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5 0
VOL. 144--NO. 34
USPS 443-400
KINGWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011
10 PAGES--47¢ COPY
by Kari Knoffs
In preparation for the up-
coming Legislative Session,
Senators Dave Sypolt and Bob
Williams and Delegates Larry
Williams and Stun Shaver, met
with members of the Board of
Education in a work session to
share and discuss several issues.
Agenda items included OPEB,
Jobs Act Funding, Aurora
school isolation funding, sum-
mer school funding assistance.
digital resource implementa-
tions and school access safety
funds.
All were in agreement that
Other Post Employment Ben-
efits or OPEB would be a heavy
hitting topic during the session.
OPEB is future benefits ac-
crued by state employees.
teachers, and city and county
employees who participate in
State retirement health insur-
ance. dental, vision, prescrip-
tion and any other healthcare
benefits provided to eligible
retirees and their beneficmries.
West Virginia has funded 70%
of this health care coverage for
retirees, and by doing so the
state has overextended itself be-
cause" these costs are not fixed,
and continue to rise.
The unfunded OPEB liability
is estimated to be $8 billion, and
the question to be raised during
this years' session is, who is re-
sponsible for the expense?
Senator Sypolt said he looked
for officials to seek out a pro-
gram to help fund the deficit.
possibly by using severance
tax or an equivalent. Senator
Williams said the solutions to
the $8 million OPEB liability
could potentially be painful to
employees.
Another issue discussed dur-
ing the work session with leg-
islators was the possibility of
receiving an Isolation Status at
Aurora School.
The status would bring an ad-
ditional $100.000 of funding to
the school for teachers and help
reduce student busing times.
Arvin Harsh. a resident of Au-
rora. and member of the LSIC,
Delegate Larry Williams
said the status would help cover
the costs associated with being
an isolated community.
In addition to being approved
by the Governor, the status also
has to meet the approval of the
State Superintendent.
Delegate Shaver said he be-
lieves the status is important,
"just look at the facts. If Aurora
School was no longer in exis-
tence, how far would we have
to bus the students? The status
is not beyond a reasonable re-
quest, I don't have a problem at
(Continued on Page 8)
Winter still
Just as grass began reappearing in many parts of the counly another snowstorm blew in,
blanketing the ground with several inches. Students remained in the classroom with some
delay on Monday morning as cold temperatures remained and the threat of another
storm was issued,
I
by Kari Knofls
Attention Preston County
four-year-olds who are inter-
ested in a day full of fun. ad-
venture, learning, activities and
friendship, now is the time to
remind mom and dad to enroll
you in Pre-K!
A total of 13 Pre-K sites are
currently serving the county in-
cluding two at Bruceton School.
and one at Little Bear Daycar~;
one in Aurora: two in Howes-
ville (one serving Tunnelton
and one serving Kingwood);
one at Rowlesburg School. one
at Terra Alta/East Preston. one
located behind West Preston
Middle School (Valley I); and
two located behind Reedsville
Shop and Save (Valley II and
Valley 1113
To qualify, children must be
four-years-old prior to Septem-
ber 1.2011. Children born after
September 1 will be placed on
a waiting list until an available
spot opens.
To apply contact any of the
following Family Resource
coordinators. Leah Shay, 304-
379-2593: Dianna Trickett,
304-454-9310: Michelle Slinka,
304-329-2625: Katrina Bonfili.
304-864-5558: or Andrea Stan-
ley, 304-864-5636
For Early Head Start contact
Chasity Sions at 304-329-0437.
Only one application is neces-
sary, and any of the coordinators
may be contacted for assistance.
Community Action is also
available to answer questions,
call 304-329-1028.
To apply, a copy of the child's
birth certificate and social se-
cunty card, shot records, and
proof of income is required.
Pre-K is not an income based
program, the income require-
ment is used to determine fed-
eral-based funding only.
Two preferred Pre-K locations
may be selected on the child's
application, and Community
Action employees will do their
best to see all children remain in
their communities.
Community Action is always
accepting applications, and sev-
eral open enrollment dates will
be ¢cheduled in the future.
Delegate Stan Shaver
by Tom Miller
Based on past history, there
will likely be more than 2,000
bills introduced at the 2011 reg-
ular 60-day session of the West
Virginia Legislature, which be-
gins in Charleston this week.
But history also suggests only
about 10 percent will get seri-
ous consideration by lawmak-
ers.
One obvious issue thi~ year m
redistricting of both the House
of Delegates and state Senate.
