President Orders Flags Lowered For Senator Byrd

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 30, 2010

DEATH OF SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of Senator Robert C. Byrd, President pro tempore of the Senate, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on the day of his interment. I further direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

I also direct, that in honor and tribute to this great patriot, that the flag of the United States shall be displayed at full-staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and Naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions on Independence Day, July 04, 2010. I further direct that on that same date, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at full-staff at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

Tribute to Mr. Larry Butcher for 22 Years of Service

In his absence, at last Gilmer County Board of Education meeting on Monday, June 28, 2010, Schools Superintendent John Bennett presented Mr. Larry Butcher from Troy, WV with a plaque thanking him for 22 years of service to Gilmer County Schools.

Board Member Misty Pritt with her emotional comments thanked Mr. Butcher for his quiet nature and great amount of knowledge and dedication to education.

Board President Phyllis Starkey noted she will miss Mr. Butcher as he was always there to assist with anything and everything.

Board Member Alton Skinner thanked him for his years of service and knowledge in the field of education.

Board Member Dorothy Rhoades had a letter for Mr. Butcher and passed it to Mr. Bennett to include with the plaque.

Finally, Superintendent Bennett and the board members welcomed new Board Member Tom Ratliff, and said they looked forward to working with him.

 

We at Gilmer Free Press would also like to thank Mr. Larry Butcher for his many years of service to Gilmer County Schools.

CommunityConcerns™: GSC Dormitory – Access, Destruction, Inconvenience

Glenville State College’s new $28,000,000 dormitory construction has been underway for several months.

At Gilmer Free Press we have received multiple concerns and complains during this period about how the construction has destroyed the part of the parking area at the courthouse and the public access roads leading to it. There has been multiple slips as well.

It is understood that during this construction there will be inconveniences. But if anyone else was doing a construction they would have been faced with more restrictions and rules.

 

We at Gilmer Free Press complained at a Gilmer County Commission meeting about the construction truck using our sidewalks and parking space to park. We mentioned that the heavy construction truck waiting in line on our sidewalk had damaged it with multiple cracks in the concrete.

Commissioner Brian Kennedy was surprised and said he would check into it. Well nothing has happened since.

 

Now the general complaint of the citizens is about the amount of nails and screws dumped from upper levels of the building into dumpsters and spilling onto the torn up road.

Because of these irresponsible practices, there have been multiple concerns from the citizens who have ended up with flat tires.

Many complaints have been made, but the college does not seem to be concerned with the way the community has been treated.

 

We at GFP tried to make contact but the parties are not available on the phone and do not answer their e-mails.

We and the citizens feel the college and the construction company need to take immediate steps to fix this problems and inconveniences.

Pork or Progress, Without A Doubt, Byrd Helped West Virginia

There are two ways to look at what Senator Robert C. Byrd, the longest-serving U.S. senator in history, has meant to the people and the place that sent him to Washington for 57 years in a row.

Outside critics like Citizens Against Government Waste crowned him the “King of Pork,“ dismissing the billions of federal dollars he sent to West Virginia as worthless “Byrd Droppings.“

But ask West Virginians to name someone else who has done more for the 1.8 million who live here, and there is usually silence.

Critics dubbed him “the King of Pork,“ but that was no insult for a man who once said “you might as well slap my wife as take away my highway money.“

“I make no apologies—none, none, none—for being a zealot … for improving highways in West Virginia,“ Byrd said at a ground-breaking ceremony for a section of West Virginia Route 9 in Charles Town, WV last November.

At that event, he said he had steered $2 billion in federal highway money to the state while serving for decades on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

At least 40 contributions bear their benefactor’s name, from the Robert C. Byrd Regional Training Center for soldiers at Camp Dawson in Kingwood and Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, four-lane U.S. highway 19,  to the 17-mile, four-lane Robert C. Byrd Drive near his hometown of Sophia.

Byrd’s long-held grip on the Senate Appropriations Committee helped fund scholarships and schools, federal courthouses and prisons, even a massive radio telescope in Green Bank that tracks pulsar waves that have traveled through space for billions of years.

He made sure plenty of federal complexes were built in West Virginia, including the FBI’s fingerprint repository in Clarksburg, the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center in landlocked Kearneysville, and a training center and firing range near Harpers Ferry for customs and border protection officers.

From his first race for the state House of Delegates in 1946, Byrd never lost an election in West Virginia. After two terms there and one in the state Senate, he was elected to the U.S. House in 1952 for three terms before winning his Senate seat in 1958.

He carried all 55 counties in four of his nine Senate bids. Exit polls in 2006 showed his support still cut across all demographics, regardless of age, income or education.

But Byrd’s record-setting political career also had its low points. He aided the unsuccessful filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Act with a 14-hour speech that ranks among the longest in Senate history. And though it never hurt him back home, a more enduring scandal was his membership in the Ku Klux Klan while in his 20s - a brief affiliation for which he repeatedly apologized.

West Virginians focused on things they appreciated: His nearly 70-year devotion to late wife Erma.

His early, everyman careers as a butcher, a salesman and a welder.

His ability to point people out in a crowd and remember their names. His good-as-a-contract handshake.

Byrd found new fans across the country when he opposed the war in Iraq and challenged the policies of then President George W. Bush in his best-selling 2004 book, “Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency.“

But his steady contributions to prosperity are what endeared him to most at home. Byrd joked about his largesse at the dedication of the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center at Marshall University in 2005, saying he’d rolled up his shirtsleeves and gone to work for the required funding.

“Yeah, man,“ he told the crowd, “you’re looking at Big Daddy!“

And pork is in the eye of the beholder.

“In general, I’m not a fan of pork barrel spending,“ said Tim Joseph, a 38-year-old information systems professor at Fairmont State University. “But all the projects that I know of have had a great, direct positive impact on West Virginia -the FBI complex, the NASA facility, other things in various parts of the state.“

Byrd was a supporter of the Appalachian Development Highway System, a 3,000-mile network of highways established by Congress in 1965.

