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
  •