June 2007 News

 
  • June 30 am  From the email bag:  Happy 28th Anniversary to our parents Karl "Kimbo" and Janet Fitzwater!!!  Love, Jeromy, Amanda, April, Amy, Andrew and Cole
  • June 30 am Happy 60th birthday to Ell Deems Sr.
  • June 30 am  With new govt checks in hand, Clayberry is a buzz once again.
  • June 30 am Today we are Yard Sale Central.    Get out and find some deals today.
  • June 30 am On the Jeff Boggs vs Big Otter FD, as of 2pm Friday, no decision yet from Judge Johnson.
  • June 30 am  When Senator Rockefeller was here last Spring one guy asked him to restore habeus corpus. He said he would. We might not have to wait that long. The US Supreme Court  accepted such a case Friday.   Wonderful!
  • June 30 am Today is the Small Town America Independence Day Celebration. The latest fatalities took US losses in Iraq to 82 this month alone. With the oil war death count at an all time high, it's tough to celebrate.
  • June 30 am  Today is the last day on the job for Mayor Arthur Jarrett. King Arthur will lead off today's 1pm Independence Day parade. Someone call up Jack Brown and get him to ride along with Jarrett at the front of the parade.
  • June 30 am Jack, it'll be fun!
  • June 29 am Thursday nights brief rain helped a little but man we need a bunch more. 75% of the county are without  municipal water service. Many in the county depending on wells and cisterns are in big trouble.
  • June 29 am If you have cattle and need help with water sources, see the ADVISORY page.
  • June 29 am  If you take a look at our EVENTS page, there's tons going on this Independence Day weekend. Don't sit at home all droopy lipped. Get out and have some fun with the family.
  • June 29 am   Last year the Independence parade lasted around 5 minutes. We're trying to grow it a little this year. Hope to double it's size. Why not dress up your goat, dog, wife, or kid and be a part of the parade. Staging area will be in front of the Library at 12:30 Saturday.
  • June 29 am Want to make some $? The Independence Day Town Yard sale begins Saturday morning at 8am on the old Fas Chek of Clay parking lot. It's first come, first served. No fee and only one requirement, what you don't sell, you have to take back with you.
  • June 29 am   11 years ago the Business Development Authority discussed the need for a Farmer's Market in the county. Discussion was about it back then.
  • June 29 am With the need still here, the BC&G RR folks are setting up a Farmers/Flea Market the first full weekend of July, August, and Sept. at the JG Bradley Campground at Dundon. Finally some progress in Clay!
  • June 29 am   We've got a new book coming on the market. It's the story of John and Elizabeth Starcher and their 15 kids on Sugar Run. For info dial 304 286-2031 or 304 927-5949. 49 pages of great reading on how it used to be in 342 square miles.
  • June 29 am From the Beckley Register-Herald:  Four men were arrested Saturday morning after allegedly breaking into a home in Mount Nebo. Nicholas County Sheriff's Deputy J.B. Bailey said Matthew Dwayne Williams,  24, of Elkton, Md.; Tony Darrel Blosser, 19, of Jane Lew in Lewis County;  Kenneth L. Duncan, 37, of Indore in Clay County; and Jackie Lynn Collins,  24, of Pax, conspired to commit grand larceny and were arrested after they  allegedly broke into the Summersville Lake Road home.  Bailey said police recovered stolen property from that incident as well as  property taken from Fayette County.  The men were charged with daytime burglary, conspiracy to commit grand larceny and attempted grand larceny.
  • June 29 am  Ever wonder how that little computer mouse works?  Check out this link for a cut away view.
  • June 29 am  Bachelor hood Day 5: Return of the Neda. Wifey is returning this afternoon. That means several hours of getting rid of ants, dog poop, newspapers, dishwashing, and cans of spray to get rid of the stink. So much for the good life for another year.

  •  
  • June 28 LATE pm Somewhere out there is cyber land are the files for the last four days. If anyone can help retrieve, please email. Hate to lose the the stuff. Thanks in advance
  • June 28 LATE pm   From Wednesday's County Commission meeting. As the meeting was winding down came word of  raw sewage being dumped into Buffalo Creek. That's in addition to the logs from Widen at the head of the stream.
  • June 28 LATE pm You know the place?  Buffalo Creek flows into the Elk just below the Dundon bridge. It's also one the most popular swimming spots in the county. You might want to think about the next time you take in a  little wa wa while you're swimming there.  Back to the meeting....
  • June 28 LATE pm   What ta do  What ta do... Nothing!  According to those at the meeting, since the homes were built before 1970, there is nothing that can be done to force the home owners to install septic systems.
  • June 28 LATE pm  A month ago the JG BRadley Campground put up signs saying NO SWIMMING.  They've got good reason for doing so!
  • June 28 LATE pm From Tuesday, Tonya Salisbury went before Judge Jack Alsop with felony indictments against her. The trial lasted abut 2 minutes before all charges were dismissed.
  • June 28 LATE pm  Based on what we could decipher.... Braxton County Asst Prosecutor Dan Dotson brought the evidence to the grand jury and sought the indictments.  During that two minutes of trial time, turns out the charges were not the right charges, the paperwork was all botched up, and the lady walked free and clear.  More scuttle butt comes , how did this thing ever get to court in the first place since witnesses were not  questioned?
  • June 28 LATE pm  Sounds like a big Hmmmmmmmmmmm is in order.
  • June 28 LATE pm  Bachelor hood Day 4.   Just after the current news page crashed and with the power blinking off and on, it was time to try the TV.  Cooling temps brought open the front and back doors for some fresh air.
