Spread Park, nor funds to even clean the rest room facilities,  private citizen Norman D Wilson coughed up $78 from his own pocket for a new john and installed the throne himself.  One big happy face to Mr. Wilson.
  • July 17 am  With the Clay All Stars heading to the State Tournament next weekend, the team is trying to raise some $ to cover costs for a weekend in Chapmanville. This morning they're washing cars at Go Mart. If you can spare some change..
  • July 17 am Providing it doesn't rain, WYAP is hosting a nearly all gospel Summer Jam live music show beginning at 6 pm tonight.
  • July 17 am Sometimes we laugh at ourselves and the problems here in Clayberry. The laughter makes many of the serious problems easier to stomach. Laughter doesn't always help.   Three years ago today Becky Parsons died. We didn't say killed because charges have never been filed and the case is officially labeled "under investigation". Parsons was found by her boy friend mid day. Some say she fell out of a second story window near the home. Others have stronger words for the incident and unkind words on the efforts of law enforcement.
  • July 17 am  From the state medical examiner's report: .. present is a four inch area of boggy left posterior auricular scalp contusion.. evacuated epidural hematoma involving the left middle and posterior cranial fossa which extends over the left occipito-temporal skull... massive left shift of the brain with resultant infraction cerebral hemisphere and severe edema.... bilateral tonsilar herniation with dura hemorrhage and diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage ....present over the right breast is a six inch field of scattered red contusion.. present over the left upper lateral breast quadrant is a two inch blue contusion...
  • July 17 am From examiner Dr Zia Sabet, 10/2/01: It is our opinion that Rebecca Parsons, a 37 year old woman died after a 31 hour hospital course, as a result of a left skull fracture causing intracranial bleeding with resultant brain hernitation and death. Because the circumstances surrounding the fatal injury remains undetermined, the manner of death is "Undetermined".
  • July 17 am That was three years ago. In Clayberry, few doubt that favoritism plays a big part behind the scenes in most every aspect of life.
  • July 16 pm  Sorry for the light updates this week clickers, with ball games lasting until the wee hours of the night, we've been lax.. Here's some juice
  • July 16 pm From Monday's County Commission meeting: Excess Levy Co ordinator George Jones told the elected two, plans for a Nov. ballot initiate are back on track and the folks in Lizemores areas of the county are once again willing to work on passage of the extra tax burden;  and, the old State Road garage at Two Run is now leased to the county and in the hands of the BDA. Look for a big part of the place to be turned into a storage area for the Courthouse.
  • July 16 pm And this one will make your fry. Lastly from Monday's CCC meeting... Five years ago, the BDA and a bunch of volunteers like Norman D Wilson worked their butts off building new, clean, rest rooms at Spread Park. New septic system, new block building, new commodes and such. On Monday our elected boys decided to rent a porta potty instead of repairing the vandalized facilities! Although something at the Park is better than nothing, our only public place for summer picnics and place to relax will now have one of those stinky plastic poop boxes. Now that's the way to show tourism is important for this county.
  • July 16 pm As for the burning of the Town building Monday evening and Johnny Woooofter's comment that Gene  King was seen walking along the e river bank just minutes before the place was engulfed in flames... We talked to Gene Thursday afternoon. Our question: Gene you're not really an outdoors man, a hunter, or a guy that fishes. Before we could ask the question about him seen walking along the river bank, King in his usual manner came back with: I was checking the bushes and shrubs!
  • July 16 pm During Tuesday's Clay County PSD meeting, community activist Cathy Schuler commented to Homer, Earl and Mr. Happy , she and other residents of the Lizemores area were reaaaaaaaaal tired of waiting on water service from the PSD.  Mr. Happy retorted that Schuler and others had done little to help the PSD's efforts to gain water service and they should instead get on board. Happy knows full well most in that part of community want nothing to do with getting water services from Clay and instead want water piped in from Gauley Bridge.
  • July 16 pm As for when the Lizemores/Tucker's Bottom water line extensions will go to bid, mums the word from Keith Mr. Happy King. He would not venture any guess.
  • July 16 pm And finally, in our attempt to catch the world up on life in Clay County WV, yesterday was bid opening day for a closer to getting started water line extension project known as the Amma/Left Hand project. Four contractors bid on parts of the 33 line project and storage tank upgrade. Low overall bidder was Diversified Enterprises. Know that name? That's the company owned by lottery winner Jack Whittaker and subject of quality and timely construction scrutiny.
