Lady Pioneers Remain No. 12 in Latest Rankings

Glenville State, which begins play in the WVIAC Tournament Wednesday evening, remains the No. 12 team in the latest USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 women’s basketball poll.

The Pioneers are 26-2 on the year and have won 20 consecutive games. GSC completed its portion of conference play with a 21-1 mark. The squad garnered 431 total points in the rankings.

The squad leads the nation in scoring (96.6 ppg), three-point field goals made (396) and three-point field goals made per game (14.14).

The Pioneers return to action Wednesday, February 27, 2013when they take on Charleston at 6:30 AM in the quarterfinal round in the Charleston Civic Center.

WVU Survey: Public Backs Higher Cigarette Taxes

A survey of West Virginia adults shows 60% would favor higher cigarette taxes if the revenue would benefit public health.

43% back an increase of $2 per pack or more.

The 2012 survey of 2,132 smokers and non-smokers was recently released by researchers at West Virginia University’s School of Public Health.

The Adult Tobacco Survey asked whether people favored a conditional increase and how much.
The state’s current tax is just 55 cents — the 44th-lowest in the U.S.

Only North Carolina, North Dakota, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia and Missouri have lower taxes.

In 2011, a bill to raise West Virginia’s tax by $1 died.

Investigator Valerie Frey (Fry) McClung says higher prices deter young people from using tobacco and encourage adults to cut back or stop.

Lady Pioneers Ranked No. 12 in USA Today Sports

The Glenville State Lady Pioneers are ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

The Lady Pioneers are 24-2 (19-1) this season.

Last week they were ranked No. 16.

The Lady Pioneers are leading the nation in Division II in scoring with 96.6 points per game.

The Lady Pioneers return to action Thursday, February 21, 2013 when Concord travels to Glenville.

USA TODAY Sports DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL

February 19, 2013


USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 women’s basketball poll, with first-place votes to the right, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.

Rank	Institution -  First Place Votes	Previous Rank	Record	Total Points
1	Bentley   University (MA) -24	2	23-0	792
2	Clayton   State University (GA) -6	3	24-0	772
3	Ashland   University (OH) -2	1	25-1	730
4	Colorado   Mesa University	4	22-1	677
5	Washburn   University (KS)	6	19-3	629
6	Holy   Family University (PA)	5	22-2	627
7	University   of Central Missouri	7	21-2	614
8	Western   Washington University	9	19-3	566
9	Gannon   University (PA)	10	23-3	553
10	Limestone   College (SC)	14	20-2	467
11	Simon   Fraser University (BC)	8	18-4	439
12	Glenville   State College (WV)	16	24-2	424
13	California   State University - Chico	11	19-3	403
14	Stonehill   College (MA)	18	20-3	324
15	Dowling   College (NY)	17	19-3	315
16	University   of South Carolina - Aiken	12	19-4	306
17	New   York Institute of Technology	19	22-1	274
18	Fayetteville   State University (NC)	20	21-3	231
19	Grand   Canyon University (AZ)	13	21-5	218
20	Shaw   University (NC)	15	20-4	213
21	Minnesota   State University - Mankato	25	20-4	143
22	Edinboro   University (PA)	21	18-5	114
23	Augustana   College (SD)	23	19-5	105
24	Concordia   University (MN)	NR	19-5	72
25	University   of Findlay (OH)	NR	19-4	54

 

Dropped Out: Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho); Augusta State University (GA).

Others Receiving Votes: Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho) 45; Truman State University (MO) 34; Augusta State University (GA) 32; Lewis University (IL) 27; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 26; Pfeiffer University (NC) 19; Nova Southeastern University (FL) 16; California State University - Monterey Bay 13; University of California - San Diego 12; University of Wisconsin - Parkside 11; Abilene Christian University (Texas) 10; Pittsburg State University (KS) 10; Fort Hays State University (KS) 9; University of Indianapolis (Ind.) 9; Assumption College (MA) 8; Indiana University of Pennsylvania 8; Wayne State University (Mich.) 8; Rollins College (FL) 7; Emporia State University (KS) 6; Michigan Technological University 5; Millersville University of Pennsylvania 5; Tarleton State University (Texas) 5; University of Texas of the Permian Basin 5; Wayne State College (NE) 4; Anderson University (SC) 1; Arkansas Tech University 1; University of Massachusetts at Lowell 1; University of Southern Indiana 1.

The USA TODAY Sports board of coaches is made up of 33 head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The 2012-13 board: Carmen Dolfo - Non-voting Chair (Western Washington University), Linda Cimino (Caldwell College), Jeff Curtis (Northwood University), Joddie Gleason (Humboldt State University), Dennis Cox (Clayton State University), Kiley Hill (Valdosta State University), Corey Fox (Limestone College), Meghan Burke Brown (Southern Connecticut State University), Chris Kielsmeier (Wayne State College), Cleve Wright (Gannon University), Beth Jillson (Texas Woman’s University), Renee Jimenez (California State University Monterey Bay), Jennifer Knight-Kenesie (University of Wisconsin- Parkside), Jason Martens (Saint Mary’s University, Texas), Patrick Mashuda (Chowan University), Stephen McDonald (Fairmont State University), Claudette Charney (Hillsdale College), Tim Kirby (Harding University), Todd Starkey (Lenoir Rhyne University), Corey Laster (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs), Cassandra Moorer (Stillman College), Rick Stein (University of Southern Indiana), Paul Fessler (Concordia University, St. Paul), Joe Pellicane (Dowling College), Linda Raunig (Regis University), Carrie Seymour (Pace University), Sally Brooks (Angelo State University), Glenn Wilkes (Rollins College), Lane Lord (Pittsburg State University), Lynn Ullom (West Liberty University), Kevin Woodin (Montana State University, Billings), Trent May (Grand Canyon University), and Susan Yow (Belmont Abbey College).

*Please note that all voters for the DII poll are required to vote each week between 9:00 PM Sunday and 1:00 PM Tuesday ET.

Lady Pioneers Ranked No. 20 in USA TODAY Sports DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL

The Glenville State Lady Pioneers basketball squad has craked the USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

The Lady Pioneers are currently No. 20 in the latest USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 women’s basketball poll.

This ranking comes after the Lady Pioneers had a huge road victory over Concord, which saw GSC score a school record 70 points in the first half, 104-67.

The Glenville State Lady Pioneers basketball team is ranked No. 2
in the USA TODAY Sports DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL

The Lady Pioneers totaled 168 points with their 16-2 overall mAR The squad is currently 12-1 in WVIAC play.

Five teams were unranked a week ago and GSC came in higher than the other four.

GSC leads the nation in scoring offense at 96.5 points per game and three-point field goals made per contest (14.4).  

The Lady Pioneers are the lone WVIAC team in the national rankings

The Lady Pioneers travel to OH Valley Thursday, Jnauary 31, 2013. Game time is set for 5:30 PM.

Rank	Institution – First Place Votes	Previous Rank	Record	Total Points
1	Ashland University (OH) -31	1	21-0	775
2	Bentley University (MA)	2	17-0	741
3	Clayton State University (GA)	3	18-0	716
4	Colorado Mesa University	4	17-0	658
5	Western Washington University	5	15-2	639
6	University of South Carolina – Aiken	6	15-2	621
7	Gannon University (PA)	10	18-2	582
8	Holy Family University (PA)	11	17-2	510
T9	Shaw University (NC)	12	17-2	448
T9	Washburn University (KS)	14	13-3	448
11	University of Central Missouri	16	15-2	444
12	California State University – Chico	9	14-2	435
13	Simon Fraser University (BC)	7	14-3	431
14	Grand Canyon University (AZ)	17	17-4	300
15	Stonehill College (MA)	13	15-2	268
16	Limestone College (SC)	22	14-2	266
17	Dowling College (NY)	24	15-2	231
18	Augustana College (SD)	8	14-4	226
19	University of Indianapolis (IN)	15	13-4	209
20	Glenville State College (WV)	NR	16-2	168
21	Edinboro University (PA)	NR	14-3	154
22	Truman State University (MO)	NR	15-3	88
23	Nova Southeastern University (FL)	20	13-4	82
24	Augusta State University (GA)	NR	14-2	70
25	New York Institute of Technology	NR	16-1	62

Dropped Out: Pittsburg State University (KS) 18; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 21; Indiana University of Pennsylvania 19; University of Tampa (FL) 25; University of Southern Indiana 23.

Others Receiving Votes: Pittsburg State University (KS) 56; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 50; Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho) 40; Lewis University (IL) 36; Indiana University of Pennsylvania 33; Concordia University (MN) 32; Fort Hays State University (KS) 25; Saint Mary’s University (TX) 23; Fayetteville State University (NC) 22; Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC) 22; Minnesota State University – Mankato 20; Wayne State College (NE) 19; University of Wisconsin – Parkside 12; Michigan Technological University 11; Ouachita Baptist University (AR) 11; Assumption College (MA) 9; Bellarmine University (KY) 8; University of Tampa (FL) 8; Anderson University (SC) 7; Newberry College (SC) 7; Rollins College (FL) 7; University of Findlay (OH) 6; California State University – Monterey Bay 5; Montana State University – Billings 5; Northeastern State University (OK) 5; University of North Alabama 5; University of Southern Indiana 4; California State University – Los Angeles 3; Colorado State University – Pueblo 3; Saint Cloud State University (MN) 3; Tarleton State University (TX) 3; Florida Institute of Technology 2; Pfeiffer University (NC) 1.

The USA TODAY Sports board of coaches is made up of 33 head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

The 2012-13 board: Carmen Dolfo – Non-voting Chair (Western Washington University), Linda Cimino (Caldwell College), Jeff Curtis (Northwood University), Joddie Gleason (Humboldt State University), Dennis Cox (Clayton State University), Kiley Hill (Valdosta State University), Corey Fox (Limestone College), Meghan Burke Brown (Southern Connecticut State University), Chris Kielsmeier (Wayne State College), Cleve Wright (Gannon University), Beth Jillson (TX Woman’s University), Renee Jimenez (California State University Monterey Bay), Jennifer Knight-Kenesie (University of Wisconsin- Parkside), Jason Martens (Saint Mary’s University, TX), Patrick Mashuda (Chowan University), Stephen McDonald (Fairmont State University), Claudette Charney (Hillsdale College), Tim Kirby (Harding University), Todd Starkey (Lenoir Rhyne University), Corey Laster (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs), Cassandra Moorer (Stillman College), Rick Stein (University of Southern Indiana), Paul Fessler (Concordia University, St. Paul), Joe Pellicane (Dowling College), Linda Raunig (Regis University), Carrie Seymour (Pace University), Sally Brooks (Angelo State University), Glenn Wilkes (Rollins College), Lane Lord (Pittsburg State University), Lynn Ullom (West Liberty University), Kevin Woodin (Montana State University, Billings), Trent May (Grand Canyon University), and Susan Yow (Belmont Abbey College).


*Please note that all voters for the DII poll are required to vote each week between 9:00 PM Sunday and 1:00 PM Tuesday ET.

