INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Domestic Violence Month

Page 2 By Cathy Patton such as soap, shampoo, - Rocket Boys to Land in The Steven toothpaste, etc. The Coalwood Correctional Facility donated items will be - 10th joined with the Mc- given to local shelters Anniversary Kickoff Dowell Correctional for victims of domestic Facility and a num- violence, who often flee Page 3 ber of human service from abusive situations - Miniature Golf Course agencies in recogniz- with only the clothing Opens ing October as Domes- on their backs. - World View tic Violence Month Stevens Cor- - Furry Facts Wednesday, October rectional Facility War- 1. In recognition of den George Janis added Page 4 the month, Chairper- that he totally supports - Cheers and Sneers son Robbin Hairston, all efforts to assist all McDowell Correctional Facility, and Stevens Cor- victims of domestic violence. - Welch Autumn Festival rectional Facility Warden George Janis presented “I’ve been involved in this for a long time purple ribbons to representatives of the local agen- and as long as I’m here I will continue to support cies that serve victims of domestic violence. such efforts,” Janis said. The correctional facilities have also Pictured are Warden Janice, Frazier “I’m a firm be- launched a toiletry drive during October, Hairston McGuire, WVDHHR; Al Wade, Paul Miller Shel- liever in luck, said, noting the boxes have been placed inside both ter; Rosie Jackson, SAFE Advocate; Robbin Hair- correctional facilities to collect the items. Hairston ston, McDowell Correctional Facility; Debbie Co- and I’ve found encouraged the public as well as the employees chran, Unit Manager and Dennis Dingus, Deputy that the harder I at the facilities to fill the boxes with necessities, Warden. (Photo by Cathy Patton) work the luckier Stevens Facility to Expand I get.” By Cathy Patton mission’s ongoing thrust to diversify our coal-based – Thomas Jefferson WELCH - Because of the statewide demand economy and create additional jobs,” Lambert said. for additional inmate beds, a $7 million expansion of the Stevens Correctional Facility is in the works, “The project is tentatively scheduled for Contact Us County Commission President Gordon Lambert an- completion in late 2009 or early 2010.” nounced today. McDowell County Stevens Warden George Janis commented, Commission The expansion project is a cooperative effort “It’s all about being cost efficient. The extra space Cathy Patton of the McDowell County Commission and the EDA gives us the ability to work better and is much needed. Editor The expansion is expected to create 40 more jobs and Our ultimate goal is to be an ACA accredited facility. 109 Wyoming St. provide much-needed office space. The move will help us to acquire the ACA accredita- Welch, WV 24801 The expansion involves acquiring the South- tion in half the time, which is usually five years. ern Highlands building, which will be converted to “The expansion means that we will have a Phone: 304-436-2874 house 135 new beds, and the acquisition of the NAPA better trained staff and a safer staff. It means that the Fax: 304-436-8572 Building, which will be used for office space. inmates are getting the programs they need and are Email: cathyapatton@ The NAPA building needs hardly any repairs safer. Ultimately, that means the community is saf- yahoo.com and is located directly across the street from the Ste- er.” www.mcdowellcoun- vens Facility. The Southern Highlands building is lo- Janis added, “Acquiring the new buildings tycommission.com cated directly behind the facility and that makes both will add to the job security of the employees. It will of the buildings ideal locations for the expansion, make the entire facility function more smoothly, as Lambert said. well as making it more valuable to the state.” “The expansion project is a part of the Com-

1 By Cathy Patton Rocket Boys to Land in Coalwood It wasn’t until after he re- Best-selling author turned from Vietnam that Hickam Homer Hickam Jr. and the world fa- decided to pursue writing, his other love. It mous Rocket Boys -- Jimmy O’Dell didn’t take long for his scuba diving adven- Carroll, Billy Rose, Roy Lee Cooke tures to find their way into noted magazines and Quentin Wilson-- will return to and that lead him to write Torpedo Junction, their hometown of October 4th for the a military history best-seller published in 10th Annual October Sky Festival. 1989 by the Naval Institute Press. As always, the Rocket Boys’ Rocket Boys was written nearly a de- return is anticipated to attract scores cade later, the result of a 1500-word maga- of visitors from across the U.S. and zine article that he authored about his three- abroad when Coalwood-- at least for years of misadventures with the Coalwood the day--will bustle with the vibrancy Missile Agency. reminiscent of its heyday when coal Hickam laughed as he recalled an was king and Hickam and his friends even earlier publishing venture. were involved in the antics that would “Roy Lee Cook and I were in the make them household names for the third grade when we decided to do a newspa- millions of readers of Hickam’s be- per, The Coalwood News. We sold the papers loved Rocket Boys book. for one cent apiece,” he said. “People were Through snow, rain and amused by them and wanted to see what we scorching heat, the festival has con- had to say. My teacher said then that one day tinued for a decade, a tribute to the state and national competition. Entwined in I’d make a living as a writer.” tenacity of hope that the Rocket Boys story the story are the personal struggles that the Ever the writer, to date, Hickam has authored engenders. boys face at home, at school and in the com- 10 books. The Dinosaur Hunter, is due for “The author is always the last to munity. publication next June. know why a story appeals to readers,” Hick- “The book speaks to people on Though that would be more than am said recently during a phone interview many levels,” Hickam said. “Teachers love it. enough to tire most anyone, Hickam has ad- from his Huntsville, home. “I was The book was used after the terrible events at ditional projects in the works. He is collab- already 55 years old when it hit. I didn’t an- Columbine High School to teach kids how to orating with a number of others on Rocket ticipate it.” work harder and do better. Boys the Musical. The ultimate goal, he said, For those unfamiliar with the mod- “People who’ve had problems with is to perform the play on Broadway after it ern literary and movie classic, Rocket Boys/ their parents love it. After reading the book, has made its rounds first through community October Sky is the true story of Hickam and they’ll say, ‘I get it. I know now that my Dad theatres, colleges and high schools. his Big Creek High buddies who decide to loved me, though he never said it. I’m going For a sneak preview of the play, build a miniature rocket to enter in the coun- to call my Dad and tell him that I love him check out rocketboysthemusical.com on ty science fair. Inspired by the Sputnik, the anyway.’ It’s one of those miracles that oc- Hickam’s website: www.homerhickam.com. teenagers prevail against great odds and go cur.” on to win the local science fair and also the

