State Of Emergency Declared in West Virginia

President Barack Obama issued an emergency declaration for West Virginia on Saturday following the violent storms on Friday night that downed trees and power lines across the state.

The emergency declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide help and coordinate relief efforts.

West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency early Saturday morning after the storms swept across the state Friday night.

Tomblin said 53 of the state’s 55 counties had outages, the most extensive in recent history.

“Those winds were so strong and over such a wide area,“ the governor said Saturday afternoon at a news conference in Charleston. “It’s going to take several days to get power back on.“

Cooling shelters were set up in counties throughout the Tri-State and elsewhere in West Virginia and Ohio as a means to help those in danger from what has been a record-setting heat wave.

Friday night’s storm, which had wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour, left 13 dead across the country, including one in Ohio.

Long lines developed at gas stations and fast-food restaurants that still had power.

No deaths were reported in West Virginia as of Saturday.

Those without power are advised to drink plenty of water, if possible. The elderly and others susceptible to extreme heat should consider moving to an air conditioned location or seek help if needed, Tomblin said. He also urged all West Virginians to check in on friends and neighbors who may need assistance.

The National Weather Service was forecasting a 40% chance of more thunderstorms overnight, Saturday, with highs in the upper 90s on Sunday and Monday.

State Of Emergency Declared by the Governor

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced Friday that he has declared a state of emergency for the entire state of West Virginia in the wake of this evening’s powerful storms.

The storms have left an estimated 500,000 people without power as a result of outages in at least 27 counties.

The statewide emergency declaration will allow all government resources to be devoted immediately to helping those in need and restoring power as soon as possible.

West Virginians without power should stay as cool as possible and drink plenty of water. The elderly and others susceptible to extreme heat should consider moving to an air conditioned location or seeking help if they feel that their health is threatened.

All West Virginians are urged to check in on friends and neighbors who may need assistance, and to call 911 in the event of emergency.

“The damage from today’s storms is widespread and in many places severe,“ said Governor Tomblin. “With temperatures near 100 degrees expected this weekend, it’s critical that we get people’s power back on as soon as possible. We’re committing 100% of our state’s resources for as long as we need to get this cleaned up.“

Analysis: Why Chief Justice Roberts Saved President Obama’s Healthcare Law

In the end, it all came down to Chief Justice John Roberts, the sphinx in the center chair, who in a stunning decision wove together competing rationales to uphold President Barack Obama’s healthcare plan.

Roberts’ action instantly upended the conventional wisdom that he would vote with his four fellow conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and undercut the agenda of a Democratic president, who as a senator in 2005 had opposed Roberts’ appointment to the bench.

But Thursday’s extraordinary conclusion to the bitterly fought healthcare battle was quite ordinary in some ways. Roberts hewed to a traditional Supreme Court principle that if the justices can find any constitutional grounds on which to uphold a law, they should do so. The 57-year-old chief justice also followed a stated principle of his own: narrowly deciding cases and trying to preserve the integrity of the judiciary in polarized Washington.

While he has voted consistently with the conservative bloc on social issues, such as abortion rights and racial policies, Roberts in his public remarks has suggested that he seeks, as chief, to transcend an ideological label. He routinely refers to the court’s place in history and has bristled at polls and public commentary that suggest the high court acts in the same political realm as the two elected branches of government.

Indeed, in his comments during oral arguments in the healthcare case, Roberts hinted that he could be open to siding with the government. He expressed concern that the court over which he presides might be seen as ignoring more than 75 years of precedent and rolling back U.S. law to the New Deal era. The last time the Supreme Court struck down a major act of Congress was in 1936, when the court invalidated a federal law that limited work hours and prescribed minimum wages for coal workers.

“He is positioning the court as the one, competent, principled institution in Washington,“ said Pamela Karlan, a Stanford University law professor. “The chief justice’s opinion is designed to appear thoughtful, measured. He is in this for the long haul.“

DEFYING HISTORY

As the lone conservative standing with four liberals, Roberts defied recent history, most people’s expectations, and the deepest held hopes of the right-wing and Tea Party opponents of the law. He also rejected the prevailing view of Republican politicians, who had been his strongest backers when President George W. Bush nominated him five years ago.

“The court avoided, despite an enormous amount of pressure to invalidate this law, staining itself as excessively partisan,“ said Bradley Joondeph, a law professor at Santa Clara University. “Think of the people who supported Chief Justice Roberts, who put him on the court, who were rooting for him.“

On the Roberts court, the swing-vote role has often been played by Justice Anthony Kennedy, not the chief himself. For example, Kennedy, a conservative appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, was crucial to its 1992 decision to uphold the right to abortion. Thursday’s case marked the first time that Roberts joined the liberal bloc as the deciding fifth vote in a major case.

On Thursday, Kennedy fell in with the conservatives and read their joint dissent. In it, he took a swipe at Roberts’ claim that the court was acting cautiously. “The court regards its strained statutory interpretation as judicial modesty,“ Kennedy wrote. “It is not. It amounts instead to a vast judicial overreaching.“

A PYRRHIC VICTORY

Roberts did hand the conservatives a pyrrhic victory. He rejected the Obama administration’s main argument that the core of the law, a mandate that requires most Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or face a penalty, was covered by Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce. Roberts said that power, while broad, does not extend to “inactivity,“ such as the choice not to buy insurance.

Whether this apparent limiting of the Commerce Clause will hinder Congressional power in the future remains to be seen. In their briefs and arguments, both sides characterized the health insurance mandate as distinctive, and it is unclear whether another Congressional regulation could be struck down under the Roberts “inactivity” rationale. Roberts’ judgment on the Commerce Clause issue was endorsed by fellow conservatives Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

But in turning to another constitutional ground on which to uphold the mandate, Congress’ taxation power, Roberts embraced the Obama administration’s secondary argument - and delivered a victory to the President. Roberts reasoned that even though Congress had shied away from calling the penalty for not buying insurance a “tax,“ it effectively is one.

