May 2006

 
  • May 31 Late am  Darrell Lee Shamblin Sr., 45, of Procious , see OBITUARY page
  • May 31 am We're at the end of another month. Almost half way thru a new year. Tuesday, the Bank of Gassaway thermo read 102 degrees at 3pm.
  • May 31 am Monday's post on Marian Asbury getting the stuffings beat out of him raised the temperature a little more. The question in the county is: Why can't something be done with Michael Lanham?
  • May 31 am With Lanham on the walking the streets of Clay, no one is safe. Sure seems like when a guy is out on bond and then beats up  hapless Asbury after downing a pint of vodka......
  • May 31 am  Here's a link to a Dubbya count down to he's out of office clock. Is it 2008 yet?
  • May 31 am  Christian? Jew? Catholic? Wiccan? The Association of Religious Archives shows the county of Clay is NOT Christian, Jew, Catholic or other  or at least 8000 of our 10,000 claim no religious association.
  • May 31 am  Here's an interesting site for reference data research. Info Please .
  • May 31 am And, here's the link to the new Panther's Den Boxing Club.
  • May 31 am Get ready parents. the long Summer months are here. Those pesky snot lickers will be under foot and in the way.  True school doesn't end for another six days, most are already AWOL.
  • May 30 am  James Daris “Jim” Neff, 63 , of Lizemores , see OBITUARY page
  • May 30 am  She lived in three centuries. During her lifetime, she knew veterans from the Civil war, WW I, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War. Sitting Bull and Devil Anse Hatfield was still in their heyday. From the first phones to computers, radio to TV, horse and buggy to Fords, Chevys, Hudsons, Packards, Studebakers all got underway.
  • May 30 am  Mary Mahala Igo Triplett, 106, of Clay , see OBITUARY page.
  • May 30 am  Today is the day to use the old 548-4662 number. Our new numbers are posted over on the home page.
  • May 30 am  Nay sayers we are. Nothing any good will ever come of or to Clay.
  • May 30 am Lake Sampson is the exception. Over the holiday weekend, the place was packed. Little kids to old timers, people had a blast at the 14 acre impoundment. We even saw a traffic jam out there!
  • May 30 am Maybe it's true, build it and they will come.
  • May 30 am Campaign pics added over on the PHOTO page.
  • May 29 pm While most of us enjoyed family, friends, and picnics this holiday weekend, Michael Lanham continued his street thug tactics.
  • May 29 pm Marian Asbury is a skinny little guy prone to talking to himself and writing off the wall poetry and prose. He's also content just spending his time drinking a cold beer. At month's end, with money run out, Asbury was sober and sitting on the bench in front of Murphy's Flower Shop around 6pm.
  • May 29 pm Saturday evening on Main Street Clay, the out on bond, Mike Lanham was drunk or stoned in some way and decided Asbury would be his next victim. After the assault Saturday, Marian was barely able to get back up the steps to his apartment. His sister checked on him and  thought his hip was broke. He was also scuffed up on his arms.
  • May 29 pm Badges came but the 65 year old refused to press charges.
  • May 29 pm Can you blame Asbury? At his age and weighing about 100 pounds, Asbury could receive even more from Lanham the next time.
  • May 29 pm Lanham likes to call himself Warrior Mike or Iron Mike. In reality, at 32 years of age, Michael Lanham is  a little guy with even littler character, intelligence or future..
  • May 29 pm You're not suppose to laugh when reading an obituary. There are some obits which will make many grin. Mike Lanham will be one of those.
  • May 28 pm   Betty Virginia Laxton Duncan, 75 , see OBITUARY page
  • May 28 am Good Sunday morning to each and every. From the last seven days....
  • May 28 am Mid week, the first reports came of the bird flue mutating and spreading human to human.  Our government said not to worry. Don't worry, be happy. Here's some history.   If predictions ring true, maybe many of us won't have to worry about paying higher taxes, water rates and making ends meet.
  • May 28 am Indonesia rocked this past week. Nearly 5000 dead.
  • May 28 am  It became official thru cell phone pictures, US Marines executed children and women civilians in Iraq. Italy said enough is enough. The coalition of the willing is less one country.
  • May 28 am There have been 2,684 coalition deaths, 2,462 Americans, two Australians, 111 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, three Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 30 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Romanians, two Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of May 26, 2006, according to a CNN count.
  • May 28  am  Over achievers got lucky this year with their early planting of flowers and veges. Monday and Tuesday nights saw calls for frost. For the most part it didn't happen. Now, all us lazy blocks are two weeks behind in the garden. ##**!!
  • May 28 am Clayberry or at least a section of downtown Clay, moved into the 21st century this past week. Andy Haynes opened his wire less internet service. With prices about half that of existing carriers and much faster speeds, Haynes should do well.
  • May 28 am   Although the last day for class is officially still a couple days away, education ended weeks ago. With field trips galore, kids had a big time this past week. After 12 sometimes 13 or 14 years in the system, Clay High seniors declared victory and graduated Saturday. Dads grinned with pride. Moms filled with tears. Little brothers and sisters squirmed in the chairs. Teachers thought, Thank God those pimple faced hellions are out of here. Closer scrutiny of the Honor Roll led some to say: How the H did that happen!!!!!!!!!
  • May 28 am Some things never change... Sunday morning 9:53am the call came in for an ambulance to respond to a 911 call. Clay Ambulance responded:  I am waiting on my partner to get here. It's going to be at least 20 minutes.
  • May 28 am Fortunately, a  few minutes later, Clay Ambulance called back and said they were ready to take the call. Those crucial first minutes.....
  • May 28 am Memorial Day weekend is the traditional opening of Summer. here in Clayberry the county's only public swimming pool remains closed as workers prepare to install a new "liner" to reduce water loss. After church today family picnics are planned. This year we have a new spot to enjoy time off. Lots of people are discovering Lake Sampson as a place to run, walk, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors.
  • May 28 am 150 days into the new year, and life is good in the land of little, Clay County West Virginia.
  • May 27 pm   Betty Virginia Laxton Duncan, 75, see OBITUARY page
  • May 27 am Hard to believe but it's true. The Communicator made it to the news stands on time AGAIN. That's four times in a row. 24 hard hitting pages of news and views second to none.
  • May 27 am This morning, hundreds gather in the hot steamy gym at Clay High to watch their precious graduate and head off into the real world. After years of telling them to shut up and sit down, they're on their own.  The complete list of graduates is posted on the ADVISORY page.  Congrats to each and every.
  • May 27 am During this holiday weekend, we'll be light on posts. It's a weekend for home, BBQs, and making sure that **!! grass is cut and trimmed.
  • May 27 am It's also the weekend that pools open for the summer months. Not so in Clayberry. The drained pool awaits a new plastic liner. Since opening , the fun spot has leaked like crazy. Overnight the level would drop several inches. With the cost of wa wa , repairs had to be made.
  • May 27 am  Don't blame it on the guy with squirrels growing on his forehead, Don Jarvis. The installation company has been dragging its feet for several weeks. Jarvis feels that four days after the new liner is installed, the pool can be opened.
  • May 26 am By 4:30 am this morning, 69 people had already clicked on this page. Why is that? What are you doing over here? Didn't we say yesterday there would be no new posts until we finished The Communicator and got it out the door Friday evening?  Well ...... while you're here... be sure to check out the EVENTS page for good stuff to do.
  • May 26 am  "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda," Bush said in explaining his communications strategy last May.
  • May 26 am While on the subject of Dubbya and his PR about winning the war in Iraq and installing a love for the USA in Iran, here's proof.
  • May 26 am  One way we keep this web site up and running is with the home page advertisers. Take a gander and tell em you appreciate them when you see em. Did you notice the new massage web advertiser over there?
  • May 26 am Get your mind out of the gutter men, this is a real massage place!
  • May 26 am Now get back to work. Nothing new till late tonight.
  • May 25 am We're going into quiet mode until we get the Communicator out the door Friday. No new posts until after deadline unless some politician does something dumb.
  • May 25 am Two editions ago our front page story dealt with the county, state, and nation without a plan when the bird flu pandemic hits. One guy said he planned to take deep breaths and get it over with quickly. New reports from the World Health Organization now say some of the most recent deaths were likely transmitted human to human.
  • May 25 am 45% of Americans think the government isn't telling us everything about the 9/11 attacks.
  • May 25 am Clay County has been included in a proposed 8 county heritage corridor (area). A group of folks gathered in Mt Hope Tuesday for an organizational meeting. The plan calls for gathering info on county tourism spots and then posting on a web site for all to see. After the meeting reps traveled to each county and had a first hand look.
  • May 25 am Bill Owens from Herndon VA visited Clay  County Wed. Sites visited included: Lake Sampson and the shooting range, WYAP radio station and their Summer Jam series, the old Courthouse; Elkhurst swinging bridge, JG Bradley campground, and a ride on the BC&G railcar. Additional touristy items to be included in the project include: O'Brion International Dirt Track, the Mudbog pits, Elk River water sports, Solomon's Secrets drama, the Apple Festival, seasonal ramp festivals, and Widen Mine War site.
  • May 25 am Can't you see it? Big Mercedes, BMWs and Volvos rolling into town, stopping, spending new $ and then leaving. We don't have to do more than smile and be nice! No calling them Damn Yankees either!
