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By Alvin Engelke
It is always refreshing to see young people do exciting and
great things. Such was the case this past week-end when about 66
children put on two productions at the Theater Guild in Parkersburg.
There are two performances slated for this coming week-end also. The
first, short, one act musical play, called "The Power of the Amulet"
was completely written and produced by Guild Builders members. The
second play was the popular musical Lil Abner. Locals played an
active part in the production and success of this program: Linda
Buchanan was the production assistant and dance captain. Last year
she won a prestigious award for her work with Guild Builders. Her
husband Gary was part of the set construction team and son Eric did a
terrific job of playing the part of Earthquake McGoon...the
semi-villain turned good guy who gets Daisy Mae to say she will marry
him. Other Wirt Countians in the play are Kyle Ayers as Lonesome
Polecat/Colonel/Cronie (three parts in all), Amanda Roberts as a
member of the Dogpatch population and choir and Jake Wendelken who
played the lead part of LiL Abner Yokum. The children have been
working on this play since September and it is worth a trip to
Parkersburg to see. Many Wirt Countians have already attended
including: Susan Smith, Katie Thorn, Brittany Davies, Keith Collins
and Nancy & Anna Engelke, who also visited the popular eatery
Applebees before attending the production. Keith and Anna then went
on to Chris Puccios residence in Parkersburg to celebrate Michelle
Spickers birthday/Mardi Gras party.
Older residents may remember Woodrow Yokum who was a close
associate of former Gov. W. W. "Wally"Barron and Bonn Brown. Bonn was
in the news recently when it was reported that he contributed to the
Clinton Legal Defense Fund.
This coming Friday evening and Saturday, several Wirt Countian women
will be gathering in Charleston for the Women Of Faith Conference,
where they will worship and celebrate with several thousand women from
all over the country. Point of Grace, a Christian Vocal group, will be
a feature of the program, as will national Christian speakers, Patsy
Clairmont, The Gerianum Lady - Barbara Johnson and Luci Swindol. A
contingency is coming from Hickory, NC including Sarah Morris Rhodes,
Sharon Konhle, Evelyn Spencer, Melissa Sims, Donna Johnson, Robin
Brinkley and Barbara Sargent. Kendi Morris is coming in from
Gallipolis OH, and Helen Morris, Nancy, Jane and Anna Engelke will be
joining them to make sure they get a big WV welcome.
The spring peepers were singing the other night but then
winter made a return visit bringing their serenade to a temporary halt
even though Easter flowers are starting to come up and maple buds are
swelling. The West Fork was up and covered the fertile low bottoms
over the weekend but there was no flood damage locally.
Some local residents are not happy that the folks down at the
mouth of Elk River have decided to levy a big tax on snuff and chewing
tobacco inasmuch as rubbing and chawing is a state tradition. Mail
Pouch has been making chewing tobacco in the same factory in W. Va.
since the 1840s. Education is to be funded by gambling which should
create some sort of moral dilemma.
Speaking of education a fellow in a nearby town needed to hire
office help. He said, "Here is my desk and computer. I want you to
write a letter to so and so that says such and so. The folks just out
of school were handy with the computer but had no idea how to compose
and write a letter. The older folks did well at fixing up the letter
but could not use the computer. Then some wonder why employers look
elsewhere and there is talk of "improving education". Some remember
back before special ed when every one in school could read.
Freddie Bush was in Creston looking for timber to purchase.
Columbia Hardwoods also had a representative in the area.
Charles I. Russell was consulting with his optician and will
soon have new lenses in his spectacles.
Marc Rich, the oil and aluminum mogul, continues to make the
news. Some wonder why his trips to Jackson County were not in the
national news and others wonder why the report that in 1986 he offered
$250 million to get off the hook was not reported more widely.
Local residents are looking in wonderment at their new gas
bills (which look like electric bills). The rate per MCF is $8.58.
While some gas fetched $10.93/MCF some of the gas sold locally for
$8.58 was purchased for 40 cents/MCF.
Rev. Bob Stanley will be preaching at Burning Springs next
week. He announced that services will start at 9:30 A. M. Everyone
is welcome. Rev. Stanley is in the Woodring family and has deep roots
in the area.
Chloie Hopkins, age 90, passed away in a rest home. A native
of Hur, she was the widow of the late Everett Lee Hopkins. Their son,
the late Don Hopkins formerly lived in Creston as do many cousins.
Roxie Lanham, who was a daughter of the late Ransom Copen, a
native of Big Two Runs passed away. She was buried in the Owl Hill
cemetery.
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