Roberts stressed that the court was not endorsing the administration’s approach. “Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass on its wisdom or fairness,“ he said.

As he read excerpts from the momentous decision Thursday, Roberts seemed to downplay the drama of the morning. His voice was steady and even. He kept to his script. There were few rhetorical flourishes. He occasionally looked out at the spectators. Among them was Justice John Paul Stevens, a liberal who had served with Roberts until he retired two years ago at the age of 90.

Following the usual decorum in the white-marble and crimson-draped room, the nearly 300 people listening to the chief justice gave no audible response. Roberts then named the justices who had joined him in various parts of the decision, and those who had not. All told, it took about 20 minutes.

G-Fin™: In May, Consumer Spending Stalls, Morale at Six-Month Low

Consumer spending stalled in May as purchases of autos flagged while confidence dropped to a six-month low in June, the latest signs of trouble for the economy.

Although another report on Friday showed manufacturing activity in the Midwest picked up this month, factories saw a modest decline in new orders.

The Commerce Department said consumer spending was unchanged in May, failing to rise for the first time since November, after nudging up 0.1% the prior month. Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.

“We’re seeing consumer spending come off the boil a bit over the last few months. That’s to be expected, given uncertainty across the board and the troubling headlines we’ve seen,“ said Omer Esiner, chief analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in Washington.

Spending could weaken further as uncertainty generated by the debt crisis in Europe and an unclear fiscal policy path at home force Americans to scale back on consumption.

A separate report showed the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 73.2 in June from 79.3 in May. While the outlook for the economy has darkened in recent months, it continues to expand modestly.

A third report showed factory activity in the Midwest ticked up in June, with employment rising to its highest level since February. New orders, however, edged down.

The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago business barometer rose to 52.9 this month from 52.7 in May. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the regional economy.

“The message from Chicago is that things are not spiraling down out of control,“ said Dean Maki, chief economist at Barclays in New York.

The reports had little impact on U.S. financial markets, with investors focused on developments in Europe. Euro zone leaders agreed to allow a rescue fund to be used to stabilize the region’s banks, sending stocks on Wall Street rallying.

U.S. Treasury debt prices fell, while the dollar weakened against basket of currencies.

INFLATION PRESSURES MUTED

Consumer spending rose 0.1% after adjustment for inflation in May. The small rise caused economists to tweak their second-quarter growth forecasts. Economists at Goldman Sachs lowered their gross domestic product estimate to a 1.6% annual pace from 1.7%.

The economy expanded at a tepid 1.9% rate in the first quarter.

While weak gasoline prices contributed to holding down spending last month, they put downward pressure on inflation. A price index for personal spending fell 0.2% in May, the first decline in a year. The index was flat in April.

In the 12 months through May, the PCE index was up 1.5%, the smallest increase since January last year. It increased 1.9% in April.

A core measure that strips out food and energy costs advanced 0.1% last month after rising by the same margin in April. In the 12 months through May, the core PCE rose 1.8%, slowing from 2.0% the prior month.

Last month, spending on long lasting goods, like autos, fell 0.4% after dipping 0.2% in April. Auto sales had been boosted by pent-up demand after last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan left showrooms bereft of popular models.

Automakers reported unit sales declined in May.

Spending on nondurable goods fell 0.8%, with services advancing 0.3%.

Weak income growth as the economy struggles to generate enough jobs to cut into high unemployment is also curbing spending. Income rose 0.2% after a similar gain in April. The increase was in line with economists’ expectations.

The amount of income available to households after accounting for taxes and inflation, rose 0.3%. That followed a 0.1% gain in April.

With spending less than income, the saving rate rose to 3.9% from 3.7% the prior month.

A Minute with Jay: Remembering Senator Robert C. Byrd

Bon Appétit: Crunchy French Toast Sticks

Ingredients:

  3 eggs
  1/4 cup milk
  2 cups corn flakes, crushed
  4 slices bread, cut into thirds
  1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

Whisk the eggs and milk together in a bowl.

Spread the crushed corn flakes onto a plate.

Dip each piece of bread into the egg mixture and then press gently into the cereal, turning to coat completely.

Place the breadsticks onto a plate while breading the rest; do not stack.

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook the coated breadsticks in the melted butter until golden, about 4 minutes each side.

Ask the Doctor: Disease Is an Inherited Disorder

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I recently was tentatively diagnosed with CMT disease.
Having never heard of it, I did some research myself but can you give me advice as to what I can expect?
I am 53 years old and am awaiting more bloodwork results to make sure it is CMT. - C.S.

ANSWER: CMT - Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease - is a common, inherited nerve disorder that has a multiplicity of signs and symptoms, because a multiplicity of different genes are involved.
CMT type 1, the most common variety, shows itself with numbness, tingling and/or burning sensations of the lower legs.
This is evidence that “sensory” nerves are involved, the ones that bring sensations to the brain.
Lower leg muscles are also involved, indicating motor nerves also are affected.
Motor nerves are the ones that tell muscles to move.
Signs of motor nerve involvement are trouble walking, frequent stumbling and tripping, and shrinkage of the lower leg muscles.
The legs look like upside-down champagne bottles.
In some people, the hands and arms are part of the process.
The blood tests you are waiting for must be gene studies.
The progression and involvement of CMT is highly variable.
Some are so slightly affected that they scarcely know they have an illness.
Others are more severely incapacitated. Life span is not shortened.
Your symptoms have appeared late in life, so you’re not likely to face serious disabilities.
You’ll find the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association a source of valuable information.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My son had an EKG where the upgoing line was normal but the downgoing line went very low.
He was checked with other tests and was told everything was OK.
Have you heard of anything like this? It concerns me. - L.S.