  • May 25 am Full details in Friday's Communicator.
  • May 25 am  A driver was stuck in a huge traffic jam on the highway. Nothing was moving. Suddenly a man knocked on the window of their car.  The driver rolled down his window and asked, "What happened?"   "Terrorists have kidnapped Bush, Cheney, Rice, and Rumsfeld. They are asking for a $10 million ransom. Otherwise, the terrorists say that they are going to douse them with gasoline and set them on fire. We are going from car to car, taking up a collection."

    •      The driver asked, "How much is everyone giving, on average?"   "About a gallon," was the reply.
  • May 24 pm  Lola Eloise Rhodes, 97, of Clay, see OBITUARY page
  • May 24 pm During today's ballot recount at the Courthouse, Delegate John Pino added 2 more votes to his lead over Tom Lousis. The additions were allowed due to the electronic counter missing two very light marks made by the voters May 9th during the primary election.
  • May 24 am My Mother called me Special Ed but my name wasn't Ed.
  • May 24 am For those wondering, the Town of Clay received their rate increase. With that in place, Queen Shoals and Clay Roane PSD should have no problem with their increase since they buy from the town.
  • May 24 am Clay County PSD will receive the same 23% increase plus 5 to 8% more to cover the cost of a new truck, new touch type meters, new employee, and anything else they can think of to add on.
  • May 24 am Finally, Clay County West Virginia will be at the top of one list, highest PSD water rates in the entire state. Surely something to be proud of indeed.
  • May 24 am  The Communicator comes out this Friday, Deadline for event listings, meeting notices, classifieds, and everything else in Thursday morning 9 am.
  • May 24 am From the email bag: Dear Tide:  I am writing to say what an excellent product you have! I've used it All of my married life, as my Mom always told me it was the best. Now that I am in my fifties I find it even better! In fact, about a month ago, I spilled some red wine on my new white blouse. My inconsiderate and uncaring husband started to belittle me about how clumsy I was, and generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing led to another and somehow I ended up with his blood on my new white blouse.

    •      I grabbed my bottle of Tide with bleach alternative, and to my surprise and satisfaction, all of the stains came out! In fact, the stains came out so well the detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse were negative and then my attorney called and said that I was no longer considered a suspect in the disappearance of my husband.
          What a relief! Going through menopause is bad enough without being a murder suspect! I thank you, once again, for having a great product.  Well, gotta go, have to write to the Hefty bag people.
  • May 24 am  More as we get it.
  • May 23 am For those that didn't see the Charleston Daily Mail front page article on criminal connections to Clayberry in a NY murder, it's over on our ADVISORY page. We'll leave it there a couple days for our slow readers.
  • May 23 am For those out of state clickers longing for home, Clayberry is experiencing cool nights, warm spring time temps and blue skies. It don't get any better than this.
  • May 23 am  Election 2006 isn't over till the last vote is recounted!
  • May 23 am  In the 29th district Delegate Pino vs Lousis race, only a couple votes separate the veteran incumbents. Wed, the County Commission will perform an official recount of the ballots at the Courthouse. Fun starts at 9 am.
  • May 23 am Yesterday's Commission meeting was very short. Other than accepting the resignation of Postelwait from the Clay Roane PSD, little else in the 25 minute gathering. Commissioner Sams made the motion to accept MP quitting. Not so long ago, it was Sams who motioned to put her on the Board.
  • May 23 am  Our Business Development Authority held a special meeting Monday at 5pm.  They voted to spend more $ on bulldozer work out at the old Filcon site near Ovapa. With $5000 already committed and more needed, the plan is to have 6 to 8 acres 2' out of the 100 year flood plane.
  • May 23 am  Businesses are being asked to contribute $ so every utility pole in town can boast a new American flag. The balance of the effort will come from Town and Commission dollars. In addition to new flags, the Town Improvement Council is asking business owners to add flower pots and park benches to storefronts for the summer months.
  • May 23 am Preliminary plans are being made to hold a Town wide Yard Sale, Independence Day weekend , July 1st.
  • May 22 pm A couple months back reps from the non profit WV Music Hall of Fame made a presentation during a CAEZ meeting. Their plan is to grow a physical location for concert hall and depository of history for our great artists. No location for the facility has been named. Currently the group is generating support for the venture with a traveling display and speeches.
  • May 22 pm Step two.
  • May 22 pm  Tuesday morning (23rd),  beginning at 10 am, at the Mt Hope Community Center, a public meeting is planned to get to work on a WV Heritage  Trail. Clay County is included in that eight county initiative.
  • May 22 pm Here's the deal: When formalized, our county could be included in maps, brochures and PR campaigns to attract tourists to hear our great artists. With a community radio station already in place and the upstairs of the old courthouse just begging to be turned into a concert hall.... get the picture... This could be good real good for Clayberry.
  • May 22 pm Public support for this idea is critical. How about an email to Becky Bolte: rmbolte@yahoo.com  Or email the WV Music Hall of Fame at: info@wvmusichalloffame.com
  • May 22 pm Just mention the worth of including Clay County in the WV Music Heritage Trail plan.
  • May 22 pm Just think, a few years from now, cars and tour buses coming into the county carrying out of staters with pockets full of $ ready to buy trinkets, foods, yard sale stuff, spend the night, shop, and then listen to Clay County Musicians. Get on board clickers this could be a gold mine!
  • May 22 am Greetings there web clickers. Happy Monday morning.
  • May 22 am  This afternoon at 5pm Clay County Commission meets in regular session at the Courthouse. Only 11 things on the agenda for today. Number 5a says the CCC will be accepting the resignation of Melissa Postelwait from the Clay Roane PSD.
  • May 22 am That's good for the county but bad for the newspaper business.
  • May 22 am With the emphasis on growing tourism, the Commission will decide whether to help the Town of Clay purchase a bunch of new American Flags. The last ones were stolen.
  • May 22 am Last week letters were handed out to municipal businesses asking them to spruce up a little with flower pots, park benches and store front flags. Keep an eyeball peeled to see which are the sticks in the mud.
  • May 22 am Just in from the email bag: The graduating class of Clay County High School made their exit into the world of working and paying taxes.  Happy 46th graduation day to all of the class of 1960!  I was very saddened to learn of the passing of Denny Scott.  He was one of the guiding factors of my childhood in Two Run.  I am sure he will be greatly missed by his family and the good people of Clay, W. Va..     I do enjoy your web site, log on at least 3-4 time per week.  Thank you for the great job/service you are doing for all us old Clay County Appalachian Americans!      Jim Hensley, Twin Falls, Idaho
  • May 22 am Yesterday 25 of so met at Clay County Park to organize funding and building a skateboard park. With plans in hand and willing volunteers, they're off and running.. rolling. Interested? Call Terri Lively and roll up your sleeves.
  • May 22 am Education is over for another year. With testing completed, it's movies, field trips and the easy life.
  • May 22 am     A woman and a baby were in the doctor's examining room, waiting for the doctor to come in for the baby's first exam.  The  doctor arrived, and examined the baby,  checked his weight, and  being a little concerned, asked if the baby was breast-fed or bottle-fed?   "Breast-fed,"she  replied. "Well, strip down to your waist," the doctor ordered.  She did. He  pinched her nipples, pressed, kneaded, and rubbed both breasts for a  while in a very professional and detailed examination.  Motioning to her to get dressed The doctor said, "No wonder this baby  is underweight. You  don't have any milk."

    •     "I know," she said, "I'm his Grandma, but I'm glad I came."
  • May 21 am  Larry Dean McLaughlin, 60, of Ivydale, WV, see OBITUARY page
  • May 21 am During our weekly wrap-up we could talk about Dubbya's personal popularity poll in the gutter   Or new info on the amount of top secret data mining the government is doing illegally
  • May 21 am Or  we could talk about a dimly lit Clayberry preacher who told his congregation last Spring, you can't be a Christian and a liberal Demorat, but we're not.
  • May 21 am Instead, our wrap up covers Clayberry politics that just won't change. Those back room dealings that keep our county of little, just that.
  • May 21 am Football Coach Ron "Droopy Drawers" Sirk announced his long awaited retirement last year. In a couple more days, he will be out to pasture. Time for new fresh blood? NOT!
  • May 21 am CCHS students are scheduling for 06-07 classes. On the class schedule sheet is Droopy Drawers as Athletic Director. In a back room move to keep the inner circle of the all boys club, it looks like the Droopster will be honored with $ and lofty perch.  Watch for high dollars to be bestowed on Sirk as a final Linkster move.
  • May 21 am Election night rumors had Link hiring his personal staff from the school system at the Courthouse.
  • May 21 am Also from the last 7 days, Clay County PSD gave the nod to increasing debt load as a way to assure a rate increase. That's nothing new for this county. It's a tried and true tactic originating from the WV PSC. Before the vote to buy a new truck, buy $30,000 in new meter lids, buy $12,000 in computer software, not one word was mentioned of trying to cut costs or save bucks.
  • May 21 Sadly we report little has changed in Clayberry.
  • May 21 am Just another week.
  • May 20 pm  Mamie L. Lyons, 75,  see OBITUARY page
  • May 20 am Happy 29th Birthday wish to O'Brion Creek Road's Erica Shawn Keener  from Linda Dawson
  • May 20 am In the great scheme of things, pooping is important.
