March 2011

 
  • March 31 a  Laxton, William "Willy"71, see OBITUARY page
  • March 31 a  This time last year Clayberry came in very poorly on a Federal survey on health, health factors, environmental factors, and disabilities. When the report was made public, local leaders had to admit the pathetic state of the county. They got their heads together and came up with  a plan to address the shortcomings. Meetings were held.
  • March 31 a The 2011 edition of the University of Wisconsin funded County Health Rankings are now out. If you're thinking some miracle happened, think again. We're still ranked 51st of the 55 counties and well below all national benchmark standards..
  • March 31 a 31% of our people have poor health; we have 3 times the number of poor health days each year;  twice a many with poor mental health times; over one third of us are obese; the teen birth rate is nearly three times higher than the national rate.
  • March 31 a We can't drive worth beans either.  Our motor vehicle death rate is three times higher than the national benchmark level!
  • March 31 a  Those with "some" college" training is half what it aughta be.
  • March 31 a  When you factor in the failings of the educational system, high school graduation rate, college training, the number of kids in poverty and single parent households, Yelp, 51st worst in t he state.
  • March 31 a Nearly 19% of us are unable to reed and right.
  • March 31 a With the new report in hand, leaders will without a doubt put the best spin on things. We do have clean air and binge drinking is very low. Shame they didn't ask about the number using meth and or  stealing granny's Rx's.
  • March 31 a We can close our eyes and wish along with Tinkerbell or so something... anything! The time is now.
  • March 30 a Wed morning and snow. sleet , is in the forecast once again.
  • March 30 a Got some good news. At the beginning of this year Advantage Home Health Care set up shop in the old Kate's Floral building on Main Street. After a bunch of hoop jumping, they have now cleared the last government regulation to officially begin serving Clayberry.
  • March 30 a That's a few more folks with jobs. Hip Hip Hooray!
  • March 30 a  For all us diabetic cripples, those strawberry milkshakes return  on Friday. Connie's reopens then at the triangle in Upper Class Two Run.
  • March 30 a  Last week Gene King was in court suing an insurance company over paltry pay outs after a vehicles tail ended him  while serving papers . During the trial, one of the jurors a Brian Hodge failed to show up for duty on day two. Judges don't like that one bit. The one handling the case issued a contempt of court citation and a $100 fine.
  • March 30 a  Yesterday, Mr Hodge came before Judge Jack Alsop and can got an ear full on the virtue of showing up for jury duty. The earful included that he could have gotten a year in jail for evading service. After the dress down, Mr Hodge quickly left the courtroom with his tail tucked between his legs.
  • March 30 a An indictment is serious business. Jamie Rucker showed up yesterday with the giggles. Jack Alsop is not much for giggles. Not much atall especially when the accused just tested red hot after a pee test.
  • March 30 a Hard to imagine... you're looking a prison time, know you have to go to court, and the night before, you get stoned. Such actions are the reasons Judges' have big frown lines on their foreheads.
  • March 30 a  Jeff Davis made it out of his orange suit just in time to switch to a white short and tie to represent a client yesterday. When he entered the courtroom, most of us turned to giggles and smiles. I think even Alsop may have smiled a bit.
  • March 30 a The Judge may have been confused on which, attorney Davis or Kenneth Crites, was the accused party.
  • March 30 a Census figures are back for Clayberry. Our population went down around 900 or so from the year 2000 figures.
  • March 30 a Candidate for office Betty Ireland will be on 101.7 Fm tonight at 7pm
  • March 30 a  We provide more details from yesterday's court action and who wound up in jail later today.
  • March 29 late p   Earl Marvin Rogers, 88 , see OBITUARY page
  • March 29 p From the email bag:  Need  information on the Jenkins family.  Mae Jenkins was my grandmother, and she was married to Jacob Simmons, my grandfather,  of Jack’s Bend, Clay County.  They have both been deceased for several years. I would like to trace my ancestry back as far as possible through the Jenkins lineage.  I have it back to Michael Simmons on the Simmons’ side. Thank you so much. gerald.simmons@hotmail.com
  • March 29 p TG Griffiin is a sportscaster for Clay High baseball games this season on 101.7 FM. TG is in need of a backup broadcaster for each home game. If interested, stop over at Clay County Park around 4pm today. Ask for TG.
  • March 29 p This morning Henry Stutler plead guilty to having sex with an 11 year year old. With sentencing scheduled after evaluations, he's looking at 25 to 100 years behind bars.
  • March 28 late p Tuesday morning, 9 am , before Judge Alsop, all the indictees come to Court to say Not Guilty.
  • March 28  The Lady Panther softball team 10 runned Calhoun in the third inning. Go Lady Panthers
  • March 28   Here's a pretty cool YouTube video on a five minute taking apart of a military Jeep. Thanks Jane
  • March 28  Some real good news for us old potheads: The National Cancer Institute, one of the many federal agencies who make up the National Institute of Health, has ruled that marijuana does in fact have medical benefits, making it the first federal agency to do so.
  • March 28  10:35pm  911: That male subject is back on the scene on Summer's Fork Rd. They believe he does have a gun
  • March 28 10:38pm What type of vehicle is he in?    The green jeep
  • March 28 p 10:39   911: He's in the yard. She thought she saw  a gun
  • March 28 10:40pm  ......   .....   .....
  • March 28 11:13 pm I'm 10-15 with one for processing back at the office.
  • March 28  Some time later came the call for the DVP number
  • March 28  We think Jeff Davis is in deeper doo doo.
  • March 27 p  No wrap up this weekend. Just some insight.
  • March 27 p People like to say they are in favor of free speech and media until it bites them in the butt. Over the years of the Communicator newspaper and this web site, there's been a bunch of butt biting. Mostly what happens is, we report what goes on, is said, during a public meeting or public figure dumb bunny stuff. Public stupid happens everywhere. The reaction from our names in the news is what's so special in Clayberry.
  • March 27 p Years ago Jerry Linkinnoooooger sat the ace cub reporter down and tried to convince the guy to support the excess school Levy. After the session, the Mel Gibson Look Alike responded: I will never support ANY kind of tax increase even if it feeds every monkey in the zoo. During one public meeting, Slinky said the best thing the county could do to improve everything would be to run AW out of the county that night. He said that in front of 50 people.
  • March 27 p Since getting elected to office Linky Poo has made it a point to never acknowledge the ace cubster exists.
  • March 27 p  Our wittle round Sheriff varied  from Linky's approach after he got peed at newspaper reporting covering the misdirected Victoria Secret's monthly bill which wound up in the reporter's mail box in Feb 2010. The Poopster as he's referred to, chose to go into a door kicking in, screaming fit of rage followed by dumbarss stuff  like yelling at AW during a public meeting for having his shoes touching the back of a Commission room pew. Both the pink monthly envelope and shoe against a seat resulted in more of the county laughing at our portly Top Badge.  Now our lead Badge just stares down the reporter whenever the two pass each other.
  • March 27 p Link thinks he can ignore the news gatherer. Poopy tries staring down free speech. He thinks that works!  That's two ways our itty bitty temporary elected workers handling accurate handling of local news.
