SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 - 5 years later

Where were you when the world stopped turning?

Little Ditties

There are 55 counties in West Virginia. Here's where Clay ranks in select areas:

CAUSE OF DEATH (1992 - 2001):
Lung cancer: Rank - 4
Motor vehicle: Rank - 1
Homicide & legal intervention: Rank - 8

Our #1 cause of death in Clay County is heart disease

BEHAVORIAL PREVALENCES (1999)
Physical Inactivity: Rank - 2
Smokeless Tobacco Use: Rank - 2
No Health Insurance (age 18-64): Rank - 1

CENSUS INFO:
White - 98.5%
Black - 0.1%
American Indian/Alaska Native - 0.7%

Persons reporting two or more races - 0.7%
Hispanic or Latino origin - 0.4%
Average age at death - 74.7
Average number of births, mother age 15-19 - 54.8

HELLO, DARLIN'!

"Please, make welcome ... the best friend a song ever had ...

CONWAY TWITTY !!" (September 1, 1933 - June 5, 1993)

Other September 1st trivia to amaze your friends with ...

1975 Gunsmoke goes off the air
1979 LA Court orders Clayton Moore to stop wearing Lone Ranger mask
1970 - The last episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" aired on NBC-TV. The show premiered on September 18, 1965.

SKOOL DAZ IZ BAK

Those who know me know how I feel about the No Child Left Behind Act. In a nutshell, I think it's ridiculous. It's a classic example of a good idea gone horribly wrong. HOWEVER, it is FEDERALLY MANDATED LEGISLATION that must be followed by all public schools.

Per a letter dated July 28, 2006, parents of Clay County Middle School students were informed of CCMS's failure to meet these federally mandated guidelines for 2 years in a row. As such, the school is now required to offer "school choice." Since Clay County only has 1 school serving grades 6-8, school choice "is not feasible." Which means our children have no other option than to continue attending a school that's been federally flagged as a failure.

FURTHERMORE, per an additional letter dated July 28, 2006, Clay County is now offering free tutoring for select middle school children who meet certain income guidelines. Not ALL children, but only those who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. This tutoring is being offered because the school has actually failed to meet the federal guidelines for 3 years in a row.

Does it bother anybody besides me that some children - like my own, who do NOT qualify for free or reduced price lunches - are forced to attend a FAILING SCHOOL, yet don't qualify for the additional assistance that MIGHT help them further in life? Or do we already know that the high school is failing, too, so really, the only solution is to move out of Clay County?

Whose fault is it that the schools are failing? Who's being discriminated against?

“If you leave one foot in the past and one in the future, you’ll piss all over today.”

CAROLENE MARIE SAMPLES

Somewhere in Heaven, our mother sings ...

For on this day, she earns her wings

Bomont, WV- Carolene Marie Samples, 68, of Bomont, WV entered into rest Sunday, July 30, 2006. Meeting her at the Gates of Glory were her parents, Dorothy and Lee Shaffer and her brothers, Edward and Lawrence Shaffer.

Carolene recently returned to West Virginia to be with her family after spending several years in California and most recently, New Bern, NC where she was active with the Ladies Auxiliary of the local VFW post. She leaves a void in the hearts of many dear friends there.

Carolene leaves behind her children, Donald McNeiland of Grand Cayman Islands, Alan McNeiland of South Carolina, Rose Cantrell of Bomont, WV, Ty Samples of Rainelle, WV, and Arthur “Sparky” Samples of North Carolina. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Joshua, Adam, Savannah, Melody, Montana, Bradley, Tori, Cierra, Shana, Kevin, Michael and James as well as her sister, Kay of Texas and her brother Bill of Elkview.

Service will be 4pm Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at Pine Grove Church, Fraziers Bottom, WV with burial following in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2pm until service time at the church. Online condolences may also be made at www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 301 RHL Boulevard, Charleston, WV 25309.

Carolene touched the hearts of all she met and enriched the lives of many. The world is a dimmer place without her smile in it, but Heaven just got a little brighter.

Chapman Funeral Home, 3941 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane, WV is in charge of arrangements.

Vacation's All I Ever Wanted ....

& a great one it was!

Looks like not much changed around here, though ... teeheehee

The Beat Goes On ...

& on & on & on & ......

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

Family reunions? Fireworks? Cookouts?

Continued ....

I was going to post on the Sunday hunting thing, but this one caught my attention. I'm easily distracted sometimes.

WV Senate Bill 114 - allows counties, with the approval of the city council in a given municipality, to adopt and apply a mandatory fee of up to five dollars on those convicted of felonies, misdemeanors or municipal ordinances to fund teen courts. Moreover, any mandatory fee established by a county commission or city council will be paid for by the defendant if he/she is found guilty of a felony or a misdemeanor committed in that county.

How much is Clay County making??