WV PSC OKs AT&T Purchase of T-Mobile
West Virginia Public Service Commission has approved AT&T’s plan to purchase T-Mobile, a deal expected to improve wireless service in West Virginia.
AT&T says the deal will usher in 4G access to 95% of West Virginians within the next four to six years.
Regulators said the deal would not harm wireless competition in West Virginia because T-Mobile has only 0.26% of the state’s market.
West Virginia is the third state to sign off on the deal.
Regulators in two other states are reviewing the purchase.
Federal regulators still must approve the $39 billion national purchase.
Recalls - 07.29.11
POGO STICKS
Bravo Sports is recalling Disney-Branded Pogo Sticks sold nationwide from February 2009 to June 2011.
The bottom rubber tip attached to the pogo stick frame can wear out prematurely, posing a fall hazard. Also, the end caps on the handlebars can come off, exposing sharp edges.
This poses a laceration hazard.
This recall includes the Disney Hannah Montana Pogo Stick, the Disney/Pixar Toy Story Cruising Cool Pogo Stick, the Disney/Pixar Cars Pogo Stick, the Disney Princess Pogo Stick and the Disney Fairies Cruising Cool Pogo Stick.
The pogo sticks have Disney labels between the handlebars.
The manufacturing date codes between 01/01/2009.022CO and 11/30/2010.022CO are on a clear label on the stem of the pogo stick near the foot pedals.
Consumers should contact Bravo Sports at 855.469.3429 between 7:30 AM and 5 PM PT or visit www.bravopogorecall.com for a full refund.
HONEYWELL THERMOSTATS
Honeywell International Inc. is recalling Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats sold nationwide from January 2000 to December 2007.
The thermostats can overheat, causing them to melt and smoke.
This poses a burn hazard.
The recalled thermostats are rectangular, white, programmable thermostats used to control electric baseboard and fan heaters.
“Honeywell” or “Cadet” is printed on the front of the thermostats that come in various sizes.
The model number and four- date code are printed on a label inside the front cover of the thermostat.
Consumers should contact Honeywell at 888.235.7363 between 9 AM and 5 PM CT. Monday through Friday or visit www.yourhome.honeywell.com/T4700 for a free replacement installed by Honeywell.
STROLLERS
phil&teds USA Inc. is recalling Explorer and Hammerhead Strollers sold nationwide and in Canada from August 2010 to June 2011.
The brake mechanism on the strollers can fail, posing an injury hazard.
The Explorer has three wheels and the Hammerhead has four.
The phil&teds logo is located on the crotch piece of the harness on both models.
The strollers have the text “phil&teds model EX explorer” or “phil&teds model HH hammerhead” printed on a sticker on the rear axle bar.
Affected serial numbers: 0610/0001 to 0111/4788 June 2010, unit #1, to January 2011, unit #4788).
This information can be found on a sticker attached to the inside of the left hand hinge when viewing the stroller from behind.
Consumers should contact phil&teds at 855.652.9019 between 9 AM and 5 PM MT Monday through Friday, or visit www.philandteds.com/support to arrange to receive a upgraded brake assembly.
FISHER-PRICE TOYS
Fisher-Price is recalling Little People® Builders’ Load ‘n Go Wagon sold nationwide and in Canada from July 2009 to July 2011.
The back of the wagon’s plastic handle has molded.in reinforcement.
The handle poses a laceration hazard if a child falls on it.
This recall involves the Fisher Price’s Little People® Builders’ Load ‘n Go Wagon model number P8977.
The model number is located on the bottom of the wagon.
“Little People® Builders” is found on a label on the side of the wagon and “Fisher Price” is embossed on the handle.
Consumers should contact Fisher-Price at 800.432.5437 between 9 AM and 6 PM ET Monday through Friday or visit www.service.mattel.com for instructions on how to obtain a free repair kit.
SAFETY LATCHES AND OUTLET COVERS
Prime-Line is recalling Child Safety Latches and Outlet Covers sold nationwide from October 2009 to June 2011.
The screws on the safety latches and outlet covers can loosen and/or break. When this happens, young children can gain access to electrical outlets and other potentially hazardous items.
This recall involves Prime-Line child safety drawer and cabinet latches and outlet covers with rotating receptacle covers.
These products were sold under the brand name Child Safe.
The drawer and cabinet latches were sold three per package, in model number S 4439 with SKU 049793044396, and model number S 4444 with SKU 049793044440.
The outlet covers were sold one per package, in ivory, model number S 4447 with SKU 049793044471, and white, model number S 4461 with SKU 049793044617.
The model number and SKU are printed on the back of the package.
Consumers should immediately contact Prime-Line at 855.839.9555 anytime, or visit www.prime-line-products.com to receive a free replacement kit.
BATHTUB PADS
Prime- Products Company is recalling Child Bathtub Non-Slip Pads sold nationwide from May 2010 to June 2011.
Some pads do not stick to the bathtub surface, posing a fall hazard.
The recalled items are whale-shaped, white, vinyl, non-slip bathtub pads with textured surfaces and adhesive backings and are used to help prevent children from slipping and falling in bathtubs.
The model number is S-4630 and SKU number is 049793846303. Both are printed on the back of the packaging.
Consumers should contact Prime-Line at 855.839.9555 from 8 AM to 5 PM PT or visit www-prime-line-products.com to receive a full refund.
SHOWER DOORS
Kohler Co. is recalling Kohler Purist®, Pinstripe™, Finial® glass shower doors sold nationwide from May 2009 to November 2010.
The hinge panel of the shower door can shatter, posing a laceration hazard.
The recall involves a 1/2 inch thick hinge panel included in the Kohler Purist®, Pinstripe® and Finial® frameless heavy glass pivot shower doors.
The hinge panel was sold as a component under part numbers 705753-L-NA, 705754-L-NA and 705760-L-NA.
Consumers should contact Kohler at 866.782.6329 between 8 AM and 5 PM CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.kohler.com for a free replacement hinge panel.
West Fork Conservation District Supervisors Meeting – 08.02.11
The West Fork Conservation District Board of Supervisors monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 02, 2011 at the Snowbird Park, Doddridge County, WV.
The meeting starts at 9:00 AM.
Contact Dinah Hannah, Administrative Officer, at 304.627.2160 for further information.
The West Fork Conservation District in West Virginia is comprised of the following four (4) counties located in the northern-central portion of the state:
• Doddridge County
• Gilmer County
• Harrison County
• Lewis County
Applications Available for 2011 Limited Permit Areas Having Antlerless Deer Seasons
Applications for the 2011 Antlerless Deer Season are now available at all West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) district offices, Elkins Operations Center and Charleston Headquarters, according to Curtis I. Taylor, chief of the DNR Wildlife Resources Section.
These applications also may be downloaded from the DNR’s website at www.wvdnr.gov in the “Hunting” section.
These limited permit areas provide antlerless deer hunting opportunities in counties or areas of the state where wildlife biologists have determined that limited numbers of antlerless deer permits are necessary to meet management objectives.
Five wildlife management areas (Bluestone, Elk River, Stonecoal, Stonewall Jackson Lake, and Teter Creek Lake) and public lands in two counties (Grant and Tucker) will have a limited number of Class N licenses for West Virginia residents to hunt antlerless deer from November 23 through December 10, 2011 and December 28 through December 31, 2011.
Applications must be received by the DNR before the close of business on August 19, 2011.
The 2011 limited resident antlerless deer season will provide an opportunity for 1,010 residents to participate on the five WMAs.
An additional 250 residents will be selected to hunt antlerless deer on public land in the two counties (Grant and Tucker) that are restricted to resident hunters.
WANTED: Owners of West Virginia Big Bucks for National Hunting and Fishing Day Display
The West Virginia Wildlife Federation and the Division of Natural Resources are seeking hunters who own trophy white-tailed bucks that were legally taken in West Virginia with either bow or gun and have a Pope and Young or Boone and Crockett score of 150 or greater.
The purpose of this search is to establish a West Virginia Big Buck Display at West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day, September 24-25, 2011, at Stonewall Resort State Park near Weston in Lewis County.
This is the largest event held at a West Virginia state park, attracting thousands of visitors annually.
Interested hunters who have qualifying head or antler mounts should contact Keith Krantz at 304.637.0245 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM for additional information or a registration form.
Additional information and registration forms may also be found at www.wvdnr.gov; look under Special Opportunities, National Hunting & Fishing Days.
Participation will be limited to the first 30 qualifying trophy entries received.
As an incentive for participation, hunters who display their trophy deer at the two-day event will be entered into an exclusive drawing for several valuable prizes.
GCHS Varsity Golf 2011 - To Begin Practice
There will be Gilmer County High School Varsity Golf practice on Monday, August 01, 2011 at the Glenville Golf course.
Practice will begin at 9:00 AM.
All participants must have a physical exam.
