Weekly Horoscope: 05.31.09 - 06.06.09

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) - Do what you can to tidy up loose ends on the 31st and 1st. Free up your time for interesting projects that have the potential to turn into something bigger and better. A partnership will take on a deeper meaning on the 2nd and 3rd if you are open about your likes and dislikes and you strive to understand whats important to the person you are dealing with. Dont put demands on others and you will be spared the same in return on the 4th and 5th. Personal reforms can help you make improvements that will enhance your popularity. Dont get drawn into a scam that promises you benefits or financial gratitude on the 6th or you will end up losing out emotionally and financially.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) - Do what you can to tidy up loose ends on the 31st and 1st. Free up your time for interesting projects that have the potential to turn into something bigger and better. A partnership will take on a deeper meaning on the 2nd and 3rd if you are open about your likes and dislikes and you strive to understand whats important to the person you are dealing with. Dont put demands on others and you will be spared the same in return on the 4th and 5th. Personal reforms can help you make improvements that will enhance your popularity. Dont get drawn into a scam that promises you benefits or financial gratitude on the 6th or you will end up losing out emotionally and financially.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 20) - A positive attitude on the 31st and 1st will ward off anyone who is critical and negative. Recognize who brings out the best in you and you will find peace of mind. You can make some professional or financial moves on the 2nd and 3rd that will alter your lifestyle and initiate some interesting new friendships with people you have more in common with. Dont limit what you can do on the 4th and 5th because of your current situation or responsibilities. If you are organized you can fit everything in to your schedule that you have to do as well as want to do. Stress will mount on the 6th if you allow someone to back you into a corner regarding your whereabouts or loyalties.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) - Put time aside for friends and family on the 31st and 1st. You can make a good impression and influence someone that needs of guidance. Children or a lover will cause you emotional stress on the 2nd and 3rd if you give in to demands that are going to add to your responsibilities or leave you short financially. You dont have to go overboard or spend too much to have fun on the 4th and 5th. Bring people together that you think will have a lot in common and you will make everyone happy. Get involved in a worthy cause on the 6th will bring you in touch with someone that has a similar outlook and direction in life. Its what you give not what you receive that counts.

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22) - Security should be your aim on the 31st and 1st. Prepare to take advantage of someone elses mistake. Dont view your cup as half empty when it is already half full. Interesting changes at home on the 2nd and 3rd will change the way you view the people you are close to. Dont let emotional anger cause you to do something you might regret. You may want to make an investment on the 4th and 5th that isnt in your best interest. If you dont have the funds to move ahead you are best to take a pass. Make a few personal changes on the 6th and you will receive approval from someone with the ability to influence your future. Attend an event that allows you to mingle with peers.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22) - Don’t hold back on the 31st and 1st. You have to put things behind you before you can move forward. Find out where you stand and act accordingly. You can make some interesting changes on the 2nd and 3rd if you discuss your plans with experienced individuals who can offer simple solutions. There is money to be made if you make a few innovative changes to your ideas. Serious decisions can be made with confidence on the 4th and 5th once youve gathered all the information you require. Be aware of your goals and how you must proceed to get everything done on time on the 6th or someone may confuse you and try to lead you astray. You have no time to waste.

Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22) - Hush, your secrets must not be revealed on the 31st and 1st or you will be faced with some unforeseen alterations that will set you back. A great idea can turn into a worthwhile plan on the 2nd and 3rd. Join a group or organization that can contribute to your intentions and you will all find a way to prosper. Socialized networking will lead to a great new friendship. Promises will be broken on the 4th and 5th if you havent got what you want in writing. Fast-talk and quick action will counteract what could derail a project you want to pursue. Make your home a unique place for friends to come and hang out on the 6th and you will gain popularity as well as alliances.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) - Present and promote on the 31st and 1st and you will get interest in what you are doing. Dont let personal challenges hold you back professionally. Dont let the little things get to you on the 2nd and 3rd. You can initiate interesting changes at home that will enable you to create develop and formulate something that can improve your lifestyle. Someone is likely to call your bluff or question your motives on the 4th and 5th. Try to be as straight forward as possible without giving away secret information. Dont lose sight of your responsibilities on the 6th or it may cost you financially. You cannot avoid emotional issues so face them head on.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21) - Don’t give in to coercive tactics that include doing things you dont feel good about doing on the 31st and 1st. Back away and prepare to run your own show. An impulsive act on the 2nd or 3rd will have emotional repercussions. You must think before you take responsibility for something that you may not have enough knowledge to execute properly. Listen and observe on the 4th and 5th but dont meddle or you will end up being blamed for not relaying information correctly. A little will go a long way on the 6th. Avoid being bullied into taking on responsibilities that dont belong to you, if you keep things simple and cost efficient you will win in the end.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19) - Get your house in order on the 31st and 1st. You cant bend to others if you want things done to your specifications. Nothing is out of reach if you do the work yourself. Travel, visit friend or take in a lecture that will stimulate you on the 2nd and 3rd. You will pick up new skills if you try something that challenges you. Dont let money be the reason for making a move on the 4th and 5th. You will be disappointed by the outcome as well as by what you have to do in order to get ahead. Understand whats expected of you first. A situation involving a friend child or your lover will frustrate you on the 6th if you end up paying for someone elses mistake.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18) - You’ll have to redesign your plans on the 31st and 1st if you are going to get along with someone who wants to call the shots. Consider the consequences. Shoot for the stars on the 2nd and 3rd and your dreams will come true. Good fortune is heading your way and the changes you make personally or to your home will raise your profile and your confidence. Avoid anyone on the 4th and 5th who is being negative or trying to push you into an emotional discussion that you dont want to deal with. You wont be given all the facts required to make a good decision on the 6th. Dont feel pressured into doing something that may leave you in a compromising position.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20) - Making a decision will be difficult on the 31st and 1st if you have taken on too much. Organization and preparation will be the key to getting what you want in the end. Youll be surprised by someone from your past on the 2nd and 3rd. A chance meeting will turn things around that went sour for you a long time ago. You can put something youve wanted to do for a long time back into play on the 4th and 5th. Your persistence will not be denied and the funding needed to proceed will come from an unusual source. A trip will prove beneficial on the 6th. Its up to you to make the first move if you really want to resolve and resume a problem that has plagued you for years.

West Virginia Legislature Passed the Budget

The West Virginia Legislature passed an $11.5-billion state budget Sunday, a month and a half after the regular session ended.

Governor Joe Manchin says he’s so pleased with the way things were handled, it’s possible the budget process might he dealt with in the same way in years to come. “It’s much more cost effective. It’s efficient. And it’s something maybe we should consider.“

Normally, the legislature tackles the budget right after the end of the regular session. But this year, with the economy in a recession and how to spend stimulus money still up in the air, the governor and lawmakers decided to wait until late May to tackle the budget.

Once they looked at the April unemployment and tax figures they had a better idea of where the state stood. “The time that we took in hind sight was the right thing to do. It gave everybody a chance to go home, settle down. It gave us a chance to put all the numbers together. We started working and coming back much more expedient than what we would if we had just stayed.“

The regular session ended on April 11, 2009. The extended session didn’t start until May 26, 2009. During that time both Houses worked on budget numbers. As a result, the governor says they had a better idea of what they’re dealing with in the upcoming year and how to handle it money wise. “We did side by sides. We had everything broke down. And that usually takes three or four days. We had that done the first day. It’s been a very efficient process. We’re all very pleased with it.“
~~ WVMN ~~

Gilmer County: ATV Accidents

Normantown: On Saturday, an ATV accident involving a male driver and female passenger. The driver had minor injuries, but passenger experienced serious injuries. The passenger was Med-Vaced by helicopter to hospital.

