Big Issues
County Commission Meets
Sept 8 2021
Apple Chair Renee Holcomb (Left), and Daniel Coleman, Apple Boardster
Now, strictly off
the record... many, most, public meetings are so boring, they
would make George Jones cry. Breaking the mold, Wed's Sept 8th
Clay County Commission (CCC) meeting was far from the hum drum
gathering. At issue was the 47th running of the Golden
Delicious Apple Festival.
Clayberry has but one festival, an annual festival, one that draws people from every holler in our 342 square miles plus attendees from around the region. Most of the fun stuff takes place on Courthouse Square and inside the Courthouse, IE restrooms. The place is packed each year even if rain is in the air. It's a time when Clayonians who abandoned this place in search of a good job, those folks return in groves.
Tied in with the Big Apple but not a part of the official happenings, stuff like CHS (and Widen) School reunions are held. Additionally, dinner and ceremonies are held for outstanding sports supporters.
For small town America, the Apple is the biggy of the year.There's nothing else even close to it in this part of the world.
There's something else too. The Big Apple is a money making event for many local churches and non profits. Those booths selling hot dogs, trinkets, lemonade, and crafts, the sales bring in a big part of the annual operating budget for those groups.
The COVID pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 Big Apple. For 2021, it was important to get back on track.
But then, with the vast majority of Clayonians unwilling to get the life saving shots or even wear a face mask, COVID cases have spiked sky high. The county school system has been shut down for well over a week. Town Hall is closed to the public. Ditto for the local Health Dept. Doors are locked. There are well over 60 kids of school age down with the virus.
What ta do What ta do...
Word on the street had it, the Apple would be cancelled.
Enter the County Commission. This elected body has nothing to do with the Apple other than to allow the Festival to use the Courthouse campus. Each year the CCC votes to allow use of the property. Each year, there's no controversy. The Apple is good for the county and a good place for politicians to shake babies and kiss butts.
On the 8th, item 7 was the vote to allow use of the place for the Festival.
In the peanut gallery were around two dozen. Included were the Assessor, 911 Director, Sheriff, Apple Fest reps, Black Shirts, School Board Prez, and more. Commissioner David Schoolcraft, just back from having COVID and Commissioners Fran King and Connie Kinder were up front ready to conduct business.
Just before the meeting got underway, during chit chat time, Dustin Fitzwater spoke of having a dream the night before. He recalled the dream and him punching out someone in the nose during the meeting. Keep that in mind as you read on.
They went thru the usual blah blah blah of estates and erroneous assessments and then, item 7
Fran King opened up with, their insurance provider had sent over a letter which cautioned them about allowing super spreader events. The provider told the elected body, they are responsible for making sure every participant wears a mask and social distances.
Apple Chair Renee Holcomb spoke from the gallery: Our Committee voted 3 -2 to have the Festival; people have asked us not to cancel the event; 30 vendors need the money; I don't have an answer; I understand it's a big risk; this has nothing to do with the schools open or closed; and, as an appeasement, what if we just use outside of the Courthouse?
Ms King cited letters from the local Medical Officer, the Ambulance Authority, and Doctor Becker from Primary Care over in Two Run. See letters below. Each one provided a big thumbs down for holding the Festival.
It was time for the Commissioners to put their cards on the line.
Commissioner Schoolcraft: this (decision) puts us in a tough position; we want the best interest, based on COVID, and the recommendations of law and health officials, No. I will go with the Health Dept decision.
Commissioner King: I don't think we should have it, not with a risk of even one life... West Virginia has the fastest growing number of cases according to CNN; after the Oak Leaf festival last week where COVID was detected during the event, the Sheriff ordered all attendees to go into mandatory quarantine...
Commissioner Kinder: I can't see it [this year]... Just delay it til next year.
Apple's Daniel Coleman, a proponent of having the Fest: What about all the other events that you allowed to happen??? Schoolcraft: Events at Clay County Park were turned down... you can look at the letters ....we don't have the medical staff in West Virginia [to handle a big outbreak]
Assessor Teresa Davis hosts the Apple Belle awards and festivities: The Belles should not be exposed to this.
From the peanut gallery: There's no hospital space!
Somewhere in the mix, Fran brought everyone up to speed on CAMC hospital in Charleston. According to the Franster, tents are being set up beside CAMC. Anyone with COVID and does NOT have both shots, those folks were placed in the tents only.
Gulp!
Mayor Josh Shamblin: I support the Apple Fest... we did do Deliciously Vivid events last year... IF I could redo that, I wouldn't have done em.... It was a mistake... There are a high number of cases ... This hurts but I took an oath to keep the Town safe...
Near the end of his message, it sounded like the Mayor was promising an injunction order request to halt the 2021 Festival if the event goes on.
Fran brought forward and read from three letters. Those letters are posted below. The other one is from Judge Jack Alsop who somehow got mentioned in the fray to keep the Apple this year via the Russian Meddling Site, Facebook.
Here's the scoop readers. Renee Holcomb did the smart thang and put the monkey on the CCC.
