West Virginia News

Where Facts And Controversy In The News Come Together

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

WV Residents May Want To Reconsider Next Trip To Yellowstone Park

Just A Walk In The Park… Or Is It? .
by, Jack Swint .WestVirginianews@gmail.com/
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In May 2009, Yellowstone geologist Hank Heasler was lecturing a group of colleagues in the parks Biscuit Basin on the extreme rarity of hydrothermal explosions. Without any warning, a hot pool behind him exploded, spewing mud, rocks and hot water 50 feet in the air. The group was barely out of its deadly reach. Geologists know of only a handful of such unpredictable explosions in Yellowstone's entire history. Along with the 500+ earthquakes recorded in just one week, under Yellowstone in January of this year, scientist are really beginning to sweat…
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Credible Warnings Or Same Old Story
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In January of 2009, scientist Christopher C. Sanders sent out an advisory that stated. "I am advising all State officials around Yellowstone National Park for a potential State of Emergency. In the last week over 252 earthquakes have been observed by the USGS. We have a 3D view on the movement of magma rising underground. We have all of the pre warning signs of a major eruption from a super volcano. I want everyone to leave Yellowstone National Park and for 200 miles around the volcano caldera."
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Is this a man crying wolf, or is he absolutely correct? Most scientists and geologists say Christopher Sanders is not an accredited USGS geologist. But, he is accredited with being the largest natural gas owner/driller in the United States with excellent credentials.
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According to Sanders, "I am a federal operator with the BLM (bureau of land management) and am the S&P's highest paid consultant for natural gas in the United States for the past three administrations. I also will be continuing my services for the BLM with Obama.
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No one is more established than I am underground. I feel as though I am the most established geologist as my drilling record speaks for itself and who else is paying attention to the movement? People should know the facts and get moving and aware. It’s also good advice for news and media in the area to monitor all movement for the sake of what is real news."
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Sanders went on to say. "I am a scientist. We are posting direct facts about what is happening under the ground. I am showing where it is coming from. I want people to know where these facts are coming from our own government, that is the point."
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Yellowstone National Park is sitting on top of the world's biggest super volcano, and geological experts are beginning to get nervous sweats. This volcano has a pattern of erupting every 600,000 years or so, and according to their stats, we're many years overdue for an explosion that will fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the Earth into a frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years.
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What The USGS Will Admit
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Geologist at the Yellowstone Volcanic Observatory don’t deny Sanders data that between December 28, 2008 and January 5, 2009, over 500 earthquakes were identified in the Park. The majority being under the under Yellowstone Lake.
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In fact, they stated on record, "This earthquake sequence is the most intense in this area for some years. No damage has been reported within Yellowstone National Park, nor would any be expected from earthquakes of this size. The swarm is in a region of historical earthquake activity and is close to areas of Yellowstone famous hydrothermal activity."
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Careful not to admit the chances of any major eruptions, the USGS went on to say, "Nevertheless, there is some potential for hydrothermal explosions and earthquakes may continue or increase in magnitude." In other words, they either don’t have a clue, or won’t admit there is a potential catastrophe on the rise.
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In scientific jargon, and the thermal image to the left, here is what we learned is occurring from the ESA satellite images that reveals Yellowstone's deep dark secret.
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Satellite images acquired by ESA's ERS-2 revealed the recently discovered changes in Yellowstone's caldera are the result of molten rock movement 15 kilometres below the Earth's surface. Using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry, InSAR for short, Charles Wicks, Wayne Thatcher and other U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists mapped the changes in the northern rim of the caldera, or crater, and discovered it had risen about 13 centimetres from 1997 to 2003.
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Ironically, Physicists at the University of Berkeley have been crunching their own facts and numbers too. They've determined that the Earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event. Even worse, they're claiming the calculations prove that we're all going to die, very soon. While in the same breath, they are saying their prediction comes with a certainty of 99 percent.
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Geological Changes In Yellowstone Over The Past Years
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In 2003, data from the Norris Geyser at Yellowstone showed that the land in the area is raising over time. Norris Basin itself has raised 5 inches, and the entire Caldera has raised 35 inches since 1923.
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It is also known that one end of Yellowstone Lake is now 100 feet higher than it used to be and flooding the land at the other end and killing the trees. Other trees in various parts of the park are dying because their roots are cooking from the heat under the ground. In 2004, Five Bison fell over dead from inhaling toxic gases coming out of the holes in the ground.
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Water is now boiling along the trails. Some people have fallen into this water and been severely injured. Some paths are now closed. Reportedly, park officials have a contingency plan in place in case of any type of impending volcanic eruption.
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In May 2009, Yellowstone geologist Hank Heasler was lecturing a group of colleagues in Biscuit Basin on the extreme rarity of hydrothermal explosions. Without any warning, one went Boom! And it wasn’t supposed to.
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A hot pool behind him exploded, spewing mud, rocks and hot water 50 feet in the air. The group was barely out of its deadly reach. Geologists know of only a handful of such unpredictable explosions in Yellowstone's recorded history. A hydrothermal explosion is similar to a geyser's eruption except that it blows the lid out. It is so violent it breaks the surrounding rocks out with it.
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Tourists Instructions While Visiting Yellowstone Park
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Rangers only warn tourists to, "keep your distance from bison and steaming geysers." Aside from nature’s increasing number of bubbling mud pots and geysers, visitors don’t comprehend that they are actually strolling through the caldera of one of the largest active volcanoes in the world.
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Something else officials are not telling visitors, if you’re inside the park, and a low scale hydrothermal blast occurs, it will scald every tourist strolling along boardwalks. Not a good marketing advertisement for the millions of people who visit the park each year.
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Robert Smith, a geophysicist at the University of Utah who has spent his career piecing together the story of the Yellowstone Volcano. "It’s not a bison park. Not an elk park. It’s a geologic park." Smith goes on to say, "People don’t consider Yellowstone as a volcano since it doesn’t resemble the cone shape mountain with visual effects like Mt. St Helens. Don’t be fooled by its serene views, spectacular geysers and exotic animals grazing in the fields." This National Park is the most destructive force of nature known to man.
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The majority of tourists strolling through Yellowstone don’t ever realize they are walking inside the mouth of what scientist and geologists call… "The Beast." New sensors have allowed researchers to confirm a suspicion that Smith has held for a long time, that the ancient volcano is a living force.
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The instruments record a continuing pattern of heaving and bulging and act as an early warning system.
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Yellowstone Verses Mt. St Helens
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If and when an eruption occurs that is any larger than Mt. St. Helens, you will need at least a year's worth of supplies because no food can be grown, farm lands would be useless, temperatures would drop by as much as 15 degrees. Within 3 months, clouds will cover the entire world.
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Millions of people will die, most within the surrounding 100 miles. Fewer people will die from inhalation of ash as it spreads mostly east and south from the caldera in widening circles around the area. Volcanic ash entering your lungs will have the same effect of water and dry cement being mixed together. Concrete!
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A Super Volcanic Eruption
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The 1991 explosion of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines was the largest eruption in recent memory, and its effects on the atmosphere are still being measured. The 1883 eruption of Indonesia’s Krakatoa led to a global cooling and the deadly winter of 1886-87 that wiped out the short-lived open-range cattle bonanza of Montana Territory.
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In 2000, Ken Wohletz, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, postulated that an even bigger eruption then Krakatoa erupted in 6th century A.D. It may have sent a tall plume of vaporized seawater into the atmosphere, causing the formation of stratospheric ice clouds with superfine hydro volcanic ash. This literally cast a pall over much of the world at the beginning of what became known as the Dark Ages, and all but wiped out the human race.
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Prophecy Or Paranoia
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According to Christians, at the end of days, "Fire will fall from the sky and the mountains will fall down. Rivers of fire will flow on the earth and death will be present everywhere. One third of all crops will die, the sky will turn dark and the moon as blood."
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According to Scientists and Geologists, " When the Yellowstone super volcano erupts, it will be a cataclysmic event. Magma will immediately be flung 50 kilometres into the atmosphere. Within a thousand kilometres, falling ash, lava flows and the sheer explosive force of the eruption will kill virtually all life in that arena. Volcanic ash will quickly coat places as far away as Iowa and the Gulf of Mexico.
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One thousand cubic kilometres of lava will pour out of the volcano, enough to possibly coat the whole USA with a layer 5 inches thick." It will be the loudest noise ever heard by man. Within minutes of the eruption, tens of thousands are dead. Within weeks, the entire earth will become dark from the ash…. And then, it gets worse.
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The True Signal When An Eruption Is Coming.
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"Harmonic Tremor’s" describes continuous rhythmic earthquakes that can be detected by seismographs. Harmonic tremors often precede or accompany volcanic eruptions.
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It should be noted that all the recent escalations of earthquakes at Yellowstone have been increasing and concentrated in one area, which happens to be above the magma chamber. These harmonic tremors that scientists have picked up, are a low-level constant rumbling, which usually indicates magma movement. Anyone can track the daily seismographs of each of Yellowstone’s volcanic basin activity. (a link is below)
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It is most likely that the seismic activity is due to volcanic activity. To some, it is almost certain that some sort of eruption will occur. The only question remaining is how big it will be.
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End Of Story…
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Must See TV Documentary On This Super Volcano’s Potential Eruption
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF-RKzqNtz0&feature=PlayList&p=83F6492FA7EACDEA&index=0&playnext=1
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Track Daily Seismographs Charts On Volcanic Activity In Yellowstone (20 locations within Park)
http://www.seis.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/
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Jack Swint
PO Box 40511
Charleston WV 25364
WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Our Recommended News Websites:
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Huntington News.Net
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/index.html
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The WV Examiner
http://www.examinewv.com/
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Ironicus Maximus

http://ironicusmaximus.blogspot.com/
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Will New Greenbrier Casino Open The Door To End Live Racing In WV

Casino Has No Live Racing & Adds New Gambling Restrictions .
by Jack Swint & Sam Webber WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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If you haven’t read the 173 page "emergency rule" presented by the Lottery Commission on July 27 2009, you may want to download it from the below link and take the time to carefully examine it. It sets the stage for changes in WV statutes concerning the mandated law that any casino in West Virginia must also provide live racing on site with slots & table games.
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Why was it an emergency? So the powers to be could fast track it in front of the 2009 legislature session. The document also re-visits other rules and laws to do with anyone who writes bad checks to a casino and who can be barred from entering.
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First and foremost, we stand corrected from a previous story that stated live racing would never go away in WV casino’s because of the millions it generated into the local community economy from racing related sales by local merchants… With the new legislation, live racing could be phased out over time.
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Their request, titled "Limited Gaming Facility Rule" for a historic resort hotel, was filed in the Secretary of States Office on July 27 of this year. It specifically addresses WV code 29-25-5 with amended changes "and adopts new language."
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In this proposed emergency rule, it defines in legal lingo their reason for this needed change.
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"The 2009 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature repealed, added, or amended and reenacted most sections in Article 25, Chapter 29, which controls the licensing, regulation, and oversight of one limited gaming facility at one historic resort hotel. Since the voters of Greenbrier County have voted to permit a gaming facility in its county, it is possible that a limited gaming facility license may be granted.
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Given the drastic changes made to W. Va. Code 29-25-1 et seq., there will be a substantial disconnect between the newly amended Act and the rules unless the rules are immediately changed.
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The purpose of the proposed emergency rule and the identical legislative rule is to ensure consistency between the Act and the rule, so as to better regulate the limited gaming facility and all licensees associated with it."…
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OK, our interpretation to the amended law is that the state wanted to quickly put in a casino at the Greenbrier Hotel. To differ from the other 4 casino's, they only allow people who stay at the resort to gamble. Like a private resort, and gambling is part of the package deal.
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This also allows the state to get around any horse or dog racing that is mandated for casino operations. It's a legal loophole to by-pass live racing legislative law that has been in effect for the past 30 years.
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Will this plan actually fly? Well, on September 4th, 2009 Governor Joe Manchin presented new Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice with its casino license, calling it "a proud day for the employees and the people in Greenbrier County."
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According to a Daily Mail newspaper story, "Manchin pointed out that The Greenbrier's license varies from other casino licenses issued by the state because it has a human resource account built into it. A portion of the receipts will help fund hotel employee benefits."
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He also forgot to mention that it’s unlike any other casino in WV because:
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1. You have to be a registered guest at the Greenbrier Hotel to gamble. Which won’t help most of the local Greenbrier County economy or give a chance for new business. Especially motel and or restaurants etc.
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2. There will be no live thoroughbred or greyhound races at this casino which is mandated by WV law.
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The casino project is required by law to create at least 100 new jobs. "I am confident The Greenbrier will do a fantastic job, Manchin said. "I think it is going to be a tremendous added value to The Greenbrier."
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How The Casino Revenues Will Be Dispersed
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The casino will retain 47 percent of gross terminal revenue from the video lottery terminals and 65 percent of gross receipts from the table games. 36 percent of gross terminal revenue from the video lottery terminals and 30 percent of gross receipts from the table games will go to the state. 17 percent of gross terminal revenue from the video lottery terminals and 5 percent of gross receipts from the table games will help fund The Greenbrier employee benefits but not casino employee benefits.
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Most of the state's share of revenue from the casino 64 percent will go to the state's general revenue fund, while 19 percent will go to a state debt reduction fund, according to a chart provided by Manchin.
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Other entities that will receive funding from the state's share and the percentage. Greenbrier County, 4 percent; the tourism promotion fund, 3 percent; White Sulphur Springs, 2.5 percent; other Greenbrier County municipalities, 2.5 percent; other West Virginia municipalities, 2.5 percent; and other West Virginia counties, 2.5 percent.
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There is no mention of any monies going to the Racing Commission....
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New Owners Of The Greenbrier Hotel
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According to Secretary of State records, businessman Jim Justice now owns the Hotel property when he obtained it from CSX Railroad Corporation for $20 million in a bankruptcy bailout agreement.
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Before filing for bankruptcy, CSX had been lobbying the West Virginia Legislature for years to allow casino gambling at The Greenbrier, arguing that gaming would dramatically increase occupancy of the resort during the winter off-season. Under the original plan, the former secret underground bunker would’ve been converted into a high-end casino.
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CSX is probably kicking themselves for agreeing to sell. If they had just held out a few months longer, Governor Manchin would have been handing them the new casino licensee. Or, maybe they just didn’t know how WV fast track politics can work when needed.
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Mr. Justice purchased the property in or about March 2009 and the lottery commission filed for its emergency rule change in July and the casino license was issued this month. He plans to have a temporary casino up and running in October.
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That is fast tracking at its best.
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In Justices own words during his media interview, "I don't know how this story cannot turn out to be great. I don't try to impose my conviction on anyone, but, I believe the Good Lord is guiding this whole process."
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Were not sure that the Good Lord supports gambling, and or the sordid activities it brings with it, but maybe he has changed his views since destroying Sodom & Gomorrah."
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Which brings us to this part of the story…
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Other Interesting State Laws For All Casinos’ Within The Emergency Rule Request
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In most circumstances it is against the law to write a bad check in West Virginia. You can go to jail. But, lawmakers have deemed it OK if your in a WV casino and write a worthless check, they consider it giving you credit!
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On page 165 of the emergency rule PDF, State law 179-4-160.1 dictates that anyone who writes a bad check to a WV casino for money to gamble on, is handled the same way that the casino handles giving credit to patrons.
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Also, the same law, in 160.5.states that, "A returned check is considered the issuance of credit and shall be handled in accordance with the collection of credits." Luckily, they also state that anyone who does write a bad check cant have any further "credit" until the debt is paid off. With today’s banking system, a person could probably only write 3 to 4 checks, or one big one, before it is noticed.
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On pages 166 to 167, State statute 179-4-171 provides for an "Exclusion List; Duty To Exclude" and statute 179-4-173.1 details the criteria for who should be excluded from entering a casino…
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"The person has been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction or has been convicted of a misdemeanor in any jurisdiction involving gambling theft, dishonesty, or fraud." Which would include a lot of people who go to casinos, including this author, and Earl Tomblin Sr. who is a multi-convicted felon.
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Conclusion
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The citizens of Greenbrier County WV voted to allow casino gambling at the Greenbrier Hotel. It’s not sure at this writing if they knew that patrons at the casino had to be a registered guest at that hotel. If gamblers were allowed to stay at local motel/hotels, it would increase revenues for local business too.
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If you can afford to stay at the Greenbrier hotel, you most likely won’t leave the resort facilities there to venture out into the surrounding areas unless you’re arriving to or leaving the Greenbrier.
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Will the opening of this casino be the only WV gambling establishment in the state to not have live racing? Or is this the beginning of the end of thoroughbred and or greyhound tracks.
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Most people will be pleased if the greyhound dog tracks would go away because of the reported abuse and injuries that these dogs face throughout their racing careers. But, the thoroughbred track in Charles Town is just as historic to most WV native citizens as the Greenbrier Hotel.
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End Of Story
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
WestVirginiNews@gmail.com
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Emergency Rule PDF Application
http://www.wvsos.com/adlaw/emergency/179-04er.pdf
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Our Recommended News Websites:
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Huntington News.Net
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/index.html
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The WV Examiner
http://www.examinewv.com/
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Ironicus Maximus

http://ironicusmaximus.blogspot.com/
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Saturday, September 19, 2009