Sand Fork: On Sunday afternoon,  an ATV accident involving a 16-year old male with burn marks from electric fence. Accident happened about Sand Fork Post office.

Weekend Sport Accident

Normantown: On Saturday, an accident in baseball game between Sand Fork and Normantown. Sand Fork catcher was injured seriously on face when running to exposed wire on the catcher’s case. She had to be Med-Vac by helicopter to hospital.

Changing Beliefs: Study Shows Attitudes About ‘New Economy’ in WV

West Virginians support the growth of high-tech industries as a way to generate good-paying jobs across the state, according to a recent statewide survey.

But a majority of residents believe it’s primarily up to state government to create those jobs.

“It’s a cultural conditioning,“ said Jeff James, whose group, Create West Virginia, hopes to change that mindset by talking to people across the state about the dynamics of the private sector. “We need to generate a grass-roots entrepreneurial culture.“

The survey - commissioned by Create West Virginia and conducted by Marshall University’s Center for Business and Economic Research - provided a snapshot of West Virginians’ attitudes about technology, education, social diversity, communities and entrepreneurship. More than 1,200 people answered 33 questions.

The results contradicted many widely held assumptions about what West Virginians think, James said.

More than 80% supported investments in research and development. Seventy% said new high-wage jobs are primarily created by high-tech industries.

“People are becoming more aware that the state can’t just exist on coal,“ said Scot Jackson, a member of Create West Virginia and chief executive officer of Dream Catcher Creative, a digital marketing firm in Charleston. “People are realizing it’s the smaller, flexible companies that are going to rise to the top.“

The survey also showed that West Virginians believe that tolerance of people of all races, religions and lifestyles is important to the state’s future success.

Nearly 90% of those surveyed said they support efforts by state and local governments to ensure tolerance and diversity.

“The strong support for diversity demonstrated in this survey contradicts many of the stereotypes held about our state,“ said James, a Glenville native and chief executive officer of Mythology, a Charleston marketing firm. “While there are areas of improvement, most West Virginians are committed to diversity and inclusion.“

Another surprise: An overwhelming majority of West Virginians supports environmentally friendly or “green” energy policies. State residents also back government initiatives to help communities modernize, the survey found.
“There’s strong support for green energy sources and green building standards,“ James said.

When it comes to education, survey participants said they want schools to find better ways to educate children.

About 60% said they believe their local school system prepares children for success. And 90% said it’s important to get a college diploma.

“People want to see more change, more innovation in schools, so kids are embracing 21st-century skills,“ James said.

In response to questions about communities, 70% of respondents said they needed more places to meet and socialize. An even higher percentage of West Virginians ages 25 to 35 listed that as a major concern.

“We connect issues such as diversity and the quality of place issues to this because in an innovation-based economy where talent is king, we have to be able to attract young, educated, creative talents of all types,“ James said. “The assumption has been that West Virginians don’t value these issues; therefore we aren’t seeing much sense of urgency among our leaders.“

The survey showed that West Virginians have a negative perception of the state’s business climate.

Only 13% said they planned to start a business in the near future. Sixty% said it was the government’s responsibility to create high-paying jobs.

Create West Virginia members plan to meet with state lawmakers to discuss the study. The group also plans to hold workshops and talk with local officials in communities throughout the state.
“We want to help our leaders understand just how much the people they represent want these things to be a priority,“ James said.

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation funded the study. Create West Virginia is part of Vision Shared, a community and economic development organization.

While sharing the survey results in meetings and summits later this year, Create West Virginia members plan to tell stories about successful entrepreneurs.

“We’re excited about the results of the study,“ James said. “It puts more fuel on the fire in terms of where West Virginia needs to head. It comes down to creating a culture where people are willing to take risks.“

Gilmer County Firehouse

~~ GC ~~

Reunion: Mt. Liberty Church, Tanner

The annual Memorial Day Service will be held at Mt. Liberty Church on Sunday, June 7, 2009.
Sunday school is at 10:00 AM, preaching is at 11:00 AM.
Lunch will be served at Noon.
Singing will start at 1:00 PM.
Everyone welcome.

Fire Season Ends, But The Danger Does Not

Sunday wraps up the Spring Forest Fire Season in West Virginia. That means once Monday rolls around you can burn brush at any time of the day as long as you have it under control.

Over the past three months about 8,800 acres of forest have gone up in flames. WV Division of Forestry reports that is 1,000 acres more than 2008. There were about 770 fires and half of those were caused from folks that were careless with their debris fires and let those get out and burn the surrounding woods.

The season started on March 1 and early on it was the eastern panhandle and northern part of the state that saw the most fires. But as March turned into April, more fires were reported in the southern counties.

Even after repeated warnings, WVDOF reports that some property owners just didn’t listen to the burn warnings. Some people just don’t realize how dangerous the weather conditions can be, especially on windy days.
Every time a brush fire got out of control and help had to be called in the burner ended up with a fine. Usually those fires were small. “The average fire ranges anywhere from an acre to 20 acres,” according to WVDOF. “Those are the small fires. But we see fires as large as 150 acres, 350.”

WVDOF warns the once the spring fire season ends the danger doesn’t. We have seen some very dry weather in the summer months. Even though the forests are green, if we have a couple of weeks of dry weather, fires can easy spread.

Better Baked Beans

Ingredients
3 15-ounce cans navy beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups minced onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon salt
2 medium carrots, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup grainy prepared mustard
1/4 cup dark molasses
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 15-ounce can low sodium diced tomatoes

Toppings
Minced flat-leaf parsley
Minced walnuts, lightly toasted

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Empty the cans of beans into a colander in the sink.  Rinse thoroughly and set aside to drain.

3. Place a large (10- to 12-inch) skillet over medium heat and wait about a minute. 

4. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. 

5. Add the onion, spices, and half the salt, and cook, stirring often, over medium heat, for 5 minutes or until the onion begins to soften.

6. Add the carrots, garlic, and bell pepper, plus the remaining salt. 

7. Stir to blend, then cover, turn the heat down to medium-low, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.

8. Stir in the mustard, molasses, and vinegar.  Cook for 1 minute, then pour in the canned tomatoes with all their liquid.  Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, and gently stir in the beans (careful not to break them).

9. Transfer to a 9 X 13-inch baking pan, and cover it tightly with foil. 

10. Bake undisturbed for 45 minutes.

Serve hot, topped with parsley and walnuts.

Makes 8 servings

WV Legislation Goes From Extended To Special Session

Members of the legislature are expected to approve a new state budget Sunday. The $11.5 spending plan has been worked on the past few days during an extended legislative session.

The state is expected to generate $200 million less in tax revenue next year, but the budget fills most of the gaps with $78 million in federal economic stimulus funds.

Governor Joe Manchin has called lawmakers into special session once the budget work ends. The governor has listed 11 bills for lawmakers to consider including those dealing with education, the economy and energy.

Below is a copy of the official call.

A PROCLAMATION
I, JOE MANCHIN III, GOVERNOR of the State of West Virginia, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 7, Article VII of the Constitution of West Virginia, do hereby call the Legislature of West Virginia to convene in Extraordinary Session upon adjournment sine die of the 2009 Regular Session, as extended by Senate Concurrent Resolution 68, in its chambers in the State Capitol, City of Charleston, for the sole purpose of considering and acting upon the following matters:

FIRST:  Certain supplementary appropriation bills.

