1.        Nobody made a greater mistake, than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. Edmund Burke 2.        A federal study finds that between 300,000 and 600,000 of the 4 million babies born in the United States in 2002 may have been exposed to unacceptable levels of methyl mercury because their mothers ate a diet rich in fish. 3.        The sixth Harry Potter novel goes on sale in the United States and Britain on July 16. 4.        According to Second National Registry of Myocardial Infection there are twice as many heart attacks in January than July. 5.        National experts estimate that 3 percent to 7 percent of school-age children and roughly 4 percent of adults suffer from attention deficit disorders. 6.        Only 3.2 percent of Mountain State residents are black compared to 12.3 percent nationally. 7.        An international advocacy group has rated West Virginia the best place in the nation for mountain biking. 8.        Adverse reactions to prescription drugs kill more than 100,000 Americans a year and injure another 1.5 million badly enough to require hospitalization. 9.        Obesity among Americans ages 65 to 74 increased from 18 percent in 1980 to 36 percent in 2002. 10.         According to scientists, being born in May could increase a person’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis, at least in the northern hemisphere. 11.         In a Gallup Poll last year, 76 percent of adults reported losing sleep between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day due to stress. 12.         The United States is expected to import about $190 billion of Chinese goods this year, up from $152 billion last year. 13.         There is a 1 in 300 chance that a recently discovered asteroid believed to be about 1,300 feet long could hit earth in 2029. 14.         The US Bureau of Labor statistics projects a shortage of 10 million skilled workers in 2008 15.         National education statistics show only 28 percent of 12th grade boys were considered proficient in reading, compared with 44 percent of girls. 16.         Between July 1, 2003 and this past July 1, West Virginia gained 3,914 residents for an overall population of 1,815,354. 17.         Those with the inability to identify scents were at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’ than those with more discriminating noses. 18.         The National FFA organization says its membership of 476,000 students is the highest in 22 years. 19.         With the 2004 election, the number of women in the Legislature dropped from 25 to 21 placing West Virginia among the states with the fewest female lawmakers. 20.         In 2001, more than 82 percent of the nation’s milk was packaged in plastic, up from 15 percent in 1971 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.                                 LMM The Blue Report During the next few weeks the Bush Administration will be installed for four more years. The most important role as a Democrat is to hope that our representatives in Congress put the brakes on the worst impulses of the Bush Administration. In everything from fiscal management to judicial appointments to foreign policy, this administration has demonstrated a level of irresponsibility never before seen in American politics or history. We must not allow our voices to be stilled in the face of George W. Bush spending his "political capital" as he sounded the trumpet call in a recent press conference. We need to move the policies away from the right wing fringe toward the middle where most of Clay County citizens agree. History has shown that when issues that are truly national emergencies or of utmost importance to our country’ welfare the Democrat party has built broad coalitions across party lines to accomplish the real work for the American people. We cannot hesitate to contact our representatives if the alternative is confirming an ideologue to the federal bench, or passing a law that erodes our nation's fortunes even further. We should not stand by and allow the Congress to become nothing more than a rubberstamp for the administration's ill-considered policies. We must start now to help recruit new faces for our Democrat party that will challenge the present members of Congress in November 2006. We must join grass-root organizations that hold to the fundamental Democratic policies of the past, plus revise and upgrade our current policies to face the coming future challenges. Planning is essential if we are to stage a comeback in two years. So please email, write, personally call , etc., to your present representative when they are beginning to vote on issues such as: Social Security, medical care, education, workers rights, judicial appointments, etc. We cannot let the present administration destroy the advances we have made in the past. We must stand up for what is right!         Dave Derby, a Blue Democrat and proud of it! BOB CLARKE Curmudgeon’ Corner Whatever may be said about the Bush mob, currently hell-bent upon eliminating any vestige of the Roosevelt New Deal, any trace, that is, of programs that help the poor and vulnerable, it must be admitted they are masters of manipulative language. Consider the term “eform.” With the continuing aid of a complicit media the administration’ spinners have deluged the American public with the urgent need for “ocial Security Reform.” This construction, which has been repeated to the point of public mental exhaustion has become almost a form of brainwashing; if everyone says it, it must be true. Once again, repetition becomes received “ruth.” Virtually every available poll tells us, that between fifty and seventy percent of the American public believes that Saddam Hussein was directly connected to the attack on 9/11. For those who make even an attempt to keep informed this may lead to a tirade on the gullibility of the public. Civility forces us to avoid the word “tupidity.” But the public who accepted this false connection are, like King Lear, “ore sinned against than sinning.” In almost every speech after 9/11 George Bush mentioned Saddam and bin Laden. If memory serves, he never actually asserted a direct connection, but the repetition of the two names in tandem had the desired effect. Whatever criticism may be leveled against the criminal ineptitude of the Bush foreign policy, it must be admitted that W, Rove, and their functionaries know how to mold public opinion. If there is one word that brings a smile to the lips and spring in the steps of neoconservatives, it is “rivatization.” Turning over public property and services to private interests. This part of the process in the Iraq debacle, where unemployment is at astronomical levels, where foreign truck drivers are paid $80,000 for positions Iraqis would gratefully accept for a tenth of that figure, and where the United States is engaged in making the world safe for Halliburton, Bechtel, et al. Now, one of the most significant achievements of the 1930s New Deal is in peril, or so the Bushies tell us. For decades, the Social Security Fund was considered the one untouchable, no matter what party held the White House. In these dark times, the constant litany is that the system needs to be “eformed.” An uncharitable reaction to that contention is that Bush’ cronies on Wall Street can’ wait to get their hands on at least a portion of that vast sum that was heretofore unavailable to them. Those of us with a long memory recall the unspoken creed that began with the saintly Ronald Reagan and is continuing with a vengeance in the reign of Bush II: “o millionaire left behind.” Bush has been obsessed with the Social Security system since the beginning of his tenure. The sixty-nine year program was designed to provide a modest financial umbrella for retirees. Arguing that the system is in crisis, primarily because the baby boomers are close to retirement age, the Bush crowd proposes to set aside 2% of worker’ payroll taxes for individual private-investment accounts. [Read: Stock Market/Privatization] Some of the more astute and nonpartisan financial analysts may be thinking of that old political jibe: “re you going to believe me, or your lying eyes?” Shall we believe the White House spinmeisters and the mindless loyalists in Congress? In the interest of fairness, should anyone remember when such a quality may have existed in government operations, it might be well to cite another source of opinion. The Congressional Budget Office reports that Social Security is financially