The ADHS has six corridors running from Pennsylvania to Mississippi, and five of those are complete, totaling 2,694.6 miles, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. Byrd introduced legislation last year to fund the completion of the final ADHS segment, Corridor H, which runs from Weston, WV to the Virginia border.

Corridor H is also known as the Robert C. Byrd Appalachian Highway System. Other roads named for Byrd include Robert C. Byrd Drive between Beckley and Byrd’s hometown of Sophia and the Robert C. Byrd Expressway near Weirton, WV.

His zealous pursuit of transportation funding didn’t stop at the road’s end.

The American Association of Port Authorities named Byrd “Port Person of the Year in 2008.“ In 2006, Byrd helped secure an additional $648 million for port security as part of an emergency spending bill.

“Senator Byrd was a loyal supporter of the inland maritime industry and will be missed by all who depend on our inland waterways,“ said Debra Colbert, spokesperson for the Waterways Council, which presented its Leadership Service Award to Byrd in 2007.

The locks and dam at Gallipolis Ferry, WV rebuilt at a total cost of $304.5 million in 2002, are named for the senator, as is the bridge linking Huntington, WV with Chesapeake, Ohio.

“While I have consistently fought for funding for roads and bridges in our state, I have also pushed for funding for mass transit, airports, river navigation systems, as well as funding for Amtrak, to ensure that West Virginia has an integrated and comprehensive transportation network,“ Byrd wrote on his Web site.

According to Citizens Against Government Waste, Byrd directed $3.3 billion in pork to West Virginia between 1991 and 2008.

Byrd, however, has neither regretted nor apologized for his efforts.

In his autobiography, “Robert C. Byrd: Child of the Appalachian Coalfields,“ he wrote that he was proud of supporting a state that suffered more than most through recessions, a state long exploited for its natural resources and slow to attain prosperity.

“I came from lowly beginnings. The bottom rungs of my ladder were gone,“ he wrote. “I had to have the help of the good Lord, and I’ve had to have the help of the people and the confidence of the people. And I’ve tried to repay them.“

State Employees Get Day Off for Byrd Funeral

Through entering an Executive Order Wednesday, Governor Joe Manchin has proclaimed this Friday, July 02, 2010 will be celebrated as a special day of observance in honor of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd and will give state employees the official day off.

In a press release issued Tuesday night the governor said he truly hopes that this day off will allow state employees an opportunity to join him in honoring and celebrating the life of the state’s senior senator.

West Virginians are invited to honor and celebrate the distinguished life of Senator Byrd, with a public procession through Charleston, starting Thursday evening, July 01, 2010.

Senator Byrd will lie in repose at the state Capitol’s Lower Rotunda, from 9 PM Thursday to 9 AM Friday, where the public is invited to pay their respects.

A public, formal memorial service will also take place 11:30 AM Friday, July 02, 2010 at the state Capitol’s North Plaza. 

“This will be a beautiful service for a wonderful public servant,” said Manchin. “I invite all West Virginians to join us during this special day of remembrance and to celebrate the many accomplishments of this outstanding West Virginian.”

President Obama, VP Biden will attend Byrd service in Charleston.

This Executive Order only applies to state government employees.

County employees also may take time off if the county commission elects to designate the day or part thereof as time off.

It Is Always Time for A Good Hot Dog…

~~  Why Not! Try it differently   ~~

The hot dog a.k.a. frankfurter a.k.a. wiener has become an American staple in households all over the United States.

This particular staple will be grilled by the millions on The 4th of July, Independence Day.

So if you’re tired of the same old traditional hot dog here are some variations that you might enjoy.

Sonorans (Arizona):
Bacon-wrapped hot dogs are grilled, then put in steamed hotdog buns and topped with pinto beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayo, and jalapeños.

Slaw Dogs (South):
Hot dogs toped with a sweeter, finely chopped, mayo-based slaw.
Variations can include the chili-slaw (Cole slaw, mustard, raw onion, minced all-meat chili).

Red Hot Dogs (Maine):
Steamed red hot dog smeared with mayo, a dash of celery salt, and relish, all in a soft steamed bun.

Italian-Style Hot Dog:
Skinny all-beef hot dogs are deep fried and stuffed into a half- round of Italian bread (or sometimes “pizza bread”), along with fried onion, peppers, and potato rounds.

Deep-Fried Hot Dog (New Jersey):
Deep-fried dog in three ways: The “in and outer” (barely fried), the “ripper” (crinkly burst skin), or the “cremator” (well-done with crunchy crust). It’s ugly pork and beef frank in a steamed bun, but you can cover it up with some sweet and spicy yellow relish.

Chicago Dog (Chicago):
All beef dogs in a steamed poppy seed bun and dragged through the garden: minced raw onion, neon sweet relish, pepperoncini peppers, pickle spear, halved tomato slices, yellow mustard, celery salt—and of course, no ketchup.

Coneys (Midwest):
Small-sized, all-beef natural casing dogs served in steamed buns and topped with minced meat chili, mustard, and chopped onions (shredded cheddar, too). Depending on where you are in the Midwest though, they can come big or small, grilled or steamed.

Half Smokes (Washington, D.C.):
Arguably Washington D.C.‘s signature dish, a half-smoke is like an over-sized spicy sausage and can be filled with a pork/beef mix or all-beef in steamed buns, and topping with chili, mustard, and chopped raw onions.

Dodger Dog (Los Angeles):
Skinless foot-long hot dogs made of pork and set in a steamed bun. Steamed or grilled.

Puka Dog (Hawaii):
Puka dog is a grilled Polish sausage (or veggie dog, if you prefer) served in a large bun that’s had a hole (or “puka”) pushed into it by a contraption that also toasts the inside. Top with hot sauce, mango relish, and mustard.