SECOND:  Certain ceremonial resolutions.

THIRD:  Legislation relating generally to the establishment of critical skills instructional support programs for students in grades three and eight; establishing procedures and requirements for implementing critical skills instructional support programs; and authorizing mandated attendance at a summer critical skills instructional support program as a condition for promotion under certain circumstances.

FOURTH:  Legislation relating to the valuation of certain property used in a high-technology business or internet advertising business at salvage value for ad valorem property tax purposes; exempting the sale of certain goods used in a high-technology business or internet advertising business from the consumers sales and service tax; and permitting a contractor to assert, under certain circumstances, an exemption from the consumers sales and service tax to which his or her principal is entitled.

FIFTH:  Legislation relating to enhancing opportunities for post-mine development of reclaimed surface mine property; requiring certain counties to develop master land use plans for post-mine development; requiring surface mine permits to contain reclamation plans that comport with approved master land use plans; authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to approve alternative post-mine land uses under certain circumstances; and enhancing and clarifying procedures relating to the development of master land use plans.

SIXTH:  Legislation relating generally to the establishment of minimum alternative and renewable energy portfolio requirements; requiring, by the year 2025, each electric utility doing business in West Virginia to purchase or generate the equivalent of at least twenty-five percent of electricity sold to electric retail customers in the state during the previous calendar year; providing for the establishment of a tradeable system of credits to track and verify the purchase and generation of electricity produced from alternative and renewable energy sources, electricity conserved through certain energy efficiency and demand-side energy initiative projects, emissions reduced through certain emission reduction or offset projects, or electricity generated from alternative or renewable energy sources operated by certain electric retail customers; authorizing the administration and enforcement of alternative and renewable energy portfolio requirements by the Public Service Commission; providing for certain cost recovery and rate incentives; requiring the Public Service Commission to initiate a general investigation into certain alternative and renewable energy standards; requiring the Public Service Commission to adopt certain net metering and interconnection standards; and creating a grant program for certain alternative and renewable energy projects.

SEVENTH:  Legislation relating to increasing the share of adjusted gross receipts from pari-mutuel racetracks with West Virginia Lottery racetrack table games allocated to certain municipalities and counties after each pari-mutuel racetrack in the state is licensed to offer West Virginia Lottery racetrack table games; providing a corresponding adjustment of funds transferred to the state; and providing for a two-year increase in funds allocated to the Lottery Commission for administration and enforcement.

EIGHTH: Legislation relating to reclassifying licenses for the retail sale of liquor as freestanding licenses and mixed retail licenses; setting forth procedures and requirements for the issuance of each class of retail licenses; and providing a purchase option and financing procedures for certain current licensees seeking to operate a freestanding liquor retail outlet.

NINTH:  Legislation relating to requiring the Division of Personnel and the Department of Health and Human Resources to jointly develop pay rates and employment requirements to support the recruitment and retention of certain classified service positions at Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital and William R. Sharpe Hospital.

TENTH:  Legislation relating to the continuation of the Motor Fuel Excise Tax Shortfall Reserve Fund and specifying the termination of the fund on June 31, 2013.

ELEVENTH:  Legislation relating to the development of innovative educational strategies in West Virginia schools; establishing certain procedures and requirements for the designation of school innovation zones; providing procedures for the waiver of certain rules, policies, interpretations or statutes in school innovation zones; and authorizing state institutions of higher education to establish schools designated as innovation zones subject to certain funding restrictions.

TWELFTH:  Legislation relating generally to employment policies, standards and requirements for school personnel; revising certain dates and deadlines; and authorizing the posting of certain positions upon a classroom teacher’s notice of retirement.

THIRTEENTH:  Legislation relating to a personal income tax modification to adjusted gross income for parents or guardians contributing to a trust fund established for the future support of a child with autism; creating the West Virginia Children with Autism Trust Board; and establishing procedures and requirements for taxpayers claiming the personal income tax modification.

FOURTEENTH:  Legislation to authorize and appropriate the expenditure of public moneys to pay the expenses of this Extraordinary Session.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed.

DONE at the Capitol in the City of Charleston, State of West Virginia, this twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Nine, and in the One Hundred Forty-Sixth year of the State.

GOVERNOR

By the Governor

05.31.09

Today: 05.31.yyyy

Today is Sunday, May 31, the 151st day of 2009. There are 214 days left in the year.

Thought for Today: “One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it unless it has all been suffering, nothing but suffering.“ _ Jane Austen, British novelist (1775-1817).

Today’s Highlight in History:
On May 31, 1889, more than 2,000 people perished when a dam break sent water rushing through Johnstown, PA.

In 1809, composer Franz Joseph Haydn died in Vienna at age 77.

In 1819, poet Walt Whitman was born in West Hills, N.Y.

In 1910, the Union of South Africa was founded.

In 1916, during World War I, British and German fleets fought the naval Battle of Jutland off Denmark; there was no clear-cut victor, although the British suffered heavier losses.

In 1949, former State Department official Alger Hiss went on trial in New York, charged with perjury. (The jury ended up deadlocked, but Hiss was convicted in a second trial.)

In 1961, South Africa became an independent republic.

In 1970, tens of thousands of people died in an earthquake in Peru.

In 1977, the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, three years in the making, was completed.

In 1989, House Speaker Jim Wright, dogged by questions about his ethics, announced he would resign. (Tom Foley later succeeded him.)

In 1994, the United States announced it was no longer aiming long-range nuclear missiles at targets in the former Soviet Union.

Ten years ago: During a Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery, President Bill Clinton asked Americans to reconsider their ambivalence about Kosovo, calling it “a very small province in a small country. But it is a big test of what we believe in.“ In Turkey, the treason trial of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan opened. (Ocalan was later convicted and sentenced to death, but the death sentence was commuted to life in prison in 2002.)

Five years ago: In Memorial Day tributes, President George W. Bush declared that “America is safer” because of its fighting forces while Sen. John Kerry visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A bomb ripped through a Shiite Muslim mosque in Karachi, Pakistan, during evening prayers, killing at least 19 people. Alberta Martin, one of the last widows of a Confederate veteran of the Civil War, died in Enterprise, Ala., at age 97.

One year ago: Space shuttle Discovery and a crew of seven blasted into orbit, carrying a giant Japanese lab addition to the international space station.

Today’s Birthdays:
Actress Elaine Stewart is 80
Actor-director Clint Eastwood is 79
Singer Peter Yarrow is 71
Former Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite is 70
Singer-musician Augie Meyers is 69
Actress Sharon Gless is 66
Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath is 66
Actor Tom Berenger is 59
Actor Gregory Harrison is 59
Actress Roma Maffia is 51
Comedian Chris Elliott is 49
Actor Kyle Secor is 49
Actress Lea Thompson is 48
Singer Corey Hart is 47
Actor Hugh Dillon is 46
Rapper DMC is 45
Actress Brooke Shields is 44
Country musician Ed Adkins (The Derailers) is 42
Jazz musician Christian McBride is 37
Actor Colin Farrell is 33
Rock musician Scott Klopfenstein (Reel Big Fish) is 32
Actor Eric Christian Olsen is 32
Rock musician Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy) is 29
Actor Jonathan Tucker is 27
Actor Curtis Williams Jr. is 22

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Issued by The National Weather Service
Charleston, WV
11:43 PM EDT, Saturday, May 30, 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… SOUTHERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA… NORTH CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA… CENTRAL ROANE COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA… THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SPENCER…

* UNTIL 12:45 AM EDT

* AT 11:41 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL… AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR KENNA… OR 8 MILES SOUTH OF RIPLEY… AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

BYRD’S EYE VIEW: An Educational Visit

Earlier this year during a meeting with the new Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, I asked him to visit schools in West Virginia. I was pleased that he not only took my advice, but chose to begin the Department of Education’s nationwide ‘Listening and Learning’ tour in our great state. The purpose of this campaign is for the Secretary to gather information as the Congress moves forward in reauthorizing the ‘Elementary and Secondary Education Act,’ more commonly known as ‘No Child Left Behind.’ Beginning this venture in West Virginia was a great opportunity for our state to showcase our talents, and our need to ensure a better education for West Virginia’s students.