sound through 2052, and that the capability to meet all obligations to future retirees, without any changes at all remains for the next 48 years. Since they assumed power, the neocons have never been able to utter the term “ntitlement”without the implication of a superior sneer being implied. The compassionate conservatives would be closer to the mark if they adopted the old Latin motto: Radix malorem est cupitas (the love of money is the root of all evil.) The operations of an administration incapable of embarrassment, no matter how incompetent, are a wonder to behold. Putting aside for the moment the fact that the road to job security in the Bush administration is to be indescribably inept and ill-informed, consider the appalling and crass tastelessness of the coming inaugural spectacle. In an observation that brings back an echo of the New Deal as well as a heart-warming reminder of the lovable Marie Antoinette, a caustic Frank Rich reminds us: Roosevelt decreed that the usual gaiety be set aside at his wartime inaugural in January 1945. There will be no such restraint in the $40 million, four-day extravaganza planned this time, with its top ticket package priced at $250,000. The official theme of the show is: “elebrating Freedom, Honoring Service.” That’ no guarantee that the troops in Iraq will get armor, but Washington will, at least, give home-front military personnel free admission to one of the nine inaugural balls and let them eat cake. Perhaps the jingoists will argue that this tawdry pageantry is designed to raise American morale, to give us a short period to forget the seemingly interminable bloodletting in Iraq, but even a casual reminder of history may call to mind George Washington refusing the crown, or a humble Jimmy Carter walking to his inauguration. But, there is no doubt that Dubya will have a grand time, surrounded by what he called the “aves and have mores – my base,”and we can rejoice, secure in the knowledge that the White House is held by a man elected because of his “alues.” They Said It No legal issue arises when the U.S. responds to a challenge to its “ower, position and prestige.”                         - Dean Acheson in 1963 Did the Democrats learn nothing from the War Resolution, on which most of them played possum, trading human life and political principle for poll numbers?                         - Anna Quindlen If we are going to teach creation science as an alternative to evolution, then we should also teach the stork theory as an alternative to biological reproduction.                         – Judith Hayes Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people’ minds and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead.

•                                - Arundhati Roy The President has adopted a policy of “nticipatory self-defense”that is alarmingly similar to the policy that Imperial Japan employed at Pearl Harbor, on a date which, as an earlier American president said it would, lives in infamy. Franklin Roosevelt was right, but today it is we Americans who live in infamy.                         – Arthur Schlesinger Large nations do what they wish; small nations accept what they must.

-                        - Thucydides To be furious in religion is to be furiously irreligious.                         – William Penn How long can a country with a $500 billion budget deficit and a trade deficit of about the same size, sustain a $400 billion annual defense budget and meet a growing demand for social spending?                         - Timothy Garton Ash Don’ worry, be happy.                  Cur R.I.P. Susan Sontag SHORT SHORTS         Last Friday’ big showdown between Earnie Sirk and Clay Development Corp was a bust. The scheduled court challenge to being a general member was scrubbed and laid over until March 1st . At issue is a group of plaintiffs who were tossed off the general membership roles of the social service provider last year.         In a 2003 Court case ruling from Judge Jack Alsop, Sirk, the one time CDC Board President, was ordered back on the general membership committee after the family run agency orchestrated a coup to remove him from appointed post. During those earlier court proceedings, testimony came that Wide Glide Sirk was causing trouble by nosing around in the operation of the agency.         Before the March 1st Trial date, retired Judge Cline will try and mediate a solution to the family run empire excluding the public from the public from the taxpayer paid for social provider. - Got this in the email bag last week: Hi myname is Janis Fitzwater and I live in Albion New York Ii am the daughter of Garnett Fitzwater of Indore would like to tell everyone hello and that I have a new grandson Randy Edward Wyant 3rd. I am doing fine just miss those hills of good old West Virginia. My love goes out to all you West Virginians .........missing homeJanis Our big lead story is on the Health Dept Board meeting last week. Also from that meeting…. Long time employee Judy Brown addressed the Board on unfair treatment of employees. According to the 17 year veteran, she has struggled for 2 years trying to get 40 hours of work per week. One issue she raised was the mandated signing of employee work contracts which reduced her to part time status while others in her classification with less seniority continue to receive more work hours. No answers were given Ms Brown but Boardster Joe Morris asked Director Dawson to give priority to seniority.                                 AW Clay Roane PSD Rides Again! No Money, Found Money, Walk Outs, & Secret Time Galore You know what time it is readers? It’ Clay Roane PSD meeting time! Gather around for the latest installment from Jan 13th , the “ife in the Water Business”public meeting. Well mostly public, the secret time only lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes this time around.         With a heavy cold rain outside Clay Roane opened their meeting just after 7pm with a full board on hand, Chair Melissa Postelwait, Gary Whaling, Glen Sutton, Dave Saulsgiver, and Susan Beard. The peanut gallery was light, only about 11 perched on the steel chairs in the CDC building on Main Street. As an observation, upon arrival, the Boardsters sit down, open up their folders of information and start reading. That’ everybody except Glen Sutton who refuses to sit at the main table and leaves his info packet laying the floor beside his off to the side, chair.         First order of business, the annual election of PSD officers. Gary Whaling commented that Ms Postelwait had done a good job and nominated her to the Chairperson spot for another year. Hearing no objections, Postel will serve for another 12 months.         Here’ a keeper. Recently the Walton Fire Dept and Big Otter Fire Departments washed the mud and yuck off Summer’ Fork road near Wallback. When they did that, they drained the area’ water storage tank leaving high elevation customers without wa wa. In addition to the customers losing water service, when the FD turned the fire hydrant off , the change in pressure caused residential “op off”valves in several homes to pop and spray water causing damage. Additionally, Big Otter filled up their tanker on site with the free water from the hydrant. One customer has already sent their carpet cleaning bill to the PSD for payment. During discussions to force Big Otter to pay for the wa wa, Glen Sutton, “If they won’ pay for the water, start a legal process!” Motion made and passed to send BO FD a bill ($5.70) for 1000 gallons of water. After rethinking, the Chair changed the motion to $21.10, “That’ our minimum bill.”          Even with salary overspending in Dec 2004, Clay Roane PSD has brought in an extra and $20,000 in the first 6 months of the new fiscal year. It appears that $20,000 isn’ enough for the PSD.          Chair Postelwait pushed her idea to take $31,800 from the Amma deposit account and spend it in current bills. Postlewait said once the project is completed next Fall, the $ would automatically be deposited into the general fund. The deposit account is the fund set up to accept future customers advance connection fees prior to a project’ start date and the fund they draw from if someone decides not to take water service.        Susan Beard said she was absolutely uncomfortable with the idea, “It’ irresponsible!”Postelwait, “t’ our money anyway… It’ in the bank!” Beard came back with. “and that’ where it should stay!