  • June 28 LATE pm   Five minutes into  CNN, in almost a nap trance, the dog starting barking. With one eye open, I something gray running across the room. It was an opossum with something in his mouth, maybe a  piece of bacon, couldn't tell for sure. Right around the couch and out the front door hightailing as quick as he could.
  • June 28 LATE pm  I think it's time clean up the mess in the kitchen floor.
  • Houston, we have a problem....
  • June 28 pm Wednesday evening around 11:38pm, just as the Current News post was being uploaded to the web site, the power blinked off and on a couple times. That loss of power sent the new post and all the old stuff from this week into cyber land of unknown destination.
  • June 28 pm We're working to find those files and restore.
  • June 28 pm   Sorry for the loss. Working on the problem now.
  • June 28 pm  Did we tell you about the floaters in Buffalo Creek. Coming soon.
  • June 22 LATE pm And Yes, we heard the Somber Super asking for police escort today while on his way to the Ivydale Elem School Church House.
  • June 21 pm  Virgil H. McCune,  see OBITUARY page
  • June 21 pm We're working on a story about life at High Street Apartments as well as meeting coverage from the last two weeks.
  • June 21 pm Our lead story gets into a planned exploration for oil and gas reserves in Clayberry.
  • June 21 pm The BDA was suppose to convene a special meeting today at 5pm to open bids on  mowing the now brown tot he root grass over at the industrial site near Ovapa. Didn't happen. One Boardster showed up wondering what the heck was going on. His cell phone call to Fran King revealed her vacationing in So Carolina.
  • June 21 pm  Until we get the Communicator to bed, no new updates
  • June 21 am  Donna Joyce Boggs, see OBITUARY page
  • June 21 am See ADVISORY page for stolen ATV
  • June 21 am The best of Wedding Day wishes (6pm Spread park) extended to Mark and Laura Beth.
  • June 21 am Deadline for this week's Communicator is noon today. Get your stuff emailed over ASAP.
  • June 21 am More coming before we shut down for typing duties.
  • June 20 am It's West Virginia day . Summer school programs as well as the Courthouse are closed today.
  • June 20 am  Yesterday three engineers clad in kaki pants and white shirts toured the historic Elkhurst Swinging bridge. Most of us thought that the rotting boards and rust were the main problems with the still in use structure. According to the engineers, with a suspension bridge, the most important part are the cables. If the cables are good, there may  be hope in restoring the thang.
  • June 20 am    Judge Johnson from Nicholas County heard a land dispute case here in Clay Tuesday. Magistrate Boggs brought the case against the Big Otter Fire Dept. At issue is a pie shaped piece of BOFD land about 20 feet wide at its widest point. The Judge's decision may affect that old adage, it's what's on the deed that count.
  • June 20 am  The meets and bounds on the deed call for a 150.43 foot Rt 16 frontage. The original owner  Woody Boggs says the deed is all screwed up since he only intended to give them 120 feet of frontage.
  • June 20 am  The trial Judge could come up with all kinds of answers including: if there wasn't a meeting of the minds when the deed was signed 10 years ago, the land, now owned by Jeff Boggs, could revert back to the owner. Wouldn't that be interesting!
  • June 19 am  Virginia Opal Elmore Dunlap, 86, of Pond Gap, see OBITUARY page
  • June 19 am Big Otter Fire Dept. has been torn apart over a land dispute for 18 months. The squabble is over a pie shaped 30 foot wide at its widest part piece of flat land right beside their firehouse. One side thinks the land should be given back to the original owner while the other side is equally convinced the land was meant to be apart of the original donated land.
  • June 19 am Jeff Boggs, that's Magistrate Boggs, is on the side that thinks the land should be returned. Returned to Jeff.
  • June 19 am The land dispute trial begins Tuesday morning at 9am before Judge Johnson in the Circuit Court room in the new Courthouse.
  • June 19 am  We'd like to say last night's School Board meeting was a real juicy affair. It wasn't. They spent much of the night behind closed doors with Clay Elem parent followed by even more time with a personnel matter. No mention of the many problems with rights of ways and poop plant at the new Valley Dale Elem school slated to open in August.
  • June 19 am The municipal election canvas was held Tuesday. No changes after the affair. Jack Brown and the new Council will take office July 1st.
  • June 19 am Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
  • June 19 am  Listerine therapy for toenail fungus. Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
  • June 19 am Uhhhhh don't dump the Listerine back in the bottle. Makes your breath reaaal funky!
  • June 18 pm  The Clay Bd of Education is suppose to meet the first and third Monday of each month. They are suppose to provide the public with an agenda three days in advance of the meeting.
  • June 18 pm   As of today at noon, the Board has not posted their meeting agenda on the clay schools web site. Kenneth Tanner has confirmed the meeting will held tonight.
  • June 18 pm   Clay Town Council "canvassed" the vote from last week's municipal election. No changes.
  • June 18 am  For those attending summer school, stuff like Camp Mustang, here's the link to the school bus schedule.
  • June 18 am   Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would  be if it didn't zigzag?

  • June 18 am   A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.  A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.   A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.   A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.    A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.    A snail can sleep for three years. Almonds are a member of the peach family. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.    Butterflies taste with their feet.   Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds.  Dogs only have about 10. "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt". February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
  • June 18 am Aren't you glad you checked the site today?
  • June 17 pm Happy Father's Day to each and every dad.
  • June 17 pm Over in DC, Seymour M. Hersh revealed more details on the Abu Ghraib prison scandal run by American forces. No doubt when the new details get out, their civil war will grow even uglier.
  • June 17 pm  Fully four years into the Shrub's oil war, American forces control just 40 percent of Baghdad. And that's with the 30,000 new soldiers in the effort!
