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Few Notes by Ferrell Friend:
The legend behind the camera, Ferrell Friend, passed away January 2009. He is greatly missed by his friends, family, community, and the staff at the Clay County Free Press.
1-29-09 THANK YOU
To all the folks at the Laurel Nursing & Rehabilitation Center At Big Otter For the quality care and kindness you showed toward Ferrell Friend during his brief stay with you.
1-20-09 Ferrell Friend 96, Passes at CAMC
One of the last photos taken by Ferrell Friend is of Free Press Publisher Clinton Nichols returning from a snow outting at the family camp at Bartow. Left to right: Abbie Moore, Ballard, Tyler, Brooklyn and Brittany Gould. Photo taken January 3rd, 2009 --Photo by Ferrell Friend
9-17-08 Splitting the Winter Firewood
The season for gathering firewood for the family stove or fireplace is already well under way. Fact is, some folks pick up sections and pieces of fallen trees and limbs all along during the summer months, thus adding to their collection well before the splitting and chopping gets underway. After all, autumn-or fall if you want to call it-is here.
The first day of autumn begins Monday, September 22 according to some calendars. Cool, foggy mornings and a dampness is in the air. The slightest breeze will bring down a shower of leaves from some trees. Gardens are “laid by” at some homes and the cleaning up of the old garden patch will soon get underway, if not already. Golden delicious apples are still clinging to the trees.
And, the red variety of the delicious add color to the other trees, especially when the rays of autumn sunshine reach the trees. On cooler mornings at some homes gray white smoke can be seen curling out of the chimney. Fire wood is used as a supplement to gas, electricity or propane fuel in Clay County and the mountain state.
And so it is autumn and back to the old chopping block. The wood gatherer can relax a bit with the knowledge that come the north chilly winds and snowflakes, he and his family know there is firewood at the ready.
9-17-08 Apple Article Reprinted from the Sunday Gazette Mail on September 15, 1963 .
An old Army buddy of mine, who use to like to color up his language with something other than the four-letter Anglo-Saxon words you heard too much, was wont to compare a fine day in autumn to “apples of gold in pitchers of silver.” The quotation didn’t make too much sense to me, but I did get his message.
It was a fine day and it wasn’t until years later that I stumbled across the quotation he mutilated so innocently. It from Proverbs, XXV, 11: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” But at Lizemores Clay County, on September 6 this year, I think my friend’s
See the full article in this week's paper
8-28-08 Waters Of The Elk Run Low
Elk River is baring its rocks Low water levels is a cause of concern for those who like spending their summers boating and camping on the Elk River. This photo was taken at the Mary Chilton (Spread) park on Monday. --Photo by Ferrell Friend
8-13-08 Fading Memories...
This sign serves as a reminder that the beloved Ivydale Elementary School was located among the many faithfuls that passed this way and calls Ivydale home.
Memories of the old Ivydale Elementary School are refreshed by a sign erected near the south end of the Ivydale bridge and near the railroad crossing.
Former teachers, students and parents who pass this area and see the sign have memories of the old school and their pleasant remembrances of this educational institution.
The sign brings back memories to Patricia Underwood who taught 35 years at the school. When it closed and the personnel moved to the new Big Otter Elementary school, Patricia went along. She has no plans for retirement in the immediate future.
Changing its looks inside and out will always remain the same in the hearts and minds of the students and teachers who worked in this buiding for some 50 years.
The school is no longer a part of the Ivydale community. The Clay County Board of Education decided to close the old school and move it to Big Otter and combine it with the Valley Fork school and call the new institute of learning, “The Big Otter Elementary School.”
Obviously, some teachers and personnel at the old school anticipated its demise and decided to erect some sort of memorial to the remembrance of the old school. Some of the teachers and other personnel spent some of their spare time and set about to establish a rock garden, bounded by flowers and small shrubbery.
Some people who pass by often slow down when driving and a few even stop briefly to view the scene. The sign is just a fading memory of the old school. Students, parents and teachers considered the school a part of the Ivydale community.
Michael Brown at left and Jessica Camp both of Winter Haven, Florida, pose with Lighthouse Baptist Mission sign at the building enterance.
An organization known as the “Lighthouse Baptist Mission,” now has the old school property. For the past several months, groups from several affiliate churches have spent much time here, working to restore the old building and its facilities.
A new roof, windows, much work, and planning has been underway throughout this building. Carpenters, electricians and a host of skilled work personnel have, from time to time, been involved in the restoration. During the past week a group of 24 adults and children from Winter Haven, FL were at the Lighthouse Baptist Mission for the past week doing some work on the interior of the building.
Rev. Jeff Carney of the First Baptist Church of Winter Haven, FL accompanied the group and was their spokesperson.
7-30-08 Friendly Comments . . .
At most anytime during the past five months when you were shopping at Cunningham Motors at Ivydale you perhaps saw Bruce Cunningham shuffling around with the aid of a walker.
Well, the truth of the matter is that Bruce has suffered the agony of a broken leg resulting from a fall back there the sixth of March. Well it’s a long story so we’ll explain a few things about the active manager at Cunningham Motors with the assistance of brother, Roy.
Bruce installs and adjusts a special unit that operates car windows.