When we met in my office, I discussed some of the problems West Virginia faces in education: teacher quality and pay; community and technical education; and substance abuse in our schools, to mention a few. Secretary Duncan appeared very willing to work with me to help resolve these threats to excellence in education.

I hope that Secretary Duncan saw first hand the issues we explored during our meeting, including the difficult challenges facing our teachers, parents, and administrators; and that many of our children who wish to further their education cannot always afford to go to college and need extra help through student financial loans or grants. We both agreed that the temptation of drugs and alcohol our children face every day is a severe problem all across our country.

I like to think that the issues we face in West Virginia are unique, and West Virginians solve them in unparalleled ways. While we are not a wealthy state, we know how to stretch a dollar. We know what it is like to have to tighten up our proverbial boot straps and dive into a problem.

When I reflect on my days in a two-room schoolhouse, we did not have computers and high-technology amenities, but the students were disciplined and the teachers were serious about their work. I was afforded the opportunity to obtain a good education, and I believe we owe the same opportunities to our young people today. And after his visit to West Virginia, I stand ready to work with Secretary Duncan to help provide the necessary tools to build a brighter educational future for our children.

State Law Library Presents Resume Writing Workshop

In response to the sluggish economy, recent lay-offs, and graduating high school and college students entering the job market, the State Law Library will offer a free Resume Writing Workshop at 6:00 PM Wednesday, June 3, 2009.

Sara Thompson, Education and Outreach Services Librarian, will present examples of different types of r sum s and explain how and what information should be included to best highlight a job-seeker’s skills and experience.  She will also discuss how to write a cover letter and proper thank-you response after an interview.

The workshop will be held the State Law Library in Building 1, Room E-404 of the State Capitol Complex.  Parking is available at metered spaces near the Cultural Center and the parking structure off Piedmont Road.  Parking is free after 5:00 PM.

The workshop is free and open to the general public.  For information call Sara Thompson at 304.340.2945.

The State Law Library is part of the Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

CYBERSECURITY Review

Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) issued the following statement today on the Obama Administration’s Cybersecurity Policy Review:
“We applaud President Obama for highlighting the extraordinarily serious issue of cybersecurity.  No other President in American history has elevated this issue to that level and we thank him for his leadership.

“As members of both the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, we meet at the legislative crossroads between our national security and economic security.  Cybersecurity is an integrated matter of intelligence and economic viability and our policies must reflect this connectivity.

“As highlighted in our bipartisan legislation, The Cybersecurity Act of 2009, we agree with the establishment of a cybersecurity policy official who will lead the interagency process throughout our government, and direct the coordination between the public and private sector.  We have learned the hard way in recent years that, tragically, “stovepiped” national security systems and failures in synchronization can leave America vulnerable to attack, and bureaucratic confusion can cripple our response to a disaster.

“We strongly urge the President to follow through on his groundbreaking leadership on this issue by giving this “cyber czar” the heft and authority the position requires – this advisor should report directly to the President on all cyber matters.  There is no room for error, and no room for bureaucratic turf battles.  We need to act now - the time to combat cyber terror was yesterday.”

BACKGROUND ON BIPARTISAN CYBERSECURITY ACT OF 2009
Our bipartisan legislation, The Cybersecurity Act of 2009, is a roadmap to a secure cyber future – one that effectively brings public and private together.

“We believe the Administration must:

—- Raise the profile of cybersecurity by establishing an Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor within the Executive Office of the President.  This Advisor must serve as the lead official on all cyber matters – reporting directly to the President and coordinating with the intelligence community, government agencies, Congress, and the private sector.

—- Create state and regional cybersecurity centers for small and medium sized businesses.  These centers would assist small and medium sized businesses in easily adopting cybersecurity measures.

—- Foster innovation and creativity by increasing the federal cybersecurity research and development programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF), and requiring the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish measureable cybersecurity standards and best practices that are applicable both to government and the private sector.

—- Create an information sharing clearinghouse in which government and industry work together in real time to identify cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

—- Create a Cybersecurity Advisory Panel of experts from industry, academia, and non-profit advocacy and civil liberty organizations to review and advise the President.

—- Require the President’s Cyber Advisor to put civil liberties protections front and center.  Our aim is to improve the nation’s security – and by this we mean, the security of American lives, property, and civil liberties..

—- The President’s authority to protect cyber systems in the face of an attack or imminent high-level threat to national security, comparable to the way that the President exercised his authority on September 11, 2001, to temporarily ground all aircraft in U.S. airspace.

—- Above all, we strongly encourage all agencies, Congressional Committees, and businesses to work together.  Cybersecurity is an issue that cuts across every sector of our government and our economy.  Territorial fights are not new to Washington, but on the issue of cybersecurity, infighting could have devastating consequences.” 

VVV: Great Food For All

Great Food For All orders for June are due Monday, June 1, 2009.
You can order by calling 304.462.5556.  Or you can go to our website: www.visionsvesselsvictory.comto see the complete menu and place your order online.  We accept credit cards, food stamps, cash, checks, and money orders.  You can go to our website to see each month’s menu, order deadline, and pick up time and date.  You can always place your order online every month..
Deana J. Burke
Executive Director
Visions, Vessles, & Victory, Inc.

Mt. Liberty Church Cemetery Fund

Mt. Liberty Cemetery fund is accepting donations for the upkeep of the cemetery.

You may send donations to Ruby Frymier, 2311 Bull Fork Rd., Tanner, WV 26137.

Robert D. “Bob” Riffle

Robert D. “Bob” Riffle
Age 70, of Heaters, WV, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at Braxton County Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

He was born on October 28, 1938, near Orlando, WV, a son of the late Kenneth and Olive Sands Riffle.

He was a member and former superintendent of the Mount Olive United Methodist Church in Orlando, WV. He was retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an equipment operator. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and the WV Army National Guard and Reserves.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carolyn Conrad Riffle. Also surviving are brothers, Daniel Riffle and his wife Millie of Leavittsburg, Ohio, and David Riffle of Gem, WV; sisters, Adele (Riffle) Wagner of Falls Church, Virginia, Dorothy (Riffle) Ramsey and husband Mike of Burnsville, WV. He is also survived by beloved nieces and nephews who loved and looked up to him.

Graveside services will be held at 2 PM on Friday, May 29, 2009, at Little Kanawha Memorial Gardens, Heaters, WV, with Reverend Harold Dusky officiating. Friends may call from noon-2 PM on Friday, May 29, 2009, at Stockert-Gibson-Sizemore Funeral Home in Flatwoods, WV. Online condolences may be sent to www.stockertgibson.com.

