NOVEMBER 2003 NEWS

  • Sept. 30 am  Ok  Ok To be fair.. there are TWO banks in the county and what's good for the goose... tit for tat and all that crap.....
  • Sept. 30 am To check out the public info on the Bank of Gassaway, start clicking clickers, to see there interest income statement, click IN THE BLACK
  • Set 30 am To see Gassaway's past due loans, click THEY GOT EM TOO. For the look see on how much executive officers have out in loans click ONLY TWO
  • Sept. 30 am For the complete picture on the financial posture of the Bank of Gasssaway, click  WHOLE PICTURE
  • Sept. 30 am  If you have some news or tips just let us know. If you want your classified in the Friday's Communicator, now the time to get them in.
  • Sept. 29 am  After a wet weekend with some pretty strong down pours, we're ready to finish up the 9th month of the year. We'll keep you posted as the week develops but in the mean time, how about some bank info
  • Sept. 29 am You could check out the FDIC  Press Release from March of this year
  • Sept. 29 am  You could check on the status of the Clayberry Bank according to the FDIC. Like the number of Clayberry BAD LOANS thru June 30th of this year. Keep in mind, when it reads 582 and 746... that's in $1000s.
  • Sept. 29 am You could look at the Clayberry Bank Income and Expense statement for the year so far. When you see those - or (-), that means a loss and that -117 and -66 is once again, in $1000s.
  • Sept. 29 am  Now don't get all worked up or anything, the sky ain't falling or something, but  the number of Charge OFFS, that the loans they wrote off and not collected, well, $401,000 for this year is quite a bit.
  • Sept. 29 am And you might be interested in the number of Board members and or Executive Officers with loans at the bank. That number is one, bigger than $500,000 and TAKE A LOOK at the amount owed.
  • Sept. 29 am  Now we don't have an inside snitch, all the info is available from the FDIC and  the WV BANK COMMISSION. You might want to book mark those links for future reference.
  • Sept. 28 pm  For our weekly wrap up....
  • Sept. 28 pm  Clayberry's GOlden Delicious Festival came to a close last Sunday. Based on the crowds and the participation, it was a success. But with success, came the thugs who marred the annual event with acts of senseless vandalism and tire slashing
  • Sept. 28 pm last Monday, miracles never cease. After leading the County Commission in their vote to give away the Commission room to the Family Law Court last winter, Commissioner Jimmy Sams rethunk the idea and along with Commission Triplett, voted to move the  rented space upstairs in the Courthouse. And a second miracle was revealed during that Monday meeting, County Commission is considering a deal to trade the old State Road Garage to the Clay Fire Dept. in exchange for the fire boys deeding over their property ( old Elk Hardware building beside the Courthouse) so Magistrate and Family Law Court could be held there. Make just tooooooooo much sense clickers.
  • Sept. 28 pm As the week opened a 26 year old mother alleged police brutality of a county deputy. The woman provided a detailed account to the investigating officer and an investigation is under way.
  • Sept. 28 pm Despite local school leaders continuing their dog and pony show on how great our educational system is, regional newspapers gave front page accounts on  eight counties with dire educational needs. Clay County of course made the list.
  • Sept. 28 pm On Thursday of last week two Boil Water Orders were lifted. The one for Queen Shoals and another for the Ovapa area. The long standing BWO for Queen Shoals and their long water pressure situation continues.
  • Sept. 28 pm  During Thursday night's Clay Roane PSD meeting, the appointed ones continued with their plans to purchase a  $20,000 4WHD pick up over the objections of many in the community and the County Commission. Also mentioned during the meeting, the Feds are considering pulling money from a long stalled water line improvement project in the Queen Shoals water service area.
  • Sept. 28 pm Friday morning, after pleas from her attorney, indicted and out on bond Tonya Salsbury,  was given a break after failing three drug tests, With new bond in place and with new conditions in place, Ms Sallsbury remains free.
  • Sept. 28 pm And Friday night Clay High continued their winning season with a big time win over rival Herbert Hoover. Quietly people are asking: Is this THE year CCHS could go all the way??????????????????
  • Sept. 28 pm  The chill came to Clayberry this week as fall advances, the first of the leaves starting dropping, the first fall colors began to show on the Red Maples. People fired up chain saws, mean were seen carrying those yellow containers of anti freeze, and kids were seen wearing long pants. Summer is gone.
  • Sept. 28 am Last night under beautiful clear skies Clay High put it all over Herbert Hoover 20 to 17. Lots and lots of Clayonians traveled down Rt. 4 to show support for the home town  team.  So far this season, 5 wins for CCHS
  • Sept. 28 am  How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?   Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
  • Sept. 28 am  Over in Circuit Court land, with Judge Alsop on the bench, the state asked that Tonya Salisbury's bond be revoked and she be sent to Central Regional Jail. Salisbury was indicted by the last Grand Jury on 2nd degree murder charges in the death of Chad Salisbury. Chad was her husband.
  • Sept. 28 am  Hey get this, Prosecutor Grindo showed and seemed ready for action. Had paperwork in order and such! Lucy Cruickshank testified for the state that Tonya had failed 3  drug tests since July.  Ahhhh, that's a no no.  As for the property bond, there was a lien on the holding and that's another no no.
  • Sept. 28 am Portly attorney John Mitchell Sr asked the court to give client Tonya just one break, to allow for new bond, and forget about the three  failed drug tests.  Alsop did just but wasn't foolin around when he ordered, new bond, home confinement, weekly pee testing and... if she tested positive one more time, off to jail she would go without a hearing.
