For the second month in a row, the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority has billed Webster County in excess of $50,000.00 for housing Webster inmates.
For December, 2012, the county owes $57,828.00, representing 1,185 inmate days at $48.80 per day. Of the month's total, $45,335.20 (or 78%) was for inmates charged with felonies and $12,492.80 (or 22%) was for inmates charged or convicted of misdemeanors.
If news of the December jail bill was not bad enough, the total jail bill for the first half of the current fiscal year (from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012) is even more shocking. For this six month period, the County has paid or owes (including December) a total of $371,239.00. If the second half of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2013, has a similar amount, the County will have run up a jail bill for the year of over $742,000.00, which would set an all-time jail bill record. Considering that the County's total budget for the past fiscal year was $3.3 million, the projected current fiscal year's bill of $742,000.00 would amount to 22.5% of the total budget.
Below is a list of the inmates and the days they spent in the Regional Jail for December.
Felonies:
Joretta Faye Adkins, 31
Tony Darrell Adkins, 7
Lester Taylor Barnhouse, 25
Okey Eugene Brooks, 31
Katrina Mae Brown, 31
Joe Edward Butcher, 31
Kenneth Lawrence Butcher, 27
Stephanie Dale Butcher, 31
Donald Eugene Chaffin, 31
Daniel Morgan Cobb, 31
Blake Marshall Collins, 20
Dorinda Kay Barnhouse Cool, 31
Willis Arden Currence, 31
Brier Jon Cutlip, 31
Jeremy Allen Dempsey, 4
Matthew Burton Friend, 31
James Fredrick Given, 31
Brian Eugene Hall, 31
Kimberly Sue Hinkle, 31
Connie Jeanette Hosey, 31
William Christopher Jordan, 31
Mark Wayne Linkous, 31
Brett Alan Lowery, 6
Roderick Allen Lusk, 31
Kenneth Ray Mathes, 3
Cole Shannon McCourt, 31
Keith Odell McCourt, 31
Shane Edger McCourt, 31
Tracy Lynn McCourt, 31
Robert Daniel Pennell, 31
Mary Jane Rose, 31
Ronald James Ward, 31
Amanda Maureen York, 31 Michael Steve York, 31
Misdemeanors:
Bradley Keith Barbe, 31 Robert Lee Chapman, 24 Ellisha Dawn Hammons, 1 Tashina Renee Hypes Hammons, 1 Travis Mack Hammons, 1 Mary Ann Garvin Hamrick, 10 Arey Lewis Harman, 31 James Granbil Hines, 1 Judith Ann Adkins Hitt, 1 Vanessa Louise Johns Meadows, 31 Daniel Leroy Lomelino, 4 Landyn Lane Lynch, 31 Timothy Ray Malcomb, 31 Carlton Ray Mazzella, 1 Beverly Loraine Taylor, 31 Melissa Sue Tolliver, 1 Ronnie Joe Watson, 25
Above: Central Regional Jail photo and booking information for Paul D. Bean.
A Webster County juror for the September, 2012 term of Court (which runs from September, 2012 to early January, 2012) has been found in contempt of court and sent to jail for the second time this term.
Paul David Bean, age 43, was first sentenced to the Central Regional Jail in September, 2012, after he appeared for jury duty and was found to be under the influence of alcohol. Circuit Judge Jack Alsop found Bean in contempt and sentenced him to 24 hours in jail.
On January 8, 2013, Bean again appeared in Court for jury duty. A jury trial was scheduled in a criminal case. Bean was again found to be under the influence of alcohol. This time, Judge Alsop sentenced him to five days in jail. The jury trial was continued to another date for reasons other than Bean's condition.
At an emergency meeting today, the Webster County Commission voted unanimously to appoint Eva Green to the position of County Clerk to replace retiring Clerk Terry Payne.
Commissioners Jerry Hamrick and Dan Dotson were present in person at the meeting and Commission President Chuck Armentrout participated by telephone. The Commission was aware that both Green and Nancy Mathews, a Deputy Assessor with the County, were interested in being appointed to the Commission.