Survey Ranks WV 8th in Nation for Pet Ownership

A new survey shows that West Virginia is a pet-friendly state.

The survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association shows about 62% of West Virginia households own a pet.

The association’s U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook ranks West Virginia 8th in the nation for pet ownership.

West Virginia ranks 5th for dog ownership and 6th for cat ownership.

According to the sourcebook, 45.8% of West Virginia households own a dog and 38.1% own a cat.

Vermont is top-ranked for pet ownership, while Rhode Island has the fewest households with a pet.

The veterinary association conducts the survey every five years.

West Virginia Veteran Health Raises Flags in Survey

One in five West Virginia veterans are at risk for suicide while half show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or both, researchers told lawmakers on Tuesday.

The figures come from a recent survey of more than 1,200 state veterans, which also found higher than normal rates for obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, West Virginia University psychology professor Joseph Scotti said. The study was commissioned by the Legislature.

The findings prompted Scotti and the survey team to recommend a comprehensive plan to provide needed mental health services to veterans. Such a plan should include a public service campaign to alert veterans to available resources, educating health care providers and working more closely with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in the state, Scotti told the House-Senate Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

“The VA can’t do it alone,“ Scotti said.

Close to 170,000 West Virginians are veterans, more than one in 10 adults, according to the latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau. Just 11 states have a larger segment of veterans among their residents. More than two-thirds of West Virginia’s veterans are 55 or older, while around 7 percent have served since the Sept. 11 attacks, according to the estimate.

Conducted last year, the survey asked veterans about such topics as health, work, education and family. Scotti and fellow WVU professor Roy Tunick, who teaches rehabilitation counseling and counseling psychology, helped design the survey and analyze the results. Atlas Research, a service-disabled veteran owned small business, managed the project.

Scotti told lawmakers Tuesday that the findings he presented during their hour-long meeting represent just some of the data the survey yielded. A roughly equal portion of veterans across five age groups designated by the survey responded, he noted.

As expected, researchers linked the prevalence of PTSD and depression to having served in conflict areas and enduring the stress of combat.

“A significant number of these veterans are experiencing one or the other or both, with both being quite debilitating,“ Scotti said.

Just over half of the veterans self-reported recent episodes of poor mental health. Other troubling findings include one in 10 veterans reporting being homeless during the past year. Female veterans, who accounted for 15 percent of those surveyed, were disproportionately represented, Scotti said.

But the survey also found rates of alcohol consumption or non-prescribed drug use lower than the state average and on par with national rates. Most are married and have at least one child.

“So, we’re talking about veterans who are involved with families, where whatever their situation is impacts themselves, their spouses and any children,“ Scotti told lawmakers.

Veterans were middle-of-the-road when asked to measure their quality of life. While older veterans tended to assign higher ratings than younger ones, Scotti said that does not necessarily mean that conditions improve for veterans as they age. Those surveyed reported rarely or infrequently losing their tempers, and rarely becoming violent, Scotti said.

WV High School Boys’ Basketball Rankings – 01.08.13

The Associated Press high school boys’ basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and total points:

Team Record Pts

Class AAA
1. Martinsburg (9) 7-0 99
2. Hedgesville (1) 9-0 86
3. South Charleston 6-1 72
4. Greenbrier East 9-0 69
5. Morgantown 7-1 67
6. Princeton 7-1 32
T7. Woodrow Wilson 4-2 24
T7. Preston 5-1 24
9. George Washington 5-2 19
T10. Huntington 5-1 17
T10. Washington 8-2 17
T10. Parkersburg South 7-2 17

Others receiving votes: University 5, Musselman 1, Brooke 1.

Class AA
1. Scott (5) 8-0 90
2. Bluefield (5) 4-1 80
3. Poca 7-1 74
4. Robert C. Byrd 6-1 71
5. Wyoming East 6-1 70
T6. Webster County 5-1 28
T6. Roane County 7-2 28
8. Tolsia 4-5 20
9. Fairmont Senior 5-3 18
10. North Marion 5-2 17

Others receiving votes: Summers County 16, Westside 11, Mingo Central 11, Herbert Hoover 7, Mount View 5, Ritchie County 2, Liberty Raleigh 2.

Class A
1. Magnolia (4) 6-0 83
2. Charleston Catholic (1) 5-1 69
T3. Tucker County (1) 6-1 63
T3. Buffalo (1) 8-0 63
5. Tug Valley (2) 4-1 58
6. Parkersburg Catholic 7-1 57
7. St. Marys 6-1 35
8. Greenbrier West 7-1 25
9. Valley Fayette 3-0 13
10. Tygarts Valley 5-0 10

Others receiving votes: Greater Beckley Christian 6, Wheeling Central 6, Trinity 2, Paden City 2, Bishop Donahue 2, Notre Dame 1.

WV High School Girls’ Basketball Rankings – 01.08.13

The Associated Press high school girls’ basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and total points:

Team Record Pts

Class AAA
1. Greenbrier East (8) 8-0 95
2. University (1) 8-1 81
T3. Morgantown (1) 8-3 64
T3. Princeton 6-1 64
5. John Marshall 9-2 62
6. Huntington 7-3 42
7. Spring Valley 7-2 36
8. George Washington 5-2 31
9. Wheeling Park 5-3 23
10. Parkersburg South 5-3 14

Others receiving votes: Logan 12, South Charleston 8, Cabell Midland 7, Preston 5, Hampshire 4, Hurricane 2.

Class AA
1. Westside (7) 8-0 97
2. Bridgeport (1) 8-2 75
3. Clay County 9-1 62
4. Summers County (1) 7-1 58
5. Nicholas County 8-1 52
T6. Robert C. Byrd 7-2 44
T6. Lincoln (1) 7-1 44
8. North Marion 5-1 29
9. Sissonville 7-2 28
10. Scott 5-3 19

Others receiving votes: Fairmont Senior 11, Tolsia 10, James Monroe 8, PikeView 5, Ritchie County 3, Herbert Hoover 3, Bluefield 2.

Class A
1. Saint Joseph Central (9) 7-1 99
2. St. Marys (1) 8-0 88
3. Wheeling Central 9-1 78
4. Clay-Battelle 10-0 65
5. Parkersburg Catholic 6-3 55
6. Pocahontas County 8-3 38
7. Valley Fayette 6-0 34
8. Tygarts Valley 7-2 23
9. Tucker County 5-4 17
10. Williamstown 4-4 13

Others receiving votes: Tug Valley 12, Trinity 8, Meadow Bridge 7, Fayetteville 5, Charleston Catholic 4, Man 2, Gilmer County 1, Buffalo 1.

USA TODAY Sports DIVISION II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll

USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 women’s basketball poll, with first-place votes to the right, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.

Rank	Institution - First Place Votes	Previous Rank	Record	Total Points
1	Ashland University (Ohio) -30	1	6-0	774
2	Bentley University (MA)	2	3-0	738
3	Pittsburg State University (KS)	3	4-0	697
4	University of South Carolina - Aiken	5	4-0	636
5	Clayton State University (GA)	7	2-0	581
6	University of Indianapolis (IN)	8	4-0	548
7	Shaw University (NC) -1	6	1-0	537
8	Western Washington University	9	4-0	502
9	Wayne State College (NE)	10	3-0	466
10	Augustana College (SD)	12	4-0	447
11	Gannon University (PA)	11	4-1	441
12	Washburn University (KS)	13	4-0	427
13	Rollins College (FL)	4	5-1	374
14	Holy Family University (PA)	14	4-1	314
15	Edinboro University (PA)	15	2-1	290
16	Simon Fraser University (BC)	17	6-1	285
17	Nova Southeastern University (FL)	19	5-0	235
18	Grand Canyon University (AZ)	18	5-2	195
19	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	22	3-0	181
20	Emporia State University (KS)	20	3-1	157
21	University of Wisconsin - Parkside	16	3-1	115
22	Wingate University (NC)	23	4-1	107
23	Fort Hays State University (KS)	NR	6-0	105
24	Assumption College (MA)	NR	5-0	90
25	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania	NR	3-0	80

Dropped Out: Tarleton State University (Texas) 21; Drury University (MO) 25; Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO) 24.

Others Receiving Votes: Limestone College (SC) 67; University of Alaska - Anchorage 59; Valdosta State University (GA) 56; University of Central Missouri 52; Tarleton State University (Texas) 39; Drury University (MO) 37; California State University - Chico 34; University of California - San Diego 32;  Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO) 31; Fort Lewis College (CO) 27; Lander University (SC) 27; Minnesota State University -  Mankato 27; Northeastern State University (OK) 27; California University of Pennsylvania 24; Tusculum College (TN) 22; Colorado Mesa University 20; Arkansas Tech University 18; Dowling College (NY)  18; Saint Mary’s University (Texas) 14; Glenville State College (WV)  13; Michigan Technological University 13; California State University -  Monterey Bay 12; University of Tampa (FL) 12; Florida Southern College (FL) 8; Midwestern State University (Texas) 8; Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho) 8; Southern Connecticut State University 8;  University of Minnesota - Duluth 8; Grand Valley State University (MI) 7; California State University - Los Angeles 6; University of Bridgeport (Conn.) 5; Colorado State University - Pueblo 3; Missouri Western State 2; Newberry College (SC) 2; University of Central Oklahoma 2; Academy of Art University (CA) 1; CW Post Campus - LIU (NY) 1; Fort Valley State University (GA) 1; Lewis University (IL)  1; Truman State University (MO) 1.

The USA TODAY Sports board of coaches is made up of 33 head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).  The 2012-13 board: Carmen Dolfo - Non-voting Chair (Western Washington University), Linda Cimino (Caldwell College), Jeff Curtis (Northwood University), Joddie Gleason (Humboldt State University), Dennis Cox (Clayton State University), Kiley Hill (Valdosta State University),  Corey Fox (Limestone College), Meghan Burke Brown (Southern Connecticut State University), Chris Kielsmeier (Wayne State College), Cleve Wright (Gannon University), Beth Jillson (Texas Woman’s University), Renee Jimenez (California State University Monterey Bay), Jennifer Knight-Kenesie (University of Wisconsin- Parkside), Jason Martens (Saint Mary’s University, Texas), Patrick Mashuda (Chowan University), Stephen McDonald (Fairmont State University), Claudette Charney (Hillsdale College), Tim Kirby (Harding University), Todd Starkey (Lenoir Rhyne University), Corey Laster (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs),  Cassandra Moorer (Stillman College), Rick Stein (University of Southern Indiana), Paul Fessler (Concordia University, St. Paul), Joe Pellicane (Dowling College), Linda Raunig (Regis University), Carrie Seymour (Pace University), Sally Brooks (Angelo State University), Glenn Wilkes (Rollins College), Lane Lord (Pittsburg State University), Lynn Ullom (West Liberty University), Kevin Woodin (Montana State University,  Billings), Trent May (Grand Canyon University), and Susan Yow (Belmont Abbey College).

WVIAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

With five returning starters, including the reigning WVIAC Player of the Year, Fairmont State has been selected as the league’s preseason favorite as voted on by the WVIAC coaches.

The Falcons (18-10, 14-8) were listed first on 11 ballots while garnering 218 total points to lead the field. Glenville State (23-7, 18-4) picked up one first-place vote en route to 190 points and the No. 2 spot. West Liberty (15-15, 11-11) received a first-place vote and 174 points for third place. Concord (23-6, 18-4) garnered the remaining two first-place votes and was fourth at 167.  

Defending WVIAC Champion and NCAA Tournament participant West Virginia Wesleyan (24-7, 18-4) was fifth with 152 points. Shepherd (20-11, 15-7), a WVIAC semifinalist a season ago, is sixth with 149. Davis & Elkins (14-14, 12-10) was seventh with 134 points, just ahead of Pitt-Johnstown (14-13, 12-10) with 133.

Seton Hill (11-18, 10-12) got 127 points for the No. 9 spot with the University of Charleston (12-15, 11-11) rounding out the top 10 with 107 points.

Rounding out the poll are West Virginia State (11-16, 8-14), Wheeling Jesuit (5-22, 2-20), Alderson-Broaddus (6-21, 4-18), Ohio Valley (9-20, 6-16) and Bluefield State (7-22, 6-16).

Fairmont State will be led by reigning WVIAC Player of the Year Kaitlin Snyder, a second-team NCAA Division II All-American who accounted for 21.5 points, 4.4 assists and 2.7 steals a game a season ago. The experienced Falcons also return a trio of double-figure scorers in Hailey Garrett (14.3 ppg), Tiffany Nicholson (10.5 ppg) and Emily Lohr (10.3 ppg) along with returning starting guard Briana Welch (5.3 ppg). Head coach Steve McDonald’s five returning starters combined for 83.5% of the Falcons’ scoring last year.

Glenville State advanced to the WVIAC Finals for the second straight year and led the nation in scoring (94.3 ppg) under Bunky Harkleroad’s up-tempo style of play. Ginny Petties (11.8 ppg), Kenyell Goodson (9.6 ppg) and Jelena Elez (8.6 ppg) return to lead a balanced attack which should once again have the Pioneers pushing for success in the postseason.

West Liberty is on the rebound after dealing with an abundance of injuries last season. This season, the Hilltoppers return second-team all-WVIAC guard Hillary Southworth (16.1 ppg)and senior post player Emily Blevins (11.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg). Head coach Lynn Ullom also welcomes back 2011 starters Meghan Wiseman and Jordan Stacey, who missed all of last season with medical redshirts. Combined with a strong incoming class, the Hilltoppers should challenge for the conference title.

Concord advanced to the WVIAC semifinals before dropping an overtime thriller to Glenville State. The Mountain Lions return second-team all-conference performer Andrea Bertrand (13 ppg, 7.2 rpg). Head coach Kenny Osborne’s line-up will also include returners Amanda Smith (9.3 ppg) and Tanisha Williams (4.0 ppg).

West Virginia Wesleyan won the regular-season title and the league tournament a season ago en route to its NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bobcats lost their top two scorers to graduation but return a core group for their title defense. Brittany Maxey garnered 9.6 points and 7.1 rebounds a game while leading the team with 62 steals last year and is ready for the spotlight. Kerry Conroy and Brittany Williams combined to play 22 minutes a night and proved to be solid contributors.

Shepherd made a nice postseason run a year ago before falling to the Bobcats in the WVIAC semifinals. The Rams return several key pieces from that squad, including leading scorer Emily Daniel (12.4 ppg), a second-team all-WVIAC selection, and impressive newcomer Gabby Flinchum (8.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), a member of the WVIAC All-Freshman Team.

Davis & Elkins won its first WVIAC Tournament game in a decade last March and head coach Jason Asbell is aiming for bigger and better things. The Senators will be led by second-team all-WVIAC standout Page Turner (12.4 ppg) and honorable mention all-WVIAC pick Jorden Lykes (12.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg). Steady Amy Turner (6.6 ppg) averaged more than 30 minutes a night.

Pitt-Johnstown sends a talented and experienced team into the 2012-13 campaign. Leading the way is first-team all-WVIAC guard Kaitlynn Fratz (17.2 ppg), the WVIAC Freshman of the Year. Backing the stellar sophomore are Nicole Carman (10.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and perimeter sharp shooter Kelsey Sleighter (8.4 ppg), who drained nearly 40% of her three-point tries a year ago.

Seton Hill has four of its top five scorers back from a season ago. Leading the way is second-team all-conference selection Paige Alviani. A year ago, she poured in 15.5 points a night and dished out 110 assists. Tiara Stossel’s 11.9 points a game and 3.5 assists per night also return. Katie Gattuso tallied 9.3 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds last year. Clare Berenato also returns, having started every game a season ago.

Charleston is under the direction of first-year head coach Adam Collins. The Golden Eagles advanced to the tournament quarterfinals in 2012 and return a core group ready to keep the team near the top of the league standings. Top returners include Chrissy Keir (10.4 ppg), who led the team with 93 assists a season ago and LeAnne Ross (5.1 ppg). Tiani Kelly will also provide the team with another experienced player.

West Virginia State is led by first-year head coach David Smith, who has 575 victories under his belt for seventh place on the all-time NCAA Division II list. He inherits a team that returns three of its top five scorers. Leading point producer Jasmine Blanton (15 ppg) also dished out a team-high 96 assists. Asia Greenleaf is coming off a solid all-around season (9.8 ppg and 7.1 rpg) while Jordan Brock (9.3 ppg) is also a proven scoring threat.

Wheeling Jesuit returns a core group that gained valuable experience last year. All-freshman team performer Emily Robinson (13.1 ppg) should lead the Cardinals into the 2012-13 campaign. Taneka Lewis and Alex Anderson combined for 10.9 points and 11 rebounds a game.

Alderson-Broaddus has an experienced squad returning. The Battlers are led by honorable mention all-conference standout Amanda Peoples (12.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg). Cayla Rhodes (6.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Erica Brooks (5.0 ppg) should see their roles increased this year.

Ohio Valley boasts a line-up that has seen a lot of playing time in the WVIAC. Junior Shelby Way’s 12.1 points and team-high 72 assists are back. Senior Tara Benedict (7.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg) played well in the paint a season ago. The Fighting Scots should also benefit from Jasmine Gibson, a 6’3” transfer from Delaware, who could cause match-up problems for league foes.

Bluefield State won six league games a year ago and will look to continue climbing in the WVIAC standings. The Lady Blues’ back court should be the driving force of the team once again. Honorable mention all-conference selection Charlene Diggs (15.9 ppg) and Dragana Tomic (10.2 ppg, 1.9 spg) lead the way.

2012-13 WVIAC Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll

Rank	School (first-place votes)	Total Points
1.	Fairmont State (11)	218
2.	Glenville State (1)	190
3.	West Liberty (1)	174
4.	Concord (2)	167
5.	West Virginia Wesleyan	152
6.	Shepherd	149
7.	Davis & Elkins	134
8.	Pitt-Johnstown	133
9.	Seton Hill	127
10.	Charleston	107
11.	West Virginia State	67
12.	Wheeling Jesuit	59
13.	Alderson-Broaddus	49
14.	Ohio Valley	41
15.	Bluefield State	33

WVIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

After a 32-3 campaign that saw West Liberty earn its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, the annual preseason poll of WVIAC coaches has installed the Hilltoppers as the favorites to win a fourth straight conference title.

West Liberty (32-3, 21-1) garnered 14 first-place votes and 224 total points to lead the field, besting No. 2 Charleston (26-7, 18-4) for the top spot. The Golden Eagles, who dropped a 93-90 overtime decision to the Hilltoppers in last year’s WVIAC Tournament championship game, received 201 points in the voting. UC also earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

Fairmont State (9-18, 7-15) picked up one first-place nod and 191 total points for third place in the poll. West Virginia State (14-13, 12-10) tallied 156 points for fourth while Alderson-Broaddus (18-10, 14-8) notched 146 points and is picked to finish fifth.

Shepherd (14-14, 11-11) was sixth, just ahead of Wheeling Jesuit (22-10, 16-6). The Cardinals are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Pitt-Johnstown (15-14, 12-10), West Virginia Wesleyan (22-9, 15-7) and Concord (17-12, 12-10) rounded out the top 10. The Bobcats made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2012.

Seton Hill (11-16, 9-13) edged Glenville State (7-20, 6-16) for 11^th. Davis & Elkins (8-19, 4-18) is 13^th while Bluefield State (1-26, 0-22) and Ohio Valley (8-18, 8-14) rounded out the preseason poll.

West Liberty returns the top eight scorers from the first WVIAC squad ever to win back-to-back regional titles. The Hilltoppers led the nation in scoring (102.4 ppg) for the sixth time in the last seven years last winter and head coach Jim Crutchfield now leads all NCAA men’s coaches in career winning%age (207-43, .828). Two 1,000-point scorers – senior All-American Alex Falk (18.0 ppg) and junior all-WVIAC standout Cedric Harris (15.8 ppg, 191 assists) –have plenty of help as West Liberty returns six double-figure scorers. Sophomore CJ Hester (14.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg) is the reigning WVIAC Freshman of the Year.

Charleston finished second in the conference in 2012 and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament behind Player of the Year PJ Reyes. Although the Golden Eagles lost Reyes to graduation, the squad returns an abundance of experience. Evan Faulkner is the lone senior on the team. He poured in 11.5 points and was second on the team with 42 steals last season. Xavier Humphrey should be more of a factor this year. He accounted for 8.3 points and swatted 23 shots in 2012. Head coach Mark Downey also brought in a number of talented players.

Fairmont State is under the leadership of first-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun. He inherits a solid core and added several promising newcomers. Second-team all-conference performer Isaac Thornton (21.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) was one of the top scorers in the nation a season ago. Melvin Rhodes (7.8 ppg) is another returning starter that should play a bigger role this year. The Falcons have an abundance of newcomers that will help the team make a push for a postseason bid.

West Virginia State head coach Bryan Poore looks to make another run at the top this season with the return of David Ford (15.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Howard Douglas, III (8.3 ppg). Ford was the team’s second-leading scorer a year ago while the versatile Douglas started 18 games, averaging 25 minutes a contest. The Yellow Jackets should also benefit from having forward Brandon Ross and guard Juan Johnson who were expected to contribute last year but sat out due to injuries.

Alderson-Broaddus head coach Greg Zimmerman returns a standout group of players that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament in 2012. First-team all-conference honoree Kurklin Bohanon (19.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg) returns after leading the Battlers in scoring and rebounding a year ago. Roy Brown (10.0 ppg) is another returning starter and a double-figure scorer while Casey Ainslie (9.1 ppg) and Adam Kline (4.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) gained valuable experience last season.