  • May 20 am Today's O'Brion International Dirt Track races have been canceled no porta potty.
  • May 19 LATE pm    Pisgah Road resident Floyd Sergeant is an 85 year old WW II vet known by many in the county of Clay. With time creeping up, Mr. Sergeant is not as mobile as he once was and is having  a wheelchair ramp installed at his home. The wooden ramp was to be covered with green shingles to provide needed traction so Carol can push and not lose her own footing.      Was is the key word.
  • May 19 LATE pm Some dirty rotten puke stole the shingles Wednesday evening after dark. With resources tight, the Sergeant's are now replacing the stolen green shingles.
  • May 19 LATE pm Keep you eyes open clickers. If you see  thugs with a bundle of green shingles, first kick their arss and then call Sheriff Holcomb.    Clayberry at its worst!
  • May 19 pm  Clay County PSD has put in for two rate increases. The emergency increase (interim) has the green light from the WV PSC. In a letter dated April 25th, the WV PSC recommended a 5% increase for immediate approval. Add to that the 23% increase when the Town of Clay gets their increase in June. With additional debt load (see below) get out the Crisco and expect something bigger than 30%.
  • May 19 pm  Were you listening to the scanner Thursday when law enforcement was called to Clay Middle to handle a parent's call for rough handling a student by a teacher?
  • May 19 pm  Add to your list of good thangs to do .....  O'Brion International Dirt Track opens the 2006 season this weekend. As soon as Mona emails over the schedule, we'll post on the EVENTS page.
  • May 19 am  Don't sit there this weekend all droopy lipped. Check out our EVENTS page for lots of stuff to do.
  • May 19 am  Great big 28th Happy Birthday wishes to   Carrie Ann Coleman Keen from sister Diane
  • May 19 am All the suits, court reporter and Judge came to Clayberry yesterday afternoon to hold a public hearing on Elk Power's rate increase.  The entire hearing lasted less than one minute. Not one person spoke up.
  • May 19 am That ticket may only cost you a couple bucks in fines but the Court costs will set you back!  Beginning July 1st, if you get a ticket, court costs will be $160.50!
  • May 19 am New Boardster Linda Morehead made it to Thursday night's Clay Health Board meeting. Big item was approving the 2006-2007  $1.4 million budget. They did.
  • May 19 am One of the new ideas is to set up a medical clinic on Main Street similar to the Primary Health Clinic at Two Run. Director Linda Klotzbach told the Board they would not be competing with Primary but handle the "overflow" and the medical needs of many under served. Boardsters spoke out on Primary Health being $ motivated with long waits normal. One Boardster said, "Pee on Primary Health !"
  • May 19 am Thumbs up was given to buying $5000 worth of new office furniture and new kitchen stuff including a dish washer.
  • May 19 am For Clay Roane PSD water users....  Sometime in late winter, state regulators presented the PSD with a damning report on water quality in the system's storage tanks. Slimy growth and chemical build up.  During last night's Health meeting, Smoking Czar/County Sanitarian Jay Carper informed the Board, with only one tank cleaned, the contractor ski daddled demanding full payment , $2800. According to Carper, the invoice has not been paid.
  • May 19 am  We have the solution to the gas shortage and high prices.
  • May 18 pm Forgot to mention this morning, the Health Bd meets at  6pm today.
  • May 18 pm  A big earthquake with the strength of 8.1 on the Richter scale hit Mexico. Two million Mexicans have died and over a million are   injured. The country is totally ruined and the government doesn't know where to start with asking for help to rebuild.  The rest of the world is in shock.  Canada is sending troopers to help the Mexican army control the riots. Saudi Arabia is sending oil.  Other Latin American countries are sending supplies.   The European community (except France) is sending food and money.
  • May 18 pm  The United States, not to be outdone, is  sending two million replacement  Mexicans.
  • May 18 am Post coming later today
  • May 18 am Another compassionate conservative Bushitte is heading to prison.
  • May 18 am  Dubbya polls have ia approval rating way below 30%. A new poll shows the world is now turning on Americans in general.
  • May 18 am  Today at 1:30 in the County Commission room, the WV Public Service Commission is holding a hearing on Elk Power. Tonight the Health Board is slated to meet.
  • May 18 am  Lots of Info added on the ADVISORY page. New Classifieds too
  • May 18 am If you look at the bottom of the home page in real little print, you will see the home page counter. Keep track of the clicks if you like. We're averaging about 1500 clicks a  weekday and around 900 on the weekends. Thanks too
  • May 18 am  The link to the Apple Festival web site isn't working. It ain't us. Their site is down
  • May 18 am  We made mention of the school system's failure to establish a wireless  internet system in the county. Over on the HurHerald web site is an in depth article of school system funded system failures elsewhere.
  • May 17 Late am   Ronzel Fitzwater 73, see OBITUARY page
  • May 17 am  Web Note: Two weeks ago we switched to a new website server, this server. We set up a new name, clayberry.org. We told everybody to mark this new name and location in their favorites because the old server would soon go dead. It has. The old name, www.claywestvirginia.com will soon be "pointed" to this location.
  • May 17 am Sorry for the headaches of switching favorites but it was the only way we could make the change without losing clickers. With this new web host, we should be in good shape for another couple years. Thanks for coming, tell a friend, and come back often. Clayberry is always worth a look. Like......
  • May 17 am Happy mid week Hump Day. With drizzle here and there and cool temps, lettuce is doing real well.
  • May 17 am First some history.  Just a few years back, Clay Roane PSD wanted a rate increase to "make things easier". A little cushion so to speak. After talking with the WV Public Service Commission folks, they went over to the Clay County Bank and secured a $50,000 loan. They said the $ would be used for new fancy dancy touch type meters which would make meter reading quicker (cheaper) and more accurate. With the loan in hand, more debt, they applied and received a rate increase.
  • May 17 am The loan was spent elsewhere and the touch type meters were never bought. Many of the records from those meetings have been destroyed.  That was Clay Roane PSD.
  • May 17 am Yesterday, Clay County PSD held a special meeting where they approved a $7500 loan from the same local bank to purchase parts and repair bulk master meters. Additionally, they OK'd fancy dancy touch type meters for all 450 existing customers at $75 per customer. To get the new meter reading equipment to work, they also OK'd the purchase of computer software for another $10,000 to $12,000.
  • May 17 am Starting to sound familiar? It should.
  • May 17 am  Add it all up, there's over $50,000 in new debt. During their last meeting, the Board seemed at ease with hiring a new employee later this month plus buying a brand new, easier on gas, pick em up truck. As Tuesday's Special meeting was ending one guy asked how the PSD planned to pay for the new stuff. Answer: With a rate increase.
  • May 17 am In Clayberry, the norm is to go secret during such times.  On Monday a new sign went up on the entry door at the PSD office, Employees Only Allowed it reads.  When one member of the public came into the building 2 minutes before meeting start time, PSD Chair Greg Fitzwater said, "Guess he can't read!"
  • May 17 am Before the Special meeting, many cars and trucks were in the PSD parking lot. With taxpayers excluded, they could have been doing anything.    One last note on yesterday's Special Clay County PSD meeting, the agenda was made public, posted,  on Friday. Sunshine Laws require three days (excluding weekends and holidays) notice for Special Meetings. The meeting and all decisions could certainly be challenged in Court. How about you?
  • May 17 am  Last month, 25% of existing Clay County PSD customers were given termination notices. They need around $22,000 a month to makes ends meet. Last month they received just $18,500 from customers.
  • May 17 am Sure sounds like Clay County PSD is repeating history.
  • May 17 am  As of May 12th Clay County PSD  had the 12th highest water rate in West Virginia. When the town adds another 23% on to their wholesale bill plus the cost of the  new debt service, look for water bills to be over $70 for 4500 gallons of wa wa.
  • May 17 am Clay Roane has the 4th highest water rates in the state and they too plan to raise rates since they purchase wholesale wa wa from the Town of Clay.
  • May 17 am If the plan was to provide safe clean affordable drinking water in the county of Clay, our leaders have failed miserably.
  • May 16 pm Gene Perkins was a quiet guy. Often seen at Go Mart drinking coffee, Gene said little. Behind that facade was a guy fully aware of everything going on in the County of Clay. Ask him a question and he knew something about it or as he walked around the county, he had seen it first hand.
  • May 16 pm Yesterday afternoon around 2:30pm  as the rain poured down, Gene Perkins was struck by a pick up truck driven by Gary Keen. Last night he died at CAMC  hospital. Sgt. Cox  confirmed the death this morning and said  his officer was doing an investigation. So far, little is known about the accident.
  • May 16 pm More is known about Gene Perkins. Thin and in his 70s, Gene Perkins lived at Two Run with his brother Dana. During the summer months, when the windows are open, Gene's fiddle tunes could be heard in the neighborhood. For years Mr. Perkins delivered food to shut ins. he also volunteered as a Board member of WYAP where he worked to promote local musicians as a a valuable resource of the region.
  • May 16 pm Quiet Gene Perkins will be missed. Condolences to brother Dana and friends
  • May 16 pm  Gene Devaughan Perkins, 71, of Clay, see OBITUARY page
  • May 16 am If you didn't read yesterday afternoon's post, please do. Just below and in red.
