The Charleston Gazette - News Columnists

The Rev. Lawton W. Posey: Listen for cries of the disenfranchised

( ) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0500

On a beautiful Sunday recently, my wife Bridget and I found ourselves in St. Christophers Episcopal Church just off Edgewood Drive on the West Side. We had come not only to visit this congregation which sprang from four previous churches, but to hear our f...

Who took deductions for state vehicles.

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Hey folks, Ive been off this week, so in the absence of new columns, Ill use the space to finish up the list of all 800-plus state employees who took payroll deductions for the commuting value of their state vehicles. Division ...

Adventures in small-town journalism

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:37:28 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- To stay afloat in the realm of bush league journalism, youve got to be versatile.
There was a time when reporters were an exalted presence in our newsroom, an occa...

Each season brings its own blessings

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0500
The melancholy days have come, the saddest of the year,Of wailing winds, and naked woods, and meadows brown and sere;Heaped in the hollows of the grove, the autumn leaves lie dead;They rustle to the eddying gust, and to the r...

Are state workers entitled to a car.

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With all the coverage of late regarding use of state vehicles for commuting and personal travel, a new ruling from the state Public Employees Grievance Board shows just how ingrained the supposed entitlement to a state car can be in so...

Innerviews: Former beauty queen enjoys royal life

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- She reigned as Miss West Virginia in 1974. At 55, she retains the regal elegance and golden good looks of a beauty queen. She also has a quick, creative mind and the efficient, sophisticated manner of a successful businesswoman...

Watching Manchin unravel, part II . . .

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I was talking to a legislator last week, who commented, "Poor Joe, hes been doing so many dumb things lately," said more with a sense of glee than concern.Ever since the end of the regular session in April, when the House lea...

Cradle-to-grave retail strategy

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:17:22 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Youve got to give West Virginias largest private employer credit for reaching out to new customers, following the launch of two new online experiments in cradle-to-grave marketing. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart began offering dispo...

Old superstitions live long in the hills of West Virginia

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:46:15 -0400
The moon is almost full, with a few black, wispy clouds floating over its surface. An eerie wind is blowing in gusts, picking up the dry leaves that is scattered in its path to toss in a mad, swirling dance. Many of the trees are stripped bare of lea...

Workers dont like fat tax proposal

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchins proposal last week for the Public Employees Insurance Agency to consider the possibility of imposing a "fat tax" in the form of higher premiums for overweight insurees went over like the pro...

Innerviews: Joy of theater rooted in audience rapport

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- It took gumption, but Joe Romagnoli followed his heart. Smitten with theater, armed with a degree in drama and musical theater from the Boston Conservatory of Music, he moved to New York and spent 20 years eking out a living, study...

Commute list for state is long

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- From the governors chief of staff to the governors cousin to the Senate presidents wife to Marshalls head football coach, the list of state employees who commute to and from work in state vehicles is lengthy. A total of 814 employees c...

Safety is serious business

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:31:40 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- How many reporters does it take to screw in a light bulb. The question is irrelevant, after reading the new, mandatory, MSHA-mandated Ladder Safety Training Course workbook now making the rounds in our newsroom. Henceforth, changing li...

Fall sunshine mellows the golden hills

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:32:19 -0400
Birds Search for Summer "Summer is gone," say the Blue Asters by the roadside."Summer is gone," say the Long Shadows at evening tide.The crickets and the Katydids sang the whole night lo...

Im a good witch

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
WANT TO GO.Book signing with Rebecca Harless, author of "Beyond the Broom"WHEN: 4 to 7 p. m. Oct. 31WHERE: Taylor Books on Capitol StreetCostumes are encouraged. CHARLESTO...

Statehouse Beat: Fictions run deep in state law

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:21:14 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State law in West Virginia is held together with any number of legal fictions.Under West Virginia law, beer is nonintoxicating, all bars and restaurants serving liquor by the drink are private clubs, and state voters authorized cas...

Innerviews: In tune with Nashville

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Hes not a country singing star, big-time musician or recording company CEO. But everyone in Nashville knows Doak Turner.Two years ago, the energized St. Albans native took off for Music City and made a quick name for h...

