10 Years Ago
Week of February 18, 2016
Former Astronaut Visits Franklin Elementary School
Former astronaut and West Virginia native, Jon McBride, paid a surprise visit to Franklin Elementary School on Feb. 10. McBride was visiting the county to tour the Sugar Grove Navy Base which was placed on the General Service Administration’s online auction site last week.
SUGAR GROVE
Phrases Still Used Have Historical Significance
Many phrases which are common in daily English conversation originate from a wide variety of sources such as mythology, literature, folklore, history, superstition, old customs, the language of other countries and many more.
“Above board” means something that is honestly done without concealment. The whole expression was originally a gambling term when playing, one was expected to keep one’s hands above the board (table) to avoid suspicion of cheating.
“All at sea” refers to being bewildered, unable to understand.
“Gone to pot” is anything that has gone to ruin, not functioning. The allusion is to the cutting of meat into pieces ready for the cooking pot.
“Tom, Dick, or Harry” is a term used for any ordinary person. The names have no significance other than being common names chosen at random.
“As old as Methuselah” is about one who is extremely old. Methuselah was an Old Testament patriarch known as the grandfather of Noah and the oldest man in the Bible, living to be 969 years old.
“Apple pie order” is a complete and perfect order.
“At one fell swoop” is done with a single effort; all at once. A swoop is a sudden descent, like the pouncing of a bird of prey on its victim. “Fell” is an old adjective meaning “savage.”
“At the drop of a hat” means immediately. This expression is said to have come from the American frontier practice of asking someone to drop a hat as a signal to begin something, such as a fight or a horse race.
“At the eleventh hour” happens at the very last moment.
“At the end of one’s tether” means at the end of one’s endurance. A tether is a fixed rope or chain to which an animal is tied, thus enabling it to move or graze within a limited area but preventing it from straying.
“Axe to grind” — ulterior and selfish motive. Learn to be cautious about the motives behind people’s smooth talk.
10 Years Ago
Week of February 25, 2016
Local Farmers Market Gears Up For Third Season
Plans for the 2016 Pendleton County Farmers Market are now officially underway. Last week’s organizational meeting was attended by nearly 20 prospective vendors. “About half (of the attendees) were new and the other half have sold with us before,” commented Rosey Santerre, market coordinator.
Santerre spearheaded the formation of the market three years ago with the guidance of Pendleton County extension agent, David Seymour. She also credits Eli and Irene Miller of Brandywine for being instrumental in the formation of the local event.
As the push for locally grown produce continues to take hold nationwide, Santerre notes that business has steadily increased each season.
The number of “local markets” in the United States skyrocketed from 2006 to 2012 and then leveled off in 2013 and 2014. According to USDA data, there was a 2.5 increase in locations in 2015 with nearly 8,500 markets registered across the 48 contiguous states. West Virginia alone had 87 documented farmers markets last year.
SUGAR GROVE
Leap Year Traditions Started Over 2000 Years Ago
Leap Day, February 29, has been a day of traditions and folklore ever since Julius Ceasar first introduced Leap Years over 2,000 years ago.
Seventh Grade Wildcats Sweep PVL Championship
The Pendleton County Middle School seventh grade boys’ basketball team defeated Warm Springs, VA, to take championship honors in the recent PVL tournament held at Moorefield Middle School. The seventh grade team defeated Moorefield in the first round of the tournament.
20 Years Ago
Week of February 23, 2006
Pendleton Leads State In Child Care
Pendleton County is a good place to raise a family.
In fact, if studies and statistics are truly meaningful in relation to a county with a small population, the 2005 Kids Count data book shows that Pendleton is the best county in which to raise a child in the entire state.
The annual Kids Count study focuses on early literacy practices, as well as statistics relating to infant deaths, teen births, teen violent death and juvenile delinquency.
30 Years Ago
Week of February 29, 1996
Little Old Ladies To Entertain
‘Little Old Ladies in Tennis Shoes’ prepare for opening night March 1 in the Smith Creek Playhouse near Franklin. Sue Hall, Kendra Rightsell and Roberta Riggle will be joined in the production by Paulette Roberts, Carole Hartman, Marcia Warner, Kenneth Fox, Anthony Steele and Mickey Fox in the comedy.
DAHMER
Tom Kline appears to be a leader in feeding birds which have so far consumed around 400 pounds of mixed feed. Dr. C. J. Sites appeared disappointed because the birds were not very numerous at his feeder this year. Jim Eye probably fed to birds more fat and beef tallow than anyone in Pendleton County. Even Mary C. Rexrode, during her recuperation from surgery, asked others to put feed in her feeder.
200 Area Farmers Mull Flood Damages to Land
Farmers Feel Left Out Of Reclamation Efforts, Set Goals To Seek Remedies
Two hundred flood-scarred farmers and landowners from Pendleton and adjoining counties crowded into the Clinton Hedrick Community Building at Riverton last Thursday night to discuss damages to farm land caused by the January 19 flood and to seek help in coping with their losses.
