September News 2004

  • Sept. 30 am Happy end of the month. Get your classified events page listing in before 3 today if you want to make Friday's Communicator.
  • Sept. 30 am This evening is a very important Clay Roane PSD meeting for those seeking service along the Amma/Left Hand water line extension project. Action starts at 7pm tonight at the Amma Senior Citizen's  building. There's still many along the route that haven't signed rights of way agreements. Without the John Hancocks' affixed, the water line project can't get underway. They might be nice tonight, but if you don't sign, to court you and the PSD shall go.
  • Sept. 30 am Don't need or want water service? Head over to Schoonover/Bradley field for Clay Middle School football action beginning at 6pm . CMS takes on Webster County. It's also homecoming for Clay. Be sure to bring your camera!
  • Sept. 30 am Traffic jams in Clayberry? You bet! Crews are paving between Hartland and Two Run. Work continues today. Leave early for that destination or you will be late.
  • Sept. 30 am  And couple of things from Wednesday.....
  • Sept. 30 am Accused murderer Larry Thomas waved his preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court yesterday and will go before the Nov. 3rd Grand Jury. Thomas is accused of murdering Nancy Nelson. Attorney John Mitchell Sr asked Judge Alsop for bond for his client. Alsop hasn't given an answer yet.
  • Sept. 30 am  During Court room testimony yesterday, reference was made to a Thomas written letter that said something along the lines of: If I can't have you, nobody will. With Grindo done,  Big Mitch asked Green Shirt Wiles if he had the letter? Response: No, it was in a cruiser. At other times, it was as if Prosecutor Grindo didn't have his ducks in a row.
  • Sept. 30 am So what's really going on? Here's our guess: Mitchell didn't fall off the punkin truck yesterday, has already had success with Gringo as the op>
  • Transfer interrupted!

    t before this Grand Jury session in Nov. If Thomas is indicted, Mitch Sr will ask for a speedy trial in 30 days. Translation: He wants to make sure Grindo is the Prosecutor. Even with a change of venue expected, Grindo could easily screw up some itty bitty technical item and , let's not think about that right now. Grindo leaves the Prosecutor's job at year's end and head back to his native Braxton County.
  • Sept. 30 am Relating to Mitch expected to hurry up the Thomas case in hopes of a "Grindo moment",  it appears law enforcement is working to slow cases down until Grindo heads back to Braxton County.
  • Sept. 30 am  Since the building of the new Johnny Wooooofter Log Factory (poop plant) 6 years ago, the new facility hasn't worked right due in part to storm water from town storm drains and rain gutter run off entering the system. With gobs of water running thru the poop lines and into the log factory, the plant can't handle the volume and much of the nasty ends up in the Elk River. How bad is it?  The state boys fined the Town $55,000 earlier this year when a herd of logs was seen stretching out into the Elk 150 foot!
  • Sept. 30 am With fine in hand ( now reduced to just $9000), the town plans to force property owners to unhook the down spouts from the sewer lines. To find out who is illegally hooked up, Town Council has been blowing smoke thru the sewer lines and watching where the white fog comes up. Guess what? Yesterday, it came up nearly everywhere.
  • Sept. 30 am  From the DHHR building to Foodland, to the  Clay County Bank property to   Yes even the historic Henry Clay Hotel building owned by Mayor Arthur Jarrett and even up thru the sidewalks..... the Town has BIG problems and not with just private business and residents.
  • Sept. 30 am Much of the rain run off going into the Poop Factory is coming from the Town's own storm drain system. Millions will be needed to reroute the old broken pipes. Anf who has to pay for that? Take a guess!
  • Sept. 29 am  Okey Neal 52 of Ivydale, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 29 am  With Frontiernet internet service out of commission for nearly 24 hours Monday and Tuesday morning, we have some catching up to do. Go get your coffee cup..
  • Sept. 29 am The Clay County PSD imposed Boil Water Order issued for the Ivydale area was lifted yesterday afternoon. Drink Drink Drink
  • Sept. 29 am  There have been 1,190 coalition deaths, 1,053 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 eight Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of September 28, 2004
  • Sept. 29 am Monday night the Clay Middle School girl's volleyball team put it all over Gilmer County followed by another victory Tuesday evening. Walton went down in flames. Thursday night at Schoonover/Bradley Field, Clay Middle School will hold their Homecoming.
  • Sept. 29 am  Because of recent shootings, drug wars in the county, and the like, now, every time someone dies, our citizenry start the rumor mill.... was there foul play, was he shot, was he seen with you know who?
  • Sept. 29 am And our big story, the county is $67,000 richer!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 29 am During Monday's County Commission meeting, the state tax dept. boys found a mistake with Fola Coal's land holdings to the tune of $6.7 million! Our local assessor doesn't handle mineral appraisal duties. The folks in Charleyton provide that service.
  • Sept. 29 am The Fola reps said they had filed their info electronically and that may be the reason for the messed up low ball numbers. After conferring back and forth in front of Commissioner Sams and Triplett and after pecking on the calculator, tap tap tippy tap tap.. Our county will realized at least an additional $67,000 this year for the underground coal reserves under reported!  $67,000!!!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 29 am Not too shabby for little ole Clayberry. As soon as word spread on the windfall, the question: Will they two deputies with the new funds? During the meeting no mention was made on where the $ will be spent.
  • Sept. 29 am In the way of $, we're getting another $30,000 from the WV Budget Digest fund. Put with $28,000 already received for the ambulance service from the state folks, there is enough money to purchase one new ambulance for the county. We'll officially receive the good news Oct. 16th during a special ceremony.
  • Sept. 29 am County Commissioner Mathew HAC Bragg made it a perfect score Monday. Five months straight without showing up for duty. Commissioner Sams commented that he had seen Ms Bragg show  up to receive the taxpayer paid for check last week.
  • Sept. 29 am While it's very sad that Bragg robs from the taxpayer but even sadder, there hasn't been a public outcry. Our citizen's don't care if the elected leaders show up or not. Maybe we don't deserve anybody!
  • Sept. 29 am Others feel we'd be better off if the ALL the elected leaders stayed at home!
  • Sept. 29 am  Emails continue to come in on the county's only health care provider, Clay Primary Health. Here's a web site that offers some answers to rural medicine. Click Bureau of Primary Care  .
  • Sept. 29 am   We're now in prime electioneering season. In the County of Clay, Republicat Sheriff candidate Dave Mullins has yellow signs staked at nearly every intersection. Demorat candidate Randy Holcomb opted for a bunch of larger plastic signs. Write in candidate Jim Paxton is without signage so far.
  • Sept. 29 am For the fall election, Clay has only two contests, Sheriff and County Commission. No signs for either County Commission candidate have been seen around the county.
  • Sept. 28 pm  What happened... Where did it go... No Internet?????????????
  • Sept. 28 pm Yesterday afternoon around 4 pm the frontiernet.net internet service , both DSL and dial up, went down. Part of the service came back around 10:30am this morning.
  • Sept. 28 pm  We'll do some updating later today ASAP.
  • Sept. 28 pm Did we mention the County Commission found $67,000+ in additional tax dollars? Did we mention Fola Coal ( Braxton Land and Mineral holdings) under estimated their appraised holdings in Clayberry by $6.7 million?
  • Sept. 28 pm  Check back this evening for details
  • Sept. 27 am  This morning at 10 am the County Commission meets to solve the county's problems. Often you see an agenda posting for a change in some big landowner tax assessment. Today it's  Braxton Land and Mineral Company's turn.
  • Sept. 27 am  As for wayward County Commissioner Mathew Bragg, if he's absent again today, that makes five months of drawing a government pay check with NO service to the county. Let's see now, $18,500 a year salary plus $9600 in hospitalization coverage.. That means he has stolen about $11,708.00.
  • Sept. 27 am Hello Wire Haired lady and Betty Fisher. Quit reading this site and get to work!
  • Sept. 27 am Later this week, Clay Roane PSD is holding a Special Meeting. The meeting is Thursday, September 30, 2004, at 7:00 p.m.  at the new Amma Senior Citizen building.  The Amma Senior Citizen building is located right off the Amma exit, on top of a hill.  Discussion will be securing needed rights of way agreement with the holdout before invoking eminent domain provisions through the court system.
