May 14, 2008

Improving the water infrastructure is the goal of a 5.4 million dollar funding package to the town of Wise, Virginia. The Coalfield Progress reports that the combination of grants and loans is from the federal Rural Development Program. The money will go for upgrading the town’s water treatment plant and increasing water storage capacity at the Bear Creek reservoir. The projects are expected to get underway in February of next year. Mayor Cliff Carson said – quote – We’re talking about truly dramatic improvements to the town’s water system – end quote.

A truck loaded with ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel overturned Monday in the Justice community on the Wyoming and Mingo county line in West Virginia. According to the Williamson Daily News, the truck was preparing to cross a bridge when the driver lost control. The driver, Jeffrey Clayton Stevens, the second, had to be extricated from the truck and was airlifted to an area hospital. He was driving for Austin Powder Company. Police said the likely factor in the crash was speed. Apparently, neither the chemical nor the fuel spilled.

Patrick Johnson has been appointed by the Virginia General Assembly to take over the judgeship of the 29th Circuit Court, according to the Virginia Mountaineer. He replaces Judge Keary Williams, who is retiring. Tazewell attorney Gregory Matney has been appointed to take Johnson’s position as a general district court judge.

A Floyd County, Kentucky, native is looking to start a factory in his hometown of Wheelwright. Arlis Ray Johnson, a former turbine engine mechanic, has been working on anti-rollover technology for all terrain vehicles. His designs could be used in ATVs, SUGVs, which are small, unmanned ground vehicles, larger unmanned vehicles, and lunar rovers. He is working with the University of Kentucky to develop a prototype. Johnson said he would like to help the former coal camp economically by locating a plant there. He told the Floyd County Times, -- quote – I’m hoping to bring some jobs and help out my hometown. I’d like to be able to move back home – end quote.

Thanks to the Appalachian News-Express in Pikeville for laying it out in plain language when we can expect to receive the federal government’s highly touted economic stimulus checks. The check disbursal is based on the last two digits of our social security numbers, and taxpayers who have direct deposit will get their money quicker. If you have direct deposit and the last two digits are 00 through 20, your check should have been deposited on May 2; 21 through 75 on May 9, and 76 through 99 on May 16. If you opted to receive your check by mail, you’ll have to wait a little longer. For those whose last two social security digits are 00 through 09, the check will be mailed on May 16; 10 through 18 on May 23; 19 through 25 on May 30; 26 through 38 on June 6; 39 through 51 on June 13; 52 through 63 on June 20; 64 through 75 on June 27; 76 through 87 on July 4; and 88 through 99 on July 11.

The gun was later discovered to be a toy, but that wasn’t how it looked to two employees at the FasMart, next to Powell Valley High School, in Wise County, Virginia. A Norton man entered the store last week, brandished a revolver and demanded money, according to the Coalfield Progress. The man took off with an undisclosed amount of money, but a clerk was able to get a good look at the getaway truck and its license plate number. The employees also had his name, because before coming into the store, he used his debit card to get gasoline. Police were able to track him down a short time later.