  • June 17 pm  The U.S. military, which just days ago completed its latest troop buildup in Iraq, has launched a large offensive operation in several al-Qaida strongholds around Baghdad, the top U.S. commander said Saturday.
  • June 17 pm  There have been 3,798 coalition deaths -- 3,519 Americans, two Australians, 150 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvian, 20 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of June 15, 2007, according to a CNN count.
  • June 17 pm Here in the county of Clay ......
  • June 17 pm We're ready for new owners over at Telford Chevy. Early last week a guy went to the new car dealership in need of a backup light for his shiny new SUV. He was told they didn't have the light bulb and couldn't order from GMC. Help Dave help!
  • June 17 pm  Last Tuesday Clay Co PSD water men Harold Allen went before the Board and asked why a written reprimand had been put in his file folder. The answers given seemed to be completely different from what was said during an earlier secret time. Earlier while we listened in on the secret time, it seemed the Board was steamed over a water leak that ran all night. During the public time this week, it seemed their defense of the reprimand was work orders going unattended.  Hearing only Simpson Neal in support of tossing the letter, Allen resigned from the PSD.
  • June 17 pm  We saw a  changing of the guard during Tuesday's Municpal election. Jack Brown beat out King Arthur by 10 votes. With a new Mayor  and two new Council persons, Jeremy and Llyn, beginning in July, we might see some changes in the county's only town.
  • June 17 pm Its not very often you hear elected officials doing smart thangs in Clayberry. Happened Wednesday morning when the County Commission held up a vote on changes to the controversial Flood Plain Ordinance. Written in some of the worst jiberish imaginable, Commission Prez Triplet and Slinky (Fran absent) both said they couldn't makes heads or tails of the change.
  • June 17 pm Also from the CCC meeting, Helen Jeffers brought to their elected folks attention a serious problem with ambulance service in the county. According to Jeffers, when she needed a Clay County Ambulance a couple weeks ago, none were available. In the life threatening situation, she had to be driven by car to the interstate before a Braxton County ambulance would transport her to a hospital. Answers to her questions were in short supply.
  • June 17 pm  The annual metal recycling days got underway Thursday morning. The three day affair netted thousands of tires and a big pile of junk metal. The haul was smaller than in years past. Most figure that high scrap metal salvage prices are the reason.
  • June 17 pm Our drought continued. Gardens have turned into dust bowls. Potatoes appear to be doing OK but the tomato crop is about non existent. The county swimming pool is doing a heck of a business.
  • June 17 pm The outdoor music show Summer Jam drew even bigger crowds Saturday night. THe place was packed to hear the Possum Holler Pickers and Adam Burdette. The station is working to complete an acoustically balanced ceiling above the stage. With what's done, the sound was already improved.
  • June 17 pm  Why isn't the number  11 pronounced onety one?
  • June 16 am    Mary Daphene Belt, 84, of Widen, WV, see OBITUARY page
  • June 16 am There's a change on the list of items you can bring over to the recycling center today. No gas tanks. Yes they advertised they would take em but , nope, no you can't
  • June 16 am Today is the last day for the annual metal recycling days. People are asking if they will take dead beat teenagers. Answer, No.
  • June 16 am Lots of new job postings over on t he JOB page including one from Clay Roane PSD.
  • June 16 am Here's an interesting nugget. Friday a week ago in Circuit Court land, the Judge had our top badge search attorney  Kevin Duffy. There was concern that Duffy may have a weapon on him.  Getting irate at the treatment he more than called a Bailiff a poop butt.
  • June 16 am So why the special treatment. Word had it that day that Duffy pulled a gun on a client/potential client in his office on Main Street when the guy wouldn't leave.
  • June 16 am Anybody seen Mr Bean Pole since the incident in the Courtroom. We haven't.
  • June 16 am Don't let the construction at the radio station concern ya. Tonight's Summer Jam is  a Go!
  • June 16 am  Clay County is in a drought. Gardens are starting to shrink up and wither. Lawns are growing. Those wanting those bright red tomatoes may have to wait awhile.
  • June 16 am No rain predicted this weekend!
  • June 16 am Thinking about being a lifeguard? See the ADVISORY page ASAP.
  • June 15 am  First an oops. Our top badge said he and Commissioner King went to the WV PSC building for the big awards ceremony Wednesday am and not the Governor's office. We stand corrected.
  • June 15 am Now an update on the metal recycling days. You can bring  tires on the rims today.  Now is the time to get rid of that junk laying around the yard.
  • June 15 am  It was a real interesting Clay Roane PSD meeting last night. Michael Childers was fired by the Chair a week or more ago. Last night Childers was present and asked for open meeting discussions. The Chair was less than forthcoming on why the field man was fired. Later in the discussion, after some convincing, Childers agreed to a secret time.
  • June 15 am  At the end of the meeting the PSD went secret but without the fired guy. When they reopened to the public, they told the public that was it and it was time to go home.
  • June 15 am  Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...
  • June 15 am  Lets see now. First , when someone says they want to remain in open session, the public body has to do just that. As a matter of fact, they can only go secret IF the employee asks to do so! That's the way it is, no exceptions.
  • June 15 am If Childers was fired  a couple weeks ago, is he still an employee? Answer: Yes. Reason: The Board does the hiring and one Board member did the firing, wouldn't the Board have to motion and agree to the actions of one board member?  There was no such vote during last night's meeting.
  • June 15 am  Ever hear of a time when an employee was coerced into a secret time and then not allowed into the secret time? Me neither.
  • June 15 am Clay Roane PSD has asked for another rate increase stealthily called a Rule 42 request. Because the paperwork for the increase has not been completed by the PSD's accountant, the Punkin Ridge extension project remains on hold.  When the WV PSC OK's the increase that local PSD has no choice but to except it and  raise wa wa bills.
