oct2004news

OCTOBER 2004 NEWS

Oct 31 am Before the wrap up, how about a little help: REWARD: Missing - Blue Heeler puppy. Picked up close to Paddy Ridge Road on Widen Ridge Road, Harrison. Short tail, blue-gray in color, one ear doesn't stand up yet. Named Rowdy. Please return. REWARD - no questions asked. Call John (Bill) Lane 286-5918.

Oct. 31 am Happy Sunday morning. Here in the county of Clay, the sun is out and with the time set back, people are out stirring around earlier. Our beautiful fall colors are nearly gone. Along the roads are thick build ups of leaves. During this week's rain, the leaves made driving treacherous. As we polish off Oct. and with the Nov. 2nd election coming, here's our week that was

Oct. 31 am There have been 1,261 coalition deaths, 1,120 Americans, 69 Britons, seven Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, 13 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and nine Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of October 30, 2004

Oct. 31 am The County Commission room wa packed Monday as the county came out to see what Commissioner Sams was up to with his display of the long time controversial Ten Commandments display. They got their ears full. Sams said the ACLU was ready to sue the county over his posting of the 10 Commandments on the Commission room wall. Away from the public, Sams had already hired an out of state law firm to represent the CCC. According to Sams, the firm will NOT charge the county a penny. When asked (three times) if he would pay for any expenses if there are any, Sams backed away and at one point said, " I don't have to answer that!"

Oct. 31 am News crews came to county to cover the story. We even made CNN's national page. Sams told the camera crews, he put up the display and even if a Judge told him to take them down, he wouldn't do it. So much for law and order in Clayberry and his oath of office.

Oct. 31 am We saw Commissioner Bragg during Monday's meeting, his first appearance in months. After Bragg picked up his pay day for non performance, he threatened Commissioner Triplett by saying, this better not happen again or I'll come after you!

Oct. 31 am After turning in his resignation, Sheriff Fields was convinced to stay on the job for the last two months of his term of office. CCC voted to hire back Deputy Chad Sizemore to help protect the county as the other deputies took the month off.

Oct. 31 am Politicians scurried around the county putting up signs and working the electorate. Early voters set new records. By Saturday afternoon, 1/3 of those expected to vote had done so.

Oct. 31 am A prisoner escaped this past week while waiting his hearing in Magistrate Court. While the deputy sat doing paper work, private citizen's Jenny Sirk and Superintendent Link tracked him down.

Oct. 31 am Knowing Demorat candidates Fran King and Randy Holcomb were in trouble, our local politicos resorted to back room, slime ball tactics. Thursday afternoon, the leaders fabricated a bogus ACLU letter that pretty much said: If Republicat Dave Mullins and Mountain party candidate Andy Waddell are elected to office, they will take God out of the county, take your first born child, and the world will end. The letter was distributed via FAX and from the Demorat Hdqs on Main Street. Eyebrows went up and little ole ladies fell for the ploy. The telephone rumor mill went full tilt. The puss laden Demorats were once again working their magic.

Oct. 31 am The stench of filthy politics filled the county once again. There is one question that begs for an answer: If the Demorats are this dirty getting in, is there any reason to think they won't be as dirty during elected duty?

Oct. 31 am On the plus side, our community radio station aired live County Commission and Sheriff candidate debates on 101.7FM. Saturday night a panel of citizens from both sides of the aisle discussed national and local issues for 2 1/2 hours. As is their mission statement, YAP radio was informing the county as history was being made!

Oct. 31 am Friday morning at a Big Otter bar, a Calhoun county officer Ron Bandy, after leaving a night of partying, was run over by a bar patron as shotgun blasts were heard. Bandy also works as a part time Clendenin badge. Friday at the Courthouse and after a divorce hearing, all H broke loose as Lisa Slack had a drink tossed in her face and had a hand full of hair pulled out.

Oct. 31 am Just another week in one of the most troubled county's in the nation.

Oct. 30 am The Boil Water Order was lifted Thursday for the Procious service area of Clay Roane PSD. And the last of the new Communicators hit the news stands Friday afternoon.

Oct. 30 am Around 3:30am Friday morning, shots rang out in Big Otter. Here's what we've got so far. Calhoun County Deputy Bandy was partying until the Big Otter bar across from the Exxon closed down at 3 am. A fight broke out inside the bar near closing time and spilled out on the parking lot. Green shirts from So Charleston were called into service. Nothing available in these parts you know!

Oct. 30 am Before the badges made it, off duty and clad in white tee shirt and jeans, Bandy claims the guy he was fighting with, clobbered him, and then ran him over with a vehicle. As Bandy sat on the tail gate of his black pick up, a vehicle sped by spraying the place with shotgun blasts. Shortly thereafter 3 cruisers arrived as did a Clay Ambulance. Bandy was hauled off to CAMC with a broken nose and leg injuries.

Oct. 30 am As late as 4 pm Friday, Bandy's pick em up was still parked at the Exxon station across from the bar. Once upon a time, Bandy worked as a Kanawha County Deputy in the Clendenin area before loosing his job there.

Oct. 30 am And what makes Clay County politics so special.... dirt, mud, filth and underhanded, back door trickery.

Oct. 30 am Thursday afternoon an unsigned letter was distributed around the county. The letter had an ACLU looking masthead and words amounting to: Sheriff candidate Dave Mullins and County Commission candidate Andy Waddell are dirty slimy ACLU card carrying members who have vowed to remove God from the entire county. If elected to office, while you sleep, they will slither in and swipe all Christian items and Poof, Christianity will disappear from the county! Did we mention the letter was unsigned and distributed in Town and via FAX.

Oct. 30 am During elections past, Earnie "Wide Glide" Sirk has been at the forefront of such last minute, last ditch, dirty underhanded efforts of such outlandish nature. Here in Clayberry such assaults come during the last minutes of an election cycle when the Demorats are scared. Ordinarily, Demorat candidates would be considered the hands down favorite based on a 4 to 1 Demo to Repub ratio in the county. This year is different....

Oct. 30 am in the Sheriff's race. With Demo Randy Holcomb's quick draw reputation and notches on his pistol, it appears Team Demorat needed an extra punch against Republicat Dave Mullins. As the influence peddlers traveled the county, they were having a hard time keeping the straight ticket mindset in lock step! With the addition of 2 write in candidates, Paxton and Gray, the power brokers had to do something to pull away 300 votes from Mullins. The cheap shot letter stuffed in mailboxes in the dark of night is the normal mode of operation of whimpy demorats of Clay. This year it's an unsigned bogus letter !

Oct. 30 am Last week we noticed Mullins with his shirt tail tucked in his britches. From our angle, it didn't appear he had a forked tail hanging out nor could we see the mark of the Beast on his forehead. Without a tail and the mark, he couldn't be an ACLU member!

Oct. 30 am As for Waddell and the Mountain Party, it's even scarier for the Clayberry power brokers. They have to pull out every stop to keep him out of office. For 10 years, the back room crowd has tried to silence that guy without any success. Nothing could be scarier for the blue bloods than to have someone they can't arm twist in office. By the way, Waddell was seen last summer with his shirt off, and no mark of the beast was seeen!

Oct. 30 am With the election just three days away, the local puss filled Demorats will have to work even harder to get their candidate Fran King in office. Here's their plan: pack the County Commission. In the May 2004 election, they wanted school system employee Brian Holcomb selected. Didn't work! Instead, ex school boardster Fran King got the nod from the electorate. School Superintendent Jerry Linkinooooooger has already announced his plans to run for the CCC in 2006 and with Fran "we can keep her under the thumb" King in office ... you can see it now, the school system will run the entire county! That's the plan anyway.

Oct. 30 am Now back to our one time Demorat committee member Wide Glide Sirk. Just ask him and he will tell you: it's all fair to lie, cheat, and steal during the run up to an election.

Oct. 30 am Three days to go clickers. The cesspool is getting ripe!

Oct. 30 am Stop back late tonight for the latest on the Friday ruckus at the Courthouse where badges had to be called in to settle the warring parties.

Oct. 29 pm Boil Water Order for the Procious service area of the Clay Roane PSD.

Oct. 29 pm When we're putting the Communicator together, about everything else has to stop for that 24 hour period. Yesterday the latest edition of the county's only source for news made it to the Post Office. For those that prescribe, you should get it today via the Federal government. The balance of the papers will ALL be on the news stands early today.

Oct. 29 pm Speaking of Clay-Roane, PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait fired off a feisty letter to the Roane County Commission. Postelwait was peed over Commissioner Rodney Cox's comments during the last public meeting. Not to be outdone, Commissioner Cox fired one right back. Both letters are in the latest edition of the Communicator.

Oct. 29 pm This evening is the scariest night for motorists of the year. Trick or Treat is 6 to 8 in the county and in the area's only municipality, Clay, 6 to 7pm. Watch and drive slow.

Oct. 29 pm Tonight is also one of the best times to listen to your 911 scanner. Tune in and listen as the badges try to outsmart the teens in the county.

Oct. 29 pm Tonight Clay High takes on Webster County at Webster. Tollhouse Frank and Brother Ray usually serve as the sportscasters for our local WYAP-LP. Both Ray and Frank are tied up with college stuff today and can't make the road trip. The non profit station is looking for someone to do the broadcast. Can you help? Call 587-8353.

Oct. 29 pm Some famous guy once said: Truth is the first casualty not only in war, but also in the closing days of a campaign.

Oct. 29 pm The front page story in The Communicator is Commissioner Sams lawsuit bound display of the Ten Commandments. In the ACLU demand letter seeking their removal from the wall of the Courthouse, they reference a similar case from Kentucky where politicos hung up the Commandments, later said they were historical and the high court ordered their removal. Although Sams would not agree to pay for any expenses out of his own pocket and said the county would not have to pay a penny, some in the county wonder how a lawsuit could be free. The ACLU is the most experienced law firm to go before the US Supreme Court. Click A Bunch if you'd like to see the Supreme Court docket. Once there do the control f thang and see the list of ACLU cases. Acrobat Reader required.

Oct. 28 am No updates until we get the paper out. Prescribers should get their Communicator in the mail Friday.

Oct. 27 am Boil Water Order for Procious service area of Clay Roane PSD. Boil It First!

Oct. 27 am Warren McGraw is having cornbread and beans at the Demorat Hdqs today from 11 to 1 pm. Free Food!!!