Spicy Barbecue Shrimp

Ingredients:
1/4 pound bacon, chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, pressed
2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 pounds unpeeled, medium-size fresh shrimp

Sauté bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Add butter and next 4 ingredients, and cook over medium heat until onion is tender. Stir in lemon juice and shrimp; cook, stirring often, 5 to 7 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Serve with French bread.
Makes 3 to 4 main dish servings or 8 appetizer servings.

05.30.09

Today: 05.30.yyyy

     

Today is Saturday, May 30, the 150th day of 2009. There are 215 days left in the year.

Thought for Today: “It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.“ — Jerome K. Jerome, English author and humorist (1859-1927).

Today’s Highlight in History:
May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France.

In 1854, the territories of Nebraska and Kansas were established.

In 1883, 12 people were trampled to death when a rumor that the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge in New York was in imminent danger of collapsing triggered a stampede.

In 1909, the “king of swing,“ Benny Goodman, was born in Chicago.

In 1911, Indianapolis saw its first long-distance auto race; Ray Harroun was the winner.

In 1922, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington in a ceremony attended by President Warren G. Harding, Chief Justice William Howard Taft and lawyer Robert Todd Lincoln, the son of President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd.

In 1937, 10 people were killed when police fired on steelworkers demonstrating near the Republic Steel plant in South Chicago.

In 1943, American forces secured the Aleutian island of Attu from the Japanese during World War II.

In 1958, unidentified American service members killed in World War II and the Korean War were interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

In 1959, Louisiana Gov. Earl K. Long was committed to a psychiatric center in Galveston, Texas, after apparently suffering a mental breakdown.

In 1971, the American space probe Mariner 9 blasted off from Cape Kennedy, Fla., on a journey to Mars.

Ten years ago: Astronauts from the space shuttle Discovery rigged cranes and other tools to the exterior of the international space station during a spacewalk; then, the astronauts entered the orbiting outpost for three days of making repairs and delivering supplies. Kenny Brack won the crash-marred Indianapolis 500, driving a car owned by racing legend A.J. Foyt.

Five years ago: Saudi commandos drove al-Qaida militants from a housing complex in the kingdom’s oil hub, ending a shooting and hostage-taking rampage that had left 22 dead, most of them foreigners. Gunmen in Pakistan killed a senior pro-Taliban Sunni cleric (Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai), sparking riots. Ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide left Jamaica for South Africa, saying it would be his “temporary home” until he could return to Haiti. Buddy Rice won the Indianapolis 500 in the rain.

One year ago: A construction crane snapped and smashed into an apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, killing two workers in the city’s second such tragedy in 2 1/2 months. Diplomats from 111 nations meeting in Dublin formally adopted a landmark treaty banning cluster bombs. (The United States and other leading cluster bomb makers — Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan — boycotted the talks.) Lorenzo Odone, whose parents’ battle to save him from the rare nerve disease ALD inspired “Lorenzo’s Oil,“ died in Fairfax, Va., a day after his 30th birthday.

Today’s Birthdays:
Country musician Johnny Gimble is 83
Actor Clint Walker is 82
Actor Keir Dullea is 73
Actress Ruta Lee is 73
Actor Michael J. Pollard is 70
Rock musician Lenny Davidson (The Dave Clark Five) is 65
Actor Stephen Tobolowsky is 58
Actor Colm Meaney is 56
Actor Ted McGinley is 51
Actor Ralph Carter is 48
Actress Tonya Pinkins is 47
Country singer Wynonna Judd is 45
Rock musician Tom Morello (Audioslave; Rage Against The Machine) is 45
Movie director Antoine Fuqua is 44
Rock musician Patrick Dahlheimer (Live) is 38
Actress Idina Menzel is 38
Actor Trey Parker is 37
Rapper Cee-Lo is 35
Rapper Remy Ma is 29
Actor Blake Bashoff is 28
Christian rock musician James Smith (Underoath) is 27

WVDNR: Trout Stocked the Week of May 25-29‏

The following waters were stocked the week of May 25, 2009.

Anthony Creek, Bear Rocks Lake, Big Clear Creek, Big Sandy Creek, Blackwater River, Brandywine Lake, Brushy Fork Lake, Buckhannon River, Buffalo Creek (Brooke), Buffalo Fork Lake, Bullskin Run, Burnsville Tailwaters, Cacapon Park Lake, Camp Creek, Castleman Run Lake, Cherry River, Clear Fork of Guyandotte, Clear Fork of Tug, Coopers Rock Lake, Cranberry River, Dillons Run, Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker), East Fork Greenbrier River, East River, Edwards Run, Elk River (Randolph, Tucker), Evitts Run, French Creek Pond, Ft. Ashby Reservoir, Gandy Creek, Glade Creek of Mann, Glade Creek of New River, Glady Fork, Greenbrier River, Horseshoe Run, Kimsey Run Lake, Knapps Creek, Laurel Fork (Randolph), Laurel Fork of Holly River, Left Fork of Holly River, Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River, Little Clear Creek, Little River East Fork Greenbrier, Little River West Fork Greenbrier, Lost River, Middle Creek, Middle Wheeling Lake, Mill Creek of Opequon, Mill Creek of South Branch, New Creek, New Creek Dam #14, North Fork of Anthony, North Fork of Cherry River, North Fork of Lunice, North Fork of Patterson, North Fork South Branch, North River, Opequon Creek, Paint Creek, Paw Paw Creek, Pinnacle Creek (upper & lower sections), Pond Fork, Red Creek, Rocky Marsh Run, Seneca Lake, Shavers Fork (Bemis), Shavers Fork (lower), Shavers Fork (upper), South Branch (Franklin), South Branch (Smoke Hole), South Fork of Cherry River, South Fork of Cranberry River, South Mill Creek Lake, Spruce Knob Lake, Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters, Summersville Tailwaters, Summit Lake, Sutton Tailwaters, Teter Creek Lake, Tilhance Creek, Trout Run, Tuscarora Creek, Tygart Headwaters, Waites Run, Warden Lake, Watoga Lake, West Fork Greenbrier, West Fork Greenbrier (railroad grade), Wheeling Creek, Whiteday Creek, Williams River

GSC PRESENTS PLAQUE TO YEAGER AIRPORT

Glenville State College President Dr. Peter Barr and Major Gifts Officer Dr. Bob Henry Baber attended the Yeager Airport Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, May 27th to present a plaque to Airport Director Rick Atkinson. The plaque presented to Atkinson was a handsomely laminated copy of the front page article in the Charleston Gazette from April 15th, 2009. The article discussed GSC’s ‘Adopt an Airport’ project to help reforest the hillside that has been disturbed for the runway extension construction at Yeager Airport.

“We appreciate the leadership of the Yeager Airport Board and especially Director Rick Atkinson. The Airport ‘Adoption’, possibly the largest of its kind in history, has presented all of us with the unique opportunity to improve the environment and give Glenville’s Land Resources students a chance to apply classroom theory to a real life situation. Furthermore, it instills in our students an appreciation of the fact that getting an education is a privilege that comes with the responsibility of giving back to society.  Truly, our students have enjoyed thoroughly the reforesting of the hillside, and we look forward to future interventions,“ said GSC President Dr. Peter Barr.

The partnership between Glenville Sate College and Yeager Airport began in September of 2008. To date, students and faculty volunteers and members of the Glenville State College Land Resources Department have hydro-seeded redbud and locust seeds and planted 1,300 tree seedlings on the site. The project is expected to continue for the next two years.