… The project is not up and running. We have no guarantees.. Anything could happen!”Office Manager Crystal ( forgot her new married name, sorry) said they could use the money to pay off the recently purchased gas guzzling truck, a chemical bill from CI Thornberg, and the high dollar billing software.          Here’ the angle readers. If Postel can get the bills paid down, she can hire another family member … I mean employee. Glen Sutton spoke in favor of the heist. Beard, “We don’ have to do this!”Saulsgiver, “We’e still not making any headway on the bills”Beard, “Table this.”Postel spoke in favor of hiring a second maintenance man with the newly found treasure chest. Beard, “Amma deserves a different approach, they’e not on line.”With the Chair protesting the motion to table, the vote went, Whaling, Beard, and Saulsgiver For the motion to table. The motion carried. Postel was peed big time. Her plan to raid the coffers had failed.          As for other financial matters, during the bill paying time, it came to light that the PSD didn’ have enough $ to cover all their expenses. The Board got into another oral skirmish over paying a $200 long past due supplier’ invoice. Questions came up on the cost of alcohol and drug pee testing of an employee. It was reported that overtime spending was up in Dec 2004. The bills including the $200 one were Oked.          After discussion on starting another water line project, Boardster Glen Sutton left the meeting without a good bye or reason.          With the rehiring of Thomas Coon on the agenda, here comes the nepotism part readers! Chair Melissa Postelwait thought the current policy of not hiring immediate family members was unfair, “I have a problem with that… It’ not right to exclude distant relatives.. It [the hiring] should be the most qualified.”No one was buying that and the idea was tabled. Again Postel was a miffed.          Here comes the secret time readers. From 8:25 pm until 10:10pm, the Board met behind closed doors. From the peanut gallery, we noticed: at 8:25 Chief Water Operator Jennifer Traub went into secret time with the Board; at 9:05pm Traub came out and underling water operator Bobby Burdette entered the closed chamber; around 9:19 Burdette reemerged as Postelwait exclaimed, “Don’ be drinking any more orange juice.” at 9:34 Boardster Susan Beard left the secret affair and the meeting altogether; 9:36, one time maintenance man Thomas Coon entered the closed session and 14 minutes later he was done; and, around 10:05pm, the Chair left the secret room leaving Whaling and Saulsgiver alone to finish the quiet stuff.          With Beard and Sutton skid addled, after the clandestine meeting ended Boardster Whaling said he didn’ want Thomas Coon back as a full time employee but would consider him on an as needed, call out, emergency worker arrangement. When asked if he would be willing to do part time work, Coon, “o” Whaling, “hat’ a strike against you!| Coon, “I’ not interested.”          Well…. There’ another perfectly good 3 hours of meeting boiled down to a couple columns of news print.                                          AW                                        Overtime, Water, & Boycott County Commission Meets           It’ harder to keep up with the County Commission’ new meeting schedule. On Monday the 10th the gang huddled at 10am. From that meeting, some notes follow.                  It’ been a while without coverage of the ambulance service. Here goes. Ambulance Director Bev King asked the CCC to cover week long training expenses for Mary Hanshaw. The classes will be held at Pipestem Resort and Conference Center. Questions came up on the amount of training to partying ratio and whether Hanshaw would be willing to come back and share her new knowledge with fellow workers. After a long pause, CCC Oked the $115 training fee and didn’ give a thumbs up on the other expenses involved.                  After the opening and prayer by Commissioner Sams, Fran King asked about huge overtime expenses in the ambulance service. King noticed $3000 in overtime wages for the part timers. King, “[Hiring] a full timer would be cheaper!” Commissioner Sams questioned the expensive 24 hour shift schedule, “That 24 hour shift is a lot of money.”Sams was referring to 8 hours of overtime during each 24 hours on duty. Director King replied that her staff wouldn’, couldn’, work a 12 hour shift because many of them have other jobs requiring their off days. Bev, “f you take overtime away, you won’ have any employees.”As for new scheduling and such, Commissioner Fran King, “o one will be happy… I don’ believe in overtime…. We’l try to hash it out..” Fran pushed for the hiring of a full time paramedic as a way of lowering the OT bill. Commissioner Triplett suggested looking at 12 hours for the county’ only emergency service staff.                  Discussion turned to the number of calls that Jan Care and General take and the calls where the out of county ambulance companies assist with manpower. Bev King, “We pay [them] $150 every time they get on our truck. .. We bill the ALS rates.”                  There were quiet periods during the dialogue. It was as if they were trying to reinvent the organization on the spot. At one point Fran said she would work on a new shift schedule. In another spot Sams said he wanted the people taken care of. Other than Oking the advertisement to hire a new paramedic, we didn’ hear other answers.                  Kathy Schuller is often in the limelight for her efforts to get clean safe drinking water plumbed into the Southern side of the county commonly referred to as the Clay County PSD Lizemores/Tuckers Bottom water line extension project. Schuller was once again in attendance. Ms Schuller, “Well, what about water…. There’ another cancer case… how many are going to die?” Ms Schuller relates the well and cistern water to high incidents of cancer in her neighborhood. Commish Triplett explained that the PSD doesn’ have the money to proceed with the long stalled project, that they’e $2 million short at this time.                  Schuller asked about another source of water for her community. Sams, “Gauley Bridge [PSD] doesn’ want us.”With King listening, Sams and Triplett went through the history of the quagmire of getting water service into the county. After hearing the same song and dance since 1997 from the elected folks up front, Schuller was far beyond accepting the rhetoric. Schuller said she was going to organize a boycott of downtown Clay businesses in an attempt to gain attention to their plight. Schuller, “We’l ask from Hartland South to stop buying in Town for a week.. We’e desperate!…. Where do we go next?”Note: The Town of Clay supplies water to Clay PSD. With Triplett saying, “ll they need is the money.” Schuller, “hose pocket is being lined?…. Who was it that put Keith King on the [PSD] Board? … WV Water says they would get us water. I’ really serious about this. People are dieing of cancer. Everybody is coming down with it.”Schuller cited 36 that had died with cancer and another 24 has the disease now. After discussion with the PSD, Fran King, “Maybe we should look at who we put on the Board.”Triplett. ‘eith was reappointed in 2000.”                  Note: during that Keith King re appointment vote, the public did speak out against his confirmation. The CCC didn’ listen back then to the taxpayer.                  Oh there was a bunch more county business covered but the continuing ambulance problems and water problems in Mr Happy land were the hot button topics from Jan 10th.                                AW                              POLICE BLOTTER           The Marina Lanham name has graced our pages many time. Recently, Lanham has been listed in the Magistrate Report with possession of a controlled substance. She once wrote us a chatter about being the target of police abuse. In each of the possession cases, she produced prescriptions validating her bag of goodies. In case 05-F-6 Sgt Wiles provided the following paraphrased, criminal complaint intake.                  On Sunday Jan 1 at approximately 6pm, Wiles and Tpr Stephenson responded to a brandishing complaint on Twistabout Rd in the Procious area of Clay County. Upon arrival, the officers along with Deputy Sizemore met with Rose Dobbins and Heather Dobbins. Both individuals advised they had went to Marina Lanham’ residence located at 218 Twistabout Road to speak with Dennis Dobbins Jr. While at the residence, they stated Marina Lanham pointed a handgun at them and threatened to shoot. While the officers were obtaining the initial information, a telephone call as received at the Dobbins residence at which time, the Mother of Heather Dobbins advised that her son, Dennis Dobbins Jr. was on the phone and advised her that an incident had occurred between him and Marina involving a firearm.                  