MAY 31, 2002

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MEDIA BLASTS CLAY
FOLLOW UPS
DID YOU KNOW
MAGISTRATE REPORT
SHHH...KEEP IT QUIET @ BDA
WV PSC WISDOM
DOWN IN CLENDENIN
ACTIVATE
BUILDING OWNER CLAIMS RAW DEAL
SEPTIC TANKS AND PRIVY TOO
CALL FOR LEVY AT CCC
CHATTER
TWON AVERTS $5000 FINE
BOB CLARKE'S CURMUDGEON CORNER
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
CAN TOURISM SAVE WV
STUMBLER OF THE WEEK
THE CHAFIN REPROT
KAY'S COOKING CORNER
WORK 4 WV



MEDIA BLASTS CLAY

     Oh, how the stories kept coming! Day after day, column after column, the news was explosive for little ole Clay County. We=re talking about last week=s in depth coverage provided by the Charleston Gazette, the Daily Mail and the final installment published in the Sunday, May 26 Gazette-Mail. Gazette reporter Scott Finn provided the insight.
     So what was covered? Oh man, just about everything from Filcon, to the Clay County Bank, to our Business Development Authority, to the CAEZ, and even the massive foreclosures on Free Press owner Clinton Nichols. How could you ask for more and all front page stuff to boot!
     Remember Finn? He=s the guy school board president R.B. Legg lambasted a couple years back saying that Finn couldn=t count. Legg was referring to a Finn article on prayers in school where the young reporter said only 125 or so parents showed up in support of school administrators who had led prayer during school functions. According to Legg, there were over 300 in attendance at the meeting.
     Many in the county do not receive home delivery of the Gazette, and when they went to buy the hot item, local stores had sold out. In an attempt to keep our readers fully informed on the revealing developments , the following excerpts and commentary are provided.
     It=s Tuesday, May 21. The sleepy eyes headed over to the coffee and breakfast haunts for their early morning dose of caffeine. They got more than that. Front page news in the state edition of the Gazette read: “Clay County Bank Chief retires after 15 years”. An additional banner insert read: “Interim Bank President Scott Legg said JD Morris=s retirement was not related to the bank=s recent $264,000 quarterly loss”. The eyes opened wide as the details of the bank surfaced. Mention was made that the $264,000.00 loss put the bank as having the fifth biggest loss of any bank in the state. For the entire year, the bank lost a total of $87,000.00. Over at Tudor=s, comments included, A What happened to being the nation=s 9th strongest bank?@
     According to Finn, the bank had almost twice as many charge offs as it had the year before - a total of 589. Those are the loans that never get paid.... At the same time, the bank increased what it paid for salaries and benefits for its 24 employees by 7%, from $980,000.00 to $1,050,000.00 That=s higher than 9 of 10 state banks with similar assets.
     Banks are rated by various organizations as to soundness. Reporter Finn dug up two alarming downgrades by rating services. According to Weiss Ratings, Inc, the Clay County Bank went from a “B” rating to “C” last month. Also from the Gazette, the Massachusetts company Veribank downgraded the bank from green with three stars, to yellow with two stars.... that=s a cautionary rating... the loss refers to the loss last quarter, but the two stars indicate a relatively positive long term forecast.
     As the coffee drinkers consumed their second and third cup of java, it began to sink in. The Clay County Bank had been shaken. By 10 am, and with all copies of the Gazette bought up, Xerox copies were being circulated around the county. The bank was the talk of the county.
     Wednesday, May 22, 2002: for many the thought was, we survived the state wide media and it=s back to life as usual. Wrong.
       Both the morning and afternoon papers had Clay in bold headlines. First the Gazette headline: “BANK AND TAXPAYERS LEFT ON THE HOOK; More than $500,000.00 poured into failed filter making company.” Two big color pictures accompanied the banners.
Coverage included: German native Manfred Kunetzer came to Clay County two years ago promising to make filters for heavy equipment and create 300 jobs. He convinced politicians, development officials and the Clay County Bank to give him more than $500,000.00 in grants and loans. Today his business, Filcon Inc., is defunct, and bank and development officials are foreclosing on his property.....        
     Still on the front page,@ Last year county development officials gave Kuentzer the $90,000.00 property for nothing, on the condition he build a factory there and create at least 5 jobs. Kuentzer used the property as collateral on the $255,000.00 loan from the Clay County Bank, a loan he has failed to pay.        
     In this detailed accounting mention was made that Kuentzer tried to get county leaders to cough up money directly to him without producing paid invoice receipts. Finn,@ They asked Kuentzer to produce canceled checks to prove he had already paid the other companies. He never did. He gave them an un-canceled check...... Finally, the county paid the contractors directly. One invoice showed Kuentzer getting 20 steel beams for a bridge, but no bridge exists at the site.        A note on Filcon letterhead promised state development officials that A the materials purchased from Metals USA will be used .... to build a road access with a bridge across the creek.”
Eyes were bulging, never before had such in depth reporting by a state wide newspaper revealed so much. By Wednesday, the international service Associated Press had picked up and ran with coverage. Locals in power were beginning to squirm.
     Page 2 of the article included remarks that the Filcon debacle may have killed reelection attempts by Commissioner Tim Butcher. Doing his home work, Finn went on to provide quotes from two years ago where Butcher commented,@ The sooner we can get him in a new facility, the sooner we can get 300 people working..@
And then, and then.... the reporter made it be known that the Clay County media saturation would continue when he wrote,@ Tomorrow: Manfred Kuentzer left a trail of failed businesses in new York before he got to WV. Should local economic development officials have known?@
      As is the case about anywhere you look, dirt can be found. Local leaders were almost in a damage control mode. Phone calls were made,= Where is he looking next?@
     For those lucky enough to have read the articles, there was a certain smirk on their collective faces. What had been known for years was finally surfacing and it wasn=t pretty.
By noon, with copies of the Gazette floating around the county, the Daily Mail unleashed a front page story on eleven schools in the state . The story listed Clay County as having the dubious distinction of being the only system in the state to have two schools, H. E. White and Lizemore Elementaries, on the A No Child Left Behind Act@ list. WV Assistant Superintendent of Schools Pam Cain made the list public after the May 14 primary election.
      According to that article and a follow up one under the new act, all schools must meet higher academic standards, put more qualified teachers in the classroom and get parents more involved or else face the certainly that parents can move their kids from an under-performing school to a better performing institution including those in a private setting. From the Ryan Keith article,@ At least 11 schools in WV could be forced this fall to pay transportation costs for parents to send their students elsewhere because of those schools= poor performance in the last two years... Schools that repeatedly fail to produce adequate improvement will get extra federal funds to tutor struggling students. Eventually, though, a continued lack of improvement could lead to a reshuffling of staff and even the state taking over the schools.@
The article continued,@ Teachers, meanwhile, will have to meet higher qualification standards to be in the classroom, including rigorous tests to gauge their preparation.@
     For those that follow our local school system, a whole bunch of head scratching was going on. Didn=t Clay School Superintendent Linkinogger just tell us how well the schools are in the county? Didn=t he just say that test scores are great, some of the highest in the state? Wasn=t it just during the last school board meeting that Linkinogger commented that NO schools in Clay County were on probation?
For many, the Wednesday afternoon Charleston newspaper coverage was a wake up call to check for themselves what was being passed around the county as facts.
With the week only half over and with the knowledge that more light was about to be shed on Clayberry, half the county grinned while the other half had bunched up shorts.
     Thursday May 23, 2002 Gazette headline: “A TRAIL OF FINANCIAL RUIN”. That pesky little Gazette reporter=s opening paragraph read,@ Between 1996 and 1998, German national Manfred Kuentzer pleaded guilty to writing bad checks, racked up $700,000.00 in judgements against him and his businesses, and was extradited to Germany to face fraud and misappropriation charges.@
What?
     Didn=t our Business Development Authority pay CAEZ Director Jerry Sizemore to check out Kuentzer, to travel to upstate New York to see the operation? Didn=t Sizemore come back and say that Filcon looked like a good investment, that the equipment was worth about $2 million? Didn=t he say that a Dunn and Bradstreet report had been done and that Kuentzer was clean? Does this mean, just 6 months before coming to Clay County, Kuentzer had been returned to Germany accused of fraudulent business activities? According to printed reports... Yes. Kuentzer spent Christmas 1998 in jail. In April 1999 he was deported back to Germany.
     In the coverage, Director Sizemore defended his work and denied promising Kuentzer money, a building, and property. During Kuentzer=s two years of promises, the taxpayers shelled out, $121,000.00 from the CAEZ; $90,000.00 from the Clay County Business Development Authority (property); $78,000.00 in training money which came through the CAEZ; and, $50,000.00 from Budget Digest grants for site development. Plus, the Clay County Bank lent him $255,000.00.
Coverage extended into the Friday Gazette. On the front page, and in big bold letters, came the story that our local Business Development Authority (BDA) had finally got their heads out of the sand and were going to go to court to get the $90,000.00 Ovapa property back from foreclosure proceedings by the Clay County Bank. Quotes were printed from BDA member Norman Wilson and Dave Derby. It finally came to light that local attorney Wayne King has represented the BDA , had represented Manfred Kunetzer, had represented the bank, and, his family had owned the Ovapa property. According to Dave Derby, @Wayne King is involved in all these papers. He wrote the deed. Now he=s employed by the bank to do the foreclosure, so I think that may help us [BDA].@ BDA Chair Paige Willis was not quoted in the articles.
And, as they say on TV,@ But Wait, there=s more!!!!!!!!@
     Sunday, May 26, Sunday Gazette Mail coverage showed a picture of Clinton Nichols, publisher of that little paper over in Clay. Scott Finn ended up his series with a heavy dose of figures that left little doubt that the Nichols house of cards was all but blown down. Finn=s investigating revealed to the world: Nichols borrowed nearly $500,000.00 from the Clay County Bank last fall and failed to pay it back; 20 parcels of land have been foreclosed on by the bank; Nichols and family owe more than $9000.00 in delinquent taxes; the Free Press is in default with the WV Worker=s Compensation system; and , the IRS still has liens against him for back taxes. The report went deep into the past shaky financial adventures of Nichols.
     Finn left few stones unturned. Details surfaced on: in 1986 when County Commissioner Clinton Nichols was able to get his brother and his niece=s driveways= paved by the Department of Highways; how he had been sued in the past for not paying $80,000.00 in past due loans; his voting record while in the WV House of Delegates; and his questionable tactics as a newspaper editor.
And finally in the media blitz, coverage was given on a little known deal between Filcon and then Clay County bank President J.D. Morris which netted Morris a right of way to his new house which is located behind the Ovapa site of the Filcon building. And again, attorney Wayne King appeared to be the middle man in the deal.
     By late last week, the joke was going around,@ Filcon was able to topple the J.D. Morris and Nichols Empire in just two years!@ For others, seeing our local government=s ineptness was nothing new. For them, the comments came,@ So what else is new.... It=s been like this for years...... This place will never change, they=re all crooks!@
     Quite a week readers! As a follow up to the written word, TV Channel 8 broadcast coverage on May 28 brought to light that the Clay Bank is under a Acease and desist@ order. Channel 8’s opening line went like this,@ In this order to cease and desist, the West Virginia Division of Banking says that a pattern of unsafe and unsound practices at the Clay County bank must be fixed.@
     Does media exposure make for change? Will the Clay County Bank make it through these difficult times under the stewardship of interim President Scott Legg? Will the BDA=s efforts to get their heads out of the sand and retake the Ovapa property be successful? Will Clinton Nichols find financing and once again pull out of the mire? Will Director Jerry Sizemore and the CAEZ continue to receive $30,000.00 per year to be our lead economic developer for the county? Has the county learned anything?
     Maybe not, here=s an example. During the Tuesday, May 28 County Commission Meeting, the three blind mice voted without comment and without discussion to once again make the Clay County Bank the depository of all county funds despite knowing full well, the state code calls for the bidding of the services among all banks in the county.        
Note: Elizabeth and Fred Sampson came up with the title for this article.  

