Examiner Moorefield
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Days Until 46 SPRING Established 1845 TWO SECTIONS • 16 PAGES 94¢ USPS 362-300 MOOREFIELD EXAMINER Wednesday, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 | VOLumE 126 • numbEr 5 AND THE NOMINEES ARE... TURNING 100 Better Times leads this year’s nominations for WVU Reymann Memorial Farm Best of Hardy County. See what’s nominated. Page 6 Page 8B Mathias Legislative Town Hall Draws Crowd By Lon Anderson ready held 13 town halls in their dis- missioner David “Jay” Fansler. Rep- Special To Moorefield Examiner trict, which includes all or parts of six resentatives from U.S. Senator Joe counties, the Mathias event “was the Manchin’s and Congressman Alex Mathias may be a small communi- biggest turnout by far.” Mooney’s offices were also present. ty, but it can sure turnout a big crowd Top of mind for those attending— First up was a review of the state’s with lots to say when given the oppor- audience and politicians—was the financial situation. “We’re in very tunity to meet with locl legislators. state’s dire financial situation, fol- bad financial shape” with a “hella- Last Thursday’s Legislative Town lowed closely by the quality of educa- cious cash flow problem,” said Del. Hall Meeting held in the Mathias tion and ambulance services. Sponaugle, who has been added to the School Community Center was a case Elected officials on hand to ad- House Finance Committee this year. in point: it was a standing-room-only dress these concerns included State “There’s a $700 million deficit that crowd of 60- plus citizens who turned Senator Dave Sypolt (R-14), Newly- we’ve got to fix, and that will take up out to hear from their elected repre- elected Senator Randy Smith (R-14), most of the session.” Newly elected County Commissioner David “Jay” Fansler addresses the Mathias legislative sentatives, and to air their concerns. Delegate Isaac Sponaugle (D-55) and Sen. Smith noted that “We’ve got a Town Hall Meeting Thursday night. To his left is State Senator David Sypolt, and to his right are For the State Senators, who had al- from the County, newly-elected Com- Continued on page 8 Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, and newly elected Senator Randy Smith. Photo by Lon Anderson Metzer Past, Present & Future Whitecotton Named Director Appointed Of New Biz Launchpad To State By Jean A. Flanagan Moorefield Examiner BOE It only took a Former Superintendent of port our kids,” she said. few minutes of Hardy County Schools Barbara “I know we have some mon- observation at the Whitecotton has been named ey problems, so those will have inaugural Ag In- by Governor Jim Justice to the to be addressed too. novations Show- West Virginia state Board of “Testing is obviously some- case in 2015 to Education. thing that is necessary for as- realize who was Metzer Whitecotton joins Miller L. sessment, but we have to quit in charge. While Hall, a Berkley County educa- testing our kids to death.” the Showcase was Eastern West tor and Harold Hatfield, for- “The politicians and bureau- Virginia Community and Techni- mer superintendent of Putnam crats in Charleston have failed cal College Entrepreneur in Resi- County schools. to listen to our teachers, so I dence Joseph Kapp’s idea, Tina “I’m very excited,” Whitecot- appointed three educators with Metzer was the person directing ton said. “This makes retire- significant classroom experi- the traffic, scheduling the speak- ment a little more interesting.” ence to the state Board of Edu- ers, arranging the demonstrators Whitecotton served as Har- cation,” Justice said in a press and managing the activities. dy County’s Superintendent of release. “Miller Hall, Barbara At the 2nd annual Ag Innova- Schools for eight years. She was Whitecotton and Chuck Hat- tions Showcase in 2016, it was not previously the Assistant Super- field have dedicated their lives unusual to hear “Go ask Tina” at intendent, a Principal and Vice to improving public education any and every inquiry. and on the state Board of Edu- Metzer was recently named Ex- Principal as well as a classroom cation, they will help me deliver ecutive Director of the New Biz Photo by Mike Mallow teacher. She retired after more results for students across West Launchpad, Eastern West Virginia than 40 years in the public Ted and Toni Harvey, owners of the Inn at Lost River, stand with a portrait of the business, which has Virginia. They all share my vi- Community and Technical College school system. been chosen as the Tile House for this year’s Heritage Weekend. sion for making education the Foundation’s entrepreneurial in- She expressed some ideas as centerpiece of our state.” cubator. It’s a role for which she to how to improve education at “It’s truly an honor to