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MARCH 2003 NEWS

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March 31 am Did you notice Saturday evening and all day Sunday, the weather casters were saying stuff like, a chance of snow showers.... a light dusting... no accumulations? For our around the world clickers, Clayberry had bunches of snow Sunday morning. On Mountain tops, 4 inches or more was the norm.
March 31 am Don't let the "snow dusting" fool you. The Smokey the Bear sign in front of the Health Dept. building says fire conditions are "High". Be careful with those brush fires!
March 31 am Just a reminder, the Spring Jury Indictments are still posted on the ADVISORY page, this site, at the bottom
March 31 am The first week of each month is always a busy time for public meetings. On Tuesday Clay Town Council meets in regular session at 4pm. Also on Tuesday, Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) meets first at 4 pm with the full Board meeting at 6 pm.
March 31 am Even with snow blowing around now, Little League Baseball practice starts this week. Get those kids off the couch and outdoors.
March 31 am For those that burn CDs... Circuit City on Corridor G has spindles of 100, 80 minute CDs for under bucks after rebate. Sunday evening it looked like they had about 8 spindles left for sale. Might be worth a trip down there.
March 30 Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. It sure don't feel like Spring
March 30 am The Neal Family is featured on Clay FM's Gospel programming today
March 30 am How about a nice sit down? Table cloth, real napkins, candles. Try brunch today at Town and Country Diner on Main Street.
March 30 am In the way of a brief weekend wrap up.....
March 30 am More bodies, more blood in Iraq this past week as military operations slowed to a crawl as our forces met stiff resistance. WV's Jessica Lynch is still missing in action. One national poll this week reported that 63% of American's want to see the TV war coverage as long as no blood and guts are shown. Adding fuel to the anti war protesters fire, announced this week, Dick Cheney's Haliburton Co will get the contract to put out Iraq oil fires and rebuild the oil field operations. Was there any doubt?
March 30 am As for the Crud Missile launchers ( cherry bomb blew up a bathroom john last week at Clay Middle), the kids have been suspended.
March 30 am Peggy DeBoard is not a free woman yet but her welfare fraud trial was declared a mistrial as Juror Eric Pierson was arrested and sent off to jail ($10,000 bond could not be met) Thursday for talking to the defendant. Charges: Contempt of Court and Obstruction of justice.
March 30 am As far as the performance of Prosecutor Grindo in the DeBoard trial, ahhhh, not too good. Had Pierson not got caught, consensus from the peanut gallery, DeBoard would have walked! On the plus side, Grindo sought and got 27 Grand Jury " true bills" . A record in recent times! With indictments in hand, now to get them behind bars!
March 30 am Incumbent Mayor Arthur Jarrett stared handing out campaign ball caps this week. Town election will be in June.
March 30 am Another water leak in the Newton area rendering many waterless AGAIN.
March 30 am As far those in need of water in the Amma Left Hand water line extension area, you have good news, thanks to new Clay Roane PSD Boardster Larry White who collected several more Rights of Way agreements, your much delayed, 6 years, extension project can go to bid very very soon!
March 30 am On the front page of the latest Communicator is a picture of new green sign out on I 79 reading " Home of Three Schools of Excellence". Three days ago, that sign was swiped!
March 30 am On a lighter note, warm temps an lots of sunshine brought out colorful blooms and blossoms around the county. Spring is finally, almost here.
March 29 pm Rose Ann Taylor see FUNERAL page
March 29 pm Lee W Rhodes see FUNERAL page
March 29 am Finally the weekend is here. Don't forget, this is the last day to sign up those little curtain climbers for Little League. Head over to Dundon Field before 3 pm today
March 29 am After our Feb. ice storm, several came to a Clay County Commission meeting with performance complaints on our part time ( $1500 a month) , 911 Director, Dave King. According to the amassed, King spent his time working his full time job in Nicholas County leaving us in the lurch. Emergency service folks in Nicholas County, where Mr. King is the full time 911 Director, asked that King be fired. Summersville Fire Chief Gregory Boso put it in writing for the Nicholas County Commission. That letter can be found on our ADVISORY page, this site.
March 29 am Need a place to live, check out our CLASSIFIED page now
March 29 am Finally, lets get to the Clay Roane PSD meeting held Thursday March 27th. Is there a fourth rate increase coming? Well, they even had a WV Public Service Commission rate analyst there to explain an increase... BUT it now appears that the local water provider will try to make cuts and NOT take another rate increase for now. They voted to cut back on overtime. Here's a hmmmm... In an attempt to cut costs, the PSD hired a full time, $7 per hour, plus benefits, secretary. Now that's the way to cut costs.
March 29 am Remember during the last PSD meeting, worker Matt Mullins raised a sexual harassment complaint against Sherry Deems? This time, PSD Chair Postelwait wanted Mullins fired. Didn't work. Even those in the peanut gallery saw what was going on. Mullins remains.
March 29 am Over the last several months, the monkey has been on the back of water operator Jennifer Traub over things like poor record keeping, questionable purchases, running around with no vehicle insurance on the PSD truck, etc. After remaining quiet for ages and ages, Jennifer opened up and took no gruff. She fought back the attempts to oust her. Oh, we reported last week, the PSD was operating without ANY kind of insurance. According Boardster Gary Whaling, the PSD once again has insurance WHEN they pay off an old debt to the WV Board of Risk. Yelp, an old debt!
March 29 am One other thing from the Clay Roane PSD meeting. Back three months ago Clay Roane took over Queen Shoals PSD maintenance and operations. Clay Roane thought the money would start flowing in from Queen customers to Clay Roane. During this meeting, the PSD was informed by Commissioners Triplett and Sams, they DO NOT get financial control of Queen Shoals and the Queen Shoals Board of Directors will remain in control of that end of the county. The Clay Roane PSD Chair went ballistic with the new information and vowed, if Queen Shoals has control of the finances, Clay Roane will give it back to them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Few on the Board realized, the giving back of Queen Shoals would be the best thing that could happen to CLay Roane!
March 29 am Sounds all screwed up?
March 29 am It is!
March 29 am And as we find out those Iraqi folks are much tougher than our leaders ever imagined, this from France...... The French Government announced today that it is imposing a ban on the use of fireworks at Euro Disney. The decision comes the day after a nightly fireworks display at the park, located just 30 miles outside of Paris, caused soldiers at a nearby French Army garrison to surrender to a group of Czech tourists.
March 28 pm As far as making bail, as far as we can tell, Eric Pierson remains in jail. According to the Magistrates office and as of 4 pm today, there is no paperwork there.
March 28 pm Somewhere in the middle of the Peggy DeBoard welfare fraud trail Wed. mention was made by Prosecutor Grindo that the case was prepared by a previous Prosecutor and he, Grindo, inherited the job and the two charges against DeBoard.
March 28 pm Seems those brief words reached that previous Prosecutor, Barbara Schamberger. Schamb has now gone on record with quotes," It was a solid case in my opinion.... The discovery was so good because one of the best investigators in the state, Robert Lane worked this." As for Grindo not ready for court, again Scamb, "... I am sorry he didn't call for my assistance... I called and volunteered my assistance... I am disappointed.."
March 28 pm And now some bad news for those that hate to cut grass. Two Run resident Paige Willis was seen cutting his yard Thursday morning. It's over fellows. The only way you may be able to get out of cutting that shaggy lawn is to say ," But honey, the lawn mower is broke." Or maybe, " Honey with the cost of gas, we can't afford the cut the grass." God luck fellows. When you're out there sweating it, blame Willis for starting the season off waaaaay too early this year.
March 28 pm There has been some progress in the Punkin Ridge water line extension project. to see the latest from the WV Publuc Service Commission web site, click ENGINEER HILDRUTH HIRED
March 28 am Yesterday was a bad day for Eric Pierson. Read below (in green) for the action. In the way of an update, around noon Thursday, Magistrates King and Boggs reported that the guy that let his fingers do the talking, had not come before them. Word at the Main Courthouse came that Eric was having trouble making bail, something about his Dad coming in to post property bond only to find the property was in the Mother's name. Word we got: Eric Pierson was sent off to jail!
March 28 am We'll give full postings last night's Clay Roane PSD meeting later this evening. According to new Boardster Larry White, a rate increase can be averted.
March 28 am Near the end of last night's Clay County Solid Waste Authority meeting, Chair Kelly Fulkerson resigned. As the meeting ended, Chair Fulkerson and LeWanda Whaling flung some pretty hot words back and forth. Something is up in the background. Again details after we get some sleep
March 28 am Be sure to listen in to Clay FM All WV programming today. In addition to some brand new traditional stuff from Pocahantas County native Dwight Diller and WV blues man Nat Reese, we've got a locally made 45 second tune called "Barbara Don't Burn your Bridges Down". Of course the song is about the lady suing our County Commission, Barbara Schamberger. The tune plays once during each 4 hour loop. Enjoy
March 27 pm Raise your hand if you've served on jury. Do you remember when the judge ordered you to keep your trap shut before deliberating? Remember when he said not to read a newspaper, don't talk about the case to even fellow jurors, to keep an open mind? Did you pay attention to the instructions? Read on to find out why paying attention to a Judge is very important.
March 27 pm A thin, sandy headed, clean shaven Juror, Eric Pierson, did not listen!
March 27 pm This morning around 9:05, Judge Jack Alsop declared the Peggy DeBoard welfare fraud trial a mistrial! According to Alsop, a Mr. Pierson phoned DeBoard with case information. Alsop was real peeeeeeeeeeed and ordered the Sheriff to "Take Pierson before a Magistrate for criminal proceedings.." and after investigation charge him with Obstruction of Justice and Contempt of Court. Alsop, "WHAT YOU DID WAS WRONG!" Did we mention the Judge was peeeeeed?
March 27 pm Here's the kicker clickers. It appears that Peggy DeBoard was about to win and walk out of the Courtroom a free woman! Prosecutor Grindo never produced a witness that would say Mitch DeBoard, Peggy's ex, ever stayed at the house. We also understand that not ONE subpoena was served by the Prosecutor.
March 27 pm Here's a cutey.... Yesterday at lunch, one time Mayor Joyce Gibson was reading the latest edition of the Communicator over lunch in the Henry Clay Hotel. When that fat arss ace cub reporter from the Communicator entered for lunch, Gibson quietly and quickly laid the paper down beside her in the booth. Without even waiting for her lunch time companion, Gibson exited without taking the paper! Like they say, no one reads that raunchy wipe sheet!
March 27 pm In the Barbara Schamberger vs Clay County Commission case, April 16 at 2 pm has been set as a pretrial court date. Mark it on your calendar, this one could be good!
March 27 pm The crime spree continues. Last weekend thugs broke into Clay Elem. and took a bunch of stuff like 'puters, video cameras, guitars. Deputy Miles Slack is investigating. Sheriff Fields said on the 26th, some of the goods had been found
March 27 pm Want to get rid of those crumb grabbers? Last day for Little League sign up is this Saturday, Dundon ball field, 9 to 3 pm.
March 27 am Eva Stewart, see Funeral page
March 27 am Lots and lots going on today. At 2 pm the County Commission meets to discuss the resignations of the Queen Shoals PSD Board followed by the Solid Waste Authority meeting at 6 pm. Still later a 14 point agenda will be covered by the Clay Roane PSD Board. And Yes they've had another water line break, they still don't have any insurance, they still haven't made any budget cuts, they still think they need another rate increase, they got to adjust customer bills ( they've been charging for the air in the lines); a whole bunch more. All meetings are free and worth their wait in gold!
March 27 am Remember when our leaders said this war would be over in 3 to 5 days. It was one week ago last night that the bombs landed in Iraq. With blood flowing , our soldiers being taken prisoners, this thing is getting messy. For details on Wirt County's prayer vigil and pictures on Jessica Lynch, walk over to the hurhearld web site, click 19 YEAR OLD POW
March 27 am We've got pictures from last week's Work4WV Center grand opening over on the PHOTO page as well as a new section called SPRING 2003.
March 27 am About 6 days ago, the day the bombing started, we noticed a small white sign taped to the window of the Courthouse which read: JUST SAY NO TO GEORGE W BUSH, KILLING BABIES FOR OIL IS WRONG; SPENDING BILLIONS OF OUR TAX MONEY TO STEAL OIL IS WRONG; SELF DEFENSE IS OKay , THIS WAR IS NOT SELF DEFENSE, IT IS WRONG.
March 27 am Even though many in the county are in agreement, that little showing of resistance, the little white sign , was removed from the Courthouse sometime before noon Wednesday. Maybe the words were too strong for some
March 27 am Back in 1972,a 2 record album hit the charts and won praise around the world. That album, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" will be playin>