        AW

follow ups

Front page Health Department Board of Directors coverage in our last edition included a remark on knocking the stuffings out of a board member for public comments made while under the influence of alcohol. David Morton asked for a clarification. AStump@ Morton wanted to make certain the public knew he was not ready to hit anybody. Mr. Morton said that he does not, and would not, hit a woman under any circumstances.

??? DID YOU KNOW ???


  1. It’s better to fail with honor, than to win by deceit.
  2. I will love the light, for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.
  3. More than 80 percent of voters nationwide say the environment was an important factor in the voting decision according to an “earth day poll”.
  4. State government is considering buying some legal services through a competitive bidding process to save money.
  5. 80 percent of front seat occupants who die in car collisions might have lived if back seat passengers wore their seatbelts. Unbelted passengers can fly forward with deadly force.
  6. Every year more than one million Americans are diagnosed with “basal cell or malignant melanoma”.
  7. West Virginian’s business taxes are 10th highest in the nation, the Census Bureau says.
  8. According to the American Dairy Association, the average American eats 19 pounds of snack food each year.
  9. Kanawha County principals soon may be able to bring police dogs into the classroom to search students they suspect of possessing illegal drugs.
  10. All of West Virginia’s schools and 89 percent of it’s classrooms have internet access.
  11. 7 million Americans suffer from food allergies.
  12. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24 following accidents and homicide.
  13. “Whooping Cough”, largely regarded as an infant disease, is making a comeback in all age groups, experts say.
  14. A good beginning has no end.
  15. 17 percent of young West Virginian’s who are still living here believe they will move from West Virginia in the next 5 years.
  16. In 1998, Toyota sold more than 610,000 vehicles in the United States.
  17. About two thirds of US heart attack patients each year do not get “angioplasties” because they are taken to hospitals without cardiac surgery units.
  18. More than 70 percent of federal prisoners are incarcerated for non-violent offences.
  19. More than four million Americans 65 or older are working.
20. In a recent poll of 800 people, only 32 percent knew that there were “nine” justices to the US Supreme Court.     LMM


