This now is the THIRD time this school year that I have found something out about Edison that SHOULD have come from the schools themselves instead of through students or message boards! So we now have had a bomb threat, a hit list, and a death threat against an entire class...NONE of which the school informed parents about UNLESS the parents called to SPECIFICALLY ask about these situations!

Apparently, this past Friday, a Junior at Edison High School threatened to KILL the entire 11th grade class stemming from a break up with his girlfriend! From what I am learning, the student who made the threat is the son of an administrative secretary at Edison Local and this student has also previously been suspended for violence! HOW can you not take this seriously and HOW can you NOT inform EVERY parent who has a child in this school??

When kids are threatening other students and I have a child in that same building and NO ONE bothers to tell me about it, I honestly can't put into words what that makes me feel like! I don't give a damn WHO the parents of the kid making the threats are, there should be ZERO TOLERANCE for ANYONE making threats on the lives of other peoples children!

The Wheeling Jamboree announced two upcoming shows to kick off the 2008 season. On April 19th The Wheeling Jamboree will originate from John Marshall Center for the Performing Arts in Glen Dale, WV. The April 19th show will feature Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press and our headliner, Earl Thomas Conley. Conley was a major force in contemporary country music in the 80s and has resumed touring after an extended break. He has a long list of hit records many of which were number one on the charts. "Fire and Smoke," "Holding Her and Loving You," "Love Out Loud," and "Right from the Start" are just a few of his most popular hit recordings. Tickets for this show are at www.wheelingjamboree.org or 1-800-875-8702. This event will be a fund-raising event to kick-start the Wheeling Jamboree to host future shows.

In addition, Wheeling Jamboree, Inc. president Jeff McCamic announced that the Wheeling Jamboree has signed the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for their first Wesbanco Arena show scheduled for Saturday night, May 24, 2008. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was selected to open the large venue show for the newly formed Wheeling Jamboree "because of their long standing prominence in the music industry" said Bud Forte, Wheeling Jamboree's Operations Director. The shows will air live on WWVA-1170 AM beginning at 7:00 P.M. "Cherryholmes, the International Bluegrass Associations Entertainers of the Year for 2005 will also wow the crowd on Memorial Day weekend in Wheeling," said Forte.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is best known for their hit songs: "Mr. Bojangles," "Dance Little Jean," "Fishin' in the Dark," "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," and others. They have released over thirty albums in their 40 years together. The faces and names of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band may not always be immediately recognizable to the general public – vocalist/guitarist Jeff Hanna, drummer/harmonica player Jimmie Fadden, banjo/fiddle/mandolin/guitar player John McEuen, vocalist/keyboardist Bob Carpenter – but fellow musicians young and old know exactly who they are. It would be no exaggeration to say that much of what falls under the umbrella term of roots music these days bears the mark in some way of NGDB's influence, from folk-rock to alternative country, contemporary bluegrass to neo-hippie jam bands. "We've been fortunate that no matter what happened with our recordings, we always had people who wanted to come and see us play," says Carpenter. "And that's the thing that really kept us together. I know it may sound trite, but we really have our fans to thank for that. We've got a loyal fan base that comes out to see us make music."

"We've kept it alive, kept it a growing thing," McEuen explains. "With the Dirt Band, you think of certain integrity in the songs, not a single focus. What has connected our various work is the 'Americana' instrumentation and playing songs that are accessible to people. Our songs aren't just about one thing and neither are people's lives."

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's pioneering spirit, its eagerness to experiment and desire to explore the by-ways and gravel roads of America's musical past, has exerted a profound effect on our present-day pop culture. They defied the conventional hit-driven approach to record-making by undertaking the ambitious three-LP set Will The Circle Be Unbroken, cut live to two-track in Nashville over six days, for the sum of just $22,000. Thanks to the band's unfettered creative energy and the palpable excitement of playing with their country and bluegrass music idols, the 1972 album became a landmark, genre smashing hit. Circle remains such a significant effort that it was one of 50 recordings honored this year – and to be preserved -- by the Library of Congress.

"The May 24th show is shaping up to be a very dynamic stage presentation with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and with the addition of Cherryholmes," added Forte. Until 1999 the dynamic family band known as Cherryholmes did not exist, and half of its youthful members had not even picked up an instrument. With-in five years they were named IBMA's Entertainer's of the Year and nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.

Father, Jere (pronounced Jerry) Cherryholmes, and his mandolin-playing wife Sandy Lee have been able to mold themselves and their four children -- sons Smash and B.J. and daughters Cia Leigh and Molly Kate -- into one of the most cohesive, creative and soulful acoustic bands on the continent in the span of just eight years. "Rounding out the show will be additional great acts and possibly a few surprises," continued Forte.