The County Commission voted unanimously to NOT allow the Apple Fest to happen on Courthouse property. The CCC does not have the authority to stop much of anything unless it occurs on the county property.
We have dumb bunnies and dumbarsses in this county. First the dumb bunny, Sheriff Alan King who questioned cancelling the Fest. Trying to document his dimly lit Trumpitte stand, , he added, How many of you have quit going to WalMart and out of county?
Then there's the dumbarss, David Mullins, Chair of the Sch Bd, who is charged with making sure every student and staff member is safe. Mullins, for all that would listen, Anthony Fauci is a liar and flip flops on everything. He went on with his less than half wit orations. At one point a guy in the gallery yelled out, Why don't you change TV stations? Mullins came back with even more diatribe. It was about that time that Fran King yelled to Dustin Fitzwater, "You're going to get your wish.. Your dream may come true !!!" There was laughter in the room.
We can call both Trumpittes and people that have drank the Kool Aid. Mullins routinely wore his Trump hat to School Board meetings. Alan King participated in the Trump Trains by driving his trunk in the parade with Trump 2020 flags flapping in the breeze. Sheriff King brought up the number of kids in his Biddy Basketball program which starts in Nov. To us, it sounded like the Sheriff was more interested in having the small fry ball games and than the health of the kids and parents / grand parents who pack in to the gyms to watch the pint sized action.
Several others did speak out and made sense. One of those was 911 Dispatch Director Becky Pritt. With a cracking voice, Ms Pritt: You should listen to the calls come in .... Parents crying for help because their kids can't breath... Others crying that their parents and grand parents need help and can't breathe.
The decision was made. The Big Apple can happen any place they want to hold it EXCEPT on the Courthouse campus.
After the meeting we spoke with Renee Holcomb who told us, the Apple has been cancelled for 2021.
Let's go back to our favorite elected leader, Dave Mullins.
For our regular readers, you know, two weeks back, Dave Mullins with the Coon Hunters Group attended that last CCC meeting with questions on why the new 911 Center is being built on Coon Hunter Club property. At that meeting, the head honcho of spending gazillions on an ill placed 911 Center, Commissioner David Schoolcraft, was absent from duty and down with COVID.
Mullins had discovered the location even after Schoolcraft indicated the place would be built near the State Road garage, 3 miles away.
For this meeting and with Schoolcraft present, he asked his questions again. For this meeting, and wanting to get the monkey off his back in public, Schoolcraft to Mullins, We'll talk after the meeting.
That might have been a good political move on Schoolcraft's part but but but....
As soon as the meeting was adorned, Mullins and his sidekick Dustin Fitzwater skedaddled. Their dust had settled before anyone could blink an eye.
So, if you are a coon hunter, or a part of the group (that hasn't been active for years), you might want to select another spokesperson if you want to keep your building and property.
AW
Clayberry has but one festival, an annual festival, one that draws people from every holler in our 342 square miles plus attendees from around the region. Most of the fun stuff takes place on Courthouse Square and inside the Courthouse, IE restrooms. The place is packed each year even if rain is in the air. It's a time when Clayonians who abandoned this place in search of a good job, those folks return in groves.
Tied in with the Big Apple but not a part of the official happenings, stuff like CHS (and Widen) School reunions are held. Additionally, dinner and ceremonies are held for outstanding sports supporters.
For small town America, the Apple is the biggy of the year.There's nothing else even close to it in this part of the world.
There's something else too. The Big Apple is a money making event for many local churches and non profits. Those booths selling hot dogs, trinkets, lemonade, and crafts, the sales bring in a big part of the annual operating budget for those groups.
The COVID pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 Big Apple. For 2021, it was important to get back on track.
But then, with the vast majority of Clayonians unwilling to get the life saving shots or even wear a face mask, COVID cases have spiked sky high. The county school system has been shut down for well over a week. Town Hall is closed to the public. Ditto for the local Health Dept. Doors are locked. There are well over 60 kids of school age down with the virus.
What ta do What ta do...
Word on the street had it, the Apple would be cancelled.
Enter the County Commission. This elected body has nothing to do with the Apple other than to allow the Festival to use the Courthouse campus. Each year the CCC votes to allow use of the property. Each year, there's no controversy. The Apple is good for the county and a good place for politicians to shake babies and kiss butts.
On the 8th, item 7 was the vote to allow use of the place for the Festival.
In the peanut gallery were around two dozen. Included were the Assessor, 911 Director, Sheriff, Apple Fest reps, Black Shirts, School Board Prez, and more. Commissioner David Schoolcraft, just back from having COVID and Commissioners Fran King and Connie Kinder were up front ready to conduct business.
Just before the meeting got underway, during chit chat time, Dustin Fitzwater spoke of having a dream the night before. He recalled the dream and him punching out someone in the nose during the meeting. Keep that in mind as you read on.
They went thru the usual blah blah blah of estates and erroneous assessments and then, item 7
Fran King opened up with, their insurance provider had sent over a letter which cautioned them about allowing super spreader events. The provider told the elected body, they are responsible for making sure every participant wears a mask and social distances.
