Ritchie County Businessman Helps Challenge Health Care Law

A West Virginia businessman is among those who challenged the federal health care overhaul at the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

David Klemencic owns Ellenboro Floors in Ritchie County. Earlier this year, he agreed to become one of a handful of individual plaintiffs in the National Federation of Independent Business’ lawsuit targeting the federal law.

Klemencic opposes the overhaul’s eventual requirement that most people obtain health insurance or pay a penalty. He believes that violates the clause in the U.S. Constitution addressing Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce.

“It would force individuals into any kind of contract,“ the 52-year-old told The Associated Press on Thursday. “It would just open the door up. It would make (the government’s) powers limitless.“

As the sole employee of Ellenboro Floors, Klemencic also believes that such a mandate would hurt his and other small businesses. Klemencic had run a larger flooring retail store in Allegheny County, Pa., which with 1.2 million people has a population approaching that of all of West Virginia. After buying property in Ritchie County with plans to retire there, he ended up moving to his town of 373 around 11 years ago for a smaller-scale business and a less hectic pace.

“My main concern was the way it was going to affect my ability to operate,“ Klemencic said.

Klemencic believes he was the only individual plaintiff in the courtroom when the justices heard arguments Tuesday in the challenges brought by the NFIB and by 26 states. Klemencic said he was taken by how the hearing started precisely on time, and with the arguments raised and questions asked during the two-hour session.

“All of the justices, except for Clarence Thomas, were really active in the conversation,“ Klemencic said. “I was really impressed by how simple and to the point everyone was.“

Klemencic also recalled seeing demonstrators from both sides of the issue outside the Supreme Court Building on his way in that cold morning. By the time he left, an adjacent park was packed with people as well.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in real life before,“ he said.

Klemencic said he heard nothing that swayed him from his stance, and he disagreed with several analogies drawn during the hearing. He also said he could not guess how the court might rule. The justices were expected to vote Friday, though they won’t likely issue an opinion until early summer.

Supporters of the overhaul believe a number of its provisions can survive if the court strikes down the insurance mandate. But Perry Bryant, president of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, views two key components as intertwined with that eventual requirement. One bars insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and the other limits what they consider when they set premiums.

Bryant and other advocates of the mandate argue that it will lower premiums by spreading costs among a larger pool of people, both healthy and not. During Tuesday’s hearing, the justices asked how car prices would change if everyone were required to buy one, or if no one did. Bryant questioned the value of such comparisons.

“All of these analogies to other markets just don’t work,“ Bryant said Friday. “You can’t go to a car dealer and say, ‘I want this car, and charge it to my neighbor.‘ But that’s what happens in health care, when someone without insurance goes to the emergency room.“

Bryant said West Virginia hospitals racked up $750 million from charity and otherwise uncompensated care in 2010. Hospitals must charge privately insured patients more to offset such losses, Bryant said. Both insurers and the federal law’s supporters estimate that the average West Virginia family spends an additional $1,000 a year on insurance because of this cost shift, he said.

Klemencic questions why he should have to help pay for the poor lifestyle choices of others, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, when they result in health issues. He isn’t much of a fan of health insurance. Instead, Klemencic said he pays for medical care with a mutual fund he set up for emergencies. He sees a dentist several times a year, and a doctor when he needs to.

“I kind of view insurance as betting against yourself,“ Klemencic said. He added, “The only way you’re going to win is if you lose.“

He also recalled bad experiences with a health maintenance organization while he lived in Pennsylvania, and stopped telling health care providers that he had such coverage.

“I just started taking my checkbook with me,“ Klemencic said.

Sand Fork Elementary Honor Roll - 3rd Nine Weeks – 2011-12

Sand Fork Elementary School

1ST GRADE

Brianna Ball

Destiny Dobbins

Jacob McCord

Seanna McCord

Nicholas Pritt

Thomas Spada

Lucas Ward

Bryon Wiant

2ND GRADE

Trinity Bancroft

Alex Conrad

Trey Langford

Taylor McHenry

Levi Self

Adam Stewart

Carissa Thorne

Seth Wine

Lucas Young

3RD GRADE

Aaron Ball

Arista Eberly

Emma Fox

Noah Grimm

Brittany Talbott

Dakota Taylor

4TH GRADE

Trevor Helmick

Indica Jones

Tori Lambert

Alyssa Langford

Mackenzie McCord

Payton Roberts

Anthony Tomblin

Noah Tomblin

Kerry Watkins

Bryant Winkle

5TH GRADE

Logan Bossert

Morgan Bossert

Dakota Cottrill

Joey Frame

Sarah Hickman

Bradley McHenry

Caitlin Murphy

6TH GRADE

Amelia Arnold

Gracie Freeman

Evan Jedamski

Samantha Lamb

Jacob Persinger

Hunter Self

Caleb Skinner

Abby Wilmoth

Elena Winkle

WV Agriculture Officials Warn of Salsa Recall

WV agricultural officials are warning consumers about a salsa recall in West Virginia and 10 other states due to possible salmonella contamination.

Club Chef LLC is recalling its salsa products sold under the Private Selection brand name in a 12-ounce package and under the Heinen’s brand name in a 16-ounce package.

Also recalled are 5-pound trays sold through food service distributors.

Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass says the products should be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

They have the use-by date of March 27, 2012.

No illnesses have been reported.

Douglass says the presence of salmonella was detected in a case of hot peppers used as one of the salsa’s ingredients.

Consumers can call 859.578.3143 during business hours on weekdays for more information.

Study: Electro-Acupuncture May Be Effective for Depression

Boosting the effect of acupuncture needles with small electric currents may be effective in treating depression, a study in Hong Kong has found.

Led by Zhang Zhang-jin at the School of Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong, the researchers used electro-acupuncture to stimulate seven spots on the heads of 73 participants, who had suffered several bouts of depression in the last 7 years.

The electro-acupuncture was given in addition to medication that the patients were already taking and meant to augment their treatment, Zhang told a news conference.

Half the patients received electro-acupuncture nine times over three weeks, while the other half - the placebo group - only had needles inserted superficially into their heads.

They were later assessed by experts for their depression levels and the group that received genuine electro-acupuncture was found to be a lot happier.

“The drop (in depression scores) among the group receiving active treatment was more significant than the placebo group,“ said Roger Ng, another researcher in the group, which published their findings in the journal PLoS (Public Library of Science) ONE.

“When the acupoints are stimulated, some brain centers responsible for producing serotonin are stimulated,“ explained Ng, a consultant at the department of psychiatry at the Kowloon Hospital in Hong Kong.

An imbalance in serotonin levels is believed to be linked to depression. Depression affects about 20% of people at some point in their lives.

The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will rival heart disease as the health disorder with the highest disease burden in the world.

Zhang said his group may consider moving into another trial using only electro-acupuncture on patients suffering milder depression.

GSC Casino Night - 03.31.12 - This Saturday

Tanner: Easter Egg Hunt - Sunday, 04.01.12

On Sunday April 01, 2012 The Tanner Community will have an egg hunt at 1:00 PM for children up to 12 and from 11:30 AM till 3:00 PM.

We will have a spaghetti dinner with spaghetti, bread, salad, drink and dessert for $5.00.

Please help support our community building.

The egg hunt is free…

Glenville: Bridal Fair - Saturday, March 31, 2012

WV Governor: Fighting Drug Abuse In West Virginia

  Substance abuse is a crisis both in West Virginia and across America. Recent information shows drug overdoses now kill more West Virginians than car accidents. Drugs are the leading cause of accidental deaths in our state and we have the nation’s highest rate of drug deaths. Even more alarming, 9 out of 10 of our overdose deaths involve at least one prescription drug. Drug abuse in our state is a pervasive problem with tragic consequences. It shatters families and erodes our communities.

  Since becoming your Governor, I have worked hard to identify the underlying causes of this crisis. Last year, I travelled the state to see the problems firsthand. I spoke to folks in towns and cities across the Mountain State. While drug abuse is a statewide problem, it manifests itself in very distinctive ways depending upon the area. Northern West Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle struggle with street drugs like heroin because of easy access to big cities. And the southern parts of our state are fighting a tough battle against prescription drug abuse.

  Last September, I formed the Governor’s Advisory Council on Substance Abuse and six Regional Substance Abuse Task Forces. The Task Forces brought together individuals from local communities to identify each region’s particular issues and underlying causes. By meeting regularly they were able to make recommendations to the Advisory Council. This council includes representatives from fields including substance abuse prevention, behavioral medicine, law enforcement, child and adolescent psychology, the legal system, residential treatment facilities, the public school system and health care. Together the Advisory Council reviewed each region’s recommendations and developed a plan to rescue our families and communities from the persistent drug problem. Many of their suggested actions were included in my substance abuse bill, which the Legislature passed this spring and I signed this week.