Oct. 27 am Clayberry made it into the 2nd day of the news cycle as a second TV station came to town to interview Commissioner Sams concerning his posting of the 10 on the Courthouse wall. By week's end, Clayberry will have made CNN with Sams famous words of defiance: Even if the Supreme Court orders it, I won't take them down!" So much for obeying the law by elected officials.

Oct. 27 am We got the first piece of info last night, attorney Barbara Schamberger was arrested for obstructing an officer by Deputy Robert Belt. Here's some more. JAIL BREAK , PRISONER ESCAPES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oct. 27 am As Deputy Belt was filling out the paperwork against the fat lady in the black dress Schamb, his prisoner, a Larch subject, dressed in orange and shackled, took off running. With Belt still fine tuning the complaint form, Superintendent Linkinooooger sees the escaping Larch and runs in to call for reinforcements, back outside Jenny Sirk sees the 21 year old running up the street, drives up on the Demo sidewalk and tells Poopy, the wanta bee Sheriff, GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oct. 27 am With Link summoning a posse, Randy and Jenny in hot pursuit and Belt still writing , the run a way is caught! More details in Thursday's Communicator! Maybe it's time to start hanging up signs: WRITE IN LINK FOR SHERIFF.

Oct. 27 am Last night, WYAP-LP hosted a live Clay County Sheriff candidates debate at the Two Run station. The 49 minute discussion was heard by many including several around the parking lots and those seated at Go Mart. Randy Holcomb and Dave Mullins were not in attendance. Mullins said he wasn't going to participate unless Randy did and Randy said he could spend his time better elsewhere.

Oct. 27 am When it's time to vote clickers, remember one thing: If they won't talk before the election, they surely aren't going to after they're in office!

Oct. 27 am 73,000 new voters have been signed up in W Va this year!

Oct. 27 am from Winston Churchill: "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

Oct. 27 am Actual comments made by male patients while having their Colonoscopies: "Find Amelia Earhart yet?" "Can you hear me NOW?" "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" "You know in Arkansas we're now legally married." "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?" "You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out..." " Now I know how a Muppet feels!" "If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!" "Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity." "You used to be an executive at Enron didn't you?" "Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is in fact not up there?"

Oct. 26 am Boil Water Order continues for the Procious service area of the Clay Roane PSD. Boil it first and be safe!

Oct. 26 am Here's some background on the US involvement in supporting Sadddamn a few years back as he gassed his own people. Click We Liked Him back Then.

Oct. 26 am Last night at the non profit WYAP-LP radio station... Another first for the county. The community based group hosted the first ever, live, on air, County Commission candidate debate. Mountain party candidate Andy Waddell and Write In challenger Denise Taylor spent 45 minutes explaining their platforms. Demorat contender Fran King told moderator Fred Sampson last week she would attend only to change her mind and shy away from the effort to inform voters. When asked when King would be available for a debate, she responded there was a 99% chance she could not fit it in her schedule ANYTIME this week or weekend.

Oct. 26 am Tonight at 7, at the station, all the Sheriff candidates have been invited to debate the issues facing the county. Lynn Drake will serve as the moderator. Voting continues over at the Circuit Clerk's office. Have you voted? Now's the time, it could be snowin' next week.

Oct. 26 am Yesterday afternoon, attorney Barbara Schamberger managed to get herself arrested for obstructing an officer. As Officer Belt was looking for an arrest warrant, Schamb told the client, run, get out of here! As the events escalated, Deputy Belt told the lady, "If I were you, I wouldn't listen to the fat lady in the black dress!" Belt was referring to Schamberger. We checked the Corrections web site and Schamb wasn't lodged there as of midnight.

Oct. 26 am The Communicator will be coming out early this week to cover the front page , above the fold, Ten Commandment controversy from yesterday's County Commission meeting. NOTE: if you want to get your event or classified in this edition, deadline is tonight at midnight.

Oct. 26 am Full details in the paper of course, but during the Oct. 25th County Commission meeting, with a packed house, and after announcing the seperation of church and state lawsuit was looming, Sams refused to accept responsibility for his plastic plaque and refused to say he would cover any court costs. He also said that if ordered by the Courts to remove the wall hanging, he wouldn't do it, no matter what! So mcuh for his oath of office.

Oct. 26 am You could see the friction in the CCC ranks. Long wayward HAC Bragg showed up to get his paycheck and little else. Unshaven and out of sorts, HAC did little at the meeting. During the 10 Commandment showdown, it was HAC who said they were hung up as an election year ploy. Sams did about everything he could think of except take responsibility for his own actions.

Oct. 26 am School bus driver Greg Legg nailed HAC's butt when he firmly scolded the lame duck Commissioner who didn't take off his hat during the opening prayer nor the pledge of allegiance.

Oct. 26 am We have a new deputy! County Commission gave the Sheriff's department $4000 and the go ahead to rehire laid off Deputy Chad Sizemore beginning Sunday.

Oct. 26 am We have an old Sheriff! CCC worked a deal with Harald Fields to keep him on the payroll to sign checks and do court room duty until his term expires Dec 31st. Fields had turned in his resignation last week effective the end of this month.

Oct. 26 am And finally from yesterday's CCC meeting. We're only getting bits and pieces but .... After the meeting HAC got huffy with Commissioner Triplett. After picking up his two week late check, it sounded like HAC told Triplett: This better not happen again or I am coming after you! Triplett told him to come to the meetings and HAC would get paid on time! Can't you see it now??? If Triplett could get his 300 pound hind end on top of HAC's skinny little head....

Oct. 26 am And something a little lighter: Little David was in his 5th grade class when the teacher asked the children what their fathers did for a living. All the typical answers came up; fireman, policeman, salesman, doctor, lawyer, etc. David was being uncharacteristically quiet, so the teacher asked him about his father.

"My father is an exotic dancer in a gay cabaret and takes off all his clothes in front of other men and they put money in his underwear. Sometimes, if the offer is really good, he`ll go home with someone and make love for money." The teacher, obviously shaken by this statement, hurriedly set the other children to work on some exercises and took little David aside to ask him, "Is that really true about your father?"
"No," said David, "he works for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, but I was too embarrassed to say that in front of the other kids."

Oct. 25 pm We're provide a full update late this evening but here's a brief run down on this morning's County Commission meeting

Oct. 25 pm Be sure to watch TV 3 this evening at 6 and 11pm. A reporter and film crew taped this morning's lengthy gathering

Oct. 25 pm Get this! Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg showed up for duty this morning. For the most part he just sat and showed little interest in the business of the county. BUT BUT he did get into it during the 10 COmmandments debate. Since he showed, his first time in over five months, the guess is, Commission President Triplett signed his two week old payday. As for missing for being absent about 85% of all the meetings this year, Bragg commented: I came more than the law required!

Oct. 25 pm Also from this morning, the County Commission refused to accept Sheriff Fields' resignation and opted to hire him a deputy for the next two months, $4000+. Fields remains on the job.

Oct. 25 pm And now the big issue before the CCC this morning, Commissioner Sams' display of the big plastic 10 Commandments. Around 60 people showed up for the discussion. After some lengthy discussions, mostly from folks fully in support of keeping the 10, Sams said even if the US Supreme Court ordered him to remove the rendition, he would NOT do it! One guy reminded Sams that when he took office, the only thing he agreed to was to uphold the law of the land. Didn't matter Sams repeated his pledge, he would NEVER take down the religious plaque.

Oct. 25 pm Bringing an air of responsibility back to the room, Commission President Triplett said if a court orders the removal of the 10, he would take them down. Entering into the discussion, Bragg said the only reason Sams raised the plaque four years ago was for political gain during his election year bid for office in 2000. Others in the crowd agreed.

Oct. 25 pm When asked if he would personally pay for any expense related to the planned lawsuit, Sams side stepped the question and at one point said, I don't have to answer that question! At another point, after two private citizens said they would help pay expenses so the county isn't burdened, Sams again refused to say he would open his wallet so the taxpayer wouldn't have to!

Oct. 25 pm We'll provide a more in depth run down on the hot button issue in our late night post.

Oct. 25 pm Tonight is the County Commission candidate debate on WYAP radio station beginning at 7pm. Although she gave a firm commitment last week to participate, Demorat candidate Fran King said Saturday she now has another commitment. Attempts are being made to reschedule the debate if King agrees to participate. Listen in tonight at 7pm on 101.7FM to the debate or when the rescheduled time will be. The link to the YAP radio is on our home page.

Oct. 25 am Hey Clay Roane PSD customers, 8:15, last night, Clay Roane PSD issued a Boil Water Order. Sounds like they had a big leak near Twistabout and the tank went waaaaay down. If you live in the Procious area, be safe, boil it before using it. And if you're using it to brush your teeth, let it cool down first.

Oct. 25 am We closing out the final week of the month. Here in Clayberry with strong fall colors in full force, there is a tendency to sit a little longer on the porch, to walk a little slower around the yard, listen a little longer to the kids, and take longer looks at the skyline. It's fall and it's beautiful in the Appalachian Mountains.

Oct. 25 am On the other hand those..... Those **!!!! lady bugs are everywhere. Those **!! political phone calls come a dozen at a time and most often when you're eating or taking dump. It's time to cut the !!**grass one more time. OK, I feel better now.

Oct. 25 am This morning at 10 am is the County Commission meeting at the Courthouse. With our Sheriff resigning, the ACLU threatening to entangle the county in a court battle over Commissioner Sams' posting of the 10 Commandments on the wall of the Courthouse, and wayward Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg no where to be seen, this morning's activities are expected to be well worth a trip to the Courthouse. Bring your own popcorn.

Oct. 25 am With Commissioner Sams the central figure in the 10 Commandments mess, watch him real close. When he gets nervous, he walks a lot faster and has little blue and red bumps pop up around his neck. When you see those bumps, you know he's about ready to say something worth remembering!

Oct. 25 am Be sure to wear clean underwear if your going to the CCC meeting today. TV-3 regularly checks out this web site and the guess is, the TV crews will be show up today along with a gob of right wing conservatives in support of the Commission dragging the county thru a seperation of church and state lawsuit.