Diane Sharps
GCHS Athletic Director
Weekly Horoscope: 07.31.11 - 08.06.11
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) - Make a statement, do your own thing, have fun with family and friends on the 31st. A good idea will develop if you share your thoughts. Uncertainty that you feel on the 1st and 2nd regarding a partnership will change if you reevaluate what you are both contributing. A minor adjustment on your part will set your mind at ease. Good fortune will be the direct result of a conversation you have on the 3rd and 4th with someone who is slowing you down or interfering in your efficiency. Face situations head-on and prosper. Emotional issues can turn into a costly predicament on the 5th and 6th. Don’t give in to someone pestering you to partake in something that doesn’t interest you.
Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) - Use brain over brawn on the 31st and you will be able to work around any controversy you come up against. You can make a statement on the 1st and 2nd if you speak with confidence when you share your ideas and plans for the future. You will learn a lot from someone who has much to offer in return. Experience will be the key to your success. Do any follow up that has been suggested promptly. Taking on a financial or emotional burden on the 3rd and 4th will cause anger and in turn setbacks. Don’t feel guilty asking someone else to pitch in and help. Do what needs doing on the 5th and 6th without overreacting overdoing or overindulging and you will be successful.
Gemini (May 21-Jun 20) - Put a little bounce back into your step on the 31st and you will attract romantic attention from someone you love to spend time with. It’s what you do that will count on the 1st and 2nd. Too much talk and not enough action will lead to emotional upset. Make whatever alterations are necessary to please friends, relatives or neighbors. Take advantage of every opportunity you get on the 3rd and 4th to network with people that can offer you assistance. It’s whom you know that will help you get ahead. Don’t let the little things get to you on the 5th and 6th. Getting all wigged out over things that aren’t that important will be a waste of time and cause discord with a friend.
Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) - Don’t jump to conclusions on the 31st. Go directly to the source and find out first hand what actually transpired. Let your creative imagination run wild on the 1st and 2nd and you will come up with an interesting idea or a way to increase your knowledge or expertise. You don’t have to overdo or overspend to get things done. Hard work will pay off. A problem with a friend or family member will turn into an unexpected burden on the 3rd and 4th if you aren’t prepared to juggle your schedule around. Attend a reunion or visit with an old friend on the 5th and 6th and you will find out information that will help you make a personal decision that has been confusing you.
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22) - Change is upon you on the 31st. Embrace the possibilities with enthusiasm and the desire to conquer any challenge you meet along the way. An opportunity to talk to someone important on the 1st and 2nd must be handled diplomatically and without aggression or exaggeration. Humble and gracious will win you the position status or reputation that can help you advance. A trip that allows you to experience something or someone unique on the 3rd and 4th will add to your desire to accomplish what you set out to do. Don’t be fooled on the 5th and 6th by someone who talks big and plays with your emotions. Do your best to put on a unique performance.
Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22) - Honesty is the best policy on the 31st. Trying to get away with something or promising more than you can deliver will but futile. Getting upset and angry over personal or professional matters will cause you grief at home and at work on the 1st and 2nd. Don’t mix business with pleasure or let one interfere with the other. Someone from your past will help you make the right decision on the 3rd and 4th regarding a financial or legal matter. A change in the way you do things or the people you do them with will lead to greater success. Getting together with people who have something to offer in terms of expertise or knowledge will be beneficial on the 5th and 6th.
Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22) - You can help others on the 31st without going into debt. Your suggestions coupled with hands on assistance will be sufficient. An incident that involves an agency institution or superior will make you angry on the 1st and 2nd if you feel you haven’t been treated fairly. Make sure you do your homework so you aren’t caught unprepared to fight back. Communication will be key to getting what you want on the 3rd and 4th. Get together with someone face-to-face in order to settle a matter that has been left unfinished. Someone from your past will hurt your feelings on the 5th and 6th if you are gullible. Remember how this person’s has treated you prior and you’ll be spared grief.
Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) - A change made on the 31st by someone you count on will disappoint you if you don’t have a backup plan. Put some thought and energy into what you want to do and where you want to be on the 1st and 2nd. A change of residence or making alterations at home that are more conducive to the direction you choose should be your intent. You may overlook some important information on the 3rd and 4th that can make a difference to the outcome of a personal relationship you have with someone. Be careful not to overreact until you have all the facts. Emotions will escalate on the 5th and 6th regarding deception and a relationship with someone you thought you could trust.
Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21) - A move or change to your residence or family dynamics will benefit you financially and emotionally on the 31st. Someone who is jealous of what you have or can do will try to make you look bad on the 1st and 2nd. Diplomacy will work best in dealing with this person. Actions will speak louder than words. A professional opportunity must be taken advantage of on the 3rd and 4th. The more you do to convince others to believe in your capabilities the further ahead you’ll get. Luck is with you on the 5th and 6th. Revisit some of the problems at home that you have wanted to fix and you will find a way to get things done and prosper by doing so.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19) - Don’t take chances on the 31st plan your actions with detail and precision or you may make a costly mistake. You’ll have Greater control on the 1st and 2nd with regard to a financial property or legal deal you are working towards. Flex your rules a little to accommodate someone you need in your corner to make matters flow smoothly. An added burden on the 3rd and 4th must be handled swiftly or the direction you want to go in will be altered. Don’t get angry when what’s required is a well thought out plan and proper execution. Honesty will be required on the 5th and 6th when dealing with anyone who can disrupt your plans or cause you personal grief.
Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18) - Keeping honest and open communication with friends, family or your partner on the 31st will ensure that you create an unfortunate misunderstanding. Getting angry or emotional regarding a relationship you are in will be a waste of time on the 1st and 2nd when what’s required is diplomacy and hands on help. You can make a good move or investment on the 3rd and 4th if you are disciplined and willing to work hard in order to get what you want. A little will go a long way if you are frugal. An unfortunate situation will arise on the 5th and 6th if you are self-deceptive about what needs to be done to improve your life. Face facts and make the necessary changes.
Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20) - Tidy up any loose ends on the 31st that have the potential to hold you back. Once your path is clear you will have no trouble getting ahead. Forward thinking will help you tune in to the trends and current economic climate on the 1st and 2nd that will ensure that you make the right moves with regard to your professional direction. Consider the type of changes you have to make on the 3rd and 4th with regard to a partnership concern you have been dealing with and you will come up with a workable solution. A deal you make regarding an investment on the 5th and 6th must be looked at carefully before you sign on the dotted line. Read the fine print and make a counter offer.
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito – I Support Plan To Pay Our Bills And Prevent Default
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., voted in favor of the Budget Control Act of 2011 which would prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations while changing the course of spending in Washington and also pass a balanced budget amendment.
“It’s time for Washington to show why we were elected to lead. We can find an agreement that does not give up our principles. The American people need to see that we can get this done. We will increase the debt limit and pay our bills, but we’re not going to give the President a blank check. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a situation as grave as the threat of default to make serious changes. Make no mistake, this is an opportunity to finally handcuff spending and start living within our means, just like American families do,” stated Capito. “Throughout this entire process, the President has failed to deliver his own plan to tackle our money problems. We can’t vote on a speech. If the President is serious about protecting senior citizens, creating jobs and strengthening our economy, he and Senator Harry Reid will pass this bill. We’re running out of time.”
Capito has never wavered from her position that any increase in the debt limit must be accompanied by equal or greater spending cuts, and that tax increases are a non-starter.
Nearly 75% of America’s small businesses file their taxes as individuals. Half of those small businesses would payhigher taxes under the President’s proposed tax increases. Capito has, however, remained open to revenue increases by closing special interest loopholes and cleaning up the tax code.
The small business community, including the National Federation of Independent Business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has rallied behind this plan.
“Small business owners know they will go out of business if they spend more than they take in, and expect the government to operate by the same common-sense principle. Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. We at NFIB thank Congresswoman Capito for helping make the cuts necessary to start us on a path to get our fiscal house in order without raising taxes on America’s job-creators,” noted Dan Danner, president of the National Federation of Independent Business.
BACKGROUND
• According to the U.S. Treasury Department, on August 2, 2011 it will run out of extraordinary measures that have enabled it to extend borrowing authority.
• Experts at Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings have warned that they might lower the United States’ credit rating which could lead to higher interest rates for families and deliver a crushing blow to global markets.
Modification To Budget Control Act 0f 2011
• The bill currently has a two-step process for raising the debt ceiling. As currently written, before the President can request an increase in the debt limit, Select Committee must produce spending cuts larger than the debt hike.
• Change to bill would specify that before the President can request second increase, Select Committee must produce spending cuts larger than the hike AND a Balanced Budget Amendment must be sent to the states.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysisconfirms that the Republican plan will:
• Cut and cap spending by $917 billion over 10 years – that’s more than the $900 billion debt hike;
• Cut $22 billion in spending for FY2012and hold spending below FY2010 levels until FY2016;
• Continue reducing discretionary spending each year compared to President Obama’s budget (by $96 billion in 2012, $118 billion in 2013, $115 billion in 2014, $117 billion in 2015, and so on); and
• Require Congress to draft proposals that produce reductions of at least $1.8 trillion that help protect programs like Medicare and Social Security from bankruptcy.
