DEC 07 PAST NEWS

Dec 31 pm How are you bringing in the new year? The radio station is hosting a New Year's part beginning around 10pm. Free munchies
and drinks along with dropping of the Clayberry Ball from high atop the office trailer. Should make the New York gathering look small
time!
  Dec 31 am  We're polishing off  another year. Our weather today is once again warm, in the 60's. That change in the air is one of rain
not snow. Short term, this global warming feels great. Long term....
  Dec 31 am Looking back, Gloom and doom pot mark 2006 in the recent AP poll. Here in the USA, we insist on living a life with hope.
Sometimes that's hard to do.
  Dec 31 am  Sadly our soldiers are still engaged in an oil war that is unwinnable. True, Sadamn was a dirty rotten person, yesterday we
hung that one guy that could hold together Iraq.  Today we're holding our breath expecting violence to increase in the most dangerous
place on earth. There have been 3,239 coalition deaths -- 2,989 Americans, two Australians, 127 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, six Danes, two
Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 32 Italians, one Kazakh, three Latvian, 18 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadoran, four
Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of December 29, 2006, according to a CNN count.
  Dec 31 am We also lost an important leader. A guy that stood by his convictions and lead generations from the spotlight. No not Gerald
Ford. James Brown!
  Dec 31 am This past year in Clayberry could be named a year of drugs, thugs, and dreams. In the next edition of The Communicator
we'll have a complete run down on the year that was.
  Dec 31 am   From the last seven days here in the land of little, Jimmy Sams was in the spotlight for maybe the last time.
  Dec 31 am  Commissioner Sams attended his final public meeting as an elected official. When asked, he spoke on his 12 years in office.
He mentioned a couple items off the cuff.
  Dec 31 am  He said he was proud that the Lizemores/Tuckers Bottom water line extensions were finally built. After years of bankruptcy
stalled stagnation, new water service means a lot to many families. Still, with 70% of our population without safe clean potable water,
there's a lot more to do. Such improvement came at a cost. So debt ridden are the three public water providers, monthly charges are
beyond the reach of many. If the purpose of the extensions was to make clean water available at an affordable price, it didn't happen.
  Dec 31 am Commissioner Sams also spoke on his efforts to make the Clay Ambulance Service a better organization. Over his 12 years in
office, Sams saw the agency go from ready to fold to now having $1000s in the bank and a 911 fund garnering 100s of $1000s in surplus.
While in office he waded thru hound dogs being hauled around the county in the back of an ambulance to a notorious $25 ambulance tax,
and a ludicrous ambulance authority. Today many of the same issues of not having a crew available when needed for our citizenry remain.
  Dec 31 am  Not sure whether he ever had a plan for our future, but somehow he bumped and stumbled through some successes. Back
when Shawnee Hills pulled the plug on the local sheltered workshop, he voted for emergency funding so a new local operation could begin
and serve the needs of our community. He worked and succeeded to remove the nasty $25 fee. He showed support for the new Lake
Sampson at Wallback. Ditto for  a new excursion train ride designed to bring tourist dollars, new $, into our county.
  Dec 31 am Boy could he hold a grudge. In 1999 when the first battle over his 10 Commandments made national news, he removed
appointed leaders from various boards that opposed him.  Just three weeks ago that grudge streak showed again. Jesse Sizemore was to be
appointed to the BDA. Sams said he wouldn't have any part of that. He was still peed with Sizemore and others who spoke out against
turning the Courthouse into a place decorated with religious adornments.
  Dec 31 am  Many have said, we're heading for a lawsuit with his 10 Commandment display violating church and state muster. When
Sams leaves office tonight at midnight, there is little doubt, his personal property, the "10",  will be left behind for others to deal with.
How sad it would be for the cash poor county to deal with his election year tactics after he's gone from office.
  Dec 31 am With year nearly complete, we've made it once again. Time for a fresh start.
  Dec 31 am Happy New Year.  Enjoy the holiday and best wishes from Terri, Lindy and Andy.
  Dec 30 pm  Alva Cogar McGlothlin, 88, of Clay, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 30 pm  After talking to several folks down in Clendenin, here's what we've got
  Dec 30 pm Around 6 pm two females entered the Save A Lot store just North of town. One went to the office and asked for a job
application while the second went back to the paper towel aisle and set them on fire.
  Dec 30 pm  Coming back up front, the second lady said she was ready to go and told the manager his paper towels were on fire.
  Dec 30 pm The two skid addled. With the flames touching the ceiling, employees used fire extinguishers to stop the spread. A few
minutes later the fire resumed bringing Clendenin crews on scene.
  Dec 30 pm Within minutes of the Save A Lot fire, the downtown Clendenin Dollar General was filled with black smoke. Locals gathered
across the Elk River and watched flames shoot in the air as fire crews worked to save the attached Post Office building. A small home next
door was also saved with little or no damage.
  Dec 30 pm Consensus: the two females left Save A Lot and bee lined to their next arson target, Dollar General. Reason? No answers and
no guesses.
  Dec 30 pm  Both Save A Lot and the Post Office were open and conducting business this morning. Fire crews remained on scene as of
noon today.
  Dec 30 am Reports started coming in last night around 7 pm on our Southern border colony, Clendenin. This time it wasn't about some
dumb bunny Town Council action!
  Dec 30 am Piecing it together from a couple emailers, including one who was there on main street.....
  Dec 30 am Around 6pm people were already gathering in downtown Clendenin and watching lots of smoke coming out of the old Dollar
general Store housed in old brick two story building. It is reported the Post Office next door was saved.
  Dec 30 am Seven fire departments were called to the scene
  Dec 30 am Why so many? With the discount store on fire, the Save A Lot grocery store just outside of town limits was also burning.
TV-8 reported: POLICE SAY THE WHOLE THING STARTED WHEN A MAN WALKED INTO THE CLENDENNIN SAVE A
LOT. WENT TO THE PAPER TOWEL AISLE. SET IT ON FIRE AND RAN. EMPLOYEES PUT OUT THOSE FLAMES..
  Dec 30 am    THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER THE DOLLAR GENERAL WENT UP IN FLAMES THREATENING THE
NEARBY POST OFFICE AND A HOME. FIREFIGHTERS MANAGE TO SAVE BOTH STRUCTURES.
  Dec 30 am  From our eye witness emailer:  we saw  black smoke billowing out of the front door of the "dollar store" and through the
roof. (Interestingly we saw no smoke when we came towards Clendenin from the interstate) There were no emergency vehicles, no
crowds, just two or three people standing at a distance on the sidewalk and the employees from the store standing in the gravel lot just
looking at the store. I didn't really register any of what I saw until after I got home.
  Dec 30 am  And:   At 11:09 we're still seeing flashing lights bounce off other houses and hillsides, we still can hear the emergency
vehicles loud motors running and the emergency personnel communicating with the use of a megaphone.
  Dec 30 am  Putting it all together, the DOllar General Store was wiped out, Save A Lot and two other buildings  damaged a bunch.
  Dec 30 am  WSAZ TV 3 has a couple pictures on the online site.
  Dec 30 am  We'll get some pictures on later today
  Dec 29 pm  Eloise Rose Carter, 77, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 29 am  From the email bag:   Happy Birthday to Tracy Sizemore,   from  Your Little Guys!!!!!!!!   Hunter  and Ryan
  Dec 29 am It's the last Friday of the year. The sun is out and shining brightly. Maybe because it's between the two holidays, very quiet in
Clay.
  Dec 29 am Had your flu shots? Check out the ADVISORY page for details.
  Dec 29 am  We have a few more folks with  ideas for School Superintendent Larry Gillespie's nick name. From the ones fit for
printing.....
  Dec 29 am Larry the Transformer, Larry Larry quite contrary, Larry the Stable Guy, Mr. Full of Crap, Airy Larry, Goofy Gillespie,
Larry Leghorn, and LIPSIE (Larry the Levy Guy Gillespie).
  Dec 29 am You potty mouth people, shame shame shame.
  Dec 29 am  We're still looking clickers, we don't want him to feel left out. We're looking for a handle, something short and fitting. Email
suggestions ASAP.