MAGISTRATE REPORT

Felony
05-08-02: Guthrie - Patrick Blankenship, arrested and ROB for breaking and entering, hearing set.
05-21-02: Ellyson - Brad Joe Stone, burglary (4/10), probable cause found - case sent to Circuit Court
05-22-02: Slack - Peggy Conley, retaliation, arrested, ROB, hearing set.
Misdemeanor
05-13-02: Sizemore=s IGA - Christa D. Smith Schoolcraft, warrant issued for WC.
05-20-02: Belt - Denise Drake, warrant issued for battery; Belt - Joanna Nutter, battery, arrested, ROB; Belt - Jenny Loving, battery, arrested, ROB.
05-23-02: Slack - Nathan Ralph Malick, registration violations and driving suspended, arrested, committed for Nicholas County - hold for Clay County.
05-28-02: Bailey - Thomas W. McCallister, DUI, pled no contest, assessed fine, costs, and 24 hrs. jail; Slack - Tabatha Sizemore, warrant issued for obtaining goods under false pretenses; Slack - Beatrice Keigley, destruction of property, summons.
Civil
05-20-02: Lizemore Exxon - Roger Holcomb, money due; Frank and Sue Hughes, money due.
05-22-02: Shirley Samples - John Osborne, money due.
05-23-02: Jeff Davis - Katherine Sloan, wrongful occupation; Melanie Lane, wrongful occupation.
Worthless Checks
Notices issued-
05-15-02: Clay Supermarket - Roy Lee King (paid 5/20).
05-16-02: Big Otter Food Mart - Katherine Grose, Misty Grose (paid 5/28), Krista Jones, Tommy Smith, Vickie Williams X 3 (paid 5/22).
05-20-02: Lizemore Exxon - Chadwick W. Muck X 8, Tabatha Sizemore (paid 5/23), Eric Wayne Moore X 2.
05-21-02: Bank of Gassaway - Gregory Sizemore X 2.
Traffic Citations
05-01-02: Sheriff=s Dept. - Robert Blake Moore, operator=s.
05-06-02: State Police - Dale E. Akers, possession marijuana less/15 gr. and driving on suspended/revoked.
05-08-02: State Police - Jarrod N. Harless, speeding; Erin Houchen, speeding.
05-10-02: State Police - Angela Marie Taylor, MVI.
05-12-02: Sheriff=s Dept. - Clinton W. Blanton, driving on suspended/revoked and defective equipment; State Police - Gary Wayne Harlow, failure to keep right.
05-14-02: State Police - Clifton C. Grose, Jr., failure to maintain control.
05-15-02: Sheriff=s Dept. - Jessica D. Mullins, no POI.
05-16-02: Sheriff=s Dept. - Daniel Boone Grose, improper passing; Shasona Mae Quinn, failure to keep right.
05-17-02: State Police - Darlene R. Nichols, no POI, registration violations, and MVI.
05-18-02: State Police - Brian T. Batton, speeding; Joseph M. Brown, defective equipment; Kevin M. Jans, speeding.
05-19-02: Sheriff=s Dept. - Wesley A. Adkins, seat belt violation; Tammy L. Johnson, registration violations, no POI, and seat belt violation; James Allen Sams, seat belt violation; Joshua D. Stutler, registration violations; Daniel G. Suite, seat belt violation.
05-20-02: Sheriff=s Dept. - Ernie J. Hall, driving on suspended/revoked, registration violations, no POI, and seat belt violation; Jack Holcomb Jr., seat belt violation and no POI; Michael E. Shoults, seat belt violation; State Police - Jason A. McKinney, speeding and defective equipment; Edward A. Smallwood, speeding.
05-22-02: Sheriff=s Dept. - Carolyn Barker, speeding; Douglas W. Butler, seat belt violation X 2, Patty Fugate, seat belt violation; Anthony W. Godfrey, seat belt violation; Kenneth Lee Harper, seat belt violation; Tony Massey, seat belt violation; Aaron Meadows, seat belt violation; Leonard Neal, seat belt violation; Rhonda G. Nichols, seat belt violation; State Police - Reginal Brogan, seat belt violation; Michael H. Brown, seat belt violation; Jennifer L. Hannah, seat belt violation; Judy Legg, seat belt violation and no POI; Madge Mullins, seat belt violation; Shirley G. Ramsey, seat belt violation; Mark Anthony Stone, operator=s, no POI, seat belt and registration violations; L. K. Summers Jr., seat belt violation; Ronald D. Williams, no POI and operator=s.
05-24-02: State Police - John F. Johnson, seat belt violation.
05-25-02: State Police - Glenn L. Drake, seat belt violation; Sheriff=s Dept. - Jeremy Ray Gray, seat belt violation; Roger Gross, operator=s; Adam F. Wood, seat belt violation.


Shhhhhh.. Keep it Quiet @ BDA

     Alerted by various news articles of the demise of Filcon Industries, Clay County=s Business Development Authority held a special meeting May 20 at the courthouse at 7 pm. Members present were, Chair Paige Willis, Norman Wilson, Jerry Nelson, Dave Derby, Mike Evans, Jim Knotts, Jimmy Sams, and Arthur Jarrett. Conspicuously absent was local banker Brett Stover and CAEZ Director Jerry Sizemore, both members of the BDA. In addition to a few in the peanut gallery, Assistant Prosecutor Barbara Schamberger was present.
Willis explained that they were meeting to discuss the Filcon foreclosure. Willis said it was real big on separation of church and state but at this meeting maybe a prayer would be in order. Sams obliged.
     Willis was right in the middle of explaining how the BDA paid CAEZ Director Jerry Sizemore to go to New York sometime back to report on the Filcon operation, and in the middle of explaining the BDA had been pressured to give a loan to Filcon back then, when Schamberger asked him to stop right now and go into secret time away from the public=s eye. Willis agreed.
     Now we don=t know what was said during secret time and of course they attempt to keep all quiet after coming out of the locked door session. Didn=t happen. As a very loosely worded motion was being made, something along the lines of A Motion to accept Barbara=s recommendation...@ discussion popped up. Dave Derby asked that the group take time to think about this and to come back later for the vote. He also slipped out that they were going to try and stop the bank from foreclosing on the Ovapa property June 5, 2002.
     Willis, trying to keep everything under the lid, said that everything had been thoroughly discussed in secret and he wanted to turn it all over to their attorney, A Barbara will protect your interest.@
     Dave was not picking up on the need to be secret and went on to ask ,@ Is there enough time to stop the foreclosure?@ Ms Schamberger commented that normally there is a 30 day requirement but there is a chance that the Judge may hear the case. She went on to say that she doubted the Sheriff could sell the Filcon parcel if “There is an issue.@
For those that haven=t been paying attention to the news over the last three years or so, our BDA gave $90,000.00 worth of land at Ovapa to Filcon Industries in exchange for a promise to put 10 or so employees to work. Of course that didn=t happen. Since then, Filcon used the $90,000.00 worth of land as collateral for the bank loan. The BDA is now crying foul and is attempting to wrangle the Ovapa land back from foreclosure proceedings. Meeting adjourned at 7:41 pm.
NOTE: As of May 28, and according to Chair Paige Willis, no court paperwork has come to his attention in the matter. Willis, “I haven=t signed anything, ask our attorney@.                   AW

WV PSC WISDOM

     Sometimes you just have to shake your head and go on. Such was the case May 29th as the WV Public Service Commission ruled on whether Filcon Manufacturing could legally have water service out at the now defunct Ovapa site.
Back last winter the county went ballistic as Jim Weimer from the WV PSC gave the OK to hook up water service to the Ovapa site and future home of Filcon Inc. Residents went wild because they had been on waiting lists for years due to a water moratorium imposed by the WV PSC which would not allow for new water service connections. With Filcon already in hot water for not paying bills in a timely manner and for passing bad checks, many became very vocal on the preferential treatment given the new to the area owner, Manfred Kuentzer.
At several PSD meetings, locals came out in force. At one point Jim Weimer denied that he had given the OK for the hook up. Later he explained that since the moratorium was just a few weeks away from being lifted, it didn=t make sense to hold up the operation .
     For many, this was the straw that broke the camel=s back. Keep in mind, this was before the public found out that local politico J.D. Morris was hooked up for water service with out paying a tap fee or even filling out an application for service!
Back to the May 29 PSC decision.
     In all their infinite wisdom, our highly paid PSC folks have decided that since the moratorium was lifted, the special consideration , a waiver to get water service for Filcon, was no longer valid. The case was moot. Well Duhhhhhhhhh, he=s been out of business for 12 months!
For our long time readers, remember when Filcon was told that he would have to fill out some paperwork to get that waiver for service? According to page 3 of the new document: Filcon did not file a petition for waiver of the previously existing moratorium. Understand that all? Filcon got water service, never paid a bill for water service, and never even filled out the paperwork to get water! Raise your hand if you are still drinking frog scum.         AW

Down in Clendenin...


* Clendenin Mayor Evelyn A. Robertson announced at the May 13 Town Council meeting that she will be resigning her position at the end of May. Council will have to choose a successor by then to serve out her un-expired term that ends June 2003.
Appointed to replace resigned mayor Jim Clendenin, then elected twice for 2 year terms, Robertson is credited with obtaining grants that funded new storm drains, a backhoe, police cruisers, and other items for the town. She is selling her Clendenin home.

* Clendenin Middle School will close their doors for the last time at the end of school June 2002. Students will be bussed to Elkview Middle School beginning next year. The town of Clendenin will loose tax revenue, and a decrease in business traffic through the area is expected due to the consolidation.

* Clendenin Summer Library Club Kickoff, Saturday, June 8, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Have fun with games, crafts, puppets, and more! All ages.


