July 2013 Past News
 

• SPECIAL NOTE  Somehow someway, the bonehead puter guru managed to loose two weeks worth of the past news. sorry. it's out in cyber space somewhere, we just cna't find it.
• July 18 a For all those that are sick of cutting grass, weedwhacking and doing others honey do projects around the house, the JOBS page is full of young people willing to work their butts off
• July 18 a Advertisers are listed around this web site. They make it possible of course but more importantly, you aughta check out their products. For instance, the NAPA site and Short Stop buttons, there's a way to do an internet parts search. Pretty handy!
• July 18 a Another day ot 100 degree temps coming our way. It's been miserable this week.
• July 18 a  Last Saturday there are several vendors during the Saturday Farmer's Market. God stuff and locally grown. Might be worth a trip to Courthouse Square tomorrow.
• July 18 a  Tonight the staff of Clay High will be introduced to their new Athletic Director  Greg Knoop over at the Clay Swimming Pool.
• July 18 a For those bored at work.... What color dress was The Hollies 1972 Long Cool Woman wearing? Email answers.
• July 18 a Stay in front of the A/C today if you can!
• July 18 a Weathercasters are predicting another day of near 100 degree temps plus rain and humidity galore
• July 18 a  Although the local school system hasn't come to grip with the impending financial disaster heading our way, here's some state code stuff, the stuff the Pentagon must use when handling employee lay offs, transfers, and worse.
• July 18 a  First a nearly complete list of school titles for service personnel, State Code 18a-4-8.
• July 18 a Here's the complete list for professional school employees. State Code 18a-1-1.
• July 18 a  Here's the mandatory method of hiring, promoting, and transferring personnel plus senority. State Code 18-a-4-7a.
• July 18 a  By the way, when some say it's the County Superintendent that does the hiring and the School Board just rubber stamps the process.. that ain't true. State Code 18a-2-1.
• July 18 a If you ever wondered what the official duties of Kenneth Tanner are, here it is in black and white. State Code 18-5-25.
• July 18 a When a School Boardster says they don't have any power, that they just sort of follow along and do as the Superintendet says or they won't tell us S***....... WRONG -O!  For your edification, State Code 18-5-13.
• July 18 a Might be worth bookmarking those links for future reference.
• July 17 late p   Roger Chilton Hill, see OBITUARY page
• July 17 a Back in January , with the new Sheriff in place, the County Commission was all excited that this county would finally implement a cost saving day report center for non violent offenders. The idea is to reduce jail bills and provide job skills instead of incarceration for bad guys and girls.
• July 17 a To date, other than the county's jail bill escalating, nothing has happened.
• July 17 a  If you think Clayberry is poor and without much hope, Calhoun County is worse off in most every survey
• July 17 a County Commission leadership over there is setting up alternative sentencing as a substitute to jail time. Here's the link on that program.
• July 17 a Our local School Board and Pentagon appear to be in denial. During public meetings since Dec 2012, there has been zero discussion on the serious deficit situation. Not once has a Board member asked a question. Not once has the staff including the Superintendent, stated what has happened financially nor provided updates on what's being done to correct the "bleeding" Not once.
• July 17 a  Web sites often make it next to impossible to find valuable information. Some bury it deep behind link after link. Often it feels like a deliberate attempt to hide public info from the public.
• July 17 a The State Bd of Ed web site is loaded with good financial info if you can find it.
• July 17 a Here's a link to their financial section on our 2013 budget. Notice the negatives figures.
• July 17 a  For those that think the Super makes too much $$$, check out this page on what other counties pay their top dogs. Turns out, Our Tanner is just in the middle of the pay scale.
• July 17 a  This State Ed link does not offer the right click and open in a separate window option. You'll have to negotiate this page yourself. For those click on the Clay option and then lower on the page, the Fund 11 section , there's the run down on each job title and the amount budgeted for each heading.
• July 17 a Take a second look at that just referenced page. Sure looks like total dollars budgeted for some titles are screwed up. Looks like some full time positions are not listed that way but instead, broken up smaller chunk  covers. Sort of like a shell game.
• July 17 a If that's the case and with the state folks taking a closer look at us these days, the shell game days may be over.   If that speculation is correct, the Clayberry School system may be in deeper trouble with an even bigger deficit.
• July 17 a More out of control spending, covering up on spread sheets, and bad WesTest results maybe in August..... we're in trouble big time
• July 17a We'll keep digging.
• July 17 a It might be time to call your School Boardster and ask them to provide some answers.