  This new legislation cracks down hard on the underlying causes of our state’s drug problem by strengthening many of our enforcement guidelines and implementing many critical reforms. New prescriptions will now be recorded in a statewide database within 24 hours of being dropped off, in an effort to stop patients from collecting duplicate prescriptions from different doctors. West Virginia will also impose the nation’s strictest yearly purchasing limit for pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in methamphetamine. Controlled substances dispensed from a doctor’s office will now be limited to two 72-hour doses per patient in a 15-day period. The new law also strengthens consumer protections against illegitimate online pharmacies. While taking all of these measures and many more to curb illegal usage, we will also protect legitimate pain clinics and make sure those with real chronic pain can find treatment.

  We have lost far too many of our fellow West Virginians to drugs. I’m proud that we’re tackling this problem head-on, and I know that this legislation will help save lives.

McKinley Introduces Legislation to Streamline Black Lung Benefits Paperwork

Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (WV-R) introduced H.R. 4298, the “Burdensome Paperwork Reduction for our Miners Act,”  which would direct the Secretary of Labor to conduct a review of forms required to obtain Workers Compensation benefits under the Federal Black Lung Benefits Program.  Rep. McKinley heard from many constituents who are concerned about the amount and redundancy of materials required when filling out Department of Labor paperwork for federal Black Lung benefits.

“Upwards of 50 pages are required at times, merely to apply for the benefits,” said McKinley.  “That’s just wrong, both for our miners and for the taxpayers who foot the cost for such applications.

“This legislation will require the Department of Labor to streamline the paperwork involved in such applications.  Further, the Department of Labor will be required to review any redundancies to reduce the burdens on those miners who apply.  This bill is about protecting our miners who are on their hands and knees each day so we can ultimately have the electricity we need to live our lives.”

H.R. 4298 will require the implementation of any changes to occur no later than one year after the bill is signed into law.

Bon Appétit: Onion-Crusted Meat Loaf with Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:

  1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell’s® Condensed Tomato Soup
  1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  1 (2.8 ounce) can French’s® French Fried Onions
  1 egg, beaten
  1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  6 small potatoes, cut into quarters

Directions:

Thoroughly mix 1/2 cup soup, beef, 1/2 can onions, egg and Worcestershire in a large bowl.

Place the mixture in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and firmly shape into an 8 x 4-inch loaf.

Spoon the remaining soup over the meat loaf.

Arrange the potatoes around the meat loaf.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 1 hour or until the meat loaf is cooked through.

Stir the potatoes.

Sprinkle the remaining onions over the meat loaf and bake for 3 minutes or until the onions are golden.

Daily G-Eye™: 03.31.12

Spring Flowers in Lockney, WV

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 - 03.31.12

Three bright stars form a tall triangle in the east beginning around 8:00 PM.

The most prominent star is yellow-orange Arcturus, the third-brightest star in the night sky.

Well to its right is Spica, with Regulus well above and to the right of Spica.

Storm Season

It’s storm season in the northern hemisphere of Mars—a time when frontal boundaries sweep across the landscape, often stirring up boiling clouds of dust.

A recent study counted more than 300 frontal systems barreling across the planet in one Mars year. Most of them were in the northern hemisphere, during spring and summer. Most lasted a day or two, and stretched across hundreds of miles.

And summer is just getting started in the northern hemisphere, so it’s time for more of these systems. They begin as parts of the polar ice cap vaporize, releasing carbon dioxide and water vapor into the atmosphere. These gushers of gas then move across the high northern plains.

Sometimes, the fronts stir up the powdery Martian dust, creating small dust storms. The dust warms the air, which helps keep the system going while raising more dust.

Some dust storms can grow to gigantic proportions, with the biggest covering almost the entire planet. Most of the really big storms, though, begin in the southern hemisphere. It’s winter there now, so storms are rare.

It’s possible that some of the storms could create lightning, as the dust grains build up an electrical charge as they move through the sky. A study a couple of years ago found evidence of lightning in radio waves from the planet. But other studies have come up empty.

With lightning or without, though, the fronts bring a bit of activity to the normally quiet surface of Mars.

G-MM™: Meditation Moment - 03.31.12

He gathered together in unity the scattered children of God.

The fulfillment of Simeon’s prophecy (Luke 2:34) that Jesus would be a sign of contradiction is nowhere more evident than in John’s gospel, especially in the scene following the raising of Lazarus when many believed in him and others, the leaders of the people, sought to destroy him.

Supported by their faith in Jesus and displaying like courage in the face of their adversaries, Christians across the ages have witnessed to the Good News, even to the shedding of their blood.

They died not simply of something, as we all do, but for something.

As we approach the end of Lent and are about to enter into Holy Week, we might well ask ourselves whether, if we were charged with being a Christian, there would be compelling evidence to convict us.

Ezekiel 37:21-28. The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his flock. Jeremiah 31:10-13. John 11:45-56.

George William Sergent

George William Sergent

passed away at his home on Tuesday March 20, 2012.

He was born to the late Farrell and Ova Sergent.

George was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Mary Carter Sergent.

He leaves behind daughter Marsha Ann Gaskins and husband Kenneth, daughter Donna Kay Dobbins and husband Brian, son Michael William Sergent and wife Courtney, and fiancé Roberta Kuhl.

George graduated from Gassaway High School, class of 1962 and attended Fairmont State College. He achieved the rank of Staff Sargent within the West Virginia Army National Guard. George continued his life’s work and dedication at Allegheny Energy, from which he retired. George enjoyed spending time on his farm, hunting, supporting West Virginia Sports, and a good cup of coffee. He was a beloved husband, father, and friend to many.

Service was 2:00 PM Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Richard M. Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway with Elder Larry Fisher officiating.

Burial was in the David Hamric Memorial Cemetery on Tate Creek.

Friends called from 6:00 to 9:00 PM Saturday at the funeral home.

Sherry Ann Crouser

Sherry Ann Crouser

Age 62, of Rt 1 Salem (Greenbrier Community) departed this life on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown.

She was born on June 23, 1949 at Jarvisville, WV, a daughter of the late Morice Edward and Rosemary Edith Nicholson Kelley.

On October 29, 1963 she married Richard Crouser Sr. who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Richard Gordon Crouser Jr. and wife Linda, Salem, William Edward “Willie” Crouser and wife Emily “Zippy”, Salem, four grandchildren, Sarah, Brianna, Brittney and Trey one great grandson, Tatum, one brother, Guss Kelley and wife Merlene, Salem. One brother, Jerry Kelley and one sister Linda Junkins preceded her in death.

Sherry was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

At Sherry’s request she was cremated.

Spurgeon Funeral Home is privileged to serve the Crouser family.

John K Carney

John K Carney

Age 98, a retired Air Force Colonel and civil service executive with the General Services Administration died Saturday March 17, 2012.

Born near Orlando in Braxton County, West Virginia, Colonel Carney resided in Springfield, Virginia since 1960. During his military career beginning in 1941, he supervised an array of management and logistics programs for the Air Force in the United States and abroad. His overseas assignments took him to the Philippines (two tours), South America, Trinidad and Saudi Arabia. His last six years were served in the Pentagon at Air Force Headquarters in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he headed joint service planning and negotiating groups leading to the consolidation of major logistics functions within the Department of Defense. He retired from the Air Force in 1966 after 24 years of service.

In a second career with the General Services Administration, he pursued the development of a government-wide national supply system. This entailed negotiating a series of agreements between Federal civil agencies and the Department of Defense to eliminate overlapping logistics functions. He retired a second time in 1980 as Director of Supply Policy in the Federal Supply Service after 38 years of government service.

An ex-Divine World Seminarian at Techny, IL, he later graduated from Jesuit Run Springhill College, Mobile, AL while in uniform, under “Operation Bootstrap”. A founding member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Springfield, he was also a member of the Air Force Association, The Retired Officers Association, and the National Association of the Uniformed Services.

Colonel Carney is survived by his wife Adelle (nee Wright); 4 daughters: Constance Bedell, Bernadine O’Hare, Deborah Fowler of Northern Virginia, and Cathrine Carney of Parkersburg, WV; 2 sons: Daniel of Alpharetta, GA and Patrick of Northern Virginia; 16 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren.

Friends called Thursday, March 22 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the DEMAINE FUNERAL HOME, Backlick Road, Springfield, VA with prayer service in the evening.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, March 23, 10:30 AM at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA.

Interment at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors will be held a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Divine Word Missionaries, 1835 Waukegan Road, Techny, Illinois 60082, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

03.31.12

History on March 31, yyyy

Today is Saturday, March 31, the 91st day of 2012. There are 275 days left in the year.

Thought for Today:

“An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?“ — Rene Descartes, French philosopher (born this date in 1596, died 1650).

Today’s Highlight in History:

On March 31, 1932, Ford Motor Co. publicly unveiled its powerful flathead V8 engine; while not the first eight-cylinder engine, it was the first to be affordable to the general public, and proved very popular.

On this date:

In 1889, French engineer Gustave Eiffel unfurled the French tricolor from atop the Eiffel Tower, officially marking its completion.