Jeff McCamic said that tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster at 304-233-3535, on line at www.ticketmaster.com or in person at the WesBanco Arena Box office. There is also a link to Ticketmaster on the Jamboree web site at www.wheelingjamboree.org.Reserved floor seats are $35.00 and all other seating is only $25.00.

"Even though the May 24th show is the first of our large arena presentations at Wesbanco, Wheeling Jamboree is set for a great season of performances at some other great venues in the area. We will premier April 19th show at John Marshall Center for the Performing Arts in Glen Dale also live on WWVA," McCamic continued. "This is an historic event because, to our knowledge, there has never been a Jamboree show that originated in Marshall County and we are very much looking forward to this event.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the support of a few of our more progressive community and business leaders who have contributed to Wheeling Jamboree, Inc. and who understand how important this is to our community. Their contributions have permitted us to achieve this great milestone in the restoration of the show. However, we need the financial support of others now. Wheeling Jamboree is a non-profit corporation and our primary purpose is to promote music education, performing arts, and tourism through the operation of shows and by support from the public," said McCamic. "We need others to step up to the plate and support this, including other community leaders who will help us and follow suit with those who have."

In addition to financial support, Wheeling Jamboree is seeking volunteers who want to be involved. "We are forming the Wheeling Jamboree "Mountaineers" Committee and anyone who can help is asked to call Cindy Hall, a local volunteer, at 304-336-3005 as soon as possible," said Forte. More information is available with show schedules and ticket information at www.wheelingjamboree.org.

Sheriff Fred Abdalla, again, has put a levy on the ballot to help with funding of the Jefferson County Jail. Again, the levy has failed. Does no one see this as a problem? Okay Okay...I get it! I KNOW that NO ONE wants to have to pay anymore taxes than we already do, so we see school levies fail time after time because God forbid we have to hand over a little more money to help secure a good education for our children and now we can't spare the extra money to keep criminals in jail. Make perfect sense, yes? NO!!!

Fred Abdalla is a damn good sheriff and Jefferson County is LUCKY to have a sheriff who is such a huge advocate for children and who tries his best to get the crime and the criminals off of our streets. It saddens me that not enough people in Jefferson County feel that this is an important enough issue to vote in favor of? I do not and can not understand this mindset and yes I KNOW that times are tough, but I also know that my children are more important to me than being taxed a little more money to keep someone off of the streets who could and would do harm to them.

The morning after the vote, Sheriff Abdalla wasn't curled up in a ball somewhere whining over the defeat of the levy, he was knocking on people's doors and helping to get them to a safe place when their area had been flooded. The only comment that I saw him make on the news was that the people had spoken and he would not ask again. Very sad indeed! This is not a Sheriff who sits on his ass behind a desk barking orders while others do the work...Fred Abdalla is a very pro-active Sheriff and takes interest and pride in this county! I recall two evenings before this past Christmas walking through Kroger's parking lot in Steubenville and there he was, riding around patrolling the parking lot with Christmas music blaring from his vehicle and the windows rolled down so that everyone could hear it. That was a great feeling! (I'm quite sure that he could have taken vacation time to spend with his family instead of patrolling the area parking lots to make sure that WE were safe and weren't getting mugged two nights before Christmas)

My final thoughts for the moment on this issue are for those who didn't feel the levy was important enough to vote in favor of: when something bad happens to a member of your family or one of your friends, or even yourself simply because there is not enough money to keep all of the criminals behind bars...you have no right to bitch!

Once again another allegation has been made about a "man of the cloth" sexually abusing a young boy beginning in 2003 and lasting for three years. Personally this is just sickening. How many times does this need to happen before SOMEONE out there comes to the realization that this is a serious PROBLEM.

The interesting thing in this case is the fact that when the investigation initially began Rev Charles E. McCallister was immediately suspended and an investigation began, but now he is dead leaving this individual with really NO justice whatsoever. The Wheeling Charleston Diocese spokesman, Bryan Minor said "Because there are so many unanswered questions, our investigation continues. It never ended.", also went on to say According to Minor, the second sexual abuse investigation is now complete. He said no criminal charges were filed, nor did the church come to a civil settlement.

To me this sounds like typical BS and nothing will ever come of it. This I just another reason why abuse victims are afraid to come forward. Justice never gets served, but at least the Diocese extended the victim outreach program to the alleged victim and his family. Yeah like that will do a lot of good.

