10 Years Ago
Week of May 26, 2016
Plans Are Underway
To Save Drive-In
After a year of developing a community working group, negotiating with the landowners, researching new digital movie projectors and forming a non-profit organization, Warner Drive-In is on its way to being opened once again.
The organization, the Warner-Drive-In Cultural and Resource Center, Inc., is signing a two-year lease/purchase agreement with Franklin Oil Company, owners of the property. Jeffrey F. Bowers of Bowers and Bowers, PLC, of Franklin worked with WDI and FOC and to secure the property.
“Jeff [Bowers] did a fabulous job. We would not be this close without his help,” stated Bob Davis, chairman of WDI. “We have two years to raise the purchase price but our fund-raising efforts need to start immediately because of the cost of converting to digital movie projectors, refurbishing of the concession stand and upgrades to the drive-in structures.”
Once closed, the community realized the importance of the drive-in, and several citizens decided to do something about it.
A sign-up book to save the drive-in was placed at The Korner Shop Cafe in Franklin. In just a few months, hundreds of people shared memories of times past and the desire to bring their children for such a unique experience.
A “Save the Drive-In” Facebook page was started, and the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau offered the office and staff to get the “ball rolling.”
A group of local citizens together and formed the WDI. “We weren’t sure we could do it, but we kept plugging away,” stated Jessica Basagic, treasurer of the group. “We took it one step at a time and crossed each hurdle as it came up.”
30 Years Ago
Week of May 23, 1996
Circleville High School Honor Graduates
Sandra Mae Heavener, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Heavener of Cabins, has been named 1996 Circleville High School valedictorian with a grade point average of 92.4.
Salutatorian of the 1996 Circleville High School graduating class is Christopher Paul Sites with an 89 grade point average. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Sites of Seneca Rocks.
Jake Wins First Place
In West Virginia
Rabbit Club Hunt
Jake, a beagle owned by Richie Shreve of Franklin, won first place in the open class division of a hunt hosted by the West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Rabbit Hunters Club in Old Fields on April 21.
Week of May 30, 1996
93 to Graduate
From Two Pendleton County High Schools
A total of 93 students will graduate from Pendleton County’s two high schools this weekend. Twenty-four will graduate from Circleville High School and 69 will receive diplomas at Franklin High School.
40 Years Ago
Week of May 22, 1986
Circleville High School Honor Students
The valedictorian of the 1986 graduating class of Circleville High School is Richard Wayne Rhodes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rhodes. His cumulative grade point average is 92.89.
The salutatorian of the 1986 graduating class is Sandra Ann Harper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Harper of Riverton. Her cumulative grade point average is 92.83.
Mauzy’s Chicken Hen Helps with Election
On Monday afternoon, May 12, Ralph Mauzy of Cherry Grove hurried in from sewing grass seed to go to Franklin to pick up supplies for the election.
Not thinking to check his truck carefully before leaving home, Mr. Mauzy and Mrs. Harding started placing supplies in the truck only to find one of his hens in the corner of his truck bed on a nest she had made.
Startled, when they began loading the truck, the hen tried to escape. Mr. Mauzy was quick enough to catch her, tie her legs and get her back home.
They haven’t decided if she just wanted to ride to Franklin or if she wanted to help get supplies ready for the election.
Should Mrs. Chick decide to raise a family, the names of the Baby Chicks shall be “Democrat,” “Republican,” and “Independent.”
Week of May 29, 1986
Pendleton High Schools Will Graduate 90 Sunday
Ninety Pendleton County students will be honored Sunday at commencement exercises and baccalaureate services at Franklin and Circleville high schools. Seventy-five seniors will graduate from Franklin High School, and 15 will receive diplomas at Circleville High School.
Department of Highways Spent $4.5 Million
In Pendleton After Flood
After the killing waters of November 5 and 6 surged through the eastern counties of West Virginia, destroying everything in their path, it was hard to imagine that roads and bridges had ever existed in some locations, so extensive was the damage to highway facilities.
Four months later, when calls to Department of Highways information personnel from news media in neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia began including commendations to the department for restoring transportation so rapidly, it was hard to imagine that highways personnel and contractors alike had scoured ravaged riverbeds for material that had once been and was now again the base for a roadway that they had erected 600-foot-long bridges in six weeks’ time, that their gamble on the durability of pavement placed at sub-freezing temperatures had paid off.
The West Virginia Department of Highways spent more than $4.5 million in Pendleton County in emergency work following the flood.
The DOH erected six bridges at a total cost of $1,507,463, resurfaced destroyed road at a cost of $935,841, spent $371,117 on correcting slides and installing tile, $854,956 on cleaning culverts, and installed two mobile home sites at a cost of $854,530.