~~ By Bob Edwards - Public Relations Department Assistant ~~

Seven Deer Test Positive for CWD During Spring Collections in Hampshire County‏

Test results have detected the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) agent in a total of seven white-tailed deer sampled during the 2009 spring collections in Hampshire County, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

These most recent deer testing positive for CWD were collected by Wildlife Resources Section personnel working in cooperation with local landowners, and they were all located within the Hampshire County CWD Containment Area (i.e., that portion of Hampshire County located North of U.S. Route 50). The CWD agent previously has been detected outside the containment area in the adjacent portion of Hampshire County, and the area of known infected deer does continue to slowly expand.

These collections have been designed to investigate and determine the prevalence and distribution of the disease in Hampshire County. In addition, wildlife biologists are carefully monitoring changes in the structure of the deer herd within the CWD containment area.

The first case of CWD in West Virginia was confirmed on September 2, 2005.  Since then, DNR has been fully engaged in activities guided by its CWD Incident Response Plan, which is designed to accomplish the following objectives.

—- Determine the distribution and prevalence of CWD through enhanced surveillance efforts.

—- Communicate and coordinate with the public and other appropriate agencies on issues relating to CWD and the steps being taken to respond to this disease.

—- Initiate appropriate management actions necessary to control the spread of this disease and prevent further introduction of the disease.

To date, CWD surveillance efforts conducted by the DNR have resulted in a total of 45 deer being confirmed positive for CWD in Hampshire County. Ongoing and extensive surveillance efforts being conducted by Wildlife Resources Section personnel throughout West Virginia have not detected CWD outside of Hampshire County.

CWD is a neurological disease found in deer and elk, and it belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The disease is thought to be caused by abnormal, proteinaceous particles called prions that slowly attack the brain of infected deer and elk, causing the animals to progressively become emaciated, display abnormal behavior and invariably results in the death of the infected animal. There is no known treatment for CWD, and it is fatal for the infected deer or elk. It is important to note that currently there is no evidence to suggest CWD poses a risk for humans or domestic animals.

“Landowner and hunter cooperation throughout this entire CWD surveillance effort in Hampshire County continues to be excellent,” noted DNR Director Frank Jezioro.  “As we strive to meet this wildlife disease challenge and implement appropriate management strategies, the support and involvement of landowners and hunters remains essential. DNR is committed to keeping the public informed and involved in these wildlife disease management actions.

“Our well trained and professional wildlife biologists, wildlife managers and conservation officers are working diligently to effectively address this wildlife disease threat, and we are collaborating with nationally recognized wildlife disease experts at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Athens, Georgia,” said Jezioro.

Best Selling Pop Albums 05.29.09

Drug Companies Spend Thousands on WV Gifts

A new state report shows drug manufacturers gave thousands of gifts and payments to doctors and nurses in West Virginia last year, ranging from the cost of a lunch to outlays of $20,000 or more.

Some health care advocates say it translates into higher medication costs.

The manufacturers, though, caution that the report doesn’t tell the full story, and point to the tens of millions of dollars’ worth of free medicine they donate in West Virginia every year.

The report, released during a legislative interim committee meeting Thursday, is the first available for a full year’s worth of spending by drug companies in the state. Lawmakers and health care advocates had long pushed for disclosure of costs related to advertising and gifts to prescribers.

The West Virginia Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council report found that in 2008, drug companies gave 15,382 gifts, grants or payments. There are 5,152 doctors and nurse practitioners who can prescribe medicine in the state, but the report didn’t track payments made to each prescriber, so that some prescribers may have gotten multiple gifts and some may have gotten nothing.

The report also didn’t provide a total dollar figure for the gifts, instead tracking gifts across broad ranges. For example, companies reported making 42 payments of $20,000 or more to prescribers and 574 payments of $2,500 or more.

By far the largest number of payments, 14,808, fell between $100 and $2,500.

A single prescriber who serves as an international spokesman for a company got payments between $125,001 and $127,500, acting Pharmaceutical Advocate Shana Phares said. It is the largest amount in the report.

The report doesn’t say what the payments were for, but typically they ranged from lunches at the lower end to addressing conventions at the higher end, Phares said, particularly if those conventions or gatherings were in other states or countries.

The report says pharmacies got $99,789 from drug companies and a single patient advocacy group got $11,500.

The report also lists total direct-to-consumer advertising costs of nearly $31 million. That money wasn’t spent solely on West Virginia, though, since ads here — especially on radio and TV — are often bought for markets that include portions of neighboring states.

It’s also hard to compare the data nationally, since few other states have similar reporting requirements, or even any reporting requirements at all.

Despite those limitations, Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, said the report is eye-opening.

‘‘These expenses all get passed on to consumers in the form of higher costs for prescription drugs,’’ he said.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, an industry group, though, says marketing is part of the cost of any business. In a statement Thursday, Ken Johnson, the group’s senior vice president, said drug companies face additional marketing costs because of requirements to comply with Food and Drug Administration requirements about what can be said about a particular medication.

He also noted that drug manufacturers donate about $60 million worth of prescription drugs to the state’s free health clinics annually.
~~ AP ~~

Braxton and 4 Other WV Airports Get Federal Improvement Grants

Members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation say they’ve secured about $1.4 million for improvements at five airports across the state.

Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd and Congressmen Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan announced the grants Wednesday.

Greenbrier Valley Airport near Lewisburg is getting just over $1 million for improvements to its terminal and other work, while Braxton County Airport near Sutton is getting more than $201,000 to help pay for a guidance system.

Upshur County Regional Airport near Buckhannon is getting $150,000 for a new road and the Grant County Airport is getting $157,000 for a new guidance system as well.

Finally, Mid-Ohio Valley Airport is getting $30,400 for snow removal equipment.
~~ AP ~~

Samsung K-12 Grant Program for Teachers and Schools

Samsung wants to help teachers upgrade the quality of technology tools in American schools. Our 2009 “Focus on Learning” Grant Program is simple. We are offering 50 Samsung 850DX document cameras to worthy applicants based on need. Deadline for applications is June 15, 2009. An independent evaluation team will review the applicants and notify the winners. Awards will be received no later than September 1, 2009.

Requirements:
—- Applicant must be currently teaching in a U.S. school.
—- Intention to use the Samsung Document Camera in the classroom.
—- Samsung Document Camera will become property of the teacher’s school district.
—- Submit Application on or before June 15, 2009.

Samsung is known throughout educational institutions across the country as having the highest quality images due to its precision optics combined with digital technology. We are seeking to award a total of 50 Samsung 850DX digital presenters to those schools who can best utilize a document camera that offers extremely sharp resolution and clarity.

Sharp resolution and clarity of image is important because it has been found that this can dramatically increase the utilization of the document camera. The more the camera is used, the more students become engaged and learn. It’s that simple.

To Apply Click   H E R E .

Gilmer County High School Graduation Friday, May 29, 2009

The class of 2009 graduation exercises at Gilmer County High School is this evening, Friday, May 29, 2009 at 7:30 PM in the high school gymnasium.
A reception for graduates and guests will be held in the Commons Area following the graduation ceremonies.

TechNews: Bing or Google

Microsoft Corp is revamping its search engine to counter the dominance of Google Inc in the Web search and related advertising business.

The world’s largest software company, which is still in talks with Yahoo Inc over a potential partnership, has long been determined to play a major role in the lucrative Web search market after watching upstart Google take a stranglehold.

Microsoft, which has been testing the search engine internally under the name Kumo for several months, plans to introduce the new service, re-christened “Bing,“ over the next few days, with a full launch next Wednesday. The service will be available at www.bing.com.

