We hope everyone endured the winter well, as miserable as it was. It is now spring and we are ready for a new season of The Gilmer County Farmers’ Market.
Many of you have already started planting and we look forward to you at The Market. We are expanding the shelters this spring and adding a new building that will have a restroom.
The shelters also will have electricity in them this season. The Senior Center Board of Directors approved these improvements at their April meeting. We are very great full for this. All these improvements are courtesy of The Gilmer County Economic Development Association (GCEDA).
We will be having a meeting at the Senior Center on Saturday, May 08, 2010 at 10:00 AM. The meeting should be about an hour to brief everyone on the Market Rules for this season.
The Market will be open for the season on Saturday, May 15, 2010 and hope some of you will have spring greens, vegetables plants, and flowers to be available for sale. If the frost of late have not gotten to them!
We will have the registration forms that day for you to fill out. Again this year there will not be a charge for setting up at The Market.
It is our hope that you will become member of the GCEDA in order for your voice to be heard (form enclosed), and at the end of the season make a contribution to the GCEDA commensurate with your sales.
Please keep in mind we are again staffing The Market with all volunteers.
Coffee and Hot chocolate will also be served again this year.
According to available data there are about 16,000 children without health insurance in West Virginia.
These kids either qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid but for some reason they have chosen not to enroll in the available options.
West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition Project Director says they’re now working to get out the word about the available coverage with the help of federal grant money and a number of organizations throughout the state.
Enrollment assistance sites are set up in Kanawha County, Nicholas County, Parkersburg and Bluefield.
Other locations will be added later this year.
“It’s just really important that we reach out to children across the state to get them signed up for health insurance,” the Director said.
Many organizations are part of the effort including the Partnership for African American Churches, the West Virginia Alliance for Sustainable Families, the West Virginia Council of Churches, the Partners in Health Network and South Central Educational Development.
Glenville State College alums gathered on campus for the 2010 GSC Alumni Day on Saturday, April 24, 2010.
A day full of activities culminated with the Annual Alumni Day Banquet in the Mollohan Campus Community Center Ballroom.
Around one-hundred alumni, family, and friends enjoyed a buffet dinner and the presentation of the 2010 GSC Alumni Association Awards.
GSC Alumni Association President William S. ‘Bill’ Deel (left) presents
the Alumnus of the Year Award to David G. Grapes II ‘73
The prestigious GSC Alumnus of the Year Award was presented to David G. Grapes II ’73.
The award is given to an alumnus or alumna of Glenville State College for outstanding contributions in their chosen field of endeavor or for outstanding personal accomplishments.
He has an extensive list of credits for directing and producing in theatre.
Currently, Grapes is a tenured full Professor and Director of the School of Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Northern Colorado.
The school produces nine main stage productions each year and operates the Little Theatre of the Rockies (LTR), the oldest summer stock theatre in the west.
As the Executive Producer of LTR, Kinder produces five productions each summer utilizing the talents of University of Northern Colorado students and faculty as well as professional artists.
“The power of the education that I received at Glenville State College opened the many doors that I have walked through in my career. It is at GSC that I developed my budding interest in my life’s work and passion,” said Grapes.
Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Grapes obtained his B.A. degree in Speech/Theatre from Glenville State College in 1973 and an M.F.A. in Acting/Directing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1976.
He resides in Windsor, Colorado with his wife Dawn and children Natalie and David III.
GSC Alumni Association President William S. ‘Bill’ Deel (left) presents
the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award to Dr. Jeffrey D. Lancaster.
Jeffrey D. Lancaster, M.D. received the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Dr. Lancaster is a full-time hospitalist at West Virginia University Children’s Hospital where he specializes in inpatient medicine.
He also serves as the facility’s Pediatric Clerkship Co-Director where he manages and evaluates WVU’s Medical Students rotating through the Department of Pediatrics.
A Braxton County, West Virginia native, Lancaster received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry from GSC in 1999 and earned his Doctor of Medicine from WVU in 2003.
“Coming back to GSC to receive this award reminds him of the wonderful family feeling I felt when I was a student here. It is great to come back and experience that again,” said Lancaster.
He is the son of Riley and Linda Lancaster of Gassaway, West Virginia. He and his wife Jamie reside in Morgantown, West Virginia.
GSC Alumni Association President William S. ‘Bill’ Deel (left) presents
the Outstanding Teacher Award to Rick Kinder ‘82
Glenville, West Virginia native Rick Kinder ’82 received the Outstanding Teacher Award in recognition of his distinguished career in secondary education.
Kinder has been a Mathematics Teacher at Gilmer County High School since 1983.
He was named the 2009 Gilmer County Teacher of the Year and honored as one of the twelve best teachers in West Virginia at the 2009 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards.
Since 1987, Kinder has worked cooperatively with the GSC Education Department as a partner teacher for students who are training to become math teachers.
“For one-hundred and thirty-eight years, GSC has been creating excellent teachers. GSC tutored, molded, shaped, and instilled in me all the knowledge to become a good teacher. I applaud everyone at Glenville State College for being the best Teacher College around,” said Kinder.
He and his wife Letisha ‘Leigh’ Kinder ’87 reside in Glenville with their sons Cam and Noah.
Carlos Ratliff ‘34
The GSC Alumni Association Posthumous Award was bestowed to Carlos Ratliff ’34.
The Hinton, West Virginia native lettered in football, basketball, and baseball at Glenville State.
From 1934 to 1942, he coached at Clay, Hinton, North Fork, and Williamson High Schools.
During summers from 1933 to 1938, he played in the Mountain State Baseball League for the Bluefield Blue Grays.
He entered the Navy in 1942 at the onset of the war.
While stationed in Iowa, at the Pre-Flight School, he was baseball coach for the Navy Sea Hawks.
At the conclusion of World War II in 1945, he returned to Glenville State College to become athletic director and to coach the baseball, football, and basketball teams.
Following an illness in 1951, he stopped coaching basketball and football while remaining baseball coach and athletic director until his death in 1961.
In 2002, he was posthumously inducted into the GSC Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame.
“On behalf of my entire family, I would like to thank the Alumni Association for honoring my father. Glenville Sate College was truly his home,” said daughter Ann Ratliff Barker of Williamsburg, Virginia.
Ratliff is survived by his wife Dr. Margaret Tate-Ratliff Hofstetter ’47 and two daughters.
Also honored posthumously was Dr. Richard G. Hoover. He was a well known Upshur County, West Virginia educator, former Superintendent of Upshur County Schools, and dedicated civic leader.
Dr. Richard G. Hoover ‘54
Born in Lewis County, West Virginia, Hoover graduated from Glenville State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1954.
He earned both his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees from West Virginia University. Dr. Hoover retired in 1999 after over fifty years of service in education.
He is survived by his wife Carolyn Daugherty Hoover of Buckhannon, and two daughters.
He was preceded in death by son Richard II.
“Glenville State College helped build a wonderful foundation for my father’s career in education. It was here that he met my mother. So my family has much to thank GSC for,” said daughter Ramonda Lipscomb of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Richard N. Butler ‘74
The GSC Alumni Association also honored Dr. Richard N. Butler ’74 with the Posthumous Award.
The distinguished and well known educator lost his life in a tragic tractor accident at his family farm in the fall of 2009.
