Just this past week, I was provided with some interesting comparatives between "allegedly" sticking up for the folks and just flat out whining because one did not think the City was getting all the Sales Tax dollars it was supposed too.

​ I am going to start with an article in the Daily Blat where in some of the mugwumps were commenting on the .5% increase in the State Sales Tax from 6% to 6.5%. This is expected raise $90 Million next year alone to help close the maybe $500 Million shortfall in 2017- 2018 Fiscal Year. Okay, a start, but is a long ways from a sure cure? What is scary, is the "alleged" sunset clause where the .5% is to go away after three years? 

One could suspect that unless the Coal/ Gas/ Oil businesses pick up bigtime, the severance tax may well not raise to the level needed to offset that .5%? I am going to speculate not in two years, but maybe in three a big enough raise to begin the offset. That is pending on the State finally (am I optimistic or what?), getting the never ending spiral of additional spending each year under control? Otherwise, learn to live with it AND Ohioans are going to begin to stay home to shop locally.  For many, .5% ain't squat; for even more with little or no increases in their incomes, that .5% will begin to add up. 


Now where this thing became interesting, is as usual our Mr. Rapp, who can it seems so easily talk out of both sides of his mouth?  Allow me from his quote in the Daily Blat:

" He understands (Mr. Rapp), that the State has a significant problem to address, but there has got to be a stopping point somewhere"? Okay, seems empathetic for the folks? One needs to watch Mr. Rapp very closely to separate the fact from the fiction. An issue like this supposed "empathy" for the folks is a facade to curry favor, while the back room sneaking around to track down non payers of the Sales Tax are usually as now not in the public domain?

Here is where over the past two years he has gone off the rails complaining in the Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program 2015 Progress Report. He complains that on page 7 of 8, in the Lessons Learned block, it is stated "Not a lesson but at this point a concern is developing some method to make sure the City is receiving the Revenue it should".

There was also an issue on determining the Sales Tax Disbursement for July/ August 2015 at only $448,513.91 where the B&O tax was for a three month period. (Seems the City could not do a "guestimate" by dividing the three months into the gross was for B&0 to achieve a close idea on what the monthly numbers for July/ August may have been?) Did the Mayor want cheese with his whine?

The above referenced report was dated on November 12, 2015 and he actually signed it. It is very unusual it seems that he signs State/ Federal documents that some of us have reviewed? More the practice of putting someone else's name and/ or no date/ signature as with the 2015 Brownsfield Grant cover letter to the EPA.

In the 2016 Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program Progress Report, he again noted in the Lessons Learned Block the same complaint worded more strongly, " The City of Vienna would like for the State to furnish to the cities some documentation on who is paying the tax and who is not so we might work together to identify taxpayers who are not complying". And again on 9 November 2016, he actually signed it. Still asking, cheese with his whine?


One should not be surprised to see where Mr. Rapp has appointed himself the "Chief of Disbursements to the Municipalities from the State". His ego just expands and expands as he attempts to take over the MOV in many projects. One need understand that the "Taxpayers" in this scenario are by and large the Businesses that should be collecting the Tax and sending it in to State. I would not be surprised if there are individuals/ companies who are not paying to a business? Remember: Favoritism, Cronyism and Nepotism. But also as with other tax issues for the State/ Federal levels, it is not an impossibility that the accrued 1% Sales Taxes are being kept in some instances by the businesses due to their own Fiscal issues?


So one can see where for the purposes of Public Relations that he is so aptly provided by the local media, he seems to be concerned for the folks? On the other hand he is wanting more reports/ information to chase down business scofflaws who are collecting or not and failing to pay the State? Never enough money for him; in the first full year, it was noted that the City received $3,385,636.26. The City saw a reduction in B&O $294,802.95 for a net of $3,090,833.31. It had been projected to only be $2,822,370.  This was actually in increase of about $268,463. And it is suspected most of the Sales Tax was really by the Residents of Vienna on a per capita (?) basis of number of trips by them versus someone just tooling into town?


May I ask but how many businesses in Vienna or even P'burg/ Williamstown/ Wood County are being scrutinized for their payments? 'nuff said'. 

Almost missed the Article on where Chemours/ DuPont donated $15,000., to three of the local Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs). Those being Blennerhassett, Lubeck and Washington Bottoms.

I had to read it very carefully several times to be sure I was getting the true context of what appeared to have happened?  It did NOT say anything about the rank and file workers of either company making any contributions. It was the "Companies" themselves kicking in the bucks.

I wish to be very clear that there is no doubt in my mind there thousands of good decent folks that work for DuPont and have over the years. My heartburn is that with all the damage to the people in the MOV that no one is going to jail. Thousands diseased, how many dead, and no one liable? 

So what you say? Well, I am seeing along with the millions thrown at Vienna with the assistance of Mr. Rapp, the "buying off" of the people on the C8 issues? These donations while surely of value to the those VFDs are little more than sops to build good will after the recent brouhaha on the too small proposed settlement of $671 Million for the 3500 C8 cases in the system.

In Vienna, I am going to speculate, operative term speculate that Chemours who up too the last minute denied any culpability but was "told" by the EPA to provide the Filtration Systems to the City might well have spent not just the $12 Million for the Filtration Systems @ $1.5 Million each, but with all the other freebees as much as another $1 Million or more? That is a lot of money for a company that was not liable for anything? Remember, initially, we were only to have received four. 


For those, if there are any who may remember a little place called Bhopal India? There was what was called at that time the " Worst Industrial Disaster". This article is located in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. It is credited there to the BioMed Central, Open Access Publisher. Further credited to an Environmental Health source.