NATIONAL and Local FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY - WEEK ENDING 07.29.2011
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week 168,100 49,500 94,900 312,500
Last Week 210,200 75,500 41,400 327,100
Last Year 175,500 92,800 136,600 404,900
Compared to last week, lighter receipts of yearling feeder cattle sold unevenly 2.00 lower to 2.00 higher with the gains predominantly on those weighing over 800 lbs. (especially steers) and weakness mostly on 600-800 lb. feeders.
Last Friday’s bearish cattle-on-feed report’s bark was much worse than its bite after-market members absorbed the fact that June placements are traditionally light and the significant displacement of drought cattle in the Southwest could easily inflate data past projections.
Steer and heifer calf prices were extremely uneven and dependent on geographic location and whether that particular market had fully realized last week’s losses or perhaps if those losses were overdone and a correction was in order.
Generally, calf prices were weak to 6.00 lower throughout the Southeast and into the driest areas of the Southern Plains.
Lightweight cattle prices were actually steady to 3.00 higher as they approached the Midwest and Northern Plains as these areas are much more apt to have late summer and early fall grazing.
Well-advertised reports of cattle being forced from drought stricken pastures and into feedlots, plus the early weaning and sale of pee-wee calves (under 400 lbs.) has improved the autumn feeder cattle market outlook that normally falls under heavy pressure from the large movement of spring born calves.
Backgrounders with the ability are acting on this hunch and hoping to accumulate lightweights now and harden them into short-yearlings which normally bring a premium to the short-weaned fleshier calves that dominate fall and winter offerings.
Superior Video’s four day sale included a long string of calves from RO Cattle Company near Round Mountain, NV with the light-end of the steers set to weigh 390 lbs. selling at 212.50 for November delivery.
Extreme heat continues to plague cattle country with the cumulative weight of our country’s herd undoubtedly lighter than it was two weeks ago.
Nowhere is the heat more troublesome than in the feedlots where bunks are no longer “slick” by feeding time as consumption has fallen off and heat-stress death loss is mounting.
Some of the last hold-outs in Texas to liquidate or harshly reduce their herds are currently backing up to their chutes while many farmers and ranchers have lined up across the Gulf Coast and are waving-in Tropical Storm Don which is expected to make landfall this weekend.
Texas’ Federal-State Livestock and Grain Market Reporting Service is now officially set to dissolve on September 01, 2011 and producers will have to rely on hearsay and hand-picked representative sales on paid-for advertisements to get their market information.
Users may be surprised to find that commodity screens, market publications, and radio stations do not have reporters on the seats at auctions across the state.
Panhandle feedlots held out until Friday to trade fed cattle steady at 108.50, while heat weary Kansas sold early in the week on Tuesday 1.00 lower at 107.00.
This week’s reported auction volume included 42% over 600 lbs. and 42% heifers.
Auction Receipts: 168,100 Last Week: 210,200 Last Year: 175,500
Buckhannon Stockyards, Buckhannon, WV
Weighted Average Report for Wednesday July 27, 2011
Cattle Receipts: 35
Slaughter cows made up 40% of the offering, slaughter bulls 11%,
replacement cows 11%, and feeders 37%.
The feeder supply included 62% heifers, and 38% bulls.
Near 8% of the run weighed over 600 lbs.
Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 250-250 250 127.50 127.50 Fancy
1 315-315 315 124.00 124.00
2 357-357 357 123.00 123.00
1 490-490 490 106.00 106.00 Exotic
Medium and Large 2
1 275-275 275 50.00 50.00 Thin
2 545-545 545 60.00 60.00 Thin
Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 295-295 295 136.00 136.00 Exotic
1 375-375 375 125.00 125.00
2 473-473 473 125.00 125.00
1 715-715 715 90.00 90.00 RWF
Bred Cows Medium and Large 1 - 2 Young
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1105-1105 1105 925.00 925.00 Per Head 7-9 Months Bred
Medium and Large 1 - 2 Middle Aged
3 1155-1155 1155 800.00 800.00 Per Head 7-9 Months Bred
Slaughter Cows Breaker 70-80% Lean
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1275-1275 1275 75.50 75.50
Boner 80-85% Lean
4 1195-1385 1291 67.50-72.50 68.76
1 1410-1410 1410 67.00 67.00
Lean 85-90% Lean
7 1045-1290 1167 54.00-60.00 57.31
1 1020-1020 1020 40.00 40.00 Low Dressing
Slaughter Bulls Yield Grade 1-2
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
3 1855-2060 1928 78.00-80.50 79.70
1 1980-1980 1980 82.50 82.50 High Dressing
Weston Livestock, Weston, WV
Weighted Average Report for Saturday July 23, 2011
Cattle Receipts: 96
Slaughter cows made up 50% of the offering, slaughter bulls 11%, and feeders 39%.
The feeder supply included 78% steers, 14% heifers, and 8% bulls.
Near 51% of the run weighed over 600 lbs.
Feeder Steers Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 345-345 345 128.00 128.00 Fleshy
2 483-483 483 146.00 146.00
1 475-475 475 115.00 115.00 Exotic
1 510-510 510 122.00 122.00 Exotic
3 555-570 560 130.00-138.00 132.71
8 601-601 601 148.00 148.00 yearlings
2 760-760 760 131.00 131.00 Exotic
3 825-825 825 123.50 123.50
1 875-875 875 104.00 104.00 Exotic
Medium and Large 2
1 570-570 570 119.00 119.00
Small 2
1 560-560 560 100.00 100.00
Holstein Medium and Large 4
2 170-170 170 135.00 135.00
2 560-560 560 80.00 80.00
Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 485-485 485 112.00 112.00 Exotic
1 635-635 635 117.00 117.00 Exotic
1 655-655 655 110.00 110.00
Medium and Large 2
1 380-380 380 110.00 110.00
1 485-485 485 100.00 100.00 Yearlings
Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 545-545 545 113.00 113.00
1 930-930 930 80.00 80.00
Medium and Large 2
1 615-615 615 111.00 111.00 Exotic
Slaughter Cows Breaker 70-80% Lean
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1365-1365 1365 68.00 68.00
1 1280-1280 1280 69.50 69.50 High Dressing
2 1410-1715 1563 68.00-69.00 68.45
Boner 80-85% Lean
19 960-1390 1189 66.00-72.50 69.16
8 975-1370 1191 72.50-77.00 74.49 High Dressing
8 1000-1380 1188 60.00-67.00 64.31 Low Dressing
1 1445-1445 1445 65.00 65.00
1 1400-1400 1400 76.00 76.00 High Dressing
Lean 85-90% Lean
2 900-1160 1030 60.00-65.00 62.82
3 1090-1180 1142 66.50-68.00 67.02 High Dressing
2 825-845 835 44.00-46.00 44.99 Low Dressing
Slaughter Bulls Yield Grade 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1725-1725 1725 86.50 86.50
Yield Grade 1-2
4 1155-1360 1260 77.50-78.00 77.75
2 1270-1480 1375 78.00 78.00 Low Dressing
2 1500-1575 1538 80.00-82.00 80.98
1 2035-2035 2035 93.00 93.00 High Dressing
1 1645-1645 1645 70.00 70.00 Low Dressing
Heiferettes 3hd
1000-1200lbs 70-75
baby calves 3hd Beef Dairy
Newborn 30
100-150lbs by cwt 105
150-250lbs by cwt 106
cow/calf pairs 4hd
age8&up calf under 250 calf over 250
L&M1 1050
L&M2 690 885
Feeder Lambs 5hd
75-90lbs 187
45-60lbs 165
Goats 18hd sel 1 sel 2 sel 3
40-60lbs 72.50-77.50 60
60-80lbs 120-130 92.50
big billies 142.50
big nannies 105 90-100 75
replacement 115 90-107.50
Jackson County Regional Livestock Market, Ripley, WV
Weighted Average Report for Saturday July 23, 2011
Cattle Receipts: 196
Slaughter cows made up 14% of the offering, slaughter bulls 8%,
replacement cows 10%, and feeders 68%.
The feeder supply included 23% steers, 44% heifers, and 33% bulls.
Near 35% of the run weighed over 600 lbs.