  • Sept. 28 am  Before walking out of the courthouse Salisbury was pee tested.  By the 3:15 Friday, with ankle monitor in place, and according to the Circuit Court's staff, Salisbury made bond and had left the Courthouse.
  • Sept. 28 am  Word on the street has it, the pee test came back positive.
  • Sept. 28 am  If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?  Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?  If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
  • Sept. 26 pm  Over on the ADVISORY page is the Charleston Gazette story from two days ago. That story centered on state school administrators handing out pretty paper certificates to all the WV schools with failure status under the new No School Left Behind Act.
  • Sept. 26 pm We got a note from Sally Legg asking for a posting. According to Sally, there is a rumor going around the county that she is going out of business. According to Legg, NOT SO, " I am working as usual!"
  • Sept. 26 am It's been a long week clickers, the postings are brief this time around
  • Sept. 26 am After much much rain and a mud bath field, Clay Middle put ti all over the Glade Bulldogs last night 28 to 6. Tonight Clay High takes on Herbert Hoover just down the road at Hoover
  • Sept. 26 am Last night, Clay Roane PSD did the unthinkable, they rethunk their position on hiring a full time maintenance man... Even with boardster Larry White saying that they have enough money to do so, the group decided adding additional monthly expense. But! They once again refused the notion that buying a used company vehicle  would be better than buying a $20,000 new truck.
  • Sept. 26 am  We'll add more details of last night's meeting over the weekend but at one point Chair Postelwait said they (Clay Roane) was pushed into taking over the Queen Shoals service area. Hey you down there in Queen Shoals land, want your own governing board back? Make plans to attend the next County Commission meeting.
  • Sept. 26 am  School systems across the state and maybe the nation for that matter put on such a dog and pony show, few can decide what to believe and what not to believe. This past summer the State school system was forced to reveal which schools were "failures". Clay County had several. Yesterday another report came out which indicated the State folks are once again trying to twist dismal failure into a good public relations. To read the Charleston Gazette's take, walk over to the  ADVISORY page
  • Sept. 26 am  How about a real sharp looking S-10 pick up? See HOPS on the homepage now
  • Sept. 26 am  And finally for this posting, Melissa Postelwait really knows how to use the Public Service Commission. Click CIRCLE THE WAGONS
  • Sept. 25 pm We've added a new button over on the PHOTO page from the 2003 Golden Delicious Festival.
  • Sept. 25 pm  Events page now lists a special fund raiser for Jordan Varney
  • Sept. 25 pm a couple days ago during the CCC meeting, questions came up on how the Clay Roane PSD manages to spend $800 per month for gas while the truck spends much of its time broke down? Maybe answers will come this evening during the PSDs meeting which starts at 7pm in the CDC building on Main Street.
  • Sept. 25 am  Have you turned on your heater yet? Gettin chilly here in in Clayberry
  • Sept. 25 am  Over on our ADVISORY page is some pretty extensive Clay County data on elevations and locations of various buildings and regions of the county. You might want to right click and save the info for future reference. We'll leave the stuff there for a few days.
  • Sept. 25 Tonight is the fresh out of debt Clay Roane PSD meeting, 7pm, CDC building on Main Street. Tonight's agenda calls for the hiring of a full time maintenance worker. In that little paper over in Clay, last week, was an ad asking for bids for this same PSD to purchase a NEW full size 4whd pick up truck.
  • Sept. 25 am During the last Clay Roane meeting, Chair Postelwait said that they they were spending $1000 per month maintaining their existing service truck. During a more recent County Commission meeting, Postelwait recanted that statement and said the figure was actually between $300 and $400 per month on the  old red Chevy. The Commissioners' present asked Postelwait to consider buying a good used truck instead of going so far in debt. Postelwait was hesitant to do so.
  • Sept. 25 am  When Clay County PSD put in for a rate increase 2 1/2 years ago, the WV PSC told them how to guarantee getting the raise. Clay County PSD was told to increase their debt load to justify an increase. For that water service provider,  a new building was purchased, a new truck was bought as well as adding part time employees. With new debt on the books, the Clay County PSD rate increase sailed right thru the process even after local citizen Fred Sampson took the case to the WV Supreme Court. Worked for them!!!!
  • Sept. 25 am Let's see now, Clay Roane plans to hire a full time person and buy a new truck. Could this be posturing for an increase? You can count on it! Don't miss tonight's Clay Roane PSD meeting beginning at 7pm.
  • Sept. 25 am Boy do we have egg on our face. In the latest edition of the Communicator, we have quotes from Clay County PSD Office Manager Cindy Schoolcraft. Unfortunately, the Clay County part didn't come out. Late in the night as the story was coming together, maybe one too many beers too, we wrote Schoolcraft was with Clay Roane PSD instead of the right one, which is Clay County PSD. Big apologies Cindy, we wouldn't wish that mistake on anyone.
  • Sept. 24 am  Marie Richards, 72, of Bickmore , see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 24 am Yes it got chilly willy last night. Boil Water Order in place for all of Queen Shoals water service area as well as for those customers served by the Ovapa storage tank. Boil it first
  • Sept. 24 am Last night the Clay Middle School Girl's Volleyball team put it all over Spencer in their firs game of the season. Next week CMS takes on Walton.
