June 2003 News

  • June 30 am Last day of the month, the year is half gone and the berries are all ready for pickin and jams and jellies. Where does the time go?
  • June 30 am last night over the scanner, around 8:30 came the call of shots fired on the back street of downtown Clay. Dispatcher said caller reported gunshots, maybe 22 caliper in size, and there were kids in the area. The call for law enforcement went out. A few minutes later, dispatch called again and raised Deputy Rider. According to 911 dispatch, more shots and closer to the caller. Law needed
  • June 30 am Unit 2 , Rider said he was working something to do with stolen goods and it would be a while. Never heard ANY traffic from Town officer Butcher.
  • June 30 am According to County Clerk Judy Moore, Clay Ambulance Service finances are improving! With all bills paid as well as payroll, the Ambulance Service has $12,600 in their accounts. Of the $20,000 County Commission approved "nest egg", the just in case of an emergency pool they can draw from, only $3000 has been used.
  • June 30 am We've got a big week clickers. Lots of meetings and even some baseball action. This week, the new Clay Town Council meets at 4 on Tuesday as does CAEZ at 4 and again at 6. We'll keep you posted on other meetings and such
  • June 30 am For parents and grand parents, this is the season to travel, to travel and see District and Regional baseball action
  • June 30 am This past weekend, the 11-12 year old Clay All Stars took a 4 to 2 thumping from Braxton. They play again tonight (at Braxton), at 5:30pm and take on that nasty Summersville team.
  • June 30 am Tuesday is the opening stand in Gilmer County for the playoff action in the Middle League for 13 -14 year olds.  Clay takes on the Braxton team beginning at 8pm.
  • June 30 am Come out and enjoy some good ball playing and support the locals kids.
  • June 29 am Charles Duffield  see FUNERAL page
  • June 29 am  As far as a weekend wrap up of the last week's action in Clayberry, it was banner to say the least
  • June 29 am After years and years of being absolutely solid in backing the WV PSC plans to consolidate the three public service districts in the county, our County Commission did some rethinking and for now anyway, officially put consolidation on held at least until: Clay Roane PSD gets their audit report done, actually started, and at least until after the CCC has their day in PSC court July 17th.
  • June 29 am And the bomb shell hit Thursday. Clay Roane PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait brought it out in the open: The PSD has records missing big time from the 20002 fiscal year. Stuff like the checkbook and savings accounts records as well as give a reason for loosing $. According to Postelwait, the water provider has had a 40% water leak for some time.
  • June 29 am  Now we sure don't want to take up for Postelwait, she is the person in charge BUT BUT
  • June 29 am This ain't the first time records have disappeared, the first time for big time water leaks, nor the first time questions came up on security of the operation. But it IS the first time the PSD has brought the info to the public's attention without having to pry it out of Boardsters!
  • June 29 am And finally for a weekend wrap up, the sun came back. Dry, hot and sunshine galore.
  • June 29 am We'll post again for the upcoming week's events Monday morning first thing.
  • June 28 am  The weekend is here and not soon enough for many
  • June 28 am Seems the Ovapa Church of God had some troubles over in Roane County. Commission Mathew Bragg, a member of the congregation, came to the rescue. Full details from the Roane Reporter, click MONEY RETURNED
  • June 28 am The latest press release on the US Supreme Court's decision on sodomy is now posted over on the ADVISORY page
  • June 27 pm Who said: I think you should do a better job picking Board members? Find out today in the Communicator.
  • June 27pm The Communicator left our door around 1 and should be at all news stands in the five county network by 4pm. Enjoy
  • June 27 am During yesterday's public meetings, Clay Roane PSD announced that many of their 2002 financial records are now missing   In those misplaced records are the checkbooks and savings account records
  • June 27 am  In addition to some of the 2002 Clay Roane PSD records missing, nearly all of the 2000 , 2001 records are gone
  • June 27 am Did we mention Clay Roane PSD lost nearly 40% of the water they produced for the Queen Shoals service area?   Sure can't forget to mention, those records were not kept in a locked file drawer but rather a duffle bag!
  • June 27 am Full details in TODAY's Communicator which should hit the news stands around 5pm.
  • June 27 am  Oh one last tidbit before you go crazy with rage, the $650,000 Punkin Ridge water line extension project provides $100,000 to pay off a $50,000 bank loan, the loan where the money was to suppose to be used to purchase new meters and such. Since the meters were never purchased, the rest of the $100,000 loan is again designated to purchase new water meters.  Well, maybe this is the last teaser for this morning, also in that $650,000 project is funding for Clay Roane to buy a new truck!
  • June 27 am And of course, where do you get your in depth news reporting? the Communicator, today at 5pm. By the way, for the clickers in the northern end of the county, Big Otter GO Mart will now be selling the paper along with Rusty's Exxon station at the I 79 exchange.
  • June 26 am  To consolidate or not, that is the question. Today at 2 pm, the County Commission will decide whether to consolidate Clay County PSD, Clay Roane PSD and Queen Shoals PSD into one big time water provider. The WV Public Service Commission has wanted this for years. According to to the boys in Charleston, a regional water agency will be much cheaper to operate. Let's see now, will postage be cheaper? Will it take less maintenance dollars? Will the public have better representation?
  • June 26 am That big decision plus a bunch more coming today at 2 pm. We'll report on the decision in this Friday's Communicator.
  • June 26 am Clay County PSDs Boil Water Order has been lifted.
  • June 26 am Clay Roane PSD meets tonight at 7pm on Main Street .
  • June 26 am Should have seen the pool today. Lots of kids and fun. Here's what to do clickers. Load up the car, drop off the booger lickers over at the pool and then come to that Commission meeting at 2. Commissioner Sams turns the air conditioning down reaaal low. Nice! Oh, by the way... you can't leave the kids at the pool overnight.
  • June 26 am Now for some cool stuff... Getting ready for the 4th of July, check out this web site . Once there just click the mouse and watch the fireworks, FIREWORKS
  • June 26 am  Time to make fun of our dimly lit Prez. To see Dubbya dance click W
  • June 26 am Every time John Ashcroft opens his mouth or another freedom is taken from us, the membership of the ACLU increases another 1000 members. For those looking for a source for civil liberties issues click ACLU of WV
  • June 26 am And over in Roane County, their school system is making it just fine WITHOUT a high dollar school levy. Click GOOD MANAGEMENT
  • June 25 am  Denver R. May, 88, of Wallback, see FUNERAL page
  • June 25 am That CDC vs Earnie Sirk hearing scheduled for this morning has been CHANGED!!
  • June 25 am According to our sources, a continuance was asked for by CDC.  No new court date has been set.
  • June 25 am With temps in the 80s Tuesday and predicted to top out near 90 today, how about a dip in the Clay pool. It's open you know.
  • June 25 am  This Iraq war is becoming more costly each day. The talking heads are now predicting  occupation since the war end will take more lives than the actual war did. And one American loss is one too many.