Environ Health. 2005; 4: 6.  Edward Broughton
 
Published online 2005 May 10.  (Posted here 2:30 02 25 2017)


The Bhopal disaster and its aftermath: a review

"On December 3 1984, more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, immediately killing at least 3,800 people and causing significant morbidity and premature death for many thousands more. The company involved in what became the worst industrial accident in history immediately tried to dissociate itself from legal responsibility, (my italics). Eventually it reached a settlement with the Indian Government through mediation of that country's Supreme Court and accepted moral responsibility. It paid $470 million in compensation, a relatively small amount of based on significant underestimations of the long-term health consequences of exposure and the number of people exposed". (This is just most of the first paragraph and what is titled "Abstract"). 

Again, so what say you? Well, it shows the ongoing and apparently still happening disastrous effects of this one day disaster? Now the above U.S. Company that is later identified as one Union Carbide Corporation (UCC). It was subsequently purchased by another Conglomerate named Dow Chemical. Now as we know, Dow and DuPont are in the midst of a merger. Watch this closely as if approved and totally completed will in the long run cost consumers much more than they are now paying for the products we use. And potentially our continued safety everywhere?

The above article is far too long for me to post in its entirety, but I would like with your patience to post parts of the article that seem appropriate to enter our lives and well being here in the MOV.

"December 2004 marked the twentieth anniversary of the massive toxic gas leak from Union Carbide Corporation's chemical plant in Bhopal in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India that killed more than 3,800 people. This review examines the health effects of exposure to the disaster, the legal response, the lessons learned and whether or not these are put into practice in India in terms of industrial development, environmental management and public health".

We did not have a "one time" explosion as caused the initial result. We did and STILL DO have the cause and effect of C8 for multiple decades in our environment be it our water, dirt and air around us today. It would be reasonable to be able to change the UCC to DuPont and now Chemours as to what has, is and will continue to unravel in our little corner of the World?

"In 1984, the plant was manufacturing Sevin at one quarter of its production capacity due to decreased demand for pesticides. When no ready buyer was found, UCIL (Union Carbide India Limited made plans to dismantle key production units of the facility for shipment to another developing country. In the meantime, the facility continued to operate with safety equipment and procedures far below the standards found in its sister plant in Institute, West Virginia". Guess many of you will be familiar with UCC?

"Had compensation in Bhopal been paid at the same rate that asbestosis victims where being awarded in US courts by defendant including UCC – which mined asbestos from 1963 to 1985 – the liability would have been greater than the $10 billion the company was worth and insured for in 1984.  By the end of October 2003, according to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, compensation had been awarded to 554,895 people for injuries received and 15,310 survivors of those killed". (NOTE: Compensation is through 2003 and it is said the fund is broke and unfunded for many years?).

"At every turn, UCC has attempted to manipulate, obfuscate and withhold scientific data to the detriment of victims". Does any of this sound familiar? 

"UCC has shrunk to one sixth of its size since the Bhopal disaster in an effort to restructure and divest itself. By doing so, the company avoided a hostile takeover, placed a significant portion of UCC's assets out of legal reach of the victims and gave its shareholder and top executives bountiful profits. The company still operates under the ownership of Dow Chemicals.......". (my emphasis).

And now, we return to our old stalwart: "The US chemical giant DuPont learned its lesson of Bhopal in a different way. The company attempted for a decade to export a nylon plant from Richmond, VA to Goa, India. In its early negotiations with the Indian government, DuPont had sought and won a remarkable clause in its investment agreement that absolved it from all liabilities in case of an accident. But the people of Goa were not willing to acquiesce while an important ecological site was cleared for a heavy polluting industry. After nearly a decade of protesting by Goa's residents, DuPont was forced to scuttle plans there. Chennai was the next proposed site for the plastics plant. The state government there made significantly greater demand on DuPont for concessions on public health and environmental protection. Eventually, these plans were also aborted due to what the company called "financial concerns".

I have posted before and shall again; the recent proposed settlement is too small by half and the need for new testing in places such as Vienna- Boaz should be paramount. There is sadly and undeniably going to be more disease and death due to the C8. And even as Mr. Rapp was fiercely loyal to his bubba's from DuPont/ Chemours, can we not again ask as too whom does he represent as "Mayor"? Is Vienna number three on a list of two? 

​I have alleged before, that on 6 July 2016 when there was a meeting between Chemours and the VUB, that a sweetheart deal was reached that was to the detriment of the people of Vienna? I tried to attend that meeting and was denied.

​We should be looking ever closer on what is going on with the contamination at the new park.  It seems several required agreements and reports have not been submitted timely? 'nuff said'.

The Monday "Their Opinion" column by Mr. Myers again is hitting on the lack of cuts in the new projected 2017- 2018 Budget while increasing taxes hand over fist. It was noted this evening on the media that the shortfall for the current Fiscal Year is still over $120Million dollars and no ready answer yet to balance that with four more months for things to get worse before 30 June.? And $500- 600 Million for next year are being thrown around. 

Am going to suspect there can not be much to "define" the benefits for an employee in the event of a furlough as Mr. Justice is advocating in his bill to the Legislature. If those benefits are tampered with, it could cause a lot of financial heartache to anyone who gets sick or has a need for surgery during that period. Insurance companies do not like breaks in coverage as far as premium payments go, no matter the pay status of the individual.


The down rating on the State is going to cost us a lot more money before it gets better. I know many of you loved Mr. Tomblin. But he was a Tax and Spend guy and you are all going to pay for it even if you were getting all the free stuff that no one pays for here.


Where it is going to end is of course years down the road and no guarantee that any talked about Sunset Clause will ever be honored to reduce/ eliminate the new Tax increases coming.


