Friday, May 18, 2012

Area Crafters Practice the Art of Business Expansion

Eight West Virginia artisan entrepreneurs are collaborating with Tamarack Foundation to sharpen their marketing skills and expand their businesses.

The artists recently displayed their talents at one of the nation’s largest craft trade shows.

The artists exhibited at the 2012 Buyers’ Market of American Craft show in Philadelphia, with support from Tamarack Foundation and grants from the West Virginia Departments of Commerce and Agriculture.

The 2012 show attracted representatives of more than 1,200 galleries and more than 30 media companies from the United States and Canada.

The participating artists were:

- Matt Thomas, wood and metal, Gilmer County

- Mark Schwenk, metal, Morgan County

- Phil Holcomb & Teresa Holcomb, wood, Roane County

- Susan Ramey Bisgyer, ceramics, Preston County

- John DesMeules, glass, Putnam County

- Connie McColley, jewelry, Calhoun County

- Ellie Conlon, specialty foods, Wetzel County

- Robin Hildebrand, specialty foods, Fayette County

The Commerce and Agriculture departments provided grants that covered part of the costs to participate in the national show. The Tamarack Foundation provided the remainder.

“The Tamarack Foundation has worked with these artisans on entrepreneurial skills,” said Sally Barton, executive director. “Now thanks to support from West Virginia, they’re able to take that to the next level, with the materials and contacts to grow their businesses in this state and to expand their markets.”

The artists’ performance at Buyers’ Market of American Craft has already shown measurable results. Barton cited the example of Matt Thomas, a crafter of fine wood furniture, including a line ornamented with hand-forged steel.

Thomas supported his growing family as a licensed general contractor, supplemented by making furniture as a sideline. That changed in 2011, when a fall from a roof abruptly halted his construction career.

Over the months that followed, Thomas regained mobility and refocused on his art-quality furniture.

“When I was invited to be a part of the group to exhibit in Philadelphia, I was elated,” Thomas said. “I hoped that by making the most of the opportunity I was given, I could regain the income source that I lost and I could work from home.”

He contacted galleries in advance of the show, introducing himself and his work. During the show, he received orders from 56 galleries from Maine to California, most notably the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.

Thomas sees potential for growth in the future. The local economy is seeing benefits now.

“As a result of this success, I’ve hired a part-time office worker,” Thomas said. “I am excited about the possibility of hiring others from my community to help grow my home-based business.”

The Tamarack Foundation mentored the artists for about a year, helping them develop marketing materials and get professional-quality photos of their work. The photos were enlarged and mounted on fabric-covered display panels. The professional displays created a unified look that allowed the West Virginia group to stand out at the national show.

Tamarack executives also persuaded the show to include specialty foods among the artistic wares for the first time in its history.

“Artisan entrepreneurs create jobs here at home and produce quality crafts that are made in America,” said Barton. “That is good for our economy, from the local community to the national level.”

“The support made possible by the Tamarack Foundation has helped make the transition to artisan entrepreneur possible,” Thomas said. “By continuing my marketing and wholesale efforts, I will be able to do what I love, where I love, around those I love.”

West Virginia Counties Complete Canvass of Primary Election

All 55 counties in West Virginia completed their canvass of the results of the 2012 primary election on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

During a canvass the County Commissioners, acting as the Board of Canvassers, oversee the recounting by hand of the ballots cast at a randomly selected five percent of a county’s precincts.

The Boards of Canvassers also carefully examine each provisional ballot cast in the county, making a legal decision on whether a provisional ballot should be counted.

After the canvass is complete, a county “declares” their election results.

Counties started declaring their election results Monday morning. Declaring results starts a 48 hour time period in which a candidate can request a recount.

Recount requests for county and multi-county legislative offices are handled differently than statewide offices.

For county offices, the 48 hour recount request period begins when that county declares its results.

For multi-county legislative offices, the 48 hour recount request period begins when the last county in that district declares their results.

For statewide offices, the 48 hour recount request period begins when the last county in the state declares their results.

Since the final county declared its results at 3:20 PM on Thursday, May 17, 2012, the 48 hour recount window for a statewide race won’t close until 3:20 PM on Monday, May 21, 2012.

Saturdays and Sundays do not count toward the 48 hour time period.

To see the election results on the WV Secretary of State’s website Click H E R E.

Gilmer County Vision Meeting Rescheduled – 06.01.12

Census Shows Whites Lose U.S. Majority among Babies

For the first time, racial and ethnic minorities make up more than half the children born in the U.S., capping decades of heady immigration growth that is now slowing.

New 2011 census estimates highlight a historic shift underway in the nation’s racial makeup. They mark a transformation in a country once dominated by whites and bitterly divided over slavery and civil rights, even as it wrestles now over the question of restricting immigration.

“This is an important landmark,“ said Roderick Harrison, a former chief of racial statistics at the Census Bureau who is now a sociologist at Howard University. “This generation is growing up much more accustomed to diversity than its elders.“

The report comes as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legality of Arizona’s strict immigration law. Many states are weighing similar get-tough measures as fewer Hispanics are opting to enter the U.S. due to the weak economy.

“We remain in a dangerous period where those appealing to anti-immigration elements are fueling a divisiveness and hostility that might take decades to overcome,“ Harrison said.

As a whole, the nation’s minority population continues to rise, following a higher-than-expected Hispanic count in the 2010 census. Minorities increased 1.9% to 114.1 million, or 36.6% of the total U.S. population, lifted by prior waves of immigration that brought in young families and boosted the number of Hispanic women in their prime childbearing years.

But a recent slowdown in the growth of the Hispanic and Asian populations is shifting notions on when the tipping point in U.S. diversity will come—the time when non-Hispanic whites become a minority. After 2010 census results suggested a crossover as early as 2040, demographers now believe the pivotal moment may be pushed back several years when new projections are released in December.

The annual growth rates for Hispanics and Asians fell sharply last year to just over 2%, roughly half the rates in 2000 and the lowest in more than a decade. The black growth rate stayed flat at 1%.

The immigrants staying put in the U.S. for now include Narcisa Marcelino, 34, a single mother who lives with her two daughters, ages 10 and 5, in Martinsburg, WV After crossing into the U.S. from Mexico in 2000, she followed her brother to the eastern part of the state just outside the Baltimore-Washington region. The Martinsburg area is known for hiring hundreds of migrants annually to work in fruit orchards. Its Hispanic growth climbed from 14% to 18% between 2000 and 2005 before shrinking last year to 3.3%, still above the national average.

Marcelino says she sells food from her home to make ends meet for her family and continues to hope that one day she will get a hearing with immigration officials to stay legally in the U.S. She aspires to open a restaurant and is learning English at a community college so she can help other Spanish-language speakers.

If she is eventually deported, “it wouldn’t be that tragic,“ Marcelino said. “But because the children have been born here, this is their country. And there are more opportunities for them here.“

Of the 30 large metropolitan areas showing the fastest Hispanic growth in the previous decade, all showed slower growth in 2011 than in the peak Hispanic growth years of 2005-2006, when the construction boom attracted new migrants to low-wage work. They include Lakeland, FL; Charlotte, NC; Atlanta; Provo, Utah; Las Vegas; and Phoenix. All but two—Fort Myers, FL, and Dallas-Fort Worth—also grew more slowly last year than in 2010, hurt by the jobs slump.

Pointing to a longer-term decline in immigration, demographers believe the Hispanic population boom may have peaked.

“The Latino population is very young, which means they will continue to have a lot of births relative to the general population,“ said Mark Mather, associate vice president of the Population Reference Bureau. “But we’re seeing a slowdown that is likely the result of multiple factors: declining Latina birth rates combined with lower immigration levels. If both of these trends continue, they will lead to big changes down the road.“

William H. Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution who analyzed the census data, noted that government debates over immigration enforcement may now be less pressing, given slowing growth. “The current congressional and Supreme Court interest in reducing immigration—and the concerns especially about low-skilled and undocumented Hispanic immigration—represent issues that could well be behind us,“ he said.

Minorities made up roughly 2.02 million, or 50.4% of U.S. births in the 12-month period ending July 2011. That compares with 37% in 1990.

In all, 348 of the nation’s 3,143 counties, or 1 in 9, have minority populations across all age groups that total more than 50%. In a sign of future U.S. race and ethnic change, the number of counties reaching the tipping point increases to more than 690, or nearly 1 in 4, when looking only at the under age 5 population.

The counties in transition include Maricopa (Phoenix), AZ; King (Seattle), Wash.; Travis (Austin), Texas; and Palm Beach, FL, where recent Hispanic births are driving the increased diversity among children. Also high on the list are suburban counties such as Fairfax, VA, just outside the nation’s capital, and Westchester, NY, near New York City, where more open spaces are a draw for young families who are increasingly minority.