ACTIVATE by EB Goode

      Yesterday, I had one of my Best Birthdays ever, because, my daughter Ivana, even though she is raising & saving funds to go to the mission-field dedicated the day & it's activities to me, Praise the Lord!
     I also just received the below message which may be applied as an encouragement to you as well: "I am with you always, my faithful messenger boy (dad)! I am so happy you had a great day & a special one for you! See the fruit of you serving Me in your daughter (children & positive influences), who go forward for Me in spite of adversities? So shall ye continue to march forth, even as your body ages & your strength is of Me! As, you become more desperate to help others in prayer intercession & being My faithful mouth-piece & doer of My Words, your way will continue to be blessed!
     Worry not, about the lack of financing, for I have promised to take care of You. As you pour out what I give you and Claim the Keys of the Kingdom for everything, & Love Me, above all & keep witnessing My Words of the End, I will replenish you to go forward, up the mountain, day by day & your JOY in ME, shall remain, & ye shall bear much fruit! Be faithful with what I have given you! Forsake all that is not of Me & ye shall Be Freer day by day! I know the laws I have set forth & the needs of the flesh & the weaknesses thereof, too! This is the trial & schooling of this life; to choose My Voice & obey it quickly to Be what I Will for you! Then, as you know, you will be happy, no matter what!"
Well, TYJ! I want to Thank You Precious Dear Ones for the Birthday Blessings you sent!!! I was reading the online AOL news yesterday & it gave high-warnings about bio-nuclear attacks being inevitable in the USA! I remember, when I joined "The Family" missions, we were passing out our Warning Tracts! I personally , over the last 30 yrs. have gotten out thousands & thousands of warning messages to America & the world about this! It's amazing to me that the leaders are finally getting somewhat real about this , instead of continuing to listen to & follow false (peace & economic) prophets!
     Well, I guess, it's sort a hard to pull the wool over the eyes after 9/11! We know we are in even more real danger now, but like you said, Nancy, we know where we are going; to a super much better place! So, we can trust & cling to the Lord more, resist & rebuke Satan's minions (specifically), stay in the Word & Work of God & live every day like it's our last on earth & knowing He is in control & will always rescue us from evil, as we go about witnessing & prophesying for HIM, Our Only Hope!!! TYJ!!!
So, we need Psalms 91 & then balance it out with Songs of Solomon (SOS) & The Gospel Truth!!! We have LOVE & WAR, Agony & Ecstasy, Flesh &; Spirit, Death & Resurrection!!! So, Happy DAY, as much as possible, with the JOY of Our Free Salvation & strength for the battle fields & the spirit of the mind! We have the Mind of Christ, TY JESUS!!! The Anti-Christ forces will have short dominion world-wide, & it will really be the worst ever, but then JESUS will rescue us & it will be The BEST EVER See ya!!! ivan ebg
     Ps.- send any birthday gifts to Eric B. Goode, PO Box 2207, Tulare, Ca. 93275!!! HA!! ILY,WLY XXOXOXOXOXOXO HUGHUGHUG!!!! If you need prayer or something, please call me at, 559 308 6388! Tks!
NOTE: Eric Goode is an occasional columnist for this paper and is a full time missionary currently serving near the Mexican border in California.


BUILDING OWNER CLAIMS RAW DEAL

     Alma Jarrett, “Peaches” as we call her, has some thoughts on dealing with the state of WV. Let=s get this out in the open right off the bat. Jarrett, @There is no honesty, no honor, and no trust dealing with the State of WV! This should be run like a business. I have been in business for 31 years and wouldn=t want this county or state run like this, or running my business. I would be bankrupt in one month!@
     Here=s the back ground. Jarrett owns the 6000 square foot brick building located just south of Spread Park along the Elk River. She has rented nearly all of the space to the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), a.k.a. the Welfare Department, for over 11 years. During 10 of those years, DHHR paid the same amount of rent ($1688.00 per month) despite taxes tripling and maintenance responsibilities out of her own pocket. After the first 10 year lease, Jarrett signed a two year lease which ends this August 31.
     “Peach” was alerted to a February 27, 2002 classified ad in that little paper over in Clay which said the state was looking for office space, 6000 to 7000 sq. feet, 35 to 40 parking spaces, and the building must meet all building codes. She noticed the address for the solicitation for bid was a town of Clay one. Although no mention was made that the state was wanting new digs for the welfare office, “Peachy” thought something was up-politics!
     Since her building was already rented to the state and without another place to rent out, Jarrett did not submit a bid . Jarrett, A DHHR already had my building leased! Why would I bid on a State Police HDQ or a State Road garage or any other office when I already had it leased? Never once did it say in any paper that it was for DHHR.@
     In the Wednesday, May 15 paper, that little one over in Clay, Clinton Nichols printed that he had secured the lease for the old Rite Aid building despite stiff competition from Clayberry Bank Director Don Moore. On the 16th Jarrett called John Boles with DHHR who told her that the state was not dropping her lease. Several phone calls back to the DHHR and the Governor=s office were made. At one point, she was told, A If we are going to sign any other lease we will let you know!@ Jarrett was asking for the information so she could start looking for another renter. Jarrett, A I did not want to wait until August and then have my building empty forever trying to find a renter for it...@
     On Friday a call from the agency revealed that Nichols had been awarded the multi year lease and DHHR would be out of her building by August 31, 2002. DHHR would not tell her how much Nichols was receiving for the smaller, and without parking space, location on Main Street, Clay.
Needless to say, Ms Jarrett was angry.
     Jarrett responded to the phone with AWhy?@ Response from the boys in Chucktown, AThe deal is done!@
      Jarrett now has concerns for the health of clients using the Rite Aid building since the roof leaks so bad and the last occupant, Manfred Kuentzer commented that his wife had to go to the hospital because there was no ventilation in the building. He thought there was asbestos in the building!
    Jarrett feels that the political deal was actually done over a month ago.
     As far as business-like management by state government, Jarrett questions how the state could justify spending tons more money after already spending so much on the current location. Jarrett explained to the state, A These politics are going to stop in Clay. We are sick of them! Why would you want to move into someone=s building that owes the state, the county, the federal government, and is in foreclosure? It is supposed to be sold in July! Did you sign a lease with him? I don=t understand this!@
Jarrett has received few answers from Boles or District DHHR Director, Virginia Tucker. In closing ,again, Alma Jarrett, A I never got one rent rate increase in ten years!@
     For Jarrett it appears that it=s politics as usual in Clayberry, and she has ended up on the short end of the stick. Of course, with higher rent expected in their Main Street location, maybe it is the taxpayer on the short end of the stick.        
        AW

SEPTIC TANKS AND PRIVY, TOO!