Shepherd features one of the most dynamic players in the conference in first-team all-WVIAC standout Chad Moore. He poured in 20.8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds a night last year. Brantley Osborne (15.3 ppg) and Sidney McCray (12.8 ppg) are the top deep threats for Coach Justin Namolik, having combined for 129 3-point field goals last season. The Rams brought in a number of talented players.

Wheeling Jesuit is coming off a 2012 NCAA Tournament appearance following a standout season and looks to reach the postseason once again. Head coach Danny Sancomb returns second-team all-conference selection Ben Seifert (10.8 ppg), who ranked among NCAA Division II leaders with 224 assists. Recardo Gaddy (14.1 ppg) drilled 101 three-point shots and Joe Prati (6.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg) saw significant playing time in all 32 games.

Pitt-Johnstown boasts some potent offensive weapons, headed by first-team all-conference selection Nick Novak (19.5 ppg), who led the team in scoring and assists (114). Another scoring threat for head coach Bob Rukavina is Jordan Miller (15.3 ppg) while standout Bill Luther (7.6 ppg) shot nearly 50% from downtown.

West Virginia Wesleyan is led by first-year head coach Patrick Beilein and will look to make it three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Despite heavy graduation losses, Beilein inherited one of the league’s top players in Kelsey Williams (17.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg). T.J. Thompson (4.9 ppg) played in 31 games a year ago.

Concord lost a couple of its top scorers but returns a few that should help the team continue its progress from a season ago. Mike Boyd (7.9 ppg) is back at the point for the Mountain Lions after leading the team with 116 assists last year. Coach Kent McBride also welcomed back Damien Tunstalle (5.6 ppg), who shot nearly 50% from the floor, but will rely heavily on several new faces with just five upperclassmen on the roster.

Seton Hill’s backcourt tandem of David Windsor and Oliver McGlade should see their roles increase this season. Part-time starters for head coach Tony Morocco a season ago, McGlade (3.6 ppg) averaged more than 16 minutes a night while dishing out 44 assists and shooting 43.5% from behind the 3-point arc. Windsor (3.9 ppg) saw time in 26 games, averaging nearly 20 minutes a night while shooting 44% from the floor.

Glenville State head coach Stephen Dye has an abundance of weapons that he can use. Kevin Gray (16.6 ppg) and WVIAC all-freshman team standout Jamel Morris (14.7) lead the way for the Pioneers. Versatile student-athlete Andy Dollman (8.9 ppg) will also solidify the backcourt.

Davis & Elkins head coach Bruce Martin will rely on a trio of seniors to move the Senators up the WVIAC ranks. D’Quan Lynch (12.6 ppg) is the top returning scorer while Shane Brown and Paolo Ivis were key contributors a year ago, combining for nearly 10 points and 5 rebounds a game.

Bluefield State boasts returners Vincent Rogers and Johnny Uhewu. Rogers played in 21 games while netting 14 points a night. He also grabbed 5.6 rebounds a contest. Uhegwu started 15 games and connected on 9.6 points a game.

Ohio Valley head coach Mike Snell is counting on returning lettermen Osvaldas Gaizauskas and Mustafa Helal. Gaizauskas saw time in 12 games, starting four while averaging 4.3 points. Helal (2.6 ppg) canned 44% of his shots from the floor a season ago.

2012-13 WVIAC Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll

Rank	School (first-place votes)	Total Points
1.	West Liberty (14)	224
2.	Charleston	201
3.	Fairmont State (1)	191
4.	West Virginia State	156
5.	Alderson-Broaddus	146
6.	Shepherd	142
7.	Wheeling Jesuit	140
8.	Pitt-Johnstown	128
9.	West Virginia Wesleyan	120
10.	Concord	105
11.	Seton Hill	69
12.	Glenville State	68
13.	Davis & Elkins	45
14.	Bluefield State	38
15.	Ohio Valley	27

1. West Liberty (14)   =    224
2. Charleston    =    201
3. Fairmont State (1)   =    191
4. West Virginia State   =    156
5. Alderson-Broaddus   =    146
6. Shepherd   =    142
7. Wheeling Jesuit   =    140
8. Pitt-Johnstown   =    128
9. West Virginia Wesleyan   =    120
10. Concord   =    105
11. Seton Hill   =    69
12. Glenville State   =    68
13. Davis & Elkins   =    45
14. Bluefield State   =    38
15. Ohio Valley   =    27

GSC Women’s Cross Country Team Picked 12th in 2012 WVIAC Preseason Poll

The Seton Hill women’s cross country team has been selected to win the 2012 WVIAC Championship, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

The Griffins captured the 2011 title with 55 points at the conference meet. SHU received nine first-place votes en route to 165 total points in the preseason rankings. Wheeling Jesuit picked up four first-place nods and garnered 158 total points for second in the poll.

West Virginia Wesleyan has been selected third with 137 points. The Bobcats racked up one second-place vote and 10 third-place nods. Concord was a solid fourth with 126 points. The Mountain Lions were third on one ballot and fourth on nine others.

Alderson-Broaddus and Charleston tied for fifth as each received 103 points. The Battlers picked up five fourth-place votes while the Golden Eagles had a second-place and a fourth-place tally.

West Liberty racked up 100 points for seventh place. The Hilltoppers received two fourth-place nods. Fairmont State was eighth with 71 points while Davis & Elkins was ninth with 66 points.

Ohio Valley and Pitt-Johnstown tied for 10th after receiving 51 points in the poll. Glenville State (36 points) and Bluefield State (16 points) rounded out the field.

Seton Hill returns four of its top five runners and five out of the top seven this season. Jeannie Bujdos was the 2011 WVIAC Freshman of the Year. Mary Janak and Leah Scott each earned all-conference honors a year ago. With the talent returning from an experienced squad, the Griffins are looking to win another WVIAC Championship.

Wheeling Jesuit has Megan Truelove and Jennifer McFarland on its team. Truelove is a three-time all-WVIAC performer while McFarland is a two-time all-league honoree. The duo will push the rest of the squad for a league title after finishing just three points shy of a championship in 2011.

West Virginia Wesleyan will rely on sophomore Erica Walker to push the squad. Walker registered an eight-place finish at the WVIAC Championship in 2011. The team has a significant amount of returners that competed well at the league meet. The Bobcats will look to challenge for a WVIAC Title.

Concord returns a couple of tremendous runners. Chelsea Callaway has been in the top 10 of the WVIAC Championships the last three seasons, finishing ninth a year ago. Rachel Williams was 13th last season at the conference meet. Both will help the Mountain Lions push for a top-three finish.

Alderson-Broaddus boasts senior Aly Carpenter, who had a solid 2011 WVIAC Championship. Carpenter, along with rookie Jenny Brewer, will help the Battlers vie for a spot among the top few schools in the league.

Charleston returns Debbie Amos and Jenna Matso. Amos will vie for a WVIAC Championship as she finished third at the league meet in 2011. Matso will also look to earn all-WVIAC accolades for the Golden Eagles.

West Liberty returns an abundance of talent. Leading the way for the Hilltoppers is senior Sherry Borsos and sophomore Chelsea East. The duo finished 24th (East) and 25th (Borsos), respectively, at the conference meet a season ago.

Fairmont State’s Laura Horning will help pace the Falcons this season. A senior, Horning registered a 34th-place finish at the conference meet in 2011. She and the rest of the squad will vie for a spot in the upper half of the league standings.

Davis & Elkins has sophomores Ellen Cantaral and Sydney Mucha. Cantaral narrowly missed earning all-WVIAC honors after taking 21st at the league meet. Mucha was not far behind, finishing 30th. The pair will help push the rest of the squad.

Ohio Valley boasts India Bryant and Tara Carlsen on its 2012 squad. As a sophomore, Bryant earned all-WVIAC honors by finishing 19th at the league meet. Carlsen had a solid conference championship as a freshman.

Pitt-Johnstown’s experienced squad is led by Christy Monnie and Sasha Peterman. The sophomores each performed well at the 2011 conference meet. The pair will help a young squad vie for a spot in the upper half of the league.

Glenville State has Nicole Himes and Danielle Perkins on its 2012 roster. Both are seniors that will lead the upperclassmen-heavy Pioneers this season. With its depth and experience, GSC will look to improve upon its 2011 results.

Bluefield State’s Patricia Galligher leads the way for the team. Galligher is a junior on the young squad. She, along with the rest of the Lady Blues, will be looking to improve from last year’s finish at the 2011 conference meet.

Place	Team (first-place votes)	Total Points
1	Seton Hill (9)	165
2	Wheeling Jesuit (4)	158
3	West Virginia Wesleyan	137
4	Concord	126
5t.	Alderson-Broaddus	103
5t.	Charleston	103
7	West Liberty	100
8	Fairmont State	71
9	Davis & Elkins	66
10t.	Ohio Valley	51
10t.	Pitt-Johnstown	51
12	Glenville State	36
13	Bluefield State	16

GSC Picked 14th in WVIAC Volleyball Coaches’ Preseason Poll

Wheeling Jesuit, which has won the last three regular season championships and four WVIAC Volleyball Tournaments, is picked to win the 2012 league title as voted on by the conference coaches.

The Cardinals registered 224 total points on 13 first-place nods and one second-place ballot. Alderson-Broaddus was selected second with 192 total points. The Battlers registered second-place tallies on eight ballots. Seton Hill rounded out the top three after earning 178 points. The Griffins were chosen second on four ballots and third on four more.

Shepherd is fourth in the poll after totaling 172 points. The Rams picked up one first-place vote and two third-place nods. West Virginia Wesleyan held down the fifth position with 163 points. The Bobcats had two third-place and three fourth-place votes.

Fairmont State earned 154 points, edging Charleston which tallied 153. The Falcons, selected sixth, garnered two third-place votes. The Golden Eagles were predicted to finish second on two ballots and third on another.

West Virginia State was chosen eighth in the poll, just two points ahead of Pitt-Johnstown. The Yellow Jackets were picked in the top five by four coaches while the Lady Cats were in the top five on two ballots.

Concord rounds out the top 10 after earning 88 total points. Davis & Elkins was predicted to finish 11th in the poll after picking up 76 points. The Hilltoppers of West Liberty were right behind them with 74 points.

Ohio Valley garnered 49 points while Glenville State had 38. Bluefield State completed the preseason poll with 15 total points.

Four-time defending WVIAC Tournament Champion Wheeling Jesuit boasts another strong team heading into the 2012 campaign. Jenna Pew and Allissa Ware each earned All-America accolades. Pew led the league in hitting percentage while Ware was third. Ware was also second in the WVIAC in kills and Pew eighth. Pew also blocked 1.13 attempts per set. The pair looks to lead the Cardinals to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight once again.

2011 WVIAC Tournament runner-up Alderson-Broaddus has another squad that will challenge for the WVIAC Championship. The Battlers return Jillian Brown, who led the conference in aces a season ago. Ashley MacDonald will also play a huge role in A-B’s success. She posted a team-best 2.26 kills per set in 2011.