As the late great Tallulah Bankhead said to the guys in the storm, "Hang on boys, it is going to be a rough ride". 


Mr. Justice is out as you know touting his highway plans to fix the roads and hire 48K new people in some capacity or another? And their tax payments to the State will in his verbiage go from one hand to pay off the State Deficit. Really, why is smelling like Mr. Obama's pie in the sky?  Another $20. bucks for license plate renewals and only $.10/ gallon on gas. The $1.00 on the turnpikes is almost a nonevent. What would the State save if it did NOT give the Teacher's that 2% pay raise for two years? Betcha we are talking some real money there too?


The new bill on littering fines is going to get somewhere between little and damn little. The simple process of enforcing it will shy most away from it. Would suspect it will be a nightmare to catch folks on the Streets, Roads and Highways chucking any and all from their vehicles? The part on the folks turning their property into junk yards was stripped out so that is not going to work well. We have folks now in Vienna that had some real problems with cleaning up their yards. Now, all bets will be off and they can go back to collecting.


One would have to admit that the new plan for a huge Tax Credit on rehabilitating old buildings would be interesting. But the projected Taxes from using those buildings for whatever purpose would have what kind of payback time? Five years; ten years or who the Hell knows? We need to utilize some of our older buildings for sure, but also need to have a very, very firm grip on when all these Credits finally get back to the Taxpayers who are in reality making the "Loans" to the developers. These buildings are apparently supposed to be "certified historic building(s)" and have a "qualified rehabilitation building" designation by several State and National Agencies? Now just what the Hell does that mean in simple English? Sounds like an Attorneys' Dream? 


Can this be in simpler terms like the Park on the River that Mr. Rapp is busily developing even if he seems to not have the appropriate permissions from the DEP? He is just going merrily along as he seems knows He is above any Law or Ordnance? More on this later.


And yet again, the BOE Bond issue goes forward as the Board passes it at the last meeting. The Daily Blat continues to push it for the Board and seems to forget that until the site for the new school is finally approved that possibly, just possibly this bond is in question?


What really surprised me is that reading the list of Schools to get new roofs are Neale, Greenmont and Vienna Elementary Schools. Now what is so interesting is that "supposedly" Neale and Greenmont were on the block to be closed and the kids to a new Vienna School? I read this and could only ask but what these were the goodies to get the voters in at least Vienna to buy into the new Bond? Don't close any schools, put new roofs on them and leave the kids where they are. I am a bit skeptical of all three of these schools needing new roofs at the same time?  Is it possible that the BOE is so remiss that roofs were allowed to go far, far past any normal life usage? Repair after repair for years no matter the effectiveness of repairs?

​
I don't buy into that and would be curious on when the original roofs went on; how many times has it been replaced since that date? How many times repaired since that date? Do the repairs and or replacements really get us to 2017 in rational usage? Or as I asked above; just buying votes to get the Bond passed? Could apply to many or at least some of the other schools on the list as well. Cannot believe the BOE allowed such massive infrastructure failures to happen? As I have spent a few years in the Building Trades, it is common knowledge the next best thing to an enclosed building is one with a roof for working on the rest of it. 'nuff said'.

A few days back, our illustrious Executive Editor on the Daily Blat commented on 'fake news'. It was basically correct as there is a plethora of untrue stories being circulated from many of the media sources. I think I may have gotten sucked into one a few weeks back on Charles Manson and his death. This turned out to be false and two things happened.


1. I was caught flat footed.

2. I was sad it was not true. He was, is and will be for all time one of the most miserable of Human Beings for what he did and had done. But one can always hope that the Good Lord will one day make him pay for his sins.

In any case, I digress.  Along with with the fake news swirling around us, is not the omission of true news just as bad? To hide what is going on so as too make one look better in their job performance than what they really are? With fake news, we can research as I should have done on Manson to get to the Truth. In the omission of news, one can not ferret out the Truth.

There was a bit of humor on the part of the Executive Editor so it was not all dire in its presentation. The comment was written "So I plugged away, knowing that I and the fantastic reporters of the News and Sentinel do our best to genuinely present an unbiased report of the facts, with input from multiple sides of a story, so readers can trust us and make their own decisions about the information presented". "Of course, I'm not talking abouts what is printed here. That is another matter entirely- and we label it accordingly".

This Executive Editor must not read many of the articles that come out on the goings on in our little corner of the World called Vienna? There, the Truth is usually a victim of the Politics that are slowing but steadily choking down many of the good people who live here. I had only lived here about two weeks and was warned about the direction the paper took on local issues. After almost a decade of observing on my own, I can understand fully those statements made to me.


Two things stood out in that one Editorial paragraph:

1. The first comment on "...........that I and the fantastic reporters........"  I admit I am a bit short on humor when I am around people who are so engrossed with themselves that there are seemingly never enough mirrors in any room? But that one sentence caused me to LMAO. I am smiling or smirking as Mr. Bibbee would say as I post this. It was funny then and still is now.

2. The admission "....... to present an unbiased report on the facts........... " This followed by "I am not talking about what is printed on the opinion pages, here. That is another matter entirely". 


I am not very smart and will be the first to admit it, but would think that even when doing an Editorial in whatever form one may call it, there should be a modicum of effort to present the Facts on how one is getting to a position? Would not supporting flat out a buffoon in any color of the rainbow be it Honesty, Criminality, Stupidity or just plainly to be an incompetent not have to be full of lies and misrepresentations that it may need to protect the guilty versus the harmless who are being harmed? 