During the meeting, Commissioners first accepted the resignation of Payne and then moved on to consider her replacement. Green was present at the meeting; Mathews did not attend.
Commissioner Armentrout spoke highly of Green's experience as a Deputy County Clerk. "She has served the County well and she has a lot of experience with the financial dealings of the County as well as experience in election matters, and the overall operation of the office of the County Clerk," Armentrout said. Without any further debate, Green was appointed unanimously.
Green has served as a Deputy County Clerk for just shy of 18 years. Green will begin on February 4, 2013 and will serve until the next general election in 2014.
Long time Webster County Clerk Terry Payne confirmed today that she is retiring from office effective February 4, 2013.
County Clerk Terry Payne
Payne has served as the County Clerk for almost 22 years. She was first appointed to the office when former Clerk Nancy Gillespie retired, and Payne has been elected ever since, most recently in 2010.
The County Commission meets in an emergency session today, January 10, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. to discuss and select Payne's successor. Whoever is selected to replace Payne will serve according to law until the next general election, which would be 2014. As Payne's current term would not expire until 2016, anyone who replaces Payne would serve until 2014 and then be faced with an election for the remaining two years of the term until 2016.
Payne said after working for such a long time, and being eligible for retirement from the State, it was just time to retire. "I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the public," Payne said.
Stayed tuned to the Commentator for further updates as to the Commission's actions on the replacement.
During the Civil War, Webster County residents were overwhelmingly "secessionist," in favor of the Confederacy, and the County still boasts a Confederate sympathizer of sorts in the form of Magistrate John Stone.
For the better part of the last 18 years, Magistrate Stone has joined with hundreds and even thousands of hobbyists who participate in reenactments of various battles from the Civil War. He reenacts as a member of the Confederate Army's 28th Virginia Infantry, Company D. The Commentator recently asked Magistrate Stone about his experience in Civil War reenactments and he was gracious enough to share his involvement. We print unedited his story, as follows:
"I developed an interest in the civil war period in my youth, and knew that my great grandfather, Thomas Stone, had fought with the confederacy. I knew that my great grandfather Christopher Schrader was captured and sent to a union prison and died of small pox, and that was all that I knew about my family participation in the conflict until I started reenacting.
I started civil war reenacting with my oldest son Court and my wife Kathy in April 1995 at the battle of Saylor’s Creek as a private in the 8th Ohio Regiment. It was ironic that my first reenactment was of the last major battle of the civil war, where Gen. Lee lost almost half of his army.
I later joined the 17th Virginia, Co. D , the Fairfax Rifles, reenacting unit. I was elected as corporal and then as sergeant in that unit. In reenacting rank is obtained the same as it was in most units during the early part of the civil war, i.e., you were elected to the position.
I learned that I had 3 uncles who fought in the civil war in addition to my great grand father on my father’s side of the family. John Harmon Stone was a Sergeant in the Bedford Light Artillery, Samuel Miller Stone was in the 28th Virginia Company C, James Fletcher Stone was in the 34 Virginia, and Thomas A. Stone was in the 28th Virginia Company D.
Magistrate Stone, on left, in a reenactment photo made with the same type of photographic technique that existed at the time of the Civil War (with negative of photo on glass).
I formed the 28th Virginia Company D reenacting unit after learning I had 2 ancestors who fought with the 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment during the civil war. I was elected Captain of the 28th Virginia Regiment Company D and served in that capacity until being elected Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd Battalion, Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) in October, 2012.
My “home unit”, the 28th Virginia, is always looking for quality recruits, and we usually have enough gear to get a recruit started in reenacting if they are interested.
The first thing we do when we arrive at the reenactment site is to set up the camp which consists of setting up a white canvas tent, cook fly, and fire pit for cooking. Privates usually camp in an A-Frame tent which is approximately 9ft x 9ft x 6 ft.
As an officer I camp in a “wall tent” & it measures approximately 10ft x 10 ft. and is about 7 ft. tall with a fly, which gives some shade & protection from the rain. Yes, it does rain sometimes at the reenactments and it can be somewhat challenging to camp in rough weather.