  • Sept. 24 am Many Clayonians travel to Charleston, Summersville or Spencer to shop at a Wall Mart store. May not have to drive so far soon.  Wall Mart as well as an Applebees and Wendy's are setting up storefronts near the Elkview exit of I 79.
  • Sept. 24 am  With winter coming on, are you tired of that old chain saw not starting?  Norman's J's got an answer out Harrison way. For more info see the STIHL ad on the home page.
  • Sept. 24 am Our Clay County Educational system just made regional headlines. Yelp we're near the top again. Of the 1500+ counties in a 17 state region, Clay County was listed as one of WV's 8 counties "with dire educational needs". For those that haven't seen the Tuesday's Charleston Gazette coverage click, WE MADE IT AGAIN
  • Sept. 24 am Being a little slow in the rememory dept., maybe we've already posted this but.........  Remember Eric Pierson? The guy who got jury tampering during a welfare fraud case last Spring? Pierson plead to contempt of court, got sentenced to 10 days in the can, got probation for 18 months, and had to pay court costs and a fine. With Pierson already having served 24 hours in jail, the Judge  suspended the other 9 days in jail.
  • Sept. 24 am Some folks are saying we're too quick to judge our County Commission.. the part about them rethinking a dumb idea made months ago over renting out the Commission room. Sometimes a little encouragement goes a long way clickers. We hope anyway!
  • Sept. 24 am  As for the  26 year old lady claiming a deputy slammed her against her car after being handcuffed behind her back and all done in front of her 4 year old son, the lady has now filed  a complaint against the black shirt and an internal investigation is being performed.  She says she just wanted to file a vehicle accident report when alleged  the police brutality incident  happened Monday afternoon at 4:45pm behind the new Courthouse. There is an eye witness too. We'll keep you posted.
  • Sept. 24 am Don't forget this Friday the Health Dept. will be closed to paper train employees.
  • Sept. 23 am Leo Franklin Cain, 68, see FUNERAL page; Jacob McKinley Grose, 78, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 23 am NEW NEW NEW BOIL WATER ORDER issued yesterday afternoon by Clay Roane PSD Chief Operator Jennifer Traub for ALL OF QUEEN SHOALS PSD. Main Line break did it. Boil It before using
  • Sept. 23 am  Also The BOIL WATER ORDER continues for those on the OVAPA tank of Clay Roane PSD.
  • Sept. 23 am Now it's not very often we have nice words about any politicians so pay attention! We're going to say something nice about Commissioner President Jimmy Sams.
  • Sept. 23 am First, time to bad mouth  our elected Commissioner Mathew Bragg. Bragg was once again absent from duty during yesterday's County Commission meeting. Those have been rescheduled four... no five different  times during the last four years to accommodate Bragg's work schedule. Doesn't seem to be working! No Bragg, no rep for the taxpayers from A District. One guy said he hoped Bragg showed up better for work if he gets elected Sheriff next year.
  • Sept. 23 am Now for Sams.  During yesterday's CCC meeting, Sams asked fellow Commissioner Pete Triplett to change the 8 month's earlier decision to rent out the Commission room to the Family Law Judge ( WV Supreme Court). Sams said that once the rental deal is done, the room wouldn't be available for even counting ballots on election night. The people's room would be no more. Yesterday, with Sams spearheading the effort,  CCC voted to redo the earlier vote and ask for a "change of scope" and send the Judge to other digs.  Don't know if it is that cast is too tight on his leg (sending more blood to his brain) or what, but Sams is thinking better!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 23 am Oh. One other note. No mention was made of the rumor that Sams "10" would have to be removed from the room if the Supreme Court rented it.  All you bible thumpers, put your swords away for another day.
  • Sept. 23 am And And And talk about a miracle!!!!!!!! During yesterday's gathering, came this:  Behind the scenes, the County Commission is considering, buying the old State Road garage building at Two Run ( cost $1), offering the property to the Clay Fire Dept. for a their new home; and then asking the Fire Dept. to give up their property beside the Courthouse ( old Elk Valley Hardware building and old Clay Post Office building) to the CCC so the CCC could use it for Magistrate Court and the Family Law Court. It's d*** scary but their brains are in gear !!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 23 am Get this, the Fire Dept. would get a nice big, ready to use building, the Commission would get property right beside the Courthouse  for easy access for all the Magistrate Court customers AND a place big enough for the Family Law Court.
  • Sept. 23 am One other note from yesterday's CCC meeting. Marlyn Starcher asked the boys up front to float a emergency service LEVY. KaaChing...
  • Sept. 23 am Yesterday morning local black shirts found a burnt to a crisp late model Buick. 911 dispatcher said it matched the one stolen Saturday night.
  • Sept. 23 am And Yes we're working on the handcuffing of the Mom with a 4 year old in tow yesterday afternoon.
  • Sept. 22 am Ida May Boggs, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 22 am BOIL WATER ORDER for Clay Roane PSD. A 6 inch water line broke Saturday and drained the storage tank. Boil it to be safe!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 22 am Last week was a biggie for this part of the country for many reasons. Like....
  • Sept. 22 am In small town America, the local bank is the cornerstone of the community. Last week Clayberry Bank President Scott Legg suddenly retired. Greg Gency assumed the top spot immediately after the Board meeting. We spoke with Scott Legg this past weekend. He said that he was ready for retirement and "wasn't going to do anything". Even after front page reassurances in The Communicator, many in the community are still scratching their head.
  • Sept. 22 am Last Tuesday during a specially called County Commission meeting, our Business Development Authority survived the chopping block. It appeared, before the meeting, County Commission had every intention to disband the group in an attempt to keep the BDA vs Clay County Bank lawsuit from going to trial.