To make a mistake is a common flaw of most mortals. I err as do others who have feet of clay and sometimes have to come in and admit an error and post the correct data. I don't like eating crow, but have learned that each time I am able to face the fact, I am a better man for it. I am in each and every posting trying to be if nothing else honest in what I post. Yes, sometimes it is MY Opinion on something; others an article I find that is I hope is of interest to the Community? In fact, I just did that for the above  post on Manson.

And again, our Daily Blat comes all out in the "Our Opinion" column to boost Tourism as the saving Grace of P'burg.  I fully understand and respect the challenge Mr. Lewis of the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau (GPC&VB) faces . He has a tough job and as so many of the mugwumps in the State do is embracing Tourism versus most types of other business growth here.

It is understandable how the State, not just the MOV got itself into the situation it has now. 80 years of expecting and laying on of Coal/ Gas Severance Taxes to balance an ever increasing yearly Budget finally collapsed under the weight of the Obama Presidency. The State is now again, in the throes of trying to rebuild a tax base for the programs of the State and more so here in the MOV. Tourism as I have noted before can be called one leg of an octopus to bring in dollars. The jobs will again by and large be low pay, few if any benefits and not much hope of a progressive upward future. Except for a very few, nothing more than a foot in a door to go somewhere for a viable future.

Another idea floating is to pay Colleges/ Universities for raising Graduation rates in them from what, a one in three to one in two? Or better yet, one for one who are attending all the courses and passing them? The most important part is they actually EARN the grades. To give two year Associate or comparable Degrees in order to entice the lads and lassies to stay home rather than flee the nest. I can assure you that one does NOT need a two year degree to work in a fast food/ sit down eatery. They do need a  job sometimes in a fast food/ sit down eatery to get a two year degree.


Have to say, it was a pleasure Friday to finally see a Vienna Police Officer in the 'hood. In fact, we had vehicles 131, 142 and 145 all in the area as they arrested one for something. Good job lads. Nice to see the effort put out to keep the folks living here from Ohio safe. 'nuff said'.

Am of course very pleased that the P'burg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force took that meth dealer off the streets for at least a little while. Everyday gone makes it a bit tougher for the usual suspects to get a steady source for a fix. Of course, he will sooner or later find his 10% of the bail to get out. If we are lucky let us hope for later?


The big Thumbs Up for the Chemours/ DuPont settlement by the Daily Blat is so much crapola. It is too little when one looks at all the cases still pending and the "average" settlements so far.  I would suggest another $500-600 Million to make it all closer to right for all the damage done and being done by what that company (DuPont), has foisted on the MOV as a minimum? And still no one going to jail. Justice many times must depend on the karma to make wrongs right as the Law will not do it. Will post some more on this mess later.


The expansion of Sheetz's into the P'burg area so far will be a good thing I think? Jobs will in most cases not pay much, but at least something for a few folks to get a foot in the door. And we need some more Gas locations. Would seem that maybe the closed station on 36th & Emerson might be a possible? Would compliment the other two spots city wide.


And as I said before, the addition back into the mix of the connector for the Technical Center is a bit of a surprise. See the money for Waverly closing and consolidating at this time seems to be freeing up some money. Now just what was the grand scenario for $51 Million that seems to be getting met for the now $41 Million?


And as the game is playing out, Ms. Flowers has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors versus the Felonies originally charged with. Said she could not get the case to Court and this was the best solution.  Yep, Politics is what screwed up her chance to get a trial. Too much that could come back to maybe haunt Mr. Modesitt and Mr. Merritt? Both got their clocks cleaned in the last Election but for sure don't want any dirty laundry to show up anywhere? And they are not the only ones. Mr. Newell is seeming to have been rehabilitated and is now in the news again. I will say, it is very likely that in 4 years or so, you will see him running again for something? To many years riding a Stallion to settle for an Ass.


I am going to speculate and the operative word here is speculate that Ms. Flowers as far as her sentencing will probably get probation and at worst 30-60 days home confinement. This Lady is NOT going to jail. So that will I believe end the saga of the how the World turns in P'burg?


It continues to surprise me at all the money being asked for and spent on expanding the Broadband in West Virginia? We are at 87 percent using it daily and when the Androids/ IPhones are added in, we are up to about 90 percent coverage. This is starting to sound a bit like someone is just greasing the pig for publicity/ re-election rather than the dire need I have been hearing for some years? Some want to spend another $75 Million on more expansion but only about 2 percent of the folks see the value added.


And the big push to make districts have just one Delegate could be little more than the infamous gerrymandering that in many places is done to segregate the Blacks/ Latinos from being too numerous in some districts as to be a threat to the incumbents. With 55 Counties and presently a 100 Delegates, it would cause some to get pushed out. And right now unless it all goes South for the Republicrats in 2018 and the Census in 2020, it could well shut most of the remaining Democans out of office? Unless for example they would break the 10th District into two more? As for everyone knowing who their Delegate is right now does not matter with so many retreads getting re-elected all the time. When is the last time an average snuffy got anything out of Mr. Deem? The correction is to send him home and get someone who "might" give a tinker's dam about the folks? As for Mr. Criss- WHO?


And I was shaking my head at Ms. McCallister get so upset with the three BOE folks who voted the Fenton site down. Why, what dog did she have in that fight? Everything is as noted still on the table and it's just a matter of time till a site for the new school is chosen. To find that Mr. Fenton offered up only $50K for remediation on the site is not a Helluva a lot for what he will get when sold. Again the 10 year guarantee should have been a no brainer? 'nuff said'

There is such a todo on repealing Obamacare, yet, do you know what would be the status of West Virginia in such an action? Mr. Tomblin went all in for the expanded medicaid that was promised under Obamacare. Here is were we would stand in a repeal:


Home / Culture /

10 States That Would Suffer the Most by Getting Rid of Obamacare

 Sam Becker  February 20, 2017   (Posted here 2:15 P.M. 02/21/2017)

2.   West Virginia

​West Virginia is largely in the same camp as Kentucky. It’s a state that has a lot to lose in the event of an Affordable Care Act repeal. But the state overwhelmingly supported Trump for president. The state would lose billions in subsidies, and people would lose coverage.