  • July 16 pm The real problem for that water line project, bids came in around $4.4 million with available funds at $3.4 million. Either more money, costly money will have to be found or  the scope of the project will have to be cut back.
  • July 16 am  Big Happy Birthday Wishes goes out to Ernest Duffield of Widen, WV From : Tony and Connie Myers Butler,Pa. 79 years old today!
  • July 16 am   And finally,  Mary Mawalls White, 46, of Clay, see FUNERAL page
  • July 16 am Full update by 10 am . 'got a little behind with all the baseball action.
  • July 15 am Clay County's 13-14 year old All Star worked it hard last night coming back from a 6 - 0 first inning deficit to win the District 8 Championship. This same nucleus of kids have held together for 6 years and done our county proud. The best part, we beat arch enemy Summersville. Should have seen the Summersville team cry last night.   Details on the ADVISORY page.
  • July 15 am  Today at 1pm in the County Commission room, the unbelievable will happen. Today Clay Roane PSD will open construction bids on 33 miles of water line extension projects. Although mostly in Roane County, around 80 of the 350 customers will be new Clayonian customers who will soon have safe (but high dollar) water service to their homes.
  • July 15 am We've got a new diner opening in Clay. Sister's Place will open later this month in the old Procious Exxon Station.
  • July 15 am We'll get a juicier post in later today, sorry for the brevity, pooped out!
  • July 14 am  Reba M. Legg, 81, of Indore, see FUNERAL page
  • July 14 am  OK clickers, tonight is the night... The Clay All Star Jr. League Team takes on Summersville for the District 8 Championship beginning at 7pm in Glenville. Come out and support our best shot at a state championship!
  • July 14 am Five years back, the EPA came to Town leaders and told them to properly tear down and dispose of hazardous materials in a house owned and located beside the Clay Water Plant. Our local leaders so promised. $50,000 was set aside from Federal grants to accomplish the task. Disposal of such materials is very costly in many locations of the country. Not here in Clayberry.
  • July 14 am Right after the Feds left town, the completely empty and without power or gas service building was torched. Unfortunately for Town leaders, the fire department put the fire out in quick order. Last week, someone torched the asbestos again and again, the solid little building stood the torching quite well. Just before the second torching, town employee Hawkie Keener was seen coming out of the structure.
  • July 14 am Monday night around 8:30pm, arsonists set it ablaze again and this time, the place was gutted. According to Johnny Wooofter, Gene King was seen walking along the river bank just before the fire was reported to Clay Vol Fire Dept. Mayor King Arthur Jarrett was asked about the place catching on fire twice in 7 days, "Your guess is as good as mine.. I have no idea!"    The town may have saved itself some $ with the burning of the old green house, but they have bigger problems.
  • July 14 am  The Town's nearly new mega million dollar poop factory has repeatedly been  cited for very serious operation problems since the Johnny Wooofter Log Factory opened. King Arthur told the public Tuesday that the Town had been fined $55,000 for allowing raw, untreated, poo poo to flow into the Elk on several occasions. Last week, that fine was reduced to $9000. The municipality has 12 months to pay off the debt. That's $750 per month according to Mayor Jarrett.
  • July 14 am In yesterday's post we mentioned Mike King bringing suit against the County Commission. As we printed yesterday, that's the one time ambulance service employee Mike King NOT Magistrate Mike ( Mitchell) King.
  • July 14 am From Monday's Commission meeting, the big stone building that once housed the State Road gang in Two Run is now in the hands of the our Business Development Authority. One time BDA Chair Paige Willis said the long term lease was completed July 1st.
  • July 14 am Little ole Deloris Summers ( see yesterday's post please) made Commissioner Sams' apologize for not following up on a promise.  We forgot to mention she also had Commissioner Triplett squirming! Triplett promised to provide Summers with telephone numbers and then didn't!
  • July 14 am Also from Monday, 7pm,   Mardell Nevans was elected as CAEZ Board member during an election held at the Big Otter Fire House. Commissioners Sams and Triplett presided over the event. Commissioner HAC was nowhere to be found.