Fake Rape Is Booming New Money Maker

False Rape Accusers Earning Big Bucks And Book Deals
by, Jack Swint WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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The crime of "bearing false witness" is rarely tracked or punished, and the context in which it is usually raised is highly politicized...
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Over the past decade false accusations of rape have drastically increased. And, these new cases are not just targeted at the rich and famous like NBA star Kobe Bryant, who are sometimes easy marks for quick payoffs to avoid public scandals and or civil suits. There is also money to be made by any accuser, of every ethnic background, who can get into the mainstream media with their false allegations. Even after the charges against the men are found to be concocted.
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Now, we are seeing a new pattern of making big bucks through back door deals ranging from personal appearances on shows like Oprah, book deals and donations and other monetary gains to the alleged victims family from sympathizers and well wishers.
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Remember the Duke lacrosse scandal where exotic stripper Crystal Mangum, pictured to the left, accused three members of the Duke team of sexually assaulting her while she was dirty dancing at a frat party. That was in March 2006.
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Then, her rape allegations fell apart as a lie, but not before her story became a household topic across the entire country and abroad. Her made up claims intentionally destroyed the reputation of the accused men and the university. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for her.
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NOW, she is cashing in with her new tell all book titled "The Last Dance For Grace… The Crystal Mangum Story." As one person told us, maybe it should be titled "Last Chance To Cash In."
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Her version of a tell all book is due out in October of this year… Since she was never charged with perjury, false swearing, obstruction or any type of crime, Mangum will be able to by-pass the old "Son of Sam" law that would stop her from benefiting from her crimes and the mental anguish and abuse to those young men.
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Which brings us to the point for this story…..
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What message are prosecutors sending when the list of women is mounting who have made false accusations against people and are never held accountable for doing so? Also, what message does it send to the women who are actually raped?
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Most recently, in fact, this month, a new case evolved where a young college female accused five men of gang raping her in a dorm bathroom. Four of the men were arrested and jailed while police searched for the fifth suspect. This all came about at the University of Hofstra in Mineola, NY. Hofstra was in the news earlier during the presidential race when the last debate was held there in 2008.
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The accuser, 18 year old Danmell Ndonye, pictured to the left, accused the men of one by one sexually assaulting her. Authorities were quick to jump and arrested the alleged assailants and were preparing to send them away on sentences that could have ranged up to life in prison. The media? well, they just reported what the alleged victim stated. No one interviewed the defendants or their attorney’s. If they had, maybe a reporter would have found out first what law enforcement learned later.
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Prosecutors case quickly unraveled though when it discovered that one of the alleged rapists videotaped the entire act, which one officer later described that it looked more like a "porn movie" and that Danmell Ndonye appeared to be enjoying herself. Or, as it was said, "getting her freak on."
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When confronted with the video, Ms Ndonye recanted her story and stated she did have consensual sex with all five men but claimed it was rape because she did not want her boyfriend to know it was consensual or her family to think she was a slut. Charges were dropped against all the men. But, the female prosecutor states that she is not pursuing charges against the woman at this time because Ndonye is a "troubled" young woman who needs help.
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Lets not forget other troubled young women whose horrendous cases made it to the mainstream media, and later turned out to be false or only half true. But, managed to scar innocent people’s reputations for life.
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.One of the most shocking crimes that horrified Americans occurred back in November of 1987. Fifteen year old Tawana Brawley, pictured to the left, accused six white men of repeatedly raping her in New York. She went as far as to accuse several cops and a New York prosecutor as her attackers.
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Brawley had been missing for four days, was found lying conscious but unresponsive in a garbage bag several feet from an apartment where she had once lived. Her clothing was torn and burned, her body smeared with feces. She was taken to the emergency room, where various slurs and epithets were discovered written on her torso with a black substance described as charcoal.
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The accusations against these white men led to civil unrest. People like Al Sharpton and the Black Panther Party quickly came to Brawley’s aid and fueled it all into racist hate and a call to rise up against whitey. Celebrities like Bill Cosby came to her side to offer support. Money and other gratuities quickly arrived at the home of Tawana Brawley by people all over the world who heard what had happened.
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The true facts of the case slowly emerged when evidence and her story just did not add up. Charges were dropped, but the damage was already done.
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Why did the 15-year-old girl make these horrendous claims? Much of the Grand Jury evidence pointed to a possible motive for Brawley's falsifying the incident. They believed
Brawley was trying to avoid violent punishment from her mother and her stepfather, Ralph King. Witnesses testified that Glenda Brawley had beaten her daughter for running away and for spending nights with boys. King had a history of violence that included stabbing his first wife 14 times, later shooting and killing her.
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They also concluded in their findings that there was considerable evidence that King could and would violently attack Brawley; when Brawley had been arrested on a shoplifting charge the previous May, King attempted to beat her for the offense—at the police station. Witnesses have also described King as having talked about his stepdaughter in a sexualized manner…
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Is this the new 1-in-4 statistic?
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This statistic, is not the widely circulated 1-in-4 women will be raped in their lifetime. These statistics suggests 1-in-4 accusations of rape are false. The crime of "bearing false witness" is rarely tracked or punished, and the context in which it is usually raised is highly politicized.
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A quote from Peter Neufeld and Barry C. Scheck, prominent criminal attorneys and co-founders of the Innocence Project created a study on men falsely imprisoned for sexual assault.
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"Every year since 1989, in about 25 percent of the sexual assault cases referred to the FBI where results could be obtained, the primary suspect has been excluded by forensic DNA testing. Specifically, FBI officials report that out of roughly 10,000 sexual assault cases since 1989, about 2,000 tests have been inconclusive, about 2,000 tests have excluded the primary suspect, and about 6,000 have "matched" or included the primary suspect."
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One last case example shows how others benefit from these types of crimes when the true facts of an already brutal rape and torture, intentionally gets blown out of proportion using the racist card.
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Back in 2007, a tragic case emerged in West Virginia that shows us how a young black woman’s alleged kidnapping and sexual assault by a group of white "red-necks" caused a media and political frenzy across the entire country based on racism. And, like in all of the other cases mentioned in this story, it generated money, gifts and other gratuities by concerned citizens across the US.
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Local, state and national media reported that 17-year-old Megan Williams, pictured to the left with her stepmother Carman, had been lured from her home in Charleston WV by a female friend named "Christa" and driven to Logan County where she was then raped, beaten and tortured for a week. She reportedly was made to eat animal and human feces, all at the hands her all white captives of 3 men and 3 women.
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Once again, Al Sharpton and the New Black Panther Party converged on Charleston WV and began a witch hunt mentality of racism being the reason behind the attack.
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Recently, Megan went on the record with this author and stated that all of the accusations and media frenzy reports were not true. Specifically, but not limited to the fact it was never a hate crime like it was portrayed. Megan also admitted there never was a "Christa" and in fact, Megan and her mother Carmen, actually knew Bobby Brewster, the reported ringleader of the kidnappers.
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According to Megan…"That night, Bobby Brewster came to Carmen Williams (mother) home at 216 Stockton Street and they smoked drugs together, then went to the store. Then Brewster and Carmen returned. He had sex with my sister Shayla, and then he left for a while and came back with the others in his car. We all left together"…
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She also admitted that no one made her eat feces and the reports she was made to have sex with the women were also concocted. Megan Williams is a true victim, she was definitely held against her will, raped and stabbed by these 6 individuals who are all now in prison and deserve to be there.
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To really understand why she allowed the racist allegations and details of what actually happened to her is derived from events that occurred long before Megan Williams went to Logan County.
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Like Tawana Brawley, Megan came from a very abusive home. According to her, adoptive parents Carmen and William, forced her into prostitution as a teen. She told this author that her stepfather forced her to have sex with him. They beat both Megan and her younger sister Shayla.
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Megan stated that it was her stepmother who actually fuelled the fire that it was all racially motivated. Why? Because it generated large sums of money and other support from across the country. Carmen was in the spotlight as the concerned and caring mother. And, according to Megan, her stepmother threatened her if she didn’t go along with the false reports and told the truth of what really happened.
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It wasn’t until Carmen Williams recently died that Megan says she can finally come forward….
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Fake Rape Accusers In The UK Are Arrested And Face Jail.
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Evidently, this new fake rape hoax extends across the waters to the United Kingdom were twenty year old Jane Hilliard recently applied for $14,000 compensation from Britons Criminal Injustice Compensation Authority a few days after she claimed 19 year old Grant Bowers raped her.
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Hilliard, pictured to the left, a former telesales employee, now faces a jail term after her web of lies was exposed in court in May 2009. Hilliard told police she met up with Mr. Bowers, whom she regarded as a friend, at a nightclub in Basildon, Essex, on July 26 last year.
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She said he joined her and a friend in their taxi home, but when she stopped in a public toilet by the railway station he came in and attacked her. She said she woke with her "knickers round her ankles" in a railway station toilet. In reality they had met at another club and walked to the station, and it was she who lured him into the toilet - even telling him he 'better be there for the baby' if she became pregnant.
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Mr. Bowers was arrested and bailed. But, eight days later after police failed to find security camera images of the pair outside the nightclub she said they were at that night with Bowers, Hilliard's friend confessed that they had actually been in the nearby Colors nightclub all night.
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The video footage that police did locate showed Hilliard and Mr. Bowers both kissing and holding hands before leaving. Officers contacted Mr. Bowers and told him he would not be charged and instead arrested Hilliard for perverting the course of justice.
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But this did not save him from being made a hate figure. The last 11 months have been horrendous, he said. "I've lost all my self- confidence. I don't know why she did it but her lies have ruined my life." Mr. Bower’s father, Tony, 48, said his son had to move out of Basildon because of threats against him. He said: 'After the court case people started kicking the door of his flat in and shouting "rapist" though the letterbox.
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Jacqueline Carey, Hilliard’s attorney, said her client had an "extremely difficult period in her past" which she had discussed with a psychiatrist. Hilliard was found guilty.
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Conclusion…

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What message does this send, when people like Crystal Mangum, Danmell Ndonye and Tawana Brawley, who intentionally make up false accusations of rape? Innocent people are arrested and detained. Their lives and reputations are ruined for life. The accusers are not being held accountable for their actions, and they can turn around and profit monetarily from what they did? At least in the UK, Jane Hilliard was arrested and found guilty of "perverting justice."
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With today’s technology and Internet search engines, you will be able to GOOGLE these men for the rest of eternity and be able to read how they were arrested and charged with rape and other dastardly deeds. And, just because charges were dismissed, it’s still there to read about.
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Yes, there are civil remedies that the falsely accused can take. That in itself is a joke.
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When women report these false acts of violence, it takes away the credibility of those who are truly assaulted each and everyday. Prosecutors now are less willing to take on a rape case if there are any weak links to the victim’s story.
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End Of Story
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Jack Swint
PO Box 40511
Charleston WV 25364
WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Megan Williams Story
http://westvirginianews.blogspot.com/2009/07/rape-torture-victim-megan-williams-says.html
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Our Recommended News Websites:.
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Huntington News.Net
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/index.html
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The WV Examiner

http://www.examinewv.com/
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Ironicus Maximus
http://ironicusmaximus.blogspot.com/





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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Unsolved Murders In The Mountain State... Part Three

Who Killed Charleston Executive Banker LaRoy Gorman
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.One day after the murder, newspaper executives approached detectives with claims that a few months before Gorman was killed, several women came forward to reporters and complained about how Gorman had treated them in personal relationships that included his alleged exotic lifestyle.

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.Dark Haired Hired Hit Man Or Just Revenge For A Woman Scorned?
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On Saturday evening, November 12th 1982, 62-year-old business executive LaRoy Gorman, was shot and killed execution style while getting into his car with a female companion after just eating dinner at the Steak & Ale restaurant in Charleston WV.
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Now, 29 years later, the only thing that exists in this cold-case murder is the vacant building and parking lot of the closed down steakhouse. The killer, and only eyewitness to the murder, still remain a mystery.
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In December of 2005, the Charleston Daily Mail newspaper revisited the events that police knew occurred at the time of the murder. According to their story, police knew that when Gorman reached his car, a man was sitting in a dark brown car in the adjacent space. The man had backed in so that his driver's side was next to the driver's side of Gorman's car. Police later said they believed the man had been waiting in the parking lot for at least an hour.
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There reportedly was a brief argument between the two men, and when Gorman turned his back to get into his car, the man fired three shots with a .38-caliber pistol. Two bullets hit Gorman's arm, but one hit his back, piercing his liver.
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Witnesses reported Gorman was acting hyper at the scene after being shot, refusing help and making it clear he did not want the shooting to become public. He died eight hours later at Charleston Area Medical Center's Memorial Hospital. At least four witnesses reportedly spoke to police, but police believe there were others who declined to come forward. The trail quickly became cold. One veteran detective said three days after the shooting it was the damndest case he had ever had. Rumors swirled around Charleston and many wondered if the killer had business or personal ties to Gorman.
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Police have never released the identity of the woman who accompanied Gorman to dinner. Back then, they feared her life might also be in danger. Former Charleston National Bank executives and Gorman's family offered a $25,000 reward. Steak and Ale Restaurant added $2,500. But the rewards failed to generate any new information.
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A police sketch of a dark-haired man in his 30s with a bushy moustache generated hundreds of calls from across the state and Kentucky. None of them led to a plausible motive or an arrest.
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One huge fact the Daily Mail did not revisit in their 2005 story… Just one day after the murder, newspaper executives approached detectives with claims that a few months before Gorman was killed, several women came forward to reporters and complained about how Gorman had treated them in personal relationships. Complaints that included details on his alleged exotic lifestyle.
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The reporters never followed up, corroborated or wrote about the women’s claims. Its not known if detectives ever spoke to them either.
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At the time of his death, Gorman, who earned at least $111,000 a year, was one of the most experienced bankers in the state. Just days before his death, he oversaw Charleston National Bank's takeover of the First National Bank of South Charleston.
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After the murder, investigators looked into his business dealings. Especially into his banks takeover of the defunct First National Bank of South Charleston. Allegations also began to surface in bankruptcy proceedings that detailed First National & Charleston National Bank and that certain unnamed investors lost at least one million dollars that they pledged to First National bank right before it failed.
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Was LaRoy Gorman murdered over bad business dealings, money, or possibly a woman scorned? Someone knows that answer and has refused to come forward. Over the past 29 years since being shot in the back, the person or people involved may have all died. But, it’s hard to believe that there is not at least one person who has the true answers to what occurred that night.
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Anyone who has information in this unsolved murder case is asked to contact the Charleston Police detective bureau at (304) 348-0510 or their online tip web address at: . http://www.charlestonwvpolice.org/Pages/provide_a_tip.htm
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The Sodder Children Mystery
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A Tragic Story That Needs To Be Retold Over And Over Again...
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Christmas Eve in 1945, the Sodders and nine of their ten children settled in for the evening. Maurice, and four of his siblings - Betty, Jennie, Louis and Martha Lee pleaded to be allowed to stay up and play with their new toys. Mrs. Sodder relented after the children promised to take care of their chores before coming to bed.

It would be the last time she ever saw her children again.
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Shortly after midnight Mrs. Sodder was awakened by the phone ringing. A female caller asked for a man whose name Mrs. Sodder didn't recognize. The caller gave a weird laugh before hanging up. Dismissing the call as a prank, Mrs. Sodder went to return back to bed but noticed the lights were still on, the shades weren’t drawn and the doors hadn’t been locked.
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Believing the children forgot to do these things before going to bed, she went back to sleep. She was awakened again by a noise on the roof that sounded "like a rubber ball." About a half-hour later, smoke began pouring into the bedroom. She yelled for her husband and children.
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Once outside, Mr. Sodder noticed that Betty, Jennie, Louis, Martha Lee, and Maurice were nowhere to be found. He went to grab the ladder, which was kept near the house, to reach the windows of the room where the children slept. The ladder was missing. Less than forty-five minutes after the fire started, the house was consumed. Firefighters and state police arrived later that morning and placed the cause of the fire on faulty wiring. State police later withdrew their statement. The fire chief and state fire marshal sifted through the ashes and told the Sodders that they couldn’t find any remains.
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Another report states that the firefighters found a few bones and pieces of internal organs in the ashes, but the family was never told of these findings. Some time after the fire, the fire chief informed the Sodders that he had recovered a body part, probably an organ, from the ashes and buried it in a box on the site. The box was dug up and its contents taken to the funeral home for examination, while a small piece was sent elsewhere for examination. The piece sent off elsewhere was deemed to be beef liver.
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When the detective went back to the funeral home to find the results of their analysis on the contents he left in their care he was told that they couldn’t be located.
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The acting coroner impaneled a jury of six local citizens who returned a verdict that the five children had died due to suffocation and flames. Within a few months, the Sodders became convinced that their children did not die in the fire. Information began to surface to support their beliefs. An investigation revealed that the telephone line had been cut shortly before or during the fire. A late-night bus driver reported seeing "balls of fire" being tossed upon the roof of the Sodder home. An operator of a motel located halfway between Fayetteville and Charleston reported seeing the children Christmas morning.
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A Charleston hotel owner reported seeing four of the children in the company of four Italian speaking adults a week later.
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Three months after the fire, the youngest child found a hard rubber object that was hollow with a twist-off cap. It was identified by Army authorities as an incendiary or napalm bomb called a "pine-apple." It was later discovered that the fire had started on the roof. During the fire, a man was seen stealing a block and chain from the Sodder's garage. He admitted to cutting the "electric line" to the Sodder home. The ladder, which couldn't be found during the fire, was found down an embankment away from the house.
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A couple of years after the tragedy, Mr. Sodder saw a photo of school children in New York and was certain that Betty was one of the children in the photograph. He drove to Manhattan to see for himself but was never allowed to see the child. Sightings of the children came in from all over the country. Every lead proved fruitless. In 1952, the Sodders purchased a billboard displaying photos of their missing children and offering a reward for the recovery of any or all of the children. The publicity fed rumors that the children had been sold to an orphanage or taken to Italy.
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The Sodders tried in vain to get their case re-opened, even writing to the FBI. State police and local authorities wouldn’t reactivate the investigation without any evidence of a kidnapping or murder. The investigating fire marshal admitted years later that he did not search through the ashes as thoroughly as he would have liked. Mr. Sodder, initially believing his children had died, bulldozed the site and covered it with four to five feet of dirt, planting flowers in memory of the children.
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In 1949, Mr. Sodder decided to excavate the site in order to search for human remains. The assistant chief of Naval Ordinance in Charleston and a noted pathologist from Washington, D.C. were among those helping. Four pieces of vertebrae and two small bones that could have come from a child’s hand were located. The pathologist noted that he was amazed at the scarcity of bones recovered after the thorough search, claiming it was unusual that no skulls or pelvic bones were found in a fire that was quick burning and not so intense as to destroy cloth, flooring and other debris found.
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Back in Washington, D.C., the pathologist determined the bones to be human, having come from a person 14 to 15 years of age. Due to the location where the bones were found within the floor plan of the house, Mr. Sodder didn’t believe the remains to be of his 14-year-old son, Maurice. Another analysis of the bones conducted years later by the Smithsonian Institute determined that the bones came from someone 16 to 22 years of age. It was also noted that the bones bore no evidence of having been subjected to fire.
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A letter would arrive on a detective’s desk claiming that the bones had been removed from a nearby cemetery and planted at the scene. Many believe the children died that night in the fire and the family was never able to accept the loss. Others believe the children were taken and are still alive somewhere, believing the fire killed their parents and siblings.
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Mr. Sodder died in 1969, his wife, twenty years later....
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Twist To This Story....
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In 1968, over 20 years after the tragedy, the Sodders received yet another mysterious reminder. An envelope arrived addressed to Mrs. Sodder with no return address. Inside she found only a photograph of a young man, 24-28 years old, wearing white pants and a shirt, and sitting in front of a window.
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On the back of the photograph were these words: "Louis Sodder" "I love brother Frankie."
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Mrs. Sodder was convinced that the photograph was of her son Louis Sodder, who was supposed to have died in the fire at the age of nine. The Sodders took the photograph to Charleston in an effort to convince Attorney General Donald Robertson to reopen the case. But the Attorney General was not convinced of the identity of the young man.
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Determined to follow this lead just as they had so many others, the Sodders again employed a private detective. They paid him in advance and sent him to the town that was listed on the postmark of the letter. They never heard from him again. Mrs. Sodder was afraid that if the letter or the name of the town was published it could bring harm to her son. She had no choice but to admit defeat. The photograph was enlarged and placed in a frame in front of her fireplace. She took comfort in the belief that although her children were out of her reach, they were still alive.
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Research and development for this story was made possible from media reports and a Sodder Children Website.
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End Of Series
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Jack Swint
P.O. Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Part Two... Unsolved Murders In The Mountain State

Was Media Information Concocted In The 2003 Sniper Killings? by Jack Swint & Sam Webber . WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster said in January 2007 that he had received new information about the case from Andy Palmer, host of the public access TV show West Virginia's Most Wanted. Palmer said at the time that he received information that a gang known as the Charleston 5 was responsible for the sniper-style deaths." .. Charleston Daily Mail.
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Six years after three innocent victims lost their lives to an unknown shooter, facts have emerged that appear on the surface to show that at least one media outlet concocted facts to gain attention for themselves.
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The True Facts:

In August of 2003 three people were killed with the same weapon in sniper-style shootings at Kanawha Valley convenience stores. Their deaths still remain unsolved. It all began on August. 10, 2003 at approximately 11 p.m. when 44 year old Gary Carrier Jr. of South Charleston was shot in the head while using a pay phone outside a Go-Mart on Charleston’s West Side. Three days later on August 14, 10:20 p.m.
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Jeanie Patton, 31, was shot in the back of the head as she finished pumping gasoline into her red Firebird at a Speedway store in Campbells Creek. One hour later, Okey Meadows Jr., 26, of Campbells Creek was shot in the neck outside a Cedar Grove Go-Mart while buying milk and paying through a security window. That store was about 10 miles from the scene of Jeannie’s murder.
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Another shooting was reported that same night at another convenience store but no one was hit in that incident, and neither a bullet nor a spent casing had been recovered.
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All three victims’ were shot in the head or neck from distances of 30 to 70 yards. In the days following Aug. 14, 2003, Kanawha Valley residents nervously stood behind their cars at night as they pumped gasoline, entered and exited stores or they just stayed home altogether.
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Within days after the shootings police began to theorize that they were somehow all tied together. Questions began to surface of a possible drug related tie to the three victims and one shooter. In an August 20th, 2003 Daily Mail article law enforcement began outlining their beliefs.
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"I don't believe the shooter just happened upon them," said then Kanawha County Sheriff's Deputy Phil Morris. "They were obviously targets. I believe it's one shooter, one weapon, and two victims. Possibly three," he said. Forensics tests also have determined that the bullets that killed Jeanie Patton and Okey Meadows, both of the Campbells Creek are, were fired from the same gun, Morris said. "We have no reason to believe that we don't have any more than one person involved in both Thursday night shootings," he said.
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Thousands of man hours and hundreds of city, county, state and federal investigators worked around the clock in an attempt to solve the sniper type murders. From witness accounts and investigators reports police released a composite of a possible suspect that described a white man with a beard in a dark Ford F-150 pickup.
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Days turned into weeks, then into months and into the first year since the murders occurred and police were no closer to naming or arresting anyone in the case. On the first anniversary of his daughter's death, Larry "Rodney" Patton told the Charleston Newspaper that he wanted to tell the public how poorly he felt the investigation into three sniper-style killings was going.
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Other victims' families told him criticizing law enforcement might jeopardize the case against the person or people responsible for three shooting deaths in four days that terrorized the Kanawha Valley. So he kept quiet.
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To date, only one person has been identified as a "person of interest" and the task force investigating the murders was vague in their statements. Brian Douglas Caldwell of Winifrede Hollow West Virginia was identified by investigators as someone they were looking at as the sniper. Caldwell "loosely" fit the description and composite. He also drove a black Ford F-150 - the type of truck police called a "vehicle of interest."
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Mainstream media allowed People to draw their own conclusions about Caldwell the day after a local TV reports showed investigators combing his property and using vague sound bites such as "person of interest" and "neither confirm, nor deny" in reference to Caldwell. Plus he owned a lot of guns. Caldwell's lawyer Tim DiPiero cautioned the media and the public not to make his client into another Richard Jewell, the Atlanta security guard who was mistakenly treated as the prime suspect in the 1996 Olympic bombing case.
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The Intentional Media Damage To This Case



In January of 2007, Public Access TV aired a segment about one mans alleged and explosive new facts in the sniper killings. The show was produced by Andrew Palmer, pictured to the left, who was the founder of the former organization known as "Chain Breakers." Palmer also created and hosted a local TV show "West Virginia’s Most Wanted."