ANSWER: You needn’t be concerned.
Often EKG patterns suggestive of possible heart trouble are overruled by other, more sensitive tests.
What you describe was nothing more than a normal variation on his EKG.

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

Flashback: What Happened on June 30, ....

•  1912 The Cheapeake and Potomac Telephone Company purchased the holdings of the Souther Bell Telephone Company in West Virginia and Virginia.

•  1951 Governor Okey Patteson announced the new state medical school would be located at West Virginia University in Morgantown (Monongalia County).

•  1956 The last African-American school in Ohio County, Lincoln School in Wheeling, was closed due to integration.

•  1957 The Bureau of Negro Welfare and Statistics went out of existence, due to a cost- cutting move by the West Virginia Legislature.

•  1992 Republican Ron Foster withdrew his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives, leaving Democrat Representative Bob Wise unopposed.

•  1992 Federal inspectors fined Union Carbide in South Charleston, Kanawha County, $151,000 for trying to cover up an injury report, mislabeling dangerous chemicals, and not making employees wear protective breathing gear.

•  1992 West Virginia Institute of Technology in Montgomery, Fayette County, fired its head football coach Kevin Bradley after the school was placed on probation by the NAIA.

Stargazing - 07.01.12

An arc of bright objects outlines the Sun’s path, called the ecliptic, this evening.

Mercury is low in the west after sunset, Mars is well to its upper left, Saturn and Spica are in the south, and the gibbous Moon is in the southeast.

The Ecliptic

As Earth moves around the Sun, our star slowly treks through the background of distant stars — a journey that takes precisely one solar year to complete. The path the Sun follows for this journey is the ecliptic. And early this evening, that path is staked out by an array of bright objects that show us where the Sun will travel over the next few months.

The first marker is low in the west shortly after sunset, before the sky gets dark: the planet Mercury. It looks like a fairly bright star, but it’s so low in the sky that it’s tough to see. Those in the southern states will have a better view of the little planet than those in the north.

Well to the upper left of Mercury, look for Regulus, the brightest star of Leo. The Sun will scoot past Regulus in late August, then spend several more weeks transiting the rest of the constellation.

Even higher along the Mercury-to-Regulus line, look for the orange planet Mars. It’s much fainter than it was just a few months ago, but it’s still a pretty sight, and easy to pick out as well.

Well to the left of Mars, and a little higher in the sky, are two objects that flank the ecliptic — the planet Saturn, and the star Spica below it. The ecliptic runs directly between them.

Finally, arc down to the southeast for the gibbous Moon, which is passing through Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer. Because the constellation lies along the ecliptic, the Sun will pass through its borders as well — in early December.

G-MM™: Meditation Moment - 06.30.12

‘I am not worthy …’

In today’s gospel, we hear the words that inspired the prayer of preparation to receive Communion: ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured.’

Jesus cured the servant at the request of the centurion.

‘You have believed’, Jesus said to the centurion, ‘so let this be done for you.’

Jesus cured the servant, not because of the servant’s faith, but because of the centurion’s faith.

Being a person of authority himself, the centurion recognized the same qualities in Jesus.

Is our relationship with Jesus such that we can recognize ourselves in him?

Do we recognize our own spark of divinity within ourselves?

We are made in God’s image and likeness.

How powerful.

How humbling.

What marvelous potential we have been given.

Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19. Lord, forget not the life of your poor ones—Ps 73(74):1-7, 20-21. Matthew 8:5-17.

Robert “Bob” Roy Doyle

Robert “Bob” Roy Doyle

Age 95, of 1361 Wheeler Fork, Horner, WV passed away on June 23, 2012 at the United Hospital Center Bridgeport.

He was born on February 06, 1917 in Weston, WV: son of the late Christopher Columbus Doyle and Mattie Blanche (Cook) Doyle.

On May 23, 1947 he married Margaret J. “Peggy” (Vandergrift) Doyle who survives.

Mr. Doyle is the last surviving member of his immediate family. Surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Doyle was preceded in death by three brothers; Donovan Doyle, Andrew Franklin Doyle and Richard Doyle; four sisters Audrey Doyle, Thelma Cottrill, Grace Arnold and Louise Lewis.

Bob was a member of the Vandalia United Methodist Church.

He worked as a painter and sheet rock finisher. He loved farming having raised hogs, sheep and chickens over the years. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and liked writing poetry.

Robert “Bob” Roy Doyle will be laid to rest at the convenience of the family at a later date on the family farm.

Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home of Weston is in charge of the arrangements of Robert “Bob” Roy Doyle.

Vaughn C. Steele

Vaughn C. Steele

Age 91 of Copen, WV passed away Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Crestview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jane Lew after a short illness.

He was born on December 18, 1920 at Copen, WV a son of the late Archie and Veda Myrl Bosley Steele.

He was a retired farmer and welder. Vaughn proudly served in the US Army in WW II, was a former member of the “CCC” and also a member of the Providence Baptist Church in Copen.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Jean Baker; brothers Eldon, Doyle and his wife Dolly. Also preceding him in death are two brothers-in-laws, Jennings Straley and Harold Baker.

