Prepare for the Floods

Tomorrow may be a tough day here in the valley. It appears that with the snow melt and the rains we may be in store for some very tough times in part of our valley due to flooding. Be prepared. Right now the snow melt has been good here in the Greenbrier Valley, but in Pocahontas there is just a lot of the stuff yet to melt. We have to get ready as the rain hits it.

I know that where I live I am always safe from flooding, but I am concerned about folks in the low lying areas. Our family has a camp on the Greenbrier River, and one never wants to lose property, but I also know that losing a camp is a bit easier than losing one's home. If the floods come I am sure that many will have damage in their homes.

For now we must remain vigilant. We must prepare for that which is ahead. Maybe if we are fortunate it will not come, and we will escape once more.

Enough for Now
Ron Miller

A Big Game Tonight

Tonight may be one of the biggest games in the history of Greenbrier East High School. Many of us did not expect this year to be much for East, but it is turning into one of the more interesting seasons in a very long time. The start of the season was terrible. It seemed that East could not really buy a victory. As the season progressed it has turned into a time of interest. Could this team which was getting close knock off one of the State giants in the season?

First allow me to say that I am not a basketball fan. I just do not enjoy setting in a gym on a winter evening watching kids run up and down the court. Tonight is different though. This is not so much about basketball, but more about coming back from a defeated season. This is about the best 12-12 team in West Virginia taking on the best of the best in West Virginia. This is about playing for the opportunity to go to the State Basketball Tournament in Charleston after a year when Woodrow Wilson was defeated not once but twice.

The one team that reminds me of this team was the team in 1973. That year the East team was the defending State Basketball Champs from 1972, but they had lost all of their main players. They were small and scrappy, but they just did not have the size or experience that some of the others had. It was that year also that East, with a bad record, went into the Sectionals and Regionals and won the opportunity to go to the State Finals again. For me that was the best of basketball. It was not because we won all the games, but that it was about spirit and grit and determination. Somewhere there is a lesson about life there.

Enough of that for now. Right now it is about this year and the basketball game tonight. Even if you are like me and not a real fan, maybe you will want to show up to the game just to see life lived in its best fashion.

Enough for Now
Ron Miller

Monday's This & That

It is a beautiful Monday, and I am ready to get a lot of things done today. The sun is shining at the moment, and as it reflects off the several inches of snow still on the ground around my house I am blinded by the glare through my office window. I have not seen such brightness for so long I might just have to wear sunglasses in my office. I love it.

**

On Saturday I made the Bear Dinner in Williamsburg; the Spaghetti Dinner in Bluefield and the Appalachian Heritage Music Association Meeting in Princeton. I did not get home until late, but what a good time I had in all of the places. I am sorry that I missed the Spaghetti Dinner in Smoot yesterday, but I had a couple of emergency items pop onto the radar screen on Sunday after church so I could not get there.

There are always a lot of politicians at the Bear Dinner. I saw two of the Republicans who are running for State Senate there (Barnes and Stevens). B.J. Livesay, the County Clerk was there; Louvonne Arbuckle the Circuit Clerk was present; John Knotts, a candidate for County Commission was present; Tom Cambell a member of the House of Delegates was there; Lee Bias a candidate for US Congress was present near the end; Brad Tuckwiller, County Commissioner attended; and Pat Via the County Prosecutor was there. Clyde Bowling, former Assessor of Greenbrier County was there, and I believe that I saw Sen. Ralph Williams there. There may have been other politicians present that I just missed. This was a large Bear Dinner attendance I thought, and the Bear Meat was the best I had tasted in many years. It was a job well done.

***

At the Polar Bear Plunge at Blue Bend on Saturday it was reported to have had close to 200 people present. Deputy Baker told me that about 25 or 26 jumped into the waters. He was one of that number. Actually two deputies jumped this year. Two local attorneys jumped this year also-J.R. Morgan took the plunge, and Mike Whitt plunged. It is my understanding that Mike Whitt raised over $800.00 for his effort. What a challenge to all of the other attorneys.

So far I remain safe because no other politicians have taken the plunge. I often think that if they do it, then I will have to do the same. The one problem that I have is that don't swim. I would have to have someone jump into the water to pull me back out if I took the cold dip. So I can say that I am safe so far. Maybe if another politician takes the plunge I will just have to find a surrogate for me who can swim.

