| CLAY CAMPS BURN - Three fishing camps have burned, one to the ground, along Elk
River this week. The camps are located between Ivydale and Clay, according to
Trooper C. J. Ellyson of the State Police. Several camps in the same area burned last
year, with the cause declared as arson.
Police said there was no sign of burglary. Two of the camps were located 1000 feet
from the other.
Arson has also struck Clendenin the second time in the past few months, burning
buildings to the ground.
CLAY MAN BEATEN WITH TIRE IRON - The Clay Communicator reported a black truck
pulled into the Rite Aid parking lot in downtown Clay this week, broad daylight, with
a young adult jumping out and clubbing James McCune Jr. with a tire iron. McCune
wrestled the tire iron from his attacker and "puts the whammy" to him. The attacker
returns to his truck and speeds away. Chief Deputy Miles Slack is investigating.
MENTALLY DISABLED MAN ARRESTED - A client of a Clay Prestera Center group
home, 52-year-old Danny Workman was arrested by a Clay deputy sheriff and taken
to Central Regional Jail. Workman wanders up and down the town's Main Street
asking for "a quarter for a pop," and was reportedly charged with offenses related to
panhandling. Workman is considered to "be a pest, but harmless," according to the
Clay Communicator. Prestera Center would not go his bail.
NO CHARGES BROUGHT IN BEATING - Clay County's Prosecuting Attorney Daniel
Grindo reportedly has information regarding a beating and kicking given street
person "Crow" Smith in the Rite Aid parking lot. Smith died shortly thereafter, from
what a medical report says was a fall. There was no autopsy. The report has the
names of juveniles and one adult, with at least one local citizens witnessing the
encounter.
BIG OTTER MAN CHARGED IN SHOOTING - Elvis Dawson has been charged in the
shooting of his neighbor David Starcher. Starcher was wounded in the shoulder.
Dawson and Starcher live along Route 16 not far from the Big Otter I-79 exchange.
Starcher reportedly bolted over Elvis' fence with a knife shouting " I'm going to kill
you!" with Elvis Dawson returning to his house and obtaining a gun, which he
discharged. Starcher then obtained a gun, which was reportedly wrestled from him.
The neighbors have been quarreling for a extended period of time. There have been
other incidents.
MURDER MOUNTAIN MAN ARRESTED - Reported in The Herald, former Calhoun
resident Billy Hayes, now a resident of Ovapa, Clay County (Now referred to as
"Murder Mountain"), has been arrested by authorities and is claiming knowledge of
murders committed in Roane and Clay County. - Details on these and other Clay County stories can be found in the Clay
Communicator, out this weekend.
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