  • July 14 am The summer Grand Jury returned just 5 true bills yesterday. Here's the list: Brad Stone, Burglary and 2nd degree petitt larceny; Jerry Lee Smith, Wanton Endangerment with a firearm; Jaime Smith, malicious Assault; Guy Dwier, Breaking and Entering; and RIcky Bishop, DUIA 4rd offense and fleeing from an officer. COunt em, just five clickers!
  • July 13 am Today at the Courthouse, the summer Grand Jury convenes. We'll post the results as soon as we get them. Prosecutor Grindo is in charge of bringing the case/info to the jury although any citizen can do likewise.
  • July 13 am Last night's All Star action is over on the events page. And Yes, Clay remains undefeated. Get this, during tourney action, we've racked up 54 runs while all the opponents together have garnered just 3. Go  Claaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!
  • July 13 am Yesterday's County Commission was hohum  except for the efforts of a white headed, senior citizen, named Deloris Summer. Ms Summer lives along the flood prone section of Summers Fork Road. Six weeks ago she asked the CCC for some help correcting the ravages of flooding due in no small part to a double culvert all plugged up. Back in May Commissioners Sams and Triplett made a commitment to Summers.
  • July 13 am After a darn good dressing down for non performance by the two blind mice, Summers got Sams to apologize to her in public.     As a result of one woman's efforts, a letter will be penned ordering the removal of the culverts from private property. You know who owns the 6 foot tall culverts? Deloris says Frank Murphy
  • July 13 am  And then in the waning moments of the meeting, the public was informed that a former employee of the ambulance service filed a lawsuit against the CCC July 8th. Mike King was the once full time employee seeking $50,000 plus court costs and attorney fees from the county. Attorney Roger Forman is representing King.
  • July 13 am Remember Forman? He's the guy that represented the Sissonville High School student ( Katie Sierra) who was thrown out of school for wanting to start an anarchy club. Is he good? He won the Sierra case.
  • July 13 am And how about this to polish off the morning post: A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller.  He can see, from her nameplate, that her name is Patricia  Whack. "Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday."    Patty looks at the frog, in disbelief, and asks his name.

  •       The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.    Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral. ! The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant; about half an inch tall, bright pink, and perfectly formed.    Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office.
         She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog, called Kermit Jagger, out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant.  "I mean, what in the world is this?
           The bank manager looks back at her and says, "It's a knickknack, Patty Whack.  Give the frog a loan.  His old man's a Rolling Stone."
  • July 12 am  Yesterday, the 13 - 14 year old Clay All Stars but it all over Braxton County. Full narrative on the ADVISORY page now. Tonight our team play in Glenville at 5:30pm. They remain loss less. GO Claaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
  • July 12 am This morning our County Commission meet in regular session at the Courthouse. If you're lookin for an air conditioned spot to vegetate, come early for a good seat.
  • July 12 am  Grand Jury convenes Tuesday morning as does Clay County PSD across from the Courthouse. Locals may want to ask the appointed ones, How come Roane County is getting water before us?
  • July 12 am  There have been 1,002 coalition deaths, 882 Americans, 60 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and seven Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of July 9, 2004
  • July 12 am Independent media is about the only thing that keeps free speech alive in the USA.  Megaconglomerate media ownership is changing all that. Click NO ANTI WAR ALLOWED for aNew York Times report.
  • July 12 am Lawyers say that we all have a right to a fair trial.... try telling that to the "detainees" in Cuba where rights don't exist. Saddam has rights. Read all about his Appeal to the US Supreme  Court.
  • July 11 am  Hugh Hyer Boggs, Jr., 83, of Procious  see FUNERAL page
  • July 11 am Clay All Stars beat the stuffin's out Summersville during yesterday's District 8 Tournament action. If the rain holds off and they can keep fire trucks off the ball field, Clay takes on Braxton today at 2 in Glenville.  Full details on ADVISORY page.
  • July 11 am   From this past week....... , history was made.
  • July 11 am  For 8 years, 13 million dollars in water line extension projects have been on hold because our county didn't have an acceptable source of treated water. Our two existing water plants for one reason or another were unacceptable.
  • July 11 am After wrestling with the issue thru 9 Mayors ( 5 in one year), the Town of Clay voted to go ahead with the major plant rebuild. With the new plant ($1.5 m) the county wide extension plans can finally move ahead.
