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The Calhoun Chronicle begins a two-part series on events
of 2007:
Mt. Zion Public Service District announced a deadline of
Jan. 31 to sign up for the Sand Ridge/Rt. 16 South water extension
project.
Employees of Carl E. Smith Petroleum attempted to clean
up an oil leak into Left Fork Creek, but rain washed the oil pockets and
pads into the Little Kanawha River.
The prosecution was “still receiving information on a
regular basis” in a case against former Grantsville police chief Ron
Gordon.
Twenty-two applications were received for a full-time
E-911 director’s position.
The Grand Jury for January returned seven indictments.
The CHS varsity basketball boys and girls teams were
both 0-7 as they started their January schedules.
Grantsville mayor Wilbert Kerby asked the council to
approve a reduction in employees that he had already implemented.
Matthew Bonar joined other West Virginia students on a
mission trip to Managua, Nicaragua.
Ronnie Rush, who had been found guilty of two counts of
manslaughter in the deaths of Ward Groves and Mary Hicks, had his
retrial moved to Jackson County.
The CHS wrestling team finished third of 24 teams at
Nitro High School. Seth Jarvis and Cody Clark were individual champions.
A fire destroyed the home of Broomstick resident Charlie
Blair on Jan. 11.
It was announced at a Calhoun Historical Society meeting
that Robert Bonar, a 1997 CHS graduate, was gathering information on a
history of CHS football.
Linda McCartney joined the Chronicle staff.
More than 40 residents presented themselves as donors at
the bloodmobile’s visit to First Baptist Church on Jan. 18.
Calhoun had its first accumulation of snow on Sunday,
Jan. 21.
CHS wrestlers won their own invitational on Jan. 20. Ten
members of the team were ranked among the top eight of their respective
weight classes in Class AA-A.
Sign ups ended for the Grantsville municipal election.
Current mayor Wilbert Kerby would face former mayor Gary Knight on June
5. Ten residents registered for five council seats.
Commissioners discussed problems with the sheriff’s
budget, E-911 addressing, and rumors of CRI closing.
Mt. Zion PSD announced that its goal of 150 sign ups for
the Sand Ridge/Rt. 16 water extension had been met, and plans would
proceed.
Energy Express begin recruiting staff for the 2007
program.
Beginning the February portion of their schedules, the
CHS varsity girls were 3-14 and the boys were 0-16. The girls had upset
Roane County (8-6) by a score of 41-39.
CHS wrestlers won the Little Kanawha Conference
tournament for the fifth time in six years. Cody Clark and Jeff Goodrich
won individual titles.
Grantsville council members claimed that town business
was being carried out without approval of council, including the
purchase of a police cruiser. The mayor claimed that council voted on
the issue, but members Joann Shock and Loretta Stevens disagreed.
Board of education members discussed ending block
scheduling at Calhoun Middle/High School. Board president Lee Evans said
he would like to see it changed back to a seven-class schedule.
Chronicle publisher Helen Morris represented Calhoun as
a “West Virginia History Hero” at the Cultural Center in Charleston. “It
was a humble feeling when I learned I had been nominated,” said Morris,
who said the honor should go to the Calhoun Historical Society as a
whole.
Local graduate Erin Smith coordinated an effort to
preserve World War II history by interviewing veterans. The project was
in collaboration with Fairmont State.
The CHS wrestling team qualified 10 members for the
state tournament, including five returning state placers. When those
five failed to place, freshman Cody Clark led a new contingent of five
Red Devil placers by winning the 119 lb. state championship. CHS was
sixth of 39 teams.
The Chronicle featured a tribute to the late Pell Mc-Cartney,
who had been writing articles on local people from his Morgantown home
for several years.
Pending further study, the board of education approved
the implementation of an eight academic period schedule at Calhoun
Middle/High School.
West Virginia Economic Development Authority took issue
with a loan provided to Calhoun Development Corp., Inc., in the 1980s
for Calhoun Industrial Park, when it found that a parcel at the park was
sold and no payment on the defaulted loan was made.