After being declared a disaster area by President Clinton, much assistance has been received from the Salvation Army, National Guard, FEMA and many other organizations and individuals. But damages to farm land has been all but ignored, especially along rivers and streams where miles of river banks and thousands of tons of silt were washed away.
Franklin Elementary School Wins $3500 Grant For Playground Work
Each year the Tide Corporation sponsors a program “Tide Cleans Up America’s Playgrounds Foundation.” Tide awards twenty $3500 grants per year to American schools that are in need of the building and repairing of their playgrounds.
Rev. Neal Weltzin brought a newspaper article concerning the grants to the attention of PTO president Jodie Kiser who applied for a grant application.
Mrs. Dolly Nilsen faxed the application to Tide and on February 12 Franklin Elementary received the award notification that they were chosen to receive one of the twenty cash awards of $3500.00.
This money is to be used specifically for the cleanup, repair, and building of the FES playground.
40 Years Ago
Week of February 27, 1986
Important Facts To Know Before Selling Woodlot Timber
Selling timber from a farm woodlot may not be as complicated as many landowners think.
The best way to protect yourself and your woodlot is to obtain the services of a forester.
The first thing to do is decide what to sell.
High grade, high-quality trees are good investments. They increase in value as they grow in size. So, they generally are a good hedge against inflation. The forester will identify the trees that should be cut.
Marking at the stump is recommended for each tree that is to be sold. It is strongly suggested that boundaries should also be clearly marked in the area where trees are to be cut.
A valid written contract is also needed for protection. The important thing is to get the full value of your timber from a responsible operator.
DAHMER
A chipmunk was seen a scampering about before the recent cold spell set in and Sammy, the skunk, also was patting his feet in teasing the writer’s little dog, Jackie, not to come to close or you will be sorry.
The results of the Christmas bird count held December 29, 1985, were released by coordinator of the bird count, Carolyn Ruddle. The count was limited to a ten mile radius from George Hammer. Census participants were Virginia Byers, Kathleen Finnegan, Lorraine Harper, Carolyn Ruddle, Chester Shaffer, Michelle Sites, Charles Waggy, Gretchen Waggy and Danny Walker. The bird count was up this year. The participants had to be very observant to find 61 species and especially to find four warblers in the winter time.
During the winter months is a splendid time to look through those old pictures and pick up those that would be of historical value that could be used in Pendleton County Pictorial History. The writer is trying to compile a list of post offices that no longer exist in Pendleton County. Following is that list of post offices. How many more can you add to this list? Bethel District — Fame, Miles, Oak Flat; Circleville District — Cherry Grove, Dry Run, Hunting Ground, Mullenax, Nome; Franklin District — Bank, Cave, Dahmer, Rexrode, Ruddle, Zigler; Mill Run District — Branch, Brushy Run, Creek, Deer Run, Ketterman, Kline, Mozer, Smoke Holes, Shreve, South Mill Creek; Sugar Grove District — Hiner, Mitchell, Thorn, Tressel; Union District — Box, Brood, Key, Macksville, Simoda, Roaring, Shafter and Teterton.
50 Years Ago
Week of February 26, 1976
Franklin High to Adopt New Honor Roll System
Beginning the second semester of the 1975-1976 school year, Franklin High School will use a new system for determining the honor roll.
Under the new system there will be two separate honor rolls, the principal’s honor roll, and the regular honor roll.
The principal’s honor roll will consist of those students who have all As.
The regular honor roll will be made up of those students who have B average or above with no more than one C nor any grades below a C.
To be eligible for either honor roll, a student must carry at least four subjects. Vocational School will count as two subjects except for the secretarial course which will count as three subjects.
Pluses and minuses will not be factors in determining honor roll eligibility.
Under the present system, to make the honor roll a student must make at least one A and all other grades must be Bs or above.
The new system provides for special recognition for those students who earn all As and hopefully will result in a more equitable method of choosing other students to be recognized for their superior academic achievements.
60 Years Ago
Week of February 24, 1966
States Highest Point Slighted by Previous Measurements
Washington, D. C., — U. S. Senator Robert C. Byrd (D–W.Va.) said today that the U. S. Geological Survey is expected to prove this year what West Virginians have long suspected that they are in a growing state—so much so that the highest point has hit a new high.
“For many years, the official federal and state maps have indicated that Spruce Knob in Pendleton County has been the highest point in West Virginia with an elevation of 4,860 feet,” said Byrd.
“However, when the Geological Survey produces its next set of maps for West Virginia, that peak may be set at nearly 4,862 feet.”
The existing maps for West Virginia date back to 1912 with some revisions in 1929 and are on a smart scale of one inch-to-about 6,000 feet,” said Byrd.
Because of the great demand by industry, engineers and community developers for smaller scale maps, the state is now being surveyed on a scale of one inch-to-2,000 feet.
