July 2012
July 30 2:45 p Humidity
is sky high.... overhead, clouds are moving in .... very gray outside..
July 30 2:45 p Looks like July
is going out as tough as it came in
July 30 p We're rounding out the much
to be remembered 2012 month of July. Tomatoes , beans, corn is in and the
kids are getting ready to go back to school. Good
July 30 p Tonight the County Commission
is asking taxpayers to come to a public hearing on 911 Ordinance changes.
The public session begins at 6pm and will be held in the CCC room in the
new Courthouse.
July 30 p Not sure what changes they're
up to but most likely they'll tell us, this won't hurt a bit and be quiet.
July 30 p The ouch factor is
starting to build on the 911 Dispatch Center. Last week the CCC OK'd the
purchase of a bunch more equipment and did so without benefit of the bidding
process. Items included: software to run a program for $624.00; furniture
for the small room $25,000+, a telephone system $161,142, recorder for
the phone, $11,095 and a couple consoles (tables) for a measily $138,623.00.
July 30 p That's on top of spending
lots of the 911 account, suppose to be used only for 911 purchases, to
rehab the entire building and parking lot.
July 27 latest p Geraldine Lenor
Nottingham, 60, of Hartland, Clay County, see OBITUARY page
July 27 later p Christopher Ray
Delarwelle, 33, of Clay, see OBITUARY page
July 27 late p Flash flood watch in
effect until 6 am Saturday
July 27 late pMore thunderstorms are
possible for Saturday afternoon.
July 27 late p Big bridge celebration
planned for Widen Saturday afternoon at 1pm
July 27 late p County Clay is
learning to to live without electricity. This makes the fourth Friday in
a row that power is has been off for all or parts of the county.
July 27 late p This evening the just
before dark:30, lightning ripped thru the clouds with wind and rain in
light doses. Not really a storm but none the less, power was knocked
out parts of the county. Thursday storms put 1000's in the dark ages throughout
West Virginia during a 1700 mile swath from TExas to New York
July 27 late p Once again the storm
was selective. Coming down Route 4 from Braxton County there were stretches
dry as a popcorn fart followed by limbs and leaves coming down during
a downpour.
July 27 late p One mile down the road,
big puddles on the road followed nothing but dry pavement a couple minutes
later.
July 27 late Trees took out utility
lines above O'Brion Creek which appears to have been one of the areas hard
hit by the quicky storm since it looked like a river crossing Rt 4.
July 27 late p Power stopped perking
in the Town of Clay around 9:20pm. Other sections of the county were already
in the dark. Telephone and DSL service are also out at this time , 10:50pm
July 27 late p So..... how is the ace
cub reporter providing this post? Glad you asked.
July 27 late p Thursday afternoon Steve
the Dish network guy installed the Excede Satellite Internet service over
at Tallhouse.
July 27 late p Frontier DSL is all
but none existant in this county with no hope in sight for improvement.
July 27 late p Excede promises 12mbps
download and 6 mbps going up. They fib like Frontier
July 27 late p But But But... the reality
is, Excede is tonight providing 6+ mbps down and 1+ upload.
July 27 late p Anyway you look at it,
that's at least 8 times better than what Frontier provides in the Maysel
area.
July 27 late p At the same price as
Frontier, Excede may turn to doo doo tomorrow but for now, one heck of
an improvement
July 27 late p Something to make you
mad, one last jab from Frontier Tele Co.
July 27 late p When telling Frontier
to disconnect the DSL landline service this morning, the lady on the other
end advised, since merging with Verizon, rates have gone down on telephone
service.
July 27 late p For the Mel Gibson look
alike, instead of $58 per month for local and long distance plus call waiting,
the new rate is $41 per month.
July 27 late p When asked why they
didn't just reduce everyone's bill, very nicely she said, we can't make
the reduction unless you call and authorize the change.
July 27 late p You're on your own clickers,
turning off the overworked generator and calling it quits for the night.
July 27 a Last night a storm ripped
thru a 1700 mile strip of America leaving 200,000 without juice.
July 27 a Fortunately for Clayberry,
the brunt of it went someone else. Other than rain and a little wind,
most of the county received little more than blinks in service.
July 27 a Update coming latter today
July 26 1:20pm National Weather
Service issued a severe storm watch from now until 10pm tonight. Be careful
out there clickers.
July 26 We'll post as internet and
electric allow
July 26 For our early readers, the
morning post was corrected at 10am this morning. Some of the typos have
been corrected. Please reread the stuff. Makes more sense now... maybe.
July 26 a Four weeks ago tomorrow,
the temp was near 100 and the humidity was even higher. A big storm
tore thru the county wiping many of us out of the 21st Century for 14 days.
July 26 a Check the forecast clickers.
There's another storm coming tonight. Conditions are right!
July 26 a Here's something important
and will last a life time. Swimming lessons over at Clay Swimming Pool
are slated to begin Aug. 6th at 6pm. Preregistration is required.
304 587 7440.
July 26 a Learning to swim, do it now.
July 26 a To get the real scoop, a
reporter has to be at a meeting to provide the real happening. That's what
makes having a locally owned and operated newspaper like The Communicator,
so important. We put the reader on top of what's really happening.
Now for the fun part of Clayberry politics.
July 26 a Item 8 on Wed's CCC agenda
was a vote to start paying Black Shirts time and 1/2 for sitting at home
while on a call. Currently they receive $50 while on call out at home.
July 26 a Larry Darryl and DArryl voted
unanimously, a big fat No.
July 26 a Head Commissioner Linky Poo
doesn't like it when the public's business is done in public. He wants
any and all controversies to be handled away from the public meeting session.
It gets him all confused when things don't go as planned.
July 26 a With the meeting nearly over,
Top Badge and his underlings showed up in force. They stood at the rear
of the Commission room. The Poopster started with: You denied my
request... I wanted your response in writing and didn't get it ...
Why punish us.. No one else got cuts ... You need protection ...
July 26 a Trying to stay cool and calm,
Slinky: most of the expenses at the Courthouse are in personnel....
you went down a Deputy ...that was good timing ... you are refusing road
patrol ...the State Police have now beefed up their numbers ... the economic
climate is on a downward spiral .. the jail bill is up as you refuse to
do the home confinement program .. you said you have no interest in saving
the county money... with Fola Coal... we budgeted $160,000.00 that we don't
have...
July 26 a Linky knew that state code
allows for Sheriff Dept budget cuts based on reduced tax income only.
In between the jabs on stopping road patrols and the Sheriff cutting the
cost saving home confinement program, Link was saying the official reason
for cutting funds, bad economy.
July 26 a The real truth is, they're
mad as H at Poopy and this is pay back time.
July 26 a Laced in between potty mouth
language the Poopster came back with everything but the kitchen table:
Your priorities are out of order.. You waste $$$ on donations like the
Apple Festival.. there are duties that the State Police don't perform ...
I spent $5000 in July on storm damages .. D!!!! CRYING SHAME!!!!
..... You hired Dispatchers at $10 per hour and my Deputies barely make
that!!! We make you look good!