According to the latest data, the percentage growth of Hispanics slowed from 4.2% in 2001 to 2.5% last year. Their population growth would have been even lower if it weren’t for their relatively high fertility rates—seven births for every death. The median age of U.S. Hispanics is 27.6 years.

Births actually have been declining for both whites and minorities as many women postponed having children during the economic slump. But the drop since 2008 has been larger for whites, who have a median age of 42. The number of white births fell by 11.4%, compared with 3.2% for minorities, according to Kenneth Johnson, a sociologist at the University of New Hampshire.

Asian population increases also slowed, from 4.5% in 2001 to about 2.2%. Hispanics and Asians still are the two fastest-growing minority groups, making up about 16.7% and 4.8% of the U.S. population, respectively.

Blacks, who comprise about 12.3% of the population, have increased at a rate of about 1% each year. Whites have increased very little in recent years.

Other findings:

• The migration of black Americans back to the South is slowing. New destinations in the South, including Atlanta, Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Orlando, FL, saw sharp drop-offs in black population growth as the prolonged housing bust kept African-Americans locked in place in traditional big cities. Metro areas including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco had reduced declines or gains.

• Nine U.S. counties in five states saw their minority populations across all age groups surpass 50% last year. They were Sutter and Yolo in California; Quitman in Georgia; Cumberland in New Jersey; Colfax in New Mexico; and Lynn, Mitchell, Schleicher and Swisher in Texas.

• Maverick County, Texas, had the largest share of minorities at 96.8%, followed by Webb County, Texas, and Wade Hampton, Alaska, both at 96%.

• Four states—Hawaii, California, New Mexico and Texas—as well as the District of Columbia have minority populations that exceed 50%.

The census estimates used local records of births and deaths, tax records of people moving within the U.S., and census statistics on immigrants. The figures for “white” refer to those whites who are not of Hispanic ethnicity.

~~  AP ~~

Public Tour at Coopers Rock State Forest Saturday, May 19, 2011

The West Virginia Division of Forestry will conduct a public tour at Coopers Rock State Forest on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

This is an informational tour for the public to learn about plans for a proposed timber management project prescribed to meet recreational, wildlife and forest management objectives.

Project plans include constructing a designated parking area along Pisgah Road and developing a 2.4 mile road/trail loop.

Wildlife objectives include increasing young forest habitat and food sources.

Other plans include creating savannahs and varying habitats for different bird species, including turkey, grouse and songbirds like the golden-winged warbler.

This is the opportunity for the public to tour the proposed project area and ask questions prior to providing written comments.

The proposed project area is located within the main body of Coopers Rock State Forest, south of Interstate 68, east of the Scott Run trail and west of Pisgah Road (Preston County Route 73/2).

ABOUT COOPERS ROCK STATE FOREST

At approximately 12,747 acres, Coopers Rock State Forest is the largest in the West Virginia State Forest system.

Located 13 miles east of Morgantown and eight miles west of Bruceton Mills, Coopers Rock is easily accessed by Exit 15 of Interstate 68.

The spectacular scenic view from the Coopers Rock Overlook and the numerous hiking and biking trails make this State Forest one of the most visited areas in West Virginia.

OddlyEnough™: Man Bitten by Rattlesnake at Walmart

When Mica Craig reached down to brush what he thought was a stick off some mulch in the garden section of a Washington state Walmart, it turned around and sank its fangs into his hand.

The encounter with a rattlesnake sent Craig, age 47, to the hospital, where he said he remained in excruciating pain and may lose feeling in two fingers. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has apologized.

“I reached down to grab the stick to move it out of the way, and the snake stretched out, turned around and got its fangs in my right hand,“ he said. “I slung it off and I did a tap dance on it until it was dead.“

Craig was rushed to the hospital by fellow customer Maria Geffre, who told Reuters she saw him crumple to the ground after crying out that he had been bitten by a snake.

“He had punctures on his hand and there was the dead rattler he’d stomped on,“ Geffre said, describing the snake as at least a foot long with four buttons, or rattles.

Craig, a married father of two, said the mulch was for his marijuana plants, which he is licensed to grow for medical reasons. It was unclear whether the snake came from an adjacent field or arrived at the store along with garden supplies.

Craig said doctors who initially thought the snake had inflicted only a “dry bite” - or one that did not inject venom - treated him with six bags of anti-venom after his right hand swelled to the size of a melon.

A Walmart spokeswoman offered an apology to Craig and said the retailer was looking into how the incident could have happened at the store in Clarkston, in eastern Washington.

“At this point, it appears to be an isolated incident. We are working with a pest management team, which is conducting a sweep of the property to ensure there is no additional rattlesnake activity,“ Walmart spokeswoman Kayla Whaling said.

Travis Taggart, director of the Center for North American Herpetology, said about half of documented rattlesnake bites, which are usually defensive when directed at humans, are “dry” but still cause severe pain.

WV’s Smallest Hospitals Like Those in Our Area Cannot Afford to Have Medicaid Reimbursement Pulled

Every member of West Virginia’s Congressional delegation is calling on those with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to take another look at revised regulations dealing with reimbursable costs for, what are considered, critical access hospitals.

With the changes, officials with the CMS are attempting to clarify the treatment of reimbursements for provider taxes.

Right now, CMS reimburses the state’s critical access hospitals for the provider taxes they pay under West Virginia law.

The changes would stop those reimbursements in the future, but also be applied retroactively, meaning the hospitals would have to pay back reimbursements from the past couple of years.

The change affects the state’s “critical access hospitals.“ Those are rural hospitals with 25 or fewer beds, like Roane General in Spencer, and Braxton County Memorial in Gassaway.

Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito says such changes could cost about 18 of the smallest, most rural medical sites in West Virginia millions of dollars.

“In certain areas, like in a critical access hospital or a community health center, you get a higher reimbursement rate because it’s important to have access in rural areas to be able to attract health professionals and all those kinds of things,“ Congresswoman Capito said.

She says that’s why, on this issue, West Virginia cannot be treated the same way as other states.

“If these facilities close, then if you’re sitting over in Calhoun County or something, you have an emergency, you have to come all the way to Charleston,“ she said.  “That’s an hour and a half.  That’s life threatening.“

She signed a letter, this week, asking the CMS to look closer at the issue.

U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, First District Congressman David McKinley and Third District Congressman Nick Rahall all signed the letter as well.

Hand-Washing Key to Child Safety at Petting Zoos

With fairs and festivals season just around the corner, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture is issuing an urgent warning regarding the need to thoroughly wash hands after touching animals at petting zoos popular at many events throughout the state.

“It is possible to contract a dangerous form of E. coli by touching animals and fences or equipment they may have come into contact with,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “It is imperative that parents ensure that children immediately wash their hands after visiting a petting zoo. If there are no hand-washing facilities available, children should not be allowed to touch the animals.”

The primary pathogen of concern, E. coli O157:H7, is particularly dangerous to humans, according to Dr. Robert Pitts, Director of WVDA’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Division.

“Various strains of E.coli are always present in the digestive tracts of many animals, including humans, but studies have shown that as few as 10 cells of this particular strain can cause infection in people,” said Dr. Pitts. “Children are especially at risk because their immune systems have not fully developed, and exposure to this strain can result in irreversible kidney damage or death.”

The disease is transmitted by ingestion of fecal material that may be found on animals and around their pens. Although studies show that only a small percentage of animals carry this dangerous strain of E.Coli, the popularity of petting zoos and the enthusiasm of children mean adults should exercise extra caution.

“Animals will pick up fecal matter when they lay on the ground and their immediate environment may also become contaminated. Therefore, any contact with the animal should be considered a possible contamination,” said Dr. Pitts.

Other Tips:

•  Young children who suck thumbs, etc., should not be allowed to touch the animals, the fences surrounding the animals, or any equipment that is in close proximity to the animals.

•  Waterless hand sanitizers are good, but nothing beats warm, soapy, running water to clean hands.

•  “Finger foods” are very popular at fairs and festivals. Hands should be washed immediately after touching animals and again before eating anything as an extra measure of safety.

•  E. coli can survive for extended periods outside the body. Shoes can be a source of infection if they come into contact with manure. Wash your hands after touching potentially contaminated shoes. Consider scrubbing and rinsing the soles with warm, soapy water.

WVDEP Accepting Public Comments on Impaired Streams List

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, under the authority of the federal Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Quality Planning and Management Regulations, 40 CFR Part 130.7, has developed a draft list of the state’s impaired streams and lakes.

An “impaired water” is a water body which, due to a pollutant or combination of pollutants, fails to meet state water quality standards. By violating applicable water quality standards, impaired waters fail to support one or more of their designated uses such as public drinking water supply, aquatic life propagation and maintenance, or contact recreation.

The WVDEP is required to update its list of impaired waters every two years. The list, commonly known as the 303(d) List, is compiled from readily available information and serves as an inventory of waters for which Total Maximum Daily Loads must be developed.

