MARCH 2005 News
  • March 31 Late pm Do we have a new Health Dept. Director? Nope. A special Meeting of the Health board was called Wednesday at 5pm to appoint a new Director to replace resigned Karen Dawson. Didn't happen.
  • March 31 pm  With all five Board members  present, it came to light, the local Board had to get Charleston OK on the qualifications before ANY hire is made. After hearing of the red tape involved in the hiring process, Boardster Herman Rogers spoke out, "What the H are we doing here anyway????" Rogers was referring to loss of local control in the process.
  • March 31 pm Shoot,  about all a local Board can do is pass laws that take away smoking rights!
  • March 31 pm Turns out, the Director slot is a civil service position and the Charleston folks tell locals: how much the Director can make, what classification of Director is to be hired, checks out the applications and more. There are two applicants for the $50,000+ a year job, Jay Carper and Linda Klotzbach.
  • March 31 pm If both applicants are turned down by the WV Civil Service, the Board will be forced to go outside the agency for applicants.
  • March 31 pm  During this Special meeting, mention was made of an earlier in the week meeting of the Board. Did anybody see an agenda for that meeting? Hmmmmmm...
  • March 31 pm Full details in the next Communicator!
  • March 31 pm  Jackie Ruth White is in the slammer for 61 days. Ms White flunked two pee tests while on home confinement and probation for obstructing an officer and possession.
  • March 31 pm Magistrate King heard the revocation of bond/probation Thursday afternoon and sentenced White to CRJ. Here's an interesting part clickers. During the hearing, Asst Prosecutor TJ Drake  and Probation Officer Lucy Cruickshanks confirmed that one of the urine tests came back as non human. Drake mentioned , goat urine may have been substituted!

    • March 31 pm   Now.... just how do you collect goat urine? And, how do you get it in the Courthouse, in the woman's bathroom stall, and in that little cup while being watched by a Court Official?
  • March 31 pm  A priest and pastor from the local parishes were standing by the side of the road holding up a sign that read, "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!"

    • They planned to hold up the sign to each passing car. As the first driver sped past, he yelled, "Leave us alone you religious nuts!" From around the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash.   One clergyman said to the other, "Do you think we should just put up a sign that says, 'Bridge Out' instead?"
  • March 30 pm The Communicator comes out this Friday. Deadline for community events, classifieds and stuff is noon Thursday
  • March 30 pm What a change! By 10 am this morning, the sun was out, the sky was blue, and temps are expected to race into the mid 70s. You can almost hear the ramps popping thru the mountain sides. Spring is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • March 30 pm Today the Clay County Board of Health convenes a Special Meeting to appoint a Director. Will it be Jay Carper or Linda Klotzbach? What ta do What ta do...
  • March 30 pm Yesterday's just after noon power outage zapped WYAP's transmitter. Four hours later they things back in order. Tonight around 8:30pm, YAP is hosting a special life music show. Tune in 101.7FM locally, or on the web (click the home page button), or stop by the station.
  • March 30 pm The Communicator and later this site came along because there wasn't a news source for the county of Clay. With typos and dangling participles galore, we headed to public meetings and collected info from public records. For nearly 10 years the near award winning newspaper has been working to improve life in our 342 square miles by informing the citizenry.
  • March 30 pm While the regional news organizations spend time talking about important stuff like a cat up a tree, the 77th Legislature is nearing the 3/4 mark of the 90 day session. Making laws and changes that affect each of us.
  • March 30 pm To view all the Senate bills, click Don't be fooled by the name. To see all the bills introduced in the House of Delegates, click There's a bunch here too. Once you get to those pages, you can read the text of the bill by clicking the little bill number to the left and the txt or pdf.
  • March 30 pm  To view all the resolutions passed, click Legislature work done.
  • MArch 30 pm Enjoy the sunshine today, the rain returns on Thursday.
  • March 29 pm NOTE: Wednesday , March from 4 to 6pm is the Kathryn and Rachel Adkins Memorial Service at Fairview Baptist Church.
  • March 29 am Queen Shoals PSD Chair Jimmy Kearns called Monday to say that the Boil Water Order from last week had been lifted. Drink!
  • March 29 am Congrats to Sarah Bragg for being selecting Clay County History Hero.
  • March 29 am The right wing forces are going to be real peed today. Even with an ultra conservative complexion, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal Monday to reinstate a state law requiring girls under age 18 to get parental consent for abortions.
  • March 29 am Here's some snippets from last night's Clay County Commission meeting. The CCC is looking for a 911/Emergency Services Director after Dave King resigned from service.  A $17,000 grant has been secured to purchase a new ambulance.
  • March 29 am   Coal operators in the county will be mandated to pay a $5 per month per employee fee to help cover ambulance service expenses. The frowny face goes to Fola Coal who refuses to pay even a reduced fee of $3.  The Town of Clay is working on a tourism initiative  this summer. CCC OKed parking self contained motor homes at Spread Park during the 14 week "Get Away to Clay" weekend promo.
  • March 29 am The County is getting new, 911 compliant, road markers. Prosecutor Samples  got the thumbs up to hire a second secretary thru June 30th ($5000) and new office equipment like a puter $2200. The CCC is working on a plan to use inmate trustees for community service jobs. Currently, Probation Officer Cruickshank has a few probationers on duty. Grant dollars are sought to pay a $30,000.00 Community Corrections Officer to supervise inmates from CRJ and community service workers on probation.
  • March 29 am How much did the CCC have in the general account at the end of Feb.? $360,000.00; $260,000 in coal severance funds; and $270,000 in the $2 per month, voluntary pay,  911 account.
  • March 29 am Details and more in this Friday afternoon's edition of the near award winning, The  Communicator.
  • MArch 29 am Who's going to be the next Health Dept. Director? Jay or Linda?  The Health Bd meets Wed at 5pm to make their appointment public.
  • March 28 pm  Although I am far away from home, I would like to let my parents  know that I love and miss them very much!!! Happy 32nd Anniversary to Janet and Clyde McGlothlin!!!,  Teresa
  • MArch 28 pm  Jeannette Isabella Conley, see FUNERAL page
  • March 28 pm   Sarah Evelyn Cutlip Cook, 63, see FUNERAL page
  • March 28 pm   Which gas companies do not buy oil from the Middle East?
  • March 28 pm Answer: Citgo,  Sunoco,Conoco, Sinclair, BP/Phillips, Hess, ARC0.
  • March 28 pm   Clendenin is much like Clayberry. Its leaders pay little attention to Open Meeting laws, management just sort of plugs along doing what ever it takes to make it thru the day without no big picture plans. Citizens come to meetings raise concerns on deaf ears and walk away without satisfaction. Does that sound familiar?
  • March 28 pm Our Southern border colony, Clendenin is in a world of mess with lawsuits out the ying yang.
  • March 28 pm That's changing in Clendenin as Town leaders, Police Dept., and Municipal Judge are being sued! With 15 plaintiffs and as many cases now filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court, those being sued include: Mayor Donna Gillenwater, Judge Jack Boone, Municipal Court Clerk Brenda Hall, Chief of Police Larry Conrad, and Town Cops, Jamie Sams, Zachery Conrad, Derrick Cox, and Chris George.
  • March 28 pm  The lawsuits stem from underhanded police tactics with consent of the Mayor. The root of it all? Make more money for the town no matter what the law says! One passage reads: the defendants individually and collectively engaged in conduct to threaten, harass, prosecute, arrest or exhort individuals in Clendenin.
  • March 28 pm And then there's Municipal  Judge Jack Boone. According to the lawsuits: .. he arbrogated his role as an impartial trier of fact in favor of the administrative role of raising funds for the town .... Boon asserted jurisdiction over alleged violations of state law for which he had no jurisdiction ...he actively participated in plea negotiations by either telling the plaintiffs they would go to jail i they pleaded not guilty ...he set bail in exorbitant that the plaintiffs had no choice but to plead guilty.
  • March 28 pm Even in small town America, the public will only take so much before forcing Government to abide by the law. GO Clendenin!
  • March 27 am Happy Monday morning to all. This site is averaging 1000 hits per weekday and 650 daily on the weekends. Thanks for tuning to life in Clayberry.
  • March 27 am Tonight at 6pm the Clay County Commission hold their second meeting of the month. Come and enjoy the action. Two pages of agenda should make for a good meeting.
  • March 27 am  Wed at 5pm the Clay County Board of Health will convene to appoint a new Director.
  • March 27 am With the new bankruptcy law in place making it tougher to file for protection, two major banks just raised the minimum monthly payment percentage.
  • March 27 am  With several "I Support the 10 Commandments" signs sprouting up around the county and big billboards coming to promote one brand of religion in our country of many, the religious right is growing muscle. Read what happened in PA when religion was introduced into the classroom.
  • March 27 am  Here you go Demorats, a way to block out the Republicats TV  network, FOX.
  • March 27 am   Does anything rhyme with silver? How about orange?
  • March 27 am  A woman brought a very limp duck into a  veterinary hospital. As she placed

    • her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his  stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the vet  shook his head sadly and said, "I'm so sorry. Your duck has passed  away."  The distressed owner wailed, "Are you sure?"
        "Yes, I am  sure. The duck is dead," he replied. "How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I  mean, you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a  coma or something." The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the  room. He returned a few moments later with a black Labrador retriever. As  the duck's owner looked on  in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put  his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom.  He  then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.  The vet  patted the dog on the head and led him out of the room. A few minutes later, he  returned with a cat. The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed delicately  at the bird. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and  strolled out of the room.
       The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm  sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100 percent certifiably a dead  duck." Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and  produced bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck's owner, still in  shock, took the bill. "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
      The vet  shrugged. "I'm sorry, Miss. If you'd taken my word for it the first time, the  bill would have been $20. But with the Lab report and the cat scan, it's now  $150."
  • March 27pm Many gardens are plowed. Onions, radish, lettuce are in the ground. People are deciding which fruit trees to plant this year. Spring is here.
  • March 27 pm From the week that was...
  • March 27 pm  More Americans died in the sand. There have been 1,701 coalition troop deaths, 1,527 Americans, 86 Britons, eight Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 21 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 17 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of March 26, 2005.
  • March 27 pm  The Spring Grand Jury returned 14 indictments including  Larry G Thomas for first degree murder in the death of Nancy Nelson last Spring. Prosecutor Samples will have his hands full this year as the cases work thru the system.
  • March 27 pm Judge Alsop tossed the Town of Clay vs Tammy Duffield court case this past week. It seems Town attorney Barbara Schamberger did little preparing for the hearing and was no a no show during the March 21st hearing.
  • March 27 pm Only a handful of locals showed for the School Consolidation Hearing held at Ivydale Elem Tuesday night. Although the Board said they had not made a decision on closing Ivydale and Valley Fork Elem., the truth is, the decision was made a long ago as the school system walks in lock step with state directives unwilling to acknowledge the worth of community schools.
  • March 27 pm Lizemores Grocery  was caught selling home grown pork  mid week. Lots of  non government approved bacon and sausage was confiscated and disposed of in the HEalth Dept. dumpster.
  • March 27 pm  Missing for nearly 2 months, the whereabouts of Jennifer Belt remains a mystery. Even with a $1000 reward offered, no developments as of Friday afternoon.
  • March 27 pm The biggy for this past week was the capture of Duane Eaves by Sheriff Holcomb and Trooper First Class ML Bailey. Responding to  a BOLO issued around 9:15, bank robber Eaves was taken into custody without incident except for the wet spot in the middle of the road, by 10 am ,March  23rd.
  • March 27 pm It was also a big week for Clayberry badges with the capture of  FBI fugitive from justice, William Reed on Pisgah Ridge
  • March 27 pm With bills past due and repairs needed, the Clay Roane PSD Board wasn't able to muster the votes needed to implement cost cutting during their Thursday evening gathering. After three hours of trimming the fat discussions, the fat remained Thursday night. As is often the case, the Board awaits another rate increase. They sit and scratch their heads on why so many cutomers wait until the last second to pay their bill. Less is mentioned of the number of customers that can't pay the state's 6th highest water rates and their water service is discounted. Debt load and poor management continue to stymie the system.