July 26 a As he went along, his words
came quicker and finger pointing was employed.
July 26 a Our lowly Sheriff continued:
My Deputies now refuse the $50 call out pay. Our portly Top Badge
explained that other counties went to court over call out pay and Judges
in several counties forced hourly rates at time and 1/2.
July 26 a Backing up his Badge, Black
Shirt Chris Legg told the CCC that without all the extra money like overtime
and call out $$$, his every other week check was only $504.
July 26 a In response, County Commissioner
Pierson ratcheted up the temp five clicks with his response to Legg. Pierson,
"I would change jobs!"
July 26 a Boy Oh Boy!!!! With the red
and blue high blood pressure spots showing on Poopy's neck, he was ready
to bust a gut if not bust a cap!
July 26 a When Pierson told Legg
to find another job, Deputy Legg, "Stand by Mr Pierson."
July 26 a In faster speed with
stronger finger pointing, Sheriff: We have to guard the Courts ... You're
going to get someone hurt or killed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 26 a Linky, "You're the one that
schedules Sheriff"
July 26 a Getting a another dig in,
Slinky reminded RH that he was sitting on $80,000 in the home confinement
and conceled weapons permit accounts at his disposal.
July 26 a The Top Badge went
apey. Spend his private slush fund on personnel? Ain't no way.
July 26 a With all his chins wiggling
Poopy ended his oratory with I am not going to waste [those dollars] on
Deputies!!!!
July 26 a Seeing the weakness in the
reply, Mike Pierson responded with: Waste? It's no waste paying Deputies.
July 26 a The almost never to say a
word, Commissioner Arlene, Queen Smiley as some call her, actually said
something. She questioned how the $47,000 that was suppose to pay
a new deputy would make ANY difference when it comes to paying "call out"
needs.
July 26 a Darn good point. And one
that sent the Sheriff's blood pressure to the moon.
July 26 a We'll have all the exchanges
in the next Communicator of course but for now...
July 26 a Our out of control Sheriff
got it stuffed Wed morning.
July 26 a There is little doubt
that the Top Badge will find some hungry lawyer willing to take the case
and sue the County. The only winner in such is the lawyer who ends up with
another Mercedes.
July 26 a We can say "out of control"
Sheriff. We saw in a public meeting what often happens when he gets excited,
out of control he goes complete with salty language as his gray cells shut
down. Whether it's "HE'S GOT MY TAHOO" or when pulling a weapon on someone,
it doesn't go well. He doesn't think or respond well under pressure.
July 26 a With tempers flaring, Poopy,
"I have never been so disappointed with the County Commission and especially
you Arlene".
July 26 a Background clickers. Arlene
Tucker beat Commission Fran King two years ago. The Sheriff worked hard
to boot out Fran. He didn't like it when Fran stood up to him and refused
outlandish purchases and faulty record keeping like, the number of weapons
owned by the Dept and contents of the evidence locker.
July 26 a Feeling challenged, our wittle
Big Badge found a candidate that would bend at every turn of the road and
be under his thumb.
July 26 a Once elected, Tucker is under
the thumb of Linky and Poopy is beside himself.
July 26 a Commissioner Pierson
revealed himself when he told Black Shirt Legg to go find another job if
he didn't like current pay scales.
July 26 a That's the same communication
skill and Republicrat compassion shown during the big storm by Person when
responders asked the CCC to supply Moms with young kids at the shelter
with diapers and butt wipes. He said no.
July 25 late p When you
see Peter Triplett, Olivia Bullard, Jason Triplett, Telenia Koch and /
or Beth Butler, tell em Happy Navel Day.
July 25 late a Glenville College, a
true four year degree college, is setting up shop over in the old Valley
Fork school building. From those fine folks: Upcoming Clay County
High School juniors and seniors who are interested in taking GSC business
and criminal justice courses are invited to an Information and Registration
Session for Fall Classes. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, July
25th from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the CCHS Cafeteria. Adults
who are interested in Glenville State College evening classes that will
be held at the Valley Fork Education Center are invited to an Information
and Registration Session for Fall Classes. This meeting will also be held
on Wednesday, July 25th from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. in the Valley Fork Education
Center Classroom #10. For more information or to register,
contact the Glenville State College office of Off Campus Programming at
offcampus@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6069.
July 25 late a New stuff over
on the ADVISORY page
July 25 late a Whenever state
government agencies are ready to upgrade or get rid of old equipment, the
items are taken to State Surplus Properties in Dunbar. The warehouses there
contain everything from desks, chairs, white boards, computers, printers,
shelving, overhead projectors, cars, trucks boats and more.
July 26 late Anybody can go to "Surplus"
Mon thru Fri until 4pm and purchase anything they want.
July 25 late a Tomorrow, July 26, State
Surplus is hosting an open house celebration. The place will be open until
7pm. It's a great time to pick up working stuff at deeply reduced prices.
July 25 a County Commission meets this
morning at 10am. For the best entertainment value in the county, attend
a public meeting
July 25 a New posting on Jobs page
July 25 a After years of total
failure in treatment of diabetes include insulin 5 times a day, 18 months
ago the ace cub reporter went on a daily injection of Victoza and Amaryl
pills. Almost immediately, life changed around with sugar levels well within
range for the aging lardy guy.
July 25 a July 1st the PEIA insurance
group raised Victoza co pays a gallizion fold. The increase made using
the life saver drug impossible.
July 25 a Last night the Mel Gibson
look alike started another new wonder drug called Bydureon. The cool thing
: the injectable non insulin treatment is, you only take the shot once
a week.
July 25 a So far the diabetic cripple
is without side affects like thunder squirts and barfing.
July 24 late p Just a few years ago
Commissioner Linky recommended the Communicator for its entertainment value.
That tradition of excellence continues with the newest edition making it
to news stands this afternoon.
July 24 late p The lead story spans
six pages and provides deep insight into the death of Dawn Starcher and
the Clayberry link complete with allegations of elected leader drug deals
and Badge corruption. We added additional copies at the Clay Go Mart. We
think this edition is particularly interesting and only 70 cents.
July 24 late p This afternoon we watched
news reports of a big storm coming our way. We watched the orange and red
blotches heading our way.
July 24 late p Because the June 29th
storm skeered us, this afternoon many rushed to area grocery stores and
stocked up big time.
July 24 late p Fortunately, the storm
side stepped us. Good.
July 24 late p Today, four
of every 10 new HIV infections occur in people younger than 30, according
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
About 60
percent of sexually active high school students say they used condoms the
last time they had sex, researchers said at the International AIDS
Conference. That's an increase from the 46 percent who were using condoms
in 1991....
July 23 p Wilson Howard Legg,
76, of Paddy Road, Duck, see OBITUARY page
July 23 p After some DSL outage time,
we're back
July 23 p Clayberry has been under
served by our elected Sheriff since he decided to stop all Black Shirt
Badges from evening and weekend patrol duties.
July 23 p On Wed's Commission agenda
is a request for Deputies to receive time and one half pay for eight hours
while they wait at home "on call".
July 23 p Should make for an interesting
Larry Darryl and Darryl public meeting Wed morning beginning at 10 am.