The Gilmer County, West Virginia native received his Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree from GSC in 1974 and earned both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree from West Virginia University.
During his career, he served the students of West Virginia as a teacher at Gassaway Middle School, Parkersburg High School, Hamilton Junior High School, and Franklin Junior High School.
He also served as assistant principal at Franklin Junior High School, principal of Gilmer County High School, and as an Associate Professor in the Education Department at Glenville State College.
Butler concluded his lifelong career in education as Superintendent of Schools in both Gilmer and Ritchie County.
He retired in 2007 after 33 years of public school service.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Kathy Poling Butler ’76, GSC’s Provost and Senior Vice President, son Michael and wife Kate of Woodbridge, Virginia, daughter Jennifer Wible ’05 and husband Bob of Dunbar, West Virginia, and daughter Allison Atkins and husband Chris of Huntington, West Virginia.
Also surviving are his three sisters and four brothers.
“Glenville State College and education was very important in Rick’s life. He was an outstanding educator that GSC could be proud of,” said his wife of thirty-five years.
The Richard N. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the Glenville State College Foundation has been established in his memory.
GSC Alumni Association President William S. ‘Bill’ Deel presents
Alumni Chapter Award to Carol Hawkins Hamilton ‘62
The Alumni Chapter Award was presented to Carol Hawkins Hamilton ’62.
The Upshur County native graduated from GSC in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education.
She began her teaching career in Buckhannon, West Virginia before relocating to Florida where she taught for seven years.
Hamilton retired from teaching after twenty-six years at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville, Kentucky.
In 2009, she started the Kentucky Chapter of the GSC Alumni Association.
She is looking forward to the chapter growing in the coming years.
“Had I not received a scholarship from GSC, I may not have had the opportunity to go to college. Because of the well rounded education that I received at GSC, I was never afraid to go into a classroom,” said Hamilton.
She resides in Louisville with her husband Don. The Hamiltons have one son Joe, daughter-in-law Shannon, and two grandchildren.
GSC Alumni Association President William S. ‘Bill’ Deel presents
Alumni Chapter Award to Maureen Kraus Gildein ‘82
Lewis County, West Virginia native Maureen Kraus Gildein ’82 also received an Alumni Chapter Award for starting the North Carolina Chapter of the GSC Alumni Association.
Maureen received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education, and Social Studies from Glenville State College in 1982.
She received her Master of Arts degree in Health and Physical Education in 1990 from Gardner Webb University and her Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1992.
She began her teaching career in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1984 and continued to teach until going into school administration in 1992. Since 2007, she has been the principal at Shady Grove Elementary School in Advance, North Carolina.
“Last year, I bumped into someone wearing a West Virginia tee shirt and found out he was a GSC graduate. A few days later I met another GSC Alum. I felt that God was sending me a message that I needed to start an Alumni Chapter. There are three-hundred and seventy-five GSC graduates living in North Carolina. In talking with many of these alumni I have discovered that there is a common thread; we all felt like part of a family at Glenville State College.”
Gildein resides in Mocksville, North Carolina with her husband Jim and their four children.
Ralph J. Holder ‘56
The GSC Alumni Service Award was presented to Ralph J. Holder ‘56.
In April 2009, Holder completed a two-term stint as President of the Alumni Association. He now serves as the Vice President of the Association.
Holder graduated from GSC in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.
He earned his Master’s Degree from West Virginia University in 1961. Under his leadership, the Alumni Council worked to establish regional chapters.
At present, there are active chapters in Charleston, Huntington, the Mid Ohio Valley (where he serves as chapter representative), Clarksburg/Bridgeport, the Shenandoah Valley, Eastern Maryland/Northern Virginia, Texas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
While attending GSC, he was a member of the Pioneer Football, basketball, and baseball teams.
Holder is retired from his longtime football coach’s position in Belpre.
As a testimony to his remarkable impact on that community, Belpre High School’s football stadium is named in his honor.
Holder was inducted into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and was inducted into Glenville State College’s Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.He and his wife Joann live in Belpre, Ohio.
They have three children and five grandchildren.
Holder was unable to attend the Alumni Day Banquet but sent a message thanking the Alumni Association for the honor.
Holder has sent many of the high school athletes that he coached to GSC.
He is an eternal supporter of Glenville State College.
The Alumni Day Banquet was capped off by a special announcement by GSC President Peter Barr’s wife Betsy Barr that the new GSC residence hall now under construction will be named Goodwin Hall.
Margaret Miller Goodwin ’51 has made a significant gift to Glenville State College, and the building will be named in her honor.
The first wing of Goodwin Hall is scheduled to open in August 2010.
For more information about the event or to join the GSC Alumni Association, contact Debbie Nagy, Director of Alumni Affairs, at “debra.nagy@glenville.edu” or 304.462.4122.
If you hear a knock on your door Saturday, it just might be a census worker.
Three-thousand will spread out across the state beginning their quest to count as many people in West Virginia as possible.
Those who didn’t fill out their forms and send them back in by the deadline will get a visit at some point in the next few weeks according to Richard Hartman with the U.S. Census Bureau’s West Virginia office.
“They’ll be knocking on doors and asking them the same simple ten questions that are on the census form. It should only take about 10-minutes.“
Hartman promises the process is pain-free.
“We urge everyone to cooperate with the census workers when they come to your door. These are people who work in your neighborhood because we hire locally since they work locally. So you may even know some of them who come knocking at your door.“
If you miss the census worker who stops by your home, don’t worry they’ll be back. They’ll leave a card on your door with a number to call if there’s a specific time that’s better for you.
“We go anywhere up to six times until we get somebody. Our last resort is that we ask a neighbor how many people live in that household.“
Only 64% of West Virginians returned their census forms by mail. That means a lot of home visits, enough to keep census workers busy for quite a while depending on the area.
“Sometimes it will be over in a month. Sometimes it will take a little longer, maybe into June and some places even into early July.“
Hartman stresses the more people who fill out those census forms, the more money that city, county or state will receive in federal funding.
The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is in the beginning stages of digitizing all records around the state.
In a few years all public court documents in West Virginia will be available at the click of a mouse.
“The public at large will be able to get in to public documents from sitting at their computer,“ said Supreme Court Administrator Steve Canterbury. “You’ll be able to simply get online and see what you need to see. The same rules will apply then that apply now—if a document is sealed you can’t get it, if it’s open you can. It’s as simple as that.“
But getting the 20 million dollar system completely functional is not that easy, or quick.
Supreme Court Director of Technology Duane Neely says it will take several years before every courthouse in the state is online with the new Unified Judicial Application (UJA) system. But once they are it will reduce workload and storage problems.
“It allows the judicial staff to easily and quickly retrieve documents rather than go into a back room through piles of files to find what they need,“ said Neely. “It will be readily available to them online at their workstations dependent upon the security and the privileges that they have.“
The system is already operational in Greenbrier County Magistrate Court and will go live in Monongalia County Magistrate Court in November.
The goal is to have it working in all 55 magistrate courts before moving onto the circuit courts. But, the court is already laying the groundwork for the circuit court system by working with Marion County Circuit Clerk Barbara Core who is on the forefront of electronic record keeping and technology in the courtroom.
“Barb Core has shown herself to be extraordinarily knowledgeable and interested in technology and has applied some of the most cutting edge uses that she can find to the process here [in Marion County],“ said Canterbury.