• July 16 a  Maxine Costa, 79, of Ivydale,  se OBITUARY page
• July 16 a   Kathleen “Kat” Moore, 83, of Lizemores , see OBITUARY page
• July 16 a  We're just getting into the best eating month of the year. It's tomato sandwich month in the Appalachian Mountains. Red clear to the middle, you slice em about 1 inch think with a little mustard, pickle and cheese on fresh bread. When the juice is running down both sides of your mouth, nothing finer for sure
• July 16 a  For those interested in keeping a public fitness center in the county, we have an update.
• July 16 a As a discussion item during Monday night's School Board meeting, Superintendent Kenneth Tanner made public:  Negotiations are in progress for Renee Holcomb of beauty shop fame and her hubby to lease the building and equipment; details are not worked out yet; the place may be ready to reopen in a few weeks; it will remain a public use facility; and, the school system will still have a concession stand on the bottom floor.
• July 16 a That was the good news from last night
• July 16 a There was not one word from the elected folks nor the administration on the serious budget shortfalls in the system. Operating $1.1+ million in the red and with major cuts in staff and programs coming, sure seems like a public meeting would be the place to make the public aware.
• July 16 a Didn't happen
• July 16 a It's like they can't accept the situation, like, if they don't talk about it, it will just go away.
• July 16 a If more debt is discovered by the Charleston snoops and or Westest scores go down (results expected in August), look for a state take over of the local system. It may take that for the Board and staff to understand the mess they're in.
• July 16 a In the mean time, life is good at the Pentagon
• July 16 a There are some things people shy away from bashing.... the Shriners, veterans, and Boy Scouts come to mind. Say a bad word about those groups, and off with your head!!!!!!!!!
• July 6 a One county over, thousands of Boy Scouts have gathered for their jamboree in Fayette County. That county was real excited a couple years back when the BSA announced their intentions to build a $3 million camp near Mt Hope. Locals were grinning ear to ear at the prospects of new revenue coming their way
• July 16 a Such was also the case when Buckskin Scout Camp was opened in Pocahantas County in 1960. Local businesses were ready to accept the new revenue stream with open arms.
• July 16 a In Pocahantas County, it didn't happen. The camp's still there but as for locals benefiting greatly, Nope.
• July 16 a Ditto for Fayette County due to the national organization habit of buying elsewhere and bringing the goods to the local camp.
• July 16 a Now it's even worser. With membership half of what it was even 10 years ago, the Boy Scouts of America are in real danger of going bankrupt.
• July 16 a What happened? Corporations took the organization over! Here's a recent Reuters write up on the problems facing a once great organization turned corporate cult.
• July 15 a School Board meets tonight at 6pm at the Pentagon. The agenda lists several action items.
• July 15 a There's no mention of the Fitness Center shutting down and now, maybe maybe,  reopening
• July 15 a Word has it that a private individual is negotiating a deal to lease the county's only public fitness center.
• July 15 a For about two months now, hush hush rumors  have been circulating around the Courthouse that an elected official is being investigated for criminal misconduct, using the elect office's authority for less than honorable and unlawful purposes.
• July 15 a  As of right now, no arrest or indictment has been made public by the Feds. Every indication indicates, it's still coming.
• July 15 a We keep noting all the cut backs in personal freedoms promised by the US Constitution. Sadly most in this country just say something dumb like, I don't care if they read my emails, listen to my phone calls, and such.
• July 15 a We keep saying Big Brother is coming. Actually, after some more thought.. Big Bro is here
• July 15 a Take for example driver licenses where we have to provide our social security card, birth certificates,  home address, telephone, a mug shot, and in some cases, finger prints.
• July 15 a Our often dysfunctional Dept of Motor Vehicles now has all the info any web hacker would love to have and all in one spot.
• July 15 a Easy pickins and no one is complaining.

• July 13 a After a solid week of rain plus some very strong storms and such, looks like we may see some sunshine today. Great!
• July 13 a Thursday morning Judge Facemire heard all those at Arraignment Day say not guilty. That's the norm.
• July 13 a David Hanshaw was a no show. Hanshaw is the guy accused of breaking into the Clay PO , Health Dept, and a Clay Ambulance and stealing Rx pads, drugs, and anything else he could find. His actions were captured on video cameras.  Judges don't like it very much when you don't show up for court. Facemire put out the warrant on Hanshaw and ordered a $200,000 cash only bond when the guy is found.
• Justin Blankenship showed up but did so with meth and pot in his system. He's back in the slammer now.