  • March 27 p There are other ways of dealing with public information. Take Jim Dawson's wife, Joan, who took a swat at the handsome reporter during last year's Big Apple Fest. Or a couple weeks ago when she yells out Hey Liar!   Ms Dawson is miffed at newspaper reporting during her husband's last election bid. The truth is just that and sometimes it hurts.
  • March 27 p We've got a new miffed person. Dustin Fitzwater serves on the Solid Waste Authority. Dustin made the news in the last Communicator after inviting DNR officials to a meeting to discuss enacting a Litter Control program which could result in everyone in the county coughing up more $$$ to the national garbage company, Waste Management.
  • March 27 p He also made the last edition after School Boardster Beth Cercone caught him in a back sliding moment during discussions on the new school calendar and bus safety during  the coming Big Apple Fest..
  • March 27 p The paper came out on Tuesday. On Wed over at the Courthouse, Dustin employed the "he ain't there" approach as the ac cub reporter traversed the Courthouse.
  • March 27 p Still there's a fourth approach to the news.
  • March 27 p We posted on this web site the findings of the Spring Grand Jury. An indictment does not mean someone is guilty but it sure indicates there  are enough "Hmmmmms" to take a case thru Circuit Court land. A felony indictment is a very serious issue. So is the possibility of years in prison.
  • March 27 p The family of one of those indictees is really upset over the posting...
  • March 27 p One of the emails that came included:  I would appreciate it if you would take the post off your website. This is something that the whole clay county and whoever else looks at the website does not need to know....
  • March 27 p  Another excerpt:  why in the crap would u put stuff on the computer about him....Its no ones business...Its not true about him... AND I WOULD LIKE FOR U TO TAKE IT OFF!!!!!  THANKS FOR HURTIN HIS FAMILY FOR PUTTIN THAT ON THE COMPUTER!!!! ...
  • March 27 p  How about those clickers?
  • March 27 p Indictments are of course public record. To leave out one person's name would be worse than not publishing all of em.   The reason for punlic info like grand jury findings, criminal complaints, Magistrate Reports, Police Blotter etc remains the same. A well informed public makes much better choices as they drive the roads, walk down the street, and or otherwise deal with the community of Clay.
  • March 27 p Linky, the Poopster, and Ms Dawson have of course already lost the battle. Let's see if Dustin follows that same path
  • March 27 p In the meantime, freedom of the press continues and we'll keep on practicing exactly what the Constitution gives us (and you) every right to do.  Thanks for your support to that end.
  • March 25 p  In the latest Communicator we have a Randy Jones listed under the worthless check section of Magistrate report.
  • March 25 p We got a call from a Randy L Jones from Agonijah who says that ain't him.
  • March 25 p For those that watch our web cam, the bird keeps coming back with nest building on its mind. We are unable to adjust the lens until nesting is over for 2011.
  • March 25 p  School Boardster Gene King got tail ended  two years ago while driving the Bailiff mobile in Ivydale. Suing the guy, O Gene went to trial this week for two days. The jury provided an award of around $38,000 for damages.
  • March 25 p  Snow is in the forecast. $$##@@!!
  • March 25 a Around 10:03 this morning a fire call went out for a crackling and popping garage fire out Wallback way. By 10:09 a responder was on scene and two trucks were in route.
  • March 25 a Not too shabby for volunteers all.
  • March 25 a During last night's CCHS baseball game, snow flakes were in the air. Ditto for Peach Orchard Rd.
  • March 25 a This morning ice.
  • March 25 a Tonight music at Big Otter and basket bingo in town. See EVENTS page for details.
  • March 25 a Lets do a little better job on the Class of 2011, Spring Grand Jury winners
  • March 25 a From last Spring Jamie Morris, Kenneth Crites, John Amos Morris, and newly added Candance Truman Crites, a whole, series of felony charges related to the production of meth including: Attempting to operate a clandestine drug lab, conspiracy to do such, possession of Iodine a precursor
  • March 25 a Joshua Tanner Burglary x 2 and grand larceny
  • March 25 a Jamie Rucker  welfare fraud and conspiracy
  • March 25 a John Moore welfare fraud and conspiracy
  • March 25 a Wilma Hall  welfare fraud x 2
  • March 25 a Michael Childers  sexual assault 1st degree x 4  sexual assault 2nd degree x 4
  • March 25 a Michael Lanham  burglary assault and battery
  • March 25 a Charolette Hanshaw entering without breaking, dest of prop, arson 2nd degree
  • March 25 a Harry Larch battery, attempting to escape custody of a badge
  • March 25 a Brian Pritt B/E x 12  dest of prop x 12  grand larceny
  • March 25 a Jeffery Morris and Tammy Morris  manufacturing a schedule 1 controlled substance  conspiracy.
  • March 24 a  Nell Jean Belt Boggs Smith, see OBITUARY page
  • March 24 a Need a full time job with benefits? See the JOBS page now.
  • March 24 a Around 6pm Wed night a Spring storm ripped thru the county bringing high winds, heavy rain, and then a healthy dose of hail. In the Wallback and Independence Mountain areas the ground was white with the pellets of frozen wa wa . Electric service was off in parts of  the county. Other sections saw lights blinking off and on and then off.....  off....... and then turning from brown back to normal on.
  • March 24 a The Storm Gods side stepped the heart of the county leaving it unscathed. No ice what so ever in downtown Clay. The local radio station made it back on the air early this morning.
  • March 24 a Suppose to be a CCHS baseball game this afternoon at 5pm over at Clay County Park. Not sure if the weather will cooperate with that outdoor match up.
  • March 24 a  Split votes are uncommon at County Commission meetings. Although the law says all decisions will be made during public meetings, often, our elected folks get their heads together away from the public and hammer out the issues  in private.
  • March 24 a Yesterday during a decision to cut all overtime at the cash starved Clay Ambulance Service, the decision was 2 to 1 and that was after some heavy explaining by the Linkster.
  • March 24 a With Linky saying he wanted to hold off on making the cuts, Commissioner Pierson was adamant, lets make the cut now. After some explaining to newbee Commissioner Arlene Tucker, she went along with the Commission Prez and voted down the cut back in overtime.
  • March 24 a The Buffalo Creek Watershed group is working to restore aquatic life to the tributary of the Elk which runs past the JG Bradley Campground.  Several hundred pounds of trout will be stocked there by April 9th  The group now has a web site including a calendar of activities.
  • March 24 a Between Buffalo Creek and Laurel filled with trout along with Lake Sampson, dirt track racing, a campground, music shows, and a Saturday night auction house, Clayberry is starting to look like a better place for tourism in 2011.
  • March 24 a Ka Ching may be in the future.
  • March 23 a County Commission meets this morning at 10 am.
  • March 23 a The Spring Grand Jury met yesterday behind closed doors. Will get the results and post later today.
  • March 23 a The local non profit radio station plans to air most all of the CCHS home softball and baseball on 101.7 FM .  First boys game is this afternoon against Nicholas County. They need to raise some $$$ to make those match ups possible on air. $50 gets your company name and particulars mentioned four times during each contest.  If you can help give em a call at 304 587-8353 and leave a message or email at wyap@frontiernet.net. Go Panthers and Lady PAnthers
  • March 23 a Full schedules are posted over on the ADVISORY page
  • MArch 22 late p Yes sir rebob, the Communicator is now on news stands across the region and heading to you via the US Post Office. 20 dynamite pages of news and info brought to you by Clay County's only locally owned and operated newspaper. Included are the full details from t he sentencing of Tommy Tommy, the Courthouse budget cut woes, and latest from the School Board meeting Monday night.