Oct. 25 am Clayberry has actually seen some growth this year. KAT Communications came to downtown Clay, Scented Wonders Craft Mall opened at Two Run, and Sister's Place restaurant opened at Procious a month ago. Now we have another entrepreneur ready to give it a whirl

Oct. 25 am Freda Auxier is known as the operator of the Christian Service Center beside the Clay Library. Her new satellite service center is now open in Ben Murphy's old hardware building at Lizemores. Here's the news. Beside the Lizemores Center is a new diner opening this morning. Called Freda's, the place will offer breakfast meals all day long in addition to full meals, take out service, and delivery of large orders. You can't miss either place! Both are within eye shot of the post office there.

Oct. 25 am Is there room for another restaurant in Clayberry? Seems to be. Sister's place just extended their hours to 10pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays.

Oct. 25 am For those looking for some interesting reading material, how about the CIA's world fact book. Click THE INSIDE LOOK for more

Oct. 25 am Remember when Dubya said we could win the war on terror? Now he says he has doubts. Click Flip Flopper for details.

Oct. 25 am There's a lot of senior citizens around the county and some of them need some guidelines to live by. Here's some things to avoid: 1. A nose ring and bifocals 2. Spiked hair and bald spots 3. A pierced tongue and dentures 4. Miniskirts and support hose 5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads 6. Speedo's and cellulite 7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar 8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor 9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge 10. Bikinis and liver spots 11. Short shorts and varicose veins 12. Inline skates and a walker And last, but not least . . . 13. Thongs and Depends

Oct. 24 pm Big time birthday wishes from Jama Schoonover: I WOULD LIKE TO SEND OUT A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY TO A WONDERFUL STEP DAD, JERRY. I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY LOVE.

Oct. 24 And for the week that was, first the world: There have been 1,246 coalition deaths, 1,108 Americans, 68 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, 13 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and nine Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of October 22, 2004

Oct. 24 pm In this country, election 2004 seeps to the top. Click, American schools have banned Halloween because officials are worried about offending real witches. And talk about bad politics, an American soldier heading for Iraq in Nov. was removed from Dubbya rally. He was even a registered Republicat! Soldiers called up to serve in Iraq refused and aren't showing up for duty. And YES we do know the exact location of bin Laden. and refuse to go after him! And finally on politics 2004, smarting from the 2000 rip off, bunches of new Demorats have registered in Miami/Dade County Florida.

Oct. 24 pm In Clayberry it's been a big week as well. On Monday our 99 year old Sheriff Harald Fields turned in his resignation and planned to hang up his badge. Many people told the County Commission they would like to have the $4000 a month job for Fields remaining 2 months of office time. By week's end and after pressure from politicos, Fields appears to be rethinking his retirement and stay on doing part time work like court duty and check writing.

Oct. 24 pm Just when the Town of Clay thought they had the bestest EVER deal for a new water plant and water line extension to serve the needs of Roane County, a wrench has been thrown in the cog. According to the WV PSC web site entry, the planned water plant upgrade may be doomed and the entire project would have to be given a new "scope". The name Jim Weimer pops up when you read the fine print.

Oct. 24 pm Also on Town news, remember when the town's water plant was loosing over 55% of all the water they made? And then Town leaders said those days were behind them and the water loss rate was way low and fully acceptable to the PSC and new project funders? Wrong! From that same PSC report and down in the foot notes comes this: Staff discussed Clay's continuing unaccounted for water (?UAW?) problems, estimating that those problems remain at 40% of Clay's internal sales. Staff commended Clay's efforts in the past year to reduce the UAW but opined that ?significant future improvement projects and aggressive maintenance practices? will be needed to final reduce the UAW rate to 15%, which is an acceptable rate under Commission regulations.

Oct. 24 pm As soon as County Clerk Judy Moore posted the agenda for the next County Commission meeting ( Monday Oct. 25th, 10am), we knew the county had a problem. The next to last item on the agenda mentions a recently received letter from the ACLU raising issues with Commissioner Sams' 10 Commandment rendition hanging on the Courthouse wall. Behind the scenes and without a public vote, the Commission hired a religious right law firm from Tupelo Miss to represent the elected boys in an anticipated court challenge.

Oct. 24 pm Despite numerous Court decisions throughout the land supporting the separation of church and state, Sams appears H bent on spending tax payer funds to violate the law of the land.

Oct. 24 pm Crime wise, local thugs continued to burn and loot Clayberry as Judge Alsop locked up several more on Friday. If he could just throw away the key.

Oct. 24 pm And finally as the week ended, Demorat supporters showed up in force Friday Oct. 22nd at the Demo hdgs for free dogs and burgers followed by sign waving to motorists before the Friday night CCHS football game.

Oct. 24 pm By the way, the Panthers took it on the nose 21 to 19 as the Ravenswood Red Devils buried us in the mud during the home game

Oct. 23 pm Great big howdy dowdy wishes to long time Clayberry web clicker and english professor, Greg McNamara at Macon State University. Sorry for the run ons, typos, etc., we should have paid more attention in class!

Oct. 23 pm Maybe it was the mud field or that Ravenswood was twice as big as the Panthers but..... Clay High went down to defeat last night 21 to 19.

Oct. 23 pm It's time to announced the winner from our online survey, who should be Sheriff Harald Fields' replacement. First who didn't get it. Dan Sizemore, Poopy, Jeff Rider, Johnny Wooooooofter, and Go Mart's Lisa Rhodes. Drum roll please..... We have a tie! Don Samples and Buckshot Butcher. County Commission will make their decision Monday morning at 10 am. Thanks to all that took the time to email over their guess.

Oct. 23 pm Yesterday during the Demorat Hot Dog lunch, retiring Sheriff Fields commented that he MIGHT change his mind and not resign 2 months early from office. Fields commented over a burger, it MIGHT be that he would come in and handle the Court room duties and check signing for the county.

Oct. 23 pm Remember HAC? Gone from duty, Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg? As of Friday Oct. 22nd, Commissioner Peter Triplett has NOT signed HAC's Oct. 15th pay check!

Oct. 23 pm As of early Friday afternoon, 386 had early voted at the Circuit Clerk's office and another 90+ had requested absentee ballots in the US mail. During the 2002 election, 500 Clayonians voted early.

Oct. 23 pm. The Oct. 25th County Commission meeting agenda was posted last Thursday as required by law. On the agenda is mention of an ACLU demand letter for Commissioner Sams' rendition of the 10 Commandments be removed from the public's building.

Oct. 23 pm Friday afternoon that ace cub reporter went to the County Clerk's office and asked to see the demand letter. It was no where to be found. Three of the workers looked high and low. Commissioner Sams was called. No luck. Triplett was called who said the demand letter was in a 10 Commandments folder "in the back". Again the workers looked and looked with no luck.

Oct. 23 pm What was found was behind the scene correspondence with a religious right's law group, Center for Law and Policy , a division of the American Family Association. It appears that after receiving the ACLU letter, Commissioner Sams sought competent legal counsel ( that leaves out Gringo) to represent the county in another court battle. In the letter found at the County Clerk's office, Center for Law and Policy attorney Joe Murray asked the ACLU to give them some extra time to study and advise the CCC. In an Oct. 20th response, the ACLU granted the request for more time.

Oct. 23 pm For those interested in the Tupelo Mississippi law firm, click Litigate it all. Here's the ACLU web site.

Oct. 23 pm Boy do we have some Hmmmmmmmmmms this time. For instance, when did the CCC vote to accept Joe Murray to represent them in a lawsuit? It wasn't done in a public meeting? A public body? The public's business? Hiring an attorney without a vote?

Oct. 23 pm If the letter was mailed out the first week of Oct. and before the last County Commission meeting, why wasn't it discussed during that Oct. 12th meeting. Could it be that Commissioner Sams wants to use this for political gain during the Nov. 2nd election? To get his pick in office? He has before! Sams put up the "10" during his election bid four years ago and it worked! We know he nailed up the 10 in an attempt to gain more votes because his wife said so on election night! When defending his breach of the Constitution four years ago, Sams even said there was no religion in the 10 Commandments!

Oct. 23 pm Whether it is an election year ploy to sway voters or just poor judgment on Sams' part, this one will most certainly draw the religious right. Look for a dandy CCC meeting this Monday at 10 am. After the TV camera crews leave the county and the bible thumpers head home, one thing is for sure, once again Clayberry will be in the national spotlight in a no win situation and with even less $ to meet the needs of the people. Of course the Commission will say, Joe Murray and the lawsuit won't cost us a thing! But... raise your hand if you've EVER seen a court case cost nothing!

Oct. 23 pm Probably saddest of all is: Court challenge after court challenge have resulted in the same outcome. Whether you worship a cow, a jade figurine, a tree, the big three, or nothing at all, religious liberty is much too precious to be placed in the hands of politicians!

Oct. 22 pm Today is a perfect day to vote! Do it! Your voice counts in Clayberry!

Oct. 22 pm Tonight at 7:30 Clay High takes on Ravenswood. Hear play by play on 101.7 FM If you're going to the home game, take a pocket radio with you to hear sportscasters Tollhouse Frank and Brother Ray cover the game like no one else could.

Oct. 22 pm After the game head over to Sister's Place Diner at Procious for some late night viddles. They're open until 10pm Thursday thru Saturday.

Oct. 22 pm At 10:25 this morning, we saw something. Something bad!

Oct. 22 pm County Commission candidate Fran King's truck was stopped waiting to gain access to Main Street. A tall, thick looking, gray headed fellow with pig tail was hot!

Oct. 22 pm With finger pointing and arms waving, the guy yelled as he paced back and forth. At one point, at the top of his lungs, standing within inches of her white Chevy, the man, " Don't F*** with me Fran...... You heard me!!!!!!!!!!!!!..... DON'T F*** WITH WITH ME!"

Oct. 22 pm Standing in front of the Rite Aid store as well as clear down at the Demorat Hdqs the loud orations could be heard. When the guy was finished with the oral assault, he strode off. Fran restarted her engine and headed off in the other direction. Of course no one knows for sure what the guy was mad about but one thing is for sure.... whether it was over something in politics, her wrecker business, or life in general, this type of threatening conduct cannot be tolerated in Clayberry!

Oct. 22 pm Four years ago during his election year bid for re election, Commissioner Sams hung up a big plastic 10 Commandment rendition at the Courthouse. Right after that, a whole bunch of people showed up for a County Commission meeting in support of Sams' election year ploy. During that same meeting, a few in the county stood and asked for the removal and said such a display would eventually led to a costly lawsuit.