50 Years Ago
Week of May 27, 1976
4 Students Win
Golden Horseshoes
State Superintendent of Schools, Daniel B. Taylor, has announced who received the Golden Horseshoe Award in Charleston May 21.
Four eighth-grade students from each county and one student from the Schools for the Deaf and Blind at Romney who scored the highest in their county on a test about West Virginia participated in the day-long activities, which included assemblies in the House of Delegates chambers, the taking of a group picture on the steps of the capitol and tours of Sunrise Museum and the Governor’s Mansion.
Awarded Golden Horseshoes from Pendleton County were Gary Mullenax of Upper Tract Elementary School, Mary Miller of Brandywine Elementary School, and Cheryl Boggs and Lisa Painter of Franklin Elementary School.
Franklin High School
Honor Students
Valedictorian at Franklin High School is Mary Catherine Slusher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Leo Slusher of Franklin. Her scholastic average is 96.842.
Salutatorian of this year’s graduating class at Franklin High School is Terry L. Simmons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Simmons of Franklin. Her four year grade average is 95.568.
Circleville High School
To Graduate 28 Seniors
Graduation exercises will be conducted Sunday at Circleville High School where 28 seniors will receive their high school diplomas.
REEDS CREEK
A group from Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania, are spending three weeks in West Virginia on a trip called “The Wilderness Encounter,” doing hiking, canoeing, rock climbing and caving. They hiked through Reeds Creek to the Old Mountain Road, Saturday, then to Seneca Caverns and Seneca Rocks. In the group stopping at the Big Spring at Eston Simmons’ in Reeds Creek and the Fish Hatchery were Phil Heydt, New Jersey, Dave Sultana, Maryland, Tom Witter, Sky Kershner, Ruth Showalter, Pennsylvania, and Debora Reumann of California.
Raymond Smith picked up a group near Rt. 33 and brought them to the Old Mountain Road to join the other group to go over North Mountain.
Big Trout Caught Here
Mrs. Mildred Clevenger of Franklin caught a 21.5 inch, three pound, 10 ounce rainbow trout in the South Branch of the Potomac River south of Franklin Monday afternoon. Her bait was two cheese eggs, a red fluorescent one and a white one.
60 Years Ago
Week of May 26, 1966
Health Regulations
Relaxed on Serving Food
Changes have recently occurred in health department regulations governing the serving of community meals.
In November 1964, the following were established by the West Virginia Board of Health:
(1) Any organization serving community meals must obtain a permit from the county health department.
(2) Food must come from approved sources.
(3) Food service workers must wear clean clothing, use proper hair restraints (nets or caps), and follow good personal hygiene practices.
(4) Home-canned foods are prohibited.
(5) Food shall be protected from contamination.
(6) All potentially hazardous food shall be maintained at safe temperatures (40 degrees F or below, or 140 degrees F or above).
(7) Thawing of food at room temperature is prohibited.
More changes could occur in the future.
Regardless of the legal regulations, those persons involved in food service should take every precaution to protect the health of their guests and customers.
Franklin Panther Nine Racks Up 7–3 Record
Franklin High’s baseball team finished the 1966 season with an impressive 7-3 record.
This record was the result of good hitting and pitching. Riggleman tied for most hits with 13 each. Bill Adamson had two home runs for the season.
Darrell Thompson and Bill Adamson each pitched three victories.
70 Years Ago
Week of May 24, 1956
County High Schools
Graduate 105 in
Commencement
Exercises This Week
Pendleton County’s two high schools graduated 105 students at their commencement exercises this week.
At the Commencement Exercises held Monday night at Circleville, 34 seniors were handed diplomas by county Superintendent of Schools Floyd J. Dahmer.
Tuesday night 71 seniors were graduated from Franklin High School at the annual commencement program. The diplomas were awarded by W. Glenn Sponaugle, member of the board of education.
Circleville High School Valedictorian
Ann Armentrout, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Grover Armentrout of Mouth of Seneca, has been named valedictorian of the graduating class of Circleville High School. She earned this honor by accumulating a scholastic average of 91.73 for her four years of high school studies.
Circleville High School Salutatorian
Dale Landes’ scholastic average of 91.09 earned him the honor of being named salutatorian of the senior class of Circleville High School this year. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert C. Landes of Riverton.
Franklin High School Valedictorian
Evelyn Swadley took top scholastic honors in the graduating class at Franklin High School this year with an average of 96.28. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Swadley of Brandywine
Franklin High School Salutatorian
Dorothy Gray Dolly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Dolly of Franklin, has been named salutatorian of the graduating class of Franklin High School. Her scholastic average for the four years is 95.48.