  • June 25 am  Take a look at the new Clay County PSD trailer on Main street. Notice the Town's alley there? The one that allows access to the main water supply line to the storage tank.  Look where the PSD has cut off a portion of the alley.  And for that matter, on the NAPA side of the trailer, sure looks like the eves are well past the edge of the property line.
  • June 25 am  Wanting water. Been following the water extension project for years? If so, you know the plan has been for the County Commission to consolidate the local public service districts into one regional agency. During the last CCC meeting there seemed to be a change of thought on the consolidation plans. Almost a breath of fresh air.
  • June 25 am During this Thursday's CCC meeting, the agenda calls for a formal vote on whether to consolidate or not. Sure to be a good one clickers. Be sure to stop over at the Courthouse at 2pm THURSDAY to view the action.
  • June 25 am The Communicator comes out this Friday. Get you classifieds in now as well as any chatters. Remember the chatters must be signed.
  • June 24 am  Greetings clickers of the world. We got an Oppps. Mentioned in yesterday's post... Punkin Ridge Hearing - Thursday. We goofed. There is a Clay Roane PSD meeting Thursday evening at 7pm.
  • June 24 am Today at 6 pm all the TSA students head off to Florida for 6 days of fun and competition.
  • June 24 am Our Assessor's office was working in the Big Otter section of the county Monday. Today might be a good time to hide that new boat, Harley, etc. Who knows, maybe throwing a frig or two out in the front yard might help tax wise too.
  • June 24 am We've added the last of the Clay Middle School pictures on the PHOTO page and the pictures from the June 10 Town election are now visible.
  • June 24 am  Mark your calendars for Wed morning, 9 am. Head over to the Courthouse and watch the Earnie "Wide Glide" Sirk vs Clay Development Corp. (CDC) hearing. Be there early for a good seat. Leave the popcorn outside, not allowed in Circuit Court land. At issue is violation of the social service providers by laws which resulted in Sirk being tossed out last July. If the Court gives the nod to Sirk, Sirk could be back on top as Board President. Fun Fun Fun
  • June 24 am  Now lets see if you can figure this one. Clay County PSD says that buying the new double wide office trailer will NOT increase water rates. Over the last 12 months Clay PSD has been housed in free digs in the basement of the old Courthouse. That means they haven't had to pay for electric, water, sewer and such since the County Commission covers that for them. During that same time period, the PSD has managed to just keep its head ( financially) above water.
  • June 24 am It sure seems like, when they move into their new digs, with the added utility charges..... ahhhhh Can anyone say, rate increase time?
  • June 24 am Why did the Cookie go to the hospital? He was feeling crummy.
  • June 23 am  BOIL WATER ORDER for Clay County PSD customers North of Spread Park.
  • June 23 am  Yesterday was the first dry day with sunshine and warm temps in weeks. People got out of their homes, enjoyed the outdoors, watched Clay Jr. League put it all over Calhoun in double header action out at RT Sizemore Memorial Park at Maysel and more.
  • June 23 am The more part is what hurts . Sunday afternoon scanner listeners heard the chatter from a motorcycle wreck at Procious, no injuries,  and later in the afternoon, the fatal crash at Big Otter. Full details are posted over on the Hur Herald web site. CLICK TWISTED METAL for pictures and details
  • June 23 am There's a full week of action coming this fourth week of the month. We'll post as we see it. County Commission meets, Clay Roane PSD meets, and a public hearing is scheduled for those wanting water out Punkin Ridge.
  • June 23 am And the action is not always good action. Early last week a couple out near  the ball park at Maysel were vandalized. Locked doors did not stop a pry bar. All their stuff was gone thru but little was taken they thought. Broad day light too!    Only later did they discover the spare keys to the car were missing. Near the end of last week, the thugs returned, after dark, late, and tried to use the stolen key to swipe the vehicle. Quick thinking and a burglar alarm scared off the punks. Are you next? The days of leaving the house open and keys in the car are long gone even for tiny Clayberry.
  • June 23 am The story goes that a woman heard these hissing sounds coming from her puter just before it went kapooy. Later a snake was found living inside the CPU. True or false? True. Full story, click AHHHHHHHH !!!!
  • June 23 am  ARe you really bored this morning? Like to pop those sheets of packing bubbles?  Here they are only on line. Click BUBBLES
  • June 23 am And finally for this morning, all the gossip on your favorite movie star and famous personalities, click FAMOUS GOSSIP
  • June 22 am Hello Rochester New York, thanks for stopping by too.
  • June 22 am Water was the topic of many this past week in Clayberry. And not just the rain . Here's our weekly wrap up ....
  • June 22 am  Early in the week storms wiped out parts of our southern border colony, Kanawha County. Long time reader and contributor to The Communicator, Vera Beasley,  was hit very hard with over 8 feet of water in her Rt. 114 home near Capitol High School. Here in Clay, on Friday morning, power was out most of the morning of WV Day. Tree damage to electric lines.
  • June 22 am Clay County PSD's new double wide trailer made it to downtown Clay this past week. Although brand new, many feel that having a trailer set up on Main Street and right beside our historic Clay County Courthouse is less than a desirable situation.  Clay County PSD issued a still in force, Boil Water Order for the service area above Spread Park.
  • June 22 am Punkineer water service  got one step closer to  reality this past week as funders from Charleston brought to Clay Roane PSD, resolutions for signing. Still short $100,000.00, but closer than other stalled projects in the county.
  • June 22 am Over 100 kids attended Camp Mustang at Clay Middle School while others braved summer school trying to pass flunked courses.
  • June 22 am  Hard working Clay High students made the front page of the DEP newsletter for efforts to clean up dumps around the county. Click CLEANER for a first hand look see.
  • June 22 am The summer has started off quiet and wet and remained so. Gardens are water logged with fungus and wilt taking their toll. Even the rose bushes turned yellow from too water!
  • June 21 am BOIL YOUR WATER CLAY COUNTY PSD NORTH OF SPREAD PARK.
  • June 21 am Last night for the first time in weeks and weeks, stars were visible in the night sky. Maybe just maybe, that **## rain is gone
  • June 21 am  Is WV really such a cheap place to live? The cost of living and all? Well, not so for water prices. According to the WV Public Service Commission web site, the average price for municipal water in WV is $24.55. Around the state examples of pricing for water service are: Fairmont -$16.88; Parkersburg - $18.98; Charleston/Huntington - $ 36.23; Morgantown - $ 5.92(Yes, $ 5.92); Wheeling - $12.21  and  sitting down are we?... Clay County PSD $50.28.  That's more than twice the average cost for others buying 4500 gallons of wa wa.
  • June 21 am So how do we compare on a more regional basis? Lexington - $17.39; Baltimore - $12.70; Columbus - $10.43; Richmond - $18.45; Pittsburgh - $26.25 and once again, Clay County PSD $50.25.   Don't laugh Clay Roane PSD subscribers, you cost is just as bad! Ditto for Queen Shoals PSD customers!