In order to allow public participation in the listing process, a public comment period is in effect through June 11, 2012.

Comments may be submitted by e-mail to: “Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov” or via U.S. mail to:

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Water and Waste Management
2010 303(d) List – Attn: Stephen A. Young
601 57th St., S.E.
Charleston, WV 25304

The draft West Virginia 2012 Section 303(d) List may be viewed on the WVDEP Web site at: www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/303d.

Glenville: Lions Club Carnival -  May 23 - 26, 2012

Lions Club Carnival is coming to town.

Starting Wednesday, May 23, 2012 to Saturday, May 26, 2012.

Carnival stats at 6:00 PM.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 is Family Night with $1.00 off each arm band purchased.

Hot Dog stand to open at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 21, 2012.

Glenville: Space for Rent

ESTATE AUCTION: The Estate of Delmas F. Sprouse – 05.19.12

Tarrence Jamison Moore

Tarrence Jamison Moore is the name chosen for the son born to Jody Moore of Jane Lew, WV.

The little boy weighed 6-pounds 7-ounces and was born April 23, 2012 at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston.

Maternal grandparents are Joretta and Luther Parmer of Weston, WV.

Jozie Lea Riddle

Jozie Lea Riddle is the name chosen for a daughter born to Tom and Karri Riddle of Orlando, WV.

The little girl was born May 07, 2012 at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston and is the couple’s third child.

The little girl weighed 8-pounds 10-ounces and has two siblings, Noah and Makayla Riddle.

The mother is the former Karri Smith and is a home maker.

The father is employed at Smith Bits.

Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Orvil Smith Jr. of Orlando.

Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Leon Riddle of Copley.

G-Comm™: Voter ID Laws: Silencing the American People

Despite the propaganda being advanced by the government, the purpose of voter ID laws is not to eliminate voter fraud and protect the integrity of elections. Rather, their aim is to silence and suppress as many American voters as possible and increase the already widening chasm between the electorate and our government representatives. In fact, voter ID laws are the icing on the cake when it comes to public officials shutting Americans out of the decision-making process, silencing dissent, and making sure that those in power stay in power and have the last word on government policy. In other words, voter ID laws are the final step in securing the American corporate oligarchy, the unchallenged rule by the privileged and few.

Voter ID laws which have swept the nation since 2011 effectively erode our system of representative government by blocking access to the seats of power by those who need it most: the young, the old, women and minorities. For example, Viviette Applewhite, who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, has cast a ballot in almost every presidential election since she first voted for John F. Kennedy in 1960. However, as a result of Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law, which requires voters to present a photo ID to election officials on Election Day, this may be the first year the 93-year-old is not able to vote because she, like many others, does not have access to the required legal documents necessary in order to acquire a photo ID.

This is not the first time in American history such tactics have been used to suppress the populace. For example, the South after Reconstruction was a textbook example of voter suppression, from poll taxes to grandfather clauses. At the same time in the North, immigrant voters were being suppressed via literacy tests. These were not formal barriers which said “no blacks” or “no immigrants” may vote, but requirements which while ostensibly aimed at preserving the integrity of elections were in reality meant to silence average Americans, much like today’s voter ID laws. During that same time period, the state of New Jersey, which had for 17 years allowed women to vote, pulled the plug on women’s suffrage. In contrast, as Judith Browne-Dianis of the Advancement Project noted, today’s voter ID laws are “the most significant setback to voting rights in this country in a century.”

The Philadelphia Delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently issued a Voter Identification Education Guide in order to help voters navigate the state’s new voter ID requirements. Incredibly, at 112 pages, the guide may prove to be more off-putting than helpful to those already intimidated by the bureaucratic hoops that must be leaped through in order to access the ballot box come November. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 25% of blacks, 15% of people earning less than $35,000 a year, and 18% of young voters do not have government-issued photo IDs. The Brennan Center also notes that only 48% of women have access to birth certificates with their current legal name and only 66% have proof of citizenship with their current legal name, making it difficult for them to acquire the ID required for voting.

Twenty-four laws or executive orders restricting access to the ballot have passed in 17 states since the beginning of 2011 and 74 more such bills are pending. By November 2012, there will be at least 30 states that will require identification to be shown at the polls. This requirement will disenfranchise up to 11% of eligible voters in America, and will have an even larger impact on groups that have traditionally faced discrimination at the polls.

Thus far, voter ID laws have passed or are on their way to passage in Alabama, Kansas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Rhode Island. However, in March 2012, the Justice Department blocked the laws in Texas and South Carolina that would disproportionately hurt minority voters. The concern in Texas arose over its disproportionate impact on Hispanic voters and a lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud.  Insisting that Mississippi’s voter ID law will violate the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Mississippi NAACP has asked the Justice Department to block its state’s voter ID law, as well.

Surprisingly, there is an overwhelming lack of evidence that voter fraud—the official justification for these laws—is occurring on a mass scale. For example, Florida has only seen 31 potential cases of voter fraud in the past three years, only three of which resulted in arrests. Between 2002 and 2007, the Justice Department conducted an investigation in order to rout out potential voter fraud. During that time period, there were 300 million votes cast, but only 86 successful convictions under anti-voter fraud laws. Of those 86 convicted, many were simply ex-felons and immigrants unaware that they were unable to vote.

Then there are the innocent victims. Take, for example, Kimberly Prude of Wisconsin who did not realize that she was not allowed to vote while on probation for cashing a counterfeit check. Once she realized her mistake, she went to election officials to rescind her vote. The reward for her honesty was being sentenced to over a year in prison. Usman Ali of Florida, a Pakistani immigrant who owned a jewelry store and, for all intents and purposes, embodied the American dream, had lived in America as a legal resident for ten years with his family. During a visit to his local DMV to renew his driver’s license, Ali was handed a stack of forms to fill out, including a voter registration form. Ali completed the form, not realizing that his honest mistake constituted a federal misdemeanor. For his so-called “crime,” Ali was deported back to Pakistan.

Clearly, voter fraud is not the real reason for these laws, so what’s really going on? Once again, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which epitomizes the Corporate State, i.e., the incestuous liaison between mega-corporations and the government, has been working behind the scenes. As The Nation reports, ALEC’s “‘Public Safety and Elections’ task force … has been the prime vehicle for proposing and advancing what critics describe as voter-suppression and anti-democratic initiatives—not just restrictive Voter ID laws but also plans to limit the ability of citizens to petition for referendums and constitutional changes that favor workers and communities.”

This is corporatocracy in action—what former presidential advisor Bertram Gross referred to as “fascism with a smile.” “Anyone looking for black shirts, mass parties, or men on horseback will miss the telltale clues of creeping fascism,” warned Gross in his 1980 book, Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America. “In America, it would be super modern and multi-ethnic—as American as Madison Avenue, executive luncheons, credit cards, and apple pie. It will be fascism with a smile. As a warning against its cosmetic façade, subtle manipulation, and velvet gloves, I call it friendly fascism. What scares me most is its subtle appeal.”

Moreover, as Gross recognizes, “the subversion of constitutional democracy is more likely to occur not through violent and sudden usurpation but rather through the gradual and silent encroachments that would accustom the American people to the destruction of their freedoms.” In fact, the elite utilizes “triplespeak” to keep the public in line, feeding people myth and jargon to divert them from the truth. And, of course, the apathy and naivety, or possibly the cynicism and hopelessness, of the American citizenry contributes to their own oppression.

Let me be clear: This entire debate over voter ID laws isn’t about voter fraud and electoral integrity. Nor is it about Republicans trying to pull a fast one at the polls this year or suppress minority voters, although the facts would suggest otherwise. If these laws appear to favor one party or one segment of the populace over another, that’s just smoke and mirrors—something to keep us distracted and convinced that we have a say in whatever happens on Election Day. Yet when all is said and done, these voter ID laws are just one small piece of a systematic, wide scale effort to ensure that our corrupt, bloated, bilious government populated by self-serving politicians, bureaucrats and corporate yes-men remains exactly as it is—entrenched and unchanging.

~~  John Whitehead ~~

Fishing Report – 05.17.12

BEECH FORK
The reservoir water level is at summer pool.  Anglers should call the Beech Fork Corps of Engineers office at 304.525.4831 for more information.  Crappie fishing is really starting to pick up, with many nice fish being caught around woody structure.  Bass are in their spawning areas and should be aggressively defending their nests.  Channel catfish can be caught throughout the lake on chicken livers and cut-bait.  Hybrid striped bass and white bass can be caught using white lures.

