March 2010

 
 
  • March 30 a  Retta Agnes Beckett, 81, of Ovapa, see OBITUARY page
  • March 30 a With the full faith and credit of the government backing them, we expect results from Badges. From an article in the Charleston Gazette: the percentage of major crimes -- murders, robberies, rapes -- solved has dropped from 22.9 percent in 1991 to 16 percent in 2007.
  • March 30 a 16%!
  • March 30 a We also depend on the Postal Service. Remember when they delivered twice a day? With costs rising to all time highs due to a silly way of funding retirees, now the USPO is considering cutting out one day of service and no one is complaining.
  • March 30 a Religious nuts in the Middle East, we add an "ist" to them. There are a lot of ists in the world. Does anybody else think those extreme Christians in Michigan should be called Christianists?
  • March 30 a   "The ink has not yet dried on the health care reform bill, and already some deplorable health insurance companies are trying to duck away from covering children with pre-existing conditions," said Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV), one of the senate's most ardent backers of reform. "This is outrageous."
  • March 30 a   With the month coming to an end, there are no public meetings. Darn! Love those things.
  • March 30 a Don't forget the big benefit concert over at CCHS tonight. See EVENTS page for details.
  • March 29 p  With light rain coming down and just a glimpse of sunshine once in a while, it's a yuck day on Clayberry.
  • March 29 p All eyes are on WVU this week as we head to the final four and a national championship. Here's an interesting  you tube video on WVU.
  • March 29 p Republicrat Capito has had a lock on the 2nd District for over a decade. Many challengers have come and gone. This morning Virginia Graf graced the Courthouse for her first visit to Clayberry in her journey to capture the seat. For those interested in a change, here's her web portal.
  • March 28 Happy last Sunday in March. Time is racing by. What a week!
  • March 28 p As revolutionary as LBJ's Medicaid program in 65, Obama De Bama managed to insure 32 m more Americans. Back in 65 only 10 Republicrats voted for the social program. In a few years, watch them all beat their chests and say how hard they worked for insurance for all.
  • March 28 p  Also on the Federal level, there's another indication that Mountain Top Removal is on its last legs. Regulators now agree with tree huggers, damage caused by MTR is irreversible and must be stopped.
  • March 28 p All TVs have been on WVU and their march to a national basketball championship. So far, lookin good! The last time we got this far along was in 1959 when Jerry West was at WVU and we lost the final game by 1 point. Go Mountaineers!
  • March 28 p Most tourist stops have a central focus, something as a the main draw. We might have it here. Judging by the size of the potholes, we might bill ourselves as the Grand Canyon of the East.
  • March 28 p  Adam Nottingham remains missing. Around the county are rumors that the police chase and actions are being investigated by the Feds. We'll never know if those rumors are true unless there are some kind of formal charges levied.
  • March 28 p Saturday morning a couple dozen Clayonians met in the CCC room with a goal of cleaning up Buffalo Creek and marketing it as a trout stream and a place of beauty. They have a big task ahead.  Their first effort comes in April when they clean out trash and tires along the BC&G RR tracks. Limestone treatment comes next if Federal $$$ become available.
  • March 28 p There is a bigger problem. It's the number of sewer lines, "straight pipes" as we call em, from toilets into the small creek. During the Saturday morning meeting came word that there might be a way of forcing those dozen of so dwellers to install septic systems.
  • March 28 p Not quite a record but clickers to this site were many during the last seven days: Monday 2125; Tuesday 2163; Wed 2054; and Friday 1984. Thanks for stopping by and come back soon.
  • March 28 p We saw growth during the last seen days. The Saturday Night Auction is adding first and Third Friday night auctions to their schedule. Upstart Tiff's Tees on Main St is growing into bigger digs as they move into the old insurance office across from the Welfare building.
  • March 28 p The Communicator came out Tuesday chucked full of the information found no other place. By Saturday some subscribers emailed and asked why their source of news wasn't in their mailboxes. We don't know. The 20 page award winning journal was mailed as usual.
  • March 26 late p from the email bag: Haily Deems has excepted the honor of being in the Governor School of Arts or the GSA and only 15 in the whole state of WV were excepted but as parents we would like to say congratulations to our daughter Haily job well done Bo and Darlene Mullins
  • March late p We've got the 2010 CCHS Baseball schedule on the ADVISORY page.  Over on Clay High's web site, they've still got the 2008 season posted.
  • March 26 a Nasty looking weather this morning in Clayberry. Weathercasters are calling for a light dose of snow mixed with rain and wind. Yuck
  • March 26 a Most of us know the importance of an up to date, informative, attractive web portal. The CAEZ had one which they never once updated. That's been replaced with a new one that went on line a couple weeks back. The $5000 investment, take a gander.
  • March 26 a Three years ago the BDA invested $100s and remain web siteless unless you call this place holder something.  Slinky poo has a web portal he calls the Clay County Commission site. It too sucks for dead air.
  • March 26 a New Eco Dev Coordinator Amanda Moore provided the CCC a progress report during Wed's Commission meeting. That report included mention of working on a web site for her private agency's efforts.