  • March 27 pm Friday was the last day on the job for  Health Dept Director, Karen Dawson. After years of dwindling reserves and controversy, the veteran administrator called it quits and headed for less public, less stressful opportunities.
  • March 27 pm   And finally, 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, 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, then pressed, kneaded, and rubbed both breasts for a while in a detailed examination. Motioning to her to get dressed, he 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."
  • March 26 am As for all the rumors on finding Jennifer Belt.... not true. Missing for 7 weeks, as of Friday afternoon, according to a spokesperson at the WV Green Shirt office at Maysel, the investigation continues.  The family of the woman have issued a $1000 reward for information.
  • March 26 am  Just noticed this from the Thursday March 24th WV Supreme Court web site: Barbara Harmon-Schamberger (Counsel for Petitioner);  Jody Miller (Pro se father); Angela Ash (Counsel for DHHR); Clay - Alsop - Ruckman    Petitioner parents seek a writ of prohibition in Starlet Miller v. The Honorable Jack Alsop, Judge of the Circuit Court of Clay County, The Honorable Timothy R. Ruckman, Judge of the Family Court of Clay County, and the Honorable Margaret Waybright, Commissioner of the Bureau of Children and Families, No. 050408, to prohibit the enforcement of an order of the Clay County Family Court from giving custody of children to the DHHR.
  • March 26 am  For those looking for a Easter Sunday after church dinner, Sister's Place Restaurant will be open.
  • March 26 am the latest on what's going on down in the  Legislature is now posted on the AdVISORY page.
  • March 26 am The WV PSC ordered several of John Habjan's natural gas companies into receivership. To date nothing has been done in Circuit Court. During a recent WV Public Service Commission hearing, this passage was noticed: Mr. Short worked on the proceedings relating to Wagner Gas. Wagner serves approximately 60 customers. The individual who owns Wagner owns a great deal of the gas supply and wells in Clay County. There is a gathering facility which moves the gas from the wells to the customers. The gas is basically sold at the well owner's cost. While Wagner's interim rate is lower than Bluefield's, Mr. Short noted that activities are taking place to try to put that utility into receivership, because its gas supply is undependable. Schools have been closed in the area due to gas supply shortfalls and the utility does not have a back-up supply, even though the gas is domestically-produced and located in the service territory.
  • March 25 am The complete March 24th paperwork on that PSC hearing is here.
  • March 26 am Things aren't slowing down for the Sheriff's office.
  • March 26 am Circuit Court issued a bench warrant for no show Bradley Joe Stone and the badges nabbed him Thursday.
  • March 26 am In the am Friday, Sheriff Holcomb arrested  FBI fugitive from justice, William Howard Reed, on Pisgah Ridge. Reed was turned over to authorities in Kanawha County mid day. Reed was charged with operating a clandestine drug lab and is housed in South Central Jail.
  • March 26 am While Randy "Got two Hands Full" Holcomb was coming back from Kanawha County, Deputies arrested Ronald Pritt and Tonia Wayne in the Southern end of the county. Pritt has a handful of worthless check charges. Tonia Wayne came to the front door and said Pritt was nowhere around there as Pritt darted out the backdoor.
  • March 26 am It's not nice to fib to a badge! Ms Wayne is charged with obstructing. Pritt is charged with fleeing and obstructing and both will spend Easter in CRJ. While at Magistrate Court, a bunch of worthless check warrants were discovered on Ms Wayne. No Easter Egg hunt this year for either!
  • March 25 pm Over the scanner around 11:35 this morning: Black shirt 4 to Top Badge 1 You can 10-22 on that search warrant..... Unit 1: Do you have that subject in custody? Unit 4: 10-4 and the female at that residence too... Unit 1 Good job boys.
  • March 25 pm Unit 4 was later heard heading off to Magistrate Court land.
  • March 25 pm  Last night's Clay Roane PSD meeting didn't end until almost 10pm. The main topic of the night was cost cutting. As far as cutting worker hours, eliminating the use of personal vehicles instead of the company truck or any other way to reduce the outgoing... didn't happen. Although the agenda said NO Secret Time, to executive session they went.  No decision was announced to the public after the 25 minute session.
  • March 25 pm With all Board members present ( Susan Beard left at 9pm), the sore toe subject was purchasing water from the Town of Clay instead of making their own at the Procious Water Plant. Town water can be bought for about $2.61 per 1000 gallons. The cost to produce wa wa at the Procious plant is around $4.70. Seems like a no brainer to many but the discussion was lengthy! In the end, Clay Roane PSD will try an experiment. For the next 2 months, the PSD will purchase all the water they can from the Town for the Ovapa/Roane County service area. After the two month period they will then make the water themselves for two months and compare the cost. The experiment begins near the end of april.
  • March 24pm  Don't forget tonight's Clay Roane PSD meeting at 7pm in the CDC building. The Boil Water Order for parts of the Queen Shoals PSD remain in place. Boil It First!
  • March 24 pm  For those wanting to avoid telemarketers, here's the Do Not Call web site. You have to have an email address to use this site.
  • March 24 pm  Sheriff Holcomb said he's been taking a ribbing all day over this morning's posting.
  • March 24 pm By the way, bank robber Dwayne Eaves  confessed to robbing two other banks in surrounding states and the car he was driving had stolen tags.
  • March 24 pm Since Feb 15th when the Health Board voted in a new We Hate Smokers law, many in the community have openly opposed such loss of civil rights. To date the Clay Bd has shown no interest in revisiting the law. Other counties have invoked unreasonable laws and are now correcting their mistakes. The 6 county Mid Ohio Valley Council which serves 6 WV counties is now changing their minds and holding public hearings before the vote.
  • March 24 pm Here in Clayberry, our Board refused to even hold public hearings before the Feb vote. They said it would just get messy.
  • March 24 pm   Last week we posted a bunch of info on open meeting laws. The HurHerald online paper has some detailed comments on Sunshine Laws including comments from that award winning ace cub reporter.
  • March 24 pm  Resigned Health Dept. Director Karen Dawson is now out of a job. Today was her last day on the public dole. The 10 day in-house posting period for those interested in the Director's slot has now ended. Jay Carper signed up for the $50,000 + per year job.
  • March 24 am  Tonight Clay Roane PSD meets in regular session at the CDC building on Main Street across from the Rite Aid building. Tip off is 7pm. Tonight's meeting includes more discussion on cutting costs by reducing the work week to 35 hours and and and  these few words: Update on rate increase.   Hmmmmmmmmmmm...    Now it could be they are going to reduce rates but....
  • March 24 am   Around 15 showed up for Tuesday night's School Closure Hearing at Ivydale Elem. With ground work already underway and building plans approved for a new consolidated elementary school, they might say no decision has been made, but we know better, it's a done deal.
  • March 24 am Fred Sampson was in attendance Tuesday. Sampson asked: Why spend $4.5 million on a new school when $2 million would be enough to completely upgrade the two existing community schools.  Marge Bragg asked pointed questions on the whitewash being applied by Team Link on what funds are really available for the school and what ain't going to happen. Short, snappy replies were provided Bragg. Super Link prefers sucks walking in lock step to serious questioning.
  • March 24 am  It's not often that a local Sheriff gets to arrest a bank robber. Sheriff Holcomb is now in that elite group of badges along with Tpr Bailey. By 10 am Wed., the bad guy was cuffed and the money was still in the front seat of the car. TV stations aired images of Holcomb and Bailey. There is more to the story...
  • March 24 am Holcomb roared out from the Courthouse after downing the usual morning gogo juice. On site on Bells Creek, Mother Nature called Holcomb seconds before the bank robber showed.  While relieving himself, the black Honda ( not a Toyota Camry as earlier reported) came into view. In the middle of the road, Bailey drew his 9 mm . Beside him and still leaking, with one hand handling the "call", Holcomb employed the right hand and drew his weapon. The car stopped and the guy was arrested without incident. Can you picture it?
  • March 24 am  Here's an interesting one from Tuesday.
  • March 24 am  Meat products were seized from Lizemores Grocery Store by Clay County Sanitarian Jay Carper and WV-USDA's (Meat and Poultry Inspection Div) George Comer on Tuesday.  The bacon and sausage did not have the mandatory USDA seal. Translation: local products were being sold as USDA approved products.
  • March 24 am  Carper responded to local complaints and said "the penalties could be hefty.."  He added that they would follow up on the legal aspects of the seizure, " I did my part to protect the citizens of Clay."   The packaged pork was removed from Lizemores Grocery, put in the Health Dept. dumpster, and covered with lime.
  • March 24 am We think there is more to this story. Follow ups coming ASAP.
  • March 24 am We spend little time thinking about Dubbya's war in Iraq. With the Army missing its recruiting goals this month and next they just called up more retired military personnel.
  • March 24 am How about a kid arrested and handcuffedfor showing compassion.
  • March 24 am  On a lighter note: A cruise ship carrying gay and nudist passengers was temporarily stopped and prevented from entering the Caribbean country of St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday.
  • March 23 pm  Orval Elijah Brown, Daniel Patrick ?Pat? Burdette, Betty Moore, see FUNERAL page
  • March 23 pm HOLCOMB/BAILEY CAPTURE BANK ROBBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Here's what we got so far!
  • March 23 pm   This morning, 9:50am over the scanner, Be On the Look Out (BOLO) issued : robbery at City National Bank at Glasgow. White male with facial hair, white cap, light blue shirt and wind breaker jacket, driving a black Camary with front end damage.  Armed? Bank personnel did not see a gun.  Around 9:24 and over the scanner Tpr Bailey and Sheriff Holcomb headed to the Southern end of the county just in case the bad guy was coming our direction.
  • March 23 pm  9:59am  A fast talking Sheriff Holcomb on a  fuzzy connection to 911 Dispatch," WE HAVE THAT SUBJECT IN CUSTODY ON BELL CREEK."  Dispatch came back with confirmation they would contact other badge agencies.
  • March 23 am  Prosecutor Jim Samples scored big during Tuesday's Grand Jury. 14 presentations, 14 true bills. Here's the list of indicted and brief charge: Joseph Larch, escaping custody; George F Adkins, operating drug lab; Charles Bass, manufacturing a controlled substance; Larry G Thomas, 1st degree murder; David Stone, breaking and entering; Gerold M Thompson, possession with intent to deliver; Adam Jones and Billy Jones, receiving and transferring; Richard Cummings, wanton endangerment with firearm; Nancy Collins, fraudulently obtaining welfare assistance; Jason Triplet, breaking and entering other than a dwelling; Christopher Dwier, daytime burglary; Bruce Bird, wanton endangerment with firearm. Arrainment will be April 5 beginning at 9am. Judge Jack Alsop handles bench duties this time around.
  • March 23 am   Yesterday Clay Town Council met in Special session followed by an emergency meeting. Special was nothing great, OKing the $100,000 budget. The Emergency Meeting was a winner. After their lawsuit against Tammy Duffield was dismissed Monday, Council person Betty Murphy was peed big time. Town attorney Barbara Schamberger was a no show and according to Judge Alsop, prior to the Monday hearing, Schamberger hadn't done the paperwork required by the Court.
  • March 23 am During the Emergency meeting, motioned and passed: fire Schamberger; hire attorney Kevin Duffy to get the Duffield case back in court; and fire off  a complaint to some state oversight committee on Schamb's lack of performance.
  • March 23 am One other note from the gathering, Council has on their next agenda discussion on promoting some kind of tourism project for the summer months. How refreshing! Finally something to grow the town and county!
  • March 22 pm Forgot something this morning. Tonight the School Board is holding their first public hearing on consolidating Valley Fork and Valley Fork Elem. schools. Actions starts at 6pm  at Ivydale Elem.
  • March 22 am  Mae June Jarvis, Eagle, 84, see FUNERAL page
  • March 22 am  Over in Circuit Court land, the Spring Grand Jury convenes this morning at 9 am. In addition to parking problems today in downtown Clayberry, a new list of offenders will emerge tonight.  There's the murder of Nancy Nelson hanging out there... There's the Murder Mountain mess ....  A bunch of meth lab busts......   With arrests coming left and right, there is one question. Will new Prosecutor Jim Samples go for the whole enchilada or a more conservative number of presentations.
