Camden on Gauley Flood Photos

Camden on Gauley was yet another place in Webster County to be hit hard by the June 23 flood.  All photos posted by Ciera Jane Powers on Facebook.

Gerald Freeman Campground Flooded, Closed

The Gerald Freeman Campground located near the forks of the Holly Rivers in Braxton County was almost completed submerged by the June 23, 2016 flooding.  Only a handful of camping spots located near the upper entrance were spared from the flood.  The campground, a favorite vacation spot for many Webster County residents, has been closed until further notice.  The video below shows the upper end of the campground near the forks of the Holly Rivers.  The upper bathhouse can be seen partially submerged in the right side of the video.

Flooding Around Guardian, WV

Video below shows the high water and flooding of the Right Fork of the Holly River near Guardian, West Virginia (about 7 miles northwest of Diana) on June 23, 2016.

Flood Photos/Videos from Webster County Residents on Facebook

Webster County was ravaged by severe flooding on Thursday.  Much of Hotel Bottom and Cherry Falls were under water, and flooding damage was reported all over the County.

Click on the links below for videos appearing on Facebook by various Webster County residents.  After the video links are several photos of the flooding and its aftermath (click on picture for larger versions).  

Flooding in Cherry Falls by Tammy Kaye Moffatt

Bridge Crossing Elk River at Cherry Falls by Tammy Faye Moffatt

Elk River near Cherry Falls by Tammy Kaye Moffatt

Hillside Flooding Near Hospital by Tom Clark

Elk River by Joyce Clayton

Propane Tank in Elk River by Kirby Ratliff

Braxton Man Appeals 1-10 Year Sentence for Shoplifting $9.91 of Goods

In June, 2015, Circuit Judge Richard Facemire sentenced a man to not less than one year but not more than ten years in prison for shoplifting $9.91 of goods from a Sutton auto parts store.  The convicted man is now appealing that sentence to the West Virginia Supreme Court claiming the sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  The appeal is set to be argued on September 14, 2016.

Click Here to Read Convicted Man's Arguments to the Supreme Court

Click Here to Read the State's Response

Lunatic Car Show

The Summer Knights Cruzin' Association of Weston, West Virginia sponsored a Father's Day car show at the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum on June 19.  155 cars registered for the show.  Participants also toured the asylum and watched outdoor wrestling matches.  The cars shown below are a sample of those in attendance.  Click on the photos for a larger version.

WV Day Car Show at Holly Gray Park

As part of the West Virginia Day Festival held at the Holly Gray Park near Flatwoods, a car and truck show was held on June 18 in addition to the mud bog racing and other activities.

This 1955 Chevrolet won best of show.

The engine compartment of the 1955 Chevrolet was so clean you could eat off of it.

1964 Ford Galaxie 500.

Early 1940's Ford.

Rat Rod with just a "small" exhaust.

The radiator overflow "tank" for the rat rod was this beer bottle.

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Early 1960's Ford Sunliner convertible.

Interior of Ford Sunliner convertible.

Million Dollar Bridge Down Elk Revisited

About 12 miles below Webster Springs along the Elk River is what is known as the "million dollar bridge" spanning the Elk (that was the cost of the bridge when it was constructed in the 1960's).

The "million dollar bridge" as seen from the down-river side.

Entrance to bridge from down-river side.

Graffiti covers about every inch of the seldom used bridge.

Looking up river from the bridge.

Deep hole of water on the Elk River below the bridge.

Old railroad grade along the Elk River below the bridge.

Horizontal pieces in the mud hole are old railroad ties.

BREAKING NEWS: State Government Shutdown Likely Averted

On Sunday, the West Virginia State Senate approved Governor Earl Ray Tomblin's revised budget calling for 65 cent per pack tobacco tax increase; the margin was 27 in favor and 4 against. 

The tax revenues expected to be raised by the tobacco tax are estimated at $100 million, which will considerably lessen the $182 million that would have come from the State's rainy day fund.

Local Senator Robert Karnes was one of the four Senators voting against the budget.  Webster's other Senator, Greg Boso, was absent and did not vote on this critically important legislation.

On Monday, the West Virginia House of Delegates followed suit and passed the budget by a large margin.  Local Delegate Dana Lynch voted for the revised budget bill.  After further consideration by the Senate due to minor changes made by the House, it is highly likely the Governor will sign the budget averting a state government shutdown on July 1.

Hacker Valley Elementary School Car & Bike Show Photos

A car and bike show was held at the Hacker Valley Elementary School today to raise money for the students' trip to Washington, D.C.  About 20 cars and 6 motorcycles attended on a hot Saturday.