• July 13 a In addition to arrignments, the Judge also took pleas from Dale Green, Brian Adkins, and John Rider
• July 13 a 62 year old Dale Green was nabbed on pot charges and distribution. He plead to one count.
• July 13 47 year old Brian Adkins is the guy arrested on multiple sexual assault charges by a parent or guardian.  Without emotion and barely muttering his words. Adkins plead to one count with all the others tossed
• July 13 John Rider is the guy caught viewing kid porn at the Clay Library last winter. Rider said guilty three times with the rest tossed.
• July 13 a All will receive their sentence on Sept 13th but remain on bond for now
• July 13 a Remember Larry Harold? He's been in the Court system numerous times during the last three years or so. At one point, Harold was the Barber on Main Street. On the dark side, he was named in the Brent Boggs murder for hire scheme. Other transgressions include arson, impersonating a Badge, Burglary, and he also managed to bust his probation rules.
• July 13 a His attorney did her best to polish a turd  including, "He has had a run of bad luck that no one should have.."
• July 13 a Judge Facemire is not new to the beating a dead horse notion but listened anyway.. Larry Harold got 10 years in the pen for his out of control behavior.
• July 13 a Enjoy your weekend clickers.
• July 11 late p It's never too late to say Happy Birthday to Bus Czar Mike Mullins and Dave Derby
• July 11 late p   If you think the phone companies are a greedy bunch of rascals, here's a just made public way they rake in millions more.
• July 11 late p Most of us have known that the new way high pressure way of fracking oil out of the ground is causing earthquakes. Now, even Columbia University is confirming the destruction of our planet.
• July 11 late p For Microsoft users.... and finally in the way of shocking stuff: Microsoft has collaborated closely with US intelligence services to allow users' communications to be intercepted, including helping the National Security Agency to circumvent the company's own encryption, according totop-secret documents obtained by the Guardian.
• July 11 late p For those that think internet searches should be no different or any less secret than a letter in a mail box, you might want to use duckduckgo for searches instead of google. Easy to use too.
• July 11 a Last night's storm lasted maybe 20 minutes but this morning, tree limbs litter the roads, graveled right of ways are in disrepair, and mud / grunge /  trash remain where creek banks overflowed big time last night
• July 11 a Readers of the latest Communicator find it hard to believe that the school system could have overspent $1.1+million over budget. Just mention that athletes, parents, booster clubs, may have to start paying for sports buses bring out a thundering "AIn't going to happen".
• July 11 a Well, it's happening now
• July 11 a During Tuesday evening's School Board meeting at the Pentagon, Super Tanner made it official with: activity buses are costing the county around $140,000 with the Levy only covering $80,000. "That gap is not funded.. We can't spend what we don't have."
• July 11 a Reality is starting to set in. Either the Pentagon will get it's house in order or the State Boys will do it for us and right away.
• July 11 a Look for bus trips even those with educational purposes to be cut back 25% minimum.
• July 10 p  Around 7:15 pm the winds started howling and heavy rain hosed down Clayberry. Power blinked off and on several times but for the most part, most of the county has electricimacity
• July 10 p  The Summer Grand Jury completed their duties Tuesday around 3:15. From the efforts of 16 behind closed doors
• July 10 p Blake Gundy Kidnaping / Conspiracy x 4; nighttime burglary, wanton endangerment w/ firearm, malicious wounding
• July 10 p Shane Holbrook Kidnaping conspiracy x 4, nighttime burglary, wanton endangerment w/ firearm, malicious wounding
• July 10 p Justin  Blankenship attempted robbery, burglary
• July 10 p Adam Stevens   malicious wounding, burglary, battery
• July 10 p Barbara Osborne   failure register x 2
• July 10 p Dustin Johnson   child neglect creating risk of injury
• July 10 p Joshua Alan Thacker driving revoked 3rd offense
• July 10 p David Hanshaw B&E x 3 petit larceny x 3 destruction of prop x 3  forgery x2 uttering x 2
• July 10 p Julie Hudson fleeing, driving under influence of alcohol or drugs 2nd offense, driving left of center
• July 10 p Ronald  D Ramsey wanton endangerment w/ firearm, domestic battery
• July 10 p Helen White  welfare fraud x 4
• July 10 p James P White  welfare fraud x 4
• July 10 p Kimberly Davis Messinger  welfare fraud x 1
• July 10 p   Nothing too exciting this time around clickers.
• July 10 p Most of the time, the court gives the bad folks a week or so to get ready for Arriagnment day. Not this time around. Arraignment Day is July 11 at 9am and August 5
• Happy Hump Day one and all
• July 10 a The Communicator made it out the door Tuesday. The lead story is a detailed article on the doubling of the School System deficit in just 6 months.