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ff from Kitty Wells, Ferlin Husky and Web Pierce plus a healthy dose of bluegrass.

March 27 am Now for Court land action.
March 27 am Yesterday Peggy DeBoard defended herself in Court against two indictments, welfare fraud and obtaining money under false pretenses. Prosecutor Grindo worked to convince the 4 woman, 8 man jury that DeBoard's ex husband Mitchell De Board, was living in the household and his income and live in arrangements constituted fraudulent actions against the state... too much food stamp dollars and child care $. After a day of testimony, Judge Alsop tossed the later charge and said unless Grindo can come up with a good definition of what a "household" is, the jury will never get to render a verdict because Alsop may toss this welfare fraud charge as well!
March 27 am Since these charges were brought to the court months ago and since Grindo has had time to prepare since taking office in Jan 2003, something ain't right! During the day long trial, not one witness was provided that could testify seeing Mitch living in Peggy's home. Not even the child care provider testified seeing Mitch at the home.
March 27 am Unless Grindo can pull something out of his *** by 8:45 this morning, look for Alsop to let Peggy DeBoard walk.
March 27 am Ms DeBoard trained at the Clay County Bank and was employed at the Bank of Gassaway before being indicted by Grand Jury last year.
March 27 am Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
March 26 am Get the sleep out of your eyes clickers. It's Wednesday.
March 26 am Now Baghdad still has water service but Clay Roane PSD has another water leak in the Newton area.
March 26 am We've got conflicting reports but we think the Peggy DeBoard embezzlement trial starts today at 9 am. Bailiff Gene King at 10 am Tuesday felt the trial had been delayed. A call to clerk Sutton says that the trial is on
March 26 am As for the Wirt County WV female soldier missing, the HurHerald has a nice write up. Click MIA
March 26 am Due to the number of snow days during this school year, the State Dept. of Education sent out letters to all the little school districts asking them to cancel future Faculty Senate days and instead turn the days off into school days for the brats.
March 26 am Superintendent Linkinnnoooooggggggoooorrrr told all, we'll have the teachers vote on the issue and if one school votes to keep the faculty senates in place, so be it, no change in schedule. Late last week that's what happened. Clay Middle and Valley Fork voted to keep the faculty Senate days in place. If Link keeps his word, the state boys we'll be peed. If he forces his way over the teacher's wishes, he's in deep doo doo with them. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few days
March 26 am Word just leaking out that Valley Fork Principal Mike Schoonover is retiring as his Vocational Administrative wife, Connie. There's two more openings clickers.
March 26 am All you Maysel area clickers, we got word that Frontier's high speed DSL service SHOULD be ready for hook up next week. We also heard it just got quicker!
March 26 am We'll have some new pictures on the THIS AND THAT section on the PHOTO page later this afternoon. This year we're adding a gardening section on the PHOTO page. If you have clean pics of your dirt skills, email them over for inclusion. Always fun to watch the garden grow
March 25 pm With the Maples and ornamental pear trees in bloom , pollen is everywhere.
March 25 pm The first signs of the Town of Clay June election are showing. Today incumbent Mayor King Arthur Jarrett started handing out white ball caps with Arthur for Mayor emblazoned.
March 25 pm This morning calling of the docket went slam bang thank you mam. All done, 27 true bills returned, and the cases can begin. Fu>

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. Also in Court land and according to Deputy Circuit Clerk Francis Sutton (3:00pm), the Peggy DeBoard trial is on for Wed with jury selection beginning at 9 am