In 1931, Notre Dame college football coach Knute Rockne, 43, was killed in the crash of a TWA plane in Bazaar, Kan.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps.

In 1943, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma!“ opened on Broadway.

In 1949, Newfoundland (now called Newfoundland and Labrador) entered confederation as Canada’s tenth province.

In 1953, Stanley Kubrick’s first feature film, a war drama titled “Fear and Desire,“ premiered in New York.

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson stunned the country by announcing at the conclusion of a broadcast address on Vietnam that he would not seek re-election.

In 1976, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Karen Ann Quinlan, who was in a persistent vegetative state, could be disconnected from her respirator. (Quinlan, who remained unconscious, died in 1985.)

In 1986, 167 people died when a Mexicana Airlines Boeing 727 crashed in a remote mountainous region of Mexico.

In 1993, actor Brandon Lee, 28, was shot to death during the filming of a movie in Wilmington, N.C., by a bullet fragment lodged inside a prop gun.

In 1995, Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez, 23, was shot to death in Corpus Christi, Texas, by the founder of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

In 2005, Terri Schiavo, 41, died at a hospice in Pinellas Park, Fla., 13 days after her feeding tube was removed in a wrenching right-to-die dispute.

Ten years ago:

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed to smash Palestinian militants in a broadcast speech that came the same day as a suicide bombing in Haifa that killed 15 Israelis.

Pope John Paul II used his Easter message to call for an end to violence in the Holy Land.

Connecticut beat Oklahoma 82-70 to conclude its second unbeaten season with a third women’s national championship.

Five years ago:

President George W. Bush called for the release of 15 British sailors and marines held by Iran, calling their capture by Tehran “inexcusable behavior.“ (The crew members were released on April 4, 2007.)

President Bush again came to the defense of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, under criticism for his role in the firing of federal prosecutors, calling him “honorable and honest.“

One year ago:

Moammar Gadhafi struck a defiant stance after two high-profile defections from his regime, saying the Western leaders who had decimated his military with airstrikes should resign immediately — not him.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actress Peggy Rea is 91

Actor William Daniels is 85

Hockey Hall-of-Famer Gordie Howe is 84

Actor Richard Chamberlain is 78

Actress Shirley Jones is 78

Country singer-songwriter John D. Loudermilk is 78

Musician Herb Alpert is 77

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is 72

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is 72

Actor Christopher Walken is 69

Comedian Gabe Kaplan is 67

Former Vice President Al Gore is 64

Author David Eisenhower is 64

Actress Rhea Perlman is 64

Actor Ed Marinaro is 62

Rock musician Angus Young (AC/DC) is 57

Actor Marc McClure is 55

Actor William McNamara is 47

Alt-country musician Bob Crawford (The Avett (AY’-veht) Brothers) is 41

Actor Ewan (YOO’-en) McGregor is 41

Rapper Tony Yayo is 34

Jazz musician Christian Scott is 29

Actress Jessica Szohr (TV: “Gossip Girl”) is 27

WV Lottery - 03.30.12

7-0-9

3-2-7-2

01-07-16-18-19-23

02-04-23-38-46     Mega Ball: 23   Megaplier: x 3  

Four WV Pharmacies Top Anti-Meth Tracking

Four Kanawha County pharmacies lead West Virginia in the tracked sale of cold remedies that can be used illegally to make methamphetamine, according to data from a multi-state computer system that will become mandatory through wide-ranging, anti-drug abuse legislation signed Thursday by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.

The four Rite-Aid locations sell six to seven times as much pseudoephedrine products as similarly sized pharmacies elsewhere in the state.

The Associated Press identified the locations in South Charleston, Cross Lanes, Sissonville and Charleston’s West Side by comparing tracking data provided by the West Virginia State Police with Board of Pharmacy records.

Kanawha County is also by far the home to the most illegal meth labs busted by troopers or other law enforcement agencies that report their finds to the WV State Police.

Nearly half of the 229 labs that made the department’s list last year were in Kanawha County.

Nicholas County had the next-highest number, at 13.

Kanawha County also hosted 23 of the 65 labs busted between January 01, 2012 and earlier this month.

The stores are not doing anything wrong, said Lt. Mike Goff, the WV State Police’s clandestine laboratory training and response coordinator.

They follow existing state law by selling pseudoephedrine products from behind their counters, requiring identification from purchasers and then recording that information.

They are also obeying the current individual purchase limit of 9 grams per month, Goff said.

These remedies are typically available in doses of between 30 mg and 240 mg, with the high end to be taken only once every 24 hours.

Goff said the most common package is a 2.4g box with 10 pills each with 240mg of pseudoephedrine.

But the WV State Police believe some of these cold remedies are ending up at meth labs.

Goff said the top locations are selling 600 to 800 boxes of 24-hour strength a month, while other stores that fill the same number of prescriptions each month are selling 100 boxes.

The tracking data suggests the four locations also rank high nationally for such sales, Goff said.

“There’s no other reason for that much more Sudafed to be sold over here as compared to there,“ Goff said. “It’s going somewhere. It’s not all going to people with sinus conditions.“

The new law signed by Governor Tomblin will tighten the purchase limits as of June 08, 2012 to 3.6 grams per day, 7.2 grams per month and 48 grams per year.

The caps do not apply to prescribed medicines.

As of January 01, 2012, all retailers must enter their cold remedy sales into the National Precursor Log Exchange, an anti-meth tracking system now used by at least 19 states including neighboring Kentucky.

Rite-Aid has already added its West Virginia locations to the system, known as NPLEx, as have fellow national chains CVS, K-Mart, and Kroger, Goff said.

Rite Aid is the state’s largest pharmacy chain, and together with Kroger is among its Top 20 private employers.

A Rite-Aid spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Lawmakers settled on adopting NPLEx and toughening the purchase limits after a debate over whether the multi-state tracking system deters meth labs.

Some legislators had advocated requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine products or even stricter caps as an alternative, without success.

Meth foes also await more news about Tarex, touted by Missouri-based Highland Pharmaceuticals as a way to administer cold remedies in a form that yields little or no pseudoephedrine for meth.

Goff expects West Virginia’s new law will help more with investigating meth labs than with preventing them. NPLEx will flag those who try to buy too much, and help identify people commonly enlisted by meth lab operators to evade the purchase limits, he said. It can also provide evidence of relevant misconduct that can lead to a heftier sentence in federal court, Goff said.

“We can go back and track their historical sales,“ Goff said. “Overall, it’s more going to be used for tracking down after the fact.“

Governor Tomblin had proposed the legislation he signed Thursday, to target various forms of substance abuse.

Though Goff estimates that meth lab busts so far this year equal nearly one every day, they have occurred in just 20 of the state’s 55 counties.

The abuse of prescription pain drugs is considered more widespread, and severe: West Virginia has the highest per capita overdose death rate in the nation, according to federal figures, with nine out of 10 such deaths caused solely or partly by prescription drugs.

The new law speeds up the tracking of prescriptions through a statewide database, to deter “doctor shopping” for pain pills. It will also limits the amount of pain drugs that a doctor or clinic can dispense, as part of a crackdown on so-called “pill mills.“ Other provisions in the bill increase oversight of pain management clinics as well as methadone treatment centers.

Governor Tomblin visited a Prestera Center location in Huntington, Bond’s Pharmacy in Wood County and Patterson’s Drug Store in Martinsburg to mark his signing of the new law.

“Prescription drug abuse in our state is a pervasive problem with tragic consequences,“ Governor Tomblin said in a statement. “We have lost far too many of our fellow West Virginians to drug overdoses, and drug addiction leads to other crimes like robberies and home invasions. That’s why I fought so hard for this new law.

Weston: FBI Gives Update on Missing Lewis County Girl

The FBI has a working theory about what happened to a 3-year-old Lewis County girl who vanished six months ago, and it doesn’t involve a break-in.

FBI agent John Hambrick will not say what that theory is, or whether he believes Aliayah Lunsford is still alive.

But Hambrick said Thursday at a news conference in Weston that there is no evidence to support a break-in as a theory.

Aliayah disappeared from her Bendale home Saturday, September 24, 2011, and there has been no sign of her since.

Last week, Lena Lunsford’s attorney said she believes there is no way her daughter wandered off.

Hambrick says even though police do not speak publicly about the case often, they are aggressively pursuing it every day.

However, the FBI Special Agent will say one theory has been totally dismissed.

“There was some concern or a theory that was out there early on in the investigation that someone might have broken into the house and that was associated with Aliayah’s disappearance,“ Hambrick said.

“The investigation, to date, has revealed no information whatsoever to indicate that there was a break in or a home invasion or anything of the sort.“

“We are receiving leads daily,“ Hambrick said.  “We’ve received 125 to 150 tips, most of them through the West Virginia Fusion Center which has been a tremendous help in this matter.“

Hambrick says investigators have spent hours analyzing evidence in the case have developed a working theory about what happened to Lunsford.