“The Affordable Care Act has had a wonderful impact on the state of West Virginia. It’s reduced the number of uninsured from 14 percent to 6 percent,” said Ted Boettner of the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy, per a report from WOWK


So as the old saying goes "Be careful of what you wish for; you may get it" would seem to be a two edge sword?  One side would be a potential benefit for those paying ever higher Premiums, Deductibles and Co-pays to get cost relief. The other is the loss of "free stuff" that is said to cost no one anything.  You decide................................

And yet again in the 17 Feb., 2017, "Our Opinion" column the local Daily Blat goes all in for the unquestioned benefits of Tourism and how it could save West Virginia? It extolled how close most of the Population of the Country is too being able to get here in a short time driving.

Then in a moment of idyllic rhapsody it noted "......travelers from farther afield do not have to work too hard to get here by plane".  SAY WHAT?  We have the blessing of a puddle jumper Airlines that goes from here to nowhere.  It is not in any way an interconnect line with anyone else that I can find except for the fact that JetBlue goes to the big Airports in the area out of Charlotte NC. It is HELL getting from point A to point anywhere except the beautiful old City of Charlotte. I do not know who is writing some of those columns, but he, she or it has not had to try and catch flights going into the real World itself.

Than it ends with these statements. "Spread the word. The Mountain State and all its wonders can longer afford to remain it own little secret".  Can longer afford? Would the Desk Editor(s) or whomever reviews these columns not catch a simple "no" as in "no longer afford"?

I will note that I have said many times and will again, that no one should proof their own work. You, whomever you are will make mistakes and read it ten times and still not catch it.

I do not believe that Tourism is the salvation for West Virginia. It is lip service to not bringing in new ideas, concepts and techniques to expand the minds and the culture of the State from the 1860s to the 1950s. Times they be a changin' folks and if we do NOT get on that band wagon, are doomed to even more stagnation with low paying jobs, few if any real benefits, no chance to advancement unless one is born, marries or kiss a**es their way into it.

What is being proposed is "hey City Slickers, bring us your dollars, buy some junk and then get the Hell out of here so the ruling families in each local fiefdom can continue to rule unchallenged by the Truth of what is going on in our World".

Tourism has a place in any location to a limited degree when ensuring other work brings family wage jobs and the opportunities those wages can present. There is only one place that I can truly think of that is dependent on Tourism. That is known more so as "Gambling" and is a place called Nevada. Do away with that in Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno and the place will dry up and blow away. 

And the infamous Wood County Fire Board is giving yet another sop to those with multiple buildings by reducing their Fire Fee (Tax). Simplicity is forever a good thing when dealing with any Government Agency at any level. Is it in Truth that the Fire Fee (Tax), even in its full of errors processes is bringing in more money than originally thought? That would be nice.

In one of those very, very rare moments when the City of Vienna Police Department admits all is not peaches and cream in Mr. Rapp's Mayberry West by providing a report on the "bad guys" who have done something, the following dropped out.

I will not mention the name, was arrested for a charge of not understanding who really owned some property in a store and possession of a controlled substance. I have reworded the notice somewhat as I am not interested in beating the person to death on the property issue. BUT, what does concern me is that the individual runs a day care and my question is: What is going to happen to the license of that daycare for the misappropriation of another's property and most importantly the possession charge? Or does the person even have a license?

I would be a bit concerned that someone babysitting my babies was stoned out of their gourd while my kids were in their control or lack of it? 

As I have in my humble experience been forced to believe that we have a dysfunctional City Government to include the Police Department, what will they do to safeguard those kids?

After all, the safety of the children, old folks, 18- 60 year olds and even pregnant women are of little concern down at Mr. Rapp's Park by the river. So maybe a few kids at an unlicensed or if licensed home with one stoned or not on any given day is also not important? 'nuff said'.

I understand that I am preaching to the Choir here, but I gotta say this nicer weather is sure a pleasant change from the freezing that was going on, and probably will return?  To be truthful, when I was still working and living up in Washington State, I would take a 9 day break the week of President's Day as it would be so much like this most years there. About one in five it would be cold, dreary with some light rain or heavy mist. But mostly a nice change. I remember thinning out the Lilacs and just generally cleaning up the yards for spring. So this really nice change here does remind me much of there at the same time of year. I do hope that one and all who could did enjoy their three day weekend? So unless you can finagle Good Friday, you are pretty much done till Memorial Day.


I am still a bit questioning what the folks in the RSA actually do? I mean besides buying bread and milk? While I am all for the most and operative term is "most" efficient consolidation of purchasing in the hope of tough, honest bidding for an entity, I am still wondering were the most efficient level in the State is? With the Bubba system the norm is there any level/ place where the Tax Payers get an even break? I am inclined to say 'NO'.


And I read where our ever effervescent Executive Editor for the Daily Blat is now on the record for not being in Mr. Justice's corner. Skepticism well deserved; absolutely. Mr. Justice has screwed every one he could nude and tattooed blue in this State who stupidly or maybe ignorantly voted for him. Would Mr. Cole have been any different? I don't know to be honest myself?  As I have said before when we basically have the Republicrats and the Democans to choose from, ain't no big deal either way. Just how fast one grabs for the lobbyist's envelopes? I would I think put my money on the Republicrats. They can run to grab that envelope faster than any Democan could get out of the Trough to scent one out. They got damn fat in the past 80 years.


