Sutton man charged with selling heroin - Braxton Citizens' News

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November 19, 2013
OPINION
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As I
See It
By Ed Given
A monumental celebration…
You may have noticed by the byline on this space
last week that I didn’t write it. That was because I
was absent from the office. After getting the paper
ready for the printer November 5th, Jeanine and I
embarked on probably the most important trip of our
lives. The journey had been in the planning for over
a year and a half. The occasion... celebrating our 40 th
Wedding Anniversary.
After the paper was safely off to the printers,
we headed to Pittsburg to spend the night. The stop
was necessary due to our early flight to Miami the
next morning. All went well and we made our flight
with no problems. We arrived in the Sunshine State
to just that… sunshine. It was nice. We didn’t have
long, as the next leg of our journey departed an hour
later. We did however manage to find the rest of our
traveling companions.
Our destination was St. Lucia in the Caribbean
Sea. We had never been to that part of the world. It
was Jeanine’s idea and after 40 years of putting up
with me… who was I to argue. The flight was a little
rough but we arrived on time to more sunshine.
Ultimately our final stop for the week was going
to be Sandals Grand Resort. We soon learned that
the resort was on the opposite end of the 26 mile long
island. It took over an hour to reach the hotel, but
the time passed quickly as our driver told us about
the island and its’ culture. The streets were very
narrow and they drove on the wrong side of the road,
so keeping occupied was important and apparently
the driver knew that. The country is very poor, but
you wouldn’t know that once we arrived at the resort.
It was like going into another world. It was quite
luxurious to say the least. We were treated like
royalty everywhere we went. That was undoubtedly
a result of something the driver told us in that 75%
of the island’s population rely on tourism for their
livelihood.
I simply can’t explain adequately in this space
how beautiful the resort was. There was oceans of
activates to occupy our time. So, the first few hours
were devoted to planning our weeks activates. Once
that was behind us, we settled into our pool, which
we stepped into off the balcony of our room, to relax.
Guests could easily spend their entire vacation
and never leave the resort. We did however, venture
out on two excursions. Both took nearly all day. Our
first was a boat trip to the island of Martinique. It
was a great ride, followed by shopping, swimming and
food, of course. On the way back we saw a gorgeous
Caribbean sunset.
Our second trip was a Jeep Excursion. We
loaded up in the back of a Land Rover and toured
the country side. We saw all kinds of things, including
a volcano, where we took a mud bath. This probably
was my favorite part of the vacation, other than
spending time with Read my wife. the The guide, who called
himself John Wayne really gave us a history and
culture lesson Citizens' during the seven News or eight hours we
spent with him and his partner.
The On week The passed World way too Wide quickly and Web before we
knew it… it was time to head home. I was glad to
get home, but spending that time with Jeanine and
our friends was a once-in-life-time experience. We
owe a huge thank you to Mary Hunt who made all
www.bcn-news.com
the arrangements for a spectaular vacation.
Now I wonder, assuming I live that long and am
still healthy Twitter enough… and what Facebook
will we do for our 50 th
Anniversary?
From
our
readers
A Thank you...
Dear Ms Mary Jo Frame,
Director of Nursing
Braxton County Memorial
Hospital
I sincerely wish to
thank Ms. Amy Moore
and the other staff at
your Medical Center for
the excellent care they
provided my mother,
Opal Dean. My mother is
elderly (95) and has
difficulty walking, seeing
and hearing. Your cohesive
team of professionals
was pleasant, knowledgeable,
and absolutely
committed to teamwork.
If everyone could be as
pleasant and helpful, our
world would be much
happier.
From the very first
day to the last day of her
extensive stay, your staff
was courteous and filled
with compassion. Even
during the times when
they were extremely busy
and my mother was
cantankerous, neither
ever got flustered, all
showed total dedication
and commitment to their
duties. The care they
provided was nothing
less than first class. Far
exceeded my Expectations!
During an extreme
emergency, the quick
actions of your team of
professionals and the Air
Evacuation team prevented
my mother from a
bleed-out. I will always
be indebted. You are
very fortunate to have a
team of this caliber at
Braxton County Memorial
Hospital.
I hope you will be
able to offer them some
kind of accolade for their
tremendous efforts in
making my mother’s stay
so pleasant. God Bless.
Kind Regards,
Sandi Mullinnix
Attention Farm
Bureau Members...
Dear members,
Braxton County has
over 100 members, yet
when monthly meetings
are held there are only 4
to 8 in attendance.
Recently at our annual
dinner there were only
21 to enjoy some good
home cooked food and
fellowship. So, where
has everyone been? I
know that a lot of you
are older members and
do not drive after dark;
but there are others who
would benefit from
attending these monthly
meetings. We have some
informative programs
that most farmers would
enjoy as well as those
non-farmer members.
