 By Alvin Engelke
alvinengelke@hotmail.com
Rick Williams brought the message at the Burning Springs M. E. Church.
The local area had quite a bit of rain and cooler fall type weather but all the moisture went into the dry ground and streams didn't get muddy. Such was in significant contrast to the rains that are in South Carolina. While some leaves have fallen there has yet to be a spectacular fall leaf color display.
Charles Russell was calling on brother Euell, Ray Gumm and Paris Parsons at the Miletree Center in Spencer.
Some local folks made apple & pear butter. Others have been gathering and hulling out black walnuts. Deer have been feasting on chestnuts so they should be fat and tasty.
Those who follow matters on the world scene area appalled that the Russian dictator has made America and its feckless "dear leader" look weak and insignificant. Not so long back the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army & Navy made a show of force off the coast of Alaska and then the Chinese dictator came to the United States where he was feted by the captains of industry and the Big Eared One. This is going on while both nations wage cyber war against America and local companies and citizens.
The killing of Christians has been "in season" for quite a time in the Middle East but now the slaughter has reached our shores with the nutcase in Oregon killing those in the gun free college zone who said they were Christians. Stephen was the first martyr but now many, many more have died because of their faith and the encouragement of those in power. The displaced Christian refugees are forbidden to come to America but hundreds of thousands of young moslem men will be brought in with no background checks. The so called refugee situation in Europe (with perhaps 20% being from Syria) is considered to be in invasion and now such is the plans for what was the United States of America.
There has been a lot of discussion and some excitement about the Columbia (Nisource) 36" pipeline that is going through the area with a possible compressor station in Calhoun County. The company plans will be available for view Thursday, October 8 from 6 P. M. until 8 P. M. at the Smithville grade school on Route 47 just east of the intersection with W. Va. 16. Some have said the right-of-way will come down Coal Fork of Lower Leading Creek. Surveyors were back on W. Va. 5 between Creston & Burning Springs again where the line is said to cross. Landowners are advised to be very careful with what they sign, making sure that all the landowner protections are included in the documents, etc. Large landowners and the State of West Virginia do not sell rights-of-way but lease the same with annual rentals, term limits, etc. It is generally agreed that when the pipelines are built so that the local glut of natural gas can be sent to ports where it will be exported to western Europe, Japan, etc the prices will rebound. Presently local natural gas sells for $1.80 below the Henry Hub price which is the one quoted in the newspapers, etc. One Calhoun producer who has a Cabot 20 cent gas contract noted that soon he will be paid the highest price around for his natural gas.
Citing the depressed natural gas prices, Stone Energy, a Louisiana based firm that drilled numerous Marcellus wells in West Virginia has shut down one of their newer fields. It has been reported that others have many wells shut in even while they are drilling more.
Antero, the Denver based company that is funded by Warburg Pincus that legislators like to cozy up to and write legislation for, like the forced pooling bill, has shown their true colors. The company refused to make a reasonable deal on a lease modification in Ritchie County and sued the family to take their mineral rights away from them. The family has been fighting back so, now to show them, Antero has ordered a 99 year old woman who lives in Arizona to report to their coven in Bridgeport for a deposition. They also demanded that another family member in North Carolina who is fighting cancer and has a special needs child that presently is also sick to show up. It was made clear that "We'll show you W. Va. hillbillies who is in charge!" The out of state firms obvious ability to get legislators that were elected by the citizens to do their bidding makes it clear that it is "business as usual" in West Virginia.
The Wirt road crew had the backhoe in Creston opening culverts that needed attention.
Peanut returned home after a trip to the beach. From news reports such would not be a good idea at present.
Mr. & Mrs. Dean Miller were attending to business in Spencer while a well known Spencer attorney was attending to business in Creston.
The price of local Pennsylvania grade crude is $44.54 with condensate fetching $25.54, Marcellus & Utica light $38.54 with medium at $44.54. The price of gasoline continues to fluctuate within a 40 cent range. The other day it was $1.96.9 in Jackson County and then the fuel could be purchased in Wood County for two or three cents more but, not far away the same product was selling for 30 or 40 cents more/gallon.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Hur Herald. | 