  • March 22 am  Today Clay Town Council will meet in Special session to discuss the budget. With Monday's  loss in Circuit Court in the Town vs Tammy Duffield case, there might be more than budget items batted around. Town attorney Barbara Schamberger was a no show during the Monday morning hearing.
  • March 22 am Tonight at 6pm, Queen Shoals PSD will meet. With a Boil Water Order in place and some customers without water last week, the PSD is ripe for lively discussions.
  • March 22 am  There's all kinds of rumors floating around the county on the missing, Jennifer Belt. From Beckley farm ponds to Widen coal lands, people are telling of a find. There has been nothing official as far as we can tell.
  • March 22 am  The Easter bunny has been arrested. Him mad!
  • March 22 am School shootings are becoming quite regular. Here's a run down from the last few years.
  • March 22 am Fellas, how big is your belly? The girth of your gut is a good indicator of diabetes.
  • March 21 pm  We know  We know, the site went down last night and was down to early this morning. It wasn't us this time!  By 10 am this morning, everything seemed back to normal. Thanks for the emails.
  • March 21 pm Around 8 am this morning, Queen Shoals PSD called a Boil Water Order for sections of their system. We understand last week, twice, their storage tank went dry leaving customers without wa wa.  No BWO was called last week. QSPSD meets Tuesday evening at 6pm.
  • March 21 pm This evening at 6pm the School Board meets at 6 at Clay Middle School. While Link hides from Open meeting Law requirements to post an agenda prior to the meeting, Boardster Beth Cercone keeps the public informed on her web site. From Ms Cercone's web site, these items  are listed: Approve placement of personnel and service personnel on the preferred re-call list for the 2005-2006 school year.   Approve the transfer of Addie Cole from Technology Teacher @Clay Elementary/CMS to Valley Fork Elementary.  Effective at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year (Garland Tenney's former job.)    Approve the transfer of Sherry Ramsey from LD/Cover Teacher@Ivydale /H.E. White Elementary to LD/Cover Teacher at H.E. White Elementary.  Effective at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year (Suzanne Cumming's former job).

    • Approve the employment of Brandi McKinney as MI Special Education Teacher at Clay Elem. Effective November 1, 2005 (Linda Grandinette's former job).   Approve the budget allocation for the Clay County Extension Office 4-H for the 2005-2006 school year.   Accept the resignation/retirement of Barbara Tenney, Teacher Aide at Clay Elementary.  Effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year.    Approve the transfer of $1,500 allocated for the Dance Team to the Clay High School Auditorium restroom project.
  • March 21 pm  They've got free food too
  • March 21 pm A couple years back the Town of Clay accused Tammy Duffield of swiping town $. Recorder Betty Murphy said she could identify $5000 gone "in black and white". Duffield resigned from her clerk position a couple days after the public meeting. Since then, the Town hired attorney Barbara Schamberger to go after the floating dollars.
  • March 21 pm This morning Judge Jack Alsop dismissed the suit. According to the court room discussion, it sounded like Scamberger hadn't done a thang, no papers filed, mediation dates came and went without execution, and there was a question raised over the statute of limitations ( expired).
  • March 20 pm   There have been 1,694 coalition troop deaths, 1,520 Americans, 86 Britons, eight Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 21 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 17 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of March 18, 2005.
  • March 20 pm Anti-war activists marched in the streets of New York and other American cities on Saturday, stopping traffic and lying down alongside flag-draped cardboard coffins to mark the second anniversary of the war in Iraq.... This morning, another American soldier was killed .....Finally, the media admitted to being the lap dog for Dubbya and did a less than complete job in covering the Oil war.... The talk of drafting our young people to fight W's war may be more than talk....
  • March 20 pm  Who's winning the war on terror? Heidi Brown thinks, not us .... And, here's what's happening in a country where guns were banned last year.
  • March 20 pm Are you willing to pay $3 a gallon for gas. Some already are.
  • March 20 pm Here in Clayberry, the drug war continues. Badges are heard night and day as they try to knock down the drug of choice, meth. Knock down , Yes, eliminate, No. The truth is, our young people know they can make real money in short order with a couple batches of the brew. Until the demand for meth switches to some other substance, the Badges are fighting an up hill battle.
  • March 20 pm Remember the telemarketers wanting your bank info three months back, the ones with the government grant scam?, they're back! Here's the number they were using Saturday March 19 at 1pm :  1-123-456-7890
  • March 20 pm This was Sunshine Week in the USA. Newspapers around the country provided information on Open Meeting laws and the Freedom of Information Act in an attempt to get the public up off their butts and a take a look at what our government is doing. Few will do so. What a pity!
  • March 20 pm  Locally, without much digging, we can see many infractions of both laws. Many say, so what? For those thinking people... those infractions could be big news. Take for instance, school consolidation hearings this week. If those hearings aren't conducted according to law, the whole process could be tossed out and the Linkettes would be forced to start over or give up. BS? It has happened before in Clayberry ( HE White Elem.).
  • March 20 pm Certainly the recent emergency meeting of the Clay Health Dept. could be challenged over the calling and posting of the agenda. Ditto for the Feb. 15th meeting where a  new smoking ban was implemented. During that smoking vote, the Chair made the motion, seconded the motion, called for a vote, and then accepted 6 votes on a five member Board.
  • March 20 pm We've got a big week ahead of us clickers. Lots of public meetings and hearings, Circuit Court Motion Day on Monday, Grand Jury convenes on Tuesday. We'll keep you posted as best we can. Come back often and tell a friend. There is one source for news and views in Clay County West Virginia. That source is Delta Communications, publishers of The Communicator and this, the one and only, Clayberry web site!
  • March 20 am  The Boil Water Order from Clay Roane PSD for the Newton Service area has been lifted.
  • March 20 am Clay High Dance Team just returned from WV Weselyan College with 2 second place trophies in the West Virginia State Majorette Festival's Dance categories of Pom and Lyrical!!  Great big Atta Girls!!!
  • March 20 am  Tip: Rainy day cure for dog odor... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.
  • March 20 am  Tip:  Heinz vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar  and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour.  The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
  • March 20 am  Tip: Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409.  Insects drop to the ground instantly.
  • March 20 am  Tip:  Coca-Cola cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers.  Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain.  The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.
  • March 20 am  Tip: Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash.  The powerful  antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again
  • March 20 am  Tip:  Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints.  They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
  • March 20 am Weekend Wrap Up coming
  • March 19 am This is the day to celebrate our efforts to free Iraq of their oil reserves.
  • March 19 am After months of lying and miss wording, this country believed that Sadamn was responsible for the World Trade Center attack and we went to war.
  • March 19 am  There have been 1,694 coalition troop deaths, 1,520 Americans, 86 Britons, eight Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 21 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 17 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of March 18, 2005.
  • March 19 am Some still believe in W and his rhetoric. Others will be protesting the unlawful occupation today around the world.
  • March 19 am With many civil liberties lost in this country, who's really winning the war?

    • March 19 am  Hello my name is Dubbya. Here's my accomplishments so far:   I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one billion dollars per week.  I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury. I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history.  I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any  12-month period. I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. stock market.  I am the first president in U.S. history to enter office with a  criminal record.  I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one year  period.  After taking-off the entire month of August, I presided over the worst security failure in U.S. history.   In my State Of The Union Address, I lied about our reasons for attacking Iraq, then blamed the lies on our British friends. I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. president. In my first year in office over 2-million Americans lost their jobs  and that trend continues every month.  I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period.  I appointed more convicted criminals to administration than any president in U.S. history. I set the record for least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television. I presided over the biggest energy crisis in U.S. history and refused to intervene when corruption involving the oil industry was revealed.  I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history.  I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in duty benefits for active duty troops and their families - in war time. I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously protest me in public venues (15 million people) shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind. I've broken more international treaties than any president in U.S. history. I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. history. My "poorest millionaire," Condoleeza  Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker named after her.  I am the first president in U.S. history to order an unprovoked,  pre-emptive attack and the military occupation of a sovereign nation. I  did so against the will of the United Nations, the majority of U.S. citizens, and the world community. I created the Ministry of Homeland Security, the largest bureaucracy in the history of the United States government. I am the first president in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove the U.S. from the Human Rights Commission. I withdrew the U.S. from the World Court of Law. I refused to allow inspectors access to U.S. prisoners of war detainees and thereby have refused to abide by the Geneva Convention. I am the first president in history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 U.S. election). I am the all-time U.S. and world record-holder for receiving the most corporate campaign donations. My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends, Kenneth Lay, presided over the largest corporate bankruptcy fraud in U.S. history. My political party used the Enron private jets and corporate attorneys to assure my success with the U.S. Supreme Court during my first election decision. I have protected my friends at Enron and Halliburton against investigation or prosecution. More time and money was spent investigating the Monica Lewinsky affair than has been spent investigating one of the biggest corporate rip-offs in history. I garnered the most sympathy for the U.S. after the World Trade Center attacks and less than a year later made the U.S. the most hated country in the world, the largest failure of diplomacy in world history. I am first president in history to have a majority of Europeans (71%)  view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and security. I changed the U.S. policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.
  • March 18 am It's 1:32 am Friday morning. Already 27 clickers have visited the site since midnight. I told you yesterday, no new posts until The Communicator makes it to the news stands today around 4pm.
  • MArch 18 am Take a look at the EVENTS page for details on tonight's Apple auction.
  • March 18 am In the way of a teaser:  what do you think of young adults beating up a Grandmother and stealing her prescription pills? Wonder how "meth" got started? What government handed out meth to their armed forces during World War II? How about, what country spends $170 billion per year on drugs? Those answers and more this afternoon.
  • March 18 am  After getting all of Pope John Paul's luggage loaded into the limo (and he

    • doesn't travel light), the driver notices that the Pope is still standing on the curb. "Excuse me, Your Eminence," says the driver, "Would you please take your seat so we can leave?
       "Well, to tell you the truth," says the Pope, "they never let me drive at the Vatican, and I'd really like to drive today."
       "I'm sorry but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! What if something should happen?" protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning. "There might be something extra in it for you," says the Pope.  Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Supreme Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 105 mph.
       "Please slow down, Your Holiness!!" pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens. "Oh, my God, I'm gonna lose my license," moans the driver.  The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the
    cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the  radio.
       "I need to talk to the Chief," he says to the dispatcher. The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going a hundred and  five.  "So bust him," said the Chief.  "I don't think we want to do that, he's really important," said the cop.
         The Chief then asked, "Who ya got there, the Mayor?" Cop: "Bigger" Chief: "Governor?"  Cop: "Bigger"  Chief: "Senator?" Cop: "Bigger"
       "Well," said the Chief, "Who is it?" Cop: "I think it's Jesus!"  Chief: "What makes you think it's Jesus?"!   Cop: "He's got the Pope for a limo driver!"
  • March 17 pm The Ides of March are behind us and it's Saint Patty's day. Today the world is green.   For those in the Newton service area of the Clay Roane PSD, the Boil Water Order remains in place as of 10:30 this morning. Don't you turn green on the inside, boil that water first.
  • March 17 pm On that BWO and Clay Roane PSD ..... The PSD has a list of names, FAX numbers, email addresses that are notified when a boil water order is issued. On the list are media outlets, those in frail health, other government agencies and so forth. If you're on t hat list, you ain't no more. Somehow, the list got deleted from the puter. If want you're name back on the list, call  548-5209 and provide your information.
  • March 17 pm Remember Tonya Salisbury. She's back in the news. Yesterday, in Braxton County, she was found guilty of intimidating a witness. The case stems from the murder trial held in Clayberry where she was charged with murdering her husband. That case was tossed thanks to Prosecutor Grindo and she basically, she got off with a plea deal for a misdemeanor.
  • March 17 pm The intimidating charge stems from when Salisbury was lodged in CRJ and she threatened  a fellow inmate who was at the murder scene right after Mr Salisbury was shot.