  • June 15 am Currently Clay Roane PSD can claim the third highest water rates in West Virginia ( if you exclude a private health resort in Pocahantas County). With a rate increase we can finally be at the top of something.
  • June 15 am Increased debt load increases the chances of getting a rate increase. Last night the PSD added another $1500 per month on the debt load. The 6 months of payments will cover the cost of pump repairs at the plant.
  • June 15 am A 26% water loss last month will also help.
  • June 15 am  Hot and muggy? Head to the Clay Swimming Pool!!!
  • June 14 pm  That Boil Water Order issued last week by Clay County PSD has been lifted. It's safe to consume the wa wa once again.
  • June 14 am  Tonight at 7pm the Clay Roane PSD meets in regular session at the Courthouse in the County Commission room. Agenda items include: Michael Childers –Employment- request of open discussion;   Water Projects    Amma Project- Pumpkin Ridge Project ;      System Operations;   Review of Invoices/Payment Resolution;    Approval of Monthly Report;    Approval of Monthly Adjustments;    Maintenance Man Position;    State Employee Retirement plan information;    Customer Request for Tap -Oak Hill Ridge Rd;      Engagement letter for Accountant/Audit 06-07;    Policy Amendments;    Purchase of lock box/briefcase for Closed Personnel Files;     Quotes for Camp Booster fencing;     Quote from CI Thornburg- Plant repair;    Case No. 07-0272-PWD-C/ PSC recommendation);    Approval of Newton Fire Dept letter- hauling public water;    Purchase of Digital Camera;    Connection Cable for Generator;    Letter to County Commission- Dump Truck;    Security Grant for Water Plant;   Telemetry printer cable
  • June 14 am Do you use credit cards? Might want to check out the savy consumer column over on the ADVISORY page.
  • June 14 am  There were three Indian squaws. One slept on a deer skin, one slept on an  elk skin, and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin.   All three became pregnant, and the first two each had a baby boy.   The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys.   This goes to prove that the squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides.
  • June 13 pm Down in our Southern border colony Clendenin, voters wiped out the entire Town Council during yesterday's municipal election.
  • June 13 pm Since getting elected last election cycle, Mayor Bob Ore has had his hands full with the warring council. About everything he tried to do was stymied by the opposition. Yesterday, 330 some voters ousted the entire Clendenin Council and Recorder. Ore was successful in his reelection efforts.
  • June 13 pm One of the more outlandish Council persons, Gary Bledsoe, ran for Mayor and came up well short.
  • June 13 pm Beginning July 1st, Clendenin will begin again with fresh new faces. Good, maybe the occupation forces will leave now and Clendenin will get back on track.
  • June 13 pm Let's talk about Tuesday's Clay Co PSD meeting. There was the usual  blah blah blah and then some good stuff.
  • June 13 pm  Harold Allen is the PSD's Field Supervisor.  He's been off work for two weeks with back/neck problems. During the May meeting of the PSD, the Board (Greg Fitzwater, Simpson Neal, and Ted Underwood) went into secret time and decided to reprimand Allen. During that secret time we were able to hear bits and pieces of the conversation.  What we heard was something about a big time water leak that went without repair all night on May 15 2007. Lots of wa wa lost.
  • June 13 pm During yesterday's meeting, Harold Allen  (in open session) asked the Board to reconsider the letter of reprimand and toss it out. During the discussions, Office Manager Bev Duffield produced a whole stack of unattended to work orders , some as old as Sept 07, and said Allen was derelict in his duties... the angle was, not doing work orders was the reason Allen was reprimanded.
  • June 13 pm Seeing the bologna, Allen getting fired up quite a bit and asked: if theses work orders are so critical , why haven't they been done while I've been off theses last two weeks? The angle was shot all to pieces.
  • June 13 pm After Simpson Neal said he was willing to toss the  reprimand if Allen would agree to improve his performance, something real happened.
  • June 13 pm Boardster Ted Underwood staying mostly silent finally  asked: Was he given a verbal reprimand prior the letter as required by the Policy and Procedures Manual. Answer from Bev, uhhhhh,   ahhhhh, well,  No
  • June 13 pm  After sometimes barbed discussions that revealed other PSD transgressions kept away from the public, the Board with a 2 to 1 vote, confirmed the letter of reprimand .  Harold Allen resigned his position on the spot and left the PSD office.
  • June 13 pm    Time after time, in court case after court case, Judges have ruled, the only thing that counts are meeting minutes and policy and procedures rules. If the PSD doesn't revisit this item reaaaal soon and Allen takes this to Court, he has a real shot at costing the cash strapped PSD real money  after they admitted they didn't follow their own P&P manual.
  • June 13 pm  Of course, here in Clayberry, what's a few more expenses, just ask for another rate increase!
  • June 13 pm More coming... Oh, this morning the Clay County Commission decided to table efforts to modify the existing Flood Plain Ordinance until they know more about the hot button topic.
  • June 13 pm Hello Mr Perry.
  • June 13 pm This morning County Commissioner Fran  went to the Governor's mansion to receive an award from King Joe for her efforts in getting gas service to Clay County reisdents during the cold snap last February.    Should be lots of smiles, pictures,  and handshakes galore.
  • June 13 pm   Of course back in Feb it was the Governor's office that did the very least for the county and at one point told King to quit nurse maiding us. That's politics clickers.
  • June 13 pm More coming on the PSD and CCC meeting late tonight.