  • March 22 p If your kid is in Clay county schools and uses a cell phone, you may be real interested in what the Pentagon is doing with the cell phone use policy.
  • March 22 late p A big long 2 page agenda awaiting all those that attend Wed morning's County Commission meeting at the Courthouse.
  • March 22 p In response to us posting that Rt 4 was going to be closed and turned into a place to go fishing in all the potholes, this email came our way:   We have them here in Ohio so big they have their own ZIP code.
  • March 22 p Sweaters and snow shovels are finally being put away in Clay.
  • March 22 p The Frontier guy is asking  customers to email him with stats on time, date, download speeds. His email address is  drhook@frontiernet.net  We posted that a couple days ago.
  • March 22 p One lady emailed asking how to do a speed test. Darn good question.
  • March 22 p Just go to the Frontier page and click on the speed test page button.
  • March 22 p
  • March 21 p With deep deep water filled pot holes every five feet, the joke around the county is they're going to close Rt 4 and hold a fishing derby on it.
  • March 21 p We're in typing mode to get the Communicator out the door Tuesday mid day. No updates until we get this puppy to bed. You're on your own for now. Good luck.
  • March 21 a The School Board meets the first and third Monday of each month. Don't bother checking out their web site for a look at tonight's meeting agenda. It ain't there. Nor is the monthly lunch menu nor sports' schedules. As a matter of fact, the baseball schedule on their web site is for the 2008 season. So much for spending millions on technology and getting results.
  • March 21 a County Commission meets Wed morning.
  • March 21 a Here's something important. One of the Frontier DSl guys needs some help with getting our snail connection speed improved. The guys says the big shots don't, won't believe we have a problem.
  • March 21 a If you're suffering like the rest of us, email the date, time of day, and up and down DSL speeds to him at   DrHook@citlink.net
  • March 21 a For the first time ever, non profit 101.7 FM plans to sportscast CCHS baseball and softball games this season. Volunteers TG Griffith and Josh Shamblin plan to cover the boys games with Glen Boatright and Phil Dobbins handling the play by play and commentary for the Lady Panthers.
  • March 21 a To do so, they need some on air sponsors. For the $50 fee you or your company get your name and message mentioned four times during each of the 20 games plus whenever anybody is at the station during regular broadcasts.
  • March 21 a If you think about it it's a pretty good deal. $50 for over 2 months of advertising. If you're interested, leave a message on their answering machine at 304 587 8353 or email wyap@frontiernet.net
  • March 21 a Go Panthers and Lady Panthers.
  • March 20 p  Miguel  “Mike” Casarez, 20, of Lizemores, WV, see OBITUARY page
  • March 20 p Not really a wrap up this week, just some observations
  • March 20 p County Commissioners are responsible for the county's finances. That $1+m budget requires constant monitoring and vigilance.
  • March 20 p For the last couple years the CCC hasn't been doing its job. An example is the Clay Ambulance Service. After several years of careful management, the much needed agency had over $200,000 in the bank and savings CD. During the last two years, all the money  earned and the $200,000 in savings was wasted leaving the service deep in the red. Every time they came to the Commissioner with some hair brained reason for over purchasing unneeded equipment and supplies, without looking at the books, the OK was given.
  • March 20 p Before they ever knew there was a financial crisis it was banging on the CCC's doors. That's what we do in Clayberry. Instead of a business plan and long range strategy, all we can muster is reacting to the next crisis.
  • March 20 p Last week, Courthouse elected were told, things are tough and cutbacks are coming. That's after bailing out the Ambulance Service to the tune of $50,000 to pay bills / payroll and even more paying down old bank debt.
  • March 20 p During last Wed evening's ambulance service employee meeting, they were told, things have to change and suggested budget cuts would not be enough. IE: Layoffs and cutbacks in service are coming.
  • March 20 p While this site and Communicator have harped about the dismal management of the Ambulance Service for a number of years, with all on their financial knees, the County COmmission appears poised to open their eyes and make changes overlooked for the past 24 months.
  • March 20 p Almost as bad, the Business Development Authority is getting sued again. The Kanawha County based Court case highlights what happens when county leaders don't adhere or even try to follow the law of the land.
  • March 20 p Again this site and Communicator have brought to light the repeated violations of Open meeting law only to be laughed off as BS. It isn't and this time around in Judge Charlie King's courtroom, it may be costly to us, the people that foot the foot the bill, the taxpayer
  • March 20 p Over the last 10 days we have been conducting our annual online beggin drive to keep this site up and running for another 12 months. Many have snail mailed over their hard earned cash. We want to thank you for your support. If we get enough $$$ in, we mayeven take some spelling and typing lessons. We try hard to keep you informed as best citizen journalists can muster. Your support gives us the strength to continue on.
  • March 20 p For this time around, last time you'll see it. for the stragglers, our mailing address is: Delta; 2278 Main St; CLay WV 25043
  • March 19 a Happy Birthday Travis Morris!
  • March 19 a We've changed around our LINKS page to include all the new Welcome to Clay web sites put together by the BDA's Tourism Committee. Another of the new web portals came on line  last night. Clay Today is a distribution site where travelers can see all the warm weather offerings available in 2011. If you have a site related to tourism, email this site for possible inclusion on Clay Today.
  • March 19 a None of the new sites are fancy but at least they are up to date, quick loading, and easy to navigate. As always, form follows function.
  • March 19 a To the folks in Elyria OH; Hurricane, Pinch, & Chloe WV; Ft Myers & Apache Junction FL; Boulder CO; Rowlett & San Antonio TX; and Pasadena MD, thanks for your support of this site.
  • March 19 a If you're interested in world wide nuclear accidents including several in Japan, just click here.
  • March 19 a Here's another site with more emphasis on USA nuclear accidents.
  • March 19 a Put your thinking caps on. Ever hear of the Fermi nuclear plant near Detroit which melted down in 1966? Don't feel alone. The Feds invoked a news black out on the disaster and forbid any media coverage of the accident for 10 years.  A sister plant continues to operate for now.
  • March 19 a For all us ole perverts, , .xxx web sites are coming our way.
  • March 18 p You can hear about anything over a 911 scanner. Like this morning at 10am when the call went out for Badge support "for a possible hanging" on Dixie Highway.
  • March 18 p  In the way of a follow up to the Mike Boggs lawsuit against the Business Development Authority, County Commission, and Economic Dev Committee, here's some much stronger follow up info from the  West Virginia Record.
  • March 18 p Where do you get your first hand info on Clayberry? Right here of course. Like to keep it coming for another year?
  • March 18 p It's time to support clayberry.org by sending a donation to Delta; 2278 Main St. Clay WV 25043. Thanks for all those who have already mailed in their support. One more day of the online campaign and then we'll shut up for another 12 months.
  • March 18 early a edition Lots of fun things to do this weekend. Check it out over on the ADVISORY page.
