|
By Alvin Engelke
The young fellow wanted to do a good job at his oil field employment so when the foreman said, "Be sure to keep that plant
they set in the garage for the winter watered." Our hero faithfully watered the plant which seemed to remain "healthy and
green". After about six weeks someone pointed out that it was a plastic plant. Now, of course, no one would give him a
hard time about his apparent lack of botanical acuity.
Randy Barnett, age 41, passed away at his residence on Nettle Run after a battle with brain cancer. His condition was
recently featured in The Parkersburg News. He had been a member of the Marietta Ohio police department.
The local area received another dusting of snow but nothing yet that would approach real winter weather. The DNR's deer
herds have returned to their regular haunts and their number does not seem much decreased. Apparently the X-Perts
wanted 90,000 does killed but the last official count was around 56,000 which means there will be lots and lots of them next
year to eat crops, gardens, flowers, etc. and make work for the body shops and insurance adjusters. The wild turkeys have
been making a lot of noise lately, too .
Charles Russell was among those calling on Dorothy Graham.
Chester Bush was attending to business in Creston Saturday evening as was Wirt County Commissioner Robert Lowe and
his comely daughter. His mother Gayle was the big winner of the 50/50.
The price of local crude oil went back up to $29.25 after falling to $28/bbl. It is clear, rhetoric and UN loonies aside, that
there will soon be some unpleasantness in Babylonia. Psalm 137 gives some plain thoughts on a prior unpleasantness that
happened there "several" years ago.
A crew of five men wearing camouflage clothes and masks have been drilling holes and shooting charges for seismic studies
in the Amma area. The equipment was moved in by helicopter and the workmen refused to say for whom they were
working. A check with Yeager Airport in Charleston determined whose helicopter was moving the equipment. Someone
noted that the whole crew could be "living dangerously."
It was reported that Columbia Gas's deep well on Canoe was down through the Newburg and pipe was run.
Several area residents attended the meeting of the forestry association and the W. Va. Farm Bureau with local legislators at
the Wood County 4-H grounds. The forestry folks noted the 48% Workmen's Comp rate for loggers which has to be the
highest rate anywhere needed to be addressed. The main concerns were the financial problems of workmen's
compensation and the myriad problems caused by failure to address tort reform and liability insurance. For those who
thought this only impacted the medical profession they should take heed and note that insurers of homes and vehicles are
taking the same view of the legal landscape in West Virginia. As examples State Farm & Farmer's Mutual have both said
they are not writing new policies. Sen. Lisa Smith (who knocked off dog racing and pizza mogul Oshel Craigo) noted that
gambling is not the solution to the woes that face West Virginia and voters in her district felt likewise which is why she is now
a state senator.
Both SFC and Mrs. Thomas Fluharty (USA, retired) have been on the sick list suffering from a stomach flu. She is
scheduled for back surgery. Mr. & Mrs. Kenny Heiney were calling on the Fluhartys on the occasion of Mrs. Heiney's
birthday.
Nancy June Hall was advised that she has some nasty cells growing in her lungs again. She is to start over with her
treatments but has a positive attitude.
Juanita Bell is to undergo eye surgery next week.
Ed & Geneva Hayes were among those calling on Mr. & Mrs. Carl Ferrell & daughter.
| 