Feeder Steers Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 305-305 305 135.00 135.00
1 400-400 400 140.00 140.00
2 525-545 535 121.00-124.00 122.53
2 580-585 583 119.00-131.00 124.97
2 605-615 610 125.00-132.00 128.47
7 650-660 657 111.00-125.00 121.04
7 751-751 751 118.00 118.00
4 870-878 876 105.00-107.00 106.50
Medium and Large 2
1 510-510 510 97.00 97.00
2 572-572 572 115.00 115.00
2 600-600 600 110.00 110.00
Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 310-315 313 120.00-122.00 121.01
7 380-395 390 118.00-131.00 124.99
3 410-440 430 120.00-129.50 126.48
10 460-490 482 115.00-128.00 122.39
2 515-515 515 133.00 133.00
11 560-590 577 111.00-129.00 121.38
1 610-610 610 119.00 119.00
3 670-685 675 115.00-127.00 122.94
8 786-786 786 108.00 108.00
Small 1
1 490-490 490 100.00 100.00
1 565-565 565 68.00 68.00 RWF
Medium and Large 2
3 355-385 368 96.00-110.00 103.80
1 440-440 440 115.00 115.00
1 450-450 450 114.00 114.00
4 508-510 509 115.00-117.00 116.50
1 735-735 735 81.00 81.00
Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 345-345 345 124.00 124.00
2 352-352 352 150.00 150.00
2 435-435 435 137.00 137.00
6 465-487 478 118.00-133.00 125.46
2 470-470 470 100.00 100.00 RWF
7 520-525 521 114.00-128.00 123.97
1 530-530 530 100.00 100.00 RWF
1 560-560 560 124.00 124.00
2 620-620 620 119.00 119.00
3 675-690 680 104.00-110.50 108.30
1 700-700 700 105.00 105.00
1 755-755 755 86.00 86.00
2 820-845 833 75.00-85.00 79.92
1 820-820 820 85.00 85.00 RWF
Medium and Large 2
3 435-440 437 118.00-120.00 119.33
2 480-480 480 110.00 110.00
3 500-525 508 95.00-120.00 103.61
1 540-540 540 80.00 80.00 RWF
1 560-560 560 107.50 107.50
2 605-615 610 95.00-101.00 97.98
Bred Cows Medium and Large 1 - 2 Young
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 775-811 793 460.00-850.00 659.43 Per Head 1-3 Months Bred
1 1190-1190 1190 800.00 800.00 Per Head 1-3 Months Bred
1 990-990 990 750.00 750.00 Per Head 4-6 Months Bred
1 1000-1000 1000 935.00 935.00 Per Head 7-9 Months Bred
Medium and Large 1 - 2 Middle Aged
2 1125-1125 1125 800.00-1000.00 900.00 Per Head 1-3 Months Bred
1 990-990 990 675.00 675.00 Per Head 4-6 Months Bred
4 1220-1430 1293 820.00-880.00 842.59 Per Head 4-6 Months Bred
1 1175-1175 1175 950.00 950.00 Per Head 7-9 Months Bred
5 1200-1200 1200 940.00 940.00 Per Head 7-9 Months Bred
Medium and Large 1 - 2 Aged
1 820-820 820 525.00 525.00 Per Head 4-6 Months Bred
1 1255-1255 1255 785.00 785.00 Per Head 7-9 Months Bred
Slaughter Cows Breaker 70-80% Lean
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 1075-1315 1195 70.00-72.00 70.90
1 1510-1510 1510 69.00 69.00
Boner 80-85% Lean
14 920-1395 1149 68.00-72.00 70.08
2 935-960 948 73.00-74.00 73.49 High Dressing
7 1020-1255 1144 56.00-72.00 62.77 Low Dressing
Lean 85-90% Lean
1 995-995 995 68.50 68.50
Slaughter Bulls Yield Grade 1-2
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 1255-1425 1323 78.00-81.00 78.84
1 1270-1270 1270 85.00 85.00 High Dressing
2 1320-1390 1355 73.00-75.00 73.97 Low Dressing
6 1515-1815 1708 75.00-83.00 77.31
2 1740-1935 1838 75.50-77.00 76.29 Low Dressing
Head Bulls
Head
4 900.00-1375.00
Cow Calf Pairs
Head
11 900.00-1275.00
Fat Cattle
Head
4 105.00-109.00
Baby Calves
Head
3 45.00-90.00
Goats
Head
30 Feeders 30.00-85.00
Nannies 65.00-100.00
Billies 60.00-130.00
Sheep
Head
23 Feeders 1.60-1.77
Ewes 64.00-77.00
Bon Appétit: BBQ NY Strip
Ingredients:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup minced garlic
1/4 cup steak seasoning
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 (1/2 pound) New York strip steaks
Directions:
In a bowl, mix the olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, steak seasoning, red wine vinegar, basil, and Italian seasoning.
Pour into a large resealable plastic bag.
Pierce steaks on all sides with a fork, and place in the bag.
Gently shake to coat.
Seal bag and marinate steaks a minimum of 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Preheat grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate.
Discard marinade.
Place steaks on the grill, and cook 7 minutes on each side, or to desired doneness.
Daily G-Eye™ : 07.31.11
West Virginia basketball legend Jerry West takes in all of the action
at the Greenbrier Classic from Jim Justice’s luxury box on the 18th hole
Jimmy Walker prepares to putt on the 17th. Walker shot 8 under par Saturday
Tommy Gainey in the third round of the Greenbrier Classic on Saturday
Greenbrier Classic
Submit photos for this daily feature. You may select to have your name listed as well.
Send your photo(s) to “tellus@gilmerfreepress.net”
Stargazing - 07.31.11
This is a good time of year to escape city lights and look skyward.
In late evening, a wide, milky band arcs high overhead from north to south.
The band is the Milky Way—the muted glow of millions of stars in the disk of our Milky Way galaxy.
Apollo 15, Part II
When Apollo 15 astronauts Dave Scott, Jim Irwin, and Al Worden visited the Moon 40 years ago this week, they conducted some high-tech experiments. They gathered rocks and soil, left instruments to measure moonquakes, and snapped hundreds of high-resolution pictures from orbit.
But as Scott and Irwin wrapped up their final moonwalk, Scott conducted a decidedly low-tech experiment—one that was first envisioned almost four centuries earlier.
SCOTT: In my left hand, I have a feather. In my right hand, a hammer. And I guess one of the reasons we got here today was because of a gentleman named Galileo, a long time ago, who made a rather significant discovery about falling objects in gravity fields. And we thought, where would be a better place to confirm his findings than on the Moon…
Galileo’s hypothesis was that gravity treats everything equally. So if you take away the air, which slows the fall of things like feathers, all objects should fall at the same rate. He tested his hypothesis by rolling balls of different sizes and weights down an inclined ramp and measuring how fast they rolled. As he suspected, there was no difference in their speed—an indication that gravity acts equally on all objects, regardless of size.
SCOTT: And I’ll drop the two of them here, and hopefully, they’ll hit the ground at the same time.
And they did.
SCOTT: How about that? That proves that Mister Galileo was correct!
—even with a low-tech experiment.
TRUTH OR TRADITION? – ANOTHER NIGHT WITH THE FROGS Part 4 # 132
ANOTHER NIGHT WITH THE FROGS #4
The Second Plague
God brought upon Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to let His people go, was a multitude of frogs. When Pharaoh asked Moses to take them away, Moses asked him, “When?” Pharaoh replied, “Tomorrow about this time.” Why not now? Why would Pharaoh want to spend another night with the frogs? Why would anybody?
Complication.
There are a number of consequences of living with frogs. Can you imagine what it must have been like in Egypt, trying to get anything done with frogs covering the land and even in the houses? Sin complicates our lives. Take, for example, the sin of lying. You’ve got to try to remember who you told what to. As they say, tell one lie and you’ve got to tell a dozen more to try to cover up the first one. Solomon said “the way of transgressors is hard.” (Prov. 13:15) . And Paul writes that “tribulation and anguish” comes “upon every soul of man that doeth evil.” (Rom. 2:9) “.
Frustration.
Imagine the housewives in Egypt trying to do their daily chores with frogs in their beds, in their ovens, and in their kneading troughs. Sin keeps us from doing what God would have us do, and being what God would have us be. Israel failed in the battle of Ai because there was sin in the camp. The Hebrew writer admonishes, “ “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” (Heb 12:1) “.
Degradation.
How embarrassing…..how humiliating it must have been for Pharaoh with frogs all over the place. That’s a problem most kings don’t have to worry about. Can you imagine how the other kings must have been laughing at Pharaoh. The late night comedians in the surrounding nations must have had a ball with that. “ “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov 14:34) “. Sin is degrading….brings us down to the level of animals. Peter illustrates it this way: “ “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Pet. 2:22) “.
Captivation.
The land of Egypt was taken over by frogs, and they were helpless (on their own) to do anything about it. We become slaves of the frogs we live with. Paul asks: “ “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.” (Rom 6:16) “. And Peter writes: “ “For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” (2 Pet 2:19) “.
Separation.
The Egyptians were separated from peace and quiet because of the frogs. The “frogs” in our lives separate us from God. Isaiah told Israel the reason God was not hearing their prayers: “ “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa. 59:2) “.
Why Spend Another Night?
We live in an age when there seems to be a band-aid or a pill for just about every ailment. Some folks want to deal with sin that way…put a band-aid on it…take a pill for it…but that only masks the problem. Why not just get rid of the frogs? Bury them in the waters of baptism, and you’ll never have to worry about them again.
Steer Creek Church of Christ, 3466 Rosedale Road, Stumptown WV 25267
Minister: Gene H Miller, 3281 Rosedale Road, Shock WV 26638-8410.