Vaughn is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Deloris Diane Hosey and her husband Rusty of Copen; sisters, Betty Carson of Burnsville and Rita Straley of Richwood, WV; step-brother, Jack Steele of PA; step-sister, Violet Cantrell of Ohio; grandson, Rusty Hosey of Walkersville, WV; granddaughter, Jessica Richardson of Flatwoods, WV; one great-grandson, Teddy Russell Richardson also of Flatwoods.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at Stockert-Sizemore Funeral Home in Flatwoods, WV, with Rev. Delmas Singleton officiating.

Burial took place in Copen Cemetery, Copen, WV.

Friends called from 11:00 AM to service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

06.30.12

History on June 30, yyyy

Today is Saturday, June 30, the 182nd day of 2012. There are 184 days left in the year.

Thought for Today:

“The man who has done his level best is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.“ — B.C. Forbes, Scottish journalist (1880-1954).

Today’s Highlight in History:

On June 30, 1912, Canada’s deadliest tornado on record occurred as a late-afternoon cyclone struck Regina, the provincial capital of Saskatchewan, killing 28 people and destroying or damaging 500 buildings.

On this date:

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

In 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 defended it.

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 1936, the epic Civil War novel “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell was first published by The Macmillan Co. in New York.

In 1952, “The Guiding Light,“ a popular radio program, began a 57-year television run on CBS.

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

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

In 1972, for the first time, a leap-second was added to Coordinated Universal Time to account for the slowing rotation of the Earth.

In 1982, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution expired, having failed to receive the required number of ratifications for its adoption, despite having its seven-year deadline extended by three years.

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

Ten years ago:

Leonard Gregg, a part-time firefighter, was charged with starting one of the two wildfires that merged into a monstrous blaze in eastern Arizona. (Gregg later pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2004 to 10 years in federal prison; he was released in June 2011.)

Brazil defeated Germany, 2-0, for the team’s record fifth World Cup title.

Five years ago:

Two men rammed a jeep loaded with gasoline canisters into the main terminal at Glasgow Airport in Scotland, failing to set off an explosion, but seriously burning one of the suspects; the attack came a day after two cars rigged as bombs were found in London.

One year ago:

The U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued an indictment naming four suspects in the assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (rah-FEEK’ hah-REER’-ee), including a high-ranking Hezbollah militant linked to the 1983 truck bombings at the U.S. and French embassies in Kuwait. (Hezbollah is refusing to extradite the suspects.)

Conservative TV commentator Glenn Beck said goodbye to Fox News Channel, airing his final show before going into business for himself.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actor Tony Musante is 76

Actress Nancy Dussault is 76

Singer Glenn Shorrock is 68

Jazz musician Stanley Clarke is 61

Actor David Garrison is 60

Rock musician Hal Lindes (Dire Straits) is 59

Actor-comedian David Alan Grier is 56

Actor Vincent D’Onofrio is 53

Actress Deirdre Lovejoy is 50

Actor Rupert Graves is 49

Boxer Mike Tyson is 46

Rock musician Tom Drummond (Better Than Ezra) is 43

Actor Brian Bloom is 42

Actor Brian Vincent is 42

Actress Monica Potter is 41

Actor Rick Gonzalez is 33

Actress Lizzy Caplan is 30

Rhythm-and-blues singer Fantasia (“American Idol”) is 28

Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps is 27

WV Lottery - 06.29.12

1-8-0

8-0-9-4

04-07-10-18-23-24

28-34-39-45-53     Mega Ball: 34   Megaplier: x 4  

G-otcha™: Massachusetts Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Linn, WV Sex Case

The Massachusetts woman accused of posing as a boy and crossing state lines to prey on a Linn, West Virginia girl has pleaded not guilty.

Twenty-five-year-old Carissa Hads of Quincy, Massachusetts was indicted last week on one count of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual conduct.

She entered a plea Thursday, June 28, 2012 before U.S. Magistrate John Kaull, who ordered her held until trial.

Jury selection is set for Monday, September 24, 2012 before U.S. District Judge Irene Keeley in Clarksburg, WV.

Investigators say Hads pretended to be a 17-year-old boy and began an online relationship with the victim in 2010.

She visited the teen at least three times and had a sexual encounter with her in February.

Investigators say her disguise included a back brace to cover her chest.

ODC Withdraws Motion to Suspend Lewis’ License

The WV Record Reports:

A Morgantown attorney accused of shooting and wounding a homeless man at his camp in Clay County will, for now, be allowed to continue practicing law.

The day following his June 13 arrest on charges of wanton endangerment and malicious wounding, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the arm of the state Supreme Court that investigates attorney misconduct, petitioned the Court for the immediate suspension of Hiram C. Lewis IV’s license. In its petition, ODC said Lewis’ “current incarceration creates a clear disability to represent and protect his clients’ interest at this time.“

“At this time, [Lewis] poses a substantial threat of irreparable harm to the public at this time.“

Along with the suspension, ODC asked the court to appoint an attorney to act as trustee for Lewis’ clients. The next day the Court granted ODC’s motion, and ordered Chief Clay Circuit Judge Jack Alsop to appoint the trustee.

Later, the Court scheduled a hearing on Aug. 7 to allow Lewis to contest the suspension.

However, the Court on June 27 announced it granted a follow-up motion by ODC to withdraw its petition and cancel the Aug. 7 hearing. The petition came as a result of Lewis’ release from the Central Regional Jail in Sutton after posting a $70,000 bond.

Despite withdrawing its motion, ODC said it is still considering bringing disciplinary action against Lewis relating to his actions that day.

Since his arrest, Lewis, who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2004 and U.S. Senate in 2006, has maintained he shot Steven Bogart, a homeless veteran he befriended shortly after moving to his camp in Procious in early June, in self-defense following an altercation between them. At his preliminary hearing on June 19, Lewis testified the altercation was a result of Bogart becoming agitated at Lewis telling him to turn down the music he was playing because it was disturbing a neighbor.