  • March 26 a Don't let this gloomy weather hold you back from a weekend of fun activities. Tonight the Apple Festival folks are hosting fundraiser stuff over at the Lion's Club Casino on Main Street. Big Otter Community Center has a live music show.  A Benefit Gospel Sing at Lizemore Elem. The Auction folks host their weekly offering Sat night beginning at 6pm
  • March 26 a And, want to help grow Clayberry. The Buffalo Creek is loaded with logs and e coli to beat the band. A reorganized Buffalo Creek Watershed group meets Sat morning in the CCC room at 10am. Cleaning that stream would greatly improve changes for growing tourism in these parts. Get off you duff and do something good for the county
  • March 26 a Back on the auction.... Each Saturday night Kim and Brian host a consignment auction, a place for you to take your junk and walk away with some jingle in your pocket. Big News!! Beginning in April they will be hosting Special Auctions, all new stuff, the first and third Friday night of each month.
  • March 25 p When the Communicator started nearly 15 years ago, the idea was to provide real news and give Clayonians a place to voice their concerns. The Adam Nottingham debacle (read latest Communicator for insight) has many in the county talking. Check out the ADVISORY page to see what many in the county are thinking about these days.
  • March 25 a Just the facts mam.... From the April edition of Trains magazine, this: West Virginia coal averages 12,500-13,000 BTU heat value, whereas Powder River (Wyoming) coal averages only 8,000 BTU.  But WV coal contains 1.2% to greater than 3% sulfur, whereas Powder River coal has only 0.8% sulfur.  On the spot market as of 10/23/09, WV coal was selling for $50-$56.15 a short ton, whereas Powder River coal was selling for $9.25 a short ton!
  • March 25 a Thanks MR for the reference
  • March 25 a Any questions other than Big Coal in W Va is dead and has been for years.
  • March 25 a It's time to switch to a sustainable economy, wonder if anybody has thought of switching to say, tourism?
  • March 25 a  Just between you and me, no one is looking, tell the truth, did you have a great time during your pot smoking years? Looks like California is going to be the first state in the union to legalize recreational pot use. Taxing the crap out of it makes sense too.
  • March 25 a As our leaders tell us things are improving, sales of new homes in the U.S. unexpectedly fell in February to a record low. This depression might not be over yet!
  • March 25 a It's about this time of year when local and state education leaders start proclaiming great progress in edumacating our youth. Here's the Nation's Report Card broke down state by state and after spending billions, it ain't pretty. Guess what we're going to talk about in the next Communicator.
  • March 25 a As for Adam Nottingham, still no word.
  • March 25 a Local meth heads have real bad housekeeping habits. Thinking green is not in their vocabulary. When they get done with their production batch, they bag up the remnants and toss the trash bags along the road. Easy to spot are the spent match books and Heet gas line dryer bottles. The smell is real bad too.
  • March 25 a For those that have a habit of cleaning up messes along their roads, those good samaritans, be real careful. That's nasty stuff in there.
  • March 25 a Sometimes found in the debris are addressed envelopes, bank deposit slips and other identifying markers. Getting Badges to come and take a look can be next to impossible. Actually, impossible.
  • March 24 late p  Violet Clarice Ryan, 86, of Ivydale, see OBITUARY page
  • March 24 p  Jesse Norton is a dog lover, a guy not willing to shoot a stray dog. That's not the case for our Sheriff or Animal Control officer. Mr. Norton's complete story is in today's Communicator
  • March 24 p  This morning Jesse made a presentation before the County Commission. He asked for an investigation into how Dog Warden Walter Stutler does his job. He asked stuff like, is the guy allowed to shoot dogs, carry a gun, does he have the training for such actions, does he have one of those long reach poles to catch dogs, and what is the county's policy on catching strays.
  • During 24 p During the discussion, interesting details came out. Stuff like, the Sheriff told Norton to just shoot the animal. Stuff like, when the Dog Warden came out, Walter put two shots in the dog and called the job done.
  • March 24 p The stray could have been your pet. Not no more clickers.
  • March 24 p In the way of answers, Commission Prez Slinky said the county follows state code as its procedure manual. Jesse's concern seems to already be making a change.
  • March 24 p According to the Slinkster, Clayberry now has an agreement with another county where that county will supply a tranquilizer gun and drugs when needed to safely remove a stray from your property.
  • March 24 p Nice change, lets see if we use the tranquilizer method.
  • March 24 a Yelp, it's back. The Communicator hit the newsstands Tuesday afternoon featuring all the juice on the most recent Grand Jury work, the most recent CCC meeting, and of course the events leading in the Adam Nottingham report.
  • March 24 a County Commission meets this morning at 10 am
  • March 22 p  From the email bag: missing in the lizemore/adonajah area:  male black pug puppy.  he is 3 1/2 months old.  he has a white spot on his chest.  please call 587-7023, 587-4448, or 587-4367 with any information
  • March 22 p We're in shut down mode until we get the Communicator out the door Tuesday afternoon.
  • March 22 p We've got Delegate Dave Walker and Dave Perry's Gold Dome updates now posted over on the ADVISORY page.
  • March 22 p No update on Adam Nottingham as of 2:45
  • March 21 p   Our look back on the last seven days includes
  • March 21 p After laying off 157 men and after receiving a generous tax break from the County Commission, Consol (Fola Coal) had enough $$ to purchase other holdings for $3.5 billion
  • March 21 p  The Spring Grand Jury met behind closed doors and provided "True Bills" on each presentation. Full details in Tuesday's Communicator
  • March 21 p Tuesday night many in the county listened as Badges gave chase to a white van driven by Adam Nottingham. Our top badge provided potty mouth commentary along the way. In the community of Alta, before the vehicle even came to a complete stop, Nottingham was out and running towards the Gauley River. He hasn't been seen since.