Phone: 304.462.0384 E-Mail: “ghmiller@rtol.net” Web Site: steercreekchurchofchrist.org
Jerry L. Rogers
Jerry L. Rogers
Was born May 31, 1941, to Ruth Rogers and James Boyce, in Jane Lew.
Upon his graduation from Jane Lew High School, he enlisted in the USAF. After a tour in Turkey, he was assigned to Patrick AFB FL, where he met and married his future wife, Victoria Graham, in 1965. He then began his career with the Central Intelligence Agency, in the Satellite/Ground Communications field, in Langley, Va. Tours of duty included Bangkok, Thailand, Oslo, Norway, Melbourne, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand.
He retired from the CIA in 1997.
He died unexpectedly on July 08, 2011, in Richmond, VA, and is survived by his wife of 46 years, Victoria; his daughter, April Crawford (Brian); twin grandsons, Chase and Tristan; half-brother, Charles Westfall; half-sister, Linda Harris; and uncle, James Rogers.
A man of exceptional integrity, high moral character, a loving, devoted husband and father, Jerry was highly respected and admired by all who came to know him.
A memorial service was held on Sunday, July 17, at Bliley’s Chippenham Funeral Chapel at 2:00 PM, followed by a reception at the Terraces at Swift Creek Clubhouse in Midlothian, VA.
Noel W. “Pete” Holden
Noel W. “Pete” Holden
Age 93, of Glen Dale, died Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in Emerald Pointe Nursing & Rehab Center, Barnesville, Ohio.
He was born December 24, 1917, in Braxton County, a son of the late Nathan C. and Barbara Bodkin Holden.
Mr. Holden was a retired employee of American Bridge Company, a division of U.S. Steel, and a Christian by faith. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, serving in the Pacific, and a member of the Moundsville Eagles.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Freda Byrne Holden; a son, Nathan E. “Pete” Holden; a son-in-law, Lee Lusk; a sister, Opal Spaur; and an infant brother.
Surviving are two sons, James N. (Anna) Holden of Wheeling, and Charles E. (Laura) Holden of Pittsburgh, PA; a daughter, Mary Paula Lusk of St. Clairsville, Ohio; a daughter-in-law, Jan Holden of Idaho; a former daughter-in-law, Ursula M. Holden of Wheeling; one grandson, seven granddaughters; 14 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Friends were received from 4:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday at the Altmeyer Funeral Home, Lutes & Kirby-Vance Chapel, 118 Grant Ave., Moundsville.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11:00 AM Friday, July 22, at St. Jude Catholic Church, Glen Dale, with Rev. Edward Stafford, T.O.R. as celebrant.
Interment in Riverview Cemetery, Moundsville, where the Moundsville Honor Guard conducted graveside services.
Charles Frederick Casto
Charles Frederick Casto
Age 70, of Sutton passed away July 28, 2011 at Braxton Memorial Hospital.
He was born on July 24, 1941 in Kanawha County, WV to the late Denver Casto and Kathleen Cutlip Casto.
Charlie was a Masonry Restoration worker for General Restoration in Columbus, OH.
He is preceded in death by his parents; 3Brothers; William and Darrell Casto, and Archie Griffin.
He is survived by his loving wife Rosemary Casto, Daughter; Roerena Casto of Marion, OH., Sons; Marshall F. Casto and wife Terri and Charles E. Casto all of Marion, OH., and Eric Truesdell and wife Brenda of Wapakoneta, OH., Brothers; Jim Casto, and Roy Casto both of Marion, Jerry Griffin of Marion, Sisters; Karen Thomas of Winterhaven, FL., Betty Blevins, and Mona Grant both of Marion and 12 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.
Funeral service will be held on Monday, August 01, 2011 at 11:00 AMat Greene-Robertson Funeral Home in Sutton with Rev. Billy Griffin officiating.
Friends may call from 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Sunday.
Burial will follow the service in the Skidmore Cemetery, Sutton, WV.
07.31.11
Today - July 31, yyyy
Today is Sunday, July 31, the 212th day of 2011. There are 153 days left in the year.
Thought for Today: “The trouble with the public is that there is too much of it.“ — Don Marquis, American journalist, poet and dramatist (1878-1937).
Today’s Highlight in History:
On July 31, 1991, President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in Moscow.
On this date:
In 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, was made a major-general in the American Continental Army.
In 1875, the 17th president of the United States, Andrew Johnson, died in Carter County, Tenn., at age 66.
In 1919, Germany’s Weimar (VY’-mahr) Constitution was adopted by the republic’s National Assembly.
In 1941, Japan apologized to the United States a day after its bombers damaged the gunboat USS Tutuila at Chongqing, China.
In 1961, for the first time in baseball history, an All-Star Game ended in a draw, 1-1, as rain stopped the contest at Fenway Park. (It was the second of two All-Star Games played that season.) IBM introduced its first Selectric typewriter with its distinctive “typeball.“
In 1964, the American space probe Ranger 7 reached the moon, transmitting pictures back to Earth before crashing onto the lunar surface.
In 1971, Apollo 15 crew members David Scott and James Irwin became the first astronauts to use a lunar rover on the surface of the moon.
In 1972, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton withdrew from the ticket with George McGovern following disclosures that Eagleton had once undergone psychiatric treatment.
In 1981, a seven-week-old Major League Baseball strike ended.
In 1989, a pro-Iranian group in Lebanon released a grisly videotape showing the body of American hostage William R. Higgins, a Marine lieutenant-colonel, dangling from a rope.
Ten years ago:
• The U.S. House of Representatives voted, 265-162, to ban all cloning of human embryos, casting Congress’ first votes on the divisive ethical issue.
• Israeli helicopters fired missiles into offices of the militant Hamas movement, killing eight Palestinians, including a senior Hamas leader and two young boys walking on the street outside.
Five years ago:
• Cuban President Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his brother, Raul, after gastrointestinal surgery.
One year ago:
• Chelsea Clinton married investment banker Marc Mezvinsky in the upstate New York village of Rhinebeck. Orchestra leader Mitch Miller died in New York at age 99.
• Tom Mankiewicz, 68, a screenwriter of James Bond films such as “Diamonds Are Forever” and “Live and Let Die,“ and the first two “Superman” movies, died in Los Angeles.
Today’s Birthdays:
Actor Don Murray is 82
Jazz composer-musician Kenny Burrell is 80
Actor Geoffrey Lewis is 76
Actress France Nuyen is 72
Actress Susan Flannery is 72
Singer Lobo is 68
Actress Geraldine Chaplin is 67
Former movie studio executive Sherry Lansing is 67
Singer Gary Lewis is 66
Rock singer Bob Welch is 65
Actor Richard Griffiths is 64
Actor Lane Davies is 61
International Tennis Hall of Famer Evonne Goolagong Cawley is 60
Actor Barry Van Dyke is 60
Actor Alan Autry is 59
Jazz composer-musician Michael Wolff is 59
Actor James Read is 58
Actor Michael Biehn is 55
Masssachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is 55
Rock singer-musician Daniel Ash (Love and Rockets) is 54
Entrepreneur Mark Cuban is 53
Rock musician Bill Berry is 53
Actor Wesley Snipes is 49
Country singer Chad Brock is 48
Musician Fatboy Slim is 48
Rock musician Jim Corr is 47
Author J.K. Rowling (ROHL’-ing) is 46
Actor Dean Cain is 45
Actor Ben Chaplin is 42
Actor Loren Dean is 42
Retired NFL quarterback Gus Frerotte is 40
Actress Annie Parisse (pah-REES’) is 36
Actor Robert Telfer is 34
Country singer-musician Zac Brown is 33
Actor-producer-writer B.J. Novak is 32
Actor Eric Lively is 30
Country singer Blaire Stroud (3 of Hearts) is 28
Singer Shannon Curfman is 26
Actor Rico Rodriguez (TV: “Modern Family”) is 13
WV Lottery - 07.30.11
2-1-6
9-3-5-1
03-09-10-16-39 HB: 05
20-40-41-47-55 PB: 19 PowerPlay: x 2
Community Corrections Program in the Area Get Funding
Twenty-two programs received more than $6 million
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has awarded more than $6 million to 22 community corrections programs.
The Upshur County Commission has learned that $243,000 of that will go to community corrections programs in Upshur, Lewis, and Braxton counties.
Community corrections programs give the judicial system sentencing alternatives for offenders who may not require institutional custody.
Cheek says the three counties will serve 200 clients this year.
Other area county receiving funding was:
Doddridge County = $114,000
Federal Court Backs WV School in Online Bullying Case
A federal appeals court this week upheld the suspension of a West Virginia student who created a web page suggesting another student had a sexually transmitted disease and invited classmates to comment.
A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to reinstate Kara Kowalski’s lawsuit against school officials in Berkeley County. She claimed her five-day suspension from Musselman High School in 2005 violated her free speech and due process rights, and that school officials lacked authority to punish her because she created the web page at home.
The appeals court said the web page was created primarily for Kowalski’s classmates, so the school had the right to discipline her for disrupting the learning environment.