  Dec 29 am   A rancher needs a bull to service his cows but needs to borrow the money from the bank.  The banker who lent the money
comes by a week later to see how his investment is doing.  The farmer complains that the bull just eats grass and won't even look at the
cows.  The banker suggests that a veterinarian have a look at the bull.  The next week the banker returns to see if the vet helped.  The
farmer looks very pleased "The bull has serviced all my cows, broke through the fence, and has serviced all my neighbor's cows."
"Wow," says the banker, "what did the vet do to that bull?"   "Just gave him some pills," replied the farmer.   "What kind of pills?"   "I
don't know," says the farmer, "but they sort of taste like peppermint."
  Dec 28 am In the last edition of The Communicator we asked for folks to give a nick name for School Superintendent Larry Gillespie.
We didn't want him to feel all left out.  The contest is still on to name him.
  Dec 28 am Some entries so far include Larry LinkaLevy;  Levy Larry,Larry Gillespooooooger,  Lawrence of Clayberry, and Larry the
Levy Guy.
  Dec 28 am Email your ideas.
  Dec 28 am  Yesterday the County Commission met. During the meeting a bunch of finger pointing was aimed at Prosecutor Jim
Samples. Here's the scoop.
  Dec 28 am Judges sentence bad guys to the pen. Happens everyday.  Until a final order is written and signed, the thug stays at Central
Regional Jail on the county tab or $48.50 per day.  On many occasions, that last piece of paper , the sentencing order, gets delayed.
According to Fran King and backed up by Sheriff Holcomb, the guy that is responsible for doing the paperwork is ...... ah..... ah..... the
Prosecutor.
  Dec 28 am Bet Sample's ears are already getting red.
  Dec 28 am  During the 25 minutes of discussion, it came to light the county has been paying for 4 guys sentenced to the pen but
remained at CRJ for months and months on our tab. King ciphered real quick and said that screw up cost the county $15,000.00. Top
Badge Holcomb said the Prosecutor is responsible for filling in the blanks on a standard form, and FAXing the sheet over to the right Judge
for his John Henry.
  Dec 28 am Once the paperwork is executed, whether the guy is moved to the pen or not, the county is not charged the daily fee.
  Dec 28 am The point of the discussion was to put Samples in the spotlight. They did just that too.
  Dec 28 am   Of course such screw ups are nothing new. One guy , no not Earnie Davis, sat in prison for 9 months without so much as a
hearing. Sheriff Fields once commented that another fellow sat in CRJ racking up $9,000 in un needed expense while Prosecutor Grindo
was in office.
  Dec 28 am Other costly delays were also mentioned not relating to the Prosecutor's slow typing skills.
  Dec 28 am Here's an interesting one..... If a person gets sentenced for 48 hours in the slammer, he comes in before midnight on a Friday
and leaves Sunday, the county is charged for three days at $48.50.
  Dec 28 am Here's another, if the Badges takes the guy in at 11:45 pm and he is released the next morning, the county is charged for two
days.
  Dec 28 am If a  person is taken to CRJ, makes bail within five minutes, Yelp. the county is charged for a full 24 hour period.
  Dec 28 am  Betcha by 9 am this morning, doors will be slamming at the Courthouse.
  dec 28 am   As the meeting was ending, lots of praise was heaped on outgoing Jimmy Sams. Sams said he  couldn't think of one high or
low point during his 12 years in the hot seat. He did compliment the other Commissioners and mentioned as accomplishments, getting wa
wa to many areas of the county as well as straightening out the ambulance service.
  Dec 28 am For those interested, he did leave his 10 Commandments wall hanging nailed to the Courthouse.
  Dec 28 am One last note, didn't notice any remodeling in progress for Slinky's private office space.
  Dec 27 am  County Commission meets this morning at 10 am. Last meeting for 2006. Big long two page agenda too. Might be a good
one clickers.
  Dec 27 am Did you buy a little less this year? so did everybody else accept the very rich.
  Dec 27 am   The general Election provided a mandate that Dubbya was doing everything wrong. The day after the election, he said he
got the people's message and promised to act quickly and a change of direction was coming. Now Dubbya appears to backing away from
those promises.
  Dec 27 am  From Reuters:  The Pentagon is expected to send 3,500 troops into Kuwait to stand ready for use in Iraq, senior defense
officials said on Tuesday as the Bush administration weighs adjusting force levels in the war.
  Dec 27 am Some are saying, we can't just pull out of Iraq
  Dec 27 am Thinkers say, Yes we can and we should do it now.
  Dec 26 am We're not back in the groove clickers. After three days of family stuff, good food and time off to reflect, it's tough getting
back up to speed.
  Dec 26 am The latest Communicator made it to the news stands last Friday. Get a copy before they're all gone.
  Dec 26 am  With the end of the month at hand, there's only one public meeting left this year. The County Commission meets
Wednesday morning at 10 am. Not sure if Jimmy Sams will be there but it's his last meeting after 12 years on deck.
  Dec 26 am Sams was voted into office when the county was mad as H over the $25 Ambulance Fee imposed by the CCC. At the time,
the ambulance service was flat broke and the state oversight folks came to town and told Commissioner RT. Sizemore, either straighten it
out NOW, today, or shut it down. The fee was voted in under those trying times.
  Dec 26 am  Commissioner Sams beat out Keith "Mr. Happy" King to take the position 12 years ago. It took Sams a while to accomplish
the task. On a couple occasions he would make a motion to do away with the mandatory fee only to have his attempts die for lack of
second.
  Dec 26 am So hated was the fee, over half the county refused to pay it. The county of Clay boycotted the $25 fee despite threats of
being taken to court and liens on property. During one meeting, a Commissioner told the assembled, either pay the fee of we'll come after
your TV!  Finally, Sams pushed thru a change in the fee that made it voluntary followed by an outright doing away with the "tax".
  Dec 26 am  Sams was beat during the May Primary election.    Sams never claimed to be a rocket scientist for good reason, he wasn't.
He did accomplish what Clayberry voted him into office to do. That's a good thing.  A couple years back Commissioner Bragg was voted
out, ditto for Tim Butcher and Ronnie Haynes. Sams' predecessors shared one common trait. When they were beat, they stopped coming
to meetings and continued to take their $. Sams broke that mold and attended most of the CCC meetings since getting the boot last May.
That's a good thing.
  Dec 26 am  On the blemish side, Sams hung up a Ten Commandments display at the Courthouse in an attempt to get reelected to a
second 6 year term of office. It worked but divided the county right down the middle.
  Dec 26 am   On one side were those that think only Christian symbols should be allowed in a public building and the US Constitution
doesn't apply to the Great Nation of Clay. The other, a much smaller delegation, stood and took the blunt of the rage knowing full well, if
one religion is allowed over another, ALL religions will eventually suffer including the good hard shell bible thumpers. TV cameras came as
well as the ACLU after several locals came to public meetings and spoke out against the Sams agenda.  Good Christians called up the
members of the smaller delegation and made threats against them, threw nails in their driveways, and called them the devil.
  Dec 26 am  The rift Jimmy Sams created with separation of church and state issues may be more remembered than the good he
accomplished. That's a pity!
  Dec 26 am We'll get back up to speed soon. In the mean time, enjoy your family and friends and check back often.
  Dec 25 Late pm  from the email bag: It was December 24,2006 at 4:00 am i got up to go to the bathroom when i noticed my blow up
Christmas display was laying down. I went outside to find all seven of my blow ups had been cut with a knife.You know how sad it is to
tell your kids Santa, Frosty and evan the raindeer had fallen prey to a slasher. They even went as far as to steal my Santa on a Harley
that I had just got two days ago.
I put up the display because i like christmas it is one of my favorite holidays. I love the look on kids faces when they  see it. But now
Christmas will have a new meaning to me. Oh i will not let it ruin my christmas. I will still have Christmas with my wife and kids still
open presents eat too much and have a good time. But I think it is sad that nothing in this world is save any more.That you can't even
put up a Christmas display with out some coward  coming along and knifing it. You are a lucky person and brave doing it right outside
my window wish I would have heard you I could have given you some Christmas cheer haha.   Well i guess I am done complaining now
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.And to the slasher I hope you have a lot of sleepless nights.   James Mullins
  Dec 25 am Merry Christmas
  Dec 23 pm   From the email bag:   We would like to wish Justin Vaughan a Very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Also to all the
soldiers that are over in Iraq with Justin. We love  you! Dad, Mom, Matthew, mamaw and papaw and grandma. We can't wait for you to
come home.