  • July 11 am Sound good? For the county Yes, for the Town.... with the new plant comes a rate increase soon to be on the books. It was made public during this past week, the rate hike has already been requested. No Town Council member commented or protested  raising water rates for municipal customers so county residents could have potable water.
  • July 11 am For those in the county wishing for water service, you're one step closer to getting your wish. Unfortunately, the water will have a high price tag. Currently, Clay Roane, Queen Shoals, and Clay County PSD customers pay some of the highest prices for water in the state.   With water rates expected to be upwards of $60 a month for the average family in the county, watch for many in need of clean water unable to afford it!
  • July 11 am Saturday afternoon, 1:54 pm, 911 dispatch asks for law enforcement to investigate a complaint of stolen vege plants. A few seconds later, Green Shirt 358, that's Bailey, "Do you have directions to that stolen garden?"
  • July 11 am   And one little story for our clickers around the world ( 182,000 since Jan 1st by the way):   A successful farmer died and left everything to his devoted wife. She was a very good-looking women, and determined to keep the farm, but knew very little about farming, so she decided to place an ad in the newspaper for a roustabout.

  •       Two men applied for the job. One was gay and the other a drunk. She thought long and hard about it, and when no one else applied she decided to hire the gay guy, figuring it would be safer to have him around the house rather than the drunk.    He proved to be a hard worker who put in long hours every day and knew a lot about farming.  For weeks, the two of them worked and the farm was doing very well. Then one day the farmer's widow said to the roustabout, "You've done a really good job, and the farm looks great. You should go into town and kick up your heels".
          The hired hand readily agreed and went into town one Saturday night. One o'clock came, however, and he didn't return. Two o'clock, and still no roustabout.    He returned around two-thirty, and upon entering the room, he found the farmer's widow sitting by the fire place with a glass of wine, waiting for him. She quietly called him over to her.   "Unbutton my blouse and take it off", she said. Trembling, he did as she directed.    "Now take off my socks", He removed each gently and placed them neatly by her boots.
           "Now take off my skirt". He slowly unbuttoned it, constantly watching her eyes in the flickering fire light.    "Now take off my bra". Again, with trembling hands, he did as he was told and dropped it on the floor.  "Now", she said "take off my panties". By the light of the fire, he slowly pulled them off.
  •       Then she looked at him and said, "If you ever wear my clothes into town again, you're fired.
  • July 10 am Have you had your coffee? Gone out on the back porch and peed yet? Hugged the wife and kids? Get your priorities in order clickers. go do all that stuff first and then sit down for the Saturday edition of Clayberry News.
  • July 10 am The Communicator hit the news stands Friday afternoon. 20 pages of some pretty darn good info and for just 50 cents CHEAP!!!
  • July 10 am Last night our 13-14 year old All Stars put it all over Pocahantas County 17 to zip. The action continues at 2 pm today in Glenville as Clay hopes to put a thumpin on nasty Summersville Over on our ADVISORY page are the details from last night's Tournament action.
  • July 10 am Get your work done early and head over to the Clay County pool to stay cool. This evening bring a lawn chair and enjoy an outdoor concert hosted by WYAP-LP at Two Run. Music starts around 6pm
  • July 9 am  There have been 999 coalition deaths, 879 Americans, 60 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and seven Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of July 8, 2004
  • July 9 am It doesn't take long for a reduction in law enforcement to be noticed. Three times yesterday, scanner listeners heard the call for the badges with no avail. From 7:05pm 911 "Any Clay law?'   7:06pm "Any Law available"... 7:10pm 911 "TO any Clay law enforcement.."  7:12pm  675?" Then again 15 minutes before 1 am, 911 called out "Any Clay law enforcement.."
  • July 9 am Two Deputies were laid off July 1 due to budget shortfalls. Be sure to check out The Communicator's front page above the fold interview with Sheriff Fields later this afternoon. Clay County's only source of independent news and views should be out around 4 today. Also in this edition is the reason we can never say Filcon again, a chatter from Rene Boyd Young and Marge Bragg's thoughts on the passing of Mary MaWalls White.