  • Sept. 22 am By mid week, last week, Hurricane Isabel sent strong winds and lots of rain to WV. In this county, no damage but lots of wa wa. Elsewhere in WV, as late as mid Sunday, 15,000 people were still without electric service.
  • Sept. 22 am And then the grand daddy of them all, the Clay County Golden Delicious Festival fired up. Thousands attended this year's events. Rain marred just a few activities on friday morning but for the rest of the four day event, the weather was great.
  • Sept. 22 am Of course with the good came the bad. Even with law enforcement thick and on most every corner, local thugs slashed and keyed vehicles. Even Deputy Rider's truck was keyed!
  • Sept. 22 am Does Clayberry like fireworks? You bet. Saturday night's aerial display dazzled young and old alike. How many?  Don't know but it 40 minutes to get all the cars back out of downtown Clay.
  • Sept. 22 am And who was there 'til 3 am cleaning up the mess? Hawkie Keener!
  • Sept. 22 am Today our County Commissioners met in regular session beginning at 10 am. Don't miss it!
  • Sept. 21 am  We'll get to the weekend wrap up later this afternoon but first...
  • Sept. 21 am  Our Golden Delicious Festival continues today with a Gospel Sing at the Courthouse and a big time Chili Cook off Contest just down from the Courthouse on Main Street.
  • Sept. 21 am It takes a little while to add a new link and page to showcase our pictures from the Festival.   While you wait, we've added a few pics over on the ADVISORY page. For those with slow dial connections it'll take a while to load but we've got some real cute pics there and there NOW.
  • Sept. 20 am Last night Clay High put it all over Calhoun 39-13. CCHS continues lookin good.
  • Sept. 20 am A large crowd gathered on the Courthouse pavillion to hear live music last night. Cool dry weather is making it even nicer for this year's Apple Festival
  • Sept. 20 am Just before midnight, over the scanner came a report of kids in a silver vehicle throwing rocks at a trailer. Law enforcement responded quickly.
  • Sept. 20 am Here's the plan, we'll post a bunch of Apple pics Saturday evening. If you see one you'd like to keep, just right click and hit "save as".  Get em as you see em 'cause they will be pulled and replaced in a day or so. Why? We can only afford so much web space.
  • Sept. 19 pm The Communicator made it to the news stands around 4pm this afternoon. With all the people in the county for the Apple Festival, better get one soon.  Front page this edition is the Clay Bank story on change with an interview with new CCB President Greg Gency
  • Sept. 19 pm Here in Clayberry, with the weather report looking good, the entire county is celebrating in downtown Clay as the Apple Festival kicks into high gear. Lots of music, crafts, booths and fun for the entire family.
  • Sept. 19 pm Of course there's always some idiot ready to screw everything up for everybody else. Such was the case Thursday night as tires were slashed. From the High School on thru Two Run, tire after tire destroyed by thugs.
  • Sept. 19 am It's time for the real thing clickers, it time for the Apple Festival. No not the Spaghetti Festival, the real thang. Booths, carnival rides, and more kicked into gear Thursday afternoon in preparation for the biggest event of the year, The Clay County Golden Delicious Festival.
  •  Sept. 19 am Action starts this morning rain or shine. It's not too late world wide clickers, put the kids in the back and the ole lady up front  and come to Clay County, West Virginia. Lots of fun for the whole family
  • Sept. 19 am We got a real nice interview with Clay County Bank's new President Greg Gency. That story along with lots of juicy details of life in Clayberry will be in this week's Communicator. Look for the new edition to hit the stands around 4pm.
  • Sept. 18 LATE pm. Clay County PSD Office Manager Cindy Schoolcraft lifted the Boil Water Order for the Triplett Ridge service area today around noon. Drink Drink Drink.
  • Sept. 18 LATE pm. If you'd like to se the financial standing of the Clay County Bank according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation records, click  LOTS OF NUMBERS
  • Sept. 18 pm According to Clay Roane PSD Chief Operator Jennifer Traub, the Boil Water Order for the Queen Shoals water service area has been lifted. The other long standing BWO for low pressure customers remains in affect
  • Sept. 18 am We've got a request from the non profit radio station Clay FM at Two Run. They're having a fund raiser yard sale this Saturday and need some items to sell . Please bring your donated items to the station Friday afternoon after 3 pm. Thanks
  • Sept. 18 am Remember our story on ex Prosecutor Jeff Davis getting into the oil and gas business?  Mr. D said the big drilling rig is set to come on site this week and start the boring. Who knows, Jeff may be the next Jed Clampett!
  • Sept. 18 am  Last call for classifieds for Friday's Communicator. Have them emailed by noon today
  • Sept. 18 am Great big Birthday wishes to Lindy Myers
  • Sept. 18 am  Today the Golden Delicious Spaghetti Festival opens. Already the booths are being set up. If you are planning on parking on the Rite Aid parking lot during the festival, then plan on getting towed! Confirmed today, the lot will remain open for customers even during the parade Saturday
  • Sept. 18 am Back last year , as JD Morris was being sent off to prison, and Scott Legg was ascending the throne to the top seat, the Fed regulators wrote this in the cease and desist order given the Clayberry Bank: Previous examinations of the Bank have revealed a pattern of unsafe and unsound practices as well as violations of state and federal laws, rules and  regulations.