  • June 12 LATE pm Hello Shonnie Brinson. Glad to have you back online
  • June 12 Late pm  From the email bag:   A very Happy Birthday to Amanda Fitzwater of Hurricane, WV for June 13th. Love Mom from Clay Co
  • June 12 LATE pm  Town residents voted to change the Mayor and Council during the June 12th election. With about 94 voters turning out to cast ballots.....   Mayor King Arthur Jarret 53; challenger Jack Brown 63 votes. We have new leadership in the Town of Clay.
  • June 12 pm  Council results: Incumbents Jerry Stover 85 and Betty Murphy 63; Newbees Llyn Drake 61, Jeremy Hanshaw 58. and incumbent Joyce Gibson coming in fifth with 55 votes.  Coming up short: Incumbent Glen Nichols 45, Mary Lou Clark 35, and one time Mayor Okey Burroughs 43.
  • June 12 pm  Two new Council persons and a new Mayor, change is here! Winners take office July 1st.
  • June 12 pm   Of the 90 some voting, 63 came during early voting days.
  • June 12 pm  Wednesday morning County Commission meets at 10 am. The agenda calls for a vote on changes with the Flood Plain Ordinance. Hmmmmm....
  • June 12 pm  A blonde's car gets a flat tire on the Interstate one day. So she  eases it over onto the shoulder of the road.  She carefully steps out of the car and opens the trunk. Takes out  two  cardboard men, unfolds them and stands them at the rear of the  vehicle  facing oncoming traffic.  The lifelike cardboard men are in trench coats exposing their nude  bodies to approaching drivers....  Not surprisingly, the traffic became snarled and backed up. It  wasn't very long before a police car arrives.  The Officer, clearly enraged, approaches the blonde of the disabled  vehicle yelling, "What is going on here?"  "My car broke down, Officer" says the woman, calmly.  "Well, what the hell are these obscene cardboard pictures doing  here by the road?!" asks the Officer... "Oh, those are my emergency flashers!" she replied.
  • June 12 pm
  • June 11 pm Stealing has been going on since the beginning of time. What makes small town America so special is the laid back life style. Many of us still leave keys in the ignition and our houses unlocked.
  • June 11 pm Last night someone stole the hanging baskets off the front porch of Dwana Murphy's Main Street Clay residence. She was inside but never heard a thing. Being the snoop that she is, Dwana followed the petal trail across the lawn of a neighbor until it stopped along the sidewalk.
  • June 11 pm You never know where a web cam may be pointed!
  • June 11 am Big Independence Day Pageant coming June 30th. Pageant rules now on the ADVISORY page.
  • June 11 am Missed a birthday... Happy Birthday to Earl McCune.
  • June 11 am Tuesday at 5pm Clay County PSD will hold their monthly meeting. The agenda notes an item on their Field Manager Harold Allen. During last month's meeting the appointed folks went into secret discussions. Although Felicia kept talking we were able to hear bits and pieces, Sounded like a big water leak out Adair with the monkey being placed on the back of  Mr. Allen.  Based on scanner traffic, sounds like the PSD has other problems like.... the telemetry equipment not working resulting in storage tank overflows.  Might be a good meeting to attend... if they don't go into secret again
  • June 11 am The biggy of the week will be Tuesday's Town Election. Polls close at 7:30pm Tuesday. Early voting is over. Look for election results by 11pm on this site.
  • June 11 am Wednesday morning the County Commission is looking to make changes in the hot button Flood Plain Ordinance. No we don't think they're ready to do something that dumb . Maybe just maybe, when they voted NOT to implement   a one size fits all ordinance a couple months ago, they stepped on someone's toes and it's pay back time for Clay County. Just a guess clickers.
  • June 11 am County Clerk Connie Workman has the changes in her office
  • June 11 am  Thursday evening at 7pm Clay Roane PSD will hold their regular monthly meeting. With Michael Childers getting canned last Thursday, this too might be an interesting meeting to attend.
  • June 11 am Bring your own popcorn folks. Public meetings, Clayberry's best entertainment value and FREE
  • June 11 am By the way, there is NEVER a time government groups are required to go behind closed doors. Never! There are certain circumstances when they can if all parties agree but NEVER a time they are required to do so.  To go into secret time they have to give a specific reason for doing so. Saying "personnel issues" is not one of the allowed reasons.
  • June 11 am Look around your yard, shed, garage, basement, the Clay County Solid Waste Authority is hosting the annual metal recycling days this THursday thru Saturday. No reasons to have that crap laying around the house, it's time to recycle! See EVENTS page for details
  • June 11 am Are you a Clay County Crafter? Like a little exposure and a chance to sell your wares? WYAP is looking for area crafters that want to set up a booth during WYAP's  outdoor music show on Saturday nights. If you're interested call the station and leave a message, 587-8353. No charge to the crafters!
  • June 11 am Dubbya was briefed this morning on three Brazillion soldiers killed in Iraq. To everyone's amazement, all the color ran from the Shrub's face, then he collapsed onto his desk. With head in hand, visibly shaking, and whimpering, he composed himself and asked, " Just how many is a brazillion?"
  • June 10 pm Ever hear of lawn tractor racing?  See ADVISORY page.
  • June 10 pm  Mid June and flowers are blooming. The first of the little red cherry tomatoes are ready for salad duty.  Around the county people have been holding yard sales. Gas prices are down a little. Kids are the swimming pool and playing in the Elk River.
  • June 10 pm  With the Town election just two days, 63 people came in and voted early. Interest seems to be up this time around.
  • June 10 pm Get out and vote June 12th.
  • June 10 pm During the CAEZ meeting Tuesday, the Board said yes to continuing efforts to turn the old Dundon bridge into a part of  a 3 mile walking/biking loop thru downtown Clay. Another pipe dream according to some.  Time will answer that question.