  • June 21 am  The plan has been for Clay County PSD to take over all the other PSDs in the County and make one biggy PSD to serve the entire county. Three days ago, Clay County PSD threw a wrench in the gear of progress by protesting such a consolidation. From the WV Public Service Commission web site, this: 01-0713-PWD-PC               CLAY COUNTY COMMISSION AND ROANE COUNTY COMMISSION        LETTER PROTESTING THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICTS IN CLAY COUNTY FILED BY CLAY COUNTY PSD (CLOSED/ENTRY)
  • June 21 am You're a Clayonian if you burn your yard instead of mowing it
  • June 21 am  You're  a Clayonian if you keep flea and tick soap in the shower
  • June 21 am  You're a Clayonian if the Salvation Army declines your mattress
  • June 21 am   Hey let's talk about Clay Devlopment Corp. (CDC) for a minute. CDC has said over and over, they are a  private corporation and their "books" are not public record. Maybe just as well. Their latest IRS Form 990, from the 2001 record year indicates some issues like : total assets at the beginning of the year were $313,427 with the ending asset balance of just $115,429.00;  net assets fell $85,933 in 2001; total revenue amounted to $360,573 while total expenses grew to $401,976.00.  Know what that means? Yelp, they were in the red in 2001.
  • June 21 am Total receipts for CDC peaked in 1999 at $991,969.00. According to Form 990, CDC Director Betty Stalnaker took in $40,148.00 in 2001. Of course that was two years ago and at least one raise ago. Raises? Yes, those were the raises given the main 7 staffers and the raise not mentioned in Board meeting minutes.
  • June 21 am Another one of our secret non profit groups, Clay Primary Health, didn't do too much better Assets went down $48,721 between 2001 and the end of 2002. Sort of a snapshot view for Clay Primary Health for the year ending June 30th, 2002: Revenue- $2.069 million; Expenses - $2.124 million; Assets - $1.708 million; and Liabilities stood at $1.089 mil.
  • June 21 am Primary Health's Board of Directors operates in secret and does not adhere to  WV Open Meeting Laws.  The Board consisted of  Helen Morris, Morgan Triplett, Rosemary Canfield, Mary Truman, Greg Gency, Nancy Murphy, Norma Wallace, Lolita Nutter, Joyce Gibson, and Max Moore (Chair) at last year's end. Director Richard Jarvis earned $65,348.00 during that same reporting period. Doctor wise for the year ending June 30th 2002, Leela Patel - $ 115,000.00; Kiram Patel - $110,000.00; Steven Craft - $87,335.00; Balakrishna Prabhakar - $82,460; Victoria Dobbins - $ 67,808.00.
  • June 21 am  And finally before closing, You know you're a Clayonian if you consider your license plate personalized because your father made it!
  • June 20 pm The Boil Water Order continues for Clay County PSD subscribers. Se post below from June 19pm update.
  • June 20 pm For many June 20th, WV Day is a holiday. For others, the lack of electric service made it a holiday. Most of Clay County went black around 6:50am this morning. Elk Power trucks were working the Hartland Lizemore side of the county. One tree was spotted mashing down on power lines just South of Pierson Lumber Co.
  • June 20 pm Around 11:28am electric service was restored for most of the county.
  • June 20 pm With Clay Middle School's Camp Mustang finished a day early, summer school continues today but without bus service. Since today is a state holiday, bus drivers wanted holiday pay for service. Didn't happen. Kids are on their own today to get to and from summer school duties.
  • June 20pm  You might be a Clayonian if you  keep a can of Raid on yout dining room table.
  • June 20 pm You might be a Clayonian if you know how many bails of hay your car will hold.
  • June 20pm You come back from the dump with more than you took.
  • June 20 pm   Last night's sudden down pour left creeks running hard and young corn stalks beat to the ground. Today, the Elk River is solid mud and about 6 feet above summer pool. With gray overcast galore, more rain can be counted on.
  • June 20 pm With all the mud and yuck, tomorrow's CCHS car wash scheduled for GO Mart, Two Run, might be a big success. All proceeds go to the dance team.
  • June 20 am  Clyde E McCune, see FUNERAL page
  • June 19 pm  At 5:50pm, a major storm ripped thru Clay County leaving many without electricity.  By 8pm, most service was restored. And man ol man did it ever rain. Even the ducks had raincoats on.
  • June 19 pm   BOIL WATER ORDER   BOIL WATER ORDER   BOIL WATER ORDER   Clay County PSD issued a Boil Water Order at 8:30pm  June 19th. PSD officials found  a main line water leak just above Spread Park near the Mt Home Road. As of 8:30pm there is NO water service in that area. BOIL YOUR WATER  CLAY COUNTY PSD WATER USERS.
  • June 19 pm  This afternoon Clay Roane PSD met with funding agencies for the Punkin Ridge water line extension project. With a unanimous motion in hand, the PSD is pressing on to provide wa wa to 30 or so homes in the Procious area of Clayberry.  At least twice during the meeting, it was stated, there would NOT be a rate increase for this project... NOT . Clickers, you might want to circle the date on your calendar.
  • June 19 pm While Punkineers get one step closer to water service, not so for Tucker's Bottom who have waited for 10 years. At one point, maybe 8 years ago, our County Commission promised Tucker's Bottom residents, you will receive water service before ANYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTY.
  • June 19 pm Of course, Punkin Ridge was promised water 20 years ago and never got it. Back then, backdoor politics moved water dollars to "special" areas of the county and away from Punkin. Could that happen again, this time around. The answer is YES. According to Virginia McDonald, if the entire PSD service area is included and considered in the grant and loan request applications, the money CAN be moved around and or away from the original area... I.E.  Punkin Ridge. WIll that happen this time around? Doubtful since there are now many eyes watching.
  • June 19 pm and now for the important stuff in life. We're talking about "breaking wind". Ever wonder why wind like that happens, why stuff stinks?  Get all your answers now, click BREAKING WIND
  • June 19 pm And how about why "logs" have different colors, why bird poop is why, for the whys and hows of poo poo, Click ALL THE POOP
  • June 19 pm Can you tell we were bored and had little news to report???
  • June 19pm   Here's a pretty nifty  aerial map site. By clicking this link, you can see in darn good detail homes, roads, rivers and such compliments of the US Geological Survey. Click  THAT'S ME DOWN THERE
  • June 19 am  Happy 5th Anniversary to Roger Scott McKinney from your wife who loves you very much.
  • June 19 am Wasn't that nice...
  • June 19 am  Make plans now for Saturday, according to Don Jarvis, the Clay County Pool is open and and and Saturday admission is FREE for the Little Kids. Even better, the forecast calls for sun!
  • June 19 am IF you're over 60, walk over to the ADVISORY page for details on the Farmer's Market plans to come to Clay.
  • June 19 am Today at 1:30 is a special meeting of the Clay Roane PSD. Agenda calls for discussion of funding "concerns." Don't know exactly what that means, but if you're a Punkineer and in need of water, better be there
  • June 19 am We've seen a real change of attitude recently at the County Commission. At last week's meeting, the Commissioner's held up a vote to press on with consolidating the local water service providers. The consolidation deal is mandatory according to the WV PSC. For years, locals have complained about the high cost of water in the county. Recently even Commissioner Sams acknowledged the outrageous prices charged for wa  wa.