Bruce has always been a fidgety, restless sort of a person when there was work to do around the business. But he is never too busy or self occupied to stop and listen to anyone who is having any kind of problem with the family car, or pickup truck.
He often stops to lend an ear to one of the employees and offer whatever advice to a problem he deems necessary. And, he is not afraid to tackle a greasy problem, even though it means he’ll come up with a lot of grimy, greasy gunk on his hands. In case everyone around the business is busy, Bruce walks right out to the gas pumps, with the assistance of one or two canes and cheerfully pumps his customer’s gas. Yes, Cunningham’s is a station that pumps your gas.
While pausing for a rest his trusty crutches are at the ready.
There is a convenience store built right into this business as well. Look closely and you’ll be surprised at some of the common and uncommon items on the shelves of this self-service area.
Recently on a busy day at Cunningham’s, Bruce put on hold whatever kind of a project, came out to my car and spent several minutes scrapping and removing some kind of a hard, waxy kind of material that had collected on the windshield and took some special solvent and scrappers he used to remove the debris. Little things like this mean a lot to his customers and he obviously takes much pride in helping with this kind of minor problems.
His knowledge of the internal combustion engines as applies to cars, pickup trucks and other engines is amazing. Bruce has a variety of testing equipment at the ready when a difficult problem arises as often happens in the modern engines and their components.
Normally Bruce is in good spirits and is courteous with everyone. He firmly believes that every day is a good day when a person can get out and start the day head on. Come rain, snow, or sunshine, Bruce contends it’s a good day and his attitude reflects his thinking.
His broken leg is slowly healing and sometime in the near future if you are shopping at Cunningham’s, you won’t see Bruce moving around with the aid of crutches.
Keep your chin up Bruce and hang on to that attitude "that every day is a good day, come whatever."
Another prominent Clay County business man is gradually recovering from a serious fall, Clinton Nichols was working with a group of educators and politicians at the old Valley Fork School building when he suddenly hit the floor. His heart rhythm had jumped track.
His shoulder and arms received the most severe damage and his doctors advised him to stop driving a vehicle until his injury heals.
Wrapped in a sort of makeshift harness, Nichols waits for doctors permission to drive again.
"I am anxiously looking forward to getting my driving privilege back," the Clay County Free Press news editor said. His wife Beverly and some of the newspaper staff have served as his chauffeur, for the most part was Westley.
7-16-08 Lillys of the Field Keeps Splendid Colors
These Easter Lillys from Dan and Mary Pino of Cincinnati, Ohio were sent to Ferrell Friend and continues to come alive with beautiful colors. Ruth Ward transplanted the flowers for Ferrell.
7-16-08 Farm Scene With Plenty of Green Grass
John and Ruth Ward of Ivydale has this beautiful scenery when they wish to look from the porch or window of their home. With plenty of rain, the fields are lush with colors this summer. Potato plants are visible near the little red barn.
7-16-08 Bridges In The News More Replacements Needed
This bridge at Ivydale, with it's neatly posted signs is in much need of being replaced. Monster loads of equipment and log trucks loaded with logs, have been the norm while the Dundon bridge was being replaced.
6/11/08 Dundon Bridge Opens with Great Fanfare
The Dedication of the New Dundon Bridge took place this past Friday, June 6th even though the temperatures soared to the mid nineties. A canopy was the only protection for a few honorary guests from the intense heat and sun.
The dedication prayer for the ceremony was by David Walker and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars was present for the presentation of the Colors and Arms. Christa Ramsey sang the National Anthem as many in attendance appreciated the fact that we do dwell in a land where freedom, still truly reigns.
Joyce Gibson, a member of the Town Council and former Mayor gave a great introduction of our honored guests including our very own Ferrell Friend. Peter Triplett, Clay County Commissioner, welcomed our Governor from the State of West Virginia, Honorable Joe Manchin and he commended Ferrell and other Clay Countians on the efforts that have been accomplished during the construction and completion of the New Dundon Bridge.
Ms. Lynn Drake, Town Recorder, then presented the keepsake, gold-ribboned scissors, to the following ribbon cutters: Joe Manchin, Governor, Ferrell Friend, Honored Guest, Jeff Boggs, Magistrate, Randy Holcomb, Sheriff, Clark Samples, Division of Highways, Peter Triplett, Fran King and Jerry Linkinogger, Clay County Commissioners, Connie Lupardus, CAEZ, Don Jarvis, Parks and Recreation, Jim Samples, County Prosecutor, Connie Workman, Clay County Clerk, Tommy Fitzwaters, Business Development Authority, Jerry Nelson, Clay Lions Club, Mike Asbury, Circuit Clerk and Cpl. M. L. Bailey, WV State Police.
Becky Pritt, Resolve Family Abuse, Clay County Director, and Julie Hudson, Clay County Free Press, extended the gold ribbon while ribbon cutters, on the count of three, snipped the ribbon to officially dedicate the New Dundon Bridge.
Those in attendance for this great historical event then began their procession as they walked across the newly completed structure. Following the ceremony, many enjoyed a refreshing glass of punch and a piece of cake under the porticos at the Clay County Courthouse.
It was truly an exciting day for all present as many shared conversations of past history of Clay County and many friends and officials shared ideas for future developments.
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