Kowalski was a senior at Musselman when she created a MySpace page called “S.A.S.H.“ She claimed it was an acronym for “Students Against Sluts Herpes.“
But a classmate said it stood for “Students Against Shay’s Herpes” and referred to a student who was the main subject of discussion on the page. The first of about two dozen students who joined the discussion group posted photos of the student, including one with red dots drawn over her face to simulate herpes.
Other students posted messages commenting on the photos and ridiculing the student, whose parents complained to school officials the next day. Officials concluded Kowalski had created a “hate website” in violation of the school’s anti-bullying policy.
Along with being suspended, Kowalski was prevented from crowning her successor as “Queen of Charm” in the school’s annual Charm Review and was kicked off the cheerleading squad. She claimed her punishment left her isolated and depressed, but she got no sympathy from the appeals court.
“Kowalski’s role in the ‘S.A.S.H.‘ webpage, which was used to ridicule and demean a fellow student, was particularly mean-spirited and hateful,“ Judge Paul V. Niemeyer wrote.
“Regretfully, she yet fails to see that such harassment and bullying is inappropriate and hurtful and that it must be taken seriously by school administrators,“ he wrote.
Messages left for Kowalski’s attorney, Nancy A. Dalby, were not immediately returned Wednesday.
Although the ruling in the Kowalski case was unanimous, University of Arizona cyberbullying expert Sheri Bauman said such cases present “a real conundrum” for courts trying to balance students’ First Amendment rights against the need to maintain order in schools.
“This is all quite new. That’s what makes it so difficult for schools to decide when and where they have the option to intervene,“ said Bauman, director of the university’s school counseling program and author of the book “Cyberbullying: What Counselors Need to Know.“
She said one of the issues that needs clarification is the definition of “substantial disruption” of the learning environment. She predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court eventually will be asked for guidance on this and other issues involving school cyberbullying.
New Mileage Standards Aim For Less Fuel and Pollution
President Barack Obama and automakers ushered in the largest cut in fuel consumption since the 1970s on Friday with a deal that will save drivers money at the pump and dramatically cut heat-trapping gases coming from tailpipes.
The agreement pledges to double overall fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by 2025, bringing even greater under-the-hood changes to the nation’s automobiles starting in model year 2017. Cars and trucks on the road today average 27 mpg.
“This agreement on fuel standards represents the single most important step we have taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,“ Obama said, sharing the stage with top executives of 11 major automakers and a top automobile workers union official, before a backdrop of some of the most cutting-edge cars and pickup trucks on the road.
“Just as cars will go further on a gallon of gas, our economy will go further on a barrel of oil,“ Obama said.
When achieved, the 54.5 mpg target will reduce U.S. oil consumption from vehicles by 40% and halve the amount of greenhouse gas pollution coming out of tailpipes. It builds on a 2009 deal between the Obama administration and automakers, which committed cars and trucks to averaging 35.5 mpg by model year 2016.
For American families, the president said the agreement - which will be subject to a midcourse review - means filling up the car every two weeks, instead of every week. That would save $8,000 in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle purchased in 2025, compared to a 2010 model, a White House analysis said.
The changes also are likely to push up the cost of a new vehicle, but just how much is unclear because the regulation still has to be written. That process will get started in September.
The mileage target announced Friday isn’t exactly what consumers will see in their future cars. A formula that gives credits to manufacturers for electric cars, the use of low-emission air conditioning refrigerant and technology that shuts down engines at traffic lights means the actual fuel economy standard is likely to come in closer to 40 mpg. Stickers on future cars and trucks will display different numbers based on based on tests that mimic real-world mileage.
The deal was less than what environmentalists and public health advocates wanted but more than desired by the Detroit Three - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. In a letter to the president last week, Michigan lawmakers called the higher proposal “overly aggressive,“ after automakers had said they’d work to get vehicles averaging 42.6 to 46.7 mpg. Green groups, meanwhile, had pushed for a 62 mpg target by 2025.
For Obama, who watched his campaign promise to limit global warming pollution die when Republicans retook control of the House, the compromise provides a way around political roadblocks and a down payment on the climate change problem.
The deal also provides an answer to critics who say the president has not done enough to address high gasoline prices. It promises to reduce demand at a time when Republicans in Congress have criticized Obama for being too slow to drill and not opening up more areas to oil and gas exploration after the massive Gulf oil spill last year.
And at a time when a consensus in Congress is elusive on the debt ceiling and curbing the federal deficit, the president said the fuel economy deal was a “valuable lesson to” Washington.
“You are all demonstrating what can happen when people put aside differences,“ Obama said. “These folks are competitors; you’ve got labor and business. But they said we are going to work together to achieve something important and lasting for the country.“
For automakers, particularly the Detroit Three, the deal signaled a turnaround from the days when they resisted boosting fuel economy targets, arguing that consumers would not buy smaller and more efficient cars, and that the technology to reduce fuel consumption was too expensive.
That stance has been challenged in recent years by a 2007 energy law that mandated the government evaluate and set new fuel economy targets, by a Supreme Court decision that said the federal government had the authority to control global warming pollution from vehicle, and by a state - California - that set a standard stricter than the federal government’s.
A $62 billion taxpayer-funded bailout for GM and Chrysler added to the White House’s leverage.
Some environmentalists lauded the agreement Friday, but said that manufacturers owed taxpayers a bigger deal after bailing them out.
“An auto industry that owes its survival to taxpayer bailouts ungratefully flouted the public’s demand for fuel efficiency and less pollution, fighting for loopholes until the bitter end,“ said Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign. “We will use every opportunity, including the midterm review that the automakers demanded, to strengthen the standards.“
For consumers, the new requirements are well beyond the gas mileage of all but the most efficient cars on the road today.
By the time the new standards take effect, the government expects gas-electric hybrids to make up about half the lineup of new vehicles, with electric vehicles making up about 10% of the fleet.
Currently hybrid and electric vehicles combined amount to less than 3% of U.S. vehicle sales, according to J.D. Power and Associates.
The standards also could force auto companies to get rid of some less-efficient models as they try to boost the gas mileage of their lineups. But that depends on how quickly new technology can be developed. Pickup trucks, which rank as some of the biggest sellers for American automobile companies, get a slight reprieve under the agreement. They will only have to increase fuel economy in the first five years by 3.5%. After that time, they will have to match the 5% annual increase for cars.
“The program will deliver the biggest bang for the buck in the types of vehicles - cars - that consumers are most likely to purchase,“ said Mark Cooper, the research director for the Consumer Federation of America. “At the same time, the program provides incentives to meet the more difficult challenges in transforming the vehicle fleet - getting hybrid engines into pickup trucks and promoting electric vehicles.“
Automakers are far better prepared with a much stronger line up of small cars, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles. General Motors and Nissan are selling mass-market electric vehicles, while Mitsubishi, Ford, Toyota and others are about to enter the market.
Nissan’s vice president Scott Becker in a statement said the Obama administration has issued some extremely challenging greenhouse gas reduction and fuel economy improvement targets, but Nissan was “up to the task.“
Nissan introduced the LEAF - the world’s first and only 100-percent electric car for the mass market - in December 2010. More than 4,000 of the 99 miles-per-gallon vehicles are already on the road.
GM and Ford already have small gasoline-fueled cars that get 40 mpg or better on the highway, and Chrysler will have one next year. Small car sales are up 21% so far this year, showing consumer interest is up.
That is perhaps the deal’s best selling point.
“It is hard to call higher fuel economy standards job killing when all of the automotive companies support it, and the United Auto Workers support it,“ said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass.
Ron Bloom, the White House’s chief negotiator on the deal, said Friday it was “an example of industry starting to lead the parade.“
Gilmer County High School Class of 1971 Reunion - Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Gilmer County High School graduation class of 1971 will hold its 40th year class reunion on Saturday, July 30, 2011.
The day will begin with a tour of GCHS at 11:00 AM.
We will meet at the high school parking lot.
Following the tour a luncheon is planned for the class members and their guests at the Pioneer Grill, beginning at 12:30 PM.
Class members are sought.
Call 304.462.4471 or email, “jyqueen@frontier.com”
McKinley Votes to Tackle Debt Crisis
The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to save our country from defaulting on its obligations, reduce spending, and make the type of structural reforms necessary to right our fiscal ship. The Budget Control Act, would cut $917 billion in cuts over the next ten years in exchange for raising the debt ceiling by $900 billion, does not raise taxes, requires passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment in both houses before another debt limit increase is considered later this Congress, and establishes a Joint Committee of the House and Senate to achieve an additional $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction.
Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) has been an outspoken advocate for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, and this legislation adheres to those principles.
“Speaker Boehner’s plan isn’t all of what I want, but it’s the most responsible option that is still on the table,” said McKinley. “I like that this plan lays out a clear vision to ensure spending cuts, reforms, and an open path to more cuts in the future. This legislation also offers a Balanced Budget Amendment which I have advocated for years. 49 states already have a Balanced Budget Amendment and this will give the states the opportunity to be heard and have a voice in the discussion. While I would have preferred Cut, Cap, and Balance, this legislation is the only option offered that has the chance of passing both the House and the Senate.