  • June 19 am Morgan Gibson announced yesterday that if all goes as planned, he will  be a candidate for Sheriff in 2004.
  • June 19 am Not Bad gifts (link on home page and above) has a buy 1 and get the second gift for 50% off going on now.
  • June 19 am Godfather's Pizza opened just a couple weeks giving Clayonians a nice choice to choose from. Godfather's, the old Exxon station at Lizemore has a killer thick pizza. But soon another pizza player will enter the arena. Town and Country Diner  will  offer pizza, real home made stuff.
  • June 18 am  Clay County PSD's big new double wide trailer is now setting on the water providers Main Street Clay lot. After it being there just a few hours, some are already complaining. Something about a trailer located beside a historic Courthouse in a business district.
  • June 18 am During yesterday's Clay County PSD meeting, Office Manager Cindy Schoolcraft responded to questions on the current year's budget. According to Schoolcraft, the agency will finish the year ( June 30) in the black and do so without touching any of their insurance pay off money from last year's June 13th fire.
  • June 18 am  While on the subject of Clay County PSD. Talk came on the PSD purchasing a small back hoe in the near future. Maintenance man Sam Taylor is to get $ estimates, cost of a trailer to haul the unit around on. Taylor estimated that a used unit would cost around $15,000.00.   In the last 12 months, the PSD has rented  a back hoe and operator, cost, just shy of $5000.00.
  • June 18 am Here's one a date to mark down. This Thursday, 1:30pm, Clay Roane PSD is holding a Special Board meeting at the CDC senior center on Main Street to discuss the Punkin Ridge water project. The just posted agenda calls for big cheese from Charleston Virginia McDonald to speak on funding concerns. Be sure to attend Punkineers.
  • June  17 pm Yesterday's Town of Clay Election Canvas revealed that the two challenged ballots were accepted and counted in with the 149 others who voted June 10th, last Tuesday. As a result of the two additional ballots...nothing changed.
  • June 17 pm The Communicator provided and in depth report on the last County Commission meeting. Details were given on the issue of water service providers and financial accountability. The end result being, the County Commission held up a vote to consolidate all the local PSDs into one massive regional agency.
  • June 17 pm Over ten years ago, the CCC got into the consolidation mood. Since then, and with the WV Public Service Commissions nudging and approval, have continued down the path of consolidation. That all changed last Thursday when the three blind mice refused to continue such efforts. Discussion was strong. Full details in the latest edition of the only paper in the county that provides real news.
  • June 17 pm  There is now more info. This morning, the Clay County PSD approved a letter of consolidation protest. Keith "Mr. Happy" King said his agency wanted to wait a while on consolidation, until the other PSDs get their financial house in order. Also during the Clay County PSD meeting, after repeated efforts to get people to sign up for proposed water service ( water line extension project, Lizemore, Fola, Ticker's Bottom areas), efforts are failing. They still need almost signatures before the project can even go to bid.
  • June 17 pm Going to be big time traffic congestion this afternoon as the Clay PSD double wide trailer gets hauled into town.  Also, need a little extra $. The PSD needs a carpenter or two to construct the new deck and awning for the double wide. See Cindy or Beverly at 587-7579.
  • June 17 pm And for an international clickers, Yes, it looks like it's going to rain again today!. That makes  6 weeks in a row of rain at least on every other day of the week.
  • June 17 am  Linda Carol Summers Lane, see FUNERAL page
  • June 17 am How bad is and was the flooding just South of Clay County? The Charleston Civic Center has been opened as a shelter.  With the rain continuing for the next few days, Kanawha County is in for more troubles and Clay County may not be far behind judging by the water level in the Elk River. Keep an eye peeled Clayberry.
  • June 17 am Today at 10 am Clay County PSD holds their Board of Directors meeting in the basement of the old Courthouse.
  • June 17 am The front page lead story in the most recent edition of The Communicator deals with last week's meth lab bust by local law enforcement. In 2000, 97% of all clandestine lab seizures in the US were meth labs. In 1999 there were 7528 lab seizures.
  • June 17 am News is light this week in Clayberry. If things don't pick up soon, we'll start making stuff up.
  • June 16 am Old timers use to say, they shouldn't put those rockets into space,  they mess the weather up every time they punch a hole in the clouds!  Today the weather is reallllly messed up.
  • June 16 pm Big time flooding just to our South in Kanawha County. Rt. 144 and 119 both blocked due to high water and mud slides. Real bad around Coonskin Park heading into Charleston. With water rising quickly, employees in the Fed Ex building on Greenbrier Street took to the roof for safety. With water so swift, life boats were un able to get the folks off the roof. Luckily by noon thirty today, the water in that area went down and the workers were rescued. Kids at Coonskin were unable to leave this morning. All along the Elk, South of Clendenin, many main and side roads were impassable.
  • June 16 am One mobile home became real mobile as high water washed it off its foundation and pinned it against a bridge backing up even more water.
  • June 16 pm Part of the Kanawha Blvd. washed away near Magic Island.
  • June 16 pm With more rain predicted this evening, things don't look so good for those living along the banks of the Elk and its tributaries.
  • June 16 am We really didn't get around to a weekend wrap up yesterday but briefly, last week...    You can never predict the voters of Clay County. Lots of new faces on Town Council as a result of last Tuesday's election where new to politics, Phillip "Fatman" Morris garnered the most votes.  With King Arthur  winning the Mayor's opening better than 2 to 1, the wanta be politicos of old... we'll they're gone.
  • June 16 am  Last Wed the Green Shirts busted two meth labs on Leatherwood  with three arrested and sent off to the can Friday night before midnight.
  • June 16 am Rounding out last week, over on Hansford Fork, the body of Linda Summers Woods Lane. Cops and crime lab units responded quickly and worked thru Saturday evening.   We've left last week's posts below for your review in case you missed them.
  • June 16 am  As this week gets going....   This afternoon, at 5, is the vote canvass at Town Hall ( water plant). With Morgan Gibson, husband of Joyce Gibson saying publicly that the Attorney General's office was contacted about  controversial ads printed during the race, Monday's election canvas might be interesting and worth the trip to town. Joyce ran for Town Council and well... she lost big time. Stomp your feet. Stomp your feet!
  • June 16 am  Beginning at 6pm our elected School Board meets in regular session at the Board office on Main Street. Most likely a short one but why not attend. You might catch them at something
  • June 16 am For the teeny bopper crowd, Camp Mustang begins today at Clay Middle School. Nearly 150 new to CMS are expected to attend.
  • June 14 pm  This post will make more sense if you slide down to last night's Late pm posts.
  • June 14 pm The body found last night was that of a middle aged woman named Linda Summers Woods,... Lane. Married 3 times and a former Postmaster from the Southern end of the county.   As late as 2:45 today, State Police vehicles were still on scene.