Oct. 22 pm This past summer during the Crime in Clayberry public meeting, several told Sams that his religious display was going to get our financially challenged county in hot water.

Oct. 22 pm That day of trouble is here. On this coming Monday's County Commission meeting agenda is the post of an ACLU letter to the CCC concerning the 10 Commandments display at the Courthouse.

Oct. 22 pm With few other details available, one thing is for sure, anytime the nation's largest civil right's law firm takes up a challenge, if will be costly to someone and that some one will be the taxpayer!

Oct. 22 am We're going to hold off on an update until about noon. In the mean time...

Oct. 22 am Don't forgot today's Demorat Hot Dog luncheon at their hdqs beginning around 11:30am .

Oct. 22 am County Dog Warden Walter Stutler has put his hat in the ring to be the next Sheriff of Clayberry.

Oct. 22 am Our online survey ends this morning at 11:00am. Email your guess past haste: Who will the County Commission appoint to replace Sheriff Harald Fields? One guess is as good as another, so send them in NOW

Oct. 22 am A couple of notes for those responding above. Quit emailing in Jeff Rider. He ain't going to take it. Here's why: Yes he is Chief Deputy but since he is serving in the capacity at the will and pleasure of Sheriff Fields, he maintains his civil service protection. Also, don't name Poopy or Paxton or or Mullins or write in Sheriff candidate Gray. If they serve one day as an appointed Sheriff, they loose one term of service and $ if elected.

Oct. 22 am To keep you going until the full post today: My girlfriend and I had been dating for over a year when we decided to get married. My girlfriend? She was a dream! There was only one thing bothering me. That one thing was her younger sister. My prospective sister-in-law was twenty years of age, wore tight mini-skirts, and low cut blouses.

       She would regularly bend down when near me, and I got many pleasant views of her underwear. It had to be deliberate. She never did it when she was near anyone else. One day little sister called and asked me to come over to check the wedding invitations. She was alone when I
arrived. She whispered to me that soon I was to be married, and she had feelings and desires for me that she could not overcome and did not really want to overcome.
    She told me that she wanted to make love to me just once before I got married and committed my life to her sister. I was in total shock and could not say a word. She said, "I'm going upstairs to my bedroom, and if you want to go ahead with it just come up and get me."
      I was stunned. I was frozen in shock as I watched her go up the stairs. When she reached the top, she pulled down her panties and threw them down the stairs at me. I stood there for a moment, then turned and went straight to the front door.   I opened the door and stepped out of the house and walked straight toward my car.
     My future father-in-law was standing outside. With tears in his eyes he hugged me and said, "We are very happy that you have passed our little test. We could not ask for a better man for our daughter. Welcome to the family!"
    The moral of this story is:   Always keep your condoms in your car.

Oct. 21 am We might not get to vote for the next President but locally, your votes counts. Go vote today.

Oct. 21 am During the last Town Council, an illegal secret meeting was held. Don't know if it's related or not, but here's the latest from the WV Public Service Commission. Click Nov. 4th Hurry Up Hearing.

Oct. 21 am Today at 11 am, Mountain Party candidate for Governor Jesse Johnson will be at Ivydale Elem School.

Oct. 21 am And speaking of absolutely total Clayberry screw ups... Susan Beard was appointed to the Clay Roane PSD around April 2004. Since then she's attended a bunch of meetings, gone to training, made a bunch of motions, voted a bunch, and gone into secret meetings... As a matter of fact, it was Beard that made the motion to hire the contractors for the Amma Left Hand water line extension project. There's only one tiny little itsy bitsy problem.

Oct. 21 am Ms Beard was never sworn in as a Boardster which means all the votes and motions will have to be done over. Although all serious, the worstest was her motion to award the contract last week. If that vote has to be tossed (and it has to), there will be another delay in the 33 mile water line. Ahhhh Clayberry. What a work of art!

Oct. 21 am We've got an online poll in progress. Results will be posted this weekend. Get your guess in now. Here's the ?: use the email link at the bottom of this page please. Who will the County Commission appoint to replace Sheriff Harald Fields? One guess is as good as another

Oct. 21 am In yesterday morning's post came word of Demorat County Commission candidate Fran King's mouth when she told Dan Eagle if he kept supporting Dave Mullins for Sheriff ( a Republicat), she ( King's Wrecker Service) would never tow another one of his vehicles! Eagle has been stewing for 24 hours and is now talking about filing a complaint with the WV PSC and is demanding a written apology.

Oct. 21 am Four people have already told the County Commission they want to be Sheriff Fields replacement. Names include Don Samples, Glen Sutton, Dana Holcomb and Avis Rose. Town Cop Buckshot has been saying publicly that he's interested but as of 1pm Wed, he hasn't told the CCC or the County Clerk's office of his desire. Details: Don Samples, 73, is one year younger than resigned Sheriff Fields; Glen Sutton has several years experience as a cop in Ohio back when stage coaches were common, Dana Holcomb owns and operates his garage on Maysel Hill, and recently retired Avis Rose was a correctional officer for years with basic training already under her belt.

Oct. 21 am The Sheriff is the County's treasurer and without one, no checks can be written at the Courthouse.

Oct. 21 am If you're interested in the high dollar, 2 month job, call the County Clerk's office today. The CCC will vote on the matter this coming Monday. Before you do, keep something in mind, those two months are going to be double H. With Grand Jury coming Nov 3rd and all the related paperwork.... Chief Deputy Jeff Rider is taking all of Nov off and into Dec plus our other Deputies are taking accumulated leave too. In Nov., don't look for any black shirts to be available for road patrol nor court duty! The new Sheriff and Bailiff Gene King will be in charge

Oct. 21 am Other names have been bated around including Morgan Gibson, Danny Sizemore, Jimmy Duffield, and long time office Deputy, Reva West. Don't count on West who would have to give up her seniority for the short term assignment.

Oct. 21 am Just because we haven't posted on the site much on crime in Clayberry, it's still here! Sunday night, vandals worked on pop machines in the Two Run area including Jim Dawson's Service Center. As for Bruce Bird and criminal ways, Magistrate King found probable cause yesterday and back to jail Bird did go

Oct. 21 am And here's what we don't need... Last Friday night Jason Samples' green pick em up was stolen in Procious. The thief and the truck was seen over the weekend in Lizemores. With the badges doing nothing to recover the stolen work truck, a whole gaggle of big hairy legged boys decided to pay a visit to the thief's home on Punkin Ridge. With enough fire power to take on Iraq, the demand came: Give the truck back in one hour or else!!!!!!!! Guess what? Samples got the truck back ( it was parked out back in the woods) PLUS a stolen firearm was recovered from an earlier caper.

Oct. 21 am With locals mad, we can expect more vigilantism and that's what we don't want!

Oct. 21 am You know what today is? It's linguine salad day down at Sister's Restaurant. If they've got any of those home made BBQ's meatballs left... try em too!

Oct. 21 am Tired of reading? But Wait! There's More!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oct. 21 am Monday night 50 or so ( including several kids) gathered at the Courthouse for a candle light vigil against domestic violence. Guest speaker was local attorney Barbara Schamberger. In a mixed crowd and according to participant Llyn Drake, Schamb opened up by calling every male BAS****s. First she spelled it out and then loudly proclaimed that all men are BAS****s!

Oct. 21 am Mouths fell open and there was a gasp in the mixed crowd. As late as yesterday, Drake was still fuming over the off color potty mouth. Drake said she didn't appreciate that language because it was all inclusive of the many good men in the county. Others were equally steamed!

Oct. 20 am Get out and vote!!

Oct. 20 am Online Survey clickers. use the email link at the bottom of this page please. Here's the question: Who will the County Commission appoint to replace Sheriff Harald Fields? One guess is as good as another, so send them in NOW

Oct. 20 am With the online survey in progress..... Town volunteer cop Buskshot Butcher has said he would be glad to take the 2 month position. Keep in mind that Buckshot cannot volunteer to be Sheriff. He has to be paid. How about Johnny Wooooofter? He was a cop back when they carried spears and is still in pretty good health.

Oct. 20 am Here's our pick. Late last week we saw Don Samples at the Courthouse. Samples was a County Commissioner and later a state road superintendent long enough to get a pension. Samples ( Hello Don) doesn't come around much unless he's after something. Putting 6 and 4 together, our guess is, Don Samples is after the 2 months worth of $ and benefits... $5000

Oct. 20 am So has Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg picked up his check? As of 4 pm Tuesday, the answer is no. But But But he has been calling the Courthouse in search of the unearned income.

Oct. 20 am WYAP-LP is hosting the first ever "live" County Commission candidate debate Monday Oct. 25th at 7 pm. On the ballot candidates Fran King, Andy Waddell, and write in Denise Taylor have all agreed to participate. Fred Sampson will be the moderator during the 30 minute + debate. Sampson is drawing up the questions which will be kept secret until air time.

Oct. 20 am Here's your chance to hear what they plan to do BEFORE you vote! The non profit station is also working on an on air debate with the four Sheriff candidates next Tuesday or Thursday night. Details later this week.

Oct. 20 am Mark your calendars, This Friday, the Demorats will be handing out grilled hot dogs at their Headquarters on Main Street. Fun begins around 11:30am.

Oct. 20 am And now what makes Clayberry so fun during an election. Dan Eagle is just a regular guy, nothing fancy, plain spoken, drives an old pick up..... In the Spring, his p/u served as a moving bill board for Fran King for County Commission and Teresa Lane for Assessor with nice big signs prominent in the bed of the truck.

Oct. 20 am During this fall election, Eagle has two, big, yellow plastic, Dave Mullins for Sheriff signs mounted in the bed of the truck. Mullins is of course one of those pesky Republicats.

Oct. 20 am Yesterday, Eagle, a registered Demorat, went over to the Demo Hdqs building where Fran King was less than cordial. According to Mr. Eagle, after seeing his Mullins signs, Fran told him, she would never tow another vehicle for him EVER again. Fran owns the county's only towing and wrecker service. 13 days to go and it's just starting to get good!

Oct. 20 am If you think the Town of Clay's big time EPA sewer plant fine is bad, it just got worser. And, Yes, worser is a word 'cause we just made it up!

