Our Appalachian Spring
May 10 2022

Down below are the unofficial election results from the May 10th Primary Election in Clayberry. Actually, since there were not any Republicrap challenges, we left them off our article.
Election nights are special in small town America, a social occasion for sure but with tension in the air until the last precinct is accounted for and the dust settles. Outside Election Central, Clay Courthouse, there were vehicles up and down Main Street spilling over into the Walgreen parking lot.
Inside there were pockets of candidates surrounded by their supporter teams. A couple little kids were running around and having a big time.
The action place was the County Clerk's office where ballot counters stayed busy til well after 10 pm when the last results were provided the public via the PA system.
Power outages and brown outs slowed down the auto counter machine. Each time power was lost, or the generator had to kick on, everything had to be started over.
Tuesday night we provided a brief update on what we saw and heard. For prosperity, here's out posting from Tuesday night May 10th

May 10 late p A few years ago when Middle Eastern Countries started tossing out leadership, media outlets called it the Arab Spring. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an Appalachian Spring in the mountains of County Clay.
May 10 late p For County Commission, Joyce Johnson toppled incumbent Fran King, 644 to 408. With no Repub challenger in Nov, Johnson will take office Jan 1 2023
May 10 late p With Mike Asbury not running for Circuit Clerk again, three challengers were on the ballot. Results: Clarissa Hanshaw 432, Jason Hubbard with 322, and comin in dead last and as the person with the most signs along the roads, Dwana Murphy 313. That race is not over. In the Nov General Election, there is a Republicrap challenger on the ballot
May 10 late p And the big topple come in Sch Bd land where Superintendent Joe Paxton lost his much wanted Excess Levy in Jan. Now, in May, he lost all three incumbent Boardsters.
May 10 late p Sch Bd vote count: Phoebe Nichols 1036; Lo Nutter with 892, Brooke Jones 739, Carrie Haynes Dunmire 503, Dave Mullins 409, Cheryl White 381, and Morgan Triplett with 343.
May 10 late p The break down is, each of our three districts will have one new Boardster, Phoebe Nichols from A; Lo Nutter from B district, and finally Brooke Jones representing C district.
May 10 late p The new Boardsters will take training in June and then take their new perch July 1st.
May 10 late p That's a new quorum for Joe Paxton and the Pentagon to deal with and a new complexion, direction, for the school system.
May 10 late p It's interesting to watch how winners and losers handle themselves on election night
May 10 late p Dave Mullins bailed out early, He didn't wait around for the obvious defeat and hand shaking of the winners.
May 10 late p That's not the case for Morgy Triplett who hung around til the end and wished the winners the best of wishes and success.
May 10 late p For the last many election cycles, School Superintendents would show up election night and shake hands and offer good wishes to the winners.
May 10 late p That wasn't the case for Joe Paxton who was a no show tonight.
May 10 late p Sitting Boardster David Pierson was on hand for the gala and provided glad tidings to his newly elected board members. That professionalism is the reason Dave Pierson keeps getting elected. He has a brain.
May 10 late p As for the Emergency Service Excess Levy: 911 for the wallet fleecing and 756 against the take. In this state, a regular excess levy must win by 60.01% + to take affect. That didn't happen this time around. The Levy failed to make that threshold for the second time in less than 2 years.
May 10 late p It didn't take long for the emails to start coming in.
May 10 late p From the email bag and just minutes after the results were all in: Andi, May you sleep well tonight since you slandered my brother Dave Mullins until he lost the election. Your turn will come and you will be judged one day on your actions. What goes around comes around. Where is your respect? You have communicated in your paper just who and what you are. You certainly don’t have the good people in Clay County in mind as you print such slander in your paper. People like you are what causes America to be in the shape that it is now. I feel for you. Sandy Mullins Barillaro
May 10 late p There's only one piece left to fall in place and then the Appalachian Spring will be complete. That might (should) be coming by late June.
May 10 late p It has been a good year for the citizenry of Clayberry. We don't have much say with national politics but here on the home front, each vote still counts. Sometime tomorrow we'll post the entire voting results
May 10 late p In the news business, scandals, outrage, dumb bunnyitus, 2022 couldn't get any better. With the Mel Gibson Look Alike turning 69 in just a couple weeks and after the best five months of exciting news, there's no better time to creep into retirement and start writing that long stalled book on Clayberry.
May 10 Remember our note on how people handle elections....
May 10 late p Less than five minutes after winning her contest with a big margin, Joyce Johnson handled her victory in a very poor non thinking way.
May 10 late On her way out the door, the Ace Cub Reporter saw the ever smiling Joyce and offered, "Congratulations Joyce". In response, from Joyce, "thru no help from you!!!"
May 10 late p So unlearned was Joyce, she took one step out the doorway and then ducked back in and included, I'll show you!!!
May 10 late p Such stuff makes it tougher for the lad to retire away.The leadership challenges remain for easy pickins.
May 10 late p Time for bed now. And Yes, Sandy, the Ace Cub Reporter will sleep just fine tonight.

   The people in County have spoken. To us, it feels they want change and a bunch of it. For the most part, voters make good choices. Time will tell how the new faces shake out.
We're thinking about the school board wipe out. The three newbees need a little time to get their chops wet. Be patient til they get their feet wet and understand what direction they want to head forward. With a new quorum, anything could happen.
   Before the newbees get in office, look for the Pentagon to get their house in order before losing control July 1st. We're not sure what that means other than to offer, keep your eyes open readers.
That applies to the County Commission as well. For that elected body, we have real concerns with Dave Schoolcraft now controlling his buddy Joyce and growing a solid quorum while operating in the shadows.
   Elections have consequences. We hope these results prove to be of benefit for Clayberry.
   The County Commission was responsible for getting the Ambulance /Fire Dept Excess Levy on the ballot. Although it failed miserably, the EMS folks led by Commissioner Dave Schoolcraft, really worked it hard. Colorful brochures were passed about. Mailers were found in our mail boxes. Expensive placards were placed along the roads as were large red and white vinyl banners around the county. With a strong no vote and a 60% threshold needed for passage, the wallet fleecing is over for now. Look for yet another attempt in short order . Greed is contagious.
From Malcolm Forbes: We'd all like to be taken for what we'd like to be.

AW

A questionable picture
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I would like to thank all those who were supportive and respectful during the campaign. I will continue to serve my community and vote for positive actions as a member of Town Council. Congratulations to Clarissa Hanshaw on her win! She will have my full support in November. Thanks again for all the votes, conversations, wishes for luck, and kindness I was shown during the election process. Jason Hubbard

Thank you for electing me to represent you on the Board of Education. I am truly honored by the trust you have instilled in me and am very excited to get to work. I know I have big shoes to fill and promise that I will give it my all. This year's election was about listening to your questions, concerns and ideas. I pledge to continue to seek out and be guided by your input. Thank you for having faith in me. I will do my best not to let you down. Lolita Nutter