Mainstream media across the state jumped on the wagon and promoted the TV expose’ that claimed to shed new light on what really occurred, and what law enforcement had failed to discover. Even the Charleston Newspaper, the states largest media company, reported that Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster said in January 2007, that he had received new information about the case from Andy Palmer, host of the public access TV show West Virginia's Most Wanted.

Palmer claimed that he received information that a gang known as the Charleston Five was responsible for the sniper-style deaths.

He told everyone that a confidential informant allegedly came to him with details and information that a "red neck gang" known as the "Charleston 5" committed the murders. Palmer claimed the informant passed a polygraph too. And, that two of the three killings were committed randomly to throw officers off the their true motive to only kill Jeanie Patton.

"They threw the other two in the pot to make it look random," said Palmer.

The unidentified informant, who was interviewed on the program from the neck down, sitting in a rocking chair, said that the reason for the killings was over a stolen automobile engine. The leader of the gang sought to murder Patton because her boyfriend had stolen a car engine that belonged to him. "As it was told to me, he said he had lost something he loved, and now he was going to take away something this individual loved."

Law enforcement in the case asked Andrew Palmer not to air the segment, that his story would hamper their investigation. As one official recently put it… "The guy is a nut case." But, authorities had a duty to investigate any possibilities, no matter what their gut feelings told them.

Now, government sources and other witnesses have come forward with facts that show that Andrew Palmer concocted the entire story to make headlines for himself, and his now defunct "Chain Breakers" and "West Virginia’s Most Wanted" TV show.
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Who is the alleged informant who contacted Andrew Palmer to expose the real murder plot on TV? His longtime friend and Kanawha County business associate, Bobby Walker.
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There really was a group known as the "Charleston 5," .. But, not in WV!
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The only Charleston 5 gang that ever existed was a group of five men who were brought up on felony charges for conspiracy to incite a riot on January 19, 2000 in Charleston, South Carolina. The five men, Kenneth Jefferson, Rick Simmons, Peter Washington, Elijah Ford and Jason Edgerton, were union workers from two local longshore unions.
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They claimed to have appeared to peacefully protest a Norwegian freight company from using non-union workers on the Charleston SC docks when fighting between picketing workers and a police force ensued. The five men were arrested along with four others and were held on felony charges that could have carried a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

As one state official said, "if Andy Palmer had factual information about this case, he would have come straight to us and allowed the task force time to investigate. Instead, he and a friend cook up this story to create a media frenzy."
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FBI Special Agent John Hambrick recently told WCHS TV that someone knows the murderer and urges them to do the right thing. A $100,000 reward is still on the line for information.
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Research and development for this story was made possible by the assistance of the Kanawha County Public Library, City, County, State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.
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Who Killed Eddie Brown Of Kincaid WV?

The 72-year old life-long resident Dewey Edward Brown, of Kincaid was a man whose very presence brought a smile to adults and children alike in Kincaid WV. At 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, Eddie had the physical size to be intimidating but his sweet smile and laughing eyes soon unveiled his warm and gentle heart.
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Eddie was a familiar sight at Via’s Service Station where he had helped people for years. Although he worked 12 to 14 hours a day, it was generally assumed that he really didn’t need the money. Eddie lived simply in the family home on Camp Branch Road with his younger sister, Ola. It was common knowledge that he always carried money in his right shirt pocket. People knew that if they went to Eddie for help, he was always willing to pull the money out for a loan or a gift toward gas or groceries.
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Children grew up knowing he could always be counted on to slip them a candy bar if they didn’t have the money. As they grew to adulthood, they knew the same was true for gas or grocery money for the family. For the community of Kincaid, Eddie was a symbol of the type of kindness and trusting innocence that has made small town America a beloved memory.
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As the 1980s ended, citizens of the tiny town of Kincaid and nearby Page WV began to feel the economy slipping downhill. Unemployment was up, property values declined and a new breed of resident began to emerge. Run-down campers were brought in and parked in the hollow near Camp Branch Road. Neighbors were complaining about the partying, drinking, and drug deals that were going on. Community leaders formed a plan to work with the Sheriff’s Department to set up a Neighborhood Watch Program.
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In 1991, a rash of burglaries, break-ins and windows being shot-out became part of the way of life. Police stepped up patrols in the area and a juvenile believed to be the leader of a gang was arrested. Everyone felt that arrest would bring the end to the recent crime spree.
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On the morning of January 22, 1992, Eddie began his day in the usual way. He wasn’t scheduled to open Via’s Sunoco Station until 6:00 a.m. but he usually had it open by four. Since he had gotten older, Eddie found he didn’t sleep much and he preferred to be busy. He reportedly made the walk every morning and except in very bad weather, it was one of the highlights of his day. Sometimes Dick and Clarine Marshall would drive by on their newspaper route and stop to offer him a ride but he usually turned down the offer. Eddie liked the walk.
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That morning, Eslie Bills told police investigators that he was driving down Rt. 61 returning to his home. As he passed the Sunoco station, he saw Eddie unlocking the door. He remembers that Eddie looked up with what Bills later described as a bewildered or "deer in the headlights" look on his face. Thinking that his automobile coming unexpectedly down the road had startled Eddie; Bills traveled on toward home with a slight twinge of regret. Glancing at the clock, he noticed it was 2:39 am.
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The Marshalls regularly traveled through Kincaid at that time of night to deliver the Beckley Post-Herald. They had grown accustomed to seeing the Sunoco station opened on their return journey as Eddie prepared it or the coming day. However, this morning was different. They knew that instantly when they saw the station sitting dark and apparently abandoned.
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Concerned, the couple entered the station and switched on the lights. What they saw amazed them. The station area was covered in blood and so was Eddie. He seemed confused and wandered around the room, holding a brown rag to his head in an attempt to staunch the blood. He didn’t seem to understand how much he was bleeding or how badly he might be injured.
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Bewildered and unsteady, Eddie allowed Marshall to drive him to Oak Hill Hospital. The doctor told Glen Brown that his brother’s skull looked like a "road map" of holes and fractures. Someone had hit Eddie hard and more than once. When forensic experts examined the x-rays, it was determined that the 72 year old had been struck at least four times with a sharp, pointed object that had punctured his skull with each blow.
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At the hospital, Eddie’s clothes were turned over to his family. His sister-in-law found that the approximately $500 that he always carried in his right shirt pocket was missing.
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Eddie lay in the hospital for 29 days. On February 20, 1992, he died from his injuries.
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In hopes of helping to solve the murder, officers released a key piece of information describing a woman’s blouse that Eddie was holding against his wounds when found that morning. The owner of this blouse may have been present on the night of Eddie Brown’s attack. It is Size Small and of a brown and cream color. If you know who may have owned this blouse in 1992, please contact the Fayette County Sheriff Department at (304) 574-4216 or Crimestoppers at (304) 255- STOP.
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On March 19, 2007, Fayette County Sheriff William R. Larid IV increased the reward for information that leads to prosecution and conviction of any unsolved murder in Fayette County from $5,000 to $20,000.
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Research and development for this story was made possible by the assistance of the Fayette County Public Library, Crime Stoppers of Raleigh County, friends and family of Eddy Brown. George and Morgan Bragg of GEM Publications in Beaver WV whose book provided the picture and contents for this story.

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Where Is Faithann Willis?
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Faithann Willis, of Barrackville WV has been missing for four years now. Her mother, Rose Munro, fears the worst has happened to her daughter and says the disappearance remains a mystery. According to local newspaper coverage, "It's unreal - it's like a bad dream I haven't woke up from yet," Munro said. "It's long. It's gruesome. It's lonely."
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She was last seen at a fast-food restaurant in Fairmont WV the night of Aug. 6, 2005 after friends dropped her off at the McDonalds around 11pm. No one has heard from her or seen her since. She hasn't contacted anyone. "I just can't see how someone can let a mother go a year without knowing where their child is at," Munro said.
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The Dominion Post reported that her former boyfriend was the last person known to have seen her, but investigators never commented on whether he was a suspect. Police also have never commented what the man told them when they interviewed him.
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In September 2008, police brought in cadaver dogs to search an area known as Montana Mines. They conducted a "daylight to dusk" combing of the area with the dogs after receiving tips to search the area for human remains. The Fairmont chief of police also called on the US Attorneys office to ask for additional manpower from the federal levels.
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In August of this year, Fairmont newspaper Times West Virginia reporter Mallory Panuska noted that police have not forgotten, nor will they, this investigation. "We are still investigating the case. We have new information that comes in to us almost daily and we are still following up," Fairmont Detective Sgt. Matt Pigott said. "We are still hoping to close this case and get some answers to the family, but we obviously appreciate the public’s help in answering these questions."
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A California foundation that helps families of missing people donated $5,000 to a reward fund created by Munro to help locate Willis, boosting the fund's total to $10,500.
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A victim of scoliosis or curvature of the spine, FaithAnn is 4-foot-9. She weighs only 105 pounds. She has auburn hair and brown eyes. She has a sun tattoo on her right shoulder and a Green Scorpion tattoo on her lower back.
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Authorities ask that anyone who has any information on the disappearances of Faithann Willis should call (304) 366-4200 or Marion County WV prosecutor’s office at (304) 367-5380.
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Research and development for this story was made possible by the assistance of the Marion County Prosecutors office, Times West Virginia, Fairmont Police, the Sheriffs Department and WV State Police .
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End Of Part Two
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Part Three, Monday at 12 noon...
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Sunday, September 6, 2009

Unsolved Murders In The Mountain State

Resurrecting Nine WV Cold-Case Murders
by, Jack Swint & Sam Webber . . WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Part One.... Like every other state in the country, WV has its own share of violent crimes, including murders and missing persons believed to be dead, that date back as far as this states birth in 1863. In our 3 part series, we will go back in time to resurrect 9 cold-case unsolved murders in the Mountain State.
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Now, with the passing of time, authorities still hope that someone will come forward with new information that will allow investigators to finally bring the guilty to justice and closure to the victim’s family.
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WHO KILLED BARBARA ANN BARNES?


Take the short drive over the bridge from Weirton West Virginia into Steubenville Ohio and you could easily miss the fact you’d just crossed the state line. Residents in both communities go back and forth everyday as a part of life. Most people consider themselves apart of both small cities, and feel a bond as though they were all family. So when one of their own children became missing, they became one community searching for answers as to why a teenage girl was kidnapped, raped and murdered so many years ago.

Like so many other schoolchildren, thirteen-year-old Barbara Barnes, pictured above, walked to and from school each day. Her family knew her as "Barbie," but the quiet girl was nothing like the flashy doll of that name. She had been blessed with intelligence, beauty, and friendliness but rarely spoke without being asked a question. Barbara was one of the brightest students in her eighth-grade class at Harding Middle School, where she sang in the choir. Friends recall she rarely spoke to anyone about her family, her poverty, or her father’s murder seven years prior to hers. Barbara Ann Barnes keeps her secrets to this day.

On December 7, 1995, Barbara vanished. No one realized she was gone until after 3 p.m.

"She usually comes home after school," said Kathy Barnes, her mother, back in 1995 in a newspaper interview with local media." According to media accounts, her mother had missed phone calls from the school notifying her that Barbara was not there. The brown-haired, brown-eyed girl was last seen at the intersection of Brady Circle and Ridge Avenue just blocks from where she attended Harding Middle School in Steubenville.

Justin Rinehart, a classmate, noticed her walking ahead of him before he became distracted. He didn’t see her the next time he looked in her direction. At first, police treated her disappearance as a missing person’s case. Law enforcement, family, friends, and people who didn’t even know Barbara started to search. At the time, police sergeant Bob Villamagna was in charge of juvenile cases at the time. "Even if I retire I’ll never rest until this case is done," he said at the time. Children who walked to school along her route told investigators they couldn’t remember whether they’d seen Barbara the morning she disappeared. Once she vanished, the city of about 20,000 could talk of no one else.

Crews roamed wooded areas, riverbanks, and places like Union Cemetery, which sits right behind Barbara’s school. But searches turned up nothing. Days turned into weeks and months, but the family remained hopeful she’d return. But then, three months later on February 22, 1996, devastating news traveled back home.

Surveyors near Clinton, Pennsylvania, had found a young girl’s body. Someone had dug a shallow grave in a creek bed; local police were called to the scene. "The surveyor took one last look at the stakes," said Officer Villamagna. "He wanted to go down the hill and look at these stakes again and make sure everything was the way it was supposed to be. And when he went down over the hill, he saw part of her body exposed."

The search was over. Barbara had been found. Her initial cause of death was strangulation. Back home, a community mourned and wanted to know how this could have happened to such a young, innocent girl. The case switched from finding Barbara to finding her killer. Police became overwhelmed with leads, calls, and even a psychic who had visions of how the murder happened.

"There was a lot of information," Villamagna said. Police questioned suspects, some as far away as the desert southwest. But just when it looked like they were making progress, they hit roadblocks. They were no closer to finding the murderer, which prompted the FBI to offer a $90,000 reward. Villamagna admitted, "I can’t think of another crime that’s more horrendous than to do something to a child like that. If you can do what they did to that kid, you can do anything to anybody."

Barbara Barnes’ murder case has been routinely revisited as Steubenville police and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department follows up on any leads. But, the critical pieces of evidence are still out there, and law enforcement agencies remain optimistic they’ll find them. "Everyone that’s involved in this case is 99.9 percent sure who the perpetrator is but just can’t get that one little thing to lock the door on that case," Villamagna said. "Somebody knows something."

Barbara’s body was found within one and a half miles of a farm owned by a relative of Louis Boyce, Barbara’s uncle. Investigators took soil samples from shovels found on that property, but they didn’t match soil from the creek bed where Barbara’s body was found. Boyce was given a lie-detector test. According to law enforcement sources, "He flunked the polygraph miserably." But those test results are not admissible as court evidence.

"If it was a stranger who picked her up, did she struggle? Why didn’t anybody see it?" asked Pete Basil, assistant superintendent of Steubenville’s school district and the former principal of Barbara’s middle school. "Why go way out into the woods, in another state, and bury her? Whatever happened that person felt he had to dispose of the body in a way that didn’t come back to Steubenville."

Anyone with information on this 14 year old murder is asked to contact the WV State Police Detachment at (304) 564-3854

Research and development for this story was made possible by the assistance of the Steubenville and Jefferson County Public Library, The Wheeling Intelligencer, Pittsburgh Post and Tribune-Review newspapers, Steubenville, Jefferson County and WV State Police. Along with the friends and family of Barbara Barnes and Jack Swint’s book, "Who Killed?…Pittsburgh PA.

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WHO KILLED SISTER ROBERTA ELAM?

Roberta "Robin" Elam was not actually a nun yet the day she was brutally murdered on June 13, 1977. The twenty-six-year-old woman was a pre-novitiate candidate. She was preparing a silent retreat at the "Mother House" by the order she intended to join for a life in Christ. Roberta was reportedly by herself in the field by the convent for the Sisters of Mt. St. Joseph to contemplate the commitment she was about to make.

According to regional newspaper accounts published shortly after her death, it appeared that while Roberta was kneeling to pray, she was attacked, raped, then strangled to death by hand and left near an overturned park bench. Her brutal rape and murder occurred within earshot of the Speidel Golf Course, but no one there heard a thing. A sister in the Order of Mt. St. Joseph was quoted in news stories explaining why she felt Roberta might have been out in that field near the golf course. "It is always peaceful and quiet there."

A caretaker discovered her body behind an overturned bench at 2 p.m., a few hours after she had grabbed an apple from the kitchen and walked up the hill with her Bible. The brazenness of the midday attack at a holy place outraged people in Wheeling and the Tri-State area.

Everyone remembered her as a brilliant, gregarious young woman who drove an orange sports car, jogged and hiked, wrote poetry about the mountains that soared above them and laughed as often as possible. The oldest of four children, Roberta grew up in Minnesota and Illinois. While in graduate school at Fordham University, she became a friend with fellow student Sister Kathleen Durkin.

Inspired by a pastoral letter written in 1975 by Catholic bishops from Appalachian states, Miss Elam went to work for the Wheeling-Charleston diocese after earning her master's degree in religious education. Over the next two years, her friendship with Sister Kathleen deepened while they traveled and taught adult religion classes in small towns around the state. In the fall of 1976, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph and moved into its mother house the next June. She was spending eight days devoted to prayer and contemplation in its retreat house when she was killed.

Now-retired West Virginia State Police homicide investigator Don Shade was called to lead the investigation two weeks after the murder. By the time he saw the murder scene, Shade said, "cigarette ashes were all over the place," and the chances of obtaining any forensic evidence were slim. Even two weeks after the murder, an area of nearby weeds remained mashed down, indicating the killer had lain in wait for her. Shade said Elam’s killer was "very strong" and crushed her larynx. Police obtained blood samples from everyone they could think of, from golfers to priests, and tried hypnosis on witnesses.

They released a drawing of a white man in his 30s, with dirty, dark hair, bushy eyebrows, a mustache and a beard who had been seen near the Mount St. Joseph grounds. They sought but never found a rusty, gray or faded-blue Chevrolet or Buick, festooned with religious and coal-mining bumper stickers, that had been parked on nearby Pogue's Run Road.

Police said there was nothing in her background that was even remotely dangerous or unsavory. She was what you'd expect a woman becoming a nun to be and people who knew her were eliminated leaving investigators all evidence pointed to a stranger. Those are the most difficult cases to solve because there is no hard trail to the suspect. Despite the intensive investigation, no arrests have ever been made or motive found in Roberta’s death.

The State Police lab extracted a DNA sample that, investigators believe, came from Miss Elam's killer, according to state police Sgt. Danny Swiger who hopes someday they will make an arrest and conviction for her brutal murder.

Convicted WV murderer Eugene Blake, pictured to the left, was also considered after Department of Corrections documents exposed the distinct possibility that Blake may have been roaming around the Wheeling area in the mid 1970s when he was serving life without the possibility of parole in the state penitentiary at Moundsville. But, DNA evidence was not linked to Blake. Authorities went as far as to say they also believed that a second killer could have been with him at the time.

According to authorities, "It is possible that there could have been two subjects involved in the Elam matter and the DNA evidence could have belonged to a second subject, realizing that Blake was reportedly out of the prison walls on occasion during his incarceration.

One question about Blake was never addressed… if he was serving a life sentence without parole, how would he have been able to be "roaming around" the Wheeling area?

If you have information on the murder of sister Roberta Elam, you are asked to contact Sergeant Danny Swiger with the Cold Case Unit at (304) 329-1101 or Ohio County Deputies at (304)234-3741 or contact your local State Police Detachment. The tip you give may help solve this horrible crime.

Research and development for this story was made possible by the assistance of the Ohio County Public Library, The Wheeling Intelligencer, Pittsburgh Post and Tribune-Review newspapers, WV State Police, the friends and family of Robin Elam and Jack Swint’s book, "Who Killed?...Pittsburgh PA.


Who Killed Newborn "Baby Christian"?

On or about March 20, 2004, someone wrapped a newborn baby boy into a pink sheet, then a white sheet, and then placed the bundled infant into a plastic trash bag along with three 5-pound dumbbells and tied it closed. Then, they placed that bag into another trash bag, tied it shut and tossed it all into the river near the US 340 bridge in Harpers Ferry WV.

The baby was found March 21, 2004 by a Harpers Ferry National Historical Park ranger who responded to the area for another call. The ranger thought the bag, which was found on the Harpers Ferry side of the river, contained garbage. After realizing that the bag was probably too heavy to contain only garbage, the ranger opened it and found the baby with the umbilical cord still attached.

According to authorities, they received many leads from the public and they were able to put together some convincing circumstantial evidence. Investigators, who named the infant "Baby Christian," were able to get DNA blood samples. In the early stages of the case, they were focusing on a Winchester, Virginia area woman, who they suspected might have been the baby's mother.

Blood samples were obtained from that suspect and sent to the FBI lab in Washington DC. A year later, results came back negative for a match to the baby. DNA results were delayed because of a large workload at the FBI lab, which handles cases from around the world.

Former Jefferson County Sheriff Ed Boober said that he believed the suspect, at the very least, had knowledge about the case.

Investigators are asking for anyone who knows about a baby who was unaccounted for about the time the baby was found to contact his department.

The sheriff's department can be reached at 304-728-3205

Research and development for this story was made possible by the assistance of the Berkeley County Public Library, WV State Police and the Herald-Mail Newspaper in Hagerstown MD.

Coming this Wednesday, one cold-case murder with a new shocking twist....