  • March 17 pm This week is Sunshine week. We've posted a bunch of information on WV Open Meeting Laws, Sunshine Laws as some call them. Even as the bottom feeders, we have every right to know what our government is up to. Don't depend on anyone else for info, you are the gatekeepers of truth. Put the law to work for you. Try it!
  • March 17 pm Unless there is some kind of emergency, this site is going into hibernation while we get out Friday's Communicator. Deadline for community events, notices, classifieds and what ever else you'd like in the paper is this afternoon around 6pm. Email using the link at the bottom of this page.
  • March 17 pm With our attention on typing 20 pages of news and views on Clayberry .... don't forget Friday night's Apple Festival over at CCHS. See EVENTS page for details.
  • March 16 pm  It feels nice to wake up and not see another 3 inches of snow on the ground.
  • March 16 pm Just got this in the email bag. Can anybody help? I was wondering if anyone knows if the Clay County High Class of 1991 is planning a 15 year reunion in 2006?  If anyone has any information, please e-mail me, Shelly Rogers, at dzshelly@yahoo.com.  Thanks!!!!!!!!  Shelly Rogers  Yard 068 - Arnoldsburg, WV  1-304-655-8888 - Phone  1-304-655-8047 - Fax
  • March 16 pm   We've got people in the county that say: All you do is cut people down! Others say if you can't say something nice, don't say anything. A couple weeks back BDA Chair Leonard Williams said his agency needed a pat on their back for good efforts and hard work.
  • March 16 pm  In response,, BS!
  • March 16 pm  If you want to read about an ice cream social, there is always that little paper over in Clay.  As for good news and government leaders, it's hard to come up with nice things to say when there is so much muck. A couple weeks back attorney Kevin Duffy had Magistrate King, Asst. Prosecutor TJ Drake, Jim Samples peed off. King was so peed, he was slapped the desk and yelled at Duffy, such words and actions would not be tolerated in his Court room. A few days later, Duffy commented, he didn't give a hoot what people thought of his court room tactics and cared even less what the world thought of him, that, he was there working for his client and intended to use every thing he had to serve his client.
  • March 16 pm In the media business, thick skin is also needed. Many times elected and appointed officials get all bent out of shape when the public finds out their actions and plans. As far as Mr. Williams' wish for a pat on the back, do something to deserve it.
  • March 16 pm During the most recent Business Development Authority meeting, Williams was mad enough to eat nails over web site information. He said he didn't want stuff spread all over the web. This web thang is pretty cool. Here's an example...
  • March 16 pm After receiving a bunch of  emails on a telemarketer scam in Clayberry, we posted what we knew. Take a look at this Tifton Georgia Gazette article which mentions our site. How did they hear about us?
  • March 16 pm  Tap Tap Tap... you still reading Leonard? here's some good news.
  • March 16 pm Yesterday Darlene Morris was having a busy morning. To the Post Office, to the Farm Store, over to her shop to clean floors, to the bank, blah blah blah. Busy.
  • March 16 pm  With errands mostly completed, Ms Morris was back in her hair salon when John Nine from the Farm Store came in. Nine said he found something that belonged to Morris. It was an envelope of cash Darlene had dropped out of her pocket while in front of the Farm Store earlier that morning. Mr. Nine had found the money and returned it to the rightful owner.  Now how about that for a happy story readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • March 16 am   Anna H. Morris, 92, of Ivydale, see FUNERAL page
  • March 15 LATE pm This is the week for Sunshine, Open Meeting Laws. For those wanting to copy the current edition of WV's version, click WV CODE, and once there, go to 6-9A-1 thru 6-9A-12. With the code written in legalese, the WV Ethic Commission web site helps to deliver a more readable version of the code and what it means. For those wanting a more tailored to the public's interest site on Open Meeting Law, here's a nice one.
  • March 15 LATE pm Open Meeting Laws aren't on the books to trip up public agencies. The whole idea is to make public records public and offer leaders a road map for operations. Here in Clayberry we need a better road map or someone with a magnifying glass to expose the side steppers.
  • March 15 LATE pm  Take for instance our Health Dept. Last Friday's emergency Health Bd meeting was called by Office Manager Linda Klotzbach and not the Board. That's a no no. Sunshine Laws provide for the public to be a part of the checks and balances process.
  • March 15 LATE pm If there was ever an agency that needs checks and balances, its the Clay County Health Dept. With Linda Klotzbach appointed as Interim Director and Office Manager at the same time, the person that writes the checks and does journal entries, is the same person that oversees the books.  Not so long ago it was discovered that a previous Director had been awarding herself pay increases without Board approval or knowledge. When that info made it to the public, the Director leftm the Board reacted and the public went wild. By the time the Bd found out, many raises were already under the lady's belt.
  • March 15 LATE pm Just last year, the WIC supervisor resigned under fire after the Board found out she had been spending boo-koos of money on conferences and trips. Only after the bogus expenses had been paid out and the lady resigned, did the Bd find out about the $1000s. Where were the checks and balances?
  • March 15 LATE pm Now the Health Dept faces a big shortfall this year. During a recent Bd meeting, it sounded like, to make to the end of this year and stay in the black, layoffs would be needed and programs cut back.  7 months into this year's budget, the budget shorfall news was new for the Board. So much for checks and balances again.
  • March 15 LATE pm Even with major cutbacks in the already approved 2005-2006 budget, the finances are gloomy. Expect the health agency to end 2006 deep deep in the red.
  • March 15 LATE pm It's not just the Health Dept and lack of checks and balances. It's not just the Health Dept in need of Open Meeting Law training. Sunshine Laws make for public access and guidelines foir Boardsters to follow. Let the sun shine in on Clayberry.
  • March 15 pm Teddy Mark Taylor of Bickmore, see FUNERAL page
  • March 15 pm Wedding Anniversaries are happy times. Anniversaries are for remembering good times, happy times. We've got a big anniversary coming this weekend but it's not a happy one.
  • March 15 pm This Sunday makes two years in Iraq for the Coalition of the Killing, the USA. A year ago, President W said the hostility was over. He was wrong. The quagmire continues as the body count rises. There have been 1,687 coalition troop deaths, 1,514 Americans, 86 Britons, eight Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 20 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 17 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of March 14, 2005
  • March 15 pm We were told Sadamn had nasty weapons of mass destruction tucked away all over the country just waiting to do America in. We now know, that was a lie. We're still there as occupiers. Our goal all along has been to gain control of the oil and payback Sadamn for trying to knock off King George the 1st.
  • March 15 pm Our government started a policy of flying the wounded out of the war zone and landing them at hospital bases under the cover of darkness. The press is banned from taking pictures, witnessing the flights, or talking to the American heroes. To date, over 25,000 soldiers have been severely injured and removed from the sands of W's oil war.
  • March 15 pm  Our government keeps something else very quiet. Nearly 6000 soldiers have gone AWOL or not reported to duty. That info is held close to the chest for fear others may get an idea to use their brains.
  • March 15 So dismal is the recruiting of new soldiers, our government has issued orders that soldiers must remain on duty well beyond their assignments. We call that, "stop loss" orders. Our government is calling up soldiers who long ago served their country and returned to civilian life. Now talk is to resurrect the draft of old. To take our high school seniors into harm's way.
  • March 15 pm Two years into this unnecessary mess, mass media glazes over the stark reality of lies and cover up.  To call this an anniversary, our English language is flawed.
  • March 14pm Operating in public isn't a tough thing. As a matter of fact, learning to operate a public agency is easy. The state code is  clear on what can and what can't be done. For those with questions, the WV Ethics Commission answers questions over the phone, will provide written rules for guidance, and even have a web site for quicky help. That site also has a page for open meeting law issues.
  • March 14 pm Of course there are a few people that just goof up, don't know the  law, and after goofing up, correct their mistake and move on. That's OK. That's fine.
  • March 14 No one complains about a mistake that is corrected.
  • March 14 pm The problem in  Clayberry , the Great Nation of Clay, is the number of leaders that think open meeting laws are a joke and something to side step. We have leaders that have been on the job for years and have gone to training sessions and to this day, refuse to adhere to the state code.
  • March 14 pm It wasn't so long ago, that the Ambulance Authority posted special meeting notices at the back door of the courthouse down in the bottom corner of the glass and behind a trash can. Their goal was to keep the public from attending their meetings.
  • March 14 pm The agenda has to show what the business of the meeting will be and any votes that will be taken. Our CAEZ uses an Agenda for monthly meetings which is questionable as do the Clay Roane PSD and the Clay County PSD.
  • March 14 pm Just a few years ago, the CCC and the Ambulance Authority folks met after hours at the Courthouse to confirm a decision to be made by the CCC the next day. That secret meeting went thru a costly court battle and was appealed to the WV Supreme Court,
  • March 14 pm Our School Board knows the rules and slides around them with slight of  hand. Last year, they held a special meeting on a Saturday to accept Scott Legg's resignation and appoint Gene King to fill the District B vacancy. They didn't want the public to be there to hear the proceedings so public notice was far from what Open Meeting Laws require.
  • March 14 pm Do we need to to mention the recent stand off between the CCC and Clay Roane PSD? In that case, the Chair explained that she was VERY familiar with the state code.
  • March 14 pm Finding out about the government shouldn't be  tough?  Open Meeting Laws allow you to just call them up and ask to see  info during business hours. Try it! Call up the Board office and ask who ever answers, What is Jerry Linkinooooogggger's salary? Call up a PSD and ask to see their income statement for  a particular month. Call up the  County Clerk's office and ask to see the expense sheets for the ambulance service. Heck call them all up and ask to see salary info!   All that stuff is public record as is about everything else except who receives salary garnishments.
  • March 14 pm In Clayberry, some of our leaders work to hide the public info and refuse the taxpayer his right to know. It's not just Clay County. In 1966 the Federal Govt passed the Freedom of Information Act which mandates the release of information in 5 days. When an agency receives a FOIA request, they have to respond in five days or less or risk court penalties.
  • March 14 pm   A FOIA request can be hand written or typed. Just tell the agency what info you want to see or copy and do so with reasonable specificity. You don't have to tell them why or what you're going to do with it!
  • March 14 pm Can you tell this is National Sunshine Week? More coming.
  • March 14 am  CLAY COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE OPERATING ON A 2 HOUR DELAY MONDAY MORNING> WORD CAME AT 8:45 SUNDAY EVENING
  • MArch 14 am  Boil Water Order remains from the Newton service area of the CLay Roane PSD.
  • March 13 pm  Welcome to Clayberry Andrew Greathouse born 11:28 P.M. on 3-9-05 weighing in at 8 lbs. 5 1/2 ounces 21 1/2 inches long.
  • March 13 pm From the week that was......
  • March 13 pm It's not just our locals leaders that are nuts, the weather is pretty wild too. Here we ware in the middle of March an instead of flowers emerging from winter rest, the **##!! snow keeps coming. Over the last seven days, snow has hit almost daily. Friday and Saturday nights, more big blasts of the white stuff.
  • March 13 pm Open Meeting laws, sometimes called Sunshine Laws, are back in the  national media.   A new poll shows 7 out of 10 Americans think more Sunshine is important. In Clayberry, lack of Sunshine is the norm.
  • March 13 pm For our local power brokers to flourish, operating in the dark is important. You can't let locals know what's really going on. Everything has to be kept under wraps. When someone gets out of line, go after them quickly and silence them. No we're not talking about killing them, that's too easy, cut em off in a better way.
  • March 13 pm It wasn't so long ago, if Joe Blow starting asking too many problems, the local grocery store would cut off their credit privileges. If Jim Blow got out of line, the local bank would  send word, "Keep that up, and you'll never get a loan here again!"  Back before better roads and cars, such tactics worked.
  • March 13 pm Today, politicos work the pocketbook. To keep votes in order, word is sent, if you want your sister, brother, aunt, uncle to ever have a job in Clayberry, you'll keep your mouth shut!