~s a result of the 2010 U. S
Cefisus. And already, there are
so'me suggestions the 100 mem-
bers of the House should all be
elected from 100 separate del-
egate districts. Even House Mi-
nority Leader, Tim Armstead.
R-Kanawha. has voiced support
for this approach.
Currently, there are 58 del-
egate districts, but only 36 of
them elect a single member.
while the other 64 House mem-
bers come from multi-member
districts, of as few as two. and
as many as seven So it seems
unlikely such a drastic change
will be considered.
One of the more interest-
ing bills already suggested by
newly-elected Delegate, Gary
Howell, R-Mineral. is the Intra-
state Coal and Use Act. It would
allow the West Virginia Depart-
ment of Environmental Protec-
tion to issue mining permits for
coal companies that only mine
coal for in-state use.
Howell said this would not
violate the powers now held by
the federal Environmental Pro-
tection Agency because the coal
companies, that don't export
coal to other states, are not en-
gaged in interstate commerce.
Chris Hamilton, of the West
Virginia Coal Association. who
claims EPA has denied many
mining permits for West Vir-
ginia companies that hurts this
state's economy, likes the idea.
Delegate Rick Snuffer. R-
Raleigh, another freshman leg-
islator, wants more public dis-
closure of how the state's tax
dollars are spent and plans to
team up with returning Dele-
gate. Linda Sumner. R-Raleigh,
to pursue this topic which failed
at the 2010 session.
Snuffer believes it would do
away with funding hidden from
Each election year. candidates
spend thousands of dollars on
their campaigns m an attempt to
win public support.
In Preston County, like many
others, campaigning efforts
stretch from one end of the
county to the other, in the form
of radio and newspaper ads.
signs and billboards.
A question often asked, does
pricey campaigning make a dif-
ference, or are the voters opin-
ions regarding candidates al-
ready determined pre-election?
In the 2010 general election
only a few positions were up for
grabs.
On the ballot for the County
Commission were Incumbent
Republican Dave Price chal-
lenged by County Clerk and
Democrat Nancy Reckart.
Vying for the County Clerk
seat were two employees in that
office. Republican Linda Hug-
gins and Democrat Kim Dixon,
and one Mon County employee,
April Davies.
Multiple county races includ-
ed a seat in the House of Del-
egates.
Incumbent Democrat, Stun
Shaver, of Tunnelton, was chal-
lenged by Republican. Debbie
Stevens. of Parsons.
Democrat Larry A. Williams.
of Tunnelton. was unopposed
for the seat representing the
45th District.
He has represented the this
district for many years, and was
originally appointed to serve
during the 1980's. On the bal-
lot for State Senator for the 14th
Senatorial District was Republi-
can Dave Sypolt, ofiKingwood,
the incumbent, and Democrat
Steven Shaffer, of Tunnelton,
an attorney who practices in
Kingwood.
Shaffer ended his election
campaign as the "big spender"
with a total of $25,800 in con-
tributions, and $28,864.25 in
expenditures. He lost the race
Debbie Stevens had $7.093.04
in contributions and $6.133.95
in expenditures.
In the race for the County
Clerk job, Huggins took the win
with 4650 votes, with Dixon be-
hind with 4474 votes, and Da-
vies trailing with 653 votes.
Huggins had $20,042.05 in
contributions and $19.713.09
to Sypolt, who had a. total of in
$21.780 in contributions and
$11.132.77 in expenditures, by
a 685 vote margin.
Unopposed House of Del-
egates candidate Williams had
$16.707.05 in contributions and
$4.149.97 in expenditures.
Incumbent Shaver reclaimed
the seat in the House by a 295
vote margin. He had $27,431.10
in contributions and $19,932.88
in expenditures.
expenditures. Dixon had
$1.788.72 in contributions and
$1.788.72 in expenditures. Da-
vies had $837.34 in both contri-
butions and expenditures
In a very close County Com-
mission match-up, Price came
out ahead of Reckan by 57
votes. He had $562.50 in contri-
butions and $562.50 in expen-
ditures. Reckart had $1.300.74
in contributions and $1,763 in
expenditures.
Senator Bob Williams
me
the public, like a $2 million
appropriation which he said
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomb-
lin, D-Logan, "sneaked in for a
training track for dog races".
Another bill which failed to
pass last year. even though it
breezed through the House of
Delegates the first week, is a
proposal to tighten the state's
ethics rules, particularly as it re-
lates to financial disclosures by
public officials of not only their
financial holdings and income
sources, but also the same in-
formation on their spouse.