  • Sept. 18 am And :   A review of each existing officer's job  responsibilities, performance and abilities.  The review shall focus on an assessment of the  duties performed by the president, senior vice president, all vice presidents and the internal auditor and shall result in a formal determination of the  ability of each individual to perform competently his or her assigned duties.  The primary purpose of this review shall be to aid in the development of a management structure suitable to the Bank's needs and that is adequately  staffed by qualified and trained personnel.  If existing personnel do not  satisfy the Bank's needs, they should be terminated and replaced with  personnel who can perform the duties on an interim basis while the Board   conducts a personnel search from outside the Bank.
  • Sept. 18 am On Tuesday the Clay County bank Board of Directors met, by noon, Bank President  Scott Legg was out the door. Gone, Resigned and Retired!
  • Sept. 18 am Greg Gency has been appointed the interim President with Brett Stover the new number 2 man.  Talk about a short time at the top!
  • Sept. 18 am So what happened? Is this related to the  BDA vs Clay County Bank lawsuit over Filcon? That trial was slated for Sept. 23rd but now has been rescheduled.
  • Sept. 18 am We hope  to add a bunch more details in tomorrow's Communicator.
  • Sept. 18 am And remember, you got it here first! Remember that next Feb. when we do our  fund raising campaign.
  • Sept. 17 am As far as we know, the Boil Water Order for Triplett Ridge and all of Queen Shoals remains in affect. BOIL IT BOIL IT
  • Sept. 17 am  Clay County's Business Development Authority remains!
  • Sept. 17 am Yesterday's Special County Commission meeting left the group alive and operating. First the CCC went into secret time with Prosecutor Grindo followed by some more secret time with the BDA allowed in.  Before the meeting and during the time they stood in the hallway with the rest of the peanut gallery, the BDA gang seemed "tense" over the possibility of the Commission dissolving the eco/dev group.
  • Sept. 17 am Commission President Sams wanted the meeting adjourned without much public comment. Ivydale resident Elizabeth Sampson got a couple of questions in but as she was asking the third, Sams adjourned the gathering.
  • Sept. 17 am  What's behind all this posturing? It appears Commission President Sams wants shed of the upcoming CCC/BDA vs Clay County Bank trial. Keep in mind, the BDA's attorney is Barbara Schamberger who almost beat Sams when she tried for his elected spot.  When the BDA voted to keep Scham as attorney over Sams' wishes, Sams resigned from the BDA.
  • Sept. 17 am Full details in this Friday's Communicator.
  • Sept. 17 am  Remember from the last edition of the Communicator, the illegal vote taken by the BDA? Must be something goin 'round clickers. Yesterday, our highest elected office holders in the County, the people that set the example for all others to follow, the Clay County Commission, voted during secret time, a real no no for people that try to live by the law.
  • Sept. 17 am Ever seen spaghetti seeds or spaghetti vines? See the ADVISORY page now
  • Sept. 17 am There's a lot of Clayonians with a lot of questions on water in general, drinking water in particular, and performance of our local PSDs. We found a site that may be able to answer some of your questions. Click EPA WATER for info.
  • Sept. 17 am Better enjoy the weather, the storms may be coming our way tonight.
  • Sept. 16 am That home page inset photo, top, shows a close up of a naturally grown Spaghetti bush in full bloom and ready for pickin'. Make plans now to be a part of the the 30th Annual Golden Delicious Spaghetti Festival this Thurs, Fri., Sat., and Sunday.  By the way, this Sunday's Chili Cook Off offers a $1000 first place prize. Better get your entry in NOW.  a $1000!!!!!
  • Sept. 16 am This morning's Earnie Sirk vs Clay County Development Corp hearing didn't happen. Late late last Friday, the Judge called off Monday's activities with rescheduling going on now. We'll keep you posted.
  • Sept. 16 am Today at 10 am, Clay County PSD will hold their rescheduled monthly Board meeting. If you're one of those people still wanting water service in the Lizemore area , you might want to attend and ask: What's the hold up? You said it was ready for bid 6 weeks ago!
  • Sept. 16 am Today at 1, our County Commission meets in special session to discuss the future of the Business Development Authority. Look for the BDA to be disbanded as the CCC tries to get the BDA's  attorney, Barbara Schamberger, of the case and out the door. Many in the coffee house crowd are saying: So What!! They haven't done a thing but cost money for 7 years!
  • Sept. 16 am  While that may be true, tossing the group out may jeopardize plans to acquire the old State Road garage at Two Run for a bargain price PLUS since the BDA is the Chief complainant in the Clay County Bank lawsuit, that $90,000 worth of property near Ovapa may end up being owned by the bank! Ahhh, what's $90,000 anyway, who really cares.
  • Sept. 16 am Did you know that there are 4,836 houses in Clayberry?  Did you know of the 4,836 houses, 1995 were built before 1960?  Did you know we have 7 homes in the county valued at over $1 million? For more details on Clay County, walk over to the CENSUS 2000 site
  • Sept. 16 am Nice sounding Gand Am over on the classified page.
  • Sept. 16 am And our Will Rogers quote of the day: There are three kinds of men:

    • The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence.