First Oil Well In North America

The Thorla-McKee Well, (Designated a "Great Ohio Adventure in Learning" by the State of Ohio), is located just off SR 78* two miles East of Caldwell I-77 Exit 25 at the junction of SR 564.

At this site is the original log casing used by Silas Thorla and Robert McKee in 1814 when drilling for salt where deer were known to lick. They found salt, but also oil and natural gas, which was a nuisance at first. They bottled the substance and sold it as "Seneca Oil" for tonic. Not until 1859, when the refinery of oil was perfected, was it used for lamp and heating oil. A small amount can still be extracted for this purpose today.

In 1814, Silas Thorla and Robert McKee drilled a well near a place where deer came to lick salt. Thorla and McKee found salt, but also got oil and some natural gas. Not wanting to waste all their time spent in digging, they tried to find some use for the dirty oil. "Maybe we could burn it in the homes," McKee suggested. This filled the cabin with thick smoke. Not until after 1859, when refinery of oil was perfected, did oil come into use in the home.

Some neighbors tasted the stuff and said it ought to be good medicine. Thorla and McKee pumped the salt, water and oil up and put them in big barrels. The next day the oil had come to the top and so wool blankets were laid in the barrels to absorb it from the top of the salt water. The blankets were wrung out to get rid of the oil. It was put into bottles and sold as "Seneca Oil", a medicine for rheumatism, colds, cuts, aches, and what ails you.

The salt water was boiled down in cast iron kettles (six feet across) until all that was left was the salt. This was a priceless commodity for the frontier settlers to preserve their meat and also to flavor foods.

The well was cased with a hollow sycamore log down to the bedrock to a depth of about 18 feet. The sycamore log is 34 inches in diameter. In the center is a smaller hole that goes down from 30 feet to 200 feet. (Sources vary on depth and hasn't been logged for actual depth at this time.) Today, the original sycamore log can still be seen and the well continues to give oil, gas, and salt water in limited quantities.

We have followed this very closely and regret the Mount is closing. On February 1st the owners and administrators of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy declined offers and options from the parents association to continue operating the school beyond May 31. It's a shame to see this happen.

Officials for Mount de Chantal cited a declining student base and overhead and maintenance costs as the main reasons for turning down the offer and closing the school.

One very confusing letter released though asked that "Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy" and "Mount de Chantal Academy" only be used in reference to the historic Washington Avenue complex. Also there was mention from the nuns that for anybody wishing to restart the all girls school that they do it under a new name and at a new location.

While I think it was great for the parents to ban together and try and find a solution, it's apparent that there is something else to this. It sounds to me that the owners and administrators of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy have a planned agenda and plans for this building. I wonder if WJU is going to buy it up since it is so close?

Several months back I posted about a Hit list being discovered at Edison Local High School. When this was found out a source close to me called WTOV to find out WHY it had never been mentioned on there station at ALL. There response was basically they did not want to report on such things and give area students the "Wrong IDEA or Impression". At the time I knew this was complete bullshit. Edison Local School District was TRYING desperately to pass a levy at the time and I am sure that was the political reasoning behind WTOV9 NOT reporting on it. But lets go with their reason for a minute and look at some of the recent events that have occurred at Harrison Junior High and Follansbee Middle School.

At Harrison Junior High a student was suspended for 10 days for making a "List", basically a hit list, and at Follansbee Middle School a student was suspended for threatening to bring a gun to school and shoot another student. If WTOV9 was truly concerned about "giving the wrong impression or giving student the wrong idea" why would they report on these two incidents?

Granted I am probably beating a dead horse here with most of the readers that come to this blog. The comments I have posted in the past pertaining to this particular event have not gained a lot of attention, which is fine, but I would think that parents in the Edison Local School District would care enough about this. I for one am very irritated with WTOV9 for failing to report a worthy news story for political reasons. The Edison Local School District Levy failed anyhow and EVERYBODY knew this was going to happen anyhow. I think the well being of our children far outweighs a levy.

It's been well over a year and the tunnels are not completed, they are way over budget and now it is time for answers. Some may think it is nothing more than propaganda for Senator McKenzie's run for Mayor of the city of Wheeling, but I think it is great that someone is stepping up to the plate and trying to figure out who exactly is accountable for this mess.

The tunnel closing was only suppose to cost around 5 Million for both tunnels and as of right now the cost of the first phase has already exceeded 6 million. The WVDOH's budget as certainly been stretched thin but more importantly look at the impact the tunnel project has had on area businesses. With I-70 being essentially closed the businesses in the Wheeling area have lost substantial revenue and Senator McKenzie wants answers.

Senator McKenzie has requested an investigation take place to get this matter resolved and provide some answers to the residents and business community, which are LONG overdue.