House Speaker. Richard
Thompson, D-Wayne, is push-
ing the bill again and the West
Virginia Ethics Commission
has also renewed its support for
the increased public disclosure
requirements'. Senate leaders,
who ignored the proposal a year
ago, now say they will support
the measure. But some of them
still may have problems with
the one-year waiting period be-
fore public officials can become
lobbyists that is the second ma-
jor component of the bill.
Senator Dave S/DOP
Unfortunatdy, a major issue,
of how to cope with billions
of dollars needed for post-em-
ployment benefits for retiring
public school teachers and other
state government-workers, still
seems to be unresolved despite
the efforts of a joint House-Sen-
ate committee, whic!~,:has been
working on this issue:~ince ear-
ly in the 2010 regular legislative
session...
MEANWHILB, there will be a
dramatic changing of the guard
in the state Senate for this leg-
islative session. Sen. Jeff Kes-
sler, D-Marshall, has secured
enough votes to be elected Act-
ing Senate President. and has al-
ready announced his new lead-
ership team. Some of the more
dramatic changes are Sen. John
Unger, D-Berkeley, will replace
Sen. Truman Chafin, D-Mingo,
as majority leader, and Sen. Ro-
man Prezioso, D-Marion, will
become chairman of the power-
ful Senate Finance Committee.
replacing Sen. Walt Helmiek.
Sen. Richard Browning, D-
Wyoming, will become the
new Senate majority whip,
While Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-
(Continued on Page 3)
Preston County Circuit Judge
Lawrance S. Miller Jr.. has re-
leased the report of judicial
business for the Circuit Court of
Preston County for 2010. The
Court disposed of 656 cases
during the year and the follow-
ing is a breakdown of those
cases.
Number of cases commenced
in 2010:202 criminal, 391 civil,
and 79 juvenile, for a total of
672. Number of cases disposed
of in 2010; 200 criminal, 382
civil, and 74 juvenile, for a total
of 656. Number of cases pend-
ing as of December 31, 2010;
55 criminal, 210 civil, and 18
juvenile for a total of 283.
Sums of money paid through
the office of the Clerk of the
Circuit Court in 2010 included
$122,310.30 victim restitution
paid by defendants on probation
in criminal cases. This is in ad-
dition to attorney fees and cost
reimbursement to the State of
West Virginia, in criminal cases
in which a lawyer was appoint-
ed to the Court.
The Court consistently re-
quires any person granted pro-
bation to pay restitution to the
victim of the crime and to re-
imburse the State for fees of a
court-appointed lawyer.
Judge Miller noted on Janu-
ary 1,2002, the Family Court of
Preston County became oper-
able. The following is a break-
down of the judicial business of
the Family Court for 2010.
Number of domestic cases
commenced in 2010, 294. Num-
ber of domestic violence cases
commenced in 2010, 295. Total
number of domestic and domes-
tic violence cases disposed of in
2010.663.
According to Judge Miller.
the implementation of the Fam-
ily Court has allowed the court
system to deal with domestic-
related cases in a more efficient
and timely manner.
CASE #11-0004 DE-
STRUCTION OF PROPERTY:
On Tuesday, December 28,
'Deputy Rodeheaver responded
to a destruction of property
complaint in Reedsville. The
victim stated eggs were thrown
at a vehicle and the windshield
had been cracked.
CASE #10-4992 BUR-
GLARY: On Thursday, De-
cember 30. Deputies Sinclair,
Geisel. and Beach responded
to a residence outside of King-
wood in regards to a burglary
complaint. Several items in-
cluding guns and tools were
reported stolen. Items stolen
included one 30-30 Savage
rifle with scope and one .22
caliber Savage pistol. This is a
continuing investigation.
CASE #10-4997 TRES-
PASSING: On Thursday, De-
cember 30. Cpl Root respond-
ed to a trespassing complaint
outside of Kingwood.
CASE #I0-5001 BREAK-
ING AND ENTERING: On
Friday, December 31, Cp1
Tichnell responded to a busi-
ness in Terra Alta in regards to
a breaking and entering com-
plaint. This is a continuing in-
vestigation.
CASE #10-5003 SHOP-
LIFTING: On Friday, Decem-
(Continued on Page 8)
Anyone wishing to be added to the emil list may contact Kayla Ely
at tile Preston County Sheriff's Department or at keely@prestonsheriff.net.
Preston County Sheriff's Department
304-329-1611
Sheriff Dallas Wolfe III