Connecticut Dog:
Split and grilled frank topped with mustard, relish, sauerkraut and crunchy bacon chunks, all in a toasted bun.

West Virginia Hot Dog

For The Hungry Person!

In the Bun if you prefer

German Hot Dogs:
10 Hot Dogs
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1 can (12-ounce size) beer
1 tablespoon sugar
1 can (16 oz. size) sauerkraut
10 hot dog buns
Hot mustard

Score hot dogs; place in plastic container.
Top with onion slices and bay leaf.
Combine beer and sugar; pour over hot dogs.
Seal container; refrigerate overnight to blend flavors.

Drain hot dogs; reserve marinade.
Combine marinade and sauerkraut.
Place hot dogs on top and simmer 15 minutes.
Remove bay leaf.
Serve sauerkraut over hot dogs with hot mustard.

Here is a summary of the ways the Frankfurter can be fixed:

01. The New York City dog: New Yorker’s are known for their straight-forward style, so some spicy mustard and a handful of sauerkraut is all they need to make their signature hot dog.

02. The Coney Island hot dog: The East Shore’s favorite destination tops their particular hot dog with mustard and smothered in chili and onions.

03. The West Virginia/Carolina “Slawdog”: The classic Slawdog-which originated in West Virginia and migrated south-has coleslaw, mustard, and onions, but can also include vinegar slaw and optional chili.

04. The Cincinnati Cheese Coney: These Midwesterners not only top their hot dogs with chili, but they also smother them with cheese. Franks are also shortened here to allow more room for toppings.

05. The Chicago Hot Dog: Chicagoans are hardcore about their hot dogs: toppings on this ‘dog’ encased in a poppy seed bun include: yellow mustard, ‘nuclear’ relish, chopped onions, two tomato wedges, a pickle spear, two sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt.

06. The Rhode Island NY System Wieners: These particular ‘dogs’ are renowned for the way they are dressed. The chef lines up as many as he/she can from wrist to elbow and layers on meat sauce, chopped onion, mustard and celery salt.

07. The Hawaiian hot dog is topped with mango, banana, papaya and star fruit and guava relish.

08. The Pacific Northwest hot dogs are cooked on cedar planks and topped with Washington apple slaw.

09. The Hippie hot dog is topped with alfalfa sprouts, sautéed mushrooms and a vegan mayo.

10. The So Cal hot dog is topped with burrata cheese, heirloom tomatoes, roasted beets, and a balsamic reduction.

11. The L.A. Mexican hot dog is topped with bacon and jalapenos.

12. The Cobb hot dog is topped with chopped iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, crumbled bacon, and bleu cheese dressing.

13. The Tijuana Danger Dog is wrapped in bacon and then deep-fried.

14. The Caesar dog is topped with grilled romaine hearts and Caesar dressing.

15. The Southwest dog is topped with grilled poblano chilis and topped with Monterey Jack cheese.

16. The Breakfast Burrito Dog is topped with chorizo, scrambled eggs and hot sauce.

17. The Oaxacan hot dog from Mexico is topped with mole sauce and sesame seeds.

18. The Pueblan hot dog also from Mexico is topped with tomatillo salsa and topped with cotija cheese.

19. The Colombian hot dog is topped with pineapple, ham, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, chopped onion, and crushed potato chips.

20. The Chilean hot dog is topped with diced avocado, tomato, and mayonnaise.

21. The Texas dog is topped with BBQ sauce, Longhorn cheddar cheese, and chopped onions.

22. The Deconstructed Corn Dog hot dog is topped with hush puppy halves, ketchup, and yellow mustard.

23. The Reuben hot dog is topped with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing.

24. The Surf and Turf hot dog is topped with grilled shrimp and cocktail sauce.

25. The Maine hot dog is topped with mayonnaise, sweet onion relish, and celery salt.

26. The Buffalo hot dog is topped with wing sauce (such as Frank’s Red Hot Sauce), carrot and celery matchsticks, and bleu cheese dressing.

27. The Steakhouse hot dog is topped with caramelized onions and bleu cheese.

28. The Benedict hot dog is topped with Canadian bacon, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce.

29. The Southern dog is topped with ketchup, mustard, chili, onions, dill pickles, and oyster crackers.

30. The Creole hot dog is topped with fried green tomatoes and remoulade sauce.

31. The Cuban hot dog is topped with garlic mojo, pineapple, romaine lettuce, and diced avocado.

32. The Jamaican Me Crazy hot dog is topped with mango, scotch bonnet peppers, jerk seasoning, and sautéed onions.

33. The Trailer Park dog is topped with melted processed cheese and crushed potato chips.

34. The La Mancha hot dog is wrapped in serrano ham and topped with Manchego cheese.

35. The Welsh dog is topped with melted cheddar cheese mixed with beer, ground mustard and Worcestershire sauce.

36. The England dog is topped with cheddar cheese, cider braised leeks and apples.

37. The English breakfast dog is topped with crumbled sausage and baked beans.

38. The British dog is topped with grated horseradish and sharp cheddar cheese.

39. The High Tea hot dog’s bun is spread with cold butter and the dog itself is topped with thinly sliced cucumbers.

40. The Swedish hot dog is topped with mashed potatoes and Lingonberry jam. (This is a hot dog that eats like a meal, I guess!)

41. The Belgian hot dog is topped with frites (French fries) and mayonnaise. (This recipe combines both a love for hot dogs and French fries. Now you can have your cake and eat it too!)

42. The Parisian hot dog is topped with sliced Brie cheese and sliced pears.

43. The Provencal hot dog is topped with olive tapenade, grilled eggplant, and roasted red peppers.

44. The Bistro hot dog is topped with Dijon mustard and whole cornichons or baby pickles.

45. The Tuscan hot dog is topped with white beans, fresh sage, and shaved Parmesan cheese.

46. The Bolognese hot dog is topped with Bolognese sauce and grated Parmesan cheese.

47. The Pizzeria hot dog is topped with marinara sauce, crushed red pepper, and melted mozzarella. (There isn’t anything better than combining a love for both pizza and hot dogs!)