A huge thank you goes out to Christian Giggenbach for developing and keeping this event alive. It is a wonderful Spring tradition in the valley, and I believe that it will grow more and more each year. I am going to have to find a way to be in two places next year so I will not miss the festivities on Anthony Creek.

****

Mr. Earl Harvey , my friend, died this morning. I was at the hospital with him for a time yesterday. He has always been such a happy man. He raised a large family, but it has been so hard for him since his beloved Marie went home a few years ago. I do not know the details of his memorial service or wake as of yet, but I am sure that you will see it in the local newspapers this week.

*****

Well that is all I have time for this morning. I do want to remind all of you that The Greenbrier Valley United Way has made their allocation decesions to the various groups this Spring already. The giving has been down this year, but the requests have been even higher. If you have not given to the Greenbrier Valley United Way, now is a good time to show your support. United Way has gone a long way in this community to improve the lives of many people. It is this neighbor helping neighbor concept that makes a difference.

Enough for Now
Ron Miller

The Polar Bear Plunge

Each year now on the first weekend in March a brave few souls take the plunge into the icy waters of Blue Bend to raise money for the Child/Youth Advocacy Center in Greenbrier County. This was a tradition first started by Christian Giggenbach a few years ago, and it has turned into a very interesting event. This year the event begins at 1:00 pm.


Now I would like to say that I would be present to jump into the bone-cold waters of Blue Bend that day, but I will be at the Bear Dinner in Williamsburg eating while a few of these brave souls are jumping for a very good cause. I will donate money though, and maybe you should too. At least it will be warmer tomorrow than it has been on some days as they take the plunge. Here is the facebook note that Christian had last year concerning the jump:

On Saturday at Blue Bend once again a curious group of folks will be making their plunge into the cold, icy waters of Blue Bend for their annual Polar Bear Plunge for the Child Youth Advocacy Center. This is an event started by Christian Giggenbach which encourages donors to pledge donations to the CYAC in the name of the folks who take the plunge. Here is how Christian describes the event on his facebook page:
"* Deer-meat-on-a-stick and ice cream served
* a roaring fire
* an amusing display of machismo as around 10 folks plunge into the icy waters to support the CYAC
* a good time had by all
To get to Blue Bend, take 219 N from Lewisburg (or from 64), go past Maxwelton, you'll see an exon station on the right, then a cemetery on the rise immediately after the exon, then take a RIGHT on Anthony Rd.Go on Anthony Rd. quite a ways until you see signs for the Greenbrier River Trail. Go past the trail, over a bridge that curves off to the left and continue on that road (up and down a mountain). You will see Blue Bend Recreational Area signs on the right.It's a beautiful drive that takes about 45 minutes from Lewisburg."

Now I don't know if all of this applies this year, but maybe you will want to check it out for an interesting set of odd events to witness. Let the diving begin.

Enough for Now

Ron Miller

Off to The Captiol

I am off to Charleston today for Mercer County Day at the Legislature. I will not be home until late this evening. It is a day of seeing some old and new friends, and getting into the whole hurried atmosphere of a closing of a Legislative Session.

Today is the last day for a while according to the weatherman for snow falling, so I am excited about those possibilities also. For now have a great day.

Enough for Now
Ron Miller

They Make Us Proud

Our children and grandchildren often make us proud in what they accomplish in life. I have always been proud of the accomplishments of my three at this point in their lives, and I know that other parents and grandparents feel the same about their own very often. I want today to share with you the accomplishments of some young people from our area.

First I will share that The Hon. Judge Jim and Sharon Rowe's daughter has just started a very wonderful internship at the Pentagon as a Public Relations person with a high ranking official. I talked with the judge on a cell phone about his daughter's acceptance to this position Monday night, but I did not get the details because of the nature of cell phones. I know that Jim and Sharon are proud of both of their daughters and what they have done and are doing, so I know that this is one more proud moment.

The Mayor of Alderson, the Hon. Luther Lewallen and his family have a proud moment with their grandson, Chris Lewallen, who was just elected SGA President of West Virginia University. Chris was the Presidential Candidate of his party which beat the Mountaineer Party in the school elections. Chris, a junior Business Major at WVU graduated from Greenbrier East High School a few years ago where he played tennis. Again I am sure that the Lewallen family is very proud today.