  • June 10 pm  Also from Tuesday, Town Council succumbed to election year heat and voted unanimously to  restore fluoridating wa wa. The addition of the  EPA deemed "waste product" won't begin until new equipment can be purchased.
  • June 10 pm The BDA labored over what to do with their hay field Thursday night. Behind the scenes people went to various BDA Boardsters and asked for the straw. In the end, the vegetation will be bid off to the highest bidder. Resigning BDA Chair Leonard Williams was not present.
  • June 10 pm Check out the ADVISORY page for details on turning in a bid on the green cash crop
  • June 10 pm  Michael Childers  was fired by Clay Roane PSD Chair Dave Grigsby Thursday after work. They said his work ethics was the problem.
  • June 10 pm That's hard to imagine. Michael grew up in scouting and has always been a straight shooter.
  • June 10 pm Sometimes behind the scenes, away from the public dealings, weigh into such decisions.
  • June 10 pm  We had some crummy stuff happen in Clay this week. Like... what kind of thug would steal American flags? Answer: the slimiest! In addition to swiping 4 flags on utility poles, several trash cans were turned over.
  • June 10 pm On Friday, the Communicator came out and made public rumors of Dave Pierson taking over the county's only new car dealership. If all goes as planned in Telford's Bankruptcy filings, Dave will take over on July 7th.
  • June 10 pm  School officials were told to vacate the Ivydale Elem School building by today. The original agreement called for the School system to maintain control and use of the building thru August or until the new Valley Dale Elem was built. Instead the Board caved .
  • June 10 pm  Taking of the new school, talk about a plan gone bad.... Eminent domain proceedings were OK'd by the Courts last week. Let's see now, the clerk of the works said everything was going peachy except, there is a problem getting rights of way for utilities... there's no place to put the poop factory.... they need another $700,000 to get back on track.. and now  nasty eminent domain proceedings.
  • June 10 pm  A storm ripped thru the county Friday morning leaving many without electric and internet services. Power was restored to most by Friday afternoon. Not so for the DSL service.
  • June 10 pm  Community radio WYAP uses DSL to send their signal to the Triplett Ridge transmitter site. Without DSL, the independent sounds of YAP radio remain off 101.7FM.
  • June 9 am  We got the Communicator out the door around 2pm Friday. 24 pages of info found no other place. Included is the latest on Dave Pierson buying out Telford Chevy and Thursday's BDA meeting. What's the difference between a Chair and Prez? Read the Communicator for details.
  • June 9  am Don't sit at home with a big droopy lip, get out and have some fun this weekend.
  • June 9 am  For those with a RV or pull behind camper, the JG Bradley Campground now has a working dump station.  587-6055
  • June 9 am  We posted a link to the Amsterdam web cam a couple weeks ago. Try it again now for a different view. Works best with Windows media player.  Pretty cool.
  • June 7 pm  Sherry Marie Adkins, 37, of Clay, see OBITUARY page
  • June 7 pm  Jerry D. "Squeek" Robinson, 66, see OBITUARY page
  • June 7 pm We're in shut down mode until we get the Communicator out the door around 3pm Friday.
  • June 7 am  From the email bag:   Decendents of Henry Clay Ellison & Judy Ann Scott please share your family history information with me.  I am working on a family tree and and will be glad to share. E-mail victoriaplane@yahoo.com or write  Vicki Lane  5900 Obrien Av Nasvhille TN  37209
  • June 7 am Clay Development Corp rarely makes headlines these days. So bad was the news on CDC not so long ago, they changed their bylaws to bar the public from attending Board meetings. During court battle after court battle, they fought hard to keep their government built empire top secret. When members of the group spoke out against the group, they were told to leave and never come back.
  • June 7 am Today at 1 the CDC will be holding another of their scripted meetings. Scripted? Yep, during those annual meetings, in order to make sure things go as desired, employees were given written scripts with what they were suppose to say. How do they insure employees show up for the dog and pony shows? In years past, employees were told to attend and then paid on their way out the door.
  • June 7 am  Now well into Summer, the BDA has tried to get a fence around one corner of the old Filcon site without much luck. They've also tried to get some kind of professional building built. Most importantly, they're trying to get the Filcon property, all of it, back in their name.
  • June 7 pm Tonight at 5pm, they'll try again for progress.
  • June 7 am Just got this email from WorkForce WV:  Manpower is needing…Welders, Laborers, and Auto mechanics-they must apply at Manpower
  • June 7 am Might wanta contact Pat Black in the CAEZ office if you're interested!
  • June 7 pm   During Tuesday's Town Council meeting, a couple dentists and others spoke in favor of flouriding the public water supply. One dentist said the American Dental Association (ADA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other trade groups were in favor of flouriding the water, the process reduces cavaties in kids and the major groups never said anything bad about flouridation.
  • June 7 pm From that quack CDC web site:  "It now appears that the amount of the fluoride contained in the water used for mixing infant formula may influence a child’s risk for developing enamel fluorosis, particularly if the child’s sole source of nutrition is from reconstituted infant formula." “If tap water is fluoridated or has substantial natural fluoride (0.7 mg/L or higher), a parent may consider using a low-fluoride alternative water source. Bottled water known to be low in fluoride is labeled as purified, deionized, demineralized, distilled, or prepared by reverse osmosis.” “Using only water with low fluoride levels to mix formula will not eliminate the risk of enamel fluorosis…Other factors that contribute to developing fluorosis include swallowing of toothpaste and use of dietary supplements that include fluoride (tablets or drops).”   The CDC reports that, “formula itself has low amounts of fluoride,” [and] “when infant formula concentrate is mixed with fluoridated water and used as the primary source of nutrition, it may introduce fluoride at levels above the amount recommended to minimize the risk for fluorosis.”