According to Lewis, after the two exchanged words inside the cabin, Lewis ordered Bogart outside to the screened in porch where Bogart was residing. When Bogart kicked in the door, and assaulted him, Lewis said he used a pistol to shoot him in the knee.

Lewis’ case is awaiting presentation before the Clay County grand jury.

~~  Lawrence Smith - The WV Record  ~~

Glenville Police Department Report - May 2012

New Investigations
Incident	Location	Officer	Disposition
Domestic Battery	*****	Jones	Warrant Issued
Driving Intoxicated, 3rd Offence	N. Lewis Street	Jones	Arrest
Petit Larceny	WV Hwy 5 E	Jones	Active
Entering without Breaking, Trespass/Assault	Sycamore	Chief Moss	Arrest
Citations
Incident	Location	Officer	Disposition
Public Intoxication	Stop Light	Moss/McCune	Cite #676995
Public Intoxication	N. Lewis Street	Moss/McCune	Cite #676010
Expired Registration/Inspection	N. Lewis Street	Moss/McCune	Cite #677009
Disturbing the Peace(Tires)	WV Hwy 5 E	Chief Moss	Cite #677008
Expired Registration	N. Lewis Street	Jenkins	Cite #677990
Warnings Issued
Incident	Location	Officer	Disposition
Trash Notice	Whiting Ave.	Chief Moss	Notice Left
High Grass	Mineral Road	Moss/McCune	Verbal, Cut
High Grass	Mineral Road	Moss/McCune	Notice Left
Trash Bags	Lorentz Street	Moss/McCune	Verbal, Gone
Trash Bags	Pine Street	Chief Moss	Notice Left
Expired Registration	N. Lewis Street	Moss/McCune	Warning #1347
Proof of Insurance/Reckless	S. Lewis Street	Moss/McCune	Warning #1346
Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Jones	Warning #1380
Expired Inspection	WV Hwy 5 E	Moss/McCune	Warning #1344
Expired Registration	N. Lewis Street	Moss/McCune	Warning #1345
Expired Registration	WV Hwy 5 E	Moss/McCune	Warning #1343
Speeding	W. Main Street	Jenkins/McCune	Warning #1379
Expired Registration	College Street	Chief Moss	Warning #1342
High Grass	College Street	Chief Moss	Notice, Cut
Trash	College Street	Chief Moss	Verbal
Speeding	College Street	Jenkins/McCune	Warning #1377
Speeding	W. Main Street	Jenkins/McCune	Warning #1378
Tail Light	WV Hwy 5 E	Jenkins/McCune	Warning #1339
Expired Registration	N. Lewis Street	Jenkins/McCune	Warning #1340
Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Jenkins	Warning #1376
Trash/Furniture	High Street	Chief Moss	Verbal by Phone
High Grass	Brooklyn Drive	Chief Moss	Notice, Cut
High Grass	Pine Street	Chief Moss	Notice, Cut
Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Jenkins	Warning #1375
Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Chief Moss	Warning #1374
Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Jones	Warning #1373
Stop Sign	Howard Street	Jones	Warning #1371
Studded Tires/Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Jones	Warning #1372
Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Jenkins	Warning #1338
Speeding	N. Lewis Street	Jenkins	Warning #1337
Other Police Calls
Incident	Location	Officer	Disposition
Suspicious Incident	Brooklyn Drive	Jenkins	Found Nothing
Theft, $7.00	WV Hwy 5 E	Jones	Incident Only
Smoke	River Street	Cutlip	Found Nothing
Suspicious Vehicle	McDonalds	Moss/McCune	All OK
Un-Secured Door	*****	Moss/McCune	Called Keyholder
Property Dispute	N. Lewis Street	Moss/McCune	Returned Property
Gas Drive Off	*****	Moss/McCune	Accidental, Paid
911 Hang Up	W, Main Street	Moss/McCune	All OK
Injured Deer	N. Lewis Street	Chief Moss	Disposed of
Loose Dog	N. Lewis Street	Chief Moss	Gave to Dog Catcher
Intoxicated Male	S. Lewis Street	Jones	Gone on Arrival
Alarm	*****	Chief Moss	All OK
Rocks in Roadway	College Street	Jenkins	Called DOH
Parking Complaint	S. Lewis Street	Chief Moss	Unfounded
Personal Dispute	W. Main Street	Chief Moss	Talked to Both
Suspicious Vehicle	Park Street	Jones	Unable to Locate
Alarm	*****	Chief Moss	All OK
Assist Citizens
Incident	Location	Officer	Disposition
Extra Patrols	Brooklyn Drive	Moss/McCune	Watched Area
Assist Motorist	Foodland Plaza	Jones	Vehicle Trouble
Vehicle Unlocked	Courthouse	Jones	Unlocked
Vehicle Unlocked	Walnut Street	Chief Moss	Unlocked
Vehicle Unlocked	Johnson Avenue	Chief Moss	Unlocked
Health Check	River Street	Chief Moss	He Was OK
Vehicle Unlocked / Jump	River Street	Chief Moss	Unlocked
Unwanted Person	Sycamore	Jones	Removed
Assist Other Agencies
Incident	Location	Officer	Disposition
Sheriff Department	U.S. Hwy 33/119	Chief Moss	Domestic
Sheriff Department	Ellis Road	Chief Moss	Domestic
Accidents
Incident	Location	Officer	Disposition
None

Chief Moss’ Report to Council:

Old Business:

•  The new pistols came in last month and I had to order new holsters for them because our old holsters wouldn’t fit the new pistols. I need approval to pay the invoice for $284.97 for three holsters.