July 23 p after months of pee poor
DSL service from Frontier Tele we're going to try something different.
July 23 p Frontier under serves a big
chunk of this county. As far as cable or other land line provider, there's
not a choice for most of us. This morning around 8:15, Frontier DSL upload
speed was 19 kbps.
July 23 p For about the same
price as Frontier and with five times the speed promised, Excede is available
in this county. Excede is the new name for the old Wild
Blue Satellite Internet service.
July 23 Wild Blue had many problems
including limiting consumption on top of mediocre speeds. Excede is promising
a different experience for users.
July 23 p How bad is Frontier? So bad,
we're going to change over to Excede (and take a chance on anything but
Frontier), sometime later this week.
July 23 p We'll keep you posted on
their results.
July 23 p We're in shutdown mode until
we get the Communicator out the door sometime Tuesday.
July 21 p Sometime early on Friday
Frontier DSL went kaput in several service areas include that of the guy
that updates this site. Slow most of the time and now none all the time,
few web updates until repairs are made.
July 21p While we've got your attention
and with Frontier continuing their downward spiral, we're considering a
change to a newly named Excede Satellite service. That's a new name for
the old Wild Blue provider.
July 21 p If any of our clickers
have Excede service please email with info on their performance, how much
down time, actual speeds, and quality of telephone repair service. Thanks
July 21 p Clayberry is entering our
second week minus Black Shirts on duty after 4pm on weekdays and zero Badges
out on weekends.
July 21 p While our wittle Sheriff
claims the reason is budget cuts, he's sitting on $1000s in his slush funds.
July 21 p For those South of
the Hartland bridge and according to Delegate Dave Walker, contractors
will be on site by July 30th to start construction of the new span.
July 21 p Walker has been the State
Road folks about needed repairs on Dundon Road where the slip has wiped
out most of the pavement. So bad is the slip, garbage trucks are unable
to complete their run and forget school buses travelling that road in less
than 4 weeks.
July 21 p After repeated phone calls
to Charleston, Walker says there's a problem with getting repairs made.
The State Road does NOT own that county road. True they've been doing small
repairs on it over the years but they have to get the pavement and
right of way in their fold before they can do the much needed repair.
July 21 p Walker has asked the guys
under the Gold Dome to put the repair job on the "fast track".
Once the paperwork is complete, according to Dave, that section of road
will be cut back into the hill making a much wider area while repairs are
made.
July 21 p Walker also provided a tip.
Thos that lost work after the June 29th storm, be sure to apply at the
unemployment office for benefits.
July 19 late p Andy Ralph
Rogers, 74, see OBITUARY page
July 19 late p With Frontier upload
speed at 40kbps, no updates tonight.
July 19 a When you see Kelly Fulerson,
tell him Happy Birthday
July 19 a FEMA does little in the way
of helping the common taxpayer after disasters strike. They do however
provide other government agencies with pay back funds.
July 19 a The deadline for calling
in your losses from the June 29th storm is Friday at 2pm. Call the County
Clerk's office at 304 587 4259 with your list
July 19 a Yesterday's online quizz
must have been too easy. Many responded and got it right. The answer was
lawyers
July 19 a Presidential wars are on
going.
July 19 a Like, if Obama De Bama gets
elected and you earn $250,000, he'll take half of it. The down
to earth answer is no way.
July 19 a Obama's Health Care plan
will add millions of new taxes to everyone. Of coursethat
ain't true.
July 19 a And the biggy fib is
the one going around the web that says when you sell your home, a new 3.8%
tax will be tacked on. Liar
Liar pants on fire.
July 19 a While you're sitting there
waiting for the end of the work day, here's a cute video from YouTube.
Baptist
Tune thru the Years.
July 18 p Email your answers to this
quiz: Form a single word from: sly ware.
July 18 p From the Farmer's Almanac....
July 18 p What weather
patterns result in droughts? ANSWER: Strangely, weather scientists
can't explain why droughts occur in some years, or decades, and not others.
They do come in cycles. Droughts occur when a high-pressure area settles
over a region and then doesn't move on, as is usual. Clouds can't form
because the high pressure is pushing down the air, causing "compressional
warming" and lowering the humidity. Essentially, the conditions needed
for creating rain have been removed. When this goes on for a long time,
a drought occurs. Although the 20th century had some notorious droughts,
one of the most famous of which produced the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the
United States and other parts of the world have seen worse. There were
"mega-droughts" in the 13th and 16th centuries, and there's nothing to
stop such droughts from occurring again.
July 18 p How are coffee beans decaffeinated?
ANSWER: Two methods are generally used. In the first, the beans are placed
in a rotating drum and softened with steam for 30 minutes. They are then
rinsed in a chemical solvent for about 10 hours. When the chemical has
absorbed the caffeine from the beans, it is drained away, and the beans
are steamed for 8 to 12 hours more so that any remaining solvent will evaporate.
A minute amount of the chemical (0.1 parts per million) remains in the
beans. In the second method, green coffee beans are soaked in hot water
until the caffeine is drawn out of them. The water is drained and treated
with a chemical, which absorbs the caffeine. Then the mixture is heated
until both the chemical and the caffeine evaporate. The remaining water
is returned to the beans, which, according to coffee experts, allows the
beans to regain most of their flavor.
July 18 a Happy Birthday wishes to
Dennis Koch, Tracy Dobbins and Janine Potasnik.
July 18 a Hillbilly Hot Dogs has three
locations around West Virginia and was featured on a recent cable TV show.
In the video is none other than Clayberry's Jim Haynie. Take
a look.
July 18 a With our Sheriff deciding
to stop all road patrols after 4pm, there's a thing about Clayberry
politics. Someone always gets hurt
July 18 a In small counties,
Green Shirts often team up with local Badges after dark for obvious reasons.
Safety comes to mind first.
July 18 a He's saying the reason for
no Badge protection is budget cut backs. Keep in mind, he's got $100s in
two slush funds (home confinement and concealed weapons permits) and those
funds are at his disposal for about anything he wants to do.
July 18 a Currently our Top Badge is
putting his foot stomping back room politics in front of the good of the
county.
July 18 a The wittle Sheriff has already
cost this county a bunch and with these latest antics, what's another lawsuit
settlement?
July 18 a Just 5 months left in his
term and none too soon.
July 18 a On this date
in history, Died 2005: Gerry Thomas (invented the TV dinner and helped
revolutionize food marketing and distribution)
July 18 a On this date in 1942: The
first jet combat plane was tested
July 18 a Also, in 1918, Nelson Mandela
and Red Skeleton (1913) were born.
July 17 a It's hot. Steamy hot. Those
rug rats are driving you bananas
July 17 a We've got a solution
July 17 a The Clay County Swimming
Pool is open Monday thru Saturday from noon to 6pm
July 17 a Get rid of those little pests
and on the cheap too
July 17 a Back in the Spring
the County Commission decreased the Sheriff's budget by $47000. That came
right after Black Shirt Miles Slack was fired by the Top Badge
July 17 a Last Wed the CCC reaffirmed
their position of not restoring the $$$ so the guy could hire a replacement
July 17 a The guess from the coffeehouse
crowd is, our rotund Sheriff is mad as H and stomping his wittle feet.