At this time the officers responded to Marina Lanham’ residence and encountered Dennis Dobbins Jr. standing in the middle of the roadway. Mr Dobbins advised Marina Lanham was inside the residence as well as a Tauras .38 Special and pellet hand gun were discovered in the kitchen oven.                  Dobbins stated that Lanham held a Taurus 38 Special on him inside her residence and refused to let him leave. He stated that she told him that he was going to fix her door and kept the gun on him the whole time. After a period of time while being held against his will, Dobbins stated that he was able to disarm her, While attempting to leave Dobbins advised that Lanham obtained another gun and pointed it at him at which time she directed him to give her the Taurus 38 Special. Dobbins advised that he gave her the aforementioned gun because he afraid she would shoot him. After a brief period of time, Dobbins was able to escape the residence through the front door.                                    After completing the initial report, the officers advised Ms Lanham that she was under arrest for kidnapping, assault, and brandishing at which time she refused to walk to the police cruiser for transport. After several directives to comply, Lanham had to be physically escorted to the cruiser.                  In jail awaiting a $100,000 bond… of course the question remains, did she get her front door fixed?                  Briefly, no bond reduction for BJ Bird who remains in the slammer awaiting a $150,000 bond; ditto for Kenneth Norton in the coldhouse in need of a $50,000 bond; and, Glen Tanner was sentenced to 18 months in CRJ and fined $3000.00.                                                                          AW                              YAP FIXED, (KINDA)          Years ago R.T. Sizemore explored the idea of a radio station in Clay County. Sizemore decided against the venture and explained that the cost to advertising revenue ratio just wasn’ sufficient. RT may not have been wrong. As a non profit FM station, WYAP-LP’ first year of operation has found a core support for community radio with sponsors, underwriters, and grants. Our monthly operating budget of $225 is small but for the most part, we were been able to maintain that level of support in 2004.                  YAP radio’ problem has not been raising enough $, but keeping the equipment working! With an all volunteer staff, this is all new territory for us.          Although our 100 watt transmitter was purchased new ($2100) in July 2004, it gave us fits in Nov and Dec. By early Dec the unit was cutting out and shutting down frequently. Often a slap on the top of the case would restore the wayward supply unit. That all came to a screeching halt in mid Dec when the last slap smack to the metal cabinet did little more than hurt a palm. We have some good news and bad news this time.                  With repairs completed, our still under warranty transmitter is back at full strength and operating properly. 101.7 FM is back loud and clear with coverage area of about 13 miles to the North, down to the Hartland bridge and back over to the triangle at Maysel. Listeners have reported hearing our signal all along Triplett Ridge and on mountain tops to the South. Here’ a cool one. If you pull over in the old King’ Grocery store lot on Mc Colgan’ Gap near Wallback, the signal comes in loud and clear! Now for the down side of the update.          While the unit was being repaired, we changed out a computer to a newer faster unit, remodeled the live broadcast booth twice, and re-routed a bunch of the cables. With the tranny pumping out 101.7 locally, our internet broadcast, went down. Somewhere in all the switching and changing out and moving of software back and forth, we lost our settings for webcast. We’e working on the problem and hope to once again be heard around the globe on the world wide web.                  With some belt tightening and more aggressive salesmanship, it appears WYAP can remain on the air and supplying information as the voice of the county. There are still openings in our schedule for DJs. Ever think about being a radio personality? Maybe offer a show on something interesting for you? Maybe poetry or reading classic literature? How about a discussion group on local topics of interest? With Spring just around the corner, maybe you’ like to do a show related to agriculture. Usually it takes five to ten sessions in the live booth to get the hang of operating the equipment. If your interested in offering something up for the county and the world for that matter, stop by the station and lets talk.                  2004 was a great year for YAP radio even with a goofy transmitter for a couple of weeks. With your continued support and input, 2005 will be even better. From the Board and staff of WYAP-LP, 101.7FM, Clay County Communications, thanks in advance.                                          Delbert Davis, President, YAP Radio.                              School Board Meets at Clay Elementary           The Clay County Board of Education held their regular meeting at Clay Elementary School on Tuesday, January 18. All members were present: Gene King, Kim Sams, David Pierson, Beth Cercone, and R.B. Legg, Jr., board president. After introducing the board members and administrators to the 20 or so who attended the meeting, Legg called the meeting to order around 6:00 p.m. and the business session commenced.           Increased receipts of $174,134.82, most of which came from the School Improvement Grant for Clay Middle School (CMS) and $68,000 from the Gear Up Grant, and transfer of $1,091,729.32 (over one million Title I grant money and $23,00 Drug Free Grant money) funds within the budget was approved.           Kimberly Workman’ transfer from Behavior Disorder teacher to Multiple Disabilities Resource Room teacher at Clay County High School (CCHS), Brian Collins’former position, was approved for the 2005-2006 school year. Valley Fork Elementary teacher Garland Tenney’ resignation/retirement was accepted, effective June 30, as was the resignation of Steve Ware as athletic director at CMS, effective immediately. Ware will remain head football coach. Steve Boggs was approved to be added to the substitute teacher list. Superintendent Jerry Linkinoggor said Boggs has finished at Glenville and still needs to do student teaching, but is certified to substitute teach.           The Board moved into executive session for about 20 minutes to discuss the termination of employment of CCHS custodian William Johnson. Sheriff Randy Holcomb told them there were some things they probably should know, and went into the closed session with them. Upon their return they approved the termination, effective immediately, without further discussion.           The mileage reimbursement rate for employees was raised to 36 cents per mile to comply with the county policy of maintaining the reimbursement rate within 5 cents of the state rate, which has risen to 40.5 cents per mile.           An agreement with Potesta Engineers and Environmental Consultants was approved, apparently for work concerning the new school to be built in Big Otter (obtaining necessary permits?). Mr. Linkinoggor explained that Potesta had been recommended by Vic (doing the survey,) which he reminded them was being done for free. He said, without stating the exact figure, that he realized it was costly, but that it could have cost them as much as $200,000 to $300,000.           A 1969 dump truck, recently replaced with a newer used model, will be sold at public auction along with bus #30. And, CMS teachers Mary Ann Triplett and Nada Waddell received approval to travel to a weekend Gear Up workshop in Columbus, OH. All motions passed unanimously.           Student Morgan Smith was recognized for her achievement of scoring 4.0 (the highest possible) on the writing assessment test last year.           