Once again I smell a rat in city government. Why has Sparchane and company not pushed this issue? Does City Council and the Mayor of Wheeling not care about the impact this has had on the city or is someone profiting a bit to much once again. With traffic essentially bypassing Wheeling who stands to gain from this blunder? Businesses are leaving Wheeling and leaving behind "vacant" properties and retail business that was coming to Wheeling has shifted to the Highlands. What is left in Wheeling now? A lot of vacant properties to be "bought and renovated" by whom? More than likely WODA (Sparchane's buddy). The powers that be in the city of Wheeling are turning away the businesses or not helping them at all just to turn a profit somewhere down the road. All that will be left soon will be gambling facilities and entertainment venues. While this is probably not THAT bad, it still makes you wonder who is responsible on the inside for making all these decisions.

This all just seems way to convenient for City Council and the Mayor to just not make a big deal out of. Why is it that Senator McKenzie is the one stepping up to the plate to get answers? Why hasn't Wheeling been more involved for the wellbeing of the businesses? It does not take a rocket scientist to realize there is more than meets the eye here. We could speculate all day long and maybe stumble on the real truth to the matter, but unfortunately we will be kept in the dark and the rich will get richer.

We figured that from time to time maybe we should do a quick write up about a business or in the Ohio Valley Area. Our Blog covers about 14 counties in the area and thought it would be nice to actually help out and get the good word out to the public about something interesting. Recently we received and article for OhioValleyNOW.com, our parent site, and though it be great to post here for everybody to take a look at and comment on.

The 55 West Story

55 West & Co. Mission Statement: To sell quality eccentric goods in an atmosphere that inspires the soul.

Nine years ago, Stefanie Kauffman of 55 West & Co., opened a store at 55 West Jackson Street Millersburg, Ohio, with $1000 worth of merchandise, odds and ends from her first apartments, flea market finds, and cast-offs from family and friends. She supplemented her stock with consigned high quality and unusual local handcrafts. Today, she's the proprietor of "quite possibly the coolest store on the planet!"

Kaufman relies on the talents of a dozen employees who do everything from sewing and making jewelry to arranging silk flowers, painting furniture and re-upholstering as needed. The store never fails to exude its trademark atmosphere, courtesy of intriguing Italianate architecture, original tin ceilings, signature Nag Champa incense burned daily, an eclectic mix of hand-selected CD music and Kauffman's white Husky-Malamute mix, Otis, who can often be found blocking an aisle.

In 2002, the original 55 West moved next door to the spacious former Maxwell Brothers Clothing Store, which boasts over 5000 square feet of retail space on two floors. The lower level, which boasts the original tin ceiling and an antique safe, is stuffed with hand painted treasures gleaned from area auctions, cellars and barns in Ohio's Amish country. Larger items peacefully coexist with reasonably priced quality lamps and vintage accessories for the home and Kauffman's trademark hand-painted salvage windows.

Kauffman's success comes from her ability to adapt worn castoffs with interesting paint finishes as she employs well-honed skills to create unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Instead of stripping old finishes with toxic chemicals, Kauffman prefers a light touch. Often a good cleaning and an application of one of the natural based wood conditioners (which are also available to customers) is all it takes to ready a piece for its new home. For the faint-hearted or just-plain-busy people, Kauffman offers custom painting and decorator consultations to customers.

55 West & Co mezzanines is home to "Salvage Central," the receiving end of the store where recent acquisitions are lifted to "treasure" status and architectural salvage such as grates, posts, picket fence, fireplace mantles, corbels, create an intriguing backdrop to the main store. In the painting gallery, "I try to go with what the piece asks for," says Kauffman. She likes to dress up scuffed antiques--dressers, sideboards, stands and wardrobes with splashes of color. "We're more about re-purposing eclectic grandma's attic-type furnishing than warehousing finely restored antiques," says Kauffman. She cites a recent color inspiration--hot pink, orange and olive burnished with a touch of gold--that is a top hit with recent shoppers.

"Classic Shabby Chic--the white on white look is always popular with our customers and so is black," says Kauffman who is partial to shades of blue, aqua and pastel green. 55 West clientele never tire of the fascinating mixture of old, new and restored accessories that line the walls and fill every nook and cranny of the main store. Two full flights of stairs, set off by two landings, take shoppers to the second floor where vintage department store mannequins model Woolrich fashions and stylish vintage clothing and accessories. The second story also houses a tunnel of pillows along with a sewing and upholstery center, where at times shoppers can peer through a room divider made from salvaged doors and watch work in progress--whether it's a stack of throw pillows being assembled from vintage linens or a stool being recovered with the remnants of a fur coat.