  Dec 23 pm From the email bag: Here is wishing my  mom, Mary Workman, a Happy Birthday and a Merry Christmas. Thanks mom for
everything.  Mom is Christmas baby. That is why she is so special.     Sharon
  Dec 23 pm From the email bag: Thank you Jesus for providing the holiday time off.
  Dec 23 pm Here's a cute drunk Santa online game to keep you occupied. Use the up and down arrow keys to guide him and remember
to keep Santa off the railroad tracks. Right click the above link to open in full window
  Dec 23 pm   A man boarded an airplane and took his seat. As he settled in, he glanced up and saw the most beautiful woman boarding
the plane. He soon realized that she was heading straight toward his seat. As fate would have it, she took the seat right beside his. Eager to
strike up a conversation he blurted out "Business trip or pleasure?" She turned, smiled and said, "Business...I'm going to the Annual
Nymphomaniacs of America Convention in Chicago." He swallowed hard. Here was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen sitting
next to him and she was going to a meeting for nymphomaniacs!
    Struggling to maintain his composure, he calmly asked, "What's your business role at the convention?    "Lecture," she responded. "I'm
the lead lecturer where I use information I have learned from my own personal experiences to debunk some of the popular myths about
sexuality." "Really," he said, "and what kinds of myths are there?"
     Well," she explained, "one popular myth is that African-American men are the most well-endowed of all men, when in fact it is the
Native American Indian who is most likely to possess that trait. Another popular myth is that Frenchmen are the best lovers, when actually
it is Jewish men who are the best. I have also discovered that the lover with the absolutely best stamina is the Southern Redneck."
Suddenly the woman became a little uncomfortable and blushed. "I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't really be discussing all this with you; I
don't even know your name."  "Tonto," the man said, "Tonto Goldstein, but my friends call me Bubba."
  Dec 23 am The Communicator made it to the news stands Friday afternoon around 4pm. Enjoy
  Dec 23 am This edition completes another year of near award winning excellence in journalism.
  Dec 23 am BaHaaaaaaaaaa as Rose would say
  Dec 23 am  Last night the Panthers took it on the nose as Herbert Hoover sneaked past 72 to 48.
  Dec 23 am  With school out, it's officially the holiday season in Clayberry.
  Dec 23 am While we're out shopping, making candy and wrapping gifts, this from Reuters:  The U.S. military on Friday reported the
deaths of five more soldiers in Iraq as Defense Secretary Robert Gates ended a visit aimed at finding a new strategy to curb violence and
allow U.S. troops to withdraw.   Four U.S. servicemen were killed in action on Thursday in Anbar province, heartland of the unrelenting
Sunni insurgency against U.S. forces and the Iraqi government and the most dangerous place in Iraq for American soldiers.  A fifth was
killed and another wounded west of Baghdad on Friday when their patrol came under machinegun and mortar fire, the U.S. military said.
At least 71 U.S. soldiers have died so far this month.   The deaths brought the U.S. toll in Iraq to 2,960, creeping closer to the 3,000 mark.
  Dec 23 am Thank you Dubbya. Is the oil worth it?
  Dec 23 am  If something dumb happens, we'll post. Other wise, We're going to take some time off over the next four days to enjoy the
season., Thanks for stopping by.
  Dec 21 am  Today is the last of school for the little brats. Even with em trying to be on their best behavior until Monday, it's going to be
H for the next 10 days.
  Dec 21 am  The VFW is fundraising with placement of commemorative candles over Christmas at Clay Memorial Gardens. Nice idea
with proceeds going toward a new War Memorial in downtown Clay. Details on our ADVISORY page.
  Dec 21 am We've got a new Commissioner taking office Jan 1st. Behind the scenes the powers that be are diligently working to find him
a private office at the Courthouse.  Now the stacking of claim is centered between the Probation Officer's office and the Judge's chambers.
  Dec 21 am  Two weeks ago we found Slinky a space out back of the Courthouse beside the dumpster. Last week, a clicker found a tiny
bathroom office space in the lounge on the Main floor of the Courthouse. Guess those weren't good enough.
  Dec 21 am No other Commissioner has private office space.
  Dec 21 am Christmas is just four days away. Guys it's time to shop for the Mrs. You have to.
  Dec 21 am Buying her a tool box or jack won't get it. As a matter of fact, first hand knowledge, it actually takes about three presents at a
a minimum to get you thru the holiday.  A Ginos gift certificate? Forget it. Heading to Go Mart Sunday night does little good, the beer is
already picked over!
  Dec 21 am We're in shut down mode until we get The Communicator out the door sometime Friday afternoon late.
  Dec 20 pm The norm is to update this site sometime around 10 pm nightly. Connection speeds have been so slow, evening updates are
almost impossible. Those promises of lightning fast connections with DSL.... don't believe em!
  Dec 20 pm  The Communicator comes out this Friday. Deadline for events, meetings, Classifieds, notices, etc., is tonight at midnight.
Email them over now please.
  Dec 20 pm  It's another beautiful day in Clayberry. Sunshine and temps in the 50s. How wonderful. Perfect day for raising water rates.
  Dec 20 pm Last night during the Clay Co PSD meeting, the Board voted (unanimous vote) into affect higher monthly base rates and
higher $ per 1000 gallons used rates.
  Dec 20 pm Beginning with the next billing cycle, instead of a base rate of $31.00 per month, that increases $10. That first 3000 gallons
used will increase from  $11.91 to $13.70.    This increase comes on top of the intern rate increase put on your bill last Summer.
  Dec 20 pm  Mad? Ready to file a complaint or something? First you're just blowing smoke and Second, it's too late.
  Dec 20 pm The increase was approved last Spring. That's when the public was encouraged to file a complaint.
  Dec 20 pm  Yes, you knew about it, didn't do anything, and now it's time to bend over and get out the Crisco.
  Dec 20 pm We can hear it now, "I'm going to disconnect!!!!!!! I ain't NOT going to pay the fourth highest rates in the state!!!"
  Dec 20 pm Yes you are and you're going to continue with out of control utility costs until you get off your dead butt and demand
something better.
  Dec 20 pm Merry Christmas from Clay Co PSD
  Dec 20 pm Earlier this year, on his way home (after getting out of jail), Tommy Young Jr was stopped by a Green Shirt and issued 10
moving violations. Yesterday Young Jr had his day in Court. A jury found him guilty on 4 of the vehicle violations.
  Dec 20 pm Tonight around 8pm on WYAP-LP, they're offering a show called From the Holler to the Hood. The 60 minute offering
Christmas wishes and messages to relatives housed in area prisons. Listen in on 101.7 FM or on the web by walking over to wyap.com
and clicking the blinking ON AIR button in the middle of that homepage.
  Dec 20 am Kelly Dean Keith, 66, of Bickmore, see OBITUARY page.
  Dec 19 pm  Clay County PSD customers along Clinic Road, BOIL WATER ORDER continues. Boil it first.
  Dec 19 pm Clay County PSD will hold their rescheduled monthly meeting today at 5pm in their Main Street Clay office across from the
Courthouse.
  Dec 19 pm If you're interested in how long the BWO will be in effect, why there is a BWO, or anything related to YOUR PSD, don't
call em!
  Dc 19 pm This morning when one guy called to ask when the BWO would be lifted, micro managing PSD Chair Greg Fitzwater retorted:
If he's got ANY questions, He can ask them this evening!
  Dec 19 pm Maybe someone pooped in his oatmeal this morning but public relations at the Public Service District are not Greg's strong
hand..
  Dec 18 LATE pm  Ruby “Jewel” Rogers, 53, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 18 LATE pm  This afternoon that little short fat web guy screwed up and put the marijuana link on the BC&G RR forum page.
That error has been corrected. BE sure to bookmark the corrected link for future reference. Just an ole pot head having a flash back.
Sorry.