Clay Elementary Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) President Robin Legg introduced or named members of the LSIC, and then Principal Danny Brown gave a brief presentation on some of the improvements made at the school over the past year and programs being used to improve learning. LSIC requests of the board this year were to add caged ceiling or exhaust fans to the gym for cooling, that old air conditioning window units be removed as they were causing drafts, and that the board help replace $3000 the school used to buy books to enhance reading which they had lost when the Title I budget was adjusted. Brown suggested the school could pay a third of the cost, the PTO another third, and the board the final third. No response from the board, but Mr. Linkinoggor told Mr. Brown the requests were very reasonable.           Next regular meeting of the board will be Monday, February 7, at the administrative office building in Clay at 6:00 p.m.                                                  TK                              Preparing Your House           Once you have decided to put your property on the market, you must begin to think of it as a house or unit, not as your home. This means that where you might have learned to live with a little chipped paintwork, a few broken tiles, the unkempt garden and windows that haven't been washed for months, prospective buyers will notice these flaws straight away. Even if they are minor faults they can suggest to potential buyers that there could be major problems. Giving buyers a good impression could make a difference of adding thousands to your sale price. Therefore, try to approach your home from the point of view of someone seeing it for the first time.           This week we will deal with what to prepare inside of your house:          Entry way: Is it cluttered with furniture or stuff to be put away? Clean it up and move (or remove) the furniture so you can enter the house without having to step around things.          Carpets: Could your carpets do with a cleaning? Even if it is looking a bit worn, a good steam clean could make it look a whole lot better.          Paintwork: Clean off marks and touch up cracks. It has been said that a coat of fresh paint (neutral colors are best) can be the best investment for home sellers, but bear in mind that if you only paint one room it may make the rest of the house look shabby.          General tidiness: Is the house clean and tidy? Make sure children's toys are put away and appliances occupy a place in the cupboards. Get rid of clutter, including excess furniture, books, knick knacks and paperwork - even if you quite like it that way. Clutter makes rooms appear smaller and can hinder people's ability to visualize the way they would use the room.          Interior rooms: The kitchen and bathroom are the most important rooms in the house so pay extra special attention to these rooms. These can make or break your sale. Look over the other rooms with a criticaland present them for what they are, i.e. the third bedroom should be presented as a bedroom as opposed to study come storage area.          Kitchen: The kitchen should be sparkling clean. Put all appliances out of sight, but beware of shoving them into an already full cupboard - viewers may well inspect these areas and be surprised when a falling toaster lands on their foot. Put away all drying dishes as well as the dish rack, sponge and cleaning products.          Bathrooms: It may not be possible to replicate the bathroom in the Ajax advertisement, but try to get your bathroom looking as spotless as possible. Put out the good towels and put away the array of half empty bottles we all have. One nice soap or pretty bottle of hand cream is enough.          Smell: Finally, how does your house smell? A strange question perhaps, but people who eat different food and have different habits than you or don't own pets like you may will quickly pick up on a smell that you had never noticed. A bad smelling house can really put people off, and lose you thousands in your asking price. If you even suspect your house may have an unusual odor, get on to it - even before you invite the agent around as it can also effect their appraisal.                    This article is brought to you by Dave Derby, Sales Associate , Greenlee Properties, Inc., GMAC Real Estate: Clay Office. Next Issue will be about what to do outside to prepare you house to sell. Please look for it. The final issue in the series will be “ho Wants to Buy Your House.”                    HILLBILLY VILLAGE & FESTIVAL          DON GREENE WV RADICAL                  One symbol of West Virginia that is so often denied and resisted is that of the hillbilly. Our city-people, imports and those living above their rearing in general can't stand the idea of the poor but honest hillbilly. I've never seen anyone on TV that I'd rather know than the Clampetts and Waltons or the folks from Hee-Haw and Hooterville. For those of us raised in the hills and hollers of West Virginia there isn't a single thing negative about being a hillbilly. We are what we are and that's hillbillies. So let's embrace our heritage, have some fun and make some money with it. Be proud of who and what we are.                  Having given you that little sermon, let me tell you about the Hillbilly Village & Festival. Since I've had the fortune to work up and down the East coast and across the Great Lakes, I met a lot of people, some with mountain roots, some with nothing more than a longing to meet some mountain people - hillbillies that is. My logic is, why not give the folks what they want to see, which are hillbillies in their natural settings. For the Hillbilly Village I see several hillbilly-type homes, a store that sells handmade and home-produced items, a Hillbilly Café that sells country foods like we all grew up on, and finally a Hillbilly Museum with items and articles about hillbillies that made their mark.                  The whole shebang would be supported and accentuated by an annual Hillbilly Festival featuring both some traditional hillbilly things like bluegrass and mountain music, and some fun things done in a hillbilly way, like boys pushing girls in wheelbarrows or an Elopement Race with boys carrying their figurative brides in a mad sprint. Now that would be fun and if promoted right and advertised widely, would bring in a big crowd.                  For the homes I would plan on using as many donated existing old hillbilly homes as possible. You wouldn't need too many, less than a dozen really. I picture a Jenny Lind, a two-square, a foursquare, a shotgun house, a log cabin and an old-fashioned early mobile home. You could get creative and have duplicates of the Clampett and Green Acres homes or even Andy Griffith's house from Mayberry, for a representative of the upper scale hillbilly's home. I would donate my entire collection of "old junk," bottles and cans, pictures and assorted stuff that I've accumulated that reminds me of earlier days. I'd bet that others, like Evelyn, would do so, too. For a small charge you would walk the tourists through the village, tell them about hillbilly life, go through the Store selling them things right from the shelves and end up at the Café, where you'd encourage them to eat a bite of good old hillbilly cooking. I'll guarantee that it would not only make money but also get national exposure as the word got out and about.                  The Festival would be done in the summer, around the 4th of July. You could advertise it through the State Tourism, in any of the county life & old-time magazines, at the racetrack & at all of the white-water rafting places. The more you advertise, the more people you'll be draw, so don't hold back on advertising. If the competitions were held between teams of young people, it would quickly become a major part of their school years, as each struggled to be the best hillbilly around. Like all festivals there should be a Miss Hillbilly competition and a Little Miss & Mr. Hillbilly for the little kids.                  Don't worry about the nay-sayers that are bound to pop up whining about the image of West Virginia. Between our bad roads, crooked politicians and greedy corporations there isn't anything that could cast a more negative image on West Virginia. This Village and Festival would be downright positive compared to them. Boy, time flies when you're having fun. Time for me to settle down beside the wood-stove. Catch you all next time.                    Letter to Brother Bill          By Evelyne McLaughlin           Dear Brother Bill: Would you believe last week the temperature was 75 degrees, today we have snow on the ground. I think I shall just stay inside where it is warm.           