  • Sept. 27 am  Trick or Treat will be held Oct. 29th from 6 to 7pm.
  • Sept. 27 am  Arson hit Clay County hard in 2002 - 2003. Last week Carol and Linda Fitzwater's rental house burned to the ground. Arson is suspected in the early morning blaze atop Camp Creek hill.
  • Sept. 27 am  From Will Rogers:   Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.   Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.    There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works.    Never miss a good chance to shut up.  Always drink upstream from the herd.  If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.    The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.
  • Sept. 27 am And finally for this morning   Clem and Larry were sitting in back of their trailers shooting the  breeze.    Clem asked Larry, "If I snuck ovah to yore house while you wuz out fishin an' made love to your wife, an' she got pregnant, would dat make us   kin?" Larry scratched his head for a bit then said, "I don't think  so.....but it shore would make us even!"
  • Sept. 25 am Maybe they had the big head maybe maybe maybe whatever... the Clay Panthers went down in flames last night as Herbert Hoover took control of the game in the play and never let go!  Tonight at 8, Yap Radio will rebroadcast the game on 101.7 FM if they can figure out which button to does what.
  • Sept. 25 am Talk about a  mess!!!!!!!!!!! Clayberry's idea of a traffic jam is to doodle behind a slow poke driver or farm tractor. Last night a tractor trailer carrying 100 cows overturned on I 79 sending the bovine every which a way. With the Interstate blocked, 1000s of vehicles were diverted down Route 4.   With the roads backed up big time, then came the motorists heading to and from the ball game at Schoonover/Bradley Field.... With traffic moving like molasses, one of the big trucks got all hung up on Route 36 heading over to the Wallback exist.
  • Sept. 25 am With the badges out on the Interstate riding herd on the wayward steaks, Clay Fire Dept. worked to keep onslaught  moving on like a herd of turtles.
  • Sept. 25 am This morning, 9:24, 911 call for law enforcement...... 9:25, 911 call for law.... no answer
  • Sept. 25 am  In the way of a weekend wrap up:  After a ten plus year wait, bids were finally opened on the Lizemore/Tucker's Bottom water line extension project. With quotes in hand, we're short $1 1/2 million;  a smaller group of protesters held signs and chanted out Wed. The groups appears to be protesting Judge Ruckman's decision to give  a juvenile to gay companion of the deceased Christy Smarr; A block home on Camp Creek burned this past week. The guess is arson;  And then there's  the criminal part of the week that was...
  • Sept. 25 am  Without a doubt, Clayberry is sick of thugs stealing and running unchecked in the county. This week, Magistrate Boggs heard the public and sentenced Thomas Franklin King to 8 years in jail for bashing in car windshields ( June 2004). Getting tough costs money. Since the charges were misdemeanors, the county will have to pay for the time away from home to the tune of $141,620.00.  Judge Alsop sentenced Tonya Salisbury to 1 year in the slammer for the killing of her husband Chad in Sept. 2002. With time already served, Tonya has 5 1/2 more months to go before getting free. Lyndon Metheney is sleeping in Central Regional Jail unable to post bond.
  • Sept. 25 am And  a jury found juvenile Tommy Young Jr. guilty this week. Jr screwed up big time this past Spring when he followed CCHS Vice Principal Jim Haynie home and with a pistol in his hand, told Haynie he was having evil thoughts.
  • Sept. 24 am Yesterday, we forgot to remember :  CHAD ALLEN SALISBURY    6\4\72 - 9\23\02
  • Sept. 24 am Tonight Clay High takes on Herbert Hoover at home. Be sure to bring a radio with you . YAP Radio (101.7FM) will broadcast the play by play beginning with a pre game show at 7:15.
  • Sept. 24 am  Happy Birthday wishes to Wilma "Mardell" (Starcher) Nevans of Big Otter.
  • Sept. 24 am Clay Development Corp was to have their Board of Directors meeting yesterday at 10 am. Didn't happen. No quorum.
  • Sept. 24 am  Because of his juvenile status, the Tommy Young Jr. trial was a closed door affair. We understand the 2 day proceeding ended Thursday before lunch with Jr. found guilty. The case involved misdemeanor charges related to the 17 year olds actions last Spring when he tailgated Clay High Vice Principal Jim Haynie up Maysel Hill and near the Haynie home,  told the VP, he was having evil thoughts as he displayed a pistol. It'll take a few days before the details start seeping out. We'll keep our ears to the ground.
  • Sept. 24 am And another development. Larry Thomas stands accused of killing  Nancy Nelson earlier this month. Thomas asked for a court appointed attorney. Wayne King got the nod. We understand, Thomas has now retained John Mitchell for court duty.
  • Sept. 24 am On various occasions on this site and in the Communicator, Roy Brown's names has been mentioned here and there. Earlier this week, Brown asked for a correction. According to Brown, he was NOT in Widen when Chad Salisbury was gunned done two years ago.
  • Sept. 24 am Last week, Magistrate Jeff Boggs sentenced Thomas Franklin King to 8 years in Central Regional Jail for bashing a bunch of windshields on the back streets of Clay June 17th. Since the charges were misdemeanors, King will spend his 8 years in the jail on the county tab. Yelp, at about $43 per day times 8 years.... the county , that's you and me, will cough up about $142,000. Justice is expensive! One fellow today said we should have just shot King.
  • Sept. 24 am $142,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 23 am  Great big Birthday  wishes to 5 year old COURTNEY STARCHER.
  • Sept. 23 am This morning at 10, Clay Development Corp will convene a Special meeting for a reading of the by law changes. Meetings are open to the public for the most part.
  • Sept. 23 am Have we mentioned the snake in the crapper during the Apple Festival? Last Saturday a carnival worker went to do his business behind the IGA store in one of those little blue plastic porta poopers. With his pants to his knees, a snake bit him you know where. An ambulance was summoned and off to the hospital he did go. The snake was also treated and released.
  • Sept. 23 am Yesterday friends and supporters of Christy Smarr protested at the Courthouse. TV-8 showed up this time! With a much smaller crowd in attendance, the anti homosexual signs were non existent this second week of protest.
  • Sept. 23 am  CHOICE!  With Joe Manchin actually a Republicat registered as a Demorat, many in the county see little difference between Machin and Monty Warner the elephant candidate. There is a third guy on the ballot. Click Jesse Johnson to find out more the other option. Get this, Johnson even came to the Apple Festival!
  • Sept. 23 am About the time school let out last Spring, Tommy Young Jr. got into some legal doo doo when he  followed CCHS Vice Principal Jim Haynie home where Haynie noticed the 17 year old had a pistol. The Communicator printed the full accounting back then. Tommy Young Jr., accused of a bunch of stuff, is a juvenile and all court proceedings are closed door. Based on the number of people in the upstairs court room yesterday and shear speculation.....
  • Sept. 23 am The guess is, Young Jr. is on trial for those misdemeanor charges. With the jury leaving before 4pm yesterday, looks like the trial will continue today. As soon as we hear something, we'll post.
  • Sept. 23 am  and for some puter housekeeping....  Down below is the picture of Bruce E Bird from the jail web site. Bird wa arrested Monday and charged with obstructing an officer, 2 battery charges, one domestic battery charge and destruction of property. Magistrate Boggs set bond at $4000 per charge. That $20,000 bond was posted by Walton Bonding company Wed afternoon. Terms of the bond include no contact with girlfriend Terra nor Starlett and Jody Miller.
  • Sept. 23 am  Also from down below.... Lyndon Metheney was originally charged with 8 counts  of destruction of property in the June 17th windshield bashing  spree on the back streets of Clay. Those charges were dropped since Metheney is alleged to have been driving the vehicle while Franklin King did the actual bashing and smashing.
  • Sept. 23 am With those charges dropped, 8 counts of conspiracy were added. Yesterday, unable to make the $16,000 bond, Metheney headed off to Central Regional Jail where he remained as of 3:30pm Wednesday.
  • Sept. 23 am Lets get to some juicy stuff. How much does Clay Primary Health Director Rick Simon earn? Answer: Based on the 2002 IRS Form 990 where then Director RIchard Jarvis earned $77,298.00, the guess is, the Rickster makes $80,000! Not bad for a part time Director on the scene a couple mornings a week.