  Dec 18 pm  From the email bag:   I want to wish my little sister, Faith Wayne who is in Prestera Center a very Happy Birthday   on the
18th of Dec.  I wish I could give her a great big hug and have her home.  It has been a long time since I have been able to hug her.  She
was taken from our home April 1998 and has been in Shawnee Hills/Prestera Center since that time.  They do not allow me to see or talk
to her as her guardian won't allow it who is our brother.  I miss her more than words can say for she is my only sister and I love her more
than myself.  This is my only way of letting her know that I still think about her and love her.    Nancy Collins
  Dec 18 pm  Remember when Nancy started that just say no crap? That original plan, the ones that followed and the billions that have
been spent on keeping us ole hippies from smokin pot have done little good. What is California's largest agricultural crop? What's bigger
than corn, hay or both combined? Pot. Here's the link to the $35 BILLION industry.
  Dec 18 pm No one is lookin so you can nod your head is you want,  how many are waiting for the day when is again legalized in this
country? Yep, thought so.
  Dec 18 pm For our online clickers, the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad has done a lot of growing this year. Here's one more step.
They now have their own forum up and running.
  Dec 18 am Just 6 days to go until Christmas.
  Dec 18 am Tonight from 5 to 7pm Santa Claus will be at the Clay Ginos handing out treats. Get your picture taken too!
  Dec 18 am Tonight the School Board meets in regular session at Valley Fork Elem. For the first time EVER, the official meeting agenda
is available to the public. Here's the link two the Clay County Schools web site. Once there, go to the School Board page to check out
tonight's action.
  Dec 17 am Clinic Road customers of Clay Co PSD, BOIL WATER ORDER in place. Boil it before consumption.
  Dec 17 am  From the email bag: Would you please wish norma westfall of south Caroline a big happy birthday from  her mother and
sisters. Thank you, joanncoen and all 6 of norma sisters
  Dec 17 am When the week opened, Fas Chek of Clay didn't.  Robin Sizemore and family began moving the coolers and freezers out the
front door.  The county is now down to one franchise grocery store. The Town Council desire for Clayonians to shop locally just took a
big hit.
  Dec 17 am Little kids got into the act Monday with hand made decorations for the five Courthouse Christmas trees. Even smaller kids
from Head Start sang songs at the Courthouse mid week.
  Dec 17 am Local landlord Frank Murphy asked the Courts to award him $84,000 for unpaid rent by Gino's Pizza and Biscuitry. After 21
years, Ginos built their own building and moved out of the Murphy owned rental digs. The jury thought otherwise and said no way.
Murph will also have to pay court and jury costs.
  Dec 17 am Mid week County Commission met. Before them was appointing two members to the Business Development Authority from
the BDA's three recommendations. Only Jesse Sizemore was selected and that was over out going Commissioner Jimmy Sams objections.
Sams also objected to Katherine Knotts going on the Board because her husband was already on the BDA. It was Sizemore who stood up
against Sams hanging the 10 Commandments display on the wall of the Courthouse. Although the religious display remains, Sams appears
to be holding the grudge.
  Dec 17 am Also from Wednesday's CCC meeting, $20,000 was given the School System for wiring and conduit on the Baseball field at
Clay County Park at Maysel. Superintendent Gillespie said the school system needed reimbursed for some of the Excess Levy $ they
spent out there. Sams called it his last big vote as a Commissioner.
  Dec 17 am Something weird happened Thursday afternoon. After decades of non compliance with WV Open Meeting Law, the School
Board posted their meeting agenda on the Standard Bryant Annex door, the door of their  meeting place at Valley Fork Elem.,  and on
their web site. Public agencies are required to post agendas three full days prior to meeting times. Until this time around, the Board
provided the public just 1 1/2 hour notice. Although not 100% kosher with Sunshine Law ( it was 2 1/2 days not 3 days notice), a darn
good start!
  Dec 17 am What happened? Why now? Will they continue the new practice after the Excess Levy vote Feb 24th? Hope so.
  Dec 17 am Thursday night the Clay Roane PSD met and did NOT provide illegal Christmas bonuses to employees.
  Dec 17 am Also Thursday evening, around 100 Wagner Gas Co customers met at the Ivydale Elem School/Church. John Habjam owns
Wagner, Beechy, and Valley Gas Companies all in Clay County. Reps from the WV PSC and Governor\s office were also in attendance.
The locals complained about  gas rates more than doubling and the many times  of low or no gas pressure.
  Dec 17 am Wagner Gas Co owner John Habjam must have gonads the size of bowling balls. Habjam attended the meeting.
  Dec 17 am A couple times he disputed information provided by the PSC. He also shocked the crowd with: his company does NOT have
any liability insurance; he didn't know how to read monthly bill cards; and, until Nov 22nd, his company was not licensed to do business in
West Virginia.
  Dec 17 am Problems with the Habjam service is well known and documented. A couple years ago they were ordered into receivership by
the PSC. It never happened. PSC reps sounded like all the problems were new to them.  Locals were told to file complaints and raise H
with the Charleston regulators, the PSC.    John Habjam made it out the meeting with gonads intact.
  Dec 17 am Clay County High School Panther's Basketball team opened the season with two home games. They now have two wins
under their belts. The Lady Panthers had three wins going into this weekend's Pit Row Classic tournament in Summer's county. Saturday
night they lost the finale by 3 points.
  Dec 17 am Saturday morning at 11 am, scanner listeners heard ambulance crews unable to find a guy in need of EMS help. They didn't
even have a driver available for the call.
  Dec 17 am   8 years ago, when we went into the E911 system with Nicholas County, promises were made of correct addressing and
maps for emergency crews. In addition to not having a driver for the ambulance, they were operating without a map.
  Dec 17 am  We're down to one week until Christmas and temperatures soared into the 60s Saturday. I like this global warming thang!
  Dec 16 pm The Boil Water Order for the Clinic Road section of the Clay County PSD continues today. Boil it first, Be safe.
  Dec 16 pm Now a word for our advertisers. Check out our home page advertisers and let them know you appreciate em.  Notice Mardell
Nevan's magnetic jewelry is now there plus....
  Dec 16 pm Stay out of the kitchen this holiday season. Ronda is now selling great cakes and pies on line. Yum Yum
  Dec 16 pm  Last night the CCHS Lady Panthers put it all over Pike View, 80 to 62 in the Pit Row Classic basketball tourney. Meagan
Cole sank 34 points!     The Tourney continues tonight when the Lady Panthers (ranked 2 in the state) takes on Summers Co High.
  Dec 16 pm Go Clay!!!
  Dec 16 pm EMS and Badges responded to a nasty wreck on I-79 last night. A pick up heading the wrong direction crashed head on with
another truck killing all in the firey crash. How bad was it? Even Sheriff Holcomb said his tummy was "rolling". Ahhh... getting that
tummy "rolling" would require a bunch of Rolaids!
  Dec 16 pm  Sunshine and 60+ degree temps are predicted to continue this weekend. If this is global warming, it ain't bad.
  Dec 16 pm Today at 3 pm, community radio, WYAP, is hosting a Christmas get together at the station on the Fas Chek parking lot. Free
munchies. All invited.
  Dec 16 pm 85 year old Edmund Eagle has been a fixture in downtown Clay since the beginning of time. His sage advice often hacks
people off big time. Mr Eagle is now in a Charleston Hospital and not doing well. Get well wishes extended to Mr Eagle.
  Dec 16 pm Advice:   Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you
have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of
food and that vat of eggnog
  Dec 16 pm  More Advice:  If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and
size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like
a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.   Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat.
Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to
have more than one dessert?
  3pm   3 pm  3pm Dec 15  Clay County PSD issued a BOIL WATER ORDER for the Clinic Road section of the Big Otter area
of the district after a main line break.  Be Safe, boil it first!
  Dec 15 pm   MISSING DOG: Reddish brown Golden Retriever, answers to Duke, missing from Reed Fork Road area.  Please call
587-7840 or 587-4972
  Dec 15 pm     Men gather around, 2007 is looking better already! Here's an article from the Miami Herald:  (AP) -- A woman did not
break the law when she exposed her breasts to protest laws that bar women from publicly going bare breasted, a judge has ruled.   County
Judge David B. Beck said Thursday that Elizabeth Book, 44, of Ormond Beach, did not violate disorderly conduct laws.  Book was
arrested by Daytona Beach police July 2, 2005, for disrobing in public.   Her attorney, Lawrence G. Walters, said the city is trying to
censor his client.   ''I've never seen another city or case where the city has shown so much time and effort to shut down one person's First
Amendment right of protected speech,'' Walters said. 'They just can't seem to let it go. They need to stop wasting taxpayers' money.''