  • July 9 am Like the convenience of taking your driving test here in the county at the Green Shirt detachment at Maysel? Too bad. Beginning August 1st, that service will be stopped. Too costly the DMV says
  • July 9 am  Nothing to do tonight? Looking for something fun? Tonight is semi pro wrestling at the high school. Added to the bill: Royal Rumble - 12 wrestlers in the ring; last man, or woman, - not thrown over the ropes- wins.  Also - the women's threesome match should be interesting.  Details on the EVENTS page. Proceeds fund the Apple Festival.
  • July 9 am Our 13 and 14 year old Clay All Stars head into TOurnament action tonight at 8pm in Glenville. The undefeated Clay Team will play Friday, Saturday at 2 when they take on nasty ole Summersville; Sunday and Tuesday. Winner heads to state tourney action later in July. Gooooooo Clay !!!!!
  • July 9 am And for those that responded to our online survey two months back and felt our jokes were too raunchy, this one's for you:  The results of a recent survey have been released. It was a poll on how women felt about the size of their arss. The findings of the study are very interesting: 5% of women think their arss is too big. 10% of women think their arss is too small. 85% of women say that they don't care, they love him, and would have married him anyway
  • July 8 pm How would you like to die and no one and no money was available to bury you?
  • July 8 pm Mary May Walls White was our local bag lady. Usually seen walking the roads around Clay, Mary had a troubled life for 46 years. Most recently she was in the Court system charged with animal cruelty after it was discovered she had 50 dogs and cats in her dilapidated home. Mary stories could fill volumes. She died June 30th and remains on ice at Wilson's Funeral Home.
  • July 8 pm With no family to claim the body and DHHR saying they don't have the $ to pay for a pauper funeral, Ms Walls remains in a cooler.
  • July 8 pm  Dollars are needed for a funeral and burial expenses. Already a few locals have stepped up to the plate and donated some money. Wilson Funeral Home has agreed to cut costs waaaaaaaaaay back for Mary. But money is still needed for a proper burial. How about it clickers, can you help? Call Barbara at 587-4244.
  • July 8 am Just got this from a proud Little League parent:  Just a note to inform you about the awesome 9 & 10 year old All Star game that was won Wed. night by the Clay team. Clay's 9 & 10 year old All Stars beat Gilmer last night in a nail biting game that went into the 7th inning.  The lead changed hands approx. five times.  With Gilmer and Clay tied 11-11, after 6 innings, Gilmer was able to score 6 runs in the top of the 7th inning.  With tears welling up in some of the Clay All-Stars eyes, they entered the dugout with their head hung low.  However, they were not to be outdone.  With 2 outs, the team rallied to a 18-17 win. The fans were great and really hung in there for the entire game.  They kept the team up and were a big part of the rally.  The team really played their hearts out and greatly deserved the win!!!

  •     Next game is Thurs. at Holly Gray Park against Summersville.  If they win, they will go onto the next level of competition.
  • July 8 am Like the Apple Festival each Sept? Have a lot of fun? See a bunch of old friends?  Maybe you could pitch in and help the volunteers.  Tonight at 6 the folks that put on the Apple Festival are holding an organizational meeting at the Lions Club Casino Hall on Main Street.
  • July 8 am   CAEZ met Tuesday evening. Director Jerry Sizemore has news on grant dollars coming into the county. According to Sizemore, CAEZ has been awarded: $50,000 grant to fund tourism; $75,000 to purchase equipment for the Firewood Co Op soon to be organized; $100,000 to fund a micro loan program; and, $10,000 from WV Budget Digest to fund Clay County Eco/Dev. Another $75,000 grant has been applied for but no word on it yet.
  • July 8 am On that $100,000 grant for micro loans..... here's your chance small business in Clayberry. Low interest money for start up or growth. Come up with a plan get in line. If you don't get it, some other county will!
  • July 8 am Clay County is one of the most economically depressed areas in the nation. Many of us live welfare check to welfare check. Those checks will be cut 25% beginning next month. For details, click Fewer $ Coming.
  • July 8 am  the Communicator comes out tomorrow. Get your classifieds and event notices emailed by noon today!
  • July 7am  Just got this on email:  Mary Workman says  "Hello, from sunny San Diego, Ca."
  • July 7 am Monday night vandals, maybe two men and a woman went after about every pop machine on Main Street. The night security guard at the FEMA Service Center Motor home saw the action at the NAPA store shortly after midnight. Ivydale Elem got destroyed yesterday too. Stole cameras. Turned over file cabinets... ripped up the place! What a way to start a week.