July 17 a Noticed something last night.
We didn't hear hear any Black Shirt traffic on the 911 scanner.
July 17 a Not one call in for
a road check, arrest, license plate check, no nothing. The Green Shirts
were doing their thing. At one point the 911 Dispatcher asked for law enforcement
to do something and instead of the usual, "any available state or local
law enforcement.." , came, " any state law enforcement available for ..."
July 17 a Usually there's a couple
local Badges on duty until midnight each weeknight.
July 17 a Didn't hear anything last
night. Could be a quirk or.....
July 17 a It could be the
wisdom of our Top Badge putting back room politics ahead of the safety
of the entire county.
July 17 a Everybody now, all at once,
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
July 16 a With internet piracy
as it is, you may want to beef up your own protections like better passwords.
Here's some
suggestions.
July 16 a Most use Google as
their search engine. Coupled with their propensity to steal and sell your
personal information, there's a another choice.
July 16 a Ecosia
web search has two advantages. One, 80% of their proceeds go to improving
the environment and two, they keep your data for just a couple days.
July 16 a As of Friday evening, power
was fully restored to Clayberry. It was a long slog for many but we made
it just in time for predicted storms this week.
July 16 a Almost ten years ago Christian
Danw Starcher went missing. About that same time Judd Reed was murdered
in the home of Tattoo VInce over in Roane County. Word came of Vince Galasaw
eating "bitch burgers."
July 16 a Ms Starcher's remains
were discovered in Dec 2009.
July 16 a All along, her father
, Jesse Starcher, has been asking questions. Answers were non existent.
On the 27th Mr Starcher filed a FOIA lawsuit against Green Shirts, the
Town of Spencer, and the Roane County 911 Center.
July 16 a As reported by Lawrence
Smith with the West Virginia Record, there's some pretty interesting stuff
in the 26 page court work. Like:
July 16 a Starcher openly accuses
Hueston M. Eads, a Spencer police officer, of either having knowledge of
or being complicit in Christian's disappearance. At his suggestion, Starcher
says Christian spoke with Eads about information she had relating to the
murder of Ronnie Stag.
July 16 a Like: According
to Starcher, Christian "implicated several Clay County law enforcement
officers in drug-related activity." Also, Starcher maintains that sometime
after Christian went missing, Judd Reed, who accompanied her on several
occasions to speak with Eads, was murdered.
July 16 a Here's the full report from
the West
Virgina Record.
July 15 late p Cleveland E (Gene) McClure,
Sr., see OBITUARY page
July 14 a Be reminded, Boil Water Orders
are in place for Queen Shoals PSD and Town of Clay wa wa customers.
July 14 a Judge Ric Facemire did some
sentencing this week. Here's a couple
July 14 a Brent Boggs is in big trouble
with allegations that he tried to have his partner killed in a murder
for hire scheme.. While awaiting trial Boggs was on home confinement with
an ankle bracelet monitoring his activities.
July 14 a Last year Brent was arrested
on felony attempting to escape and a lesser, damaging the leg bracelet.
He stood trial on those issues last month. A jury of his peers found him
not guilty of trying to escape but guilty of damaging the bracelet. During
testimony, Boggs said his toe got caught in the bracelet and ripped if
off. The damage was to the rivet, clasp, the thing that holds it
on the ankle, and not to the electronic part itself.
July 14 a That rivet , which is a one
time use item, looks to cost maybe 25 cents.
July 14 a Judge Facemire gave Boggs
the max sentence, one year in Central Regional Jail for damaging property
which would have been thrown away after one time use.
July 14 a Brent Boggs is housed at
CRJ for 365 days (minus any time already spent) at taxpayers expense to
the tune of $48.50 per day for a throw away item.
July 14 a That's 48.50 times 365 out
of our not so deep pockets.
July 14 a Billy Best is a nice
looking young man , the guy next door, trimmed hair cut, and neatly dressed.
No tattoos showing.
July 14 a Best was charged with possession
with intent to deliver a big brick of pot. The criminal complaint said
five pounds of the weed. During sentencing, his attorney said the amount
was really just one pound of the stuff. When arrested, Best said he was
not a drug dealer and only sold to his friends to make ends meet.
July 14 a During sentencing, Best's
family (7 kids present), friends, and employer spoke of his goodness and
good caliber.
July 14 a After saying that he is not
in favor of legalizing pot, Facemire sent the guy to the can for max.
July 14 a The law is the law
and until the weed which grows naturally in the woods becomes legal again,
prisons will continue to be filled beyond capacity on our nickel.
July 24 a The middirected war on drugs
marchs on.
July 14 a For all us ole potheads,
it's this time of year that got us in trouble.
July 14 a Back in the 60s and 70s the
norm was to plant a row of corn and then one of pot and repeat the process.
Both grew tall with the corn concealing the good homegrown weed. Everything
went well until the corn matured.
July 14 a Seemed like overnight, Poof!,
the corn turned sand brown leaving nothing but beautiful bright green pot
standing out like a new penny.
July 14 a
July 13 p Welcome to Friday the 13th
July 13 p Last night the Town of Clay
issued a Boil Water Order after a Main Street main line popped . That BWO
is for downtown and Clay County PSd customers
July 13 p This morning Queen Shoals
PSD issued their Boil Water Order for their entire system
July 13 p We awoke this morning
to a nice rain coming down but no electricity. Power was restored by 8pm.
No biggy but it reminded us, two weeks ago today the big storm hit and
left Clayberry and the State down and out for days.
July 13 p As a matter of fact,
As late as last night, some in this county, remained without electric.
That made 14 days for those in the dark.
July 13 p A little tardy on this but
the Summer Grand Jury met this week and returned indictments on
July 13 p Joseph Southers, operating
a drug lab
July 13 p Jacob Harrison, operating
a drug lab
July 13 p Jessica Gray, burglary, petit
larceny
July 13 p Ronnie Rogers, possession
with intent to deliver
July 13 p Lyle Burns, grand larceny
July 13 p Kristine Melrath, operating
a drug lab
July 13 p Paul Truman, operating a
drug lab
July 13 p Travis AJ Woods, wanton endangerment
x 4
July 13 p Amy Legg, burglary , attempt
July 13 p On July 24th, all of the
above will show up for court and say, not me Judge.
July 13 p 5 years ago, under the direction
of Pat Beets, the county 911 office purchased a system to send out information
to those with land line phones. Unlike Sarah the School Messenger at the
Pentagon, this alert system dials up everyone in the county on the
Frontier Tele Co lines.
July 13 p Until the June 29th storm
of the decade, the system had never been used
July 13 p This morning calls went out
asking Clayonians to call the County Clerk's office and provide damage
estimates.
July 13 p The way we figure it, FEMA
is not declaring this county a disaster zone and that equals no funding
for costs associated with the storm damage
July 13 p Don't get all excited clickers.