Because of that, Supreme Court technician Andrea Snyder has been in Marion County for the past couple of weeks learning from Core and her staff. Mainly Snyder has been learning how to interface their current technology with the new system so that new equipment will not be needed.
A practical example of how the new system would work is as follows: Say someone gets a first offense DUI in Greenbrier County then they get pulled over for a DUI in Monongalia County. Before this system the Monongalia County court system would have a really hard time finding out about the prior DUI, but with the UJA all they would have to do is type in their name and do a quick search to see that they have a DUI in Greenbrier County.
BURNSVILLE – The lake is at summer pool and milky. Fishing is good. Bass are becoming active as they move toward shallow water to spawn. Sunfish and crappie have been caught around cover with small jigs and live bait. For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304.853.2398.
STONECOAL LAKE – The lake is at summer pool and clear. Bass are becoming active as they move toward shallow water to spawn. Sunfish and crappie have been caught around cover. A few reports of trout being caught in the upper end of the lake.
STONEWALL JACKSON – The lake is approximately one foot below summer pool and milky. Fishing is good. Bass are becoming active as they move toward shallow water to spawn. Sunfish and crappie have been caught around cover with small jigs and live bait. Before heading to the lake please contact Corps of Engineers at 304.269.7463.
SUMMERSVILLE – The lake is approximately 32 feet below summer pool and clear. Bass are becoming active as they move toward shallow water to spawn. Sunfish and crappie have been caught around cover. Try the upper end of the lake for walleye. If you are looking for a back country trout fishing experience hike down in and enjoy. For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304.872.5809.
SUTTON – The lake is approximately three feet below summer pool and milky. Fishing is picking up, but a few more sunny days should make the fish more active and turn the bite on. Bass are moving up to spawn. Crappie and bluegill have also been caught around standing timber with small jigs and live bait. The tailwaters are normal and clear. Before heading to the lake please call Corps of Engineers at 304.765.2705.
TYGART LAKE – The lake is at summer pool. Smallmouth bass are getting ready to spawn. Water temperatures at the heads of coves will be warmer than the main lake and fish will be more active in these areas. White bass will be concentrated near the head of the lake above Cove Run. Bank anglers can drive to Cove Run for white bass and smallmouth bass. There are lots of walleye and rout in the tailwater and this is the best place in northern West Virginia to fish for them. Walleye move through the dam into the tailwater during every high flow (above 5,000 cfs) from mid-December through March. 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). The tailwater temperature is 49 degrees. Call the Corps of Engineers telephone hotline at 304.265.5953 for daily lake and tailwater conditions.
CHEAT LAKE – Starting May 1 the lake will only fluctuate 2 feet until October 31. The Sunset Beach boat ramp will be open and the winter ramp at Cheat Lake Park will be closed. Spring anglers should target crappie, channel catfish and yellow perch. Yellow perch can be caught trolling slowly at depths of 10 to 20 feet while using minnows or worms on plain hooks and split shot. Keep the bait near the bottom. Channel catfish can be caught by shore anglers using worms in 30 to 40 feet of water. The embayments at the Cheat Lake Park will be warmer than the main lake so fish will be more active in these areas. There are good areas for bank anglers. Smallmouth bass are beginning to spawn.
Walleye and sauger should be moving upstream from the Monongahela River to the tailwater during the recent high flows. Try the tailwater fishing pier for walleye and sauger at dark when sauger and walleye begin feeding. The pier is located entirely in West Virginia about 25 minutes from Morgantown. Take U.S. Rt. 119 from Morgantown to Point Marion, PA, turn right after crossing the Cheat River and proceed 4 miles to Cheat Dam. The parking lot is in Pennsylvania but the entire pier is in West Virginia. The pier is lighted for night fishing and is handicapped accessible.
OHIO RIVER (New Cumberland, Pike Island, and Hannibal pools and tailwaters): The river level is normal. Walleye and sauger can be caught at the lock and dam tailwaters and at creek mouths. A good area for bank anglers is the calm water at the approach to the locks. Fishing boats are not allowed in this area because of the danger from barges. During normal or low flows, walleyes 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 will also be productive. White or chartreuse are good colors. During higher flows, fish will be active throughout the day. Warm water discharges at power plants attract fish all spring. Hybrid striped bass can be caught using cut bait or crank baits. Hybrid striped bass will also move in and out of the tailwaters on an irregular basis. They will also move into the mouths of tributaries along with white bass.
MONONGAHELA RIVER – Water temperatures have fluctuated 5 to 10 degrees during the past month which slows fishing success. Cold nights have kept the temperatures below normal but this will be good for walleye and sauger anglers. Walleye and sauger are concentrated in the lock and dam tailwaters. Start fishing about an hour before sunset because sauger and walleye will begin feeding at dusk. Jigs with minnows are particularly good baits but 3-inch plastic grubs will also be productive. White or chartreuse are good colors. A good area for bank fishermen is the calm water at the approach to the locks. Warm water discharges at the Rivesville and Morgantown power plants will attract fish all spring. A pier at the Morgantown plant makes fishing safe and convenient.
Elk River – Early spring is an excellent time to pursue muskie, give them a try using large plugs, spinnerbaits and in-line spinners such as the ‘double cowgirl’. But, recently all streams and rivers have been high and muddy. Once the streams come back down, try for muskie and walleye using preferred lures (jigs, crankbaits and soft plastics). Walleye will be spawning over the next few weeks, try for them at creek mouths, below shoal areas and near structure. The WVDNR is conducting a muskie study on the Elk River currently. If an angler keeps a muskie with what appears to be a metal tag on the dorsal fin, please contact the district office in Pt. Pleasant immediately (304.675.0871). We would like to gather information (total length = tip of snout to maximum length with the tail fin lobes squeezed together, location of capture, tag number) from the tagged fish. Flyers have been placed at put-ins, and in small tackle/convenient stores along the Elk River in Braxton, Clay, and Kanawha counties. Your participation is much appreciated.
CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA
Water levels are normal and clear. Trout stockings are in full swing this week. The Elk, Cherry, and Buckhannon rivers were stocked along with a long list of other area waters. If going alone, always tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
WEST-CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA
This is an excellent time to fish Ohio River Tail-waters. Anglers fishing below the Belleville dam are catching sauger, walleye, 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. Crappie can also be found in Ohio River tailwaters. These fish are generally suspended and jigs should be counted-down to find the correct depth to fish. Best spots to fish these areas include eddies and back-current sections, and anywhere that river flows are unusual.
Fishing for largemouth bass in area lakes has been very good. Slowly fished rubber 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 lakes in Jackson County.
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 affective.
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. Those interested in trying their luck with muskies in a lake should try North Bend Lake.