  • March 18 a  Two weeks ago, the Consignment Auction House went online with  a small web portal. Last week, Big Otter Community Center and Clay Historical Group (Old Courthouse) did likewise. This week the JG Bradley Campground launched their world marketing place. Next week  the Clay Today portal opens for business and will serve as a disribution site for all the good that goes on in the county.
  • March 18 a The BDA is funding those sites as well as a push to promote several existing tourism draws in the county during the 2011 season. Speaking of the BDA....
  • March 18 a   Thursday evening the Business Development Authority convened a special meeting to discuss a new lawsuit brought by one time Boardster Mike Boggs.  The Kanawha County suit charges the BDA, County Commission and Economic Development Committee with all kinds of misdeeds and operating an economic development agency unlawfully.
  • March 18 a  A similar suit was brought to Clay Circuit Court last summer by Boggs. In that civil proceeding, a local Judge decided the case needed to get into Kanawha County where all state funded related issues are heard.
  • March 18 a Last night BDA members seemed pretty peed at being drug thru the court system again.
  • March 18 a Truth is, that's what happens when you knowingly operate outside the law of the land.
  • March 18 a  Public meeting notice and public record storage and viewability stand out as glaring examples of short comings.
  • March 18 a On this day in history: Born 1858: Rudolf Diesel (inventor);  1865: Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourned for the last time;  1891: Telephone communication established between London and the Continent;   1922: Mahatma Gandhi sentenced to six years in jail after his first civil disobedience campaign against British rule in India;  Born 1927: George Plimpton (author); 1931: First electric razor marketed; Born 1932: John Updike (author); Born 1938: Charley Pride (singer); Born 1941: Wilson Pickett (singer; and, Died 2010: Fess Parker (actor).
  • March 17 p Our County Commissioners spent much of Wed publicly telling office holders at the Courthouse, their new year budgets will have to be cut back or at least, go another year without spending increases.
  • March 17 p Wed evening the trio headed over to the Clay Ambulance Service where assembled employees were told to expect cut off of all overtime wages and reductions in staff. The CCC's goal is to remove $50,000 in handouts to the agency in the coming year. That's $50,000 on top of $60,000 for a new ambulance.
  • March 17 a The Clay Ambulance Service is operated by the County Commission who is in charge of administrating the much needed agency.
  • March 17 p Last night one worker offered an instant $30,000 savings by reducing 12 hour shifts to 10 hours during the week and removal of the "second" crew on weekends.
  • March 17 p The govt service has been in and out of financial woes since inception. 10 years ago an outside agency studied the service and came up with a long list of changes to keep the thang afloat. Stuff like float an excess Levy and stop using the very expensive, overtime laden,  24 hour shift system of scheduling. None of those recommendations were followed.
  • March 17 p After that report, the Commission took over the operation from a volunteer Authority. During that time period, past due debts were paid, strict management guidance was provided by the CCC, and on many occasions, refused to allow purchases of un needed supplies. Two years ago, Clay Ambulance was in the black with over $200,000 in savings.
  • March 17 p For the last couple years, the County Commission has provided little in the way of oversight. A few months ago, with checks bouncing, the elected folks opened their eyes and realized, the agency was flat broke, actually in the red. Now forced to pay attention and do their job, the CCC has funneled nearly $40,000 just to meet payroll.
  • March 17 p That's what happens when our elected leaders come in once a week, smile, hold a public meeting, collect their pay check and leave. Instead of having a thought thru plan in place last night, the CCC sat their like bumps ona  pickle seeking ideas to cut costs. It's a little late for that.
  • March 17 p The reason for the county budget crisis ($132,000 fewer tax $$$ coming next year) is a reduction in Big Coal assessments. During Tax Board of Review times, the CCC and the local Assessor always tell the assembled: Mineral assessments are done by the State Tax Dept and we have no control over that.
  • March 17 p Of course that isn't true. Five years ago, the Clay County Commission refused a $12m reduction in Coal assessments recommended by the state folks. After negotiating with the coal company, that reduction was cut in half.
  • March 17 p One of the tricks Big Coal does is to move their rolling stock out of the county so as not to be taxed in a county where questions are raised. This year Big Coal saw a $20m reduction in Clay County holdings.
  • March 17 p And then there's the troubling part about having to follow the state's recommendation. Truth is, the state code says just the opposite. Paraphrasing the legal language, it says: if the locals don't like the state's findings, do your own study and approve it. See for yourself. Here's the state code and a passed Senate Bill 401 bill from last year.
  • March 17 p If the County Commission really wanted fair taxation, they would ban together with other coal producing counties, do their own assessments and then properly fund Big Coal. Don't hold your breath.
  • March 17 p Sorry for the heavy reading but when you're putting the monkey on ding dongs, it has to be backed up by black and white.
  • March 17 p Now winding down our annual online beggin campaign, first, thanks all those that have contributed to the cause. For all the other clickers, think about it. What would it be like without a daily dose of life in Clayberry?
  • March 17 p Send your support check to Delta, 2278 Main St, Clay WV 25043
  • March 17 p Thanks in advance
  • March 17 a Happy Green Beer Day
  • March 17 a A little silver-haired lady calls her neighbor and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started." Her neighbor asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"   The little silver-haired lady says, "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster."  Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster." He takes her hand and says, "Secondly, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then," he said with a deep sigh.....  "Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."
  • March 17 a Proper update coming ... In the mean time, the hurherald web site from over in Calhoun County has some additional coverage of Clayberry being ranked near the tip top in teen pregnancies.
  • March 17 a For those goofing off at work, here's Brooks Stover's BC&G RR web site. Don't go there unless you want to spend an hour or more looking at history.
  • March 16 p  This morning the County Commission held a meeting with each of the elected office holders. Turns out tax collections in the county will be down $132,000 come the new year which begins July 1st. Tax collections are based on the assessed value on each parcel of property.
  • March 16 p from that little known about meeting: there will be no pay raises this year and each department needs to reflect a 9.7% budget cut. Instead of increasing budgeted amounts, the County Commission will make up shortfalls as the need arises.
  • March 16 p Elected officials didn't seem to happy with the cutbacks or at least budget neutral talks. Normally reserved Circuit Clerk Mike Asbury was very firm with his demand: If there are going to be budget cuts, I want another meeting with the CCC.
  • March 16p Prosecutor Jim Samples was just as resounding with his need for additional  $$$ to keep up with increases in needed materials like subscriptions to comic books... I mean law journals, and the newest most up to date online case studies.
  • March 16 p Slinky poo told each , the final decision on how much each department will have in the new fiscal year will be made by late this afternoon.
  • March 16 p   We understand the CCC will meet with the Clay Ambulance Service this afternoon at 4:30 to lower the axe on them. Our guess: All overtime hours will be stopped.
  • March 16 p  Did your taxes go down? Didn't think so.
  • March 16 p Class III coal taxes did to the tune of $40,000,000 in tax appraisals down to $20,000,000. That reduction resulted in the $132,000 tax base loss.
  • March 16 p Isn't that interesting considering, not one coal company came during Board of Review time last month to ask for the cut back.
  • MArch 16 a Something's going on clickers. This morning at 8:30am, the Frontier DSL service was working near promised speeds. Pretty scary!