Seton Hill’s standouts include Christina Donahoe and Corrine Gahagen. Donahoe was solid in 2011 along the back line and at the net. She posted 125 digs and 28 blocks. Gahagen registered a team-best 2.67 kills per set to go along with 30 aces and 135 total blocks. She was third in the WVIAC in blocks per set (1.02).

Shepherd returns a tremendous pair in Meg Kenny and Melani Lewis. Kenney slammed home 2.46 kills per set in 2011 while chipping in 79 total blocks. Her .308 attack percentage was fifth in the league. Lewis was great at the net, tallying 97 total blocks in addition to 1.92 kills a set.

WV Wesleyan’s team boasts standouts Renata Comparini and Casey Pattyn. Comparini was fourth in the WVIAC with 4.65 digs per set. Pattyn dished out 1,018 assists on the season. Her 9.25 assists per set were second in the league.

Fairmont State’s squad has no seniors on the roster. The Falcons return an abundance of playmakers. Bri Swann led the WVIAC with 3.95 kills a set last year. Amber Wilson’s .287 attack percentagewas ninth best in the league while Leslie Giordon had a solid all-around campaign.

Charleston features a pair that will help guide the Golden Eagles. Ashley Douglas was fourth in the WVIAC with .37 aces per set last year. Defensively, she posted 3.94 digs per set. Brenna Youlton’s role will increase this year. She posted 1.78 kills per set and registered 84 total blocks in 2011.

WV State returns its top two hitters in Alyssa Graboski and first-team all-conference selection Cameron Lewis. Graboski hammered home 2.99 kills per set and averaged .88 blocks per game. Lewis totaled 2.83 kills per set and had 74 total blocks on the year.

Pitt-Johnstown sports many players with an abundance of experience on the squad. Leading the way is Nikki Oakes and Tayler Vebares. Oakes led the Lady Cats with 418 assists and 44 aces in 2011. Vebares hammered home 1.74 kills per set. She was also strong defensively, registering 53 total blocks.

Concord’s standouts include Sarah Jones and Amanda Walker. Jones posted a team-best 244 kills on the season and was third on the squad with 18 aces. She also posted a team-best 119 total blocks on the year. Walker led the squad with 203 digs on the year.

Davis & Elkins has Meaghan Emery and Heather Zapf in the mix this season. Emery tallied 488 digs on the year to go along with 28 aces. Zapf led the squad with 2.63 kills per set. She also gave opponents fits at the net, totaling 50 blocks.

West Liberty features Anne Edwards and Rachel Zeigler. Edwards was 10th in the WVIAC with a .280 attack percentage a season ago. She also contributed .66 blocks per set. Zeigler, who earned all-freshman team honors in 2010, notched 1.71 kills per set last year.

Ohio Valley returns a pair that could help the squad make the WVIAC Tournament. Taylor Buchtmann was spectacular defensively, registering 4.40 digs per set (458 on the season). Jessica Simpson should continue to build off her solid play from a season ago. In 2011 she had 308 assists, 22 aces and 52 blocks.

Glenville State returns senior Rikki Butler and junior Heather Stout . In 2011, Stout garnered 1.49 kills per set, had 16 aces and 57 blocks. In addition to Stout’s play, transfer Natalie Baumgartner will have a big role in the team’s success.

Bluefield State returns Courtney Bowlus. She played in 63 sets a season ago and garnered a lot of experience in 2011. Bowlus was solid on the defensive end, posting 1.27 digs per set for the Lady Blues.

Place   Team (First-place votes)
1.        Wheeling Jesuit (14)
2.        Alderson-Broaddus
3.        Seton Hill
4.        Shepherd (1)
5.        West Virginia Wesleyan
6.        Fairmont State
7.        Charleston
8.        West Virginia State
9.        Pitt-Johnstown
10.      Concord
11.      Davis & Elkins
12.      West Liberty
13.      Ohio Valley
14.      Glenville State
15.      Bluefield State

GSC Men’s Cross Country Team Picked 7th in 2012 WVIAC Preseason Poll

The Seton Hill men’s cross country team has been selected as the 2012 favorite to win the WVIAC Championship, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

The Griffins registered six first-place votes en route to 115 total points in the preseason poll. Wheeling Jesuit garnered four first-place nods for 110 points and second place.

Concord and West Virginia Wesleyan tied for third in the rankings with 94 points. The Mountain Lions claimed one first-place vote while the Bobcats totaled two second-place votes.

Alderson-Broaddus recorded 77 points for fifth place. The Battlers had one third-place nod. Ohio Valley’s 55 points were good enough for sixth place. The Fighting Scots had one fourth-place vote. Glenville State picked up 49 points in the poll for seventh.

West Liberty totaled 43 points for eighth place while Fairmont State was just behind the Hilltoppers with 40 points. Davis & Elkins had 38 total points while Bluefield State rounded out the poll (11 points).

Seton Hill brings back its entire top five that captured the 2011 WVIAC Championship. The Griffins’ top returner from the WVIAC Championship is Dom Camasso, who placed fourth. Jon Bogert and Justin Weaver were sixth and seventh, respectively.

Wheeling Jesuit boasts returners Stewart Jones and Luke Holubeck. Jones won the 2011 individual title and was the Athlete of the Year. He also earned All-America honors during the spring track season. Holubeck is a two-time all-WVIAC competitor.

Concord has two former all-WVIAC competitors leading the charge. Robby Peters, who redshirted in 2011, finished in the top five in 2010 at the WVIAC Championship. Craig Pritt, who finished 11th at the conference meet, will once again be looking to earn all-league honors.

West Virginia Wesleyan returns first-team all-conference performer Skyler McCoy. A season ago, the student-athlete earned a top-five finish at the WVIAC Championship. With his help, the Bobcats will be a top contender.

Alderson-Broaddus has John Mundey and Connor Horvath on its squad. Mundey narrowly missed earning all-conference honors in 2011. Horvath, an incoming freshman, will also push the team and will compete for top honors.

Ohio Valley returns Mike Cornell and Ben Murphy to its squad. A season ago, Murphy finished 22nd at the WVIAC Championship. Cornell will add quality depth to the Fighting Scots in 2012.

Glenville State boasts TJ Abel and Chris Hunter on the 2012 squad. Abel is the team’s lone senior on the squad. After the team finished sixth at the conference meet a season ago, the duo will look to push the Pioneers closer to a conference title in 2012.

West Liberty has a pair of incoming freshmen that will lead the way. Clinton Hardmen and Andrew Lowery will push the rest of the young squad in 2012. WLU has just three upperclassmen on its roster and will rely heavily on the newcomers.

Fairmont State returns all-conference performer Scott Treadway in 2012. The sophomore registered an 18th-place finish at the WVIAC Championship during his rookie campaign. He will help key the Falcons’ success this season.

Davis & Elkins has Tommy Boone and Dustin Mathers returning to the line-up. Boone finished the conference championship in 25th place a season ago. Mathers was not too far behind Boone and the duo should provide plenty of depth for the Senators.

Bluefield State boasts Kharles Mwalo as its leading returner. Mwalo had a solid 2011 campaign and will give the Big Blues a solid front runner on the team.

Place	Team (First-place votes)	Total Points
1	Seton Hill (6)	115
2	Wheeling Jesuit (4)	110
3t	Concord (1)	94
3t	West Virginia Wesleyan	94
5	Alderson-Broaddus	77
6	Ohio Valley	55
7	Glenville State	49
8	West Liberty	43
9	Fairmont State	40
10	Davis & Elkins	38
11	Bluefield State	11

Princeton Review: WVU Top for Partying

West Virginia University is the top party school in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.

The publication, known for ranking the best colleges and universities in the country, ranked WVU number one in the “party school” and “lots of beer” rankings.

Other ranking for WVU:

•  3rd in “students study the least”

•  8th in “lots of hard liquor”

•  12th in “refer madness”

The rankings come only two weeks after Newsweek Magazine named WVU the “rowdiest school in the nation”.

WVU officials issued a statement criticizing the rankings.

“The schools on this list are mostly large, public universities with strong academic and research profiles, as well as highly successful athletic programs,“ the statement reads. “But in the big picture, clearly this list has no real credibility.

“As always, we focus on celebrating and supporting WVU’s long history of academic achievements. Our students, faculty, alumni, parents and friends have made it clear that is their focus as well.“

The rankings also indicate WVU:

has loyal fans and top-notch facilities

•  3rd in “athletic facilities”

•  8th in “students pack the stadiums”

WVU’s libraries were also ranked 15th best in the country.

GSC Honored by The Inter-Mountain Readers’ Poll

Glenville State College has won both the ‘Best College’ and ‘Best Employer’ categories in The Inter-Mountain newspaper’s 2012 ‘Best of the Region’ readers’ poll.

In addition, Emil Suder, GSC Assistant Coordinator of Correctional Education & Off-Campus Programming, has been selected as ‘The Best Teacher’ and was also named ‘Best Volunteer’ by the poll.

Suder is a repeat winner of the poll having taken the same honors for three consecutive years.

“I am very appreciative of this honor,“ said Suder. “I love working with people and love teaching.“

Suder is a native of Elkins. He earned an Associate Degree in Business from Davis & Elkins College in 2005 and a Bachelor of Arts in History in 2006. He received a Master in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and has completed post-graduate work. He coordinates and teaches classes at the Federal Correctional Institution-Gilmer as well as at GSC’s off-campus locations. Suder spends many hours in volunteer community service through his association with the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows. Currently, he is the Grand Master, the highest officer at the state level, and is the youngest person to hold that title.

Glenville State College was also named ‘Best College or University’ in The Inter-Mountain’s reader poll in 2010.

The Inter-Mountain, which covers several West Virginia counties including Randolph, Barbour, Upshur, Pocahontas, Tucker, and Pendleton, has conducted the poll for the past ten years. Ballots are printed in the paper asking readers to write in their choices for the best businesses, services, and people in the region. The paper, that is published Monday through Saturday, has a circulation of about 9,500.

Visit www.theintermountain.com  to view the complete results of the Readers Poll which were published in the July 31, 2012 issue of The Inter-Mountain.

Poll Result: Gilmer County E-911 Center Poll Results

The E-911 Center, currently in Lewis County, can be brought back to Gilmer County.

Should the center be brought back to Gilmer County?

~~  Voter Comments ~~

•  why? There’s nothing here ....

•  Chapman voted it out last time.

•  We need to know the costs involved, cost to keep running, etc.

•  Should not have left county

•  But without higher taxes and county people to fill the jobs

•  Has anyone calculated if it really going to be any cheaper to operate here let alone the $700,000?

•  No taxes

•  It should NEVER have left!

•  Only if it can be proven to be less costly than it presently is.

•  Chapman killed 911 in Gilmer, gave it away!

•  Without levy

•  Let Gilmer County take care of thereself.

•  Option#2

 

The initial cost of the center can be paid for by one of the following two options:

Option #1 – Levy

• The levy would run for 4–years and fund the building and start-up costs.

• Tax rates would raise an estimated $3.84 per $1000.00 on Class II Property

• The estimated payoff would be $700,000 - $1,000,000

Option #2 – Financing

• The county would borrow an estimated $750,000 for a term of 15 years.