BLUESTONE
Fishing on the lake is OK but unpredictable early spring weather is a factor anglers must consider due to its impact on angling success.  Bass anglers should try their luck around deeper structure such as rocky points or downed trees using small crankbaits, spinnerbaits or jigs.  During warmer periods bass and other game fish may be found in shallow water taking advantage of warmer temperature levels.  Channel catfish can be caught using nightcrawlers and prepared baits.  Chicken livers are also good.  Flatheads prefer live bait such as large chubs or a live sunfish.  Fish slow at this time of year due to cooler temperature levels.  Early spring is a great time to go after stripers and hybrids in Bluestone.  Try cut or live shad drifted over points and other lake features, or your favorite shad imitating lures.  For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304.466.0156.

BURNSVILLE
The lake is at summer pool.  Lots of bass are being caught in and around cover.  Crappie and bluegill are also being caught on live bait in any type of cover.  Trout were stocked in the tailwater on May 2nd.  For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304.853.2398.

EAST LYNN
The reservoir water level is at summer pool.  For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304.849.9861.  Bass will be holding near logs, stumps and fish attracting brush piles.  Musky will be found near bush piles and fallen trees.  Channel catfish and flatheads are abundant in the lake and can be caught with a variety of baits.  Crappie fishing is picking up, try around standing timber or trees that have fallen into the water.  A few walleye have been caught in the lake and tailwater.

R.D. BAILEY
Fishing on the lake is OK.  Some of the largest spotted bass in WV are found in R. D. Bailey Lake.  Spotted bass can be found along drop-offs and points extending into the lake at this time of the year.  Good baits are plastic jigs, live shad, or crayfish.  Hybrid striped bass are also available for the hearty angler at R.D. Bailey right now.  Best baits are lures such as rattletraps, spoons, or white/chartreuse jigs.  Anglers may also want to try chicken livers for this hard, fighting fish surprisingly as it sounds.  Many locals use this technique and do well.  For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304.664.9587.

STEPHENS LAKE
Stephens is very clear, to improve the odds of catching fish, use light line, cast far, reduce noise, fish quietly and carefully.  Bass anglers are successful using soft plastics and small crankbaits.  WVDNR personnel recently stocked channel catfish fingerlings into the lake, which helps maintain a year-round catfish fishery available to the public.  Try your favorite catfish bait or lure for success, and take a kid or someone new to fishing so they can enjoy the thrill of a fish biting on their line!  Livers and nightcrawlers work well for catfish bait, as do a variety of paste and prepared type baits offered at sporting goods stores.  Many find success using the ‘dippin sponge’ method, fishing it either beneath a bobber or on the bottom using a basic three way river rig.  Another trick is to catch small baitfish using a piece of a worm, etc., then cut them up and use them as fresh bait.  Many times this will out-fish other bait types due to its freshness, be sure to give it a try.  But remember, if you use a game fish bluegill, bass.as bait, you must include it in your daily creel limit.

STONECOAL LAKE
The lake is at summer pool.  Fishing is good.  Water temperature is on the rise.  Bass are being caught in and around cover.  Bluegill and crappie are also hitting live bait and jigs around beaver huts and fish attractors.  Trout were stocked in the lake March 17th, April 13th and May 4th by the Stonecoal Lake Fishing Club.  A few perch have been caught in the upper end on minnows.

STONEWALL JACKSON
The lake is one foot above summer pool and milky.  Water temperature is on the rise.  Fishing is good.  Bass are being caught in and around cover.  Bluegill and crappie are also hitting live bait. Reports of large musky being caught with spinner baits the past couple of weeks.  Channel catfish have also been caught.  Trout were stocked in the tailwater on May 2nd.  Before heading to the lake please call Corps of Engineers at 304.269.7463.

SUMMERSVILLE
The lake is at summer pool.  Water temperature is on the rise.  Bass are being caught in about 5 to 10 feet of water.  It is a great time of year for walleye.  Try rocky points, drop offs and at the mouth of small tributaries entering the lake.  Trout were stocked in the tailwaters on May 9th.  For more information contact the Corps of Engineers office at 304.872.3412.

SUTTON
The lake is two feet above summer pool and clear.  Fishing is good.  Bass are being caught in about 5.10 feet of water.  Most are being caught in and around cover.  Bluegill and crappie are also hitting live bait.  The tailwaters are low and clear.  Trout were stocked in the tailwater May 2nd.  A few reports of walleye being caught in the tailwater over the past few weeks.  Before heading to the lake please call Corps of Engineers at 304.765.2705.

TYGART LAKE
The lake is still two to three feet above the summer pool level after a six feet rise last week.  The heads of coves will warm faster than the main lake and are good areas for bass and sunfish.  White bass schools can be seen breaking water throughout the lake.  Cast crank baits, plastic grubs, or spoons to the schools as they surface and move around.  Largemouth and smallmouth bass will be moving into shallow water to spawn.  Bass tournament success continues to be good.

There are lots of walleye and trout in the tailwater.  Flows are low.  Walleye fishing is best during higher flows 1,500 to 5,000 cubic feet per second and trout fishing is best at low flows less than 1,000 cubic feet per second).  Walleye can be caught using 1/8 to ¼.ounce jigs with 3.inch plastic grubs.  Chartreuse is a good color.  Call the Corps of Engineers telephone hotline at 304.265.5953 for daily lake and tailwater conditions.

NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

OHIO RIVER (New Cumberland, Pike Island and Hannibal pools and tailwaters)
There are lots of hybrid striped bass, sauger, walleye and white bass in the tailwaters and the river is in great fishing condition.  During normal flows, walleye and sauger will start feeding about an hour before sunset and then throughout the night.  Jigs with minnows are particularly good baits but 3.inch plastic grubs and deep running crank baits are also productive.  Hybrid striped bass will also move in and out of the tailwaters and can be caught using large crank baits, casting spoons, or cut bait.  Warm water discharges at power plants will attract fish all spring.

MONONGAHELA RIVER
The river has been above normal and turbid for the past two weeks.  Fishing should be good in the Morgantown tailwater for sauger and walleye and white bass should be good as water levels return to normal.  Boaters should try drifting from the dam to Deckers Creek using jigs and minnows, or trolling deep running crank baits.  The shoreline from the Morgantown lock to the mouth of Deckers Creek is always a good place to fish from the shore.  This is a good time for large catfish.

CHEAT LAKE
The lake is at the summer recreational water level and will be maintained until November 1.  The Sunset Beach ramp is now open and the winter ramp at Cheat Lake Park is closed.  The embayment at the Cheat Lake Park will warm up faster than the main lake and are good areas for bank fisherman to catch sunfish and largemouth bass.  Channel catfish are doing well and 2 to 3.pounders are abundant throughout the lake.  Night crawlers on a number six hook with a ½ - 1-ounce egg sinker cast into 25 to 35 feet of water will catch catfish.

EASTERN PANHANDLE

South Branch and Cacapon Rivers
Flows in most streams and rivers throughout the eastern panhandle have risen above normal but should drop by the weekend.  The water is cloudy in most streams and water temperatures are in the upper 60’s.  Smallmouth and largemouth bass are showing signs of spawning and fishing should be in great condition through the weekend.  This is a great time for fishing the South Branch and anglers continue to be successful catching 20 fish or more per day and some citation sized smallmouth bass.  Try using slow moving plastics in deep pools and smallmouth are beginning to take top water lures.  Many smallmouth bass in the South Branch have been tagged as part of a fish movement and fish health study, so if you catch a tagged fish, please clip off the tag and return it to DNR for a reward.

The 2012 trout stocking season will be coming to a close in a few weeks.  Anglers have been catching lots of trout in both streams and impoundments.  Check the 2012 fishing regulations to determine when and where these trout stockings occurred.  A fishing guide is available for the Eastern panhandle which includes a stream map.  The fishing guides can be obtained free of charge from any of our district offices.

Shenandoah River
Flows in the Shenandoah River remain below normal but in great fishing condition.  Try fishing for smallmouth bass with crankbaits and topwaters near the head of pools around large rocks or other structure.  The WVDNR in cooperation with Jefferson County Parks and Recreation have extended the boat ramp at the Moulton Park public access and it is now usable.

North Branch River
Flows in the North Branch are near 2000 cfs but expected to drop over the next couple days.  The next North Branch white water event is scheduled for this weekend of Saturday, May 19th and Sunday, May 20th.  This weekend will be the last scheduled white water event on the North Branch this year.

Small Impoundments
Small impoundments are in great fishing condition and anglers have been doing well catching trout in impoundments stocked with trout.  Recent biological surveys have indicated excellent largemouth bass population in small impoundments.  Some impoundments are receiving bi-weekly trout stockings, so check the fishing regulations to determine which impoundments were stocked.  A new impoundment has been created at the Edwards Run Wildlife Management Area in Hampshire County and will be stocked with trout bi-weekly.