Oct. 20 am Certified and experienced Chief Sewer Plant operator Larry Chaffins resigned his position Tuesday. More in a later post.

Oct. 19 am Dorla Lee (Vaughan) Truman, 74, see FUNERAL page

Oct. 19 am So, did Mathew Bragg get his check last Friday..... ANSWER: No

Oct. 19 am NEWS FLASH This morning around 10 am, Sheriff Harald Fields submitted his resignation to County Clerk Judy Moore!

Oct. 19 am Dressed in blue denim and a vest Sheriff Fields said due to his wife's medical condition, he was hanging up the belt and badge at the end of this month..... After 58 years of marriage, it was time to spend some time together

Oct. 19 am So who will serve the unexpired term? Don't count on any Deputy! To do so, they would have to give their civil service protections and in today's job market.... that would be dumb!

Oct. 19 am How about Bailiff Gene King? Nope! With Gene already in an elected position, he'd end up on the short end too

Oct. 19 am How about a Sheriff candidate? If Paxton, Holcomb, Gray, or Mullins accepted the 2 month spot, they would have to give up one full term of service, 4 years.

Oct. 19 am Soooooooooo who's left? How about Buckshot Butcher as a volunteer Sheriff? Or, how about wanta be cop Matthew Bragg? Well, that would certainly get off the County Commission tab!

Oct. 19 am Let talk Election 2004. Raise your hand if you know what "scratchin the rooster" is all about. It's called voting a straight ticket. With Demos registered 3 to 1 in Clayberry, Demorats have depended on the straight ticket folks for an easy win in Nov.

Oct. 19 am Those days are gone clickers. Since the early 80's, the number of rooster scratchers have been going down. Two elections ago, only 20% voted a straight ticket. last election on 16% didn't cross party lines to make a mark. Look for that figure to drop even lower this time around

Oct. 19 am Look over on the ADVISORY page for names of those that have served the country in uniform.

Oct. 19 am As a note: We're moving the Communicator operation into downtown Clay this week. We'll be harder to reach via tele until everything is hooked up and unboxed. The best way to get info to us is via email. We check the below link twice a day. Sorry for the slow responses but just wait until we get our web cam hooked up! You'll be able to see Main Street Clayberry night and day! Well........ day time anyway!

Oct. 18 am While you were at home wrestling around with the kids: There have been 1,235 coalition deaths, 1,096 Americans, 68 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, 13 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai, nine Ukrainians and one soldier whose nationality has not been identified, in the war in Iraq as of October 17, 2004.

Oct. 18 am Would you think, the guy at the top at Abu Ghraib prison would get a promotion? How the contractors involved with the abuses, should they get more Govt. contracts? Here's the INSIDE SCOOP.

Oct. 18 am Why not get off your butt and do something tonight! The School Board meets at Ivydale Elem. beginning at 6pm. Agenda items include: Approve the employment of an After School Ballet Instructor at Valley Fork, job posted through Oct. 15; Approve the employment of an After School Drama Instructor at Ivydale, job posted through Oct. 15; Approve the employment of Crystal Curtis as After School Teacher at H.E. White; Approve the employment of Nancy Updegrave as substitute teacher; Approve out of state travel for Mary Ann Triplett and Nada Waddell to National Middle School Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nov. 3 ? 7

Oct. 18 am Now that wasn't so hard was it Link? For years locals have asked the school system to comply with Open Meeting Laws which require twice a month meetings to post their agenda three days in advance. Link has refused to do so. Those above agenda notes were posted on School Boardster Beth Cercone's web site. Boy that makes the Linkster mad!

Oct. 18 am Tonight at 7 at the Courthouse is a Candle Light Vigil. See EVENTS page for more

Oct. 18 am Think America is above abusing people? Think again, click Detainees systematically mistreated to see the real story.

Oct. 18 am When we think of election fraud, emerging foreign countries come to mind. Not this year in America! Still smarting from 4 years ago when the guy with the most votes lost, this election cycle will be monitored. Click Every Vote should Count.

Oct. 17 am From the week that was..........

Oct. 17 am Last week our went from warm and dry to wet and chilly. Some were seen with heavy winter coats while others tried to squeeze out a few more summer days with shorts and t shirts and goose bumps.

Oct. 17 am With mounting public pressure, Jimmy Sams and Pete Triplett passed a resolution to force their fellow Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg to personally come to the Courthouse to pick up his pay check. Long absent from public service Mathew Bragg told the Hur Herald reporter this week that he was too busy working 12 to 14 hours a day in the family business to take care of the people he was elected to represent.

Oct. 17 am In brand new digs, Ginos/Tudors opened mid week after struggling to get enough gas pressure to run the new ovens..... Teresa Morton and Bruce Bird were arrested this week and sent up to Central Regional Jail

Oct. 17 am We call it our New Courthouse but it's 25 years old. Last week the place was reroofed. This week a failed door lock held up court as the criminal and attorney Kevin Duffy were stuck in one of the little upstairs meeting rooms. Only after a wooden panel was busted thru and the door off the hinges did they regain freedom and court could continue.

Oct. 17 am Friday night, Clay High put it all over Greenbrier West 21 to 12 on as the rain came down. At times the rain falling looked more like sleet. Friday night there were reports of snow in higher elevations.

Oct. 17 am The Communicator made it to the news stands Friday evening around 5pm. 20 pages sure to inform the masses and hack off the establishment.

Oct. 17 am After months of planning and work, heavy morning rain wiped out the Found It Clay WV Fall Foliage Tour. Only one van from Maryland stopped briefly and all the crafters and yard sellers had the good sense to stay home and out of the cold rain.

Oct. 17 am Tommy Young Sr made it out of the hospital Saturday after 2 surgeries and skin grafts. No charges have been filed against who ever fired the 2 shotgun blasts that peppered Sr in the backside 10 days ago.

Oct. 17 am Around 50 of the county's 3600 Demorats showed up for the Demo Pep Rally at Clay High. The speakers spoke of a unified front, a straight ticket, and applauded to calls of Support the Demos. Guest speaker Col Tom Davis commented on the 128 billion already spent on W's oil war. Davis said that amount of money would be enough to fund one brand new high tech high school in every county in the nation!

Oct. 17 am Of course looking around the room, you could pick out the many who had supported Dubbya in the past and most likely will do the same this Nov. 2nd. Others knew the days of straight ticket voting were nearly gone.

Oct. 17 am In Appalachia, we're preparing for winter. Elections and who gets in office just isn't a priority. There's little talk, minds are made up. The one issue hard shells would vote for the devil if he said he would do away with gay rights, or they ain't going to get my gun, or I can't vote for a man that's for women being in charge of their own bodies. Pity they are such shallow thinkers, it's those same people that lost 25% of their welfare checks Aug 1st.

Oct. 15 pm We've been busy the last 36 hours putting together the Communicator which hit news stands late this afternoon. 20 pages of Clayberry news including Bobby Stover being selected the National Wrestling Hall of Fame to the latest on the Bird boy ending up in Jail Thursday night.

Oct. 15 pm With rain coming down heavy at times today, the county has slowed down a bit and many are staying at home tonight with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Oct. 15 pm This evening at 7:30pm Clay High takes on Greenbrier County with homecoming activities during half time. If you're staying at home, listen to the game over the internet or on 101.7FM The link to the radio station is over on our home page. Get yourself wired up to hear reaaaaaaaaaal football action.

Sat and Sunday is the Found It Clay WV Fall Foliage Weekend. Even with the predicted rain, tourists are expected. Be ice to em too!

Oct. 15 pm After working so many hours without a break, it's time for one. We'll get posts on the web sometime Saturday from the Thursday night Clay Roane PSD meeting. Did you know the troubled water provider still has an IRS lien against it which could jeopardize funding for the long awaited Amma/Left Hand project? Details coming

Oct. 14 am If you want an event or classified in Friday's Communicator, email it over by noon today

Oct. 14 am It's time to vote!!!!!!! Already nearly 200 have come in to the Courthouse and made their voices heard. Remember, according to the Chief Elections Officer, Jan Casto, you can scratch the chicken (straight ticket) and then write in a candidate and the ballot WILL be counted and NOT tossed out! Vote early and vote often

Oct. 14 am And Yes, Jim Paxton knows the difference between Write in candidate and Right in. And it sure caught your eye didn't it?

Oct. 14 am Write in Sheriff candidate Butch Gray got a rude awakening when he opened that little paper over in Clay. Gray paid 70 some dollars for a nice big ad with several paragraphs of message to the voter. It didn't make it into print. Instead a very generic ad appeared. According to Mr. Gray, " This isn't fair, I think it was done intentionally instead of being a mistake."

Oct. 14 am from election past comes this mention... 8 years ago House of Delegates candidate Dave Walker paid to have his brochure inserted in that little paper over in Clay only to find out several days after publication, the owner, also a candidate for the House, refused the insertion. Now that's the Clayberry we know and love!

Oct. 14 am And it's prime time to rip down your opponents' road signs! Gray reported every one of his signs around the Ivydale area was ripped down over night.

Oct. 14 am Good news from the Lizemores Fired Dept. After struggling and fund raising for years, their new firehouse is all done except for the kitchen area and the State Fire Inspectors have given them a full OK. Their first big event in the new building is now listed on the EVENTS page.

Oct. 14 am Mark your calendars for Friday Oct. 22. Tune your TV to WSAZ TV 3 to see the Clay County Sheriff candidate interviews during the 6pm newscast

Oct. 14 am The new Ginos/Tudors was ready to open yesterday except for one problem. According to workers there, no gas pressure to run the ovens and heat. The John Habjan owned gas supply has been an issue in the county for years. How bad is it? Nearly two years ago the WV Public Service Commission recommended to put the public utility into receivership. To date that hasn't happened. Currently a rate increase is being asked for by Habjan. Wonder if higher prices will improve the volume?

Oct. 13 am Ethel Mary Jett, 95, of Valley Fork, see FUNERAL page

Oct. 13 am Shirley Arbutus (Deboard) Moore, see FUNERAL page

Oct. 13 Hello Crystal H, get some chocolate ice cream.

Oct. 13 am Talk about a day of news. Yesterday was like Christmas morning for the news business. Go get two cups of coffee. This is going to take a while.

