" www.mountain messeneer.com
II II II
Rupert Law Enforcement Office and Tax
Office moving
Sheriff Roger L. Sheppard is pleased to announce that the Rupert
Sheriffs Law Enforcement Office and Tax Office will be moving to
Rupert City Hall on Main Street in Rupert: They will be at their new
location on Monday, Mar. 3. Tax Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
::Study praises education
iipolicy, but slams outcomes
~-~ By Shaya Tayefe Mohajer "Unfortunately, we have to
Associated Press Writer
CHARLESTON, W.'Va. (AP)--
A new national study praises
;:West Virginia's education poli-
cies with an A grade, but gives
the state's schoolchildren an F
for classroom achievement.
Though the state is succeed-
ing in setting high standards,
students aren't yet achieving
high academic marks, accord-
ing to Education Week's "Qual-
ity Counts 2008" report re-
;;leased Wednesday.
" Nationally, the state's eighth-
graders rank 47th in math and
43rd in reading, while fourth-
graders rank 40th in reading
and math. Those rankings are
based on cumulative student
scores on the National Assess-
ment of Educational Progress
test from 2003-2007.
Overall, the state's grade of
B-minus topped the national
average, a C. High marks in
standards, assessment, ac-
countability and the state's
policy of financial equity pro-
vided a counterbalance to the
low achievement numbers.
"West Virginia is very low-
performing when you look at K-
12 achievement, and that's not
going to surprise a lot of
;,*~people," said Christopher
",~wanson, one of the study s
, ~authors and director of the edi-
i
,torial project at the Education
i
,Research Center.
be patient if we want to see
wholesale and very visible im-
provements to achievement. It
can happen, but it takes time."
In five years, West Virginia's
schools may be substantially
improved if they follow current
policy mandates, Swanson
said.
State Superintendent of
Schools Steve Paine said im-
provements in NAEP scores
should be seen even sooner.
Paine noted that the school
board's high marks for educa-
tional policy were a result of
more rigorous curriculum stan-
dards implemented after he
took office in 2005. He also
noted that higher state stan-
dards for students will go into
effect in the fall of 2008.
"We have fixed the problem
from our policy standpoint,"
Paine said. "Now, what we ab-
solutely need is a professional
development structure in this
state to help teachers teach to
the standards that we now have
put in place, standards that are
going to make our kids globally
competitive."
Paine says he will urge leg-
islators during the 60-day leg-
islative session that kicked off
Wednesday to fund an initia-
tive to help provide one-on-one
training and online resources
for the state's teachers.
ous ng
Devel
economic s
m
On Thursday, Feb. 21, Gov.
Joe Manchin asked the West
Virginia Housing Development
Fund directors to put together
a stimulus plan that would en-
courage more first-time home-
buyers in West Virginia and
help to prevent the housing
slump here that has plagued
the overall U.S. economy the
last several months.
The governor said that al-
though West Virginia hasn't
suffered the same dramatic
drop in housing values and in-
creased foreclosures as have
many areas across the coun-
try, state "officials must take
action now to ensure that the
state's growing economy isn't
slowed as creditors clamp down
on mortgage lending and ad-
justable rate mortgage rates
swell.
"Fortunately, for West Vir-
ginia, our housing market
didn't suffer the same level of
over-inflated values for homes
and sub-prime mortgage fi-
nancing that has put our na-
tional economy into a tailspin,"
Manchin said. "But at the same
time, we need to give the indus-
try a boost--an incentive plan
--to encourage more West Vir-
ginians to buy homes through
affordable mortgages, and to
help those residents who've
gotten into a bad situation with
mortgages they can no longer
afford because of skyrocketing
adjustable rates."
Joe Hatfield, executive direc-
tor of the Housing Development
Fund, said the mortgage Indus-
try is under extreme pressure
and more conservative lending
requirements are decreasing the
number of eligible borrowers.
"Fewer borrowers means fewer
home sales, which can lead to a
slowed state economy. With one
of the highest percentages of
home ownership in the country,
housing has been a significant
part of West Virginia's growth the
last few years, he said.
"The governor asked us to
"i~ut together a housing stimu-
lus package to help new pur-
ulus plan
chasers get stable loans at ex-
cellent rates, and to help fami-
lies with sub-prime mortgages
get refinanced into a low-inter-
est program. We believe the
Fund can play a strong role in
helping West Virginia families
--we want to get more West Vir-
ginians Into their own homes
and do what we can to keep
existing homeowners in risky
mortgages from losing their
homes."