  • Sept. 23 am  As a rural health clinic, Clay Primary is allowed a certain ratio of professionals to county population. The rules we found on the internet call for 1 MD for 1500 county residents, 1 Physican Assistant per 1250 county residents, and 1 medical provider for 1500 in the county. With what looks like about a gazillion doctors there, if caught, the county's only medical provider could be in the deep stuff.
  • Sept. 23 am  After operating in the red for months and months, what would be the advantage to bankrupting the agency. Maybe Maybe Maybe, if they shed the rural health clinic status and were taken over by a private clinic, they could charge patients a bunch more than the Federal government assignments allow. So much for the sliding scale fees and the service for the poorest in one of the poorest counties in one of the poorest states!
  • Sept. 23 am With little oversight by the Board, last meeting only 3 showed up!, the whole place could shut down and the Board  would never know what happened! Only in Clayberry.
  • Sept. 22 pm Those in the Ivydale area of the Clay County PSD, BOIL THAT WATER!!!. Big time water leak at the Elk River crossing. The line popped and nearly emptied the tank Monday afternoon. Boil Water Order for Ivydale.
  • Sept. 22 pm Some folks are asking about the Central Regional Jail web page. Here's the Link. Once there you can surf the daily incarceration list or by name. By the way, that name has to be spelled exactly right and the same way the accused were booked.
  • Sept. 22 am  Last night, Kerry/Edwards campaign worker Caroline Rose came to the Courthouse to organize locals. Around 25 showed for the hastily called event. Rose reminded those attending how important it is for Kerry to carry WV. There are 340,269 votes in the state and even with 243,000 registered Demorats, according to Rose, 97,000 need to be swayed to the Kerry camp.
  • Sept. 22 am During discussions, one aging Kerry supporter told the crowd: Bush has a faith based health care plan, you pray you won't get sick!
  • Sept. 22 am Healtcare costs are a concern for all in the county as is the future of Clay Primary Care, our only public clinic. Primary Care has two locations in the county of Clay, one at Big Otter and the main facility at Two Run.  With the agency operating in the red big time, many wonder when the place will be turned over to some big time for profit outfit. In the middle of all the red tape, are horror stories of top heavy management and plans to grow the Two Run facility with new office space for the administration.
  • Sept. 22 am  On top of the red ink, comes a new story on the plans to fire physican assistant Lynn Shaver. Here's the one way we're getting it clickers: Last week a small part of the Board met in a Special Meeting, secret of course, and OK'd  a new contract for Shaver which would cut her salary by  several $1000 and force her to drive to the Two Run work site ( instead of Big Otter) Monday thru Thursday and evening shifts, 5 to 7pm, PLUS then head over to the Big Otter facility for Friday duty. The deal: Take it or get fired!
  • Sept. 22 am So what would be the proper way to give Shaver the new deal contract offer? Would it be flagging her down with flashing lights on Interstate 79? That's how Clay Primary Health management did it  Sept. 18th!
  • Sept. 22 am More Thursday on why Ric and Crew are doing the things they're doing. And, how about that part about three members of the Board making the contract decision. More on that too.
  • Sept. 21 pm Forgot to give a time on tonight's Kerry/Edwards organizational meeting at the Courthouse. That time is 6:30pm
  • Sept. 21 pm  As for the preliminary hearing for accused  murderer Larry Thomas this morning... according to Magistrate Clerk Vickie Gency, attorney Wayne King asked for  some additional time and the hearing was delayed. No date set for the rescheduled item.
  • Sept. 21 pm For those clicking in around the world, in the garden spot of America, Clay County West Virginia, the sun is out bright and strong with blue skies from wall to wall. This morning the smell of wood stoves was in the air. Fall is here.
  • Sept. 21 am Who ever was suppose to organize the Kerry/Edwards Clayberry push for President screwed up big time during the Apple Festival. Not one big banner sign, not one Demorat float in the Apple parade....  The Charleston campaign folks found out about it and aren't taking any chances.
  • Sept. 21 am This evening at the new Courthouse there is an organizational meeting to get the message out, Kerry in 2004. Public invited too.
  • Sept. 21 am WYAP-LP 101.7 FM is broadcasting the Clay High Football games each week. This week, they're adding something new. Naked Women!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 21 am    Just kidding.....   They're taping the show and planning to play it back sometime over the weekend so the players can hear what went on.  Details as we get them clickers.
  • Sept. 21 am Ever hear of a Tazor stun gun? Over on the ADVISORY page is one emailer's account of what not to do with a TAZOR. While there take a look at Tollhouse Frank's football predictions if you haven't been following them already.
  • Sept. 21 am This morning at 10 am Larry Thomas will have his preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court. Thomas stands charged with murder in the first degree of his wife, Nancy Nelson one week ago yesterday. Wayne King will represent Thomas.
  • Sept. 21 am Yesterday, Tonya Salisbury received a one year in the slammer from Judge Alsop for involuntary manslaughter of her husband Chad. Already in jail for violating the terms of her bond ( failed the drug pee test about 100 times!), Salisbury will have to complete about 5 more months to satisfy the Court and complete her sentence. Her time on home confinement will not count toward jail time.  As for probation... nope according to Alsop.
  • Sept. 21 am    And Yes she went thru the alligator tears bit and asked the court for mercy with, "Our actions that day...." Doesn't that sound a little odd , "our"?
  • Sept. 21 am About one minute after the sentence was imposed, Chad's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tonya in the Circuit Clerk's office.
  • Sept. 20 am   There have been 1,163 coalition deaths, 1,028 Americans, 66 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 eight Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of September 17, 2004
  • Sept. 20 am  The smell of wood burning stoves was in the air around Clayberry. Temps in the 50s make us remember what makes Summer so special
  • Sept. 20 am  The big apple Festival wrapped up Sunday afternoon under blue skies and bright sunshine. already people are commenting on how well the event went with the numbers in attendance much more manageable.
  • Sept. 20 am Another thing is being commented on. The Demorats! No not the politicians  shaking babies and kissing hands but the lack of Kerry/Edwards ANYTHING in the Apple, around the Apple. Not a mention of Kerry in the parade. In the county of  3 to 1 Demorat to Republicat, with the opportunity lost, someone really dropped the ball this time around!
  • Sept. 20 am Few can forget when Prosecutor Grindo screwed up big time and blew the murder case against Tonya Salisbury... she did agree to a plea.  The last time we heard, Salisbury will be sentenced today at 1pm.
  • Sept. 20 am Tonight the school board meets at 6pm. With Clay Middle School listed as failing on the No School Left Behind Act report and with the school system not wanting to pay to ship students over Geary School in Roane County , the board will hire a bunch more instructors to beef up CMS's educational process. Also tonight, the elected ones will decide on written goals and objectives for our Superintendent to accomplish....  it's about time don't you think?
  • Sept. 20 am Sort of an oppppps    Last week a post on the ambulance service got screwy. We reported the one crew went after a patient with a spider bite and another call went unanswered. Instead: Our crew was on a run and the spider bite victim had to drive herself to the hospital after her leg went numb. We stand corrected . Of course the issue remains, our ambulance service has a problem meeting the needs of the county and "readiness" remains woefully under funded.
  • Sept. 20 am 16 months ago, W said we had won the oil war. Now at least one General is telling the truth and the "war" is escalating daily. Click Killing continues for more.
  • Sept. 20 am  If Bush is elected to a second term, is another war coming? Over 50% say Yes. Details from AP.
  • Sept. 19 am With the sun shining bright and the sky blue blue blue, the Apple Festival was in full blossom yesterday. from little crumb snatchers to senior senior citizens, the town was packed with stuff to do from stem to stern.
  • Sept. 19 am After the fireworks, the bands fired up and played until well after midnight. Don't miss out on today's 5k run, gospel sing beginning at 1, fishing derby at the pool,  and chili cookoff.
  • Sept. 19 am  Last night Clay High blew past Calhoun County 14 to 0.
  • Sept. 19 am We'll get to the weekend wrapup this evening late ( maybe) and set a calendar for this coming week's events like the Tony Salisbury sentencing.