Jennings Randolph Lake
Jennings Randolph Lake is currently two feet above conservation pool and dropping.  Anglers have reported good catches of smallmouth bass on crankbaits and top water lures.  The WV and MD boat ramps are open so don’t forget you can buy a season boat launch pass.  The pass is honored at both the MD and WV ramps.  Jennings Randolph Lake has a dedicated phone line for up-to-date recreational information 304.355.2890.

Mt. Storm Lake
Anglers at Mt. Storm should target striped bass, black bass and walleye.  Fish can be caught throughout the lake but many anglers do well fishing with chicken livers near the discharges.  Biological surveys have indicated excellent bass and walleye populations.  Anglers have been doing well catching largemouth and smallmouth bass over the past couple weeks.  Nice striped bass have also been caught over the past week.

CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

Water levels are normal and clear.  If you are looking for a place to go, please check the fishing regulations and the WVDNR website for a list of public access sites or call your local WVDNR district office for some advice on a place to fish.  The trout trucks are rolling and stocking is in full swing.  French Creek Pond, Laurel Fork of Holly, Cranberry, Williams and the Shavers Fork were stocked to name a few.  Remember to buy your 2012 fishing license before heading out.

SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

The New and Greenbrier rivers are providing great fishing for smallmouth bass.  Flows presently are good, allowing even for some wade fishing in the New and Greenbrier rivers.  Be safe if wading and wear a PFD.  Smallmouth anglers are finding success using a variety of baits and lures.  Muskie anglers are currently finding success on the New River using crankbaits, jerkbaits and large soft plastics.  District 4 small impoundments offer good bass, catfish and bluegill opportunities.  Many are stocked in the early spring with trout, and with channel catfish at different times of the year to maintain fishable populations.  A variety of district 4 WV trout streams have already been stocked or will be stocked soon also, consult the WVDNR website stocking report, WVDNR regulations or call 304.558.3399 to hear an updated report for all waters stocked each day after 4 p.m.  If your favorite stream didn’t get stocked, don’t be discouraged many larger streams hold carry-over trout and /or wild or native trout.  Hike away from the road and access points.

SOUTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA

Lower Ohio and Kanawha Rivers
As the water in the tailwaters begins to clear the fishing for sauger, walleye, white bass and hybrid striped bass will start to pick up.  Jigs with minnows could provide some excellent catches; if artificial baits are your preference white and chartreuse are good colors to try.  Blue, flathead and channel catfish activity is picking up as the water continues to warm.

Guyandotte, Coal, Poca, Elk, and Mud Rivers
These streams should start to clear by the weekend.

Small Impoundments
Catchable sized channel catfish are being stocked this week in selected impoundments.  Trout fishing should be good in stocked impoundments.  Bluegill and bass will be feeding and can be caught with nightcrawlers or artificial baits.

WEST-CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

This is an excellent time to fish Ohio River tailwaters.  Anglers fishing below the Belleville dam are catching white bass, hybrid striped bass and a few other species.  Lead headed jigs with twister tails white or chartreuses), which are fished along the bottom, are the lure of choice.  Clever anglers are tipping their jig hooks with minnows.  Fishing for white bass can be quite good this time of year and medium-sized white spinners work well also.  Hybrid striped bass are being caught on the surface, and agitator bobbers and large surface plugs work well for these top water feeders.  Best spots to fish these areas include eddies and back-current sections, and anywhere that river flows are unusual.  Fishing along the Willow Island tailwaters is restricted due to hydro-power development.  Anglers now have access only to a point approximately 150 yards below the dam and flows have changed significantly.

Fishing for largemouth bass in area lakes has been very good.  Slowly fished plastic worms or jig-and-pig combos, and spinner baits are good terminal tackle choices.  Area lakes with good angling opportunities include:  Mountwood in Wood County, Conaway Run in Tyler County, Charles Fork in Roane County, North Bend Lake in Ritchie County and Elk Fork, Woodrum and O’Brien lakes in Jackson County.

Crappie fishing has also been good at several lakes; these include North Bend and Elk Fork lakes, where anglers are taking fish on minnows and small jigs or spinners.

Area trout fishing opportunities are winding down.  Conaway Run Lake in Tyler County is the only lake in the area that receives trout in May.  Trout anglers can use a variety of baits including small worms, mealworms, salmon eggs, cheese or trout power bait.  Small spinners, joe type flies and trout magnets also work well for anglers casting the shoreline or fishing from boats.  Trolling small lures is also effective.

Musky streams are expected to be fishable this weekend, and muskies are quite active.  Hot spots this time of year include areas both upstream and downstream of fast moving water.  Musky anglers should try medium to large lures.  Middle Island Creek, the major streams in the Hughes River system, and the Little Kanawha River are good area musky waters.

May 17, 2012
• Big Clear Creek
• Brandywine Lake
• Brushy Fork Lake
• Buckhannon River rail stocking)
• Buffalo Creek Brooke)
• Castleman Run Lake
• Hills Creek
• Kimsey Run Lake
• Little Clear Creek
• Little Kanawha Headwaters
• Lost River
• Lower Cove Run
• Middle Wheeling Lake
• North Fork of South Branch
• North River
• Potts Creek
• Right Fork of Little Kanawha Headwaters
• South Fork of Potts Creek
• Teter Creek Lake
• Trout Run
• Waites Run

May 16, 2012
• Anthony Creek
• Beech Fork Tailwaters
• Deer Creek Pocahontas)
• East Lynn Tailwaters
• Fall Run
• French Creek Pond
• Greenbrier River
• Jennings Randolph Tailwaters
• Knapps Creek
• Laurel Fork of Holly River
• Left Fork of Holly River
• Meadow Creek of New River
• Middle Creek
• Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
• Mill Run of Back Creek
• Milligan Creek
• New Creek
• North Fork of Lunice
• North Fork of Patterson Creek
• Tilhance Creek
• Tuscarora Creek
• West Fork Twelvepole

May 15, 2012
• Bear Rocks Lake
• Blackwater River
• Bullskin Run
• Burnsville Tailwaters
• Cacapon Park Lake
• Cranberry River
• Deer Creek Nicholas)
• Elk River
• Evitts Run
• Jimmy Lewis Lake
• Laurel Creek of Cherry River
• Opequon Creek
• Pipestem Lake
• Rocky Marsh Run
• South Branch Franklin)
• South Mill Creek Lake
• Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
• Sutton Tailwaters
• Wallback Lake
• Wheeling Creek

May 14, 2012
• Anawalt Lake
• Dillons Run
• East Fork Greenbrier River
• Edwards Run
• Fort Ashby Reservoir
• Gandy Creek
• Horse Creek Lake
• Horseshoe Run
• Laurel Fork Randolph)
• Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
• Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
• Mill Creek of South Branch
• Red Creek
• Spruce Knob Lake
• Tuckahoe Lake
• Tygart Headwaters
• West Fork Greenbrier River
• Williams River

May 11, 2012
• Berwind Lake
• Big Sandy Creek
• Buckhannon River
• Cacapon Park Lake
• Coopers Rock Lake
• Dry Fork McDowell)
• Dunloup Creek
• Elk River
• Glade Creek of Mann
• Glade Creek of New River
• Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River
• Middle Creek
• Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
• New Creek
• North Fork of Cherry River
• North Fork of Lunice
• North Fork of Patterson Creek
• Opequon Creek
• Paint Creek
• Poorhouse Pond
• Right Fork of Buckhannon River
• South Branch Franklin)
• Watoga Lake

May 10, 2012
• Blackwater River
• Bullskin Run
• Camp Creek
• Dunkard Fork Lake
• East Fork Greenbrier River
• East River
• Evitts Run
• Little River East Fork Greenbrier
• Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
• Long Marsh Run
• Mash Fork
• Mash Fork of Camp Creek Children & Class Q)
• Moores Run
• North Fork of South Branch
• Paw Paw Creek
• Rhine Creek
• Rockhouse Lake
• Rocky Marsh Run
• South Branch Smoke Hole)
• South Fork of Cherry River
• Spruce Laurel Fork
• Summit Lake
• Warden Lake
• West Fork Greenbrier River
• Whiteday Creek
• Williams River
• Wolf Creek

Bon Appétit: Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

  3 cups chicken broth
  1 1/2 cups converted long-grain white rice
  1/2 large white onion, sliced
  1 (24 ounce) jar salsa
  1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
  1 (1 ounce) packet dry taco seasoning mix, divided
  2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained

Directions:

Pour the chicken stock into a slow cooker, and stir in the rice, onion, salsa, green chilies, and half the taco seasoning.

Rub the remaining taco seasoning over the chicken breasts, and place into the cooker.

Place the lid on the cooker, and set to high setting.

Cook until the rice is thickened and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 3 hours.

About 20 minutes before serving time, turn the cooker to warm setting. Remove the chicken breasts, and slice them.

Stir the chicken and the black beans into the slow cooker. Return lid to cooker, allow the beans to heat, and serve.