Trout Stockings This Week
April 29, 2010
• Blackwater River
• Burnsville Tailwaters
• Clear Fork of Tug
• Cranberry River
• Gandy Creek
• Glade Creek of New River
• Laurel Fork (Randolph)
• North Fork of South Branch
• Pinnacle Creek (lower section)
• South Branch (Franklin)
• Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
• Sutton Tailwaters
• Teter Creek Lake
April 28, 2010
• Bear Rocks Lake
• Dunkard Fork Lake
• Elk River
• Fitzpatrick Lake
• Hills Creek
• Horseshoe Creek
• Little Beaver Lake
• Red Creek
• South Branch (Smoke Hole)
• Warden Lake
• West Fork Greenbrier River (Railroad Grade)
• Wheeling Creek
April 27, 2010
• Big Clear Creek
• Bullskin Run
• Cacapon Park Lake
• Cranberry River
• Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
• East Fork Greenbrier River
• Evitts Run
• Little Clear Creek
• Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
• Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
• Middle Creek
• Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
• Opequon Creek
• Paw Paw Creek
• Rocky Marsh Run
• Shavers Fork (Bemis)
• Shavers Fork (lower)
• South Fork of Cranberry River
• Spruce Knob Lake
• West Fork Greenbrier River
• Whiteday Creek
April 26, 2010
• Dillons Run
• Edwards Run
• Ft. Ashby Reservoir
• Knapps Creek
• Mill Creek of South Branch
• Mill Run of South Branch
• Watoga Lake
• Williams River
Gracious God, so many of your children are alone in this world.
They face each day and night with the aching knowledge that they have no one else, and wonder if anyone will remember them after they’re gone.
I pray that your great love will comfort the hearts of those with no helper, no advocate.
Assure them of their worth and fill them with the peace that only you can give.
I ask this for the sake of your love.
Amen.
Today is Friday, April 30, the 120th day of 2010. There are 245 days left in the year.
Thought for Today: “In America, getting on in the world means getting out of the world we have known before.“ _ Ellery Sedgwick, American editor (1872-1960).
Today’s Highlight in History:
On April 30, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon announced the U.S. was sending troops into Cambodia, an action that sparked widespread protest.
On this date:
In 1789, George Washington took office in New York as the first president of the United States.
In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for 60 million francs, the equivalent of about $15 million.
In 1812, Louisiana became the 18th state of the Union.
In 1859, the Charles Dickens novel “A Tale of Two Cities” was first published, in serial form.
In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition opened in St. Louis.
In 1939, the New York World’s Fair officially opened with a ceremony that included an address by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In 1945, as Russian troops approached his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler committed suicide along with his wife of one day, Eva Braun.
In 1973, President Richard M. Nixon announced the resignations of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, along with Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst and White House counsel John Dean.
In 1980, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands abdicated; she was succeeded by her daughter, Princess Beatrix.
In 1990, hostage Frank Reed was released by his captives in Lebanon; he was the second American to be released in eight days.
Ten years ago:
• Hundreds of thousands participated in a gay-rights rally in Washington.
Five years ago:
• Missing Georgia woman Jennifer Wilbanks admitted to police in Albuquerque, N.M., that she was a “runaway bride” after initially claiming to have been abducted; on what was supposed to have been her wedding day, she was escorted to the airport by officers for a flight home.
• Vietnam marked the 30th anniversary of the war’s end.
• James Toney outpointed John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title in New York.
One year ago:
• Riding a crest of populist anger, the House approved, 357-70, a bill to restrict credit card practices and eliminate sudden increases in interest rates and late fees.
• Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection; the federal government pledged up to $8 billion in additional aid and to back warranties.
• The Iraq war formally ended for British forces as they handed control of the oil-rich Basra area to U.S. commanders.
• A man drove his car into a crowd of parade spectators in Amsterdam, killing seven people in an attempt to attack the Dutch royal family (the attacker, Karst Tates, died of his injuries).
Today’s Birthdays:
Actress Cloris Leachman is 84
Singer Willie Nelson is 77
Actor Gary Collins is 72
Actor Burt Young is 70
Singer Bobby Vee is 67
Actress Jill Clayburgh is 66
Movie director Allan Arkush is 62
Actor Perry King is 62
Singer Merrill Osmond is 57
Movie director Jane Campion is 56
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is 51
Actor Paul Gross is 51
Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is 49
Country musician Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks) is 48
Actor Adrian Pasdar is 45
Rapper Turbo B (Snap) is 43
Rock musician Clark Vogeler is 41
Rhythm-and-blues singer Chris “Choc” Dalyrimple (Soul For Real) is 39
Rock musician Chris Henderson (3 Doors Down) is 39
Country singer Carolyn Dawn Johnson is 39
Actress Lisa Dean Ryan is 38.
hythm-and-blues singer Akon is 37
Rhythm-and-blues singer Jeff Timmons (98 Degrees) is 37
Singer-musician Cole Deggs (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 34
Rapper Lloyd Banks is 28
Actress Kirsten Dunst is 28
Country singer Tyler Wilkinson (The Wilkinsons) is 26
West Virginia agriculture officials are hunting for emerald ash borers again.
The state Department of Agriculture says it’s starting to put up traps to search for the invasive beetle blamed for the deaths of tens of millions of ash trees in the U.S. and Canada.
Ash borers have been found in Fayette, Morgan and Roane counties and the Agriculture Department says this year’s trapping program is designed to find new infestations.
West Virginia is under federal ash borer quarantine.
That means firewood can’t be taken out of the state without federal approval, unless it’s from evergreens.
You also need federal approval to move ash logs, seedlings, bark and other regulated articles out of the state.
Doddridge County: WV Family Art Market - This Weekend
On Sunday, May 02, 2010 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, Mike Morningstar and Rick Roberts will be performing at the WV Family Arts Market at Doddridge County Middle School (Rt. 50 between West Union and Smithburg).
The WV Family Arts Market is May 01 and 02, 2010
• Saturday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Sunday, Noon to 5:00 PM.
There is no admission charge and parking is free. In addition to Mike’s music, there are other music groups, art, crafts, demonstrations, food, puppets, living history and more!
On Friday, April 30, 2010 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, there will be a sock hop at the same location ($3 per person or $5 per couple).
These weekend events are sponsored by the Trillium Arts Guild, Inc., a 501 c 3 non-profit corporation dedicated to the Arts in and around Doddridge County, WV.
Opens Friday, April 30, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min. R - Violence, disturbing images and some sexuality
A group of suburban teenagers share one common bond: they are all being stalked by Freddy Krueger, a horribly disfigured killer who hunts them in their dreams. As long as they stay awake, they can protect one another, but when they sleep, there is no escape.
Opens Friday, April 30, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 32 min. PG - Some rude humor, mild language and brief smoking
A real estate developer moves his family from Chicago to Oregon when his job calls for him to oversee the building of a major housing development. But, when his latest project threatens the homes of the local forest creatures, the animals seek revenge by turning a peaceful cul-de-sac under construction into a battlefield of epic proportions. It’s man versus nature and the fur is gonna fly!
Nicholas County Businessman: ‘Ingredients for Success’
‘Ingredients for Success.’ That was Glenville State College alum Marshall W. Robinson’s message during his GSC Student Support Services St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon presentation on Wednesday, March 17, 2010.
Robinson graduated Magna Cum Laude from GSC with an Associate’s Degree in Land Surveying and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1985.
He has been the sole owner and President of Allegheny Surveys, Inc. in Birch River since May 1988.
“I would not have become a successful land surveyor without the specialized training I received at GSC,” said Robinson.
