 By Alvin Engelke
alvinengelke@hotmail.com
M. C. "Butch" Pursley, Jr. brought the message at the Burning Springs M. E. Church.
There were 327 riders at the Creston ATV Poker Run. Greg Kirkbride was first with Bernard King as number two and Ted Grimm as third. The community would like to thank all those who came and rode, those who set up the trail, took down the signs, etc. Those merchants and others who donated door prizes, those who brought desserts [especially Jerry Campbell], those who worked in the kitchen, did the signups, worked the stations, etc. Ted Grimm came from Erie Pennsylvania to help and Travis Burdette came down from Ohio to mark and take down the signs on the trail.
Those on the ride saw deer, mother turkeys with young and lots of amphibians. Also there were some naked ladies who were immodestly showing off everything they had with hopes of being pollinated.
Blanche, Beth & Bradley Stutler were all calling on Bessie Arthur. Sister Vera was also visiting along with other family members. Blanche has had some health problems.
R. W. Arthur reported that a big tree fell on Goose Nest taking out the electric and telephone service. It was reported that a prominent citizen cut a tree across the electric lines up near Grantsville the other day causing yet another power outage at Creston.
Freddie Bush & associates have been busy making hay. These past few days have been the best haymaking weather locally since late May. Folks all over the state have been busy finishing first cutting and, on occasion, getting second cutting up as some were able to make hay late in May.
A young lad hopped on his uncle's four wheeler and his father saw him circa 9 A. M. near Creston and told him to "go home where he was supposed to be". He vanished and a major search was started locally. He was later found in Ripley where it is reported he wrecked the four wheeler. His father is very upset with the situation.
Charles Russell was calling on Paris Parsons, Ray Gumm and brother Euell at Miletree. Fat Pat the Oil Field Rat, who is also sojurning there is on the mend.
A number of area residents attended the regional Farm Bureau picnic at Camp Shepard near Gandeeville in Roane County. Several political folks spoke but the main speech was by Second District Congressman Alex Mooney who gave an excellent presentation.
It was reported that Antero has been sold out to XTO which is part of the Rockefeller flagship company Exxon. Also it was learned that Noble & Consol are working on a deal and Trans Energy's sale is contingent on a deal with the friendly EPA. It seems that Trans made a deal with two farmers to build them farm ponds as part of the leasing consideration. One of the ponds now supports trout which the landowner intended to use for an additional income source. One of the landowners formerly built ponds under government guidelines and all agreed that the ponds were well built and safe and the Army Corps of Engineers said all was fine, was OK under the farm pond exclusion. Well, it seems that 2 years after the ponds were built, stocked with fish, etc. some water was taken to use in a frac job. The EPA said, "Oh, those aren't farm ponds; they are industrial impoundments and must be removed." Trans Energy agreed to millions in fines and agreed to reduce the size & depth of the ponds to make EPA happy if the farmers would agree at an estimated cost of $1 million. EPA said the ponds were "too big for the size of the farms" and besides water from the ponds was used in the oil patch. As they say, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you!"
Freddie Bush brought out some more big logs from the Ball Knob section.
Banking rules under the Dodd-Frank law continue to be implemented and the general feeling is that the idea is to eliminate local banks. Barney Frank continues to make the news and former Sen. Dodd made so much money being a U. S. Senator that he was able to buy a castle in Ireland. One of the new rules is that banks must charge a fee for the use of the night deposit. Obviously, the fat cats that ran in Barney's circle have errand boys to take their banking business to the facilities but those who work, need to be out of town, etc. have always used the night deposits to get payments, deposits and other paperwork in on time without having to rely on a less than trustworthy mail service.
Obamacare continues to be a sore subject and the lack of competition causes nothing but higher prices and poor service as there is no alternative. Those who work at small hospitals note that the rules keep changing and costs for items like breathing machines are outrageous but the lobbyists and their stoolies in the congress and the executive have it all sewed up. That is likely why there is such an uproar when viable presidential candidates do not follow the PC guidebook. Of course eunuchs like McConnell & Boehner go along with the plan as they, obviously, are part of the "cartel".
Little Jebbie Bush made W. Va. news when it was learned that a mystery company with a Charleston address gave $1 million to his campaign. Problem is no one ever heard of them, they are not registered in the state and the folks who have the mailing address given for the company, Jasper Reserve, never heard of them. Others note that he has lots of connections with Madame Hillary so who knows. At this point in the game there are some candidates who are solid and are not beholden to the "ruling class".
One Calhoun oil & gas man reported that Mother Hope paid him just 83 cents/mcf for the natural gas he sold directly to him while Energy Corp. of America paid $1.01/DTH for June gas from the Owl Hill neighborhood. Down on Burning Springs Run the church was reported to have use 2 mcf. and the bill was just $47.88. It was reported that several newly completed Marcellus wells are not being placed into the line although several new Marcellus & Utica wells have been permitted.
The price of local Pennsylvania grade crude fell to $46.12/bbl. with condensate fetching $22.1, Marcellus & Utica light $40.12 and medium $46.12/bbl.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Hur Herald. | 