Magistrate Stone and wife Kathy in Charleston, South
Carolina, at the time of the Civil War submarine "The
Hundley" funeral procession in April, 2004.
Most civil war reenactments are held on Saturday and Sunday with most reenactors arriving on Friday to set up their camp with Friday being a “kick back & relax” day.
Reveille usually starts at 6 am & breakfast is cooked over an open wood fire. Our fare is usually eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, potatoes, hash, gravy or something similar, about the same food as our ancestors except more of it. Other meals consist of chili, stew, chili mac, soups, and potluck. We eat our meals on period style plates, and we try to keep all non-period items hidden from public view. Our meals are delicious and we are not very good at portraying the “starving confederate soldier”.
Morning reports have to be in by 7 am and then the activity starts. At around 9 or 10 am the battalion is formed and this means every soldier is in uniform with rifle and canteen standing in formation and ready for inspection.
After inspection the battalion is marched out of camp for drill using the period tactics of the civil war. After drill the troops are marched back to camp and they have some free time to go to the sutlers (period mall shopping) but have to be back in camp by early afternoon.
When it is near time for the reenactment battle, the battalion is reformed the same manner as at drill that morning and after another inspection are marched off to the battle. During the battle the soldiers march and stand shoulder to shoulder in two ranks. Each soldier fires an 1853 Enfield or 1861 Springfield (or similar) reproduction musket with a blank cartridge containing about 60 grains of black powder. It gets pretty noisy and there is a lot of smoke, and confusion, and troop movements which give you the flavor of what actually occurred during civil war battles (minus the casualties).
As reenactors we try to portray the battle as close as we can to the actual battle that was fought during the civil war. In other words the Union does not win at 1st Manassas or the Confederates at Gettysburg. We sometimes have a tactical battle at reenactments and those are non-scripted battles, in which, each side will try to “best” the other.
Safety is paramount in the reenacting community and we have several safety inspections during the weekend. We require that each soldier have a full canteen of water in addition to his uniform and rifle. We do not allow any non-scripted “hand to hand” fighting, and we do not fire the muskets when we are closer than 25 yards to the opposing side. Bayonets are kept in the scabbard unless taken out to “stack arms” Under no circumstance is the bayonets or ramrods to be utilized during the battle, no exceptions.
Antiqued photo of Civil War reenactors, including Magistrate Stone, when
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson addresses his troops. Compare
this photo to the same scene in the movie "Gods and Generals" shown below.
I have participated in 2 movies (no speaking parts) and I am sure countless videos and photographs during my 18 plus years of civil war reenacting. I was one of the civil war troop commanders during the filming of the battle scenes of 1st Manassas in the movie “Gods and Generals”, and I can be seen clearly during Gen. Jackson’s (Actor Steven Lang) address to the 1st Brigade. I am in the movie that is shown at the Manassas National Battlefield Park, “The End of Innocence” again as one of the troop commanders.
I met “Larry the Cable Guy” (Dan Whitney) at a reenactment at Sully Plantation when Larry and crew were filming the show “Only in America”. He is a “down to earth” person, and actually participated in the reenactment during the weekend, he also paid the registration fee for the reenactors for that event.
Hollywood produces great actors, but they usually do not have the expertise to lead troop formations using the tactics used during the civil war. It took me several years to learn the tactics and I usually learn something new at every reenactment.
I have participated in reenactments as far west as Franklin, TN, and as far north as Philadelphia, PA, and as far south as Charleston, SC.
Magistrate Stone's sons, John (left) and Court, on Court's
wedding day at the Fairfax Courthouse.
It was an honor to march in the funeral procession of the crew of the civil war submarine the “Hundley”, (this was the first submarine and crew to sink a battleship during wartime), the submarine sank killing its crew, but raised in the mid 1990’s. The Hundley funeral march was about 7 miles long in 90-degree weather.
I have been invited to speak about the role and function of infantry, and the 28th Virginia Regiment, at the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park at least twice a year for the last 10 years.