  • March 21 p By Wed's evening, locals were expressing outrage over a high speed chase that endangered everyone along the way and the lack of search and recover efforts.
  • March 21 p Wed, Thursday, Friday, Sat and now Sunday, no one from local fire departments responded. Family and friends manned row boats and traveled both sides of the high and fast running river. Volunteers rafters pledged to also get on the scene.
  • March 21 p Sat night nearly 100 filled Courthouse Square for a candle light prayer vigil remembering Adam Nottingham. No not one elected official using the time for exposure but real people, young and old, common people, the ones that really matter in Clayberry, came out in force.
  • March 21 p  Full details in Tuesday's Communicator
  • March 21 p The weekend came as did the sunshine. Gardens were plowed, New bulbs were planted. Kids rode on bikes. Porches were cleaned off. The snow shovel was put away.
  • March 20 a Five nights ago after a mad hat, high speed chase, Adam Nottingham ended up in the Gauley River. To date, there has been no formal search for the guy. TV folks said the reason was  high water conditions.
  • March 20 a That comment came just  a day after rescue crews in the same area spent countless hours before retrieving the body of one of their own. Adam wasn't no saint but his family needs closure.
  • March 20 a Tonight, 8pm, the family of Adam Nottingham is holding a prayer vigil in front of the Courthouse. Bringing a candle would be nice.
  • March 19 a Get out of the house and enjoy yourself this weekend. Lots of sunshine coming our way.
  • March 19 a Good music tonight at Big Otter Community Center. Auction Saturday night A couple fundraisers on Sunday.
  • March 19 a For those interested in the Auction House Best burger mentioned last night. Forgot to mention their call in number 304 587 7273
  • March 19 a  Tuesday night was the high speed car chase in Clay and South to Fayette County. Last night TV 3 identified the chasee as Adam Nottingham as they interviewed the guy's family. They questioned no search and rescue efforts in progress.
  • March 19 a  Others are questioning why there was a high speed chase in the first place. The first Badge in the chase (Jack Brown) had already identified the fellow and 911 dispatch identified the owner of the van. Those that listened in to the chase  heard the Green Shirt mobile back off from the race. Good move Bailey!
  • March 19 a About any vehicle even an old Pontiac van, can keep up or out run another car. No one can outrun a Badge radio. Seems with all of today's technology, sure seems like the day of the dangerous cowboy chase could be eliminated. Sure would be safer.
  • March 18 late p  Judy Ellen Dye, 50, see OBITUARY page
  • March 18 p  The University of Wisconsin issued a nationwide health report including county by county findings in West Virginia. For once Clayberry didn't come in penultimate (thank you Fred) but we came in third from the bottom based on social and economic issues like children in poverty and social inequality.
  • March 18 p Burger today?  We eat a bunch of em in this country and county.  Do you think they take a cow, grind it up and that's hamburger? Wrong O! Instead, packers cut up pieces from many different cows from many different locations, grind it all together, and call that hamburger. Those pieces that are ground up, you don't want to know which parts  are in the mix.
  • March 18 p Hamburger meat is one of the top carriers of E Coli.
  • March 18 p Hamburger recalls are legendary.
  • March 18 p How about something different. Something more healthy.
  • March 18 p The Auction House Restaurant over at Two Run begins their healthy Friday "Auction House Best" burger tomorrow.  The patty is actually a ground up roast making for  a leaner burger and much much fresher taste. $4.75 is the price for something that tastes great and without the ecoli threat.    They deliver too!
  • March 18 a Last fall when it got down to 35 degrees, we bundled up with gloves and toboggans. This morning it was that same temperature.  With Spring on our minds, we thought it's a little chilly as we went out the door coatless.
  • March 18 a With the sun burning off the frost, the whites look whiter and brighter. For all of our long distance clickers, Springtime is a great time to come visit Clayberry. How about this weekend.
  • March 18 a Tired of paying high satellite bills for TV? Try HULU for on online boob tube satisfaction.
  • March 18 a America depends on the web for everything from news to staying in contact with friends and family via social networking. Businesses are even more dependent on the virtual world for everything from warehouse orders to credit card purchases and sales. Like it or not, we're all connected via a wire.
  • March 18 a Last year Senator Jay penned a bill that allows federal agents to shut down the internet at a whim , whenever they decide there is a "threat".  Who determines a threat? They haven't said. The bill is still pending and now level headed thinkers, civil libertarians, are seeking changes from the Big Brother tactics.
  • March 18 a Three weeks ago during the Tommy Tommy trial in Charleston, noticed something. Almost all the "support" personal in the wood paneled room were texting away on their handheld mobile devices. From guards, to marshals to secretaries, when they got a second, their heads went down and they went to communicating via their cell phones. Out in the hallway, in the rest rooms, wherever, they were at it.
  • March 18 a Do you take a message while sitting on the throne? How about at a restaurant, while eating dinner? How about when you and the sweety are wild and passionate? Is social media better than sex?