The Housing Development
Fund board of directors ap-
proved a plan that provides the
following:
$20 million In Mortgage
Revenue Bond funds at 4.99
percent interest for 30-year
mortgages. This money would
be used for families buying
homes for the first time and for
other qualified homebuyers.
Increase the Closing Cost
Assistance Program to $5 mil-
lion to provide loans of as
much as $5,000 to cover the
larger cash contributions
needed from families buying a
home.
* Encourage use of 97 per-
cent and 100 percent financ-
ing provided by federal loan
guarantee programs.
$350,000 In matching
funds for the Affordable Hous-
ing Trust Fund for borrower
assistance programs.
Homebuyer counseling for
families with existing sub-
prime loans to avoid foreclo-
sure.
Manchin said this is not a
bailout and it does not put the
Housing Development fund or
state in a bad financial situa-
tion. The loans would be guar-
anteed either by private mort-
gage insurers or through fed-
oral loan guarantee programs.
Loans through the program
are available immediately. For
more information or for assis-
tance, residents may visit one
of the Housing Development
Fund's participating lenders,
or call the Fund at (800) 933-
9843 or visit www.wvhdf.com.
The '
tVeekend Papelr for the Greenbrier Valley - Mounl;ain M essenqer Feb. 23, 2008 SA
Oliver Porterfield seeks re.election
to Monroe Co. Commission
Winner of Postman's PantS contest
As we approach the end of winter, the Lewisburg Foundattion
is proud to announce the winner of this year'spostman's Paints
contest, Bernie Holliday. Fellow contestant and two-time- win-
ner Fonzie (Steve) Fitzwater graciously backed out as wiind
chills dropped below zero in January.
Postmen raise funds for the Lewisburg Foundation as well as
the charitable organization of the winner's choice through thleir
participation in this fun, spirited competition. Merchants amd
individuals are encouraged to donate on behalf of the po~st-
men and support of their efforts. For more information ab ut
the Postman's Pants Challenge, contact the Lpwisburg Foun-
dation at p.o. Box 1755, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Anita Skeens Caldwell.
Democrat of Princeton. Mercer
County, seeks to return to the
State Senate representing the
10th District.
Caldwell served in the WV
State Senate from 2000-2004.
She is the daughter of the late
Mayor Lewis I. and Willie Alice
Farley Skeens of Princeton.
She is a graduate Concord Col-
lege and West Virginia Univer-
sity. She has a son, Nathaniel
"Chad" Caldwell, currently a
councilman for the City of
Princeton.
While serving in the WV
State Senate her committee
assignments were: Education,
Interstate Cooperation (Vice
Chair), Judiciary, Military (Vice
Chair), Trar~sportation (Vice
Chair), Enrolled Bills, Inter-
state Cooperation (Chair). She
has been an educator for 40
years in the Mercer County
School System.
Caldwell has operated sev-
eral business ventures. Sihe is
a Baptist an(~ a member o~f the
West Virginia Education .~Asso-
ciaUon; American Federatiion of
Teachers; /~/kRP, Presi,dent
Four Seasons Rurit.an Club,
Mercer County Democratic
Club; FounOer, Courthouse
"Players Theatrical Tro,upe,
Mayor, City of Princeton, II995-
1998; Membgr, Princetont City
Council, 1993-2000. Cakdwell
has served as a former irnem-
ber of the PTinceton Samitary
Board; Pam'S Place Domlestic
Abuse Task Force, and thee Re-
gion One Pl nning and D)evel-
opment Council.
Caldwell says. "I look: for-
ward of sei~ing the people of
Greenbrier,Summers, Mconroe
and parts of Mercer and
Fayette Counties again."
Nominations needed for volunteer awards
Each year, Gov. Joe Manchin ognize West Virginians wh~o dis-
honors outstanding individu-
als, organizations and busi-
nesses for extraordinary ser-
vice to their communities
through his Governor's Service
Awards.