Chronicle readers were introduced to the Amie Sexton
letter collection. She was a resident of Arnoldsburg for several years
in the mid-1800s. The collection was furnished by Hunter Armentrout, a
resident of Gilmer County.
The Chronicle celebrated National Sunshine Week, Mar.
11-17, to raise awareness of national and state laws regarding the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Sheriff Carl Ballengee announced the launch of the
Kidprint I.D. Program, which will provide a plastic identification card
for participating parents.
County commissioners included a pay raise of 10 percent
for county employees in their 2007-08 budget.
An attempt to implement Robert’s Rules of Order by mayor
Wilbert Kerby at the Grantsville town council meeting met with criticism
as those present claimed he had not followed the rules before. He
delayed the change in policy until the next meeting, and let members of
the audience on the agenda.
The meeting also included an argument between council
member Gaylen Duskey and Paul Funk, who complained about the laying off
of an employee. Duskey later apologized for calling Funk a moron.
Dan Wolfe, who originated The Amazing Earl, visited
Grantsville on Palm Sunday and spoke at First Baptist Church. The church
also hosted the American Red Cross for a disaster shelter training
workshop.
WIC, a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants
and children, expanded eligibility to the program with increases in
income guidelines. A family of two may make up to $25,327, with $6,438
allowed for each additional member.
Music teacher John Bugby helped implement a program at
Pleasant Hill School that evolved into a cultural experience for all
county elementary students. Bugby hooked a web cam in the classroom and
children were able to see and talk to foreign performers.
Ronald Blankenship, superintendent of Calhoun Schools,
announced that he would retire. Deadline for applications was May 9.
Several volunteers helped Erin Smith with her project to
interview World War II veterans.
The Spring Health Fair was held at May 2 at West Fork
Park, sponsored by Calhoun County Committee on Aging.
Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center announced a name and
logo change. It is now Minnie Hamilton Health System.
Arnoldsburg Volunteer Fire Dept. held its annual Pit
Roast on May 5.
Grantsville announced that it was not ready to answer
the grievance of former employee Eric Webb. Council authorized the mayor
to obtain legal counsel.
Knotts Memorial U.M. Church held its annual Prayer
Chapel.
Former police chief Ron Gordon was indicted on nine
counts, including sexual abuse and sexual assault, during the May term
of Grand Jury.
Senior Night was held at Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center.
The CHS baseball team ended its season with a record of
5-19. Softball coach David White continued his policy of not reporting
results of his team.
The Calhoun County High School Alumni Association began
announcing registrations for its 20th annual Alumni Reunion.
The Bluegrass Festival at Upper West Fork Park on May
24-26 featured 11 groups.
The CHS Class of 2007 had 71 graduating members.
The 45th annual Calhoun County Wood Festival opened on
Thursday, May 31. Amie Carilli was selected Queen Flora XLV.
The Wood Festival continued in Grantsville. Willard
Jones was Grand Parade marshal on June 2. Hanna Law was selected as Miss
Wood Festival.
Additional funds were approved for the Mt. Zion water
extension to Sand Ridge and Rt. 16 South, bringing the total to $3.7
million.
The 58th annual Folk Festival in Glenville was dedicated
to Nicut residents and musicians Lester McCumbers and wife Linda. Freda
Yoak was this year’s county belle.
Gary Knight regained the Grantsville mayoral seat with
an 85-43 win over incumbent Wilbert Kerby. The town continued to
struggle with an employee grievance.
West Virginia State Police announced that Sgt. Jeff
Skidmore would head the Grantsville detachment. Skidmore reminded
residents that tips on local crimes could be called in to 354-6334 or
1-800-WVA-WVSP.
The bus schedule was announced for Energy Express and
other programs at Calhoun County schools.
Grantsville Dodgers won the county Little League
championship. Arnoldsburg Reds were runner up.
Thirty cancer survivors and many others participated in
the annual Relay for Life at Wayne Underwood Field in Grantsville.
More than 260 former graduates had signed up in advance
for the Alumni Reunion on Saturday, July 7.
(to be continued)
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