  • Sept. 19 am   I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered.  But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue:  "No good in a bed, but fine up against a wall".  ~Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Sept. 19 am  My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.  ~Jimmy Durante
  • Sept. 19 am   A woman drove me to drink...and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her. ~W.C. Fields
  • Sept. 18 am Happy Saturday. After what seems like a constant rain for years, the sun is suppose to come out just in time for the Apple Festival parade and fun time stuff. Come out meet some friends and enjoy life as it should be.
  • Sept. 18 am  The Communicator made it out the door around 2pm yesterday. 20 pages of the best news and views on the life and times of Clayberry. Good detailed coverage from the crime in Clayberry butt chewing meeting and info on Wednesday protest at the courthouse among lots of other things.... even have a few more mentions of Murder Mountain.
  • Sept. 18 am  The radio station is hosting an open house this afternoon. Talk in a can and win a prize too. Want to get on the air and say hello to someone around the world? This afternoon is your chance.
  • Sept. 18 am Tonight the rain delayed Clay High vs Calhoun football game will be aired on WYAP-LP  101.7 FM. Take your radio over to the Apple Festival and enjoy both at the same time!
  • Sept. 18 am For those with loved ones in the area.... although we've had tons of rains, no flooding that we've heard about in the county with roads remaining open.
  • Sept. 18 am  Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.      All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no  attention to criticism...        Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents?     In the 60's people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal...        Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.
  • Sept. 17 am  We're holding up all new posts until we get the Communicator out the door today today around 4pm. In the mean time...
  • Sept. 17 am  Be careful. It rained all night long and the creeks are getting deeper and deeper. We're under a flood watch thru Saturday. Keep an eye open for small stream flooding!!
  • Sept. 17 am No word yet on tonight's Clay High vs Calhoun County football match up. If the roads aren't flooded, WYAP-LP will broadcast the game in its entirety beginning around 7pm.
  • Sept. 16pm  A belated birthday wish to the meaner than a green snake, living down South, Paige. How mean is she? Hulk Hogan wouldn't have a chance against her!
  • Sept. 16 pm Yesterday Tommy Young Sr was able to come up with bond and made bail. With bond at $150,000.00 for five felony charges, he had to provide the bondsman $15,000 or 10%. Today Tommy Young Jr. is seeking bond reduction. We'll have the latest Murder Mountain updates in Friday's Communicator.
  • Sept. 16 pm We goofed this morning. Re read the post on Thomas Franklin King. The post is now corrected.
  • Sept. 16pm Don't let the rain get you all bummed out. A bunch of the activities will be held indoors. We'll post as needed.
  • Sept. 16 am  There have been 1,154 coalition deaths, 1,020 Americans, 65 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 eight Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of September 15, 2004
  • Sept. 16 am Now some tidbits..   Remember last year when the WV Public Service Commission ordered the local gas company into receivership? Since then, little has been heard on the Valley, Beechy, and Wagoneer Gas Co mess. Now we don't have a clue what a "Stoner Model" is, but the PSC has issued some new info. Click Still in Control.
  • Sept. 16 am  Ivydale's Larry McLaughlin has been without water more often than not. After filing a complaint with the WV PSC some time back, PSC engineers figured out a way for him to have "some" water pressure in the evening hours. Up until then, there was NO water pressure after 11pm nightly. That good supply of water from the Clay County PSD didn't last very long. With water non existent, he reopened his complaint. Click FIX ORDERED for details on the new Jim Weimer inspired plan of attack. Hello Jim!
  • Sept. 16 am After months and months of work and planning, the Apple Festival is slated to kick off this afternoon. Someone forgot to tell the weather man. Predictions call for rain rain rain over the next three days. With kids ready to have some real end of the summer fun and adults looking forward to seeing old friends, what a pity.
  • Sept. 16 am By the way, according to Bill Dunn, the big trout fishing derby has been changed to catfish and the helicopter rides have been canceled due to the Florida based pilot's roof blowing off back home.
  • Sept. 16 am Do you know what a flint knapper is? Michael Miller will be at Kate's Florist on Main Street , Saturday, to demonstrate his art. Still don't know? Click Work of Art to see his handiwork. With the bad weather coming this way, bring a rain coat or umbrella and don't forget about the other indoor stuff to do.... there's a Craft area in the old Elk Hardware building for instance.... and don't forget about Saturday's "tasting" over at Scented Wonders Craft Mall at Two Run. Keep your radios tuned to 101.7 FM. We plan to provide updated info all day Saturday
  • Sept. 16 am There is another feather in volunteer Cop Buckshot Butcher's hat today. Yesterday Thomas Franklin King stood before the Magistrate and received 8 consecutive one year sentences for destruction of property charges. In addition to 8 years behind bars, he has to pay a $500 fine times 8 , and $125 court costs times 8. Butcher was the arresting officer. The case will be appealed.
  • Sept. 16 am If you didn't read yesterday afternoon's post on the protest at the Courthouse, do so now. Are you back?
  • Sept. 16 am 50 or so people stood in front of the Courthouse yesterday holding signs and yelling to passing motorists. At issue is a custody battle over a young boy after the Mother was killed in a  car accident 2 years back. The grand parents want custody as well as a live in companion  ( Tina Birch) of the deceased woman, Christy Smarrs. The case has been appealed to the WV Supreme Court.
  • Sept. 16 am Here's the confusing part, some of the protesters were holding signs denouncing homosexuality while others touted Grandparents rights and the child should be given to "blood" lines. TV-8 news crews talked with one Smarr family members who said gay rights wasn't an issue. Based on the number of anti gay signs, we beg to differ.
  • Sept. 15 pm it's not often that Clayberry uses the constitutionally guaranteed power of protest to influence government. They did today.
  • Sept. 15 pm Assembling early this morning, around 30 protesters raised signs and asked passing motorists to honk horns in support of their cause. At issue is a child custody battle between grand parents and a deceased mother's  live in companion. Some of the cardboard signs advocated grand parent rights while others sought removal of homosexual rights to child custody. Family Law Master Ruckman and Circuit Judge Jack Alsop decisions in the matter are being appealed and before the WV Supreme Court .
  • Sept. 15 pm One protester said she wanted Family Law Master Ruckman to know they were unhappy with his decision.  Ruckman was inside the Courthouse during the protest.   Another fellow said they planned to protest each Wednesday until the Supreme Court makes a decision this winter.
  • Sept. 15 pm Around 10:45 today, TV 3 News crews were seen heading into Clayberry. Watch for coverage on the 6 and 11pm news casts.
  • Sept. 15 pm Today at 2pm WYAP-LP radio is providing an on air memorial show for Nancy Nelson. Locally, the non profit station broadcasts on 101.7FM and around the globe on the internet. For details, go to their web site. The link is near the top left on our home page.
  • Sept. 15 am Nancy June Nelson, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 15 am Here in Clayberry, paint is being applied, the carnival is setting up and the grand daddy of them all, The Apple Festival is getting ready to open. For all intent and purposes, beginning Thursday evening, Main Street will be wall to wall people.
  • Sept. 15 am  Rumor had it that for four hours Saturday, Main Street would be shut down to allow more room for Apple Festival parade spectators. Organizer Bill Dunn commented late last week, that although he asked permission, the State Road folks had never given the OK.
  • Sept. 15 am Monday night at 10:29pm 911 called for an ambulance.  A minute later they toned again. At 10:31 pm A driver was available but no medical personnel, 911: We're giving it to Braxton.. I have to go ahead and move it.... I don't have time. At 10:25 pm our on duty crew went on a "spider bite" call
  • Sept. 15 am  Last night the Health Dept. Board of Directors met and pretty much gave the thumbs up on a new 100% No Smoking Ban for county businesses. The real vote will come during their next meeting. Don't wait for a public meeting to express your concerns. There won't be one! They said they could vote in any healthy regulation without holding a public  romp. Instead, the Boardsters will allow the public an opportunity to write letters.
  • Sept. 15 am That's a No Smoking Ban everywhere except at the Lion's Club Bingo Casino which has been exempted from ANY anti smoking ordinance. Seems, that second hand smoke can kill you anywhere other than while playing Bingo.
  • Sept. 15 am Notice the post said " pretty much" gave the thumbs up for the ban. In attendance, Joe Morris, Bobby Stover, and Herman Rogers spoke in favor of the ban. Chair Connie Harper made no comment and Lorretta Bird was again absent from public service. Full meeting details in this Friday's Communicator.