OCTOBER SKY 10th ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF - Rocket Boys fans from near and far gathered at the Coalwood Meth- odist Church Friday night to enjoy a scrumptious spaghetti dinner and to meet Author Homer Hickam, Jr. and two of the Rocket Boys, Billy Rose and Roy Lee Cook. Other highlights of the evening included a documentary by Steve Date on the town and a presentation of “Dorothy the Rocket” to Hickam from the Cougar High School Rocketry Club, from the Pitts- burgh, PA area. Hickam, who helped sponsor the Rocketry Team to a special NASA event in Huntsville, Alabama, commended the teens for exhibit- ing the three Ps of the Rocket Boys, passion, a plan and perseverance. Longtime Coalwood resident Helen Carson and former resident, Dr. Robert Likens, whose father was a principal at the old Coalwood School, are pictured with Hickam and his wife Linda (Photo by Cathy Patton)

2 World View:

Food for Thought

Forty percent of Egypt’s 80 mil- lion people live on around $1 a day, and inflation has risen above 20 percent. -- AP report

By 2030, 8.3 billion people will walk the Earth, and farmers will have to grow 30 percent more food.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Starving Hai- tians make cakes of clay, salt and MINIATURE GOLF COURSE OPENS - Those look- shortening to supplement their diet. ing for a way to have family fun and enjoy a little light exercise in the process will want to The clay cakes are a staple of im- check out the newly opened miniature golf course located at Linkous Park in Welch. poverished pregnant women. There is a small charge to play, but the course was opened as a public service by the City of Welch, according to Welch Mayor Martha Moore. More than six billion people today “We don’t make money on it,” Moore said. “We opened it strictly as a public ser- rely on food grown on 11 percent of vice.” the global land surface. Only three As an added bonus, the lowest scorer in a foursome wins a free pass to play again. percent of the Earth’s surface offers The challenging, 18-hole putt-putt course features a windmill, covered wagon, wish- inherently fertile soil. ing well, paddle wheel, bulls eye and plenty of other obstacles to test a player’s skill. Volunteer Manager Bill Kell notes that the course is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., ---September issue, Na- Monday through Thursday; from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday; and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. tional Geographic Magazine The course is closed on Fridays and is not open when it rains. “We can’t compete with high school football. That’s why we’re not open on Fri- Since May 2002, Five Loaves and days,” Kell said. Two Fishes Food Bank, Kimball, The putt-putt course opened the third week of August and will close when the has distributed over five million weather gets cold. Kell said the city plans to install lights and expand the hours at the course pounds of food. The food bank min- next spring. istry currently has 10,000 individu- “The putt-putt course is also available for parties,” Kell said. als who have applied for food bank- For additional information on the miniature golf course, phone Debbie Rushbrook cards, which represents about 3300 at Welch City Hall at 436-3113. (Photo by Cathy Patton) families in McDowell and Wyoming Counties. Furry Facts -- September 28, 2008, Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in Bluefield Daily Telegraph one year: 3 Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6 Weight Watchers was founded in Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce 1963 to help people lose weight by in one year: 2 following a balanced diet. Weight Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10 Watchers now operates in 30 coun- Three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized by shelters each year. tries. DO THE MATH; The number of animals allowed to reproduce at will is astronomi- -- Wikipedia cal. Please get your pet spayed or neutered to prevent the over-population of unwanted animals.

3 Cheers and Sneers To Sam Sidote (WELC’s “Boss Man Sam”) for being inducted into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame on October 25.

To Mt. View Science Teacher Ed Evans for being the national winner in America’s Top Science Teacher competition

To founder Bubby Falvo for his continuing work at the Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank in Kim- ball

To Coalwood native and world famous author Home Hickam for promoting his hometown

To the Cape Coalwood Restoration Association for hosting the 10th Annual October Sky Festival Octo- ber 4th

To the City of Welch for sponsoring another successful Autumn Harvest Celebration October 5th

To the McDowell County Recreation Committee for hosting the upcoming Third Annual Masquerade Ball, scheduled for October 25 at the Welch Armory

To the Visitors and Veterans Center for sponsoring the upcoming second annual Haunted House on Octo- ber 30th at the V & V Center in Kimball

To Congress for continuing its practice of partisan politics and not reaching an agreement to fix the eco- nomic meltdown sooner.

To presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain for accepting hundreds of thousands of dol- lars from some of the Wall Street companies that have required the costly government bailouts

To the oil industry for continuing to gouge consumers at the gas pump while making record profits

To WV Governor Joe Manchin and Attorney General Darrell McGraw for enforcing anti-gouging mea- sures

WELCH AUTUMN FESTIVAL - Smiles abounded at the Annual Harvest Festival at Linkous Park, October 5th. Festival goers enjoyed a variety of music, scrumptious eats, vendors, games, miniature golf, skateboarding and hay rides provided by Harold McBride. The day ended with a colorful fireworks display at dark. The Alan Johnston Highway 52 Band is pictured here performing a bluegrass tune during the festival. (Photo by Cathy Patton)

www.mcdowellcountycommission.com 4