  • March 18 a We've been selling remanufactured Ink In a Blink printer cartridges for about 6 months now. 'Noticed something this week with some of the new printers on the market. Those rascal manufacturers (HP for instance) detect that it's a remanufactured cartridge and put up a monitor screen telling you such.  The cartridges work fine and is much much cheaper than new ones, but that little balloon screen pops up.
  • March 18 a The Communicator comes out on Tuesday. Deadline for submissions is Sat at noon. Send in your submissions ASAP.
  • March 17 late p  Gary William (Patric) Sines, 58, see OBITUARY page
  • March 17 p Top of the day to each and every this St. Patty Day.
  • March 17 p First an ooops from last night's accounting of the high speed car chase. That cruiser the guy smashed into was not the Sheriff's less than two weeks old Chevy. Instead it was one of the older Ford units.
  • March 17 p As for the bad guy, the one that jumped in the ice cold water... he hasn't been found. Most assum he, a Nottingham subject, died.
  • March 17 p In addition to a drug bust yesterday at Clay High, the Spring Grand Jury finished its duties and returned all true bills. The list includes;
  • March 17 p  Rocky Keener Burglary, malicious wounding, battery, deadly weapon
  • March 17 p Ethan Cody Nichols grand larceny, conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor
  • March 17 p Andrew J King  Burglary, dest of property
  • March 17 p Bruce Belt Burglary, conspiracy x 3  arson dest of property
  • March 17 p Amanda Belt same as Bruce
  • March 17 p Joshua Nottingham   Receiving concealing transferring   contributing to the delinquency of a minor
  • March 17 p Henry Stutler  Sexual Assault 1st degree
  • March 17 p RIchard Lee LeFever  Malicious wounding, battery, wanton endangerment, kidnaping, brandishing
  • March 17 p Kenneth Norton Failure to pay child support
  • March 17 p Clara Jean Duttine   Burglary dest of prop
  • March 17 p And finally how about this one: Melissa Postelwait Thompson  Welfare Fraud
  • March 16 late p  Ahhh another quiet Spring night in Clayberry. TV turned off and heading to bed. Not all tho....
  • March 16 late p A little after 10pm Town Badge Jack Brown asked for assistance with a white van burning up the roads, fleeing in the Maysel area.  Brown : I got one running! Sounded like the white van headed up Blue Knob and then over on Lick Branch which comes down near Pierson Lumber Co. as they headed South on Rt 16
  • March 16 late p Reports of the guy going 70 mph were heard. At one point the dispatcher said the fellow may have a gun.
  • March 16 late p Over the scanner, "HE AIN'T STOPPING"
  • March 16 late p  With our Sheriff and his three week old cruiser trying to block the guy, it didn't, he didn't, and the new cruiser was smashed. Sheriff " STOP THAT S!! OF A  B*****... He hit my cruiser... He's a fleeing Felon now!!!  Get on him Get on Him!!
  • March 16 late Somewhere in the mix a Green shirt from Fayette County laid out spike strips just North of the Town of Gauley Bridge. Sounded like they worked.
  • March 16 late  10:37 p  "He's out on foot.. We'll get him!"
  • March 16  10:49  "He went in the water somewhere... We've got the canine here... He's on the river bank now searching for him."
  • March 16 late That 1991 white  Pontiac van is registered to an Edwards subject on Upper Sycamore Road.
  • March 16  11:11pm "We're still looking for him"
  • March 16 11:51 p Other scanner traffic " Gun shots fired, Little Italy,"
  • March 16 late p  The excitement never ends in Clayberry but the ace cub reporter needed a beauty nap and did such
  • March 16 p There's a bunch of us that check out the Jail web site on a regular basis. Gettin the scoop so to speak. The State folks are making it tougher. Now to see a pic, you have to be able to add!
  • March 16 p This site has made it four weeks without an attack.
  • March 16 p   Everybody that plays on the internet wants to have anti virus, anti-malware, trogan, rootkit detection and anti everything.  Bill Gates has a new free service , Security Essentials, that does just that and in real time. Here's a link to the site and this one to CNet reviews. Might be worth a try and the price is right.
  • MArch 16 p A couple notes. Because it's free, Gates and his crew are able to log everything you do online. Also, if you are running a bogus copy of Windows, you're screwed. Be warned.
  • March 16 a  Elizabeth J. “Jeanette” Legg, 78, of Indore, see OBITUARY page
  • March 15 late p There are some hot parents in the Northern end of the county. Here's a sample email: My child attends Big Otter School.  Today he did not get off the bus until 5:10 and he normally gets off at 3:50.  Word is that they did not have a substitute to drive their bus home.  One parent, who is a family member, called the school at 10 minutes til 4:00 and the students had not left the school yet.  She was told that the kids were being taken care of and that someone was on their way from Clay to come and pick them up.  Not only does this seem a little bit ridiculous, but the parents were also not notified.  I did not receive a call directly from the school or from the school computer.  Does this sound crazy or is it just me?
  • March 15 late p  Fola Coal laid off over 150 employees last month. They said the market wasn't good. We said they only care about the bottom line. To heck with hard working employees.
  • March 15 late p Things ain't too bad: CONSOL Energy Inc. will buy the Appalachian exploration and production arm of Virginia-based Dominion Resources Inc. for $3.5 billion. (Right click into a new window to open)
  • March 15   As a matter of fact, Consol, the parent company of Fola had their best year ever in 2009. CONSOL’s revenue for the fourth quarter was $1.24 billion
  • March 14 late p Just a couple notes from the last seven days..
