GCPSD BOIL WATER ADVISORY LIFTED

THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY FOR THE GILMER COUNTY PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT HAS BEEN LIFTED EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, 11.30.11.

THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND CONTINUED SUPPORT.

Brenda Lawson, GM
Gilmer County PSD
304.462.4272

G-LtE™: Dr. Simmons Volunteers to Lead Gilmer Schools Coalition

“And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche” - Geoffrey Chaucer

        For the past few days, weeks and months, I have been asked by many parents, teachers and county citizens to lend support to efforts to depoliticize and improve the situation with Gilmer County Schools.  As you know, my attempt to help as superintendent was ended by overt political maneuvering in Charleston as well as locally.

        Calls for me to take a leadership role in organizing a county-wide group of parents, teachers and concerned citizens have been given serious consideration.  I have no official position from which to operate and I am not empowered to make any decisions.  However, I share in the frustration that most people in our small county feel.  I live here, was educated here and I spent most of my professional life here. I have over forty years of educational experience that spans everything from seventh grade to being Chancellor of the higher education system in West Virginia.  I am currently a Mountain State Professor and an adjunct professor in the Humanities Program at Marshall University Graduate College.

        Poverty in Central West Virginia is the worst that I have seen in my lifetime.  If our children are to have a competitive place in the future economy, they must have an outstanding educational experience.  Today’s student in Gilmer County is not just competing with his classmates; he is competing with students from across the country and around the world.  The very best academic preparation we can offer is none too good.  Education is still the best option for a young person to avoid a life of poverty.

        What makes a successful educational program is not all that complicated.  It consists of well-prepared teachers, an up-to-date curriculum, verifiable assessment and evaluation system, professional administrative leadership and adequate facilities. The public should expect their schools to be managed by educational professionals and be places where students are safe and learn the necessary skills to move on in life.  To do less is failure.

        As a product of Gilmer County Schools, I must say that I had some excellent teachers from elementary school through high school.  Not only were the teachers knowledgeable in their subject matter, they were excellent role models for students.

        Gilmer County has some excellent teachers today who need support and encouragement.  The recent rumors and allegations of serious issues with our schools make their job difficult. Parents are also concerned as they should be.  Their children’s future is at stake.

        I have had enough administrative experience and enough political knowledge to always question the validity of rumors and speculations.  However, the nature of some of the allegations concerning Gilmer County Schools are serious enough that they should be thoroughly and objectively investigated and either proven to be true or false.  If grades were changed as alleged, this should easily be proven or disproven.  The teachers know what grades were submitted, and if the students got something different, there is an obvious problem.  Behavior that is unethical or potentially criminal should be investigated and resolved.  Nothing could be worse for serious educators than to have their time and energy diverted to non-productive rumors and allegations.

        The people of Gilmer County have had enough.  The County is small and getting smaller.  We need answers and those answers need to be straightforward and above board.  Complaining will not in and of itself resolve the situation.

        Again, I have no official standing nor am I seeking such. I have no children in school and no relatives employed by the school system.  I do care very deeply about integrity and good quality education.  If you feel that my forty years of experience can be put to use to help parents, teachers and most of all students, please let me know how I may help.  My role could be that of an organizer and communicator.  If I become involved, I cannot help improve the situation alone.  You need to be committed and supportive.

        Like Chaucer’s Clerk of Oxford, my wife and I have devoted our lives to teaching and learning.  That is what education is all about.  Thank you for your wonderful support.  I believe that we can make a difference.

                                                                              Sincerely,
                                                                             
                                                                              William K. Simmons, Ph.D.

John D. Bennett as a Democrat Pre-Candidate for U. S. Senate

John D. Bennett, a retired educator, from Gilmer County has announced his pre-candidacy as a Democrat for United States Senator. Bennett would like to represent the citizens of West Virginia in Washington, DC. He feels that the rich and powerful are well represented by lobbyists and that the average citizen’s concerns are too often being neglected. Bennett would like to have the opportunity to try and reverse this trend.

John Bennett believes he has the ability to bring groups together. He likes to hear both sides of an issue and then make a decision. He likes a healthy discussion of the issues. He likes to seek common ground. Once a decision is made then all energy and resources are used to carry out that decision.

 

John Bennett believes that our congressional leaders need to work together to try and solve our country’s economic problems rather than to try and score points for political posturing. Congress needs to make the difficult decisions now so that the business leaders in our country can move forward.  Bennett believes the uncertainty of what Congress may or may not do is more harmful to the country’s business leaders than an actual plan.

John Bennett is a graduate of Lewis County High School, Weston, WV. He received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, a Master of Science in Agriculture from West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. Bennett earned his Permanent Professional Administration Certificate by completing his courses at West Virginia University.

Before retiring, John Bennett was employed 14 years as an Agricultural Education Teacher, 6 years as Assistant Principal and 7 years as Principal at Gilmer County High School, Glenville, WV.  Bennett spent 5 years as Director of the Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center, Grantsville, WV. He concluded his employment serving 2 years as Superintendent of Gilmer County Schools, Glenville, WV. During these years Bennett had the honor of participating in education presentations on behalf of the Southern Region Education Board and Gilmer County Schools to the State Education Legislative Leaders from 16 SREB states in San Antonio, Texas; panel discussions before 700 local education leaders at an SREB Conference, Kiawah Island, SC; at the SREB 15th Annual Staff Development Conference, Atlanta, Georgia;  at the Pre-Convention workshop at the 86th National Association of Secondary Schools Principals. He also presented to a consortium of high school teachers and administrators at Twin Falls, Idaho; presented at the Georgia State Tech Prep Consortium, Atlanta, Georgia; and presented at the National Tech Prep Network Conference, Minneapolis -St. Paul, Minnesota. Bennett was very proud that during this time Gilmer County High School was one of six schools that were recognized by the Southern Region Education Board with the Silver Award for improving on their national assessment by at least ten points each in the three areas of reading, mathematics, and science courses.

John Bennett is a past Chairman of the Gilmer County Democrat Executive Committee. He has twice served as a delegate to the State Democrat Convention from Gilmer County. Bennett has been recognized as a past Gilmer County Democrat of the Year at the State Jackson Jefferson Day Dinner in Charleston. He has served two terms plus as the Mayor of the City of Glenville and one term as City Councilman.

John Bennett believes that all Americans should be involved in public service. He serves as Treasurer for the Gilmer County Economic Development Association, Vice President of the Gilmer County Family Resource Network, Secretary of the Gilmer County Cooperative Extension Service Committee, Past President West Virginia Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators, and is a member of the West Virginia American Career and Technical Education State Executive Committee, and Gilmer County Association of Retired School Employees. Bennett is a former member and President of the now defunct Glenville/Gilmer Rotary Club and was recognized as a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow. He has been previously recognized for 30 years membership in the Gilmer County Farm Bureau.  Other recognitions have included the Honorary American FFA Degree, National FFA Organization; Gilmer County Teacher of the Year, Gilmer County Schools; Outstanding Teacher Award, West Virginia Vocational Association; Outstanding Vocational Agriculture Teacher of the Year, West Virginia Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association; Honorary State Farmer Degree, WV FFA Association.