  • May 16 am Today at noon, Clay Co PSD meets in Special session. The agenda makes mention of OKing a bank loan.
  • May 16 am For some time, the PSD's master meters (reads the amount of water purchased from the Town of Clay) have not read the correct amount of water passed thru. $7,000 is needed to get the thangs up to snuff and certified.
  • May 16 am  Let's see now, they plan to buy a new truck, hire a a new field person, and now add a bank loan. In years passed, reps from the WV PSC told local water providers, to justify a rate increase, add debt load.
  • May 16 am Today at 2pm, Warrior Mike Lanham goes to trial for punching out that ace cub reporter last month.
  • May 16 am  Thursday evening, the Clay Board of Health is holding a Special Meeting.
  • May 16 am Last Thursday, thieves made off with a backhoe owned by Triad Gas Co. Thursday evening Badges located the machine on a side road on Murder Mountain. Saturday afternoon Tommy Young Jr. was arrested.    Might not have been too hard to find the big hunk of metal.
  • May 16 am  The backhoe was driven ,not hauled on a trailer, to the Mountain. With so much rain last week and heavy track marks in the mud, it may not have taken a Sherlock Holmes to solve the caper.
  • May 16 am  The Family Resource Network is holding a meeting today. The agenda does not mention a time for the event. But who are we to complain? Heck, the School Board refuses to post anything until an hour before the start time!
  • May 15 pm In the great scheme of things, life in Clayberry, bad mouthing Link, Sams, Melissa and other third rate politcos add up to little more than fodder.    Some things are important and here's one that's very important....
  • May 15 pm  Ellie Davis is the skinny little ole lady that worked at Foodland  forever until retirement. The lady that always asked how you were doing and then listened to what you had to say. Her son is Paul Gee, a CCHS Class of 89 graduate. Married and living in VA, Paul is now a social worker.
  • May 15 pm  Paul had a massive car wreck one week ago today. He is smashed left and right and remains in ICU in Roanoke VA. In addition to collapsed and broke everything, Paul is having trouble remembering.
  • May 15 pm Mom Ellie is asking that people from Clay, friends, people that knew him, and classmates send a card or letter to help jog his memory. Right now the 36 year old remembers his Mom  & sister and little else.  This Sunday is his birthday too.
  • May 15 pm  Get your pen, pencil or crayon and send that memory, get well, birthday card to Paul Gee Room 982; Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital; PO Box 13367; Roanoke VA 24033.
  • May 15 pm Won't take a minute and a lot more important than watching TV.
  • May 15 pm Tonight the School Board at the High School beginning at 6pm. Agenda items include: Approve the employment of Juanita Mays as Extended Year Multicategorical Teacher at Clay Elementary, successful bid;   Approve the employment of Sue Workman as Extended Year Multicategorical Teacher at Clay High School,  successful bid;     Approve the employment of Anita Truman, Cathy Craddock and Christina Tanner as substitute teachers;     Approve the employment of Richard Talbot and Tony Salisbury as summer bus painters, successful bids;    Approve the the transfer of Linda Truman from Cook III to Cafeteria Manager @CCHS, successful bid (June Holcomb's former job);  Approve the new extra duty call out policy proposal for Clay County School Bus Drivers;     Approve the employment of Addie Cole as Technology Integration Teacher at Valley Fork/Ivydale Elementary Schools for the 2006 - 2007 school year, successful bid (paid through Technology Grant);    Approve the transfer of Dawn Mullins from Social Studies Teacher at Clay Middle School to Technology Integration Teacher at Lizemore/H.E. White Elementary Schools for the 2006 - 2007 school year, successful bid (paid through Technology Grant);   Approve the employment of the following teachers for Clay Elementary Summer School, successful bids (as needed based on enrollment): J.B.Butcher,   Paul Adkins,   Marjorie Mullins, Vicky Walker, Patricia Underwood,  Mary Stanley;     Approve the employment of (2) two summer school teachers for Alternative Learning School, jobs posted through May 15, 2006 (paid by 21st Century Grant);    Approve the employment of summer student tutors for summer school at Clay Elementary.
  • May 15 pm  Thanks to newly re-elected Beth Cercone for providing the public with  a meeting agenda.
  • May 15 pm Clay County PSD is holding a Special meeting Tuesday at noon. On the agenda is  going after a bank loan.
  • May 15 pm We'll do a better post late tonight. In the meantime, send that card to Paul Gee.
  • May 14 pm You might have noticed our front page changed Friday night. After years of using an internet phone service only, we've added a local land line exchange. Our new telephone number is 304 587-6007. You can continue using the 548-4662 number until the end of the month. With the addition of the land line, we can now accept FAXs on the 6007 line. We don't have an answering machine hooked up on the new line yet. Sorry.
  • May 14 pm For those in Charleston area, you will still be able to use our local number down there,  949-8141.
  • May 14 pm Big thanks to all the clickers and readers of the Communicator for allowing us Delta to grow and afford a business tele number. Thank you.
  • May 14 am Happy Mother's Day. Kisses and hugs to all
  • May 14 am From the email bag: I would like to send out a happy mother day to my mom lisa lewis. just to

    • tell her that I love her very much from your daughter Jama
  • May 14 am This afternoon the Circus  out at Maysel Park will perform at 2 and  4pm. Enjoy it while you can.
  • May 14 am With his approval rating lower than his college GPA, Dubbya pressed on with telling America how well we're doing in Iraq and how it's OK to have the government listen in on 200 million telephone calls without a warrant. Word seeped out that Carl Rove would be indicted in 5 days.
  • May 14 am  For all the Mothers (and Dads)  in the world........ There have been 2,648 coalition deaths, 2,434 Americans, two Australians, 104 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, three Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 29 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Romanians, two Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of May 12, 2006, according to a CNN count
  • May 14 am The last seven days we saw change in Clayberry
  • May 14 am Tuesday's election brought a new face to the County Commission. Tromping incumbent Jimmy "Hangin 10" Sams by nearly 400 votes, the Linkster will take office Jan 1 2007. He  has some big promises to keep. Stuff like being a full time Commissioner, bringing in millions of grant dollars, and creating new county jobs for his school system cronies.
  • May 14 am Rick Tanner takes a seat on the School Board June 1st replacing ousted Kim Sams. Tuesday was a tough night for the Sams family.
  • May 14 am Less than 25% of those registered to vote in the county took advantage of their constitutional right to do so.  So few making a decision for so many. How sad.
  • May 14 am Some things don't change. Clay Co PSD made public their deep financial woes. With revenues way down, they dipped into a savings account to make ends meet. Although headline catching, their plans to buy a new easier on gas truck may be a wise move. That hiring another person is a head scratcher. With 25% of their current customers unable to pay the last month's bill, how does the PSD plan to solve their woes? Another rate increase.
  • May 14 am Thursday evening Melissa Postelwait stormed out of the Clay Roane PSD meeting during re-applying for a $870,000 Punkin Ridge water line project discussion. Friday mid day she resigned from the Board. Tears were heard all over the county.
  • May 14 am  MP was appointed to the Board after filing complaint after complaint against the PSD. 13 months ago today, the County Commission asked her resign her position after smacking the snot out of fellow Boardster Susan Beard. A court challenge to remove her fizzled. She told the CCC she would not resign her position.
  • May 14 am Thursday night Badges discovered another piece of stolen construction equipment on Murder Mountain. This time a back hoe from Triad Gas Co. Saturday afternoon Tommy Young Jr. was arrested on two felonies. His first arrest as an adult.
  • May 14 am Saturday the circus came to town. Little kids had a big time. Parents and Grand parents had little choice but to buy the high dollar trinkets. Small town America at its best
  • May 14 am  Saturday night Clay High held their prom. Teeny boppers dressed in their finest, headed off into adult hood. Ginos and Go Mart were packed with pimple faced near adults looking to buy last minute junk food items. Girls kept trying to pull up their tops while the guys grabbed at that blood restricting tie.
  • May 14 am Today Moms received those hand drawn cards from kids. Phone calls from kids  far away are expected... demanded. Husbands raced over to the Dollar Store or Go Mart to try and find a gift, to show they hadn't forgot the wifey.
  • May 13 am  The Communicator made it to the news stands Friday afternoon around 5pm. And Yes, we've got the precinct by precinct vote count.
  • May 13 am  The Lewis and Clark Big Top Circus is at Maysel Park. 3 shows Saturday and 2 Sunday afternoon. Free tickets are around town. Take those rug rats and have some free fun.
  • May 13 Badges had a big time Thursday night retrieving a gas company back hoe from that famous mountain top retreat. Must have been the wind again. We understand they also hauled off a road blocking white Dodge pick up.
  • May 13 am  Got some news here. Melissa Postelwait resigned from the Clay Roane PSD board Friday afternoon. How will we survive without MP at the helm?
  • May 13 am  County Commission "canvassed" the ballots Friday afternoon. The five hour state code mandated process  netted few changes. The 29th District House of Delegates race between John Pino and Tom Louisos is the only race subject to changes. The Clay County canvas made no change in that neck and neck race. Word has it, both candidates will ask for a recount next week.