Oct. 13 am A couple weeks ago, a nice home on top of Camp Creek hill burnt. Last week, a camp on graveyard hill was torched. Tuesday night a small camp at Smith Bottom went up in flames. In all three, arson is suspected. Looks like our fire bug is at it again. During the summer of 2003 and '02, many many Elk River camps fell victim to arson

Oct. 13 am Last night 39 year old Teresa Morton was carted off to Central Regional Jail after violating a domestic violence order. Morton was employed by the Clay County Health Dept. until last month when she resigned.

Oct. 13 am Never say the power of public sentiment doesn't work. Are you sitting down? Yesterday during the County Commission meeting, Commission President Triplett made a motion to NOT NOT NOT sign fellow Commissioner Mathew "HAC" Bragg's paycheck until he shows up at the Courthouse. The motion passed. Bragg has not attended a public meeting since May 2004. Last year Bragg showed up for less than half of the meetings. Bragg's wife routinely comes to the Courthouse on the 15th and 30th to collect the unearned $. Commissioners are paid $25,000 per year in salary and benefits.

Oct. 13 am Before the decision and as the meeting was ending, a lady from the peanut gallery asked: Why was HAC being paid and doing nothing... isn't this taxation without representation? Triplett ordered: his signature is NOT to be rubber stamped on Bragg's payday. Here's the deal, Bragg has to come to the Courthouse and personally pick up his check and then get Triplett to come over there for his signature.

Oct. 13 am Of course Big Pete has a day job and is often tied up with those duties. Wouldn't it be something if Triplett was too busy to stop work, run over to the Courthouse and sign his John Hancock? Just might happen.

Oct. 13 am Take the time to hop over to the Hur Herald web site for pictures and details on HAC .

Oct. 13 am Yesterday was the last day to sign up as write in candidate for elected office for the Nov. General Election. Just before quitting time, Denise Taylor came in and signed up to be a candidate for County Commission. On the ballot for CCC are Demorat Fran King and Mountain Party candidate Andy Waddell. With Taylor in the race, anything could happen!

Oct. 13 am And a note on ELECTION 2004. Here's the question: If you mark your ballot as a straight ticket, either Demorat or Republicat, and then write in a name, what happens to the ballot? Is it tossed? Which candidate is counted? The person on the straight ticket or the write in?

Oct. 13 am Big cheese Jan Casto with the Secretary of State's office provided the answers Tuesday afternoon. According to Casto, if you fill out your ballot with a straight party ticket mark and then write in a name, the ballot IS counted and the write in name IS counted! The rest of the straight ticket is counted with the candidates of the party you marked.

Oct. 13 am Several old line politicos thought the ballot would be tossed. Wrong Wrong Wrong!

Oct. 13 am How's that for one day in the life and times of Clayberry? Where else could you get so much info in one place and free too!

Oct. 13 am And finally fro this morning, THERE'S A LOT OF SADNESS IN THE WORLD. Right now, as you read this, 17 Million Americans are having SEX! And you're on the computer!

Oct. 12 am A great big Hello to Jim Coulter.

Oct. 12 am It wasn't so long ago we called County Commission the Three Blind Mice. Now with just Sams and Triplett attending, the mice thang just doesn't work.

Oct. 12 am The County Commission meets in regular session today beginning at 10 am. On the agenda is mention of an $18,000+ contract to remodel an upstairs storage area for use by the Family Law Master. Currently the Family Law Court uses the Commission room free of charge.

Oct. 12 am That free of charge part made front page news a couple months back when Sheriff Fields commented that the county was loosing $ based in part on Sams' 10 Commandments wall hanging. According to the Sheriff, if Sams' would have taken down his election year "10" tactic, cut a side exit door for the Judge, and provided some security, the county could have been receiving upwards of $700 per month for rent.

Oct. 12 am We have an update on Tommy Young Sr. Last Wednesday around 4:30pm, Sr was shot while working behind his home on Murder Mountain. As of Friday afternoon, no charges have been filed against the alleged shooter, Richard Cummings

Oct. 12 am Here's the story we're getting.... Sr and 12 year old son were behind the trailer when noises were heard in the woods. Turning, Sr saw Cummings and told his boy to run! With Sr behind the boy, Cummings fired a 12 gauge twice catching Sr from behind in the back of the leg.

Oct. 12 am As of Monday evening, Sr remained in the hospital having under gone surgery and awaiting more surgery today.

Oct. 12 am Word has it the juvenile was questioned last Wednesday for 45 minutes and asked whether he had accidentally shot his Father. Later Sr was asked if he had taken the long gun and shot himself.

Oct. 12 am Since the shooting, Cummings has not been seen. Guess is, he may have fled to Ohio. So.. what was Cummings doing in the woods? Well you know it is harvest time!

Oct. 12 am You know what today is? It's Lasagna day at Sister's Restaurant in Procious. While you're there, try the lemon pie.

Oct. 12 am The big Find It Clay WV Fall foliage tour is Oct. 16 and 17. If you're hosting a yard sale this weekend in the County of Clay, call the CAEZ office 304-587-2034. When the tourists come in the county, your yard sale info will be noted by the organizers. Make some $ and get rid of the junk too!

Oct. 11 am Happy day off from work. With Post Offices, banks, and government shut down for Columbus Day, we're taking some time off too.

Oct. 11 am For our international clickers, here in the Great Nation of Clay, our fall colors will peak around the 17th. Today, the tips of the maples are just turning red while the dogwoods are already glowing crimson. If there is ever a time to head to the mountains, it's now!

Oct. 11 am Our high dollar school administrators are paid to tell us how good our school system is. They do a good job with that. Truth is, WV ranks at or near the bottom in educational achievement. The Roane newspaper gives a pretty good accounting of education next door.

Oct. 11 am Tuesday at 4pm is the last day to file as a write in candidate in WV. Why not give it a shot! The more the merrier.

Oct. 11 am Is it illegal or not? Big movie and recording industry tycoons asked the US Supreme COurt to decide if file sharing is illegal in this country. Let's see now, if the robes haven't decided it, it must be legal! You decide, click P2P for more

Oct. 11 am Ever hear of buying your automatic weapons at a Krispy Creme Doughnut Shop. Click It Happened.

Oct. 11 am Relatives of 1,169 of the 3,000 who died have yet to receive any remains. Now it appears that the bodies will be sent to a rubbish dump.

Oct. 11 am Tuesday at 10am, County Commission will meet in regular session. Regular? Yell, it's pretty regular that only Sams and Triplett show up with Mathew HAC Bragg NEVER attending while still receiving his tax payer paid for check.

Oct. 10 am Here's our wrap up from the past week.

Oct. 10 am There have been 1,209 coalition deaths, 1,070 Americans, 68 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, 13 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai, nine Ukrainians and one soldier whose nationality has not been identified, in the war in Iraq as of October 8, 2004.

Oct. 10 am Warm dry temperatures brought out the fall colors. Tons of yellow Dave Mullins for Sheriff signs and red, white, & blue ones from Randy Holcomb. The week also brought a new contender on the political landscape, Butch Gray. With Mullins, Holcomb, Paxton and now Gray in the Sheriff's race, the whole complexion has changed.

Oct. 10 am On politics: During the televised VP debate, we relearned something, both sides lie thru their teeth.

Oct. 10 am Nothing new this past week from Murder Mountain except another shooting. This time it was Tommy Young Sr with the lead poisoning around 4:30 on Wednesday. According to 911 dispatch, Richard Cummings was the trigger man this time around. As of Friday afternoon, no arrest warrant had been issued.

Oct. 10 am Also from crime land, back last Spring, two juveniles broke into Clay Elem and stole a bunch of equipment. With a new get tough attitude in Clayberry, the Judge locked up one young man in Aug. and sentenced the second Friday. Both got 60 days in the hole.

Oct. 10 am Deadbeat County Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg showed his face in Clay this week. A first in over 5 months. No not to do work for the county that elected him and pays him, but rather, to run a road grader around the new Ginos in Two Run.

Oct. 10 am Changing of the guard: With RT retired, Eddie out in wonderland, Dan Sizemore closed the IGA store door for the last time this week. A lot of things added up to going out of the food business but certainly at the forefront, a county where the work force is non existent.

Oct. 10 am Changing of the guard: After a 20 year run at their Two Run digs, Tudors/Ginos took down their big outdoor sign and prepared for a new location just up the street.

Oct. 10 am Illegal Meetings: Just when you think our elected and appointed leaders are trying to abide by the law of the land, you find out, they follow the law ONLY when it's convenient. This past week, Clay County PSD Chair Keith King closed the public meeting, tossed out the public, and then held what he called " an internal matters" meeting with fellow Boardsters Earl Long and Ted Underwood. Ditto for Town Mayor Arthur Jarrett. Although not listed on the agenda, Jarrett tossed the public and called an "emergency" secret meeting. Emergency? Now don't tell King Arthur but look for Town Council to ever so secretly apply for a rate increase ASAP. Seems the colossal Johnny Wooooooofter Log Factory remains in the red and more $ are needed to operate the twice too big for the town, poop factory.

Oct. 10 am What the CAEZ couldn't do in 10 years... what the BDA hasn't done, ... two men opened a dirt race track in the far end of the county and created more opportunity, tourist value, and sales for the county than 10 years of BDA, CCC, CAEZ efforts combined. Regional race fans and drivers are now coming into the county and spending $ with our local merchants every Saturday. Never under estimate what can accomplished without government intervention! As of today, the BDA and the CAEZ have yet to create one non government job in the county.

Oct. 10 am Enjoy your Sunday. Spend some time enjoying the fall weather and wondering, where did summer go?

Oct. 9 am Jerry Wayne ?Buck? Moore, 54, of Indore, see FUNERAL page

Oct. 8 am Happy Anniversary Brenda Morris

Oct. 8 am There's been a Sizemore store in the county for decades. Located on Main Street, RT retired and turned over the empire reigns a few years back with sons Eddie and Dan operating the family business. This past summer "Eddie" without public explanation, unexpectedly left the business leaving Dan with all the headaches. That ends tonight with Bev Workman assuming control. Look for the store to shut down for a few days as renovations are made.

Oct. 8 am It's the end of an era tonight as RT's IGA store shuts down and changes ownership tonight.

Oct. 9 am Last night the Clay Panthers put it all over Roane County as the Raiders went down in defeat 14 -0. After scoring a touchdown early in the game, McCoy "Just call him the mailman" Samples went bashing, crashing thru the line running 70 yards to seal the fate of the Raiders.