•  The Officer’s application and paperwork has been turned in to Police Academy where he had his physical, hearing and vision tests. We should know soon if he will be attending the June Class or the September class at the latest. He has also been qualified on the pistol, shotgun, and Rifle.

New Business:

•  I would like Council’s approval to sell in sealed bids the two 12-guage shotguns that we have extra and not being used.

A Message for Grandparents and Parents

The moment you become a parent, YOUR OWN PARENTS AUTOMATICALLY TAKE ON A NEW ROLE: THEY BECOME GRANDPARENTS.

In the United States, almost 1 million children are living in homes where the grandparent is the main care provider.

Grandparents HEAD 37% of all U.S. households in this country-that’s 44 million households nationwide and this number is increasing. With this increase in the number of grandparents, the role of a grandparent in the lives of families becomes increasingly important.

Grandparents serve many roles. They are nurturers who provide encouragement and support to the family in times of crisis. They mentor by teaching, sharing skills and talents, provide advice and LISTEN to their CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

As a role model, grandparents provide THEIR CHILDREN AND grandchildren with examples of hard work and family loyalty.

A GRANDPARENT may not realize the influence THEY have on THEIR grandchildren until THEY hear them repeat something THEY said or imitate something THEY have done.

Grandparents speak with enthusiasm of time spent reading books, playing games, and sharing mutual interests with their grandchildren. At young ages, grandchildren are mesmerized by tricks and will STARE wide-eyed asking “how did you do that?” truly believing grandpa pulled a coin out of their ear.

A GRANDPARENT’S SIGNIFICANCE is seen through the support and help they give to their CHILDREN. Since in society today, many parents lead extremely busy lives AS frequently THEY work and have careers.

Being able to call on grandparents to help with the care of their children can be extremely valuable TO A PARENT.

According to childstats.gov close to 20% of children from birth to age 4 are cared for during the day by a grandparent.

Helen Wilson, WV Birth TO THREE REGION 2 RAU COORDINATOR, STATES “In this day and age, SINCE many grandparents are now the primary caregivers of their grandchildren, we want to reach out to THEM WHEN THERE ARE concerns about THE DEVELOPMENT OF A child in their life.

DEVELOPMENTAL CONCERNS can be successfully treated if identified early. Therefore, being aware of developmental milestones and what is normal is important for grandparents.

If your grandchild isn’t walking or talking like OTHER children their age, it is a good idea to DISCUSS the concern with the CHILD’S PHYSICIAN, or contact West Virginia Birth to Three.

Grandparents may contact WV Birth to Three if they would like more information about milestones OR HAVE CONCERNS.

Grandchildren bring love, energy, laughter, youthfulness and purpose to the lives of grandparents, At the same time, grandparents provide maturity, knowledge, stability and unconditional love to the lives of their grandchildren.

Whatever role you play as a grandparent is an important one, one that can make a difference in the lives of your grandchildren.

If THERE ARE concerns about your GRANDchild’s development, call 1.866.401.8919 or 304.485.2000.

HERE ARE ALSO WEBSITES WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL:
www.aarp.org

www.grandparents.com

www.foreverfamilies.byu.edu

www.literacytrust.org

www.a-better-child.org

G-otcha™: Webster County Couple Charged With Triple Slayings

Imprisonment Status:  Pre-Trial Felon
	Full Name:	York,  Michael  Steve
	Height:	5’  11”
	Weight:	170 lbs.
	Birth Date:	12.25.1957
	Gender:	Male
	Booking Date:	06.28.2012
	Facility:	Central Regional Jail
	Imprisonment Status:	Pre-Trial Felon

Offender Court Order Information

Court Info Number	Issuing Agency Location
12E-76	ROANE COUNTY - Bail Amount: $20,000.00
12F-93-96	WEBSTER COUNTY - Bail Amount: $0.00

 

Update: 06.29.12 - 12:02 PM:

Other Victims Identified In Webster Triple Murder

Investigators are now identifying the other two people shot to death in a yard in Webster County earlier this week.

They are Lamar Allen, 49, who also goes by the name Elle Coates, and Denise Coates, 49.  Both most recently lived in Hacker Valley, but had previously been residents of Maryland.

Deputies with the Webster County Sheriff’s Department and State Police troopers found their bodies, along with the body of Dustin Brown, 26, of Hacker Valley at a home near Hacker Valley on Wednesday night.

The couple that lived there, Amanda York, 28, and Michael York, 44, are each charged with three counts of murder.

Authorities say Amanda York called 911 Wednesday evening claiming to be home alone with a five year old child.  She said three people had come to her home and threatened them and she shot all three and they were lying in the yard.

When law enforcement officers arrived, they say the five year old told them Michael York, the child’s father, was the one who fired the deadly shots.

Upon further questioning of Amanda York, she allegedly admitted to as much.

She tells authorities the couple had gotten into an argument with the three shooting victims earlier in the day at another home.  She says they left after the argument.  However, after she and Michael got home, the three showed up at their house and resumed the fight.

After the shootings, Amanda says she told her husband to leave for Kentucky and she would stay behind and try to hide one of the bodies.  She later changed that story and said Michael York had hidden the body and she had helped.

State Police arrested Michael York near the Amma exit of Interstate 79 in Roane County late Wednesday night. 

The Yorks are being held in the Central Regional Jail in Flatwoods facing three counts of murder.  In addition to those charges, Michael York is also facing a count of concealment of a deceased human body. 

=============================================================

A Webster County man and his wife face murder charges in the fatal shootings of three people.

Police found the victims at the Hacker Valley home of 44-year-old Michael York and his 28-year-old wife, Amanda, after Amanda York called the county 911 center around 6:40 PM Wednesday, June 26, 2012.