  • July 7 a, From yesterday around 1:11pm, over the scanner: 911- the male subject has returned and still has a gun.... Unit 4 - I'm at Big Otter now.   1:16 - 911: the male subject has put the gun in the house.. Unit 4- are there other males outside? 911- No.  1:19, 911- The male subject took the phone from her.. Unit 4 mumble crackle, noise.. 911 -Cannot copy 4. 1:26 Unit 4????... no response, 1:29 911- Unit 4 do you copy?...... 1:30 911 Unit 4 Do you copy?...... 1:32 Unit 4 Everything OK?....... Finally After what seemed like hours, 1:34 Unit 4-Everything is 10-4, the female has her child back and is going to Magistrate for a DVP.
  • July 7 am Since the UHF police radios were put in service 5 years ago, Sheriff Fields has complained of lack of service in several areas of the county leaving his men without communications. Yesterday was a prime example of poor service in the Big Otter section of Clay County.
  • July 7 am  Yesterday was a big day for public meetings. Quietly and often in mumbling tones, Clay Town Council voted to accept  a $2.2 million grant and $800,000 in loan dollars to rebuild the existing town water plant. In the package and without anyone around the table complaining, the package which will allow Roane County access to local water , will require AT LEAST a 6 % rate increase!!
  • July 7 am Will get to last night's School Board and CAEZ meeting later today. Stop back by.
  • July 7 am  And finally.... Fifty-one years ago Herman James, a West Virginia Mountain Man, was drafted by the Army.   On his first day in Basic, the Army issued him a comb. That afternoon the Army barber sheared off all his hair.    On his second day, the Army issued Herman a toothbrush. That afternoon the Army dentist yanked seven of his teeth.     On the third day the Army issued him a jock strap. The Army has been looking for Herman for 51 years
  • July 6 am Happy Birthday to Karen Lynn Holcomb
  • July 6 am Interested in Commodity hand outs? See ADVISORY page NOW
  • July 6 am This is a day packed with public meetings.
  • July 6 am  The Town of Clay meets at 4pm. Sure to be a keeper with $1.5 million in grant dollars at stake. There's sure to be hoops to jump thru.
  • July 6 am CAEZ's Eco|Dev Committee meets at 4 followed by the full Board meeting at 6. They too have something to crow about with over $200,000 in grant $ to get started on. If you're interested in some business money, CAEZ was just handed $100,000 to dole out. CAEZ meets in their office digs beside the Welfare Office on Main Street.
  • July 6 am Our School Board meets the first and third Monday of each month. Newly elected Boardster Beth Cercone takes he replace on the team tonight. Meeting rescheduled due to the holiday yesterday.
  • July 6 am Back in May Clayberry had some hard rains for five days. Gov. Bob Bob Bob declared us a disaster zone. We're not sure if it was the rain or our general state of affairs that got us labeled a "disaster" area, but over 20 claims for relief have already been filed.
  • July 6 am Yesterday while most were having picnics, a FEMA motor home and pull behind self contained communications center pulled in at the Courthouse. Fully 6 weeks after the rain drops, the Feds finally arrived to answer questions and help with filling out paperwork.
  • July 6 am The mobile center will be here for Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 to 7 pm only. If you lost a chicken or a spare tire, head over to the Courthouse. Parking will be at  premium, come early
  • July 6 am How about some Clay County history on Booger Hole. Click MURDERS galore
  • July 5 am  Oleva Grace Osborne, 86, of Bickmore, see FUNERAL page
  • July 5 am We're taking the Holiday off clickers. Might do something important like take a nap, change the air in the spare tire....
  • July 5 am Cops in Huntington WV last night handed out tickets for fireworks around the municipality. Here is Clay, kids and adults alike had a big time setting off bottle rockets and such.
  • July 5 am Today many will head to the Elk for some fishing enjoyment, others will take the time to remember heroes with flowers at grave yards.