  • March 16 a For all those that have contributed to our online begging campaign to keep this site up and running for another 12 months, thanks. Bare with us folks for another four days and then it's over for another year.
  • March 16 a  West Virginians are paying an average of 7.1 cents more per gallon at the pump this week than they did last week. According to AAA's Fuel Gauge, the price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the state now averages $3.62 per gallon. The national average price is $3.55.
  • March 16 a If we could get those prices up to around $6 or more per gallon, it would force this nation to make the needed change.
  • March 16 a Trying to come up with enough $$$ to pay your taxes? You're going to love this next post.
  • March 16 a  Between 1998 to 2005, the GAO found that about 72 percent of large foreign controlled companies and 55 percent of large U.S. controlled companies reported zero tax liability for at least one year. About 57 percent of foreign controlled large companies and 42 percent of U.S. large companies paid no taxes in two or more years, and a third of the foreign companies and one quarter of their U.S. counterparts paid no taxes for at least four of those years. Just 45 percent of large U.S. companies and 28 percent of foreign companies reported a tax liability for each of the eight years. The report defined large companies as those with at least $250 million in assets, or at least $50 million in receipts
  • March 16 a   When GAO factored smaller companies into the mix, it found a higher overall proportion who didn't pay taxes. Throughout the eight years the study examined, the overall percentage of non-tax-paying foreign and U.S. controlled companies never fell beneath 60 percent annually.  Read all about it here.
  • March 16 a  We'll be back this afternoon with some interesting Courthouse news. Check back around 4pm.
  • March 15 late p Oh it's a sad day for Tiffany Farmer. On the big 50, it's all down hill for sure. Birthday condolences to Tif
  • March 15 p Notice there are no Rolaids? What happened to the little round pills of relief? Glad you asked.
  • March 15 p US manufactured Rolaid tablets were recalled in January 2010, by Johnson and Johnson. Other regularly used over-the-counter drugs are affected, also. Some recalls are mandatory, some are voluntary and others are only alerts. The culprit is the contamination of a chemical from the pallets that somehow got into these drugs.   I know this is a bit late at the gate, but not many people are aware of this regularly used over-the-counter medication, even the people working in drugs stores, or companies selling the product. Today an internet company in Canada was willing to sell me the bottled Rolaids. So this post is a good reminder.   "It is only Rolaids", some of you say. Well, a trace amount of a chemical (2,4,6-tribromoanisole) that shouldn't be there was found. Health Canada says it probably came from the palets that was used to transport them. Personally that does not make sense to me. How can a chemical from the wood leach into a plastic bottle?
  • March 15 p Today is the first day on the Black Shirt payroll for one time Town badge, Chris Davis.
  • March 15 p Last week the clay Auction House and Big Otter Community Center went online with their own web sites. This week it's the Clay Historical Society. Lots of good background info!
  • March 15 a  The Ides of March are with us.
  • March 15 a  Japan has more than 50 nuclear power plants and had planned to build two dozen more by 2030. Why did the country move that direction after W.W.II? Here's the answer from an expert.
  • March 15 a Cooperate news outlets are happy to get away from the union busting civil unrest in this country and afar.  Here's the update on We the People in Libya.
  • March 15 a  Months ago The Communicator provided a front page report on Clayberry being at the top of the national list in teen pregnancies. The county in general said no way, they're making all that stuff up again.
  • March 15 a TV-3 news provided a very short clip on the unwed mother, teen problem and all of a sudden, the folks at the Pentagon are in agreement. School Superintendent Kenneth Tanner told WSAZ: "When you talk with high school students in large groups, we found that can be problematic; especially when you're dealing with a sensitive subject such as teen pregnancy,”
  • March 15 a More mish mash while the county knows the girl's are entering the next generation of getting govt assistance. The free ride continues in the Nation of Clay. It's all about low expectations and even worse future in the county.
  • March 15 a  The Ides of March has long been considered an ill-fated day. Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C. Historians note that it is likely that a soothsayer named Spurinna had warned Caesar that danger would occur by the ides of March. William Shakespeare included the phrase "Beware the ides of March" in his play Julius Caesar.
  • MArch 15 a How do you measure clouds? Glad you asked: Ceilometer   A cloud yardstick. A ceilometer measures the height of clouds.
  • March 14 p Jerry A. Nelson, see OBITUARY page
  • March 14 p  Buffalo Creek Watershed group meets Tuesday evening as usual but in  the CAEZ office.  Please note the location change
  • March 14 p Many of us are waiting  on the Infernal Revenue Service for income tax returns. Here's the online source for the information.
  • March 14 p  Some web sites are pretty cheap to have. Not so with this one. This year we have to add web space, are in need of a large back up external hard drive, replace batteries and memory card in the camera. How about fighting virus attacks. Add in running to meeting after meeting, keeping a DSL line  and tele service paid, office space, and maintenance.
  • March 14 p Like to read about the Nation of Clay? Once a  year we go online on beg for bucks. We're doing that now. Any amount will help. How about you?
  • March 14 p Send your hard earned dollars to Delta; 2278 Main St;  Clay WV ; 25043
  • March 14 a Happy 10th Birthday Jennifer Taylor
  • March 14 a The BDA's Tourism Committee has been trying to get in touch with someone up at the O'brion dirt track. So far without luck. If you have a contact number or working email address for one of the owners, please have them email this site for forwarding. Thanks
  • March 14 a  In the U.S., the nationwide average for the price of gas was $3.53 per gallon on Thursday, according to AAA. The price has risen for 16 consecutive days, jumping 34 cents. But that's still less than half the $9.28 per gallon paid in Oslo.  Most Europeans, including the British, the Irish, the Germans, the Italians and the French, pay somewhere between $7.50 and $8 per gallon
  • March 14 a Here's the skinny.
  • March 14 a Keep one thing in mind while you're paying high prices. There is no, zero, none, zilch shortage of gasoline. The price is up because of Corporate greed!
  • March 14 a For this Monday morning, very quiet in Clayberry.
  • March 13 p So what the heck is a meltdown. Here's a pretty good source including references to other major disasters and how they came to be.
  • March 13 a No wrap-up this time around just the news
  • March 13 a It took em four tries but Friday afternoon Tommy Young Sr and Jr stood before the Fed Judge and received their sentences. First came Tommy Jr
  • March 13 a Jr's statement before sentencing took less than 10 seconds and included: I made mistakes ... I'm trying to get better ....   I am trying to start over.  That was about it before Judge Johnston gave him 58 months behind bars to include drug treatment classes. Amazing enough, for his part of the decade of stealing, Jr will have to pay back $11,000 in restitution. The Robe offered that the youth could change his ways and if not, "the system will continue to incarcerate you."
  • March 13 a As Jr was being escorted out, he looked at family members and gave a hand sign for I Love You.
  • March 13 a With scraggy hair and looking unkept, Sr  was next to come shackled into the cherry paneled courtroom. Judge Johnston was not so kind with words for the Daddy of the crime network, Tommy Young Sr. Words like: Your thefts are a way of life, long term.... You are a danger to the community .... you have many priors ... Before has just been a slap on the wrist ... I am going to protect the public from you... I won't be surprised if your not in crime after you get out....
  • March 13 a When given the chance to speak, Sr only thanked the Court for allowing him to attend his long time companion's funeral, Renee Boyd. That was it.