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

US Senator Jay Rockefeller Responds To WV Residents E-Mail On Health Care

Senator Breaks His Seemingly Silence On Health Care Beliefs
by Sam Webber & Jack Swint . WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Like most West Virginia residents, Charleston CPA Matt Burchett is concerned about health care. He recently sent an e-mail to West Virginia’s US Senator Jay Rockefeller to seek his personal and professional stance on health care reform. Especially since Rockefeller’s participation and vote will help decide the fate of the nations health care reform.
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Burchett was not really expecting a reply, he just wanted to voice his thoughts and opinions on the issues at hand. Imagine the surprised look on his face when an e-mail from Rockefeller's office appeared in his incoming mail box.
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Then, after reading this story, imagine the look that must have been on Rockefeller’s face when Burchett, well crafted a response back to the senator’s comments. Remarks that appear to sum up the feelings of most Americans across the country on this sensitive reform on health care. A decision that will effect every single person now, and in future generations to come.
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What we have here, is a one on one town hall meeting conducted through modern technology that allows two men to state their feelings and beliefs without time restraints or loss of thought for words.
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Several other people have stated that they have received the exact same worded e-mail from Rockefeller in response to their questions about health care.
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Note: . This e-mail correspondence between Mr. Burchett & Senator Rockefeller is the true and complete wording of those e-mails. Anyone wishing a copy, e-mail us your request to: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Setting The Stage… Verbatim (and with Burchett's permission)
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Dear Senator Rockefeller,
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Thank you for responding at such length, and with what I trust will be unintended effect.
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I’d assumed my earlier correspondence would be met with silence, but am delighted to receive your lengthy stream of non sequiturs and your "genuine" beliefs held in the face of all contrary physical evidence and human experience. This is a remarkable performance, even for a U.S. senator, and I am happy to help memorialize it.
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I realize, sir, that the response sent below was crafted by staff in your employ whose loyalty is beyond question. Also beyond question is your staff’s inability to marshal facts and evidence in a manner that will strike any adult recipient as other than unctuous and patently false claptrap.
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But their words are now yours, and so I will speak to you.
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Your response – memorialized below – abounds with "undeniable facts" that are neither undeniable nor factual. I point your attention to paragraphs 2 through 11 below, comprising a clumsily-itemized litany of mendacious constructions and irrelevant platitudes. We’ll reserve comment on the crippled PC syntax and cavalier disregard for if-then logical constructions, but please do be aware that we are aware. Your response might seem articulate to the non-voting, non-engaged cretins among us if it were read to them as a bedtime story. It will, however, be received by your intelligent constituents as a protracted insult of the highest order. On the positive side, I’m confident that it will also soon become an amusement to the larger American public.
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I vow to you, sir, I intend that hundreds of thousands of registered likely voters read this correspondence with an eye toward our future representatives and that you not be among them.
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It is not suspected for a moment that you possess the gray matter or spine to correct your wayward talking points. Fortunately, such correction will not be needed for any reader who is more than carelessly educated in Western Civilization; or in non-barbarian theology and eschatology of human rights; or in American history, its founders, and their letters; or in any economic theories unencumbered by Marx, Engels, Keynes, Galbraith, Obama, et al.
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We would simply point out that "health care" is no more a "right" or a "privilege" than any other desirable commodity, e.g., oxygen, water, chicken burritos, high capacity firearm magazines, a sunny day at the beach, free U2 downloads, or …
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… well, the list is endless, senator – unlike the patience of the citizenry of the United States of America.
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Your job as a "public servant’ is to defend the God-given rights we Americans already possess.
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Full stop, pal.
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Nothing you do – or even can conceive of – has a legitimate effect on Americans’ freedoms.
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Not a speck.
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Do not try to outsmart or out-talk "We the People".
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You’re obviously not good at it and your hirelings are worse.
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Just do your job, sir.
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Cordially and with due respect,
Matt Burchett
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Senator Rockefellers Original E-Mail To Matt Burchett… Verbatim
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From: senator@rockefeller.senate.gov mailto: senator@rockefeller.senate.gov
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 4:34 PM
To: Matthew Burchett
Subject: Letter from Senator Jay Rockefeller
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Dear Matt,
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding comprehensive health care reform. I understand how important this issue is to you, as it is to me, and I am grateful you have been in touch about it.
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When I first began my career in public service, I learned a valuable lesson: health care is a right and should not merely be a privilege. Today, it is an undeniable fact that thousands of families in our state carry the burden of failed health care policies and unmet promises. Roughly 17 percent of West Virginians have decided at one point or another not to visit a doctor because they could not afford it. More than 75 percent of people who cited medical expenses in their bankruptcy claims actually had health insurance, and most of them had jobs. How is this possible in a country as bountiful as ours? This is a question that has been left unanswered for far too long. With more than 45 million uninsured Americans, I believe more strongly than ever that we must not lose sight of the moral imperative to extend health care coverage that is affordable and meaningful to every American.
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Right now, I believe that we are at a turning point - not just in Congress - but in West Virginia and across the country. We have a profound opportunity to fix a broken system and make life better for millions of Americans. As part of his Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) budget request to Congress, President Obama proposed $950 billion in savings to pay for comprehensive health care reform. No President in history has made such a sizable funding commitment to health care in an annual budget. Now, it is up to Congress to continue its work on the details of reform, so that we can submit a comprehensive plan to the President this year. We cannot afford to wait.
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There are real people in West Virginia with real lives hanging in the balance. So many individuals in our communities feel alone in their struggles within this broken system, and just one serious illness threatens to send their entire world tumbling down. These are people we know: a husband or a wife, a son or a daughter, a mom or a dad, a church member or a co-worker. The growing and deeply felt insecurity of being one step removed from disaster runs like a common thread throughout our entire health care system. It is this experience that has led me to embrace three straightforward principles which guide every decision I make in Washington on the subject of health care - availability, affordability, and accountability.
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First, I believe health coverage should always be available, whether it is private coverage or public programs, so that everyone can enroll. This is the basic concept of universal coverage I have always believed in. Our current system has so many gaps that millions go without coverage - including 250,000 people who are uninsured in West Virginia. Some are chronically uninsured, some from a job loss, some are students, and some have hit the ceiling on the amount of coverage their insurance provides. Recent data shows that over one-third of Americans have either experienced gaps in their insurance or relied on public programs for part of their coverage. As many as one in five uninsured Americans have no coverage at all because they have changed or lost their job. That is simply unacceptable.
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In order to finally make health care available to all, we should continue the tax-exemption for employer-provided health care, provide universal coverage to kids, and allow retirees between ages 55 and 64 to buy into Medicare. We should also expand Medicaid for those who need it, help small businesses provide health benefits to their employees, and finally create a long-term care program in this country.
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Second, health coverage also must be affordable, so that individuals, families, and small businesses can handle the costs of coverage. Americans are forced to spend more and more of their income on health care each year. And, those with health insurance are often not protected from even higher costs in the face of severe illness. This has to stop and there are several serious proposals under consideration for increasing health care affordability and reducing costs - for families and for the system as a whole. The first of these is a public health insurance option. As the original author of the Consumers Health Care Act (S. 1278) in the Senate, I want to be clear that the public option is voluntary, and it is an option. It would simply guarantee that there is at least one health insurance plan out there that ordinary Americans can afford and can count on even when they get sick. It is stable and it is affordable, and it actually saves money in the federal budget by acting as a counterweight to profit-driven insurance companies.
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Cost savings are also possible in Medicare. By this, I do not mean charging seniors more for less. That is not a policy I would ever support. The proposal I have been working on would prevent Medicare from going broke, as it is on track to do by 2017. It would eliminate the special interests and the politicians from the process of determining Medicare payment, and instead allow independent experts to make the best decisions about how much we should pay health care providers. Gradually, these experts will carefully discipline this essential part of our health care safety net, and do so without sacrificing access to necessary care for our seniors and individuals with disabilities.
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Third, health coverage must be accountable, which means the insurance you buy today will be there when you need it tomorrow. As Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, I have been investigating the insurance industry and uncovering some incredibly disturbing facts about the deceptive practices insurance companies use. In order to maximize their profits, insurance companies are discriminating against people with pre-existing health conditions, hiding onerous caps on coverage in legalistic fine print, cutting off small businesses when someone who works there gets ill, and systematically overcharging for co-payments. As a result, many middle-class and working families, who have paid their premiums faithfully for years, abruptly find they are dumped from their insurance and have no protection against the financial ruin they worked so hard to prevent.
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It is clear that the insurance industry needs to be reined in. So far, it looks like all sides agree on the importance of new insurance rules as part of health reform, which will go a long way toward treating hard-working Americans with dignity and basic fairness.
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I refuse to believe that a better health care system is not possible. It is, and I am going to continue to fight for comprehensive health reform every single day. I will have your thoughts and experiences clearly in mind as Congress moves forward in enacting meaningful and comprehensive health care reform.
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Thank you again for writing. It is always good to hear from my fellow West Virginians about matters of importance. Best wishes.
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With Warm Regards,
Jay Rockefeller
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End Of Story
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
PO Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Anyone wishing to leave comments is asked to use that selection below....
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Monday, August 24, 2009

The Bucks Stop Here For Greyhound Abuse And Slaughter

Ninety Seven Million Reasons Why Greyhound Racing In WV Will Continue . by Sam Webber & Jack Swint . WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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"we are going to watch everything that happens to these very same people who have caused us thousands of dollars in bills and arthritic problems to our dogs. My dog is on special food because she hardly has any teeth! God certainly did not make her that way! I want all these cold calculating hoods to pay for the horrible suffering our dogs go through after they are no longer winners for the mob"… comments from a Greyhound Pet Owner
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Intro
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On March 10, 2009 Fred Peddicord, chairman of the WV Racing Commission, sent the governor a letter stating how it was an honor to present the annual financial report. And that he was also proud to do so. And, you will understand why when you learn just much money live racing generated in 2008…. Over $700 million!
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And, if we are reading this correctly, the greyhound racing industry alone grossed $97,458,197.00. (WV has two greyhound and two horse race tracks)
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According to the report, $6,589,467.00 was the amount of paid "shares" to the Greyhound Association Members.
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Let’s be completely honest here and now…. The real issue that allows the continued injuries, abuse and slaughter of greyhound racing dogs is the blood money that goes to the city, county and state agencies that benefit from live racing. Owner-breeders like the Dean Miners and Lance Berlands of the racing community are a dime a dozen and can only operate the way they do because the Racing Commission & Legislatures allow them to.
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If any kennel owner loses their contract, another person will take his place. Racetracks have people standing in line trying to buy a kennel contract at any cost. Up to and including bribes and favors.
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When you see the amounts of monies below, and the linked state report, that shows what the greyhound racing generates in this state, you will understand what can cause everyone to bury their heads in the sand. When you combine the monies generated from the horse racing and slot machines, you will finally understand who is behind the curtain controlling the fate of greyhounds in WV.
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State lawmakers also placed a safeguard into the law that protects and ensures live racing continues.
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WV law mandates that each casino has to have live racing in order to have slots and table games. State lawmakers intentionally structured the casino-gambling laws that way. Also, keep in mind, that the actual races don’t generate these millions of dollars, the majority of money comes from the percentage of profit from the slots & table games that goes to the dogs and horses.
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In Order To Stop A Snake You Must Cut It’s Head Off
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What a great paraphrase…. Thousands of people have been trying to stop greyhound racing for all the right reasons. It’s cruel, abusive, barbaric and deadly. And, even though everyone associated with racing knows how brutal this sport is; they would be out of a job, or suffer from the lost revenues if racing stops. Some small communities, like Nitro, WV, base part of their survival on the earned taxes and revenues Tri-State Casino & Racetrack generate each year.
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The only way that greyhound racing will ever end in this state is to stop it at the very top levels. And that will take some lawmaker with the you no what’s to push a bill into law to outlaw greyhound racing permanently. Face reality, that is the only way it will stop! Or, the federal government takes a similar stance against greyhound racing that it did in the Michael Vick dog fighting case.
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But, who is going to go up against the president of the state senate, Earl Ray Tomblin, who is the most powerful politician in the state. Who, also happens to enjoy a conflict of interest between upholding his oath of office while his immediate family earns hundreds of thousands of dollars from greyhound racing.
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It is a proven fact that attempts to stop the injuries, abuse and slaughter of greyhounds in WV is not occurring because of the money people are putting in their pockets from every direction. Plus, no mainstream media wants to cover this ongoing tragedy because they don’t want to upset the Earl Ray Tomblins or anyone connected to the racing industry whose advertising revenues could suddenly stop.
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Who Else Benefits From WV Racing?
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$68,573.00 Paid to WV Counties
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$ 84,705.00 Paid to WV Cities
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$369,346.00 Paid in State Contracts
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$238,346.00 Paid into State Pension & Retirement
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$1,420,970.00 Paid To Veterinarians in WV
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$2,248,600.00 Paid To Local Businesses For Dog-Horse Food/Race Related Goods
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$2,426,351.00 Paid to Simulcast Transmission Costs
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Which brings us to the next issue that keeps WV live racing safe.
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Each greyhound and horse race in WV simulcasts to numerous on and off site betting operations across the country. This nets millions of extra revenue for the casino’s and the state. According to the report, it’s actually $17,688,000.00 just in signal transmissions fees.
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Summary
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There are approx. 44 employee’s directly involved in the racing operations. Ranging from the commissioners, racing executive secretary, racing clerks, investigators, judges and veterinarians. This doesn’t include the private vets, and vet bills that the kennel operations and owner-breeders use. Or, the cost of their medications.
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There are the trainers, handlers and track personnel who depend on this industry for their livelihood. All of the local governments that benefit from live racing. And the millions of dollars a year spent in local businesses that sell the dog and horse food and other race related needs and supplies. Then there are the pharmacies that earn revenue from the prescriptions – medications that they fill for the dogs and or horses.
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And the city, county and state taxes that are generated from those sales.
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The city, county and state revenues generated from the business licenses and state and federal income taxes paid by everyone involved.
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Safe to say that in WV, live racing is a billion-dollar a year industry.
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According to one person we spoke with, "No one wants to admit, or see the abuse and senseless killing of these dogs. Especially while counting their blood money profits."
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It almost seems like a helpless battle for the life of a greyhound dog…. Well, it’s not!!
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Below are the e-mail addresses to WV state lawmakers. Also, the governor and the racing commission if anyone would want to write them e-mails asking for laws to stop this barbaric sport. It only takes one senator or delegate to present a bill to halt greyhound racing once and for all. Other states have banned it, WV can too....
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Our Related Stories (must read expose' shows racing commissions poor audit procedures)
http://westvirginianews.blogspot.com/2008/09/coming-this-thursday-at-10am.html
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See How Much WV Casino’s Generate Weekly (spreadsheet available by using the "click here" section)
http://www.state.wv.us/lottery/vidsum.htm
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State Officials E-Mail Addresses
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US Senator Jay Rockefeller
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WV State Governor Joe Manchin
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WV State Senators
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WV State House Of Delegates
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WV Racing Commission
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End Of Story...
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
PO Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
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Our Recommended News Websites:
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The WV Examiner
http://www.examinewv.com/
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Huntington News.Net
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/index.html
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Ironicus Maximus
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Massachusetts voters sided with the dogs as Question 3 - which will ban commercial dog racing in Massachusetts by 2010 - was passed by a 56% to 44% margin. The passage means that commercial dog tracks will be required to close by January 1, 2010. The Greyhound Protection Act (also known as Question 3) calls for commercial dog racing to be phased out during 2009, in time for the January 1, 2010 deadline.
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Congratulations to the people of Massachusetts for putting and end to this cruel sport!
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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Documents Expose Slaughter Of Greyhound Dogs By Their Owners In 2008

E-mail And Memo’s Confirm Owners Use Euthanasia For Dogs Who Can’t Race Anylonger . by Sam Webber & Jack Swint
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"As far as the injuries, five of those dogs are older and they are all males. Put them down..." . E-Mail excerpt from Dean Miner to Lance Berland in January 2008.
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Intro
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In prior stories, this author provided witnesses that stated how the family run greyhound racing business of WV Senator Earl Ray Tomblin uses live bait to train their dogs. Now, we know it goes much deeper then the Tomblins. Much higher in who is involved and more brutal then ever imagined. Murdering of dogs that can’t earn anymore money racing! And we have the evidence, and in their own writings.
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Tomblins kennel operation is just the tip of the iceberg to the hidden inner-workings of the Greyhound Racing Industry. And you won’t want to believe how another WV State Senator, a board member of the National Greyhound Association and a VP in state level greyhound breeders associations are all involved.
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For The Love Of The Game
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During months of research and association with local and national greyhound level members, and their dogs, I’d never considered what all transpired before and after the dogs raced around the tracks after placing a bet. Now I do.
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Two things have occurred in my life since then, I grew to both admire and feel compassion for these godly creatures that only want to be loved. And will do anything to receive it. Even die!
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I also quickly became outraged at what I saw firsthand and learned directly from owners-breeders and trainers to how these dogs came to be involved in the most brutal sporting event since the gladiators of Rome, in a fight to the death.
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All Greyhound pups are very loving, playful and one of the most loyal and happy dogs on the planet. But, after 6 to 8 weeks of basic killer training in the backwoods area’s like Texas, West Virginia and Oklahoma, these same loving adorable animals become focused with one goal in mind… Chase down and KILL their target.
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Sadly enough, these streamline aerodynamic creatures don’t know any better. For the love of their master, they endure a life filled with abuse, certain injury and a probable painful existence and demise. Just so their owners can make a small fortune at the racetrack.
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Retirement By Euthanasia
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Sometimes it takes a bad guy to catch one….Back in 2008, this author was asked to look into allegations that the WV racing commission was not legally dispersing monies due to the greyhound members. That expanded into other problems ranging from corruption to legal feuding between kennels and fraud.
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In late 2008 we received a packet of information that contained reports, memos and e-mails between WV owner-breeder Dean Miner of "Miner Racing Team" and Kansas owner-breeders Vince and Lance Berland. Together they formed a WV kennel company on August 28th, 2003, known as "Flying Eagles - Miner." Miner lives in Wheeling WV. In fact, the information came from one of their own employee’s.
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While recently working on the below segment concerning live bait training for a new story, I found e-mails and memo’s that were previously overlooked in the volumes of paperwork received. What was discovered were actual e-mails and other correspondence between Dean Miner, Lance & Vince Berland that shocked even me beyond belief. Horrified is a better word and I felt Id heard and seen everything unbelievable.
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It is solid proof, in writing, that greyhounds are subjected to death just because they become older and outlived their usefulness to make money. Dean Miner also portrays his personal feelings and beliefs about greyhounds by calling them outdated "03 and 04 models" like a vehicle.
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Outside of the orders to kill at least seven dogs in the e-mails, Miner also states that one dog is "just a cheap little dog that made us a lot of money"….
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Here is one of those e-mails…. Sent, January 26th, 2008 at 20:39:14 from Dean Miner to Lance Berland...
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"Lance: We’ve gotten killed in the last 10 days. Flying McGrath sprained a hock winning AA. Maloy broke a hock last week. Tarragon a hock tonight…doneeuthanasia. Flying Ace and Flat Out Harley; Kay Dancemaker broke bones in his foot. Doves Augustus off limping today in AA."
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On Sunday January 27th, 2008 at 11:005 PM came the reply from Lance Berland...
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"As far as the injuries, five of those dogs are older and they are all males… Put them down if they cant be expected to return to racing….."
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Just the mere fact these two men are even thinking (and putting into an e-mail) of killing these animals for non life-threatening injuries and or health issues shows the uselessness the dogs have in their owners eyes when they can no longer earn their keep. I personally never witnessed a greyhound being "put down," but Ive seen firsthand what little effort it takes for Dean Miner to make the decision to do so.
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Note: Below is a link that details these types of injuries that are sprains or fractures in the dogs legs or "hocks." These type injuries occur often in the racing industry and are very painfull, but not life-threatning. Please read it. You will not find any terminology that even hints that you should "put them down" or treat the injury by using "euthanasia."
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Anyone who thinks this is an isolated incident or that this is the only kennel that murders greyhounds for nothing more then an excuse that the dogs can no longer race is a complete fool.
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And, if you think winning dogs aren’t trained using live bait, you’re fooled again.
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Hauling Dogs To Hell And Back
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In 1978 the NGA outlawed the use of live bait to train greyhounds. In fact, they say, "industry members who violate this practice may be expelled from the sport for life." Well, lets test that theory…
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Greyhounds are constantly on the road being hauled across the US. Over the years, there have been to many hauling accidents to mention here. Not only are greyhounds killed and injured when any hauler has wrecked, but also maimed, killed and become deathly sick while being shipped to and from racetracks, breeding and training. Some locations they are hauled to aren’t on any map or racetrack brochure you will find.
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One such place, is a secluded training farm for pups that uses "live bait." It is in Oklahoma. Many well known owner - breeders in West Virginia send their dogs for the 4 to 6 week boot camp, depending on how long it takes to instill the killer instinct needed for racing. Training a dog to routinely chase down a defenseless animal and maul it to death can take some time.
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WV State Senator Mike Green, pictured to the left, has been in the senate since 2006 and the greyhound industry since at least 1998, has used this trusted location with his former racing partner Harvey Maupin. Maupin, is also the Vice President of the WV Greyhound Breeders Association. Senator Green and Maupin ran"Green-Maupin Kennel" until 2008. How do we know this, Maupin said so. (links below to their former WV business liscenses.)
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How could these high profile owner-breeders trust that their dogs would be illegally trained with live bait, and in complete secrecy? Because, the man doing the training has more to lose then anyone if he is found out. Sam R. Burdette, President of the WV Greyhound Association & the 2009 Vice President of the National Greyhound Association is that trainer.
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How do we also know this? Maupin admitted to it. And, this author spoke to Burdette in Oklahoma in 2008. At the same time, longtime trainer-owner Paul Carbenou and Greyhound Racing expert and consultant Don Dodd, also confirmed it was occuring in 2008. Even though the Green-Maupin Kennels in WV had their own training farm, they couldn't use live bait there because of laws against it, and Senator Green’s image and reputation.
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According to WV state law 61-8-19(b)… If any person intentionally tortures, or mutilates or maliciously kills an animal, or causes, procures or authorizes any other person to torture, mutilate or maliciously kill an animal, he or she is guilty of a felony. For the purposes of this subsection, "torture" means an action taken for the primary purpose of inflicting pain.
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When we say live bait, that includes everything from chickens, cats, raccoons, ginnie pigs, shoats and baby piglets.
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Burdette, who's home is in WV, spent most of 2008 at his training facility in OK, living in a small one-man trailer on the isolated property now owned by his former wife. Besides training his own dogs, Burdette also trained greyhounds for others as a way to earn a living. He can not dispute the fact that he was there and the training took place. But, it is assured all of the people who sent their pups there will deny the use of live bait. That leaves just one question to ask.
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WHY, would anyone need to send his or her dogs from WV to Oklahoma for training? The total cost for out of state expenses would be very high. Or, maybe it is so no one will hear the live curdling death screams of a live animal running through a coursing field, and or in a bag hanging on a mechanical device called a "whirligig" which goes around in a circle and the dogs chase it to maul the animal to death.
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Note: At the time of this writing, there is no evidence, nor were there any allegations that Burdette, Maupin, or Green have ever been involved in the killing of any greyhounds like reported in the above Miner and Lance Berland e-mail. Only the use of "live bait training."
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The truth is, greyhounds leave West Virginia as loving, innocent and vulnerable pups on a journey that is brutal coming and going, but more so, in between where they become introduced to the taste of blood.
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Bottom Line
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The entire greyhound racing industry has to be stopped in the United States and abroad.
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It is barbaric, inhumane, condoned and participated in by state politicians like Senators Tomblin and Green, who are directly involved. Next are the elected officials within the greyhound association along with influential and successful businessmen like the Dean Miners and Berlands in the industry.
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Miner said it best in one of his handwritten faxes to Lance Berland in 2008. "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered." He also said, "Integrity is not something you have a month at a time."
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How can anyone even think that this industry will ever change its treatment of these dogs? How can it when the people who make the laws and policies are the main ones violating them? And, directly benefiting from the sweat and blood they extract from the greyhounds themselves.
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End of story
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Sam Webber & Jack Swint
PO Box 40511
Charleston, WV 25364
WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the Miner-Berland e-mails or other documents should e-mail us your request at the above e-mail address. Please provide a mailing address.
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Click on the blue WV Secretary of State links below to see Senator Greens former kennel liscense, then click on "officers" to see the information.
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Congratulations to the people of Massachusetts for putting and end to this cruel sport!
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Massachusetts voters sided with the dogs as Question 3 - which will ban commercial dog racing in Massachusetts by 2010 - was passed by a 56% to 44% margin. The passage means that commercial dog tracks will be required to close by January 1, 2010. The Greyhound ProtectionAct (also known as Question 3) calls for commercial dog racing to be phased out during 2009, in time for the January 1, 2010 deadline
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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Governor Joe Manchins Leadership Earns Failing Grades Since 2005