July 13 p The idea is to get FEMA to
reimburse the cost to the county and School System for fuel, meals, etc.
If you're thinking you may get some $$$$ to replace all the food lost in
the freezer, don't get your hopes up.
July 13 p While those on welfare received
extra food stamps, working folks and seniors on fixed incomes, forget it,
we don't count.
July 13 early a The
Town of Clay issued a BOIL WATER ORDER last night before midnight due to
a big time main line leak right in front of the Courthouse. Those
in downtown, Pisgah and over to Hartland, Boil it First.
July 13 a Ditto for Clay PSD customers
of all flavors
July 13 a More coming around
10 am check back then
July 12 late a On the below mentioned
BWO... this was NOT a scheduled outage as is the rumor on the street.
July 12 late a The latest bestest
yet Communicator made it to news stands yesterday afternoon. The lead story
covers the ongoing outages and damge from the June 29th storm. In depth
on the scene reporting available from Clay County's only locally owned
and operated newspaper, that's The Communicator.
July 12 a Boil Water Order issued
by Clay Roane PSD Wed afternoon for Wallback, Valley Fork, Ovapa, and over
into Roane County. Tank went dry. Boil it first.
July 12 a For many in Procious, this
is the first day with electric since June 29th. Yesterday afternoon AEP
restored their service lines allowing Leonard Lectric to do their thang
July 12 a Others remain powerless.
July 12 a This afternoon the Business
Development Authority meets in the COurthouse at 6pm
July 12 a Think back
July 12 a One week ago today. By 7
am July 5th, the temp stood at 90 degrees and the humidity made breathing
next to impossible. Utility workers more than earned their keep as the
sun fried their brains while clearing right of ways.
July 12 a One week ago, about this
time, Town of Clay wa wa customers in Maysel saw their first drips of the
wet stuff return to the spigot.
July 12 a Back in the Spring, our Top
Badge (for all intents and purposes) fired long time Black Shirt Miles
Slack who was running in the May Primary election.
July 12 a Right after the firing, the
County Commission reduced the Sheriff's budget by $47,000. That amount
is about what it costs to fund a Deputy for 12 months.
July 12 a Needless to say, the portly
Chief Badge was peed off big time.
July 12 a Also in the way of background,
during one of his other temper tantrums, the Sheriff stopped most all from
using the cost saving ankle bracelet wearing, home confinement program
in this county.
July 12 a During yesterday's CCC meeting
one of the agenda items was to restore the $47,000 to the round one's budget.
All three, Larry Darryl and Darryl, voted no to the resumed funding.
July 12 a Commissioner Pierson
noted that he wanted the stalled home confinement program restored.
July 12 a Putting 6 and 2 together
and coming up with 5......
July 12 a Sounds like the peeing party
power play continues at the Courthouse
July 12 a Between Link's election
year folly, the new 911 Center, and the Sheriff stomping his feet
and thumping his chest proclaiming it's his way or no way, county finances
are going down the tubes real fast.
July 12 a With only 5 months left in
his term of terror, the little guy with the Badge has a habit of taking
matters to Court. Since he's not getting his way in regard to the
$47,000, expect another Court battle soon.
July 12 a Law says that the County
Commission can set up and operate a home confinement program. Ours hasn't.
Such would require effort, organization and leadership. That's something
this county is in short supply of.
July 12 a Clayberry politics. How sad.
July 12 a Nearly 200 years ago some
famous guy said, people gte the government they deserve.
July 12 a from Will Rogers: I don't
make jokes about government, I just watch the government and report the
facts.
July 10 a Summer school reopens this
morning for the future of County Clay.
July 10 a For 10 days this
county was without its source for grease and heart attack in a box. That
changed last night when Gino's reopened its doors.
July 10 a Communicator comes
out Wed mid day. If all goes well, we'll have coverage from Monday's School
Board, a scant report on criminal activities, and lots of citizen reporting
on the storm damage and shortcomings.
July 10 a Email over your stuff for
inclusion today
July 9 late p While you're sitting
there with the A/C whirling, the dryer making your clothes nice and soft,
and your fridge fully restocked, keep something in mind....
July 9 late p 100's in County Clay
(Dundon, Triplett Ridge, Procious, Fola Rd, and other big chunks South
of the Hartland Bridge remain without electricity. Two folks that live
on Fola Road told us the place looks like a war zone and other than a company
truck doing a drive thru, nothing has been done to correct to restore power
in that community.
July 9 late p Sympathy extended,
July 9 late p School Superintendent
said during an emergency meeting of the Sch Bd Monday, well over $40,000
was spent feeding and sheltering Clayonians last week.
July 9 late p Sunday evenings
big storm did little further damage inside this county. It did add an additional
25,000 to the we ain't got no juice crowd down in Kanawha County. For Clayberry,
power was off around 5pm and remained unavailable until 1am this morning.
July 9 late p
July 9 a There will be an emergency
meeting of the Clayberry Board of Edumacation Monday at high noon at the
Pentagon
July 9 a No CAEZ meeting this evening.
July 9 a Ice and wa wa handouts at
Dixie Elem School this morning at 11am.
July 9 a For those that had power restored
Saturday afternoon and then lost it again Sunday around 5pm. Sometime after
1 am this morning, AEP crews did their thang and once again, Clayberry
had juice.
July 9 a Many in this county remain
without the basic service
July 9 a The overnight rain wiped away
the high humidity for now. At 9am this morning the temp was at a moderate
74 degrees. We can breath again.
July 9 a Communicator comes out
Wed morning. If you have a storm related story or other interesting tidbit,
email now. Deadline for submission is Tuesday afternoon.
July 9 a Just staying alive took most
our time last week. Other than pics and news page postings, this site was
kapuut. We think it' current now. If you don't see your Classified or other
notice, please email again.
July 8 late p It took repair
crews eight days to restore electric to most of Clayberry. By Saturday
afternoon things were looking up. We started cleaning out the yuck from
freezers and frigs. With electric on, Sunday was a time to clean and fumigate
the house. Things were lookin good. The bad was over. Right? Wrong!
July 8 late p Around 5pm, nearby storms
ripped up the restored service lines in nearby counties. Many in this county
receive service thru Elk Power Company which buys juice from AEP.
July 8 p AEP received new damage in
Kanawha County from the Sunday afternoon storm
July 8 p Results, once again, we're
in the dark.
July 8 p Here's the Sunday
evening the damage map.
July 8 p Better sit down clickers.
Estimates are, no electric until late on Tuesday or Wednesday.
July 8 p Many sections of the County
never had power restored. With repair crews heading back to Kanawha to
get that mess straightened out, it's going to be a while.
July 8 p As for that storm.... other
than light winds and some thunder, it went around the Nation of Clay. At
10pm Sunday, there's just a slight drizzle in the air.
July 8 p No Summer school Monday.
July 8 p
July 8 p In the morning post we mentioned
that many in the county now have lectric
July 8 p Reality is, most along the
main roads have juice. That's not the case for side roads and hollers.
July 8 p Our guess, there's still 1000s
without the 21st century convenience
July 8 a Notices...