Robinson is licensed as a Professional Surveyor in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He is proficient in all types of surveying including surface and underground mine surveying, construction surveying, boundary surveying, GPS surveying as well as oil and gas well location surveying. Robinson also specializes in expert witness testimony for boundary litigation, GPS survey design and analysis, and underground surveying and mapping. Throughout his career, he has presented numerous seminars on boundary law issues and boundary resolution, right-of-way and easement issues, GPS and GIS applications to the surveying profession, State Plane Coordinates, Project Datums, and underground surveying and mapping.
Robinson serves on the GSC Land Resources Department Advisory Board for the Land Surveying Program. He hopes to encourage the students to stay dedicated to the field. “My role model has always been Rick Sypolt, GSC Department of Land Resources Chair, and I give him credit for guiding me to this career path. I help the program as much as I can as a ‘thank you’ for what it did for me,” said Robinson.
Many Glenville State College Land Resources Department graduates have worked or are working for Robinson at Allegheny Surveys, Inc. With the success of his Nicholas County business, he created the Samuel Elliott Robinson Scholarship in honor of his deceased infant son. Students eligible for this scholarship are GSC Land Surveying students or children of Allegheny Surveys, Inc. employees.
Robinson has formally served as Chapter Representative, Board of Examiner’s Liaison, Member of the Board of Directors, West Virginia Representative to the NSPS Board of Governors, and President of the West Virginia Association of Land Surveyors. He also served on the WVALS Legislative Committee, Peer Review Committee, HARN Committee, and Education Committee.
He is a former member of the NCEES (National Council of Examiners of Engineers and Surveyors) EPS (Examination for Professional Surveyors) Committee. This committee is responsible for preparing and evaluating the national Fundamentals of Land Surveying Examination and the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying Examination. Both of which are administered to every candidate for licensure as a land surveyor in the United States. Robinson was active on this committee for four years and served as Chairman of the Principles of Practice sub-committee for two years. He is a former member of the West Virginia Board of Professional Surveyors as well.
West Virginia gasoline prices dropped over half a penny for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline this week.
The current average price at the pump is $2.876. The national average price has stayed relatively stable, within a couple of cents of $2.85, over the past couple of weeks.
According to AAA’s Fuel Gauge, oil prices fell Monday, April 26, 2010 pushed lower as the dollar gained strength against the euro.
Oil ended the day at $84.20 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The strength of the dollar has come in large part due to the relative weakness of the euro.
The euro has been strained in recent days as a result of continued uncertainty over a European Union plan to finally resolve issues related to the massive debt of EU member Greece.
On Tuesday, consumer confidence data gave the markets some guidance on how consumers feel about the current state of the economy and where they feel it might be heading.
The consumer Confidence Index increased in April to 57.9 from 52.3 in March, beating expectations of 53.5. Since February, the index has risen 11.5 points.
This week’s average prices: West Virginia Average = $2.876
Average price during the week of April 20, 2010 = $2.883
Average price during the week of April 28, 2009 = $2.071
WV Governor: Motorcycle Safety is Important in the Mountain State
West Virginia had a long and grueling winter this past season. Many of our citizens spent time digging out from record snowfall that blanketed our highways and neighborhoods. With that behind us, thousands of our citizens will now take to clearer roads, not only in cars and trucks, but also on motorcycles.
Recently, I was pleased to join a group of motorcycle enthusiasts and officials from the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles to proclaim April as Motorcycle Awareness Month.
Since the weather has warmed up, this is a great time to encourage motor vehicle operators to be cautious and aware of bikers, especially during their seasonal return to West Virginia roads and highways.
All of our motorcyclists have safety courses which they must complete in order to travel our highways and byways, and these safety procedures are very important to ensuring a safe riding experience. It is important that all motorists stay alert, use common sense and following driving laws. Our lives depend on it.
The West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program offers motorcycle rider courses developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and taught by certified, professional instructors in seven locations across the state.
Currently there are at least 55,000 registered bikes in our state. In 2009, approximately 2,000 people completed the safety program’s basic and experienced rider courses, and there has been more than a 40% increase in ridership since 2004.
Safety is the upmost importance while biking, and as a fellow motorcycle enthusiast, I always practice standard safety procedures while riding. As I approach an intersection, I flash my headlamps from low beam to high beam. This is just one extra personal safety practice that I do in order to alert drivers. In addition to following the common safety procedures of riding motorcycles, all riders must do their part to develop personal safety practices to prevent an accident.
Motorcycle tours have been a fast-growing segment of our tourism economy and I believe that it is a great way to showcase the Mountain State to the people across the nation.
We have a bounty of natural beauty and adventure to offer here in West Virginia and enhancing our motorcycle riding industry is another way people can experience the richness of our great state.
I want to thank all of the hardworking people that coordinate the West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program and the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles for their diligence to inform and educate motorcycle riders and all motor vehicle operators.
Working together, we will continue to make biking as safe as possible in West Virginia. As they say, live to ride and ride to live!
Lately many have characterized this administration as socialist, or having strong socialist leanings. I differ with this characterization. This is not to say Mr. Obama believes in free-markets by any means. On the contrary, he has done and said much that demonstrates his fundamental misunderstanding and hostility towards the truly free market. But a closer, honest examination of his policies and actions in office reveals that, much like the previous administration, he is very much a corporatist. This in many ways can be more insidious and worse than being an outright socialist.
Socialism is a system where the government directly owns and manages businesses. Corporatism is a system where businesses are nominally in private hands, but are in fact controlled by the government. In a corporatist state, government officials often act in collusion with their favored business interests to design polices that give those interests a monopoly position, to the detriment of both competitors and consumers.
A careful examination of the policies pursued by the Obama administration and his allies in Congress shows that their agenda is corporatist. For example, the health care bill that recently passed does not establish a Canadian-style government-run single payer health care system. Instead, it relies on mandates forcing every American to purchase private health insurance or pay a fine. It also includes subsidies for low-income Americans and government-run health care “exchanges”. Contrary to the claims of the proponents of the health care bill, large insurance and pharmaceutical companies were enthusiastic supporters of many provisions of this legislation because they knew in the end their bottom lines would be enriched by Obamacare.
Similarly, Obama’s “cap-and-trade” legislation provides subsidies and specials privileges to large businesses that engage in “carbon trading.” This is why large corporations, such as General Electric support cap-and-trade.
To call the President a corporatist is not to soft-pedal criticism of his administration. It is merely a more accurate description of the President’s agenda.
When he is a called a socialist, the President and his defenders can easily deflect that charge by pointing out that the historical meaning of socialism is government ownership of industry; under the President’s policies, industry remains in nominally private hands. Using the more accurate term – corporatism - forces the President to defend his policies that increase government control of private industries and expand de facto subsidies to big businesses. This also promotes the understanding that though the current system may not be pure socialism, neither is it free-market since government controls the private sector through taxes, regulations, and subsidies, and has done so for decades.
Using precise terms can prevent future statists from successfully blaming the inevitable failure of their programs on the remnants of the free market that are still allowed to exist. We must not allow the disastrous results of corporatism to be ascribed incorrectly to free market capitalism or used as a justification for more government expansion. Most importantly, we must learn what freedom really is and educate others on how infringements on our economic liberties caused our economic woes in the first place. Government is the problem; it cannot be the solution.
TechNote: Fake Antivirus Makes Up 15% of All Malware
A rise in fake antivirus offerings on Web sites around the globe shows that scammers are increasingly turning to social engineering to get malware on computers rather than exploiting holes in software, a Google study to be released on Tuesday indicates.