At this point, though, they are not talking about the theory publicly and will not say whether they believe Lunsford is still alive.

Tips are accepted through the West Virginia Fusion Center at www.fusioncenterwv.gov or 304.558.4831.

Gilmer County Family Court Report - 03.28.12

On Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Family Court Judge Larry Whited appeared and held Court in Gilmer County.

Three divorces were granted as follows:

•  Tina M. Ward (37) of Sand Fork, WV divorced Mark Aaron Ward (37) of Sutton, WV .

•  Elizabeth Moss (47) of Glenville, WV divorced Jeffrey Moss (52) of Glenville, WV .

•  Maria Taylor (29) of Sand Fork, WV divorced Andrew Taylor (30) of Sand Fork, WV .

•  A contempt hearing was dismissed.

Gilmer County Circuit Court Report - 03.27.12

On Monday, March 26, 2012 Judge Richard A. Facemire held his regular monthly motion day in Gilmer County.

Several juvenile hearings were held and reset as follows:

•  One for Monday, June 25, 2012 at 10:00 AM,

•  One at 10:10 AM,

•  One at 10:20 AM,

•  One at 10:30AM.

•  Another one was set for judicial review on Friday, July 06, 2012 at 10:00 AM.

•  A status conference was held in a criminal case wherein the defendant is in a group home and further status will be held on Monday, September 24, 2012 at 9:00 AM.

•  State of West Virginia vs. Roy Jenkins Jr.

He was before the Court for reconsideration of his sentence, which was denied by Judge Facemire and he was returned to Central Regional Jail.

Jenkins was represented by Clinton Bischoff of Summersville.

•  vState of West Virginia vs. Mark Aaron Ward

He was before the count for sentencing and received 2-10 years in the penitentiary with no fine, but customary and usual costs to be paid within 18 months of his release.

He was denied probation by Judge Facemire and was represented by David Karickhoff of Sutton.

•  State of West Virginia vs. John Gorzynski

He was before the Court for sentencing but upon motion to continue being filed his sentencing was reset for Monday, April 23, 2012 at 10:15 AM.

He was also represented by David Karickhoff.

•  An infant summary case was before the Court and granted and completed.

•  A forfeiture of $565.00 in a drug case was granted and directed to be paid to the State Police, who already had the money in their custody.

•  State of West Virginia vs. Holly Morning McCraw

She was before the Court for revocation of her probation and after she admitted to the allegations in the petition filed against her.

Judge Facemire sentenced her to 1-5 in the penitentiary, with credit for time previously served.

She may also ask for reconsideration if a suitable placement is found for rehab for her.

She was represented by David Karickhoff.

 

On Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Chief Judge Jack Alsop presided over Court in Gilmer County.

•  A jury trial had been scheduled in the case of State of West Virginia vs. Matthew Capelety.

However, last week Capelety decided to enter a plea.

Judge Alsop accepted his plea to failure to register change of information as a sex offender, and set sentencing for Monday, May 14, 2012 at 10:30 AM.

He was represented by Christopher Moffatt of Charleston.

•  A juvenile matter was heard and set for further hearing on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 1:00 PM.

•  State of West Virginia vs. James McCune

He was before the Court for revocation of his home confinement.

McCune had recently been found with his ankle monitor removed and he was intoxicated when Deputy Huffman responded to a late night call about residents being disturbed by a 4 wheeler.

McCune admitted to violating home confinement rules and regulations and Judge Alsop sentenced him to not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years in the penitentiary upon his earlier conviction.
Moffatt also represented Mr. McCune.

Small Error in GOP 2012 Primary Ballot

Republicans will get supplemental instructions when they vote in West Virginia’s May 08, 2012 primary races because of an error in the listing of delegates to the Republican National Convention.

The ballot tells voters to choose from 18 candidates, but 19 are listed.

State parties set the rules for choosing convention delegates.

The West Virginia GOP says three will be chosen by virtue of their office, not elected.

The other 28 are elected by popular vote and divided among congressional districts. Some are statewide at-large seats.

Secretary of State Natalie Tennant says she consulted the Election Commission about the fix, and she’ll ensure every Republican gets to cast every vote to which they’re entitled.

Absentee voters will be sent fresh ballots.

Governor Tomblin Signs Substance Abuse Bill

Governor travels the state to announce his response to drug crisis Governor Tomblin Signs Substance Abuse Bill

Today Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin visited Prestera Center in Huntington, Bond’s Pharmacy in Lubeck and Patterson’s Drug Store in Martinsburg to discuss his groundbreaking new substance abuse legislation.

“Prescription drug abuse in our state is a pervasive problem with tragic consequences,“ said Gov. Tomblin. “We have lost far too many of our fellow West Virginians to drug overdoses, and drug addiction leads to other crimes like robberies and home invasions. That’s why I fought so hard for this new law. It cracks down hard on the underlying causes of our state’s drug crisis. I’m proud that we’re tackling this problem head-on, and I’m confident that this legislation will save lives.”

Senate Bill 437 includes the following critical reforms:

 
• New prescriptions will be recorded in a statewide database within 24 hours of being dropped off, to stop patients from collecting duplicate prescriptions from different doctors;
 
• West Virginia will impose the nation’s strictest yearly purchasing limit for pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in meth;
 
• Controlled substances dispensed directly from a doctor’s office will be limited to two 72-hour doses per patient in a 15-day period; and
 
• Consumer protections against illegitimate online pharmacies will be strengthened
  GFP - 03.30.2012
  Living • Health • Politics | Government | Election • State-WV •
  
  

  • Permalink - Link to This Article

  
  Print This Article

CDC: U.S. Autism Rates Reach New Height

About one in 88 children in the United States has autism or a related disorder, the highest estimate to date and one that is sure to revive a national argument over how the condition is diagnosed and treated.

The estimate released on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention represents an overall increase of about 25% since the last analysis in 2006 and a near-doubling of the rate reported in 2002.

Among boys, the rate of autism spectrum disorders is one in 54, almost five times that of girls, in whom the rate is one in 252.

“One thing the data tells us with certainty - there are many children and families who need help,“ said CDC Director Thomas Frieden. “We must continue to track autism spectrum disorders because this is the information communities need to guide improvements in services to help children.“

Advocates for people with autism seized on the apparent spike in the prevalence of the disease to call for more research to identify its causes and services for those affected by it.

“This is a national emergency and it’s time for a national strategy,“ said Mark Roithmayr, president of the research and advocacy group Autism Speaks. He called for a “national training service corps” of therapists, caregivers, teachers and others who are trained to help children with autism.

Some researchers have questioned whether the increases over the last decade are real or reflect greater awareness that has led parents and teachers to see symptoms of autism in children who would not have received the diagnosis a generation ago.

“Inevitably when these statistics come out, the question is, what is driving the increase?“ said Roithmayr. Better diagnoses, broader diagnostic criteria and higher awareness, he estimated, account for about half the reported increase.

EXAMINING RECORDS

The new analysis from the CDC comes from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, which currently operates in 14 states.

To determine whether a child has autism or a related disorder, what CDC calls “clinician reviewers” examined the medical and school records of 8-year-olds in those states and also conducted screening. Children whose records included either an explicit notation of autism-spectrum disorder or merely descriptions of behavior consistent with the disorder were counted as falling on the autism spectrum.

CDC investigators warned, however, that the 14 sites are not “nationally representative.“ As a result, the rate of autism being reported on Thursday in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, “should not be generalized to the United States as a whole,“ they wrote.

Autism spectrum disorders are marked by a suite of symptoms, all arising from atypical brain development that results in problems with socialization, communication, and behavior.

Although the disorder can be mild or severe, in general children with autism have difficulty communicating and making friends. Many find it painful to look other people in the eyes, which impairs their ability to understand what others are thinking and feeling.

There is no brain-imaging test for autism, let alone a blood test or other rigorously objective diagnostic. Instead, physicians determine whether someone fits the criteria laid out in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM.

The manual has undergone significant changes over the years, including in the diagnostic criteria for autism. In its current version, someone must fit at least eight of 16 criteria, including symptoms involving social interaction, communication, and repetitive or restricted behaviors and interests.

The previous version was stricter, describing one diagnostic criterion as “a pervasive lack of responsiveness to other people.“ In the current manual, that became “a lack of spontaneous seeking to share . . . achievements with other people” and friendships that appear less sophisticated than the norm for a child’s age.

The earlier manual also required “gross deficits in language development” and “peculiar speech patterns” for a diagnosis, while the current one lists difficulty “sustain(ing) a conversation” or “lack of varied . . . social imitative play.“

Psychologist Morton Ann Gernsbacher, a professor of psychology and autism researcher at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and others have cited these changes to question the reality of the reported autism increase.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Scientists had long estimated that 90 percent of autism risk was genes and 10 percent reflected environmental factors. But a 2011 study of twins by scientists at Stanford University concluded that genes account for 38 percent of autism risk and environmental factors 62 percent.