March 25 pm So will additional snow days time be made up this year by the teacher's giving up their Faculty Senate Day? Details Wed afternoon.
March 25 pm Enjoy the sun and get those potatoes in the ground.
March 25 am Today the attorneys and defendants meet at the COurthouse for the calling of the docket. The Spring Grand Jury returned all 27 of Prosecutor Daniel Grindo's presentations. Action starts at 9 am
March 25 am Tonight ClayFM meets at 6 pm in their Two Run digs across from Go Mart. Public encouraged to attend and become "members" ( Translation: cough up 20 bucks to keep the place up, running and growing). TOday on Clay FM, West Virginia's own blues man, Nat Reese plus Lightin Hopkins, new Keb Mo, Muddy Watters.
March 25 am See those wild onions growing in the yard? How about those tall weeds you didn't cur down last Oct.? Head over to our home page and click the STIHL button for a sure cure.
March 25 am Sometimes it's the kids that the most sense on this Iraq War. Overheard yesterday, a teenager talking to another: We handed millions of those papers saying, hold up a white cloth and we won't shoot you. So now they're doing it and then shooting us.. WHAT WERE WE THINKING!!!
March 25 am Just five days into the war and already the email jokes have started, like..
March 25 am What do Saddam Hussein and General Custer have in common? They both want to know where the heck those Tomahawks are coming from!
March 25 am What do Miss Muffet and Saddam Hussein have in common? They both have Kurds in their way.
March 25 am What's the five day forecast for Baghdad? Two days.
March 25 am What is the Iraqi air force motto? I came, I saw, Iran.
March 25 am Even newer pictures on the THIS and THAT section on our PHOTO page. Glimpses of HE White kids, Jo Paxton and more.
March 24 pm With the sun shining brightly and the ramps staring to push through the hillside dirt, an afternoon update.
March 24 pm Over on the PHOTO page is a new section called this and that. Come back often for an assortment of tidbit images. Today features Jerome Novobilski, Greg Gency and Darlene Rogers. New views are now on the ELECTED and APPOINTED page as well....Clay Development Corp Board, the School Board, RB and Linkinnnoooooggeer etc. For those needing something to scare away the crows in your garden, that last one will do nicely.
March 24 pm Over in Baghdad , we've bombed them left and right. Smart bombs, guided missiles, laser missiles, satellite missiles... CNN's Aaron Brown reported last night, the Iraqis STILL HAVE MUNICIPAL WATER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that's in the middle of a dessert! Here in Clayberry, one good freeze and our service is gone for 5 days every time
March 24 pm There's a bigtime lawsuit goin on over in Greenbrier County over the Assessor (Nancy Sartor) handing out Christmas bonuses and raising taxes on a guy that spoke out against one of the County Commissioners recently. If everyone that has spoke out against our County Commissioners got a tax increase, this would be the richest county in the State!
March 24 am It was a costly weekend for Americans and English forces battling Iraq. Newscasts have covered much of the war effort. Some openly wonder what hasn't been covered. Our prayers go out to the forces doing the work of our lone ranger, W
March 24 am Today is a big blood drive over at Clay High School. Sponsored by the Student Council, 9 to 2.
March 24 am We have a big week going on in Clayberry. Tuesday brings the docket for the 27 indictments from last week's Grand Jury. Action starts at 9 am
March 24 am The running without insurance, financially strapped Clay Roane PSD meets this Thursday night at 7 at the Senior Center on Main street. Sure to be interesting!
March 24 am While the rest of the world looking like cell phones are permanently glued to their ears, Clay County has done without. At best only scattered service areas in our 342 square miles. 140 feet of a 280 foot Cell One tower has stood half built for 8 months waiting for electric service. Seems there is a dispute with the land owner Barringer Trust managed by Matt Coronet. But that's changing!
March 24 am After much costly delay, power has been brought in from Triplett Ridge bypassing Barringer Trust for the most part, and construction crews should be back on the job this week to restart and finish the tower. The tower is finally back on track.
March 24 am The Communicator came out last Friday with an oppps due. In the Clay Roane PSD coverage we reported Sherry Deems' name as Sherry Mullins. We goofed. Apologies extended to Sherry Mullins if there is one around the county.
March 24 am Clay FM is dishing some music from the 1937 today, the Ink Spots as well as Louis Armstrong.
March 24 am We've got a follow up on Vince Golosow, .... the guy charged with the grizzly shooting of Judson Reid last Oct. Reid's body was dumped out Pisgah Ridge and found 11 days later.
March 24 am Here we go: Judge Thomas Evans will hear the case April 29th. Leah Boggs and Drew Patton are defending Tatto Vince with Prosecutor Mark Sergent handling the State's duties. Subpoenaed are Tpr MT Baylous, Sgt MK Cruickshanks and Russell Davis. We saw no paperwork for Richard Cummings nor Sandra Kaliah's appearance. On March 18th attorney's for Vince filed a motion to suppress physical evidence based on unreasonable search and seizure issues.
March 24 am So what's the state trying to prove? Excerpts from that paperwork: Vince was involved in a drug purchase with Richard Cummings and Russell Davis. Davis tendered a sum of money to Vince through Judson Reid for the purchase of drugs.... Vince used part of the drug $ to purchase a pistol from Angler's Roost.... Vince requested additional $ from Davis to complete the deal because Reid had spent the $. Sounds like a drug deal gone real bad clickers. Yes, it says that Reid had spent the $.
March 24 am As for the deceased, Reid, from the coroner's report: 52 years old... and was a recent user of pot and meth amphetamine and had cirrhosis of the liver.
MArch 24 am Think peace W
March 23 pm 3:55pm as heard from the 911 Dispatch out of Summersville which serves Clay County..... All Law enforcement please by on the look out for a tan or silver late model import with Texas plates on it. Last digits on that plate AFY.
March 25 pm The dispatcher went on to say that the rental car had 4 men of Mid Eastern extraction with Oklahoma driver's licenses. She said the four had left the Motel 6 near the Stonewall Jackson Resort and the olive skinned men were wanting dam information.
March 25 pm Of course the center of state has many water impoundment's used for both recreation and water supplies. Just a few years back such questions would not have raise one eyebrow. With 9/11 etched in our minds and the blood flow increasing in Iraq, its all different today.
March 23 am Before the week's wrap up
March 23 am We spoke with Clay Roane PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait Saturday. Melissa originally said on Thursday, she was resigning from the PSD. On Saturday she said she was considering the resignation
March 23 am As for Dubya's Lone Ranger War, we had a 13 year old make some sense. As adults were debating whether we should be in Iraq or not, the kid asked, " What did they do to us?" Darn good question
March 23 am If you're looking for a nearly new 4 WD, check the CLASSIFIED page quick
March 23 am For years the Clay County Bank boosted about being the nation's 9th strongest bank. Heck, if JD hadn't been stealing all that money, they could have been the nation's number 1 bank!!
March 23 am OK to wrap up the week...
March 23 am Here in Clayberry, our wheels continue to limp along. Over at the Clay Roane PSD , the water service provider is again operating without insurance of any kind which is exposing the county to serious liability issues. The WV PSC folks in Charleston are trying to force the PSD into receivership and have Clay County PSD take over the operation PLUS force the fourth rate increase in 24 months on the customers.
March 23 am As the bombs were starting to fall in Iraq, one time pil>

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d his toothbrush & KY jelly and headed off to serve his 18 month prison sentence for stealing $ from customers of the Clay County Bank.

March 23 am Film crews from the State Dept. of Education did NOT show up to film HE White Elem. as scheduled last Wed. The school was to be recognized for outstanding performance. Seems there is some controversy behind the scenes over filming a a tiny rural school while the administration wants it and other rural schools shut down.
March 23 Clay Development Corp. met in regular session. The hour long meeting attended by few netted little insight into the super secret, private they say, social service provider.
March 23 While most were watching bombs being dropped in Baghdad, Clay Middle School had a CRUD Missile attack of their own as the week ended. One bathroom john was cherry bombed! Floating DNA debris are now being tested.
March 23 am By Friday afternoon, the word was out. The new principal at HE WHITE will be Bunny Taylor.
MArch 23 am On Friday, the 21th, 16 pages of the finest news and views. The Communicator, made it to the news stands
March 23 am Yesterday an observer stopped to tell us, a copy of The Communicator was seen laying on the nice big front desk of the Clay County Bank.
March 21 pm The Communicator made out the door around 1:30pm today. Get yours while it's HOT
March 21 pm Sometime after Thursday nights Special Clay Roane PSD meeting and noon Friday, Chair Melissa Postelwait resigned from the $75 per meeting position. Postelwait, that's Punkineer Postelwait, brought to light many of the PSDs little secrets. Seems Postel is wore down from four month's of mind numbing indecision.
March 21 pm You know it's Spring time when cherry bombs explode. Such was the case this morning at the Middle School as commode was blasted to smithereens.
March 21 pm Most of us are spending our evenings watching the elephant stomp the pee ant during CNN coverage of the Lone Ranger's personal war. Two nights ago we asked for help finding on line web cameras so our clickers could see an independent view. Here's what we got and thanks Mr. T. When you click the link the first item is a live web cam that will work ONLY if you have a high speed connection. The 2nd and 3rd button on the link offers live military short wave transmissions. Pretty cool stuff CLICK LIVE MILITARY RADIO to hear
March 21 pm We've added a nice little Chatter that came too late for this week's Communicator. That Chatter is posted over on the ADVISORY page .
March 21 pm Sometime tomorrow we'll post the latest on Tatto Vince Golosow.
March 21 am If all goes well, the Communicator should be on the news stands around 4:30 today. Even with tanks a rolling, missiles blasting, and soldiers dying, Clayberry continues
March 21 am Word has it as of Noon yesterday, the Spring Grand Jury still had 39 presentations to hear. No word on any true bills yet
March 21 am Yesterday was the grand opening celebration for the new Work 4 WV center at Spread Park. Lots of folks and good food too. Stop in and check out the center. Pretty nice digs! Hope to have pictures from the gala on the web by Tuesday afternoon. Will let you
March 21 am Tonight at 6 , be sure to head over to the High School for the CCHS Dance Team swing ding. Details on the EVENTS page
March 21 am The WV PSC trying to force Clay Roane PSD into receivership, demanding a BIG rate increase, and and and, forcing Clay Roane PSD to have Mr. Happy's Clay County PSD provide billing and meter reading service! the most up to date details later this afternoon on the Communicator
March 21 am We've got rave report clickers.. Yesterday at the newly opened Town and Country Diner, 1 inch thick juicy ribs smothered in BBQ sauce were dished out. Probably the best rib dinner since the Ilene's Tennessee Tavern bar closed on the West Side of Charleston closed nearly ten years ago. Stop in and see when they're offering the grub again. Well worth a drive and NO we don't own the place either!
March 21 am The Town of Clay often complains abo>

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oster station,, treated water runs out to the tune of hundreds of gallons a day. Sure seems like you'd make more money if half your product wasn't running out thru the foundation and into a creek! Word has it, the water pump seals ( packing) are bad and in need of replacing. Next time they ask for a rate increase, tell them to fix the leak first!