  • March 13 a With Sr drumming his fingers on the glass top table, Judge Johnston ordered 132 months behind bars plus $175,000 in restitution for the head honcho of Murder Mountain.
  • March 13 a  By 2:50pm, the years of well organized stealing and thieving (and killing )  were over. Locked up for a long time in a PA prison to be close to relatives.
  • March 13 a  As Sr was leaving the room, he never looked at family members. Sort of hunched down a little, he baby stepped it away from the world for a long time.
  • March 13 a Full story in the next Communicator
  • March 13 a Like knowing exactly what happened down in the Federal Building without paying the gas  and parking bill? Getting all the details in Clay County' only locally owned and operated newspaper?
  • March 13 a It's time to support this humble wittle web portal to the world. Any and all donations are appreciated. Send your Check or Money order to Delta; 2278 Main Street; Clay WV 25043
  • March 13 a Thanks in advance and here's to another year of near awarding wining citizen journalism.
  • March 12 p  Flora Holcomb, 90, of Lizemores, see OBITUARY page
  • March 12 p  Melody Diane Moore Adkins, 47, of Procious, see OBITUARY page
  • March 11 p Even on cold weekends there's stuff going on in Clayberry. Tonight Big Otter Community Center is offering up a live band, concessions, and a place to dance your night away. Saturday evening is the consignment auction at Two Run. Feeling poor? load up your junk and take it over for sale.
  • March 11 p How about some afternoon reading....
  • March 11 p  If you're seeing your electric bill taking more out of your budget and falling farther and further behind, you are not alone.
  • March 11 p Hawaii had the highest well-being among states in 2010 with a Well-Being Index score of 71.0. Wyoming, North Dakota, and Alaska are also among the 10 states with the highest overall wellbeing scores. West Virginia had the lowest wellbeing with a score of 61.7.
  • March 11 p  Just 400 Americans -- 400 -- have more wealth than half of all Americans combined
  • March 11 p What's happening in Wisconsin is a direct attack on America's middle class. With union's busted we can expect an even more alarming growth in the extreme wealthiest corporatists and the very poorest. Welcome to 1984.
  • March 11 p  We're in day four of our annual online drive to keep this web site alive and informing. Our goal is to be an instant portal for what's going on in Clayberry as we call it. The unvarnished truth of the parasites known as politicians is what we focus on. between 1600 and 2200 people a week day walk over here for a peek.  Even even half of the clickers sent over a dollar we would be in good shape for another 12 months.
  • March 11 p Can you lend a hand? If so, send your check to Delta; 2278 Main St; Clay WV 25043. Thanks
  • March 11 early a  Thanks for all the email suggestions on getting the bird's nest out of the web cam.
  • March 11 a Today is the day Tommy / Tommy are to be sentenced in Federal Court. Hearing begins at 1:30pm. If you're going, no cell phones nor pocket knives allowed inside.... nor popcorn.
  • March 11 a Email in your predictions before 1pm today.
  • March 11 a Here's our guess. 20 years for Sr and 10 years for Jr.
  • March 11 a Tip: For burning CD's or DVD's, there's a free software available that does it all, doesn't cost a penny, and best yet, it's very easy to use. Here's the download page for BurnAware.
  • March 11 a  Tip 2  If you're fed up with Internet Explorer and Firefox doesn't turn your crank. here's another browser that might be more to your liking. SeaMonkey.
  • March 10 p   Calvin “Bob” “Shotgun” Thorne, 82, of Ivydale, see OBITUARY page
  • March 10 p We're having a  little trouble with our web cam and a contrary bird that has decided to make the cam into a nest.  Been pulling the sticks out but that blasted bird won't quit.
  • March 10 p  Change of schedule, Gubernatorial candidate Arne Moltis will be interviewed at 101.7FM Friday night at 6pm instead of tonight.
  • March 10 p Drizzle continues as does a flash flood warning for the county. Be careful
  • March 10 a Susie Jane Brown. 69, of Bickmore, see OBITUARY page
  • March 10 a  First hand info that affects everybody, that's what this web site is all about. Well, that's in addition to giving dumb bunny politicos double H every time they do something outrageous!
  • March 10 a To keep it comin, we need help. We're in  our online beggin drive mode. Send your bucks to Delta; 2278 Main St; Clay WV 25043. Thank you.
  • March 10 a Clayberry is under a flood watch followed by a chance of an inch or more of the white stuff. This ain't no way to start Spring.
  • March 10 a Tonight Clay Roane PSD meets at the Procious Water Plant beginning at 6pm. Their Agenda is posted over on the ADVISORY page.
  • March 10 a The Clay Ambulance Service has been a financial mess for decades. During the years of the Ambulance Authority, things were so bad, without a public vote, the group secured $160,000 in bank loans just to make day to day payroll.
  • March 10 a During yesterday's Commission meeting, it came out, the elected folks have provided $38,000 in loans to the Ambulance Service and will have to cough up more just to make payroll this month.
  • March 10 a Look for serious cut backs to be announced during the next CCC meeting. Once again, it's the employees that will take it on the chin for pee poor management and oversight by the Clay County Commission.
  • March 10 a With one breath the Commission told the world that cut backs are coming, they will have $132,000 less to work with during the next budget year, and  and  and then hired a 6th Black Shirt Deputy for the Sheriff. Chris Davis is the new hire.
  • March 10 a It's been a law for years that all households in the county have paid, Waste Management, garbage service receipts. If you generate a bag of garbage a week and dispose of it in agreement with your neighbor, Yelp , by law, you have to pay the full bill yourself.
  • March 10 a If your spouse carries the throw outs to the office dumpster, Nope, that won't work either.
  • March 10 a Last night the Solid Waste Authority member Dustin Fitzwater invited DNR officials to their meeting and listened to a stepped up enforcement plan practiced in other West Virginia counties.
  • March 10 a True we need the county to look better and get rid of a bunch of road side litter... but laws have to be reasonable. The one about everybody in the county with Waste Management service no matter what, well, it ain't reasonable. Only one company benefits from the scheme!
  • March 10 a Instead of Garbage Badges coming onto your property and a stepped up snitch line, it might be time to approach members of the Solid Waste Authority and tell em to just start 2011 by cleaning up the obvious eye sores.
  • MArch 10 a Contributing to the literacy of Clayberry, the latest, hotest Communicator is now on news stands in five counties and being delivered to your door by Federal officials.
  • March 9 late p  Fabion Brown lost his female beagle last weekend in the upper end of Adonajar, near the church. Does have a collar. Be on the look out everyone. Dial Fabion at 304 587-9927
  • March 9 p Thursday evening at 6pm the Clay Roane PSD Board meets down at the Procious Water Plant.
  • March 9 p   America's population center is edging away from the Midwest, pulled by Hispanic growth in the Southwest, according to census figures. The historic shift is changing the nation's politics and even the traditional notion of the country's heartland — long the symbol of mainstream American beliefs and culture.
  • March 9 p The West is now home to the four fastest-growing states — Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho — and has surpassed the Midwest in population, according to 2010 figures. California and Texas added to the southwestern population tilt, making up more than one-fourth of the nation's total gains since 2000. The last time the U.S. center fell outside the Midwest was 1850, in the eastern territory now known as West Virginia. Its later move to the Midwest bolstered the region as the nation's cultural heartland in the 20th century, central to U.S. farming and Rust Belt manufacturing sites.