The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Amanda York allegedly told dispatchers that she shot the victims after they came to the couple’s home and made threats.

But a 5-year-old child who was at the home told police that Michael York was the shooter, Webster County prosecutor Dwayne C. Vandevender said Thursday.

He said no information about the child would be released.

When she was questioned, Amanda York allegedly told police that her husband shot the victims and she tried to help him hide one of the bodies.

Police arrested Michael York several hours later as he was traveling south on Interstate 79 near Clay County.

Both suspects were being held at the Central Regional Jail on Thursday on three counts of murder pending a bond hearing in Webster County Circuit Court.

Police also charged Michael York with concealing a body. Vandevender said they did not yet have attorneys.

He identified one victim as 26-year-old Dustin Brown of Hacker Valley. The other victims’ names haven’t been released.

Amanda York told police that the couple and the victims were involved in a verbal altercation at the unidentified man and woman’s residence earlier in the day.

She said the victims started another altercation when they came to the Yorks’ home.

Gilmer County Recreation Center Pool Is Now Open

The Gilmer County Recreation Center pool is now open.

Come out and have a great splash and get cooled off this summer.

Daily entrance fee is $3.00 per person.

Pool passes available for purchase by calling Jenny at 304.266.1414.

Vision Shared: Voicing Input about Education

Several communities across West Virginia have given their input regarding the future direction of education in West Virginia.

The 4th of 8 community forums being held across the state was conducted at the Cultural Center in Charleston on Thursday.

The room was filled with teachers, higher education officials, and community and business leaders all focused on one goal, improving education in the state.

Vision Shared President Rebecca Randolph says so far they are pleased to see the diversity of people coming together in one place to talk about positive change in education in the future.

These forums give communities across the state an opportunity to talk about the findings from the recent Education Efficiency Audit of West Virginia’s Primary and Secondary Education System.

The nonprofit organization Vision Shared, the group conducting these forums, says they want to see student achievement increase in the state as a result of these meetings.

“We produce a report annually that looks at student achievement and West Virginia consistently ranks low,“ says Randolph. “So our goal is to see that improve.“

The discussion at the forums mainly focuses on the service delivery improvement section of the audit. When all the forums are complete, the information collected will then be used to formulate plans for the future.

Randolph says Vision Shared will compile a report of all the information collected and use the report to identify starting points for creating long term and shortterm changes in the education system.

The next forum is scheduled for July 10, 2012 in Wheeling at 6:30 PM.

If you would like more information about the forums or to register for a forum, visit www.visionshared.com/edu2012/ or call 304.654.0875.

Letter Gap: Five Family Yard Sale – June 29-30, 2012, Friday-Saturday

5 Family Yard Sale at Rick Sprouse Residence in Letter Gap

Friday–Saturday June 29-30,2012

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

New Blackberry Curve with Accessories, small chest freezer, dresser,
recliner, abs coaster, jewelry, shoes, juniors, men’s, and plus size clothing,
dishes, books, camera, DVD’s, games and much more.

Yard Sale - Kanawha Drive – June 29-30, 2012

There will be a yard sale on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30, 2012 on Kanawha Drive from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Boys’ clothes sizes 10/12 through adult.

Girls’ clothes 6/8 and various other sizes.

Bikes, toys, table games, skateboard/bike ramp, Schutt DNA football helmets, football pads, and other various items.

Stumptown: Friday Night Sing - 06.29.12

Town of Sand Fork Independence Day Celebration – 06.29.12 - Today

TOWN OF SAND FORK

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012

COVERED DISH PICNIC - 6:00-8:00 PM

SAND FORK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

*LIVE MUSIC, PERFORMANCE BY MOUNTAINEER STATE CLOGGERS

5 INFLATABLE BOUNCE HOUSES

FIRE DEPARTMENT STAND WILL OFFER COTTON CANDY AND POPCORN

and

FIREWORKS !!

This event is sponsored by the Town of Sand Fork, Sand Fork Baptist Church and Sand Fork Church of God.

PARKING AND SHUTTLE SERVICE AVAILABLE AT SAND FORK BAPTIST CHURCH AND SAND FORK CHURCH OF GOD.

*HANDICAP PARKING ONLY AT SCHOOL PARKING LOT

EVERYONE WELCOME…....BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIR & A COVERED DISH

ENJOY THE EVENING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Trinity Marie Young

Shawndee Young and Heath Young of Duck, WV, announce the birth of their first child, a daughter, Trinity Marie Young.

She was born June 14, 2012, at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston and weighed 9-pounds, 9-ounces.

The mother is the former Shawndee Nicole Neff and is employed at KFC/Taco Bell.

The father is employed at Lignetics.

Zander Cade Ramezan

Zander Cade Ramezan is the name chosen for a son born to Jonathan and Niki Ramezan of Glenville, WV.

The little boy was born May 24, 2012, at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston.

He weighed 8-pounds, 4-ounces and is the couple’s second child.

The mother is employed at United Bank.

The father is a Network Engineer.

Maternal grandparents are Bill and Debbie Stalnaker of Glenville, WV.

Paternal grandparents are Dave and Janette Ramezan of Sand Fork, WV.

David Lea Hinkle

Pearl and David Hinkle of Weston, announce the birth of their son, David Lea Hinkle.

He was born June 15, 2012 at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston and is the couple’s third child.

The little boy weighed 9-pounds, 1-ounce.

The mother is the former Pearl Anna Eagle.

Coalton Dominic Scott

Coalton Dominic Scott is the name chosen for a son born to Justin Craig Scott and Amy Marie Ables of Weston, WV.

He was born June 15, 2012.