March 20 am Whether you're viewing this in Arizona, Florida or Paris, tension fills most conversations. Here in Clayberry, it's quiet. Early last night, after strong wind, when several lightning bolts and loud thunder filled the moonless night sky, those sounds and lights felt different, even distant, still scary. So what were you doing last night? Watching CNN? At 9:34pm, the first anti air craft rounds were fired into the cloudy night above Baghdad.
March 20 am Our prayers are extended to all.
March 20 am Some notes: America lost 37,000 soldiers during the Korean conflict and nearly 50,000 during the Vietnam war. Today 46% of our military now comes from Reserve and Guard units.
March 20 am HELP: We're looking for some independent web cameras focusing on Baghdad for our clickers. Can any of you big time web surfers help us out? Email below with the link please. For a more independent look at the war, the BBC offers a different perspective. click BBC. You might want to bookmark the site for return visits.
March 20 am Today the Spring Grand Jury convenes. Word has it that Prosecutor Daniel Grindo will make many presentations, maybe 40 or so. In years past, the norm was around 15 or so presentations. Sheriff Fields commented yesterday that some of the presentations were from as far back as the early 90's and this Grand Jury would bring closure to many outstanding issues.
March 20 am Today at noon is a big time grand opening celebration at Spread Park. Free Food too! Check our ADVISORY page for details
March 20 am Tonight at 7pm Clay Roane PSD meets in Special Session to work on a much needed budget. A budget that doesn't call for another rate increase.. we hope!
March 20 am Yesterday Clay Development Corp. (CDC) met in regular session. During the meeting, discussion turned to Judge Alan Moats' ( Taylor County) recent decision to force the Taylor County Senior Center to abide by WV Open Meeting Laws. For the last two years, CDC has maintained that they are NOT subject to Sunshine Laws and are in fact a private corporation and away from public scrutiny. Full details and maybe even a picture Friday in The Communicator.
March 19 pm Good News! Crusty ole Norman Wilson made it thru the by pass surgery Monday and sounds like he might be back in the County as early as Friday. It'll be good to hear his down to earth comments once again
March 19 pm We keep checking over at Wilson Funeral Home but as of this morning, there isn't any new business
March 19 am Give peace another chance.. real quick
March 19 am Communicator comes out this Friday, get your classified listings in for publication!
March 19 am We've got the latest Dog Warden postings over on the ADVISORY page.
March 19 am Two days ago, in the Earnie Sirk vs Clay Development Corp. (CDC) suit, Judge Alsop tossed the court challenge citing reaaaal problems with Sirk's paperwork being all screwed up. Sirk is now represented by Jerome Novobilski and plans to have Jerome do things up right and get the challenge back in the court system. After the 11:30am Monday hearing, Bailiff Gene King went over to the CDC clan in attendance and said, " How's it feel to be on t he winning side."
March 19 am We've got a post mentioning that in the BDA vs Clay County Bank suit, the Bank has asked for a change of venue. Bank attorney Kevin Duffy (Hello Kevin) told us to go look at the case file, that no such request had been made. We'll do just that
March 19 am Has anyone else noticed the "Fran King for County Commission" buttons at the Courthouse? Saw one Monday for sure!
March 19 am Today's the day for JD Morris to report to Arch Moore's old cell at the Ashland Kentucky federal prison. He's to be there at 2pm. We understand that JD went out and bought an orange golf outfit. Watch for Morris to be in the can for 8 1/2 months, followed by 6 months in a half way house, and then back home on home confinement for the balance of his 18 month sentence for embezzling bank funds.
March 19 am Yesterday, Jeff Davis' house and 1/4 acre lot was auctioned off at the Bank auction. High bidder from the public was $200.00. Bank VP Greg Gency bought the debt laden property back for $5000.00.
March 19 am Remember when Subway had the best gravy around? Nearly white with big chunks of sausage.. Well those days of a good tasting breakfast are long gone from Subway ( new owners) but Town and Country Diner on Main Street has the killer gravy now. Biscuits aren't bad either!
March 19 am Raise your hand if you've been having trouble with the gas at Go Mart at Two Run. Let's see them, 1... 6.... 16.... 124... Might have been something to those complaints of selling water. Yesterday afternoon, great big pump trucks and tankers were seen sucking all the crud out of the unleaded (regular) tanks.
March 19 am Check your water bills Clay Roane PSD customers. During the last meeting of the PSD, they acknowledged that air running through the meters WILL ADD to your monthly bill. Air! Read all about this Friday in the Communicator!
March 19 am There are 24 million in Iraq including their 350,000 soldiers. We have way less than half that many soldiers there now.
March 19 am Last night, around the USA, Feds picked up many with Iraq heritage. Does this sound like what we did with the Japanese during WW II? Thought we were past that? Thought Dubya said this war was to protect our freedoms?
March 18 am Back when the Supreme Court selected our President for us, more than one person in the county said we'd be in war within a year. He was right. Those teenagers you have at home now, the ones with young strong bones and bright eyes, you might want to give them an extra hug. No one knows where Dubbya is taking us.
March 18 am Last week during a break in the County Commission meeting, Commissioner Matthew Bragg said that he had just completed another one of those hose up the you know where and the results came back clean. Always good news... except the part about the garden hose
March 18 am Many of us are still going to the front door expecting to see snow clouds.
March 18 am Today at 10 Jeff Davis' house goes on the auction block. Action happens in front of the Courthouse.
March 18 am Last night the well oiled school system machine moved along smoothly as HE White Elem. Principal Jo Paxton got the official nod, he would become middle school's vice principal. Ok, Cindy Willis moves to the Board office, Phil Dobbins moves in as Principal at the High School, Paxton replaces Dobbins at Clay Middle, now who will be the next Principal at HE White???? Well... no one wants the post!
March 18 am Remember the name Jim Boggess? The big tall, dark haired guy with the WV PSC? Boggess frequented Clayberry many times over the last three years with attempts to get a regional water plant and water line extension projects back on track. Seems he is off the case now with a big time argument with Amy Swann the reason for the change. The Charleston Gazette's Fanny Seiler covered the story yesterday. For those that didn't see it, Click That Mean Ole Amy Swann
March 18 am JD Morris is down to 24 hours of freedom. Lets see know, lay out the toothbrush, buy the soap on a rope, find you orange comb, Oh, don't need that, and lay out your clothes... orange belt, orange socks, orange slippers, orange golf clubs, orange BVDs.
March 17 am Greetings Clayberry and the world, 70 degrees is predicted for today. Wouldn't it be a shame to go and spoil it all with a war.
March 17 am For those planning on a garden this year, we've got a dandy gravely tractor listed over on CLASSIFIED along with some free puppies.
March 17 am Over in education land, our School Board meets tonight at Clay Middle School. During the meeting watch for HE White Elem. principal Jo Paxton to be named CMS Vice Principal. Just a guess clickers. Forget educating those little booger eaters for the rest of the year, it's time to teach the Stanford 9 test!.. Forget a basic education, there's no time for that. Teaching the test takes precedence!
March 17 am In addition to tonight's Board meeting, there's a bunch going on this week in and around the County, like, Ex Prosecutor Jeff Davis' gives up his Ivydale house to the Clay County Bank auction block Tuesday morning, 10 am; on Wed, our beloved leader of moral standards, JD Morris, head off to the slammer; Grand Jury convenes Thursday at 9 am, watch for a bunch of presentations from Prosecutor Daniel Grindo; also on Thursday, Clay Roane PSD meets to take a second look at their troubled budget (and operation). Since this is the third week of the month, Clay Development Corp. is suppose to meet. "Suppose" because they no longer post their meetings nor provide an agenda to the public in advance.
March 17 am So what's JD Morris doing these last 2 days of freedom ..... Lets see now, pack the toothbrush, pack the KY jelly, bury the kids college fund money beside the oak tree, bury the interest bearing customer account money beside the dogwood.....
March 17 am Today over on Clay FM, Louis Armstrong and new Keb Mo tunes have been added. 102 people listened into the Celtic, Native American and Zydeco broadcast last Wed!
March 16 am Before the weekend wrap up. Remember back in Dec when Clay Roane PSD was operating their vehicles without insurance? Their insurance hadn't been paid since Oct. 2002? During the Jan 2003 meeting, Boardster Gary Whaling insisted that they had had it all along and even after reading the form letter from their provider, insisted that insurance was never lapsed? Chief Operator and book keeper Jennifer Traub said she had written the check for coverage Dec 28th, 2002?
March 16 am Notice came Friday March 14th, the PSD does NOT have insurance due to non payment of penalty. This time, they've lost insurance on everything NOT just the vehicles!
March 16 am Time for our weekly wipe up.. we mean, wrap up, a thumb nail sketch of this past week in Clayberry. During this last week we went from snow and ice to 60 degree weather. Gardeners were seen working the dirt while the first new sprouts of wild onions showed in the lawns. Ramps popped out of the earth. Spring is near
March 16 am In lawsuit land: BDA vs Clay County Bank, Barbara Schamberger was forced off the County Commission payroll after a long long secret time over at the County Commission meeting. Schamb is handling the BDA lawsuit. Also in that same case, attorney Kevin Duffy ( represents the Clayberry Bank), sought a different county for the trial. Sure looks like when the testimony comes, they don't want locals to know! In the Barbara Schamberger vs the County Commission, Judge Alsop, named in the lawsuit, filed papers to get away from the court case. Something about him not being subject to Open Meeting Laws.
March 16 am Our Dept. of Health Oked next year's budget ( 1.54 million) that included ending the year in the red
March 16 am During Tuesday's Clay County PSD 10 minute meeting, ne mention was made by Keith (Mr. Happy) King that the County Commission had filed a formal complaint against the PSD protesting the PSD's purchasing a new office building.
March 16 am HE White Elem. was disappointed last Wed that the planned State Dept. film crews failed to show up as scheduled.
March 16 am A BD student cold cocked a fellow Clay Middle School student as they exited a school bus. .. sure to be a lawsuit. Can't leave out the High School where broken bones are becoming the norm there during PE classes.
March 16 am Clay Roane PSD held a record length meeting Thursday with lots and lots of secret time dealing with sexual harassment charges against a female employee. Ever so sneakily, first mention was made that another rate increase for the water service provider was needed. At the meeting much public concern was raised over the finding of $13,000.00 while what happened to $34,000.00 of a Clay County Bank $50,000 loan remained murky.
March 16 am With the temps warming , Dubbya appears to be hell bent on having his war despite millions of protesters against such, many foreign governments openly opposed , and after refusing to meet with his own Methodist Bishops! Many feel the first official bombs will drop this week. A sad day for America.
March 16 am JD Morris spends his last few days of freedom.
March 16 am This past week was laden with what makes and keeps Clayberry in the news, lack of leadership, lack of direction, lack of accountability, and lack of brain power. What more could a reporter ask for!
March 14 pm It's Friday night, for most, go rent a video, maybe wash the car, make plans for the weekend. Not so for one time political king pin JD Morris. JD heads off to prison Wed , March 19. FREEDOM COUNT: 5 days and dwindling. What would you be doing if you had just 5 days of freedom left? Wash the windows? Stash some cash. Street talk has it that JD will head off to Ashland Ky , the place Arch Moore spent his days of incarceration. They call it doing hard time down there since the place only has one 9 hole golf course.
March 14 pm Norman Wilson heading for heart by pass surgery. We'll keep our fingers crossed. Norman: Don't eat the food down there and come home soon!
March 14 pm Just some email info on the Central Regional Jail. There's a hunger strike now in progress. Seems the inmates there are real worried about an out break of skin lesions and fear of staph infections.
March 14 pm Thursday morning over at Clay Middle School, as they were getting off the bus, one kid cold cocked another. The recipient of the fist to the temple has some real serious medical issues now and is receiving hospital treatment. Watch for this one to turn into a costly full blown lawsuit real quick since the boy with the fist was a BD student.
March 14 pm In the Business Development Authority vs Clay County Bank lawsuit, the Bank side wants a change of venue. Sort of looks like when the testimony starts coming out, they don't want the Clayberry locals to easily listen in.
March 14 pm In the Barbara Schamberger vs County Commission lawsuit, the paperwork is flying back and forth. Named in the suit, Judge Jack Alsop, wants his name removed from the documents saying that he was not subject to Open Meeting Laws during a mid Nov. meeting with a quorum of our County Commission. The issue is over Commissioner Sams and Bragg along with Commissioner elect Peter Triplet heading over to the Judge's chambers seeking advice on who the next Prosecutor should be. Let's see now, Alsop is an attorney, is a Judge, certainly sharp, provided a place for the "away from the public" meeting......
March 14 pm Clay Roane PSD held a 3 1/2 hour long meeting Thursday night March 12. Bunches sat in the peanut gallery to watch the action. Clay Roane was ready to pass a budget for the new year. The budget, required by state law, is a first time ever for the PSD. There was a problem.. The 12 month budget would have ended the year over $50,000 in the hole.
March 14 pm As for those in the Amma Left Hand area, the folks waiting on water service, there has been little progress in the last month. Only about 6 rights of way agreements have been signed and one of them has to be redone.
March 14 pm How often do you hear of a man ( Matt Mullins) bringing charges of sexual harassment against a woman ( Sherry Deems). Happened at the PSD meeting. Although the discussions were in secret, at Ms Deems request, we did get some comments. According to Matt, he was assaulted.. approached in an unprofessional way.. and, "I have retained an attorney." Water operator Jennifer Traub said that PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait told all employees NOT to say a word to the public about the complaint for fear of getting fired. Ms Deems said after the secret time that PSD attorney Tom Whittier instructed her not to breathe a word. Ms Deems turned in her resignation saying that she was moving out west.
March 14 am After an hour and a half in secret time, the PSD motioned not to pursue the matter. Nepotism? Yelp, During the secret time, Chair Postelwait had to leave the room, conflict of interest issues there clickers.<>