• The county would have the option to pay the loan off early with no penalties

• 911 fees, which citizens are currently paying on cell phones and land line phones monthly, would cover the yearly debt repayment

• No tax increases

 

 

~~  Voter Comments ~~

•  Use existing monies from phone services

•  We the people have voiced our opinion before but it did not seem to matter

•  Why spend all this in the first place?

•  This makes sense and would be the most efficient way to do this

•  911 is way MORE important than any finance deal for GSC!

•  A bond they can default on is better than paying tax

•  Option #2 - so everyone / especially those with Cell Phones will have to contribute! Far more people

•  Funding source for the Bond would ensure a more equitable contribution from all residents.

•  Option#2 We pay for 911 and that should go toward paying for the service in Gilmer county.

•  Use an existing building, there are lots of empty ones in Glenville

•  Pay enough taxes already

•  Why change it

* GFP: Results show ONLY the votes casted in Gilmer County

West Virginia Conference 2012 Preseason Football Poll

1.  Shepherd University (6) 79

2.  Concord University (3) 71

3.  West Virginia Wesleyan College 55

4.  Charleston University50

5.  Fairmont State University 46

6.  Glenville State College 45

7.  West Liberty College 31

8.  Seton Hill University 16

9.  West Virginia State University 15

The Shepherd University Rams received six of nine first-place votes to finish first in the preseason poll.

Their 79 points rated ahead of defending WVC champion Concord, which collected the other three first-place votes and totaled 71 points.

The Rams lost to both Concord and West Virginia Wesleyan on the road last season, falling to the Mountain Lions 28-14 and the Bobcats 45-44 in overtime.

Especially significant is that the Rams led the nation in rushing defense and total defense a season ago.

West Virginia Wesleyan was chosen third with 55 points, Charleston next with 50 points.

They were followed, in order, by Fairmont, State and Glenville State, separated by a single point, West Liberty, Seton Hill and West Virginia State.

Matt Porter will coach Glenville’s defensive line and coordinate video as he finishes his degree.

Porter was an all-conference player for the Pioneers, who are holding an open competition once camp begins, particularly because they anticipate the arrival of a handful of Division I transfers.

Most Americans Say Bush to Blame for Weak U.S. Economy, Poll Finds

About two-thirds of Americans believe Republican former U.S. President George W. Bush is responsible for the nation’s struggling economy, with a smaller%age blaming Democratic President Barack Obama, a Gallup poll showed on Thursday.

About 68% of the more than 1,000 adults surveyed nationwide said Bush, who left office in January 2009, deserves a “moderate amount” or a “great deal” of the blame for the U.S. economic woes compared to 52% who pointed to his successor Obama, the poll found.

The results were released as Obama prepared to give a major economic speech later on Thursday as part of his campaign to win re-election on November 6. He is seeking to convince voters that his economic remedies are working and that his Republican rival Mitt Romney’s policies would trigger an economic crisis.

Poll respondents who identified themselves as Republicans were split, with 49% saying Bush deserved a moderate amount or great deal of the blame while 51% said Bush deserved not much of the blame or none at all. They expressed even more blame for Obama, however, with 83% holding him largely responsible for the state of the economy, the poll found.

Among Democrats, 90% blamed Bush for the weak economy and only 19% said Obama should carry much of the blame, according to the poll, conducted by telephone June 7 to 10.

“Republicans, in short, are significantly more willing to blame their most recent Republican president than are Democrats willing to blame Obama,“ Gallup said.

Independent voters, who could play a critical role in the November election, were more likely to blame Bush (67%) than Obama (51%). Fewer independents blamed Obama than Gallup’s last results in September, when 60% pointed to him, the poll found.

Many Americans are still struggling to recover financially from the nation’s deepest recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and Obama is trying to regroup after recent setbacks, including an anemic May jobs report.

“Americans continue to place more blame for the nation’s economic problems on George W. Bush than on Barack Obama, even though Bush left office more than three years ago,“ Gallup said. “... This suggests that Obama’s argument that he is on the right track and needs more time to turn the economy around could fall on receptive ears, particularly those of independents.“

Bush, who served two four-year terms as president, has been unable to shake the blame since Gallup began tracking the economic finger-pointing in 2009, and has seen about 70% of those polled holding him responsible since mid-2010.

Critics say Bush’s tax cuts combined with increased spending to fight two wars, among other costs, helped plunge the nation into a deep economic crisis.

The poll had a maximum margin of sampling error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points.

OddlyEnough™: More Americans Freezing than Sleeping on Assets

Forget the mattress, a quarter of Americans who keep money in their homes are hiding it in their freezers, according to a new survey.

The Marist poll showed that 27% of Americans preferred to literally freeze their assets, compared to 11% who chose to sleep on their savings.

“One in ten – 10%—buries their dough in the cookie jar while 9% leave their loot in some other household location,“ Marist said in a statement.

19% “sock” their cash away and 17% said there was no good location in the home to safely hide their saving.

But in every region of the country and among both sexes and all age groups the freezer was the top hiding place.

Marist questioned 1,080 adults across the country in the telephone poll.

Poll: WV Ranks 49th

Residents of West Virginia have a harder time moving up the economic ladder than residents of 48 other states, a new study finds.

However, Keith Burdette, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce, said the New Opportunity Index and other polls are not necessarily indicative of where the state is headed.

“There are tons and tons of these studies,“ Burdette said. “We look at lists, but I think there is way too much emphasis placed on them unless you understand the perspective of the group doing the analysis.“

The index was released November 28, 2011 and ranks states based on economy, education and civic life.

According to a news release, the study “pulls together more than a dozen data points to rank every state by awarding a first of its kind opportunity score.“ The opportunity score for West Virginia is 31.5.

The national average score is 58.4.

Only Mississippi scored lower, coming in at 29.8.

Burdette said one reason West Virginia scored so low compared to other states could be the survey itself. He said the questions the survey asked are geared toward more urban populations.

For example, the survey wanted to know how many banks per 1,000 people and the percentage of ZIP codes with at least one grocery store. In a small rural state, Burdette said those numbers would be low when compared to larger areas.

“It’s clearly a very stilted survey toward more urban areas of the country,“ he said. “All of those (questions) have a natural tendency to stilt toward urban rather than rural communities. There are things to be learned from every study. I’m not being critical. This particular study is so heavily stilted toward urban areas that I take it with a grain of salt.“

However, Burdette went on to say that West Virginia does fare well in some areas the survey did not detail, such as the percentage of residents who own their homes.

“It’s all about the questions you ask,“ he said.

Economy

One aspect that lowered West Virginia’s scores, according to the release, was the state’s high poverty rate. According to the survey, the poverty rate in West Virginia is 17.6%, more than 4% higher than the national average of 13.47%. The survey also found that the state has the second-lowest median income per capita in the nation. Cal Kent, vice president of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Marshall University, said an unattractive labor force could bear the blame for some of these issues.

“What the poll clearly shows is that the biggest problem the state has right now is an unattractive labor force in terms of educational attainment,“ Kent said. “As a result of that, we have a difficulty in supplying the highly skilled, well-trained labor that many of the potential firms are looking for. If I were to rate our No. 1 problem in the state, it is simply that we do not have the work force that is sufficiently trained or ready for the types of jobs created by high-tech firms that may be interested in moving here.“

Burdette’s department is responsible for attracting business and industry to the state. He said it is easy to combat polls that shed the state’s economic health in a negative light.

“We talk about the positives of West Virginia,“ he said.

For example, the state has a balanced budget and a surplus, an increased bond rating and low energy costs, Burdette said. Both Kent and Burdette said Marcellus shale development could have a positive impact on the state’s economy.

“Right now, West Virginia is experiencing a boom related to both coal and natural gas,“ Kent said. “Those booms are likely, particularly the gas boom, to continue. As far as Marcellus shale gas is concerned, that will actually accelerate. That will help in terms of generating state tax resources to deal with some of these problems.“

Despite the state government’s good fiscal health, the aging population does strain those resources, Kent said.

“We have an older population, which is always a high-cost situation,“ Kent said. “That puts a lot of pressure on the state’s finances to provide services that an older population demands, particularly medical services.“

So how can the state’s economy improve? Kent said becoming more business friendly is one way to attract economy-boosting industry.

“The biggest thing the state has to do is be business friendly,“ Kent said. “By that I mean to be able to have an environment in which firms are going to want to come here and locate. We have an advantage of being a very desirable in terms of natural resources. But right now the state has to deal with is the education and training of the current work force. That is the biggest single thing.“

Education

The Opportunity Index showed mixed scores when it comes to West Virginia’s education system. For example, the state’s on-time high school graduation is higher than the national average, and the preschool enrollment figures are also high, but the number of residents who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher is well below the national average. Pat Kusimo, president of the Education Alliance, said the state has seen higher ACT and SAT scores and increased Advanced Placement enrollment, but “nothing significant on any front.“

“I think the challenge that is before all of West Virginia is how do we collectively as a state think of education?“ she said.

The one area where West Virginia does well is getting students to graduate from high school on time. According to the survey, 78% of high school students graduate in four years, besting the national average of 74%. But it seems very few go on to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree. Only 17% of West Virginians hold a four-year degree or higher, much lower than the national average of 27%.

Kusimo said 55 to 57% of West Virginia high school graduates go on to college, but many of them don’t make it past their freshman year.

“We’re sending a lot of kids to school who don’t have the skills, for whatever reason, to complete a two-year degree or four-year degree,“ she said.

But that’s not to say that West Virginia’s colleges aren’t seeing an increase in enrollment. According to the Higher Education Policy Commission, total headcount enrollment for 2011 is 94,662, down 0.5% from fall 2010, but up nearly 9% over fall 2007 totals. The number of non-traditional students older than 25 is at an all-time high, according to the commission. Glenville State College has more than doubled its adult student population over the last five years.

Burdette pointed out that West Virginia’s workforce is shrinking, but that is partly because adults are deciding to continue their educations. He said he makes that a point when he meets with companies who want to relocate here.

“West Virginia has the highest increase of students going to community colleges in the country, a 122% increase,“ Burdette said.

Civic Life

Stephanie Yu, executive director of Volunteer West Virginia, agrees that the numbers in the study may not be exactly right. Yu, who hasn’t been in West Virginia long, said she thinks volunteerism is underrepresented in the Opportunity Index study.

“One thing I notice with these studies is they look at formal volunteerism,“ Yu said. “In smaller communities, it tends to be more informal.“

So informal, in fact, that many West Virginians don’t realize they are volunteering. Volunteer West Virginia provides a way through which people can track their community service hours, but Yu said a lot of the state’s residents don’t take advantage of that.

“It’s like pulling teeth to get people to track their hours,“ Yu said.

According to the Opportunity Index, volunteerism in West Virginia is on par with the national average. However, Yu said the 23.62% of West Virginians who volunteer should increase.