  • June 14 pm Taken to Central Regional Jail last night around midnight, Allen Glen McClain, his wife Lori, and Mark Anthony Stone.
  • June 14 pm Little League finished up today with Valley Fork the Champs with just 3 losses. It's always good to see a new to the are business support the youth of the county. Such was the case this year with Market Express sponsoring Little League. You might to say thanks to Ed Blake for his $. You might want to say thanks by buying one of his Godfather pizza. Try a great big thick one. Yummy.
  • June 14 pm  Went pretty well for Clay's big League team as they put it all over Summersville 14 - 4 in the first game. Their 2nd effort was washed out at thunder and rain closed down action around 5pm today.
  • June 13 LATE pm We've got some action in Clay under the brightness of a full moon. A little after 8:15pm the call came in for Town Cop Buckshot Butcher to baby-sit 3 in cuffs.  Tpr. Bailey was the arresting officer. Since Bailey just popped a meth lab out Leatherwood on Wed, the guess is, the three arrests are related. Peering in the window around 9:45pm, 2 men shackled to the floor with a h>
  • Transfer interrupted!

    tside the old Courthouse, 9:45ish, sat Mayor Arthur Jarrett talking to Jimmy Woods. By 10 Arthur had retired to his home with Woods down on Main Street talking in the shadows to three other men.
  • June 13 LATE pm  About this same time came the call that a body had been found out Hansford Fork area. The directions went, top of the hill, turn at the old cemetery. Around 8:45pm and by the light of the moon, an ambulance driven by Tony Long , no sirens on, was seen escorting the Braxton County Medical Examiner to the site. The state crime response  team has been called into action. As of 9 pm, they're not on location out Hansford Fork.
  • June 13 LATE  Behind the medical examiner was the new black Ford Deputy 4WHD ( Deputy Rider) and a few minutes later came the black mid size Sheriff cruiser.
  • June 13 LATE   Are the arrests related to the body found? Don't know.  Doubt it as a matter of fact. But wherever drugs are found, bodies often turn up.
  • June 13 LATE LATE  10:36pm Officer ( sounded  like Bailey) told other law enforcement that from the left turn area at Hansford Fork, would have to blocked off to keep people out as the crime response team gets under operation.
  • June 13 LATE LATE 11:03  Buckshot to Unit 443, asked if Green Shirts wanted him to transport three to jail after arraignment. Response : No
  • June 13 LATER 11:17 911 Dispatch calls for law, domestic three miles past Golden Delicious Apple sign  near Bomont. Woman fired warning shot.  Man violating restraining order. Woman scared
  • June 13 LATER Scanner comments: they're trying to get a generator set up and 4 wheeler running out Hansford Fork
  • June 13 LATER 11:36pm Tpr Bailey and DNR Unit 444 down at Magistrate Boggs office and done.
  • June 13 Last  11:37pm  Back at Hansford Fork crime scene, Sheriff Fields, " Any need to keep the road blocked?"  Deputy Rider, " Just use your own judgment."
  • June 13 LAST Midnight:03  Bailey and DNR #444 taking one female and two males to Central Regional Jail.
  • June 13 LASTEST  The full moon does it every time clickers. As soon as we can get names attached to the three arraigned and the body we'll post right here on your only source of immediate news for Clay County. Night Night.
  • June 13 pm   The  Communicator made it out the door around noon thirty with delivery to all the distributors by 4pm. Get it while it's hot
  • June 13 pm Yesterday's County Commission meeting was a 2 and 1/2 hour hum dinger. Lots of juicy concerns raised by the three blind mice over the fate of regional water projects. The barbs were directed at in attendance WV PSC big cheese Geert Bakker. Also, Commissioner Triplett made the motion to discontinue paying liability insurance for the volunteer fire departments in the county. And get this, the fire dept. reps left happy! Full details , three pages of coverage in today's Communicator
  • June 13 You know what happened a year ago today? The Clay County PSD office on Main street burnt to the ground after the water supply from the Town of Clay went to zip. One year ago today.
  • June 13  Full details on the Alan McClain meth lab bust too.
  • June 13 pm Heavy duty morning rains sent creek water a rushing. Some areas are now flooding in the County. Watch out local clickers, it's bad out there with more predicted for this evening.
  • June 13 pm Tomorrow the Clay pool opens for the season. Usually, volunteers fill the pool with river water and then treat it. This year with the Elk the color of coffee and thick enough to plow, the Town of Clay donated treated water to fill the county's only public pool.
  • June 12 am And talk about rain. We really saw it yesterday. What started off as a pretty nice day went all to pieces by 3pm. In parts of WV along the Elk River, residents saw flash flooding after 2 to 3 inches of rain within an hour. Parts of I 64 were shut down where standing water made driving impossible. In the county, lights and power went off.
  • June 12 am Here's one ready to boil over. Yesterday work continued on the foundation for Clay County PSDs new double wide trailer soon to be on Main Street and serve as the water provider's office complex. Our County Commission filed a formal protest against the purchase of the trailer. With the trailer on the way, with the foundation already being prepared, the WV Public Service Commission is preparing to hear the CCC's complaint. For a complete look at the dispute, head over to the WV PSC site, click NO PERMISSION GIVEN
  • June 12 am We told you last week the new CellOne tower was powered up and ready to rumble. Well it took until yesterday for the communications to actually get going. Right now the promises of great reception haven't panned out. Just two miles from the tower, at Bullard's Exxon, there's no reception, in the Town of Clay, the signal is very weak, and even on top of Triplett Ridge.... bad.
  • June 12 am Remember Bob Ore? Bob is the Republican that ran against Commissioner Sams last election cycle and came close  but lost to the incumbent Sams. Ore has since moved down to Clendenin and ran for the Mayor's position. In the four person race, Ore came in third with 50 votes to his name.
  • June 12 am We're just now getting the reports of the State Police finding a meth lab out Leatherwood way. As of storm time, the green shirts were waiting for an emergency response team to come, check out the site, and clean up the hazardous drug manufacturing location. Drugs clickers, we got em in every corner we look!
  • June 12 am Today is a big day for Fire Depts. in the County. Our County Commission (meets at 2pm) will decide on insuring the volunteer groups for the coming year. Cost: around $18,000.00.
  • June 12 am Later today, 7 pm, the Clay Roane PSD convenes for another round of action at the CDC building on Main Street. We think this meeting will be worth braving the storms. We anticipate another secret time where accusations of fudging the time sheets will be discussed. Just a guess clickers but a darn good hunch since the same issue has come on a regular basis for over three years.
  • June 12 am  And a message from CLAY FM. The company that serves out their internet radio signal will be down for maintenance sometime late tonight and again on Friday. Listening directions to the left and near the top. Lots of classic country all today or at least while the server is working
  • June 11   Noon:21 pm , over the scanner, to all law enforcement, be on the look out for a grey dodge car with male occupant with rifle. The dispatcher said the guy was fleeing police after being involved in a Spencer shooting.