Transfer interrupted!

33FF">March 14 am Get your applications in clickers, PSD secretary Sherry Deems is paid $7.00 per hour plus benefits. Not bad for Clayberry and a new secretary will be hired at the next meeting.

March 14 am Much time was spent during the Clay Roane PSD meeting discussing where all the money went, who did what, who wasn't watching the cookie jar and such. Here's an example. Back months ago, water operator Jennifer Traub purchased a Pitney Bowes postage meter machine. The 63 month, $205 a quarter, lease deal works out to paying a zillion dollars for a $1500 machine. Additionally, the PSD has not been paying for the stamps used in it, now has a past due amount of $1500.00 at nearly 20% interest. Fingers were pointing at Traub as doing something without Board approval. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! According to Traub, then Chair ,Gary Whaling, gave her the OK to purchase. The monkey is once again on the back of Whaling.
March 14 am Talk about a zoo. The PSD just found $13,000.00 and is having a hard time showing where $34,000.00 from a Clay County Bank loan went. With all eyes on him, Gary Whaling was once again in the hot seat as he tried to explain. In the end, his explanation didn't float.
March 14 am The ever so stealthy Engineer for the PSD, Jim Hildruth made it official, Clay Roane PSD needs another rate increase to make ends meet!! Did you hear that? Another rate increase!! That would make 4 in less than 24 months. Although Postelwait said she would be against any increase, this one will come back in 45 days as a quicky, already done with no public comment allowed, emergency rate increase. With Clay Roane water bills for the average family right at $45.00 a month, watch for a 15% increase. Get out the Crisco water users, this one is going to hurt. Keep in mind, this increase has NOTHING to do with a proposed addition/expansion to the water plant. When that happens, no amount of Crisco will help, get out the axle grease for sure!!!
March 14 am We've got a picture of the Clay Roane PSD over on the PHOTO page of this site. That's Sherry Deems far left, then left to right, Melissa Postelwait, Glenn Sutton, Gary Whaling, Dave Saulsgiver, and Larry White. Full details, about 3 pages worth, in the next edition of the Communicator.
March 14 am Enjoy the weekend, go to the b ball games at Clay High Saturday, and listen to Clay FM radio, heard around the world and darn proud of it!
March 14 early am Velma "Did" Osborne, see FUNERAL page
March 14 early am edition. Norman D Wilson has spent his lifetime here in Clayberry. As a community activist, Wilson served as Mayor, member of the Ambulance Authority, and as of late, President of the Business Development Authority. For years we have referred to him as Crusty Ole Norman.
March 14 am On Tuesday Norman had a heart attack and is in CAMC hospital doing OK. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Norman and family. The hope is Norman will soon be back on his feet and spreading his cheer as no one else can. Then, we can refer to him as Crusty ole Norman once again.
March 14 am Talk about a day of meetings yesterday... Our County Commissioners set a record with their 2 3/4 hour gathering. Much of the time and efforts were done in secret and the peanut gallery stood in the hallway with their ears pressed against the big glass door. During the meeting, our elected one voted to auction off the nearly new Big Otter Ambulance Station trailer. Big Otter locals in attendance pressed hard to have the proceeds of the auction be given to the Big Otter Fire Dept. After a big long secret time, CCC voted to STOP paying Barbara Schamberger (Business Development Authority attorney) after MArch 13th. From then on, it'll be up to the BDA to pay Schamb out of their own funds. Schamb wasn't fired by the CCC but the peeing contest between her and Commission President Sams appears to be continuing.
March 14 am Last night's Clay Roane PSD meeting lasted from 7 pm to 11:30 pm!!! We'll provide a complete run down of the happenings late late tonight. Even worse than the CCC meeting, The Clay Roane gang spent hours behind closed doors with much attention given a male employee who brought charges of sexual harassment against a female employee. Ever hear of that? More details on that as well as how poorly the PSD is doing getting rights of way signed in the Amma/ Left Hand area. No rights of way, no water line extensions! Full details tonight late
March 14 Here's one for Keith "Mr. Happy" King. Word just leaked out that the County Commission filed a formal protest against Clay County PSD and their plans to purchase a gazillion dollar double wide trailer for their new office digs. Posting was just found on the WV PSC web site: 03-0290-PWD-PC CLAY COUNTY PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT PROTEST BY CLAY COUNTY COMMISSION TO REQUEST OF DISTRICT TO PURCHASE A BUILDING
March 14 am Talk about bunching up Mr. Happy's shorts!!!! It looks like the CCC doesn't see a need for the big time purchase since the PSD is getting freebie office space in the basement of the old Courthouse PLUS, if consolidation plans go thru as planned, Clay County PSD would end up with space available to them in the old Procious Water plant.
March 14 am Is your greyhound missing? See CLASSIFIED page now
March 14 am And finally here at 2 am in the morning, a little humor
LIFE IN A CROWDED CITY In a crowded city at a busy bus stop, a beautiful young woman wearing a tight mini skirt was waiting for a bus. As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step of the bus. Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg. She tried to take the step, only to discover that she couldn't. So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more, and for the second time attempted the step. Once again, much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg. With a little smile to the driver, she again reached behind to unzip a little more and again was unable to take the step. About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus. She went ballistic and turned to the would-be Samaritan and yelled, "How dare you touch my body! I don't even know who you are!" The Texan smiled and drawled, "Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we was friends."
March 13 am Last night the Clay County Board of Health gave the thumbs up to next year's $1.54 million budget which indicated that if all goes as predicted, the agency will end that new year $17,000 in the red. Additionally, the Board present, Connie Harper, Lynn Sizemore and Loretta Bird OKed the spending of up to $50,000.00 to replace the leaking everywhere Health Dept. building roof.
March 13 am Today's a big day meeting wise. At 2 our County Commission meets. Voting items include selling off the Big Otter Ambulance station trailer and paying the attorney for services in the lawsuit against them. Residents in the Big Otter area raised money and along with a Budget Digest grant, raised $18,000 for the trailer.
March 13 am In the lawsuit against the CCC, watch for some secret time during the meeting as they discuss strategies.
March 13 am Tonight beginning at 7 and in the CDC Senior Center, Clay Roane PSD will hold their regular meeting. Word spread quickly last week that thru some searching and digging, $13,000.00 was found in checking accounts. That's the good news. Word has also come that no one knows what became of $34,000.00 from a $50,000.00 CLay County Bank loan. Watch for this meeting to be a barn burner with questions raised over Board competency. Since Melissa Postelwait is the new PSD Chair and since she often speaks real quick, watch for Postelwait to be the fall guy in this financial quagmire. Also scheduled for vote is the selling of the old NEwton Fire Dept. Sell it? There's no record that they even bought it!
March 13 am Also during the PSD meeting, it is expected that a full time maintenance man will be hired. Watch for the new guy to be a Deems subject. That makes a Deems as a part time maintenance man, a Deems as secretary, and soon to be a Deems as a the full time maintenance guy. Wonder if the Board knows, they have a nepotism policy in place which forbids such a family affair?
March 13 am Lots of new sounds on CLAY FM today, classic country like Web Pierce and Ferlin Husky along with the Statler Bros, John Hartford, Ricky Skaggs and even a Mac Davis tune!
March 13 am How Are A Texas Tornado And A Tennessee Divorce The Same? Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer.
March 13 am What's The Difference Between A Bad Golfer And A Bad Skydiver? Bad Golfer Goes, Whack, Dang! A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack.
March 13 am What Is The Difference Between A Harley And A Hoover? The Location Of The Dirt Bag.
March 13 am Why Do Gorillas Have Big Nostrils? Because They Have Big Fingers.
March 13 am What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic? Sanka.
March 13 am What Do You Get When You Cross A Snowman With A Vampire? Frostbite.
March 12 am Tonight the Health Dept Board of Directors meet at 7 pm at the Health Dept. building on Main Street. Always interesting to watch wrestle with issues there
March 12 am Sometime today film crews will capture school life at HE White Elem. in Bomont. H.E.White was recently honored by the State boys as being exemplary. How embarrassing it must be for Superintendent Jerry Linkinnnooooggger to stand there in front of cameras proclaiming wonderful things about a school he closed down and even pulled the wiring from the ceilings before being ordered to reopen it under court order just a couple years back. During closure proceedings, he said there was no future for small schools in Clay County, that here in Clayberry, the only thing that counts is playing by Hank Marocki and JD Morris' Statehouse rules.
March 12 am 7 days ago, last Wednesday, PBS filmed a documentary at HE White Elem.
March 12 am In last edition's Communicator , school board coverage included passing a motion to pay for bus driver physicals given solely at Clay Primary Health. Clay Primary is now operated by recently retired from the School system, Richard Jarvis. Union Stewardess Dave Mullins protested the move. Mullins felt that drivers should be able to go to their own doctor and the County pay the costs. Of course looking at State Code 18A-2-10, Mullins may be right. Watch this one return to the spotlight as the very same issue from another county goes before Circuit Court in Kanawha County.
March 12 am Spotted a lost dog? Check over on the CLASSIFIED page.
March 12 am First word hit the street this morning that Clay Roane PSD "found" $13,000.00 and paid off several of their long overdue bills including the 6 month past due employee taxes. Now there's more...
March 12 am Yes, they found $13,000.00, but now no knows what happened to $34,000.00 of a $50,000.00 Clay County bank loan from two years ago. That loan was to purchase new high tech water meters. Thursday evenings Clay Roane PSD meeting, 7 pm, CDC senior center, may be a barn burner to say the least
March 12 am And finally for this morning, the Legislature passed: "HB2301: Providing funding for necessary care of animals seized pursuant to allegations of neglect".
March 11 pm This morning's 3" snow fall sure didn't help the tulips. School was delayed 2 hours due to the weather conditions
March 11 pm Another Clayonian has done good! Remember back three years ago when Julie Mynes was indicted for a pipe bomb in her car? Sheriff Fields walked right up on it? Well back then, the indictment went no where. she walked. Not so now according to the Charleston Gazette this morning. Ms Mynes was indicted and found guilty of embezzling $4000.00 from the United Steelworkers down in So Charleston.