Beck and the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled in favor of Book for a similar incident. She was first arrested for
bearing her chest during Bike Week in March 2004.
  Dec 15 pm Oh Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Dec 15 pm  I attended a party this past weekend.  After checking out all the  well-dressed guests at the party, I spotted an attractive
woman  (standing alone) across the room.  When I approached and asked her name, she coyly replied... "Carmen."   Trying to maintain
some sort of conversation with her, I responded with   "That's a beautiful name, is it a family name?"   "No," she replied. "I gave it to
myself, because it reflects the things    I like most in the world - cars and men."   "What's your name?" she asked.   "Golftits," I replied.
  Dec 15 pm Last night around 100 Wagner Gas Co residents attended a County Commission backed public meeting. Even Wagner Ga Co
owner John Habjan was in attendance.
  Dec 15 pm Locals provided monthly bills which had more than doubled with last month's rate increase added on. Customers were also
peed about the number of outages, low gas pressure and no gas conditions. One lady spoke of  a $80 bill at an unoccupied home. One
senior citizen who lives alone told of a $240 gas bill last month when temps were moderate.
  Dec 15 pm After questioning, the facts: the WV PSC OK'd two rate increases without having company records to document ANY need
for an increase; Wagner Gas is operating without ANY liability insurance; was operating without a business license (until Nov 22 2006);
was ordered into receivership several years ago by the PSC but nothing actually happened; Wagner gas is over $80,000 in debt to it's
supplier (Prime Energy) and customers have to pay that debt off; and, customers should go ahead and get out the Crisco.
  Dec 15 pm Reps from the WV PSC and Gov's office were in attendance last night.  They want customers to document the many
problems. They made it sound like this was some kind of new problem. Truth is, Wagner, Valley, and Beechy gas problems are nothing
new. Complaints have been raised for years. The School System got into the process a few years back with a formal complaint. School
Boardster Gene King often mentions, when Clay Elem turns on it's furnaces, many seniors in downtown Clay often go without heat.
  Dec 15 pm  With bills more than doubled, there's one way to put off the inevitable. Instead of paying the monthly bill, send a  letter to
the WV Public Service Commission disputing the bill and come up with some cockamamie reason for the dispute. During that PSD dispute
process, which might take months, you won't have to pay the bills and they can't cut you off.    When the dispute , all the disputes, are
settled, you will have a big arss bill to pay  but.... you would anyway!
  Dec 15 pm So what would happen if all 900 customers filed a dispute and refused to pay? Answer: (A) Habjan would be in deep stuff
and might even be forced out of business, or (B); enough attention may be raised that the WV PSC would have to do something.
  Dec 15 pm  Little more than lip service has been given to the annual winter problem.
  Dec 15 am  Roy Lee Tanner, 84, of Duck, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 15  am Something is wrong, real wrong clickers.    For decades people have complained till they turned blue in the face and now.....
  Dec 15 am Yesterday afternoon the School system posted their meeting agenda on the door of the central office.
  dec 15 am Yesterday that same agenda appeared on the school system web site for the world to see.
  dec 15 am We understand the agenda is also posted over at Valley Fork Elem where Monday's meeting will be held.
  Dec 15 am  Open Meeting Law requires twice a month public meetings to post an agenda a minimum of three day in advance of the
gathering. Up until yesterday, the school Boardsters have refused to do so. When the issue last came up during a meeting, they said they
weren't going to follow legal advice, doing so would mess them up!
  Dec 15 am Maybe it's the water. Maybe they looked at the wrong calendar. Or, maybe they finally realized they have to play by the
same rules everybody else has to abide by. What ever the case, how refreshing.
  Dec 14 am  Our DSL provider  Frontier was reaaaaaaaal slow last night. Download 450kbps and just 81 kpbs up. Took forever to get
those home page pics to load.  Limited posts until thangs speed up.  For those trying to listen to WYAP on the web, forget it.
  Dec 14 pm Panthers play today at 1pm. Home game too.
  Dec 14 am Forgot to mention  Happy Birthdays Wednesday Dec 13th....    Birthday wishes to Elizabeth Sampson and  Magistrate Jeff
Boggs both turned 70 yesterday.
  Dec 14 am Tonight at 7pm Clay Roane PSD will hold their monthly Board meeting. On the agenda is doling out Christmas bonuses to
employees. State law forbids such  bonuses. In years' past. various agencies have tried such antics and called them many different names.
What ever they are called, the WV Attorney General's office says they are illegal.
  Dec 14 am When the old Ambulance Authority decided they would violate the law, they called Christmas bonuses, one time seasonal
incremental salary adjustments. One year they handed out a $12,000 bonus to the Director. After catching a bunch of H from all over,
they did it again the next year!
  Dec 14 am Wagner gas customers were shocked when they received this month's heating bill. The rates went up 58%. Tonight at
6:30pm the County Commission is hosting a meeting at Ivydale Elem School/Church beginning at 6:30 to hear your concerns. Reps from
the WV PSC and the Gov's office will be in attendance. If you want to B***** and be heard, tonight's the night.
  Dec 14 am During Wed's CCC meeting, Commissioner Fran King wondered why Wagner was allowed a rate increase since they didn't
have a valid business license or corporate charter. Additional concerns centered around the county wide provider operating WITHOUT
business insurance.
  Dec 14 am more coming.....
  Dec 13 pm By 11 am this morning, the jurors were done with their work. Before them was whether Gino's Pizza owed Frank & Betty
Murphy $84,000 ($2000 per month times 5 years, minus what rent already paid) in rent. The 5 woman and 1 man jury said Nope. The
argument came after Gino's completed a five year lease at the old Two Run location of the pizzeria and continued renting the place month
to month while their new building was being built up the road.
  Dec 13 pm Yesterday, scanner listeners heard some kind of fight in progress during a school bus run. No it wasn't the kids, it was the
contract driver's family doing the punching as far as we can tell. As of 1:30pm today, no charges filed.
  Dec 13 pm We often see four wheelers on the roads in rural West Virginia. It's not so often we see one chasing another down Main
Street. Happened Tuesday afternoon on Main Street. Reports have it, someone fired shots at a truck and the chase was on. Badges got
involved as the bad guy headed over Pisgah bridge. No charges filed yet.
  Dec 13 pm For the most part, people don't want their names in The Communicator. A gazilion times a day we hear, Don't quote me and
Keep my name out of it.
  Dec 13 pm In our latest edition, we have a picture of Bambi Tanner and a caption reading, Bambi Tanner sentenced Dec 5th.
  dec 13 pm First to call up was Doc Boggs, Dad of Bambi. Doc was upset that there was no story to go with the pic. Late last night
Bambi called up sounding none to happy.
  Dec 13 pm Always trying to satisfy our readers.... Bambi plead no contest to drunk driving and was sentenced to 24 hours in the
slammer plus court costs and a fine.       Now, .. hope everybody is happy.
  Dec 13 am First something important. Let's talk winkies. Check out this site where the guy says if you use soy products, the size of your
winky will shrink.
  Dec 13 am D***, there's the answer. Soy milk in my bottle instead of being breast fed as a kid !!!!!!!!!
  Dec 13 am Last night the Panthers beat Gilmer Co in the season opener, 49 to 45 in overtime action.  Steven Jones had 26 points
(unofficial).
  Dec 13 am Next home CCHS B Ball game, Thursday in front of the student body around 1pm.
  Dec 13 am A four weeks ago, we reported on the AIDS/HIV rumor mongering in Clayberry and its affect on 22 year old Tia Gray. Ms
Gray does NOT have AIDS. A few days later,  we followed up with her getting arrested down in Charleston. Any compassion being
generated went out the door, Poof! All gone!
  Dec 13 am  We have an update
  Dec 13 am Gray stopped in the office Tuesday and said she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, got nabbed by the Badges, and
thrown in the slammer. Gray was picked up on what Badges thought was a Schedule I narcotic. In reality, the white stuff was epson salt
she was using on a swollen ankle.   The Kanawha County charge was dropped Tuesday morning.
  Dec 13 am OK,  back to some compassion for Tia Gray.