  • Sept. 15 am Ever hear of a "tasting"?  The Craft Mall over at Two Run is hosting a "tasting" this Saturday, 10 to 6pm. Samplings include items from Ordinary Evelyn, Zeke's Hillbilly Salsa, and Sandy's Simple Treats.
  • Sept. 15 am Tommy Young Jr. had a bond reduction hearing Monday. Since those dealings are all secret, he's still a juvenile for another couple months, don't know what was decided.
  • Sept. 15 am Friday night's Clay High vs Calhoun County Football game will be broadcast on WYAP-LP. For our international clickers, you can listen in via the internet. Walk over to www.clayfm.com for details
  • Sept. 15 am Go Clay Middle School Girls Volley Ball team!!!!!!! Last night both the JV and Varsity beat Calhoun. The next home game for CMS is this coming Monday evening.
  • Sept. 15 am Get your last minute event or classified listing in by Thursday 11am please. We hope to get the paper all typed up early enough so we can head over to the Golden Delicious Festival too!
  • Sept. 14 pm Sadly we post the passing of Nancy Nelson early this morning in CAMC hospital. In Clayberry, the talk is quieter and the mood is somber. We morn.
  • Sept. 14 am We won't get all the news posted this morning so check back later this afternoon for more posts.
  • Sept. 14 am As of last night around 10:30pm, here's the way we've got the shooting story.
  • Sept. 14 am Nancy Nelson was found with multiple gunshot wounds in her bed Monday morning before 11 am.  We understand she is on life support in CAMC General Division with one wound in the chest, one in the head, another in her hand and remains in critical condition surviving only on life support.
  • Sept. 14 am After fleeing, Nelson's husband, Larry Thomas, called 911 from his corner of the Kanawha Blvd. apartment and confessed her "murder". Shortly thereafter with a pistol and bottle beside him, he took a bunch of pills. Thomas was taken to CAMC.
  • Sept. 14 am Nancy owns and operates the county's popular and recently expanded restaurant at the Rt. 4 and 36 intersection. The news of the shooting stunned the county. We moved a little slower and talked a little quieter yesterday.
  • Sept. 14 am Last night the County Commission held a public meeting on crime in the county. The guess is, it'll be the last Town meeting style meeting they hold for a while!  With over 75 irate residents in attendance, the locals made it very clear, they were tired of lawlessness in the county and were prepared to take law into their own hands.
  • Sept. 14 am Prosecutor Gringo and Commissioner Sams took the most heat for different reasons. Grindo was asked about his job performance, low conviction rates, the number plea bargains, and more. At one point, someone in the back yelled back, " GO BACK TO BRAXTON COUNTY!!!" Grindo held his cool and maintained. When he replied that he had a better than 80% success rate in Court, it was all over. No one believed him from then on.
  • Sept. 14 am   In the Aug. 9th edition of The Communicator, Sheriff Fields reported that the county had lost a bunch of rent money from the Family Law Master's office. Why? Because Commissioner Sams' nailed a Ten Commandment plaque to the CCC room wall where the Family Law Master  holds court. According to Fields, the court system has been  unwilling to pay the $700 a month rent until the County Commission room met their standards and their standards do not include violating the separation of church and state.
  • Sept. 14 am Last night during Crime in Clayberry meeting at Clay High, Magistrate Boggs asked Sams if it was true, that the "10" had cost the county $30,000? Sams him hauled about. The question came again. As Sams was evading the question, the crowd yelled out "Yes or No Sams!!!!!!!" They didn't get an answer as Sams came back with something like: If they don't get religion at home they're going to get it at the Courthouse.
  • Sept. 14 am Keeping in mind this is the Billy Sunday belt, the crowd all but threw rotten tomatoes at Sams! Isn't that interesting? Just a few years ago when Sams nailed up the "10", the county supported his election year tactic nearly 100%. With court decision after court decision going against displaying religious items on public buildings, and now with the county out enough money to pay for at least one Deputy, Sams nearly got boo'd off the high school stage.
  • Sept. 14 am Sure can't forget about Commissioner Triplett who didn't fair much better than Sams or Gringo. After trying to explain why the CCC couldn't fire Prosecutor Grindo among other things, the crowd turned on him too.
  • Sept. 14 am by the end of last night's meeting, there was nearly a vigilante attitude in the room as one guy yelled out, "Raise your right hands and we'll take care of the problem!" Others chimed in too.
  • Sept. 14 am As Municipal Judge Boone ( Gassaway and Clendenin) was giving a political speech supporting Randy Holcomb for Sheriff, the crowd turned again! This time they yelled they didn't want politics, they wanted answers and results! Things got Hot!!
  • Sept. 14 am Many in the crowd were upset and said so... Loudly said so!  The most alarming part of the meeting came from Commissioner Sams and Town Cop Buckshot Butcher who openly supported the crowd's perspective, take matters in your own hands, and to H with law and order.
  • Sept. 14 am More posts today... we haven't even talked about yesterday's County Commission meeting yet!
  • Sept. 13 5pm  Details are sketchy on the shooting of Nancy Nelson at this time. Here's what we know. Around 11 am, the first 911 calls came in followed by 11:40am with Health net taking the local business lady to the hospital in critical condition with gun shot wounds, one to the head.
  • Sept. 13 5 pm  After lunch, three green shirt vehicles and one  Deputy mobile were parked in Ms Nelson's driveway. One Green Shirt was across the road talking to neighbors at 12:20pm this afternoon.  A little later it looked like 2 Green Shirts were heading South to Clendenin. We checked with the Magistrate's office no charges or arrest warrants have been filed as of 3:30pm.
  • Sept. 13 5pm At 4:29 today scanner traffic asked a Green Shirt to meet with TV - 3 News crews who were in the county covering the attack.  Might want to check the TV 3 news casts at 5 and 6pm.
  • Sept. 13 5 pm As for a reason or a name tagged to the shooter, we don't have it. Rumors are running wild in the county. Adding them all up, it sounds like a domestic between irate lovers and ex lovers. All speculation so far clickers.
  • Sept. 13 pm NOON  At 11 am this morning a call came in to 911 of a shooting. By 11:40 am Health net had taken "the owner of Nancy's restaurant" to the hospital in critical condition with a head wound according to 911.
  • Sept. 13pm   Our prayers extended to Nancy Nelson and family.
  • Sept. 13 am This is the big big week for the county as the Golden Delicious Festival opening up on Thursday. 100s will be coming into the Clayberry to visit and revisit. the link to the official Apple web site is on our home page.
  • Sept. 13 am This morning the County  Commission meets in regular session beginning at 10 am. We're into our third month with no Commissioner Mathew "HAC" Bragg in attendance while continuing to collect his taxpayer paid for check. If you live in District A, that's the District HAC is suppose to be representing, you haven't had a voice on County Court in months... actually years!
  • Sept. 13 am   Tonight at 7 the public is encouraged to  come to a "Crime In Clayberry" public meeting. The gathering will be held at the High School with law enforcement, the judicial folks and elected leaders invited to hear from the public.
  • Sept. 13 am  People are up in arms over the amount of criminal activities going on in the county. One lady said there are more crank houses in the county than church houses! The interesting part will be whether locals care enough to come to a meeting or stay at home and watch football. Our prediction:   a dismal light turn out, hope we're wrong!
  • Sept. 13 am Now for the criminals, with all law enforcement to be at the meeting tonight, here's a golden opportunity to strike it big.
  • Sept. 13 am  Hard to believe but the Clay County schools web site is nearly up to date. Click SCHOOLS and bookmark it for future reference.
  • Sept. 13 am  Remember Jim Bakker from the PTL network? We've got another high dollar TV evangelist in the grease. Click CAUGHT for more
  • Sept. 12 am Belated Birthday Wishes to Bill Fisher. You don't look a day over 80!
  • Sept. 12 am  From the last 7 days, here's our week that was....
  • Sept. 12 am Gene King was selected Demorat of the Year.... Rain soggied the place for three days.... Sycamore's took on that dried up golden hue.... kids were treated to time off when an electric outage brought a two hour school delay Thursday, And..