  • June 11 pm And with most any election, there are sore losers. Such is the case now as the fallout from yesterday's Town Election becomes public. Word spread last night that the Attorney General's office in Charleston had been alerted to allegations of election fraud.  Full details as we get them this Friday
  • June 11 pm Charleston Newspapers reported this morning on the awarding of Federal grant announcements for police departments. Back last winter when the Town laid off Chief of Police Tommy Myers, Myers went to work on getting such a grant to fund his position. Didn't work. Even with $78.1 million awarded, Clay got zip
  • June 11 pm Clay has got a boat load of TSA students heading to Florida to attend national competition. The price tag, most coming from school levy funds is in the thousands. Wal Mart if Summersville just announced , they're doing their part. Wal Mart granted Clay Middle School $500 for the trip.
  • June 11 am Willie Lloyd Carr, see FUNERAL page
  • June 11 am Remember four years ago when CAEZ loaned Filcon $140,000 to get their filter making equipment into the county? Remember last Dec 5th when Sheriff Fields auctioned off the Filcon equipment to CAEZ?  Sort of sounds like CAEZ bought the same stuff twice.... but wait there's more!
  • June 11 am Yesterday during the auction by the ROANE COUNTY SHERIFF, CAEZ bought the same &&** equipment back again. Yelp, with only two bidders to be heard, CAEZ bought the one time, $ 2 million valued equipment back for $201.00. Not a typo, $201.00. Full details this Friday in the Communicator
  • June 11 am And now the results from yesterday's Town of Clay election. By more than a two to one margin, King Arthur Jarrett won by a land slide. New Town Recorder... drum roll please... Little Murph, Dwana Murphy.
  • June 11 am And who's the number one vote getter in the Town Council bids? A brand new face, first time in politics, fresh into his retirement years, Phillip "Fatman" Morris. With four other slots open, those winners are  Betty Murphy, Billie Jane Zegeer, Sally Legg and Frank Childers III. As far as the rumors on vote buying, who got peed at who, what political empire just crumbled, who spun his tires after the results were announced, and who said what about who.... it'll cost you 50 cents and you have to wait until this Friday afternoon in that little paper.
  • June 11 am  We just added the last of the Clay Middle School pictures over on the PHOTO page as well as several new ones on the This and That page.
  • June 10 am  Hello MT in Tampa, glad to have you along
  • June 10 am  The Clay County PSD meeting scheduled for this morning at 10 has been rescheduled for nest Tuesday
  • June 10 am As for the Roane Sheriff Cole auctioning off the Filcon filter making equipment yesterday, we think it happened. Interesting little note.... the ad for the auction ran in the Roane Times Record twice. BUT, the first notice did NOT include the time of the auction. If anybody wanted to challenge the auction or the outcome , they probably could.
  • June 10 am    Today is the Town of Clay election. With lots of candidates to pick from and only about 100 expected to come out and vote, it's a toss up. Every votes counts.  Why vote? We may not have a say in who gets elected for President but we do  locally. VOTE!
  • June 10 am  Mayor candidates include incumbent Arthur Jarrett and challenger Glen Nichols. Both have experience and shortcomings as well.
  • June 10 am  In the $400 per month Town Recorder opening, there's Dwana Murphy Linda Moorehead and Cathy Butcher. Dwana is currently the town clerk and has some experience at the job. Linda Moorehead has been recorder before back when Leonard Williams was Mayor. Cathy Butcher has no public service experience in the area.
  • June 10 am And there are a bunch of them running for the $100 a month Council spots: Betty Murphy, Frank Childers III, Joyce Gibson, Sally Legg, Rena Moore, Billie Jane Zegeer, Okey Burroughs, Phil Morris, Wanda Chambers, Buckshot Butcher, and Paige Willis. What a field!   Will the incumbent slate hold together? From the experience end of it, Betty, Joyce, Okey, Wanda and Sally have it. Newcomers to Clayberry politics are Phil "Fatman" Morris recently retired from the State Road; Rene Moore, Billie J Zegeer, and Frank Childers, the youngest of the candidates.  As for Buckshot and Paige, we don't think they have served in an elected capacity before this time around although Paige has held appointed positions on the county level. 11 contenders and only 5 openings.
  • June 10 am We'll post the results tonight late. Check back then.
  • June 10 am New vehicles over on the CLASSIFIED page
  • June 9 pm  We're off and running with another action packed week of life in small world America, Clay County. Thanks for stopping in and stop back often. We always post daily and often post with an afternoon update around noon.
  • June 9 pm Last night's big time wind storm left thousands in the state without power.  Most of the wind damage was to our North and West. For the most part, Clayberry went without damage.
  • June 9 pm  This morning at 9 was the auction of the FIlcon filter making equipment at the old Newton Fire Dept. building. No word yet on the results.
  • June 9 pm  Tomorrow is the Town of Clay election . Voting takes place at the Clay Fire House. We'll post the results late Tuesday evening. With about 300 voters within the municipality, we expect about 100 to come out and vote.
  • June 9 pm Thursday is the Clay Roane PSD meeting beginning at 7pm. Always fun to watch those guys.
  • June 9 pm And with the sun finally out, it's time, it's time to pick those cherries, mulch the garden, seed those bush limas and get the fall beets ready.
  • June 8 am And for the week that was, we won't even talk about all the rain, day after day, hour after hour with out hardly a peep from the sun.
  • June 8 am The back door negotiations continued in preparation for the this  weeks' Town election. Who is supporting who? Who gets dropped from the slate? Shawnee Hills clients were herded into the absentee voting booths and given assistance as to how to vote. As late as last night, King Arthur was huddled at the water plant with a select hand full of political hopefuls. By June  10th, Tuesday evening, we'll know if their  tactics worked.
  • June 8 am This past week we found out that Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) had money to toss away. They have to hand out $45,000 by this month's end in order to qualify for another $100,000 give away!  During last Tuesday's CAEZ meeting, in an attempt to dispose of the $, CAEZ leaders voted to loan out $15,000 to a brand new Braxton County business (not really even in business yet) and do so without pay back insuring collateral. The Board passed around a picture of the business owners' home,  a beautiful deluxe home before voting to give away the $15,000 WITHOUT a lien on the home but instead, the only collateral being, a home computer and a 1994 Chevy truck. One Braxton County Board member said, " What do we care? It's not OUR money!"
  • June 8 am As for the CAEZ paid for Filcon filter making equipment, CAEZ Director Jerry Sizemore commented , he just wants out of the mess. The Roane County Sheriff will auction off the goods Monday June 9th.
  • June 8 am For kids and teachers alike, the big event was the last day of school. For the most part, we couldn't even tell that school was out. Why? Because for the last 6 weeks, education had not been a part of the school day. Instead of reading writing and  arithmetic, the norm, kids participated in.... movies, fields trips, , ball games, and days off for about everything from being able  to tie a shoe lace to keeping their  mouth shut. High School graduation came last weekend with Clayberry Bank President Scott Legg the speaker over the objections of the graduating class who petitioned ( nearly 100 of the 105 graduates) to have Buck Davis provide the orations.