48. The Greek hot dog is topped with tzatziki (which is a sauce made with plain yogurt, cucumber, minced garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and dill or mint), chopped kalamata olives, tomatoes, and sliced onions.

49. The Spanakopita hot dog is topped with sautéed spinach, dill, onions, and feta cheese.

50. The Russian salad hot dog is topped with boiled potatoes mixed with mayonnaise, pickles, capers, hard-boiled eggs, and peas.

51. The Indian hot dog is topped with mango chutney and sliced red jalapenos.

52. The Burmese hot dog is topped with crispy fried shallots, carrot slaw, peanut oil, and a dash of fish sauce.

53. The Szechuan hot dog is topped with black bean paste and red chili paste.

54. The Iranian hot dog is split length wise and sautéed with Olive oil, topped with dill pickles, diced onion and parsley, tomatoes.

55. The Japanese hot dog is topped with kewpie mayonnaise and wasabi.

56. The Filipino hot dog is topped with fried rice and a fried egg.

57. The Australian hot dog is merely topped with mushy peas.

58. The Korean hot dog is topped with kim chi and pickled cucumbers.

Note: If you fix you dog differently, share it with us.

Gilmer County Parks and Recreation Center Special Meeting - 07.05.10

There will be a special meeting at the Gilmer County Recreation Center on Monday, July 05, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the Dining area.

The special meeting is for all public about the new Bill and Reva Bennett building project

All public welcomed.

~~  Darrel Ramsey -  Director   ~~

Daily G-Eye : 06.30.10

(L-R) Roy Morris, Delmas Sprouse, and Andrew Stump having a time at
Annual Lytle-Hazel Sprouse Reunion in Normantown
~~  By G. Dave Ramezan ~~

Submit photos for this daily feature. You may select to have your name listed as well.
Send your photo(s) to “tellus@gilmerfreepress.net”

Top DVD Rentals - 06.29.10

This Week	DVD Titles	Last Week	Week #
1	The Book of Eli Denzel Washington	-	1
2	Alice in Wonderland Mia Wasikowska	1	3
3	Shutter Island Leonard DiCaprio	2	2
4	When in Rome Kristen Bell	-	1
5	From Paris With Love John Travolta	3	2
6	The Wolfman Benicio Del Toro	4	3
7	Family Guy, Vol. 8 Seth MacFarlane	-	1
8	Avatar Zoe Saldana	5	9
9	True Blood: The Complete Second Season Anna Paquin	7	4
10	Toy Story 2: Special Edition Tom Hanks	9	6

Study Shows Obesity Rates Still Rising

Most parents think childhood obesity is a problem, but not their kids’ problem.

An annual obesity report by two public health groups includes more bad news — obesity rates increased in 28 states last year — and also a new survey of parental attitudes about the issue.

The survey shows an increasing awareness of obesity and its threat to public health, though that knowledge has yet to translate into results.

“This report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem,” said Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, which writes the annual report with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The new survey shows that 84% of parents believe their children are at a healthy weight, even though nearly a third of children and teens are considered obese or overweight.

Still, 80% of those polled by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and American Viewpoint said childhood obesity is a significant and growing problem.

Obesity in adults is defined as a body mass index of 30 or more, while overweight is a body mass index between 25 and 30.

Mississippi continued its six-year reign as the country’s fattest state in the study’s yearly rankings, along with the highest rates of physical inactivity and hypertension. The state also has the second highest rate of diabetes.

Last year, four states — Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and West Virginia — had obesity rates of over 30%.

This year, four more states have that distinction, bringing the total to eight states with rates over 30%.

Those states were Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The District of Columbia was the only area to see a decline in adult obesity rates.

The rise in obesity rates has been sharp in the last 20 years. More than two-thirds of states now have adult obesity rates above 25%.

In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20%.

The report also details racial disparities in obesity, showing that obesity rates for blacks and Latinos were higher than for whites in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

Stargazing - 06.30.10

The small but pretty constellation Delphinus, the dolphin, glides high across the sky on summer nights.

You need dark skies to see it.

The dolphin is due east at nightfall, a little below the line linking the bright stars Deneb and Altair.

It climbs high overhead later on, swimming alongside the faint glow of the Milky Way.

Meditation Moment - 06.30.10

Lord, we could get distracted easily with today’s gospel story.

Perhaps we feel sorry for the animals or for the people who lost their livelihood.
Or we get caught up with the ‘meaning’ of these events.
We can’t understand a lot of what happens in life—wars, the suffering of the innocent, the seeming ease with which we break each other, the smug self-satisfaction.
At times, in our own way, we cry out: ‘Jesus, what are you doing, what do you want of us?’
Lord, don’t let us be like the ones who cried out to you, against you, without faith.
We stand before you asking questions, yes, but trusting that you lovingly hold this world in the palm of your hand, that you compassionately want to help.
Lord, inspire us to make our contribution towards the healing of life’s hurts.

Michael R. Martin, Sr.

Michael R. Martin, Sr.
Age 42, of Frankfort, Ohio died Saturday, June 26, 2010 unexpectedly.

He was born February 11, 1968, in Braxton County, WV, to Ralph and Gladys Rodabaugh Martin.

On July 04, 1988, he married Regina E. Bennett, who survives.

In addition to his parents, Ralph Martin, of Greenfield and mother, Gladys Martin, of Citra, FL; he is survived by children, Michael R. Martin, Jr., of Chillicothe, Amanda S. Martin, of Circleville, Jessica L. Martin, Allen M. Martin and McKenzie Martin, all at home; three grandchildren; brothers, Eddie Martin, of Mt. Nebo, WV and Jonathan Martin, of Hillsboro; sisters, Mary Perkins, of Citra, FL, Melody Martin, of Citra, FL, Nancy Pennix, of Hillsboro and Melissa Parker, of Greenfield; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held 11 AM Wednesday, June 30, 2010 in Browns Chapel Cemetery with Pastor Larry Ault officiating. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are under the direction of the WARE FUNERAL HOME.