Fake antivirus—false pop-up warnings designed to scare money out of computer users—represents 15% of all malware that Google detects on Web sites, according to 13-month analysis the company conducted between January 2009 and February 2010.
That’s a five-fold increase from when the company first started its analysis, a principal software engineer at Google, said in an interview.
Meanwhile, fake antivirus scams represent half of all malware delivered via advertisements, which is becoming a problem for high-profile sites that rely on their advertisers and ad networks to distribute clean ads.
Google analyzed 240 million Web pages and uncovered more than 11,000 domains involved in fake antivirus distribution for the study, which Google is set to unveil at the Usenix Workshop on Large-Scale Exploits and Emergent Threats next Tuesday in San Jose, CA.
West Virginia University says it’s made a “green” guidebook for its efforts at recycling, energy efficiency and the like.
The school says it’s now listed in “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges.“ WVU says the guide lists institutions that rank in the 80th percentile or higher of Princeton Review’s system.
WVU President James Clements says it’s an honor and an important priority for the school.
The Bosom Buddies Relay for Life team will have a Longaberger Basket Bingo on Friday, June 11, 2010 beginning at 6:00 PM at Calhoun Middle/High School.
All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.
Anyone wishing to donate a basket is asked to contact a team member or call Jean Simers at 304.354.7315 after 5:00 PM or email “burlandjeansimers@frontiernet.net”
An 18-year-old in Montana apparently thought it would be funny to yell “I’m going to kidnap you” at a 7-year-old girl, but the joke cost him a $185 fine for disorderly conduct.
The girl told police April 15, 2010 that she heard the man yell the threat from a car as she walked on a sidewalk in Stevensville, Montana.
She helped police in the small town south of Missoula create a sketch, and police Chief James Marble says Justin Stockdale turned himself in Monday after seeing his likeness on flyers distributed around town.
Stockdale pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, was fined $185 and given a 10-day suspended jail sentence.
Marble says the teen apparently thought it would be funny to scare the girl but it appears he has learned a valuable lesson.
Thursday-Friday, April 29-30, 2010 and Saturday, May 01, 2010 from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
At 599 Sheridan St., Glenville WV - Camden Flats area.
Big man clothing, women clothing, Fenton glass, Viking glass, other glassware, oak rocker, dome trunk, other antiques and collectables, wicker porch set, household items something for everyone.
Gracious God, when the economy is in disarray, when young people are fighting in faraway wars, when we argue over issues and refuse to listen to the other side, I ask that your grace enfold us.
Move us from self-interest to compassion, from the need to be right to the place of doing right.
Let the love that is at the foundation of creation spread out like roots, bringing life, healing and wholeness to places cracked and broken.
I ask this for the sake of your love.
Amen.
Today is Thursday, April 29, the 119th day of 2010. There are 246 days left in the year.
Thought for Today: “An intellectual hatred is the worst.“-William Butler Yeats, Irish poet and playwright (1865-1939).
Today’s Highlight in History:
On April 29, 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the Dachau concentration camp; the same day, Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun and designated Adm. Karl Doenitz (DUHR’-nihtz) president.
On this date:
In 1429, Joan of Arc entered the besieged city of Orleans to lead a French victory over the English.
In 1798, Joseph Haydn’s oratorio “The Creation” was rehearsed in Vienna, Austria, before an invited audience.
In 1861, Maryland’s House of Delegates voted against seceding from the Union.
In 1901, Japanese Emperor Hirohito was born in Tokyo.
In 1916, the Easter Rising in Dublin collapsed as Irish nationalists surrendered to British authorities.
In 1946, 28 former Japanese officials went on trial in Tokyo as war criminals; seven ended up being sentenced to death.
In 1968, the counterculture musical “Hair” opened on Broadway following limited engagements off-Broadway.
In 1974, President Richard M. Nixon announced he was releasing edited transcripts of some secretly made White House tape recordings related to Watergate.
In 1983, Harold Washington was sworn in as the first black mayor of Chicago.
In 1992, deadly rioting erupted in Los Angeles after a jury in Simi Valley, Calif. acquitted four Los Angeles police officers of almost all state charges in the videotaped beating of Rodney King.
Ten years ago:
• Tens of thousands of angry Cuban-Americans marched peacefully through Miami’s Little Havana, protesting the raid in which armed federal agents yanked 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez from the home of relatives.
• Lennox Lewis knocked out Michael Grant in the second round at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain his WBC and IBF heavyweight titles.
Five years ago:
• Insurgents unleashed a series of car bombings and other attacks across Iraq, killing at least 41 people, including three U.S. soldiers.
• NASA again delayed the first space shuttle launch since the Columbia disaster, worrying that ice falling off fuel tank could doom Discovery.
One year ago:
• During a prime-time news conference marking his 100th day in office, President Barack Obama pledged “to do whatever it takes” to battle the spread of swine flu.
• The World Health Organization raised its alert level for swine flu to its next-to-highest notch.
• Twin car bombs ravaged a popular shopping area in Baghdad’s biggest Shiite district, killing at least 51 people.
Today’s Birthdays:
Actress Celeste Holm is 93
Rhythm-and-blues singer Carl Gardner (The Coasters) is 82
Poet Rod McKuen is 77
Actor Keith Baxter is 77
Bluesman Otis Rush is 76
Conductor Zubin Mehta is 74
Pop singer Bob Miranda (The Happenings) is 68
Country singer Duane Allen (The Oak Ridge Boys) is 67
Singer Tommy James is 63
Movie director Phillip Noyce is 60
Country musician Wayne Secrest (Confederate Railroad) is 60
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is 56
Actor Leslie Jordan is 55
Actress Kate Mulgrew is 55
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is 53
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer is 52
Actress Eve Plumb is 52
Rock musician Phil King is 50
Country singer Stephanie Bentley is 47
Singer Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 42
Actress Uma Thurman is 40
Tennis player Andre Agassi is 40
Rapper Master P is 40
Country singer James Bonamy is 38
Gospel/rhythm-and-blues singer Erica Campbell (Mary Mary) is 38
Rock musician Mike Hogan (The Cranberries) is 37
Actor Tyler Labine is 32
NFL player Tommie Harris is 27
Actor Zane Carney is 25
NWS: FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1:00 AM TO 9:00 AM EDT THURSDAY.
Issued by The National Weather Service
Charleston, WV
9:35 PM EDT, Wednesday, April 28, 2010
... FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 9 AM EDT THURSDAY…
HIGH PRESSURE PASSING OVER THE AREA TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN A CLEAR SKY AND LIGHT WIND. TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO DROP INTO THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S TONIGHT… ESPECIALLY AWAY FROM URBAN CENTERS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.
Gilmer County Sheriff Metz Sets the Record Straight
“On Sunday, April 18, 2010 around 3:00 PM Mr. Thomas Chapman and Mr. Jake Evans stopped by my home and stated that they were fishing out of a boat and found a body located behind my next door neighbors house Mr. Dave Wilson.
The body was stuck in the brush by the river.
They had pulled their boat over to the bank to get an old bucket to bail out some water.
I had them take me down to the location of the body.
Once I confirmed that it was a body I called 911 told them to contact the State Police, EMS, and the Coroner that there was a body that fit the description of our missing man Fred Hill.