“Frankly, President Obama has failed to lead on this issue. The president refuses to offer a plan other than clean debt ceiling increase without spending cuts. I refuse to write this fiscally irresponsible president a blank check. We must ensure that Washington’s elite does not continue to spend their way into mountains of debt. This legislation is a better plan than any other offer on the table right now.”
After Friday’s vote, Dan Danner, president of the National Federation of Independent Business said, “Small business owners know they will go out of business if they spend more than they take in, and expect the government to operate by the same common-sense principle. Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. We at NFIB thank Congressman David McKinley for helping make the cuts necessary to start us on a path to get our fiscal house in order without raising taxes on America’s job-creators.”
WV Governor: Classically Showcasing West Virginia’s Attributes
This week West Virginia hosts some of the biggest names in PGA Golf and music entertainment and the nation will be watching. The PGA Tour FedEx Cup at The Greenbrier Classic draws hundreds of people to White Sulphur Springs and our beautiful state. The immediate economic impact means hotels and restaurants are booked solid and sold out. The long term advantages of this week-long event shall last far beyond this summer in Greenbrier County.
The national exposure of our great state’s hospitality, beautiful mountains, small town charms, and convenient location has people thinking. For the 178-thousand tourists that visit the Classic, the Greenbrier Valley offered just a taste of what West Virginia offers in terms of relaxation, adventurous excursions, and family-oriented experiences. Our state’s tourism industry is dauntless in their efforts to perfect the art of luring repeat customers. I believe those who travelled to the Greenbrier Valley this week will return to West Virginia to recapture the memories made and experience new ones.
The West Virginia Department of Commerce recognizes the valuable opportunity The Greenbrier Classic offers in terms of educating business leaders about the great benefits of working and living in West Virginia. Recently, the Development Office produced a television commercial, viewed by millions of golf enthusiast as part of The Greenbrier Classic television coverage, in which Chief Executive Officers of new and established companies touted the benefits of operating in our great state. The CEOs repeatedly emphasized our dedicated workforce, strategic location to the East Coast and major cities, as well as the business development tools offered through the state. One example is Craig Hartzell, President of Azimuth Inc. who said “The work force in the state of West Virginia is a secret weapon. That is one major reason that we have been so successful.” I believe the testimonial based advertisements will go a long way in showing others that West Virginia and our people are of the highest quality. In these economic times, more so than ever before, companies seek to partner with successful employees and states.
West Virginians are hard-working, knowledgeable and dedicated employees as well as business leaders. I believe that with the exposure to a national audience that we have enjoyed with The Greenbrier Classic, our “secret weapon” will now be receiving the recognition it deserves.
Whether for business or pleasure, millions of eyes are on West Virginia due to The PGA FedEx Cup at The Greenbrier Classic. I am grateful our state is able to be showcased and shine as the jewel she is, thanks to the wonderful people that call West Virginia home. I believe the experiences and information shared through this world-class event will serve our state and our people well.
G-Comm™: This Is What A Collapsing Ponzi Scheme Looks Like
Housing Market Headed Off A Cliff. 10.8 Million Mortgages At Risk
You might want to sit down for this one. As bad as the housing crisis has been over the past three years, it has only been a warm up to what we have headed our way. Laurie Goodman, from Amherst Securities, has been tracking the housing market as well as anyone. She just presented her latest findings at the American Enterprise Institute and it is a horrific forecast, to say the least. As she puts it, “10.81 million homes are at risk of default over the next 6 years. Even if we try to be extremely conservative we can’t get the number below 8.7 million units.”
With defaults already piling up, the shadow inventory of homes has been growing rapidly, and given this new data the number is going to skyrocket. As this chart shows, the total has gone up from 2 million homes in 2009 to 3.35 million as of April, a 67.5% increase already.
The Atlantic explains this shadow inventory chart: “What’s happening to the homes of all those defaulted borrowers that we hear about? Many of those properties are a part of so-called shadow inventory. This is the sort of limbo between when a home’s loan defaults and when the property is put on the market for purchase. The increase shown above is staggering. The shaded area shows mortgages more than 12 months delinquent or in foreclosure (darker blue) and those seized by the bank (lighter blue).”
Laurie Goodman’s full presentation is available in PDF format here.
Obviously this is going to significantly drive home prices further down, as I reported a few weeks ago, 28% of US homeowners already owe more on their mortgage than their homes are worth. A recent survey by Fannie Mae found that 27% of American homeowners are considering walking away from their mortgage. A perfect storm is brewing. As prices continue to drop, with 10 million now at risk of default, a strategic default movement could devastate the “too big to fail” banks that caused this mess in the first place.
With all this trouble headed their way, no wonder they are fighting hard to, as Reuters put it, get “immunity over irregularities in handling foreclosures, even as evidence has emerged that banks are continuing to file questionable documents.” They can attempt to fraudulently paper over reality, play accounting games, “extend and pretend” and buy off all the state attorneys and regulators they want, even have the Fed, Treasury, Congress and the president in their pocket; they can buy all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, but they can’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
This is what a collapsing Ponzi scheme looks like.
We must break up the “too big to fail” banks and end this RICO racket now. As the data proves, the longer we wait, the uglier this is going to get.
~~ David DeGraw ~~
G-Comm™: What ‘Big Deals’ Did to America
Thanks to Tea Party fanatics, we are told, America just lost an historic opportunity to deal with her national debt.
Because of Tea Party intransigence and threats against their own leader John Boehner, the speaker had to reject Obama’s “grand bargain,“ the “big deal” of $3 trillion in budget cuts for $1 trillion in “revenue enhancement.“
These crazed ideologues, the Tea Partiers, we are told by the talking heads, just do not understand that governing is about compromise.
And that is the mindset of a city that relishes nothing more than those “Kumbaya” moments when Democrats and Republicans break ranks and appear grinning together at a joint press conference to announce a “big deal” to do what is best for America.
Decade after decade, the play is re-enacted.
But the Tea Party folks were elected to close the play. As Ronald Reagan said, “We were sent here to drain the swamp, not to get along with the alligators.“
And what have the big deals done for America?
Reagan was persuaded to sign on to a bipartisan big deal to cut spending three dollars for every dollar he accepted in new taxes. And the Gipper forever believed he had been lied to, as he got three dollars in tax hikes for every dollar in spending cuts.
Obama’s offer to Boehner is the same one Reagan signed on to.
George H.W. Bush agreed to break his pledge of “no new taxes,“ and raised the top rate from Reagan’s 28 percent to 35 percent.
How did that work out?
A recession ensued that probably cost Bush his presidency.
The biggest of big deals came when the GOP establishment arrived in Bill Clinton’s East Room to endorse NAFTA, GATT and a World Trade Organization that stripped America of her right to make and enforce her own trade laws.
Economic patriots fought the surrender of sovereignty and were dismissed as protectionists.
How did NAFTA, GATT and the WTO work out?
Since 1992, the United States has run a total of $7 trillion in trade deficits. Six million manufacturing jobs disappeared in the last decade, along with 50,000 factories. This year’s trade deficit just returned to an annual rate of $600 billion.
China is now the world’s leading manufacturing power. And what are Republicans doing? Demanding new free-trade deals with Panama, Colombia and South Korea.
Anyone heard any Republican candidate advance a credible plan to reindustrialize America and leave China in the dust?
Anyone heard a Republican candidate call for America to give the WTO six months’ notice and get out, so we can go about rebuilding our country rather than babbling on about some New World Order? The biggest dealmaker of them all was George W. Bush.
~~ by Pat Buchanan ~~
Bon Appétit: Brown Rice Breakfast Porridge
Ingredients:
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup 2% low-fat milk
2 tablespoons dried blueberries
1 dash cinnamon
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon butter
Directions:
Combine the cooked brown rice, milk, blueberries, cinnamon, and honey in a small saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
Beat the egg in a small bowl.
Temper the egg by whisking in some of the hot rice, a tablespoon at a time until you have incorporated about 6 tablespoons.
Stir the egg into the rice along with the vanilla and butter, and continue cooking over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken.
Daily G-Eye™ : 07.30.11
Greenbrier Classic
Submit photos for this daily feature. You may select to have your name listed as well.
Send your photo(s) to “tellus@gilmerfreepress.net”
Stargazing - 07.30.11
The Moon is new at 2:40 PM EDT today as it crosses the imaginary line between the Earth and Sun.
It is the second new Moon this month.
Unlike a second full Moon, which is known as a Blue Moon, a second new Moon has no special name.
Apollo 15
FALCON: 8 feet, minus one. Contact! Man! Okay, Houston, the Falcon is on the plain at Hadley.
Apollo 15 astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin landed on the Moon 40 years ago today, in the middle of some of the most spectacular scenery on the lunar surface. They were ringed on three sides by the Apennine Mountains, some of the tallest mountains on the Moon.