So we sit and we wait and should be afraid?  I said before, we would NOT avoid tax increases. That was a no brainer. The surprise in the end is no cuts with the increases that amount as I noted before, the equivalent of a cheap tip at a greasy spoon eatery.


And I can not see Mr. Rapp giving up on his "Brunch Bill" or as it is really "MORE Tax Dollars" Bill.  There is yet again a "budget discussion" on the next City Council Meeting and that can be anything from more big pay increases for a select few that have not yet gotten greased for their services rendered to the City versus the Citizens? Thursday will show that real agenda in the making?  And P'burg will have or should have had its second vote on their "Brunch Bill"?


It is interesting how the "Our Opinion" folks went after the BOE for their cowardice on the vote to not accept the Fenton site for the new school. While I am sure the Bond issue is alive and well, it does not mean the best of all worlds will emerge? The money for the Tech Center walkway I believe it is called was not in the budget at $41 Million with the State kicking in its $10 Million. This we know did not happen; so where did it come from now? Waverly not being closed open up a couple of million?


The comments attributed to a Williamstown parent that "some of the BOE members used the process to manipulate Wood County Residents". And of the Principal of the Williamstown Elementary School "that the (BOE), has destroyed everything we have built" is a bit exotic to say the least and highly incorrect to say the most. The new school is still going to be built; the elementary school in Waverly is off the hook, all the rest is still in motion. Even those 29 roofs that as I have said before may well be gone before this Bond is paid off.


The BOE last year really did manipulate the Wood County folks. Lot of gloom and doom starting out, than Neale and Greenmont got a reprieve with Neale to get a new roof. Why in God's Name would you put a new roof on a building you had been trying to tear down or at least empty out for economic reasons? That is when the BOE folded/ rolled.


As an aside on my somewhat correcting stock/ stock options by the Rapp's since being Elected/ Appointed to City Positions in 2013. It does not mean that they could not have a part ownership in Highmark? Remember, they supposedly got filthy rich selling off their Service Station in Mineral Wells some years back? That money had to go someplace besides some gas cans buried in their back yard? And it is possible that their is no Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) either?  A lot of variables are possible but not all are impossible? 'nuff said'.

This inadvertently posted early on Saturday instead of as intended at a later day. I chose to remove it from the two fer posting for Saturday and put it back to this date. I could use the old cop out that it was the software, but am quite willing to accept I may have boo boo'ed? So for those few dozen who read it very early Saturday, I apologize. In any case here it is on time.


A bit more on the settlement between the whole MOV+ and Chemours/ DuPont. Chemours has posted losses in three of its four quarters since becoming a stand alone company. And while reporting a loss of $230 Million for the last quarter, is expecting profitability to begin. It says it made a profit of $7 Million for the past year overall. This on a revenue of $5.4 Billion is a bit sad for its size.  It is still on the hook for its share of the $335 Million for the C8 settlement and has charged it all against the just completed fourth quarter.

Two points I found interesting is that with the settlement just announced:

1. It had already charged off the settlement in its fourth quarter report even if it is now just publicized? This smells to me of a lot of insider knowledge and the possibility of insider trading with the expectation of a huge stock increase valuation?

​(In fact, Chemours' stock surged last Monday (13th), on news of the settlement, jumping 14 percent to nearly $33 per share, its highest price ever). But be assured, NO ONE working for Chemours or DuPont could have made a dime off of this action?

2. The other point is the alleged claim for indemnification by DuPont from Chemours? 


In a recent article by The New Journal written by one Jeff Mordock it was written:

"DuPont must first pay any damages awarded to plaintiffs before it pursues indemnification from Chemours. The volume of lawsuits makes it difficult to know exactly when DuPont could seek reimbursement, but it is unlikely DuPont would wait 90 years for one large indemnification payment from Chemours. (This was based on at the time a projected 40 cases per year for 90 years to try all the cases in the Court System).

But Chemours, with about 1,100 employees in Delaware,may not pay, company spokeswoman Janet Smith said.

And DuPont must be careful not to overwhelm Chemours with liability payment demands so that it collapses under the strain. Chemours is in a precarious position. (And right here is a damn good reason for those who have them to start cashing out stock based on the increase in stock valuation noted above). It's total capitalization of $1.24 billion barely exceeds the estimated liability for pain and suffering of West Virginians and Ohioans harmed by C8 exposure. The company has lost money every quarter since separating from DuPont – $18 million and $29 million in the second and third quarters of 2015, respectively. Those loses nearly tripled in the fourth quarter, to $86 million.

The company's troubles have largely been tied to weak demand for its top products – titanium dioxide, Teflon, and sulfuric acid. All three of Chemours' product lines reported double-digit sales declines in the fourth quarter, and overall sales fell to $1.4 billion, a 12 percent decrease from the same quarter in 2014. For the year, Chemours' sales dropped 10 percent to $5.7 billion from $6.4 billion in 2014.

Chemours has responded to the quarterly losses with an aggressive plan to eliminate $350 million from its budget by the end of 2017. Cuts include the shuttering of its Edge Moor facility just outside Wilmington, along with a Niagara Falls, New York plant next year and the sale of a Beaumont, Texas plan to Dow for $140 million. In addition, the company has laid off 400 employees, about 5 percent of its workforce". (And for the Wood County folks?).