I enjoy the reenacting hobby and look forward to participating in this years events. This year we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg, and I will be at Gettysburg."
The video below first includes the actual footage from the movie "Gods and Generals," where General Stonewall Jackson is addressing the troops, and Magistrate Stone can be seen in the second row of the soldiers. The video also includes Magistrate Stone drilling at "Pitzers' Woods" at Gettysburg National Park, where his company is going through the manual of arms and shows Magistrate Stone talking to the public.
A lot of polls and rankings are thrown about during the basketball season, and most have some subjective element in them, such as team reputation, coaches' opinions, etc.
One poll bases its rankings on only objective factors, such as wins versus losses, wins or losses against stronger or weaker teams, etc.
MaxPreps, a CBS Sports website, releases its "Freeman Basketball Rankings" twice each week.
According to the Freeman rankings released January 6, 2013 for boys Class AA schools, the Webster County Highlanders ranked 16th out of 38 schools. Webster currently sports a five win, one loss record. When all Class A, AA, and AAA schools are combined together, Webster ranked 52nd out of 137 schools.
The Associated Press rankings, which is a subjective poll, ranks Webster much higher. In the AP poll released today, the Highlanders are tied for 6th with Roane County, a team they beat on the road earlier this season.
Here is the top ten in Class AA ranked by the AP (with their respective records):
1. Scott 8-0 2. Bluefield 4-1 3. Poca 7-1 4. Robert C. Byrd 6-1 5. Wyoming East 6-1 6. Webster County 5-1 Roane County 7-2 8. Tolsia 4-5 9. Fairmont Senior 5-3 10. North Marion 5-2
West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin just announced the lucky winners in the receipt of millions of dollars in grant money for various projects.
30 of West Virginia's 55 counties received some type of grant.
Webster County is not one of those 30 counties.
About $10 million in grant money was handed out for 22 different trail projects (both walking and motorized), 36 projects under the Transportation Enhancement Grant Program, and 7 projects under the Safe Routes to Schools Grant Program.
Cabell County: City of Huntington Heritage Station Revitalization 2012, $38,400; Old Main Corridor 2012, $500,000
Fayette County: Virginia St. Sidewalk 2012, $80,000
Fayette/Greenbrier Counties: Meadow River Rail Trail 2012, $250,000
Grant County: Town of Bayard Sidewalks 2012, $24,000
Greenbrier County: Main St. Streetscape 2012, $158,400; Kanawha Ave. Streetscape 2012, $240,000; Lewisburg U.S. 219 N. Sidewalk Project 2012, $300,000
Greenbrier/Monroe Counties: Alderson Memorial Bridge Understructure 2012, $360,000
Harrison County: Charles St. Sidewalk Project 2012, $183,650; Town of Lumberport Jones Run Rd. 2012, $168,000; Nutter Fort Sidewalk 2012, $80,000
Jackson County: South Court St. Revitalization 2012, $154,800
Kanawha County: Washington St. W. Streetscape 2012, $529,668; St. Albans Streetscape 2012, $245,000; Nitro Streetscape 2012, $300,000
Dunbar Downtown Streetscape 2012, $278,208
Marion County:Farmington Pedestrian Access 2012, $80,000 Pleasant Valley Sidewalk 2012, $112,000 New Trail Development, Barrackville to Mannington 2012, $280,000 White Hall U.S. 250 Sidewalk 2012, $90,000
Mason County: Town of Mason Sidewalk Project 2012, $320,000
Here are the Safe Routes to School Grant projects funded:
Barbour County: Sidewalk Safety to Mt. Vernon School, $115,000
Greenbrier County: Rainelle Elementary School, Sumac Lane Sidewalk Corridor, $130,000; FY 2012 Alderson Elementary Safe Routes to School, $110,000
Kanawha County: East End Kids Walk & Bike! Safe Routes to Piedmont-Part II, $130,000; Holz Safe Routes to School, $120,000; Safety/health at work for our town, $107,800
Wood County: Franklin Elementary School Project, $112,000
For the second month in a row, the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority has billed Webster County in excess of $50,000.00 for housing Webster inmates.
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