06.30.10

Today: 06.30.yyyy

Today is Wednesday, June 30, the 181st day of 2010. There are 184 days left in the year.

Thought for Today: “The good Lord set definite limits on man’s wisdom, but set no limits on his stupidity _ and that’s not fair!“ _ Konrad Adenauer, German statesman (1876-1967).

Today’s Highlight in History:

On June 30, 1860, the famous Oxford University Museum debate on Darwin’s theory of evolution took place as Anglican Bishop Samuel Wilberforce led his side in denouncing the concept, while biologist T.H. Huxley rose to defend it. (Although exact details of the debate, which was not transcribed, are in dispute, it is generally believed that Huxley’s side prevailed.)

On this date:

In 1859, French acrobat Charles Blondin walked back and forth on a tightrope above the gorge of Niagara Falls as thousands of spectators watched.

In 1908, the Tunguska Event took place in Russia as an asteroid exploded above Siberia, leaving 800 square miles of scorched or blown-down trees.

In 1921, President Warren G. Harding nominated former President William Howard Taft to be chief justice of the United States, succeeding the late Edward Douglass White.

In 1934, Adolf Hitler carried out his “blood purge” of political and military rivals in Germany in what came to be known as “The Night of the Long Knives.“

In 1958, the US Senate passed the Alaska statehood bill by a vote of 64-20.

In 1960, Belgian Congo achieved independence.

In 1963, Pope Paul VI was installed as 262nd head of the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1971, a Soviet space mission ended in tragedy when three cosmonauts aboard Soyuz 11 were found dead inside their spacecraft after it had returned to Earth.

In 1984, John Turner was sworn in as Canada’s 17th prime minister, succeeding Pierre Elliott Trudeau. (However, Turner held the post for less than three months.)

In 1985, 39 American hostages from a hijacked TWA jetliner were freed in Beirut after being held 17 days.

Ten years ago:
•  Nine people died in a crush of fans during a rock festival in Roskilde, Denmark.
•  An Arkansas Supreme Court committee sued President Bill Clinton to strip him of his law license. (Clinton later agreed to pay a fine and give up his law license for five years.)

Five years ago:
•  Federal Reserve policymakers boosted the federal funds rate by one-quarter percentage point to 3.25%, the ninth such increase since the Fed began to tighten credit in June 2004 in an effort to keep inflation under control.
•  Spain became the third country (after the Netherlands and Belgium) to legalize gay marriage nationwide.

One year ago:
•  Former “Saturday Night Live” comedian Al Franken was declared the winner of Minnesota’s eight-month US Senate vote recount, defeating Republican incumbent Norm Coleman.
•  A Yemeni jet with 153 people on board crashed into the Indian Ocean as it tried to land on the island nation of Comoros; a 12-year-old girl was the sole survivor.
•  American soldier Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl went missing from his base in eastern Afghanistan, and was later confirmed to have been captured by insurgents.
•  Musical actor Harve Presnell, 75, died in Santa Monica, Calif.

Today’s Birthdays:
Actor Tony Musante is 74
Actress Nancy Dussault is 74
Singer Glenn Shorrock is 66
Jazz musician Stanley Clarke is 59
Actor David Garrison is 58
Rock musician Hal Lindes (Dire Straits) is 57
Actor-comedian David Alan Grier is 54
Actor Vincent D’Onofrio is 51
Actress Deirdre Lovejoy is 48
Actor Rupert Graves is 47
Boxer Mike Tyson is 44
Rock musician Tom Drummond (Better Than Ezra) is 41
Actor Brian Bloom is 40
Actor Brian Vincent is 40
Actress Monica Potter is 39
Actor Rick Gonzalez is 31
Actress Lizzy Caplan is 28
Rhythm-and-blues singer Fantasia (“American Idol”) is 26
Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps is 25

WV Lottery - 06.29.10

6-3-0

1-7-0-3

02-06-08-11-12-25

03-04-15-27-37     MB: 35   Megaplier: x 3  

Gilmer County Board of Education Members Took Oath of the Office

Three Board of Education members took oath of the office to their newly elected terms on Monday, June 28, 2010.
(L-R) Martha Clutter administering the oath, Dorothy Rhoads, Thomas (Tom) Ratliff, and Phyllis Starkey.

TOWN OF SAND FORK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION - FRIDAY

The Town of Sand Fork will host an Independence Day Picnic and Fireworks on FRIDAY, JULY 02, 2010.

The Picnic, beginning at 7:00 PM, will be held at Sand Fork Elementary School and will be a Covered Dish with the town providing hot dogs, buns, some drinks and paper products.

There will be games for the children, etc.

Fireworks show will begin at dark!!

We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the fun!!

Bring your lawn chair and spend the evening. !!

Any questions, contact either the Mayor or one of the Council Members.

Gilmer County Board of Education: Employment and Postings - 06.28.10

Resignations:

•  William J. Turner - Assistant Baseball Coach

•  Rosemary Williams - GCHS Guidance Counselor - resignation for retirement effective June 30, 2010

Employment:

•  Leslie LeBlanc - Spanish Teacher, GCHS 2010-11

•  Julia Duffield - Elementary Teacher, Sand Fork Elementary School 2010-11

•  Bobbi Bell - Elementary Teacher, Sand Fork Elementary School 2010-11

•  Postponed - Family & Consumer Science Teacher, GCHS

•  Juliea Morgan - ESY Speech Therapist, GCHS

•  André Wright - Assistant Varsity Football Coach, GCHS

•  Robert Nichols - Assistant Mini Titan Football Coach – GCHS

•  Mary Hull - Varsity Cheerleading Coach, GCHS

Postings:

•  Elementary Teacher, Troy Elementary School

•  High School Guidance Counselor, GCHS

•  Mini Titan Cheerleading Coach, GCHS

•  Assistant Varsity Girls Track Coach, GCHS

•  Head Mini Titan Football Coach

Gilmer County Circuit Court Report - 06.28.10

On Monday, June 28, 2010 Judge Richard A. Facemire  appearing for his regular monthly motion day.

