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Clay County Free Press Remembers Pearl Harbor, 70 Years Later
By: Melissa Browning
"December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy." This famous quote was made by President Roosevelt after the Empire of Japan attacked the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. At 6:05 am on December 7th, the six Japanese carriers launched a first wave of 183 aircraft composed mainly of dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. The Japanese hit American ships and military installations at 7:51 am. The first wave attacked military airfields of Ford Island. At 8:30 am, a second wave of 170 Japanese aircraft, mostly torpedo bombers, attacked the fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor. The battleship Arizona was hit with an armor-piercing bomb which penetrated the forward ammunition compartment, blowing the ship apart and sinking it within seconds. Overall, nine ships of the U.S. fleet were sunk and 21 ships were severely damaged. One of the severely damaged was the USS West Virginia. The West Virginia was further damaged by being engulfed in an oil fire started by Arizona. West Virginia was abandoned, settling to the harbor bottom on an even keel, her fires fought from on board by a party that volunteered to return to the ship after the first abandonment. By the afternoon of the following day, December 8th, the flames had been extinguished.
Sailors in a motor launch rescue a man overboard from the water alongside
the burning West Virginia shortly after the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor.
Carey Stockwell, Lone Pearl Harbor Veteran
By: Tye Ward
As we remember this 70th year since the tragic events that catapulted our nation into the second world war, we must also remember the individuals, and our community sacrifice. One individual from Clay County was present when the bombs fell from Japanese planes, on O’ahu Island Hawaii. Carey (Bud) Kenneth Stockwell was born October 21, 1920 in Ivydale, WV.He joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 and was stationed at U.S. ArmyAirfield, Hickam Field, Pearl Harbor. Denver "Dugan" Cutlip of Sutton WV was Stockwell’s friend and described the events in a previously release article. " United States Army Airfield Hickam Field Pearl Harbor, 42nd Bombardment Squadron, First Photo Group, attached to Ferry Command, 50th Recon Squadron. These Airmen originally attached two days prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor to outfit their planes for a secret photo mission. They were killed on the ground and their B24 was destroyed on the ground. Pvt. Carey "Bud" Stockwell was killed by the first bomb the Japanese dropped on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Bud was an ordinary local boy and everyone loved him. He loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting, but Bud wanted to see other parts of the world. He joined the service on or around 1940. Bud’s life ended on 12-7-41 the same as thousands of others, so we can enjoy our freedom––a reminder; freedom doesn’t come free.
Care Stokwell
She did it!
By: Erica Kearns
Rosie the Riveter was a fictional character used in a government campaign during World War II to encourage young women to help fill the temporary industrial labor shortage caused by the combination of fewer male workers, due to draft and enlistment, and increased production of military equipment and supplies. Mazie Mullins, of Queen Shoals, is a real life Rosie. At the age of 17, Mazie remembers hearing of Pearl Harbor on the radio and deciding that she wanted to do something worthwhile in hopes the war would soon be over. She headed to Akron, OH with written permission to work from her parents, finished six weeks of sheet metal training, got a small pox shot and went to work in the Goodyear Aircraft plant. Mazie worked six days a week on the 3-11 evening shift putting rivets into B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers until the war was over. Mazie, along with nearly 100 other women across the state currently participate in a project founded to preserve the stories of West Virginia Rosie the Riveters. Through the help of the non-profit organization Thanks! Plain and Simple, Mazie and other Rosies travel to schools, libraries, and VFWs sharing the stories of their contribution to help shorten the war.
Mazie Mullins
Echo From The Hills
By: Alyce Faye Bragg
We turn over another page on the calendar as the last month in this year begins. The days and weeks seem to pass faster as we grow older, and winter is nipping at our heels. The weather is beginning to change. The landscape is brown now as dry leaves cover the forest floor and bare trees shiver in the breeze. There is a hint of snow in the air.
The flamboyant splen dor of autumn is replaced by a more stark beauty, as the huge outcroppings of rock appear now on the bare hillsides. Sycamore trees come into their own, as the bare limbs gleam white and graceful. Sycamore leaves are not remarkable when they are green, and turn a dull brown in the fall. Now their bare limbs stand out among the other trees.
The rock formations, especially along the river bluffs, are majestic and beautiful. Hidden by leaves during summer and fall, they rise above the hillsides now, solid and enduring. To gaze upon them is to be reminded of the Rock of our salvation which is everlasting.
"He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." (Psa. 62-2) Just as the huge rocks stand, immovable and sturdy, so can we stand when our salvation is based on the solid Rock. No wonder the psalmist David said, "Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." (Psa. 61-1:3)
MY KITCHEN PRAYER
Bless my little kitchen, Lord
I love its every nook
And bless me as I do my work,
Wash pots and pans and cook.