  • March 14 Without jobs, without security of keeping jobs, with foreclosures are record highs, most of us know, the depression ain't anyway close to being over. Many of us armchair economists feel this is just the calm before the second storm. Now, the big boys are starting to voice similar concerns.
  • March 14 During World War II, federal revenues roughly tripled as a share of the gross domestic product (GDP) and the number of people paying income taxes expanded tenfold, from 3% of the population in 1939 to 30% by 1943. In 1940, a family of four needed close to $80,000 of income in today's dollars before it paid any federal income taxes at all. By the war's end, it saw its effective tax rate rise from 1.5% to 15.1%. (Today such a family only pays a federal income tax rate of about 6%.) But taxes weren't the only way the war was paid for. Spending on nondefense programs was cut almost in half, from 8.1% of GDP in 1940 to 4.4% in 1945. More interesting reading on war spending and how Dubbya sunk the nation.
  • March 14 Exxon made roughly $30 billion off the last OPEC price spike. That's enough to buy quite few politicians. Naturally, though they will never say it, big oil companies are OPEC's biggest fans. Gas prices keep going up and up.
  • March 14 Here's the gas price finder for your use
  • March 14  From Monday's CAEZ meeting.  Boardster Red Derring asked: Are you all in financial problems? Response from Office Manager, Yes.
  • March 14 Monday night, after a foot chase and search, found him in a culvert, Jacob Young was picked up and lodged in jail. Might sound better to have all three Young's off the street but larceny continued in Clayberry with Badges investigating all corners of all humble community.
  • March 14 County Commission met last Wed morning with the peanut gallery packed. The Ambulance Director reported runs being down in Feb making slim financials even slimmer. The committee of three that did the Economic Development Coordinator hiring now has a new name, Clay Economic Collation which plans to continue meeting and directing the new Coordinator's daily tasks. Interesting, the decision making group and funded entirely by tax dollars, has never posted an agenda.
  • March 14 Reps from Big Otter Fire Dept told the CCC that things were now quiet in BOFD land. That's a good thing it sounded. They said volunteers are returning to the much needed emergency service provider which a month ago was ready to be closed down or at least , face a serious review by the State Fire Marshall's office.
  • March 14 For those seeking work, during the CAEZ and again during the CCC meeting, 2 new daycare jobs are coming our way with funding from Capitol Resource Agency. Interested? Contact CAEZ
  • March 14 Clay Solid Waste Authority met last Wed where they announced plans to hold a Spring Metal and Junk Clean Up day sometime in Late April or early May.
  • March 14 The biggy for last week came Saturday when the true kindness and generosity of Clay shown during a fundraiser for a lady afflicted with cancer. Organized by volunteers and held at CCHS, a volleyball tournament, beauty pageant, spaghetti dinner, silent auction, raffle and stage show netted over $3100.
  • March 14 With snow behind us, yards were raked, trash was picked up, kids got on their bikes, tons of salt was washed off vehicles, kids put on short pants, and the wild onions around the yard grew taller. Still no Spring Easter flowers yet, but they're just around the corner.
  • March 14 And something else was growing. Known as potholes, the tank traps are everywhere. For those with dentures, better apply an extra coat of adhesive. For motorcyclists, watch out,  they will swallow up your two wheels.
  • March 14 The School Board meets at Clay Middle School Monday night at 6pm. The online agenda is available for public review.
  • March 13 a Basket Bingo at HE White this afternoon and auction tonight at Two Run.
  • March 13 a Email notice: 2-Blue will perform at the "Bucks for Becky" fundraiser Saturday March 13th at 7:00 concert.  Also performing will be "The Krave" with band members Josh Lively, Glen Boatwright and Beth Morris along with Abigail Moore, Brooklyn Gould and Becky's kids.  Donations at the door will go to the "Bucks for Becky" Fundraiser.   Spaghetti dinner for just $5.00  from 5-7 p.m. All at Clay County High School  Earlier in the day will be a volleyball tournament, silent auctions, St Patty's day pageant and concessions featuring homemade BBQ's and more. Becky Sizemore Hancock is a young wife and mother with 3 children who has cancer. Come out and have a good time with us for a good cause.
  • March 13 a We agree. Get out of the house and enjoy the day.
  • March 13 a  Flouride in the water has been controversial since inception decades ago. With some calling it a carcinigon and all knowing it's a chemical production waste product, now there's concern where the stuff is coming from. China for instance.
  • March 12 a Welcome to Friday in beautiful Clay County West Virginia
  • March 12 a There's everything from Art & Dave to V Ball Tournaments, Bingo and Auctions happening this weekend starting tonight. Check out the EVENTS page for details
  • March 12 a  This just in from the DEP: Application has been marked technically complete.

  • West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection  This mailing is to advise the public that the application has been marked technically complete for Renewal of an Article 3/4 permit S201398 for FOLA COAL COMPANY LLC, PO BOX 180 WV STATE RT 16, BICKMORE, WV 25019.  This application is for renewal of existing Article 3 Permit S201398 to Surface,
    Auger and Highwall mine coal in the Clarion, 5-Block, Stockton, Coalburg and
    Winfrede seams of coal. The permit is located in Clay and Nicholas County, Longitude 81° 3´ 20.0000" Latitude 38° 20´ 31.0000" (Coordinates from USGS Topographic Map).