National Organizations Give State Poor Grades Since Manchin Took Office
By, Sam Webber & Jack Swint .. WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

According to one 2007 report card issued by the Corporation for Enterprise Development, "West Virginia received the dunce cap" after earning F's again in all three categories of their grading system. In response to that report, and prior years worth of failing grades, WV Senator Brooks McCabe said, "It sounds sad, but I'd like to see a few D's next year".... CFED

From Two WV Inaugural Addresses delivered by the governor, press releases and state generated reports, officials have painted a pretty picture of progress report cards and reform in the states overall improvement since Manchin took office in 2005.

In reality, numerous national organizations that report the same type information show that WV, under Manchin's leadership, hasn’t really improved at all. In fact, there is a decline in most categories like business, education, transportation and some health categories. In all fairness, West Virginia has routinely received poor grades in these same categories over the past 8 to 10 years…

The governor and state received an overall grade of D.

Bottom Line…. Nothings really gotten any better and some things have gotten worse.

Categories:

Economic Development
Education
Health Care
Highways & Transportation
State Court System
Tax Cuts & Spending
Legislation (eminent domain, welfare reform & child obesity)
WV’s Homeless Children
Executive Leadership

Under the leadership of Governor Joe Manchin:

WV’s Economic Development routinely received an F since 2005. The term economic development refers to sustainable increases in living standards, increased per capita income, better education and health as well as environmental protection. The governor’s office claims that WV is very successful and is rated high in the national statistics and in comparison to other states.

The Washington DC based group, "CFED" has provided accurate statistical information for 20 years on each states standings in this field both separately and collectively. Their group examines categories for each states performance, business vitality & development.

How does WV size up in this category?

Performance - F (the performance of the economy for its citizens)
Business Vitality - F (business competitiveness and entrepreneurial energy)
Development Capacity - F (the positioning of the state for future economic growth)

Our research found that WV’s overall grade from 2005 to the most current statistics is an F too. Note: WV does routinely score high on the number of home ownership’s by race, income and gender. There is a downside, We are also ranked 41 in the nation for the highest amount of foreclosures. (See linked graphs below)
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Highlights from one report state that the challenges West Virginia faces include poverty, which is higher here than in many other states. Businesses close more often than in other states, and students are not ensured as solid an education as they might receive going outside of WV. One analyst stated, " Compared with other states, West Virginia presents a bleak environment in which to live and work. Employment opportunities for workers are few, although the state is relatively insulated from mass layoffs." Also, "The business environment is also a weak point in this states economy.
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With rankings in the bottom half of states for nearly all the index measures, the state’s businesses are neither forging ahead nor holding their own."
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Findings in Education from K12 to college received an average grade of C-. Since 2005, reports show that WV’s education programs have improved marginally compared to other states, "West Virginia has made strides in preparing young people for college, though compared with other states its performance is only fair." In one key marker, students in eighth grade perform poorly on national assessments in math, science, reading, and writing. These are reportedly strong indicators that they are not well prepared to succeed in challenging high school and college courses.
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Other highlights of this report show college education in WV has become less affordable and the amount of monies needed to attend college has grown even after deducting for school loans and grants. Only 50% of first year students in community colleges return for a second year.
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Next is Health Care, which also receives an F. The most recent statistics in 2009 rate WV with a failing grade in four categories. (Sadly enough, WV received a D back in 2006.
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Health Promotion and Measurement, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices, emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
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Financing and Core Treatment/Recovery Services is a variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
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Another category is Consumer and Family Empowerment that includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
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Community Integration and Social Inclusion includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.
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WV’s Mental Health statistics, also covered in this same group, received an F in 2009.
According to one report: "The state uses mental health block grant funds to support the West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association (WVMHCA). This association provides alternative & nontraditional services such as housing, supportive employment, peer support programs, including groups at the state hospitals, and a peer support specialist certification program.
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Services such as acute and long-term care for individuals with re-occurring mental disorders are scarce or non-existent in small towns and rural areas. Involuntary commitments at the two state hospitals continue to increase because of the lack of community treatment services and lack of supported housing. The hospitals are overcrowded, with forensic patients occupying many of the state hospital beds. Some areas have long waiting lists for services.

West Virginia also received poor national reviews for the redesign of its Medicaid program. The new program, Mountain Health Choices, offers two plans, Basic and Enhanced. With the Basic plan offering fewer benefits. Individuals who receive Medicaid because they are SSI recipients are not enrolled in Mountain Health Choices; they remain in traditional Medicaid. Confusion reigns in the state about who is in which plan; Basic, Enhanced, or traditional Medicaid and the scope of benefits.
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According to one source, "Mountain Health Choices is a disaster. It has set the state back in meeting public health needs, financially destabilized providers, and deprived some consumers of needed services in a state that already suffered from uneven access to care and a lack of evidence-based practices."

Lets not forget about the 2008 American Lung Associations report card for WV that gives the state another F for its Tobacco Control in the following categories.
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Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending – F
Smoke Free Air – F
Cigarette Tax –
F
Cessation Coverage - F
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Note: Kanawha County gets an A+ for the efforts put forth to stop second hand smoke. Ohio and Hancock Counties receive an overall F for still allowing smoking in all gambling-gaming establishments.
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State Highways & Transportation also receives an F. This is due to the year after year increasing percentage of WV bridges that are classified as either "functionally obsolete or structural deficiency." In laymen’s terms, "cross at your own risk."

In 2006, WV had 6,956 bridges. Out of that, 1,075 were structurally deficient and 1, 158 were obsolete. That is 2, 593 or 37.3% of all bridges in this state. And, 24% of all the roads were in need of repair.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, this year, 39% of West Virginia’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. And, 37% of all the roads were in need of repair.
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WV State Court System received a C-. The Judicial Accountability report card outlined several key issues that were the decisive indicators for this grade. "West Virginia's laws unfortunately include massive loopholes that still allow members of the judiciary to be wined and dined on the corporate dime," stated HALT Senior Counsel Suzanne M. Blonder.

Numerous flaws in the Judicial Investigation Commission were also noted that includes no clear description of their disciplinary process. Also, the states judicial websites database lacks any substance or information on past rulings against judges or a section addressing complainants' and or most frequently asked questions.

"At a time when the American public has lost faith in the impartiality and fairness of the judiciary, it's critical that we have an effective system of oversight for judges," stated Blonder. "We hope that West Virginia's chief judicial officers will work to transform a mechanism marred by secrecy into a system dedicated to upholding the integrity of the judiciary."
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Other concerns are the difficulties for teens to petition the courts for domestic violence orders. Backlogs on cases from small claims, civil and criminal cases all the way up to the Supreme Court. The report noted that it can take as long as 3 to 5 years for workers compensation cases to be heard in the Supreme Court.
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In Tax Cuts & Spending Joe Manchin received an A from the CATO Institute for "his concentrated efforts on cutting business taxes to help boost investment in this state. In 2006, Manchin approved reductions in the business franchise and corporate income taxes. In 2007, he cut the franchise tax further. In 2008, Manchin signed into law a repeal of the business franchise tax and a reduction in the corporate income tax rate. Manchin also has an excellent spending record, and recommends cuts to the overall general fund budget most years."
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Report cards that were available for the WV Legislators received a C- overall. Several organizations graded the lawmakers in categories ranging from solving immanent domain problems to welfare reform and child obesity laws. Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. City of New London, West Virginia’s eminent domain laws were among the worst in the country, as court decisions had given West Virginia localities sweeping power to condemn even non-blighted properties in redevelopment areas.
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Welfare Reform by way of enacted legislation receives an overall C grade. Child Obesity legislation received a D-. According to the CDC, out of forty-one bills introduced since 2002 addressing obesity, only four were passed and enacted.
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Here are those four.

In 2002, SB682 defined Defines motorized vehicle wheelchair and electric personal assisted mobility devices. Requires operators of devices to yield to pedestrians.

In 2004, HCR8 approved legislation for the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a study on childhood obesity in regards to chronic diseases, poor nutrition, and inadequate exercise.

In 2005, HB2816 approved the creation of a "Healthy Lifestyle Office." And, in 2006 SB785 approved requirements for physical education, fitness testing, and measurement and reporting of body mass index in public schools.

It is noted that since 2005, at least 5 bills have been enacted providing rights and protection to persons suffering from mental illness.
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WV’s Homeless ChildrenF. West Virginia has continued to be a hard place to live. Especially if you are a child. The National Center On Family Homelessness report that more than 4,791 of West Virginia’s children experience homelessness each year. According to the data collected by the McKinney-Vento Educational Programs, WV ranks 14th in the US for the number of homeless children.

Also, West Virginia has 69,000 children living in poverty. Of those 69,000, seven out of every one hundred (7%) are homeless. Ninety-three percent of the children living in families with incomes below the poverty level are White, five percent are Black and two percent are Hispanic. The average monthly income for a single mother in West Virginia who receives public assistance is less than $819, or roughly 50% of the Federal Poverty Level.
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The governors overall grade for his Executive Leadership receives a D-.
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Some Of Those Highlights to date…
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Manchin began his first term immediately by dissolving away the states failed workers compensation blunder by allowing a newly created private company, "BrickStreet" to sell WC insurance. This created the states first "coercive monopoly" business in WV by not allowing anyone else to compete in WC coverage. Then, the governor appointed Greg Burton to run BrickStreet, Burton all but bankrupted the states version of WC.
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Next, the governor began moving some of the state bank accounts over to Centra Bank in which he reportedly owns stock. These accounts, holding millions from the Racing Commission, were exempt from examination by state auditors, which has led to millions being "misplaced." Manchin then paid off the huge deficit left by the old WC program through the Lottery & Racing Commission profits.
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At the same time, Manchin spent approx. 1.8 million to upgrade and remodel the governors mansion that includes a new state of the art sports bar complete with 12 LCD big screen TV's, gambling tables and special built designer chairs and pool tables in their private quarters.

Most shocking and deplorable is while WV residents are struggling, and children are homeless and or living in poverty, the governor is buying new Harley Davidson motorcycles, exotic cars, airplanes, a yacht and vacation homes.

In what most people believe was the re-payment of campaign promises, the governor appointed his friend and Charleston lawyer, Mike Garrison as president of WVU. Not long after that, Garrison and other key university staff had to resign after Manchins daughter was illegally granted her MBA from the university. This scandal will most likely go down as the governor’s worst nightmare while in office.
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Mylan Pharmaceuticals, who employs the governors daughter, had been gifting WVU with the tens of millions of dollars, they also gifted gubernatorial candidate, then Secretary of State, Manchin with free campaign helicopter rides. Manchin was also responsible to investigate campaign finance violations. Connections to Manchin and Mylan funny money wont be the only problem in the mountain state to come.
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Also during his first term as governor, Manchin practiced nepotism. He appointed his wife to the West Virginia Board of Education; their son, Joseph Manchin IV, to the West Virginia Tourism Commission; and his cousin, Mark Anthony Manchin, as executive director of the West Virginia School Building Authority.
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In late 2008, the FBI and US Attorneys office made it known several high ranking executives in the ABC division were served federal subpoenas in an investigation into possible violations concerning mis-use of liquor and accepting bribes-favors. Manchin denies any knowledge.

Manchin also interceded for DuPont to lower the 382 million-dollar fine imposed for gross violations for deliberately dumping toxic chemicals in inhabited areas. He actually filed a "friend of the court" brief for DuPont.

By the end of his first term, the majority of the governors top staff (who had been with him since day 1) quickly departed. Press Secretary Laura Ramsburg, Director of Public Policy, Brian Kastic and General Counsel, Carte Goodwin all said a goodbye.
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But, chief of staff, Larry Puccio remained by Manchins side. Reportedly, its because Puccio enjoys his $109,000 a year pay for a 3.5 day state workweek. A new dark blue gas guzzling state owned Dodge Durango that he is allowed to drive to and from his home in the Clarksburg - Fairmont area. And, being allowed to "double dip" into state monies with his private real estate appraisal business that bids on state contracts.
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End Of Story
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Sam Webber & Jack Swint
PO Box 40511
Charelston WV 25364
(304) 982-7024
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Example Of Links To Report Cards & Reports:
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Economic – Business – Health - Education -Tax
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Tax Reform
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Transportation & Highways
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Homeless & Poverty
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If you would like to leave your comments about this, or other stories, use the comment section below. Or E-Mail at the address above.
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

WV Coal Company Flexes Its Muscle To Block Family Cemetery Right Of Way

No Access To Graveyard Defies Families Rights And WV Law by, Jack Swint & Sam Webber WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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"Those are my ancestors buried on that mountain. Many think we West Virginians are poor simple-minded folk and can be walked on come what may. Cook blood runs through my veins as well as it does in the land in Boone County and in those grave sites on that mountainside. True West Virginians, unlike many Americans, hold on to their heritage and honor it"… spoken by Danny Cook, Boone County WV
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As first reported by the Coal Valley News in Madison WV… Danny Cook, of James Creek, tried to access his family’s historical cemetery dating back to the Civil War and found the road intentionally blocked. "This wasn’t the first time," Cook said. Back on June 30th, he had taken a photographer with him and they could not get through. This graveyard has been in their family since the 1800s.
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They discovered that the Coal Company, Horizon LLC, is responsible for the strip mining that has blocked the access road from James Creek to the family owned property.

Cook told the newspaper, "I talked to a guy from the DEP and a guy with Horizon on the 30th and they told me that they did have Lindytown-side open but had to keep James Creek side closed because of work on the strip mine." But, when he attempted to visit the graveyard from the Lindytown side it was blocked off too. According to Cook, "The only access road to the cemetery is through the mine site itself and the entrance to the mine site is at Wharton."
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"Those are my ancestors buried on that mountain" Danny Cook stated, "Many think we West Virginians are poor simple-minded folk and can be walked on come what may. Cook blood runs through my veins as well as it does in the land in Boone County and in those grave sites on that mountainside. True West Virginians, unlike many Americans, hold on to their heritage and honor it. Do I think coal mining is bad? Of course not. I am the son of a coal miner, as were both my grandfathers on the Cook side of my family and White side."
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Cook goes on to say that, "My father worked hard to support his family with the black rock." His grandfather, was one of the original "Red Necks" who fought for coal as a way of life. The Cooks helped shape much of that part of Boone County. "They worked the land with their own sweat and tears, farming and mining. But people tend to forget that. They even forgot about war hero's buried there like "Chappy" Cook, pictured to the left, a man brave enough to fight for freedom on the side of the Union during the Civil War."
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Has this state become so greedy that they have forgotten those who have built it. Or, maybe it’s the out of state miners who come in knowing nothing of West Virginian History. "I am here to tell you, I am not an ignorant hillbilly, I am well educated and what is being done is wrong. Anyone who thinks otherwise are the greedy fools. So blinded by the green in that little black rock they don’t care about what they do to others."
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"This country needs coal," according to Cook, "but at what price. My heritage? I THINK NOT! And those who mask their names and speak badly about others are cowards. If you were a true West Virginian you would not hide behind a disguise and speak wrongly against another."
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The only thing the family wants is adequate access to the graveyard. "They won’t let our families go up because of the blasting," he said. Cook and his family frequently visit the graves of his fifth great grandfather, civil war veteran William Chap, who is buried on the mountain.
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"My sixth great grandfather and four other relatives are buried about fifty yards from where the big cemetery is. I enjoy going to these cemeteries to take care of them and visit with my family and I have been blocked from doing this now." Cook says he is asking that the mining operation reopens and maintain the access road to these family cemeteries. "We want the company to open both these routes so people on the James Creek side and the Lindytown and Twilight side can get to the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried," he said.
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Horizon Coal Company did not return our calls. To date, they have not made any attempt to obey the state statute or families wishes…
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According to West Virginia State Law, article 37-13A-1, "Access of certain persons to cemeteries and graves located on private land. For the purposes set forth in section two of this article, the state recognizes that the owners of private land on which a cemetery or graves are located have a duty to allow ingress and egress to the cemetery or graves by family members, close friends and descendants of deceased persons buried there, by any cemetery plot owner, or by any person engaging in genealogy research who has given reasonable notice to the owner of record or to the occupant of the property or to both the owner and occupant. The access route may be designated by the landowner if no traditional access route is obviously visible by a view of the property."