May the meals that I prepare
Be seasoned from above,
With Thy blessing and Thy grace
But most of all Thy love.
As we partake of earthly food,
The table Thou hast spread,
We’ll not forget to thank Thee Lord
For all our daily bread.
So bless my little kitchen Lord,
And those who enter in,
May they find naught but joy and peace,
And happiness therein.
Beverly O’Dell sent a poem that describes her mother, and we can relate to it.
My mother kept a garden,
A garden of the heart.
She planted all good things,
That gave our life a start.
And when the winds and rains came
She protected us just enough
Because she knew some day we’d need
To stand up strong and tough.
We are my mother’s garden
We are her legacy
And we hope in heaven she feels our love,
Through all eternity.
Author Unknown
Kenneth Tanner
Superintendent of Clay County Schools ktanner@access.k12.wv.us
For more information, go to: www.claycountyschools.org
The Excess Levy will come up for renewal on January 28. Many citizens are interested in knowing exactly what will happen if the levy passes, and what will happen if it does not pass.
Because the levy helps pay for essential instructional supplies and equipment, student transportation, extra-curricular activities, utilities, maintenance, it is important for everyone to understand how the children will be affected if the levy passes, or fails.
So, here are a few answers to the "what ifs".
WHAT IF THE LEVY PASSES?
• No elementary school will be closed and/or consolidated into Clay Elementary. Our smallest school, HE White Elementary, WILL remain open for the length of the Levy – 5 years – guaranteed.
• Activity buses will continue to transport students during evenings and summers - guaranteed.
• No levy funds will be used to fund a salary increase for employees – guaranteed.
• Parents and stu dents will continue to see the same level of services and programs provided to children – and taxes will not go up.
• Levy funds will be used only and exactly for their stated purposes – NOT anyway the Superintendent or Board wants (which would be unlawful). - guaranteed.
• If you are pleased, as a parent, student, or community member, about the "extras" students receive, such as field trips, lots of technology in classrooms, free student admission, no lunch bills, etc., they will continue – guaranteed.
WHAT IF THE LEVY FAILS? If the levy fails, the school system will be forced to take undesirable steps that will affect the students.
• Closure proceed ings will begin on one elementary school – in all likelihood our smallest school, HE White Elementary.
• At least 3 regular bus runs will be eliminated – in all likelihood, one bus each that now serves Big Otter, Lizemore, and HE White Elementary Schools.
• Activity buses will be stopped during the evening and in the summer.
• Contract buses that transport children in places where a yellow bus cannot travel will have to be discontinued.
• Support for im portant programs including 4-H and the public library will be lost.
• Some minor sports like track and golf will be lost.
• School bus trans portation of athletic teams will be greatly reduced or lost, unless the athletic teams can pay for them.
• The Fitness Center at CCHS will close.
• Because "other" funds will have to be used for utilities and maintenance, we will lose universal free meals for kids, free student admission, Sarah the School Messenger, and numerous other services. These are but a few things that will occur, based on Jan 28. For more information, go to:
WV Yesterday and Today
by Mildred W. McKenzie
Lewisburg, West Virginia is the home of the beautiful General Lewis Inn, a Lewisburg landmark.
Nestled in the broad rolling Greenbrier Valley and maple covered mountains, Lewisburg is a delight with her State Park, golf courses, National Forests and to history buffs it is a must see.
The General Lewis Inn located at 301 East Washington St., is furnished with memorabilia; in Memory Hall a collection of tools, guns, musical instruments that showed the resourcefulness of our Mountain Pioneers.
There is a handcrafted walnut & pine desk in the lobby and Patrick Henry, the Patriot who said, "Give me Liberty or give me death" registered as a visitor, as well as President Thomas Jefferson.
The desk was made in 1760 and the living room is a 1929 addition to the previous home constructed in 1834 and is furnished with antiques collected by the Inn’s founder Randolph K. Hock and his wife Mary Milton Noel.
When you visit the General Lewis Inn surrounded by beautiful lawns, flower gardens and a lily pond, under a canopy of trees and enjoy the delicious food and gracious hospitality of the Innkeepers Mary Noel and Jim & Nan Morgan, you feel you have come home.
There are so many things to do while you’re visiting the Inn.
The Old Stone Church is surrounded by pioneer graves. Constructed in 1796, it is the oldest church building in continuous use west of the Allegheny Mountains. There is a 1611 first edition of the King James Bible in the vestibule.
The town of Lewisburg has been designated a 236 acre National Register Historic District, including the General Lewis Inn.