After many successful years in retail, Kauffman needed a new challenge. Her love for Millersburg and commitment to customer service led to the opening of Trailside Lodging. "Millersburg is such a quaint village, full of history and unique characters. I wanted the opportunity to share it. I love to make people happy", says Kauffman, "overnight guests at Trailside are treated like family!" She loves to send guests to her favorite off-the-beaten-path stops, and makes it her goal to accommodate every request. The cabins at Trailside offered an outlet for her incredibly diverse design skills, as well. From earthy-chic to contemporary, each cabin has its own unique flavor.

Make Trailside Lodging Part of your Country Getaway by staying in our cozy cabins that are right in the center of Holmes County and are still a secret even to many locals. These two and three-bedroom guest facilities are located along the impressive Holmes County rail trail. They're perfect for family groups--book two or three cabins to accommodate a larger group. The cabins feature a loft design with a full bath on each floor.

After your forays into the countryside where you'll enjoy exploring Amish life and culture, visit wineries and cheese shops, and enjoy outdoor recreation, return to Millersburg to kick back in your own private hot tub or lounge on the porch while the kids play frizbee in the lawn. Cook on the gas grill on your patio or gather round an old-fashioned outdoor fire ring and cook up some s'mores. Enjoy the relaxed luxury of Millersburg, the county seat where antiques in the shop are a reminder that you're staying in the quintessential small town of another era.

The cabins at Trailside Lodging each have a galley kitchen equipped with most basic cooking utensils and dinnerware for eight. Fix your own tasty meals from the bounty of seasonal produce you will discover at the roadside markets three seasons of the year. If you prefer, Millersburg offers a sports bar, a family-owned bakery, casual dining restaurants and fast food to please everyone.

Bring your bicycles and travel from one end of the county to the other, stopping at several small towns where locals find a surprising variety of goods. The Holmes County Trail is only one of several rail trails in the area and there are plenty of small country roads just waiting for you to discover them--but be prepared for riding up (and down) a few hills.

For Reservations call 330-764-6333 or email us at info@TrailsideLodging.com See www.trailsidelodging.com

How to find 55 West & Co.: See a local map at http://www.visitamishcountry.com/maps.php The store is located near the courthouse at the intersection of state routes 39 and 83 at 45 West Jackson Street, Millersburg. See the 55 West & Co. listing and web information at http://www.visitamishcountry.com/shopping.php For information about area lodging for visitors (managed by 55 West & Co.) see www.trailsidelodging.com

Things just get worse and worse on Wheeling Island these days. The Island has had a reputation over the years as being a "rough" place but never really violent with shootings and beatings and drugs. In the past month shots have been reportedly fired twice, several robberies have taken place and people left and right are getting arrested for drugs and domestic violence.

So what is being done about this? Well very little it appears; maybe just a few extra patrols on the Island from the Wheeling Police Department. Well that does a whole lot of good. Nothing short of divine intervention is going to clean up the Island now. Between Norma Dorsch of the *excuse me while I laugh here for a minute * Wheeling Island Community Association, 2nd ward Councilman Vernon Seals (Who by the way should be on his way out of office this year FINALLY – time to get someone effective in office) and The Wheeling Island Racetrack, there is no way it will ever get cleaned up. Norma is nothing more than a slum lord on the Island who rents to the type of people who cause these problems, Vernon Seals, well not much to say there just time to get someone who is alive and INTERESTED in the ISLAND and last but certainly not least is the Racetrack – the 1000 pound gorilla who makes their own rules.

Now the Island was not always this bad off. Up until a few years ago it was still pretty descent, but when Vineyard Hills closed that's when it started to go down hill. The reputation of the Vineyard just worked it's way to the Island bringing with it all the drug dealers, violence and god knows what else. This was someone's plan that's for sure. Think about it, close the Vineyards and move the rift raft to the South End of the Island. These people have little respect for the property there and will destroy it thus plummeting the property value and making it even CHEAPER for the Track to buy up and expand. Sounds pretty simple and more than likely has some truth to it. I am just speculating and it's my own opinion, but it is a good one. More than likely someone in city government *cough Sparchane and company cough cough* made a fortune off of this and stand to continue to make a ton of money as this unfolds. The Race Track has expanded immensely, table gaming has passed and it won't be long now before River Boat gambling rears its head again. Keep and eye on the Island in the next year or so I bet it gets a little more interesting.

With Any luck, when Senator McKenzie takes office he will clean up all the damn corruption. If not maybe it's time to go back to the days of REAL organized crime.