If you are unhappy about the performance of our Congress and would like to look at someone new please contact me at John D. Bennett, 510 Walnut Street, Glenville, WV 26351, e-mail: ; or call me at 304.462.5248. He would love to discuss the issues. He needs help. If you would like to donate time to assist him in this endeavor either by setting up meetings, putting up signs, going door to door or would like to make a monetary donation it would be greatly appreciated.

GSC Holiday Piano Recital December 05, 2011

Anita White, GSC Adjunct Instructor of Piano and Department Accompanist is again planning to hold her annual holiday piano recital.

White will perform ‘Carols for Jesus’ Birth’ on Monday, December 05, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the GSC Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

The event is free to the public. “I retired from Glenville State College last May, but they asked me to come back, and I’m very glad,” said White.

White earned her B.A. degree from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. She has many years of experience as a piano recitalist, organ recitalist, and a teacher of music theory, voice, piano, organ, and related subjects.

White has taught, directed, and been accompanist at numerous churches and public schools. The Gassaway, West Virginia native has also been involved in the planning and performing of many community and church cantatas and oratorios.

For more information, contact the GSC Department of Fine Arts at 304.462.6340.

Alaskan Internship Inspires GSC Student

Glenville State College junior Hillary Harold spent more than two weeks this past July as part of a scientific expedition in Alaska studying the effects of climate change on plant life.

She is a Natural Resource Management major from Widen (Clay County), West Virginia. Her Alaskan experience has reaffirmed her interest in environmental science and set her on a path that will include graduate school.

Harold was part of a team which included three undergraduate students and two graduate students who were selected to help the National Science Foundation (NSF) with research on how climate changes over the past thirty years have impacted vegetation.

Dr. Milan Vavrek, GSC professor of Natural Resource Management and Department Chair, accompanied Harold on the expedition as a mentor to the students. Vavrek had previously worked on similar research in Alaska.

“It was really a great experience for me. The landscape and climate are so different from what I am accustomed to. I had never flown before so the long flight to Alaska was like trial by fire. I really got to know Professor Vavrek better and saw first-hand that climate change is real and is affecting our planet,“ said Harold.

The team traveled the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. The Dalton Highway is the road that truckers travel on the popular television show ‘Ice Road Truckers.‘ They stayed at Toolic Lake Field Station, a world-renowned Arctic long-term ecological facility located in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range. The facility is shared by the NSF and the University of Alaska. The research group also spent time backpacking and camping through the wilderness.

Harold gathering permafrost data in the Alaskan wilderness

Their research included measuring and harvesting characteristics of vegetation, determining depth to permafrost, and setting up experiments.

“Hillary is an enthusiastic student.  She worked tirelessly in Alaska, sometimes under harsh conditions, and enjoyed the entire experience. Perhaps more importantly, she always wanted to learn more about the science underlying the research. She returned from Alaska with new confidence and has excelled at serving GSC and her fellow students with that confidence.“ said Dr.Vavrek.

Inspired by her experience in Alaska, Harold has conducted an independent study of the effects of the permafrost on plant life. Her abstract for this research has been accepted to be presented at the Ninth Annual Undergraduate Research Day at the West Virginia State Capitol on Thursday, January 26, 2012. This event will help members of the State Legislature and Executive Branch understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students whom these programs impact. Harold and Dr. Vavrek will have an opportunity to visit with State Senators and Delegates to talk about their undergraduate research.

Harold is the current treasurer of the Glenville State College Student Government Association and is also active with the Glenville Environmental Organization. She and her husband Linzie live on a large farm in Newton (Roane County), West Virginia.

Potato Chip Maker Mister Bee Files for Bankruptcy

Mister Bee Potato Chip Company is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Parkersburg-based Mister Bee didn’t list its assets or liabilities in the Chapter 11 petition filed November 21, 2011 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Mister Bee President Doug Klein tells WTAP-TV the company is looking to reorganize and take on a new investor.

According to court filings, the company’s largest unsecured creditor is UTZ Quality Foods of Charleston, which is owed $677,623.00.

West Virginia Is using Cameras to Track Elk Population

West Virginia wildlife officials are using trail cameras to track the state’s growing elk population.

Division of Natural Resources assistant wildlife Chief Paul Johansen tells West Virginia Public Broadcasting that the elk are migrating from Kentucky and Virginia.

Efforts are under way in those states to re-establish the elk population.

Johansen says elk don’t recognize state borders, so West Virginia needs to monitor the animals to determine how to best manage them.

There are concerns with the elk’s return to West Virginia after more than a century, including damage to crops and elk-vehicle collisions.

But Johansen says many hunters support growing the elk population.

However, there will be no elk hunting until the population reaches at least 950 animals in a nearly 3,000 square mile area covering seven counties.

Governor and First Family Invite West Virginians to Participate in Joyful Night

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and the First Family invite all West Virginians to join them for the Joyful Night celebration on Thursday, December 01, 2011, beginning at 5:45 PM at the North Plaza of the State Capitol Complex.

As part of the festivities, the First Family encourages attendees to bring a new unwrapped toy for the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots campaign.

“The evening’s celebrations should be carried throughout the month as we gather with friends, family and neighbors to rejoice in the spirit of the season,“ Governor Tomblin said. “By giving of oneself, whether through time spent with loved ones or by donating to charitable organizations like the Marines’ Toys for Tots, we receive so much more in return by sharing.“

The toy drive also provides the opportunity for individuals and families to participate in the First Lady’s Serve West Virginia Military initiative, which encourages West Virginians to support our military members and their families.

Musical talents from across the state will be featured throughout the Capitol Complex and Governor Tomblin and First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin will read a favorite holiday story to children in the Governor’s Reception Room as part of the evening’s events.

All activities are free and everyone is invited. Festivities will begin at the North Plaza of the Capitol, proceed through the Capitol Complex and conclude at the Culture Center.

Gilmer County CEOS Presents: Holiday House 2011 - This Friday

Fund Raiser for Gilmer County Special Olympics

Gilmer County Special Olympics is now conducting a fund raiser by selling McDonald McSavings Cards and Rada Cutlery.

If you are interested in either or both of these, please call Mary Strickland at 304.462.7750 or Genny Kirkpatrick at 304.462.8553.

If we are not at home, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

We wish to thank you for your support and to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a Blessed Christmas.