  • May 13 am  For all the majority of Americans that think Dubbya is doing a crappy job, things are getting worse. Pupetter Carl Rove is ready to be indicted. From the Between the Lines web site:  Within the last week, Karl Rove told President Bush and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, as well as a few other high level administration officials, that he will be indicted in the CIA leak case and will immediately resign his White House job when the special counsel publicly announces the charges against him, according to sources.
  • May 13 am  Don't mind the Govt entering your home without a search warrant?  How about secretly reading your emails? Who cares if they listen in on your tele calls, right? But now they've gone too far. It is now revealed, they're using satellites to spy on Amercian citizens. That's right fellows, every time you go out on the back porch to pee, the Feds are snapping a picture of your winky!
  • May 12 am  I know we said no updates until tonight sometime.
  • May 12 am Some things skeer us. Dubbya is one of them. Here's the latest and most creditable source we can find on our ready to go attack on Iran.
  • May 11 pm  Larry Stephen Ramsey, 41, of Clay, see OBITUARY page
  • May 11 pm  Forgot to say Happy Birthday wishes to  our little tubby wubby no neck Sheriff, Randy Holcomb. Best wishes for 60 more.
  • May 11 pm No updates until we get the Communicator to bed. Look for new postings Friday evening late.
  • May 11 am  HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY HUNTER ABNER NEAL ,Love, Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Poppy, Aunt Banda and Uncle Blue, and Uncle Brian
  • May 11 am This evening at 7pm the Clay Roane PSD meets in regular session at the Courthouse. The agenda is posted over on our ADVISORY page.
  • May 11 am Did you know we have a Circus coming to town this weekend? True, out at Maysel Park. Shows Saturday and Sunday. Stop by the radio station for free tickets.
  • May 11 am What do you talk about the day after an election? You talk about the election. About every other person started out with, I told you that was going to happen or I knew that was going to happen.
  • May 11 am One race ain't over. With just two votes seperating them, Delegates Pino and Louisos ara battling to retain one seat. State Code mandates the ballots be "canvassed" beginning this Friday. In such a tight race and with two counties canvassing, each challenged ballot is critical.
  • May 11 am Clayberry's canvass begins 1pm Friday. The canvass will make sure the right number of ballots have been cast and will decide the fate of challenged ballots which have NOT been counted so far.
  • May 11 am Dubya will not talk with leaders down in Venezuela. Venezuela is the 5th largest oil producer in the world. We don't like them. Rubbing our noses in it,Venezuela motorists are paying 12 cents per gallon for gasoline while we are gouged over $3 per gallon. Our friends over in Saudi Arabia, home of 17 of the terrorsits that blew up the World Trade Towers, are keeping raw crude oil prices near $70 per barrel.  Nice to have friends like that!
  • May 11 am Cheryl Metheny was indicted last time around. During arraignment day, Prosecutor Samples noted that Ms Metheny was in Federal custody. Here's something from the Hurherald web site: A Roane County man and a Clay County woman pled guilty this week to federal meth charges in Charleston, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. James Facemyer, 62, of Newton and Cheryl Metheney, 47, of Ovapa pled guilty Monday before U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers. In November 2003, Roane County deputies and state Department of Natural Resources officers executed a search warrant at Facemyer’s home. They seized 179.9 grams of meth and about 235 grams of cocaine powder, according to the U. S. Attorney. In February and March 2004, drug task force agents made controlled buys of an ounce of meth from Metheney and Facemeyer on Grannys Creek Road near Ovapa, an area not far from Murder Mountain. Facemyer pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute five or more grams of methamphetamine. Metheney pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth. Facemyer faces 10 years to life in prison and a $1 million fine. Metheney faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Both are to be sentenced July 17.
  • May 11 am Two more off the streets. Good!
  • May 11 am Here is one of the sadest stories posted in a long time...
  • May 11 am Long time readers of this web site and the Communicator have seen Laura Flores (Laura Townsend) noted many times for drugs and later, bogus checks related to purchasing more drugs. We talked with Laura 9 days ago. During that conversation, Laura said she was all cleaned up, she was on the straight and narrow, she said her kids and family meant too much for her to EVER get back into drugs. She sounded convincing.
  • May 11 am Here's a note from the Braxton Democrat:  Braxton County Sheriff’s Deputies P.A. Huff and T.V. Flint recently arrested a Clay County woman attempted to obtain medication by way of a fraudulent prescription at the Gassaway CVS Pharmacy.  According to officers, a female calling herself Tonya phoned the pharmacy claiming to be an assistant of a local emergency room physician. She requested a prescription be filled for 90 hydrocodone/APAP 650 tables in the name of Sherri Larch of Procious.  Suspicious of the call, pharmacist Kathleen Fitzpatrick telephone Dr. Mark Waddell at Braxton County Memorial Hospital. When Dr. Waddell returned Fitzpatrick’s call, he confirmed that the prescription was in fact fraudulent and that law enforcement should be contacted.  With the cooperation of the pharmacy, Deputies set up surveillance in the store and waited for the prescription to be claimed. They didn’t have to wait long before Laura Townsend, posing as Sherri Larch, entered the CVS store a, signed the name of “Sherri Larch” and paid for the prescription. She was immediately taken into custody by the officers.  While in route to the Central Regional Jail, Townsend attempted to access Deputy Huff’s service weapon from his holster. While the attempt was foiled by the officers, Townsend later stated, during an interview at the CRJ, that she did in fact have intentions of hurting or killing one or both deputies. Townsend faces a multitude of charges related to both incidences. Deputy Huff has uncovered information during his investigation that indicates that other Clay County residents may have telephoned fraudulent prescriptions to other pharmacies in surrounding counties. Anyone having additional information is urged to contact the Braxton County Sheriff’s Department at (304)765-5122 or the Sutton Detachment of the WV State Police at (304)765-2101. The Braxton County Sheriff’s Department credits Gassaway CVS personnel, BCMH staff, Dr. Mark Waddell and Trooper B.A. Scarbro for their diligence and assistance with the apprehension.
  • May 11 am  Townsend told that ace cub reporter last week, her addiction started on her second trip to a Maysel drug dealer. She said that second trip netted her some oxy and before she got home, she headed back to the dealer's trailer and spent $50 more for the high.
  • May 11 am  Townsend was to be sentenced next week on those Clay charges. Being clean and Mother of little kids, she felt that she would receive a light sentence, maybe some kind of home confinement arriagnment.
  • May 11 am Bet that doesn't happen now. How sad for the kids, parents, and Laura.
  • May 11 am The Health Dept Board was unable to hold  a Special meeting to approve the budget. No quarrel available.
  • May 10 pm  Denvil D.  “Denny” Scott, 68, of Clay  see OBITUARY page
  • May 10 pm  Today at 6pm the Clay County Solid Waste Authority meets in regular session. Their upstairs office is located on Main Street in the old Kings Jewelry Store building. Agenda items include organizing the June Metal Recycling Days
  • May 10 pm The Communicator comes out Friday around 4pm. Deadline for classifieds, obits ( don't rush that one), meeting notices, and events is Thursday morning 9 am.
  • May 10 pm Before yesterday's election we went around and collected predictions. We asked young and old, those in the fold and some just out on the street. Random.   With the primary results in, we can say, not one person came close to predicting the outcome in more than one contest. Not one!
  • May 10pm   Right at 1800 voters came out Tuesday. A very light turnout.
  • May 10 pm Commissioner Sams took a thumping yesterday. Right up until the first precinct came in, he honestly thought he was a  winner for a third term of office. Sams carried just one precinct, Bomont. Getting beat by 378 votes has to say something for the incumbent's last 11 years. Sams came into office promising to get rid of the $25 Ambulance Fee. He did that and maybe the voters thought that was enough.
  • May 10 pm Sister in law Kim Sams was also sent out to pasture. Coming in fourth in the three position race, Kim Sams leaves office May 31st. Newbee Rick Tanner was a distant finisher until Nebo votes were counted. An upset for Mr. Tanner   !
  • May 10 pm No fights or strong words were heard or seen last night. Rats!
  • May 10 pm Without a doubt the hardest working candidate was Shawn Krajeski. He was everywhere for weeks. Workng the streets, signs up from one end of the county to the other, handed out water, did a mailing or two...      It just didn't work. Many thought his ties to the school system would allow him to ride in on the coat tails of Link. That didn't happen. Shawn musted just 505 votes to incumbent County Clerk Connie Workman's 1022.
  • May 10 pm  Behind the scenes, the old liners wanted Senator Randy White out of office. They rallied behind Greg Tucker. Didn't work. White easily took the Demorat nod by 2000 votes district wide.
  • May 10 pm  Talk about tight and maybe not over yet. In the 29th District House of Delegates race, Dave Perry, Tom Louisos and John Pino were the incumbents. Three Delegates serve from the 29th district.  Pino has been Speaker Pro Tempe of the House for years. Perry turned out to be the number one vote with 3721 check marks. Newbee Dr Margaret Staggers came in second with 3577.   For the third spot, Louisos received 3291 to John Pino's 3293. With a voter recount expected, the third winner may not be known for several days.
  • May 10 pm In passing and for those that think counting is rigged or otherwise manipulated.... All voting was done in public at the Courthouse. That included early voters and absentee ballots. In the race Connie Workman stayed away from any controversy by not being near the counting machine or process.