Nominations for the Gover-
nor's Service Awards, annually
coordinated by the West Virginia
Commission for National and
Community Service, are now
being accepted. The awards rec-
Sonia D. Chambers,
Chair of the West Virginia
Health Care Authority, an-
nounced on Feb. 11 that the
Authority has issued a Cer-
tificate of Need to Genesis
Genesis Tenant LLC, Gen-
esis Subtenant LLC, OpCos,
FC-GEN Real Estate, LLC
and FC-GEN Leasing, LLC,
CON File #07-WV-8627-A,
for a change in operator and
a change in leasing ar-
rangements for the real es-
tate and equipment for
twenty-five nursing homes,
and a change of ownership
of the real estate and equip-
ment for 17 of the Facilities.
The capital expenditure
associated with the project
is $2,058,000.
For further information,
or to obtain a copy of the
above-referenced decision,
contact:
Sonia D. Chambers, Chair
WV Health Care Authority
100 Dee Drive
Charleston. WV 25311-1600
Telephone: (304) 558-7000
Toll Free: 1-888-558-7002
play enduriqg commitment for
the bettern}ent of the state
through volunteerism.
"West Virginia is bless~ed to
have an abundance of cittizens
at every age level who have
made a positive impact im our
state." Manchin said.""I en-
courage West Virginiams to
take the time to nominmte an
outstanding individual, o~rgani-
zation or business that dissplays
enduring commitment fcar the
betterment of the Moumtain
State. Without these no~mina-
tions, we will miss a womderful
opportunityto honor thos~e who
give so much and expect so
little in retqrn,"
Recipient~ of the Governor's
Service Awards will receiwe rec-
ognition from Gov. Manc!hin in
a special banquet at th~ state
volunteerism conference, Faces
of Leadership, in Charlestton on
July 16. VolUnteer West Vflrginia
Inc. will also use private funds
to donate ~500 to a We,st Vir-
ginia charitable organizattion of
the recipient's choice. T?he or-
ganization must be a regiistered
501c3 in ~o0d standin~g with
the Secretary of State.
"Volunteers are not just the
heart of activities; they alre also
the heart of each commtunity,"
Manchin said. 'q'his is our op-
portunity ~o recognize ttiose
who have made the grceatest
mark across our state."
Nomination forms are avail-
able on the West Virginia Corn-
mission for National and Com-
munity ~ervice web~ site,
www.volunteerwv.org, or by
calling (80(~ulV~-HELPS Nomi-
nations sh be postimarked
by Apr. 3.
County Commissioner Oliver
Porterfield plans to seek re-
election to the Monroe County
Commission representing the
Western Magisterial District.
Porterfield, a Democrat, was
first elected in 1996 and re-
elected in 2002. He plans to file
his Candidacy papers on the
first day of candidate filing just
as soon as the Clerk's Office
opens. "I'11 be at the Court-
house first thing Monday
morning when the candidate
filing begins," said Porterfield,
"I want to send a message to
the voters of this county that I
am eager and excited in seek-
ing re-election."
He said, "I have supported
and been directly involved with
many projects, including: the
development of Fountain
Springs Industrial Park near
Peterstown and M-Rock, a
stone manufacturing business
located in the park that em-
ploys approximately 30 people.
The Greenbrier Valley Eco-
nomic Development Council. of
which Porterfleld is a member,
is seeking funding to construct
a second multi-tenant building
on adjacent property in an ef-
fort to create additional jobs.
Another project Porterfield
has supported is the Farmer's
Market held on Fridays in
Union. Infrastructure, such as
water and sewer projects, are
also important to Porterfield.
He supported the upgrade of
the Lindside Water and Sewer
Project which was just com-
pleted. In addition, he strongly
supported the upgrade of the
Red Sulphur PSD sewer sys-
tem, the Bozoo water project
and the upgrade of the Ballard
water system. Porterfield con-
tinues to support the efforts in
obtaining funds to extend pub-
lic water to Gap Mills, Red Sul-
phur Springs and other areas
of the county. The County Com-
mission, under Porterfield's
leadership, continues to seek
immediate funding to extend
public water from Colture's
Oliver Porterfield
Chapel to Wikel and on to
Greenville.
Porterfield serves as the
Chairman of the Monroe
County Solid Waste Authority.
Under his leadership, the au-
thority has created a func-
tional recycling program. "The
County Commission. under
Porterfield's direction, imple-
mented a "Litter-pick and com-
munity service program" for the
county.