  • July 5 am There have been 980 coalition deaths, 862 Americans, 60 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 18 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and six Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of July 2, 2004
  • July 5 am And while watching Dubbya in Charleston as protesters were being arrested for wearing T shirts which read: Love America, Hate Bush, some political thoughts:  Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery;    Government should relax regulation of Big Business and Big Money but  crack down on individuals who use marijuana to relieve the pain of illness;   "Standing Tall for America'" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India;   A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without  regulation;   Jesus loves you and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton;   The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay;  If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have  sex; Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism
  • July 5 am  And a couple other thoughts: Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but  creationism should be taught in schools;  Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion;   A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy;  The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but  George Bush's driving record is none of our business;    What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '70s and '80s is irrelevant; and,Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
  • July 5 am  Happy Holiday, see you Tuesday on the web
  • July 4 pm Happy Independence Day to all. All Queen Shoals and Clay Roane PSD customers, remember, boil that water before using it!
  • July 4 pm Down in Charleston, President Dubbya graces this state with a speech and hand shakes at the Capitol. Several arrests were made during the visit. Enshrining W's beliefs that the Bill of Rights has no place in the USA, 2 were arrested for wearing T Shirts reading: Love America, Hate Bush!
  • July 4 pm How about some trivia
  • July 4 pm  Look what happens when a President gets elected in a year with a "0" at the end.

  • 1840: William Henry Harrison (died in office)   1860: Abraham Lincoln (assassinated)  1880: James A. Garfield (assassinated)    1900: William McKinley (assassinated)  1920: Warren G. Harding (died in office)  1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (died in office)   1960: John F. Kennedy (assassinated)   1980: Ronald Reagan (survived assassination attempt) 2000: George W. Bush ????????????
    July 4pm  And, Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.  Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.  John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.  Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.  Both wives lost a child while living in the White House.  Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.  Both Presidents were shot in the head.
  • July 4 pm  Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.  Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.  Both were assassinated by Southerners.  Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.  Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808. Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.  John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.  Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.  Both assassins were known by their three! names.  Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
  • July 4 pm  Trivia continued  Lincoln was shot at the theater named "Ford."  Kennedy was shot in a car called "Lincoln" made by "Ford"  Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.   A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.   A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe. Lincoln was shot in a theater and the assassin ran to a warehouse...   Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and the assassin ran to a theater.
  • July 4pm  This past week was one of moderate temps and dry weather. Farmers brought in their hay, gardeners dug their new potatoes and enjoy fresh green peppers. Tomatoes turned red and fresh green beans were abundant. Summer is here, kids splashed in the county pool, and politics remained confusing. Here's what we saw
  • July 4 pm   Wayward County Commissioner Mathew Bragg earned his nickname "HAC" ( he ain't comin') by missing another public meeting. County employees were laid off June 30th  with the County Commission saying there just isn't enough $ to keep all employed. Sheriff Fields spoke with attorneys about suing the Commission to force them to properly fund law enforcement in the county.
  • July 4 pm  Clay Development Corp (CDC) maintained their social service hierachy when No One voiced concerns over a recent Myrtle Beach senior citizen trip. Our Business Development Authority tried to bury their nightmare, Filcon Inc., by changing the name to the Valley Fork Industrial Site and electing a new BDA Chair, Leonard Williams.
  • July 4 pm In water business wrap ups... Clay Roane PSD worked a deal to fund the Punkin Ridge water line project; The Town of Clay received a $1.5 million deal to rebuild their water plant where $75% of the $ come as grant dollars; and lots of locals were up in arms over Queen Shoals and Clay Roane PSD voluntarily placing BWO's on customers during the summer's biggest holiday season, the 4th of July. For those wanting our two "on duty" County Commissioners to know you're unhappy with BWO's over the holiday weekend, call Jimmy Sams at 548-5031 or Peter Triplett 587-2282.
  • July 4 pm And for our 11 and 12 year old All Star Baseball Team, tourney action is over. Big cheers for Stephen Perdue, Grayson Hamrick, Luke Klemans, Josh Lively, Nathan Pritt, Mickey Samples, Jordan McGlothlin, Ryan Thomas, Lloyd Osborne, Jonas Jelich, and Nick Varney. Champs all!!!
  • YARD SALE, Saturday July 3 @ Walker residence right before county line on Route 4.  Lots of baby items and clothes.
  • July 3 am As of midnight last night, no word on how our Clay All Stars did in FRiday night Tournament action.