July 8 a After serving 14,000+ meals,
sheltering many night after night, and giving others a place to catch their
breath in the cool A/C, Saturday evening at 6pm, the Big Otter Elem Shelter
closed it's doors.
July 8 a The CAEZ Economic Development
Committee Meeting and the CAEZ Board Meeting
has been canceled for Monday, July
9, 2012
July 8 a The entire state is still
under a Boil Water Order, don't take chances, boil it first.
July 8 a Now into the 9th day of
the storm report...
July 8 a Friday night about dark thirty,
electric came back on for downtown Clay. Many of those in Maysel saw their
service restored by 11am Saturday.
July 8 a Instead of saying most are
without electric now, we can say many remain powerless. Last night,
much of Procious was in the dark and suffering.
July 8 a Generators and downed power
lines are being stolen by thugs. Yesterday at 6:40 came reports of two
thugs stealing from a person at the residence. These are desperate times,
beware. Don't let your guard down.
July 8 a Feels like temp was well over
100 yesterday. Last night at 7pm the actual temp was 94 in the Maysel area.
Humdity was, is, extreme making breathing tough at best.
July 8 a Tip: Many of those now "almost
new" generators will be returned to big box stores for a refund. Now's
a great time to catch a deal on a nearly new one or upgrade yours to a
larger unit.
July 8 a Perspective: We were
talking to a lady who said she didn't understand what all the hype was
about. She said she grew up without electric, air conditioning, or even
fans. Sitting on the porch in the shade was just fine for her.The senior
citizen went on to explain the temperature wasn't that extreme.
July 8 a Of course she was doing that
oratory while sitting in her air conditioned car and after leaving her
air conditioned home that had never lost elecric service.
July 6 a From Rose Cantrel: The Red
Cross needs volunteers in Braxton County Friday through the weekend to
pass out lunches & dinners. Locations will be the National Guard Armory
& the Food Bank in Gassaway
July 6 a Or, you could volunteer right
here at home. There's lots of volunteers that have been on the task for
seven days straight and in need of a break.
July 6 a Friday morning posts are normally
something to encourage near and far to come out and enjoy Clayberry this
weekend. Not so this time around while the vast majority of the country
remains absolutely in the dark without working much of anything. That's
trying to stay alive without even a fan to move the air a little.
July 6 a The Courthouse reopened yesterday
with the sound of the big generator roaring out back.
July 6 a Temperatures are expected
to once again reach 100 today. That isn't making matters any better for
the aged, ill and us fat arss folks that can't stand the heat any day of
the week
July 6 a Welfare food stamps were handed
out yesterday at Big Otter Elem Shelter. If they went to the people, that
should help.
July 6 a Sadly, noted in the several
days....
July 6 a They're at the Big Otter Center
saying they don't have $$$ for food, they get their family fed for free,
they receive 8 take out dinners, and then and then... a few minutes later
the same family can be seen at a local convenience store buying scratch
off tickets and soda pop.
July 6 a Families saying they
don't have ANY food at home. It's the first of the month and there's no
canned goods at home? Does that make sense?
July 6 a Is everything great
in your neck of the woods? Not so here in the land of little.
July 5 late p Special note: The
Big Otter Elem Shelter is reducing the meals served daily to two beginning
Friday July 6th.
July 5 late p Brunch will be
served from 9 to 11 and evening vittles from4 to 6p
July 5 late p The big storm slated
for this afternoon fizzled into a nice gentle, much needed rain which cooled
the place down nicely.
July 5 late p You know what time it
is? It's time for Charleston big shots to start coming around telling us,
everything will be alright.
July 5 2:28 p Another big tree
fell near Spread Park blocking one lane of Rt 4. Be careful out there folks.
July 5 2:15 around Noon:30 today
a light rain blanketed the area and dropped the temp down to a more livable
level. Although the Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in affect until 7pm
tonight, it appears the thang went somewhere else. We hope anyway!
July 5 p How about some encouraging
words clickers
July 5 p We talked with an AEP rep
(those are the folks that supply electric to Elk Power, Black Diamond Power,
Leonard Lectric or whatever it's called these days and that feller felt
the Hartland Transmission station would be repaired later today. Hartland
is the source for us in central Clayberry.
July 5 p Hold your horses. Don't get
all excited...
July 5p Downtown Clay will be first
to get the juice BUT before any of that can happen, after the transmission
station gets fixed, the lines from there to here have to be repaired.
July 5p Closer but still not here as
a of Thursday afternoon
July 5p Over the scanner earlier today,
free bottled wa wa available at Lizemore FD, Clay Ambulance Service, and
Big Otter FD
July 5p Want to do something important,
how about volunteering up at Big Otter Elem Shelter. Many of the current
volunteers and workers have been there since Sunday afternoon and could
sure use a break.
July 5 p On Day 6 of this crisis communiciations
between agencies finally appears more stable and usable
July 5 a Batten down the hatches
. The National Weather Service issued a sever weather storm watch for Clayberry
July 5 a Around 11:50 this morning,
the winds picked up and the piercing sun went behind clouds.
July 5 a NWS: The NWS Storm Prediction
Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
central and southern West Virginia Effective this Thursday morning and
evening from 1140 am until 700 PM EDT. Hail to
1.5 inches in diameter... thunderstorm wind gusts to 70
mph... and dangerous lightning
are possible in these areas.
July 4 late if you have an event change
or other notice you want posted, use the email address above please. We
will post as DSL service allows.
July 4 late p Democracy is the name
give to the people when we need them - Robert Peellive
July 4 late p 1602 meals were
served at Big Otter Elem School before 3:30pm today. It's expected that
they will handle 2400 including the evening meal.
July 4 late p A rep from Clay Roane
PSD told us their system is NOT under a Boil Water Order since they have
not had a line break or other outage.
July 4 late p The Boil Water Order
we're now under (the entire state) was called by the Big Guru's in Charleston
July 4 late p From the email
bag: I just wanted to tell you a little about my boys
and this "disaster," Both are serving in the WV national guard, One, my
oldest, is in training at Ft Gordon GA, the other is activated here in
WV. The one in GA asked for emergency
leave, his commander granted his wish pending a verification from the "Red
Cross," that there has indeed been a natural disaster in Clay, WV. The
"Red Cross" advised his commander that the only thing going on in the state
of WV was a "Heat Advisory" and he was not needed to help his parents (both
my wife and I are disabled) and his leave in turn was canceled.
My second son is serving in the guard, the 1 150Th, he was activated Monday
to deliver and operate an 35KW generator for public utilities. A good thing
yes? It would be if FEMA, or our state government, had sent him to his
home county to help. Instead they sent him
to Williamson WV, to pick up the truck, to turn around and go back through
this area and set-up camp in northern Jackson Co. Totally by-passing our
beloved "Clayberry", needless to say son number two is furious, however
he is still doing his job, serving the Great State of West Virginia. Pride
I have in my boys, not as much in the government these days. I f
you would like to give a shout out for two Clay Co. Boys/Men serving their
state and their country, they are: Spec. Christopher L Hardway
(age 21) 1 150th Armored recon. troop A Williamson WV
pvt. 2 Charles P. Hines (age 24) Communication spec Ft Gordon GA
Both call Bomont WV home, Thanks for reading my rambles, Proud father,
Kelly Hardway Bomont, WV
July 4 late p Just when we thought
there was no hope in site, Go Mart in Clay rolled in one of those giant
generators and reopened for business.