State Police Sgt. Calvin Alton and Trooper R.P. Smith arrived I took them to the location of the body.
They then called in the State Police Crime Scene Team to the location.
The State Police processed the scene and the body was transported to the state medical examiners for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The West Virginia State Police are in charge of the investigation into the disappearance of Fred Hill not the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department.
At my request and the request of the family about 10 days into the investigation the WV State Police were given the investigation due to the fact that they have much more resources than we do.
I am glad to hear that our Prosecuting Attorney Gerry Hough is taking an interest in this 4 month old case.
It has been stated that I said that there was “no foul play”.
That was taken completely out of context.
A reporter asked me did it look like there may have been foul play.
I stated there was no apparent foul play but the body had to be sent to the medical examiner for an autopsy.
I am confident that the West Virginia State Police will do a thorough investigation.
There has been a lot of talk and speculations into this disappearance of Mr. Hill but please don’t confuse fact with fiction.“
Significant Gift Announced at GSC Alumni Day Dinner
Glenville State College alum Margaret Miller Goodwin ‘51 has pledged a significant gift toward the Transforming Lives Now! Capital campaign.
Kicked off in July 2007, the campaign is the first comprehensive effort to secure the future of Glenville State and the impact of the college on students and Central West Virginia.
Glenville State College President Dr. Peter Barr is amazed by the breadth of Margaret’s commitment. “This gift comes at a critical time in the Transforming Lives Now! Campaign. With the goal in sight, this gift represents a huge boost in realizing the construction of a facility on Mineral Road that will house an expanded Natural Resource Center, a health care facility that will help stimulate retirement investments in the county, and a convention center that can be an economic boom for central West Virginia,” said Barr.
Betsy and Dr. Peter Barr present a plaque commemorating Margaret Miller Goodwin’s (center)
generous gift to GSC. The new residence hall under construction at GSC will be
named Goodwin Hall in her Honor.
Goodwin’s gift was announced by the President’s wife Betsy Barr at the annual GSC Alumni Day dinner on Saturday, April 24, 2010. Because of Mrs. Goodwin’s generous donation, the new residence hall under construction at GSC will be named Goodwin Hall.
The first phase of this new building, which will accommodate over two-hundred students, is scheduled to be completed by August 2010. By January 2011, the building will be fully operational and will house nearly 500 students. The five-story building will not only be the newest housing option for GSC students but will also hold offices, conference rooms, and the campus physical plant.
Remarkably, Goodwin Hall will stand on the same ground that held buildings where Margaret Miller Goodwin attended grade school and high school.
“I wanted to give back to Glenville State College because of what the school has done for me. I pray that my grandchildren will have the same opportunities that GSC afforded me. I hope that this new residence hall will encourage even more students to come to Glenville State College and reap the rewards that my family and I have,” said Goodwin.
A Gilmer County, West Virginia native, Goodwin is the daughter of the late Wayne W. Miller and Merle Southall Miller. Margaret and her four sisters were raised during the Depression. Their mother secured a job in the wash room and later as a cook in the Kanawha Hall on campus. When her father lost his job with South Penn Oil, the family moved in with their grandmother on a farm on Alice Road until moving to the Northview area of Glenville in 1936.
Margaret was the first in her family to complete college. She earned her degree in only three years. Since she was unable to pay the $18.00 per semester tuition and fees, Mr. Casey Jones, the college’s business manager, allowed her to make payments. That showing of concern along with a strong helping hand from one of her professors, Dr. Floyd Miller, and the many ways that GSC helped her succeed in life, made Margaret determined to give back to GSC.
After graduation from GSC in 1951, Margaret moved to Dayton, Ohio to live with a cousin and seek employment. She had completed her student teaching in art and speech, but it was in the library that she felt most at home. In Dayton, she secured a position as librarian at Roosevelt High, the largest high school in that area with over 3,200 students. There she met her husband, Bill, who taught industrial arts.
As their three children were born and raised, Margaret briefly left the library but was called back by her love of working with books. She returned to a new high school that was under construction and worked there until her retirement.
The Goodwin’s were avid campers, but Bill wanted a permanent place to “get away” from the growing Dayton area. A friend told them about a small 39 cottage camp ground and store that was for sale on Grand Lake St. Mary’s, an hour north of Dayton, and they purchased the property. Today, the original 39 cottages have grown into one of the largest privately held campgrounds in the Midwest with over 700 hundred permanent and transient sites, along with marina facilities. Bill and Margaret remain active in the operation of the park, though many of the day to day activities are handled by their daughter. One of their sons manages the marina, and the other has a retail boating business on the opposing shore.
“I think it is especially poignant that an individual, whose life was literally transformed by this college, now will help transform the lives of thousands of future students. Her gift will help Glenville State College remain the most accessible avenue in central West Virginia for young men and women to gain a college degree,” said Dr. Peter Barr.
West Virginia is famous again. Maybe Mr. Phares should also visit the school and board in Logan. The student who wore the NRA t-shirt to school, now threatened with a year in jail. It put West Virginia on national satellite radio news.
Quit blaming poor Mr Blankenship. He is reportedly only being paid 127k per year for his 3 day week.
He great at performing the “The Charleston” dance for us.
Turn up the speed. Turn up the volume. Watch and enjoy.
Folks. Go read the original OEPA audit when the school was taken over without any warning or any period of time to remedy issues that were found. You will find that one of the ‘points’ it made was to only ‘move/reassign’ any employee who was not preforming as required. Well, Blankenship has done that deed. The person who was to be ‘protected’ and kept on the job is still there. The complaints continue around the high school. Elite power brokers wanted to keep someone employed. That has been successful to date. So the complaints will roll on. We all know locally what its all about and the Charleston gang has been a slow education. The CUBES and what they were/are about has slowly come to the surface in Charleston too. They have been slow to catch on but they are coming.
As to the school situation. R.F.Ronson, you are wondering why the purchase agreement for the Crooked Run Property has not been disclosed? Well, well, well. Do you expect that to happen since Blankenship has kept the Gilmer citizens and school board in the dark now…...which will be 2 years comes July 1 ? If you keep all information secret, you have to make fewer lies and answer fewer questions? That is the Gilmer County standard operating procedure, you know. Well, it was, until Gilmer Free Press came along and gave the citizens a voice.
Wasn’t Jim Phares hired as a “temporary” state superintendent? Marple was sent home last November right after the election. Has that job been advertised yet?
Remember, the job requirements have now been “dumbed down” for the position. Ol’ boy system at work?
Dr. Phares, will you explain why information for the purchase agreement for the Crooked Run school is not disclosed to the public? Tax money will be used to purchase the land and it is bad government when details are withheld. Citizens understand that Ron Blankenship committed to pay an exorbitant price per acre for the land that far exceeds land value prices in the area and 75 acres will be purchased when that much land is not needed. When asked about financial details about the land purchase Mr. Blankenship has said that they will be disclosed at the proper time. Why the carefully guarded secrecy? Is the State fearful of the truth coming out?
This the funniest thing that I read in some time. To even think about impeaching president Bush after 5 years of Obamaama. I do not think that Obamaama should be impeached either, he should be tried for treason.
We all know that Obaama will be reading this too.
