| By Alvin Engelke
The government lady bugs (better known as Asiatic beetles) have been
giving area residents fits. They are infesting homes, they smell, cause
allergic reactions and they bite. Likely the same varmints at the USDA
that introduced multiflora rose and European corn borers fetched these
pests in. Local residents wouldn't feel bad if "W" gave an executive
order forcing USDA bureaucrats to work 72 hour weeks at $5.25/hr
gathering up the bugs. While it is now November, there really hasn't
been a killing frost at Creston. Pepper plants continue to grow, etc.
Alvin and Nancy Engelke drove Route 50 over the mountains, to
Winchester, VA, to visit their daughter Anna in Middletown. The day was
beautiful with some pretty spots of fall color. There was snow on some
roofs around Mt. Storm. Several orchards had nice apples and fresh
cider for sale. (Also fresh pies) The week-end was busy with a feast at
the volunteer fire department; fried oysters and turkey with all the
extras. Anna, Matt Yonkey, Keith Collins and the Engelkes then attended
the play, "Ten Little Indians", which was excellent. Shopping at
antique stores in the area and visiting a look out tower were also on
the agenda. The drive home was somewhat rainy but the mountains on
Route 33 west from Harrisonburg were beautiful with low clouds hanging
over the peaks. Anna is very much missed in the Creston area.
Pat Kendell of New Martinsville read in the Creston News that Elizabeth
Michaels of Parkersburg was going to carry Red Hat Society items. Pat
is a member of the club and is looking for some hats. Upon calling the
store she talked with Nancy Engelke and stated she hadn't lived in
Calhoun County for 40 years but she couldn't live without her hometown
newspaper and The Creston News.
Saturday, November 1 was a busy day for the Creston community. The
morning found a crew of 12 working at the Adopt-a-highway program. The
group gathered up 15 bags of trash. Unusual items found this time
included two gas tanks from junk vehicles [taken off on the way to the
crusher], a brand new guardrail post (which someone came along and took
before the truck got back to pick it up), a screw and the usual beer
bottles and empty fast food containers. When finished they all had
lunch at the community building.
Saturday evening was the regular auction with Bobby Ray Starcher.
Bobby Ray brought Christmas items and the sale was one of the biggest in
recent times. He sold out of pepperoni and some types of cheese. One
lady came for these items and went home empty handed. He promised to
bring more next time. All proceeds will go to building upkeep. At this
time a fence is being built along the boundary line. The property was
recently surveyed by Dan Trembly. Winter plans include a second
bathroom and work on the water system. A new holding tank and water
heater will be installed to help clean up the water. Work is also
planned on the floor under the kitchen area.
Greg & Julie Wise and daughter Evana were calling in Creston Saturday
evening. He is the grandson of John Wise and the great grandson of the
late Bob Wise who lived on Ground Hog and up Island Run.
County Commissioner Robert Lowe & comely daughter Logan, County
Assessor Debbie Hennen, Bobbi Moore & daughter Courtney, Richard Lowe,
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lowe, Sr., Casper Shuman, Chester Bush and a host of
others were calling in Creston on the occasion of the auction at the
Community Building.
Saturday evening, November 8th there will be a benefit for Kenny Jett's
little baby boy at the Creston Community Building.. The baby has
Hirschsprung's Disease and recently underwent surgery at the Cleveland
Clinic. All proceeds will go to the family to help defray some of the
costs for the child's illness. For details contact Donna Ferrell at
275-3202.
Area oil and gas producers have been hit again with some serious
challenges. Hastings Station experienced an explosion and fire on
Friday and will be shut down for an undetermined amount of time. Any
producer that sells their gas through Hastings had to shut down all
production. Those who can, will find alternative markets for their gas
and it is hoped that the station will be up and running sooner rather
than later.
Eastern American Energy's well at Gandeeville in Roane County is making
hole. They are going to drill to the Trenton/Black River in an area
that had 3-D seismic data gathered. The rig can be seen from W. Va.
119. A large crowd was on hand the other day for "the show & tell"
provided for those with proper connections. There is quite a bit of
talk about other drilling and drilling plans in several locations.
Alvin Wiles and the Preacherman were attending to business in
Elizabeth.
Sandy Arthur suffered another heart attack and is a patient at Minnie
Hamilton Health Care facility.
Creston was invaded by all sorts of ghosts and goblins on Friday
evening the 24th. In spite of the ghoulish nature of the gathering and
the downright scary appearance of some of the visitors, everyone
reported having a good time and no one had any veins punctured or bad
spells cast upon them.
Count Dracula had some car troubles upriver near Stouts Mills on
Friday. It was amusing to see the Transylvanian nobleman (who is
supposed to have superhuman powers) be in a situation where he was
having to explain to the officer just what happened. Seems his means of
locomotion left the roadway and wedged between some trees.
Paul Cunningham of Cremo, who has been on the sick list for some time
now, passed away.
Robin Springston passed away after a sudden illness. She was the widow
of "Butch" Davis.
"Duffy" dePue, the wife of Daniel dePue had a massive heart attack at
work & died. Her late father-in-law was prominent Spencer attorney
Robert dePue, a cousin of the Creston dePues.
Jerry dePue and cousin Jack dePue are back on their big construction
job at Creston. They are erecting a Quonset hut type building for
Jack's equipment. Jerry noted that they start late and finish early
each day.
The other day the wind blew down the old apple tree that stood in front
of the former Hunter Pell home at Creston. The tree had been grafted by
O. C. Morris who was a Wirt County Circuit Clerk and member of the GAR.
He was Clara Pell's father.
The Old Lizard was helping Matthew Shimer with some wood staining at
his residence on Saturday.
SFC Thomas Fluharty, USA Retired, was consulting his physician as was
Joseph R. Cunningham.
Joe and Albert "Bub" Ferrell were among those calling on Mr. & Mrs.
Carl Ferrell & family.
Some local residents have been having trouble resetting their
biological clocks to Eastern Standard Time since the government decreed
fast time ended. Fast time was formerly called war time and used to get
more hours of production in defense plants. Later the argument was said
to be to allow more time on the golf course.
Jim Bush and others were hauling hay in the Creston area over the
weekend.
The solar flares provided some spectacular views of the "northern
lights". Such is not common at this time of the year at this latitude
and many have never seen the phenomenon.
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