  • June 8 am And as has been the case since FDR turned us into welfare beggars four generations ago, the "checks" came again. The vast majority of Clayberryites ran to their mail boxes and then to the bank to cash their monthly allotment.
  • June 8 am Now fully 6 months into the new year, our county leadership has done nothing to: provide new water service to those without, done nothing to provide job creation or job retention, and done nothing to curb the ever increasing number of arson and burglary incidents within over 342 square mile county of poverty and ill hope.
  • June 7 am Greetings Saturday morning clickers. Look out side, forget any outdoor activities today, rain followed by more thunder storms, followed by more rain.
  • June 7 am  The long dragged out days of field trips, movies and no education has come to an end. School's out for the summer.   Here in Clayberry, our school system spends the year teaching the SAT 9 tests . The result has been that our little banny roosters can strut around bragging about how well we perform among other under acheiving county school systems. So obvious is the practice, the entire SAT 9 package has been tossed out and replaced with the WESTtest.
  • June 7am That doesn't appear to be the case over in Calhoun County where those administrators  provide a well rounded liberal arts education, one that students can use for the rest of their life. Over on the hurhearld web site, mention is made, and predictions on the upcoming year's WESTtest. Click HERE for the skinny.
  • June 7 am  Remember back in Dec when then Commissioner TIm Butcher finally made it to a Commission meeting and pushed hard to appoint Daniel Grindo for the Prosecutor opening? During the push for the Braxton County native and resident, Mr. Grindo promised to move to Clay County if appointed to Prosecutors position. He hasn't done that yet and it sure looks as though that ain't about to happen.
  • June 7 am In this week's Braxton Citizen Newspaper, Mr. Grindo has a huge bold  half page ad telling all of Braxton County, he has opened a law office there and wants their business. His big time newspaper ad includes " Representation you can rely on!!" Of course, here in Clayberry, previous Prosecutor's have said, the position here demands full time attention to do a good job.
  • June 7 am  The coffee house gang often contends that Grindo has done a less than stellar job since Tim " No Show" Butcher put him in office. In April, during a welfare fraud case, eyebrows went up as those in the peanut gallery questioned his before trial case work. That case, State vs Peggy DeBoard  was tossed out by Judge Alsop and in May, the case was tossed out completely.
  • June 7 am  And the behind the scenes political haggling continues. With just three days before the June 10 Town election, take a look who's out talking to the 300 voters. Will the slate hold together? Who's bailing out? Who is, behind the scenes  politico, Norman  Wilson promoting?
  • June 7 am  Norman Wilson is in  a very elite club. Wilson is one of a very few that organized his own write in campaign for Mayor a few years ago and won, beat the official candidates hand down.
  • June 7 am Linda Morehead was elected Town Recorder a few years back and served with Mayor Leonard Williams. Morehead was later by Betty Murphy.  Morehead is once again running for the Recorder position with Betty seeking a Council spot after serving as Recorder for about 800 years.
  • June 6 am Fola Coal was issued a mountain top removal mining permit June 3. The permit allows for over 1700 acres of Clay County ( on Leatherwood) beauty to be ripped apart, watersheds to be destroyed, family homesteads to be forever destroyed with of it done in the name of progress. Of course, if past practices are an example, few Clay County residents will so much as get a short term job from the rape
  • June 6 am Start rounding up all that scrap metal junk INCLUDING REFRIGERATORS Clay County has recycling days coming July 10 11 12. Those old cars can be brought in as well. Details coming shortly
  • June 6 am Clay County PSD employees Sam Taylor and Jimmy were seen Thursday afternoon ripping up parking meters in front of the PSD property on Main Street. A new double wide trailer will arrive soon to replace the building that burnt one year old June 13th. The actions of the PSD are troubling for our County Commissioners who have lodged a formal complaint against PSD Chair Keith "Mr. Happy" King. CCC does not approve of the big $ being spent for an ugly double wide on Main Street while free office space is available to them.
  • June 6 am Yesterday afternoon Clay Development Corp. (CDC) held their annual General membership meeting. Lots of folks showed up. The crowd overflowed into the sidewalk.  The big long celebration didn't last long as a rep from Rite Aid came over and told the group," You've got five minutes to move them cars from our lot or we'll tow them away!" The party dispersed quickly. It is our understanding, none of the general members were told they are being sued  over actions taken by themselves last year during the General Membership assembly
  • June 6 am So why the big crowd this year?  If the guy suing them , Earnie Sirk, should win in court and be put back in as CDC Board President, a unified group, a group supportive of the current power brokers within the agency, must be in place to toss Earnie's  big stinky butt out on the street for a second time!
  • June 6 am Sometime this weekend we'll post some news from the CAEZ meeting this past week. Check back Saturday sometime in the afternoon.
  • June 5 pm In this mornings post , we goofed. Most have been the water we drank last night. The regular meeting of Clay Roane PSD is NEXT Thursday not tonight. The 5 pm thangy at Clay Roane is accurate
  • june 5 pm We've got a municipal election slated for June 10th. It's always fun to watch who and what's going on in small town America. Like, yesterday those in the care of the old Shawnee Hills agency , not Prestera, were brought over to Town Hall to vote absentee. While voting, one of their Counselors aided them in the voting process. Three weeks ago The Communicator published a paid political ad supporting the slate: Arthur Jarrett for Mayor; Recorder Dawana Murphy, Wanda Chambers, Okey Burroughs, Billie Zegeer, Sally Legg, and Betty Murphy.
  • June 5 pm That ad, which mentioned that one time Mayor Joyce Gibson was forced to retire, seems to have created quite a stir. Ms Gibson is now a candidate for Town Council and her daughter in law, Cathy Butcher, is seeking the Recorder's opening. Husband Morgan was real verbose June 3 during a public meeting at the Courthouse. According to Mr. Gibson, Joyce was NOT forced to retire but did so for health reasons. He went on say the Town finances were NOT in shambles at the time of her resignation. Of course most in the county remember two years ago when Joyce Gibson left office, the town was more than in shambles, it was nearly bankrupt. Employees were laid off, hospitalization coverage was canceled, venders cut off credit accounts, no Town Police, a $50,000.00 loan was secured just to keep the lights on, and according Town leadership, Jeff Krauklis, during the Council meeting where Ms Gibson's hand written letter of resignation was read, there was money enough for just one month of operation! At best, the 2 years of Gibson leadership was inadequate to say the least.
  • June 5 pm And now, letters have been mailed out to the 300 or so voters in the Town of Clay. That letter is now creating a stir.  Should be a fun time election night!
  • June 5 am  It may be hard for our international clickers to believe but, here in the outback, there is NO cell phone coverage. None. Back last Summer, CellOne started construction of  a tower up on the hill behind the Foodland store at Two Run. Construction was halted as property owners haggled over rights of ways.
  • June 5 am Now nearly a year later, the equipment is in and the power is on. Sometime today ( we think) the signal will be beamed from a Northern tower to our new tower and WHAAAMMMOOO, we will have cell phone service! The 20th Century finally making it to Clayberry. Already our school system is working on a plan to stop students from carrying and using the devices even tho the phones have been important rescue tools during hostage taking and shooting sprees around the country.