Do most of you
realize that the Farm
Bureau is the spokesperson
for farmers at our
WV State Legislature?
The WV Farm Bureau
along with the American
Farm Bureau went to
bat for a West Virginia
Chicken farmer, Lois Alt-
Hardy County, against
the EPA and to date are
winning the case. If not
for the Farm Bureau she
would be paying hundreds
of thousands in
fines for rain water
runoff and probably be
out of business.
Donald & Brenda
Burroughs, Sue Cutlip
and Linda Brown represented
Braxton County
Farm Bureau at the
Annual FB Meeting at
Days Hotel on November
8, 9 and 10, 2013. It was
a very informative and
busy session. There were
programs on: 1-The
Importance of Preplanning
and Planning
Techniques; 2-Farm-To-
School; 3-Low-Cost
Cow-Calf Production in
WV and 4-Old Farmers-
Assessing Risk. There
was also Young Farmers
Orientation and
Youth Speech Contest;
Auctions; as well as
various committee
meetings preparing
resolutions that the
Farm Bureau will
present to the Legislature
for consideration.
A few of these were:
Against Common Core
State Standards in
Schools; Against Forced
Pooling of Minerals (a
violation of private
property rights); Recommends
that all
income taxes on Social
Security cease; and
Supports reinstating
the food tax as a broad
based tax. These are
just a few of almost 200
resolutions that were
approved for presentation
to the Legislature.
We also have some
political guests during
the weekend; a very
funny comedian at the
Saturday night banquet
and the BEST gospel
group “Joyful Noise”
from Elkins who sang
Sunday morning.
The Farm Bureau is
an organization beneficial
to all of us; farmer
and non-farmer alike.
We are asking that you
as a member to please
participate and promote
new membership in the
Braxton County Farm
Bureau. We meet the
third Monday night of
each month at 7 PM at
the Flatwoods Community
Building.
Linda Brown
Representative
of Holly District
Intercepted Letter...
Sent to Pam Pierson,
Braxton County Animal
Control Officer
Residents of the
Town of Sutton have
known for some time that
some of the feral (“wild”)
cats that live in and
around the community
were carrying a virus that
can cause one of two lifethreatening
viral illnesses
in cats, namely feline leukemia
virus (FLV) and feline
immunodeficiency virus
(FIV), commonly
known as “kitty AIDS”.
However, last week a sick
stray wandered onto the
property of a local resident
that lived on the south
side of the city, on the hill
overlooking the Flint
Fields. Audibly wheezing
and with ear-tips crusted
and suggesting evidence
of frostbite, the cat was
thought at first to have at
least an acute asthmatic
bronchitis, if not a pneumonia
brought about from
the recent sub—freezing
temperatures. Just One
Generation, the local feral
cat advocacy group, was
contacted and provided
initial medical care in the
form of indoor foster placement,
antibiotics, and
prednisone medication.
Vet evaluation was
sought when there was insufficient
improvement in
the cat’s condition after
several days. A blood test
done at the vet’s office
confirmed the presence of
both the feline leukemia
virus and the feline immunodeficiency
virus in the
cat’s system. According to
Dear Pam:
I read recently in
the Braxton Citizens’
News where you have
assumed the position
as Braxton County’s
Animal Control Officer.
I am thrilled that you
have accepted this
position and I know you
will serve the county
and animals well.
As you are focused
and observant in recognizing
potential animal
abuse and neglect
cases, your compassion
and caring of rescued
abused animals and
those living in deplorable
situations is to be
praised.
Again, welcome to
Braxton County and if I
can be of assistance,
please feel free to call
my office.
Sincerely,
Brent Boggs
Advisory to local cat owners
about potential viral exposure
the personnel at the treating
facility, it was the first
time in their fifteen years
of operation that one cat
had tested positive for
both infections.
Local veterinarian
Dr. Ross Young agrees
that the presence of both
infections in the same cat
is an unusual finding. He
states that he has been
aware that both viruses
exist individually within
the cat population in
many parts of the county,
but especially in the
Sutton area. “It’s why we
encourage all cat owners
to have their cats tested
for the viruses and immunized
against the feline
leukemia virus if it tests
negative for the disease.”
Dr. Young also cautions
that there is a window of
about 3 months between
the time that an animal is
exposed and the time that
it will test positive with a
blood sample. In other
words, even a cat that initially
tests negative for the
disease can develop symptoms
and problems in the
months and years ahead.
