| By Bob Weaver
l. DOUBLE MURDER - A Calhoun couple, Mike and Julie Flanagan, were shot at close range in their Sycamore Creek home on Easter weekend. State Police Cpl. Fred Hammack says the motive for the shooting was drug dealing gone bad. Police arrested well-tender Kirk Allen Miller, 25, after a family member or acquaintance asked authorities to take another look at Miller. Miller is expected to be indicted in January for the crime.
2. SUPREME COURT ORDERS SECOND RUSH RE-TRIAL - Two times Ronnie Rush has been found guilty of the double murder of Ward Groves and Mary Hicks in 2003. Two times the WV Supreme Court has ruled for new trials following a myriad of problems created by the WV State Police. The latest re-trail, yet to be scheduled, was ruled by the high court because of the alleged tainting of jurors during a lunch break by Cpl. Doug Starcher of the Grantsville detachment.
3. MT. ZION PSD DEBACLE - Calhoun's $5.2 million water extension project is now on hold following two years of mounting problems. Following in-action obtaining right-of-ways in 2008 and the Calhoun Commission unable to obtain financial records and minutes from the Mt. Zion PSD secretary-treasurer, the WV Public Service Commission is doing an investigation at the request of the commission. A second issue stalling the project, allegations of bid interference against project engineer Jim Hildreth, lawsuits being filed by contractors, with all indications the project will be re-bid when the legal issues are cleared.
4. GIANT PATH POWERLINE - PATH, a giant powerline set to cross southern Calhoun, affecting 70 local property owners and several WV counties, remains a contentious issue in three states, opponents are questioning its stated need, with more pollution affecting WV citizens, and costs that will pass to consumers. Despite recent studies that electric consumption has bottomed-out, the company says the project is needed to provide electric to the eastern corridor.
5. BLIZZARD OF 2009 - A record snowstorm struck the county in December, the worst since 1995-96, leaving most county residents without electric and telephone service, downing trees, blocking roads and disrupting Internet service. Calhouner's make-do survival skills came in handy, with some residents without electric for a week. Calhoun's responders worked diligently during the emergency to a number of critical situations.
6. PUBLIC KEPT IN DARK - The WV State Police have continued a long-time pattern of not releasing public information about the reporting of crimes in the county. In 2008 the agency even denied a Freedom of Information request from the Herald to obtain basic numbers about stolen ATVs and property crimes. While such stonewalling is supposed to be illegal under WV public information statues, the agency rises above those statues.
7. TIGHT MONEY TIMES - While Calhoun citizens struggle with the collapsing economy, even those out-of-county jobs on which citizens have relied, the Calhoun Commission continues to tighten its belt with the assistance of elected officials, facing challenges to keep the ship afloat. Several WV counties are teetering on financial collapse.
8. CALHOUN SCHOOL TAKEN OFF THE HOOK - Following scathing state audits of Calhoun Middle-High School, vigorous efforts of school administrators and teachers have paid-off. A state audit committee says the system is now in compliance with performance.
9. BECAUSE WE CAN - Calhoun state policeman Cpl. Doug Starcher confiscated a camera belonging to the Hur Herald on a public highway, the Herald editor attempting to photograph activity at the entrance to the Big Bend Armory following an alleged bomb threat.
An official inquiry regarding the basis for the confiscation resulted in no explanation, except "because we can." The agency did not confirm the bomb threat happened.
10. LANDMARK METH ARREST - State Police arrested a Lincoln County man for making meth at a Cabot Station residence this year, with a number of local individuals (eight) in the house at the time, with most of those present saying they were unaware of the illegal activity, according to the criminal complaint. Law enforcement, according to court records, have made three, maybe four, legitimate arrests related to meth in the past ten years in Calhoun, while regional counties have made several hundreds of arrests.
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