“In terms of our matching database, the numbers are constantly going up,“ Yu said. “More and more people register, and more and more matches are being made.“

However, not all West Virginians are taking advantage of the volunteer database, which can match users to appropriate groups or organizations based on individual interests. Yu said many of the state’s baby boomers either aren’t aware of the site or simply aren’t using it, whereas high school and college students use the site more frequently. Most volunteering takes place in schools or churches.

“I would say the church piece is one that really tends to get underrepresented,“ Yu said. “A lot of people like to volunteer in the schools. One of the strongest things you see in West Virginia is people who volunteer in emergency situations.“

Yu cited the state’s rural and rugged terrain for reasons why people volunteer. However, the fact that West Virginia is not an urban center hurt the state’s score in the civic life portion of the Opportunity Index, Burdette said. The survey asked for the percentage of ZIP codes with at least one supermarket or grocery store and the rural setting could be the reason why West Virginia is nearly 23 points behind the national average.

However, Kanawha and Cabell counties are well above the national and state averages on many of these benchmarks. For example, in both counties, more than 60% of ZIP codes have more than one grocery store. The economic and education scores are also higher in these areas.

“The urban areas of the state fare very well,“ Burdette said. “In some cases, they fared better than the national average.“

What Does It Mean?

Although West Virginia ranked low on the Opportunity Index, it doesn’t indicate where we are headed, Kent said. This study and others like it merely offer a snapshot of where things stand now.

“We have to recognize that these don’t tell you the direction the state is heading,“ he said. “They give you a snapshot of the state right now. It does not tell you anything about if the state is improving or going in the wrong direction.“

But Kent said there are things to be learned from these studies if West Virginia wants to improve. He said the state needs to address issues such a tort reform and a check on business taxes in addition to keeping well-educated college graduates here. But, he pointed out, those graduates won’t stay if there are no jobs. Overall, Kent said, the state is on a positive trend.

“If you look down the road, there are some positive signs for the state, but it’s not going to happen overnight,“ he said.

“We can be our own worst enemies by assuming everything is dark,“ Burdette said. “But the fact is, if we look a little closer, there are a lot of things to be proud of.“

~~  by Whitney Burdette – The State Journal  ~~

Poll Result: Iraq

~~  Comments ~~

•  If we’re there 100 years they’ll fall into chaos when we leave.

•  We’re returning an area to the influence of groups hostile to this country.

•  Absolutely. Chaos will follow because most of the people there are ignorant and uncivilized.

•  But it is not our problems we have given them their chance let them take it or lose it.

•  But we can’t take care of all the world’s problems any longer!

•  Not our battle, not our country, we laid everything out for them, let them learn now.

•  It will return to previous rule

•  You may well notice chaos and human rights violations go hand in hand in most Muslim societies.

•  Maybe. That whole area is unstable but we need to bring our troops home!

•  But that’s not our fault!

Poll Result: Halloween

~~  Comments ~~

•  I enjoy seeing the kids costumes and watching how much they enjoy getting candy. They are precious.

•  Taking my kids trick or treating.

•  Don’t celebrate it at all!

•  I do not or never did celebrate Halloween.

•  Handing out sweet treats along with invitations to come worship with us (Camden Flats Baptist Church).

Poll Result: U-PAK

~~  Comments ~~

•  We need the U-PAK store!!!!!!!!!!!!!

•  You can drive and buy name brands at cheaper price and still save gas price added.

•  Foodland generic brands are higher than name brands elsewhere.

•  The big problem is super high prices at Foodland

•  Dollar General

•  You think Foodland is high now wait until U-Pak is closed. Their prices will go up even more!

•  Went to Kroger’s in Gassaway and saved 130.00 last night with plus card and coupons. had 2 carts.

•  If U-Pak has to close hopefully we could get a Krogers or some other grocery store in its place

•  Why close u-pak the people loves shopping there and the price of food is better than Foodland

•  Bring in a Kroger Store or Walmart

•  One should check the receipt carefully when shopping at Foodland.

•  Outside of Glenville

•  I shopped Upak on Sun. only. Krogers and Aldi’s and Sams most of the time. Shopnsave are the highest

•  I shop Gassaway anyway

•  Or Kroger, it won’t be Go Mart

•  Bridgeport, take banking along too, GC too high, have to order, poor selection, etc

•  They can’t close U-Pack, Foodland is so expensive and I work there.

•  I can save more money EVEN with the gas prices, lets drop go mart for a week Think….

•  I avoid Food Land now because of stale dairy and produce.

•  U-Pak is the best store around

•  I will shop at Walmart and Krogers. Too high at Foodland

•  U-Pak a Gassaway is great

Poll Result: Mountaineer Football Conference

~~  Comments ~~

•  WVIAC

•  Big 10

•  Football is a program that has proved to be counterproductive and academics should be the new sport

New Numbers Show Tight Race

According to the latest poll from Public Policy Polling, released one day before the Special Gubernatorial Election in West Virginia, it is a tight race.  It shows a one point difference between Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and Republican Candidate Bill Maloney heading into Election Day.

In a phone survey over the past weekend, 47% of those questioned said they will vote for Tomblin, 46% of those questioned said they will vote for Maloney and 7% said they are undecided.

Tomblin has been able to pick up little support in recent weeks.  In the past month, “His approval rating has dropped from 50% to 44%.  His disapproval has increased from 25% to 32%.“

Maloney’s favorability rating, according to Public Policy Polling, is also 44%.

Maloney will need to draw in lots of votes from conservative Democrats to win on Tuesday and those voters have been moving in Maloney’s direction.

The polls will be open from 6:30 AM until 7:30 PM on Tuesday.

Here is the full Public Policy Polling report:

Q1 The candidates for Governor are Republican Bill Maloney and Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin. If the election was today, who would you vote for?

Bill Maloney   =  46%

Earl Ray Tomblin   =  47%

Undecided   =  7%

 

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bill Maloney?

Favorable   =  44%

Unfavorable   =  33%

Not sure   =  23%

 

Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s job performance?

Approve   =  44%

Disapprove   =  32%

Not sure   =  23%

 

Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance?

Approve   =  28%

Disapprove   =  63%

Not sure   =  9%

 

Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Joe Manchin’s job performance?

Approve   =  61%

Disapprove   =  23%

Not sure   =  15%

 

Q6 If the candidates for Senate next year were Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Bill Maloney, who would you vote for?

Joe Manchin   =  60%

Bill Maloney   =  29%

Undecided   =  11%

 

Q7 Who did you vote for President in 2008?

John McCain   =  51%

Barack Obama   =  36%

Someone else/Don’t remember   =  13%

 

Q8 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?

Very liberal   =  11%

Somewhat liberal   =  14%

Moderate   =  25%

Somewhat conservativev26%

Very conservative   =  23%

 

Q9 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.

Woman   =  52%

Man   =  48%

 

Q10 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican, press 2. If you are an independent or identify

with another party, press 3.

Democrat   =  55%

Republican   =  35%

Independent/Other   =  9%

 

Q11 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.

White   =  94%

Othe   =  6%

 

Q12 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to 45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are older than 65, press 4.

18 to 29   =  16%

30 to 45   =  18%

46 to 65   =  38%

Older than 65   =  28%

Poll Result: Federal Budget

~~  Comments ~~

•  Until we stop spending, we are headed to the crapper.

•  Both parties have and are destroying our country together!

•  How about calling for a revenue increase by closing tax loopholes.

•  It’s a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

•  Manage OUR money in Wash. as we have to at home.

•  Need cuts, closing tax loop holes, and stop entitlement abuse.

Poll Result - County-Wide Meeting

~~  Comments ~~

•  What the college wants.. the collage gets, and ALL of Gilmer County pays the price.

•  Consolidation and new schools are necessary evils we have to face.

•  Why would anyone want to get involved in the snake pit called the Gilmer County School System.

•  The Feudal lords will punish all who defy their totalitarian rule! Too risky!

•  The power fight between mis-orientated local politics and the states attempt to clean up is a mess.

•  The elite will bring in their henchmen to take names and then burn down our houses like they do ...

•  Just give us credit, we said we do it and we did it..

•  Keep the comments coming about the -lady who started the mess so we have ammunition to use!

•  This is a great idea. Kudos to the organizers.

•  Someone from “other side” there. Retaliation and threats begins then.

•  We got what we wanted and everything is wonderful now. Why change?

•  Yes—and vote to replace the principal and Blankenship!

Poll Result: WV Special Gubernatorial Election

~~  Comments ~~

•  We know who Gilmer is for whoever can BUY the GILMER COURT HOUSE

•  Earl Ray Tomblin needs to demand that Glenville State College brings real economic development not BS

•  Go Bob Henry!

•  Tomblin had opportunities to change things when he was a senator. Nothing happened.

•  BHB is a bit different than the others—-not the usual bought and paid politician!

•  WV ranks near or at last place for indicators of well-being let’s change!

•  Not much of a choice.

Poll Result: Glenville - Hays City Intersection

~~  Comments ~~

•  Mr. Hooten with the WV Dept. of Highways is looking into this problem again.

•  Glenville has done it again, they make the laws the way they see fit, not by regulations.

•  I just saw Carson in Buckhannon. Him directing traffic would make more sense than that yield sign!

•  Traffic light installed and that missed up yield sign REMOVED.

•  We done better when there wasn’t one there.

•  A traffic light would make things much worse.

•  Anything would help.

•  The yield sign just makes no sense.

•  A part time traffic light…blinking during off hours, fully functional during school hours

•  And a traffic light should be installed ASAP with another at the Rt.5 and Mineral Rd. Intersection.

•  Put a camera on the traffic light to catch violators.

•  Dumbest location for a sign in the state.

•  If a member of the power structure’s family has an accident there see how fast we get a light.

•  This sign has caused considerable confusion.

•  Round about.

•  The yield sign is in opposition to rules of the road and it is therefore confusing and dangerous.

•  No one killed yet, wait.

•  Get rid of the confusing yield. 90% of the time, a light would cause more backups than the stop.

•  What about the intersection of Mineral Road and 33/119?

•  Need left turn lane coming from Weston, get rid of yield sign turning right towards Hays City.

•  None of the above. Moving Stop Sign to 33W traffic would solve the problem for now.

•  I was stopped at the yield sign when the truck behind me went around me,  just in front of the vehicle.

•  REMOVE YIELD SIGN or install traffic light.

•  If a traffic light can’t be installed, at least remove that Yield Sign that no pays any attention to.

Poll Result: Glenville Park Flag Pole

~~  Comments ~~

•  The park needs more benches to sit and enjoy.

•  It is a beautiful park. A good place to sit and watch the people go by and talk to God. Thank you.

•  And the historic Glenville Marker on N. Lewis should also be moved there.

•  Who is going to take responsibility for raising and lowering it each day?

•  But, what flag would we fly, the third world country of Glenville, flag?

•  It would be a fitting tribute to all Americans; especially our Veterans!

•  Who would be responsible for it?

•  The park already has maintenance issues. Why add a flag with more requirements.

•  But the problem is: all GSC does is decrease the tax base and take business away from little guys.