     With the building season in full swing, those building new homes are faced with installing a septic tank system to meet environmental regulations. Ms Morton is responsible for seeing that new systems meet those tough regulations. In an off the cuff conversation with County Sanitarian Teresa Morton May 29, some insight is provided about the process of compliance and the difficulties in applying the regulations across the county.
     Last fall Morton took rental property owner Walter Schoonover to court over raw sewage running out on the ground near property he rented out. Ms Morton commented on both the Schoonover case and the process of applying for a septic tank permit.
Morton,@ In a case like Walter Schoonover, I receive a complaint. I=ll go out and investigate. Run dye through the system.... I can place the home owner on 30 day notice. What I like to do is talk to them first. In this case, Walter didn=t want to return my calls so I wrote him a letter and I put him on 30 day notice. He never responded . I sent him a notice in August and I think it was actually in November that I gave him [30 day notice]. That=s when I went to Magistrate King. King allowed me to file the charges in Magistrate Court. However, Prosecutor Jeff Davis disputed that, the authority that I have to file those kinds of charges, and actually threw that case out.@
     So where does that leave you? Morton,@ I am kind of back to square one with that. Mr. Schoonover still has raw sewage floating on the ground. I have pictures of it at this point in time. I have discussed the matter with Jeff. He says rather than file the charges myself, find a willing deputy or state policeman to do that for me. He said he would find somebody to do that and he hasn=t done it yet.@
     Morton was referring to rental property located on Poker Bill Lane. She went on to say that in every other county that she knew of, county sanitarians are allowed to file charges. Morton@ .. those prosecuting attorneys are a little more knowledgeable about public health law.@
     What does a thirty day notice mean? Ms Morton,@ On paper it tells the homeowner the problem that I found. That it is illegal to be doing what they are doing and that they have 30 days to get it taken care of. There is a penalty.. Chapter 16-1-9 of the WV Code states in part, the presence of sewage or excreted be disposed of in a manner not approved constitutes prima facie evidence of the existence or a condition that endangers public health. Any person violating any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00. Any continuing failure is separate and an additional offense.@
So what has to be done before a septic tank can be installed? Morton,@ The only way that a septic tank can be permitted is if I come out. I receive an application, I do a pre-site inspection, and a final inspection before it is covered up. Except in an emergency case, we have allowed for emergency cases before where I have not been able to be here to do the final inspection, or have been on vacation. I have allowed that a time or two. But, on those, I had done a pre-site on them.@
     And for the ringer... what if a landowner sticks the septic system in and you find out about it after it has been covered up with dirt? After a sigh, again Ms Morton,@ Actually, there is nothing I can do about it at that point in time. If I am told about the situation at the time it occurs, if I can catch them in the act, then they tell me I can .... That can be fined also. What we try to do is talk with them, to work with them, to get it permitted. Most people want to put in a legal system anyway.@
      How do you get a permit? Morton,@ Fill out an application. I have those here and most of the installers have them also.@ The permit application has to be filled out before digging begins. @ I need that information on paper so I can go out and do the >pre-site= to insure that they can put in a standard system.@ There are alternative systems available like aeration or low pressure dosing system.
      The County Sanitarian is responsible for keeping records of the permitting process. In 2002, Morton has performed the following applications:
     Ruby DeMoss, Procious; Jack Hammock, Bomont; Jamela Smith, Maysel; Clay Board of Education, Lizemore Elementary; Arthur W Lewis Jr, Frametown; Oliver Smith, Bomont; Rodney Alshire, Bickmore; Richard and Teresa Drake, Ivydale; Thomas Morris, Dixie; and, Jerry and Arbutus Gould.
     Pending permits include: Herman N. Rogers, Clinic Road; James and Wendy Summers, Summers Fork; William P. Ferrebee, Hansford Fork; Rush Fork Community Church, Ivydale; Reed Partners, past Glen P.O.; and, Clay Parks and Recreation, Maysel.
Septic Permits cost $100.00, water well permits, $50.00, and yes, according to Teresa Morton, there is a permit needed prior to building an outhouse although she has not charged a fee to date on that item.        


CALLS FOR LEVY AT CLAY COUNTY COMMISSION

     Tim Butcher, Jimmy Sams and County Commission President Matthew Bragg met in regular session May 28 at the Courthouse. Around 20 or so watched from the gallery. The following is a brief rundown on the events of the day
Without discussion and without mentioning the current financial dilemma the Clay County Bank is facing, the County Commission (CCC) passed unanimously to have the local bank be the depository of all county funds for the 2002- 2003 fiscal year. Additionally approved,@ the depository bond for the Clay County bank in the amount of $3,000,000.00.”
      CCC accepted the resignation of Barry Curry as E-911 Director for the county. Ex-911 Director Paige Willis was asked to take the spot. Willis,@ No. I am quit.@
      On the agenda was item #11: Commission to make decision on whether to continue the collection of the $25.00 Emergency Ambulance Service fee for fiscal year 2002-2003. Commissioner Sams commented that the fee was only bringing in $30,000.00 a year. Behind the scenes, and since WV EMS took over operation of the bankrupt Clay County Ambulance Service, there has been talk that the ambulance fee could not be considered legal since 911 Dispatch services in Nicholas County calls out providers that do not honor the fee.
     Sams went on to say that he supports a county wide levy to pay for the ambulance operation. Sams,@ We need to look at a levy this fall.@ He went on to comment that even under the management of WV EMS, the emergency service provider was barely hanging on financially.
     From the peanut gallery, Paige Willis asked about making the fee mandatory as was the case four years back. Recently defeated for a second term , Tim Butcher responded,@ Not while my time is left on.@ Butcher appeared in support of a levy and added that a levy should include support for the fire departments. Discussion turned to when a new Ambulance Director would be hired and when WV EMS contract would be done away with. Butcher commented,@ We need BJ=s help.@ Sams suggested that a task force investigation of the ambulance service was coming and maybe after that a new local director would be hired.
     General consensus: it will be hard to pass a levy since most in the county were aware that thousands of dollars had been squandered by the now defunct Ambulance Authority. CCC President Bragg,@ Just explain to the people and let them decide..@
     In a property squabble, CCC voted to have Edith Ferrebee be Executor of the Albert Ferrebee estate. Prosecutor Jeff Davis resigned from that position forcing the CCC to decide on his replacement. As the vote was being taken on Ms Ferrebee, there was a long, quiet drawn out spell when Butcher would not second the Sams motion. Bragg, A Well, looks like it will die for lack of second.... No second?@ Finally Butcher made the second and the motion passed. Several of Mr. Ferrebee=s children were present for the event.
     Now back to the $25.00 fee issue. With Prosecutor Davis present, questions were asked of the legal counsel. Butcher asked about potential problems down the road if Jan Care picks up someone in this county that had paid the $25.00 fee and Jan Care refused to honor the commitment for a free ride? Davis, admitting that he had not studied the fee agreement, volunteered on the matter of Jan Care or General Ambulance providing the service, A That changes the scheme of things@ He went on to mention that the WV Supreme Court ruled on the matter several years back and said the fee was legal since it was for all in the Ageographical area@. Davis, A It=s a problem I think.@
     Sams, AI don=t think we can continue with it.@ Light discussion followed on the history of the $25.00 fee from its days of being mandatory and collecting in the thousands of dollars a year. No mention was made of the final years of the mandatory fee when over 50% of the county staged a mutiny and refused to pay the thing. Sams, A We know why they quit paying it!@
From the back came an interesting commentary. Something about if Medicaid found out that patients could ride free after paying the $25.00, and the county was still charging Medicaid big invoices.......
     And yes, the Punkineers were back! Team Postelwait and Coon reminded the CCC that Clay Roane PSD Boardster Lefty Summers had not attended mandatory PSD training and the group asked that Summers be removed. The CCC squirmed. After 10 minutes of bantering that included Summers had missed several opportunities for the training, referring to the number of times the Punkineers had been to Commission meetings, Butcher,@ I=ve heard that same dog barking before.. If he takes the class, he=ll stay on the board..@ Sams promised the delegation: IF Summers does not take the next training class, @We=ll get a new board member.@
No decision made on the fee and it will be added to the next regular meeting=s agenda on June 11, 2002. CCC stayed in continued session until June 4 when they will hold a Robert Jones Estate hearing. No replacement for Barry Curry either.
Meeting adjourned around 11:10 am.
AW



CHATTER
To the Communicator,
     Read your article on the Pleasant Hill Church paving. Beautiful road, nice, smooth even! Great job Mr. Sutton!
To the parishioner who told around Wallback that the offending marker was placed in the middle of their parking lot - you=re a lying sack of manure!
Mr. Schoonover, who refused to do the dedication, and with help pulled out the offending (to his eye) marker: are the Ten Commandments also offending? A man who honors his father and mother is in keeping of the commandment of God! I find your behavior offending, not only to my ears, but eyes as well! Pray that God will not find you as offending to Him as the marker was to you.
    Sue Getz, Wallback

TOWN AVERTS $5000 FINE

    Clay Town Council met in special session Tuesday, May 28 at 4 PM. The purpose of the meeting was to sign a water purchase agreement with Clay Roane PSD. Long time readers remember that such an agreement was ironed out with Clay Roane PSD back in December 2001. That earlier agreement was tossed out by the WV Public Service Commission.
      Around the conference table sat Mayor “King” Arthur Jarrett, recorder Betty Murphy, and council persons Wanda Chambers, Dave Derby, Sally Legg, Okey Burroughs, and Helen Morris. Also in attendance was PSD Boardsters Garrett Samples and Gary Whaling.
     Mayor Jarrett made Council aware that the PSC had sent him a letter recently that stated: Failure to submit an executed contract as ordered by the Commission [PSC] justifies a finding that the refusal of the Town of Clay to submit the executed contract is a practice under WV Code 24-2-7 that is in violation of Chapter 24 of the WV code and subject to a $5000 civil penalty under WV Code 24-4-5.
     Referring to the December 2001 agreement, the April 24 PSC letter went on to say: Staff recommends an order be entered finding 1) that the proposed contract of the Town of Clay to provide water to Clay Roane PSD to be an unjust, unreasonable, and insufficient practice; 2) that the contract as modified by Staff=s recommendation is just, reasonable, and sufficient, and ordering that if an executed contract is not received within 15 days of the date of this order a hearing will be set for the Town of Clay to show cause, if any it can, why a civil penalty of $5000.00 should not be assessed.
For council, their backs were against the wall. Currently, council does not have legal representation.
     With a motion by Dave Derby and a second by Chambers, the motion to provide water service to Roane County was passed unanimously. Council signed the PSC inspired and written document.
     Here=s the interesting part - PSD members Whaling and Garrett penned on the dotted line as well. Hmmmmmmmm... That=s a decision by a Board, done without notifying the public, and done without calling a meeting.
Well, after Council=s meeting ended at 4:24 pm, fellow PSD Boardster Lefty Summers showed up , making a quorum, and he, too, signed the agreement.
The only question that remains is, if someone challenged the agreement in a Court of Law, would it stand the muster?                   AW