March 11 pm This morning's Clay County PSD meeting went slick and quick. No discussions, no decent. The Board officially terminated Patricia Taylor's job, hired Beverly Duffield, took Taylor's name of the bank accounts. All done in less than 10 minutes.
March 11 pm From out of the blue, as if by magic, all of a sudden $13,000.00 has been FOUND in the financially strapped Clay Roane PSD accounts! More as we get the details.
March 11 am Here in Clayberry it feels like Winter is over and Spring is near. Blue sky and warming temps. Why, you can almost hear those juicy little ramps sprouting now!
March 11 am How Do You Catch A Unique Rabbit? Unique Up On It.
March 11 am How Do You Catch A Tame Rabbit? Tame Way, Unique Up On It.
March 11 am How Do You Get Holy Water? You Boil The Hell Out Of it.
March 11 am Can you tell it's a slow news day?
March 11 am What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long? Polaroids
March 11 am What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours? Nacho Cheese.
March 11 am What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? Anyone Can Roast Beef. Ok Ok enough for now....
March 11 am Remember last week when we said Clay County PSD went ahead and purchased a brand new 4WHD pick up without WV Public Service Commission approval. Well... the truck is now two months old, muddy and such and yesterday, the PSC finally gave the Ok they needed to purchase it YESTERDAY
March 11 am Clay County PSD Board meets this morning at 10 am in the basement of the old Courthouse on Main Street. Might be fun one to watch.
March 11 am Of course we've known for weeks now that Dubya has every intention of sending our soldiers into Iraq no matter what. Got a question clickers: Here's a list of the countries that the U.S. has bombed since the end of World War II: China 1945-46 Korea 1950-53 China 1950-53 Guatemala 1954 Indonesia 1958 Cuba 1959-60 Guatemala 1960 Congo 1964 Peru 1965 Laos 1964-73 Vietnam 1961-73 Cambodia 1969-70 Guatemala 1967-69 Grenada 1983 Libya 1986 El Salvador 1980s Nicaragua 1980s Panama 1989 Iraq 1991-99 Afghanistan 1998 Yugoslavia 1999. Since then, which countries have become democracies respectful of human rights?
March 11 am In last Friday's edition of the Communicator we advertised for the new Town and Country Diner on Main Street. For those wanting to call in their order, dial 587-4228.
March 11 am Over on the home page , you'll notice the old RADIO button was changed to read CLAY FM. When you click that new button, you're directed over to the Clay FM web site. Clay FM purchased Clay County Radio from Delta Corporation, the folks that own this web page and the Communicator.
March 11 am Trying to find something for the whole family to do this weekend? Actually beginning Friday evening? Walk over to the EVENTS page
March 11 am And finally for this morning, march over to the ADVISORY page for the grand opening notice for the Work 4 WV Office at Spread Park
March 10 am Hello early morning clickers. If you haven't heard, our Legislative folks down in Charleston pretty much left us alone this year. Oh yell, the MD world will get to keep more in their pockets and buy bigger cars, but... we still get to ride ATVs anywhere we want without helmets, lights, and such; they left us beer drinkers alone as far as blood alcohol content is concerned, we can still down around 4 beers and drive our trucks; and best of all, we can still sit on our seat belts unless we see blue lights up ahead! On the down side, we'll have to spend a little less on baby food and clothes for our kids to pay the tax increase on smokes.
March 10 am Yesterday HE White Elem. held a Wildlife Expo fund raiser. Lots and lots of folks wondered in to see the many stuffed animals and eat a dandy brown bean and corn bread dinner. Even the weather cooperated
March 10 am For the hard core out doors man, this is prime musky season. Pull on the long underwear and coats and head over to the Elk for some real fishing, fishys that bite right back!
March 10 am Need a certified baby-sitter? Got a couple openings over on the CLASSIFIED page.
March 10 am Remember all the times that the Ramsey gang over at Clay Development Corp. (CDC) told folks: No you can't see the records!!!; NO I WON'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I MAKE!; We are a private agency and do NOT have to follow state Open Meeting Laws!!!; We are regulated by NOBODY!!!
March 10 am Whether they know it or not, those days are gone. Near the end of Feb. 2003, Circuit Judge Alan Moats ruled that these small quasi government agencies ( like CDC) are subject to Sunshine Laws if they accept Government $. Isn't it refreshing that a Judge's decision will finally force our local family run operation to be open to public scrutiny.
March 10 am CDC has been one of the most secretive, controversial social service providers for the last 7 years.. Court battles, Board overthrow after Board overthrow, Cops removing the public from meetings, Federal indictments and convictions, outlandish salaries, Christmas bonuses to name just a few items. The next CDC Board meeting should be very interesting to say the least.
March 10 am Care to see how bad off Clay County really is compared to the rest of the state? Talk a walk over to the official US Census web site to take a look see, click 27% POVERTY
March 10 am Care to see how poorly West Virginia compares with the rest of the states. It ain't good either, click WV WOES for that look.
March 9 am Sometimes our fingers don't type what our mind means. Such was the case for yesterday morning's AM post on Amy Hunt. Please re-read the March 8 am post below and thanks clicker "LA" for the correction.
March 9 am Interested in getting a new dish system for the home. Check out the Polly Samples deal back on our home page, use the button called KAT.
March 9 am Now for our weekly wrap-up.
March 9 am Sunday, 7 days ago, there was a full page ad run in the Sunday Gazette-Mail supporting reduced bus ride times for younger students. The ad showed a little kid getting on school bus in dark early morning conditions. Ever so faintly and with some keen eyesight, could you read the name on the side of the bus, Clay County Schools, Bus 14.
March 9 am Last Monday this web site came visible again after 14 days of maddening host problems. During the time off, some in the county commented, " thank God he's gone!"
March 9 am CAEZ spent three fun filled days at tax payers expense ( $10,000.00) at the Stonewall Jackson Resort. During the retreat, it was revealed that an appraisal had been made on the Filcon Inc. equipment now in CAEZ possession. Although CAEZ Director Jerry Sizemore speculated 3 years ago that the machinery was worth well over $1,000,000.00, the appraiser set the figure just a tad lower than that, to be exact, the CAEZ seized collateral is valued at $50,500.00.
March 9 am Last Sunday night, Ben Murphy's store in Lizemores was looted..... On Monday proper, over in Court room land, the Judge set a Sept 23 trial date for the BDA vs Clay County Bank lawsuit ...... Monday night, our School Board announced that Phil Dobbins would be the next principal at Clay High....... On Tuesday, Clay Town Council voted in a new slimmer budget for the new year. The budget comes up $8000.00 less than last years and provides just $2000 to operate the police dept. on for 12 months.
March 9 am By Wed March 5th, word spread that Clay County PSD employee Patricia Taylor had been fired and replaced by Beverly Duffield. Taylor was "Let Go" right after informing her superiors that she need back surgery.... Thursday evening at the Business Development Authority (BDA) meeting, it was explained that Commissioner Jimmy Sams really didn't want to resign from the group ( as he did last meeting) but rather just wanted to distance himself from BDA attorney Barbara Schamberger. Schamberger is suing Sams and the County Commission in another court case.
March 9 am Friday evening, another first for Clay County. A non profit group, Clay County Communications, better known as CLAY FM held an Open House and began broadcasting radio programming from the ole Gulf Station at Two Run. Over 20 people attended the punch and cookie celebration which featured live entertainment from Jim Perdue, Fred Sampson and Jim Creel.
March 8 am With temps today to be in the 60s and sunshine galore. Go wash that car, clean those windows or something, Get outside!
March 8 am Want to see a pretty cool clock. You can make it a favorite or bookmark and always have an accurate place to set clocks. Click CLOCK
March 8 am WV Public Service Commission complaints come and often go without much fanfare. Such is the case now as the Jesse J Parson vs Clay Roane PSD complaint was dismissed.
March 8 am Clay County PSD got the WV PSC OK for their recent purchase of a new 4 WD truck although they BROKE the law in the way they did it. Click LAWBREAKERS for the details
March 8 am Vandals have struck one of Clay County's most famous structures, the swinging bridge at Elkhurst.
March 8 am Always nice to see one of high school graduates makes regional news. Such was the case Friday March 7 for Charlotte TV viewers as the mug shot of Amy Hunt was shown after being arrested for 10 felony counts. Ms Hunt, daughter of Brisen Nichols, had been stealing neighbors' identities and buying lots of drugs like oxycontin. Amy is married to Dr Sean Hunt. According to the news report aired bunches of other drugs like opium were confiscated as well. To the WSOC TV info click CCHS GRAD DONE GOOD
March 8 am 40 years ago today Patsy Cline passed away.
March 7 pm First off to long clicker Carol Sizemore in Blazedale NY, Hooowdy
March 7 pm The Communicator will be on the news stands by 4 pm today. NOTE: for all you readers that buy your Communicator at the Glen Country Store... You can't. He's out of business. Sorry about that, we're looking for another distributor in that area of the county.
March 7 pm A couple years back, many of the old Procious PSD records were stolen. Shortly thereafter, a Judge ordered PSD records to be safeguarded under lock and key. About a year ago, all the Procious records were hauled off to the Newton Fire House Bldg. for storage. Something is up clickers. Word has it that those records are now being brought back to the Procious Plant. Also, watch for the old Newton Fire House, purchased by Clay Roane PSD a few years back will soon be sold. Interestingly enough, and according to the WV Public Service Commission, there are no records of the PSD ever buying the metal structure, IE Meeting minutes
March 7 pm Remember back when RT Sizemore wanted to start a radio station in Clay County. Sizemore's plan never happened but 6 years ago today a group incorporated, Clay County Communications, and began work on building an FM Radio Station for the county. Want to hear something interesting? Dial 587-8353
Enjoy the sunshine clickers. Winter ain't over yet.
March 7 early am edition Greetings all. You know we're in the middle of the "dulls"? Winter not quite done and Spring still distant. This is what your Granny called "pnewmonea" weather. She might have been right too. Yesterday when the sun finally came out and temps rose above 40 degrees, Clayonians came out in shirt sleeves. By Sunday clickers, you'll be readin this site and blowing your nose and sneezing at the same time