Three fugitives from justice cases were heard and disposed of as follows:

•  State  vs. Steve Medina
Who is wanted by the state of Maryland.

•  State  vs. Ricky Lee Chalifoux
Who is wanted by the state of Delaware.

•  State  vs. William Ray Pullen II
Who is wanted by the state of Virginia.

All 3 defendants were represented by Christina Flanigan of Buckhannon  and waived extradition.
Authorities from those states have until 4:00 PM on Tuesday, July 06, 2010 to pick defendants up at the Central Regional Jail or they will be released from custody.

•  One juvenile case was heard and further hearing scheduled for Monday, August 23, 2010 at 10:15 AM.

•  A second juvenile was heard and further hearing scheduled for Monday, August 23, 2010 at 9:00 AM.

•  A third juvenile case was before the Court for revocation of probation.
The defendant in this case will be 21 in August so the Judge sentenced her to 6 months in the Central Regional Jail.
She was represented by F. John Oshoway of Grantsville, WV.

•  State  vs. Seth Seelbach
He was before the Court and his trial currently scheduled for Tuesday, July 13, 2010 was moved to Thursday, July 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM for possible plea.
Seelbach is represented by Joyce Morton of Webster Springs, WV.

•  A civil case filed by an inmate at FCI Gilmer was dismissed without prejudice.
The Court having found no venue for said case to be heard in Gilmer County.

Sand Fork Alumni Dinner‏ 2010

On Saturday, June 26, 2010 the Sand Fork Alumni held their annual dinner at the Gilmer County Senior Center.

There were 139 Alumni and guests who enjoyed the delicious food and the reminiscing with old friends and classmates.

Members of the 1967 class left to right: Sandy Lucas Foster, Willa Jane Massey Loftis,
Sue Taylor Byrd, Nancy Bartlett, Wanda Wilfong Metz, (teacher)  and Connie Love Beall.

Dorothy Rhoades spoke to the crowd concerning the status of the Sand Fork Elementary School.

Classes of 1940, 1950 and 1960 were honored.

 

On the platform is Jim Johnson, president, Ronnie Peters (L) and Larry Barker.
In the foreground, Russell Barker and Thelma Freeman.

Two Alumni of the Year had been chosen by the Alumni Committee:

•  Alton Peters, former coach and teacher, was honored post-humously and a plaque was awarded to his two sons - Ronnie Peters who was present.

•  Carl Waitman Peters, who was absent due to vacationing abroad.

The other Alumni of the Year recipients were Lambert and Frances Fitzwater.

 

The scholarship recipients and families:
The Shacklefords, the Baisdens, and Radcliffs.

Scholarship recipients and their families were given free meals and honored also.

Door prizes were drawn and a lively auction followed.

Next year’s Reunion will be held on June 25, 2011 at the Gilmer County Senior Center.

G-Vine™: Heard It Through G-Vine – 06.29.10

Community talk heard through the G-Vine:

•  Linda James the Administrative Assistant to Magistrate Carol Wolfe was appointed on Monday, June 28, 2010 by Judge Alsop to replace Dixie Moyers the present Gilmer County Magistrate Clerk effective July 01, 2010.

•  Justin Shelly has been on the Glenville State College campus. He is supposed to be in the same league as Reggie Bush who was once a super star running back for USC.

•  Sandy Pettit has turned in her resignation on the Gilmer County Ambulance Board.

•  Glenville Elementary Principal Toni Bishop has applied for position at Braxton County Schools in Flatwoods.

•  Pam Cutlip has gone to work for Magistrate Bob Minigh.

•  10 acres was donated to help bring a sports type training park on the west side of the Stalnaker Grave Yard for the Morris Criminal Justice Training Center.
The word is that there will be a forensic lab in the Training Center to train the students.

•  Delegate Brent Boggs is hopeful that the Senate and Governor will match the $50 K from the House to move it to completion of the Gilmer County Volunteer Fire Department in the next few months.

Communicate through G-vine via “tellus@gilmerfreepress.net”

G-Vine information is Not the opinion of Gilmer Free Press

Sue Morris Sports Complex Baseball Clinic - 07.06.10

Sue Morris Sports Complex Baseball Clinic

Improve your game at the Sue Morris Sports Complex.

Group and Individual instructions will be given.

Ages 10 thru 18

Starting Tuesday, July 06,2010

Call Gary Musgrave cell number 304.678.6016
or office number 304.462.7382
email: “garywm10@aol.com”
Please if no answer leave name and return number
Thank You

Reunion: Former B.F. Goodrich Folks

This is ‘A Used-to-Work-Together Get-Together’.

It is on Saturday, July 03, 2010 beginning around 11:00 AM, at the barn in Calhoun County Park.

Former employees and retirees of Goodrich Corporation (formerly B.F. Goodrich) and their families are invited to attend a Covered Dish Reunion.

We’ll bring the meat and potatoes; you may bring a salad, veggies or a dessert.

For more information, you can contact Irona 304.354.7024, or Shirley 864.953.8087.

Gilmer County Assessor: APPLICATION FOR FARM USE VALUATION

You may qualify for Farm Use Valuation if all agricultural production, sales, and personal use or consumption equals to a value of $1,000 or more.

This amount would also include the value of all farm animals located on the farm. If you receive any mineral royalties or timber income during the year, it must be less than 50% of the total value of your farm production in order to qualify.

Your total value is determined from the operation of your farm during the twelve-month period beginning July 01, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010.