    Sept. 16 am Tired of cranking on that old chain saw? Norman Johnson has a solution. Click the STIHL equipment button on the home page for more
  • Sept. 15 am  If you haven't heard, Clay County PSD issued a Boil Water Order for Triplett Ridge yesterday around 9 am. Tell your neighbor not to drink the stuff unless they boil it first.  The Queen Shoals service area continues on their Boil Water Order as well
  • Sept. 15 am Wake up , it's  a new week clickers. Lots going on. Today Earnie "Wide Glide" Sirk  is scheduled to get his day in Court as he goes after the often in court practices of Clay Development Corp. Sirk's Court case deals with last summer when the powers that be orchestrated his overthrow from the CDC Chairmanship position. We forgot to check with Circuit Clerk Mike Asbury  last Friday but, if all goes as planned earlier in the month, action begins at 9:30am today.
  • Sept. 15 am Scheduled for Tuesday is  a Special County Commission meeting called by Peter Triplett and Jimmy Sams to deal with the future of the Business Development Authority (BDA). No No No , nothing to do with the BDA breaking Open Meeting Laws but rather it LOOKS like Sams and Company plan to disband our eco/dev agency in an attempt to stop next week's (Sept. 23rd) day in court, CCC/BDA vs  Clay County Bank over the Filcon property. Up for grabs is the $90,000 worth of building and property near Ovapa. That's $90,000 worth of taxpayer paid for property.
  • Sept. 15 am Last call for any company wanting to get their ad on the Clay County Tourism map. There are two spots available. Call 548-4662 today. The  2003 -2004 road map comes out this Friday evening!
  • Sept. 15 am  It's time for the annual Clay County Golden Delicious Spaghetti Festival. Now we know, some come the four day affair the "Apple" festival but their wrong. No where in the programs, signs, or brochures does it say, Apple Festival.
  • Sept. 15 am We did a little background research and got to the bottom of the matter. Years ago, a Mullins fellow that lived on Porter's creek came up with the best tasting spaghetti around. He grew the stuff behind his house! From that one little pasta plant, history was made.
  • Sept. 15 am And Yes take a good close look at that home page inset photo. That's an image of the rare  Clay County Pasta Bush. Much like the best coffee from Columbia, the best tasting spaghetti comes from the moist northern slopes of Clay County WV.
  • Sept. 15 am From Will Rogers: Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.
  • Sept.  15 am We'll keep you posted as best we can as the action takes place.
  • Sept. 14 pm  NEW BOIL WATER ORDER   NEW BOIL WATER ORDER. If you live on Triplett Ridge DON"T DRINK THE WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sept. 14 pm  Clay County PSD Office Manager Cindy Schoolcraft issued a Boil Water Order for Triplett Ridge this morning at 9am. The tank went dry when a main line sprung a leak. Know someone out Triplett Ridge? call em and let em know
  • Sept. 14 pm by the way those front page pictures are from Friday's  Clay High game and were emailed over to us by L.C. Thanks!
  • Sept. 14 am  Charles Allen Shaffer, 53 of Wallback, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 14 am  This week's wrap up starts off much like last week's. Just 5 days after the mass break ins at Linda's, Kate's, NAPA, Darlene's and the Laundromat, on Friday Sept. 12th, our local IGA store was broke into. The crime spree continues.   This past week....
  • Sept. 14 am Clay County PSD did not meet, management was away at Snowshoe for training as they call it.   Clay Roane PSD did meet this last week, plans continue for the purchase of a new 4WHD truck as the announcement was made of  a new Boil Water Order for the Queen Shoals service area. The entire customer base down there. Another main line break! A big cheese from Charleston told the Clay Roane gang, they MUST straigtened out the Queen Shoals low water pressure mess or else
  • Sept. 14 am  Our Health Dept. met this past week on Wed. There, the public was told that they had finished the last budget year with a $100,000 + surplus to add to their normal $800,000 surplus. During the meeting concerns were raised over all the Boil Water Orders with Director Karen Dawson stating that she hasn't drank the local water for years.
  • Sept. 14 am Our County Commission met this past week. On the agenda was mention of kicking the Family Law Judge out the rented space and the Commissioner Sams reclaiming the room for the CCC. The vote never came as the one wanting the change, Commissioner Sams, was a no show. Sources close say the reason for the change: something to do with Sams' plastic 10 Commandment sign still hanging on the Courthouse wall. Sams' hung the Dollar Store plaque as an election year tactic. Back then the manuver garnered regional media attention where once again, Clay County received the black eye. When the full story comes out, watch for the bible thumpers to once again come out in force and make media attention with their contentions: The heck with the law of the land, we know what's best!
  • Sept. 14 am Before the CCC meeting, Business Development Authority Chair Paige Willis all but said: To heck with the law of the land in reference to the BDA breaking Open Meeting Laws a few days earlier and printed in the most recent Communicator. Willis was also in agreement of fellow Boardster Arthur Jarrett  who didn't want to hear that guy ( the ace cub reporter), run his jaws.
  • Sept. 14 am We remembered the 2972 casualties of Sept. 11 2001.
  • Sept. 14 am As the week closed, both Clay High and Clay Middle kept their winning streaks alive as the opponents continue to fall left and right.
  • Sept. 14 am Fall was in the air this past week as humidity all but disappeared and blue skies prevailed. No rain!  With the week over, many in the community began their labors of setting up for the  biggest event of the year. The Clay County Golden Delicious Spaghetti Festival.
  • Sept. pm  Welcome Clay High Class of 53
  • Sept. 13 pm QUEEN SHOALS CUSTOMERS Listen up! Your entire water system is under a BOIL WATER ORDER issued last Wednesday. Don't drink it unless you boil it first. One guy told us that makes brushing teeth rough. Ahhh... Queen Shoalites, wait until the wa wa cools before brushing your teeth.