BOB CLARKE Curmudgeon=s Corner

Emma Lazarus (1849-87) was a young Jewish girl from New York who published five volumes of poetry and translations from 1866. Although scholars of her time praised her work, Lazarus= poetry has pretty much been buried in oblivion, except for one passage indelibly inscribed on the American consciousness -
Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore
Send these, the hopeless tempest - tossed to me
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
These noble, heart-lifting sentiments are, of course, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, but the question occasionally arises: has this country always lived up to such a sublime standard? The answer to this complex question is affirmative, given the short span of American history, but there are dark moments in our not-always-so-grand tapestry.
      A few years ago when the Soviet Union, the AEvil Empire@, a phrase for which Ronald Reagan was credited, but which he actually appropriated from George Lucas= AStar Wars@ movie, a young Russian sailor jumped from his ship in New York Harbor on to an American vessel. His motive was obviously to defect, to seek sanctuary in the welcoming arms of the Aland of the free@. He was sent posthaste back to the tender bosom of Mother Russia. It is irresistible to speculate that if this young man had been a concert violinist, a famous neurosurgeon, a star in the Bolshoi Ballet, an important artist of any stripe, his Awelcome@ would have been somewhat different - and permanent.
     One prominent example of this double standard is Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who came to this country for a few years, was set up by the U.S. government, and while living in baronial splendor, spent part of his time writing scathing essays airing his view that the American people were essentially immoral, selfish and cowardly. Despite his undoubted genius, Solzhenitsyn=s return to Russia is a loss the United States can happily bear.
     The end of World War II marked the beginning of the space race. It was a time when the burning question in this country was: AAre our German scientists better than their (Russia) German scientists?@ A major contributor to our advances in rocketry was the loathsome Dr. Werner von Braun, an ex-Nazi who was in charge of Hitler=s V-2 program. These are the flying bombs that wrought havoc on many of the British Isle=s major cities, killing hundreds of thousands of citizens. One of the more charming features of this weapon was, that once it was launched, von Braun and his fellow scientists had no further control over its ultimate destination. The question of military targets was irrelevant: the Germans didn=t know where the bombs would come down.
     Von Braun spent his last decades in the United States, enormously rich and constantly celebrated by the government, and the scientific community. As the old cliche has it, AIf you=re going to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs.@ However, the old Nazi did have a few detractors. One of them was a satirist/songwriter named Tom Lehrer. One of his most savage observations about the so-called apolitical rocketeer reads as follows:
...Some have harsh words for
this man of renown.
But I think their attitude
Should be one of gratitude.
Like the widows and cripples
of old London Town
Who owe their large pensions
to Werner von Braun
     It is possible, even at this late date, to find older English people who refuse to buy German products, and the senior citizens of such cities as London, South Hampton, Plymouth, and Coventry have a special place in their hall of shame for the odious von Braun, who, though the all-too-practical generosity of the United States government escaped the war crimes trials at Nuremberg, which should have marked his rightful place in history.
     However, to echo Tom Lehrer=s irony, it was people such as Dr. Werner von Braun who helped our government spend untold billions of our money to put some clown on the moon so that he could practice his golf shots.
With malice aforethought, Cur.


School Board Meets at CCHS

     Clay County Board of Education members R. B. Legg Jr., Gene King, Fran King, Scott Legg, and David Pierson Jr. met for their regular meeting Monday, May 20, in the Clay County High School (CCHS) library.
Board President R. B. Legg offered prayer and called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM. Before approving the agenda Legg told the others he=d like to table an item, the transfer of a Nicholas County student to CCHS for the 2002-2003 school year, until the next meeting. Legg then congratulated recently re-elected board members Fran King, David Pierson, and Scott Legg.
      Board approved a Procurement Policy, copies of which were provided to them for review during their previous meeting. Little discussion on the policy then, or during this meeting, only that it was lengthy and would make the auditors happy.
The following employee transfers were approved: Mildred Bullard to part time Cook II at Clay Elementary (Kathy Legg=s previous job), successful bid; and, Joyce Lewis to Clay Middle School (CMS) as FACS      Teacher (Tina Burnett=s previous job).
     Employment for the following was approved: Loretta Triplett as Cook II at Valley Fork Elementary (Mildred Bullard=s previous job), successful bid; Tina Lennox Witt as BD Teacher at CMS (Brian Collin=s previous job). Witt just graduated from the University of Charleston; workers for Camp Mustang, June 17 - 21 at CMS: camp director - Tina Burnette; camp parent counselor - Anissa Hamrick; student counselors - Corey Douglas, Jared Fitzwater, Crystal Curtis, Katie Walker, Evan Updegrave, Jessica Ramsey, and Justin Holcomb; student junior counselors - Julie Linkinogger and Austin Mitchell; teachers - Chasity Dawson, Dawn Mullins, Dee Murphy, Phillip Dobbins, Brian Collins, Scott Gibson, Mitzi Stephenson, Doug Wayne, Nancy Updegrave, Larry Gillespie, Kate Claytor, Nada Waddell, T. G. Griffith, Carl Holcomb, Bev Nichols, Mike Smith, Rhonda Barber, Joyce Legg, Joyce White, and Joan Haynie.
     The price of an adult school lunch will raise to $2.75 (from $2.50). Superintendent Jerry Linkinogger explained that the increase was recommended by Food Services as the cost to prepare a lunch is $2.71 including labor. He said the county labor cost was high when compared to a larger county such as Kanawha, as Clay serves fewer students. But he pointed out that Kanawha spends a large amount on plastic disposable trays and utensils - all thrown away. Clay cooks not only wash trays and utensils, they also bake and cook on site. In Kanawha food is brought in once a week. Linkinogger also noted that preparation costs have actually decreased since 2000 when Clay joined with other counties to bid on supplies.
     Item 10 on the agenda was tabled, as suggested. All motions passed unanimously.
Superintendent Linkinogger suggested a letter to State Superintendent David Stewart concerning the Stanford 9 testing schedule. He said this year testing was scheduled the day following the change to Daylight Savings time and recommended that the Board ask for that to be changed. Linkinogger will prepare a letter for next meeting.
     Clay will receive another School Building Authority (SBA) grant. The one time federal grant will provide $27,000 for computers for special education and MI students.
Linkinogger told the Board that the Clay Fitness Center director had taken a 40 hour job in Charleston. He said she was doing the books and putting the work (at the fitness center) out to bid. Currently her husband has been running the facility. Linkinogger asked for and received permission to advertise the position as the current contract ends August 1.
     The Board then met with the CCHS Local School Improvement Council (LSIC). CCHS Principal Cindy Willis introduced the LSIC members and thanked the Board for their efforts in making positive improvements at CCHS including the new roof, cafeteria chairs and equipment, replacement batteries for 2-way radios, a sample bathroom stall, security system (cameras, monitors, and burglar alarm), Easy caller system, cell phone for trips, and science lab tables and chairs.
     LSIC recommendations for the Board to consider for CCHS in 2002-2003 were: Expanded security system, locker refurbishing, motorized projection screen in the gymnasium, graffiti-free paint for the girl=s bathrooms, additional stalls for boys bathrooms, additional science lab (tables, chairs, and demonstration table), buy site license for test preparation software (to help students prepare for tests such as the ACT), additional 2-way radios, and an auxiliary gym-metal building. Willis told the Board that all but one of the recommendations were reasonable, referring to the auxiliary building, which she called Athe dream@, but said, A...you never know when a grant may come along...@ Willis said the extra gym building was needed so the kids wouldn=t have to stay until 10:00 PM to have practice time.
     Board member David Pierson received a surprise award from CCHS students thanking him for his outstanding support of the school (removing snow from the school parking lot, responding to the burglar alarm in the middle of the night, etc.), and especially for saving Prom 2001-2002 from immanent disaster due to the power outage.
     R. B. Legg announced that this was the last board meeting for Special Education Director Dixie Jarvis, and that she would be greatly missed. Jarvis announced her retirement earlier this year.
     Meeting adjourned at 6:35 PM. National Honor Society Banquet to start at 7. Next regular meeting Monday, June 3, at the administrative office in Clay.        TK


CAN TOURISM SAVE WV?