• July 10 a We asked a bunch of questions during the 30 minute interview but that rascal Kenneth Tanner is tough to get  straight answers from. We did the best we could with prying out answers to what's going to happen during the next few weeks of cutbacks. And, Yes, parents, you're going to feel the pinch
• July 10 a Summer Grand Jury convened Tuesday. Results will be available this morning from the Circuit Clerk's office. We hope to have em posted by early afternoon. Check back then
• July 10 a  County Commission meets this morning at 10am. Sitting on a cool $1/2 million, Larry Darryl and Darryl should be quite proud of themselves while county agencies beg for operation funds
• July 10 a During last night's School Board meeting, there were no question about the deficit and possibility of the State folks taking over the Pentagon. There were no questions on what other budget cuts are needed or are already planned.
• July 8 p  Amelia Janette “Jan” Eason, 45, of Hansford Fork, Clay County, see OBITUARY page
• July 8 a  Hugh V. Fitzwater 91, see OBITUARY page
• July 8 a Had a pretty good downpour last night. This morning the birds are chirping but that won't last for long. Rain and thunder boomers are in the forecast for the entire week. It's umbrella time in Clayberry
• July 8 a The School Board meeting is Tuesday evening at 6pm not tonight
• July 8 a According to Phil Kabler witht he Charleston Gazette: state tax collections for the 2012-13 budget year came in $90 million below estimates -- balanced by emptying a $45 million Income Tax Reserve Fund and by imposing spending cuts.
• July 8 a That may tell you just how bad it is in West Virginia.
• July 8 a Got some real sad news, something that might make you cry...... Twinkies are coming back but this time, they're coming back after being frozen to extend their shelf life.  Now the plan is to bake the goodies at five non union plants and freeze them before shipping them through independent drivers to supermarket warehouses
• July 6 a We're smack dab in the middle of the 4th of July weekend. County leadership planned nothing for the long holiday weekend. Not even a birthday cake at the Courthouse.
• July 6 a The radio station has The Tiffanator and Heath Goad tonight for their Schoolhouse Concert which gets underway at 6pm
• July 6 a It's time to eat more watermelon! Unfortunately, to get one of those great big football style seeded watermelons, you'll have to go out of county.
• July 6 a We talked to School Super Kenneth Tanner about the rumors of additional budget crippling debt just discovered.
• July 6 KT confirmed the additional $550,000 or so debt load and it's impact on the new school year. Don't get the wrong idea clickers. Last Dec the State folks found the first $550,000  load of debt. In addition that amount, another $550,000 was found by Charleston suits and that's the newest problem.
• July 6 a  Administrators are now being cut back in days paid during the year. Most don't care so much about those at the Pentagon but cuts in sports buses, number sports sponsored by the schools, and fewer support personnel will impact each and every parent in the county.
• July 6 a Welcome to the new budget year.  Celebrate!
• July 3 late p First a correction. Kenneth Tanner says the School Board meeting is slated for Tuesday night and not Monday as is the norm. With a Tuesday date, today at 5pm is the cut off  for lawful posting the meeting agenda. That agenda is available on  their web site right here.
• July 3 late p Might note the bottom of the agenda where mention of salary cuts for Pentagon staff and administrators is made public. That may be the first of the crunch time cuts if the rumors of bigger budget shortfalls are true.
• July 3 Barney's shoe size if 7 1/2 b for those that didn't know
• July 3 late p Flood watch in affect thru Thursday mid day. Be careful out there clickers.
• July 3 late p   Happy Fourth of July one and all. This national holiday is a salute to Richard Hellman who 100 year's ago this year invented Mayonnaise. What would  summer holiday be with mayo? Dry of course
• July 3 late p This may be too easy for our online brainiacs but....
• July 3 late p What was Barney Fife's middle name?
• July 3 a Check the home page for pictures of the  Tom Beasley arrest yesterday.
• July 3 a Online brain challenge: from the Andy Griffith Show, what was Barney's shoe size? Email answers
• July 3 a Lets do a  little catching up
• July 3 a Monday evening the BDa met in their new digs, the old State Road garage at Two Run. The place is nowhere near remodeled with building supplies laying everywhere . No A/C, carpet, but it's started.