March 7 am The Communicator should be ont he news stands by 5 pm or so this afternoon. Pretty goodone too. To snatch the 50 cents from the ambulance service personel, we've got a front page interview with General Ambulance Service President Dave Goff. Forthose thirsten for water service, lots of news on the bongling at Clay Roane PSD. Of course the school board coverage continues with new Clay High Principal Phil Dobbins on the front page. Oh we sure can't forget those of us that enjoy the dark side of Clayberry. Also in this edition is an interview with the fired Clay County PSD employee. Mrs Taylor was fired after announcing she had to have back surgery. Pcik one this evening on the way home from work for sure!!!
March 7 am This evening at 6 is the Grand Opening of Clay FM Radio across from GO Mart at Two Run. Punch and Cookies for all. Might even have live music to boot. And as with all Clay FM goings on, Open tot he public and darn proud of it!
March 7 am Put your thinking hat on clickers. Tighten it up too, this ones going to hurt.
March 7 am Remember back a few months ago when the Clay County PSD just HAD to have a new truck? They said even tho the other one was only two years old and had only 70,000 miles on it, it was junk! At the time of purchase, Office Manager Cindy Schoolcraft said she had made a call to the WV Public Service Commission and the "go ahead" was given for the purchase. Remember any of that? We do
March 7 am Well.... That go ahead may not have ben a real go ahead. To date the WV PSC has NOT given the OK to purchase even tho the truck is already bought, muddy, and used. See for yourself, walk over to the WV PSC web site, posted late last night, click; NO GO AHEAD HERE
March 6 am Take look out on I-79 . Yesterday State Road crews added an addition to the big green Clay County interstate sign. Now posted under the Clay sign reads "Home of 3 Schools of Excellence". Of course the signs would have been more timely 10 years ago when the schools were named
March 6 am Ex State School Board President JD Morris heads off to prison in just 6 more days
March 6 am Clay County's Business Development Authority meets today at 5 pm at the Courthouse. FIlcon is expected to be discussed yet again.
March 6 am Today Clay FM's radio lineup includes lots of classic country tunes from Web Pierce, Stonewall Jackson, Lester Flatt, Johnny Horton and Conway Twitty.
March 6 am Today the WV Public Service Commission heads over to Clay Roane PSD to give lessons on how to make an annual budget. The hope is, they will also give lessons on how to live within a budget! With debt load high, a new employee on the payroll, and another one soon to be added, without some intervention from outside forces, watch for an emergency rate increase to be made public before Summer. Currently, Clay Roane PSD customers pay some of the highest water rates in WV.
March 6 am For our Queen Shoals PSD customer clickers, JD Douglas from the WV Health Dept. said during a recent meeting, the long standing Boil Water Order for low pressure conditions within your system MUST be corrected in 45 days or else! At least there is hope now!
March 5 pm There's been a change of employees at Clay County PSD. Patricia Taylor is no longer the clerk. According to Office Manager Cindy Schoolcraft, Ms Taylor was "let go" Feb. 26th and replaced by Beverly Duffield. Duffield worked for the PSD until Nov. 2002. Word has it that Taylor was scheduled for back surgery and was fired shortly after making that announcement.
March 5 pm So doesn't a PSD have to advertise a position before hiring? Well. two Fridays ago, Clay Roane PSD hired Sherry Deems without posting the opening and now Clay County PSD has hired without public notice.
March 5 am We're just three days into our new web server host. We think we've got everything running again. If you notice a broken link, please let us know. Thanks
March 5 am So how's the Clay County Bank doing now a days? From the FDIC, as of Dec 31 2002, CCB has $52,804,000.00 in total liabilities. For a complete look see, click BANK LOOK.
March 5 am Clay Town Council met last night at the water plant and approved next year's $90,000.00 annual budget. In the line item for police protection, Council allotted only $2000.00. As for the Town getting "missing" stolen money returned anytime soon.... no movement so far. Town Recorder Betty Murphy said that Town attorney Barbara Schamberger had lost the paperwork. Full details in this Friday's Communicator
March 5 am Over in the Business Development Authority vs Clay County Bank court case, a hearing was held Monday March 3rd. It looks like a bench trail is coming in Sept. 2003
March 5 am Clay County's Solid Waste Authority was scheduled to meet last Thursday. They didn't... lack of interest. No quorum
March 5 am Lizemore's Ben Murphy headed off to the $10,000 three day CAEZ training and fun time at Stonewall Jackson Retreat Sunday March 2. That evening, Murphy's office was broke into and bunches was stolen. Our crime spree continues.
March 5 am So how much is the now defunct Filcon Inc. filter manufacturing equipment worth? According to a North Carolina appraiser hired by the CAEZ, about $55,500.00 As for the inventory of filters on hand... worthless. The cost of the appraisal was $740.00. Remember back just a couple years ago when this county was told the equipment was worth waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over a million dollars? Maybe two million bucks!!
March 5 am Now we've got a question. Every year each and every local Public Service District goes through a formal audit as required by law. Every year each audit comes back clean as a whistle. Every year there is no mention of any PSD operating in the red. No mention of doom and gloom. If you have an answer, please email us. Link at bottom of this page
March 5 am Down in Kanawha County, a petition is now in the Court system seeking the removal of Prosecutor Clifford. Here in Clayberry, Commissioner Sams is the subject of a similar petition. Ivydale's Earnie Sirk is circulating the paperwork even as we type this post.
March 4 pm Have a happy Fat Tuesday evening. There's some stuff to do around the county of Clay Friday night and Sunday. Check out the EVENTS page this site
March 4 pm And the winner is Phil Dobbins. Last night our School Board made it official, Clay Middle School Vice Principal Phil Dobbins got the nod to fill the Clay High Principal spot vacated by Cindy Willis. So who will fill the CMS VP spot?
March 4 pm Although there's been no official word, looks like the Clay County Bank Board of Directors changed Interim President Scott Legg's status to President.
March 4 pm The ole Kitchen restaurant on Main Street has reopened under new management, The new name is Town and Country Restaurant. Stop in today and check them out.
March 4 pm Getting water service is getting tougher and tougher for water customers of the old Queen Shoals PSD. Yesterday when a water leak occurred, existing customers were told by Queen Shoals PSD to call Clay Roane PSD. When they later called Clay Roane PSD, Clay Roane said to call Queen Shoals. Hmmmmm. According to the official WV Public Service Commission web site, two weeks ago, Clay Roane is now the operator of the defunct Queen Shoals system.
March 4 am Hey the sun is shining!! You can almost hear the ramps growing.
March 4 am Last week major newspapers overlooked an important obituary. With sadness we report the passing of 93 year old, Larry La Prise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey" song. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his right leg in.... and then the trouble started.
March 4 am Also from last week, while our site was down.... the $30,000 plus in debt Clay Roane PSD held a special meeting, Friday, Feb. 28. While on the brink of insolvency, the appointed Boardsters hired a 7 dollar per hour secretary over the objections of Commissioners Sams and Triplett, in attendance. This comes on the heals of the PSD asking the Commissioners for $15,000.00 in bail out money. The new secretary, a Sherry Deems, will immediately begin handling the books, a responsibility previously performed by Chief water operator Jennifer Traub ( $15.00/hour). The motion was also passed to remove Jennifer Traub as Chief operator and replace her with long time night shift operator Bobby Burdette. Board Chair Postelwait said that the changes should not construed as anything Traub did wrong.
March 4 am Are you listening clickers???? During this PSD meeting and at an earlier one, first mention was made that, if the CCC does not cough up some $$, the PSD will seek a bank loan! Two important things to remember, the PSD already has a $50,000.00 from 2 years ago AND AND AND, the bank loan back then was the first step toward getting ANOTHER RATE INCREASE!!! Watch and see what happens, we're just guessing. Clay Roane PSD has received THREE rate increases in the last 2 years.
March 4 am Speaking of that last $50,000 Clay COunty Bank loan to Clay Roane, it was suppose to be used to buy new more accurate water meters to reduce water loss, provide accuracy to the customers, and such. Didn't happen! Under the guidance of then PSD President Gary Whaling, the money was diverted to operating the water provider. Get it? Use loan money to pay the bills. Now two years later, and with big loan payments in hand, the PSD is broke again and going after another loan. Wonder what comes next?
March 4 am Clay Town Council meets today at the water plant at 4 pm. With warm temps and sun predicted, come out to a public meeting.
March 3 pm Hey that School Board meeting tonight will be held at H E White Elem. beginning at 6pm
March 3 pm Back in Nov. 2002, attorney Hiriam Lewis sought the Prosecuting Attorney position after Jeff Davis bailed out. Mr. Lewis heads to active military duty March 17th. Our best wishes go out to Hiriam.
March 3 pm For those that purchase their Communicator at Go Mart at Two Run, there's still some there but they've been moved closer to the front door where the magazines are situated.
March 3 10:30am Anybody there? Tap Tap Tap..... We've been trapped in this puter since Feb. 18th!!! Hello out there ....
March 3 am Since Feb. 18th at 7pm, this site has been down. On the 13th we switched to a new control panel and thought we had all the bases covered. On Feb. 18th, 7pm, the darn ( I was going to say DAMN but thought better) site went down. Since then, the techys at our server in Florida, featureprice.com, have had their thumbs up their butts. The emails went back and forth for 10 days straight, night and day. We kept getting emails back from Raol, Amol, Nigel, Niles, Bhuasdah... not one Bob, Tom, or Bill. Nice emails but with no results!
March 3 am After an ultimatum to them Feb. 26 went unanswered, we had no choice but switch to a completely different server, a local server, wirefire.com on Feb. 27, 2003. Many clickers were able to pick up the site again as early as Feb. 28, 2003. Unfortunately, the "propagation" to the new server takes time and even as late as 11:00am today, some are without their source of Clayberry news. Over the next few days, this will correct itself and we'll be back to good.
March 3 am Thanks to all for the encouraging emails during our down time. The emails (and pills) have kept us going. For those meanies that wrote in and told us to pay our bill (like Kelly F).. shame shame shame
March 3 am We'll have full details in this Friday's Communicator. So.. As far as we can tell, we're back and ready for more typoos, bad grammer, smart arss remarks and more! Thanks for the patience
March 3 am Here's a cutey. On the 28th, even ex County Commissioner Tim "No Show" Butcher stopped and asked when this site would be back up and running!
March 3 am >