Happy birthday wishes to Blendine Daubenspeck Blankenship, age 39 and holding, Kevin Asbury and Angel McCoy, all of Leon, West Virginia. And to Maysel West Carr, of Valley Fork. May each of you have many, many more years.           Several folks are either ailing, in hospital or going for tests. Please put these folks on your prayer list: Randall Samples, Gabo Schoonover, Nadine McKown, Mary Vaughn, Gary Clifton, Maggie Graham and Rheenetta Bennett. Also, remember Don. He is in rehabilitation to help him walk again. I hope you never have to get help for someone who is ill. I tried every agency I could think of for Don. One agency just did not appear to be interested in helping me at all.           Aunt Delphia O'Dell is with Howard and Mary Ellen Friend during this time. As you know, Alyce Faye fell over her dog and broke her ankle. Dixie and Richard Jarvis are really enjoying their grandson. I recall when cousin Norma Samples Johnson was telling me about her first granddaughter. She said, "You know, everyone says their grand child is the prettiest in the world…but mine really is."           I spoke with Tanya Schoonover Morris, of Pinch, this week. She tells me her family is doing great. Her son lives down south. He and his wife have a son; guess that makes Tanya a "Grandma." Marge Smith Thomas, of          Lakeview, Arkansas, had company over the weekend. Her son Ben Thomas, Jr., and his daughter, Jayli Thomas of Kansas City, were visiting. They came to attend the Eagle Awareness Weekend. This event was put on by Bull Shoals/White River State Park in Lakeview, Arkansas. Marge says they saw seven eagles while on the two hour pontoon lake trip on Bull Shoals Lake. There were other activities offered and they had a most enjoyable weekend. Dennis Legg and his wife, Susie, visited with Don last week. Brad and I stopped by to visit with Scott Gibson (1955) last week. A big hello to all you Birds in and around James Bird's house. I hope to get over your way before too long.           My phone line was having some static problems and Joey McCumbers (Frontier) came to work on the lines. He got everything fixed. Then a few days later - no dial tone. Champ had been laying in the floor and I am sure he did not mean to chew the telephone cord in two, but he did. He looked so pitiful when I scolded him. A good while ago Melissa McLaughlin brought me a really cute tiny teapot. It looks like it might have a "genie" inside. I have talked to it, rubbed it and nothing happens. It probably peeked out and saw my house and decided not to come out. Oh well, life goes on anyway.           A few words from the wise old bird: If you removed the rocks from the brook, the brook would lose its song. Swallow your pride - it's non-fattening. And, if God is the captain of our fate, our boat may rock, but it will never sink (copied). Tell all of your family in Pennsylvania that I said "hello." I love you Brother Bill, in the meantime - Help Us All To Be Brave. Sis                    CHATTER          Life on Murder Mountain          By Richard Cummings           I don’ mean to sound overly suspicious, but before I moved my family to the notorious Murder Mountain in Clay County, it had already attained its name not only from the many terrible events there, but by some of its unruly residents. Lets look at the big picture.                  First, many years ago Chuck Huffman, a Clendenin resident was gunned down during a drug deal gone bad. Then, Chuck Blankenship was found dead in a suspicious car wreck at the bottom of the mountain. Since then, there have been several people missing in the general area, major drug. activity on the mountain, and automatic weapon fire at all hours of the night. These and other events have plagued most of the people that live there.                  At one time I lived there until a barrage of automatic weapon fire rang out one night. It was an attempt to me and my daughters.                  It all started with an argument between Tommy Young Sr., Tommy Young Jr. and Dennis Koch in which Tommy Sr. fired at Dennis Koch’ feet. Bullets ricocheted off my trailer and almost nit the porch where my family and I stood in disbelief. Tommy Sr. then told Dennis that the next time He’ be dead like everyone else who crossed him.                  The police were called and given a full statement of the event. I also strongly voiced my fear that my family had seen too much and the Young’’would try to retaliate. The police questioned the Youngs and left a little while later doing nothing about the incident.                  I decided to calm my young daughters by putting them in bed. My fiancé left to take home a neighborhood girl. No sooner had I gotten done placing blanket did a barrage of automatic weapon fire explode into my trailer. One bullet hit my neck as a line of bullets followed my shadow thru the trailer. Furniture and household items started splintering and shattering. I ran for my guns, grabbing my rifle and shotgun. I returned to lay on top of my daughters to protect them from the bullets. I got hit a few more times. We stayed there until there was a momentary ease in the gunfire. At which point I commanded the girls, “hen I kick open the door and begin shooting, run as fast as you can to the neighbor’ house!!”                  With wood splintering and glass shattering all around us, I said a prayer, “God please hold your hand over these girls. If anyone must die, then let it be me.”                  I then kicked open the door and began shooting. There was three gunmen shooting from different sides of the trailer. Tommy Young Sr. was yelling, “You’e going to die like Chuck Huffman did!!”We started running. I grabbed two of the girls while the other ran along. We jumped into the ditch line. Trees falling behind us and bullets were bouncing all around us. I was hit three times in the leg.                  I began to pass out from loss of blood. I commanded the girls, “Keep running!”At which point the oldest responded by helping me up while the younger two ran ahead crying. We made it to the bottom of the hill where I was again shot in the leg. I threw down the 12 gauge in order to reload the rifle. I said, “un to the house with the lights on!!”the oldest said, “You didn’ leave us and we’e not leaving you!”She then picked up the shotgun and fired at the coming shooters. I fired what I had in the rifle.                  That bought us enough time to run to some neighbors’homes. At the third house we found someone home. When he answered the door I rushed the girls inside and said, “eload the gun, they’e still coming!”I then fell back on the porch bleeding. The gunmen didn’ follow.                  When the police arrived for the second time that evening, they attended my wounds and I directed them to check my daughters for gunshot wounds. Thank God they had none. The police took a full taped statement.                  The next day, in the hospital, I phoned my fiancé where she and my daughters were hiding and found that during the night gunmen had been shooting off rounds at the place she was staying near the Church of God. Needless to say, I immediately left the hospital in order to move my family to a safe location. Soon we found a place we could stay in exchange for fixing it up.                  For the next few weeks we endured may hardships. First, we lost everything we had due to denial of a police escort to retrieve our things from Murder Mountain. Then my fiancé’ pelvis and thy were crushed in a near fatal car wreck. None the less, with the help of God, we made it through and with our love for one another.                  Then one day, I was visited by the police. Some had shot Tommy Young Sr. I knew nothing of the incident. 10 witnesses gave statements that I was working on the trailer at the time of the shooting. A month later, the police arrested me for the shooting. After all we’ been through, here I was getting arrested for something that I obviously didn’ do. By trying to do the right thing and let the law handle the situation, ma and my family were becoming even bigger victims.                  At the preliminary hearing for my charges, it was brought out that the weapon that shot Tommy Young Sr. was found in his own camper and that we shot with #8 bird shot. Also, my 10 witnesses testified as to where I was at the time of the shooting. Tommy Young on the other hand testified that I shot him and from 35 feet away. Leaving a 6 inch gaping hole in his leg. This is obviously an impossibility with #8 bird shot. Still yet, the Magistrate refused to dismiss the charges and sent the case to the grand jury.                  