Exactly what those factors are, however, remains the subject of intense research, with two large studies funded by the National Institutes of Health examining everything from what the mother of a child with autism ate during her pregnancy to what cleaners were in the house and what pollutants were in the dust.

“There is not a clear frontrunner” among possible environmental causes of autism, said Craig Newshaffer, chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Drexel University School of Public Health and lead investigator of one of the NIH-sponsored studies.

There is, however, what he called “good evidence” that any environmental culprit is present during the second or third trimester, the peak of synapse formation. Scientists believe that faulty brain wiring underlies autism.

They have also focused on factors that have changed in the last two decades, including pregnant women’s use of certain antidepressants, increasing parental age and the rise in pre-term births and low-birth weight babies, said Newshaffer.

Research funded by Autism Speaks found that autism costs the United States $126 billion annually. That reflects the cost of healthcare, special education and other services, as well as loss of productivity, underemployment and unemployment among adults with autism.

Fracking Company Refuses to Speak with Impacted Landowners; Protest Ensues

On the morning of Wednesday, March 26, over 30 anti-fracking activists from across West Virginia and Appalachia picketed the Bridgeport office of EQT Energy. The group of activists were supporting two landowners, Eileen and Jim Burke, who came from Doddridge County to try and meet with officials about concerns they had about about EQT’s shale gas operations near their property.

Hydraulic Fracturing, commonly called fracking, is a controversial method of natural gas extraction that involves injecting millions of gallons of chemical-laden water deep underground in order to shatter the bedrock and release the gas.

Eileen said that after setting up an appointment with a company representative, they found the doors locked. The company representative, Tim Groves, told the Burkes that he wasn’t allowed to speak with them. Police were called and the Burkes were escorted outside, where activists held a giant banner that read “Stop Fracking: Clean Water is a Human Right”. The protestors chanted and held signs for passing traffic for the following thirty minutes.

Eileen Burke said that she had not come to cause trouble, but wanted to talk to EQT about her concerns for the safety of her family: “I worked as a schoolteacher and we made so many sacrifices to get here. I don’t see myself as just an environmentalist–but especially as a mother who wants her kids to inherit the beautiful land and precious water that’s now being ruined by gas and greed. Is making sure your children inherit clean water too much to ask?” The Burkes are concerned that they do not know which chemicals were used in the fracking process, and they recounted an experience where an EQT truck had caught on fire in front of their house in the middle of the night. Eileen spoke of how worried she had been about the possibility of an explosion, and how the company has done little to explain what happened or to guarantee her family’s security.

Eileen also commented that people in her community who have been affected by the gas drilling are under a great deal of pressure to not speak out. “The gas man who comes around here puts his hand on his heart and talks to us like we have a patriotic duty to allow this, as if we’re threatening national security if we speak our minds. It’s a routine speech that all my neighbors have seen. But to me, patriotism involves the practice of protecting people and the environment, and that shows the ultimate love of our country.”

David Baghdadi, 35, who currently lives in Rock Creek, West Virginia, said that he was inspired to attend the protest after visiting fracking sites in neighboring Doddridge County and listening to personal impact stories from local families. “Many local residents don’t own their mineral rights and are powerless to watch as gas companies erect well pads, storage tanks and compressor stations on their lands. A lot of people have had their water go bad after the gas industry moved in, and many of them can’t afford to move because having fracking operations nearby can destroy your property value. We’re here today to take a stand for justice, and to show concerned citizens in this community that they are not alone in this.”

The protest was planned by Mountain Justice, a group that organizes citizens of the Appalachian region to fight against mountaintop removal mining (MTR). A number of Mountain Justice protestors came from the southern coalfields of West Virginia and were eager to draw a connection between fracking and MTR. The group Mountain Justice commented, “In a state that has been devastated for hundreds of years by the coal industry, we refuse to let another extraction industry profit from the destruction of our mountains’ waters and communities. These are our most valuable resources, and the future of Appalachia deserves to be protected.”

“Before you make a decision about fracking, do your research,” said Doddridge County Resident, Mirijana Beram. “We already have a bad track record for natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. We’re having our water polluted with serious toxins, yet we don’t even know what to test it for because the fracking companies aren’t obligated to disclose the chemicals they’re injecting into the ground. How can you trust any industry that can inject carcinogens deep under your home and doesn’t even have to tell you about them?”

The demonstration lasted approximately 90 minutes with many cars honking in support of the picketers. A few of the smaller signs read, “Question Fracking”, “Water & Mountains Matter More Than Gas” with a college student holding up a sign that read, “Please Don’t Frack My Future.” Protestors said they hope their actions will help start a conversation across West Virginia around the promises and perils of fracking the Marcellus Shale.

Glenville: Weight Watchers – Because It Works – Session Begins Monday, 04.02.12

Spring Your Way into Weight Watchers Community Meeting, and Begin Your Weight Loss Journey Now!

Monday, April 02, 2012 at 5:30 PM

Trinity United Methodist Church
112 East Main Street
Glenville, WV

The program runs for 10-weeks.

Members may join during the first two weeks of a new series.

For more information contact: 1.800.788.3993

or

Please contact Carol Wolfe at 304.462.8915 for questions or additional information

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Experience a Power Start with Points Plus 2012!

GSC Vera Bradley BINGO - 03.30.12 - Today

Brielle Marie Dennison

Marcus Dennison and Cara Sevcik of Weston, announce the birth of the daughter, Brielle Marie Dennison.

She weighed 7-pounds 9-ounces.

She was born March 10, 2012, at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston.

The mother is a homemaker.

The father is a diesel mechanic.

Maternal grandparents are James Sevcik Sr. and Deborah Harmon of Weston.

Paternal grandparents are David Dennison of Buckhannon and Joanna Smarr of Weston.

Emma Jade Reynolds and Peyton Faye Reynolds

     

Meghan Reynolds of Weston announces the birth of her twin children, daughter Emma Jade Reynolds, and son Peyton Faye Reynolds, born on March 12, 2012 at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston.

The little girl weighed 6-pounds 2-ounces.

The little boy weighed 6-pounds 3-ounces.

Maternal grandparents are Wayne Reynolds of Weston, and Cindy Branson of Buckhannon.

ROCKEFELLER STATEMENT ON EPA CARBON EMISSIONS RULE

Senator Jay Rockefeller issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its first limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new power and coal plants.

“We have known since the 2007 Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gas emissions would be cut to meet environmental standards, and we know that coal faces intense competition from other energy sources, as investments are increasingly moving to cheaper natural gas.  In the near-term, EPA has exempted all coal-fired plants that are operating today or under construction.  But for the future, the key question is whether the new emissions standard is set so high that even the best known clean coal technologies can’t meet it, which would be bad for coal and bad for the environment.

“CCS and other new technologies hold real and important potential for cleaner coal in the U.S. and across the globe, but the utility industry needs to have certainty for financing and deploying these technologies on a commercial scale or we won’t achieve new targets.  We need to grab hold of our own future by working together to drive clean coal technology forward.”

Background:

In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases qualify as pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act.  Two years later in 2009, EPA made the formal determination that those pollutants endanger public health and welfare and, therefore, must be regulated.  EPA then moved forward to reduce emissions from motor vehicles, which were the subject of the original Supreme Court review.

In 2010, Senator Rockefeller and then-Senator Voinovich introduced the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Deployment Act of 2010.  The bill was the first ever comprehensive approach designed to spur the widespread deployment of CCS technologies.  It proposed several new research initiatives and provided incentivizes to cover the gap between research and development and commercial adoption.

In 2010 and 2011, in order to allow time for clean coal technologies to move forward, Senator Rockefeller pursued his own legislation for a 2-year timeout on any EPA regulations on greenhouse gases beyond those already in place for vehicles.  His legislation had broad bipartisan support initially, but eventually failed on the Senate floor after a Republican all-or-nothing approach was attempted and was defeated. 

EPA is now moving forward to regulate greenhouse gases from additional emission sources.  The proposed “Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants” would limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from new fossil-fuel-fired power plants, including those powered by coal, coal refuse, petroleum coke, natural gas or oil.  The rule would not affect any currently-operating facilities, nor those that commence construction within 12 months of the final rule which may be issued later this year.  EPA will now commence a 60 day comment period on the proposed rule.

McKinley Scrutinizes EPA’s Gasoline Regulations

Questions the ability of the EPA to provide sound economic estimates

In a vigorous exchange during an Energy and Commerce hearing on gasoline regulations, Rep. David McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) challenged the reliability of the economic modeling used by the EPA.  During testimony provided by Gina McCarthy, the EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, McKinley noted the EPA’s prediction was that their anti-coal regulations would only remove 4 gigawatts from the national power grid when other experts were estimating between 50-80 gigawatts.

Further, McKinley noted that EPA environmental regulations implemented a decade ago to bring heavy-duty truck into compliance were estimated by the EPA to cost only $3,400 per truck.  However, in 2010 the actual cost was closer to $9,000 per truck.