  • Sept. 12 am Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) held their annual "Time to Celebrate a Good Year of Growth" Dinner at the Courthouse. Lots of good food, hand shaking, and a speech on how good Joe Manchin will do as our next governor. After 10 years on the job, Clay County is still waiting on jobs, growth, and opportunity
  • Sept. 12 am Clay Development Corp (CDC) held a special meeting to change its by laws. After Charleston Newspaper's blew the lid off  corrupt senior service activities in Bob Graham's Wyoming County senior program, the big boys in Charleston forced by law changes on all senior service providers in the state. For CDC, that meant changing the Board make up to include reps from professionals like doctors and lawyers.
  • Sept. 12 am It appears the 10 year delayed Amma/Left Hand water line extension project will finally get started. Although almost twice as expensive as originally estimated, Clay Roane PSD says the rate increases will not have to go up.
  • Sept. 12 am Tommy Young Sr finally got his preliminary hearing on Friday. Lots of good flip flopping, court room testimony. In the end, probable cause was found and Sr remains behind bars unable to make bail.
  • Sept. 12 am The hard working Apple Festival crews began getting the town cleaned up for the annual event. The Clay Fire Dept. washed down the streets as a pretty face was put on the Town.
  • Sept. 12 am And another first for the county this week. Friday night, the Clay High Football game was broadcast LIVE around the world by WYAP-LP 101.7FM, our local non profit radio station.
  • Sept. 12 am By Saturday, absolutely undocumented reports traveled the county.... a body was found in double bagged garbage bags near Murder Mountain. One guy said he heard shots fired Friday afternoon in the same area.
  • Sept. 11 am  Benjamin G. Thomas, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 11 am Pearl Harbor, Nov. when we lost JFK, Sept. 11th, black days in America. Today we remember Moms, Dads, and kids.  3000 lives lost when air liners turned into rockets of destruction. The only thing worse than 9/11 is the loss of over 1000 more men and women in W's war with the wrong country.  Today, three years after the assault on our land, we know we can topple a government in three weeks but can't admit those "pockets of resistance"  have grown into a united assault on the occupying American forces; we have the power to take over an oil supply but not the ability to humanly deal with prisoners; and, $200 billion dollars is not enough to scratch the surface of repair.
  • Sept. 11 am Yesterday Prosecutor Grindo referenced our mid week web post where we gave him H over blowing another case after not linking a Samples subject to illegal pot charges. Mr. Grindo commented Friday afternoon that a witness had recanted earlier testimony. While we appreciate the info, the dismal prosecution rate during the last 21 months remains  glaring example of efforts not meeting the demands of the job.
  • Sept. 11 am  Tommy Young Sr finally had his preliminary hearing after a three week delay. Magistrate King found probable cause in the five felony case. During the hearing Richard Cummings provided his recollections from Aug. 17th when Murder Mountain went wild and he ended up with 5 bullet holes. Cummings was on his best behavior and testified that he was completely against illegal drugs.
  • Sept. 11 am The old Courthouse was packed with kids and family from both sides of the warring clans. Young Sr was chained and quiet as he listened to every word Cummings spoke.
  • Sept. 11 am Defense attorney Novobilski worked on Cummings during lengthy hearing. At one point Cummings was sure Sr was the one that had shot him while later he testified it was dark, there were three firing with assault weapons, and he wasn't exactly sure which person's bullets struck him.
  • Sept. 11 am With probable cause found, Tommy Young Sr remains behind bars without the means to make $150,000 bond, Tommy Young Jr. is locked up in a Juvenile Center unable to make his $400,000 cash bond.  Quieter on Murder Mountain now? Yes, but neighbors said they heard shots fired yesterday!
  • Sept. 11 am Last night Clay High Panthers put it all over the Valley Fayette Greyhounds 54 to 8 making a 3 and 0 season so far this year. And would have ever thought it... Last night's game was broadcast around the world on WYAP-LP! Little Clayberry has finally made the big time. Friends, supporters, and relatives can now listen be apart of hometown football no matter where they live. Goooo Clay!
  • Sept. 10 am We're going into another wet sloppy day of overcast skies and dampness. Yuck Yuck.
  • Sept. 10 am We do have some good news from last night's Clay Roane PSD meeting. For those that have been wanting water service in the Amma Left Hand extension, it looks like it might really happen!  I know, those in Roane County have heard that for 10 years and us in Clay County have heard it for nearly 20 years BUT BUT BUT
  • Sept. 10 am  If they can get a few more Rights of Way agreements, secure the Dept. of Highways permits, and get the PSD accountant to finish his paperwork, ground breaking could happen this Nov. From the time the first shovel makes contact, the clock starts ticking. The contractors have 333 days to complete the job.
  • Sept. 10 am We only caught the tail end of the scanner traffic but is sounded like, yesterday: a drive by style shooting in Procious; a shooting on Samples Hollow Road last night around 8:45pm; and three ambulance calls came in leaving our emergency ambulance crews with their pants down. Sounded like our unit went out, then a call to Braxton for a unit and when the third emergency request came in, well, there was a delay in service to say the least. We'll check for details today and post.
  • Sept. 10 am Clayberry is setting up for the biggest event of the year, the Apple Festival. The two buildings beside the Courthouse are being cleaned out to house crafters. Last night the Clay Fire Dept. was out in force hosing down he streets washing off a year's worth of grime.
  • Sept. 10 am We forgot to post TV 3 news crews at Ivydale earlier this week doing a story with Monk Cunningham and Sheriff Fields on the lawlessness and lack of Deputies in the county. The segment aired Tuesday night and Wed am. Hey they even had our fearless Prosecutor Grindo involved!
  • Sept. 10 am Tonight Clay High takes on Valley Fayette in the first home game of the season. Be at Bradley/Schoonover Field by 7 for a good seat and bring a radio to  listen to WYAP 101.7FM for coverage.  Tollhouse Frank will provide the commentary.
  • Sept. 10 am The Calhoun County Grand Jury returned 10 indictments Tuesday including: Sean Andrew Thacker, 29, of Maysel, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of second degree sexual assault.
  • Sept. 9 late am  No fans humming, no clocks ticking, too quiet to be true..... Clay County woke to no electricity this morning. Around 6 am came the decision to operate the school system on a 2 hour delay. No sure what happened to the power but by 7:40 am, parts of the county were once again electrified.
  • Sept. 9 am This morning at 10, Clay Development Corp (CDC) will hold a Special Board meeting to vote on big time changes in the group's by laws. The change will require 3 readings and a vote of the general membership. Tonight Clay Roane PSD meets at 7pm at the CDc building on Main Street across from the Courthouse.
  • Sept. 9 am Happy Birthday Wishes to Chris and Christina on their 26th Birthday
  • Sept. 9 am Young ladies, if you work for McDonald's, Playboy magazine has a job for you.
  • Sept. 9 am Does it sound like we give Prosecutor Grindo too much grief? Yesterday Grindo blew another case where  a Samples subject was in deep doo doo over pot. During the jury trial our man Grindo neglected to link the defendant to the illegal hemp. Judge tossed the whole case. So how well prepared was the young Prosecutor? As we understand it, not one Badge was there to testify.     Is it any wonder law enforcement is often perceived as just sitting on their butts? Why try to bring in the bad guys when all the Prosecutor does is let them off the hook!
  • Sept. 9 am County Commissioners Jimmy Sams and Tim Butcher appointed Grindo to the job,  Dec 8, 2002 after Jeff Davis resigned the elected post.    Earlier in the year Grindo remarked that he had single handily reduced the back log of cases pending.  Getting them tossed is one way to reduce the backlog
  • Sept. 9 am On Friday, Tommy Young Sr will finally get his long delayed preliminary hearing after spending three weeks in the slammer unable to make $150,000 bail. The hearing was delayed because Grindo was away from duty in the county for over a week.  Juvenile Tommy Young Jr will also have a bond reduction hearing. jr is locked up unable to come up with the $400,000 cash only bail.
  • Sept. 9 am In spite of all the misleadership in the county, some people are trying to make a go of it. Take for instance, the new O'Brion Oval Speedway, Sister's Restaurant, Scented Wonder Craft Mall. With little to nothing in the way of government help, they've set up shop and are providing employment.    Look around at the impact of the speedway on the county. Drivers and spectators from several counties have all ready came to the area and spent big bucks here.    Scented Wonders offers a showcase for Clay County artisans giving them an opportunity to bring in some jingle.