  • March 13 pm Open Meeting laws guarantee us the right to know what our elected and appointed leaders are doing as they are doing it. Many, no MOST, of our Clayberry leadership side steps the public at every opportunity. Clay Roane PSD spends hours in secret time during public meetings and then comes out telling the world, we just talked, no decisions made.  Clay County PSD Chair Keith King holds monthly meetings that last less than 15 minutes. It doesn't take long to hold a public meeting when all decisions are made ahead of time and away from the public. Clay County PSD once fired their attorney ( Gordon Billheimer) after the attorney spoke out in public supporting the right of the taxpayer to know.
  • March 13 pm  During the March 11th Emergency Meeting of the Health Dept, it was obvious, they got their heads together ahead of time and decided Linda Klotzbach should be the interim Director. Open Meeting Laws REQUIRE emergency meetings to list on the agenda, who called the meeting and their signatures. That wasn't done! During their earlier in the week meeting, the Health Czars went secret without a motion, second or vote and did so at the drop of the hat to get away from public. During their Feb 15th meeting, the public was told they couldn't speak.
  • March 13 pm It got so bad with the Ambulance Authority in 1999, the WV Attorney General's office held a training meeting at the Courthouse. During that stormy meeting, the Authority Chair (Loretta Bird) and side kick (Stephanie) refused to abide by the law and later voted during a secret meeting to set aside $50,000 to defend their actions in court.
  • March 13 pm Our School Board deliberately keeps the public's business away from the public. Super Link was told by Ethics Commission folks to post the meeting agenda three days in advance of each meetings. In response, he said that would gum up his power trip and to date, posts the agenda one hour in advance of the meetings making it impossible for the public to stay informed.
  • March 13 pm Our Business Development Authority Chair makes it a point to get mad at anybody that noses into his eco/dev club business. Chair Williams has asked nosey people "out back" to settle  issues. Past Chair Paige Willis told a member of the public on Jan 1 2004, he didn't want to hear one idea from the SOB. Of course WIllis didn't use the intials! At another meeting, Willis invited a member of the public out back of the Courthouse during a public meeting.
  • March 13 pm Open Meeting Laws at the BDA? Forget it! In addition to NOT providing attendees a copy of the meeting agenda, just two weeks ago, BDA Chair Leonard Williams set up a super secret, inner circle group of confidants to negotiate all BDA deals away from the full Board. The cloaked grouped will only bring the consumated deals to the full Board for a cursory vote after everything is negotiated. In response to their questionable leadership and open meeting law busting activities, the County Commission voted the BDA in as lead economic develpment agency for our county.
  • March 13 pm Secrecy is what our agencies depend on. Take Clay Development Corp.  Although using millions in Federal dollars, the super secret social provider closed Board meetings to the public by changing by laws. They have called badges in to remove prying eyes, and refuse to provide ANY information even if the requester uses the FOIA process. Needless to say, the CDC spends much of its funding on court challenge after court challenge. Before the Circuit Court now is the tossing of general members because they ask questions. Mediation in that case was held just two weeks ago.
  • March 13 pm  The Freedom of Information Act process is not a first step for securing public records but the last step before taking the matter to Circuit Court.  Just a couple years ago, when a stranger came to the Board office and asked to know the  School Superintendent's salary, he was refused.  Link later said in that little paper over in Clay, "It was eeeery and sceery."  Link had a background check done on the guy and labeled him one the those dirty underbelly, communist backed ACLU members set to over throw the world.
  • March 13 pm   In Clayberry, in Jan 2005,when a Health Board member asked for information, he was told to write up a FOIA request. When the County Commission was wanting to copy financial records from Clay Roane PSD, they were denied access. They were not even allowed to see records!
  • March 13 pm  Even more serious than our elected and appointed leaders operating in secret, our citizenry just rolls over and plays dead. The reality is, the political sucks and hacks line up behind the power brokers and grin.  Victorious they feel with the little individual or the media denied public records.   Our leaders laugh at Sunshine Laws. They shouldn't. In the Great Nation of Clay, costly lawsuits are employed. When violations come before the Court, the norm is to void the meeting plus any and all decisions.
  • March 13 pm More on the upcoming week coming.
  • March 12 pm Clay Roane PSD issued a BOIL WATER ORDER for the Newton service area Friday afternoon at 5pm. There was a main water line break near Roger's Fork Church. Boil your wa wa first!
  • March 12 pm The started around 4pm and continued all night. Snow Snow Snow. 2 to 4 inches blanketed the county by day break. With thoughts of planting onion sets, they remain just thoughts
  • March 12 pm It happens quick in Clayberry!   We have a new Health Dept. Director. At least an acting Director anyway. With their minds made up well ahead of the public meeting, the Clay County Health Dept. convened an Emergency meeting Friday afternoon at 3pm to make it official.  Linda Klotzbach was voted in as the interim Director replacing Karen Dawson who resigned March 9th.   Health Chair Connie Harper was not in attendance nor was Dawson. The Board will start interviewing candidates immediately.
  • March 12 pm  During the meeting, Sanitarian Jay Carper asked if he could make a comment. Acting Chair Joe Morris replied, "No".  Later Carper, a potential candidate for the Director's slot, was allowed to comment: he was scared to apply for the opening since Klotzbach looked like a  shoe in for the permanent position; he had already been laid off once, he feared for his job when a full time Director is hired due to the in house hiring plan, and already helping to cover 8 program areas, with budget cut backs coming, was it possible to continue and do a good job.
  • March 12 pm The $50,000 a year job may attract other candidates if in house interviews come up short. With all the disgruntled Primary Health Care employees around the county, there is a large pool of qualified candidates to pick from.
  • March 12 pm Elementary age kids play b ball in the Saturday league. Last night and today was the season ending Tournament. For months the Championship had been planned. With the CCHS basketball season over, wouldn't you expect the gym to be open? Nope. it's never simple in Clayberry.
  • March 12 pm With the Tournament to begin at 6:00pm, parents, grand parents, cheerleaders, players, supporters began arriving at 5. Concession stand workers needed in the gym early to set up food sales tables. Didn't happen! Instead of getting in out of the cold and snow and setting up ahead of time, they found the gym doors locked tight and an unscheduled practice for the CCHS baseball team in progress.  Coach Ramsey had plans to continue the practice until at least 7pm. Parents found Ramsey to be on a power trip. After calls to Super Link, Principal Dobbins, Vice Principal Jim Haynie went poorly, Asst Super Gillespie showed and negotiated the gym stand off.  The small fry tourney got going around 6:30pm.
  • March 12 pm Do you think parents were mad? Do you think parents ARE mad? You bet! Just par for the course in our fine county.
  • March 11 LATE pm  Gail Andrew Samples, 84, of Procious, see FUNERAL page
  • March 11pm  Want to have some fun? Head over to CCHS this evening and watch the small fries basketball tournament. Details on EVENTS page.
  • March 11 pm This afternoon at 3pm, the Clay County Board of Health will convene an emergency meeting. Today's topic will be replacing Director Karen Dawson who resigned Wednesday. Being antsy to keep everything hush hush, watch for the Board to jump into secret time. Last time they went secret, they did so without a motion, a second or a vote. They plan to appoint an interim Director today. Although a college degree is required, years on the job can be substituted. Don't let the Board know this but, watch for Linda Klotzbach to get the nod.
  • March 11 pm We usually screw up when the pressure is on. That's the norm for going secret. A problem builds and builds and finally seeps out to the taxpayer, the public gets peed, a meeting is held, and the Board trys to keep it under wraps by immediately going secret. The truth is, according to open meeting laws, there is never a time they MUST go into executive session. They may go hush hush under some very specific guidelines but they never have to do so. Look over on our ADVISORY page from Charleston Gazette coverage of a school board meeting where they said the meeting was not the public's meeting. it was the school board's meeting!!
  • March 11 pm Our appointed leaders aren't crud balls, they just get their backs to the wall and then make poor decisions.  For the most part, they don't intentionally break Sunshine Laws, they just get sceeered and then do dumb stuff. There is an exception to that. And that's the School Board and School Superintendent Link who intentionally violate open meeting laws, sort of flipping off the law of the land. The School Board makes it a point to keep the public, their employer, in the dark by refusing to post meeting agendas three days in advance of their meetings as required by state code. The last time the agenda posting topic came up during a meeting, Link said the Ethics Commission told him to post the agenda in advance but he didn't want to, that such postings just mess things up for them.
  • March 11 pm Last night the ever troubled Clay Roane PSD met over in Clay. The water provider is in a mess. Unable to meet the bills, the Board is struggling. Stability is not in their vocabulary.
  • March 11 pm It was an odd meeting too. It was as if each Board member had their own agenda. On the plus side, there was more attention paid to the finances. Priority has been given to making payroll and paying taxes.  On two items, they decided against spending money they didn't have. That's good but now even the important bills are backing up and they don't have the $ to pay for basic maintenance on plant pumps or tools. The Board spats back and forth on a  regular basis. Behind the scenes, there is a power grab on who to adhere to with the employees suffering the brunt of the cluster pull.
  • March 11 pm Here's an example. The WV PSC figured it costs Clay Roane PSD $4.70 to make a 1000 gallons of wa wa . Part of their system runs into Roane County. In that section, Clay Roane could buy water from the Town of Clay at $2.61 per 1000 gallons and run it thru their lines to serve those in Roane County. Last night (and during many other meetings), Clay Roane PSD had trouble deciding which is cheaper, $2.61 or $4.70.
  • March 11 am  The madam opened the brothel door to see a rather dignified, well dressed good looking man in his late 40s or early 50s. "May I help you?" she asked.  "I want to see Natalie," the man replied.  "Sir, Natalie is one of our most expensive ladies. Perhaps you would  prefer someone else," said the madam.   "No. I must see Natalie," was the man's reply.  Just then, Natalie appeared and announced to the man that she charged  $1,000 a visit.  Without hesitation, the man pulled out ten one hundred  dollar bills, gave them to Natalie, and they went upstairs. After an hour, the man calmly left.

    •     The next night, the same man appeared again, demanding to see Natalie. Natalie explained that no one had ever come back two nights in a row, too expensive, and there were  no discounts. The price was still $1,000.  Again the man pulled out the money, gave it to Natalie and they went upstairs. After an hour, he left.   The following night the man was there again.
    Everyone was astounded that he had come for the third consecutive night,  but he paid Natalie and they went upstairs.  After their session, Natalie questioned the man. "No one has ever used me three nights in a row. Where are you from?" she asked.  The man replied, "South Carolina."  "Really" she said. "I have family in South Carolina." "I know," the man said. "Your father died and I am your sister's  attorney. She asked me to give you your $3,000 inheritance."  The moral of the story is that three things in life are certain:  1. Death
    2. Taxes ; 3. Being screwed by a lawyer.
  • March 11 am  We're still trying to figure out what happened and why Health Dept. Director Karen Dawson turned in her resignation one day after the Health Board met on Tuesday. We'll have a full post later this morning. In the mean time
  • March 11 am Director Dawson said she wants to be a cervical cancer information specialist for a five county region. During Tuesday night's meeting, the peanut gallery asked why that long vacant position hadn't been posted locally? From the conference came a response that the opening was posted on the web.  Now we're not the best web surfers, but, we can't find ANY posting for the specialist on the net. You look.
  • March 11 am  We  made a big stink after the Nov. election over the many many dirty backdoor and unexplained election year tactics  by the Republicans. Here's one GOP Chair that got caught and is heading for jail. More may be coming as investigations continue.
  • March 11 am  Thinking of filing for bankruptcy protection? It just got harder for the little person.
  • March 11 am Something to make you mad. Here's the Forbes 500 richest people. No one from Clayberry is listed.
  • March 1 1 am  We'll have details from last night's Clay Roane PSD meeting later today. They're broke, can't pay their bills, and still feel, it's better to make water at $4.70 a 1000 gallons than to buy water from the Town for $2.61 per 1000 gallons. More coming.
  • March 10 pm  During the Tuesday night Health Board meeting, Director Karen Dawson returned from the secret time with the hum drums. It was as if the wind was out of her sails. Something was up. Something had changed.
  • March 10 pm Health Department Director Karen Dawson turned in her resignation Wednesday afternoon. Her last day on the job as Director will be March 25th.