By Don Greene
        Can tourism save WV? I think that is a fair question. I also feel that is easily answered in the affirmative. Tourism is already providing more jobs and more payroll dollars than most of our traditional employers. Tourism can easily be self-sustaining. It does not need a multitude of government offices and employees for it to prosper and thrive.
        Is our government capable of developing and promoting tourism? The answer sadly is negative. Our government has shown no ability to develop any sort of new jobs that don't require millions of taxpayer dollars to initiate and sustain. Heck, even the person assigned to tourism within the WVDO is handling it as a back burner to the chemical industry.
        The best future for WV would be a picture of developing tourist attractions that draw people to the state, take their dollars, and turn those dollars into payroll dollars within this state. But first we will have to storm the fort of political patronage and backbreaking bureaucracy. Already the “patronage pigs” have begun to slop at the trough of state and federal funding for tourism. Our marvelous bureaucrats have already begun to build their wheel spinning, paper generating, do nothing Tower of Babble, to assure that we continue to have lots of talking and very little walking.
        If our only goal is going to be to create a couple of patronage jobs in each county and some more wide loads taking up desk space in the Capitol complex, then we can continue along those lines. However, if we desire to really create jobs, generate payroll dollars, and create dozens of new small businesses in most of the counties we have to change the way we do business.
        Nearly every county has its own strong points to play up. Some tourism activities can be created just about anywhere. Campgrounds, with biking, canoeing, hiking and such, can be developed almost anywhere in WV. Historic attractions can be developed in every county. All of these would be privately owned, for profit small businesses, not grant sucking, patronage job providing, political playhouses like we struggle with now.
        Tourism can be the perfect avenue for small, rural counties like Clay and Mason to move into a better future. I am sure that both our counties can stand to create a few dozen new businesses with a couple hundred new jobs. I am also sure than we would like to see businesses in our counties that don't rape the environment or require living on your knees.
        The nice thing about tourism is that there is room for everyone from the golfer to the mountain biker. With the proper development and promotion WV could be the tourism center of the eastern United States.


STUMBLER OF THE WEEK

     It=s Saturday night, May 18. It=s been a long week, time to get out of the house and listen to some home grown bluegrass and country tunes at the Newton Community Center. The masses enter, the music is loud and good, all are tapping their feet to the beat. Sound like a great time?
     Around 6:30 pm with the center already packed, Diana Nottingham Liddy walks in with friends carrying a small bottle of cold water and finds a seat. Another in her circle brought in a cup of coffee. The mood changed real quick. Tension could be felt in the place. As Ms Liddy was dancing to a number, Juanita Linger, working in the kitchen, goes out the side door and asks a young couple to call the cops. Within 20 minutes Trooper Starcher comes in and heads for the kitchen area. Mouths gapped open.
     Ms Linger gets on the PA system. The place goes quiet. Linger informs the music lovers that the Newton Community Center receives no government dollars and the place operates solely on concession sales. She went on to say that she put a sign in the window last week and there is one woman here Athat doesn=t listen@ and that woman called me a B*#!!! last week and AThat=s why the officer is here!@ Linger was talking about Diane Liddy. Oh Boy!!!!!!!!!
As for the hot pink Linger sign, the wording read:.... Food will be sold 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Pop, water, Coffee 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm. DO NOT bring food or drinks here! We stay open and pay our bills by having our kitchen open. IF YOU DO NOT DONATE TO THE BUILDING AND BANDS PLEASE TAKE UP SPACE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
     Startled by the choice words from Newton Community Center Board member Juanita Linger, Ms Liddy responds with: I don=t like being singled out of a crowd ( others had brought in pop and water), I am not hurting anybody, and A I did NOT call you a B*##*, YOU CALLED ME THAT!!@
     Now keep in mind readers, we=re not talking about beer, wine, drugs, or anything of the like. One lady is about to be tossed out of the crowd of 100 or so, for bringing in water.
Trooper Starcher goes into action and tells Liddy she has to leave the building. Liddy, A Why?@ Starcher tells her that if Linger is in charge of the place, A You have to leave.@ Liddy,@ You=ll get no argument out of me,@ as she left. Here=s the cute part. As Liddy left, so did the crowd! In the parking lot came hugs and comments about Liddy standing up to Linger. The Newton Center was nearly empty.
     Starcher,@ Who owns this building?@ From the crowd, a man retorts, A The community owns it!@ Tpr. Starcher, responding to questions from several now standing in the paved lot, commented that something could be done about this and that something was to get Linger off the board.
     Liddy and many of her supporters loaded up and headed to the Frametown Bluegrass Show where they were greeted openly. And yes , they did bring in their water! Interesting note. One of those that walked out in support was Dorma Connelly who recently resigned as president of the Newton Community Center Board of Directors.
      Ms Liddy commented , after the Linger incident,@ I don=t drink and I don=t carry on.... I was singled out and it is not fair to be treated like that. She thinks she owns the place.@ Since the Atossing of patrons@, and according to Liddy, Juanita Linger has called up many of the folks that walked out in support of Liddy and told them they would not be allowed back in the Community Building! Liddy has been banned from the center.
Whether the Newton facility has received tax dollars in the past is unclear at this point. There is little doubt, however, that the actions of Juanita Linger were extreme and those actions will certainly affect future concession receipts.
A petition is currently being circulated to remove Linger from the Board.   AW


The Chafin Report by Jim Chafin
A Massive Conflict of Interest?!!


     No other segment of American society has been able to so completely saturate our system of jurisprudence as have the lawyer profession. They are at every level of government, from the White House to the court house. Their input into legislation and its administration is clearly seen and felt by the American public. Proportionately large representations on legislative bodies, boards, commissions, and other rule making entities constitute a threat to the separation of powers as delineated by our Constitution. The homosapien species, generally lacking in sensitivity to the woes of his neighbors is especially calloused to injury and pain unless he/she is directly culpable to the fires of wrath that engulfs others. That is to say that, not feeling pain or economic loss, individuals fail to grasp the sense of urgency so much needed in times of duress. And lawyers are no less bound by the same characteristics. Not that there are not honest and dedicated attorneys working to improve the system - but the fact remains that each legal practitioner must follow the rules, and often times those Arules@ are constructed to enhance the bottom line of groups or individuals without regard to the needs of less informed folks. Court procedures give a distinct advantage to those schooled in the law as opposed to someone who has no choice but to represent himself in the jurisdiction of a court. The snares that await the poor soul who seeks to represent himself in today=s Admiralty court are endless, and constitute an impediment to Aequal justice under the law@ provisions of the Constitution. One would never know, for example, that the Seventh Amendment (trial by jury in civil cases) has been made null and void by court rules that require a petitioner to prove his case to a magistrate court (in federal cases) BEFORE presenting it to a jury. This effectively denies the right of trial by jury under the common law. This denies access to a jury of one=s peers and is a violation of the Seventh Amendment.
     We=re hearing a lot these days about the public=s right to know under the Freedom of Information Act. This Act, with certain limited exclusions, is there for any person who wants to gain access to the workings of government in the conduct of public business. The citizen is not required to provide his/her name, nor the reason for the request; but some court decisions have been rendered that places the right in jeopardy, - adding a Aneed to know@ qualification. That=s a violation of law, but is being done by a government agency, thereby necessitating employment of an attorney and all the exorbitant costs inherent thereto. In a recent article by Paul J. Nyden, in the Charleston Gazette, we find some lawyers making big bucks by aiding government agencies in their denial of requests for public information. Mr. Nyden found that since July 1, 1999, Charleston attorneys Bowls, Rice has billed the public Port Authority more than $290,000 for legal work - a dang good chair to be sitting in, it seems to me.
     Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper, himself an attorney, asked the Port Authority for various documents on November 28, 2001. The legal fees are sure to go even higher because Carper sent another request on January 24 of this year.