July 4 p From the email bag: ANYONE
can come to our plant for FREE drinking water (bring your own jugs or tanks)
when the gates are open and we are pumping water. (If a generator is NOT
there...we can not pump and won’t have any water in our clear well).
Crystal Hayes Clay Roane PSD, Procious
July 4 p The telephone company
is using portable generators to charge up the "slicks" in the county and
keep the phone switches working. Reports have it that local thugs are stealing
the generators. During emergency times, such rotten %%$$## antics!
July 4 1:30pm Call came
in that a guy was driving down the road waving a pistol out the window.
Badge 5 got on it but without any luck. Top Badge said it was the same
guy that had hit a kid with a hatchet last week. After canceling
the pursuit, Top Badge "I'll clean his clock in the morning!"
July 4 2:40p With many
calls coming in for more evening meals, 911 Director Greg Fitzwater got
on the radio and told all to send those meal requests to Clay Control.
Something about keeping the numbers right and reimbursement thru FEMA
July 4 p Sounds like Clayberry crisis
efforts are getting organized.
July 4 p With most in the county
in dire straits, this is an Independence Day to forget.
July 4 p For those lucky enough to
have a working generator, a couple notes.
July 4 p Filling that gas tank all
the way full is a no no. There has to be some void to allow for vapor expansion.
Also, check the oil level. It's common for even a new generator use a quart
of oil every 15 hours of run time.
July 4 p The Big Otter elem School
shelter fed over 1600 people yesterday. By noon today nearly 700 meals
has been handed out. Drinks, water and ice have been passed throughout
the county. Both water plants are offering free wa wa to any and
all.
July 4 p Volunteers are doing wellness
checks Emergency Services workers are doubly struggling to keep the Nation
of Clay afloat.
July 4 p But.....
July 4 p After five
days of no power ( for many that equates to no water as well) things are
changing.
July 4 p A frig will keep things
cool for 36 to 48 hours without electricity. After that , forget
it. Because the storm happened early in the month, most families had a
stash of food on hand. Most had replenished their supply of Rx's.
July 4 p With food perishables gone,
canned goods running low, the $$$ spent on fuel or foods since plastic
doesn't work, the change is taking place now. On top of all that, the druggies
and alcoholics are going without.
July 4 p In the cocktail add hot temps,
no A/C, and the family all piled on top of each other with nothing to do
but sweat.
July 4 p The second poorest county
is getting desperate for real.
July 4 p How many meals can the Big
Otter Center continue to provide? What is the breaking point for Volunteer
groups? Down in Kanawha County there already is a rift
on who's suppose to do what between government and volunteers like the
Red Cross.
July 4 p Additional food stamp
money may help but without use of debit cards, some other solution has
to be devised.... quickly too.
July 4 p During desperate times people
will revert to desperate means
July 3 late p From the email:
Please let everybody know that SPOKES and Adult Basic Education is open
and operating at the Valley Fork Learning Center. Many people assume
we are closed because Clay County Schools are. We are a federal program
and have to be open unless there is no water in the building. We
have internet and a/c, so people can come up and use it. We are open
8:30 am to 3 pm Monday thru Friday. The only day we will be closed
will be July 4th.
July 3 4:20 pm Temps have fallen to
85 degrees, a warm breeze is in the air and clouds replaced the blue skies.
Hope this ain't another storm a brewing
July 3 p Frontier telephone and DSL
service is off and on again around the county. Sorry for the delay in posting.
July 3 p Welcome to day four of the
Storm of the Decade
July 3 p No TOwn Council meeting tonight
according to Recorder Dwana Murphy
July 3 p From the email bag: The Clay
County Golden Delicious Festival planning meeting, set for July 5th, will
be canceled due to power outages. Our thoughts and prayers are with
everyone suffering from storm damages.
July 3 p Health tips on refrigeration
on ADVISORY page
July 3 p Water providers are moving
portable generators from one location another and then back again in an
attempt to keep customers in wa wa.
July 3 p Now more than ever, remember,
we're under a Boil Water Order. Boil it first for your own good.
July 3 p Last night we posted how non
existent Larry Darryl and Darryl are during this crisis. Last night
they showed up at the Big Otter Emergency Shelter for a while. That's better
July 3p Today the Courthouse is open
as a cooling area for those in need. No Courthouse business but a place
to gather and free drinks
July 3p Today at 2pm the temp
in the shade is 94. The air is very thick from humidity. forget the strenuous
work until this evening.
July 3 p On Monday the school system
estimated that they provided 600 meals and housed 30 some overnight.
July 3 p For those out of the area,
most of Clayberry remains powerless today. Most stores are closed. Gas
station continue to run out of fuel. Emergency providers are spread very
thin.
July 3 p FYI, you can also take a shower
at Big Otter Elem. All services are available to any and everyone. Why
not take a break and suck in some air conditioning if nothing else
July 3 p 75 years ago on days like
this, people gathered under a shade tree during the noon day sun and sat
on the front porch at night. We're back there now
July 3 p Half asleep, last night, over
the scanner, came traffic of a 12 year old with a gun followed by an out
of breath Badge alerting others of a guy in a gray pick em up truck fleeing
July 3 early early a From
the Pentagon: All schools in Clay County will be closed on Tue. Jul.
3, 2012. Due to Storm Damage and Power outages, All Clay County Schools
are closed for the remainder of the week, through and including July 6,
2012. Big Otter Elementary School is open as an emergency shelter.
The shelter is open 24 hours a day and staff are providing meals at the
shelter and for take out. Big Otter Elementary Schools is air
conditioned, has rest room and shower facilities. Cots are on hand
for those staying overnight. Contact the Clay Ambulance Service or
Big Otter Elementary School (304) 286-3111 or 3112 for assistance.
School Bus operators are delivering some meals to specified locations in
the Clay and Lizemore areas. If you need help, let someone know.
From the Gold Dome in Charleston, a
statewide Boil Water Order was placed on everybody regardless of your source
of wa wa. Boil it first no matter what.
July 3 a There is an upside to having
so many convenience stores closed. with Clayonians addicted to scratch
lottery games, with those off the board for several more days, there will
be more $$$ left to spend on the family
July 3 a For those outside the region,
as of Monday evening, most of the county remain without power, telephone
nor critical services provided by the likes of Rite Aid which does not
have a back up generator.
July 3 a Making matters worser, many,
maybe most, in these parts do not have backup generators to power such
things as a frig, freezer or even run a fan. With temps hovering
around 100. that last thing makes life unbearable.
July 3 a Last night the ace cub reporter
noticed most of the trailers along Rt 4 were without any form of electricity.
High humidity and temps in the 90s are expected for the rest of the week.
July 3 a The talk of the county and
emergency service workers around the county is, what happened to the County
Commission? Where's the leadership during this crisis?