Gilmer County Senior Center: Christmas Sweepstakes 2011 - Starting 12.01.11

Gilmer County Senior Center Winter Ball 2011 - Friday 12.09.11

Gilmer County Parks and Recreation Special Meeting - 11.30.11

There will be a Special meeting for the Gilmer County Parks and Recreation Board on Wednesday November 30, 2011 at 6:30 PM in the dining hall.

The meeting is open to the public.

NFL Standings - 2011 - Week 12

 

NFL Standings - 2011 - Week 12

American Football Conference
East Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
New England Patriots	8	3	0	.727	0.0	331	223	4 - 1 - 0	4 - 2 - 0	6 - 2 - 0	3 - 1 - 0	3 W
New York Jets	6	5	0	.545	2.0	256	241	5 - 1 - 0	1 - 4 - 0	5 - 5 - 0	3 - 2 - 0	1 W
Buffalo Bills	5	6	0	.455	3.0	261	281	4 - 1 - 0	1 - 5 - 0	3 - 4 - 0	1 - 3 - 0	4 L
Miami Dolphins	3	8	0	.273	5.0	212	206	2 - 3 - 0	1 - 5 - 0	2 - 6 - 0	1 - 2 - 0	1 L
West Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
Oakland Raiders	7	4	0	.636	0.0	260	274	3 - 3 - 0	4 - 1 - 0	5 - 4 - 0	2 - 2 - 0	3 W
Denver Broncos	6	5	0	.545	1.0	221	260	2 - 3 - 0	4 - 2 - 0	6 - 3 - 0	3 - 2 - 0	4 W
Kansas City Chiefs	4	7	0	.364	3.0	153	265	2 - 4 - 0	2 - 3 - 0	3 - 6 - 0	2 - 2 - 0	4 L
San Diego Chargers	4	7	0	.364	3.0	249	275	3 - 3 - 0	1 - 4 - 0	3 - 5 - 0	2 - 3 - 0	6 L
North Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
Baltimore Ravens	8	3	0	.727	0.0	272	182	6 - 0 - 0	2 - 3 - 0	5 - 2 - 0	3 - 0 - 0	2 W
Pittsburgh Steelers	8	3	0	.727	0.0	233	188	4 - 1 - 0	4 - 2 - 0	6 - 3 - 0	1 - 2 - 0	2 W
Cincinnati Bengals	7	4	0	.636	1.0	259	215	3 - 2 - 0	4 - 2 - 0	6 - 3 - 0	2 - 2 - 0	1 W
Cleveland Browns	4	7	0	.364	4.0	165	216	3 - 3 - 0	1 - 4 - 0	3 - 5 - 0	0 - 2 - 0	1 L
South Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
Houston Texans	8	3	0	.727	0.0	293	179	4 - 1 - 0	4 - 2 - 0	7 - 2 - 0	4 - 0 - 0	5 W
Tennessee Titans	6	5	0	.545	2.0	226	212	4 - 2 - 0	2 - 3 - 0	4 - 4 - 0	1 - 2 - 0	1 W
Jacksonville Jaguars	3	8	0	.273	5.0	138	200	2 - 3 - 0	1 - 5 - 0	3 - 6 - 0	2 - 2 - 0	2 L
Indianapolis Colts	0	11	0	.000	8.0	150	327	0 - 6 - 0	0 - 5 - 0	0 - 7 - 0	0 - 3 - 0	11 L
National Football Conference
East Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
Dallas Cowboys	7	4	0	.636	0.0	270	225	5 - 1 - 0	2 - 3 - 0	5 - 2 - 0	2 - 1 - 0	4 W
New York Giants	6	5	0	.545	1.0	252	277	3 - 2 - 0	3 - 3 - 0	3 - 5 - 0	1 - 2 - 0	3 L
Philadelphia Eagles	4	7	0	.364	3.0	257	251	1 - 5 - 0	3 - 2 - 0	4 - 5 - 0	3 - 1 - 0	1 L
Washington Redskins	4	7	0	.364	3.0	183	222	2 - 3 - 0	2 - 4 - 0	4 - 5 - 0	1 - 3 - 0	1 W
West Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
San Francisco 49ers	9	2	0	.818	0.0	262	161	5 - 1 - 0	4 - 1 - 0	7 - 1 - 0	2 - 0 - 0	1 L
Seattle Seahawks	4	7	0	.364	5.0	185	232	2 - 3 - 0	2 - 4 - 0	3 - 4 - 0	2 - 1 - 0	1 L
Arizona Cardinals	4	7	0	.364	5.0	213	256	2 - 2 - 0	2 - 5 - 0	4 - 5 - 0	2 - 2 - 0	1 W
St. Louis Rams	2	9	0	.182	7.0	140	270	1 - 5 - 0	1 - 4 - 0	1 - 8 - 0	0 - 3 - 0	2 L
North Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
Green Bay Packers	11	0	0	1.000	0.0	382	227	5 - 0 - 0	6 - 0 - 0	9 - 0 - 0	4 - 0 - 0	11 W
Chicago Bears	7	4	0	.636	4.0	288	232	5 - 1 - 0	2 - 3 - 0	6 - 3 - 0	2 - 2 - 0	1 L
Detroit Lions	7	4	0	.636	4.0	316	246	3 - 3 - 0	4 - 1 - 0	5 - 4 - 0	2 - 2 - 0	1 L
Minnesota Vikings	2	9	0	.182	9.0	214	295	1 - 4 - 0	1 - 5 - 0	2 - 6 - 0	0 - 4 - 0	3 L
South Division
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
New Orleans Saints	8	3	0	.727	0.0	362	252	5 - 0 - 0	3 - 3 - 0	5 - 3 - 0	3 - 1 - 0	3 W
Atlanta Falcons	7	4	0	.636	1.0	259	227	4 - 2 - 0	3 - 2 - 0	5 - 4 - 0	1 - 2 - 0	2 W
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4	7	0	.364	4.0	199	291	3 - 3 - 0	1 - 4 - 0	3 - 5 - 0	2 - 1 - 0	5 L
Carolina Panthers	3	8	0	.273	5.0	252	305	2 - 4 - 0	1 - 4 - 0	1 - 7 - 0	0 - 2 - 0	1 W

Glenville: Christmas Flea Market 2011 - Thursday

CHRISTMAS FLEA MARKET

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Gilmer County Senior Center

Several vendors scheduled to set up including: New Items, Homemade Crafts, Used Items, etc..

This would be a great start to Christmas shopping.

Begins at 8:00 AM

Tables are still available, contact Devin at the Gilmer County Senior Center to reserve yours for $10 dollars. 304.462.5761

G-Comm:™: Speak Out: America Is a Free Speech Forum

“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.“—First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The United States has historically stood for unfettered free speech, which is vital to a functioning democracy. Unfortunately, the tendency on the part of government and law enforcement officials to purge dissent has largely undermined the First Amendment’s safeguards for political free speech. The Occupy Movement, and the government’s response to its encampments in public spaces, perfectly illustrates the fact that there is no longer any such thing as unfettered free speech in America today.