  • Sept. 9 am During Tuesday night's grand CAEZ hallway luncheon, a power point presentation was provided which highlighted a big long list of Clay County CAEZ accomplishments like...  well, let me think.... the new dam? Nope! Filcon? Yelp! CAEZ was replaced in July as the lead economic development agency for the county. The Clay County Business Development Authority assumed the duty.
  • Sept. 8 am  Clara Townsend 97, of Hartland see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 8 am Gladys... You there? Gladys in Vermillon Ohio, Francis says Hello
  • Sept. 8 am Monday evening scanner listeners heard Town Chief of Police Buckshot Butcher respond to a Pierson lad tearing the ripping off the back door knob off the Foodland building followed by bashing the pop machine on the front side of the store. Green shirts were later called in. No charges filed as of Tuesday evening
  • Sept. 8 am  also from Monday night, Gene King was selected as the Demorat of the Year.
  • Sept. 8 am Last night the Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) held their by laws mandated annual dinner. The event was held in the hallway of the Courthouse with tables zig zagged around the staircase. Called a dinner it was more of a political rally for Joe Manchin. The quest speaker was Brian Kastack who works the campaign trail for Smokin Joe Manchin.
  • Sept. 8 am  at 4pm Clay Town Council met in regular session. There they agreed to purchase two new computers and buy Buckshot a new pair of shoes along with the first reading of a new ordinance that allows employees to come inside your home or business and check to see what kind of water source you have hooked up. We'll provide more coverage from both meetings as well as the school board meeting later.
  • Sept. 8 am The sad news is the death toll in W's oil war just topped 1000 young men and women. Click Is it Worth it for details. John Kerry spoke out on the tragic milestone.
  • Sept. 8 am New Bush National guard records mysteriously surface. Click More Details Still Needed
  • Sept. 8 am If you head over to the WV Public Service Commission web site , click monthly calendars, and type in Sept. 2004 , you can see all the hearing info including Larry McLaughlin vs the Clay County PSD hearing slated for this month.
  • Sept.  8 am And finally for this wet Wednesday morning, something to pep you up: A man fell out of a tenth story window.  He hit the sidewalk with a thud, got up and brushed himself off.

  •  A witness rushed over and breathlessly asked, what happened?    The man gave the witness a puzzled look and exclaimed, "I don't know--just got here myself.
  • Sept. 7 am Just as we were about to post last night around 11, something happened. Can't explain it, but the web host just shut down. Looks fine this morning.
  • Sept. 7 am  This afternoon at 4 Clay Town Council convenes at the water plant. Never know what you might learn by attending the gathering

  • Sept. 7 am  How about some free food? Tonight at 6pm the Central  Appalachia
    Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) is hosting the annual dinner for the world at the Courthouse.
    With empowerment zone and enterprise community Federal designations expired ( after 10  years), this will be the last supper as we know them now. CAEZ by laws require the annual event and a report to the public on what's been accomplished in the last 12 months. Should
    be a short report.
         Sept. 7 am Last night around 9pm, police were told to be on the look out for a gold colored Lincoln Town car heading this way. The occupants were involved  in a domestic and possible  kidnapping.
         Sept. 7 am The Oil War death toll came closer to 1000 this weekend with the loss of 7 more American Soldiers Monday. There have been 1,120 coalition deaths, 993 Americans, 65 Britons, six  Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, 10  Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and eight Ukrainians, in the  war in Iraq as of September 6, 2004
         Sept. 7 am  Years ago Clay County was promised much improved emergency response times  if Nicholas County took over dispatching for us. As we coughed up $100,000 for mapping,  addressing, and equipment, head honcho back then Jinks Hinkle said that when emergency  service headed out for a situation, they would have a printed out map ready to direct them to  the scene. That was then..
         Sept. 7 am Last night at 10:14pm Badges were trying to respond to a possible domestic something or other and asked 911 Dispatch in Nicholas County for better directions, " Can
    you look on a map or something?"   911 Dispatch responded, " We do NOT have a map of
    Clay County at this time."
         Sept. 7 am Those are the folks we pay each month to dispatch emergency service crews and after providing the service for 5 years, they don't have a map of our county.
  • Sept. 6 am We're taking the day off but before we go...
  • Sept. 6 am   In rural America, some vandalism is tolerated like last night's mailbox bashing on Triplett Ridge. Of course those with bashed and burnt mailboxes might not be so happy today.
  • Sept. 6 am  Hello Chaz
  • Sept. 6 am  how about a brain test...  Below are four (4) questions.  You have to answer them instantly.  You can't  take your time, answer all of them, immediately.    First Question:  You are participating in a race.  You overtake the second person.  What position are you in? Answer:  If you answered that you are first, then you  are absolutely wrong!   If you overtake the second  person and you take his place, you are second!
  • Sept. 6 am  Try not to screw up in the next question.   Second Question:  If you overtake the last person, then you are...?   Answer:  If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong.    Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person? YOU are the last person. You're not very good at this are you?
  • Sept. 6 am   Third Question:  Very tricky math!  Note: This must be done in your head only.  Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator.   Try it:  Take 1000 and add 40 to it.  Now add another 1000.  Now add 30.  Add another 1000.  Now add 20.  Now  add another 1000.  Now add 10.  What is the total?    Answer:  Did you get 5000?  The correct answer is actually  4100.  Don't believe it?  Check with your calculator!
  • Sept. 6 am   Today is definitely not your day.  Maybe you will get the last question right? Fourth Question:  Mary's father has five daughters:  1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nni, 4. Nono.  What is the name of the fifth daughter?  a, e, i, o,u)?     Answer:  Nunu?  NO! Of course, not.  Her name is Mary.  Read the  question again.
  • Sept. 6 am Happy Labor Day clickers
  • Sept. 5 am Finishing up this week means we're finishing up the summer season. With the pool closed, corn stalks turning brown, schools open and the sugar maples already turning orange and read, summer is gone. From the week that was....
  • Sept. 5 am  There have been 1,110 coalition deaths, 979 Americans, 65 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 19 Italians, one Latvian, 10 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and eight Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of September 2, 2004.
  • Sept. 5 am Wouldn't you just know it???? All of a sudden, the Feds say they are close to finding Osama bin Ladem!!!!!! Just 2 months before the election and ..... No one would have guessed that!
  • Sept. 5 am  Tuesday morning (5:19am) our ambulance crew slept while the tone went off over and over for 19 minutes. Only after off-duty Morgy Triplett threw on some clothes and drove over to the ambulance station, we're the on duty folks rousted from bed.
  • Sept. 5 am 10 days ago we found out about the misdeeds of  Dept of Health, WIC Director, Marlene Helvey, whose unbridled over spending resulted in three people losing their jobs.  Three days ago, Teresa Morton resigned from the Health Dept. Her departure will make room for County Sanitarian Jay Carper to remain employed.
  • Sept. 5 am We got some good news this week clickers. With additional funding secured, and the bids coming in $130,000 lower for the Amma/Left Hand water project, the dirt may actually start flying in the 9 year stalled project. With an additional $1m debt load, the only question remains: Once built, can anyone afford the water.
  • Sept. 5 am Two days ago, Richard Cummings made bond and was out on the streets of Clayberry. Tommy Young Sr and Jr. remain locked up for now. The Ovapa area remains quiet for now.
  • Sept. 5 am And late Friday afternoon, The Communicator made it to the news stands. 20 pages of the best who do in the county including full details on the layoffs at the Health Dept. and several pages on Murder Mountain including court room action with Tommy Young Sr and Richard Cummings.
  • Sept. 5 am A RECENT STUDY FOUND OUT WHICH DAYS MEN PREFER TO HAVE SEX. IT WAS FOUND THAT MEN PREFERRED TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY ON THE DAYS THAT STARTED WITH THE LETTER "T".EXAMPLES OF THOSE DAYS ARE AS FOLLOWS:  TUESDAY   THURSDAY  TODAY   TOMORROW  THANKSGIVING    THATURDAY THUNDAY
  • Sept. 5 am  Why is it that no matter what color of bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?       Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with the hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?          Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give their vacuum one more chance?        Why is it that no plastic garbage bag will open from the end you first try?            How do those dead bugs get into closed light fixtures? Considering all the lint you get in your dryer, if you kept drying your clothes would they eventually just disappear?           Why is it that when you're walking up the stairs and you get to the top you always think there's still one more step?            Why do old men wear their pants higher than younger men?         Do Chinese people get hungry an hour after they eat American food?