  • March 10pm When we talked with Ms Dawson Thursday afternoon, she seemed down in the dumps and without much gusto. According to Dawson, the board will meet and appoint a temporary Director, then after a 10 day in-house posting period, they will meet again and appoint her replacement. If the in house job posting method doesn't net a a viable applicant, resumes  will be accepted from the real world.
  • March 10 pm We asked Dawson why she didn't tell the Board Tuesday night. Her response, she hadn't made up her mind then. Struggling with dwindling budget dollars, Dawson has been in the cross hairs to make cutbacks and run a leaner organization.
  • March 10 pm Look for Dawson to accept an away from the limelight job within the agency. Dawson said she was interested in running a federally funded cervical cancer awareness program which serves a multi county region.
  • March 10 pm  No word on her replacement. Street talk has Jay Carper and Sandy Graham as the top candidates for the opening.
  • March 10 am In Regional Tournament action, last night, our Clay High Panthers went down in defeat as Braxton logged up 59 points to our 33. The season is over.
  • March 10 am  Cold? Need a place to hang out today? This morning at 10 am  Clay County PSD will hold their rescheduled monthly meeting on Main Street across from the Courthouse. This evening Clay Roane PSD meets at 7pm in the CDC building across from Rite Aid.  On the Clay Roane agenda is this post: Executive Session- None.  That'll be a first!
  • March 10 am  Come out and watch our appointed leaders at their best and worst at the same time.
  • March 10 am  One last note from Tuesday night's Health Bd meeting. The Bd went secret  at first opportunity. After they came back into public, something was different. The public doesn't know what was said BUT something happened. Watch for a change and soon. Something is up.
  • March 10 am  During yesterday's Commission meeting, renovating the old Courthouse came before the CCC. According to Jerry Stover, restoring the landmark back to its glory would cost a million. CCC came up with $4000 for a feasibility study for the building. Did you know we have a Litter Control Officer? Yelp a trash queen!  Dawn Whitely is our Litter Cop. CCC voted to get her a police radio.
  • March  10 am  When BDA Chair Leonard Williams entering the room, he loudly sang out, " I'm so pretty... I'm so happy... I'm so pretty...." During a break in the action, he sang the same verses again. When the meeting was over, again his singing commenced. Laughter was heard around the room.  Some thought he may have taken one too many anger management pills. After the meeting Commissioner King said that tune came from a movie where the star went out of control and his therapist taught him to sing that tune instead of  yelling obscenities.
  • March 10 am  Have you hear about the CCC getting sued again? Well sort of. Here's the scoop. Last month the State Tax Dept. recommended Joseph Loreta and Morgantown Mining get a big tax cut. Our elected boys and girl decided not to do that. Now Loreta is appealing  the decision to Circuit Court. Big money too! Loreta wanted his assessments reduced on 4 tracts of coal land... $150,000+ down to $32,000... $598,000 down to $34,000.... $847,000 down to $130,000... and so forth.
  • March 9 pm Happy 60th Birthday Wishes to Sonnie Lee.
  • March 9 pm We received a couple phone calls and emails on this story but have been sitting on this one for a couple weeks. Here's what we've got.
  • March 9 pm  A couple weeks back Clay County Deputy Robert Belt was following a school bus in the Ivydale area when a couple students gave him the one finger salute. With blue lights on, the bus pulled over and Belt entered the bus from the back thru the emergency exit. Using very strong potty mouth the rumor had it that Belt told the kids if they're man enough to flip him off, they ought to be man enough to admit to it.
  • March 9 pm Parents hearing this went ballistic at the use of potty mouth by an officer and the coming thru the back door of a bus. During Monday night's School Board meeting, when the subject came up, the Board was told the matter had been taken care of by the their Transpo Czar Larry Legg, and there really hadn't been complaints on it. All done.
  • March 9 pm We talked to Sheriff Holcomb who said he had investigated the incident right after it happened and the truth is, it's different from the street rumors. From the Sheriff: Belt did open the back door of the bus but with the school bus driver's permission so he could identify the finger waivers. Belt did NOT use potty mouth ( no MF either); and the School system did have concerns about the use of the back door. Sheriff Holcomb on the matter of potty mouth use by Deputy Belt, " No he didn't, I'll go through the pearly gates believing he  didn't do that. He doesn't do that when we're out here wrestling thugs. There was someone on the bus that did use the MF when the door was closed but I am convinced it wasn't Robert"
  • March 9 pm Holcomb, " It's common sense that you don't do it out in the citizenry or in uniform.  With the uniform on, you set the example. I have always tried to do that but  I let some words slip. At the time and with who it happened to, Robert,  I can tell you right now, not Robert....."
  • March 9 pm  Deputy Belt is also a subsitute school bus driver and had driven that route. Holcomb said there had been other problems on that bus in the past.
  • March 9 pm There you have it clickers, the best we can put it together. If you've conflicting first hand accounts, our email address is listed at the bottom of this page.
  • March 9 am  Today the Clay County Commission meets at 10 am. Nice warm place and a good place to see government in action.  Leonard Williams is suppose to be at the meeting to discuss who gets a $30,000 grant for economic development in the county for another year. IF you see Mr. Williams, don't get him riled up! Don't even think about asking him if he's taken anger management classes.
  • March 9 am   Yesterday's Clay County PSD meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday March 10th  at 10 am. Don't miss the fun! Attend a public meeting.
  • March 9 am Remember the Elvis Dawson shoot out with David Starcher? Elvis was sentenced Monday. He got: 5 weekends in Central Regional Jail, one year on CRJ which was suspended and 4 years supervised probation given. We understand he pee tested positive Monday. Any guesses on how long he makes it on supervised probation?
  • March 9 am Last night's Health Bd meeting was a keeper. Here's a couple highlights.
  • March 9 am With fewer dollars coming into the Health Dept., the coming year's budget will be in the red between $60,000 and $114,000. If a bunch of people don't quit, layoffs are coming and cutbacks in services will be felt. Even with the employee reductions, next years budget will have shortfalls.
  • March 9 am During public comments, Linda Jarvis said she wasn't going to abide by the new No Smoking Ban, period. County Health officer Doc Boggs said the law WILL be enforced and Ms Jarvis will be getting "served with papers" in 90 daysif she doesn't comply with the unreasonable law! Jarvis didn't back done one inch nor did another speaker against the smoking ban.  Remember postings here about a slippery slope,  now smokers and later fat people??? Last night Doc Boggs said the reason for the ban was to protect the county, to protect the people. During his oration, he mentioned obesity as another problem in the county. Here's our guess. If the  Health Czars makes it thru this Smoking Ban controversy without getting run out of town, their next step will be to ban ice cream and soft drinks in the county. Maybe someday soon, in addition to getting arrested for walking down the sidewalk with a cig, if you jiggle too much.....
  • March 9 am Larry Caudill is head honcho of the Lion's Club. Caudill confirmed, if parents aren't allowed to bring their kids into Bingo games, there is little doubt, revenues would go down resulting in fewer scholarships for high school kids. Last year 10 $1000 college sholarships were handed out by the local Lions.  Under the new Smoking Ban, no one under 18 will be allowed in the Lion's Club Casino on Main Street. Currently parents and grand parents play while the rug rats hang out. With no place to leave the brats, the adults will most likely stay away.
  • March 9 am One little fat guy asked the Health Bd to read, understand and follow state Open Meetings Laws in the future. That, breaching the law could void anything done during a bogus meeting. Within minutes of the Sunshine comments, the Board slid into secret time without a motion, a second, or a vote. Pooooof they just got up and hightailed it for a back room. They were gone! The lady who had asked the question that got them skidaddling, wasn't  allowed in secret time. Doc Boggs, a non member of the Board did go behind closed doors.   Who asked for the secret time. Mr Joe Morris!
  • March 9 am  During a vote on increased privacy of records, they got a motion and a second, but never voted. Even with no vote taken, they considered the motion passed.
  • March 9 am   A woman was very distraught over the fact that she had not had a date or any sex for over 5 years.  She was afraid she might have something wrong with her, so she decided to seek the medical expertise of the well known Chinese sex therapist, Dr. Chang.

    •        Upon entering the examination room, Dr. Chang said, "OK, take off all your crose." The woman did as she was told.   "Now, get down and craw reery, reery fass to odderside of room." Again, the woman did as she was instructed.   Dr. Chang then said, "OK, now craw reery, reery fass back to me."   As she did, Dr. Chang shook his head slowly.  "Your probrem vewy bad.  You haf Ed Zachary Disease. Worse case I ever see. Dat why you not haf sex or dates."
           The woman asked anxiously, "Oh my God, Dr. Chang, what is Ed Zachary Disease?" Dr. Chang sighed deeply and replied, "Ed Zachary Disease is when your face rook Ed Zachary rike your ass. "
  • March 8 pm Just a had a chance to read the agenda for tonight's Health Board meeting. No mention of revisiting the smoking ban ordinance. It's as if there is no controversy there.
  • March 8 pm Tonight the Board is to vote on the coming year's budget and more secrecy with the HIPPA regulations.
  • March 8 am  Tonight at 7 the Clay County Board of Health convenes for more fun. Last Thursday we asked what was on the agenda and Office Manager Linda Klotzbatch said that it wasn't posted it. With Braxton and Roane Counties amending or in the process of amending their recently approved smoking bans, wonder if Clay will follow suit.
  • March 8 am Under the current regs, Arthur Jarrett, owner of the historic Henry Clay Hotel thinks his bar, restaurant, video parlor will be exempt from the smoking ban. He should think again. According to a recent interpretation of the law, a bar is a bar if it does NOT have a kitchen, has heat and eat foods only and makes 80% of it's income from alcohol sales. Also at question: With County Sanitarian Jay Carper charged with enforcing the ordinance, is he qualified to go into the Henry Clay, analyze the books, and determine  the 80% threshold?
  • March 8 am During smoking ban discussions, some felt the ordinance was a first step to eliminating other objectionables like fat people or stinky people.  Those in favor of going down that slippery slope proclaimed: Be reasonable!! Use common sense!!  In California, a new law was just put on the books to keep smelly people from using the public libraries. Yelp, if you've eaten a bunch garlic or ramps, you are no longer allowed to go into a public library.
  • March 8 am The latest edition of The Communicator is being distributed  in the 6 county readership area. After reading part of it, one reader said we should call it the Leonard Williams/Melissa Postelwait edition.  Leonard, Melissa and much much more all for just 50 cents. All the papers should be on the news stands before noon Tuesday.
  • March 8 am  For listeners of the Jim Creel Show on WYAP-LP, Jim is heading off to do some missionary work in Haiti and will be away from the mic for the next week.
  • March 8 am
  • March 7 am  No new posts this morning until we get today's Communicator all buttoned up.
  • March 7 am Tonight the Clay County Bd of Education meets in regular session beginning at 6pm. The light agenda includes:  Approve the overnight trip for CCHS VICA Competition in Masonry and Carpentry to Martinsburg;    Approve the increase in price for adult breakfast from $2.00 to $2.25 and adult lunch from $2.75 to $3.00, effective at the beginning of the 2005-2006 year;   Discussions: Update on distance learning project;   Personnel Item
  • March 7 am A large company, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. This new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers. On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning on a wall. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business!

    •     The new CEO walked up to the guy leaning against the wall and asked, "How much money do you make a week?" A little surprised, the young fellow looked at him and replied, "I make $300.00 a week. Why?"
        The CEO then handed the guy $1,200 in cash and screamed, "Here's four weeks' pay, now GET OUT and don't come back." Feeling pretty good about himself, the CEO looked around the room and asked, "Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-off did here?"
        From across the room came a voice, "Pizza delivery guy from Domino's."
  • March 6 am Before the weekend wrap up... Don't let your boss see you, but here's some pretty cool online games. Here's one for All Lights, another testing your skills on a board game; and finally a teaser to test your memory. Enjoy and bookmark.
  • March 6 am We've almost forgot about the war going on. There have been 1,674 coalition troop deaths, 1,502 Americans, 86 Britons, seven Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 20 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 17 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of March 4, 2005.  And the reason? Oil and Corporate wealth.
