A1 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012 VOLUME 100, NUMBER 27 PRINTED WITH RECYCLED NEWSPRINT WilliamsonDailyNews.com NEWSSTAND PRICE IS 50 CENTS Former magistrate accepts new position, sets record straight By RACHEL C. DOVE he now works for was, until the first of STAFF WRITER this year, managed and controlled by the West Virginia Supreme Court. Af- WILLIAMSON - “I am not employed ter Jan. 1, several county commissions by the Mingo County Commission, nor throughout the state were designated to do I make $65,000 a year,” said for- oversee a specific group or region. mer Mingo County Magistrate Eugene “I am employed through the Logan Crum, who recently resigned from the County Commission, who is respon- judicial office to become a candidate for sible for the Day Program offices and sheriff. the employees who make up their staff Crum spoke with the Daily News in Logan, Mingo, Lincoln and Boone,” about his wish to set the record straight said Crum. “We all report to our super- and squash the rumors circulating visors in Logan, and this is not affili- about the position he now holds with ated or connected to the Mingo County the Southwestern Regional Day Report Commission in any way.” Center. Crum is joined in the Day Report “I submitted a resume and inter- Center office that is housed inside the viewed just like anyone else would basement area of the Annex Building on have had to,” said Crum. “They had an Logan Street by Melissa Keyser, Pro- opening for the Mingo County slot, and gram Director; Dan Patierno, Adult Ba- I applied. With my experience in law sic Education instructor; and two con- Staff Photo/RACHEL C DOVE enforcement and the judicial system, I tractual therapists, Larry Ferguson and Pictured, from left to right, are employees with the Southwestern Re- was hired.” Melisa Ferrell. Patierno is employed gional Day Center: Dan Patierno, Larry Ferguson, Melissa Keyser and Crum explained that the program ■ Turn to RECORD/6 Eugene Crum. Rahall announces grant opportunities for local fire departments By CHAD ABSHIRE STAFF WRITER Local fire departments can now apply for grants to help support themselves through the U.S. government. U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Se- curity’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now accepting applications for grant op- portunities These grants, a press release from the congress- man’s office stated, would help to support local fire departments’ staffing and deployment capabilities to more effectively respond to emergencies. “The life of a firefighter requires a steadfast com- mitment to service and demands many sacrifices, espe- ■ Turn to FIRE/6 Delegates address Fire Chief’s Association By RACHEL C. DOVE the group, remarked how STAFF WRITER pleased he was to have House of Delegate mem- WILLIAMSON - Dur- ber Justin Marcum and ing their monthly meeting House Finance Chairman on Sunday , the Mingo Harry Keith White speak County Fire Chief’s As- to those in attendance. sociation received West “They discussed two Virginia legislative news different legislative bills relating to bills being pro- that, if passed, would af- Happy birthday, Charlotte posed that will effect fire fect paid and volunteer departments throughout fire departments alike,” Today is Charlotte Sanders’ birthday. She was born Feb. 1, 1921 and would have the state. said Mounts. “They also been 91-years-old. Charlotte left an impact on everyone she met during her 68 Williamson Fire De- answered questions and years of service to the Daily News. Turn to page 3A for a dedication to Charlotte on partment Chief Jerry asked a few of their own, her birthday. Mounts, who serves as to assure they have a solid the current president of ■ Turn to ASSOCIATION/10 Complete list of Mingo candidates Kiwanis announces plans for future events By RACHEL C. DOVE liamson Kiwanis board a student when K-5 announced by clerk’s office STAFF WRITER member Judy Hambrick, teachers from Riverside By RACHEL C. DOVE candidates have now filed. speaking about an orga- Elementary, Southside STAFF WRITER For the office of Magistrate, veteran WILLIAMSON - nization sponsored pro- Elementary and the Wil- incumbents Dee Sidebottom and Pam “Terrific Kids is an ele- gram that honors nomi- liamson Christian are mentary school program WILLIAMSON - Mingo county Newsome have once again thrown their nated students . choosing their nomi- residents interested in seeking public that recognizes and ac- “We get them pumped nations include traits hats into the race, along with newly ap- knowledges children up – we get them excited that begin with the let- office had until midnight on Jan. 28 to pointed Magistrate Dallas Toler. Also from grades K-5 who and enthused about be- ters that spell the word make their intentions official. Accord- seeking