McCarthy defended the long term track record of the EPA but agreed to look into these statistics presented by McKinley.

Earlier in his questioning, McKinley noted that McCarthy had suggested an openness to continued research into clean coal technology, yet the new Obama Administration FY 2013 budget called for a 41% cut to funding for coal research initiatives like the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).  The FY2013 NETL President’s Budget Request is $428 million. Congressman McKinley and a bipartisan group of four other representatives is requesting $735 million for NETL, along with $100 million for Clean Coal and Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) demonstrations.

G-Comm™: Why Do We Protest the NATO Summit?

After the end of World War II, a group of nations in the north Atlantic established NATO to impede Russian influence over the reconstruction of Europe. The result was that it facilitated the United States’ influence: according to a 2009 article by Georgetown professor David S. Painter in the journal Cold War History, the economic blueprint begun under the Marshall Plan and continued with NATO was a process where European member countries shifted their energy dependency from coal to oil. This came at a time when the U.S. was the world’s leading oil producer. A graph included in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s 2011 Transportation Energy Data Book shows that before 1960, the U.S. used to supply more than a third of worldwide crude oil production from within its own borders. In addition, U.S. oil companies enjoyed effective control over vast petroleum reserves in Venezuela, which they had wrested away from Britain a few decades earlier. The entire arrangement ensured that these companies would stand to make a fortune, setting a high price to fulfill Western Europe’s manufactured demand.

After the Cold War ended, the U.S. rebranded NATO and extended its mandate as the supposed defender of liberty in regions far beyond the north Atlantic. Seeing military action as a suitable solution to various global conflicts, it has had the effect of sowing discord and violence instead of alleviating these problems.

In Kosovo, NATO claimed that bombing the countryside would stop Yugoslav forces from invading homes and practicing summarily executing Kosovars. Instead, the New York Times reported on May 29, 1999 that Belgrade’s atrocities at ground level had “kicked into high gear,” as was widely predicted by international aid workers, described in the Washington Post on April 11 as “the only remaining brake on Yugoslav troops” and who were forced to leave their host villages when NATO commenced aerial bombing. Years later, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia would issue an indictment against Slobodan Milosevic on 17 Kosovo-related war crimes, 16 of which happened after NATO’s entry into the conflict.

In Libya, the scene following the NATO-enabled civil war has been a chaotic mix of factional battles with various anti-Gaddafi militias who refuse to disband. According to Reuters, on Jan. 21, 2012, Libyan veterans were attacked with tear gas while protesting outside the Benghazi headquarters of the ruling NTC party, the site of a near-attack on the country’s Vice President days earlier. They charged into the building and seized it while party officials fled. Widespread torture of alleged Gaddafi loyalists has caused a vicious humanitarian catastrophe, prompting the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders to tell The Canadian Press on Jan 26 that they would abandon the mission in Misrata because “detainees were brought for care only to make them fit for further interrogation.” NATO continues to insist that its actions have prevented political repression and have promoted freedom and democratic change, despite ample evidence to the contrary.

In Afghanistan, NATO has been the overseer, since 2003, of the criminal bombardment and invasion of a small nation, one which has not initiated hostilities, by a vast superpower employing devastating and overwhelming weaponry. This war began to exceed the death toll of 9-11, civilian life for civilian life, in only the first few months, and over the last decade, the death toll has continued to mount. A report released in February of this year by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan noted a sharp rise in the proportion of civilians killed that were women and children. The negligence of NATO was especially glaring from July-December of 2011, during which time aerial strikes killed triple the number of women and children who were killed over the corresponding period of the previous year. Chillingly, NATO has looked at the Colombian government’s devastating and prolonged war against the FARC as a model for staying the course in Afghanistan. This can’t fly. The scandals and crimes carried out by NATO troops and the detestable official apologies devoid of real solutions illustrate that each day the war continues will mean a continuing humanitarian disaster for Afghan people.

Those who participate in the May actions to shed light on this deranged historical trend will not just be protesting NATO, but will also be proposing a different agenda for the nations who convene under NATO’s banner. Instead of pursuing a partnership agreement with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, which would authorize the war up until the year 2024 or beyond, the powerful nations of the world should be meeting to discuss ending drone strikes immediately, pulling combat forces out Afghanistan, and ending their manipulation of Afghan democracy— propping up Hamid Karzai and the warlords in the National Assembly. Secondly, they must take responsibility for their past criminality by providing reparations, to be dispersed by an independent body such as the UN general assembly. Reparations would fund projects decided on by local communities and might take the form of food aid, water filtration, housing construction, soil renewal, sanitation, mine disarmament medical brigades, etc. It is crucial that we walk, march, picket, and speak out to demand these real solutions.

~~  Buddy Bell   ~~

Fishing Report – 03.29.12

BEECH FORK
The reservoir water level is at winter pool.  Anglers should call the Beech Fork Corps of Engineers office at 304.525.4831 for more information.  Now is the time to catch big bass as the water continues to warm up.  Bass will be holding near logs or rock shelter.  Channel catfish can be caught throughout the lake on chicken livers and cut.bait.  Crappie fishing will also be picking up.

BLUESTONE
Fishing on the lake is OK but unpredictable early spring weather is a factor anglers must consider due to its impact on angling success.  Bass anglers should try their luck around deeper structure such as rocky points or downed trees using small crankbaits, spinnerbaits or jigs.  During warmer periods bass and other game fish may be found in shallow water taking advantage of warmer temperature levels.  Channel catfish can be caught using nightcrawlers and prepared baits.  Chicken livers are also good.  Flatheads prefer live bait such as large chubs or a live sunfish.  Fish slow at this time of year due to cooler temperature levels.  Early spring is a great time to go after stripers and hybrids in Bluestone.  Try cut or live shad drifted over points and other lake features, or your favorite shad imitating lures.  For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304.466.0156.

BURNSVILLE
The lake is at winter pool.  Boats can again be launched at Riffle Run.  Water temperature is on the rise.  A few bass are being caught in and around cover.  Trout were stocked in the tailwater on March 8th.  For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304.853.2398.

EAST LYNN
The reservoir water level is at winter pool.  For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304.849.9861.  Bass will be holding near logs, stumps and fish attracting brush piles.  Musky will be found near bush piles and fallen trees.  Channel catfish and flatheads are abundant in the lake and can be caught with a variety of baits.  Crappie fishing should be picking up, try around standing timber or trees that have fallen into the water.  A few walleye have been caught in the lake and tailwater within the last two weeks.

R.D. BAILEY
Fishing on the lake is OK.  Some of the largest spotted bass in WV are found in R. D. Bailey Lake.  Spotted bass can be found along drop-offs and points extending into the lake at this time of the year.  Good baits are plastic jigs, live shad, or crayfish.  Hybrid striped bass are also available for the hearty angler at R.D. Bailey right now.  Best baits are lures such as rattletraps, spoons, or white/chartreuse jigs.  Anglers may also want to try chicken livers for this hard, fighting fish surprisingly as it sounds.  Many locals use this technique and do well.  For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304.664.9587.

STEPHENS LAKE
Stephens is very clear, to improve the odds of catching fish, use light line, cast far, reduce noise, fish quietly and carefully.  Bass anglers are successful using soft plastics and small crankbaits.  WVDNR personnel recently stocked channel catfish fingerlings into the lake, which helps maintain a year-round catfish fishery available to the public.  Try your favorite catfish bait or lure for success, and take a kid or someone new to fishing so they can enjoy the thrill of a fish biting on their line!  Livers and nightcrawlers work well for catfish bait, as do a variety of paste and prepared type baits offered at sporting goods stores.  Many find success using the ‘dippin sponge’ method, fishing it either beneath a bobber or on the bottom using a basic three way river rig.  Another trick is to catch small baitfish using a piece of a worm, etc., then cut them up and use them as fresh bait.  Many times this will out-fish other bait types due to its freshness, be sure to give it a try.  But remember, if you use a game fish bluegill, bass.as bait, you must include it in your daily creel limit.

STONECOAL LAKE
The lake is at summer pool.  Fishing is fair.  Water temperature is on the rise.  Bass are being caught in and around cover.  Bluegill and crappie are also hitting live bait and jigs around beaver huts and fish attractors.  Trout were stocked in the lake last fall by the Stonecoal Lake Fishing Club.  A few perch have been caught in the upper end on minnows.

STONEWALL JACKSON
The lake is at summer pool and milky.  Water temperature is on the rise.  Fishing is fair.  Bass are being caught in and around cover.  Bluegill and crappie are also hitting live bait.  Channel catfish have also been caught.  Trout were stocked in the tailwater on March 8th.  Before heading to the lake please call Corps of Engineers at 304.269.7463.

SUMMERSVILLE
The lake is at winter pool and clear.  Water temperature is on the rise.  It is a great time of year for walleye.  Try rocky points, drop offs and at the mouth of small tributaries entering the lake.  Trout were stocked in the tailwaters on March 12th.  For more information contact the Corps of Engineers office at 304.872.3412.