The great fact manipulators can spin absolutely anything to support their chosen position. That doesn’t mean it’s correct. For instance, 100% of students taking a test becomes a 100% attendance rate.
So I am reading that State Board of Education newly hired replacement is coming to Gilmer County. Thats great. Are we going to hear that Normantown is being closed? Thats been speculated. Or will he tell us in five or ten years Gilmer will get control back. Guess we only have until Monday evening to wait.
With luck, the children’s champion, Mrs Starkey, will ask relevant questions. Don’t hear much out of the other four. Cat got their tongue? The rest must have been either bought off or told to be quiet. Both?
One thing is for sure. The State Board of Education cannot brag about what a great job they are doing with the intervention counties. There are NO statistics that would support a statement to that effect.
From appearances the 911 Center is dead. Or is it? Its been reported that the Commissioners have been having secret meetings with the GSC Power Brokers. GSC wants that 911 Center. Capture that revenue stream. Takes a lot of green to feed the pig you know. When the Commissioners get what they think is a good deal personally, the College will get the 911 Center….and the Commissioners will have no extra work or responsibility. Its always whats best for them, not whats best for Gilmer County.
It’s about things they have no clue about and the lack of people skills. This underscores the county commission’s lack of attention to detail and inability to get things done when things get technical.
This isn’t the only situation coming to a head. I predict a major falling out that’s going to cost the county commission. I hope they have several hundred thousand dollars set aside.
What was the real reason the Administrative Assistant for OEM quit? It had to be more than just cutting hours. I have heard so many negative things about the Director and how she does things. When will the County Commission do something about her? She seems to think she is a one-woman show and she runs everything. Oh, I forgot, she is friends with one commissioner and he gets her anything she wants. It makes you wonder what will happen when another emergency happens and she can’t be found.
This is another example of the county commission not taking care of their responsibilities. The OES is obviously an ongoing “That’s how we do it in Gilmer County” semi-disaster. The OES positions are critical to this county when we face our most difficult times. Yet the county commission seems to be content with kicking another can down he road. Instead they need to kick something else down the road.
Will the commission wake up and take care of business? Maybe when they get bit in the posterior. What they don’t know is that is coming fast. You can only push people so long.
3 to 5 minutes?...you kidding me?
I called the city police one morning regarding a window of my vehicle being shot out and the response I got was “the Chief is in the shower right now, he can be there in about 45 minutes.“
They are not even on duty 24/7 so how could they respond that fast???
I pray Ms. Starkey attempts to ask her usual questions and then see if Blankenship ignores or turns his back on her in front of his boss.
Please call him out on this Phyllis, better yet ask Phares why Blankenship acts this way!
I will not call these comments from the power company outright lies.
I will say they created this problem all by them self.
They tried to cut meter reading expenses, and now that it did not work out,
they are doing the two-step dance trying to get around it all. This problem
started when Allegheny Power sold out. Was then continued forward.
They did admit to having meter reader “positions” not filled.
This is a clear statement as to what they were up too. We all know there
is NO shortage of people looking for jobs.
I hope the public service commission are able to see through the
“smoke” that Mon Power is making.
Does America sponsor wars? The Syrian Rebels are sworn supporters of Al-Quadia.
We are helping them with weapons, ammunition and now military support.
Al-Quadia has clearly stated they are at war with America? Skip B., you are correct.
Why not just put up a “War-Free Zone” sign like they do with “Drug-Free” signs at schools? A Constitutional amendment will have about as much impact. Does ANYBODY think that because we withdraw from wars that they will stop?
Does this court reversal sort of makes me wonder if the PA and Judge BOTH were out of bounds? As well as the welfare office?
Do they receive any punishment other than we now know about what is going on?
Think all of Gilmer County would wish the solution of repairing our dysfunctional state run school system would be as simple as the County Commission issues. Maybe Mr Jones and some other could fix both the school problems and the Commission problems. Most who are up to date, would say it is all egos causing both problems.
Now we know WHO YOU ARE Roy Jones! Yeah, we would like to have our COUNTY BACK, INSTEAD of the give back to the county blah blah blah. Sometimes you can see a wolf in sheeps clothing if you look at their feet, and your feet need a good washin…
The OEM Director needs to be accountable for work that is not being done in the county. She keeps information to herself and never shares with her staff. The CC just lets her do what she pleases because they are not NIMS trained and they believe everything she says. When will she be accountable for how she runs Emergency Management? The firemen in Gilmer County do not want to work with her after she made an A** of herself during the June 2012 storm. Does that not show that most of the volunteers in the county have not confidence in her ability to do her job?
I am so excited about this construction and the facilities that are coming. I appreciate those who have the resources to give back to Gilmer County. Thank you.
Looks like the Director and the CC were looking for a clean sweep of the office. Remember how they tried to terminate the Asst. Director. Maybe the CC should call and ask the previous Admin Assistant to reapply.
There is a lot more to this story than is in print here. The individual who was previously employed in this position, according to reliable sources, had their work hours reduced from 15 weekly to only 6 hours. So…....how come now the county is advertising for a 10 to 15 hour position?
This I can say, I will be calling this number. My bill at Appcon/VVV is four (4) times larger now then it was this time last year. What’s the problem? Well, VVV is only open in the building for 12 hours a week. Appcon was open for almost 60 hours a week. We are hardly there, kept the heat around 60 and have only turned the air on once this season. Appcon was running heat at around 72 all year around. There’s NO possible way VVV’s electric bill could be four (4) times higher than that of Appcon. In addition, we were given a bill. I complained and we received a new bill with the only difference being whether the read was “actual” or “estimated.“ So, thank you! I need to call this number. I had thought I would publicly publish my two bills just to see what would be said. I may still attempt that avenue. Thanks again!
I am afraid Margaret Collins you were told the official “nice” story on this. The billing issues itself is likely a computer “glitch” which is actually a failure of proper program creation. The BIG problem, the power company has been doing there very best to CUT COSTS by a REDUCTION in meter readings. This actually goes back two years, probably longer, and has just now started to catch up with them. They must have a “nice, pretty, believeable, fairy tale to present to the PSC regulators. There will be no actual admission as to what has taken place.
Maybe with all the many complaints to the Public Service Commission, David McKinley’s office, calls made directly to the office of Mon Power and others that something will get done to force these companies to do the job that we pay for. The meeting I had with John L. Norman, Manager, External Affairs and Jay Storrick, Meter Reading Supervisor has told me that the problems of reading meters on a every other month basis should be resolved soon. Reason I was given for this mess is computer qlitch and the merging of two company computer systems takes time to merge the two into one system. We shall see. If not, we all need to stand firm on this and demand action to correct this situation.
If you’re really considerate of time restraints and costs to students why do you FIRST start with streamlining your curriculum and make classes available to students in a sensible schedule that allows a 2-year degree student to actually graduate in 2 years rather than 4. classes that are only offered one semester every other year is not holding down student costs, it’s holding them hostage for tuition money! Students, you’d better think about that before you enroll. It’s criminal how this college will deny classes to students and make them enroll year after year to finish a degree.
It’s all about numbers….up the enrollment and then weed out the upperclassmen.
Where will these people park???
Yes, poor Fred is dead. Apparently in a college town, with a college that has a ‘widely proclaimed’ criminal justice program, you can ‘get away with murder’. As well as rape and about anything else you can think of.