• July 3 a  That group wants to start, organize or otherwise provide for a canoe, kayak livery business to serve the Elk River in County Clay. What they're hoping for is an already operating company come over here and set up shop in their Two Run building. Interested? It's not too late for this season. Call Amanda Moore of stop by
• July 3 a  Also,  the tourism committee has left over Elk Fest T shirts for sale at $10 each or two for $20. Now that's a real deal. Interested? Cal Moore at 304 587 4166
• July 3 a As for the Elk Fest... financially, looks like the event was a break even affair. Well, that's with the exception of the Mr Bottom Feeder Pageant which raised $$$ for a new free standing clock for the downtown area.
• July 3 a There was a  last ditch effort in late May to save the county's only public fitness center over at Schoonover / Bradley Field. The push netted a couple meetings and little more.
• July 3 a  Yesterday afternoon, the Clay County Fitness Center was locked up tight, the lights were off and a little sign was in the window reading, CLOSED
• July 3 a Town Council met Tuesday evening. From that gathering....
• July 3 a The new Wa Wa plant goes into full time operation next Monday according to the Mayor. Instead of making around 400 gallons a minute, the $5.5 million plant will double that output. Doubling production should result in fewer hours paid out to labor. That's a good thing.
• July 3 a Last night Mayor Clifton said things are getting a little hairy financially. Sewer plant operator hours were cut back and a new policy was voted in and requires three quotes plus a Council person's OK. Clifton said there's still money in the bank but their "cushion" is dwindling.
• July 3 a  Quietly ever so quietly, for decades, the Clay Swimming Pool , showers, and concession stand  have been allowed to use the town's sewer system without paying a fee. That changed last night  when Council voted to start sending them a  bill.
• July 3 a Complaints come in regularly over water meters not being read for months, mis read, or otherwise, hug wa wa bills. After discussion, instead of the same meter reader on the same route each month, the reading assignments will be rotated around every other month
• July 3 a If you don't like looking at your municipal water bill, you going to like it even less after a rate increase is approved sometime down the road. Ryan Clifton didn't have an update on that process.
• July 3 a Late last year, our school system made state news when a $550,000 deficit became public. Called a "casual" deficit, Kenneth Tanner told the county that a work around plan had been sent to Charleston and everything was OK and without threat of a State Bd of Ed take over.
• July 3 a The big story this Wednesday morning ain't a story yet but something's going on over at the Pentagon.
• July 3 a Instead of a casual debt, word on the street has it, that amount just doubled and will require severe cost cutting measures not down the road but right now.
• July 3 a The coffeehouse crowd speculates that year round employees will be cut back to 10 or 11 month workers, activity and sports buses will disappear, and that's just for starters. After school activities, all gone
• July 3 a School Board meets next Monday. Sunshine law requires a public meeting agenda be posted three business days in advance. Business day does not include weekends or the day of the meeting. Since the meeting is next Monday, to be a lawful meeting, the Pentagon's agenda had to be posted yesterday. It wasn't.
• July 3 a
• July 1 a  Richard Dale Kohler, 65, of Maysel, see OBITUARY page
• July 1 How about that! No food tax starting today. Well, no tax on what you purchase and bring home to prepare
• July 1 a Lots of meeting action this week. Tonight the Business Development Authority (BDA) meets at 6pm in their new office digs over in Two Run, the old State Road garage
• July 1 a Clay Town Council is suppose to meet the Tuesday of the month as does the CAEZ on Tuesday.
• July 1 In an attempt to further monitor everything we do, today, playing on a cell phone while driving  becomes a primary offense. That means, if the Badges see ya, they can pull you over.
• July 1 a Next week ditto for not wearing a seat belt. They can  pull you over.
• July 1 a Big brother and sis at work in West Virginia
• July 1 a  This is a short week for many with jobs. It's a shorter week for those with good jobs. The 4th of July comes Thursday and most non convenience store businesses will be closed. For many, taking Friday off provides a nice mid summer four day weekend.
• July 1 a Back when coal mining was apart of the picture, those folks would get the entire week off with most heading to Myrtle Beach to blow off steam
• July 1  The 4th of July is the national holiday where we celebrate Robert Hellman. THis year is the 100th anniversary of his invention
• July 1 a   What would July 4th be without Hellman Mayonnaise? How would be block our arteries without mayo?
• July 1 a For those concerned about the govt monitoring and corporations targeting your every key stroke, you don't have to use google. Duck DuckGo offers the same web searching experience without ANY tracking nor ads.
• July 1 a For all us diabetics delving deeply into watermelons and ice cream, there's a new drug on the market that might be just the answer.

July 1 a Rain expected all week. Good for the gardens and ducks but little else.