  • July 3 am The Clay Roane and Queen Shoals PSD Boil Water Order remains in place. According to Chief Water Operator Jennifer Traub, the BWO is in place while they flush lines in the system and this is\was the only week they had available for the clean out. None the less, many are upset over the BWO over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Commissioner Jimmy Sams said he hasn't received any complaints on the timing. For those wanting Sams to know you're upset, give him a call at 548-5031. Since Sams runs the family business in Clendenin during the day, be sure to call him late at night. Always keep your elected officials informed.   That's 548-5031
  • July 3 am We read the Mary May Walls obit in the Charleston paper but as of Friday night at 11pm, there is nothing posted on the Carl Wilson Funeral Home web site. Sorry
  • July 3 am Ever hear of a bank running out of money? Happened Friday at the Gassaway Bank at Two Run. Customers had to wait about an hour for new greens to be delivered.
  • July 3 am  Friday morning, with two officers laid off July 1st, Sheriff Fields is making plans to force the County Commission to better fund his department. Translation: Lawsuit may be  in the works if 911 requirements for staffing have been violated.
  • July 3 am The CDC Special meeting held July 1st was without fireworks. From around the table came nothing but happy words of praise on the recent Myrtle Beach trip for seniors. If there are a bunch of unhappy senior citizens, they didn't come. Got to hand it to the CDC clan, they know how to maintain control!
  • July 3 am From Thursday, the Business Development Authority (BDA) elected Leonard Williams as Chair to replace Paige Willis. The group voted to never call the Filcon Inc. property, Filcon. Instead, the site was renamed Valley Fork Industrial site.
  • July 3 am The most heated discussions came over looting at the site. Seems our School system has been out to the Filcon  I mean the Valley Fork site and swiped a bunch of dirt five days ago. In attendance, Commissioner Sams said he gave the OK for dirt removal two years back. The BDA plans to send the School System a bill for the top soil. Two weeks ago, someone stole several sheets of 4' by 30' 28 gauge metal roofing. On the dirt issue, BDA member Glady Lanham: It took us two years to get the property back and now they're stealing our dirt!
  • July 3 am Thursday night Clay Roane PSD met in regular session. From that meeting: They plan to secure a $50,000 loan to complete the Punkin Ridge extension project. According to PSD Chair Postelwait, NO rate increase will be needed to cover the new loan expense. No rate increase, did you hear that?
  • July 3 am Get out of the house today. Lots of yard sales going on. Tonight is a free Summer Jam 2004 live music show at The Triangle. Can't come? You can hear it on the web. Link is on our home page, WYAP.
  • July 2 pm  We've still got some internet problems that we're trying to work thru as of 11 am this morning. Here's some brief posts to keep you thinking about Clayberry
  • July 2 pm  The 11 - 12 year old Clay All Stars are in Tournament action this week. Tonight they play Braxton.  Goooooo Clayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!
  • July 2 pm  Yesterday's Clay Development Corp (CDC) meeting was less than fireworks. Although some in the community have voiced concerns about a recent CDC organized Myrtle Beach trip..... during yesterday's Special CDC Board meeting, all around the table heaped on praise as a wonderful trip full of fun and adventure for the 19 senior citizen travelers.
  • July 2 pm  Later tonight we'll provide coverage from yesterday's BDA meeting and Clay Roane PSD meeting  BUT   BUT   BUT
  • July 2 pm  Here's the juice clickers. Sheriff Fields ain't a happy camper over budget cuts that forced the layoff of two Deputies yesterday. Fields has already received legal advice on 911 mandated law enforcement officer staffing requirements. Fields said he'll talk with attorneys further before taking the next step. You know what that is? It may be Oh Boy time in Clayberry if the Sheriff takes our County Commission to Court.
  • July 2pm Fields leaves office this coming Jan after serving the county for 8 years. Fields, " I may be a lame duck but I'm still flapping my wings!"
  • July 2 pm  As of now, the 3 remaining Deputies will work day shift only Monday thru Friday with maybe maybe some evening road patrols on the weekends according to Sheriff Fields.
  • July 2 pm Sorry for the slow posts but it's the best we can do for now. Don't forget the big Live Music Show Saturday night in Two Run
  • July 2 am   We've got some web problems  clickers. Somehow about 7 days worth of news is lost out there in cyberspace. Last night around 11pm everything seemed fine.   We're trying to correct the problem  this morning.