  • March 12 a Here's the checklist of progress  and the map, all available via the web.
  • March 12 a Being the pharnoids that we are, those grocery store shopping cards are worrisome. We've always thought, that's Feds watching your every bite. Some say I have nothing to hide.
  • March 12 a Here's one more step where Big Brother is that much closer to mandatory use of ID cards.
  • March 12 a 2120 people viewed this site  Tuesday. Thanks and come back often.
  • March 11 p Clay Roane PSD meets tonight (7pm) at the Procious Water plant. World is invited
  • March 11 p Gasoline costs 70 cents more per gallon today than one year ago. And, we're still buying the stuff
  • March 11 p BOLO: Lost Wed night, black and tan Shepherd collie mix female from the Maysel area. Need help locating please, she was just spayed and we don't want the stitches breaking. See her? Dial Linda 304 382-1434  THanks
  • March 10 late p  What do you call a Pope dressed in nun's clothing. Answer: Transsister
  • March 10 late p A couple years back the local Health board voted to enact a smoking ban  in every business in Clay. They said they were doing it for our own good and to prevent second hand smoke from attacking us.
  • March 10 late p Locals went ballistic but it didn't matter, the Board did it anyway. Fortunately, our elected Town leaders enacted their own ordinance which allows each municipal business to decide if the place will allow smoking.
  • March 10 late p Back then we raised two issues. One was can appointed folks make a law and Two, if they can do that, then what's next, no ice cream for fat people?  People thought we were just kidding around
  • March 10 late p We weren't kidding. A proposed law would eliminate the use of salt in ANY restaurant in New York state.
  • MArch 9 p the Communicator and 20 pages of informative reading made it to the news stands this afternoon. With five solid pages on the Tommy Tommy trial plus the latest on the late Monday night pick up of Jacob Young, sure to make for some great reading.
  • March 9 p Last week Joe Morris testified against Sr. The same day his car wash blew up. Last week Dana Holcomb testified against Sr. Afterwards, at least one of his customers cars parked at his business were vandalized. Pay back?
  • March 9 p Sunday night Jacob Young was picked up. Coincidental? Maybe but more likely just an indication that there are a lot more thugs in Clayberry ready to take advantage of your endeavors.. Recently several other vehicles have been swiped and or damaged.
  • March 9 p County Commission meets Wed morning at 10am Interesting of note, the agenda calls for the hiring of Amanda Moore as the new Eco Dev person but calls the position a part time temporary position. Hmmmmmmmmmm..
  • March 8 late p in the Tommy Tommy trial, guilty guilty guilty and six times more.
  • MArch 8 p  As of 2:24pm, no verdict yet in the Tommy Tommy trial in Charleston.
  • March 8 a  Kenneth Edward Roop, 63 , see OBITUARY page
  • March 8 a Around 9 am this morning the jury began deliberations during the Tommy Tommy trial in Federal Court. We'll provide the verdict when available and a complete write up in Tuesday' Communicator.
  • March 8 a CAEZ meets twice this afternoon. 4pm is the Eco Development Committee meeting followed by the full Board at 6pm. Public meeting and always interesting to watch.
  • March  7 a With all the cell cams capturing world events, it's important that our government get a a handle on the "spin" more quickly.
  • March 7 a About the only thing left is for airport security to say turn around and spread em. Those pesky ACLU people as well as many religious groups are against such.
  • March 7 a Town Council held their monthly meeting Tuesday evening where the first word came public on a log factory backup that flooded nearby neighbor John Osborne's basement. In addition to town labor to clean up the mess, cost in materials, around $1200.
  • March 7 a Thursday evening during the BDA meeting, Amanda Moore was announced as the new Director of Economic Development for the county. She starts tomorrow. Funds for the position come from the BDA and County Commission along with moral support from the CAEZ. When asked what each group wanted Ms Moore to get started on,  according Mike Boggs, NONE had laid out ANY plan of attack.
  • March 7 a The hiring process took over 18 months.
  • March 7 a Joe Morris' car wash at Bickmore blew up most likely because of a natural leak.
  • March 7 a Thursday night, the red, home meals, Jeep from the Clay County Senior Center at Two Run was stolen. Some are saying they saw the vehicle tooling around the streets of Clay that night. It was recovered the next day in Pisgah.
  • March 7 a After years of finger pointing, Tommy Young Sr and Jr went on trial for federal crimes of stealing, reselling, and conspiracy. Sr took the stand himself and said no way, he wasn't apart of the thievery and didn't know the people that did such deeds.
  • March 7 a After four days of testimony, few  admitted to actually seeing the dynamic duo at work. As a matter of fact, those that ended up with stolen goods admitted they were glad they hadn't been indicted for stealing! Other than already convicted criminals testifying to protect their own butts, nobody admitted to knowing much.
  • March 7 a That's other than those that got stuff swiped.
  • March 7 a Big long trial write up and hopefully a conclusion, in Tuesday's Communicator.
  • March 7 a Bright sunshine filled the weekend sky. We washed tons of salt off vehicles, restocked firewood supplies, and drove around with windows rolled down. Most of the snow pack disappeared. Even tho temps saturday never got above 40 degrees, we were in t shirts and sneakers. Old timers call this time of year, pneumonia weather.