It seems that all through the past few Trials/ Court settlements (total of 5, I believe), Chemours has basically stated the costs are the problem of DuPont. Yet, as we know here, the EPA told Chemours to provide the Water Filtration Systems to Vienna. And at a stated price of $1.5 Million apiece came to $12 Million alone. This does not seem to include the never ending extra installations/ repairs/ co-pays made by Chemours that seem to exceed what the EPA ordered?

But it would in the short term appear to support some of the allegations of special deals between Chemours/ DuPont and the City of Vienna that have went on and may still be in motion?

And the people of Vienna and Boaz, are still on the hook to find out the hard way if they are or have recipients of diseases as noted that are caused by the C8? Somehow and I admit I am not very smart, but this thing is starting to smell? May I ask how much Stock or Stock Options Mr./ Mrs. Rapp may have since becoming Mayor/ Library Director?


In fact, how much stock do either of them have in Highmark/ Blue Shield under the same above Election/ appointment criteria? (Just did some looking around as the Market is open and found that Highmark is a privately held Company; very interesting? So for sure not possible stock/ stock options unless maybe an ESOP? (Posted 9:50 A.M. 02/ 21/2017).  nuff said'.

​

It would appear as if the well oiled machine to foist the $41 Million School Bond on us last year has run into the infamous snag?  Am I against the building of a new school in Williamstown? No, absolutely not. Am I against using so much of the Bond to repair/ replace roofs on many other Schools? Yes, again I question but what the roof's may well not outlast the cost of paying off the Bonds? Remember folks, there is another bond out there that will mature in 2018 and the BOE will probably try to replace it? Sly and cunning, but not always up front?

The BOE is putting people on notice now that schools are going to be closed due to falling attendance and have in reality already reached that point, Waverly being put aside. For those with short memories, Greenmont and Neale were on the block this last Bond Vote and more for political than real life taken off the table. In fact Neale I believe is now scheduled for a new roof. That does not make sense; it should be for sure up for the 2018 Bond sale. Greenmont if for no other reason than to stretch almost nonexistent dollars for the best interest of the kids and NOT the adults. Adults with fonder memories of a grade school than a high school or college are a bit sad/ short on memories? Several of the grade/ middle schools I attended in the day are now just that- memories. Victims of numbers of students and/ or money. But I still can remember them pretty much based on certain events and will for all my life (I think)?

I must also state, I am understanding of the concerns about the cost of current remediation by Fenton Glass now. But more so on why IF and I repeat IF it is so "clean" that Mr Fenton would not just okay additional remediation in the example of 10 years if needed? That should have been a no brainer? Give the guarantee while knowing it would not be used in advance. UNLESS Mr. Fenton and his crew know something that may be of note in the time to come?

This could be applied somewhat to the contamination as shown by the 2013/ 2014 Site Survey of the Johns Manville site and the allegations by Mr. Rapp that the Western side of the park has no contamination. Combine that with the "Ravine never existed" position he has taken and what appears to be the Ravine in some old photos of the site and one can easily begin to get very, very suspicious of what someone is lying?

In fact, the Risk Assessment Report from Vienna due to DEP by the end of December was not submitted as of about a week, 10 days ago. When a FOIA went to DEP, it came out that the City of Vienna had not appropriated the money yet to even pay Triad Engineering for their work. I had waited for the City Council Meeting on the 9th to see if any came from that meeting, but none did.

Why is the City and most specifically Mr. Rapp not paying the Vendor for their work? Has he seen the report and is not happy with what was in it? Is he pressuring them to redo the report to support his allegations of no contamination/ Ravine before paying them? Knowing the above leads me to be more supportive of the BOE on what may or may not be at the Fenton site? 

I know from listening, watching and having the data I have from various sources to include Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), requests that it is very common for Mr. Rapp to practice a form of Governance based more on deception, deceit, misinformation, misdirection and when possible even a lie, than the Truth?

A bit of a follow up on the 35th Anniversary for the Senior Center. It surprised me at first that there would be a 35th Celebration? 25 years, yes; 50; absolutely; 35, say what? It turned out in Truth to be a PR moment for Mr. Rapp to put his Cheerleader and wingman out to extol the benefits of the new Gymnasium being built on to the Senior Center.

Both of the above went on and on about all it would bring to the Seniors, not just in Vienna, but the invite for the whole Senior Community in the MOV to use the facilities and events to further invigorate their lives. Okay, some neighborliness is forever a good thing. To keep the older folks in touch with not just each other, but the younger folks is a plus for them for sure. But, when Ms. Kern noted hiring people to teach Zumba, I sat up and listened closer. A few years back, I had suggested hiring people to teach classes so the current building could be used more efficiently. My answer back: It is against the Law for Vienna to enter into these kinds of agreements/ contracts; Yet now?

And than again the misinformation on attendance of 35- 50 people on average at the current exercise classes. And again, I will state it is B.S. In the months that I would just walk in to see what was going after the over loading of 60 people last July, at NO TIME did I ever find more than 23 people upstairs. That is TWENTY THREE, not fifty or even forty. What started me more than anything was when a lady told me one day that is was about 13 and up to 35 that were in attendance. I will say this in defense of Mr. Rogers and Ms. Kern. IF one counts the eight to ten folks downstairs doing card games and puzzles, the head count could reach up to 31. But that is counting both floors. I know why all the may I allege lying went on. It was to justify spending all the bucks before the election to rope in as many Seniors as possible. Simple fact based on Politics; I understand that. I am also quite suspicious that many of the Seniors in Vienna will not use the facility in its current form because in a small town, grudges last forever. Another fact of life, people get ticked off at someone and will not go where they are out of dislike for the other person.