  • May 10 pm The voters of Clayberry are always hard to predict. That held true for this electionc cyle. For all the election junkies, full details in this Friday's Communicator
  • May 10 pm Yesterday afternoon Clay County PSD met in regular session. During the gathering, it came to light: Last month they had to dip into a savings account (R&R) to make ends meet and payroll; and, a full 25% of their customers received termination notices last month.
  • May 10 am  Too seepy to update. New stuff by noonish
  • May 9 11:15 pm It's all over. County Commissioner Jimmy Sams went down to defeat.   Retiring School Super Ole What's His Name, 1018 votes to Sams' 640.  Incumbent County Clerk Connie Workman, an easy victory over Shawn Krejeski, 1022 to 505
  • May 9  11:15  An upset victory for Rick Tanner over School Board incumbent Kim Sams, score  Dave Pierson 1249, Beth Cercone 1175; and Rick Tanner 916
  • May 9  10:50pm  With five precincts accounted for School Board incumbents appear safe for another  term in office. BUT there's still more precincts to go with Nebo still out
  • May 9 10:30pm   5 precincts in and counted:  Link 458, Sams 296; County Clerk Krajeski 259, Workman 422
  • May 9 more coming
  • May 9 pm  Later this evening  maybe as early as 9pm, we will start posting election results. If you're leaving your browser open, be sure to hit the refresh button every 15 minutes or so.
  • May 9 pm Based on what we saw today, voter turnout was very light even for an off year election. Many think that will favor the school system's voice in the contests.
  • May 9 pm This morning there was a glitch. When polls opened none had those brown plastic sleeves the filled out ballots are suppose to go into.  County Clerk's got into high gear and got the secrecy sleeves to the precincts post haste.
  • May 9 pm  Reps from the Sec of State's office went into several  of the polling places today. As of noon today, no complaints were lodged at the County Clerk's office.
  • May 9 am  If you don't vote, you've no right to complain. Vote early Vote often
  • May 9 am Today at 5pm Clay County PSD meets in regular session in their Main Street Clay office across from the Courthouse.
  • May 9 am Check out the ADVISORY page for info on West Nile virus from the State Health Dept. Now confirmed in West Virginia.
  • May 9 am Four new sections of pics over on the PHOTO page.
  • May 9 am Just got this from Jay Carper: On Sunday, April 9, 2006, a calico cat (black, cream, and yellowish markings) located in the Burt Dam area of Fisherman’s Park in Newfane, Niagara County, New York, was confirmed positive for Rabies. The park is in a western New York State fishing area that is popular with people from other states and Canadian provinces. License plates from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Ontario are often seen at the park.

    •      Dates of concern for possible human exposure to the cat include March 17 - April 5. Other states in the region may consider sharing this information and the attached press release with your residents and media outlets, and ask them to contact the Niagara County Department of Health Nursing Division Communicable Disease Control Program at (716) 439-7456 (business hours) or (716) 439-7430 (after hours) if they identify individuals who have had contact with the cat during these dates.  If you are a resident of Clay County please contact the Clay County Health Department at 587-4269 and ask for Environmental Health.
  • May 9 am  Politicking ain't over yet. Today separates the pros from the rest. Today politicos hire poll workers ( aaaa that's $35 a day not $40) to hold signs and talk to people near polling places; drivers are hired to take people to vote; trucks will be seen with big signs in the back; and off to the side, lone vehicles will be setting with the booty.
  • May 9 am Today is the test for the old liners, do they have any clout? Can they control anything?
  • May 9 am Today is also a test for the school system. Can they get out the votes?
  • May 9 am  In small town America, tonight is the time to head over to the Courthouse and watch the votes come in.  As always, there will be more losers than winners. For those staying at home or far away, listen to the returns on WYAP via the internet beginning around 9pm  most likely.
  • May 9 am We'll start updating this site around 10pm tonight. Check back and when you do, be sure to hit the refesh button for the latest Current News listings.
  • May 9 am We have some state champs to mention this morning.
  • May 9 am  Just a month ago, a new boxing club opened up over at the Fitness Center. Last week, Panther Den  Boxing as they are called, headed to the Jr Olympics State Championship held just over the line in Pikeville Ky. Glen Boatwright, Carli Caldwell, and Kaleb Caldwell came back as state champs!!!
  • May 8 pm  Helen Virginia Davis, 83, of Procious, see OBITUARY page
  • May 8 pm The biggy this week is Tuesday's election. The fate of our county rests in the primary election vote. During No Excuse early voting, over 500 voters cast their ballots. Don't worry about figuring out the new touch screen electronic voting machines. They don't work and can't be certified this time around. WYAP radio will be airing election night returns beginning around 9:30pm. Their link is to the left and near the top in the black box.
  • May 8 pm Tuesday evening Clay County PSD meets in regular session. Based on the agenda items to be covered, Tuesday's meeting should be  worth taking in.
  • May 8 pm Wed morning at 10am the Clay County Commission meets in regular session.
  • May 8 pm Where's Henry?
  • May 8 pm In early April Clay Town Council voted to hire Henry Bear as the first ever Municipal Judge. A couple of weeks after the unanimous vote to hire, Judge Bear skid addled. Later he emailed saying he had to take care of some personal business at his home in Maine. Since that first email, a much longer email was received explaining away the many rumors percolating over his quick departure from  the Southern end of the county.
  • May 8 pm Last Wednesday Judge Bear was suppose to be back. He was but just briefly. According to Jeff Davis, Mr Bear was in town for a few hours and then decided it may be best to head back to Maine for a little while longer.
  • May 8 pm During last Tuesday's Council meeting, Mayor Jarrett received a phone call. King Arthur told the guy, they would talk later. Based on the whispers that followed the short tele call, we think Judge Bear was on the other end of the line and wanted to give Council a glowing report on progress in setting up the Municipal Court. Because Jarrett was so short with Bear, we think the Mayor had also heard all the rumors on Bear from the Glen area of Clayberry.
  • May 8 pm More as we get it.
  • May 7 Late pm  We have two new pages over in the PHOTO section. Lots of pictures from Saturday's Little League games at Dundon plus all the shots from the Lake Sampson dedication May 3rd. Enjoy
  • May 7 pm Is it 2008 yet? Time to celebrate Dubbya's last 1000 days with some stats. Finally, the country understands, Dubbya is a failure.
  • May 7 pm There have been 2,629 coalition deaths, 2,415 Americans, two Australians, 104 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, three Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 29 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Romanians, two Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of May 5, 2006, according to a CNN count.
  • May 7 pm Locally, still several days before the last frost date, tomatoes are in the ground. Yell we know it. they're going to get bit but what the hey, get those rascals started!!
  • May 7 pm At mid week, this web site switched web hosts. Many people made the switch without much trouble. Others went into panic at the thought of not being able to get their daily dose of Life in Clayberry. When your neighbor calls and asks, "WHat happened to that web site?" just tell em type in clayberry.org
  • May 7 pm Down in our Southern border colony, Clendenin, the dimly lit are grinning. The suit to remove Town Council was tossed in Circuit Court land on a technicality. Little do they know, that suit has legs and will be right back.
  • May 7 pm Last Wednesday, over 100 people showed up to celebrate the opening of Lake Sampson near Wallback. With the lake stocked, the place is already seeing lots of interest. Those of us that have been around for a while are just holding our breath knowing some dumb bunny will soon trash the place and ruin it for the rest of us. Happens almost every time in Clayberry.
  • May 7 pm Well over 500 residents marked their ballot during early voting at the Courthouse. Late Friday, it was obvious, the new touch screen voting machines would not be ready for May 9th Primary duty. Too many bugs and software shortcomings.
  • May 7 pm Local politicos worked the telephones making last minute deals. Getting those slates ready is a time honored tradition in Clayberry. Dumping one candidate in order to keep a more important one. Emphasis: Get and keep the candidate you can keep the thumb on.
  • May 7 pm   Holly Cunningham received her Associate degree from WV Tech.
  • May 7 pm Sometimes we've got beans in our ears. Elvis Dawson went to DHHR Feb 21st  with proof a 14 year old handicapped girl was being molested. DHHR told him he was talking too loud and sent him on his way saying, we don't handle that. Days later, Elvis went to local law enforcement for help. Green Shirts told him, since the incident happened in Roane County, they couldn't help. Not giving up, often in the news himself, Elvis Dawson made the trip to Spencer where law enforcement took his words of concern seriously.
  • May 7 pm Last week 38 year old Ira Otis Starcher of Spencer was arrested on four counts of first degree sexual abuse noting, he fondled a physically handicapped 14 year old Clay County girl who was visiting. Starcher was released on a $30,000 bond.
  • May 7 pm On Friday the BC&G RR cleared another hurdle when the papers were signed to raise up the elevation of their JG BRadley Campground at Dundon. They're even getitng paid for improvement!
  • May 7 pm In the last edition of The Communicator we noted the arrest of Martha Keenan after giving hubby Chuck, a big black eye. Chuck stopped by our office this week and said if one more word is mentioned of the arrest, he would sue the paper. He said he knew his fifth amendment rights!
  • May 7 pm Here's goes Chuck: One More Word..... Two More Words.... Three More....