  Dec 13 am What's the restroom talk at the Courthouse? Not nice day, or  ready for Christmas?, or something along those lines.
  Dec 13 am On Tuesday, Men coming and going from the can were saying, Better make sure you're in the right bathroom, Randy's in the
building!
  Dec 12 pm Clay County PSD rescheduled today's 5 pm meeting until next Tuesday.
  Dec 12 pm Tonight is the season opener for the CHS Panthers. In addition to the earlier Freshman and JV games, Varsity should tip off
around 7:30pm.  101.7 FM will be carrying the game in real time. Get out and support our local athletes.
  Dec 12 pm Wed morning the County Commission meets in regular session beginning at 10 am. Soft seats and great entertainment. Bring
your own popcorn. Two page agenda and posted well in advance and according to Open Meeting Law requirements.
  Dec 12 pm Wonder why the CCC (and  many other govt agencies) follow the state rules and the School Board thinks there aren't any
rules?
  Dec 12 pm CCHS Girl's B Ball season opened last week. They already have three wins under their belts. Yesterday at the Charleston
Civic Center they beat Tolsia , 70 to 56, in the Hoops Classic. Cherie Cruickshanks was named Most Valuable Player. Meghan Cole had
21 points. Cherie  had 17 points and Erica Schoolcraft and Sierra Carver (a freshman) had 10 points each. The Lady Panthers began the
season ranked 2nd in the state. Three big wins ain't a bad way to start the new year.
  Dec 12 pm Over in Circuit Court land the jury heard testimony in the Frank Murphy vs Gino's Pizza case. The courtroom tussle is over
rent $ in  a lease agreement after Ginos moved to their own digs at Two Run. With testimony all done, the jury will begin deliberations
Wednesday morning after closing remarks by the attorneys.
  Dec 12 pm Sounds like a great morning at the Courthouse. Free too!
  Dec 12 am  Jimmy A. Cook, 72, of Ivydale, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 12 am Here's something very interesting. The West Virginia Demorat party leadership voted last weekend to allow Independent
voters access to Demo primary ballots. Get it? Those registered with no party affiliation can now vote for Demorats during May Primary
elections.
  Dec 12 am  11.3% of WV voters are registered as Independents. What a change that could make during the next election cycle.
  Dec 12 am Clay County has several hundred Inde's. WV has four times as many Demos as Republicrats. With those numbers, Primary
elections oft decide who gets into office. Now non Demos can have a say in who gets into office. What a change!
  Dec 12 am Behind the scenes, the Northern panhandle has had an influx of new residents. An equal number of the newbees are
registered Repubs or Inde's. Any attempt to unseat Capito will require those Inde's voting for Demo challengers.
  Dec 12 am According to the WV Bar Association web site, as late as Sunday night, Barbara Schamberger had her law license revoked for
not paying annual dues to the WV Bar. Today, the site shows all six of our local attorneys in good graces.
  Dec 11 pm  Aaron Matthew Nottingham, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 11 pm    Clay County's most read newspaper, The Communicator made it out the door today around 3 pm. Should be in all the
stores by 5pm. 24 pages of near award winning news and views second to none. $10 worth of enjoyment for just 70 cents. Enjoy
  Dec 11 pm   From the email bag:    There is a white German Shepard type dog hanging around Big Otter, up the hollow from the Clinic.
I haven't tried to catch it but it is someone's pet as it is wearing a red collar.  If it is yours please call 286-4851.
  Dec 10 pm Did you know the nation of Fuji had an army? Did you know they overthrew the government this week? Did you know it's
the fourth time in 30 years a coup has toppled the island nation?
  Dec 10 pm  Congress wanted Rumsfield out of control so bad, if the Devil had been the White House pick.... On a 98 to 2 vote, Robert
Gates takes over as the top dog for the military. Many thought the criminal charges (torture) against Rummy would just go away. Not so,
Judge Hogan is mulling the case over. Once again those nasty ACLU folks are leading the charges against the guy.
  Dec 10 pm The big talk this past week was the Iraq Study Group report. You can download the entire report here. Here's the
background on the institute and participants. There is a sad part... the group's findings are exactly what America has known for two years.
The info is two years behind the times!
  DEc 10 pm  There have been 3,170 coalition deaths, 2,924 Americans, two Australians, 125 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, six Danes, two
Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 32 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 18 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadoran, four
Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of December 8, 2006, according to a CNN count.
  Dec 10 pm   Today is Human Rights Day. This year the name was changed to Human Rights and Impeachment Day. Can Dubbya be
impeached  for his actions? Some say Yes.
  Dec 10 pm Down South, one Mom had her kid arrested for petty theft after he opened a Christmas present early. Bet every parent in
America cut out the newspaper article and stuck it on the fridge!
  Dec 10 pm Succumbing to Paris Hilton influence, Britney was seen minus her undies. Take a look.. ah.... this site is the filtered site.
  Dec 10 pm During the Business Development Authority meeting, it was announced, money had been secured to train young people on
running county committees, boards, and authorities. Good, it's about time. The BDA also complained about their nice big Filcon site sign
disappearing. One guy told us, that big wind storm actually tore the thing down and not vandals.
  Dec 10 pm  One poor fellow from Charleston was arrested this past week for using the main floor Courthouse women's bathroom.
Charged $170.50 for the offense by the pee pee patrol, bet the guy won't be back in Clayberry soon.
  Dec 10 pm On more serious business, 18 hours later, Top Badge Holcomb went after Brenin Bird and Dennis Koch while recovering a
stolen Dodge pick up on Leatherwood Road.
  Dec 10 pm Week two of the buy one get one free sale at Fas Chek saw record numbers at the Main Street store. Soon to be out of
business, Clay will be home to just one local franchise grocery chain. Competition and prices?
  Dec 10 pm Back on Feb 14th, Lizemores' residents watched a house being raided by law enforcement. All kinds of stuff was removed
from the double wide trailer back then. Mid day Friday they saw a return of the Badges and watched as they hauled off a van mid day
Friday. Something is up.
  Dec 10 pm Here in small town America we saw the temps drop to 9 degrees Friday morning. It was a reality check, winter is here.
  Dec 10 pm Christmas lights went up. Pick up trucks were seen hauling Christmas trees. Out of boxes, five Christmas trees went up at the
Courthouse ready for elementary school kids to decorate. Only one problem, Friday morning it was too cold for the kiddies to be outdoors
for the event.
  Dec 10 pm Friday night the Braxton County girls basketball team  got clobbered by our ranked second in the state, Lady Panthers.
Another great season is under way for Clay.
  Dec 10 pm Saturday morning, Santa came to the Lion's Club building in Clay. The place was packed with kids from all over. The most
special time of you is here and the kids were grinning from ear to ear.
  Dec 10 pm Sunday afternoon, temps soared into the 50s and the sun came out in full force.
  Dec 10 pm Just another week in Clayberry.
  Dec 10 pm  How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
  Dec 10 pm Life isn't like a box of chocolates . . . it's more like a jar of jalapenos.  What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.
  Dec 10 pm  A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
  Dec 10 pm The Communicator comes out Monday around 4pm. Until then, no new posts unless something dumb happens.
  Dec 9 LATE pm  Arnett Dale Legg, of Bickmore,  see OBITUARY paage
  Dec 9 LATE pm  Ida Edith Anderson Tanner, 98, of Bomont, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 9 pm I felt like my body had gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start
exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an
hour. But by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.
  Dec 9 pm   My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.
  Dec 8 am We're holding up the Communicator until Monday. Juice coming.
  Dec 8 am Don't miss the music and fun at Big Otter Community Center  tonight. Get out and have some fun. See EVENTS page for
details.
  Dec 8 am Last night's Business Development Authority meeting was a much quieter affair than previous gatherings.
  Dec 8 am Months ago County Commissioner Fran King, also a BDA member, informed the group they needed to break up into small
committees and do several committee projects instead of just attending  a once a month chit chat session. One attempt at committee
assignments failed miserably.
  Dec 8 am Since, King has been the spark plug behind the BDA writing grants and coming up with work expected from  an economic
development group. Last night Fran announced the state folks gave the OK on a $9000+ grant she wrote. The new $ will be used to grow
a four times a year, county wide "round table" assembly. Made up of local govt. officials, business leaders, and elected state reps, meetings
will include a freebie dinner and time to swap ideas. They call it  "networking".