Oct. 9 am And Election 2004 took a new twist when Wallback's Butch Gray signed up as a write in candidate for Clay County Sheriff. That makes three Deomorat candidates seeking office: Gray, Randy Holcomb, and Jim Paxton. With Republicat Dave Mullins, anything could happen Nov. 2. Gray has already started putting up signs around the county.

Oct. 9 am Another candidate could enter the County Commission contest. On the ballot Demorat Fran King and Mountain Party candidate Andy Waddell could see Brian Holcomb enter the race! A couple weeks back, Holcomb said if someone could come up with a needed $2000, he'd run in Nov. Holcomb ran in May 2004 and garnered many votes.

Oct. 9 am Last day to file as a write in in Oct. 12th at 4pm.

Oct. 9 am As of 3 pm Friday, no arrests warrants have been issued in the Tommy Young Sr shooting.

Oct. 9 am With gravel packed down and ready for paving, wayward County Commissioner/Grader operator Mathew HAC Bragg was seen heading home on the grader Friday afternoon. If you think HAC should have to work for his $25,000 annual Commissioner salary, let his fellow Commissioners know. Tell em: If he doesn't show up for work, don't sign his check. Triplett can be emailed by cutting and pasting petert@citlink.net in your email window. Commissioner Sams home telephone number is : 548-5031. Sheriff Fields also signs the checks, his home number is 286-4400

Oct. 9 am We have some good news to report!

Oct. 9 am Yesterday we posted a plea for someone to help Kate Whitteker transport 20,000 pounds of free food to Clay County from New Jersey. Although few admit to reading this site, Attorney General McGraw got wind of the need and after some phone calls, the Teamsters agreed to transport the non perishables free of charge. The food will be distributed in 7 counties by Whitteker's non profit, Aid for Families in Need.

Oct. 8 pm Just got an update clickers. Mathew HAC Bragg is working over at the new GInos location. Here's your chance to speak your mind clickers.

Oct. 8 pm A great big West Virginia Welcome to Martha Stewart.

Oct. 8 am On today's home page are pictures of Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg who was working for the family paving company yesterday in Clay. HAC has been labeled a thief for taking his taxpayer paid for salary and benefits ($25,000 per year) without showing up for work in five straight months. As a matter of fact, HAC hasn't really represented District A for years. In 2003, he showed up for less than half the meetings!

Oct. 8 am During recent County Commission meetings, the Mel Gibson look alike guy asked the CCC to declare HAC deceased and then stop sending him his checks. With his existence now documented in pictures, that declaration won't work. Instead, maybe the CCC could just stop signing Bragg's paycheck. It takes two signatures for the check to be good. Both the Sheriff and CCC President Peter Triplett have to sign their John Henry!

Oct. 8 am To date very few people have spoken out or asked the Commission to do something about giving an elected official $ for work not done. Are you ready to do something? Why not email Commissioner Triplett and tell him what you think. Just cut and paste petert@citlink.net into your email window and write away.

Oct. 8 am When Bragg found out he was given the HAC ( He Ain't Comin) label last year, man was he mad. How mad? He threatened to sue The Communicator for "stepping over the line" in his words. Wonder where the line is for those that steal from the folks that elected him into office?

Oct. 8 am Last night Clay Fire Dept. responded to a house fire on Graveyard hill.

Oct. 8 am No word on the whereabouts of Richard Cummings nor the condition of Tommy Young Sr.

Oct. 8 am Saturday is Roger and Brenda Morris' 200th wedding anniversary. Present arms.... Saaaalute!

Oct. 8 am Tonight Clay High takes on Roane County in Spencer. If you're not driving to the game, listen in on 101.7 FM as Tollhouse Frank and Brother Ray provide the remote broadcast coverage.

Oct. 8 am This one is important so put that coffee cup down and pay attention. Just got this from Kate Whitteker Executive Director; Aid For Families In Need, Inc. : we have had 20,000 pounds of food donated through Feed the Children. We do not have the funds, nor do we have a truck to go pick it up. It would be a shame to lose this load. The food will provide nutritious meals for the residents of our service counties. I don't know if I have told you this, but approximately 60%-75% of all of our clients come from Clay County. The food is in New Jersey and it must be picked up by the end of next week. Do you think someone could help us get this load? I can be reached at 565-4426. Thank you so much sir for your continued support of our efforts to supply humanitarian relief to West Virginia residents.

Oct. 8 am With home heating costs hitting the ceiling and gas prices way up, 20,000 pounds of food would sure help a lot of Clayberry families. Can anybody out there help. How about you Northern clickers? Any of you know of an empty tractor trailer heading this way?

Oct. 8 am Hey!!!!!!!! Did you email Peter Triplett? go back up above and do it now!

Oct. 8 am There's plenty to do this weekend.. Basket Bingo, Gospel Sings, Spaghetti Dinner. See EVENTS page now.

Oct. 8 am And here's some good reading. From the Ain't that a shame dept., Dubya and Cheney were left off the ballot. Click Not Smurking Now. And here's a nice one, a tiny Washington state library refused to give out client names to the Federal government. Click None of their business.

Oct. 8 am And for those worried that the first amendment is being slaughtered by Dubya, you should be. Even tho all delegates to the Republican National Convention were elected and their names certainly public, the FBI wanted their names and images kept secret. One web site printed the names and some pictures. Yesterday, the FBI raided the web service and confiscated their hard drives. Click 1st Amendment All Gone and Who Cares for more.

Oct. 7 pm Senator Bird had some strong words for WV and the Nov. election during last week's visit to Tamarack. His entire speech is posted on the ADVISORY page. Good reading

Oct. 7 pm Here's what we know from yesterday's Murder Mountain shooting....

Oct. 7 pm This one's important clickers. Just got this in the mail bag. Re: Betty Dennis TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: This letter is to request financial assistance in covering the costs of funeral and burial for the above-referenced individual, who is terminally ill with cancer and is not expected to live through the weekend. Wilson's Funeral Home in Clay has requested $5,000 up front to cover the cost. Ms. Dennis has no employment and no income whatsoever.

Ms. Dennis attends Grannies Creek Goodwill Community Church and the members are trying to raise money for her benefit. Please mail donations to Rev. Scott Proctor 234 Little Pigeon Rd. Pigeon, WV 25164. For any additional information needed, please call Rev. Proctor at 304-565-7539.
Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Thanking you in advance, Grannies Creek Goodwill Community Church

Oct. 7 pm Tommy Young Sr was the recipient of the Richard Cummmings lead poisoning attack according to scanner traffic and second, third and forth hand reports. The incident occurred around 4:30pm Wednesday Oct. 6th. Tommy Young Sr was taken to an area hospital with wounds to the leg. Around 5pm Green Shirt TFC Bailey told 911 dispatch to have the caller keep an eye on Cummings but don't put themselves in harm's way. A couple minutes later ( 5:02pm), 911 came back and said a bullet was just fired in Sr.'s front door and Cummings was walking away from the scene, down the hill, toward Summers Fork.

Oct. 7 pm As of 11:45am Thursday, no arrest warrant has been issued for Cummings by the investigating green shirts. Richard remains at large. . Both Sr and Cummings are already on bond. Cummings for possession & growing pot and Sr for the shooting of Cummings.

Oct. 7 pm Since an earlier blasting spree which included the use of 12 gauge shotguns and automatic assault rifles, Cummings has been living in the Little Italy section of Ivydale. It is unclear why Cummings was once again on Murder Mountain. Yesterday afternoon, neighbors commented that there weren't a bunch of shots like during the earlier incident when it was reported 500 rounds were heard.

Oct. 7 pm For additional coverage and pictures click All H broke loose for more

Oct. 7 pm Around Clayberry some have a new idea on how to reduce crime. Instead of adding more badges, the suggestion is to provide marksmanship classes to all first time offenders. Maybe with better aim, the problems will just sort of take care of themselves.

Oct. 7 pm Around 3:30am Sunday morning a trailer located beside the ambulance service office on Main Street caught fire killing the occupant. Details have been scant on this death. Fire Marshall investigaters were on the scene Monday. Yesterday afternoon, Charleston newspapers released the victims name as Beatrice Keigley in her 80s. The body was taken to the State Medical Examiners Office for autopsy.

Oct. 7 am We have another Sheriff candidate! Butch Gray filed as a write in candidate Wednesday. Last day to file as a write in for any office is Oct. 13th. Plenty of time clickers, step up to the plate and take a swing. You too Brian

Oct. 6 pm Before 5 pm today shoots rang out on Murder Mountain. From scanner traffic, it sounded like Richard Cummings shot Tommy Young Sr. Cummings is out on bond for having pot growing in his yard while Sr is on bond for shooting Cummings two months ago.

Oct. 6pm At 5:40pm today, a Clay County Ambulance was seen coming off Oil Field Road (AKA Murder Mountain) with lights flashing presumably heading to CAMC hospital with Sr on board.

Oct. 6 pm We'll get details ASAP.

Oct. 6 am Lindsay Nicole Scott-Teel, see FUNERAL page

Oct. 6 am For those tuning in from around the world, Clayberry is beautiful this week. Cool temps, no humidity, skies so blue your eyes hurt to look at it, and temps in the mid 60s. It just doesn't get any better than this

Oct. 6 am WV Open Meeting laws are pretty clear on when government agencies can go behind closed doors, reasons for going secret, and what agendas must have on them. For those that follow Clayberry government absurdities and the Great Nation of Clay, yesterday was keeper.

Oct. 6 am Yesterday, Clay County PSD Chair Keith "Mr. Happy" King closed the regular meeting and after throwing everyone out, held an executive (or secret) session with the board. When asked, Happy said they were going to discuss internal matters. Lets see now .... the entire body met in secret after a meeting to discuss PSD business. And another note from the Clay County PSD meeting, state law requires the agenda to contain the date, time, place, and purpose. Yesterday's agenda didn't do that. Now we're not attorneys but this sure sounds like an illegal meeting and the "internal matters" thang surely won't pass the rotten fish test!

Oct. 6 am When Keith King accepted his appointment to the PSD, he swore to do just one thing, to abide by the laws of the State of WV. So much for his promises.