  • March 6 am On the national scene, some good news. Our Supreme Court ruled kids should be treated as kids and tossed out the death penalty. Finally some sanity.
  • March 6 am Here at home, we've had a mixed bag of goodies. Our weather has  gone from Sunshine to ice and snow in a tumbling mess that changes hourly. Just ask drivers in the Nebo and  Valley Fork areas where ice hit quick and rendered the roads nearly impassable.
  • March 6 am Clay Roane PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait came to her senses Monday and apologized to the Clay County Commission. On Wednesday a second shot at copying public records by the CCC went without a hitch. Seems, public records are truly public after all.
  • March 6 am Many in the county remained peed at the Clay Health Board's decision to ban smoking in about every public place in the county of Clay. Braxton County voted in a similar unreasonable smoking ban and there, the citizens organized, spoke up and Braxton just exempted several businesses from the Gestapo style rulings.
  • March 6 am Sports wise in the county of Clay.... the Lady Panthers held off Oak Hill until he final two minutes. The final score was 45 to 34 with Oak Hill moving into State Tournament action. Went better for the CCHS Panthers Friday night as they overcame Roane County and move on to Regional action this week. For our 3rd an 4th grade b ballers, tournament action results: 1ST PLACE CLAY CO. 2ND H.E WHITE  3RD LIZEMORE   4TH IVYDALE  5TH VALLEY FORK.
  • March 6 am Our big story this week came Thursday night when an out of control ( he said he was so mad he couldn't think straight) Business Development Authority Chair Leonard Williams accused the media ( this web site) of dashing hopes for new jobs in the county due to coverage of secret dealings by the BDA. Williams said mid Feb postings on these pages ran off a prospective tenant for the Filcon swamp land. How out of control was the public official, the leader of the group charged with growing the county? So mad, he asked the ace cub reporter out back before the meeting even began. Anger management classes may be in order or a new BDA Chair or both.
  • March 6 am  Does the BDA have a secret leg to stand on? Not hardly as John Wayne used to say! From the state code: Pursuant to the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government which holds to the principle that government is the servant of the people, and not the master of them, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of the state of West Virginia that all persons are, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments of government they have created.
  • March 6 am With Sheriff Holcomb and badges working big time nabbing druggies left and right, the sad reality of justice came out. The jail bill for Jan 2005 went over $25,000 and for Feb... over $30,000. Calhoun County has already faced the $ problem and the results were elected officials going without a pay day and cutbacks in employee numbers and benefits. What's it going to be clickers? More thugs in jail and further cutbacks in county government?
  • March 6 am Green Shirts sent out a Missing Person report. Jennifer Nicole Belt hasn't been seen in three weeks. She disappeared shortly after signing a domestic order. Not a word has been heard. Her vehicle was found on coal property two weeks ago.
  • March 6 am Elk Power bills went up over 20% this week and the public never even whimpered. Water rates will increase in a few weeks for Clay Roane PSD customers and few will do more than shrug their shoulders. Smokers lost personal rights a couple weeks back and only a hand full of citizens even blinked.
  • March 6 am  Could there possibly be a more fertile place for the media?
  • March 5 am Last night the CCHS Panthers played Roane County in sectional tournament action. Concensus among the coffee house crowd and various newspapers, Roane County would put it all over the Panthers and easily move on to the Regionals. Didn't Happen. Last night the Panthers won 48 to 40!!!! Way to go Clay!  It goes to show you never can tell.
  • March 5 am  WYAP carried Wednesday night's Lady Panther win over Oak Hill and plans to rebroadcast that game beginning at 7pm tonight.
  • March 5 am Around 5 pm yesterday, Business Development Authority Chair Leonard Williams parked in front of The Communicator office and brought a gift to that ace cub reporter. Williams pulled out a green disposable towel, proclaimed it to be a "crying rag", and handed it to the Mel Gibson look alike.
  • March 5 am When Williams was asked how his blood pressure was, he said just fine, that he had been fishing all day. Lets see, it rained, then sleeted, then snowed, then rained, then everything turned to ice and Williams was out fishing.  Makes one wonder if he really is all right?
  • March 5 am Williams quickly left the building without answering any other question and roared off in his Chevy truck ready to tackle the next economic development hurdle facing Clayberry. Of course that hurdle will be dealt with in complete back room inner circle privacy away from those pesky prying eyes of the tax payer.
  • March 5 am  After Williams left the building, the other guy sitting in The Communicator office asked, "Did you understand that?" Mel Gibson responded: No.
  • March 4 pm The Communicator will NOT come out until Monday afternoon late. Sorry to be slow but this one is a keeper!
  • March 4 pm This afternoon the weather couldn't decide what to do. By mid morning the sun was out and lookin good. By 1:30pm, scanner traffic was talking about slick road conditions in the Wallback area. Around 2:00pm, big snow flakes were falling on downtown Clay.  By 2:30pm, the flakes had turned into this slushy cold wet rain ready to make driving hazardous for all. Over the scanner, 2:45pm: 2 car wreck, top of Valley Fork hill, car in the ditch, need a wrecker, law enforcement and a salt truck, no injuries,  and "THE ROAD IS ICE!"
  • March 4 pm  So what really was going on during last night's barn burner Business Development Authority meeting? Does anybody really think generic postings without name  or identifying markers spoiled a chance for a new employer over at the old Filcon site. Let me count the hands... get em up.... Oh.... Not one hand in the air.
  • March 4 pm We may never know what really happened to or with the guy the BDA said was interested in setting up a  business over near Ovapa. That's nothing new, it's happened before. Last year a fellow came to a meeting with plans to set up a warehouse operation on the Ovapa site. We never heard from him again either. Last night when Tommy Fitzwater asked for details now that the company is no longer a player, out of the picture, no answers came.
  • March 4 pm The worst part of last night's BDA meeting was the formation of a new inner circle committee to negotiate all new deals completely away from the public. They didn't say it but their intent was very clear: The public should be kept in the dark until it's too late to make a difference.  Secret dealings are nothing new in WV or Clayberry. The WV Ethics Commission has ruled on similar situations where our appointed officials break up into secret little groups and try making deals in back rooms away from the taxpayer.
  • March 4 pm Is the BDA subject to Open Meeting Laws? Answer: Any administrative or legislative unit of state, county or municipal government. This includes any subunit authorized by law to exercise some portion of executive or legislative power. ' 6-9A-2(6). The Act does not apply to courts
  • March 4 pm  Can the new tight lipped inner circle meet without the public being involved? What is a meeting? Answer: When a governing body convenes to make a decision or recommendation or to deliberate toward a decision or recommendation. General discussions held in social, educational, training, ceremonial or similar settings are not meetings if there is no intent for the discussion to lead to official action. ' 6-9A-2(4)
  • March 4 pm When BDA Board members agree to work for the public, they swear to do just one thing. To obey the Constitution of the land.  Trying to usurp Open Meeting Laws is not a good road to wander down and certainly doesn't pass the rotten fish test.
  • March 4 pm BDA After yelling at the ace cub reporter and asking him to go out back, Chair Leonard Williams went thru the meeting so mad he had trouble functioning. At one point he said he couldn't find any of his paperwork, that he had spewed them around and was disorganized. Anger management classes are available. Maybe the Chair should consider addressing such control issues or find some other less stressful appointment.
  • March 4 am We've made it to Friday. Little snow and Spring is right around the corner. We hope anyway!
  • March 4 am  March 4 am  Get your coffee cup, this is going to take a few minutes.
  • March 4 am  We're holding off The Communicator until Monday afternoon. We don't have some great big  earth shaking story in the works, but just need a little more time to  ensure the lofty, near award winning standards demanded by our readers. Keep your 50 cents until Monday afternoon late.
  • March 4 am  There aren't many in the county that will admit  Clay County and West Virginia's educational system is poor. Our high dollar leaders put on the best face and give out awards at the drop of the hat, but the reality is, in most stats, most research, West Virginia drags in near the bottom of the pack or the very bottom. Locally parents are told their children are fully prepared with a bright and rosey future, fully prepared for the 21st century with diploma in hand. The reality is quite different. Maybe the most wasted educational year is the 12th grade.
  • March 4 am A few days ago, we had a chance to argue the ups and downs of education with Coach Ron Sirk, Kenneth Tanner and Jim Haynie over at CCHS. Needless to say, they differed with the above mentioned posting and we haggled for over an hour. The always acid tongued Coach Ron Sirk was most vocal often questioning where such sad commentary comes from. Ron ( some call him droopy drawers) went on to say only good things should be printed about the school system.  He couldn't figure out how anyone could say that education in West Virginia was a failure.
  • March 4 am  All that dismal part came from the Mel Gibson look alike who mentioned the high number of CCHS graduates who require remedial education classes ( bone head) when they attempt college courses. Few others are willing to question  the powers that be in Clayberry or get past the rose colored glasses picture passed around by the educational community.
  • March 4 am   One of the great thinkers of our time, Bill Gates of MicroSoft fame, spoke out Feb 27th on the same failures mentioned by that ace cub reporter. The full story from the LA Times is over on our ADVISORY page. Darn good reading unless you're a school administrator !
  • March 4 am Here's our feature post clickers.   Last night the Business Development Authority (BDA) held their meeting. Prior the opening, Chair Leonard Williams was livid over recent web site postings from this site on BDA attempts to lure a tenant to the old Filcon Inc site near Ovapa. He said that notes on these pages had cost the county an employer and jobs!!!! At one point he invited that ace cub reporter out back. Now Williams didn't say what for, but the guess is, they weren't going to talk about the weather or eat ice cream.
  • March 4 am Other BDAers nodded in agreement that secrecy was the utmost importance and when this site..... You know what Leonard was talking about? He was reaaally hacked at this posting from Feb 13:  Wednesday evening, our Business Development Authority held a special meeting to negotiate with a possible tenant for the old Filcon site. After an hour of secret time where the public was excluded, Chair Williams said no decisions were made. Citizen activist Fred Sampson asked some general questions about the negotiations. He received few answers from the Chair. Needless to say Sampson was peed big time as stomped out of the meeting. And rightly so too!!!

    •    Our economic development group the BDA can legally negotiate away from the public but after 2 lengthy secret sessions and their dismal track record with previous tenants, Chair Williams could have gone a long way at easing concerns with a simple statement. Something along the lines of:  We are negotiating with a metal manufacturer of corrugated pipe that is interested in building a 40 by 100 building at the Valley Fork industrial park. The owner has roots in Clay County and until we get  the details firmed up, the potential tenant has asked that we keep his name away from the public. The total project is around $200,000 to be invested and there is the possibility of  6 to 10 jobs if this pans out. Be patient please, we're trying to get it right this time around.
  • March 4 am  Does that sound too revealing? With Williams saying to the assembled when he gets mad, he gets mad all over, he also questioned the "dismal track record" part and an earlier post about what kind of business they may be negotiating for. In that non referenced post, we stirred up a hornet's nest with mention of maybe the BDA was negotiating for a  medical waste dump, maybee a nuclear incenerator or maybe even an abortion clinic. The abortion clinic part was added just to fire things up but does anyone remember when the county negotiated for such a dump......
  • March 4 am Revealing? Does any of that earlier post sound like it would blow some top secret deal? Enough to get the BDA Chair pointing and asking the cub reporter to go out back?  It's hard to keep a secret in Clayberry especially when the BDA brings the top secret prospective tenants to a public meeting. Especially hard to keep things quiet when the husband of the team grew up near Wallback and the wifey was a speech therapist in the school system. Even harder to keep things quiet when the hubby is a regular in and around the Clendenin area. Keep in mind, this site never mentioned the guy's name, his wife's name, the name of the fledgling business. Nothing! According to the followers of the Chair, this little web site, without ever mentioning a name, just caused the county to lose job after job and the county is doomed. Alas Alack, we're doomed!
  • March 4 am Throughout last night's meeting, the Chair interjected barbs and jabs at every opportunity. That nasty reporting just cost the county a bunch of jobs.   So what happens next? It was finger pointing time!!!!!!!!!!