  • June 5 am When you see Communicator Editor Terry Kerns today, tell her Happy Birthday. She doesn't look a day over 50
  • June 5 am  Clay FM has included that new Governor Wise spoof song during today's play list. Tune in and Enjoy
  • June 5 am Now don't tell anyone but that super secret Clay Development Corp (CDC) is holding their annual General membership meeting today beginning at 1 pm. It's during this meeting that new members can sign up. It was during last year's General membershit, I mean Membership meeting that Earnie Sirk was tossed from power after firing employee Pam Taylor. Remember.... Shhhhh .....  mums the word
  • June 5 am Also today, Clay Roane PSD holds a Special meeting at the water plant at 5pm followed by their regular meeting tonight at 7pm. the regular meeting will be held on Main Street across from the Courthouse
  • June 5 am  Remember back two weeks ago we reported on a scam going around where the victim is asked to cough up $ in return for getting college financial assistance help?  We got a call yesterday from county parent who had fallen victim to the ploy. How expensive? For this woman, the cost was $100 per month.
  • June 5 am The scam part is this. All colleges provide financial assistance packages free of charge as do many private schools.
  • June 5 am
  • June 4 pm Back two months ago high school kids yanked and pulled tons of junk and trash from road banks near the Dundon ball park. Truck loads were removed and the place looked great.
  • June 4pm Didn't last long as some **## SOB dumped 100 bags of trash in the same area. Clean up is planned again. See EVENTS page for details.
  • June 4 pm In April 2003 Prosecutor Daniel Grindo handled a welfare fraud case against Peggy DeBoard after indictments were returned by the Grand Jury.  Deboard worked for the Bank of Gassawy. During the trial, many in attendance questioned the performance of the Prosecutor over not calling a single eye witness to the allegations of husband Mitch living at Peggy's home while Peggy drew benefits. That april trial was tossed out after a juror had contact with Ms DeBoard during the last day of events.
  • June 4 pm The case was to be retried in may. Not going to happen. The case was dismissed the last week of May with Ms DeBoard returning to the Bank of Gassaway this week.
  • June 3 am A great big rainy afternoon to you. Sorry for he slowness in update. The Communicator went out the door finally. There is one glitch in the sentencing of Vince Golosow story but we'll finish it up in the next edition. Get em while they're hot
  • June 4 am Yesterday Town Council met as did CAEZ. Both meetings offered insight into the affairs of county life and will be posted later this evening.
  • June 4 am Also yesterday came a presentation during a Workforce Investment Board meeting held in the County Commission room. Our workforce Investment region consists of Clay, Calhoun, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Richie, Roane, Wirt, and Wood counties. Pretty dismal facts. The stuff leaders try to massage away. The stuff that won't go away. The stuff few talk about. Stuff like ...
  • June 4 am  Clay County leads the region in the percentage of residents unable to function and do simple things like balance a check book
  • June 4 am Clay has the highest percentage of people in poverty with our per capita income less than 50% of the national average
  • June 4 am 75.2% of our kids are on free or reduced lunch programs and in our region, we have the lowest percentage of people even looking for a job. According the to the stats presented Wed by Mr. Ed Strong, there's only 465 people even wanting  a job in the county.
  • June 4 am  And here's one the school system hates to admit and would never say in public, according to the most recent figures, 2000 -2001, less than half ( 49.7 %) of our high school seniors even took the ACT test, the test most commonly required before going to college. Less than half!!! As for the glowing remarks of great performance and quality teaching, not so.  During that same performance period, 200 -2001, those that took the ACT scored and average of just 19.6 composite which is the lowest score in our 9 county region.
  • June 4 am Not mentioned yesterday during the presentation but known by many in the room, the truth is our people know: It would be crazy to take a minimum wage job instead of living off the government dole.
  • June 2 am  The week is starting off great and No we don't mean Sunday came and went without rain. We made it thru Graduation without one major car wreck, injury and death. So many times, the sad news of a graduating senior makes the front page under those circumstances.
  • June 2 am OF course one thing good has come from all the rain. We haven't of any arson in the last 2 weeks!
  • June 2 am  We've got a great week in store for us with lots of public meetings. Tonight the School Board meets. On Tuesday , Town Council meets at 4 as does the Eco Devel Committee of  CAEZ with a full blown CAEZ Board meeting continuing at 6pm. Later comes the Clay Roane PSD gathering.  We'll post as the info comes in.
  • June 2 am And finally after a long delay, the Communicator should make it to the stands Tuesday afternoon.
  • June 1 am  Can it be possible? Is June here already? Must be, lightening bugs were seen Friday evening.
  • June 1 am Clay FM is playing a bunch of tunes from Clay County's own, The Neal Family, today along with Southern Grace and several numbers from the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet. Enjoy
  • June 1 am   So what do we do when news is light? Tell a joke. Here goes: Joe took his blind date to the carnival. "What would you like to do first, Kim?" asked Joe. I want to get weighed," she said. They ambled over to the weight guesser.  He guessed 120 pounds. She got on the scale; it read 117 and  she won a prize.

  •      Next, the couple went on the Ferris Wheel. When the ride was over, Joe again
    asked Kim what she would like to do. "I want to get weighed," she said. Back
    to the weight guesser they went. Since they had been there before, he guessed her correct weight, and Joe lost his dollar.
         The couple walked around the carnival and again he asked where to next. "I
    want to get weighed," she responded. By this time, Joe figured she was really weird and took her home early, dropping her off with a handshake.
        Her roommate, Laura, asked her about the blind date,  "How'd it go?" Kim responded, "Oh, Waura, it was wousy."
  • June 1 am  And now for the weekly wrap up. Of course rain was the main topic this past week. Some much rain that gardening, grass cutting, and other outside duties were all but impossible.
  • June 1 am The big winner this week was Mack Samples who brought home the top prize at the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston.   Another Boil Water Order ended Friday for Ivydale and Big Otter customers.
  • June 1 am A very mean looking Vince Golosow was sentenced to life behind bars before being escorted back to the slammer under heavy guard support. They took no chances!
  • June 1 am By week's end, Shelly Moore Capito made her way into the county and explained  how the development of the Maysel Park could be an economic boost for Clayberry. She also listened to the water needs of the Widen area among other things
  • June 1 am The Town of Clay prepared fro their June 10th election as campaign posters went over all over the place.
  • June 1 am Another week of education's schooling completed with movies, field trips, and kids' days off for performing well on the SAT 9 tests. Good scores mean nothing other than to make Link and the School Board gang look nice on paper. So distorted are the scores, the entire SAT 9 testing program has now been tossed out the window. Of course another week of no education is nothing new for Clayberry, for all intents and purposes, school hasn't been in session for four weeks
  • June 1 am This past week ended as it began, rain followed by more rain, and then to make certain everything was wet, God gave us nice thunder boomers and downpours Saturday.

  •