Do visit the Civil War Cemetery, Greenbrier County Courthouse and the General Andrew Lewis Park. Gen. Lewis in 1774 marched his troops to Point Pleasant where he fought the Shawnees led by Chief Cornstalk.
For more information you may call 304-645-2600 for a wonderful vacation.
What's Cooking?
By: Beulah White
Quick and Easy Holiday Trifle
3 cups cold milk
2 packages (4 serving size) Jell-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 Tub (8 oz) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed
1 package (12 oz) pound cake, cut into ½ inch cubes
¼ cup orange juice
2 cups sliced strawberries
Pour milk into large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk for 1 minute. Gently stir in 3 cups of the whipped topping. Arrange ½ of the cake cubes in 3 ½ quart serving bowl. Drizzle with ½ of the orange juice. Spoon ½ of the pudding mixture over the cake cubes. Top with strawberries. Layer with remaining cake cubes, orange juice and pudding mixture. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with remaining whipped topping and garnish as desired.
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
¾ cup peanut butter (not reduced fat)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
2 cups Quaker Oats (Quick or Old-Fashioned, uncooked)
1 package (9 oz.) miniature peanut butter cup candies, unwrapped, cut into halves or quarters (about 35 candies)
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat brown sugar, margarine and peanut butter until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and if desired salt in small bowl; mix well. Add to creamed mixture; mix well. Stir in oats and candy; mix well.
Drop dough by level ¼ cupfuls 3 inches apart unto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are slightly firm to the touch (do not over bake). Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets. Transfer to wire rack; coal completely. Store tightly covered.
Food For Thought
An attitude of self-righteousness has no place in the Christian life. That should be plain to see. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye (Luke 6:41) A Prayer: Lord help me not to get caught up in pointing out the "little" sins in other’s lives while ignoring my own glaring sin. I’m thankful that with repentance comes forgiveness. Inspect your own life before you look for specks in others.
Hummingbirds & Thistledown
By: Quindora Dobbins
After Sunday School a little girl sat on her porch with her Grandmother while waiting for her dinner. She began explaining what she was told earlier in her class at church concerning how we will go to heaven someday if we are Christians. She was confused and questioned how she would get to heaven because there was no stairs, no ladder, and no elevator. Her little mind needed proof that she could be with Jesus one day. Also; she asked how she would know the angels belonged to Jesus when they came for her. She didn’t want to go with the wrong angels.
The Grandmother said oh we will know the angels belong to Jesus because he will be with them. Jesus is not sending angels to get us, He personally is coming after us. When the trumpet sounds, the heavens roll back and Jesus comes forth on his throne we will know him. As our knees bow and our tongues confess he is Lord we will recognize Jesus Christas Lord of Lords and King of kings.
The little girl said hmm! Now all I have to do is be ready and wait for him.
Walnut Grove News
Esther Adkins
The news said we would have some rain on Tuesday morning but held off till very early this morning and is still a light drizzle. But it sure was nice having the warmer weather over the past weekend. My company from PA was here on Friday night when I got home from church. We had three nights revival on Wed. Thurs. and Friday nights. We enjoyed all the singing, preaching and fellowship but sorry that more people didn’t come. The revival is on at Dille Baptist Church. We will be going over there tonight.
I heard last eve that Chattie Gill had died and her funeral is at 2:00 pm this eve. My sympathy and prayers to her family and all others that have had death in their families.
It Impresses Me . . .
- by Clinton Nichols
BASKETBALL at its fin est rocked the old gymnasium at the Clay Middle School on Saturday as schools and teams from throughout the county made their way to the school for basketball competition among the elementary students. Parents, grandparents and friends from Big Otter, Clay, H.E. White and Lizemores rocked the rafters for their child and team as the little ones and not so little ones made their best effort to put the basketball through the hoops. A tall effort for some of the players! There’s no place I love to watch basketball more than in that old gymnasium of the former Clay County High School where we played many years ago. Every time a team takes the floor, a different bunch of fans crowd into the gym as others are leaving, more arrive and let the cheering begin.
Parking is a wonderful challenge as more cars than possible overflow the parking area at the school. Once the lot is full and cars line the street all the way back to the old vocational building, it’s squeeze them in anywhere you can find. With one team’s supporters arriving just before the other team’s fans leave the area, parking becomes available for the next arrivals. It’s just as good as it can get.
THE TOWN OF CLAY is being taken to court in an effort to get the local body to complete the water plant. The West Virginia Water Development Authority has offered the additional funding that is necessary to complete the job. Town officials are listening to an attorney that the Town has paid nearly $100,000.00 {dollars} to. They are reluctant to go against his advice. The Town is seeking the money from the bonding or surety company who has helped secure money from the state water authority. Construction is expected to get underway again in the spring and court action will probably linger for years to come.
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