Editor=s Note: This is the third installment of AA Massive Conflict of Interest?!!@


Kay=s Cooking Corner
Quick & Easy Diabetic Recipes

Roast Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary
Total Servings: 8 Serving Size: 2 oz
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 2 lbs. Pork tenderloin
1) Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the rosemary sprigs between the two parts of the tenderloin. Wrap the tenderloin in aluminum foil and place in a small baking pan. Roast for about one hour, or until the internal temperature of the meat is 165F.
2) Carefully remove the foil and allow the meat to roast uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Remove the rosemary sprigs, slice, and serve.
Exchanges:
Lean Meat...2 Calories...107 Total Fat...3g
Calories from fat...27 Cholesterol...60mg
Sodium...40mg Carbohydrate...0g
Dietary Fiber...0g Protein...11g
Did you know rosemary is a small, tender, evergreen scrub? In fact, it is sometimes sold in pots during the holiday season to be used as miniature Christmas trees. It=s good in chicken, fish, and pasta dishes.

Red Onion Potato Salad
Total servings: 6 Serving size: 1/6 recipe
6 medium red or white potatoes (about 3 3/4 lbs. total)
peeled, cooked, and sliced
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/3 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup low-calorie Italian dressing
3 Tbsp. wine vinegar
Dash Cayenne pepper
1) In a large bowl, combine the still hot cooked potatoes with the remaining ingredients. This will allow the potatoes to marinate in the dressing.
2) Refrigerate the mixture for several hours or overnight, so that it chills as it marinates. (Chilling the hot potatoes while they marinate brings out their full flavor.) Serve cold.
Exchanges:
Starch...3 Calories...221 Total Fat...1g
Saturated Fat...0g Calories from fat...12
Cholesterol...1mg Sodium...304mg
Carbohydrate...49g Dietary Fiber...5g
Sugars...7g Protein...5g
Think about it: people with diabetes first need to acquire basic, well rounded knowledge in nutrition. Then, by trying different foods and measuring blood sugar levels before and after meals, people can learn what works best for them.
Hope you have enjoyed my recipes for this issue. Remember what I=ve state before in my articles: It=s easy to cook for those you love. This makes perfect sense because cooking good-for-us recipes is the best way to be good to ourselves and those we love!
        Until next time…
      Kay Kish


WORK4WV

     Now accepting applications for fall semesters!
There is a little known AWorkforce Investment Act@ program in our region. The AWorkforce Investment Act of 1998" is a program that was developed by congress to help people find jobs. I want to emphasize HELP. Our unemployed citizens will get as much out of this program as they are willing to dedicate to it.
The WORK4WV Career Centers coordinate a variety of state agency and local service organization offices in a single, convenient location. The WORK4WV Career Centers provide a single access point for career services, job search assistance and other employment related services. Additional services are made available at the centers through the use of electronic linkages via the Internet.
The W4WV program in our region is a Community Resources Inc. project in collaboration with the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Region IV. The Region IV WIB includes the following counties: Calhoun, Clay, Roane, Wirt, Wood, Ritchie, Pleasants, Mason, and Jackson. It is composed of Region IV business, community and government leaders that are interested in providing training to individuals in order for them to achieve a job skill level that will enable them to secure a job that provides a Aself sustaining wage@.
Please be advised that this is NOT an entitlement program.
     This program provides two types of service - ACore@ and AIntensive@.
Core Services - There is universal access to Core Service, that is, these services are available to any community member that walks in the door. Core Services include:
1. Job Service registration (on-line)
2. Help filling out job applications
3. Internet access to job seeking web sites
4. Help writing a resume
5. Help writing a cover letter
6. We can direct clients to job seeking methods (America=s Job Bank)
7. Help with interview skills
8. Basic skills testing (math & reading)
9. Career/Job exploration
10. Local market information
11. We can also refer clients to basic training opportunities such as remediation for math or reading skills; obtaining their GED; refresher typing skills.
Intensive Services - If after a thorough and dedicated job search, and self-assessment the client still hasn=t found a job that provides a Aself sustaining wage@ they may be eligible for Intensive Services. They may participate in the Intensive program if they meet the WIB eligibility requirements AND W4WV staff finds that Intensive Services are suitable to their needs.
Eligibility: In order to meet eligibility requirements for intensive services at least one of the following must be true:
1. The client has been laid off from work through no fault of their own
2. The client receives food stamps
3. The client receives ATemporary Assistance to Needy Families@ monthly check from DHHR
4. The client=s total household income is less than 100% of poverty level
Certification: When they come in to be certified we will need to verify the following documents:
1. Social Security cards (for everyone in household)
2. Birth certificate
3. Driver=s license
4. Proof of address
5. Unemployment letter or last 6 months of pay stubs or Food Stamp stub.
Suitability: The case manager will determine suitability based on:
1. Any potential barriers to training or employment.
2. High school diploma or GED.
3. Completion of soft skills training.
4. He/she will evaluate commitment by evaluating how appointments were kept and attendance for any training opportunities the client may have participated in.
5. He/she will evaluate proposed training track for compatibility between the client and the program of instruction.
If the client is deemed eligible for Intensive Services, the client and the case manager will discuss one of the following career tracks:
     Department of Rehabilitation Services Tract: If the client has a disability they may choose to be referred to the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) for Intensive Services. The DRS staff are highly trained professionals that can assess conditions that may pose barriers to the client finding employment, they are the best equipped and have copious experience in handling these situations. The DRS tract offers academic training as well as on-the-job training opportunities.
     Academic Tract: If the client is interested in a job that requires a particular skill and in order for them to attain that skill they must attend an advanced vocational school or college, W4WV program may be able to arrange for assistance from the WIB for them to obtain the required training. They may decide to sign up for a training course at one of our participating provider sites. We may be able to provide up to two years of training with up to $4000 per year; if the course they are taking has special supplies that they need to buy to complete the course they may receive an additional $1000.
      On the Job Training (OJT): If the client is more of a Ahands on@ type of person, our OJT program may be the tract for them. The Region IV WIB has contracted with the Human Resources Development Foundation (HRDF) to provide training opportunities in which the client actually goes and interviews for a job in which they are interested in. If the employer chooses to train the client, they will begin working immediately and receive a salary commensurate with the skill they are attempting to learn. If the client is interested in this type of training we will evaluate available OJT training opportunities and refer them to the HRDF representative for placement. The rate of pay varies with the job. If there is no job opportunity in the field in which they are interested in the HRDF representative may be able to develop one for them.
      Passport to Success: If the client is between the ages of 16 and 21 there is one more training opportunity they may decide to participate in - the Passport to Success program, also administered by HRDF. They may receive paid and unpaid work activities related to their academic/career goals; education, employment, and training services to connect them to learning work, and support services; support and assistance in building their strengths; an opportunity for advanced apprenticeship, technical school and post-secondary programs; a wide range of local, regional, state, and national resources. Types of support services they may receive include:
1. Employment transportation assistance.
2. Clothing and equipment (up to $200).
3. Childcare
4. Tutoring
5. Counseling and guidance.
6. Family support services.
7. Follow-up services.
For more information please call one of our case managers for an appointment at one of our offices:
Tony Richards, Case Manager -
Clay 587-4703, Roane 927-4632, Wood 420-4531
Nancy Engelke, Case Manager -
Calhoun 354-9265, Wirt 275-4306, Wood 420-4531