ASTRONAUTS: Oh, look at the mountains today, Jim, when they’re all sunlit. Isn’t that beautiful? It really is. By golly, that’s just super. It’s, you know, unreal.
And on the open side, they faced a thousand-foot gorge called Hadley Rille.
The site was more than just a nice tourist spot, though. It allowed the astronauts to study a landscape that was quite different from those seen by earlier missions—one molded by giant impacts and flows of molten rock.
To help them see as much as possible, Scott and Irwin drove the first moonbuggy, which carried them a few miles from their lunar lander, Falcon.
ASTRONAUTS: This is really a rockin’-rollin’ ride, isn’t it. I’ve never been on a ride like this before. Oh, boy. I’m glad they’ve got this great suspension system on this thing.
During three moonwalks, the astronauts gathered 170 pounds of rocks and soil, and snapped hundreds of pictures. They also left behind instruments to listen for moonquakes and conduct other experiments. And they conducted a simple experiment that confirmed one carried out here on Earth centuries earlier. More about that tomorrow.
G-MM™: Meditation Moment - 07.30.11
In Leviticus we read of the meaning of the year of jubilee.
God asks that every fiftieth year be one of jubilee, wherein we remember and acknowledge that all that we have belongs to God—all our goods, our money, our earth, our children.
In pondering this—that all that we have, profit from, enjoy, belongs to God and not to us—how then do we care for what we have?
To care lovingly for that which doesn’t belong to us?
This reading from Leviticus is a challenge to us to think differently about ownership.
Will we be more grateful for what is given into our care from God?
Will we be more generous in our sharing of that which belongs to God?
Do we love God enough to have a looser hold and a different understanding of ownership?
Leviticus 25:1, 8-17. O God, let all the nations praise you - Ps 66(67):2-3, 5, 7-8. Matthew 14:1-12.
Thomas Lee ‘T.C.‘ Campbell
Thomas Lee ‘T.C.‘ Campbell
Age 65, of Glenville, WV, passed away Friday, July 08, 2011 in the United Hospital, Clarksburg, WV after an extended illness. He was surrounded by family and friends.
Tom was born February 02, 1946, son of the late Claude Wilson and Susan B. Brown Campbell.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Claudette Campbell Stoneking.
He is survived by two daughters and their families: Kelly Campbell Jansen and her partner, Tom Weaver with children, Zeke Wing, Kelsey Jansen, and Brodie Weaver of Bridgeville, DE; Cindy Campbell Brown and her husband, Patrick with children Parker and Mackinzie Brown of Milton, DE. Two brothers: C.W.Campbell II (Sharon) of Georgia and Jeff Campbell (Leslie) of Glenville, and one brother in law, Jack Stoneking of Vienna, WV and their families. He was also survived by two former wives and friends Brenda Shedaker Brasure and Thelma Norman.
He was retired owner/operator of Tom’s Welding Service and Oil Field Specialties, Inc.
He was a graduate of Glenville High School and an alumnus of Glenville State College.
Tom was a philosopher by nature and an avid reader who loved to work crossword puzzles. The things he loved most in life were his friends and family.
Tom donated his body to the Human Gift Registry of WVU.
A memorial service will be held in June 2012 during Glenville’s West Virginia State Folk Festival.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your local library or to Gilmer County Ambulance, 23 W Main Street, Glenville, WV 26351.
The family wishes to thank the Gilmer County Ambulance and Fire Company and the United Hospital’s doctors and nurses.
Also, a special ‘thank you’ to Danny Waters, Ron Stalnaker and Jim Moneypenny and all others for their help and support.
Larry Duane Burkhammer
Larry Duane Burkhammer
Age 59, of Weston, died Thursday, July 21, 2011, at his residence following an extended illness.
He was born September 04, 1951, in Weston, a son of the late Harley F. Burkhammer and Genevieve Posey Burkhammer.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one step-daughter, Rhonda Cook McCarrick; two brothers, Roger Burkhammer and Jerry Burkhammer; and three sisters, Jean Baxter, Clara Jane and Karen Elaine Dinkelo.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda J. Coffey Burkhammer; two sons, Larry Dwayne Burkhammer of Buckhannon, and Jesse Allen Burkhammer of Vermilion, Ohio; one daughter, Celena Burkhammer of Good Hope; one step-son, Robert Cook of Ravenna, Ohio; sixteen grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, Dennis Burkhammer of Salem, and Ronnie Burkhammer of Spanaway, Ore.; one sister, Robin Honaker of Jane Lew; two step-brothers, William Sanford of Jane Lew and Arthur Burkhammer of West Milford; and several nieces and nephews.
Larry was a car mechanic, member of the Weston Eagles and lifetime member of the North American Hunting Club.
Cremation services provided by Boyle Funeral Home, 322 Main Avenue, Weston.
07.30.11
Today - July 30, yyyy
Today is Saturday, July 30, the 211th day of 2011. There are 154 days left in the year.
Thought for Today: “Individualism is rather like innocence; there must be something unconscious about it.” — Louis Kronenberger, American drama critic (1904-1980).
Today’s Highlight in History:
On July 30, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a measure making “In God We Trust” the national motto, replacing “E Pluribus Unum” (”Out of many, one”).
On this date:
In 1511, painter and architect Giorgio Vasari, known for his biographies of Italian artists, was born in Arezzo, Tuscany.
In 1619, the first representative assembly in America convened in Jamestown in the Virginia Colony.
In 1729, Baltimore, Md. was founded.
In 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces tried to take Petersburg, Va., by exploding a gunpowder-filled mine under Confederate defense lines; the attack failed.
In 1918, poet Joyce Kilmer, a sergeant in the 165th U.S. Infantry Regiment, was killed during the Second Battle of the Marne in World War I. (Kilmer is perhaps best remembered for his poem “Trees.”)
In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill creating a women’s auxiliary agency in the Navy known as “Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service” — WAVES for short.
In 1945, the Portland class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during World War II; only 316 out of some 1,200 men survived.
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Medicare bill, which went into effect the following year.
In 1975, former Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in suburban Detroit; although presumed dead, his remains have never been found.
In 1980, Israel’s Knesset passed a law reaffirming all of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.
Ten years ago:
• Robert Mueller (MUHL’-ur), President George W. Bush’s choice to head the FBI, promised the Senate Judiciary Committee that if confirmed, he would move forcefully to fix problems at the agency.
• Typhoon Toraji churned through Taiwan, killing some 200 people.
• Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s ruling party won a special parliamentary election.
Five years ago:
• Israel agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity over southern Lebanon after its bombing of a Lebanese village that killed 29 people.
• Congo held its first multiparty election in four decades (incumbent President Joseph Kabila later won a runoff).
One year ago:
• President Barack Obama toured Chrysler and General Motors assembly plants, where he offered an upbeat assessment of the U.S. auto industry a year after the big government bailouts.
• A Florida girl was seriously injured when she plunged about 100 feet to the ground from an amusement park free-fall ride in Lake Delton, Wis. (Nets and air bags that were supposed to catch Teagan Marti (TEE’-gehn MAHR’-tee) had not been deployed.)
Today’s Birthdays:
Actor Richard Johnson is 84
Actor Edd (correct) “Kookie” Byrnes is 78
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is 77
Blues musician Buddy Guy is 75
Movie director Peter Bogdanovich is 72
Feminist activist Eleanor Smeal is 72
Former U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., is 71
Singer Paul Anka is 70
Jazz musician David Sanborn is 66
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is 64
Actor William Atherton is 64
Actor Jean Reno (zhahn rih-NOH’) is 63
Blues singer-musician Otis Taylor is 63
Actor Frank Stallone is 61
Actor Ken Olin is 57
Actress Delta Burke is 55
Singer-songwriter Kate Bush is 53
Country singer Neal McCoy is 53
Actor Richard Burgi is 53
Movie director Richard Linklater is 51
Actor Laurence Fishburne is 50
Actress Lisa Kudrow is 48
Bluegrass musician Danny Roberts (The Grascals) is 48
Country musician Dwayne O’Brien is 47
Actress Vivica A. Fox is 47
Actor Terry Crews is 43
Actor Simon Baker is 42
Movie director Christopher Nolan (”Inception”) is 41
Actor Tom Green is 40
Rock musician Brad Hargreaves (Third Eye Blind) is 40
Actress Christine Taylor is 40
Actor-comedian Dean Edwards is 38
Actress Hilary Swank is 37
Olympic gold medal beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor is 34
Actress Jaime Pressly is 34
Alt-country singer-musician Seth Avett (AY’-veht) is 31
Actress April Bowlby is 31
Actress Yvonne Strahovski (TV: “Chuck”) is 29
Copyright MMVIII-MMXIII The Gilmer Free Press. All Rights Reserved
Congratulations to Hunter Ashley for getting a 2nd place in the Discus throw. He may be a Freshman, but he can definately out throw a lot of sophmores, Juniors and seniors. Way to go Hunter. Practice always pays off. Proud of you.