  • May 6 am  Today is the last day to early vote. Over 300 people have already done so. How about you? At 5pm, it's all over.
  • May 6 am  This is the weekend political deals are made. In the back rooms and on the phone, candidates get bought out and sold off in the blink of an eye. Trades are a way of life in Appalachia. They're happening right now.
  • May 6 am Officially, it's called his retirement party. Tonight our retiring School Super will be hosting a last ditch campaign rally over at CCHS. Time to rally the school system faithfuls.
  • May 6 am  You a truck driver? Need a job? See CLASSIFIEDs now.
  • May 6 am  If some of your neighbors are having trouble getting on our new server, just tell em to type in www.clayberry.org in the browser window. By this time next week, the old server will be turned off.
  • May 5 pm  A couple weeks ago Clayton Moore started a news business. The BC&G RR Co-Op has secured a couple engines for future use. Other private individuals in the county have stepped up to the plate and made jobs and are working for a better Clay County. Other than private individuals, our BDA, CCC, nor the CAEZ have created ANY, NOT ONE  new non government job in the county.
  • May 5 pm  Listed in the morning post is the school system's colossal failure at trying to set up a wireless internet system. We have some good news.
  • May 5 pm Andy Haynes has worked behind the scenes to set up a high speed wireless system, a proto type. That system for much of downtown Clay is now working. Sometime reaaaal soon customers will be hooked up!  Haynes said on Friday the system should be much quicker than what's being offered by the phone company AND AND much cheaper too.
  • May 5 pm Other areas of the town/county will be added later.
  • May 5 am TGI Friday and none too soon clickers. Be sure to check our EVENTS page for good stuff to do. Like tonight over at CCHS, the Longaberger Basket Bingo fun and on Sunday the Grand Daddy of em all, HE White Elem. Ramp Feed.
  • May 5 am 52 years ago today, Fred Sampson was running around like a chicken with his head cut off. The battery was dead in his car and one of the four bald tires was flat. His brother loaned him a 41 Chevy that was held together with chicken wire and 2 by 4s. As he went down the road, pieces of rust clanked to the ground.   A quick stop at Kilroy's netted the flowers. At another stop he picked up the needed witness. 52 years ago today, Fred and Elizabeth Sampson were married. Best wishes for 52 more.
  • May 5 am Last night the CCHS baseball team beat Parkersburg Catholic 7 to zip.
  • May 5 am Today is a biggy in Clayberry. Today, 1pm at the JG Bradley Campground, there will be a contract signing ceremony between Orders Construction (contractors for the new bridge), the CAEZ and the Buffalo Creek and Gauley RR Co-Op.. Yesterday excavation work began on the Triplett Ridge side of the new Dundon bridge.
  • May 5 am Did you know the new bridge will be  30 feet higher in elevation on the Triplett Ridge side? Think about it, it's Jan, cold, snowy, slippery dippery and you're coming off the very steep Triplett Ridge. After bridge completion, it'll be a straight downhill shot from 1/4 way up Triplett Ridge Road across the Elk River. Does anybody else see an issue here? The new bridge will not have a sidewalk nor a turning lane.
  • May 5 am Have you voted? 250 of your neighbors have already exercised their right to decide the fate of the land. Don't take a chance on being sick or without transportation May 9th. VOTE NOW!!
  • May 5 am  Last night's BDA meeting was a quiet little affair with few in attendance.
  • May 5 am  We have campaigners bragging about their ability to secure grants. Dollars coming into Clayberry always sounds good. Take for instance this RUS grant award notation: 2003 Grant Awards: Clay County Board of Education; Clay, WV; $500,000; Area(s) Served: Clay County; Contact: Jerry Linkinogger (304) 587-4266; Fax: (304) 587-4181; Congressional District(s): 2nd. The Clay County Board of Education will utilize grant funds to network local schools in Clay County with distance learning. The Clay County school district is composed of 7 schools (five elementary, one middle, and one high school), 2,133 end user site students, 175 faculty, and 10,300 community residents who will comprise the end user sites. Distance learning labs will be installed allowing more advanced courses and new classes to be taught within the network. Specialized teachers from a number of school districts will participate in the project which will provide a maximum benefit to students along with substantially reduced costs to the district. Each school has a technological coordinator to oversee local issues, with all seven collectively working together to make the overall project operationally successful.
  • May 5 am  Distant learning thru wireless internet.. connecting Clayberry to the world via high speed internet!.... Hyping the coming enhancement, letters were sent out in 2003 which stated residents living within a two mile radius of the seven schools could also receive DSL service at cheap rates. Teachers were told the service would cost just $10 per month. People signed up.
  • May 6 am That was 3 years ago and the company, with our $ in their pockets, is now long gone.
  • May 5 am Just one more example of  proven leadership and track record in the land of little.
  • May 5 am Nicholas County received an equal amount of grant funding for a nearly identical project in 2003. One difference tho. Over in Nicholas County, instead of a pipe dream wireless connection designed by a friend of a friend, Nicholas County used a readily available and dependable, telephone company, T-1 land line.
  • May 5 2006  Bush was asked how he felt about Rolling Stone Magazine saying he was the worst president in history.  Bush replied, "I don't think they should pick on history.  I was also the worst at English, science, math, etc."
  • May 4 pm  Cecil Pritt, 84, of Montgomery, see OBITUARY page
  • May 4 pm  Some folks are having problems connecting with our new host. Just tell em to type in clayberry.org and then bookmark or make as favorite.
  • May 4 pm Today at 5pm the Clay Business Development Authority meeting convenes in the County Commission room at the Courthouse. Never know what those rascals are up to so make it a point to attend this public meeting.
  • May 4 pm One indicator of a troubled organization is the number of complaints lodged against it. Clay Roane PSD has a new complaint. This time not from some irate individual but from the Roane County Development office. The complaint is over no or low water pressure at the Roane County Industrial site at the Amma exit of I-79. The land, located beside the state road office, is home to two businesses. Without water service, one business has already changed plans to grow and hire.
  • May 4 pm One of the reasons for the multi million dollar Clay Roane PSD Amma/Left Hand water line extension project was to supply water for economic development. According to the complaint filed with the WV Public Service Commission, Roane County's Mark Whitely (Hello Mr Suit) wrote:  Industrial Lumber and AmCor paid all their tap fees and were interviewed reguarding water usage. National Lumber offered a tract of land to put any required holding tank and pump station. Water was exteneded to the site but due to a design flaw, businesses are unable to hook to the new system. The holding tank was extablished almost directly below the park at the WV Divisions of Highway property. Because the tank is at a lower level, our clients are not able to connect to the system. We are told that  a new tank and pump would be required in order for the businesses to be connected costing a tremendous amount of money.
  • May 4 pm Yesterday's Lake Sampson dedication ceremony was great.  Around 100 folks showed up including a bunch ready to go fishing. Last night many people went and took a walk around the lake while others brought kids out to fish. Wonderful new addition to the county and a hub for growing tourism!  Certainly the Wallback area beside I-79 is ripe for development. It could be the next Flatwoods with a little effort by our Clay County Business Development Authority (BDA).
  • May 4 pm Yesterday we posted a note that it was the CAEZ that developed, funded, founded the Clay Fitness Center at Bradley Field. No one reads this site especially ole what's his name (OWHN) running for County Commission.
  • May 4 pm Last night OWHN posted on his campaign site that he was instrumental in getting the Fitnes Center built. He took full credit.  Go to his news page and then the letter section.  As is the norm with the high dollar boys in the school system, word crafting the truth comes easy. The truth is, citizen's in this county established a need for the the fitness center during community meetings attended by 100s of residents. The CAEZ set aside part of their $2.9 million federal empowerment zone dollars for the project.
  • May 4 pm On that Linkster site, OWHN mentions during construction, the building feel down. In the April 2001 edition of Appalachia Magazine, Asst Superintendent of Schools Jeff Krauklis and James Casto wrote:  Two years ago, when the community received a $150,000 Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community grant to construct a community fitness center, the lowest bid from a private contractor was $480,000. Leaders instead gave the job to students in the high school's construction program, who built the center at a total cost of $120,000—and gained valuable job experience in the process.  In the Linkster's post, there was no mention that the original structure fell down and that pros were later brought in to rebuild the pile of broken 2 by 4's.
  • May 4 pm The truth is the school system wanted the Fitness System to be under their total control and to be used as a weight lifting center for school athletes only or at least given priority over the public's use of the facility. After heated meetings, the school system relented and allowed an oversight committee to be formed to guide the building as a public facility.  That Clay Fitness Center would be a private center today if the likes of  CAEZ Boardster Elizabeth Sampson hadn't gone to bat for the public and demanded public dollars be spent for the purpose intended.
  • May 4 pm Patting you own back can open a can of worms.
  • May 4 pm  Last week, Braxton County schools received a $500,000 grant to build distant learning centers and set up a high speed wireless internet. High speed coneectivity is required for distant learning centers to work. Without the DSL, those learning centers turn out to be just aging computers fit for playing spider.
  • May 4 pm Hope the Braxton grant goes better than Clay's effort. Here in the land of much dollar coming in and disappearing, our school system received a $500,000 grant three years ago. We're still waiting on the wireless DSL connection. During discussions of the wireless system, our Super said he felt confortable using the now defeinct company. Those guys, AbleSoft, filed for banruptcy protection shortly after receiving many of our grant dollars.