In Closing, Danny Cook and his family only ask for what they have had for years, access to their graveyard and relatives buried there. Horizon Coal Company is defying their request, and WV law, just because they feel they can since strip mining makes tons of money and money outranks state residents.
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Officials and mainstream media need to step up and resolve this ASAP. Stand behind the people who have lived and died making WV their home.
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This article, and picture, was made possible by the Coal Valley News who first reported this story and are continuing to cover the Cook families ordeal.
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http://coalvalleynews.com/bookmark/3060559
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http://climategroundzero.org/2009/08/protecting-the-cook-family-cemeteries/
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End Of Story....
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
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E-Mail Us At: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Recommended News Websites:
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The WV Examiner
http://www.examinewv.com/

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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Killing Fields Of Chapmanville WV…. Inside One WV Greyhound Training Facility

If You Love Your Pet, You Won’t Love This Expose’
by Jack Swint & Sam Webber.... WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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“I would prefer to see all dogs in West Virginia trained on artificial lures (bait). But, you cannot remain competitive with people that train their dogs out of state on live rabbits. It just doesn't work that way. Once the greyhounds have that "kill" instinct in them they become more aggressive.” Comments from a former WV breeder, owner & trainer.
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There are some very sincere members who love their dogs and have the utmost respect and admiration for the greyhound racing industry. But, this expose’ reflects at least one kennel operation in WV that is allegedly abusing live animals to train their dogs to race. There is a history of this type of abuse to animals across the country, in every state where greyhound racing occurs.
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Our four month investigation in late 2008, and previous stories into the problems within the WV Greyhound Association and Racing Commission has all come down to this final expose’….. Six people talked to us & corroborated each other on the details, only one said we could use his name.
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This author interviewed three veteran dog trainers closely associated with greyhound racing in WV. What we learned was shocking, how it has been widely known and accepted in the past, that to train a good greyhound race dog you need to use “live bait.” And what we mean by that is; rabbits (prefer jack-rabbits), cats, guinea pigs, chickens and piglets.
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But, it is illegal in WV to use live bait. In fact, according to state law 61-8-19(b)… If any person intentionally tortures, or mutilates or maliciously kills an animal, or causes, procures or authorizes any other person to torture, mutilate or maliciously kill an animal, he or she is guilty of a felony. For the purposes of this subsection, “torture” means an action taken for the primary purpose of inflicting pain.
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The Tomblin's Family Greyhound Training Facility
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Located deep in the woods near Chapmanville, WV, at Henderson Branch on Harts Creek Rd, is the family run greyhound farm & training facility of State Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin.
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According to 2 witness accounts, the Tomblin's train with “live bait” and have for years. Our investigation determined that this family run operation is one of the WV trainers who are using live bait. In fact, according to witnesses, they use cats, chickens, rabbits, raccoons and shoats (baby piglets).
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Paul Carbenou said in an earlier interview that once while visiting Earl Tomblin’s greyhound farm, he first noticed a lot of rabbit fur near the training area. But, then he saw and heard what he found out to be a live raccoon in a bag hanging on a mechanical device called a “whirligig” which goes around in a circle and the dogs chase it to maul the animal to death. This animal was screaming a death curdling sound. “That’s when I knew for sure Earl was training with live bait.”
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One of Earl's former trainers, Jim Grace, who is well respected in the industry, admitted that when he worked for the Tomblins, they used live bait consistently over the years to train their greyhounds to race. In fact, when we first asked about them using live animals as bait, Grace stated “absolutely.”
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Why Would Tomblin Use Live Animals As Bait?
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What most of us do not know is that in order for a greyhound to be a winner, they first have to have a reason to chase the mechanical rabbit known as “sparky” around the track to get to the finish line. Then all of the dogs gather at the exact spot where that same imaginary rabbit goes back into “its hole.” Ever wonder why that is?
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Carbenou says, “When the starting gate of any dog race track comes open and the dogs run out and chase sparky around the track, they all have one goal, “catch & kill that imaginary rabbit.” There is no competition between the dogs; they are focused only on the rabbit.
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From the time these dogs are young pups they begin their training to race and hopefully catch “Sparky.” Depending on the dog’s stage of training, the “bait” is either placed in bags or hung onto the electric lure that goes around the track or just let loose in a “coursing park” which is nothing more than a large fenced in field. Either way, the young greyhound aggressively chases down the animal and malls it to death, and gets a taste of blood.
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As training progresses, the dogs will automatically race after and kill the defenseless animals. At times, the dogs have on muzzles, but they do still manage to bite and maul the animal being used. After an actual race, every dog is given a “treat” from their handler. This in replacement of the dog actually being able to catch the mechanical lure.
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Does it seem to bother Earl Tomblin Sr. to harm animals?
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Hilda Halstead, a former greyhound association founder and member told this author she once was meeting with Earl Tomblin Sr along with her young granddaughter. She said that Earl stated (almost bragging) in front of them both that he had once “shot & killed a whole litter of pups."
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Other people interviewed state Earl has told them that he has buried many dogs and animal carcasses on his property related to greyhound racing. Carbenou went on to explain that he personally can tell if a dog has been trained on live bait just by the way it runs. “If they have not been trained using live bait, their chances of winning are drastically reduced.” He also says that greyhounds trained with artificial lures are not as aggressive.
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A former WV breeder, owner & trainer sums it up this way. “I would prefer to see all dogs in West Virginia trained on ARTIFICIAL LURES. BUT, you cannot remain competitive with people that train their dogs out of state on live rabbits. It just doesn't work that way. Once the greyhounds have that "kill" instinct in them they become more aggressive.”
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They went on to say that, “All greyhounds will CHASE anything that moves......but giving them a taste of blood and the death of the prey drives them crazy.”
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West Virginia laws are suppose to stop and prosecute people who use live bait and or intentionally cause, or allow animals to be subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment. According to Paul Carbenou, “the laws are there, but no one is going to enforce them. It’s just a way for them to cover their own ass.” He says that everyone from state to city officials intentionally ignore the cruelty and poor conditions the dogs are subjected to. “Come on, this industry makes millions of dollars a year in WV for the state, counties and cities.”
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There is alleged to be a clause in the WV kennel contracts that prohibits the use of live bait and or cruelty. It’s all “CYA” according to Carbenou.
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Greyhound History & Facts
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Throughout history the Greyhound has been the darling dog breed of royalty and nobility. From the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh’s, to the English nobility who enacted a law banning so fine a beast from being owned by mere commoners. The Greyhound boasts the longest documented history of any dog breed. Ancient drawings and records place the Greyhound dog as a distinctive breed over 6000 years ago.
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Today, a Greyhound is the most expensive dog breed; it is not unusual for champion racing Greyhounds to command a price tag in excess of $70,000!
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Greyhounds are the fastest dog in the world across short distances. They can attain speeds in excess of 40 mph.
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It has the longest stride of any dog breed whilst it is in full flight. One Greyhound dog is on record of having covered a distance of 30 feet in a single leap. The Greyhound's sprint is described as a double flight gait which involves the dog at some point having all of its feet off the ground. When a Greyhound dog is sprinting it propels itself first with its hind legs and then momentarily lands on its front feet before cantilevering off those while reaching forward with its hind feet.
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This double-flight gait is extremely fast but also very unstable which explains the many injuries that befall racing Greyhounds.
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It’s Not Just About The Training
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Something that all owners, breeders and kennel owners have to fear & face on a day to day basis. .
During our 4 month investigation into the greyhound racing industry, this author saw and heard about the numerous routine injuries these dogs receive on a day to day basis. And they all occurred during their training and or in actual races. It was nothing to hear trainers-breeders discussing how their dogs were unable to race because they either sprained or broke a leg, foot or took a fall and were hurt. More serious injuries in the industry have occurred during live racing include broken legs, backs and skull fractures.
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No other sport in the world compares in the number of injuries and deaths that occur during a race. Ever see a greyhound take a tumble during a race? A video link at the end of this segment will show you just how dangerous it is, on and off the track.
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There are also injuries and death from internal and external parasites, heat stroke, heart attack, accidental electrocution and dehydration throughout the industry. WV law also requires vets and others to report these types of injuries to the racing commission.
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During one of our recent meetings at greyhound owner Dean Miner’s home, he played through his voice messages and discovered one from his veterinarian saying they were going to “put down” one of his dogs from an injury received from racing. His only visible concern was the amount of money he would now lose from potential winnings. In fact, Miner has said he very rarely gets involved with the training, or personally with his dogs. He brags that his part is to “run the business” end of it.
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One WV breeder summed up Dean Miners involvement in greyhound racing. “He didn't get into Greyhound racing because he loves the bow-wows…. He only loves the money."
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The racing tracks themselves cause most injuries to the dogs because of the coarseness and or poor upkeep. But, the breeders-owners have no recourse against the casino-track owners.
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Why Are The Members Of Greyhound Racing Taking A Strong Approach Against Those Who Violate Their Rules, Regulations & The Law?
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Just how bad has it been in the past? According to animal rights group PETA…. In 2002, the remains of approximately 3,000 greyhounds from a certain Florida racetrack were discovered on the Alabama property of a former racetrack security guard who had been “retiring” unwanted greyhounds with a .22 rifle for more than 40 years.
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The attorney for the accused, who faced up to 10 years in prison on felony cruelty-to-animals charges, said, “If there’s anybody to be indicted here, it’s the industry because this is what they’re doing to these animals. The misery begins the day they’re born. The misery ends when my client gets a hold of them and puts a bullet in their head.”
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In 2005, 73 greyhounds died in a Wheeling West Virginia kennel that went up in flames because of a faulty ceiling fan.
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Who’s Really To Blame In WV?
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Everyone associated with greyhound racing is to blame for knowingly allowing and or condoning anyone to use live bait and or the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals in this industry. It goes from the owners, breeders, kennels, racetrack owner’s, judges, right up to the lobbyists, racing commission & government officials who knew, or know about the gruesome true-life saga for greyhound dogs on Tomblins training farm.
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It also falls into the lap of the president of the senate, Earl Ray Tomblin whose family owns and operates Tomblin Kennel which witnesses (one a former trainer of theirs) state that “live bait” is used in their training process.
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Senator Earl Ray Tomblin can claim all he wants that he has no day-to day contact and or knowledge of his parent’s business, but he grew up in their family run kennel & had firsthand knowledge of this industry. And numerous people have stated he is still the family bookkeeper & accounted.
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Conclusion
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Ninety five percent of all greyhound owners love their dogs with a passion and our concerned for their safety. But, at the same time they know in the back of their minds that each and every greyhound that races is injured and abused at some point. As owner Dean Miner puts it, this is a business, and business is good. In fact, the WV lottery shows that over 78 million dollars is related to wagering at both WV dog tracks last year.
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When was the last time county & state official actually walked though and inspected kennels, the greyhounds themselves and injury records? Or, even questioned if their exists cruel & inhumane treatment to these dogs or animals being used as live bait??
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We only hear about cases where someone may have presented forged papers saying their dog received its shots on time and or one owner tried to sneak his/her greyhound dog into WV to race improperly. Earl Tomblin was once sanctioned $500 for bringing his dogs into a quarantined area at the Nitro track. That’s it, that is what the racing commissions records show.
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In reality, the only difference in the Tomblin training process between greyhound dog racing and dog fighting is…. you do not get to see the greyhound chase down the small animal trying to escape its imminent death.
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What The Greyhound Industry Has Done To Get Away From The Past
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Over recent years the greyhound association has moved desperately to correct the problems that have been crippling the industries true intent on what they actually represent. They have improved their image and began to weed out the problems from the brutality both on and off the track. Better adoption programs are being introduced with close screening. Members are being held to a higher standard then ever before.
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Some members have intentionally refused to accept change for any reason. There is only one way to demonstrate the past, and it is in the pictures and video links below. Mind you these are very graphic and horrific images, but, sometimes it takes re-living the past as a graphic reminder of what the future needs to become.
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There are organizations coming forward to ensure the safety and even programs for their rescue and adoption. (see the link below) The national greyhound racing association, and its members, has taken a pro-active approach by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for adoptions. Statistics show that approximately 18,000 dogs are adopted each year.
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Update..August 8th, 2009. Today, we received information from a well known source in the industry who asked to remain anonymous. The details that were shared broadened the already terrible ordeal that some greyhound race dogs are subjected to in this industry. Here is a small portion of what we learned about some racing operations across the country.....
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Note: There have been no reports like this in West Virginia, nor was it part of our investigation.
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"They feed them 4D (dead, diseased, decayed, dying) meat, bought only God knows where, and which could actually be other dead dogs. And, the stuff is full of e-coli and salmonella and chemicals. When the hounds start to suffer from malnutrition caused by the incredibly poor quality of their diet, and their red blood cells have been so destroyed that they cannot fuel their muscles, then they drug them up with performance hormones probably bought in some back alley in Mexico 'cause it's cheap. Then, when they still cannot perform, they kill them. Most greyhounds never see their third birthday."
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Flesh of sick animals has also been found in the raw 4-D meat. It can also contain brain and spinal matter, that has been identified as harboring the bovine spongiform organism that causes mad cow disease. Food handlers at tracks and farms are at high risk of infection from the noxious organisms contained in the meat during feed preparation.
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And, here is the condition of just one dog that was rescued from certain death...
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"When we got her home and to the vet, her blood work, especially the red blood cells, was such a mess that the doctor was afraid that she had cancer. She had almost every known red blood cell abnormality, and it was caused by malnutrition. No athlete, animal or human, is going to be able to perform if the red blood cells cannot fuel the muscles. And I would venture that almost every dog at every track or kennel or breeder is suffering from the same fate."
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Pictures Are Worth A Thousand Words. We must warn you ahead of time, these pictures are VERY DISTURBING!
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http://www.greyhounds.org/gpl/contents/proof.html
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These Links Are Videos Of Former Greyhound Dog Injuries And Cruelty.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tLAtBG__bY&feature=related
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e74BTR9GkbI&feature=related
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West Virginia Laws On Cruel & Inhumane Treatment
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http://www.grassrootsar.org/west-virginia/2008/08/cruelty-to-animals/
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Greyhound Adoption - Rescue Link
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If you have information you would like to share on greyhound abuse. Contact us by e-mail at WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com or, this national news blog: http://ironicusmaximus.blogspot.com/
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End Of Story.....
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
PO Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
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Congratulations to the people of Massachusetts for putting and end to this cruel sport!
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Massachusetts voters sided with the dogs as Question 3 - which will ban commercial dog racing in Massachusetts by 2010 - was passed by a 56% to 44% margin. The passage means that commercial dog tracks will be required to close by January 1, 2010. The Greyhound Protection Act (also known as Question 3) calls for commercial dog racing to be phased out during 2009, in time for the January 1, 2010 deadline.

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Monday, July 27, 2009

My Name Is Earl....

by, Jack Swint & Sam Webber WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

"WV Senate Leader Earl Ray Tomblin is Governor Joe Manchins puppet master. Earl says jump, Joe asks how high? Earl says roll over, Joe says, how many times? Earl says I want you to override your own veto of house bill 4307 so my dad can have his greyhound racing training facility, Joe says OK."
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Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, pictured to the left, doesn’t get visibly upset or loud to often. But his anger was heard and witnessed back in early April 2008 when Governor Joe Manchin shot down House Bill 4307. That piece of legislature would allow him to keep a promise to his father, who is also named Earl Tomblin.
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This specific bill was orchestrated in order to build dad his very own, brand new, state of the art greyhound dog training facility. Something that Earl Sr. has openly been bragging to his friends about for some time. "My son is gonna build me a training facility for my dogs." Manchin vetoed the bill April first because of pending civil litigation in CA-06-C-2368, Burdette v. Sidiropolis. This law suite could directly affect the outcome of the bill. For once, Manchin was correct in his veto actions.
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After Manchin vetoed the first bill, close sources report that Earl Ray Tomblin was actually overheard ordering the governor to have the bill re-submitted and passed even if it took invoking his Executive Order privileges. Then, Manchin was to ensure they moved the legislation swiftly through the special legislation. The Governor obeyed.
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Why is Earl Ray being so persistent and demanding of the governor? Because there is 2 million dollars sitting in the breeders association bank account and Tomblin needs it to build the training facilities. If Kanawha County Judge Charles King would side with the Breeders Association, Poppa Tomblin and Roger White do not get to build their facility.
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Several word changes were made to the legislation and the bill was pushed through and now sits on Manchin’s desk waiting his signature. But, even if the governor does not sign the document, it can still become effective after 30 days. Manchin needs to veto the bill for the exact same reason he did in April. There is pending litigation in civil court. Plus, it happens to be the right thing to do.
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In Earl Ray and his dads mind, this is a done deal. Lobbyist Roger White already has plans drawn up, a contractor picked out named Tim Bell and they reportedly have a piece of property in mind on route 35 in Fraziers Bottom. All of this is done without the proper feasibility reports, bidding or approval from the racing commission or breeders association. But, this is just the tip of the iceberg to what is really going on. They could not build just one training facility. There has to be two because the Wheeling dog track feels left out.
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Senator Tomblin, his dad and Roger White want the breeders association funds to pay the two million dollars for both tracks. Even though the National Greyhound Association claims other state of the art facilities like these only cost approximately two hundred seventy thousand dollars apiece to build.
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West Virginia breeders, and even the national association question why these facilities are even needed when the two current tracks in cross lanes and wheeling are free to the dog owners and trainers once a week. Tomblins plan will cost each breeder a fee every time they use the mandatory track. Additional expenses most say they can not afford considering all of the other cuts in profits occurring. The breeders association even conducted a poll and found the majority of members don’t want, or need the facility. The Tomblins and Roger White do want it.
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Tomblin, in his official capacity as Senate leader has instrumentally taken profits away from the breeders association who are being forced to pay off 11 million dollars in bad debt from the former defunct workers compensation division that was under Greg Burton, who is now over BrickStreet. The breeders receive their money from both the purse from the dog’s winnings, and approximately 14% of all monies generated from the slots at all four tracks. But, the state cut that down to 7% in order to help pay off workers compensation losses.
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How did Earl Senior even get into greyhound racing? According to long time greyhound enthusiast, Don Dodd of Dallas Texas, "I got Earl his first dogs and booking in greyhound racing back in the mid-eighties at the Cross Lanes track. He all but swindled Bill "Snapper" Stewart of Cape Coral Florida out of his dogs. Stewart thought he was dying from a brain tumor at the time. Earl senior bought 30 some dogs for around $30,000 +. Bill Ellis promised that Earl would pay me $10,000 as a finder’s fee. Earl never paid his debt and if Bill Stewart hadn’t believed he was dying, Earl would have never been able to buy those dogs so cheaply"….
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Earl Sr. lost his licenses as a breeder and any association with racing after being convicted of a felony years ago. His wife and son are listed on the secretary of states records as the owners even though everyone knows Earl is still in control. It’s reported that Senator Tomblin, is the kennels bookkeeper and has a direct connection to the business.
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Roger White is another greyhound owner and reported lobbyist for the breeders association who told one source for this story that White personally bragged to him "I got the Senate President & House Speaker in my pocket." This author actually overheard White talking this past Wednesday evening bragging how he was going to go to the statehouse and circuit court and demand that he be heard now instead of the July 31, 2008 hearing on his recent motion to try and intervene on the law suite against the racing commission. White has said that he is "a hell of a lot smarter" then the county judge, racing commission and current president of the WV breeders association Sam Burdette.
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The smaller breeders feel that members like Tomblin and White are trying to force them out of business. According to one kennel owner, "Those two men would just as soon cut their noses off to spite their face just to gain full control of the breeders association." And that both Tomblin and White have large kennels, farms and retirement money coming in. "The legislators keep peeling away at out profits from both the purse monies and breeders association funds every chance they get."
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Bottom line, being able to tell the governor what to do, priceless, providing personal perks of allowing Earl senior parking in areas clearly designated as racing commission only (photographs available upon request) along with a reserved table 7 days a week is not that serious. Unethical and maybe an abuse, but it is not fair to the other breeders, or even the guests at the track.
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But, using your politcal power and position to force pass legislation just to get to two million dollars to build training facilities that aren’t even needed, is an abuse of authority. The mere fact Tomblin is trying to slide this bill through knowing there is a civil law suite pending that could block the money is criminal intent.
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Earl Ray Tomblin has forgotten the most important thing of his politcal position......

http://www.wvsos.com/execrecords/appointments/oaths.htm

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Senate1/Members/senatorsinfo.cfm?input=President%20Tomblin
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In all fairness, not everyone feels Earl Ray Tomblin is of questionable character. The Logan Standard Newspaper, sings his praise as an "Icon" in their two part interview in early 2008.
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http://loganstandard.com/main.asp?SectionID=15&SubSectionID=15&ArticleID=58&TM=51951.5
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End Of Story....
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Contact Information:
Sam Webber & Jack Swint

PO Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com .......