The Farm Use Valuation form may be filed in the Assessor’s Office starting July 01, 2010 and must be filed by September 01, 2010 for your application to be considered.

The form is to be filled out every year your farm is in production.

If you are interested in qualifying for farm use or have any questions, you may visit the Assessor’s Office or call 304.462.7731.

                                                                                                                            Gary L. Wolfe,
                                                                                                                            Assessor of Gilmer County

Gilmer County Assessor: HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Residents who will be 65 years of age (or older) between July 01, 2010 and June 30, 2011, or who are permanently and totally disabled may apply for the $20,000 Homestead Exemption, between July 01, 2010 and December 01, 2010.

Applicants must have been a resident of West Virginia for two consecutive calendar years preceding the tax year in which they apply and own a homestead that is exclusively used for residential purposes.

Applicants that have been previously approved for Homestead Exemption and still own the same property need not reapply.

If you wish to apply for homestead exemption or have any questions stop by or call the Assessor’s office at 304.462.7731.

                                                                                                                              Gary L. Wolfe,
                                                                                                                              Assessor of Gilmer County

Please Note:: This is not to be confused with the Senior Citizen’s Tax Credit which is on the West Virginia Personal Income Tax Return.

That credit is for any taxes you pay on the first $ 20,000 of assessed value exceeding the original $20,000 homestead exemption.

The State Tax Department will mail you a form in early January concerning your eligibility for this Senior Citizen’s Tax Credit on your personal income tax return.

Cedarville: Fireworks 2010

The Cedarville Community Association will have the 17th Annual Homecoming on Saturday, July 03, 2010 beginning at 4:00 PM.

There will be music door prizes, drawings, and a covered dish, hotdog roast.

Bring a covered dish and enjoy the evening with family and friends.

Fireworks at Dark on Sunday, July 04, 2010.

Ron Paul: The Military Can Waste Money Too

This past week various news events once again made it abundantly clear that our foreign policy is an abject failure.  Unfortunately, in spite of this the administration is determined to stay on this destructive course, despite any past promises to change it.  For Afghanistan especially, if ever there was an opportunity to admit shortcomings and change strategies along with leaders, this past week was it.

There really is nothing for us to win in Afghanistan.  Our mission has morphed from apprehending those who attacked us, to apprehending those who threaten or dislike us for invading their country, to remaking an entire political system and even a culture.  I remain highly skeptical that, as foreign occupiers, we can ever impose western-style democracy on another country.  Our troops have debilitating restrictions on defending themselves against enemies, which are so often indistinguishable from civilians.  They also face dire setbacks in winning hearts and minds when innocents are mistakenly harmed, which happens all the time.  We can never make friends this way; the tactic never works.

This is an expensive, bloody, endless exercise in futility.  Not everyone is willing to admit this just yet.  But every second they spend in denial has real costs in lives and livelihoods.

Many of us can agree on one thing, however.  Our military spending in general has grown way out of control.  This is largely because fiscal accountability in military budgeting is seen, by many, as weak on defense.  This is absolutely wrong and a dangerous way to think.  It is certainly possible for the military to waste money, or to spend money counterproductively, and indeed it has.  But out of political correctness, the military has been getting blank checks from the administrations and Congress for far too long.

It is important to defend our soil, but let us defend our own soil instead of defending Europe’s soil.  Our willingness to defend Europe enables their lavish social spending at our expense, while they criticize our model of capitalism.  It is time they allocated the money for their own defense.  The same goes for Korea, Japan and other countries like Egypt and Israel.

It is also important that while our troops are in combat, our soldiers have what they need to do the best they can, even if we disagree with why they are there.  It is an embarrassment that some soldiers and families have had to buy body armor at their own expense when billions are awarded to politically well-connected defense contractors for weapon systems that don’t work, are over-budget, past deadline.

This is the kind of waste that needs to end.  I firmly believe that there is enough waste in the military budget that we can both save money overall and at the same time be safer.

Of course, the obvious way to save money and be safer is to stop meddling in the affairs of foreign countries and just bring our troops home.  This will happen eventually if our empire, like every other fallen empire, insists on spending itself into collapse.  If we want to avoid this, we must look into ways to bring our costs under control.  Military budgets must be on the chopping block along with everything else.

Gilmer County Assessor: NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS - 2010

We will begin assessing personal property starting July 01, 2010 for the 2011 tax year.

We will be mailing Personal Property blanks to each individual on our mailing list.

Instruction sheets will be included with the forms.

The Assessor will NOT be going door to door assessing Personal Property.

If you do not receive an assessment blank, and have personal property, please call or stop by our office.

West Virginia law requires that each resident of the county file with the Assessor a list of all property owned on July 01, whether called upon by the Assessor or not.

Please be sure to list all of your personal property on or before October 01, 2010. You need to be aware that all dog taxes are due at time of assessment or within 15 days of being assessed.

                                                                                                                                Gary L. Wolfe,
                                                                                                                                Gilmer County Assessor

Bon Appétit: Open-Faced Grilled Vegetable Sandwich

Ingredients:
1 small eggplant, 8 ounces, cut into 8 slices
1 zucchini, 8 ounces, cut lengthwise into 4 slices
1 red onion, cut into 4 slices
1 red bell pepper, cut into 4 panels
5 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup cooked cannellini beans
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 multigrain submarine rolls or multigrain baguette sections (3 ounces each), halved lengthwise
8 fresh basil leaves

Directions:
Preheat the grill.
Lightly brush the eggplant, zucchini, onion, and bell pepper with 4 teaspoons of the oil; sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
Grill the eggplant and zucchini slices until tender and well marked, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
Grill the onion and bell pepper until tender and well marked, 6 to 7 minutes per side.
Separate the onion slices into rings and slice the peppers into strips.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, place the beans, lemon juice, and the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil and lightly mash with the tines of a fork until combined.
Grill the rolls until lightly toasted, 45 seconds per side.
Spread the cut halves with the bean mixture and top each with 2 eggplant slices, 1 zucchini slice, one-fourth of the onion rings and pepper strips, and 2 basil leaves.