•  Maybe a nucleus for restoration of Main Street? With GSC’s help main st. could become a show piece.

•  We, as Americans need to get back to the basics of life, family, God and love for our fellow man.

•  Let’s not spoil it.

•  Grants should be spent on what the grants required and not used on other projects illegally.

•  One on the hill is not always properly displayed, would like to see a clock.

•  Sure. Why not.

•  And a bathroom!

•  It’s been reported FRN has $$$ for a flagpole.

•  YES that would be great.!!!

•  We as Americans should be proud to fly the American flag and our State flag. why not?

•  The city will have its hands full with maintenance. Don’t add a flag and flag protocols.

•  Yes, but only if the flag is properly maintained and displayed. Such as a light at night, etc.

Poll Result: GSC Administration and Board of Governors

~~  Comments ~~

•  Misconduct going on in the Administration.

•  When allowed to function when terms have expired, it is just plain wrong.

•  Administration at GSC has poor leadership. Everything is a party for Dr. Barr and some coaches.

•  The fact that all their terms were expired last year speaks volumes!

•  Academics seems to have taken a back seat to athletics.

•  a complete shakeup is needed

•  It is not the college; it is the personal greed of few and their personal gains.

•  Problem is with higher up admins, faculty and staff are fine.

•  college has decrease the tax base in community and does the same thing local businesses do!

•  Imagine if all the taxpayers money was used the right ways how much better would be.

•  We have no problem with college, the problem is administrators.

•  The college has done more for this community than this site or many others want to admit.

•  The coverups for all the rapes at GSC, burglaries, just because they are sports and Security people.

•  Where the college has a BOG member as the head coach of golf team.

•  GSC BOG does not address the parking issue.

•  Real faculty is put last and too many under qualified hiring practices.

•  Place to give jobs to mob gang.

•  GSC has become a channel for crooks to drain all the money they can.

•  Problem is: too much secrecy and lack of communication.

•  Emphasis on only few sports.

•  GSC is not what is used to be with present emphasis on sports, bricks and mortar not academics.

•  A+ as the “GSC Cover-up Gang” & getting crooks on campus!

GSC Instructor Wins Newspaper Poll, Again

Emil Suder, Glenville State College Adjunct Professor of Business has been selected as ‘The Best Teacher of the Region’ in the annual Best of the Region Readers Poll by the Inter-Mountain newspaper of Elkins, West Virginia. Suder is a repeat winner of the poll having taken the top honor in 2010.

In addition, Suder was also named the ‘Best Volunteer of the Region’ by the poll, an honor that he also received in 2010.

“It is very pleasing to win these awards for the second year in a row. It is nice to know that my work as a teacher and as a community volunteer is appreciated and recognized by others,“ said Suder.

The Inter-Mountain has conducted the poll for the past nine years. Ballots are printed in the paper asking readers to write in their choices for the best businesses, services, and people in the region. The paper, that is published Monday through Saturday, has a circulation of about 9,500.

Suder teaches GSC business classes at the Federal Corrections Institution in Gilmer County. Prison inmates can take courses offered from GSC and earn an Associate Degree in Business.

“Teaching at the prison is a unique experience. Most of the students there have a lack of knowledge of and access to technology that makes teaching challenging. It is very rewarding to know that I can help these prisoners improve themselves and their prospects for a better life when they are released,“ he said.

Although he thoroughly enjoys teaching, Suder would like to someday be a dean of a college or university.

Suder is a native of Elkins. He earned an Associate Degree in Business from Davis & Elkins College in 2005 and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Davis & Elkins College in 2006. He received a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and is currently working on his Ph.D. which he hopes to complete within a year.

Suder spends many hours in volunteer community service through his association with the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows.

Glenville State College was named ‘The Best College or University in the Region’ in the Inter-Mountain’s reader poll in 2010.

GSC Volleyball Picked 13th in 2011 WVIAC Preseason Poll - 2011

The Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals have been selected to win the 2011 WVIAC volleyball crown, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

WJU, which wrapped up an undefeated WVIAC season in 2010, picked up 14 of 15 first-place nods for 224 total points. The Cardinals completed the season with a 33-5 record.

The University of Charleston, which went 19-10 on the season a year ago, picked up 192 points for second place in the voting. The Golden Eagles grabbed the other first-place vote.

Alderson-Broaddus is predicted to finish third after totaling 189 points. The Battlers went 11-3 in the WVIAC in 2010 and finished in a tie for third in the regular season.

Fairmont State tallied 184 total points in the voting process for fourth place. The Fighting Falcons went 12-2 in league action a year ago.

Shepherd was chosen fifth amongst the league coaches in the preseason poll with 173 points. The squad, which went 10-4 against conference foes in 2010, had two second-place nods.

WV Wesleyan posted an 8-6 mark in 2010 and the coaches selected the Bobcats sixth in the poll. WVWC garnered 127 points. Seton Hill, which also had an 8-6 league record in 2010, picked up 122 points for seventh.

West Liberty was chosen eighth with 105 total points. The Hilltoppers had a 6-8 WVIAC mark a season ago. Just behind WLU was WV State, which picked up 103 points. The Yellow Jackets won four league contests in 2010.

Davis & Elkins and Pitt Johnstown tied for 10th with 100 points. The Lady Cats were 8-6 against WVIAC foes in 2010 while the Senators were 6-8.

Concord was chosen 12th with 73 total points. The Mountain Lions are coming off a four-win WVIAC mark a year ago. Glenville State was 13th with 50 points and picked up two wins against WVIAC competition in 2010.

Ohio Valley and Bluefield State rounded out the WVIAC preseason coaches’ poll. The Fighting Scots garnered 43 points while the Big Blues recorded 15 points.

Place	Team (first-place votes)	Total Points
1	Wheeling Jesuit (14)	224
2	Charleston (1)	192
3	Alderson-Broaddus	189
4	Fairmont State	184
5	Shepherd	173
6	WV Wesleyan	127
7	Seton Hill	122
8	West Liberty	105
9	WV State	103
10	Davis & Elkins	100
10	Pitt Johnstown	100
12	Concord	73
13	Glenville State	50
14	Ohio Valley	43
15	Bluefield State	15

Poll Result - Summer Heat - 07.31.11

~~  Comments ~~

•  Fortunately, there is AC where I work. At home, I’m taking extra showers with cool water.
•  Hate to see my next electric bill~~
•  Look out electric bill.
•  Its NOT global warming,its SUMMER! yay!

Poll Result: Finance - 07.24.11

~~  Comments ~~

•  Cost of living keep rising, however, my paycheck is not.
•  No COL raise, no bank interest, hi prices, hi ins. went backwards for sure!
•  NO! Local corruption makes it impossible to get ahead, if you are not part of the club!
•  Mexicans stole my job lost everything cuz gov wont enforce the law
•  Actually I am financially ruined thanks to a huge criminal effort by public officials in Gilmer!
•  Prices up, work down, polly-tickens stuffing own/friends pockets at our and countries expense!
•  Yes, through no involvement of the government and our elected officials.
•  Yes
•  Yes, but I went out-of county to do it.
•  Are you kidding? Not with high prices of gas, food, etc.. Thanks presidents.

Poll Result: Marcellus Shale Drilling

~~  Comments ~~

•  This is hard to answer with a simple yes or no - the problems should be solved FIRST.
•  No unless there are guaranteed environmental safeguards!
•  Surface owners need more control; mineral owners need to get higher percentage.
•  We don’t even know all of the potential problems.
•  No, as is always the case the landowner gets robbed.
•  More $$ for ‘polly-tickens to waste while making robber barons richer. Nothing new here.
•  That is how I make a living Fracking Marcellus Wells.
•  Hopefully the expected problems can be dealt with in a fair manner. Time will tell..
•  With technology and the right preventive actions the problems should be limited.
•  It ($/jobs) shouldn’t but jobs and money are what is all about, right Majority of the “problems” are.
•  Perceived based on mis-information. Public needs to hear the facts.

Poll Result - Community Economic Environment - 07.10.11

~~  Comments ~~

•  The commissioners and the GCEDA don’t know how to stop the county’s decline. Good enough isn’t.

•  Does anything really ever change much around here?

•  Census: 1980 8,334; 1990 7,669; 2000 7,160; 2010 6,800?

•  The prison is an economic bust. That isn’t the big windfall that was promised. Whose idea was that?

•  State takeover makes conditions worse. People have had enough of political garbage.

•  How can the economic environment get better. People do not want to live in a Payton Place.

•  The current leaders are dead set on destroying America.

•  One elem. school is a death sentence for Gilmer County. Less people will want to move here.

•  The county population is about 6,800 w/o the prison. Look at Main St. & the empty houses everywhere.

•  If we go to 1 Elem. school our population will decrease as kids will go to other counties.

•  Ike Morris and the Butcher and Butcher law firm will make sure they get all benefits, nothing 4 us!

•  How can conditions improve with the few elite are self-serving with no benefit to the masses.

•  Businesses can’t survive with the population losses.

•  Business cannot thrive without competition.

•  “They” may tell us things are getting better, but we are smart enough to see for ourselves it isn’t.

•  Our entire country has a continually deteriorating economic environment with congress impotent.

•  The RICH get richer, the POOR get poorer. Give the rich the big tax breaks. Duh!!

•  Access to goods & services, pop. & school enroll #s down. We’re going under.

Poll Result: GCHS Principal - 06.26.11

~~  Comments ~~

•  Her saying her daughters’ lesbian acts and drinking are normal behavior for teens told me enough. OUT
•  The only one to pay is Simmons, everyone else will remain the same. Shame on the State Board for this
•  The Butchers have been dictating policy for hundreds for purely self-serving reasons, truly evil!!
•  The Butchers showed their true colors with the non-compliance of the AJ Woofter will, they are BAD!!
•  Ramazon should start a poll on his own ethics. Dave and Phyllis belong together Good job WVDE!
•  I’m glad I have no children in the school system.. I would be very upset with all this turmoil .
•  Nastyia is in charge of HS problems
•  She should be let go and never allowed to have anything to do with a school again
•  The BOE is to blame, not the GCHS principal.
•  If she is responsible she should be commended.
•  This has been a long time coming. We cannot blame Mrs. Butcher for the counties shortcomings.
•  If Mrs. Butcher is not relieved that will prove how corrupt this mess has been.
•  Contrary, to popular opinion on this website, Mrs. Butcher is why the test scores at GCHS are up!
•  Obvious you have personal issues with Mrs. Butcher and Mr. Hough. Change name to Glenville Enquirer
•  Do the people of Gilmer County realize they are the laughing stock of the state.
•  Contrary, to one comment, scores are up because of teachers and not butcher
•  It is easier to lay blame on someone else other than those actually responsible…the county BOE!
•  Look for the winners when this is done and then you will know who was behind this from the start.
•  WVDE took over Gilmer Schools and if you feel it was all for political reasons call-202-514-2001
•  Really? Pay attention people. You’re going to have to look past the end of your nose on this one.

Poll Result: West Virginia Governor’s Election 2011