this office will be Chattaroy have excelled in a vari- lieving and achieving.” TERRIFIC: Thoughtful, ing to Judy Harvey with the Mingo resident, Jim Harvey. ety of ways,” said Wil- Traits looked for in ■ Turn to KIWANIS/6 County Clerk’s office, a total of 27 ■ Turn to OFFICE/10 THANK Barbara Plotner — Belo, WV WEATHER View the for subscribing to the Daily News YOU ... Tonight: Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 47F. INSIDE Winds light and variable. Classifieds .............8 Entertainment ........7 Chance of rain 60%. Tomorrow: A few clouds online early, otherwise mostly Comics ..................9 Obituaries ..............6 sunny. High 58F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. www.williamsondailynews.com Editorial .................4 Sports ....................5 A2 2 ■ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS State Man admits greyhound extortion try against Tomblin LAWRENCE MESSINA including the one Tomblin fam- come,” Rae said of Miner. governor, Rae and his alleged paign official. Maloney’s cam- ASSOCIATED PRESS ily owns, trains greyhounds this Rae also told Copenhaver scheme became a last-minute paign said at the time that it had way. Rae has claimed that he that “They didn’t know any- issue in the race. no contact with any individual CHARLESTON, W.Va. had ties to the greyhound rac- thing was going on” when he Rae has lived in Florida, but named in the case. (AP) — A man admitted Tues- ing industry. admitted to emailing Maloney. at the time of his arrest he had Those emails prompted day that he threatened to release “I sent emails implying that Miner said Tuesday that been staying with his sister in Tomblin’s campaign to call on what he claimed was brutal vid- I had a tape and I would share Rae’s allegations about the vid- California while receiving psy- Maloney’s campaign to release eo footage of greyhound dogs this in an attempt to harm the eo and the industry are false. chological treatment at a Vet- any relevant information. That, killing rabbits, in a bizarre plot election,” Rae said. “From a common sense erans Affairs hospital in Palo in turn, spurred allegations from to derail the campaign of then- Rae sent a threatening mes- standpoint, how could he know Alto, U.S. Public Defender Maloney supporters that Rae’s acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin sage to Tomblin’s Capitol web- how the 2,000 to 3,000 dogs Mary Lou Newberger said dur- Sept. 29 arrest was actually an just weeks before the 2011 gu- site about the video on Sept. 18, that go through Wheeling Is- ing an earlier hearing. New- attempt to tar the GOP nominee bernatorial special election. just two weeks before the spe- land are raised, at the hundreds berger described his condition in the race’s closing days. Pleading guilty to an extor- cial general election. Rae said of farms in the dozens of states as posttraumatic stress disorder. Search and arrest warrant tion-related felony, Harry Mar- he also emailed a Wheeling- where they come from?” Miner A Navy veteran, Rae told affidavits also alleged that Rae shall Rae told a federal judge area greyhound figure, Dean said. He added, “At no point Copenhaver he began suffer- had previously attempted to ex- he had demanded $50,000 or Miner, and Bill Maloney, the would I have ever given him a ing flashbacks when he saw TV tort $22,000 from the president else would make public an al- Republican candidate in the plug nickel.” news footage of dead manatees, of the National Greyhound As- leged video showing racing race. No video has been filed as killed during Florida’s Febru- sociation by threatening to re- greyhounds trained by chas- “He was running to close the evidence in the case. But foes of ary 2011 cold snap, which re- lease a damaging video. ing down and killing rabbits. racetracks, which would have greyhound racing say that May minded him of the body bags Tomblin won the special Tomblin’s mother breeds grey- satisfied me,” Rae said of Ma- 2010 footage shot by Rae of he handled in Vietnam. election by less than 7,050 hounds, and her family’s busi- loney. “I was using him as le- “live lure” training led a breed- Rae takes 18 medications, votes. Both he and Maloney are ness became an issue during verage with Dean Miner.” er to surrender his license with mostly for blood pressure and running again this year, with last year’s gubernatorial race. Rae had demanded that the Texas Racing Commission, post-traumatic stress disor- the governor’s office up for a The Democratic nominee, Miner collect the $50,000 from just weeks before Rae launched der, said his lawyer, assistant full four-year term. Tomblin narrowly won the spe- greyhound industry members, his West Virginia extortion plot. U.S. Public Defender Christian Rae remains free on bail cial election.