  • Sept. 13 pm   Sometimes during the week we don't take the time to include some good stuff, like...   Our school system brags on all the puters in the school system, how millions has been spent on modern computers,  and how the county's education program is a cut above the rest. Much lip services is often given on how Superintendent Linkinooooooger keeps the parents informed and abreast of changes. Of course many in community dispute such remarks. For instance.
  • Sept. 13 pm If your wanting the latest news from the school system's web site, well.... It's six month's out of date. Click INFORMATION HIGHWAY? NO WAY
  • Sept. 13 pm  And of course from Clay Elem. , our National School of Excellence, ditto!  Clay Elem's web site hasn't been fired up since last May. Click NOTHING THERE EITHER
  • Sept. 13 pm  Talk about a year for football action. Last night Clay High out it all over Valley/Fayette 50 to 16. One night earlier, Clay Middle did in nasty ole Richwood 20 to zip. Go Clay!
  • Sept. 13 pm  No No No, we're not quite ready to provide more details on the demise of the Business Development Authority. That'll come later tonight
  • Sept. 13 pm  How about a long overdue update on Clay Roane PSD and and the Jessie Parsons complaint filed with the WV Public Service Commission...
  • Sept. 13 pm   Parsons complained about water pressure issues and air coming thru water meters and the customer being charged for it. Parsons has since settled with the PSD and the WV PSC.  Real interesting wording found in the report. Here's one passage: The District should evaluate its current financial position as soon as possible to determine if a rate increase is needed. Staff also recommended that the Clay County Commission appoint new board members to the Queen Shoals Public Service District, to represent the Queen Shoals customers until the consolidation of all three Clay County public service districts has been completed. Rate Increase? You bet it's coming
  • Sept. 13 pm As for who is responsible for Queen Shoals customers? Again from the PSC report:  Staff observed that it appears that Queen Shoals is now merely a paper district and has been abandoned by its board members and the County Commission. And: The District has an operation and management agreement with the Queen Shoals Public Service District (Queen Shoals), pursuant to which the District is performing maintenance, operation, billing, collecting and all other relevant functions, including financial authority to pay bills, for Queen Shoals.
  • Sept. 13 pm For the complete WV PSC package containing those quotes and a bunch more reaaaaaaaaal interesting thoughts, click DETAILS COUNT
  • Sept. 13 am For over 6 years the Clay County Business Development Authority has been charged with the responsibility of increasing business in the county, creating jobs, promoting Clayberry and such.
  • Sept. 13 am  There is every indication that the Business Development Authority will be disbanded this coming Tuesday during a Special Clay County Commission meeting. Many more details coming this weekend. Check back later
  • Sept. 12 am  All Queen Shoals PSD customers, you are under a Boil Water Order. Boil it first!  Someone near the Glenn Post Office ripped into a main water line Wed afternoon. Mud and yuck ..like drinking that?  Boil It
  • Sept. 12 am In year's past, our school system has paid little attention to BWOs and left water fountains on allowing the snot nosed crowd exposed to the dangers of contaminated wa wa. Already at least one parent has expressed concerns.
  • Sept. 12 am Real interesting Clay Roane PSD meeting last night....
  • Sept. 12 am The plan continues for the cash strapped water provider to buy a $19,000 new 4WHD. Best price so far, Telford's Chevy in Clay.
  • Sept. 12 am  Questions were raised about the Board heading off for training with Chair Postelwait charging the PSD 3 nights lodging. Fellow Boardster Dave Saulsgiver said that driving to Flatwoods and back each day would save the PSD $. Postelwait refused to do such
  • Sept. 12 am Way back when Clay Roane PSD took over the operation of Queen Shoals PSD, JD Douglas made one thing absolutely clear to the governing body. Changes MUST be made in the Queen Shoals service area or else!! Thangs aren't changed one bit
  • Sept. 12 am  How do you know when you're in trouble? ANSWER: When the State Regulators come to your  PSD meeting after normal business hours and on overtime.
  • Sept. 12 am Last night a guy from the State Health Dept. ( pic from page inset) told the PSD they were in deep stuff for not filling out mandated paperwork in a timely manner. He went on to say the report that was finally submitted was "derogatory" in nature. Chair Postelwait agreed with that assessment. So who did the offending paperwork? Boardster Dave Saulsgiver and (then) Chief Water Operator Bobby Burdette.
  • Sept. 12 am OK All you Punkineers, listen up. Think they're ready to get your water line extension started? Nope. There's another hold up. This time the WV PSC won't give the green light over a clause in the engineering contract which allows Jim Hildruth ( front page, engineer) to collect interest on his money already spent on the work done.  Seems to be a real stumbling block too. Hildruth has not been paid for any of his services on Punkin nor the Amma/Left hand project and won't be until the project actually goes to bid.
  • Sept. 12 am    Remember Mark Whitley? Several years ago Whitley engineered a deal for Roane County to gain some flat land and access ( near Amma) for an industrial. The deal was quite remarkable because just  three weeks earlier, the same property was passed over by the CAEZ which Whitely had a hand in. Hmmmmmmmmm......  Whitley is now heading to greener pastures. Click, Bye Bye  Roane County
  • SEPT. 11 PM Clay Roane PSD Chief Water Operator Jennifer Traub issued a Boil Water Order for the ENTIRE Queen Shoals PSD service area effective Wed Sept. 10. The ENTIRE system! Something about a water main break near the post office. We'll get details during tonight's Clay Roane Board meeting but in the mean time, QUEEN SHOALS WATER CUSTOMERS, BOIL YOUR WATER!!