  • May 4 pm Just one example of OWHN's record of success..
  • May 4 am Full update coming by noon. Pretty good one too. I know CS, you were wanting to know first thang this morning. You'll have to wait like everybody else. Sorry
  • May 3 am If you are reading this, you have made the trip. You're good to go until we grow some more!
  • May 3 am  You can vote at the Courthouse thru Saturday. Get out and vote. Don't let something keep you from your right to vote on May 9th. Vote today.
  • May 3 am Today is a big day in the county of Clay. Today, 1pm is the dedication of Lake Sampson at Wallback. The public is encouraged to come out, just off Summer Fork Road, and be a part of the opening ceremony of our new 14 acre fun spot. Clayberry's first improvement in years!
  • May 3 am  Many of the big shots will be there for the picture taking. They'll all grin and slap each other on the back, "Glad to have been of service to the people of Clay"
  • May 3 am Truth is one pesky guy kept at the regulators, one guy wrote letters and made phone calls. It took 10 years of effort to get Fola Coal to make good  on their promise to replace the water shed damaged by strip mining. That one guy was Fred Sampson.
  • May 3 am  Done for the common good , here's the clincher. Fred Sampson doesn't even fish!   While in the area, stop by Clayton Moore's Bait Shop and buy a pop. The first or many new lake/tourisim based businesses in the county.
  • May 3 am  Here's the 10 Worst Corporations of 2005 and brief lowlights of the activities that earned them a place on the list.
  • May 3 am Last night Clay Town Council met in regular session. When the Mayor was asked for a progress report on the newly formed Municipal Court was going, his response was, I'll talk to you after the meeting. After the meeting, King Arthur had little to say other than there had been no progress.
  • May 3 am In April, Council hired Henry Bear to set up the court and be the first ever Municipal Judge. Right after the appointment, Bear left town. Now absent two weeks, his first email said he had to take care of some personal matters at his home in Maine. His second email said he was coming back and was looking for a place to live closer to the Town. That second note said would be back in town today.
  • May 3 am During that April Council meeting, Judge Bear said he had moved to the county to care for an ailing relative. He committed to a one year Judge appointment.
  • May 3 am  By this time next week, the election will be over. The dust will settle and we'll have to live with what the majority decides at the polls.
  • May 3 am Here's an example of what pees off voters. Our aging School Super is retiring and seeking another government paycheck He's running for County Commission. Over on his campaign web site: For the past 11 years I have served you as the county school superintendent. During that time period, I have been very successful in bringing money into the school system. Following is a list of some of our more successful grants: ........... $150 Thousand dollar grant for a fitness center that is owned and operated by the Board of Education.
  • May 3 am Truth is, the Central Appalachia Empowerment supplied all $150,000 and had the $ earmarked for the fitness center long before ole what's his name was Superintendent of Schools.
  • May 3 am Mexicao has done the sane thing and legalized pot use in small quantities. Read all about it here.
  • May 3 am Are ready for war with Iran? We are seeing the first snipts of reason for another costly battle.
  • May 3 am  Hear about the latest PSC Complaint filed against Clay Roane PSD? After years of waiting for water, the system's only industrial park (over in Roane County) has no wa wa. According to the complaint, the water tank was built at too low an elevation and to have decent water pressure, will require $1000's to correct. Full details late tonight.
  • May 3 am Politicians are suppose to be squeaky clean. Above the trappings of the common person on the street. They're suppose to set the example for family values and above board conduct.
  • May 3 am  What do you do when you see a married one leaving work early and heading off for a  Tuesday, 2:30 in the afternoon "quickie"?   Oh Yes. There are eyes everywhere folks!
  • May 2 am  Howard Lacy Loving, 80, of Maysel, see OBITUARY page
  • May 2 am Today Clay Town Council meets at the water plant beginning at 6pm. With Council voting to form a Municipal Court and hire a  Judge last month, this could be a good meeting to take in.
  • May 2 am  At 4 the Eco/Dev Committee of the CAEZ meets followed by the full Board at 6pm. Last week it was announced the BC&G RR Co-Op had secured a yard engine for their excursion operation. Tonight's CAEZ meeting may provide more light on the group few said would get anywhere.
  • May 2 am But wait there's MORE! Tonight at 6pm the Clay County Board of Health convenes at 6pm. On their agenda is hiring a new WIC Director, approving an audit, and buying new furniture. County Commission appointed Linda Morehead to the Board replacing Bobby Stover. Tonight's gathering will be the first meeting as a Boardster for Ms Morehead.
  • May 2 am Get well wishes extended to Magistrate Asst. Lisa Slack who fell off a motorcycle over the weekend. No life threatening injuries but lots of road rash and cuts.
  • May 2 am Last night the School Board met  for over an hour. Much attention and time was given to the school bus drivers call out list policy. Last meeting some of the drivers asked for changes in the policy. The debate got thorny after the Board went into an illegal closed door session. During last night's meeting, more details were hashed out but in public this time. Is change coming? According to the School Super, the existing policy is illegal and most be changed.
  • May 2 am Will it be easy? 2/3's of the drivers have to vote and accept the change. Getting that many to agree on anything may be next to impossible. Bus Drivers meeting will be called for May 5th.
  • May 2 am All the other stuff on the agenda passed unanimously and without discussion.
  • May 2 am During the Board meeting last night, senior Boardster Gene King left the meeting ill. When he returned 5 minutes later he was white as a ghost and perspiring.  Gene, a laxative may help!
  • May 2 am   Over in Court land Judge Ric Facemire worked the bench Monday. Maybe most notable was the long time running civil case where a guy is taking the Bank of Clay to task over questionable land dealings and seizures. That was back when JD Morris was Bank Prez. Yesterday Morris asked to removed from all the proceedings. Facemire took Morris' request under advisement. The trial is set for the end of May.
  • May 2 am  New poll indicates Dubbya's approval rating has sunk even lower. Gosh we hate that.
  • May 1 am So.. did your housekeeper show up for work today? How about the guy that cuts your grass? Today is the day many illegal immigrants plan to stay at home in protest of new immigration legislation working its way thru Congress. Many employers of  illegals are supportive of the work stopage. For most of us here in Clay, it's just another Monday.
  • May 1 am There are tons of meetings this week. If you haven't attended one lately, why not this week. Tonight the School Board meets at 6pm. Tuesday the CAEZ meets at 4 and again at 6pm. Also on Tuesday, Clay Town Council meets at 6pm as does the Board of Health. Thursday is the BDA meeting at the Courthouse.
  • May 1 am Tonight's School Board meeting will be held at the main office on Gump Street and may be a long one. Excerpts from the non posted agenda include: Approve the transfer of Mary K. King from 21st Century Secretary to Secretary III at the Board of Education Office (Robin Litton's former job). Approve the employment of Lorna Truman as Multiple Disabilities Resource Room Teacher at Clay Elementary, effective October 2, 2006 (Rita Kirk's former job).  Approve the employment of an Assistant Football Coach @ CCHS (Frank Kleman's former job).

    •  Approve the employment of Jamie Tanner, Nina Lynch, Justin Salisbury, Melissa Koch and Lynn Brogan as substitute teachers, pending final certification.  Approve the employment of an Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent (Kenneth Tanner's former job). Accept the resignation of Jo Carver as Assistant Basketball Coach at CMS. Approve the employment of a Head Girls' Volleyball Coach at CMS.  Approve the employment of two full time cooks for a Summer Camp at CCHS for Charleston Catholic work crew.  Approve the employment of one full time cook for the summer program at Clay Elementary.  Approve the employment of one half time cook for the summer program at Clay Elementary, as needed.  Approve the employment of one full time cook for Camp Mustang at CMS.  Approve the employment of one half time cook for Camp Mustang at CMS, as needed. Approve the employment of two full time cooks for Clay County 4-H Camp at Camp Shepard near Gandeeville.  Approve the employment of one full time cook for Band Camp at Camp Shepard located near Gandeeville. Approve the employment of two full time cooks for Football Camp at CCHS.  Approve the employment of substitute cooks for all summer school programs. Approve the employment of four bus drivers for the summer school programs.  Approve the employment of two bus drivers for summer trips. Approve the employment of summer substitute bus drivers.  Approve the employment of four activity bus drivers, extra curricular contracts. Approve the transportation and food service requests for 4-H Camp.  Approve the overnight/out of state trip for a high school student to the National FBLA Conference in Nashville, Tenn., June 28 - July 3, 2006.   Approve the overnight/out of state trip for the Clay High and Clay Middle School students to the National TSA competition in Dallas, Texas, June 21 - 26, 2006.  Approve the annual contract with the Clay County Health Department.
  • May 1 am During the last meeting a secret time over changing the call out list for bus drivers resulted in some heated debate. That item is back on the table tonight.
  • May 1 am Above mentioned above, that "non posted" agenda. ....
  • May 1 pm    The School Board decided several years ago not to post the meeting agenda several days ahead of time as required by Open Meeting laws. School Board member Beth Cercone has her own web site and provides the public information at her own expense. Thanks Ms Cercone.
  • May 1 am   As the week goes along, we'll try to keep you informed of all the happenings in beautiful Clay County West Virginia.