  • March 4 am  Time to accuse his fellow Boardsters of having loose lips. Off with their heads!!!!!!!!    And .........  Time to appoint an even more top secret, underground group to operate further away from prying public eyes. And that's exactly what they did.  At the Chair's request Morgan Gibson, Jim Knotts, and Jerry Nelson were admitted into the new top secret inner circle group along with Chair Williams and Paige Willis added for guidance. The clan was formed to operate completely away from meeting times. This small group of tight lips will work in the shadows and negotiate all future dealings without any public oversight and after  all the details are hashed out in some back room, the full BDA Board will give a cursory seal of approval.  Never again will the public know ahead of time the name taxpayer dollars will be spent on, what kind of business our appointed boys and girls are seeking for our future, nor will we know the deal until it is too late to sound the alarm. The name Manfred Kuntzer just keeps coming up.
  • March 4 am  From now on our BDA team will only announce tenants after the dust settles. As the meeting ended, Leonard Williams asked that the group get some good publicly and a pat on the back for doing a good job. Take a number clickers, there may be a long line!
  • March 4 am And finally something  a little lighter: A precious little girl walks into a pet shop and asks in the sweetest little lisp between two missing teeth, ?Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep widdle wabbits??     As the shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees so that he's on her level and  asks, ?Do you want a widdle white wabbit, or a thoft and fuwwy bwack wabbit, or maybe one like that cute widdle bwown wabbit over there??   She, in turn, blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands on her knees, leans forward and  says, in a soft voice, ?I don't think my python givth a thit.?
  • March 3 pm  Matthew Rose, 20 of Duck, see FUNERAL page
  • March 3 pm  Press Release from the WV State Police: WVSP are looking for a missing person. Jennifer Nichole (Sears) Belt was reported missing Feb. 23 05. Jennifer was last seen on Mt Home Road in Clay County on Feb. 9 2005 at her Mother's residence. Jennifer is thirty years old with long brown hair, green eyes and has medium to light skin tone. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, brown clog shoes, hoop earrings and a watch with a leather band.   If you have any information on the whereabouts of this missing person, please contact the West Virginia State Police, Clay Detachment   587 2201
  • March 3 pm Elk Power bills came out a little late this time around. On the back of the monthly statement is mention that the local provider is seeking a rate increase. A search of the WV Public Service Commission web site reveals that Elk Power was seeking two rate increases. The PSC also reports the first increase, an emergency rate increase, is already approved and on the bills.  For residential customers, the first 500kwh goes up 20.53% and anything over 500 kwh's 22.21% is the increase. Using one of their outdoor street lights? Increase is between 14.8% and 21%  depending on the size. For the average home using around 1000 kwh's, the new bill will read around $75. Ouch
  • March 3 pm  Man it looked good for the Lady Panthers last night right up until the last 3 minutes. Most of the evening, Clay was ahead and looking strong. That all pooped out when Oak Hill moved ahead by 5 points with two minutes to go. In the end, Oak Hill over the Lady Panthers 45 to 34. Oak Hill advances to the State Tournament and the season and post season is over for the home team.
  • March 3 pm  Yesterday, Commissioners Sams and Triplett loaded up the county Jeep with a copier and extension cord and headed by to the Procious Water Plant to make more copies of financial records. Unlike what happened last Wednesday, this trip was different. No strong words and no  attempts to stop the prying eyes of the CCC. Yelp! PSD Chair Postelwait was there and Nope, no resistance.
  • March 3 pm Just got this in the email bag:  If you missed the first showing of the documentary King of Stink the following is additional air times.  "King of Stink": Appalachian Ramp Festivals Check Public Television Station Listing for the most accurate information, dates and channels.   (WV PBS) Wednesday, March 02, 9:00 PM and Sunday, March 13, 10:30 PM   (WVPBS2) Thursday, March 03, 8:00 PM and Saturday, March 12, 11:30 AM
  • March 3 pm  King of Stink? We're talking ramps!  Here's some background info from the Hurherald.
  • March 3 am  Tonight the Clay County Business Development Authority meets at 5pm at the Courthouse. Watch our economic development leaders at work. Did we mention the CAEZ wants the title "lead economic development agent" and the $30,ooo that goes with the designation?
  • March 3 am   A husband walks into Fredrick's of Hollywood to purchase some sheer lingerie for his wife.   He is shown several possibilities that range  from $250 to $500 in price, the more sheer, the higher the price.   He opts  for the most sheer item, pays the $500 and takes the lingerie home.

    •     He presents it to his wife and asks her to go upstairs, put it on and model it for him.  Upstairs, the wife thinks, "I have an idea.  It's so sheer that it might as well be nothing.  I won't put it on, do the modeling naked, return it tomorrow and keep the $500 refund for myself." So she appears naked on the balcony and strikes a pose. The husband says, "Good Lord! You'd think that for $500, they'd at least iron it!"
        He never heard the shot, Funeral services are pending.........
  • March 3 am  A more complete update coming this morning. As a teaser, the County Commission went back down to copy more financials from Clay Roane PSD yesterday. Details before noon today.
  • March 2 LATE pm   Press Release from the WV State Police: WVSP are looking for a missing person. Jennifer Nichole (Sears) Belt was reported missing Feb 23 05. Jennifer was last seen on Mt Home Road in Clay County on Feb 9 2005 at her Mother's residence. Jennifer is thirty years old with long brown hair, green eyes and has medium to light skin tone. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, brown clog shoes, hoop earings and a watch with a leather band.   If you have any information on the whereabouts of this missing person, please contact the West Virginia State Police, Clay Detachment   587 2201
  • March 2 pm Tonight  WYAP , 101.7 FM plans to broadcast the Clay Lady Panthers vs Oak Hill Regional Basketball Tournament game over at Nicholas County High School.  With no other radio station planning to air the game, some big cheese governing association says our non profit radio station has to pay a $125 fee. YAP radio is looking for some help.
  • March 2 pm Already (noon) five people have came forth to help to cover broadcast costs. If you can help out call the station 587 8353 during the Avis in the Afternoon show between 3 and 5 pm today. Thanks and listen tonight on 101.7 or around the globe on the internet, www.clayfm.com
  • March 2 pm  Just got this in: The Clay County Historical Society meeting scheduled  for tomorrow  has been rescheduled for next Thursday, March 10, 2005 at 2 pm  at the Clay Public Library on main street. Please try to attend to help preserve  the few  historical buildings that are left in Clay County.  Thanks!
  • March 2 pm If you want your event, community notice, or classified listed in this week's Communicator, deadline is tonight. use the email link at the bottom of this page please.
  • 4:45am March 2 am   Clay County Schools will operate on a 2 hour delay today. Sleep in a little longer kids!!
  • March 2 am That bad ole snow blew and blew all Tuesday. For kids wanting a 2 hour school delay or the day off, didn't work. The stuff never hit the ground. Why haven't we had snow this winter? One lady said there are so many meth labs in the county, it's too warm for the snow to accumulate!
  • March 2 am Providing the weather holds, tonight the Clay High Lady Panthers take on Oak Hill in regional basketball tournament action. The regionals are being held at Nicholas County High School with tip off at 7:30pm. The Lady Panthers are just 32 minutes from going to the states. Here's the kicker, if schools are closed due to weather, the game will be rescheduled for Friday night. We'll post as soon as we know for sure
  • March 2 am Don't want to make the drive over Peach Orchard? WYAP plans to air the ball game if they can raise the $ to pay the WV SSAC broadcast fees. Want to help? Stop by the station.
  • March 2 am  Next door, in Calhoun County, the Commission couldn't make payroll yesterday and ordered departments to lay off courthouse workers, and cut benefits. The root of the problem is the Regional Jail bill.  Remember when the Legislature told us to do away with local jails and the regional jails would be cheaper to operate?  It's in Calhoun now and maybe in Clayberry in the near future.
  • March 2 am during yesterday's Town Council meeting, Sally Legg called in with her resignation from Council. Jerry Stover was appointed to fill Legg's position. Ms LEgg had been drawing her paycheck without serving for several months. As yesterday's meeting closed, discussion turned to the Town enacting their own smoking ordinance. Council person Billie Zegeer said she had stopped smoking but was against the county smoking ban because it takes away a personal freedom.
  • March 2 am During the meeting there was no mention of Jarrett taking over the Chief of Police duties. Jarrett did say he had a parking ticket book.
  • March 2 am When the Bd of Health voted last month to ban smoking in Clayberry, they knew the Lion's Club Casino ( Bingo) Hall would be exempt. Or is it? According to the ordinance, if they sell 100 or more Bingo cards, comply with other non profit regulations, smoking is permitted. But But But.. Elsewhere in the new ordinance comes this: Facilities that permit smoking must post signs advising patrons of secondhand smoke hazards and minors are prohibited.  Over at our local Bingo Hall parents regularly bring their kids along and high school girls sell refreshments there. It sure sounds like, wherever smoking is allowed, people under 18 aren't! If parents can't bring the rug rats, someone is going to lose $.
  • March 2 am During last night's Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone ( CAEZ) meeting, more details came out on the rail excursion train planned for the old BC&G railroad tracks. According to Director Sizemore, they have a verbal agreement on a 50 year lease for the Dundon property needed for a trail head/depot/ticket office/snack bar complex. Sizemore sounded very optimistic that the agreements could be hashed out for the 5 mile excursion line soon.
  • March 2 am Tommy Fitzwater from the peanut gallery, encouraged CAEZ to start now to train locals in operating a business to serve the train, ATV, a float trip tourists.
  • March 1 am  Clay Town Council meets this afternoon at 4pm on Main Street at the water plant. Never know what may happen at a Town Council meeting. Maybe the biggest question: Will Council person Sally Legg show up after moving out of town and not showing for a couple meetings.  Last month Mayor Jarrett said he would not sign another paycheck for wayward from duty Sally Legg.
  • March 1 am  Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) holds their monthly shindig this afternoon beside the welfare office on Main Street. The Economic Development Committee meets at 4pm followed by the full Board at 6pm.
  • March 1 am  All three meetings are open to the public. CAEZ often has munchies too.
  • March 1 am Starting a business in WV is tough. Starting one in Clayberry is tougher. Keeping a business open for two years is tougher still. Such is the case with Town and Country Restaurant on Main Street. Besides a big turkey and dressing dinner special planned for today, Town and Country has a free drawing in progress. A big SALUTE to Rhonda Dennis. Here's to 2 more years serving the bellies of Clayberry.
  • March 1 am Kids had a tough time getting to sleep last night. With 2 to 4 inches of snow in the forecast, every five minutes the curtain climbers peered out the windows and doors in hopes of a two hour school delay. Around 11pm, the first flakes landed.
  • March 1 am Last night our County Commission met in regular session. Over 20 watched from the peanut gallery, that's over 20 on a rainy snow spiced night. And they said the public won't come out for a public meeting! Here's a couple notables from last night.
  • March 1 am Clay Roane PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait apologized to the elected over her performance last week during the FOIA stand off at the Procious water plant. She said she was just following orders of PSD attorney Tom Whittier ( Howdy Tom) BUT she wasn't doing that again.  Postelwait said she had nothing to hide from the public... that she was just following legal advice.
  • March 1 pm  During PSD discussions, Sheriff Holcomb provided some insight. According to the Sheriff, when the 911 call came in during the FOIA stand off, had the Sheriff been available, it wouldn't have been the County Commission  hauled out of the water plant!
  • March 1 pm  Here's another tidbit from last night. One fellow said the Bickmore side of the Hartland bridge had dropped four or five inches and he had concerns for safety.  Sheriff Holcomb said he had talked to state road somebodies last week, and they gave the bridge a clean bill of health.
  • March 1 pm   More on last night's CCC meeting later today and in this Friday's Communicator.
  • March 1 pm The folks with all the money, the State Infrastructure Council meets Wed morning in Charleston. listed on their agenda are all the projects recommended for funding, recommended for revised binding commitment, projects needing more info, and the various applications received seeking funding. The name Clay County PSD was no where to be seen.
  • March 1 pm Lets talk viruses. The first of a new wave made the email bag last night and hasil has your name in the "from" and "to" header and the attachment is a zip file. Be warned and watch out.