Officially Retired

Effective at midnight December 31, 2016, I am officially retired.  

After 30 plus years working in the legal field since 1986 (and having worked at least part time continuously since I was 15 back in 1976), I will no longer be engaged in any type of employment and will be whiling my time away in my rocking chair.  I have been asked countless times in the past year as I neared retirement what I will do when I retire.  The simple answer is "not work."  My "bucket list" of leisure and recreational endeavours will keep me occupied.

As many of you know, I did not seek re-election and Joyce Morton was elected unopposed in May, 2016 as the new Family Court Judge beginning January 1,  2017.  I wish her the best and hope the job does not sour her always positive, cheerful, and friendly disposition.

I will keep this blog online, but will only update it occasionally.

Webster Boys' Basketball Ranked 10th in Power Ratings

According to the BasketballNight.com power ratings released on December 30, the Webster County Highlanders boys' basketball team is ranked 10th in Class A out of 49 teams.  Among other factors, the rankings consider a team's win-loss record and strength of schedule.

Click the link below for the power rankings for all three classes:

Power Rankings

Holiday Hoops Tournament Cancelled

The threat of snow has caused the cancellation of the Webster County Holiday Basketball Tournament for December 29 and 30 according to a news release from 102.3 radio.

Will Snow Snub Holiday Hoops?

The Webster County Holiday Tournament scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week faces a threat of significant snow, with forecasts ranging from 3 to 6 inches (or more) beginning Thursday afternoon.

The girls kick off action Thursday with games scheduled at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Highlander gym.  At 5:00 p.m., the Pocahontas boys play Liberty-Raleigh followed by the 7:00 p.m. nightcap with the Webster boys playing Braxton County.

On Friday, the consolation and tournament championship games will be played with the girls' consolation game at 1:00 p.m. and girls' championship game at 3:00 p.m.  The boys' consolation game with begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by the boys' championship game at 7:00 p.m.

Will Old Man Winter allow these games to proceed?  Or will the forecasters be wrong again?

WVU Football Team Arrives Safely in Florida

Thanks to United Airlines pilot and Webster County descendant Roger Hall, II, the WVU football team has arrived safely in Florida to prepare for their bowl game against the Miami Hurricanes.  The photos below show the United charter jet sitting in the pre-dawn runway at the Clarksburg, West Virginia airport, some of the team boarding the jet (photo taken from cockpit), and the buses awaiting the team in Florida.

WVU Bowl Hopes in Hands of Webster County Descendant

The fate of the WVU Mountaineer football team in its upcoming game against the Miami Hurricanes lies in the hands of a Webster County descendant.

The Mountaineers play in the Russell Athletic Bowl on December 28, 2016, to be televised on ESPN at 5:30 p.m.  Many folks pin WVU's hopes for a win on a combination of a strong defense coupled with good performances on offense by quarterback Skyler Howard and his teammates.

Head coach Dana Holgerson and defensive coach Tony Gibson have drawn up the game plan.  WVU fans are packing for the trip South to watch the game live.  The athletes have finished last minute preparations.

But none of that matters unless a Webster County descendant comes through in the clutch.

Roger Hall, II, is a descendant of lifelong resident Walter Hall of Guardian, and is the son of Roger Hall, I, who lives part time in Webster County.  Roger, II's son is currently a student at WVU.

But it all comes down to the performance of Roger Hall, II.  He is the pilot for United Airlines that will be flying the team to Florida.  Hall will pilot a special charter for the WVU team that leaves Clarksburg on December 26 at 9 a.m. and arrives in Orlando, Florida about two hours later.

If Roger, II does what he has done for the past 30 years of his flying career, WVU will be in warm, sunny Florida ready to blow out the Hurricanes.  Our word of advice for Roger, II as he prepares to fly the team to a bowl victory is this:  "Keep the shiny side up, the dirty side down, and please, stay out of the trees."

Abandoned Nuttallburg WV Coal Town Video

Nuttallburg, WV Click link for video.