  Dec 8 am Currently there are four openings on various county wide committees with the County Commission unable to find anyone
interested in  filling the positions. Some of those positions are paid for their work. Well paid!
  Dec 8 am  A second more important part of the BDA grant funds the training of 10 young people (including high school seniors) on how
to operate a government committee, board, or PSD.  The plan is to find young people with an interest in government, train them on how
government committees can operate legally, and then put them in a pool of candidates. When vacancies occur on local committees, the
CCC can pull from that pool of  trained candidates.
  Dec 8 am How interesting... people available for duty, already trained, and with an interest in operating government agencies, how
refreshing
  Dec 8 am  A couple weeks ago this site had pictures of Doc Jamie's cows grazing on the  freshly planted grass ($5000) at the old Filcon
site. The BDA is none to happy about their $ turning into cow poo. Letters will be sent out telling Jamie to keep his cows off the industrial
site.
  Dec 8 am During that pasture discussion, there was mention, slight mention, of "something" that happened between Doc Jamie and
nearby property owner Fabian Brown.
  Dec Working on that one now.
  Dec 8 am The BDA paid for a nice looking professionally done 4 by 8 , 2 color sign out at their industrial site. Someone has stolen it. If
you have it, please return it and don't repaint it, "BDA COW PASTURE"
  Dec 7 pm   Sheriff Holcomb was out late last night recovering thugs and a stolen truck on Leatherwood Creek. Scanner listeners heard
most of the action as he called for backup. We understand a red dodge pick up stolen from a Northern county was recovered as well as
one thief last night and another guy this morning.
  Dec 7 pm Lodged in Central Regional Jail are Dennis Koch, Brenin Bird and Holley Woods. Not sure if all three are connected to the
stolen truck thang but jailed none the less.
  Dec 7 am How many of you work 5 1/2 , 6 7 days a week and put in 45, 50, maybe 60 hours?  New leadership wants the House to
actually show up for work on Mondays by 6pm and work until Friday afternoon. Congress is in shock!!!!!!! Next thing you know, we'll
want them to actually do something constructive!
  Dec 7 am Our Business Development Authority convenes this afternoon at 5pm. The agenda looks tame enough but you never know
what could happen. Come out and enjoy a public meeting. Clayberry's best entertainment and free too
  Dec 7 am Last Friday that new guy was sworn into office. The first thang on Slinky's wish list was a private office  at the Courthouse.
No other County Commissioner has office space. They just come  and use phones and space in the County Clerk's office.
  Dec 7 am The Slinkster was after space currently used by the Probation Officer between the Courtroom and Judge's chamber.
  Dec 7 am Didn't happen.
  Dec 7 am Seems the aging one wanted a puter, internet connection, desk and private area to work on his pet projects.
  Dec 7 am   Someone tell the guy, he's just one vote and before he signs ANY grant request, King and Triplett have to vote an OK.
Unlike the School System, the County Commission votes and makes decisions in public.
  Dec 7 am  Possible ad campaign material for Viagra:  10. Viagra, Whaazzzz up!      9. Viagra, The quicker pecker picker upper.   8.
Viagra, like a rock!  7. Viagra, When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.   6. Viagra, Be all that you can be.      5. Viagra,
Reach out and touch someone.    4. Viagra, Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.     3. Viagra, Home of the whopper!     2.
Viagra, We bring good things to Life!  And the unanimous number one slogan:  1. This is your winkie. This is your winkie on drugs.
  Dec 6 pm  The good Sheriff is getting a lot of razing as the Pee Pee Police. See post below.
  Dec 6 pm During last night's Clay Town Council meeting, a couple notes. One, it was announced they couldn't pay the Nov. 06 sewer
plant bills. Two, Council seemed in agreement with buy developing, buying/leasing, and growing a municipal  "mini" park in downtown IF
the project could be done with grants and not $ from other needs.
  Dec 6 pm   Long time readers will remember last Spring , Town Council asked for and received a water rate increase. Back then, the
Mayor said the sewer rates were what really needed to  be increased but .... since they were just increased a year earlier, he wasn't going
to do that.  King Arthur commented (during two public meetings), he was going to F  the rest of the county by spreading the higher water
rates around everywhere and not just the town folk. During the WV PSC Hearing on water rates, that ace cub reporter told the Judge
Jarrett's words. Although struck them from the official record, the ALJ (Judge) ordered Town elders to take training on public wordage.
  Dec 6 pm Today they are unable to pay sewer bills.
  Dec 6 pm In Nov. came word of the need to cut down the majestic evergreens in front of the old Courthouse to make room for a new
war memorial. Since then several people have commented on such actions with most saying no to such timbering.
  Dec 6 pm Wouldn't it make sense to have a small park complete with trees, benches, grass, AND the war memorial in downtown Clay?
Does to many. Some time last Summer, CAEZ Director Connie Lupardus commented there were Fed. monies available for such  "pocket
parks".
  Dec 6 pm  Sounds like a great project for some enterprising group. How about you?
  Dec 6 pm CAEZ met last night as well.
  Dec 6 pm   With the Director in Oklahoma (at her expense they said), not much was covered. Well.... except the CAEZ had to dip into
savings accounts to make ends meet again. Talk is also on the need to find someone to help with grant writing duties to gain needed
administration dollars.
  Dec 6 pm Dipping into savings to cover current expenses is not a new thing at the CAEZ. Time will be here soon when those savings
accounts will be depleted. Then what?
  Dec 5 pm   Ever go in the wrong rest room by accident? One guy did this morning and ended up with a costly ticket.
  Dec 5 pm Just before noon today a Charleston fellow was upstairs at the new Courthouse on business. He headed for the bathroom.
Cleaning crews were in there scrubbing. Down stairs he flew and into the women's  rest room he did go. With his pants at his knees, ladies
came in for nature's call.    After screams, the pee pee police were called into duty..
  Dec 5 pm Sheriff Holcomb issued a ticket for improper use of a water closet to the guy. Yes there is a law on that!
  Dec 5 pm  Holcomb commented the guy first said he  was ready to puke and just didn't notice the signs. He later changed his story to
needing to heed the call of logs big time.
  Dec 5 pm  What ever the story, Magistrate Boggs levied the minimum fine $10, and $160.50 in court costs.
  Dec 5 pm We can all rest a  little easier knowing the Courthouse bathrooms are being monitored by the Pee Pee Patrol.
  Dec 5 pm Deadline for getting your events, classifieds, meeting notices etc is Wednesday night late. The newest edition of The
Communicator is right around the corner.
  Dec 4 LATE pm  Wagner Gas Co serves the northern end of the county with home heating service. Wagner Gas Co customers, take a
look at your bill. Notice any change?
  Dec 4 LATE pm  According to Commissioner Fran King, Wagner received a 58% rate increase and it's on your monthly bills now.
  Dec 4 LATE pm 58%
  Dec 4 LATE pm One customer in Ivydale had a $100 gas bill last month and the newest bill read $160. Keep in mind, Nov. was a warm
month with few days of freezing temps.
  Dec 4 LATE pm Bend over, get the Crisco and Happy Holidays from Wagner Gas Co!
  dec 4 LATE  See ADVISORY page for more.
  Dec 4 pm    Arbutus B. Brady, 82, of Ovapa, see OBITUARY page
  Dec 4 pm  From the email bag:   Welcome Home  Spc Ryan Duffield   After serving in Irag for 1-year!!!  So glad your back home Safe
and  Home with your family for the Holidays!!!    Love you,   Uncle Tony & Aunt Connie Myers     from Butler,Pa.
  Dec 4 pm from the rest of Clayberry, thanks for a job well done!
  Dec 4 pm Last Friday we had sunshine and temps in the 70s. This morning the thermo read 21 degrees with snow in the air.
  Dec 4 pm Clayonians look different with a temperature change. We hunker over and walk faster.
  Dec 4 pm This is a week full of public meetings if you can figure out when they take place.