The very fact that protesters have had to resort to occupying various public spaces in order to open up a national dialogue about issues of concern says a lot about the state of the First Amendment, or rather the sad state of it. Moreover, the heavy-handed police response to the Occupiers shows the degree to which the corporate state will go to silence these protesters and discourage any further uprisings.

There was a time when communities had town squares—public areas where people gathered to exchange information, ideas, and do business. These served a vital function in America’s history, allowing opinions and ideas—whether good or bad—to be aired and debated. Yet as areas once open to the public have been overtaken by state and corporate interests, traditional public forums for free speech have all but disappeared. Town squares have been replaced by private shopping malls and parking lots, neither of which are freely accessible to individuals hoping to voice their views. Consequently, protesters, even those not engaging in civil disobedience, are shut out, sometimes forcibly, from public areas, while attempts to peaceably assemble are overburdened by government regulations and permit requirements.

Furthermore, the court-sanctioned use by the government and private entities of so-called “free speech zones” to isolate protesters, even in public parks and college campuses, makes clear that the right to speak freely in public has eroded. Concentrating, monitoring and minimizing the effects of protests are the real reasons for using designated protest zones. Obviously, protesters are only perceived as dangerous because their message challenges the status quo. It’s the message that is feared. Thus, efforts to confine and control the dissenters are really efforts to confine and control the effect of their messages, whatever those might be. This is true whether they’re challenging environmental policies, free trade agreements or the political campaigns of candidates running for public office.

Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the importance of being able to come together in public and address social, political, and economic issues. He knew that there was more to American democracy than simply waiting for Election Day. The ability to come together and hash out differences is instrumental in pushing government officials to respond to the wishes of the people. Without a mass mobilization of individuals during the Civil Rights Era, we would be living in an entirely different America. Just imagine if the hundreds of thousands of participants in the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which culminated with Martin Luther King, Jr.‘s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial, had been forced into free speech zones. There likely would not have been a 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The right of political free speech is the basis of all liberty. It’s the citizen’s right to confront the government and demand that it alter its policies. But first, citizens have to be seen and heard, and only under extraordinary circumstances should free speech ever be restricted.

Historically, societies have always benefitted when the right to speak freely was secured rather than curtailed. These free speech forums provided groups and individuals of all political and ideological persuasions a physical space to be able to come together to speak their minds.

For example, the agora, the center of public life in ancient Greece, found its most spectacular display in Athens. Public life emanated from the agora, with courts, commercial enterprises, and libraries adorning the square. People assembled in the agora to talk politics, religion, and business. The Roman Forum had a comparable function during the time of the Roman Republic, allowing citizens to engage civic and business leaders and discuss the issues of the day. The Forum housed marketplaces, courts of law, and religious temples. Both of these public areas were used with frequency, allowing citizens to keep abreast of current events and debate with their neighbors.

Moreover, many of the most important actions during the American Revolutionary period took place in public areas. In fact, it is where Americans mobilized themselves against British tyranny. For example, Faneuil Hall in Boston (sometimes referred to as “the Cradle of Liberty”) is where the colonists protested against the Sugar Act in 1764.. On March 6, 1770, Americans gathered at Faneuil Hall to recount the events of the Boston Massacre. It was there that colonial radical Samuel Adams gave an impassioned speech demanding that the lieutenant governor remove all British troops from the town.

However, somewhere along the way, Americans lost touch with the impact and importance of these free speech forums. For example, Faneuil Hall, once the staging ground for revolutionary fervor, now requires individuals hoping to use the venue to submit an “Event Application” form at least thirty days in advance of proposed events.

This erosion of free speech started with the upheaval of the 1960s. The protests against the Vietnam War frightened many establishment figures and led to the creation of “free speech zones.“ Now free speech zones have come to dominate the political landscape. George W. Bush, for example, used them excessively during his first term as president and both the Democratic and Republican parties have used them at various conventions to mute any and all criticism of their policies. Perhaps the most egregious instance of imposing a free speech zone upon protesters came in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention. It was there that Boston Police constructed a cage of jersey walls and chain link fences out of sight of the convention center which protesters were huddled in to.

Caging people who want to exercise free speech goes against the entire concept of our Constitution, the Bill of Rights and what the revolutionary generation stood for. When political protest is caged, it’s not just the rights of a few protesters that are at stake. The very definition of freedom is in danger. Freedom cannot be exercised from within a cage.

Nor should the centers of power be shielded from the citizen. Our representatives have a contractual, constitutional duty to make themselves available to us. Unfortunately, politicians have gone to great lengths to evade this fundamental duty in recent years. In fact, keen to avoid voter rage, Democrats and Republicans have come up with a plan to keep things “civil”: that is, avoid town-hall meetings at all cost, make minimal public appearances while at home in one’s district, only appear at events in controlled settings where they’re the only ones talking, and if one must interact with constituents, do so via telephone town meetings or impromptu visits to local businesses where the chances of being accosted by angry voters are greatly minimized. What this does, of course, is effectively do away with any pretense that we have a representative government.

No matter what your political persuasion may be, every American has a First Amendment right to speak their mind, gather together and protest against government programs with which they disagree. As such, there are really only three ways to deal with a government that doesn’t listen to the voters: one, you can be uncivil—showing up at a controlled event and shouting, heckling, and creating a disturbance and otherwise raising hell; two, you can engage in civil disobedience—staging sit-ins, refusing to pay taxes, etc.; or the final option, which is no real option at all and which we don’t want to see happen, is violence.

We’ve already seen the first option, incivility, exercised more frequently, especially in the wake of the heated town hall meetings over health care reform where outspoken Tea Party activists made headlines for heckling politicians and causing disruptions. Their “uncivil” behavior prompted a number of so-called free speech advocates to start propounding about the need for “civility.“

We are seeing the second option played out now in the Occupy protests, as people resort to creating shanty towns and occupying parks to get attention. The response by government officials has been to send in the police, armed with rubber bullets, sound cannons and pepper spray.

Unless we act now to preserve the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment, not only the right to freedom of speech and assembly but the right to petition one’s government for a redress of grievances—and by that I mean something as simple as picketing in front of City Hall, then I fear we will see the third option played out, outright violence, which will play right into the government’s hands and the institution of police state tactics.

What can you do? Right now, the best thing you can do is sound the alarm. Form local citizens groups in your community. Educate your neighbors on their rights and inform them about the grave possibilities we face as the police state aura grows stronger. Continue to voice your discontent to your representatives at the local and state levels, and in Congress. Most of all, stay informed and exercise your right to redress your grievances with the government while you still can. It’s fine to occupy public parks, but it would be far better to occupy city council meetings and congressional offices.