Ask the Doctor: Leg Pain Is a Sign of Disease

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: About four to six months ago, you wrote about pain in the calves.
I suffer from this problem. Would you repeat the information for me? - V.G.

ANSWER: The topic was peripheral artery disease, also called peripheral vascular disease.
“Periphery,“ when used here, refers to the arms and legs (mostly the legs).
The buildup of plaque - cholesterol, fats and other materials - within leg arteries obstructs the flow of blood to leg muscles.
The result is pain on exercise, since exercise requires an increased blood supply.
Obstructed arteries can’t provide it. It’s as though a tight tourniquet is tied around the legs.
Pain arises in areas downstream of the obstruction.
If an artery high up in the legs is blocked, then the pain is felt in the buttocks, hips or thigh.
If the obstruction is lower in the thigh, pain is felt in the calves, and that’s where many patients have their pain.
When doctors examine the legs of people with peripheral artery disease, they can’t feel a pulse, as they can in normal people’s legs.
One good test is blood pressure measurement at the ankle.
Ordinarily, it should be the same as blood pressure in the arm.
If ankle blood pressure is much lower than arm blood pressure, that’s evidence of leg artery obstruction.
The same kind of diet that people with blocked heart arteries follow should be the kind of diet for those with peripheral artery disease - one low in fat, high in grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in red meat.
An exercise program is essential.
People start out modestly by walking for five or 10 minutes.
Walk to the point of pain, stop and then start again when the pain leaves.
Progressively increase the time and pace of the walk.
Aspirin, Pletal and Plavix are medicines frequently prescribed for this condition.
Blood pressure and cholesterol have to be controlled.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

Flashback: What Happened on May 18, ....

•  1885 The charter of the Wheeling Female College, with C. D. Hubbard as president, was extended for twenty years.

•  1896 The West Virginia Humane Society was formed.

•  1948 WKOY - AM radio went on the air in Bluefield, Mercer County.

•  1973 Ground was broken for a new $750,000 Farmers Building and Loan bank building in Ravenswood (Jackson County).

•  1973 The State Board of Education banned soft drink machines from school cafeterias.

Daily G-Eye™: 05.18.12

Stargazing - 05.18.12

The small constellation Corvus, the crow, is well up in the south early this evening.

Its brightest stars make a four-sided shape that resembles a sail.

In Greek mythology, the crow was placed in the heavens either as a reward or a punishment.

Happy Coincidence

A solar eclipse is a happy scientific coincidence. As seen from Earth, the Moon and Sun are the same size in the sky. So when the geometry is right, the Moon can cover up all or most of the Sun’s disk.

An eclipse of the “most” variety is coming up on Sunday afternoon for parts of the western United States. It’s called an “annular” eclipse because the Moon won’t cover up all of the Sun. Instead, it’ll leave a thin but bright ring of sunlight around the Moon.

Solar eclipses occur when the new Moon crosses directly between Sun and Earth. They don’t happen at every new Moon, though, because the Moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted with respect to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. So most months, the Moon passes a little above or below the Sun as seen from Earth.

But two or three times a year, on average, the geometry is just right, creating an eclipse. Sometimes it’s total, sometimes it’s annular, and sometimes it’s just partial — the Moon obscures only a part of the Sun’s disk.

The “coincidence” part comes in because of the relative sizes of the Moon and Sun in the sky. The Sun is 400 times wider than the Moon, but it’s also 400 times farther, so they take up the same amount of sky.

The Moon is moving farther from Earth, though — at about an inch-and-a-half a year. So in a few hundred million years the Moon will be too far away to ever completely cover the Sun — and the spectacle of a total solar eclipse will disappear.

G-MM™: Meditation Moment - 05.18.12

The gifts that he gave were for building up the body of Christ.

After the certainty of home life, a small child can meet the unfamiliarity of school for the first time feeling apprehensive and overwhelmed.

Perhaps this is how the disciples felt when Jesus was no longer physically present.

Someone they loved dearly had left them to cope on their own, with a new set of challenges.

Yet as parents seek to reassure their child, so too do the disciples hear words of encouragement: the promise of the power of the Holy Spirit, present with them.

The disciples, commissioned by Christ and encouraged by the Spirit, are given the confidence to go out and speak of their joy and salvation.

Like the child encouraged by loving parents to try something new, the disciples find inspiration and motivation to walk the dusty and difficult road ahead.

Acts 1:1-11. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord—Ps 46(47):2-3, 6-9. Ephesians 4:1-13 / Ephesians 1:17-23. Mark 16:15-20.

Otis Clarmont Cutright

Otis Clarmont Cutright

Age 91 of Grantsville, WV, formerly of Gilmer County, passed from this life at 5:20 AM, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, Clarksburg, following a brief illness.

He was born May 31, 1920 in Gilmer County, a son of the late Ottice Newton and Elva Rutherford Cutright.

He loved the outdoors, enjoyed hunting, fishing and planting his garden. He was an Army veteran of WW II.

Surviving are 2 daughters, Nancy Orr and husband Jeff of Newcomerstown,OH and Susie Hart and husband Chris of Port Washington, OH; 2 grandsons, Adam Hart and wife Lisa of Arizona and Jonathan Orr of Columbus, OH; 4 sisters and 1 brother survive, Regina Hughes, husband Dallas of Portage, IN, Ava Stimson of VA, Eloise Cosner of Weston, WV, Nina Marie Marks of TN, Donzel Cutright and wife Jackie of IN; one sister-in-law survives, Pauline Cutright of Sutton, WV. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Otis was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Guy “Robert” Cutright, Arden Cutright, Eugene Cutright and 1 sister, Wanda Lee Markle.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 PM, Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., with Pastor Bryan Groves officiating.

Burial will follow in the Rutherford Cemetery at Cedarville, WV.

Friends may call 1:00 to 3:00 PM, Saturday at the Mortuary.

Ellyson Mortuary, Inc. is assisting the family of Otis C. Cutright with arrangements.

Ralph Douglas Jackson

Ralph Douglas Jackson

Age 70 of Cairo, WV, passed away May 12, 2012 at the Camden Clark Hospital Center, Memorial Campus surrounded by family and friends.

He was born June 15, 1941 at Racy, Ritchie County, a son of the late Olin D. and Lulu Virginia Jackson.

Ralph was formerly employed by E. I. DuPont Corp. at the Washington Works Plant and was co-owner and operator of the J & J Timber Inc. of Cairo for over 30 years. He was a Cairo High graduate of 1960 and a member of the Cairo Masonic Lodge 114 AF & AM. Ralph was a U. S. Army veteran during the Vietnam Conflict.

He attended the North Fork Baptist Church.

Surviving are two sons: Joe Jackson (Billie) of Beckley and Alan Jackson of Raleigh, NC, two daughters: Debra Langford-Hiergeist (John) of Harper’s Ferry, WV and Christina DePriest of Panama City Beach, FL, seven grandchildren: Micaiah and Brady Jackson, Michael Moore, Sarah Hiergeist, and Briton, Nikolas and Annie DePriest.

He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews including a special niece Deidra Boston (Bob) and great niece Whitney Boston, sister-in-law Linda Jackson and special friend Nellie Moneypenny.

In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his brothers Lawrence and David Jackson and sister Sue Byrd.

Funeral services will be Tuesday 11:00 AM at the Raiguel Funeral Home, Cairo with Reverend Casey Dawson officiating.

Interment will follow at the Cairo IOOF Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to the North Fork Baptist Church PO Box 309A Cairo, WV 26337.

Dorothy (Dottie) Louise (Harrison) Garton

Dorothy (Dottie) Louise (Harrison) Garton

Age 71, passed away April 11, 2012 at her home in Red Lion, PA.

Dottie was born in Weston, May 31, 1940.

She was the daughter of the late Charles T. Harrison Jr. and Edna Opal (Swisher) Harrison.

She is survived by her husband of 54 happy years, William R. Garton of Jane Lew.

On December 10, 1957 they were married and moved to Baltimore Maryland in 1962. Dottie is also survived by three daughters: Cathy Milam of Balto, MD, Joyce Forster (husband Bill) of Red Lion, PA, and Billie Jo Coburn (husband Ronald) of York, PA.

Dottie is survived by six grandchildren; Christina Milam, William Milam, Ronald Coburn, Cassandra Forster, Jeremy Coburn and Ashley Forster.

Dottie is also survived by four brothers; Bob Harrison (wife Marlene) of Richmond VA, Dick Harrison (wife Kim) of Camden, Gary Harrison of Red Lion, PA, James Harrison (wife Cindy) of Homasassa, FL, Two sisters: Shirley Hall of Weston, Linda Pierpont of Balto, MD, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents Dottie was preceded in death by on sister, Edna Jones Miles and a infant brother, Johnny Joe Harrison.

Dottie was a loving and devoted wife, mother, mamaw, sister, daughter, friend and women.