The new name, Bing, is short, universal and can be “verbed-up,“ said Ballmer, a clear reference to the fact that ‘to Google’ has become the generic verb for searching the Internet for information.

NEW FEATURES:
Both Google and Yahoo have recently introduced new features in their search engines to attract users, making Microsoft’s task even harder.

Microsoft is calling its new product a “decision engine,“ promising to make things like buying a digital camera, booking a flight or searching for a restaurant easier by serving up results based on similar previous searches.

A search on a make of car, for example, will bring up clickable categories on the left-hand sidebar, such as ‘problems,‘ ‘reviews’ and ‘dealers,‘ which Microsoft has calculated are the most likely places a Web user will want to go from the initial search.

Bing also incorporates the increasingly popular Farecast service in its flight booking section—making use of the company it bought last year—which predicts whether fares will rise or fall.

Other new features include getting directions to locations with only one mouse click, and the ability to hover over a search result to see more information, without having to open a new link.

Education: A WORTHY QUOTE

“If we are not testing the right information, or the accountability system is flawed, or the tests are inadequate, or teachers are not supported, we will not reap the rewards a standards-based reform system offers. As we look ahead to NCLB reauthorization, we need to address these issues in order to fulfill the promise of offering all students a high-quality education.“
~~ Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, in testimony before the House Education and Labor Committee ~~

Rigatoni: Weight Watchers Recipe

Ingredients:
8 oz uncooked rigatoni
1/8 tsp table salt
8 oz raw turkey sausage, Italian-style, removed from casings
8 oz cremini mushrooms, or Baby Bella mushrooms, trimmed, quartered
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
1 cup(s) frozen green peas, petite-variety
1/2 tsp table salt, or more to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 cup(s) roasted red peppers, water-packed, sliced
1/2 cup(s) scallion(s), sliced
3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
—- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions.

—- Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook sausage stirring and breaking into chunks with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 3 minutes; remove to a bowl. Add mushrooms to skillet and sauté until browned and tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

—- In a measuring cup, whisk together flour and milk until smooth; stir into skillet along with peas, salt and black pepper. Bring sauce to a boil; simmer until thickened and peas are tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in sausage, roasted peppers and scallions; remove from heat.

—- Drain pasta; return to pot. Add sausage sauce and cheese; toss to coat. Transfer to a serving bowl. Yields about 2 cups per serving.

State Police Find Drugs in Teacher’s Car

State Troopers say one of their K-9 units found several drugs and weapons on a teacher at Webster High School.
The Special Operation Unit conducted a drug sweep with a dog at the school this week. Investigators say the dog indicated drugs were in one of the cars at the school.

After a search, the troopers’ report says 14 grams of marijuana, several prescription medications, a .22 caliber pistol, and multiple knives were found in the car. The car was owned by Michael Surbaugh, a teacher at the school.

Any possible charges are being handed by the Webster County Prosecuting Attorney’s Officer. Those charges have not been filed as of yet.
~~ WVMN ~~

Gilmer Native As New Commissioner Looks to Restore DMV’s Image

A native of Sand Fork in Gilmer County, Joe Miller was a hoopster in his youth and actually played professional basketball for a brief time.

At 6-foot-6, he likely found basketball a natural choice of sport.
He attended Alderson-Broaddus College and broke a national collegiate scoring record in 1957. His four-year record stood at 3,667 points until “Pistol” Pete Maravich broke it seven years later.
A center, Miller had averaged 33 points and 19 rebounds a game.
After college, he was drafted by the Kansas City Kaycees in the National Industrial Basketball League, which was founded by teams that did not join the NBA.

         

He played only one year before joining the Marines. He was an artillery officer and battery commander who served two tours in Vietnam.
Miller was part of the first combat troops to land in Chu Li, near the eastern coast between Da Nang and My Lai, in March 1965.

He had been stationed in Hawaii previously, and Miller and his comrades were pleasantly surprised to find the Vietnamese welcoming them upon their arrival.
“We were told on the ship that we were heading in for a combat landing,“ he recalled. “When we landed, the Vietnamese flower girls met us on the beach.“

There was even a banner that read something to the effect of, “The Vietnamese People Welcome the Friendly Marines.“ A fellow Marine tore down the banner and gave it to Miller, who still has the memento.
His time in Vietnam wasn’t all fun and games.

During one tour with his artillery battery, the helicopter he was in was shot at. The aircraft was struck as it headed over a mountain range, and the blast disabled an engine part responsible for accelerating.

“It idled, but the pilot was able to take it to the other side of the mountain and land on a rice paddy,“ Miller said. “Another helicopter came in to pick us up.
“We were more scared than we should’ve been, but we didn’t know what was on the other side of that mountain.“

A chaplain then joked with Miller, telling him it was a good thing he gave him last rites. Miller quipped back, “I’m Protestant. That doesn’t do me good.“

His second tour was spent southwest of Da Nang, where he was a regimental commander.

“In retrospect, it was a senseless war,“ Miller said. “At the time, we thought we were fighting to help the Vietnamese. But we were fighting a war you couldn’t win. We were fighting a military war based on civilian terms.“

He retired from the Marines after 21 years. He spent nine years working at the National Military Command Center in Washington, D.C., but eventually made his way back to West Virginia. 
After retiring from the military, he became the athletic director of Alderson-Broaddus, from which he had graduated with a degree in biology.

Later he served as vice president at Marshall University in Huntington, where he met Underwood. Miller was so impressed with the Republican he later formed a “Democrats for Underwood” committee.
His resume in higher education also includes the University of Charleston, where he served as vice president of institutional advancement.
He had been retired for a few years when a friend prodded him into forming a brokerage company with him on Charleston’s West Side. That occupied him for three years until he was tapped by Underwood to run the DMV.

Along the way he fathered five children. He lost his first wife in 1973 and later remarried.
 
Miller now seems to be picking up the pieces from his previous term as DMV commissioner. Before leaving in 2001, he was working toward making services electronically accessible to customers, particularly automobile dealers.
“Currently, the automobile dealers have a manual system, as far as collecting money and transferring taxes,“ he said. “There are better ways to do that. One thing we’re looking at is having an electronic system for registration, temporary dealer tags and electronic lien. I can’t tell you why, but those programs died in the last eight years. We will resurrect those.“

He is also pushing for implementation of a project called the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks, or C-VISN. The initiative would allow truckers and commercial vehicle companies to make transactions through a Web-based portal.

“A trucker could sit with his computer in Huntington and do all of his transactions without coming to Charleston and visiting five different agencies,“ Miller said.
It all reverts back to customer service.
“We have more opportunities than any other in state government to make a positive image to citizens,“ Miller said. “West Virginia has 1.2 million drivers and 1.5 million vehicles. Every one of those gets at least one transaction a year. The unfortunate thing is five or 10 issues can destroy the whole damn year if you have people who don’t know how to be a good CSR.

“One of the first things I try to do is set the big picture. Go back to the reason why you’re here and why what you’re doing is important to the DMV and state government.“

~~ Summary: Jake Stump - Charleston Daily Mail ~~

Calhoun County: Settlement for 2008 Hazing Incident

Calhoun County Schools Superintendent Roger Propst said the Calhoun County Board of Education has agreed to a tentative settlement with a parent who contends her son was the victim of hazing. The settlement must be approved by the Kanawha County Circuit Court to take effect.

Sherry Patterson of Orma sued the school board over an alleged hazing incident involving her 16-year-old son Mitchell and four members of the Calhoun County High School football team.