  • June 7 am  From 1990 to 1992, the Journal of the American Medical Association published three separate articles linking increased hip fracture rates to fluoride in the water. In the March 22, 1990 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that fluoride treatment of osteoporosis increased hip fracture rate and bone fragility.
  • June 7 pm  Surprisingly, the most recent studies do not even show that water fluoridation is effective in reducing tooth decay. In the largest U.S. study of fluoridation and tooth decay, United States Public Health Service dental records of over 39,000 school children, ages 5-17, from 84 areas around the United States showed that the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth per child was virtually the same in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas.
  • June 7 pm  98% of Europe does NOT flouidate public water supplies. Why do we do so in the USA? From the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine:        Prior to 1945, fluoride was properly regarded as an environmental pollutant. It was responsible for many lawsuits against industries, such as the aluminum industry and the phosphate fertilizer industry, whose waste products contain large quantities of fluoride. This fluoride destroyed crops and animals, leading to the lawsuits. The limited public view was that fluoride was an environmental pollutant that needed to be reduced or eliminated from the environment.

  •         As a result of clever public relations campaigns, fluoride was transformed from an environmental pollutant to an essential nutrient necessary for producing healthy teeth. The science was poor, but the P.R. campaign was great. Being against fluoride was like being against motherhood or apple pie. Industries not only made millions from selling this environmental pollutant to water companies and toothpaste companies, but more importantly, it saved billions of dollars that would be required to clean up this environmental pollutant.
  • June 7 pm Mayo Clinic.... US Public Health Service..... CDC... there  is something to be said for the other side of the flouride debate.
  • June 7 pm In Clayberry, it's election time and every vote counts.
  • June 7 pm As of Tuesday evening, 33 residents had cast their ballots during early voting. Have you?
  • June 6 pm Got some good news clickers.  Sam and Samantha, the two lost dogs out Triplett Ridge were found this morning.
  • June 6 pm  From the email bag:  Would it be possible for you to put an article in the news section asking if there is anyone related to my grandfather, Jacob Simmons, and my uncle Bill Simmons, both deceased.. I am trying to find information about the genealogy of the Simmons' family.  My family is related to the Samples, Jenkins, Shamblins and Underwoods of Clay County.  Jake and Bill had other brothers but I can't remember their names.   If you can help, please contact me at: gerald_simmons@verizon.net   Thanks, G. Simmons
  • June 6 pm  There's been talk for some time on saving the old Dundon bridge after the new Dundon Bridge Ski Slope is built. The new bridge over the Elk will not have side walks making foot traffic treacherous.
  • June 6 pm Behind the scenes CAEZ Director Connie Lupardus has been working on the project. Lupardus wants to make the old iron bridge part of a three mile walking loop.
  • June 6pm Last night during the CAEZ Board meeting, Lupardus was given the green light on pursuing the bridge. From the meeting: There is a good chance the old bridge will not be completely removed, only the "wings" will be taken out leaving the main span as a standing eye sore; there is money available to repair the bridge for foot traffic including a fence along the edges for safety; the old pavement on the Dundon side could be taken up making room for a small park along the hiking trail; the CAEZ would take ownership of the bridge while the trail and repairs are made; later they would work to get some other agency into the ownership reigns; and,  no it will not be painted (cost $1m)
  • June 6 pm There's been talk of Dave Pierson buying the Telford Chevy dealership on Main Street.
  • June 6 pm Online Bankruptcy Court documents confirm the deal set for consummation July 7th.
  • June 6 pm Full details in Friday's Communicator.
  • June 6 pm  Hello Dave Metheney down in VA
  • June 6 pm Hello to Avis  down in sunny Florida
  • June 6 pm Yesterday Clay Co PSD issued a Boil Water Order after finding low levels of chlorine in their water system. That was around noon and remains in place today. The Town of Clay supplies wa wa to the PSD
  • June 6 pm The Town issued it's own BWO which lasted about a half an hour according to water operator Dwana Murphy. She said the plant's water chlorinater had been on the fritz off and on over the last few days BUT BUT, chlorine levels coming out of the plant met mandated state standards.
  • June 6 pm  Chlorine levels leach out of the water the further the product goes down the line..AKA the PSD
  • June 6 pm Speaking of wa wa, during Tuesday's  Town Council meeting, the elected folks reversed an earlier decision to quit flouriding the water. Two dentists and others spoke on the need to include the additives. With the election less than a week away, it made sense to appease the public.
  • June 6 pm The fluoride pump is in disrepair and will take a while to start working again.
  • June 6pm  RB Legg advanced the notion that health issues created by fluoride was just "quackery" and not based on good research.
  • June 6 pm It was noted that some water providers at West had stop fluoridation of municipal water supplies for health reasons.
  • June 6 pm The CAEZ is on board to try and save the old Dundon bridge. Details later today
  • June 6 pm Deadline for Friday's Communicator is Thursday at noon.  Email in those classifieds, pics, notices etc ASAP.
  • June 6 am  Betty Zink, 58, see OBITUARY page
  • June 5 pm Clay County PSD issued a Boil Water Order for all customers of the system at noon today. Low chlorine levels reported. Boil It First please
  • June 5 am Just got another birthday girl notice in the email bag. Happy Birthday extended to Sue Whiteley over at Magistrate Court
  • June 5 am Happy 60th birthday to Terri Kerns
  • June 5 am Lookin for a job? See the JOBS button for info on Thursday's job fair
  • June 5 pm Early voting continues for residents of the Town of Clay. and things are heating up too. Wanda Chambers called up over the weekend to report that a Council person had been rumoring that  voted during the early voting time this year. One problem, Chambers has lived in Gilmer County for three years. She was a... upset to say the least. And no, she's not voted.