~~  by John Whitehead ~~

Mountaineer Playbook - 11.29.11

Bon Appétit: Bananas Foster over Puff Pastry

Ingredients:

  1 sheet Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry
  6 medium bananas, peeled
  1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  1/4 cup rum
  2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  1 tablespoon lemon juice
  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  1 cup sour cream
  1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

Directions:

Thaw pastry sheet at room temperature 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Unfold pastry sheet on lightly floured surface.

Trim pastry to make 9-inch circle.

Place on baking sheet.

Bake 10 min. or until golden.

Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire rack.

Cut bananas in half lengthwise and then crosswise into slices.

Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar, rum, butter, lemon juice and cinnamon in skillet.

Heat to a boil.

Cook and stir until mixture thickens, about 2 min.

Add bananas and toss to coat.

Mix sour cream and remaining brown sugar.

Spoon banana mixture over pastry.

Top with sour cream mixture.

Cut into wedges.

Daily G-Eye™: 11.30.11

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

Stargazing - 11.30.11

The Great Square of Pegasus passes high overhead this evening.

The star at its northwestern corner, Beta Pegasi, is a red giant.

The star is nearing the end of its life, so it has puffed up to gigantic proportions.

Beta Pegasi

The Sun shines because nuclear reactions in its core convert hydrogen into helium. Several billion years from now, though, the core will run out of hydrogen, so the Sun will begin to burn the hydrogen in a layer around the core. This will cause the Sun to expand, cool, and brighten, until about a billion years later it becomes a red giant.

Tonight, if you know where to look, you can see a star that’s already entered the red-giant stage of life. It’s part of the Great Square of Pegasus, which passes high overhead this evening.

In mythology, Pegasus was the winged horse. In the sky, it’s one of the largest constellations. Its most prominent feature is a giant square made of four fairly bright stars.

The star that marks the northwestern corner of the square is a red giant called Beta Pegasi. It’s close to a hundred times the Sun’s diameter. If it took the Sun’s place in our own solar system, it would extend all the way to the orbit of Venus, the second planet out. And from the surface of the burned-out Earth, it would stretch half way across the sky.

Beta Pegasi shines about 350 times more brightly than the present-day Sun. But because it’s 200 light-years away, it looks like just another star.

Still, Beta Pegasi is one of the brightest red giants in the night sky. If you have a pair of binoculars, you might even be able to glimpse its red color. In that tiny red point of light, you’ll see the future of our own Sun.

G-MM™: Meditation Moment - 11.30.11

You never know the seeds you sow.

Someone once said this to me, and these words have stayed with me all these years and give courage and, frequently, humility, as words continually come back to me.

Children are very good at this: ‘But you said …’ However, it is the words of faith and witness that come back and give humility —‘I remember you said …’—never dreaming that words spoken from the heart with faith would affect someone so much, giving strength and purpose.

Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that ‘faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of Christ.’

Is Christ seeded in our hearts so that the words we speak sow seeds of faith in others’ hearts?

Romans 10:9-18. Their message goes out through all the earth—Ps 18(19):2-5. Matthew 4:18-22.

Bertha Mae (Ross) Richards

Bertha Mae (Ross) Richards

Age 73, of Williamstown, went to be with her Lord and Savior November 28, 2011, from her residence.

She was born in Arnoldsburg in Calhoun County, WV, on October 27, 1938, a daughter of the late Roscoe Calvin Ross and Ruby Marie (Saunders) Ross.

She was Protestant by faith.

She worked at Wal-Mart, and was a caregiver in family home care for several years. She dearly loved needlework, reading and working puzzles.

She is survived by her two daughters, Carolyn M. Nichols and Kevin of Williamstown and Kathi Lee Arthur and Glen of Creston, WV; son, William Dale Richards of Cutler, Ohio; six grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; brother, Dallas Gene Ross and Virginia of Belpre, Ohio; sister-in-law, Clare Ross of Cleveland, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Michael Wayne Richards; five brothers, Billy Dean Ross, Allison F. Ross, Donald E. Ross, Ronald C. Ross and Richard D. Ross; and sister, Barbara Snider.

Services will be 3:00 PM Thursday at Leavitt Funeral Home in Parkersburg with Shawn Lauderman officiating.

Visitation will be Thursday from 1:00 - 3:00 PM prior to the service.

Nina Craig Myers

Nina Craig Myers

Age 87, of Crawford, WV, was called home by her Heavenly Father on November 26, 2011, after a decline in health due to pancreatic cancer.

She was born November 29, 1923, in Gregory, WV, the daughter of the late William Clarence Smarr and Dorothy Harris Smarr Sapp.

At age 8, after her Father’s death, she was raised by her foster parents Abia and Etta Cunningham Holbert who were a positive influence in her life.

Surviving are her children, Ronnie (Retha) Craig of Walkersville, WV, and Dottie (Rick) Starr of Lakeland, FL; grandchildren Connie (Ernie) Johnston of Walkersville, WV, and Brett Vanderbrink of Altamonte Springs, FL; great-grandchildren Claire and Cameron Simmons of Walkersville, WV; siblings Lubert Smarr, Buckhannon, WV, Annabelle Smarr Walters, Akron, OH, Clell Smarr, Palm Coast, FL; half sisters Beulah Sapp Payne Hughes, Lancaster, PA, and Jean Sapp Trotter, Sterling, VA.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Lawrence Craig, and second husband Lydle Myers; brother Clifford Smarr; half brother Junior Sapp; and half sisters Eva Sapp Bradford, Mary Sapp Smith Thacker and Winifred Smarr Dean.

Nina graduated from Glenville State College and enjoyed her teaching profession of 35 years where she touched many young lives. During her retirement she remained very active. She was the family and community historian and was involved in her church and community. She loved music, people, reading, current events and was a true conversationalist and entertainer.

Nina’s children respect their Mother’s request of a private graveside service to include her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A scholarship fund has been established in her name through the Lewis County Board of Education to be given to a senior(s) pursuing a teaching career at Glenville State College.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to “Nina Craig Myers Scholarship Fund,” c/o Lewis County Board of Education, 239 Court Ave., Weston, WV 26452-2099.

The Alkire Funeral Chapel of Ireland, WV is in charge of the arrangements.

Hilda Etta Skidmore

Hilda Etta Skidmore

Age 93, of Parkersburg, passed away November 27, 2011, at West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg, WV.

She was born March 21, 1918, in Braxton County, WV, a daughter of the late Howard and Cora Engle Bailey.

Hilda was a registered nurse with the U.S. Army during World War II.

She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Trinity United Methodist Church.

