TOP 2014 HUR HERALD CALHOUN STORIES - Tragedies To Improvements

(01/01/2014)

The top positive story of 2014 is an accumulation of dozens and dozens of stories about Calhoun people who have come to the aid of their neighbors during tough times, through volunteerism, fundraisers or special efforts.

Calhoun's handfuls of emergency responders showing up to help citizens in time of need.

It is neighbor helping neighbor that makes life special in this rural community, including the outreach extended by community organizations and churches that still have open doors.

Although there is a wide perception that crime is on the rise, it is actually down, and Calhoun is one of the safest places to live.

Here, not in order, are some of the top news stories reported by the Hur Herald in 2014:

1. CALHOUN SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS TROUBLING YEAR, IMPROVEMENTS

The Calhoun school system had a troubling year with the revelation that the system had accumulated a $1.8 million deficit over several years, a fact that apparently had not been disclosed to school board members. Additionally, county taxpayers turned down two operational levies.

Superintendent Tim Woodward has announced a reduction plan to decrease the deficit.

Woodward praised administrators and teachers following the release of the latest Westest scoring system, a mixed bag, with the Calhoun school system rising from the worst rated of the state's 55 counties in 2011 to the 11th best in the state, quoting a national website SchoolDigger, using the state's latest measurement standards.

The West Virginia Department of Education says they do not rate schools and school systems numerically, according to Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director of the WVDE Communication Office.

There was a contentious court battle after CM/HS moved to expel eight students for entering Calhoun Middle-High School and Arnoldsburg Elementary after hours. The students were not expelled, but charges were brought against them in magistrate court.

CALHOUN SUPERINTENDENT DETAILS $1.1 MILLION, THREE YEAR DEFICIT REDUCTION PLAN - Coaches Contest Restrictions On Sports Facilities

UPDATE: STATE ISSUES REPORT CARD ON CALHOUN SCHOOLS - Cyphering Hubris Of Statistics, SchoolDigger Says Arnoldsburg School Among Highest Academic Outcomes

CALHOUN SCHOOL BOARD RULING AGAINST EXPULSIONS - Six Students Had Hearings Friday Night

2. STINSON MAN SHOT OVER ALLEGED DRUG DISPUTE

Adam C. James, 29, of Sutton, is set for trial in March, 2015, charged for allegedly shooting Robert "Rob" King, about 40, in the head, King recovered.

UPDATE: JAMES CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE IN MUD FORK SHOOTING - King Shot In Head, Dispute In Church Parking Lot

3. PLEASANT HILL $2,415,000 WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

A major water improvement project has been approved for the Pleasant Hill PSD, not only extending service, but improving long-time trouble spots in the distribution system.

MAJOR WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT COMING TO CALHOUN - $2,415,000 Allocated To Pleasant Hill PSD

4. THOMAS HUSK SENTENCED FOR KILLING JOHN CYRUS

Thomas Husk was sentenced to six years for killing John Cyrus after pleading to voluntary manslaughter, the contentious case failing to have a jury seated.

THOMAS HUSK SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS OVER CYRUS SHOOTING - Husk Plead To Voluntary Manslaughter In Death

5. THREE GENERATIONS DIE IN TRAGIC LEADING CREEK FIRE

A mother, her son and his daughter tragically died when fire struck their Leading Creek residence.

THREE GENERATIONS DIE IN TRAGIC LEADING CREEK FIRE - Remains Discovered Sunday Morning

6. MEN PLEAD IN $2.5 MILLION POT PATCH CASE

Two men entered into a plea agreement in a 2011 $2.5 million Little Creek pot patch case and will be sentenced in January, the case being reverted by the feds back to the Calhoun court. A third man has now been charged in the incident.

MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY IN CALHOUN 2011 $2.5 MILLION POT GROW CASE - Court Rules On Other Felony Cases

7. PARSONS CHARGED IN HIT-AND-RUN DEATH OF TEEN AND MULTIPLE CRIMES

Five Forks resident Darren Parsons was charged in the hit-and-run death and multiple other crimes in Calhoun and Wood County.

CHARGES MOUNT AGAINST FIVE FORKS MAN - Parsons Facing Hit-And-Run Causing Death, Multiple Theft Charges In Two Counties, Domestic Charge Kicking Infant

8. JONES INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF WIFE

Adam Drew Jones, 29, of Big Springs, has been indicted for the attempted homicide of his wife, Deanna Nelson Jones, 25, the case being heard in Ritchie County.

JONES CASE TRANSFERRED TO RITCHIE COUNTY - Alleged Crime Happened In Ritchie, Feet From Calhoun Line, Big Springs Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Wife

9. CALHOUN PARK MOVING TOWARD "DARK SKIES" STARGAZING CENTER

The Calhoun Park is moving toward becoming a destination for amateur astronomers from the east coast as a dark skies astronomy center, with Calhoun among the last areas not affected by urban illumination.

"DARK SKY PARK" STARGAZING/ASTRONOMY DEVELOPMENT COULD COME TO CALHOUN - Calhoun's Night Sky "Will Take Your Breath Away"

10.IMPAIRED 18-YEAR-OLD DRIVER KILLS MT. ZION WOMAN

A speeding,impaired 18-year-old driver kills Mt. Zion woman Tammy Cunningham, seriously injuring car occupants.

UNINJURED IMPAIRED DRIVER CHARGED IN DEATH OF CALHOUN WOMAN - Tammy Cunningham Dies In Tangled Wreckage

11. CITIZEN ACTIVISM AND CALHOUN COMMISSION RESTORING LONG-TIME FRONTIER PHONE SERVICE PROBLEMS

Several hundred Frontier landline customers in the Big Springs/Five Forks area have experienced frequent outages of service for several years, with complaints to Frontier not bringing results.

The problem is antiquated equipment at sub-stations.

Resulting from citizen activism and the Calhoun Commission, who filed a formal compliant against Frontier, it appears the problem is being fixed.

12. HEADLEY DEATH BEING INVESTIGATED AS SUSPICIOUS

State Police are continuing to investigated the suspicious death of a Grantsville woman, Pauline Lynette Headley, 59, INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF GRANTSVILLE WOMAN - Autopsy Results Yet To Be Received

13. GRANTSVILLE IMPROVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES

The longtime Grantsville eyesore known as "the pit" has been filled with the construction of Ginos Pizza/Tudors Biscuit World, the first major business construction in the town in over 20 years.

The town's water plant has been challenged with how to dispose of the accumulation of sludge from several years of water processing at the water plant, the town officials are in conflict with a proposal to increase the benefits of town employees.

14. HIDING MURDERER CAPTURED AT MINNORA

Glenville Man Jeremy Wolfe, 29, charged in the murder of Burnsville woman, Crystal Erin Dean, 36, was found hiding at a Meadow Run property near Minnora by a federally led SWAT team.

UPDATE: MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN CALHOUN BY SWAT TEAM - Glenville Man Jeremy Wolfe Charged In Death Of Burnsville Woman, Wolfe Facing Sexual Assault Changes In Another Case

15. BROADBAND PROMISES, BROADBAND DREAMS

West Virginia and its rural counties remains near the bottom in access to dependable, broadband access. Despite promises, there is no light at the end of the tunnel, except in selected areas.