  • Sept. 4 am The Communicator made it to the news stands yesterday around 5 pm. 20 pages of solid near award winning coverage of the place we call home, Clayberry. Lots of good Murder Mountain follow up coverage too.
  • Sept. 4 am And belated, from the email bag: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MOMMY MARIA SCHOONOVER THORNE ON FRIDAY SEPT 3RD.  WE  LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.  PRINCESS HANNAH AND PRINCE JONJON
  • Sept. 4 am  Even without a stoplight in the entire county, it's not often we have a traffic jam. While contractors clean out ditch lines and culverts going into downtown Clay, vehicles have been stopped for long periods of time. Yesterday morning a school bus serving the Two Run area of town somehow managed to "forget" to pick up students thus avoiding setting in traffic.
  • Sept. 4 am New business in the county doesn't' happen very often. Today Sister's Place Restaurant opens at Procious in the old Exxon station. After spending over a $100,000 refurbishing the place, the eatery looks nice and fit for a king. Door prizes today too.
  • Sept. 4 am  From the Baptist Outreach Ministry web site: We mourn the loss of our dear friend and one of our finest missionaries. While serving on the field of Zambia, Brother Steve Richards was called home to be with the Lord  with an apparent heart attack on August 11, 2004.  Please pray for his wife Linda and their family. It was Brother Richards' desire to be buried in Zambia.  The funeral will be held Sunday, August 22 in Livingston. Dr. Vick and Dr. Dykes will leave today (August 16, 2004) to attend. They will return with Linda on August 27, 2004. There will be a memorial service at the Richard's home church  on Saturday, September 4, 2004 at 2:00pm (Clay First Baptist Church, PO Box 849 Clay, WV 25043 - Pastor Ralph Davis).
  • Sept. 4 am As we the summer season closed, so goes the live outdoor concerts at WYAP radio. Tonight beginning at 6 the last for the year features Jamie Oats, Bob and Ruth Bell, Harold Allen, and Gene &Dana Perkins. Come and support the community station and WV musicians
  • Sept. 4 am We're going to take a day or so off to enjoy a beautiful weekend. See you Monday evening.
  • Sept. 3 am No new posts until we get the Communicator out the door around 4pm.
  • Sept. 3 am Except Richard Cummings made bond Thursday afternoon and is now out and about. Cummings was the man shot four times during the Aug. 17th Murder mountain shoot out. Lots of details in the Communicator today.
  • Sept. 3 am  Clay Middle lost their season opener to Braxton last night 37 to 0
  • Sept. 3 am Yesterday bids came in $130,000 cheaper than expected  for the Amma Left Hand water line extension project #2. According to engineer Jim Hildruth, funding is now in place for the project to proceed.
  • Sept. 3 am Clay County Development Corp has to change their corporate by laws to meet new state requirements.  The Board will also be cut back to 9.  Full details you know where later today.
  • Sept. 3 am  How Are a Texas Tornado And a WV Divorce The Same?   Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer
  • Sept. 3 am What Is The Difference Between a Harley And a Hoover?  The Location Of The Dirt Bag.
  • Sept. 3 am  What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? Anyone Can Roast Beef.
  • Sept. 3 am What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long?   Polaroid's
  • Sept. 2 pm Forgot to mention in the morning post that Clay Middle School starts the football season tonight at home at 7.  CMS takes on Braxton. Friday night Clay High takes on Braxton, away. Go CLaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!
  • Sept. 2 pm Richard Cummings is charged with growing pot on Murder Mountain. This morning Mag King held the preliminary hearing on the charges. Attorney William Lester worked it hard and brought allegations that the neighbor's kids, that's Tommy Young's family brought over the pot plants in an attempt to frame arch rival Cummings. The request to dismiss the charges or reduce the bond to $2000 didn't work. Cummings remains in custody awaiting a trial.
  • Sept. 2 pm The state was represented by Special Prosecutor Brian Lanham. Clay County Prosecutor Grindo announced last week that he would be away from duty this entire week.
  • Sept. 2 am  If you want your classified in tomorrow's Communicator, email it over by 3 pm today please
  • Sept. 2 am Richard Cummings will appear before Magistrate King this morning at 9 am for a preliminary hearing. This evening at 5pm the Business Development Authority will meet in the County Commission room. Prosecutor Daniel Grindo is off for the week and a special Prosecutor, Brian Lanham, has been called in to handle the court room work today.
  • Sept. 2 am We had Roy Brown's mug shot on yesterday's home page. Brown was picked up on capias for worthless checks. You might remember that Roy had just got out of the slammer and was in attendance the morning that Tonya Salisbury received her super light plea in the Chad Salisbury murder case.
  • Sept. 2 am  Here's a strange one. We understand County Sanitarian Theresa Morton quit her position Wednesday at the Health Dept.  WV Civil Service  sanitarians are paid $22,000 while Morton made over $44,000 as a Sanatarian/RN. During stormy Health Board meetings a couple years back, Morton got the job description change with Board approval. Jay Carper got his pink slip during an emergency Health Bd meeting last week. Carper, an RN too, received sanatarian training last winter and was serving in that capacity. Looks like Carper may have get his job back. Just a guess.
  • Sept. 2 am  5:16 am Tuesday morning 911 toned out our ambulance crew for a man with chest pains. They toned again and again and again. 19 minutes after the first attempt to awaken the sleeping crew ,around 5:35am, the crew marked up as in route. Mr. Holcomb's obit can be found on our Funeral page
  • Sept. 2 am  Kids were playing Tuesday evening before dark on the Scenic Drive road near Camp Creek. A stray dog known for biting, went after  9 year old honor student Misti Flores.   Mrs. Flores feared the dog may have been rabid and when she tried to catch the animal, it tried to bite her. With cops and ambulance called, the Father took his 12 gauge shotgun, fired three times killing the large animal. Raise your hand if you wouldn't do the same thing if a stray dog bit your child.
  • Sept. 2 am The Father, Thomas Flores was arrested after the incident and charged with three felony wanton endangerment charges and one of animal cruelty. He is out on bond pending a trial. According to Ms Flores, a neighbor, Waldon Dennis, was about 1/2 a football field away and complained to the Green Shirts.
  • Sept. 2 am Flores biggest complaint: The Badges spent 30 minutes talking with Dennis before checking on the condition of the little girl.   Full details Friday in the Communicator.
  • Sept. 1 pm  Roger Lee Holcomb, 57, of Indore  see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 1 pm Sometimes local leaders don't pass the muster on getting the job done in a  timely manner.  To get millions in grant dollars for the own of Clay water plant upgrade, they have to dot the i's and cross the t's. Seems they've dropped the ball. Click, Paperwork? for info from the WV Public Service Commission.
  • Sept. 1 pm The name Sandra Kahlif has graced the pages of The Communicator and this web site many times. A couple days back we made mention that Sandra doesn't use the Kahlif name in Clay County Magistrate records but instead goes by Sandra Guy. Just two years ago during the Tatto Vince trial, the Roane County Court system referred to her as Ms Kahlif.
  • Sept. 1 pm yesterday afternoon an upset Sandra didn't mince words on  the media coverage and the last name question and more. On the streets of Clay in front of the Post Office the stirred up lady said she didn't appreciate media mentioning her children, that she was the only person that stands up for the kids and any mention of the kids SHOULD NOT be in the paper or on the site. Although we've never printed her children's names and explained that to her, she was still worked up.
  • Sept. 1 pm Ms Guy went to say that she changed her name and moved to help protect her kids and get them out of a dangerous environment in Ohio. About now a great big Hmmmmm is in order but that would probably make her madder still so no Hmmmmm.
  • Sept. 1 pm Thursday evening at 5 the Clay County Business Development Authority meets at the Courthouse.
  • Sept. 1 pm
  • Sept. 1 am How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?    Unique Up On It.       How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?   Tame Way, Unique Up On It.