  • March 7 a Finally from the last seven days, we concluded our online fundraiser. Many donated generously to keep this web effort alive. Thanks each and every. Already we've invested in a new flatbed scanner with better image capturing abilities as well as a new keyboard and mouse.
  • March 7 a You are appreciated.
  • March 6 a Suppose to be beautiful this weekend. Wash the car. Clean up the yard. Play with the kids. It feels like winter is behind us. Do something !!
  • March 6 We've spent much of the week coming going or sitting during the Tommy Young Sr and Jr trials. Thursday afternoon it looked like the whole process would be tossed. Didn't happen. Friday evening all the testimony was in as were the closing remarks. The jury will begin their process Monday morning at 9am.
  • March 6 a  All the juicy details will be in Tuesday's Communicator and most likely, the verdict as well.
  • March 6 a  During Friday's testimony, the Feds had a nice lookin young man dressed in nice shirt and tie. The guy admitted to hundreds of crimes and professed a working relationship with our Murder Mountain gang, Tommy Sr and Jr. He spoke in a matter of fact sort of way, as if his crime  efforts were a legal enterprise.
  • March 6 a His field of expertise? He was a "cloner". His employers would need a title for a certain make or model of vehicle and his job would be to find such a vehicle, often a clunker, purchase it and the legal title, then furnish the title and vehicle ID plates to the underworld for attachment to a stolen ride.
  • March 6 a He said he had done such work hundreds of time.
  • March 6 a Tommy Young Sr also took the hot seat. Sr denied knowing any and all the bad guys, repeatedly said he couldn't remember various dates and activities. and fired back questions to the Prosecutor instead of answering. He had her miffed to say the least. Fun to watch but not sure if the approach will work to his advantage.
  • March 6 a Around 6:30pm, with the jury looking pooped out, the decision was made to take the weekend off and begin deliberation Monday morning at 9am.
  • March 6 a You never know what a jury will do but a comment on those 4  men and 8 women. They paid attention and looked like they had their wits about em. Quite a change from others!
  • March 4 p During the Thursday evening Business Development Authority meeting, Amanda Moore was announced as the new Economic Development Director for the county. With a $30,000 salary, she begins work Monday March 8th. Her  temporary place of work will be upstairs in the Courthouse in the WVU Extension Service office.
  • March 4 p Thursday morning the car wash at Bickmore blew up. With the WV PSC and Fire Marshall investigating, the coffeehouse crowd thinks: a natural gas line leak caused the explosion.
  • March 4 p TV-3 announced: A person was flown to the hospital after an explosion at a car wash in Clay County. The explosion happened around 9:15 a.m. Thursday at the car wash along Route 16 in Bickmore. A woman who witnessed the explosion described it as a flash fire that put itself out. She also tells WSAZ.com Montana Legg was washing the back of his pick-up truck when the explosion happened. We're told Legg was hit by debris. Legg's grandfather lives across the street so he came and got him and took him to his house and called 911. When emergency crews got on scene Legg was taken to the high school's football field and flown to a local hospital. Legg was dazed, but we're told he was walking around. The owner of the car wash tells WSAZ.com someone broke into his coin machine late Wednesday night.  Witnesses say Legg had to go to the grocery store across the street to get quarters before he started washing his truck. The State Fire Marshal is on the scene trying to figure out what caused the fire. However, the owner says they haven't ruled out a natural gas leak. No one else was hurt. Two walls of the car wash have collapsed.
  • March 4 Courtroom etiquette calls for those housed in the slammer to be in civilian clothes during a  trial and for that matter, even coming and going the courtroom, jurors are not suppose to see the orange jump suits and shackles. Any transgression is a real no no.
  • March 4 p  Charged with conspiracy and hauling stolen goods to and from many states, the Tommy Tommy trial continued Thursday in Charleston. For the most part the Feds kept stacking up the facts and double checking any and all possibilities of a slip up.
  • March 4 p In response, the defense team did their best disputing each and everything established by the Govt. Agents.
  • March 4 p Can the government track your every move via your cell phone? The answer is Yes.
  • March 4 p  During afternoon testimony an AT&T rep went over page after page of tele records with the movement, time of day, and location of each phone call as far back as 2004. How interesting was it? Even a security guard was heard snoring over in the corner.
  • March 4 p Around 3pm came the Uh oh. When of the Fed's star witnesses, a guy already housed in the slammer let slip, that he, another witness, and Tommy Young Jr all rode the same van to the Courthouse and are housed in the same jail. There was instant silence and then the sound of the entire courthouse gasping for air. All the parties went up front for a quickie huddle that wasn't so quick.
  • March 4 p With the jury out of earshot, defense attorney Jane Moran said such words were equivalent to marching the accused thru the courtroom in shackles and dressed in orange.
  • March 4 p  The trial continues Friday but me thinks there is a big big problem.
  • March 4 a  The Saturday League's A Team Tournament was scheduled for last weekend but snow wiped it out. That rescheduled tournament begins this afternoon at 5:30 continues on Friday at 5pm and then finishes up Saturday beginning at 1pm. All the fun takes place at Clay Middle School.
  • March 3 late p  Business Development Authority (BDA) meets Thursday, 5pm, over at the Auction House restaurant at Two Run. They're getting a meal and a tour of the place. The Saturday night consignment auction and now weekday diner is the BDA's only success story after being in the business of growing zero jobs for over 14 years.