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Interesting uses for state-owned vehicles

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As alluded to here last week, the legislative audit on misuse of the state vehicle fleet generated a lot of interest. Some observations: Is this the final blow to Treasurer John Perdues already long-shot hopes of being elected governor...

What once was lost now is found

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:01:24 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The key to short-term happiness, Ive found, is finding the key. I lost mine while running along Kanawha Boulevard one night last week. By "running," I mean the 50-something-year-old approximation of the sport as practice...

Alyce Faye Bragg: Dreary days help us appreciate sunshine

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:43:55 -0400
Autumn Oracle By Laura Lee Randall A sunset sky, and the west wind sighing, A threat of winter ... the wild gulls crying; Swift flocks of birds to the southland winging; Bare brown boughs in a fren...

W.Va. driver licenses good to go on Real ID

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
The National Conference on State Legislatures has been sending out action alerts reminding states that they must apply for an extension for complying with Real ID standards by Dec. 1 or risk the chance that state drivers licenses and identification could b...

Former mayor in historys lap as wartime code clerk

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- After 90 years of use, the mind of Joe F. Smith remains as keen as it was in the prime of his anecdote-packed life. Memories pour from him in vivid detail, embellished often by historical asides gleaned from a lifetime of careful ...

Lawmakers surprised by benefits ban

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With the tough economic times of late, many West Virginians are having to bite the bullet and apply for government assistance, including food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Some are discovering that they are perman...

Humming right along

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Hummer, the brawny, costly, gas guzzling sport utility vehicle that came to symbolize Americas over-the-top love affair with the automobile, will soon be made in China. In a deal announced late last week, General Motors is unloadi...

Harvest moon holds an important place in our lives

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:51:17 -0400
The harvest moon was obscured by clouds Monday night, but last night it was hanging in the sky, round and majestic, although it had a ring around it. We have always thought that a ring around the moon foretold a change in the weather. (Remember Longfellows...

Innerviews: Variety is the spice of chili chefs life

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Printing the full story of his life would take a tome the size of the Manhattan phone book. If theres anything Archie Chestnut hasnt done, hes not aware of it.Hes amiable, energetic and quick-witted, an inveterate gada...

The directions, my friend, are blowing in the wind

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:28:09 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- According to an article last week in Slate magazine, Bob Dylan is considering offers to become a voice for automobile satellite navigation devices, joining the ranks of such celebrities as Mr. T and Burt Reynolds, who have already ...

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Color Gene Carters bridge sky blue.

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- Gene Carter drove a sky blue Buick Electra. He lived in Fort Hill. Every day, he drove his sky blue Buick across the I-64 bridge to and from work. "He loved that car," said his grandson, Michael Carter. "Sky blue wa...

Autumn in the W.Va. hills is beyond compare

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:15:26 -0400
Whos for the Hills. Whos for the hills.Ho, for the stress and struggle, and at lastThe gain of summit places sure and fast!Ho, for a clearer air, a fairer view,A hilltop nearer to the mighty blue!

Innerviews: Old days inspire trail-blazing cop

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- At 71, Richard "Casey" James looks back with great fondness on the humble neighborhood that nurtured him, a lively, self-contained place variably called Wertz Avenue and Wilson Hollow. Inspired by boyhood memo...

Move over, Barbra, now theres Barbie

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:26:14 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Who says there arent any good movie roles for 50-year old women. Barbie, the timeless, top-heavy blond bombshell who has played more than 100 roles during her half-century career as a doll, is finally making it to the big screen. ...

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The most glorious of season is fast approaching

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:58:37 -0400
Sunny coreopsis greets the first day of autumn, growing in abundant masses along the roadside, their showy yellow flowers gleaming like scattered sunshine. There is a lot of white snakeroot blooming in large patches on the hillsides and also in woods and t...

Those who have love in their homes are truly rich

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:37:47 -0400
A tiny white butterfly has followed me around all day. As we walked by the creekside, where the pink spikes of smartweed (also called ladys thumb) were blooming in dense masses, it hovered above them. Then it floated above the yellow-eyed asters that were ...

A happy reunion in the final days of summer

alycefaye@citlink.net (Alyce Faye Bragg) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:50:04 -0400
Tis the Last Rose of Summer By Thomas Moore Tis the last rose of summer Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone; No flower of her kindred, No rose-bu...