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Sunday, July 26, 2009

Casino Auditors Admit Calculating Errors At Tri-State Greyhound Track

by, Jack Swint & Sam Webber - WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

According to one audit report that conducted an inspection of calculations and payouts found, "that the breakage amount on Quinella Double pool was incorrectly calculated." Another yearly audit states "annual test performance of the pari-mutual system at the track to test calculation and payouts in 2004 identified a minor calculation error."
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This two-part series on the Tr-State Casino & Dog track will begin with exposing possible illegal and controversial operations for pari-mutual greyhound racing in Nitro West Virginia. Then next Monday, September 8th, 2008 we will detail the gaming centers financial audits dating back to 1999. Both stories raise serious questions and doubts to the credibility of the casino-racetracks ability to maintain their integrity and image.
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The proof contained in these company documents obtained from Hartman & Tyner's own auditors is certified to be true and correct to the best of their knowledge. Since at least 2000, Tri-State Casino and Racetrack owners have been intentionally allowing the public to believe that the tracks pari-mutual greyhound racing operation was all being handled right there on the Nitro property.
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You would think that odds are calculated at the track, and placing a bet and collecting your potential winnings are calculated by tri-states computer system. Most people watching the results on the monitors and public information board would think everything’s being controlled right onsite. Well, it is not according to the owners certified operation audits. And to add to the problem, what if that out of state system isn’t working correctly?
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If that doesn’t catch your attention, this will. These same reports outline computer system malfunctions that miss-calculate the odds and winnings paid to everyone who has placed a pari-mutual bet at their racetracks! Reports that show year after year the same problem continues.
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It is apparent that Danny Adkins and Hartman-Tyner felt confident that since they are a privately owned corporation, this problem would never make it to the public’s knowledge. But, we managed to get copies of the companies financial and operation audits.
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The first operations audit titled "Report On Agreed Upon Procedures" is annually prepared by the accountant firm, Gibbons and Kawash, located in Charleston, WV. These 7 audit reports are clearly marked confidential and for the sole use of Hartman & Tyner. These reports also clearly show that Danny Adkins is hiding how they really operate dog racing in WV.
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WV statute 19-23-9 clearly states that a licensee (racetrack owner) "shall permit or conduct the pari-mutual system of wagering within the confines of the licensee's racetrack at which any horse or dog race meeting is conducted or held." That is the law, and what the racing commission and legislators intended, to keep all operations at the Nitro track.
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According to Gibbons & Kawash, that IS NOT occurring at Tri-State racetrack. The first sign of Danny Adkins "don't' ask; don't tell" policy becomes apparent in the March 29th, 2001 audit. It clearly states:
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"Effective July 2000, autotote (which is the company who controled the pari-mutual system-program used in betting) made substantial changes to its operation at Tri-State racetrack and gaming center. Most processing is now performed at the autotote HUB located at Hollywood Park, Florida." This hub provides processing services for tracks/facilities located throughout the eastern United States.
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"The autotote operation at Tri-State is only responsible for maintaining communication links with the Hollywood hub, enabling teller machines and field board operations, and entering Tri-State race cards and related changes for transmission to the Hollywood Hub…."
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"This system consists of a remote site at Tri-State connected directly through communication links to SGR's hub facility in Hollywood, FL."
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Written remarks in the December 2006 report states that, "The pari-mutual wagering system of Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center is operated by Scientific Games Racing.
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Note: Hollywood Park, Florida is home to another Hartman & Tyner casino-track. Also, Autotote is now called "Scientific Games Inc." As of 2006, they have moved from Hollywood Park, Florida, to Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
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What does this all mean? According to Gibbons & Kawash’s reports, when making a bet on a dog race here, that wager is entered at the tri-state track. But, is processed and controlled 900 miles away in Florida.
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More quotes taken from their certified report……
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“As tickets are issued (tri-state) during the wagering period, pool totals are being calculated through the Hollywood hub. Periodically, the pool totals and odds are printed out and displayed on the public information displays.”
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"Various reports are generated by the systems to summarize the end of session activity. After the last race, the Hollywood hub disables wagering for the Tri-State terminals." _________________________________________
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"Ticket issuing machines at the teller window record wagers as they are received. This information is then transmitted to the Hollywood hub, which calculates the betting pools, odds, payouts and transmits the information to display on the public information displays throughout the wagering period. When a race is declared official, final information is displayed to the public and printed. Payouts are made by the tellers using the ticket issuing machines."
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"When the results of the last race have been declared official, clean up begins at the Hollywood hub. All paid and losing bets are dropped from the system, resulting in zero balances in the computer system accounts, except for unpaid bets. After the last race, the Hollywood hub disables wagering for the Tri-State terminals. Communication devices are taken out of service and end of session processing begins." ____________________________________________
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If you think that is a serious problem, you may want to sit down. These audit reports exposed more facts that show the depth of just how misleading the track owners have been to the general public, greyhound & kennel owners, the racing commission and anyone who has followed greyhound racing across the country.

According to one report that conducted an inspection of calculations and payouts found, "that the breakage amount on Quinella Double pool was incorrectly calculated." Another yearly audit states "annual test performance of the pari-mutual system at the track to test calculation and payouts in 2004 identified a minor calculation error." One auditor cited that calculations at all tracks/facilities needed to "receive some attention." Year after year these calculation errors have remained.
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The problem is not just a local one, but it does involve the same company Tri-State is contracting to run their pari-mutual betting. It appears to be happening at more tracks owned by Hartman & Tyner and others across the country. As recent as July 2008, someone figured out how to circumvent the system and was able to make bets even after the race was over.
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"We had huge tote problems that day with our system that is over at the data center (in Mount Laurel, N.J.); the tote system is up and down. It's communicating. It's not communicating."
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Exhibit 1 ..... Exhibit 2 (click on blue links)
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Are the WV racing commission members and state officials who oversee gambling in this state aware of the problems? It doesn't appear they do, even though WV statute 19-23-10(f) clearly states that each casino-track owner is to annually furnish a true copy of their certified financial and operation audit reports to the racing commission and legislature financial division.
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When we asked for the audits under the Freedom of Information Act, WV racing audit director Joe Cuomo had to actually request them from the casino owners because they were not on file in the racing commission office. So, it is doubtful he could have even been aware of the calculation problems. Or, someone is keeping it quiet.
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Has Danny Adkins possibly misled the racing commission how his operation works? According to Executive Secretary Linda Lacy, it is her understanding that the entire pari-mutuel betting at Tri-State was all onsite as the law states.
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The mere concept that anypart of greyhound wagering at tri-state is being controlled from 5 states away opens up the door to staggering fraud possibilities. People at the track interviewed have often wandered why the odds on the monitors and main board change sometimes after the race is final. Can someone at the other end manipulate the system? Its been done before.
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In one report auditors discovered that at least one employee from the Hollywood Hub was taking the “backup tapes” from each days races home with him at night... They recomended that stop ASAP.
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Conclusion
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If you’re a gambling person, odds are you may not be receiving the correct amount of monies due to you from winnings at Tri-States pari-mutual races from at least 2000. Their own certified accountants and auditors attest to this fact. There are still issues being discovered as recently as July 2008.
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Then there is the fact that most people have been duped into believing all of the betting transactions our controlled onsite in Nitro, not hundreds of miles away in Florida or New Jersey. According to the audit report, the “HUBS,” not Tri-State, calculate odds; control the actual terminals, monitors and public board at the track.
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WV statute 19-23-9 clearly states that a licensee (racetrack owner) “shall permit or conduct the pari-mutual system of wagering within the confines of the licensee’s racetrack at which any horse or dog race meeting is conducted or held.”
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End Of Story….. until next week. ......
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Corroboration for these stories was obtained from documents under the freedom of information act relating to WV statute 19-23-10(f)....
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Contact Information:
Sam Webber & Jack Swint .......
P.O. Box 78
Shoals, WV 25562
304-549-4978


WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com......

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Saturday, July 25, 2009

Economic Development Is Now Foreign Owned

An Invasion Without Traditional War…

According to the good news…."Companies from Europe, Asia and other regions of the world have invested in West Virginia creating more than 30,000 jobs. These international companies have found West Virginia to be a profitable place for their North American operations, due to the state's strategic location, skilled work force, vast supply of natural resources, ready infrastructure, advanced technology and investment incentives."

What American Politicians Won’t Admit
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It was once thought that as a sovereign nation, no foreign government, short of an invasion and military occupation, could run the U.S. But, what has actually occurred is that foreign governments do run America, and they also make billions a year by allowing us to maintain our standard of living. We are now at the will of countries like China, Japan, Russia and Germany.

You can laugh now, and cry later. But it is true.

From the ritzy Essex House hotel in Manhattan, owned by the Dubai Investment Group, to the nationwide chains of Caribou Coffee and Church's Chicken, owned by another company serving Arab investors, foreigners are buying bigger and bigger chunks of the country.

Foreign countries, and their investors, have bought up everything available of value in the United States using our own money. Banks, Industrial and Manufacturing Companies, Malls, Colleges, Resorts, Convenient Store and Motel chains etc etc. Combine that with the fact these same countries are holding approx. THREE TRILLION, TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE BILLION DOLLARS worth of US treasury securities!

Who are a just a few of those foreign countries in 2009? China ($767 billion), Japan ($686 billion), Russia ($138 billion), Brazil ($126 billion), Luxembourg ($106 billion), Taiwan ($74 billion), Germany ($55 billion), Thailand ($26 billion), India ($38 billion), Mexico ($36 billion) and even Columbia with ($11 billion).

Note: In December 2000, China only held $60 billion in federal securities. March 2009, China has increased their holdings to $767 billion to become the majority owner in foreign holdings. Overtaking Japan who had been at the top since at least the year 2000. And, every 3 months, we sell them some more.

This has nothing to do with import or exports to and from the United States. Its about the results of years worth of strategic purchases from Treasury Securities, US companies and US banks being owned by foreign governments and their companies.

What effects could their money control the US? China switched their buying gears in 2007 and 2008, presumably because it wished to increase heavily back to treasuries. But, one cant dispel the issues that befell companies like Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, and other government-chartered organizations that ended up needing U.S. government intervention during the same time periods.


On the surface, these same international companies and foreign governments are also helping to keep West Virginia financially afloat with imports, exports and investing in owning business in the state. All is boosting our economic & financial development according to state officials. What they’re not saying is the problem.

Have we unknowingly created "The Perfect Storm?"… Are we like the true-life story of the ill-fated commercial fishing boat crew of the "Andrea Gail", who’s captain regretfully sailed them into the middle of one gigantic storm that had evolved from 3 separate hurricanes coming at them from every direction. In the end, the men all died.

As a Nation, and State, has the government unknowingly caused its own impending demise because we have sailed straight into the path of foreign ownership with no possible way to escape? And none of this just happened overnight.

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On The National Level

Ironically, besides China, two of the foreign countries gobbling up American interests are Japan and Germany. Who, as we all know, were both mortal enemies of America not so long ago. They alone hold $741 billion dollars of our treasury notes. Combine that with the fact that these same two countries (and China) have slowly purchased and or taken over as many major and small American industrial and technological companies as possible. While at the same time, also becoming the overseas corporate parents of countless banks in the US.

And, these banks are aggressively making business loans to American based companies. By one estimate, foreign banks hold nearly 50 percent of all existing commercial and industrial loans made to U.S. businesses. Moreover, foreign banks made these gains swiftly, more than doubling their share of the U.S. market in the past ten years. As of December 31, 2000, state-licensed foreign banks held $1.1 trillion in assets

Japan, by itself, has the largest country representation with 44 bank branches and agencies. And, another 21 banking subsidiaries in this country. The combined total assets of these entities are approx. $270 billion. Their largest interests maintain offices in New York.

The International Banking Act (IBA) of 1978 was to have restricted the ability of foreign banks to establish offices in more than one state. But, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, rules governing interstate banking regarding US financial institutions began to fade away. Which opened the doors to where we are today.

As much as the US needs foreign traded imports and exports, we have also opened up the floodgates to welcome other countries, both allies and enemies, to one by one invade and take over controlling interests of the financial markets and heart of America’s business and homes…. All without firing a shot!

Examine specifically the types of industries and financial markets that these foreigners have strategically targeted to either invest in, or, flat out own. Every facet of our day to day lives from transportation to bio-technical and computer science. Shopping Malls to fuels and aerospace. Banking to schools etc.
On top of that, add in the fact these foreign entities are holding three trillion dollars of US Treasury Security notes? Look at the entire picture collectively, and you will quickly see that foreign government, and their money has "cornered the market" to our financial infrastructure.

How smart and determined are these foreign countries to get their feet in the American dream? And just how willing have our presidents and politicians been eager to let them? Answer….They’re willing to put national security up for sale according to members of the US House of Representatives.

Example: In July of 1990, then President Bush approved the sale of California based "Semi-Gas Systems," to the Japanese. This US Company was a major supplier of gas distribution and control systems to American semi-conductor chipmakers. At the time, Semi-Gas was in direct competition with the Japanese in an industry that politicians stated "this action could have grave consequences for the semiconductor industry, and it does affect our national security and possible espionage."

Employee’s tried to buy the company first to keep it in the US. "But the Government apparently had only a bottom-line mentality and, instead, signed off on the sale" according to sources. Years before this sale, Congress had been warned that the United States semiconductor industry "is falling prey to foreign competitors determined to gain a chokehold on the materials and equipment needed to make computer chips."

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During House of Representative hearings on the sale one politician stated, "there are some purchases on some vital bills in August, and I know we need the money to keep going on operating in the red because we are destroying ourselves economically. We have guessed in the past that at each crucial sale, the Japanese come in and say, "Hey, if you want us to buy this, you've got to also give us this."

This past month, foreign monies had to come to the rescue again as Chrysler & GM go under bankruptcy. Italy’s Fiat now owns a major interest and assets in Chrysler. China again wants to buy out another American symbol to our greatness and gratuity in purchasing "Hummer." A vehicle that first came onto the scene as the new image of our military. GM has agreed to sell out to "Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd."

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In West Virginia
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As far back as 1985, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that foreign-owned affiliates indirectly employed 32,404 West Virginians or 6.2% of private sector employment. In 1986, then governor, Arch Moore, pursued foreign investments to the Mountain State. He wanted to set up trade offices in Japan, China and other countries to strengthen chances of investors taking an interest in our resources and business potentials. Problem then, budget restrictions kept him from his dream.

Today, trade offices are located in at least Nagoya, Japan and Munich, Germany.
According to state supported websites, foreign investor wholly own eight major West Virginia companies. All told, there are approx. 20 foreign-owned companies representing seven different countries. Canada, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Austria and France.

WV depends more heavily on foreign-owned operations for employment than do its neighboring states. "These international companies have found West Virginia to be a profitable place for their North American operations, due to the state's strategic location, skilled work force, vast supply of natural resources, ready infrastructure, advanced technology and investment incentives."

In 2006, "foreign-controlled companies employed 19,900 workers in West Virginia. Major sources of West Virginia's jobs in 2006 were Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, and Switzerland. Foreign-controlled companies accounted for 15.1 percent of total manufacturing employment in West Virginia. Also, Foreign investment in West Virginia was responsible for 3.4 percent of the state's total private-industry employment.

From the governor to every state resident; imports, exports and local foreign owned companies helps create jobs and generate money in WV. Economic development has been attributed for bringing this state up from the brink of poverty. At the time, crossing the waters to countries like Japan, Canada, Germany and China opened the doors to a new source of lifeblood.

And, foreign governments and their industries came to WV and other states with wide-open arms and deep pocketbooks. But now, over the past twenty or so years, these investors have been able to snatch up failed WV business property and or introduce new ones. All owned and operated by them. Yes, jobs have been created and revenues generated from taxes to payroll, but at what cost will we just hand of the master set of keys to the state in order to maintain our standard way of life? Better yet, how long will communist countries like China allow the US to do it?

Major Foreign Companies in WV:

Kureha Corporation - polymer, polyglycolic acid (PGA) - Japan
Toyota Motor Manufacturing - Transportation Equipment – Japan
AKSA, K.S. of West Virginia - Transportation Equipment – Japan
Diamond Electric Manufacturing - Electrical Products – Japan

BASF Corporation - Chemicals – Germany
North American Fastener Co. - Metal Products – Germany
Bayer – Pharmaceutical - Germany

Alcan Aluminum Metal - Manufacturing – Canada

Akzo Chemical Inc. – Chemicals – Netherlands

Elkem Metals - Metal Manufacturing – Norway

Quik Corp - Agricultural Products – Australia

Sanofi-Aventis - Pharmaceuticals – France
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Will The Government Conceal Truths From Us?

The American financial system itself was built on a secret and deception. The Federal Reserve Banks true origin and owners were kept from the public. How a group of wealthy businessmen bought their own island and created a private club. A short time later, they agreed to loan the US money to get back on its feet, at a high rate of interest of course.

It began in 1886, when a group of millionaires purchased Jekyll Island (Georgia), and converted it into the most exclusive private club in the country. By 1900, the club's roster represented 1/6th of the world's wealth.
Names like:

Nelson W. Aldrich, Republican "whip" in the Senate, Chairman of the National Monetary Commission, business associate of J.P. Morgan, father-in-law to John D. Rockefeller, Jr.;

Abraham Piatt Andrew, Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury;

Frank A. Vanderlip, president of the National City Bank of New York, the most powerful of the banks at that time, representing William Rockefeller and the international investment banking house of Kuhn, Loeb & Company;

Henry P. Davison, senior partner of the J.P Morgan Company;

Charles D. Norton, president of J.P. Morgan's First National Bank of New York;

Benjamin Strong, head of J.P. Morgan's Bankers Trust Company

Paul M. Warburg, a representative of the Rothschild banking dynasty in England and France, and brother to Max Warburg who was head of the Warburg banking consortium in Germany and the Netherlands.

Non members, regardless of who they were, were not allowed. President McKinley and Winston Churchill were refused admission.

In 1908, Congress established a National Monetary Authority. In 1910 another, more secretive group was formed consisting of the chiefs of major corporations and banks in this country. Who, were mostly made up of members of the Jekyll Island club. One night the group left secretly by rail from Hoboken, New Jersey, and traveled anonymously to the hunting lodge in Georgia.

At Jekyll Island, the true draftsman for the Federal Reserve was Paul Warburg. The plan was simple. The new central bank could not be called a central bank because America did not want one, so it had to be given a deceptive name. On the surface, the bank was to be controlled by Congress, but a majority of its members were to be selected by the private banks that would own its stock.

To keep the public from thinking that the Federal Reserve would be controlled from New York, a system of twelve regional banks was designed. Given the concentration of money and credit in New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York controlled the system, making the regional concept initially nothing but a ruse.
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Conclusion

Besides re-investing foreign monies back into the US, prosperity is beginning to show up around the world in former economic stricken countries who are now on top.

For Instance… China, 1983. People had to walk for transportation. Only the privileged had bicycles. The tallest building was less then 20 stories. There were dirt roads. Most people lived in shacks and the Red Army was everywhere. In fact, journalists could not go around without a Red Army escort. It was a scary kind of place.
In 1994, things had begun to change. There were nicely paved roads, new buildings and people were starting to drive vehicles. And some cities even had a McDonald's.

In 2009, Cities like Shanghai, have a modern airport, 5,000 new buildings expanding 15 stories or taller. China’s entire economy is booming and it is reported that people are able to save 25% out of every paycheck.

What is the general consensus of US investors in China? John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems contends "Our investment returns in China are better than those from America."


So, what happens when countries like The Peoples Republic of China, who are under a communist "socialist market economy," decide its time their investments in the US need more of a return in profits? Will they be able to force us to tighten our belts and adapt their stringent lifestyle?

Note: Since the introduction of the socialist market economy, China's GDP rose from some 150 billion USD to more than 1.6 trillion USD, with an annual increase of 9.4 percent. Fifty percent of China’s state-owned enterprises have been transformed into joint-stock companies, which generate one-third of the national GDP

Does the US see what’s coming on the horizon? No.... "The U.S. economy is thirsting for new capital and investment," said Nancy McLernon, President & CEO for the Organization for International Investment. "This isn't a mirage; it's a deep well of insourcing firms that are committed to bringing jobs to the United States. Policy makers should avoid isolationist policies that would discourage these companies from continuing to invest in the U.S. and insource jobs."

Bottom-line for US citizens, right now we are living off a "Foreign Trust Fund" that has an expiration date.