Oct. 6 am Here's another ringer clickers. Yesterday afternoon Clay Town Council met in regular session. Nice meeting with lots of good ideas and kinda upbeat until ... Near the end of that meeting, Mayor King Arthur Jarrett ordered everyone out of the building and declared the need for an emergency secret meeting. When one short fat guy protested the actions... well it did no good.

Oct. 6 am In this one, there was nothing on the agenda allowing for a secret time, the public was ordered out of the meeting before the Council voted to go secret, and absolutely no reason ( required by state law) was given for the closed session. Oh yell clickers, when told that any decision they made could easily be challenged in court, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp right over their heads and to secret time they did go.

Oct. 6 am Keep in mind, just a few years back after hearing of blatant Open Meeting Law violations, the Attorney General's office staff came to Clayberry and spent 3 hours training our dumb bunnies about Sunshine Laws. Mr. Happy was in attendance as was at least one member of Clay Town Council. Either our leaders are slow learners or they're just itching for another costly court battle.

Oct. 6 am Late this evening we'll post on the substance of the meetings and the CAEZ gathering. Just had to get this stupid crap out first. Dumb Dumb Dumb!

Oct. 6 am Dan Rather took it on the chin last week over some supposedly fake documents on Dubbya. What if they weren't fake. Could W and his buddy Carl Rove been holding back? Click This One Stinks .

Oct. 5 am Happy Birthday Evelyne McLaughlin.

Oct. 5 am We got the Communicator out last Friday. Or we thought we did. Seems Kates Floral, the Henry Clay Hotel and J and S Grocery were overlooked. Sorry and those papers will be there today for sure.

Oct. 5 am Lots going on in the Appalachian Mountains of Clayberry today. This morning is the Breast Cancer Awareness Ceremony at 10 am followed by the walk. Details on The EVENTS page. Be sure to wear pink too

Oct. 5 am Today at 4 Town Council meets at the water plant. Sure to be talk on the recent smoke testing of sewer lines hooked to gutters and down spouts. Cost: $$$$$ CAEZ, meets at 4pm followed by a full Board meeting at 6pm. The CAEZ office is located beside the DHHR office in downtown.

Oct. 5 am Last night our School Board met and set up times to interview three potential architects for the new Ivy Fork Elem. School to be built near Big Otter.

Oct. 5 am So how quiet is it Clay? Town Cop Buckshot Butcher said he got a full night's sleep Sunday evening.

Oct. 5 am Scott Bass was one of the movers and shakers of Human Resource and Development Foundation in Clay for over two years. HRDF had a goal to get high schoolers into the job market with hands on, getting paid jobs. Bass is resigning that job as of next week.

Oct. 5 am Up until Spring this year, HRDF was a success story putting earned $ into the hands of those needing it and providing something few in the county could boast, a job. Since Spring, the program has gone to pot putting the kids last as top dog administrators continued to drive their BMWs. Guess is, Bass bailed out due to the program changes.

Oct. 5 am Last year Eric Pierson got in deep stuff with Judge Alsop for jury tampering during the Peggy De Board welfare fraud trial. Pierson chose probation over a few days in the slammer. Maybe 10 days but not for sure clickers. Since then, and while on probation, Pierson has got himself in deeeper doo doo. Last week he was picked up in Kanawha County for violations and if his luck holds true, that one unwise phone call to the defendant last year could easily land in him the slammer for much longer than the original 10 days!

Oct. 5 am And how about a guy that couldn't tell his winky from a chicken neck. Click WHACKED OFF for more

Oct. 5 am If your gay and a teacher, at least one Senator says you shouldn't have a job. Click Gays Can't teach.

Oct. 5 am A telephone survey of a random sample of 1,000 American adults found that just over one in four people somewhat or strongly agreed with a series of anti-Muslim sentiments. Click 1 in 4 hate Muslims.

Oct. 4 am Happy Monday morning. The first week of the month is always a busy one. We'll do our best to keep this site updated...

Oct. 4 am In the early hours of Sunday morning, a downtown Clay located right beside the ambulance service office burned killing a woman. No additional details as of Sunday evening

Oct. 4 am Events wise, tonight our School Board meets in regular session on Gump Street. Tuesday, Clay County PSD will hold a rescheduled monthly meeting in their Main Street digs beginning at 11 am. There's a Special General Membership meeting of Clay Development Corp on Thursday at 10 am. The social service provider has to change their by laws to comply with new regs brought on by Bob Graham's actions down in Wyoming County.

Oct. 4 am There are those that say , since taking prayer out of schools, the place has gone to pot. School Superintendent Linkinooooooooger says otherwise. Click Yes You Can for more

Oct. 4 am We got this in the email bag and thought we should pass it along: Will be relocating to the Clay/Nicholas/Braxton/Webster area in the near future. Currently own, (Paid off) house in Berkeley County, and work full time for WVDEP (20+ years). Am looking for a 2 bedroom rental in the area of these counties, prefer to be close to I-79, or Rt. 19, and prefer rural over town. Married, nonsmoking, have two well trained dogs and a cat, kids are grown and moved out. Will be buying property in the area after current house is sold, and after I have decided where in the four county area I really want to live, have to learn the area first. If you have anything that fits this, or can refer me to someone who might, it would be appreciated. It's not to often we get someone wanting to come to Clayberry! How about an email response for Mr. Lilly. Cut and paste this email address to reply: JKEVINLILLY@aol.com

Oct. 4 am And for some fun: Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed arbiter of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several members were unappreciative of her activities, but they feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just walked away.
He didn't explain, defend, or deny, he said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house and left it there all night!

Oct. 4 am If you see something going on, email us please.

Oct. 3 pm A belated Happy Birthday to ERMA (SMITH) COTTRELL IN MORGANTOWN, ( FORMALY of CLAY CO )

Oct. 3 pm Before the weekend round up, don't know what caused the outages, maybe the rain, but much of Clayberry went without electric service just after 4pm yesterday and after coming back on 25 minutes later, Poof! off it went at 7:45pm for several hours.

Oct. 3 pm Around the county, it was quiet, no TV, no DVDs to watch, not even the sound of a fan humming. In downtown Clay, only the Clayberry Bank sign was aglow. Up at the ambulance service officer, a tiny generator cranked out enough power to keep the lights and radios alive. By emergency light only, a few people continued to hang out at Ginos in hopes of getting some vittles.

Oct. 3 pm There have been 1,198 coalition deaths, 1,059 Americans, 68 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, 13 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and nine Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of October 1, 2004.

Oct. 3 pm In Clayberry, it's prime election season! Signs are going up, candidates are out working the street corners. In just 29 days, the future of the county will be in the hands of the voters. If you really want to mess with the politicians, early voting starts Oct. 13th. Go vote early and watch the politicos walk away with tail and tale in hand.

Oct. 3 pm For local PSD leaders, it's time to start suing folks! With bids in hand and construction crews chomping at the bit, silly land owners that think they have some say in the land they bought, paid for, and pay annual taxes on, are in for another thought. With secret closed door time behind them, the plans are laid, it's time to take the hold-outs to court, .... group rights over individual freedoms.

Oct. 3 pm This past week, accused murderer Larry Thomas appeared during a preliminary hearing. His next step is Grand Jury Nov. 3rd. The plan appears to be, get the case started ASAP and for Daniel Grindo to be at the helm for the prosecution. With court room veteran John Mitchell Sr defending Thomas,... just thinking what may happen is pretty darn scary.

Oct. 3 pm The big news from this past week was the finding of $6.7 million in untaxed Fola Coal mineral reserves. Found by state house auditors, the windfall will be $67,000+ for county coffers. Well...... which coffers? It looks like 70% of the find will be diverted over to the school system bank account leaving little for the CCC to work with.

Oct. 3 pm A small band of volunteers have been working for months to organize an event where locals could make some easy $ while promoting Clayberry to tourists. That event , the Find It! Clay WV fall foliage tour will be held Oct. 16 and 17th. Want to make some $ ? See ADVISORY page 587-2034 or 1-800-935-3921

Oct. 3 pm And finally for a cloudy overcast Sunday: An elderly Italian man who lived in the outskirts of Monte Casino went to the local church for confession. He said: "Father, during World War II a beautiful young woman knocked on my door and asked me to hide her from the Enemy. So I hid her in my attic." The priest replied: "That was a wonderful thing you did, my son, and you have no need to confess that." "It's worse than that, Father. She started to repay me with sexual favors. The priest said: "By doing that you were both in great danger, however two people together under those circumstances are greatly tempted to

act that way. But if you are truly sorry for your actions, you are forgiven." "Thank you, Father. That's a great load off my mind. But I have one more question." "And what is that?" said the priest. "Should I tell her the war is over?"

Oct. 2 am Thanks for the pictures JL

Oct. 2 am The latest edition of The Communicator made it the news stands Friday evening. 20 pages of hard hitting found ne where else news and views on Clayberry West Virginia

Oct. 2 am Make sure you check out the stuff on gone from duty for more than five months, Commissioner Mathew Bragg

Oct. 2 am Looks like we've got some wet weather for at least part of the weekend. Yard sales continue today rain or shine. Great time to pick up some bargains.

Oct. 2 am Let us know if hear something.... like mail box bashing last Monday night out Peach Orchard Road.

Oct. 1 am Oct. is here. Be sure to check the EVENTS page for all kinds of first of the month yard sales around the county.

Oct. 1 am Last night Clay Middle School got tromped by the Webster County team, 22 to 6. Beautiful night, not too cold, and man Webster was a big team!

Oct. 1 am No Clay High game tonight.

Oct. 1 am Can you imagine... in broad daylight, in downtown Clayberry, thugs stole a TV dish right off the pole . In another case, vandals swiped a tailgate off a pick up truck. Better chain down everything clickers.

Oct. 1 am The Communicator comes out this afternoon around 4pm. If all goes well, 20 pages of news found nowhere else. Have you heard about the 30 mail box bashings out Triplett Ridge? It's in there! How about the details on the smoke testing of sewer lines in downtown Clay? It's in there! How about Thomas Franklin King Jr. getting set loose Thursday afternoon after being charged with intimidating witnesses? Oh yell, it's in there too.

Oct. 1 am Last month Tonya Salisbury was sentenced to jail. In today's edition of the Communicator we have an interview with Tonya's Mother, Sonja Harlow. If you're a parent of a teenager, you need to read this edition for sure.

Oct. 1 am No new postings until we get the paper out the door later today.