  • March 9p Thank you JB and OB for support of this web site.
  • March 9 early a  Announcing to the world, the Communicator made it out the door Tuesday afternoon. Juicy juicy details on all the stinky stuff (and some good too) that goes on in and around County Clay and all yours for just 70 cents cheap.
  • March 9 a Don't forget, the Communicator is endorsed by Commissioner Slinky for it's value and entertainment!
  • March 9 a Our above the fold story gives depth in the Prosecutor's saga of  not seizing property after a drug bust and the financial needs to comply with a court order. Two mentions in the Police Blotter are Brennin Bird and Billy Belknap.
  • March 9 a We're now in full swing of the 2011 online beggin campaign. While some sites barely update once a week, we try our best to keep you informed with daily updates. If you like knowing what's going on back home, we need your support to keep this animal alive.
  • March 9 a Send your hard earned dollars to Delta; 2278 Main St; Clay WV 25043
  • March 9 a Thanks in advance
  • March 9 a County Commission meets nearly all day long today. The final public hearing in t he grant application process this morning at 9:30 followed by a full meeting at 10. After lunch the elected folks will auction off junk building materials at the Courthouse. Anyone can bid. Might be fun too.
  • March 9 a Tonight the local radio station is interviewing one of the 15 Governor candidates. Discussion begins at 6pm/ Tune to 101.7 FM to find out more.
  • March 9 a  Hey, want ta show you something. The BDA's Tourism Committee is working with existing tourism draws to grow them a little this year. One of the first steps was for those in need to have a web site.
  • March 9 a The Consignment Auction House is now on line as is Big Otter Community Center in the North. More sites and help is on the way.
  • March 9 a Not going to believe this clickers, but ,snow is in the forecast for Thursady night and Friday.
  • March 7 p Delegates' Dave Walker and Dave Perry Legislative updates are now available over on the ADVISORY page
  • March 7 a  We're in shutdown mode until we get the Communicator out the door sometime Tuesday afternoon. You're on your own clickers for now.
  • March 7 a Happy Carma Holcomb
  • March 7 a Happy Birthday to Danny Grose Sr
  • March 7 a It's that time of year again clickers. It's time for the annual beggin campaign to keep this web site alive and well. Enjoy knowing what's going on in and around Clayberry? Like seeing the great pictures? It's time to support the only source for news and views in the county of little.
  • March 7 a Mail your support check to Delta: 2278 Main Street; Clay WV 25043
  • March 7 a We've got a big day in the way of public meetings. CAEZ will be holding their rescheduled meetings at 4 and 6pm this afternoon.
  • March 7 a  The Health Dept convenes at 6pm where they will accept the resignation of one of their co directors among other things.
  • March 7 a Can't forget the School Board meeting up at the Pentagon. Big long list of action items on the agenda including first mention of re-electing the School Excess Levy in a few months.
  • March 7 a Public meetings, a place for you to see what the government is doing to and for ya.
  • March 6 late p Frontier Tele services much of Clayberry. Their internet speed test is often 30% higher than independent testing sites. At 8:30 tonight the Frontier rated speed test was a skant 200 down and even worse, 77 up. We were planning a bunch of new postings tonight but it just isn't possible right now. Pictures? Forget it!
  • March 6 p Hattie Elizabeth Lanham Smith, 88, of Ovapa, see OBITUARY page
  • March 6 p As we look at the new world order coming in the Middle East, it ain't nothing new. Back in 1848 there was an even bigger change that started in Rome and spread over all of Europe. Royal heads rolled as parliamentary style govt. came to the World.
  • March 6 p Just as Wikileak information fueled the current uprisings, it is truly the people that make the sacrifice and reap the benefits. Such may be the case in this country as union members realize, their wages make up the dwindling American middle class.
  • March 6 p  In Clayberry, we have a couple nuggets from the last seven days.
  • March 6 p Normally we don't hear much from the Prosecutor's office. That changed this past week when he had to ask the Commission for $$$ to cover a Court ordered towing bill be paid. That was a first for the county but the biggy was when a Feb 22nd letter became public.
  • March 6 p The Prosecutor's letter instructed all local law enforcement agencies to never again use ANY towing company. Of course everybody in the county knows that Jim Samples has no control over what the Green Shirts, Brown Shirts, or Blue Shirts do.
  • March 6 p Bet all his lawyer buddies gave him bunches of grief.
  • March 6 p That letter stands for now. With towing a drunk's vehicle out the door, the "haves" will receive preferential treatment with calls being made to family members to retrieve the car while poor people or out of town folks will see their property destroyed by vandals along the roadsides.
  • March 6 p  During the Tuesday Town Council meeting, discussion turned to Town Badge Chris Davis leaving the force and heading over to the Sheriff's office for work. With all knowing full well the guy was leaving, the center of attention was : why no resignation notice and when or if Davis would pay back "a buy out"  from his previous employer. Without much follow up effort in the past, bet the Town comes up short.
  • March 6 p After an excellent season, the CCHS Lady Panther Basketball team went down to defeat in Regional Tournament play.
  • March 6 p Thursday night's Business Development Authority meeting brought some results. True we're gullible but it sure sounded like the group was finally getting off their butts and doing stuff.
  • March 6 p Stuff like funding tourism web sites, supporting a quilt trail intitive, working with a lawyer to get Filcon Indutrial site ownership free and clear once and for all; and, funding a long delayed 20 year county wide management study.
  • March 6 p   The Spring like conditions changed Sunday morning when snow once again blanketed the county. Temps never got above 34 degrees. State Road crews switched from tar and chipping potholes back to salt shakers and treating the roads.
  • March 6 p
  • March 6 a  Look out your window. At 7:30 this morning it was snowing big time. ^^%%#!!!! that white stuff
  • March 4 a Not quite short pants weather but when you think just two weeks ago we had snow and slush... darn nice.
  • March 4 a Wash that car, clean up that yard, put away the snow shovel and then have some fun.
  • March 4 a Live music continues tonight at Big Otter Community Center, Consignment auction Saturday at 6, Bingo over at the Newton Community Center, and for politicos, Betty Ireland comes to town Saturday evening. Gospel Sing Sunday afternoon. Good stuff to do second to none!
  • March 4 a How about some edumacation? The Community College over at Wallback is hosting an Open House Saturday where you can find out more about a better future.
  • March 4 a See EVENTS and ADVISORY pages for details.
  • March 4 a For those that didn't check the site out yesterday, the Tommy Tommy sentencing has been rescheduled till next Friday.
  • March 3 p  State Road crews having ben patching tank traps coming into downtown Clay for the last couple weeks, About as soon as the gravel black sludge mixture is shoveled down, Poof, it's gone within a couple days.
  • March 3 p This time around a different gravel and more layers of tar appears to be the right recipe.  Hope so anyway. This buying additional Poligrip is getting expensive.
  • March 3 p Got a little more info from yesterday's drug bust. Turns out the Badges were heading there to serve outstanding warrants from Nicholas County  Something about the lads and ladies buying sudafed in the neighboring county.