The proposed settlement includes money to provide transportation for travel to Clay County High School where Patterson’s son transferred after the incident. The settlement also includes legal fees for Patterson’s attorney.

The alleged incident occurred in the locker room at Calhoun County High School during summer football practice in August 2008. The incident was investigated by the Calhoun County detachment of the West Virginia State Police, which found no hazing, occurred. Calhoun County State Police Sgt. Jeff Skidmore of the Grantsville detachment investigated the matter and classified it as “horseplay.“

Superintendent said while no criminal charges were filed against the players, the school did take disciplinary action.

Students Who Fall Short on ACT Shouldn’t Abandon Education Goal

According to the Charleston Daily Mail, about one-third of West Virginia’s high school graduates who want to enter college will have to take remedial classes.

Most fell short on math and English courses.

Colleges use standardized test scores to place students in core colleges’ classes that are required for graduation. Students who fall below that score must take a developmental class.

According to data from the Higher Education Policy Commission, 5,700 state high school graduates were enrolled in developmental course at state colleges last fall. The courses are designed for students who are considered unprepared for the more rigorous demands of college classes in English and math.

The good news is, nearly 6,000 students didn’t allow an academic shortfall to prevent them from pursuing higher education.

There’s nothing wrong with needing a remedial class to bring up a student’s skills in two of the major core classes. In fact, colleges are to be commended for offering a way for students to bridge the gap.

Many of the academic shortfalls occur because many high school students are distracted by lots of things and often fail to realize what an important role the day-to-day study grind will have on their future.

Today, it’s more critical than ever before that young people equip themselves with as much education and as many skills as possible to ensure a good future for themselves.

Any student who had planned to enter college but didn’t because he or she became discouraged by ACT scores is encouraged to give higher education a second thought.

If you are short by only a few points, there’s a good chance a college remedial program will get you back on track. Take advantage of what’s available and give it a shot.
~~ BHR ~~

05.29.09

Today: 05.29.yyyy

   

Today is Friday, May 29, the 149th day of 2009. There are 216 days left in the year.

Thought for Today: “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.“ — Dorothy Day, American reformer (1897-1980).

Today’s Highlight in History:
On May 29, 1953, Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary, of New Zealand, and Tensing Norgay, of Nepal, became the first climbers to reach the summit.

In 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia’s House of Burgesses.

In 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th original colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state of the union.

In 1913, the ballet “The Rite of Spring,“ with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky, had its chaotic world premiere in Paris.

In 1917, the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was born in Brookline, Mass.

In 1932, World War I veterans began arriving in Washington to demand cash bonuses they weren’t scheduled to receive until 1945.

In 1943, Norman Rockwell’s portrait of “Rosie the Riveter” appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.

In 1985, 39 people were killed at the European Champions Cup Final in Brussels, Belgium, when rioting broke out and a wall separating British and Italian soccer fans collapsed.

In 1995, Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both the House and Senate, died in Skowhegan, Maine, at age 97.

In 1998, Republican elder statesman Barry Goldwater died in Paradise Valley, Ariz., at age 89.

Ten years ago: The space shuttle Discovery completed the first-ever docking with the international space station. Olusegun Obasanjo became Nigeria’s first civilian president in 15 years, ending a string of military regimes.

Five years ago: A shooting rampage by al-Qaida militants at a housing complex in Khobar, Saudi Arabia’s oil hub, killed 22 people, most of them foreign oil industry workers. America dedicated a memorial to its World War II veterans on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Death claimed former Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox at age 92 and Sam Dash, former chief counsel of the Senate Select Committee on Watergate, at age 79.

One year ago: In a crushing blow to Texas’ massive seizure of children from a polygamist sect’s ranch, the state Supreme Court ruled that child welfare officials overstepped their authority and the children should go back to their parents. Actor-comedian Harvey Korman, Emmy winner for “The Carol Burnett Show,“ died in Los Angeles at age 81.

Today’s Birthdays:
Actor Clifton James is 88
Former Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent is 71
Race car driver Al Unser is 70
CBS News Correspondent Bob Simon is 68
Actor Kevin Conway is 67
Actor Helmut Berger is 65
Rock singer Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) is 64
Actor Anthony Geary is 62
Singer Rebbie Jackson is 59
Movie composer Danny Elfman is 56
Rock musician Michael Porcaro (Toto) is 54
Singer LaToya Jackson is 53
Actor Ted Levine is 52
Actress Annette Bening is 51
Actor Rupert Everett is 50
Actor Adrian Paul is 50
Singer Melissa Etheridge is 48
Actress Lisa Whelchel is 46
Actress Tracey Bregman is 46
Rock musician Noel Gallagher (Oasis) is 42
Singer Jayski McGowan (Quad City DJ’s) is 42
Rock musician Chan Kinchla (Blues Traveler) is 40
Rock musician Mark Lee (Third Day) is 36
Cartoonist Aaron McGruder (“The Boondocks”) is 35
Singer Melanie Brown (Spice Girls) is 34
Rapper Playa Poncho is 34
Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony is 25

Weather Alert

Issued by The National Weather Service
Charleston, WV
6:56 PM EDT, Thursday, May 28, 2009

... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN DODDRIDGE… EASTERN GILMER... HARRISON… LEWIS... NORTHERN BRAXTON... TAYLOR… TYLER AND WEST CENTRAL BARBOUR COUNTIES…

AT 6:55 PM EDT… STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM LIMA TO AVON TO BALDWIN TO ROSEDALE… MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STORMS… AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. EXPECT INTENSE LIGHTNING FROM THESE STORMS. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS… MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR ALUM BRIDGE... CENTER POINT… SAND FORK... AND SALEM AROUND 7:00 PM... STOUTS MILLS... AND SEDALIA AROUND 7:05 PM... WOLF SUMMIT… CAMDEN... AND EXCHANGE AROUND 7:10 PM AND WALLACE AROUND 7:15 PM.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Charleston, WV
6:04 PM EDT, Thursday, May 28, 2009

... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CALHOUN... DODDRIDGE... EASTERN WOOD… GILMER... NORTHERN ROANE… NORTHWESTERN LEWIS... PLEASANTS… RITCHIE... TYLER… WASHINGTON AND WIRT COUNTIES…

AT 6:00 PM EDT… STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM FLEMING TO PETROLEUM TO SPENCER… MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING UP TO HALF AN INCH OF RAIN IN 15 MINUTES.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR PETROLEUM… NUTTER FARM… WAVERLY… AND CRESTON AROUND 610 PM… MACFARLAN… ANNAMORIAH… MUNDAY… AND SCHULTZ AROUND 6:15 PM… WILLOW ISLAND AND AND DEVOLA AROUND 6:20 PM.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS… AND PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS… HIGHWAYS… STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE… 877.633.6772… WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Charleston, WV
5:36 PM EDT, Thursday, May 28, 2009

... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CLAY… KANAWHA… NORTHEASTERN BOONE… NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE… ROANE… SOUTHERN CALHOUN... SOUTHWESTERN GILMER AND WEST CENTRAL NICHOLAS COUNTIES…

AT 535 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM LOCATED NEAR ASHFORD… MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR SOUTH CHARLESTON… AND SETH AROUND 5:45 PM… MARMET… AND CHARLESTON AROUND 5:50 PM… BELLE… AND CHESAPEAKE AROUND 5:55 PM… COAL FORK… EAST BANK… SHARON AND AND DAWES AROUND 6:00 PM.

PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE… 877.633.6772… WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.