While I am speaking of pride may I say again that I am proud of all three of my kids, but I want to mention a project that my daughter is involved. Hilary is in her second semester of Medical School at WVU which means that she is very busy, but she is still n the process of putting together a student trip at Spring Break to New Orleans to work on some Habitat for Humanity projects (Medical Students at WVU must complete several hours of community service as part of their schooling). Hilary is spear-heading the trip so she has a lot to do at the moment along with her studies. One of their projects to raise the necessary $4500.00 for the trip concerns the March Madness NCAA Brackets. For $5.00 one can fill out their bracket, and if they are the winner they receive an autographed basketball by Coach Huggins and I believe the whole team (I will know more after this weekend).

I know other parents and grandparents have these same moments. I could start talking all day of so many of the kids I know who have made us proud. For now I will stop. Maybe each week I should take the time to mention another proud moment from the area.

Enough for Now
Ron Miller

Monday's This and That

Happy March to all of you! Another week closer to the S-word season, and still more snow. This morning there is a small misting of snow/ice falling here at the farm. I am sure that the roads will be a disaster early, but as the day moves forward it should be better. The good thing about a nasty day today is the old saying about March, "In like a lion, out like a lamb." I am ready for some lamb time.

**

This past week was a week of ups and downs. We said hello to two new young men as they entered this world. Jenny and Hugh Clements-Jewery had a big baby boy on Thursday morning. Later that day Heather and Ryan Blake also had a baby boy. Congrats to the Moms and Dads of both of these young men for the good news.

We also said goodbye to a few people this week. We said our goodbyes to Joe Black Hayes, the Rev. Dr. Ross Evans, and Kathleen Patterson. Joe Black Hayes and Ross Evans had their Memorial Services at the same time in Lewisburg on Saturday, and Mrs. Patterson's service was held later on Saturday afternoon.

I attended Joe Black's service, and I tell you he would have been proud. Two of the things he was noted for at Old Stone were passing out peppermints and ringing the church bell with gusto. Both of those things were done at the beginning of the service. It was well done. The musice also would have been to Joe's liking. We shall really miss a jewel with the passing of Joe Blackburn Hayes.

At Mrs. Patterson's service her nine year old great-grandson played the banjo for the service. What a treat that was along with her grandson singing another song in her honor. I thought it was a nice touch for a woman who had such musical talent in her family.

***

Two more weeks and the WV Legislature will be coming to a finish with this year's work. While this session was a bit slower than some, I believe that it has been an OK legislative year for the most part. There have been a few things that should have been worked on that seemed to disappear especially as they dealt with children and such.

I suppose the big news in the Legislature this year was the illnesses of Sen. Don Caruth and a member of the House of Delegates whom I will not name because nothing has been said about him as of yet. This has been hard I am sure on both houses. As Mannix Porterfield wrote on Del. Virginia Mahan's facebook page concerning Sen. Caruth "(I) feel a twinge of sadness every time a fresh senate vote lights up the scoreboard and see that one glaring absence." These kind of things make a difficult job even harder.

****

How is everyone doing with their Lenten pledges. I tell you that I am doing well. Today I switched from the cursed elliptical machine to the treadmill. I hurt in all new places now. For a week I will be on the treadmill then it is back to the elliptical. By Easter I should be in great shape, and maybe, just maybe I will be able to eat a chocolate Easter egg without wrecking my sugar level. I can hope.

*****

Speaking of chocolate Easter eggs, the Shuck Church is selling homemade Easter Eggs with peanut butter or coconut for $4.00/Egg. You will want to get your eggs soon as they are going fast. Most of the money raised from these eggs goes into the Scholarship fund with a small amount going to the American Baptist Woman's Ministry for their special projects. If you want some eggs just give me a call and I will put you in touch with an egg sales person.

******

Time to get started for the day. I have a very busy day today. I will be doing some work in the office; I will be doing a funeral committal and visits to the Nursing Home; and I will be doing some political work this afternoon. Have a fun day, I intend to have one.

Enough for Now
Ron Miller