  • Sept. 11amJunior Lee Adkins, 69, of Lizemores, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 11 am Two years ago this morning,  Clayberry was starting the day off as normal. Over at the Courthouse, the Commission was holding a meeting. Word spread quickly from the 2 TVs in the building. By 10 it was apparent, the country was under attack.
  • Sept. 11 am Over at the Henry Clay, all eyes were glued to the one TV. Few  were talking. Even the local drinkers saw the images as sobering. Thru all the day , we spoke quickly. No jokes, no funnies were passed.
  • Sept. 11 am 3000 souls taken. We mourned then. Today we remember.
  • Sept. 10 am Maggie Hope Ramsey Stewart Pepples, 52, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 10 We are one day shy of the country's most horrendous day. There will be plenty of memorials and such as we remember the 3000 taken by terrorists from Saudi Arabia ( 17) and from Iraq ( 2 from there). We morn the loss.
  • Sept. 3 pm  From last night's meeting.....
  • Sept. 3 pm   Town Council met briefly for their monthly gathering will little new revealed. Mostly cut and dry with all voted unanimous. Last month the municipal leadership voted to change gears and instead of building a new debt laden water plant, to instead rebuild the old water lines to the Maysel tank, upgrade the pumps and storage facilities. It takes two votes by Council for such to be law. That happened last night, the second reading of the change of scope with no discussion.
  • Sept. 3pm Last night CAEZ held their by laws mandated annual meeting. Pretty nice affair and attended by nearly 40. Of course the dog and pony show was mostly centered on all the successes from this last year like Filcon.... I mean Mt Hope Industrial Park and the micro loan program which has provided funding for three business' in county's other than Clay. One guy, Fred Sampson asked CAEZ leadership to dedicate itself this coming year to doing something for this county. Something like an industrial park.
  • Sept. 3 pm  That's Red Derring top and CAEZ guest speaker Delegate Pino on the home page insets.
  • Sept. 3 pm Sometimes it hard to figure the school system. For years they have cried the need for more $. Each time the work to implement an excess school levy, the cry is the same, we need more, we can't live within our means. The confusing part now is, in their just made public income/expense statement for this past year, our school system gang took in $17,454,945.34 while spending just $12,888,943.03.  Hmmmm... Doesn't that sound like a 4 million dollar surplus?
  • Sept. 2 PM  From the very beginning, this web site has tried to keep Clayberry informed of various meetings and activities. Those items are posted over on the EVENTS and ADVISORY pages. We almost missed one and it's tonight
  • Sept. 2 pm  Tonight, Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) will be hosting the Annual Dinner and meeting. The event is mandated by the grass roots organization's by laws. Also mandated is public notice for the dog and pony show.
  • Sept. 2 pm Now we're not much for reading that little paper over in Clay but a quick look at the most recent edition and we didn't see any kind of box ad telling the world of the dinner and meeting scheduled for tonight. During the last Board meeting of the CAEZ, the talk was to hold the gathering at the Lion's Club Casino Hall on Main Street. Not so! The freebee dinner will be held at the CDC building a block up river  from the Casino.
  • Sept. 2 pm  Come One Come All, Free food, tonight, 6 pm. The CAEZ was formed as a grassroots organization where the taxpayer owns and operates the non traditional government agency. Well..... anyway, that's how it was suppose to be!
  • Sept. 2 am  Mr. Murl Edward Hall, 74 of Harrison Road, Clay, see FUNERAL page
  • Sept. 2 am Today at 4pm Clay Town Council meets in regular session at the water plant. Might be good to ask: Why are you improving all the lines and tanks that serve Roane County but not those in Town ? Or, how did Town Chief of Police Butcher get his job back soooooo quick?
  • Sept. 2 am The Town of Clay's Boil Water Order continues today and man o man was the water bad on Sunday. .... With a tumbler full of the stuff, you couldn't see your fingers on the other side of the glass! Bad with a capital B
  • Sept. 2 am Before we took off for the holiday we mentioned the weekend wrap up would be posted.... it ain't and we aren't going to. Basically, last week was dedicated to watching  Prosecutor Grindo get chewed from all directions for doing less than up to snuff work and then in other justice topics, Tpr Bailey got caught not doing his homework and two arrested for housing a meth lab walked.
  • Sept. 2 am   Over on the ADVISORY page is a new post  on  a Region IV Children's Summit. Just below that post is the Aug. School Board meeting coverage we neglected to get in the last edition of the Communicator
  • Sept. 2 am  New stuff on the CLASSIFIED and EVENT pages as well.
  • Sept. 2 am   Of course we all know you don't have to follow the WV Public Service Commission rules here in Clayberry. Just ask the Clay County PSD who purchased a $70,000 building without the mandatory OK from the PSC and not so long ago, ditto for the purchase of a new truck. Just ask Clay Roane PSD who purchased an $8500 puter program last Spring without PSC OK.  But wouldn't you think you'd need a business charter to operate in the state? The Secretary of State's office handles such  charters and revoking them.
  • Sept. 2 am Here in Clayberry, the Sec of State's web site shows that Beechy Gas Company and Wagner Gas had their corporate charter's yanked in 1996 as did another John Habjan owned company that operates many of the gas wells, San Dee Company.  Head over to our LINKS page and see for yourself. An "R" beside the name indicates the corporaet charter was revoked.