  • June 5 am Town Council meets tonight at 6pm. Might be a good one clickers.
  • June 5 am   There's been talk of saving the old Dundon bridge to serve as a  walkway on a three mile walking path around town. That topic should come up during tonight's CAEZ meeting. The eco/dev committee meets at 4 followed by the full Board at 6pm
  • June 5 am  I met an older woman at a club last night.  She was OK for 57.  We drank a bit, danced a song and she asked if I'd ever had the sportsman's double --  a mother/daughter threesome.    I said no.  We drank a bit more, and then she says that tonight was my lucky night.  I went back to her place.  She put the hall light on and shouted upstairs:  "Hey Mom!  You still awake?"
  • June 4 pm Happy Birthday Jan Derby  and Connie Sizemore
  • June 4 pm Some things are always confusing. Like:   If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn't it  follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys  deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners  depressed?
  • June 4 pm The first week of each month is full of public meetings.
  • June 4 pm Tonight at 6pm the Clay County School Board meets at the Standard Bryant Annex building on Gump Street. Here's the link to their online agenda.
  • June 4 pm Tuesday afternoon at 4pm the Central Appaalchia Empowerment Zone economic development committee meets followed by the full board of directors at 6pm. Both public meetings will be held at the CAEZ office beside the DHHR building on Main Street.
  • June 4 pm For those of us that like to see the world without leaving the county, here's a web link full of web cameras around the world. Thanks CWJR
  • June 4 pm  Here's a web cam in Amsterdam complete with sound. Pretty cool.
  • June 4 pm For those outside of Clayberry and wanting to see Main Street Clay looking West, the link is at the bottom of our homepage.
  • June 3 pm  Dubbya announced a  new plan to address global warming mid week. Truth is, he said nothing new, certainly nothing he couldn't have said when he took office 7 years ago.  With his oil war effort in the gutter, the Shrub may have just been creating a diversion.
  • June  3 pm Speaking of the Oil War, national media mentioned that the White House continues to spend $10 million per year on trying to find weapons of mass destruction. Before the war, those same inspectors concluded Sadamn had no WMD. That's $70 million spent looking for nothing more than the chemicals our government gave Sadamn years ago when he was our ally.
  • June 3 pm  Insurgents in Iraq are growing more sophisticated and deadly in their techniques as the US "surge" pushes forward. They're not saying inaccurate . Maybe just untimely.
  • June 3 pm   Can you believe the Feds? What about believing a plot to blow up JFK airport?
  • June 3 pm  ABC News has apparently pulled a story alleging that they had discovered US plans to keep troops in Iraq beyond 2009.
  • June 3 pm Averaging more than 3 American soldiers a day, There have been 3,749 coalition deaths -- 3,473 Americans, two Australians, 149 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 32 Italians, one Kazakh, three Latvian, 19 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of May 31, 2007, according to a CNN count.
  • June 3 pm  Without one public meeting in the last seven days, there was still a bunch going on Clayberry. Like....
  • June 3 pm  There was a changing of the guard at Clay Development Corp as long time Director Betty Stalnaker retired. The undercover organization had to find the "right" person to ensure that "family traditions" continue.
  • June 3 pm Since the 1960's Head Start was a model for something the government got right. Last Thursday, Clay Head Start was taken over by the School System. Office equipment was put into storage. Anything more than 5 years old was thrown out. After years of trying, the School System was successful in their quest to get those kids into official school numbers.
  • June 3 pm If the BDA can do anything, they can grow straw. Hydro-spraying at the old Filcon site resulted in a beautiful stand of grass. Locals in the community want to bale the stuff. The problem is, can the BDA sell it? Can they give it away?
  • June 3pm The Town election is just  9 days away. Behind the scene, calls have been made to the Sec of State's office over Town Recorder Dwana Murphy being at the polling place during early voting.  Dwana is up for reelection as are all Town office holders.  Sounds like a council person is worried about the council race.
  • June  3 pm This past week was a  hot one with temps well into the 90s. Without life guards at the pool weekdays (school is still open), the wet, cool spot stayed closed Monday thru Friday. Instead kids took to the river.  Canoes and paddle boats were seen on the Elk.
  • June 3 pm With the beginning of a new month and new government checks in hand, scores of yard sales were set up along roadways. The economy picked up.
  • June 1 am   Marceline Nichols King, 75, of Lizemores, see OBITUARY page
  • June 1 am  Last night brought the second full moon in May, a Blue Moon.
  • June 1 am   Hello June, Glad you made it once again!
  • June 1 am   Clayberry will boom today. With Govt checks in hand, old bills will be paid, gas tanks will be filled up, kids will get small dollar store treats. And...
  • June 1 am It's the start of yard sale season. They're everywhere! Deals galore.
  • June 1 am  The radio station kicks off it's outdoor music show Saturday night at 7pm. Info is on EVENTS page
  • June 1 am For those wanting to bust out of Clay, Harold Allen (Clay Roane PSD, the Water Man) will be performing down at Taylor Books on Saturday, June 2, 2007 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.   Easy to find on Capitol Street. Free too
  • June 1 am  Mike Arcuri and Keith Lahti will b performing at Capitol Roasters Saturday night just around the corner from Capitol Street, on Summer Street beginning at 8:30pm
  • June 1 am Don't sit at  home all droopy lipped. Get out and have some fun. Better yet, make some money Saturday. Set up a lemonade stand on Main Street!

  • June 1 am From the email bag...... Why Men are Happier: Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth.. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100 People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. The occasional well-rendered belch  is practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. Your belly usually hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.