The two diseases can
initially be difficult to distinguish,
since the cats
may present with similar
symptoms, including lethargy,
decreased appetite,
weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea,
inflammation in
the mouth, pale mucous
membranes suggesting
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Braxton
Citizens’
NEWS
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Ed Given
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Allison Given-Nettles
SPORTS EDITOR/FEATURE WRITER
Shirley Shuman
REPORTER/LAYOUT DESIGN
Stevie Ann Shingler
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Jeanine Given
REPORTER/CIRCULATION
Larissa DeLuca
REPORTER/SALES
Molly Harris
PRINTING
Mike McElwain
(SSN 393130)
A Weekly Publication
Established February 9, 1976
P.O. Box 516 / 501 Main St.
Sutton, West Virginia 26601
E-mail: quality@rtol.net
(304)765-5193
Entered as periodic rate at
the Sutton, WV Post Office
Postmaster:
Send address change to:
Braxton Citizens’ News
P.O. Box 516, Sutton, WV 26601
Subscription rates:
$17.50 in county, $25.50 in
state, $41.00 out-of-state
E-subscription, $20.00
Senior Citizens may deduct $1
I write this week as our
home is preparing for Thanksgiving
and I’m heading to the
Capitol for November interim
meetings. At home, we’re
gearing up for everyone planning
to be in for the holiday
weekend – or at least on
Thanksgiving Day, subject to
all the variables that can
happen with kids, grandkids,
weather, etc. The opportunity
to be together again this year is
a great blessing for which I’m
increasingly thankful as the
years go by.
As always, we’re thankful
for our veterans. And, on
Veterans Day, Braxton American
Legion Post 33 and the
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub
Scouts and Scout leaders
sponsored a great dinner and
program for veterans and
their family members at the
Braxton Senior Center. The
Scouts served the dinner and
I want to report that they
made us all proud. Working
like professionals well beyond
their years, the scouts were
respectful, attentive and
friendly in honoring our
veterans. Likewise, the veterans
were equally appreciative
of those young men and
News from
our Capitol
by Delegate Brent Boggs
women that will be our future
veterans and leaders. Thank
you to those that prepared
the delicious meal and for
those that planned and
participated in the Gassaway
Veterans Parade earlier that
morning.
Additionally, the local
economy will receive a big
seasonal boost with deer
season beginning on Monday,
Nov. 25. Hunters have been
preparing for months for the
upcoming two-week season,
with the biggest impact
during the first week. Also, it
means additional revenue for
sports shops, restaurants,
convenience stores, and
many other retailers. This is
always a multi-million economic
shot-in-the-arm for our
State. I’m looking forward to
being in the fields and woods
on opening day, along with
thousands of other hunters
throughout West Virginia. If
you have questions about the
current rules and regulations,
visit the DNR website
at www.wvdnr.gov
Most importantly, stay
safe and look out for your
fellow hunters. And remember
to wear plenty of blaze
orange.
I was pleased with the
announcement in Wood
County last week by Governor
Tomblin and Odebrecht
officials on the promising
news of a long-sought ethane
cracker facility to be formally
known as ASCENT (Appalachian
Shale Cracker Enterprise).
This announcement
represents a potential billion
dollar investment that will
have a positive fiscal impact
for our entire state.
The several hundred
acre site is exacting what is
required for this type facility:
flat land, major navigable
river; main-line rail access;
and close proximity to a
major 4 lane highway. These
factors considerably reduce
the number of potential sites
in West Virginia.
While no official construction
start date was
announced, a portion of the
site is occupied by the former
GE polymer facility that has
been downsizing for several
years. It will close in 18
months and the old plant
razed to make room for the
new cracker facility and three
separate polymer production
facilities nearby.
Several legal, supply,
permitting and other critical
hurdles are ahead. However,
the developer has already
spent millions in doing site
research, securing options,
meeting with construction
trades and other necessary
work that will make this a
reality for the natural gas
industry and other major
employers that depend on the
finished products from a
cracker facility. The importance
of this investment will
mean that the energy produced
here at home can also
be converted and valueadded
to produce even more
valuable petrochemical
byproducts that are the
building blocks for many
essential products.
I also want to make
mention of a comment that
an Odebrecht official, Mr.
David Peebles, made during
the announcement at WVU-
Parkersburg branch campus.
He advised the many students
in attendance to continue
their education, obtain
the skills needed for future
employment and to stay
drug-free. Mr. Peebles was
providing some sound advice
for their personal economic
future.
Send your inquiries to the
Capitol Office at: Building 1,
Room 462-M, Charleston, WV
25305. Or, call Nancy Butcher
in the Finance Committee
office at 340-3230; or fax to
340-3388. If you have an
interest in any particular bill
or issue, please let me know.
For those with Internet access,
my e-mail address is:
Brent.Boggs@WVhouse.gov
You may also obtain additional
legislative information,
including the copies of bills, con-
Please turn to CAPITOL
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