  • March 3 late p  Day two of the Tommy Tommy trial is in the history books. From those proceedings, a couple notes.
  • March 3 late p Witness after witness  went to the hot seat and made their statements. Some were owners of the stolen goods while others were locals like neighbors ( Gary O Brion), buyers (Stump Morton), and Badges (Sheriff and Paxton).
  • March 3 late p With the events well over a couple years old, memories were vague at best for many.
  • March 3 late p With each witness sequestered so as not to hear what was said before em, Black shirt Jim Paxton came after the Sheriff and his story jelled well.
  • March 3 late p The Feds used cell phone records as evidence on Wed.
  • March  3 late p One of those stolen "bobcats" was equipped with global posting, GPS. About as soon as it turned up missing from the fenced in OH work yard, it was located in Maysel West Virginia.
  • March 3 late p So how do they get the equipment started, on a trailer, and out of sight so quick? According to the testimony Wed., Sr had a key for each piece!
  • March 3 late p With no paper trail on either Tommy and no one actually seeing the dynamic duo steal anything, things were looking good for the Youngs. And then And then....
  • March 3 late p A fellow dressed in jail orange was brought into the courtroom. Operating under a plea agreement (he could be facing life behind bars for his transgressions), the fellow spilled his guts. He said he worked for Tommy Sr, often drove trucks pulling stolen equipment, often helped locate equipment, was paid $500 per caper, stored the hot stuff on his brother's farm in Jackson County, and identified others in the Tommy team as a Mexican and a great big red headed guy in his early 20s.
  • March 3 late p  With the clock slightly passed 5pm, Sr's defense man was  cross examining the guy in orange and giving him double H all along the way. The idea is to make sure the jury thinks the guy is willing to say anything to save his own skin. Not sure if that's really true but defense attorney Mat Victor is making mince meat of the lad.
  • March 3 late p Trial continues Thursday morning, 6th floor, Byrd Fed Bldg in Charleston. No admission charge either. Look for the proceedings to continue Friday too.
  • March 2 late p We've got a big oooooooooops. Turns out even tho the Lady Panthers lost in Sectional Tournament action, they will play at least one game in regional contests. They take on Tolsia Thursday night during Region IV action.
  • March 2 late p Darn. Broke a month long record of not making any mistakes! The month of March anyway.
  • March 2 late p  After a lengthy jury selection, the Tommy Young Sr and Jr thievery trial got underway. 'got to watch some real interesting maneuvering in the Federal Courtroom.
  • March 21 late p  Dana Holcomb testified that he had purchased  four pieces of equipment from Sr.  Some kind of little backhoe thang was picked up along side a road and had the key in it. No it wasn't on Tommy's land and No Tommy didn't hand him the key. Three trailers were later bought and one of them didn't last an hour before Deputy Paxton seized it. Did Dana see Sr drop off the trailer? Answer, Nope.
  • March 21 late At one point, the defense attorney fellow asked Holcomb: Are you glad you weren't arrested for trafficking in stolen goods? Holcomb: Yes
  • March 2 late p As a guy that purchased the backhoe from Holcomb, Joe Morris was also on the stand.
  • March 2 late p In that testimony and others brought forth today, NONE had a written bill of sale and all had paid cash. The defense folks brought to light that Clayberry likes to buy, sale, barter and do so on a  cash basis without ANY paper trail.
  • March 2 late p Lets see now, that little backhoe cost $35,000, was  almost new when stolen, Holcomb bought it for $4500 and then resold it to Joe Morris for around $9000. Should any eyebrows have gone up?
  • March 2 late p As for Tommy Jr.,, no one has identified him as being more than a  tagalong .
  • March 2 late p  Here's a cute one. The 6th floor courtroom has a bunch of flat screen monitors on each table. The Prosecutor asked each witness to identify Sr. Each time he was behind the monitor, sometimes with his head turned sideways making the task to ID difficult. Cute!
  • March 2 late p  Trial continues all this week. Other witnesses include our Sheriff and Black Shirt Paxton. Should make  for a great lead story in the next Communicator!
  • March 2 a Hello Bob Taylor over at Bentree. Glad to have you tuned in!
  • March 2 a  The Lady Panthers lost to Sissonville Monday evening ending the season in Sectional Tournament play
  • March 2 a Clay Town Council and the Clay Library Board meet tonight at 6pm. That's a new start time for Council.
  • March 2 a With their Director and staff at the Mardi Gras, the CAEZ meeting has been postponed until next week.
  • March 2 a  During Monday night's School Board meeting, one of the proposed school schedules for next year includes class time, year around. There are four proposed schedules to chose from. Each includes a full week off for buck season. Some things take priority!
  • March 2 a  The Tommy Sr and Jr . thievery trial begins Tuesday morning with a motion hearing at 8:30am and trial to follow (maybe) at 9am. Judge Johnston will hear the proceedings in Federal Court, Charleston.
  • March 2 a This is it, the last day of the begging for dollars online fundraiser. Thanks each and every for your support of this web channel. If you can help with keeping this effort afloat: Delta, 2278 Main St  Clay WV 25043

  • March 2 a Those comments are appreciated. Well, except for the person that said a hog had more brains in the A*** than those in the ace cub reporter's head. Shame Shame Shame on you