Apple Chair Renee Holcomb spoke from the gallery: Our Committee voted 3 -2 to have the Festival; people have asked us not to cancel the event; 30 vendors need the money; I don't have an answer; I understand it's a big risk; this has nothing to do with the schools open or closed; and, as an appeasement, what if we just use outside of the Courthouse?
Ms King cited letters from the local Medical Officer, the Ambulance Authority, and Doctor Becker from Primary Care over in Two Run. See letters below. Each one provided a big thumbs down for holding the Festival.
It was time for the Commissioners to put their cards on the line.
Commissioner Schoolcraft: this (decision) puts us in a tough position; we want the best interest, based on COVID, and the recommendations of law and health officials, No. I will go with the Health Dept decision.
Commissioner King: I don't think we should have it, not with a risk of even one life... West Virginia has the fastest growing number of cases according to CNN; after the Oak Leaf festival last week where COVID was detected during the event, the Sheriff ordered all attendees to go into mandatory quarantine...
Commissioner Kinder: I can't see it [this year]... Just delay it til next year.
Apple's Daniel Coleman, a proponent of having the Fest: What about all the other events that you allowed to happen??? Schoolcraft: Events at Clay County Park were turned down... you can look at the letters ....we don't have the medical staff in West Virginia [to handle a big outbreak]
Assessor Teresa Davis hosts the Apple Belle awards and festivities: The Belles should not be exposed to this.
From the peanut gallery: There's no hospital space!
Somewhere in the mix, Fran brought everyone up to speed on CAMC hospital in Charleston. According to the Franster, tents are being set up beside CAMC. Anyone with COVID and does NOT have both shots, those folks were placed in the tents only.
Gulp!
Mayor Josh Shamblin: I support the Apple Fest... we did do Deliciously Vivid events last year... IF I could redo that, I wouldn't have done em.... It was a mistake... There are a high number of cases ... This hurts but I took an oath to keep the Town safe...
Near the end of his message, it sounded like the Mayor was promising an injunction order request to halt the 2021 Festival if the event goes on.
Fran brought forward and read from three letters. Those letters are posted below. The other one is from Judge Jack Alsop who somehow got mentioned in the fray to keep the Apple this year via the Russian Meddling Site, Facebook.
Here's the scoop readers. Renee Holcomb did the smart thang and put the monkey on the CCC.
The County Commission voted unanimously to NOT allow the Apple Fest to happen on Courthouse property. The CCC does not have the authority to stop much of anything unless it occurs on the county property.
We have dumb bunnies and dumbarsses in this county. First the dumb bunny, Sheriff Alan King who questioned cancelling the Fest. Trying to document his dimly lit Trumpitte stand, , he added, How many of you have quit going to WalMart and out of county?
Then there's the dumbarss, David Mullins, Chair of the Sch Bd, who is charged with making sure every student and staff member is safe. Mullins, for all that would listen, Anthony Fauci is a liar and flip flops on everything. He went on with his less than half wit orations. At one point a guy in the gallery yelled out, Why don't you change TV stations? Mullins came back with even more diatribe. It was about that time that Fran King yelled to Dustin Fitzwater, "You're going to get your wish.. Your dream may come true !!!" There was laughter in the room.
We can call both Trumpittes and people that have drank the Kool Aid. Mullins routinely wore his Trump hat to School Board meetings. Alan King participated in the Trump Trains by driving his trunk in the parade with Trump 2020 flags flapping in the breeze. Sheriff King brought up the number of kids in his Biddy Basketball program which starts in Nov. To us, it sounded like the Sheriff was more interested in having the small fry ball games and than the health of the kids and parents / grand parents who pack in to the gyms to watch the pint sized action.
Several others did speak out and made sense. One of those was 911 Dispatch Director Becky Pritt. With a cracking voice, Ms Pritt: You should listen to the calls come in .... Parents crying for help because their kids can't breath... Others crying that their parents and grand parents need help and can't breathe.
The decision was made. The Big Apple can happen any place they want to hold it EXCEPT on the Courthouse campus.
After the meeting we spoke with Renee Holcomb who told us, the Apple has been cancelled for 2021.
Let's go back to our favorite elected leader, Dave Mullins.
For our regular readers, you know, two weeks back, Dave Mullins with the Coon Hunters Group attended that last CCC meeting with questions on why the new 911 Center is being built on Coon Hunter Club property. At that meeting, the head honcho of spending gazillions on an ill placed 911 Center, Commissioner David Schoolcraft, was absent from duty and down with COVID.
Mullins had discovered the location even after Schoolcraft indicated the place would be built near the State Road garage, 3 miles away.
For this meeting and with Schoolcraft present, he asked his questions again. For this meeting, and wanting to get the monkey off his back in public, Schoolcraft to Mullins, We'll talk after the meeting.
That might have been a good political move on Schoolcraft's part but but but....
As soon as the meeting was adorned, Mullins and his sidekick Dustin Fitzwater skedaddled. Their dust had settled before anyone could blink an eye.
So, if you are a coon hunter, or a part of the group (that hasn't been active for years), you might want to select another spokesperson if you want to keep your building and property.
AW