The little boy weighed 5-pounds, 7-ounces and was at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston.

He is the couple’s first child.

The father is employed at Arbys.

Maternal grandparent is Donnie Ables.

Bronson Wayne Marple

Bronson Wayne Marple is the name chosen for a son born to Amber Davisson and Wayne Marple of Weston, WV.

The little boy weighed 7-pounds, 6-ounces.

He was born June 13, 2012 at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston.

He is the couple’s first child.

The mother is employed at Steer Steak House.

The father is employed at T. K. Stanley.

Maternal grandparents are Michael and Ruchele of Weston, WV.

Paternal grandparents are George and Linda Marple of Weston, WV.

Governor Tomblin Issues Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision on Federal Health Care

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin today issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling to uphold the individual insurance requirement of the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA).

“We know what the law is but as I’ve said before, I will continue to do what is best for West Virginia. We all know health care costs continue to rise and our health care system must be more efficient. We’re going to review the Supreme Court’s ruling, and work with our federal delegation on how we move forward.”

McKinley Reacts to Supreme Court’s Decision Upholding Bulk of ObamaCare

Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) is criticizing today’s decision in upholding President Obama’s health care plan.  The nation’s highest court handed down the decision just minutes ago in Washington, D.C.

“I am disappointed the Supreme Court upheld a health care plan that clearly goes against our Constitution,” said Rep. McKinley.  “Not only is ObamaCare a bad policy that has increased healthcare costs, exploded the deficit and hurt small businesses, it is based on dubious Constitutional authority.”

ObamaCare costs America $1.76 trillion over its first 10 years and adds 17 new taxes or penalties.  In addition, it will punish small businesses with more red tape and the employer mandate will cause the elimination of 1.6 million jobs, with 66% of those coming from small businesses.

“We will continue our fight to fully repeal ObamaCare,” said Rep. McKinley.  “All Americans should have the right to make their own health care choices. Restricting choice and punishing individuals and employers is the wrong way to reform health care, whether the court agrees or not.“

“Once ObamaCare is fully repealed, we will not rush into the same mistakes made by President Obama and the Democrats,” said Rep. McKinley. “We need to listen to the American people to get health care reform right, and we should take the time to do so.”

The court was divided on a number of provisions in the health care law.

G-Comm™: College Playoff Satisfies Fans For Now

I hesitate to write this. The news of the first ever playoff for college football is still a little hard to digest.

Think about it.  They have been playing college football since Rutgers and Princeton squared off in 1869, and we have never seen a four team playoff at the major university level.  This is pretty historic stuff.

So, I am trying to write some of my initial thoughts off of the top of my head without having a chance to think about it for very long. But here are some of the things that I initially think.  At least, I think I do.

1.  The conference commissioners and Presidents are listening to the fans and the court of public opinion. That has not always been the case, but lately the outcry for a playoff has been too great.

2.  Two of the big winners here are SEC commissioners Mike Slive and ACC commissioner John Swofford. Four years ago, they presented basically this exact same proposal and they were abruptly shot down. They were merely ahead of their time. Add Notre Dame A.D. Jack Swarbuck to the list. The Fighting Irish still have a seat at the football relevant table.

3.  Slive’s league is a big winner. By assuring that, not just conference champions are taken into the playoff, the SEC has to think they have a chance to get two teams into the playoff on certain years. The SEC has dominated the BCS system. I am sure they are planning to do the same with the new system.

4.  Swofford also has to feel the partnership that is involved in the new playoff system will stablize things in the ACC…......at least for now.

5.  The bowl system basically is preserved which was a goal of the committee. The bowls could be better than ever actually. Instead of four BCS games and a national title game, there are now five.  This could be good for long time bowls such as the Cotton Bowl and the Gator Bowl.

6.  With the new playoff system, it is becoming more and more clear that the new All-American bowl between the SEC and the Big 12 will not be a true “champions” bowl. More often than not, it will be a second place Big 12 team against a second or third place SEC team.

7.  It is highly unlikely that a mid-major team, such as a Boise State, will sneak into a national title game or a four team playoff. But, one thing that mid-major coaches are glad about is that they will no longer have to recruit with the label of BCS and non BCS. 

8.  Quite frankly, it will be hard to wait for the new system. The BCS already feels like an out-dated lame duck. We have to put up with it for two years.

9.  Ultimately, a four team playoff may not prove to be enough.  So why do we have to wait 12 years to fix it if we grow tired of it.

10. A selection committee will be used to determine the four teams in the playoff. The make-up of the committee is expected to be similar to the NCAA men’s basketball committee with conference commissioners and Athletic Directors.  This would seem to make the process more subjective than objective. I am not sure that it isn’t better to use some of the former coaches who have comprised the Legends Poll rather than modeling the men’s basketball committee.

~~  Frank Giardina – WVMN ~~

Manchin Statement on Supreme Court Health Care Ruling

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) issued the following statement about the Supreme Court’s ruling on the health care law.

“We should all recognize that the health care challenges that many West Virginians and Americans face are not going to go away unless Congress takes additional action to repair this bill. Now that the Court has ruled, we can move forward with fixing what is wrong with this bill and saving what is right. I have always been determined to reduce the burden on states from the Medicaid expansion, and this ruling affirms my position – and makes clear that states must have the flexibility to live within their means by determining Medicaid eligibility as each state sees fit. I have always said one size doesn’t fit all.

“In addition, I believe there are several parts of this bill that are good for West Virginians: especially ending discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, improving access to preventive care and eliminating the prescription drug donut hole for seniors. Looking ahead, we must work to find common ground on the individual mandate, which doesn’t make sense to West Virginians. I am determined to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move forward with a solution.”