  • March 3 p Once on site (1411 Blue Knob Road) , they spotted meth making ingredients in a burn pit and smelled the ammonia stench from a meth lab inside a trailer,  Green Shirt DeMaske kicked in the door and captured a couple of the folks including Billy Belnap..
  • March 3 Several others warrants remain to be executed. You been buying Sudafed over in Nicholas County? Go ahead and turn yourself in, saves time and money.
  • March 3 p The county is still reeling about Prosecutor Jim Samples letter telling all Badges to no longer use a wrecker company to tow vehicles after an arrest is made. We've got a copy of that letter and will post on t he home page late tonight.
  • March 3 p Tommy Tommy update. Instead of being sentenced in the morning, the new date is  Friday March 11th beginning at 1:30pm before Federal Judge Johnston. Mark your calendars.
  • March 3 a  Yesterday afternoon the Town called to announce the Maysel community Boil Water Order has been lifted. We were sitting on our thumbs and forgot. Maysel water ready to use again.
  • March 3 a  This evening at 5:30 the Business Development Authority meets at the Courthouse. Always a good thing to come out and watch government in action... or inaction
  • March 3 a  Republicrats are pressing for sharp cut backs in pogroms that benefit the poorest of Americans.  Reuters is reporting:   Duplicating, overlapping and fragmented government agencies are wasting tens of billions of federal dollars every year, according to a GAO study released on Tuesday. In its first annual report to Congress, which was mandated by legislative action last year, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office found 34 areas in which agencies, offices or initiatives have similar, overlapping or fragmented objectives serving the same population. Another 47 areas were identified as opportunities to reduce operating costs or boost revenue collection via agency or Congressional action.  For example, billions in "improper federal payments" are laid out every year, while addressing the gap between taxes owed and paid could potentially bring billions more into federal coffers, according to the report.  Collectively, the savings and revenues "could result in tens of billions of dollars in annual savings," the report said..
  • March 3 a  Frogs crooking , that's a strong sign that Spring is here. Here's some loud peepers issuing their calls from over on a hillside at Maysel. Sort of remind us of politicians showing off when they haven't done a thing yet.
  • March 3 a  We held off publishing the Communicator until Tuesday so as to include the sentencing of Tommy and Tommy Young set for Friday morning. A check this morning of the Federal court calendar reveals, it's off again. Not sure what's going on there. Note: That link works best when you right click and open in a new window.
  • March 3 a Speaking of Feds, those guys and Green Shirts put their heads together Wed afternoon out Blue Knob way. Arrests were made including Billy Belnap who was hog tied on each end.
  • March 3 a Back when Billy was a kid in the local Boy Scout troop, you knew would wind up in the court system. Pretty sad for sure. Drugs appears to be the reason for the arrest.
  • March 3 a The season is over for the Lady Panthers who lost their regional tournament game last night down in Chapmmanville. Darn good season for the CCHS Lady Panthers.
  • March 3 a   I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
  • March 2 a  From the email bag:  The Lady Panthers will play their regional basketball game tonight at Scott High School in Madison.  They will play Scott at 7:00 p.m. with the winner advancing to the WV State Tournament in Charleston next week
  • March 2 a Hospitality is  making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were
  • March 2 a I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure
  • March 1  After the last winter, doesn't March sound good!
  • March 1 a  The regular meeting of the Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone has been rescheduled to March 7, 4 and 6pm. They even have their web site calendar up to date to let the public know what's going on.
  • March 1 a Town Council meets tonight at 5pm in the old Chevy dealership building on Main Street.
  • March 1 a  If you haven't played around with the advertiser buttons on our homepage, it's time. Online, on time, and right here. Thanks each and very advertiser including newbee Wally Rollins down at Rollins Outdoor Power Equipment at Falling Rock.
  • March 1 a Boy have we got a story. Go get your coffee cup.....
  • March 1 a Last week Judge Alsop gave the Prosecutor's office 5 days to come up with $7640 to pay a storage fee owed to King's Wrecker Service. After getting arrested last June for being in possession of drugs and drug making stuff, King's towed and has been holding Jamie Morris' truck and trailer since. With no indictment on the books, the Judge ordered the vehicles returned to the owner. To do that, the storage bill has to be paid. Since our elected guy didn't file seizure proceedings to cover the cost, the taxpayer has to go the bill.
  • March 1 a One problem, the Prosecutor doesn't have that kind of $$$ available.
  • March 1 a Monday afternoon during an emergency meeting of the County Commission, Jim Samples and  Asst. Dan Dotson asked the CCC for the extra loot. After questioning and responses, it didn't sound like  the Commission is, was, willing to get the Prosecutor's butt out of the buzz saw.
  • March 1 a The question kept coming up, if the Court demands your office to pay something, why should the County Commission come to your aid? With their heads down much of the time. at best, Samples and Dotson were sheepish with response.
  • March 1 a Turns out, before the Monday meeting, Dotson had worked a deal with the Judge and the owner of the wrecker service. The deal: Fran King agreed to hold off the paying of the debt until Nov of this year. Although not spoken during the public session, sounds like the debt has spurred the Prosecutor into speeding up the indictment process.
  • March 1 a Problems solved. Nope, not on a couple of fronts.
  • March 1 a First, just because your get a judgment, that doesn't mean you will ever get your money.
  • March 1 a Second, an Oh Boy minute.....
  • March 1 a During the discussions, King let out that the Prosecutor had fired out a letter to the Town, Sheriff, and Green Shirts informing them to never tow a vehicle without his prior OK. Never Never Never!
  • March 1 Think about that clickers. First off, the Prosecutor has no control over the Town or the Green Shirts but importantly, how down right, newspaper worthy, are the implications.
  • March 1 a Like, Badge arrests a drunk driver and the vehicle is not towed and held. Who's responsible if someone steals the car?
  • March 1 Like, Four drunks in a vehicle and the driver gets arrested, who in their right mind doesn't think one of the other drunks won't take the ride on down the road.
  • March 1 Like, A driver doesn't have a license, insurance, tags, and gets a ticket. Since we're not taken to jail for such an offense, as soon as the Badge leaves the scene, the unlawful driver heads down the road and hits another vehicle. Who's responsible?
  • March 1 a Like,  A drunk driver gets thrown out of his car and winds up under the overturned ride. Sure can't call a tow truck to right the vehicle!
  • March 1 a Suppose during any of those for instances or a million others, the Prosecutor is out fishing somewhere and can't be reached?
  • March 1 a  Getting the picture? Liability sure comes into play. If the County Commission doesn't like the idea of paying a $7640 storage bill, wait till they get socked with a gazillion dollar lawsuit.
  • March 1 a Sure sounds like the Prosecutor's letter is an instance of  shooting his mouth off  during a minute of rage after a court case didn't go his way.
  • March 1 a We're trying to get a copy of that letter Fran King mentioned. Check back tomorrow.
  • March 1 a Guess what the front page of the Communicator will deal with! It's Oh Boy time in the most fertile place for a newspaper, Clayberry.

  • March 1 a We've got our online support campaign coming up this month. Where else can you get the real scoop on what's going on in Clayberry? No place but clayberry.org. Please keep that in mind when we start our begging campaign next week. Thanks in advance.