With so many titles yet she still believed that life was simple. She loved being with family and friend, singing and listening to her music.

Dottie gave so much of herself to make others happy. A giving women with a heart of gold.

Her faith was real strong and she believed in doing what is right at all cost. Very few people can say that they lived by this rule. Dottie would probably say that she didn’t but to all of us that knew and loved her, we all knew without a doubt that she did. Her love and caring will forever be missed.

Funeral services were held Monday, April 16, at 10:00 AM in the Middle River Baptist Church in Balto, MD.

Entombment was at Holly Memorial Gardens in Balto, MD.

Bruzdinski Funeral Home in Essex MD, was in charge of the arrangements.

Ruth Ann Riffle Johnson

Ruth Ann Riffle Johnson

Age 63, of Weston, WV, died Thursday, April 26, 2012 at United Hospital Center, Bridgeport, following a brief illness.

She was born September 30, 1948 in Weston, a daughter of Henry Ables and the late May Donaldson Ables.

In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her first husband, John E. Riffle; and her daughter, Anna Marie Goldsmith.

She is survived by her father, Henry Ables; her husband of 19 years, Robert “Bobby” Johnson; five step-children; Ronald Johnson, William Johnson, Amy Johnson, Rebecca Johnson and Patricia Swisher; nine grandchildren and eleven siblings; Mrs. Shirley (Hermon) Eplee of Ellenboro, N.C., Mrs. Eva (Don) Rice of Buckhannon, Russell (Gladys) Ables of Weston, Mrs. Mary (Stephen) Finster of Roanoke, Mrs. Elsie (Steve) Burkhammer of Weston, Mrs. Elanora (Joey) Heath of Weston, Mike (Janelle) Ables of Lost Creek, Donald (Libby) Ables of Weston, Peggy Ables of Walkersville, Edward Joe Ables and Kimberly Ables, both of Weston.
She is also survived by two grandchildren, Kyle Byrd and John Goldsmith.

Ruth worked in the medical field for over 30 years, most recently at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital as a CNA and Activities Director.

She liked tending to her flowers and loved to decorate for the holidays and spend time with her grandchildren.

She was a member of Bendale United Methodist Church.

Friends called from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday, April 29, at Boyle Funeral Home, 322 Main Avenue, Weston, WV.

Funeral services were held 11:00 AM Monday, April 30, at the Boyle Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Jimmie Joe Johnson officiating.

Interment followed in Weston Masonic Cemetery.

05.18.12

History on May 18, yyyy

Today is Friday, May 18, the 139th day of 2012. There are 227 days left in the year.

Thought for Today:

“Never do anything you wouldn’t want to explain to the paramedics.“ - Author unknown.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On May 18, 1926, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson vanished while visiting a beach in Venice, Calif. (McPherson reappeared more than a month later, saying she’d escaped after being kidnapped and held for ransom, an account that was greeted with skepticism in some quarters.)

On this date:

In 1012, Theophylact, son of Gregory, Count of Tusculum, became Pope Benedict VIII, succeeding Pope Sergius IV.

In 1642, the Canadian city of Montreal was founded by French colonists.

In 1765, about one-fourth of Montreal was destroyed by a fire.

In 1896, the Supreme Court, in Plessy v. Ferguson, endorsed “separate but equal” racial segregation, a concept renounced 58 years later in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.

In 1910, Halley’s Comet passed by earth, brushing it with its tail.

In 1912, singer Perry Como was born in Canonsburg, Pa.; movie writer-director Richard Brooks (“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”; “Elmer Gantry”; “In Cold Blood”) was born in Philadelphia.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a measure creating the Tennessee Valley Authority.

In 1953, Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier as she piloted a Canadair F-86 Sabre jet over Rogers Dry Lake, Calif.

In 1969, astronauts Eugene A. Cernan, Thomas P. Stafford and John W. Young blasted off aboard Apollo 10 on a mission to orbit the moon.

In 1980, the Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state exploded, leaving 57 people dead or missing.

In 1982, a jury in New York City convicted the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder and leader of the Unification Church, of tax evasion and conspiracy. (Moon served 13 months in prison.)

In 1991, Helen Sharman became the first Briton to rocket into space as she flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft with two cosmonauts on an eight-day mission to the Mir space station.

Ten years ago:

India and Pakistan exchanged fire across their shared border, renewing fears the countries were on the brink of another war over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

War Emblem won the Preakness Stakes, setting up a shot at the Triple Crown. (However, War Emblem came up short at the Belmont Stakes, which was won by long shot Sarava.)

Five years ago:

The White House and Congress failed to strike a deal after exchanging competing offers on an Iraq war spending bill that Democrats said should set a date for U.S. troops to leave.

France’s new president, Nicolas Sarkozy (sahr-koh-ZEE’), named a radically revamped cabinet which included seven women among its 15 members.

One year ago:

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, resigned, saying he wanted to devote all his energy to battling the sexual assault charges he faced in New York. (The charges were later dropped.)

The United States slapped sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad and six others for human rights abuses over their brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, for the first time personally penalizing the Syrian leader for the actions of his security forces.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actor Bill Macy is 90

Hall-of-Fame sportscaster Jack Whitaker is 88

Actor Robert Morse is 81

Actor Dwayne Hickman is 78

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Brooks Robinson is 75

Bluegrass singer-musician Rodney Dillard (The Dillards) is 70

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson is 66

Actress Candice Azzara is 65

Country singer Joe Bonsall (The Oak Ridge Boys) is 64

Rock musician Rick Wakeman (Yes) is 63

Actor James Stephens is 61

Country singer George Strait is 60

Rhythm-and-blues singer Butch Tavares (Tavares) is 59

Actor Chow Yun-Fat is 57

Rock singer-musician Page Hamilton is 52

Contemporary Christian musician Barry Graul (MercyMe) is 51

Singer-actress Martika is 43

Comedian-writer Tina Fey is 42

Rapper Special Ed is 38

Rock singer Jack Johnson is 37

Rhythm-and-blues singer Darryl Allen (Mista) is 32

Actor Matt Long is 32

Christian-rock musician Kevin Huguley (Rush of Fools) is 30

Actor Spencer Breslin is 20

Thursday, May 17, 2012

WV Lottery - 05.17.12

Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance Program Grant Awards

Fifty-four public and private non-profit agencies throughout West Virginia received a total of $2,757,156 in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance grant funds.

These grants will provide direct services, such as counseling, personal advocacy, court advocacy, client transportation and support services to victims of crimes including domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and elderly abuse.

The funds will also finance assistance to victims as they move through the criminal justice system.

The VOCA funds are awarded from the Office for Victims of Crime, the Office of Justice Programs of the U. S. Department of Justice.

These funds are administered by the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services.

Grant Recipients in our area:

DODDRIDGE, GILMER, HARRISON, LEWIS & MARION

Task Force on Domestic Violence, HOPE, Inc. $171,643.00

These funds will provide for the salaries of a full-time Family Therapist, a part-time Victim Advocate in Marion County, a Marion County Victim Services Case Manager, a Lewis County Victim Services Case Manager, and a Harrison/Doddridge County Victim Services Case Manager, and a portion of the salaries of a Marion County Victim Services Case Manager, a Gilmer County Victim Services Case Manager and a Children’s Case Manager to provide direct services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and their children in Marion, Harrison, Lewis, Gilmer, and Doddridge Counties.

Contact: Ms. Harriet Sutton
Phone: 304.367.1100
Email: “hsuttonhope@ma.rr.com”

LEWIS

Lewis County Commission $31,173.00

These funds will provide for the salary of a full-time Victim Assistance Advocate in the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department to provide direct services to crime victims in Lewis County.

Contact: Sheriff Michael Gissy
Phone: 304.269.8251
Email: “lcsomikegissy@yahoo.com”

RITCHIE & JACKSON

Family Crisis Intervention Center $39,364.00

These funds will provide for the part-time salary of a Case Manager and the full-time salary of a Ritchie County Outreach Advocate to provide direct services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Wood and Ritchie Counties.

Contact: Ms. Judith A. Ball
Phone: 304.428.2333
Email: “fcic@citynet.net”

ROANE

Roane County Commission $10,900.00

These funds will provide for the salary of a part-time Victim Advocate in the Roane County Prosecuting Attorney’s office to provide direct services to crime victims in Roane County.

Contact: Mr. Joshua Downey
Phone: 304.927.2091
Email: “jdowney@court.state.wv.us”

UPSHUR

Upshur County Commission $35,175.00

These funds will provide for the salary of a full-time Victim Advocate in the Upshur County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to provide direct services to crime victims in Upshur County.

Contact: Mr. Jacob E. Roger
Phone: 304.472.9699
Email: “jreger@upshurcounty.org”

49th Annual State Youth Environmental Day Set for May 19, 2012

Hundreds of young people from across West Virginia are expected to attend the 49th annual state Youth Environmental Day on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at North Bend State Park in Cairo, WV in Ritchie County.