She is survived by a daughter, Mary Ann Shekeloff and husband, Brian, of Haleiwa, Hawaii; a son, Kenneth Skidmore and wife, Leslie, of Christianburg, VA; two grandchildren, Andrew Skidmore of Radford, VA, and Lee Skidmore of Hayden, Idaho; and special friends, Keith and Beverly Shelton of Parkersburg.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Skidmore in 1981; two brothers, Frank Bailey and Jim Bailey; and one sister, Rena Griffith.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 11:00 AM at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Pike Street, south Parkersburg, with Pastor David Stilgenbauer officiating.

Interment will be 3:00 PM at Beall’s Mill Cemetery in Gassaway, WV.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 8:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.

Katherine Marie Woodyard

Katherine Marie Woodyard

Age 69, of 1576 Berlin Road, Weston was taken to live with our heavenly father on November 28, 2011 at 10:50 PM.

She was born in Weston on May 14, 1942; daughter of the late Clyde N. Fisher and Katherine Jordan Fisher of Point Pleasant, WV.

Ms. Woodyard was preceded in death by her first husband James H. Turner, and second husband James D. Woodyard.

Ms. Woodward is survived by her children, Cheryl Marie Adkins and husband Bob of Fairmont, Christopher James Turner and wife Kimberly of Good Hope and Carla Francine Kemper of Jane Lew. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Bryan West, Courtney Kemper, Cayla Kemper, Cody Kemper, Cameron Turner, Colton Turner, Lucas Turner and two great grandsons, Brayden West and Aiden Turner. Marie is also survived by one brother, Lynn Fisher of Maryland and four sisters, Patricia Rahilly of Delaware, Donna Lou Oshel of Point Pleasant, Sharon Singleton of Frametown and Linda Kay Smith of Virginia and several nieces and nephews.

Marie enjoyed quilting and reading, but her greatest joy in life was spending time with her many friends, family and precious grandchildren.

She was employed by Weston Transfer, Inc. of Weston. She donated to several charities including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

She was a member of the Freemansburg United Methodist Church.

Family and friends will be received at the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home, 730 North Main Avenue, Weston on Thursday, December 01, 2011, from 4:00 - 8:00 PM.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 02, 2011, at 11:00 AM from the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home Chapel with the Pastor Steve Felder officiating.

Interment will follow services in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens of Jane Lew, WV.

In lieu of flowers family would like donations made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital P.O. Box 1000 Memphis, TN 38148-0142.

Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home of Weston is in charge of arrangements Katherine Marie Woodyard.

11.30.11

Today - November 30, yyyy

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 30, the 334th day of 2011. There are 31 days left in the year.

Thought for Today: “Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.“ — Mark Twain (1835-1910).

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Nov. 30, 1835, Samuel Langhorne Clemens — better known as Mark Twain — was born in Florida, Mo.

On this date:

In 1782, the United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris, ending the Revolutionary War.

In 1803, Spain completed the process of ceding Louisiana to France, which had sold it to the United States.

In 1874, British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace.

In 1900, Irish writer Oscar Wilde died in Paris at age 46.

In 1936, London’s famed Crystal Palace, constructed for the Great Exhibition of 1851, was destroyed in a fire.

In 1939, the Winter War began as Soviet troops invaded Finland. (The conflict ended the following March with a Soviet victory.)

In 1960, the last DeSoto was built by Chrysler, which had decided to retire the brand after 32 years.

In 1962, U Thant of Burma, who had been acting secretary-general of the United Nations following the death of Dag Hammarskjold the year before, was elected to a four-year term.

In 1966, the former British colony of Barbados became independent.

In 1981, the United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in Europe.

Ten years ago:

•  Robert Tools, the first person in the world to receive a fully self-contained artificial heart, died in Louisville, Ky., of complications after severe abdominal bleeding; he had lived with the device for 151 days.

•  Gary Leon Ridgway was arrested in connection with four of the Green River serial killings in Washington state (he later pleaded guilty to four dozen killings, and is serving life in prison).

Five years ago:

•  President George W. Bush met in Jordan with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (NOO’-ree ahl-MAHL’-ih-kee); Bush said the United States would speed a turnover of security responsibility to Iraqi forces but assured al-Maliki that Washington was not looking for “some kind of graceful exit” from Iraq.

•  Pope Benedict XVI visited Istanbul’s famous Blue Mosque in a dramatic gesture of outreach to Muslims.

One year ago:

•  Pentagon leaders called for scrapping the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban after releasing a survey about the prospect of openly gay troops.

•  The Obama administration announced that all 197 airlines that fly to the U.S. had begun collecting names, genders and birth dates of passengers so the government could check them against terror watch lists before they boarded flights.

Today’s Birthdays:

Historian Jacques Barzun is 104

Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is 93

Actor Robert Guillaume is 84

TV personality and producer Dick Clark is 82

Radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy is 81

Country singer-recording executive Jimmy Bowen is 74

Movie director Ridley Scott is 74

Movie writer-director Terrence Malick is 68

Rock musician Roger Glover (Deep Purple) is 66

Playwright David Mamet (MA’-meht) is 64

Actress Margaret Whitton is 61

Actor Mandy Patinkin is 59

Musician Shuggie Otis is 58

Country singer Jeannie Kendall is 57

Singer Billy Idol is 56

Historian Michael Beschloss is 56

Rock musician John Ashton (The Psychedelic Furs) is 54

Comedian Colin Mochrie is 54

Former football and baseball player Bo Jackson is 49

Rapper Jalil (Whodini) is 48

Actor-director Ben Stiller is 46

Rock musician Mike Stone is 42

Actress Sandra Oh is 41

Country singer Mindy McCready is 36

Singer Clay Aiken is 33

Actress Elisha Cuthbert is 29

Actress Kaley Cuoco (KWOH’-koh) is 26

Actress Christel Khalil is 24

WV Lottery - 11.29.11

6-8-3

6-9-5-0

02-11-21-22-23-25

17-29-43-48-52     Mega Ball: 36   Megaplier: x 4  

Pettit, Morris and Bishop Win Volleyball Awards

The GCHS Lady Volleyball team, who finished the season in the first round of the State Tournament, with a 21-15 record, had three girls who received both conference and All-State Awards.

•  Sydney Pettit, a senior, was named 1st team all LKC and 1st team All-State.

Pettit was a 3-year varsity setter for the team.

This year, she accumulated 205 service points, of which 42 were aces.

She had 2643 sets and 804 assists.  She also had 28 kills, 27 digs and 1 block.

•  Jordan Morris, a senior, was named 2nd team all LKC and Honorable Mention All-State.

Morris accumulated 202 service points, of which 69 were aces.

She had 163 kills, 32 digs and 6 blocks.

She also had 74 sets and gained 22 assists.

•  Julie Bishop, a sophomore who was a starter on the varsity team, was named 2nd team all LKC and 2nd team All-State.

She scored 213 service points, of which 74 were aces.

She had 139 kills, 37 digs, 24 blocks and had 67 sets with 14 assists.