Since then, the witnesses have all been threatened. My family has been threatened and gone into hiding. I sit in Central Regional Jail unable to post a small bond due to the fact that we’e lost everything. Though I don’ know where they are, I know God’ hand is over the young woman I wanted to marry and the three girls that chose to call me Daddy. And to those three girls , I am forever bound to you by honor. You are the true heroes who refused to leave a potentially dieing man.                  In the case of Murder Mountain, doing the right thing may just be the wrong thing. It’ no wonder people are scared to come forward with the truth with events such as these. My heart goes out to the families of Chuck Huffman and Chuck Blankenship. And I thank God mine has not become such a statistic.          CHATTER 2           I just want to say THIS about THAT. in a State Road truck showed up out Oak Hill Ridge yesterday until well after 5 p.m. , I called the State Road Dept. on Monday just to find out what the roads were like & if they'd treated them. spoke with a very nice young man who let me know that they were working on it & despite all their efforts, with temperatures in the teens, there would be patches where no pavement would shine through. after I spoke with him, a salt truck treated Oak Hill Ridge & was followed by a second not long after that.           I'd like to add that Oak Hill Ridge isn't very wide & I've been run off the road by neighbors, buses, sheriff's deputies, etc., but the state road truck driver stopped dead in his tracks & allowed me plenty of space to get around him. State Road Dept. is certainly doing a heckuva lot better than most state agencies!                         Rose Cantrell                            Ed. Note: We received this letter Jan. 21, 2005 from Richard Cummings, inmate 1028617, who is lodged in CRJ.          CHATTER 3           I need an answer to a question and I have asked 2 or 3 different Game Wardens and I have gotten 2 or 3 different answers.If I don't get a true answer I am going to be paying a ticket that I do not want.My husband is of the age that he does not have to buy a fishing or hunting license.Different ones tell me he does not need a trout stamp.That answer came from the court house where you buy fishing license.At K-Mart where you buy fishing license they told a man of legal age that doesn't need to buy a license that he had to buy a trout stamp.Now, Iwant to know...does he need a trout stamp or does he not need a trou t stamp?And if he does need to buy one where is he going to put it? Could you please print this in your paper because there are a lot of people that needs and wants to know this answer because there is no trout worth $180.00 to me if he gets a ticket.         Thank You, Rosetta King          ED NOTE: OK readers, what’ the answer?                                      Sign Time? By Jim Chafin           Once again, Appalachia, and Mingo County in particular, has been forced into the limelight of national attention, this time by the actions of a wealthy Pike County District Judge, one Kelsey Friend, Jr. of Pikeville, Kentucky, just across the river from Williamson, WV. “his is such a problem here in our community that we have to try all means to lesson the recidivism,”said the Judge. The issue this time was his decision to assign an alternate mode of punishment for a 29 year old Matewan woman who had been convicted of shoplifting $8.66 worth of merchandise from the Town and Country Food City in this eastern Kentucky city. Judge Friend noted that he had sentenced ten shoplifters to alternative sentences of carrying a confessional sign in public. The Matewan resident had the option of standing in front of Food City’ store with a sign that read “ have been convicted of shoplifting at Food City – 30 days jail and a fine of $445.50.” The lady chose to stand in front of Food City for six hours in lieu of the 30 days jail and the $445.50 fine. But, in retrospect the lady said, “’ take the jail time first before I’ be humiliated like that again.” The Associated Press picked up the story which was carried by the Charleston Gazette complete with headlines that read “hoplifter Gets Sign Time,”and a color picture of the lady sitting on a bench with a large sign at her knees.           Is this the United States of America or some third world society where people go to bed hungry as a matter of routine daily life? Seems here in Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky we have the makings of both – deep economic deprivation living alongside extreme wealth. A region so rich in minerals, gas, oil and timber that even the best prognosticators fall short affixing a value number, while at the same time exists some of the most deplorable living conditions to be found anywhere in this country. We have just come through a national election in which the two major parties spent in excess of one billion dollars to glorify a bunch of stuffed shirts who wouldn’ touch the problems of America’ poor and middle class with one of their little fingers, while people like the person depicted in the shoplifter story wallow in abject poverty. Where are the morals of a society that allows such a condition as this to fester among vaults of great wealth? Where is the morality of a community, friends, neighbors, when needs of such magnitude are prevalent in the land? Where, pray tell, is that ‘oral clarity’that has been ranted over every television and radio station in America these last four years? There has been enough newsprint on morality to fill the Smithsonian Institute to its rafters. It is abundantly clear that in an economy which speaks in terms of billions and trillions of dollars in profits, and at the same time spearheading a technological drive to disenfranchise millions of people of their rights, that there is something sinister in the way corporate America does business.           Here in West Virginia we see all the documented ills of an economic system gone haywire. The grandeur of this state’ natural beauty, the sturdiness of its independent people and their ability to survive – all are being tested to their limits. This trial by fire is being accomplished by corporate giants (some of whom are international in scope,) whose resources are larger than that of many countries, denying the people an opportunity to work at an occupation that provides for the needs of their families. But a share of the blame must lie on the shoulders of our august legislators and the judiciary because it is their responsibility to level the playing field and provide equity where none exists. They have failed to rein in those whose unethical pursuits have become obscene beyond measure, and whose talents for making mischief are never exhausted.           Jail, large fines, and public humiliation is not the answer to destitution and hunger. The humiliation depicted in the AP story is but one step this side of the public whippings and stockades of 16th and 17th century America. Punishing a person for being hungry in a land where $100 million dollar salaries are common is, it seems to me, tantamount to locking the barn door after the horse has run away. Poverty in this country is conceived in the bowels of corporate giants who dominate by virtue of their ability to dictate their particular brand of consumerism. The story also conjures up images of coalfield brutality that is not too far removed from present day realities; a time when both Mingo and Pike Counties were harnessed together by some of the harshest living conditions ever forced upon industrial America. A time when coal company CEOs were raking in millions while their employees were working for 95 cents per day, $19 per month, $988 per year…if one was lucky enough to work every available day. Proverbs 6: 30-31 says this: Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he his hungry; but if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. A sevenfold restitution of $8.66 would amount to $60.62, whereas the fine levied in this case comes out as 52.6 times the amount taken. And remember this – the store did not, in fact, lose the merchandise; the store retrieved the stolen items. So, the wealthy judge threw the book at an unfortunate person. Little wonder then that Scripture has some harsh statements about lawyers.           