The popular event is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and several corporations, businesses and other organizations.

Following a night of camping at North Bend, awards totaling more than $11,000 will be presented during May 19’s Youth Environmental Awards ceremony.

Youth group members will receive awards for their participation in community environmental projects that include litter cleanups, recycling drives, school landscaping projects, tree planting, backyard composting, wildlife management, watershed protection and much more.

“The work these young people are doing is significant in creating a better environment through projects that produce communities that are cleaner and more beautiful places to grow up in,” said Diana Haid, coordinator for the DEP’s Youth Environmental Program.

In addition to the awards ceremony, Youth Environmental Day will include exhibits, hiking, sporting events and other activities for participants and their families.

For more information about Youth Environmental Day and how to participate, please call Haid at 304.926.0499x1114 or email “diana.k.haid@wv.gov”.

Calhoun County Students Recognized at GSC Honors Convocation

Thirty students received Academic Achievement Awards at the 2012 Glenville State College Honors Convocation held on Thursday, April 26, 2012 in the Mollohan Campus Community Center Ballroom.

The awards recognized students who have demonstrated exceptional academic accomplishments, made contributions to the Glenville State College Community, and have distinguished themselves among their peers, the faculty, and staff.

The GSC Department of Business presented an Academic Achievement Award to senior Kayla B. Miller-Roop of Mount Zion, WV.

She was recognized as a Distinguished Business Student for the second year in a row.

Senior Heidi Ann Allen of Chloe, WV received an Academic Achievement Award from the GSC Department of Education.

G-Fin™: Financial Analyst Says There’s ‘Concern’ about Chesapeake

Chesapeake Energy’s stock price has now hit its lowest level since early 2009, just the latest in a series of issues for the second largest natural gas producer in the United States which has operations in West Virginia.

“They have a lot of leverage.  They continue to spend at a very high rate and there’s a lot of off balance sheet items that most people wouldn’t see unless they really start to dig,“ Argus Research Industry Analyst Phil Weiss says of Chesapeake’s finances.

Weiss says Chesapeake needs cash and to get that cash, company officials announced, earlier this week, Chesapeake is seeking a $4 billion loan from Goldman Sachs and Jeffries & Company, largely to pay off its debts.

Company officials are also trying to sell off assets.

In the past year, shares for Chesapeake Energy have fallen more than 50%, questions have been raised about Chesapeake’s business methods, it’s credit rating has dropped below “junk” status and the dealings of CEO Aubrey McClendon have generated controversy.

As for who is at fault for Chesapeake’s financial condition, “I put more blame than I might with Chesapeake than if it happened to a different company because they’ve been so aggressive,“ Weiss said on MetroNews Talkline.  He has called for McClendon to be replaced.

However, Weiss admits part of Chesapeake’s financial problems is the declining price of natural gas which is now the lowest it’s been in a decade.

As recently as a few years ago, natural gas prices hit a peak at a time when new drilling techniques, the kinds Chesapeake specializes in, were just be introduced.  The company contributed to growth in gas supply.

“There’s been so much of it (natural gas development) and there’s just not enough demand, so we have too much in inventory, too much supply.“  Weiss says a turnaround in the market could change things for Chesapeake.

“If natural gas prices were to suddenly recover, not something that anybody expects to happen that quickly, but if they were, then this all becomes ancient history and they can get through this,“ he said of Chesapeake’s prospects.

“But, absent that, there’s a lot of concern because natural gas prices are weak, their cash flow’s weak.“

AAA: Gas Prices Down Nearly 6 Cents in West Virginia

Gas prices in West Virginia are down nearly 6 cents per gallon over the past week.

The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline in the state is $3.71. That’s about 2 cents lower than the national average.

A decline in the price at the pump has not been seen west of the Rocky Mountains, where tight gasoline inventories have sent prices higher even as crude oil prices and retail gas prices across the rest country have moved lower.

While it is not unusual for gasoline stocks to decline at this time of year, as refineries undergo maintenance and the switchover from winter-blend to summer-blend gasoline takes place, current West Coast stocks, as reported last week by the Department of Energy, are at their lowest level since 1992.

While 46 states and the District of Columbia have seen their price at the pump decline since April 14, Alaska (3.4 cents), Washington (7.1 cents), Oregon (8.5 cents), and California (11.6 cents) have seen prices increase.

A full state-by-state list of month-over-month price changes is included below:

At the close of formal trading on the NYMEX today, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil settled down $1.35 at $94.78 per barrel.

This is the lowest settlement price since December 19, 2011.

Today’s declines were attributed to continued global economic concerns.

Traders remain particularly focused on the euro zone, where Greek elections and a possible withdrawal from the currency following austerity measures to address sovereign debt worries have weighed on economic growth and markets.

A weakening global economy would be expected to consume less crude oil, which puts downward pressure on prices.

Furthermore, as economies overseas weaken relative to the U.S., the value of the dollar is expected to strengthen by being viewed as a “safer” currency.

As this happens, crude oil futures, priced in U.S. dollars, become relatively more expensive and thus a less attractive investment, which puts additional downward pressure on prices.

These same global economic concerns pressured oil prices lower last week as Chinese industrial data failed to meet expectations and political news from Europe was viewed as bearish by market analysts.

While U.S. consumer confidence was reported on Friday as increasing — in part due to falling gasoline prices in most regions — the broader global concerns weighed on U.S. commodities and equities markets alike as the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its largest weekly loss of 2012.

A year ago, gas prices averaged $4.07 in the state.

Area Gasoline Prices on 05.16.12:

Arnoldsburg = $3.77

Buckhannon = $3.79

Burnsville = $3.85

Clarksburg = $3.63 - $3.69

Gassaway =  $3.85

Glenville = $3.77

Grantsville =  $3.95

Harrisville = $3.75

Jane Lew = $3.79

Linn = $3.89

Parkersburg = $3.63 - $3.69

Pennsboro =  $3.75

Spencer = $3.85

Sutton =  $3.85

Weston =  $3.79

West Union =  $3.68

WVDNR Stocking Catchable Channel Catfish

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is stocking more than 8,000 catchable-size channel catfish during the week of May 14, 2012, according to WVDNR Director Frank Jezioro.

This popular stocking program provides fishing opportunities at popular and accessible lakes across the state.

Lakes to be stocked are:

•  Anawalt Lake (McDowell County)
•  Barboursville Lake (Cabell County)
•  Berwind Lake (McDowell County)
•  Cacapon State Park Lake (Morgan County)
•  Cedar Creek State Park Lake (Gilmer County)
•  Chief Logan State Park Lake (Logan County)
•  Conaway Run Lake (Tyler County)
•  Coopers Rock Lake (Monongalia County)
•  Edwards Run Pond (Hampshire County)
•  French Creek Pond (Upshur County)
•  Handley Pond (Pocahontas County)
•  Hurricane Lake (Putnam County)
•  Indian Rock Lake (Nicholas County)
•  Krodel Lake (Mason County)
•  Laurel Lake (Mingo County)
•  Little Beaver State Park Lake (Raleigh County)
•  Mason Lake (Monongalia County)
•  Mountwood Lake (Wood County)
•  North Bend State Park Pond (Ritchie County)
•  Pendleton Lake (Tucker County)
•  Pipestem State Park Lake (Summers County)
•  Tomlinson Run State Park Lake (Hancock County)
•  Wallback Lake (Clay County)
•  Wirt County Farm Pond (Wirt County)

As part of a cooperative effort with West Virginia State Parks, a total of 400 tagged channel catfish will be stocked into eight state park lakes, including:

•  Cacapon State Park Lake
•  Cedar Creek State Park Lake
•  Chief Logan State Park Lake
•  Little Beaver State Park Lake
•  North Bend State Park Pond
•  Pipestem State Park Lake
•  Tomlinson Run State Park Lake
•  Pendleton Lake at Blackwater Falls State Park

Anglers catching a tagged catfish and following the tag instructions for reporting the catch will receive a “tagged fish reward.”

The reward is a choice of a ride to Whittaker Station at Cass Scenic Railroad or a ride to Blennerhassett Island on the sternwheeler, The Island Belle.

Anglers who catch a tagged fish are asked to return the tag or tag number along with information on the date of capture, if the fish was kept or released, and the name and address of the angler to WVDNR, 2311 Ohio Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26101.

Anglers also can call in the information 304.420.4550 or provide the information via e-mail “dnrfishtags@wv.gov”.

Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church: Randy White Quartet - 05.18.12 - This Friday

The Randy White Quartet will be singing at the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Stumptown, WV on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 7:00 PM.

Everyone is invited to come and enjoy an evening of great gospel music.

Gilmer County CEOS: Explore Southern West Virginia