Congratulations to these young ladies for the accomplishments during the 2011 GCHS Volleyball season.

WV Ginseng Digging Season Ends Wednesday, November 30, 2011

West Virginia’s ginseng digging season ends on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

The season started on September 01, 2011.

Individuals who are in possession of ginseng roots have until March 31, 2012, to either sell them to a registered dealer or obtain a weight-receipt.

A weight-receipt allows the person to hold those roots until the next ginseng season and sell them to a registered dealer.

For a list of registered dealers or more information about ginseng, contact Robin Black at 304.558.2788

Weston: Lunsford Remains Free on Bond

The mother of a missing three-year-old girl in Lewis County will remain free on bond while awaiting trial on charges unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance, despite violating the conditions of her bond, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Lena Lunsford, 29, of Bendale, previously pleaded not guilty to federal welfare fraud charges.

She is currently free on bond.

However, Lunsford was caught with bath salts, often used as a cocaine substitute, while free on bond.

Lunsford did not report the incident to her probation officer.

During a bond revocation hearing Monday, a federal judge ruled Lunsford had violated the conditions of her bond by failing to report to report law enforcement contact with her probation officer.

The judge modified Lunsford’s bond to say Lunsford can no longer live with her husband.

She will also be required to participate in substance abuse counseling at the direction of her probation officer.

Lunsford is accused of selling food stamp benefits for cash.

Her daughter, three-year-old Aliayah Lunsford, has been missing since September 24, 2011.

There has been little evidence connected to her disappearance.

Federal authorities say the welfare fraud charges have no connection to Aliayah’s disappearance.

Morgantown Businessman, Bill Maloney Will Run for Governor Again Next Year

After narrowly losing to Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in the October Special Primary Election this year, Bill Maloney filed pre-candidacy papers Monday with the Secretary of State’s Office to run for Governor in 2012.

“I think he can win,“ state Senate Minority Leader Mike Hall said of the decision from Maloney on Monday’s MetroNews Talkline.

The difference between Maloney and Tomblin in the Special Election, earlier this year, was about 7,000 votes or just more than two percentage points.

Governor Tomblin has already said he will seek reelection next year.

Senator Hall says next year’s election climate will be much different in West Virginia since it will be a Presidential election year and President Barack Obama’s name, an unpopular name in West Virginia, will be at the top of the Democrat ticket.

“You’re going to have a massive turnout, probably equal turnout across the state (of Democrats and Republicans), so that just the demographics and mathematics of it may encourage a Republican candidate to get in,“ Senator Hall said.

“This is going to be a rough year (for Democrats).

Before this year, Maloney had never run for political office.  He put millions of dollars of his own money into his campaign.

GSC ‘Home for the Holidays’ Celebration

Members of the Glenville State College Chamber Singers are presenting a ‘Home for the Holidays’ celebration on both Friday, December 02 and Saturday, December 03, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the GSC Fine Arts Center lobby area.

The group’s members will perform holiday classics and skits while the audience enjoys cookies and cocoa.

“Bring a friend and bask in the holiday cheer! Take the time to feel the spirit of the season and sing along,” said GSC Chamber Singers Director Teresa Dody.

“Teresa Dody is one of the great GSC Ambassadors and this concert will be a beautiful holiday reflection of the love and dedication she has for GSC and the community,” said GSC Department of Fine Arts Chair Lloyd Bone.

General admission is $7.00 or $10.00 for two tickets. To reserve a seat, call the GSC Department of Fine Arts at 304.462.6340.

For more information, contact Dody at “Teresa.Dody@glenville.edu” or 304.462.6345.

G-Fin™: Congressional Leaders Suggest Deal on Jobless Benefits, Payroll Tax Is Possible

After the failure of the congressional deficit-reduction committee last week, members of Congress from both parties signaled limited willingness to compromise on more immediate economic issues headed their way before the year ends.

The Obama administration has asked Congress to extend payroll tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, and also to renew unemployment benefits. The tax-cut extension could cost the Treasury an estimated $112 billion, but if it lapses, taxes on American workers will go up Jan. 1 at a cost of about $1,000 for a typical family.

Democrats plan to propose paying for the extension with a surtax on millionaires, which Republicans oppose.

“By taxing people who provide jobs, you put off the day we have economic recovery and job creation in this country,“ said Senator John Kyl of Arizona, who was one of six Republican members on the deficit panel. “It would hit those people, the small businesses who we all acknowledge are the ones who create the jobs.“

But Kyl, on “Fox News Sunday,“ stopped short of saying that there would be no deal on the payroll tax cut extension.

The assertion that the surtax would hurt small businesses is overstated, according to the nonpartisan fact-checking site PolitiFact, which cited several reports showing that only a tiny percentage of such business owners make more than $1 million a year.

Economists warn that not extending payroll-tax cut and unemployment benefits could cut the economy’s weak growth almost in half next year.

The deficit committee’s failure triggered automatic budget cuts—split between military and nonmilitary spending—to go into effect by 2013 unless Congress comes up with another plan to reduce deficits.

Some lawmakers indicated Sunday that they might be open to reviving previous proposals made by the president’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which was co-chaired by former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Senator Alan Simpson, R-WY.

The Simpson-Bowles Commission, as it was known, proposed cuts in spending, including on entitlement programs that Democrats traditionally have protected, but also called for increasing taxes and closing loopholes. Republicans resisted the revenue recommendations.

But both parties are hesitant to let the payroll-tax cuts expire for fear of how it would affect consumer spending and confidence. At least two senators said Sunday that lawmakers might seize the moment to come up with a larger plan to preserve the tax cuts and reduce deficits.

“I believe this is a contrarian view, but we have a good chance of actually getting the big package, big deficit reduction in 2012,“ Senator Charles E. Schumer, D-NY, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press”. “The pressure on both parties to come together in the middle is going to be stronger and stronger. Second, the Republican primaries will end; right now the Republican primary pushes the candidates and then their Senate and congressional supporters to the right.

“But once you get a nominee, they have to move to the middle.“

On ABC’s “This Week,“ Senator Pat Toomey, R-PA, said he was “cautiously optimistic” that a debt deal could be worked out next year.