Commissioner Porterfield
has been a leader in working
with the WV Department of
Transportation and the VA De-
partment of Transportation in
getting the bridge replaced in
Peterstown, on the West Vir-
ginia/Virginia border. "The
bridge no longer meets the
needs of our residents," said
Porterfield, "with approximately
10,000 vehicles crossing the
bridge daily, the structure
needs to be wider and straight-
ened. A tentative construction
date has been scheduled."
Commissioner Porterfield is
married to Betty Porterfield.
They are the parents of three
children; Charles, a practicing
physician; Keith, a Deputy Di-
rector of the WV Environmen-
tal Protection Agency; and
Rhonda, chairperson of the Art
Department and a teacher at
Giles High School. They have
four grandchildren and two
great-grandsons.
Alderson Municipal Court Report
January 2008
The following defendants appeared before Chief Municipal Judge Travis
L. Copenhaver or Assistant Judge Jacki Villars during the month of
January 2008. The dollar amount reflects fine and cost. The name
in parenthesis reflects the officer issuing the citation or making the
arrest.
Jonie Lambert, 24, Alderson, expired registration, (Smith), not guilty
plea. Continued until March term.
Crystal Gomez. 43, AIderson, driving suspended 1st (Miller), no con-
test plea, $140
Carl Lephew, 24, Alderson, driving suspended and failure to appear,
(Hinkley), no contest, driving suspended. Failure to appear dis-
missed, $140
Bobby Baker, 40, AIderson, battery, (Williams), dismissed upon re-
quest of the victim.
Thomas Biggs, 23, Alderson, shoplifting 1st, (Martin), found not guilty
at bench trial.
Shannon Bender, 30, Alderson, theft of public utilities, (Miller), con-
tinued until March term per request of defendant's attorney, Dewitt
Daniels. A bench trial will be held in March.
Silas Brown, 43, Alderson, battery, (Smith), not guilty plea. Contin-
ued until March term for bench trial.
Amanda Kyle, 24, AIderson, failure to comply with court ordered sen-
tencing, (Prosecutor Ziegler). Continued pending plea agreement.
Harold "Pete" Johnson, 51, Alderson, theft of public utilities/tamper-
ing, (Miller), not guilty plea. Bench trial March term.
Becky Gladden, age and address unavailable, theft of public utilities,
(Miller), continued until March term.
Chris Holliday, 19, AIderson, speeding, (Martin), guilty plea, $125
Bettye Phillips, 34, Alderson, expired motor vehicle inspection sticker,
(Miller), guilty plea, $65
Ruth Lephew, 51, Alderson, driving suspended 1st. (Miller), no con-
test, $400
Debora Winn, 46, Farmington, NM, speeding and no proof of insur-
ance, (Smith), no contest $425
Lisa Brookman, 18, Alderson, speeding, (Martin), guilty plea, $75
Sheldon Bowyer, 30, Alderson, improper motor vehicle inspection and
no proof of insurance, (Hinkley), guilty plea, $430
April Thayer, 40, Alderson, Obstructing an officer, (Williams), no con-
test plea, $80 and 7 days jail suspended pending completion of 56
hours of community service.
Justin Ambler, 26, AIderson, driving suspended 1st, (Williams), guilty
plea, $500
Chief Municipal Judge Travis Copenhaver issued an order for a jury
trial to be held 4-1-08 for John Hopkins due to procedura stan-
dards of criminal cases being heard in the court of jurisdiction as
cited by Greenbrier County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Hanson.
This case will be heard in the Municipal Court of the Town of AIderson
since it is a criminal case and not a civil case. Juq.~ selection will
begin 2-12-08 by the jury commissioners. This order revokes the
past order of removal from Municipal Court to Circuit Court. The
case is back on the docket and set for trial as outlined above,
The clerks collected $1,377 in fines and costs during the mouth.
Alderson Police Dept.- January Activity
Calls for service
Traffic stops
Accidents investigated
Warning citations
Written citatic ns
Misdemeanor arrests
Felony arrests
Domestic incidents
Fugitive from justice
Stolen property
Calls for service - 21 9-1-1 calls,
58 office calls, total of 79 calls
79 for service. Information ob-
34 tained by reviewing officer's
2 monthly activity sheets.
10 Misc~emeanor arrests - 3 misde-
6 meanor arrests made for the of-
3 fenses of obstructing an officer,
0 driving suspended - 2nd of-
6 fense, and failure to comply
0 with court sentencing.
3 Hours worked - 363
Miles traveled - 1,642