Who Will Replace Byrd?

According to West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant there will not be a special election to elect a replacement for U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.

This is because of the fact his seat will not be up for election until 2012.

It will be up to Governor Joe Manchin to appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Sen. Byrd’s term.

Governor Manchin told the Associated Press on Monday that he will not appoint himself to the seat and that there is no timeline for the appointment.

Secretary Tennant on Monday afternoon explained the election procedure:

“The State Code is an interesting document. Within Chapter 3 that focuses on elections, there are several sections that determine how vacancies are filled.

“Section 3-10-3 states that for terms with more than two years and six months remaining, such as this one with Senator Byrd, the Governor will appoint a replacement who serves the unexpired term until a successor has been elected.

“But that election will not be the 2010 General election. Part of this same section of code, requires the candidate to have filed during the filing period. That filing period has already passed. There was a legal case in 1994 decided by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals that up held that position of requiring candidates to file during the filing period. “That means the election for the unexpired term will be the next election cycle which would take place in 2012. Candidates will be nominated in the primary and elected in the general of 2012.

“That brings up an interesting situation. Because Senator Byrd’s seat would have been up for re-election in 2012, both the position for the unexpired term and full term will be on the ballot at the same time but are separate races. In fact it will be two separate elections. With the unexpired race being a special election because it would otherwise not have been on the ballot.

“The winner of the unexpired term would serve out the final five weeks or so until the new term of Congress starts in January of 2013. Had Senator Byrd’s term not run out in 2012 there would not have been this unique situation. It would have just been for the unexpired term.“

Alum Bridge: Lavender Day at LaPaix Herb Farm

Enjoy a day at La Paix Herb Farm celebrating lavender, herbs, wild things and the people who tell you about them.

Jane Birdsong will entertain with dulcimer and guitar music.

A light luncheon catered for the 8th year by Chef Dale Hawkins is included in the cost of registration, and is complimentary.

Most workshops will be held twice so that all registrants can see all that is offered.

Booths will be limited to those of the speakers/presenters and a few longtime Lavender Fair favorites.

Please, no pets and children under 12 must be escorted by an adult at all times.

Please be aware that these workshops and tours take place on a historic homestead in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.

This is an outside environment event and the grass paths and grounds are hilly and uneven.

The wood walks are on rustic paths, with steep climbs, and sometimes participants stray off the paths.

The event is limited to no more than 100 participants who must pre-register by July 03, 2010 in order to attend.

Prices are $50 per person or $185 for four in a car.

Visit www.lapaixherbfarm.com or contact 304.269.7681 for more information.

Weekend Cycling in Braxton, Calhoun and Gilmer Counties in August

The Charleston bicycle club, the Mountain State Wheelers, will be spending the August 14-15, 2010 weekend cycling around Braxton, Gilmer and Calhoun counties.

This is a non-competitive ride. These are long rides, 60-90 miles per day.

Anyone with a bike and helmet is welcome but, as the rides will be long and some big hills, novices should not attempt.

GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - 06.28.10

ESA: President’s Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in Primary and Secondary Education
The Entomological Society of America’s President’s Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in Primary and Secondary Education recognize educators who have gone beyond the traditional teaching methods by using insects as educational tools.
Maximum award: $400 to the winner’s school to purchase teaching materials required to expand the use of insects in the teaching curriculum; $400 to the winner for expenses associated with travel required to present a paper or poster on the use of insects in primary or secondary educational programs at a peer professional venue of their choosing; gratis registration to attend ESA’s annual meeting; and an $800 award to the winner for expenses associated with travel, hotel arrangements, and all other costs associated with attending the annual meeting.
Eligibility: primary teachers (grades K-6) and secondary teachers (grades 7-12).
Deadline: July 01, 2010.

LEGO: LEGO Smart Creativity Contest
LEGO Education is inviting K-12 teachers and home educators from across the United States to register as contestants for the 2010 LEGO Smart Creativity Contest, challenging classrooms coast to coast to become LEGO Smart.
Maximum award: a LEGO Education gift certificate, LEGO Smart gift valued at $500, and recognition.
Eligibility: legal residents of the United States employed or working within the education field (K-12) at time of entry.
Deadline: pre-registration by July 30, 2010.

ASCD: Outstanding Young Educator Award
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Young Educator Award, which recognizes a teacher under the age of 40 who demonstrates excellence in his or her profession, a positive impact on students, creativity in the classroom, and leadership in his or her school or district.
Maximum award: $10,000; an all-expenses paid trip to the ASCD annual conference in March for the winner and one companion, including registration, travel, hotel, and meals.
Eligibility: pre K-12 teachers under age 40; no self-nominations accepted.
Deadline: August 01, 2010.

Wild Ones: Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program
The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program gives small monetary grants to schools, nature centers, or other non-profit educational organizations for the purpose of establishing outdoor learning centers.
Funds will be provided only for the purchase of native plants and seed. Eligibility: schools, nature centers, and other nonprofit and not-for-profit places of learning, including houses of worship.
Deadline: October 15, 2010.

Vernier/NSTA: Technology Awards
The Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards promote the innovative use of data-collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other handheld device in the science classroom.
Maximum award: $1,000 in cash for the teacher, $1,000 in Vernier Products, and up to $1,000 toward expenses to attend the annual NSTA National Convention.
Eligibility: Current teachers of science in grades K-College.
Deadline: November 30, 2010.

Daily G-Eye : 06.29.10

GSC Head Coach Alan Fiddler’s 2010 GSC Football Camp
~~  By Gary Collins ~~

Submit photos for this daily feature. You may select to have your name listed as well.
Send your photo(s) to “tellus@gilmerfreepress.net”