CRESTON NEWS

(09/12/2005)
By Alvin Engelke

By Alvin Engelke

alvinengelke@hotmail.com

Leota Pepper Workman was visiting Sgt. & Mrs. Thomas Fluharty, USA, Retired, & other area relatives and friends on the occasion of her 50th high school class reunion. She reported that her jaws were tired from talking and her neck was tired from gawking. Leota is also the former Annamoriah postmistress. She also attended great grandson Tyler Miller's 11th birthday party.

Jessica Jett works for ResCare a company that assists the developmentally disabled. She has also worked at the 7-11 on Gihon Road for the past 2-½ years. ResCare advised her that because of the disruptions caused in the south by Katrina she and a number of other local employees would have to go to Texas and Louisiana for two weeks to assist with the relocation of unfortunate individuals from the storm areas who have special needs.

When she notified the folks at the 7-11 they were understanding but the local manager had to call the big boss and he said, "Make her sign a paper that she quit voluntarily!" Of course she didn't want to quit; she just needed to be off work two weeks while she was off on special assignment. It would seem that the folks who own the chain couldn't care less about the problems others have and do not really worry about their workers. Maybe a large decline in local patronage would make them "see the light!"

Jessica flew from Pittsburgh to Texas and then to Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Charles Russell was consulting with Dr. Bennett at the Minnie Hamilton Health Care center in Grantsville.

Mia Rhodes was consulting her physician. Her baby is due in November. She and Don moved into the trailer occupied by Alvin Wiles and Alvin moved into Don & Mia's house.

Dorine Parsons returned home after visiting daughter Samantha and family up in Ohio. Samantha went on vacation to Las Vegas where their luck wasn't so good (to put it mildly).

Some wonder who the fellow is that lost his shoes in Creston. Now rumor has it that . . . . .

There will be a birthday party September 24 at the Creston Community Building for Dorothy Graham's 80th birthday party. Everyone is invited to stop by and say hello. The family hopes that Dorothy receives 80 birthday cards.

At 9 A. M. on September 24 the community will have an Adopt-a-Highway occasion. Willing workers should show up at the Community Building and call Amy at 275-3202.

Vandale Meadows, age 91, passed away. He was a son of Dwight and Etta Meadows. Burial was in the Cooper cemetery on Little Creek.

Folks from both Calhoun and Wirt Counties sent money and supplies to folks in Mississippi who were wiped out by the hurricane. It has now been learned that Louisiana officials kept the Salvation Army and the Red Cross from delivering food and water to folks in New Orleans. If anything good comes from this storm there is a valuable civics lesson as to why one needs competent, honest people in charge of local and state governments. Of course the federal programs are set up to work with local officials but, as they say, "It takes two to tango."

It is said that a "turf war" has erupted over what is to be done about those who had serious losses from the flood at the head of the West Fork. Details are available. Some folks have been gathering up furniture and bedding for those who lost their household goods. One Stinson resident was told, "You don't qualify for nothin'", apparently implying that because of his zip code he was second class or some such.

The legislature is meeting down at the Mouth of the Elk to plan for our future and guide the ship of state through to the next special or the next regular legislative session. The food tax and higher pay for state workers in the elite counties are on the agenda.

The LK Shrine club will have an ATV poker run Saturday, September 24 at the historic dePue farm at Creston.

Local residents continue to receive credit card offers from Capital One even after the attorney general took them to court down at the Mouth of the Elk. For some strange reason the credit card company wants the lawsuit file sealed so the public cannot read about their business practices.

The price of local crude fell to $60.75/bbl and gasoline prices are, for the most part, now below $3/gallon. Local oilmen (and oil wimmen) all went to Ergon's big catfish fry at their shop up the Ohio River from Marietta. The annual event is one of the main social occasions of the area.

The Wirt County Farm Bureau will meet Tuesday September 20 at 8 P. M. at the road garage to plan for the annual meeting and submit resolutions for the state resolutions meeting at Jackson's Mills.