Transfer interrupted!

ve been away. Over the next few days we'll post and try to get you up to date.

March 3 am Like, Saturday March 1, Lizemores Fire Dept. took possession of mighty fine looking fire truck. Ever see a black fire truck? Lizemores' got one and it shines like a new penny. Local volunteers approached our elected ones for help. It paid off with the arrival of the pumper, 1000 gallons a minute none the less, Saturday
March 3 am School Board meets tonight at 6pm. With Clay High Principal Cindy Willis awarded the new $50,000/year Grant Director's spot, who will the new CCHS principal be? All fingers are pointing at Clay Middle School Principal Phil Dobbins. Decision should be made tonight during the meeting.
March 3 am If Phil takes the CCHS Principal post, who will replace him at the Middle School? Might just be Jo Jo Paxton from HE White Elem.
March 3 am So guess where all the Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) Board members are right now? All of them, including our Commissioner Peter Triplett, are at Stonewall Resort Center for a three day, $10,000.00 training session. Their Board meeting will be held tomorrow at 7pm at the plush retreat. Seems some of the Boardsters needed additional training on doing their business on paper. Hope it takes this time.
March 3 am Got some news on the folks setting up the radio station at the historic Gulf Station at Two Run. Check it out over on the EVENTS page
March 3 am We'll post again late tonight clickers.

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