July 3 a Linky Poo was seen briefly
at the Clay Command Control followed by Ms Smiley, Arlene Tucker. As for
Pierson, who knows.
July 3 a Here's an example of
what's wrong.
July 3 a Last night volunteers
at the Big Otter Emergency Shelter asked Commissioner Pierson if the CCC
would supply diapers and butt wipes for those family staying there. He
questioned the need for such a request.
July 3 a Pierson and probably the other
two are so insulated, they don't understand that such items are hard to
come by with so many stores closed . On top of that, add on the difficulty
of finding gasoline to head to some other county for purchases.
July 3 a In the end, Pierson said no
for the CCC supplying the basic need.
July 3 a Keep in mind, that big fat
NO came while the Courthouse generator was running full blast and the place
was closed to the public. That's the same generator that was granted
the county to power the COurthouse during emergency times.
July 3 a That's in addition to
a generator powering the completely empty election year folly, the 911
Dispatch Center, that has no one there! Absolutely empty
July 3 If were short on money for helping
the people during times of need, we can see all those 911 dollars in the
bricks and mortar on the new building beside the Courthouse.
July 3 a We have the old Courthouse,
the new Courthouse and soon, the newest Courthouse. All three in a county
where leadership holds up helping the neediest during this storm crisis.
July 3 a FYI Arlene Tucker was
later seen carrying in some diapers and wipes to the crisis center.
July 2 5pm According to
scanner traffic, Flatwoods, Sutton, Gassaway and Cedar Grove have power
restored and gas a running. That should help reduce the gas lines in Clayberry
during this crisis
July 2 p Need a meal? Dial Clay
Control 304 587 2554
July 2 p Around 1pm
today, over the scanner came a call for Badges in Big Otter, "People fighting
over fuel."
July 2p For first hand info on
when the power is coming back, here's
the AEP site. As of 1pm today, AEP, the supplier to Elk Power, notes
that most customers will have electric on Sunday. That's a long time
clickers and without wa wa, it's very serious.
July 2 p As of 2pm today, 452,000 customers
in the affected area are without electric. Last night's storm added a few
more in the Southern counties.
July 2 p Down in Charleston proper,
all the stores are open and gas stations galore are operating back on schedule.
July 2 p Attorney General McGraw is
asking that if you see price gouging (10% increase or more), to call his
office with the info. That number: 304 558-8986 or 1 800 368-8808
July 2 p 3pm Temp is 97
degrees in the shade
July 2 p As of 3pm, responders,
church groups and volunteers galore are stepping up to the plate and working
to keep Clayberry held together.
July 2 a Frontier DSL restored by 9
this morning.....
July 2 a If you read the before Noon
post, check again, there's a bunch more down there
July 2 a Temporary shelter, food and
showers are available at Big Otter Elem. Maybe better yet, they have air
conditioning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 2 a Friday June 29th had temps
around 100 degrees and humidity so thick you could barely breath Around
7:15 Friday night the storm of the decade hit Clayberry. In about 15 minutes
of high winds, rains coming sideways, and stuff flying around the sky,
the storm was over. At 8:30 pm more thunder rumbled thru the area along
with winds bending the trees into pretzels once again.
July 2 a Scanner traffic was alive
with action. There was a report of campers along the Elk disappearing during
the storm.
July 2 a Down in Charleston, the place
went black. From Putnam County to Morgantown, there was no electricity.
For Charleston chemical plants, it was touch and go.
July 2 a A six state region felt the
wrath.
July 2 a Nearly the entire county
lost electric, phone, cell phone, and internet service. Utility lines and
tree limbs blocked county roads. Some of the lines were still "hot". 911
service was spotty at best with generator backup not automatically clicking
on when needed.
July 2 a Every emergency service responder
in the land went into action. The response was excellent but the damage
was greater. For all intents and purposes, County Clay shut down.
July 2 a Saturday, a time for patience
and generators.
July 2 a before daylight, probably
most of the night, crews started cleaning the place up.
July 2 a Rubber neckers hit the roadways
looking at the damage and trying to find gasoline, bread, and beer.
July 2 a With the exception of Cunningham
and Bullard's Exxon and House's Sunoco, we were shut down. Gas lines formed.
Some lines were 25 vehicles deep in both directions. When some started
jumping line, tempers flared. Badges were called to task.
July 2 a By mid day Saturday little
was left at convenience stores for the belly. Truth is, we didn't need
to buy three loaves of bread nor fill up every plastic container with gas,
but we did. Interstate motorists searched for fueling stops. We got scared.
July 2 a Without phone service, and
wondering about loves ones, panic set in.
July 2 a Gov Earl Ray issued an emergency
order. Shortly there after Obama de Bama did likewise for the W Va and
the region.
July 2 a After a day of eating
peanut butter and catsup sandwiches, word spread that a second storm was
coming our way. Damage assessments came thru that power would not be restored
until Saturday.
July 2 a Haphazardly put together without
provisions for outages, many in the county lost municipal wa wa service.
July 2 a With generators whirling
across the land, and after another day of heat index readings above 100,
we went to bed Saturday night hot and sticky.
July 2 Sunday brought a
realization that this was going to be a long haul and more emergency measures
had to be implemented. Aging and ill residents are unable to handle the
stress of high temps. Without wa wa, cooking, cleaning and sanitation are
out the window. Those on oxygen machines or bottled air, in more serious.
July 2 a The School system went to
work setting up an emergency shelter at Big Otter Elem. Free food, showers,
lodging, all became available by 2pm Sunday. Buses were called into action
hauling those in need. Sunday evening, in addition to many responders and
utility workers, the aged and others took advantage of the free service.
July 2 a The Pentagon used the Sarah
Messenger system to let those with working phones to let people know of
available services.
July 2 a Without internet service,
the local radio station remained off the air.
July 2 a Gas stations were told
to stop selling to the public and leave some in t he ground for emergency
service vehicles only. The Town of Clay set up a monster generator to power
the wa wa plant. With the wet stuff flowing, the Town offered free water
to anybody in need. Unfortunately, no generators were available to the
pump to the various storage tanks which went dry
July 2 a It was difficult times in
need of leadership. For the County, that should have been the Commissioners
prominently lending a hand. Other than one brief radio exchange with Linky,
nothing.
July 2 a In the middle of all this,
the local electric company's bucket truck broke down.
July 2 a Sunday evening reports came
of another big storm coming our way. We watched as lightening ripped thru
the night sky and thunder rolled thru. Fortunately, the storm front left
the county alone.
July 2 a Monday
July 2 a By noon the temperature was
already up to 86 degrees. Summer school was canceled for today and Tuesday.
Statewide, court cases were canceled.
July 2 a Monday noon, people were running
every which of a ma place in search of generators. Gas supplies were replenished.
Internet service returned
July 2 a Clickers, we're in this mess
for several more days until suppliers can return to power service.
July 2 a We can make electric and make
do without most essentials, except one, water.
July 2 a Here in t he 21st century
we once again realize how vulnerable we really are.
July 2 a More updates as generators
and DSL remain usable