And having listened and watched, I am aware that this group (Seniors), is very Political and Personal amongst themselves over the years. One lady told me that her friend when asked flat out refused to accompany her to a Senior Center event. 'nuff said'

There is so much Truth in the following article that we should one and all who believe in the Principles upon which this Country was founded should be very, very alarmed. Mr. Obama had a group of "Advisors" he selected and most lasted the eight years he was in office that were the Non appointed equals or more powerful than his Cabinet Secretaries that they over shadowed. They did not get any Legislative review for their views or fitness to be in the positions he put them into. 


U.S.

Obama’s Shadow Government Is Organizing To Undermine Trump

The Federalist Thu, Feb 16 7:58 AM EST

"Once out of office, ex-presidents usually fade into private life and stay out of politics. They write memoirs, serve on corporate boards, and start charitable foundations. George W. Bush retired to his ranch in Texas and, most recently, painted portraits of veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bill Clinton was briefly thrust back into politics during Hillary’s two failed presidential campaigns, but most of his post-White House career consisted of flying around the world raising boatloads of money for his family’s now-defunct charity. There are exceptions, of course. Jimmy Carter threw himself into international diplomacy, mediating an agreement in 1994 to return exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power in Haiti, and generally agitating for a Palestinian state.Then there is Obama. Less than a month out of office, the broad contours of Obama’s post-presidency career are already taking shape. Obama and his loyalists, it seems, will remain in the center of the political fray, officially and unofficially, in an organized effort to undermine the Trump administration.

The bizarre scandal now unfolding over the resignation of national security advisor Michael Flynn is a case in point. Flynn’s resignation was prompted by a series of coordinated and anonymous leaks from current and former Obama administration officials in our domestic intelligence agencies.

Regardless of any valid criticism of Flynn, the leaks are part of a larger, loosely organized effort now underway to preserve Obama’s legacy. This effort involves Obama-era officials still inside the federal government, former Obama staffers working in the private sector, and Obama himself.

This isn’t some conspiracy theory. After the election, Obama indicated he intends to stay involved in the political fray. In an email to his supporters on his last day in office, Obama encouraged them to stay engaged, promising “I’ll be right there with you every step of the way.” Less than two weeks later, he issued a statement saying he was “heartened” by anti-Trump protests over the executive order on immigration.

Obama Is Jumping Back Into The Political Fray

But there’s more to all this than Obama issuing solidarity statements to Trump protestors. For one thing, the former president isn’t moving back to Chicago. The Obama family will remain in Washington DC, within a couple miles of the White House, for the next two years as Obama’s youngest daughter finishes high school.

From there, Obama will help direct his new foundation, which he has said will be a “startup for citizenship.” That could mean a lot things, but in light of his other plans it suggests the Obama Foundation will be a political grassroots organization designed to mobilize progressive activists.

Obama has also announced he’ll be working with former Attorney General Eric Holder on a political action group called the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. Its goal is to get Democrats elected at the state and local level ahead of the next redrawing of congressional districts. Last month, Obama reportedly met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to strategize about redistricting.

In addition to these pursuits, the former president will likely play a prominent role in a network of progressive nonprofits, most notably Organizing for Action, the political group that grew out of Obama’s first campaign. OFA has kept a low profile in recent years, and if Clinton had won it likely would have shut down.

But last week, OFA officials told NBC News the organization was ramping up operations nationwide in an effort to preserve Obama’s signature achievements like the Affordable Care Act. As part of that effort, the group recently hired 14 field organizers in key states, adding to a growing infrastructure that boasts more than 250 offices nationwide and more than 32,000 volunteers.

Former Obama Staffers Are Speaking Out

Obama of course isn’t alone in all this. Trump’s victory has mobilized his top aides and staffers to take action, too. Former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor told the Daily Beast that, had Clinton won, “I would have been inclined to feel comfortable that Obama’s legacy and the things we worked on were safe.”

Instead, Vietor, along with former Obama administration staffers Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, are launching a new podcast, Pod Save America, under their new joint media venture, Crooked Media.

The purpose of the company should be fairly obvious. “In the battle between Donald Trump and the media, we are firmly on the side of the media,” Favreau told the Daily Beast, adding that he’s not interested in “the veneer of objectivity.” “We’re always going to be Obama guys, we’re very open and honest about that.”

Favreau has also been helping create Obama’s new foundation, whose mission, he says, “is to get people involved in civic life and get people engaged in politics.” Of Crooked Media, Favreau says, “I think we would very much like to be the media company version of that. So it’s certainly inspired by a lot of what Obama has talked about in terms of the media over the last several months.”

A host of other former Obama staffers have simply taken to social media to voice their opposition to Trump. One former senior administration official told Yahoo News, 

“There are more than a few of us who believe deeply in holding this administration’s feet to the fire—especially when they offer falsehoods to the American people and distort our record. We have an email chain going where we share impressions, etc.”

As the leaks keep flowing from our intelligence agencies and the tweets keep flying from former Obama officials, keep in mind that although we haven’t heard much from Obama himself yet, the Trump administration is going to keep feeling the disruptions of what amounts to a shadow government.

Obama had eight years in the White House to secure his legacy. Any efforts on his part to undermine his successor aren’t just an affront to the principles of our democracy, they’re an admission that he and his acolytes never put much stock in democracy to begin with.​

The sad Truth is that there is very little the folks in West Virginia can do except be very, very leery of all the "free stuff" being offered/ given if one will just ignore anything that seems uncomfortable to them. It is for their own good and everything will be all right if we just trust the perpetual re-elections that go on and on for some of the Politicians. 

Caveat Emptor. 'nuff said'.