SUTTON
The lake is at winter pool and clear.  Fishing is fair.  Water temperature is on the rise.  Bass are being caught in about 10.15 feet of water.  Most are being caught in and around cover.  Bluegill and crappie are also hitting live bait.  The tailwaters are normal and clear.  Trout were stocked in the tailwater March 8th.  A few reports of walleye being caught in the tailwater over the past few weeks.  Before heading to the lake please call Corps of Engineers at 304.765.2705.

TYGART LAKE
The lake is nearing summer pool level.  Walleye are near the end of spawning and will move into shallow water to feed or spawn at dusk.  Try casting large Rapalas along the shoreline about an hour before and after sunset.  Some walleye will also move up into river at the head of the lake to spawn.  Drive into Cove Run and fish the river from the shore.

Walleye will have been moving through the dam during the recent high water discharges.  There are also lots of trout in the tailwater.  Walleye fishing is best during higher flows 1,500 to 5,000 cubic feet per second and trout fishing is best at low flows less than 1,000 cubic feet per second).  Call the Corps of Engineers telephone hotline at 304.265.5953 for daily lake and tailwater conditions.

NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

OHIO RIVER (New Cumberland, Pike Island and Hannibal pools and tailwaters)
Walleye and sauger have moved out of the mouths of tributaries and into tailwater areas.  Minnows are the best bet but jigging spoons have also been productive.  Other good spots at this time of year are heated discharges at power plants.  One hour before and after sunset is the best time for sauger and walleye.  Hybrid striped bass will congregate in these areas.

MONONGAHELA RIVER
Walleye and sauger are now nearing the end of spawning.  A good pattern now is to fish for sauger and walleye an hour before and after sunset, especially in the tailwater areas below the lock and dams.  Sauger and walleye usually begin feeding at dusk in the tailwater but will be active during the day when the water is turbid.  Jigs with minnows are always good baits but 3.inch plastic grubs will also be productive.

CHEAT LAKE
Channel catfish can be caught at the Cheat Lake Park.  A good walleye stocking in 2010 should now be producing 13 to 14.inch fish.  Try casting large Rapalas along the shoreline about an hour before and after sunset.  White bass can be caught throughout the lake.

EASTERN PANHANDLE

South Branch and Cacapon Rivers
Flows in most streams and rivers throughout the eastern panhandle are slightly above normal but dropping quickly and should be in great fishing condition by the weekend.  The water is clear and temperatures are now in the upper 50’s.  This is a great time for fishing the South Branch and anglers continue to be successful catching 20 fish or more per day and some citation sized smallmouth bass.  Try using slow moving plastics in deep pools.  Many smallmouth bass in the South Branch have been tagged as part of a fish movement and fish health study, so if you catch a tagged fish, please clip off the tag and return it to DNR for a reward.

The 2012 trout stocking season is underway and some streams are receiving weekly stockings.  Anglers have been catching lots of trout in both streams and impoundments.  Check the new 2012 fishing regulations to determine when and where these trout stockings occurred.  A fishing guide is now available for the Eastern panhandle which includes a stream map.  The fishing guides can be obtained free of charge from any of our district offices.

Shenandoah River
The flows in the Shenandoah River are high but dropping quickly and should be in great fishing condition by the weekend.  Try fishing for smallmouth bass in slow moving areas near the head of pools around large rocks or other structure.  The WVDNR in cooperation with Jefferson County Parks and Recreation have extended the boat ramp at the Moulton Park public access and it is now usable.

North Branch River
Flows in the North Branch are between 300 - 400 cfs and expected to remain at that level for several more days.  The North Branch is in great fishing condition and lots of trout are being caught.

Small Impoundments
Small impoundments are in great fishing condition and anglers have been doing well catching trout in impoundments stocked with trout.  Some impoundments are receiving bi-weekly trout stockings, so check the fishing regulations to determine which impoundments were stocked.  A new impoundment has been created at the Edwards Run Wildlife Management Area in Hampshire County and will be stocked with trout bi-weekly.

Jennings Randolph Lake
Jennings Randolph Lake is currently 5 feet below conservation pool.  The WV and MD boat ramps are scheduled to open on March 31st.  Don’t forget you can buy a season boat launch pass for Jennings Randolph Lake and the pass is honored at both the MD and WV ramps.  Recent biological surveys by the MDDNR have indicated good smallmouth bass, rock bass and walleye populations.  Jennings Randolph Lake has a dedicated phone line for up-to-date recreational information 304.355.2890.

Mt. Storm Lake
Anglers at Mt. Storm should target striped bass, black bass and walleye.  Fish can be caught throughout the lake but many anglers do well fishing with chicken livers near the discharges.  Fish spawn early at Mount Storm Lake due to the warm water temperatures so fish will be feeding to prepare for spawning.

CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

Water levels are normal and clear.  If you are looking for a place to go, please check the fishing regulations and the WVDNR website for a list of public access sites or call your local WVDNR district office for some advice on a place to fish.  This is a great time to fish for walleye in the Elk River.  Try at the mouth of any tributary.  The trout trucks are rolling and stocking is in full swing.  Lots of waters have been stocked thanks to clear road conditions.  Watoga and Spruce Knob lakes, Cranberry, Williams and Shavers Fork were stocked to name a few.  Remember to buy your 2012 fishing license before heading out.

SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

The New and Greenbrier rivers are providing great fishing for smallmouth bass.  Flows presently are good, allowing even for some wade fishing in the New and Greenbrier rivers.  Early spring anglers should target deeper, slower runs and pockets that allow cold.blooded fish to maintain their positions easier.  Bait and artificial lures that are fished slow and close to the bottom work well at this time of year.  Some of the biggest smallmouth bass are caught during colder months when most people do not fish.  Muskie anglers are currently finding success on the New River using crankbaits, jerkbaits and large soft plastics.  District 4 small impoundments offer good bass, catfish and bluegill opportunities.  Many are stocked in the early spring with trout, and with channel catfish at different times of the year to maintain fishable populations.  During early March both Berwind and Watoga lakes were stocked with trout.  A variety of district 4 WV trout streams have already been stocked or will be stocked soon also, consult the WVDNR website stocking report, WVDNR regulations or call 304.558.3399 to hear an updated report for all waters stocked each day after 4:00 PM.  If your favorite stream didn’t get stocked, don’t be discouraged many larger streams hold carry-over trout and /or wild or native trout.  Hike away from the road and access points.  Try bait and slow down the speed of lures/flies due to cooler temperature levels.  Try to concentrate your efforts during the warmer parts of the day at this time of the year.  If an unseasonably warm weather pattern moves in, hit your favorite stream or small impoundment, fishing will be good.

SOUTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA

Lower Ohio and Kanawha Rivers
Fishing for sauger, walleye, white bass and hybrid striped bass in the tailwaters should be picking up with warming water.  Concentrate fishing effort in the slack water of the lock side of the tailwater can be effective during high flows.

Guyandotte, Coal, Poca, Elk, and Mud Rivers
These streams should be muddy this week.

Small Impoundments
Trout fishing should be good in stocked impoundments.  Larger panfish and bass will be feeding and can be caught with nightcrawlers or artificial baits.

WEST-CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

Trout have been stocked into several lakes throughout the area; these include Cedar Creek State Park Ponds in Gilmer County, Mile Tree Lake in Roane County, Rollins and Turkey Run lakes in Jackson County and Tracy Lake and Pennsboro Water Supply Reservoir in Ritchie County.  This information is updated daily at 4:00 PM, January through May.  Trout anglers can use a variety of baits including small worms, mealworms, salmon eggs, cheese, or trout power bait.  Small spinners, joe type flies and trout magnets also work well.

This is a good time to fish Ohio River tailwaters, sauger and walleye fishing however, has been slow.  Anglers fishing below the Belleville dam are catching sauger, walleye and a few other species.  Rigs using suspended minnows or lead headed jigs with twister tails white or chartreuses), which are fished along the bottom, are the lure of choice.  When the river is running high and muddy clever anglers are tipping their jig hooks with minnows.  Best spots to fish these areas include eddies and back-current sections, and anywhere that river flows are unusually slow.  Warmwater discharges associated with industrial facilities hold fish in the winter along the Ohio River.  Best bet for lures here include crank baits and rubber jigs.  Expect to catch white bass, hybrid striped bass and a few other species at these hot spots.  Fishing along the Willow Island tailwaters is restricted due to hydro-power development.  Anglers now have access only to a point approximately 150 yards below the dam, and flows have changed significantly.

Fishing for largemouth bass can be good during warm sunny days in area lakes.  Slowly fished rubber worms or jig-and-pig combos are good terminal tackle choices.  Area lakes with good bass angling opportunities include Conaway Run in Tyler County, Charles Fork in Roane County, North Bend Lake in Ritchie County and Elk Fork and Woodrum lakes in Jackson County.