Hunger in West Virginia is a major problem and is worthy of the incoming administration’ time and effort to find solutions without letting things get worse. Solutions, however, will require this state and the nation to develop a labor policy that takes into consideration the effects of corporate decisions upon both individuals and communities. Allowing wealth to run rough-shod over people is a practice that must be stopped. History has recorded in vivid detail the cumulative effect of commercialism without restraints. The economy of this state has, for too long, been at the lower end of the economic ladder. And we might point out that the resources of this planet were not given to any one individual or group. They were given to mankind for the good and welfare of everyone. Equity is the thread that unites us all – the hope of mankind.                    Magistrate Report          Felony          01/06/05: Wriston – Sheila Payne, child neglect (12/30/04), pretrial dismissal, dismissed without prejudice, State re-filing case; Wriston – Stephen L. Payne, child neglect (12/30/04), pretrial dismissal, dismissal without prejudice, State re-filing case; Wristin – Vickie Lynn Williams, operating a clandestine, arrested, ROB 01/07; Wriston – Adam Arnold, operating a clandestine laboratory, arrested, preliminary hearing 01/13, probable cause found, bound to Circuit Court with misdemeanor possession of marijuana less 15 grams charge, motion for bond reduction denied.          01/07/05: Wriston – Sheila Payne, child neglect, arrested, ROB; Wriston – Stephen L. Payne, child abuse, arrested, ROB.          01/12/05: Belt – Larry Allen Duffield, receiving or transferring stolen property, warrant issued 08/05/04, arrested, ROB.          01/13/05: Wriston – Okey W. Hodge, operating a clandestine drug lab (01/06/05), preliminary hearing, probable cause found, case bound to Circuit Court with misdemeanor possession of controlled substance charge, request for bond reduction denied.          01/17/05: Stephenson – Gerald M. Thompson, Jr., wanton endangerment, warrant issued 08/07/04, arrested, ROB 01/18; Wiles – Marina Kay Lanham, kidnapping, arrested, case sent to Circuit Court 01/18.          01/18/05: Wriston – Rodney Lee Jarvis, unlawful/malicious wounding (10/29/04), preliminary hearing, probable cause found, bound to Grand Jury.          Misdemeanor          01/05/05: Bailey – Robert L. Holcomb, passing in no passing zone and following too closely, summons; Bailey – Johnny Lane, domestic battery, summons, appeared 01/10, ROB; Sizemore – Edward L. Adkins, driving suspended/revoked non-DUI 2nd offense and no POI, appeared, ROB.          01/06/05: Wriston – Okey Hodge, possession of controlled substance, arrested; Wriston – Vickie Lynn Williams, possession of marijuana less 15 grams, arrested, ROB 01/07; Wriston – Adam Arnold, possession of marijuana less 15 grams, arrested.          01/07/05: Wriston – Stephen L. Payne, domestic battery and domestic assault, arrested.          01/10/05: Wriston – Jason A. Collins, contributing to delinquency of minor, appeared, ROB; Clay Foodland – Joseph A. Rhodes, worthless check complaints X 4, warrants issued, checks paid 01/19; Reed – Matthew O. Shaffer, proving false info to police officer, battery on police officer, and obstructing a police officer, warrants issued, arrested 01/19; Wiles – Gerald Warren Duffield, assault and battery, warrants issued, arrested 01/11, ROB 01/13; Larry Legg – Teddy Jones, failure to send child to school, summons; Larry Legg – Tanya Jones, failure to send child to school, summons; Wriston – Richard L. Salmons, Jr., simple possession, appeared, assessed costs and placed on 6 months unsupervised probation.          01/11/05: Main Street IGA – Delores Rose, worthless check complaint, warrant issued; Stephenson – James L. Rapp, battery, warrant issued; Stephenson – Jonas Shaffer, destruction of property and battery, warrants issued.          01/12/05: Sizemore – Phillip Jerry Payne II, possession of controlled substance (meth), possession of controlled substance (marijuana), concealed deadly weapon, and driving suspended/revoked non-DUI, arrested.          01/13/05: Wriston – Tracy Shane Johnson, simple possession, appeared, ROB.          01/16/05: Bailey – Elizabeth A. Moore, possession of controlled substance, DUIA 1st offense, providing false info to a police officer, and driving suspended/revoked non-DUI, arrested, ROB.          01/17/05: Wiles – Marina Kay Lanham, brandishing, assault, and obstructing an officer X 2, arrested, ROB 01/18.          01/19/05: Sizemore – Jennifer Pierson, assault, warrant issued; Lizemores Grocery, Julie C. Hudson, worthless check complaint, warrant issued; Bailey – Jerry A. Burton, driving while revoked for DUIA, failure to stop when signaled, and fleeing from officer, appeared, ROB.          Civil          01/05/05: Henry Stutler – Steve and Heavenly Keen, wrongful occupation, bench trial 01/14, judgment for plaintiff, defendants to vacate property, court orders no rent and no judgment due to plaintiff due to unsanitary conditions as described by Clay County sanitarian.          01/06/05: Big Otter Food Mart – Candace Murphy, money due, subpoena; Nottingham’ Store – Willard, money due, subpoena; Billie Jarvis – Davey Deems, money due; R.B. Legg, Jr., DDS – Beverly Workman, money due; Terry Duffield and Tammy Duffield, money due, subpoenas; Lola S. Williams, money due; Waynette Dodrill, money due, subpoena; Angela Butcher, money due, subpoena; Johnny Hamrick, money due, subpoena.          01/07/05: Tara Taylor – Bruce Bird, Jr., money due, defendant admitted claim 01/18, judgment for plaintiff; Doris Coulter – Sherry Carte, money due.          01/10/05: Salisbury Auto Salvage – William Johnson, money due, subpoena; Judy Johnson, money due, subpoena.          01/11/05: S.S. Jamie, MD – Leslie Davis, money due, subpoena; Walter Schoonover – Melissa Hill and Michael Hill, money due, subpoenas.          01/18/05: Main Street IGA – Joanna Nutter, money due, subpoena; Ellen Price, money due, subpoena.          01/19/05: Clay Co. PSD – Ronald D. Hamrick, money due; Misty Blethen Phillips, money due; Marie Thorne, money due.          Worthless Checks Notices Issued          01/11/05: Brent Boggs – Tammy Johnson.          01/13/05: Main Street IGA – Wilma R. Boggs; James A. Harold; Loretta Stewart.          Citation Register          12/18/04: DNR – Jonathan D. Sizemore, firearm violation and hunting from motor vehicle.          12/22/04: State Police – John J. Lilly, no POI.          12/23/04: Sheriff’ Dept. – Edward L. Adkins, driving suspended/revoked non-DUI 2nd offense, no POI, and registration violation.          12/28/04: State Police – Coleman Paul Price, speeding.          12/29/04: State Police – Gary L. Ramsey, speeding and driving suspended/revoked non-DUI; Timothy L. Samples, no POI.          12/31/04: Sheriff’ Dept. – Abrkhdeir Anma Muss, speeding.          01/01/05: State Police – Randall K. Woods, no POI.          01/04/05: Sheriff’ Dept. – Timothy B. Donahue, registration violation and defective equipment; State Police – April Dawn Tanner, MVI.          01/05/05: State Police – Tracy Shane Johnson, simple possession; William C. Johnson, speeding, no POI, and registration violation; DOH – Romie E. Williams, overweight, over width, over length, and MVI.          01/06/05: State Police – Matthew B. Hamrick, ATV on roadway; Joana M. Nutter, operator’; Joe C. Taylor, seat belt violation and operator’; Sheriff’ Dept. – Belinda Dawn Rose, no POI.          01/07/05: Sheriff’ Dept. – Timothy J. Beard, registration violation, no POI, operator’, and MVI; State Police – Jerry A. Burton, driving while revoked for DUI, failure to stop when signaled; and fleeing from an officer on foot; DNR – William C. Johnson, illegal burning of refuse.          01/08/05: State Police – Jason A. Collins, contributing to delinquency of minor; Bruce A. Long, speeding; Robert James Workman, speeding and no POI.          01/09/05: State Police – Paul Charles Arnold, defective equipment, driving suspended/revoked non-DUI, no POI, and MVI; Karen Sue Coe, MVI.          01/10/05: State Police – Dennie B. Dobbins, registration violation; David Halstead, operator’; George Duffy Jones, left of center; Lyndsey Nottingham, speeding and seat belt violation; Tara B. Taylor, seat belt violation.          01/12/05: State Police – Tonya Deloris Murphy, MVI.          01/14/05: State Police – Rene J. Noe, speeding.