  Dec 4 pm Tonight the School Board meets beginning at 6pm. From School Boardster Beth Cercone's web site (the only advance agenda
notice available to the public), the agenda includes:  Mr. Linkinoggor's presentation on the new school at Big Otter.  Discussions:  Shawn
Michael Roat Memorial Bench;  Official Levy Ballot;  Charleston Catholic High School
  Dec 4 pm As of 10 am this morning, Nope, not meeting agenda was posted at the Standard Bryant annex building where the gathering
will occur tonight.
  Dec 4 pm  Tuesday evening CAEZ meets. The economic development group holds business beginning at 4pm. The full Bd meets at
6pm. Their meetings are held in their office digs on Main Street beside the Welfare Office. Nope their agenda wasn't posted either. It is
now.
  Dec 4 pm Also on Tuesday Clay Town Council meets at the Water Plant on Main Street. Their agenda was posted on the front door but
listed the time as 4pm. Wrong Wrong Wrong. Start time for the Council meeting is 6pm.
  Dec 4 pm Knot heads often say this nation was founded on Christianity and government buildings should be covered with religious
symbols and such. To denounce such craziness is often met with open hostility and shouts of OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
  Dec 4 pm Muslum Keith Ellison was elected to Congress last month. He plans to be sworn into office with his hand on the Koran and
not the KJV of the Bible. Right wingers went wild. NO WAY!  He can't do that! That's against the values of this country.
  Dec 4 pm Read all about the American Family Association's stand on taking your individual rights away. Pretty Scary reading.
  Dec 4 pm   There was a man who lost one of his arms in an accident. He became very depressed because he had loved to play guitar and
a lot of things that took two arms.     One day he had had it. He decided to commit suicide.  He got on an elevator and went to the top of a
building to jump off. He was standing on the ledge looking down and saw this man skipping along, whistling and  kicking up his heels. He
looked closer and saw this man didn't have any arms at all. He started thinking, what am I doing up here feeling sorry for myself, I still
have one good arm to do things with.  There goes a man with no arms skipping down the sidewalk happy and going on with his life.    He
hurried down and caught the man with no arms. He told him how glad he was to see him because he had lost one of his arms and felt ugly
and useless and was going to kill himself. He thanked him again for saving his life and he knew he could make it with one arm if that guy
could go on with no arms.  The man with no arms began dancing and whistling and kicking up his heels again.  The one-armed guy asked,
"Why are you so happy anyway?"    "I'm NOT happy ... my butt itches."
  Dec 3 am Polishing off Nov. was less than smooth. Here's our wrap up. Hello Cindy
  Dec 3 am For the Communicator readers, we received this from Evelyne McLaughling: Bro. Bill is in the hospital following a stroke.
Please remember him in your prayers.
  Dec 3 am Washington, Congress may be so anxious to get rid of Rummy, they may look the other way on Robert Gates. Remember
Gates and the Iran Contra affair in 1984? Remember when the Senate said go home Robert and he did?
  Dec  3 am Hindsight with Rummy.
  Dec 3 am  Oh Dubbya's Oil War is doing reaaaaaaal well
 DEc 3 am There have been 3,136 coalition deaths, 2,889 Americans, two Australians, 125 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, six
Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 32 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 18 Poles, two Romanians, five
Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of December 1, 2006, according to a CNN
count.
  Dec 3 am 27 days and we'll have a fresh start in DC and not soon enough for many!
  Dec 3 am  How prevalent is it that Badges plant evidence to make a search and/or arrest look better. You might want to read this link.
  Dec 3 am Locally, the community used the warm weather to decorate for Christmas. The Town did its part by hanging street light
decorations.
  Dec 3 am Now for some snow.
  Dec 3 am Monday evening the School Board held their second public meeting in Nov. They did so after posting the agenda a few
minutes ahead of time on the Standard Bryant building meeting door.  The meeting was held at Lizemores Elem School. The public
agenda was quite different than the one provided School boardsters five days earlier. The big vote of the evening was to hold a special
election in Feb to approve an excess Levy on the residents of the second poorest county in the second poorest state in the nation. The vote
was unanimous in favor and without discussion or comment. No one seems notice and no one seems to care. The Great Nation of Clay
will continue until challenges are made. How about you?
  Dec 3 am  With summer like temps, 50 mph winds wiped out power and tele services in the county just before lunch Friday.   With lights
blinking off and on, the Courthouse annual Christmas dinner was a gala affair with  lots of good stuff to eat. Across the street, the Clay
PSD stayed put and ate pizza.
  Dec 3 am After the luncheon, the new guy on the block, ole..... was sworn into his County Commission position by Judge Ric Facemire.
His promises included an open door policy and always available to listen to your  problems. Link .. that's his name.... said he would be the
full time Commissioner.
  Dec 3 am Saturday evening the rural H.E. White Elem held their Winter Western Hoe Down fundraiser. Live Music, dancing, raffles,
munchies, and fun. The community showed up in force. Watch for the School Board to say, either support the Levy in Feb or we'll shut
your school down!
  Dec 3 am Saturday night, 11:14, over the scanner, call for Badges to respond to a fight at a Big Otter bar. Five individuals with guns
  Dec 3 am  Once upon a time, in a nice little forest, there lived a blind little bunny and a blind little snake. One day, the bunny was
hopping through the forest, and the snake was slithering through the forest, when the bunny tripped over the snake and fell down. This, of
course, knocked the snake about quite a bit.  "Oh, my," said the bunny, "I'm terribly sorry I didn't mean to hurt you. I've been blind since
birth, so, I can't see where I'm going. In fact, I don't even know what I am." "It's quite okay," replied the snake "Actually, my story is
much the same as yours. I, too, have been blind since birth. Tell you what, maybe I could kinda slither over you, and figure out what you
are, so at least you'll have that going for you." "Oh, that would be wonderful," replied the bunny. So the snake slithered all over the bunny,
and said, "Well, you're covered with soft fur; you have really long ears; your nose twitches and you have a soft cottony tail. I'd say that
you must be a bunny." "Oh, thank you! Thank you," cried the bunny in obvious excitement. The bunny suggested to the snake, "Maybe I
could feel you with my paw, and help you the same way you've helped me." So the bunny felt the snake all over, and remarked, "Well,
you're scaly and smooth, and you have a forked tongue, no backbone and no ball s. I'd say you must be either a politician, an attorney, or
possibly someone in upper management.
  Dec 3 am Starting out a new month is always a busy time for public meetings. Check  back often for updates.
  Dec 2 am Sorry for the slow posting....
  Dec 2 am  Wind went tearing thru Clayberry Friday. 50 mph gusts were expected and they came. Many residents lost electric service by
mid day Friday. In WV 64,000 AEP and Allegheny power customers remained without service by early evening. With no juice on Triplett
Ridge where the transmitter is located, WYAP went off the air around 11:40 am Friday.
  Dec 2 am The day started out gray and overcast followed by the wind followed by absolute blue skies and temps in the 70s. By night
fall, it felt more like winter again. Brrrrrrr
  Dec 2 am Many gathered for the annual Courthouse Christmas dinner yesterday. After the munching, Judge Ric Facemire put on the
robe and administered the oath of office for our newly elected Commissioner... ole.... what was his name..... ahhh, Oh, ... Slinky, that's it
  Dec 2 am After promising to follow the law of the land, the aging guy said he planed to be a full time Commissioner and get to work.
  Dec 2 am Tonight the fun time event is down at HE White Elem School where they're hosting  Winter Western Hoe Down. See
EVENTS page for details.
  Dec 2 am    A man and a woman were sitting beside each other in the first class section of an airplane.  The woman sneezed, took out a
tissue, gently wiped her nose, then visibly shuddered for ten to fifteen seconds.  The man went back to his reading.  A few minutes later,
the woman sneezed again, took a tissue, wiped her nose, then shuddered violently once more.  Assuming that the woman might have a
cold, the man was still curious about the shuddering.  A few more minutes passed when the woman sneezed yet again.  As before she took
a tissue, wiped her nose, her body shaking even more than before.  Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man turned to the woman and said,
"I couldn't help but notice that you've sneezed three times, wiped your nose and then shuddered violently.  Are you ok?"   "I am sorry if I
disturbed you, I have a very rare medical condition; whenever I sneeze I have an orgasm."  The man, more than a bit embarrassed, was
still curious.  I have never heard of that condition before" he said.  "Are you taking anything for it?" The woman nodded, "Pepper."