serve is extremely well-suited, according the state level. the people of West Virginia and to Kapp and Eastern’s President Hardy County Tour and Craft “Our biggest goal is to get help Governor Justice trans- Charles “Chuck” Terrell control back to the county “As a single mom, growing up in boards,” she said. “We were form our public schools,” Hall, Mathias, and as an entrepreneur, Grants $20,350 to Community told what to do and how to do Whitecotton and Hatfield said, few people better understand the it. All of the counties are not in a joint statement on their ap- challenges and opportunities for By Jean A. Flanagan to celebrate our rich history and meeting and dinner on Thursday, alike, but we were treated that pointment. “Our experience rural entrepreneurship than Tina,” Moorefield Examiner to share the magic of the holiday Jan. 26 at the South Branch Inn. way.” from the front lines of West Vir- Terrell said. “She is extremely pro- season. The two events are made Vice President Nicole Keller Whitecotton said the new A ginia’s classrooms will help the possible through the efforts of the acknowledged the Sam and Kel- - F Grading system for schools Governor make our schools na- fessional, extremely organized, has Heritage Weekend and Santa’s a great sense of humor and people volunteers of the Hardy County ly Williams family for their par- needs to be reviewed and she tionally competitive. We want North Pole Express bring thou- enjoy working with her. She eas- Tour and Craft Association. ticipation as the 2016 Heritage hopes to support teachers to return local control to our ily makes contacts and builds rela- sands of people to Hardy County The HCTCA held its annual Continued on page 8 more. “That in turn, will sup- Continued on page 8 tionships.” “She has a unique skill set,” said Kapp. “She can see the big picture, but can also take care of the small MHS Softball Team Requests Their Own Facility details. She understands the value of education in the community and By Jean A. Flanagan Moorefield Little League. “Our Moorefield Middle and Moore- Boys Baseball Team. In 2007, the success of our softball team.” is really good with not only plan- Moorefield Examiner girls work hard and I think we de- field Intermediate, where they Girls Softball Team moved to the Because the team plays at a ning, but executing as well.” serve our own facility,” said Coach plant corn and have the corn Moorefield Town Park, where public park, they cannot charge Metzer grew up in Mathias and Since its inception in 1998, the Tammie Ayers. maze,” she said. “We walked it off. they share a field with the Little admission, so there’s no revenue. received a Bachelor’s Degree in Ayers appeared before the Har- It’s large enough.” League. Business from Bridgewater Col- Moorefield High School Girls They cannot have a dedicated lege and a Master of Science De- Softball team has had to share dy County Board of Education on Ayers presented a history of the “We only get to practice until concession stand, although they gree in Human Resources from facilities, first with the baseball Monday, Jan. 23. team. From 1999 through 2006, 5:15 p.m., she said. “In a way, the do receive a percentage of the Continued on page 3 team and most recently with the “We have some space near the team shared a field with the little league is responsible for the Continued on page 6 CONNECT www.MoorefieldExaminer.com WEATHER Source: National Weather Service On Facebook On Twitter @MoorefieldExaminer News: @MoorefieldEx @HardyCountyWV Sports: @HardyCoSports AWARDED for GENERAL EXCELLENCE in ADVERTISING — 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 & 2016 AWARDED for GENERAL EXCELLENCE in EDITORIAL — 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 & 2016 2 - MOOREFIELD (WV) EXAMINER, Wednesday, February 1, 2017 O PINION From other editors’ desks… INTERCEPTED LETTER Dear President Trump, today (Sunday, January 22, 2017), those marching had not voted in were marching. For myself, I was Congratulations on your recent you asked rhetorical questions the election. For clarification, I marching for my wife, the female American inauguration. I look forward to about the Women’s March on Sat- and my three companions to the co-worker and friend who were a lively term in office, given your urday, January 21, 2017. I wanted march did vote. I cannot account with me. I was marching for my style of campaigning for the elec- to answer these questions from my for the other 589,996 estimated mother and aunts. I was marching tion. perspective. marchers. for my sisters-in-law. I was march- Entrepreneurship In one of your Twitter messages First, you questioned why Second, you questioned why we Continued on page 3 Needs Health through my head. Dreams, I on Big House’s new bathroom de- guess.