Musky streams are expected to be fishable this weekend.  Early spring musky anglers use medium to large lures, and concentrate their fishing efforts around brush piles or other areas of good cover.  Middle Island Creek, the major stream in the Hughes River system and the Little Kanawha River are good area musky waters.

Stream Conditions

NORTHERN	Levels			Conditions
Ohio River (Wheeling)		Normal			Milky
Fish Creek		Normal			Milky
Fishing Creek		Normal			Milky
Big Sandy (Preston)		Normal		Clear
Monongahela River		Normal			Milky
Wheeling Creek		Normal			Milky
Buffalo Creek		Normal			Milky
Blackwater River		Normal			Milky
EASTERN PANHANDLE	Levels			Conditions
S. Branch (Potomac)			High	Clear
S. Branch (Smoke Hole)		Normal		Clear
Shenandoah River			High	Clear
Patterson Creek			High	Clear
N. Fork S. Branch		Normal		Clear
Cacapon River		Normal		Clear
Back Creek		Normal		Clear
Opequon Creek	Low			Clear
Lost River		Normal		Clear
CENTRAL	Levels			Conditions
Elk (Sutton)			High		Milky
Little Kanawha			High		Milky
Elk (Clay)			High		Milky
West Fork River			High		Milky
Gauley River			High	Clear
Cranberry River			High	Clear
Cherry River			High	Clear
Cherry River (N. Fork)			High	Clear
Cherry River (S. Fork)			High	Clear
Williams River			High	Clear
Knapps River			High	Clear
Greenbrier (E&W Forks)			High	Clear
Little River			High	Clear
Shavers Fork			High	Clear
Buckhannon River			High	Clear
Holly River			High	Clear
Elk River (Webster)			High	Clear
Elk River (Back Fork)			High	Clear
SOUTHERN	Levels			Conditions
New River (Hinton)			High		Milky
Greenbrier (Hinton)			High		Milky
Greenbrier (Ronceverte)		Normal			Milky
Anthony Creek		Normal			Milky
Big  Creek		Normal			Milky
Meadow River		Normal			Milky
Turkey Creek		Normal			Milky
Potts Creek		Normal			Milky
Second Creek		Normal			Milky
Pinnacle Creek		Normal			Milky
Horse Creek Lake		Normal			Milky
Big Huff Creek		Normal			Milky
Indian Creek		Normal			Milky
Glade Creek (New River)			High		Milky
Marsh Fork			High		Milky
New River (Gauley)		Normal		Clear
Glade Creek (Man)		Normal		Clear
Camp Creek		Normal		Clear
East River		Normal		Clear
Fork Creek		Normal		Clear
Dry Fork Creek		Normal		Clear
Berwind Lake		Normal		Clear
WESTERN & SOUTHWESTERN	Levels			Conditions
Little Kanawha River		Normal			Milky
Ohio River		Normal			Milky
Hughes River		Normal			Milky

 

 

Trout Stockings:

March 28, 2012
• Big Sandy Creek
• Buffalo Creek Brooke)
• Cacapon Park Lake
• Castleman Run Lake
• Coopers Rock Lake
• Glade Creek of Mann
• Glade Creek of New River
• Glady Fork
• Hopkins Fork
• Middle Wheeling Lake
• North Fork of Cherry River
• Opequon Creek
• Pond Fork
• R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
• Rocky Marsh Run
• Shavers Fork Bemis)
• Shavers Fork lower section)
• South Fork of Cherry River
• Tilhance Creek
• West Fork of Greenbrier River railroad grade.

March 27, 2012
• Bullskin Run
• Clear Fork of Guyandotte River
• Evitts Run
• Middle Creek
• Middle Fork River
• Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
• Mountwood Park Lake
• Pinnacle Creek both sections)
• South Branch C&R)
• Tuscarora Creek
• Williams River

March 26, 2012
• Anthony Creek
• Buffalo Fork Lake
• Cherry River
• Dunloup Creek
• East Fork Greenbrier River
• Greenbrier River
• Indian Rocks Lake
• Knapps Creek
• Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
• Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
• Lost River
• North Fork of Anthony
• Paint Creek
• Summersville Tailwaters
• Trout Run
• Waites Run
• West Fork Greenbrier River

March 23, 2012
• Anthony Creek
• Beech Fork Tailwaters
• Cacapon Park Lake
• East Lynn Tailwaters
• Glady Fork
• Horseshoe Run
• Knapps Creek
• Lick Creek Pond
• Middle Creek
• Mill Creek of the Opequon Creek
• Mill Run of Back Creek
• Red Creek
• Shavers Fork Bemis)
• Shavers Fork lower section)
• South Branch Smoke Hole)
• Wayne Dam

G-OB™: Museum Curator-Librarian

The Gilmer County Historical Society is seeking a 55+ year old person for a 20 hour per week job.

Job duties include reliability, honesty, knowledge of history and/or library work, can type, be able to give tours, do light cleaning, meet the public courteously, be computer literate and such other office duties that are required at the society.

The job is funded by a Senior Citizen Grant Program.

Interested individuals contact President Marion Reed, 304.462.4002, who will tell applicants where to send their resumes.

Last day to apply for the position is Friday, April 20, 2012.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Bon Appétit: Spinach and Turkey Lasagna

Ingredients:

  9 whole-wheat lasagna noodles
  1 teaspoon olive oil
  1/2 cup chopped onion
  1 pound ground turkey breast
  3 cups tomato sauce
  1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  6 cups chopped fresh spinach
  2 cups fat-free ricotta cheese
  1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes.

Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 2 minutes.

Add ground turkey and cook 5 to 7 minutes more, stirring to break up any large chunks of meat.

Stir in tomato sauce, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Simmer for 2 minutes and season to taste.

Combine spinach, ricotta, and nutmeg in a large bowl.

To assemble, arrange 3 noodles lengthwise in the bottom of a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

Spread with 1/3 the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the turkey mixture, and 1/3 of the mozzarella.

Repeat layers, ending with remaining mozzarella.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Daily G-Eye™: 03.30.12

41 shots, and we’ll take that ride
‘Cross this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, cut through the night
You’re kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life

Well, is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain’t no secret (it ain’t no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)

41 shots, Lena gets her son ready for school
She says “On these streets, Charles
You’ve got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you, promise me you’ll always be polite
And that you’ll never ever run away
Promise Mama you’ll keep your hands in sight”

Well, is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain’t no secret (it ain’t no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it in your heart, is it in your eyes
It ain’t no secret (it ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (it ain’t no secret)

41 shots, and we’ll take that ride
‘Cross this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, I got my boots caked in this mud
Baptized in these waters (we’re baptized in these waters)
And in each other’s blood (and in each other’s blood)

Well, is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain’t no secret (it ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (it ain’t no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

 

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 - 03.30.12

Summer arrives in the northern hemisphere of Mars today.

The planet stands high in the east at nightfall, shining like an orange star close to the brightest star of Leo.

They climb high across the sky during the night, and set at first light.

Summertime

If you just can’t wait for the long, hot days of summer, then you might want to take a little road trip—to the planet Mars. That’s because summer arrives in the northern hemisphere of Mars today. It’s the longest day of the year, and in some places the temperature might creep above freezing.

Mars has seasons for the same reason that Earth does—the planet is tilted on its axis. Right now, its north pole is tilted toward the Sun, so the northern hemisphere gets most of the sunlight. In fact, the north pole itself is seeing the Sun around the clock.

Mars’s orbit is much more stretched out than Earth’s orbit, which has a big effect on the length of the seasons.

Mars is near its farthest point from the Sun at the start of northern summer, so the planet is moving fairly slowly in its orbit around the Sun. As a result, summer lasts about 24 days longer than winter. But since the Sun is far away, the northern summer is cooler than the short summer of the southern hemisphere, which comes when Mars is closest to the Sun.

Still, the summer days are warm enough to vaporize much of the polar ice cap, which helps stir up storm systems that sweep across the planet; we’ll have more about that tomorrow.

In the meantime, look for Mars high in the eastern sky as night falls, shining like a bright orange star close to the brightest star of Leo, the lion. Mars climbs high across the sky during the night, and sets just as dawn begins to break.

G-MM™: Meditation Moment - 03.30.12

‘Believe in the work that I do …’

The season of Lent is drawing to a close.

We are about to enter the holiest week of the year, in preparation for the celebration of the Triduum, culminating in the night of nights that is the Easter Vigil.

Fleeing from being stoned, only to be crucified in the days following, Jesus may have felt as Jeremiah did.

In the people’s rejection of him, their accusation of blasphemy must have been particularly galling.

As he faced what was to come, did the words of Jeremiah give Jesus courage?

‘I hear so many disparaging me … but the Lord is at my side.’

This is supported by the psalm: ‘In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.’

What solace, what comfort, what hope!

Oh, that we could be such people of courage and hope.

Jeremiah 20:10-13. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice—Ps 17(18):2-7. John 10:31-42.