| By Alvin Engelke
 By Alvin Engelke
alvinengelke@hotmail.com
Rev. Paul Williams filled his regular appointment at the Burning Springs M. E. Church.
Denzil Prather, age 84, passed away as a result of complications of diabetes. A World War II flying ace he, after going to Marietta College, started his oilfield career at Creston with the WEVA (now known as CAD). He loved to talk with folks who knew about the station house back when the Tucker children (Ross and Nora's children) fetched them milk and eggs. In addition to geology of the local area and nearby states he also worked in Texas and could relate the Ellenberger fields there to the deep drilling in this area. He was responsible for drilling many wells on the West Fork, at Munday and in Roane County.
Juanita Duskey age 75 passed away after suffering a stroke some years ago. She was married to Boyd Duskey and they have two sons Bill & Will. Burial was at the Wright cemetery at Cremo.
Roger Starcher, age 57, who was wounded in Viet Nam passed away. He spent a lot of time in the Ground Hog area.
Nancy Engelke was attending to business in Grantsville over the weekend and it seems sometimes things do not go right. While it seems common for folks to "come unglued" Nancy became "unraveled" in a Grantsville mercantile establishment. Additional details can be obtained by asking either the clerks or Nancy.
Dale Parsons who said he lived on Bar Cut "over near Reedy" was in the area "looking for junk to haul away". No one seemed to know who he was.
Janet Jett has been on the sick list as have several other area residents.
The local area has had seasonable weather with rain, snow, mist, sleet and sub-freezing temperatures. For certain the flies didn't spoil the harvested venison. It was noted that locally the harvest is down.
Donnie Nutter was visiting Mr. & Mrs. Jack Nutter. While in the area he was told that the old alignment of Route 5 was closed and his using it would result in either his being arrested or being shot. Of course the road is open and available for use by the public. Someone is lucky he wasn't smeared all over the roadway.
Calhoun County Commissioner Bob Weaver was in Creston Saturday evening stocking up on cheese. Roane County roadman Delmar Matheny was also attending to business in Creston as were Mike Boggs, Peal Bollinger, Mr. & Mrs. Cleveland Starcher, Thomas and Ted Clover and Ben West.
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Hayes were calling on area relatives and friends. Geneva noted that it was great to be able to walk again as she had broken her ankle some time back.
Mr. & Mrs. Albert Ferrell, Garry and Joe Ferrell were among those calling on Dorine Plummer whose leg gave out on her at the Creston auction. Dorine now has a new bathroom.
A local woman ran onto a former coworker who now works at Public Debt. Since they do not answer to the Commander in Chief they follow politically correct guidelines. She carefully said "Happy Holidays" since PC government employees would not want ever to offend those who worship Old Ned, Baal, Molech or Mao Tse Tung.
It was then learned that a minister who had been preaching at Ohio University for more than a year was arrested something over a week ago when some one who feared God so much he didn't want the message spread called the law. The policeman was very upset about having to take the preacher away. It was thought that the complainer was one of those pointy-headed intellectshuals.
Some local residents have been at Charlie Whipkey's flower shop in the old Doc Toepfer building in Grantsville. If one has "hard to shop for folks" on one's list that is the place to go especially if they are partial to feline friends.
Local residents attended the Workmen's Compensation meeting held at the Comfort Suites at Mineral Wells. At the moment the plan and many of the employees are being transferred over to a "mutual company" called Brick Street. After some years private insurance companies can come to West Virginia and sell compensation insurance as is done elsewhere. Under the new rules the minimum bill for a new company or employer will be $750 so if one has a small business and wants to hire someone part time or perhaps hire someone to clean one's house the bill will be high. One would wonder if they want folks to do like the big political folks in Washington do; that is pay illegal aliens in cash.
It was learned that the Jesse (Rex) Ward farm sold for $1,000/A although at the Holly Nester auction that place situate on Mt. Zion ridge fetched, at auction, $5,000/A with notables like Ronnie Lane, Mike Rogers and the Dales looking for choice sites for new prestige homes. Wood County has Spider Ridge, Wirt has Ground Hog Ridge and now Calhoun's Mt. Zion may be renamed 'Prestige Ridge', as opposed to Norman Ridge and say Hog Knob.
While gasoline fell below $2/gallon in Parkersburg the price of local crude oil rose to $55.50/bbl of 42 gallons. Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania oil is worth 25 cents more/bbl.
Sue Farnsworth and Leann Hall were calling on Hallie Cunningham.
| 
