 By Alvin Engelke
alvinengelke@hotmail.com
Rick Williams brought the message at the Burning Springs M. E. Church.
Several area residents attended the Black Walnut Festival in Spencer. Others gathered black walnuts & hickory nuts for tasty healthful eating during cold winter months.
Gay Park has been suffering with knee & leg problems.
The ambulance came and took Rick Tucker's wife to the hospital.
The Creston Area Neighborhood Watch had a litter pickup on Saturday. A hard working crew picked up nine bags of trash and found a puff ball that was later eaten. Some say that the manna that the Hebrew children ate while they wandered in the wilderness was similar. Some of the women folk fixed tasty goodies for the pickers up when they completed their task.
Dorothy Lynch was painting the railing for her steps.
Debbie Griffin won some tickets to go to the Grand Old Uproar (Opry) so they went. She got to meet Nancy, the widow of George Jones and they went "Honky Tonking" on a tour of music row, the Ryman auditorium and RCA Studio B. Cap'n Spock got to sit at the piano Elvis liked best to play and they got to experience the best of facilities with the best of acoustics.
Local residents & county officials went to the "informational" meetings held by Columbia Gas for their new 36" high pressure gas line that will ship natural gas to the Texas Gulf Coast where it will be liquefied and sent around the world. At the Doddridge meeting one landowner was very upset that his best meadow that had been in the family for generations would be destroyed. It was reported that the company men noted that the Rockefellers needed to put the line there, sorry about his luck. A $100 million compressor station may be built in Calhoun County but some wonder if the Board of Public Works (who value utilities) will value it at $6 million (60% of 10%, the usual utility tax break given). It was reported that the company has been buying right-of-way for $25/foot or as they say, "picking the low hanging fruit". The gas line comes into Wirt County near Brohard and then goes north of the river to the Russell Hupp property where there is a river crossing and thence up on Monroe Ridge and then to Reedy in Roane County. There will be lots of traffic on numerous local roadways, some of which, one would think, would have to be upgraded before there is lots of heavy trucking.
H. Wayne Nida who was having a good day, was calling on Joe Basnett.
Cap'n Spock & Charles Russell were attending to business in Brooksville. Spock & Steve Newton were calling on Boyd & Bill Duskey.
Ira J. Lynch, Sr. caught a nice frog that needed to grow bigger and put it in Gloria Norman's pond. Trouble is Gloria does not like for folks to catch the big bull frogs that live in the pond and sing their deep songs.
It was reported that, as part of the push to get the big company forced pooling bill through that key legislators who know but little about oil and gas, that a 1/8th royalty is all that the companies can afford to pay even though the same firms pay 20% and more for lesser pays in other states. Royalties and overrides equal or exceed 20% on almost all of the new wells that have been drilled. It was learned that the court cases where folks refused to agree to only 1/8th have been put on hold as the out of state firms are convinced that the folks down under the golden dome at the Mouth of the Elk will give them "their bill" and 1/8th.
Coal baron Jim Justice was calling on all the big Obama and Clinton backers in the Wood County area on his run for governor. However, news reports continue to surface about the millions in county taxes he owes counties in Kentucky & West Virginia. Not so long back he helped some local residents who had property "down south" by taking the coal so they would not have to pay high coal tax. Crony capitalism being the rule in W. Va., the state upheld his actions.
Senate president Bill Cole, who is also running for governor visited in the area and was observing the Wirt County school system.
Bernard Wyatt was attending to business in Creston. The "Fly by Night Oil Co." wanted him to sign a lease and they gave him a time ultimatum that was as unrealistic as the lease they wanted him, an old oil and gas hand, to sign.
Dona Chambers, Lynn & Tim Hoback were calling on Mr. & Mrs. Cooter Marks & family as were Mary & Steve Newton & "Little John", Mr. & Mrs. C. Romeo Griffin, Jr. & fambly as were the Spocks. Ferrell Griffin was to come visit but he ended up in the hospital. The Newtons were also visiting in Creston.
The price of gasoline continues to go up and down. While fuel could be purchased in Parkersburg for $1.91 9/10s/gallon one could buy the same brand a few miles away for 40 to 50 cents/gallon more. The price of local Pennsylvania grade crude climbed to $48.63/bbl. with condensate (sooper dooper drip) fetching $29/63. Marcellus & Utica light is $42.63 and medium $48.63/bbl.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Hur Herald. | 