“I spoke with a number of Democratic senators who were not serving on the supercommittee, who thought that the plan that we put forward was very constructive, was reasonable,“ he said. “So I think there’s a chance to work with some of the more moderate members of the Democratic caucus, who want to make progress, who realize how important this is.“

~~  By McClatchy Newspapers ~~

NFL Scoreboard 2011 - Week 12

 

Monday, November 28, 2011
Final 1 2 3 4 Total NY Giants 0 3 7 14 24 New Orleans 0 21 14 14 49 Leader NY Giants New Orleans Passing E. Manning 406 D. Brees 363 Rushing B. Jacobs 46 M. Ingram 80 Receiving V. Cruz 157 J. Graham 84
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Final 1 2 3 4 Total Green Bay 0 7 17 3 27 Detroit 0 0 0 15 15 Leader Green Bay Detroit Passing A. Rodgers 307 M. Stafford 276 Rushing R. Grant 20 M. Morris 39 Receiving J. Jones 94 M. Morris 81		Final 1 2 3 4 Total Miami 3 3 10 3 19 Dallas 0 10 0 10 20 Leader Miami Dallas Passing M. Moore 288 T. Romo 226 Rushing R. Bush 61 D. Murray 87 Receiving B. Marshall 103 L. Robinson 79
Final 1 2 3 4 Total San Francisco 3 0 3 0 6 Baltimore 3 3 0 10 16 Leader San Francisco Baltimore Passing A. Smith 140 J. Flacco 161 Rushing F. Gore 39 R. Rice 59 Receiving M. Crabtree 54 A. Boldin 63
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Final 1 2 3 4 Total Houston 7 13 0 0 20 Jacksonville 7 3 0 3 13 Leader Houston Jacksonville Passing T. Yates 70 B. Gabbert 136 Rushing A. Foster 65 M. Jones-Drew 99 Receiving O. Daniels 31 M. Jones-Drew 67		Final 1 2 3 4 Total Tampa Bay 3 7 7 0 17 Tennessee 7 3 0 13 23 Leader Tampa Bay Tennessee Passing J. Freeman 199 M. Hasselbeck 160 Rushing L. Blount 103 C. Johnson 190 Receiving M. Williams 84 L. Hawkins 51
Final 1 2 3 4 Total Minnesota 0 0 7 7 14 Atlanta 7 10 0 7 24 Leader Minnesota Atlanta Passing C. Ponder 186 M. Ryan 262 Rushing T. Gerhart 44 M. Turner 60 Receiving P. Harvin 95 R. White 120		Final 1 2 3 4 Total Arizona 3 0 17 3 23 St. Louis 7 3 0 10 20 Leader Arizona St. Louis Passing J. Skelton 114 S. Bradford 203 Rushing B. Wells 228 S. Jackson 64 Receiving L. Fitzgerald 55 B. Lloyd 74
Final 1 2 3 4 Total Buffalo 7 7 7 3 24 NY Jets 0 14 7 7 28 Leader Buffalo NY Jets Passing R. Fitzpatric 264 M. Sanchez 180 Rushing C. Spiller 55 S. Greene 78 Receiving B. Smith 77 D. Keller 61		Final 1 2 3 4 Total Cleveland 7 10 3 0 20 Cincinnati 7 0 10 6 23 Leader Cleveland Cincinnati Passing C. McCoy 151 A. Dalton 270 Rushing P. Hillis 65 C. Benson 106 Receiving J. Norwood 69 A. Green 110
Final 1 2 3 4 Total Carolina 3 7 7 10 27 Indianapolis 0 10 3 6 19 Leader Carolina Indianapolis Passing C. Newton 208 C. Painter 226 Rushing J. Stewart 70 D. Brown 80 Receiving S. Smith 68 R. Wayne 122		Final 1 2 3 4 Total Washington 7 0 0 16 23 Seattle 0 7 3 7 17 Leader Washington Seattle Passing R. Grossman 314 T. Jackson 144 Rushing R. Helu 108 M. Lynch 111 Receiving J. Gaffney 72 D. Baldwin 60
Final 1 2 3 4 Total Chicago 0 7 0 13 20 Oakland 6 6 6 7 25 Leader Chicago Oakland Passing C. Hanie 254 C. Palmer 301 Rushing M. Barber 63 M. Bush 69 Receiving J. Knox 145 M. Reece 92		Final 1 2 3 4 OT Total Denver 0 7 3 3 3 16 San Diego 3 7 3 0 0 13 Leader Denver San Diego Passing T. Tebow 143 P. Rivers 188 Rushing W. McGahee 117 R. Mathews 137 Receiving E. Decker 65 V. Brown 50
Final 1 2 3 4 Total New England 7 17 7 7 38 Philadelphia 10 3 0 7 20 Leader New England Philadelphia Passing T. Brady 361 V. Young 400 Rushing B. Green-Elli 44 V. Young 40 Receiving D. Branch 125 J. Avant 110		Final 1 2 3 4 Total Pittsburgh 0 13 0 0 13 Kansas City 3 3 0 3 9 Leader Pittsburgh Kansas City Passing B. Roethlisbe 193 T. Palko 167 Rushing R. Mendenhall 57 T. Jones 37 Receiving A. Brown 81 D. Bowe 69

Gilmer County Historical Society Open House – 12.03.11

The Gilmer County Historical Society will be having an Open House at the Holt House, 302 East Main Street, Glenville, on Saturday, December 03, 2011 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM.

The gift shop will be open with many items including things from local crafters.

Refreshments.

Come do some shopping locally!

Gilmer County Historical Society

Sand Fork Community Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Sand Fork Community Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Sunday, December 04, 2011 at 5:30 PM at Sand Fork Town Hall.

Santa will be present to visit with the children.

All community members and friends are invited to attend.

Hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

This will kick-off our Christmas decorating contest for homes within the town limits of Sand Fork.

There will be first, second and third place awards.

Plus one honorable mention award to a home in the community but outside the town limits.

Judging will be held the weekend of December 16,17,18.

Town officials are not eligible for the contest.

Friends of Gilmer Public Library Book Sale - 12.02.11

The Friends of Gilmer Public Library are having a book sale at the library on Friday, December 02, 2011, from 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM.

Do your Christmas shopping here.

We have a nice selection of new books, as well as DVD’s, videos, children’s books, and more—most items for a small donation.

Free hot coffee available.

Gilmer County Democratic Women’s Club Meeting – Tuesday - 11.29.11

The regular meeting of the Gilmer County Democrat Women for November will be held this evening in the rear dining room of the Common Place Restaurant.

Please join us.

The regular meeting begins at 6:00 PM.

Norma Hurley, President

Calhoun County: Zumba for the Kids

The Calhoun Christmas Connection is partnering with Lisa Walker to host a Zumba for the Kids event this Saturday, December 03, 2011.

The Calhoun Christmas Connection provides toys for families in Calhoun County and last year served over 75 families.

Always looking to help out families, Lisa Walker approached the CCC to host Zumba for the Kids-a 2 hour Zumba dance session at Calhoun County Middle/High School.

Everyone is invited to attend from 1:00 – 3:00 PM with the entrance fee of a new unwrapped toy.

A donation table will be set up as well.

If you have never done Zumba before you will love it!

Participants can dance as much as they like or just come visit and enjoy the light refreshments and door prizes.

For more information, please contact Jean Simers at 304.354.7177 or Lisa Walker at 304.354.0412.

We look forward to seeing you there!