 By Alvin Engelke
alvinengelke@hotmail.com
The Creston area received more snow and then it warmed up and most of it went away. The global warming believers in the northeast got a "deep dose" of Al Gore's bunko but, of course, he didn't help them shovel out.
Rev. Keith Belt filled his regular appointment at the Burning Springs M. E. church and served Holy Communion.
There will be a Lenton service at the Burning Springs M. E. church at 7 P. M. on Sunday February 17. Everyone is welcome to attend. Regular services start at 9 A. M. on Sundays.
Mary Campbell, age 86, who had been living at the Masonic Home passed away. The daughter of T. R. & Della Boggs, she was the widow of George Bingman & Ernest Campbell. Burial was in the Vandal cemetery.
A former local resident who works in a Washington Dee Cee bank was there when the head teller was robbed. Such is said to be a routine matter there.
Jackson Timbering was busy Sunday hauling logs that they are harvesting on the Dihm property. It had been reported that the state road shut down the operation.
Charles Russell was calling on brother Euell, Ray Gumm & Parris Parsons. Mr. & Mrs. Parsons are to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on February 18th. They are, of course, West Fork folks.
Buster & Sally were out running around near the mouth of Little Creek enjoying the balmy weather when a long haired red stray came along forcing Buster to defend his honor. When humans came along the fighters fell into Little Creek and then the big red dog swam away and went down toward Creston. Buster, on the other hand, lost a canine tooth in the brawl and got to make a late night trip to see Dr. Cain.
The department of public safety was making an early morning run on Little Creek one day last week.
Many local folks have been wanting to get high speed internet and there has been lots of talk and lots of taxpayer money spent. Of course in Creston one must use the satellite which does not compare with what is available elsewhere. According to press reports the Big Eared One's stimulus money is being spent on the project by the "wise ones" down at the Mouth of the Elk. Thus far $1.3 million has been spent on 'consultants' and Perry Rios, who lives in Colorado has made a cool $732,000. Obviously he knows someone; besides why does it take a $1million + in consultants to run telephone lines and booster stations? It was said that a total of $126.3 million was/is to be spent on the project. Of course it isn't clear why private companies couldn't just make the service available as there are willing customers who would pay. Perhaps "crony Capitalism" is impeding real progress.
Older residents may remember Margaret Sanger who started Planned Parenthood, the big abortion company. She was a believer in eugenics, the "science" of getting rid of undesirables by aborting the babies [and other means as used by Adolph, Josef and others who were true believers]. Now eugenics is back with a new name "trans-humanism". With Googles's artificial intelligence and the scanning of folks letters, e-mails and conversations the elite can determine who is liberal and progressive and who is not. Those who are not could be considered possibly dangerous and, of course, should not have Second Amendment rights as "they might do something". With the new federal rule that those American citizens determined to be terrorists "by a high government official" that allows summary execution things are getting really scary. Some while back homeland security said those who oppose abortion, believe in American exceptionalism, oppose socialism, oppose illegal immigration, were in the military, etc. are deemed "security risks". Perhaps this is why the federal government has purchased millions of rounds of hollow point ammo. Meanwhile W. Va.'s new U. S. Senator is promoting legislation to curtail Second Amendment rights.
Chesapeake Energy is back in the news again after the stockholder revolt that will remove Aubrey McClendon as of April 1. McClendon wheeled and dealed all over the nation in all sorts of things such as real estate development in Michigan, etc. Back when Chesapeake & Columbia Natural Resources lost the big fraud and swindle case (the Tawney decision) over in Spencer, Broadway Joe who was governor then promised "his buddy Aubrey" that he would have the legislature pass a law to set aside the verdict. When it was obvious such couldn't be done Aubrey threw a tantrum and stopped the proposed new eastern headquarters for the Okie City based concern. Workers in the Charleston office were then sent to Oklahoma or 'out to pasture'. Chesapeake lost 43% of its value in 2012 because of low natural gas prices and debt problems & has had to sell billions in assets to keep afloat. To quote the Charleston Daily Mail, "Chesapeake Energy's departing chief executive officer will leave to his successor a shrunken, cash-starved version of what was once the preeminent natural gas producer in the world's biggest market for the fuel." Many of the assets were sold to the communist Chinese who are making a big move on what were American energy resources. The government of Norway purchased the right to develop the local Marcellus shale for $5,666.66/acre. Recently the Norwegians paid $8,000/acre for Marcellus rights.
The Pittsburgh airport leased 9,000 acres to the Rockefeller family's Consol for Marcellus development and received a $50 million bonus or $5,555.55/acre as well as a 18 1/2% royalty which is below the going rate.
The price of local Pennsylvania grade crude is $96.12 with drip fetching $85.22, Marcellus & Utica light $90.97 and medium $97.62/bbl.
Some folks were using a boat Sunday to fish in the West Fork which is clear.
Bessie Arthur was attending to business in Vienna.
Cap'n Spock and J P Marks were among those attending to business in the Rockport and Creston sectors.
Debbie Griffin has been experiencing technical difficulties with her chariot. Jim and Carmine of D & L Motors were able to fix the problem at their Palestine shop.
Mr. & Mrs. Cooter Marks were among those calling on Euell Russell at the Miletree center in Spencer.
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