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US Government statistics indicate the following percentages of foreign ownership of American industry:

· Sound recording industries - 97%
· Commodity contracts dealing and brokerage - 79%
· Motion picture and sound recording industries - 75%
· Metal ore mining - 65%
· Motion picture and video industries - 64%
· Wineries and distilleries - 64%
· Database, directory, and other publishers - 63%
· Book publishers - 63%
· Cement, concrete, lime, and gypsum product - 62%
· Engine, turbine and power transmission equipment - 57%
· Rubber product - 53%
· Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing - 53%
· Plastics and rubber products manufacturing - 52%
· Plastics product - 51%
· Other insurance related activities - 51%
· Boiler, tank, and shipping container - 50%
· Glass and glass product - 48%
· Coal mining - 48%
· Sugar and confectionery product - 48%
· Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying - 47%
· Advertising and related services - 41%
· Pharmaceutical and medicine - 40%
· Clay, refractory, and other nonmetallic mineral products - 40%
· Securities brokerage - 38%
· Other general purpose machinery - 37%
· Audio and video equipment mfg. and reproducing magnetic and optical media - 36%
· Support activities for mining - 36%
· Soap, cleaning compound, and toilet preparation - 32%
· Chemical manufacturing - 30%
· Industrial machinery - 30%
· Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities - 30%
· Other food - 29%
· Motor vehicles and parts - 29%
· Machinery manufacturing - 28%
· Other electrical equipment and component - 28%
· Securities and commodity exchanges and other financial investment activities - 27%
· Architectural, engineering, and related services - 26%
· Credit card issuing and other consumer credit - 26%
· Petroleum refineries (including integrated) - 25%
· Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments - 25%
· Petroleum and coal products manufacturing - 25%
· Transportation equipment manufacturing - 25%
· Commercial and service industry machinery - 25%
· Basic chemical - 24%
· Investment banking and securities dealing - 24%
· Semiconductor and other electronic component - 23%
· Paint, coating, and adhesive - 22%
· Printing and related support activities - 21%
· Chemical product and preparation - 20%
· Iron, steel mills, and steel products - 20%
· Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery - 20%
· Publishing industries - 20%
· Medical equipment and supplies - 20%


"The kid with the most toys, gets to say what game we play." 10 year old Brian Walton
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Foreign Companies Owning US Federal Securities

http://www.treas.gov/tic/mfh.txt


WV Economic & Minority Stats

http://www.mbda.gov/?bucket_id=926&portal_document_download=true&download_cid=6238&name=West+Virginia+Profile.pdf&legacy_flag=false

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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
WV News
PO Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
(304) 982-7024

WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com


If you would like to leave your comments about this, or other stories, use the comment section below. Or E-Mail at the address above.



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Friday, July 24, 2009

Recalling The Emergency Banking Act Of 1933

Could US History Repeat Itself During These Economic Troubles?
By Sam Webber & Jack Swint ... WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

Does this sound familiar??…. “Banks are closing their doors, thousands of well known businesses filing for bankruptcy protection, the stock and job markets are at an all time low and the President has one very tough decisions to make that will change the way the US economy and the citizens of this country live for the next forty one years”….. The date, April 5th, 1933

On that date, newly inaugurated President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, which prohibited the “hoarding” of gold by U.S. citizens. Americans were required to turn their gold holdings over to the federal government for just pennies on the dollar. Hard to believe such an act occurred?? And, could it happen again?

At the time, Gold coins and gold bullion were private property, just like a person’s automobile, clothing, home, and food. On the mere command of the president of the United States, federal authorities simply confiscated gold holdings that were the private property of the American people and made it a grave federal offense to own such property in the future.

Setting The Stage…

Several days after his inauguration, President Roosevelt ordered a "bank holiday" closing all the banks in the country from Monday March 6 through Thursday March 9. He proclaimed that there was a national emergency caused by "heavy and unwarranted withdrawals of gold and currency." Roosevelt called it "hoarding" by the American public to make it seem like evil or immature behavior. It was the typical politician's ploy of blaming the government's woes on the people's vices.

On March 9, 1933 the Senate passed the “Emergency Banking Act” after very little debate. Reportedly, congress then passed it in 38 minutes without any of them actually getting a chance to read it. This gave the Secretary of the Treasury the power to compel every person and business in the country to relinquish their gold and accept paper currency in exchange at a much lower valued rate.

This also gave FDR unlimited power during times of war or a declared national emergency, such as the Great Depression. Those powers could not be taken away unless the President decided that the national emergency was over.

Penalties For Hoarding Gold….
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Pursuant to Roosevelt’s executive order, anyone caught violating the law was subject to a federal felony conviction, 10 years’ confinement in a federal penitentiary, and a $10,000 fine. Soon after the confiscation, U.S. officials announced that the government would sell its gold in international markets for $35 an ounce, thereby devaluing the dollar by almost 70 percent and immediately earning a potential profit of almost $15 an ounce on the gold it had confiscated.
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Now the only people with a claim to gold in the Treasury were foreigners holding dollars. On January 31, 1934, Roosevelt issued another Executive Order. Here he declared that the dollar was now only 59.06% of its former gold quantum of 23.22 grains. Now the dollar was only worth 13.71 grains of gold.
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The Executive Order of the Emergency Banking Act was finally repealed by President Gerald Ford on December 31, 1974. This allowed Americans to once again purchase gold, as Congress had restored Americans' right to own gold. Prior to that, President Nixon declared that the Dollar no longer would be backed by gold on August 15, 1971.
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Would Americans today allow history to repeat itself?? Probably not. And, at this time, the economy hasn't reached the same catastrophic lows that occurred during the depression. Several people we spoke with stated they believe riots and all out civil unrest would occur. As one person put it, who’s going to want to give up their “BLING.”
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Executive Order 6102 (actual copy)
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FDR's First 100 Days (pictures & info)
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
PO Box 40511
Charleston, WV 25364
(304) 982-7024
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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Legislative Audit Division Confirms Greyhound Racing Associations Worst Nightmare....


by Jack Swint & Sam Webber WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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According to a letter & report from post audit director Stacy L. Sneed to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, the overall consensus of the racing commission’s problems “resulted from a lack of management oversight. Including miscalculations in the general ledger sheets and other information reports, the financial statements will be misstated causing readers of the financial statements to be misled.”
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According to the states own audit, (for the period between July 1, 2005 & June 30, 2007) the racing commission’s internal auditing, bookkeeping, banking procedures, distribution of funds, compliance of state laws, & overall operation was very poorly maintained......
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The Greyhound breeder’s association members have always questioned whether or not their monthly payment checks are accurate, calculated according to the state statutes, or if other monies are being disbursed correctly. After reading this expose’, there won’t be much to speculate any longer. There is definitely a serious problem according to the legislative audit division!
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Over the past several weeks we have written about problems within the racing commissions auditing procedures, enforcing and or overseeing state statues and the problems at the Tri-State Casino. People can try and poke holes and or raise credibility questions regarding our investigation and findings. But, no one will be disputing the legislative audit committee’s findings.
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This internal state audit & report was prepared by their own watchdog division and is the “smoking gun” that corroborates, and directly points to the weakness of the racing commissioners and former director of racing & auditing director, Joe Cuomo. (since then, Cuomo’s job description and duties have been changed to just audit director)
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In her report, Sherry Sneed goes on to say that “the racing commission does not have an effective system of internal controls in place to ensure compliance with applicable State laws, rules and regulations.”
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And, to date, none of the changes recommended by the state audit division have been fixed. Why Not?? Ask the man who oversees the “post audit committee” Earl Ray Tomblin. Then go up the ladder one more step and ask the governor himself since he is the captain of the ship, and was made aware of the poor operation rating the racing commission received. Both men were presented with copies of the auditors findings but have done nothing with it.
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In fact, inside sources accuse Post Audit Chairperson, Senator Tomblin of ignoring this report. This legislative audit is very damaging to the commissioners, Joe Cuomo and the foundation of the racing commission authority. There is nothing positive noted in this report.
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Is this problem caused due to a lack of personnel to run this division? Yes….. The racing commissioners are only part time positions. Joe Cuomo refers everything to the executive secretary Linda Lacy and or Sherry Dorsey. Both of these ladies are bogged down with performing their own work, and their superiors. From witness accounts and this author’s personal interaction with Mrs. Lacy & Dorsey, the whole operation would implode if not for their efforts to try and keep up with everyone’s responsibilities in the racing commission.
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Here are a few of the findings that the legislative auditor found:
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1. "During the study period of July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007 we noted that the Director ofAudits general ledger sheets for the period and the monthly calculation worksheetscontain mathematical errors."..........
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2. "During the study period, we noted several internal control weaknesses relating tothe operation of the Racing Commission’s check writing function. These weaknesses include allthe monthly print-outs of check registries during the study period generated by thebookkeeper/registrar lack a corresponding check number associated with the transaction......
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In addition, we noted that checks are hand typed and contain type-over errors on the duplicatecheck copies that reflect errors made on spelling of names and of amounts paid to participants in the Breeding Development Fund. We also noted that check numbers are not always in sequential order and is attributable to checks being generated in the bookkeeper/registrar office at Mountaineer Gaming Resort and the Racing Commission’s Charleston office.”.....
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3. "Our review of the reconciliations performed by the Racing Clerk between thebank statement and the account ledger (book) balances show the reconciliations are ineffectivebecause differences between bank and book balances would not be identified. Additionally, theaccount ledger does not contain a running daily balance of the total amount of funds available inthe local bank account."
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4. "The Director of Audits only records deposits and disbursements monthly in the general ledger instead of recording the transactions as they occur. Also, the Director’s monthly general ledger totals do not match up with the Director’s monthly racing calculation sheet totals for certain months."
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5. One of the focus points is the system for processing, writing and issuing of checks. Pointing out the ongoing problem they found that, “typographical errors, lack of corresponding check numbers made to payees from the Development Fund, non-sequentially numbered checks generated from two different sources, ineffective bank reconciliations and weakness in the segregation of duties does not conform to Chapter 5A, Article 8, Section 9 of the West Virginia Code.
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By not associating check numbers to the payees from the Development Fund Checks, and check amounts cannot be readily verified with the payees. Also, manual typing of checks causes errors in spelling of names and amounts that appear on the checks. This causes duplicate copies to come into question as to the actual amount and name that appears on the original check due to over-typing of corrected errors.” .......
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Sneed’s findings detail numerous state statutes that the racing commissioners and Cuomo are allegedly not enforcing. According to Sneed, the majority of the problems would correct themselves if the commissioners and the director of audits would just follow the mandatory statutes already in place.
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She points out the pending civil litigation between greyhound association president Sam Burdette and the racing commission. This suite, 06-C-2368 is related to the ongoing problems the commission is having on the correct procedures and laws governing how the breeders are paid.
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Currently, this matter is still pending before the Circuit Court. General Counsel for the West Virginia Department of Revenue believes an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible.
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The racing commissioners and Cuomo were allowed to submit written comments on the issues brought up by the legislative audit division. In addressing each issue, the commission states that they would take the recommendations under advisement, and or make the necessary changes. Racing commissioners also state that with the assistance of the Attorney General’s Office, they would take up the issues with the next rule making committee. Their answers almost appear laxadasial and mundane.
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It also appears from written statements, the Attorney General’s office has taken an active interest in the racing commission’s day to day operation long before this audit. Which, could make them culpable as well.
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Copies of the audit were presented to at least the post audit chair person (Earl Ray Tomblin), the governor and the racing commission.
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We went back this month and obtained recent bank statements and other information to confirm if the racing commission had addressed any of these issues. Specifically, but not limited to the list of problems regarding the bank accounts, bookkeeping and operation controls. Those specific issues were said to have been resolved by the commissioners during the exit interview back in April, 2008.
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We also checked with the “rule making” committee for any requests being made to them from either the racing commission or the attorney general’s office directly related to the legislative audit. Earl Ray Tomblin is also chairperson of this committee.
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According to Debra Graham, the “Rule Making Committee” deadline for the 2009 session was closed out on August 29, 2008. Our sources state that nothing had been submitted relating to either the racing commissioners or attorney general’s office in reference to the audit problems. Allegedly, some requests were submitted not related to the problems.
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On the surface, NOTHING appears to have been resolved as of the writing of this story. We examined samples of bank statements for May, June, July & August 2008, and found checks still grossly out of sequence and or missing.
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In April 2008, the racing commissioners stated in the audit report these issues were fixed, the examples below show they were not.
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Example: (as of May 2008 checks are still out of sequence and missing...)
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May 2008 - Greyhound Fund account shows checks missing from numbers 3726 to 3803.
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June 2008 - Greyhound Fund account shows checks missing from numbers 3784 to 3804
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July 2008 - Greyhound Fund account shows checks missing from numbers 3765 to 4001
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Aug 2008 - Greyhound Fund account shows checks missing from numbers 3923 to 4002
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Note: No evidence has been uncovered to suggest that anyone is stealing money, but it does point towards poor management responsibilities.
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Bottom line, this is a very shoddy way of conducting business. In any other corporate job, most everyone would be fired, including Earl Ray, Joe Manchin, Joe Cuomo and at least one member of the racing commission. Can they deny any direct knowledge of the problem? Of, course. That’s Manchins favorite line. Deny, deny and deny.
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Earl Ray Tomblin is both chairperson on the “post audit” and “rules” committee’s which oversee these audits. Mrs. Sneed told this author that it takes a specific legislation order to even conduct that audit. Maybe it is time for Earl Ray to take off some of the multiple committee hats he wears and get up out of several chairs, and he sits on.
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This should all fall in his lap for not making sure the problems were quickly addressed and fixed. But then, how can there be any investigation if laws were broken, Earl is over the special investigations committee also....
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And just how hard would it be to fix all of these problems?? Acting Legislative Auditor Stacy Sneed points out that the problems could be easily corrected if they would just follow the state statutes!
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Other noted problems exist like the fact Commissioner George Sidiropolis has only been seen at one commission meeting in the past year and a half. No one will complain about his lack of work because he was personally appointed by the governor. He has been in numerous appointed state jobs over the years and is a defendant in dozens of civil suits against the state because of it.
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Director of audits, Joe Cuomo refused to even address our FOI requests and answer auditing questions, which is his job. He always referred them to Linda Lacy to handle.
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Who’s really suffering from this disorganized mess? Members of the greyhound & thoroughbred associations, kennel owners & their families.
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It should also be noted that these same types of errors and miss-management are directly related to the same type problems involving the commissioner’s neglect in enforcing WV state statutes governing the responsibilities of the Tri-State Casino & Racetrack owners.
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Earl Ray Tomblin, the governor and anyone else at the statehouse can say these problems were being addressed….. The facts and documents we obtained at the end of this past August, show no one was attempting to make any changes at all.
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Links:
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2008 Legislative Audit (smoking gun)
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Joint/Postaudit/PA_Reports/audit_docs/PA_2008_41.pdf
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2000 to 2007 Internal Racing Commission Audits
http://www.wvf.state.wv.us/racing/ (then click on section marked “annual reports”)
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Related stories: Scroll down to the below archived stories

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End Of Story……
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Contact Information:
Jack Swint & Sam Webber.
P.O. Box 78
Shoals, WV 25562
304-549-4978

WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com


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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Did Tri-State Casino Pay $39 Million Dollars To Dummy Florida Corporation & Sweep Those Records Under The Rug?

by, Jack Swint & Sam Webber- WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com ...... (part 2 of the series)
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In 1999 records show that Hartman & Tyner created "Florida Racing Services Inc." as a new business through the Florida secretary of state’s office. According to financial statements, this company was paid at least 39 million dollars over a 6 year period for an alleged loan agreement with its sister company, Tri-State Casino & Racetrack, at 9% interest.
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Records also reveal that the last payment of $815 thousand was paid to the Florida Company in December 2004. In January 2005, Florida Racing Services filed its last financial statement with the state and closed down….
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Was this Florida business set up for the purpose of cooking the books & avoiding taxes?
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Copy of PDF records of "FRS Inc" (click on the blue link below)
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Hartman & Tyner is a privately owned company and does not have to handover their financial statements to the public. But, as a casino & greyhound racing business, they are required to furnish the state legislative branch and racing commission copies each year so they can monitor their financial operations.
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Joe Cuomo is the director of audits for the racing commission, and Earl Ray Tomblin is chair person on the “post audit subcommittee” and special investigation committees.
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What becomes of these audit reports? And why no state official has questioned the accuracy of Tri-State Casino’s true financial status. Two possible explanations are that the state has not been enforcing, or is intentionally ignoring state statute 19-23-10(f) that mandates each casino turn over yearly audit reports to the legislative financial section and the racing commission.
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One clue of how Tri-State funds could be diverted is in each year’s certified audit that explains how they’re moving around cash as needed… “certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation”. This would allow the owners to play a shell game with cash.
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How much money are we talking? From at least 1999 through 2007, it appears the casino owners have managed to fraudulently divert at least 319 million dollars out of WV and into the pockets of Hartman & Tyner executives. Including Danny Adkins, who is company Vice President.
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Here are but a few expenses they have claimed (totaled over 9 years of audit reports)…..
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1. Tri-State claims that over the past nine years they have paid Hartman & Tyner $30.2 million dollars in “management fees.” There is no explanation what type of management services Hartman & Tyner provided to Tri-State, but it was very expensive.
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This corroborates information we obtained, and reported; several months ago from former GM Chris Brewer who stated Danny Adkins had ordered employees’ to transfer any large amounts of excess cash to Hartman & Tyner accounts in Michigan each month.
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2. An expense for administrative services totals $43 million dollars over nine years.
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3. Revolving loans, notes and advances from Hartman & Tyner add up to an average of $9.9 million a year. There is a revolving line of credit for $10 million.
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4. Then there is the “non-cancellable operating lease agreement” for slot machine rentals of $11 million dollars that began in 2001 and continue to this date. One inside source said that Hartman & Tyner is the company leasing the slot machines back to Tri-State.
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5. Tri-State also lists $32 million dollars in stock equity from 1999 to 2007. This stock is classified as “common stock” – par value $100 a share with only 100 shares available. What is unusual is the fact that in 1999 the total equity was listed at $2.4 million and is now up to $32 million.
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A sudden jump occurred in 2001 when it tripled in value from $4 million to $11. Tripled again in 2005 to $30 million. Even though the company claimed a net loss of -$500 thousand, stockholder(s) flourished.
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6. One line item titled “Other” claims expenses of $5.1 million for the nine year period. No explanation was given for what this expense included.
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7. $21 million dollars in “contract labor.”
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8. Travel & entertainment cost $1.7 million. Just in 2007 the cost was $445 thousand.
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9. Complimentary & gratuities to customers and businesses totaled $4.8 million.
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NOTE: Beginning in 2004, Tri-State owners began taking the remaining difference between total assets and liabilities, and claim it as stock equity. This is the same time period that stock tripled in value and continued to grow.
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Example: 2005 – Total assets minus liabilities = $30,505,309... Stock equity = $30,505,309.
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Conclusion...
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The only thing missing from the financial audit reports obtained for the Tri-State Gaming Center & Racetrack is an organ grinder, his cute little monkey Roger dressed up like a clown, and both are working the crowd for spare change to forward to corporate officers.
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Inside sources state that at least one accountant with Gibbons & Kawash (who were replaced in 2005) complained about the continued “shell game” tactics Danny Adkins was wanting in order to allegedly cloak funds and move them to corporate bank accounts and other sources. Adkins supposedly dumped the Charleston firm and began using a local Michigan company, Vichow-Krause & Company, who also audit other Hartman & Tyner interests.
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Are the WV racing commission members and state officials who oversee gambling in this state even aware of these audits? It doesn't appear they do. Even though the law implies that someone should be examining these audits…. When we requested these reports from the racing commission under the freedom of information act, the director of audits, Joe Cuomo, had to have them ordered from the casino. They were not on file as the law requires.
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According to the state’s legislative auditor’s office, it is the responsibility of the “post audit committee,” and racing commission to monitor these yearly reports.
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That in itself may be one of the answers why this has gone unnoticed….. To view the “chairman” of the post audit committee, click on the blue link. Post Audit Chairman
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Note: Copies of audit reports available upon request. E-mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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End Of Story……
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Contact Information:
Jack Swint & Sam Webber
P.O. Box 78
Shoals, WV 25562
304-549-4978
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Monday, July 20, 2009

Former Lobbyist Owns Bragging Rights On Senator Earl Ray Tomblin

Former Lobbyist Owns Bragging Rights On Senator Earl Ray Tomblin
by, Jack Swint & Sam Webber.. WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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“it’s bad enough being called onto the carpet before Earl Ray, but to be sitting in the outside office and see the door come open and out prances Roger White with a smirk on his face is a bit much….”. WV State Employee
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Our 3 month investigation into Roger D. White’s connections with Senator Ear Ray Tomblin and greyhound racing reveals a long trail of deceit, fraud, illegal, unethical & even sexist behavior. And that is just on Roger White…. The bottom line, this man has all of the power in the world, but no authority.
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The onetime state lobbyist apparently has strong ties with Earl Ray Tomblin. At least that is what he claims by constantly boasting throughout the state of WV how “I have Earl Ray and Joe Delong in my hip pocket.” White, 64, is also directly linked to Earl Ray’s father ( Earl Sr.) and Danny Adkins, VP of Hartman & Tyner who own the tri-state casino and racetrack.
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White has been in the greyhound racing business with his wife Michelle for many years even though nothing they own together is listed in his name because of an alleged disability claim against former employer, Eastern Association Coal Company, which he left under “questions” in 1997.
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Hilda Halstead remembers both Roger and Michelle White. She was one of the founding members of the WV greyhound breeders association and was instrumental in heading up the original group’s membership. Hilda, also an owner-breeder, says that she helped both Michelle and Roger by “splitting” a litter of racing puppies to help them expand in the business. She later quit the association when it became so corrupt, cut throat & sinister. “This greyhound association is not what we envisioned it to be.”
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Over time, the Whites expanded their business to include owning “Blue & Gold Kennel” and increasing the number of dogs they owned and raced. He reportedly double-crossed a lot of people to get there. On one occasion, Roger entered into a contract/deal with Harlyn Goebel who is one of the larger breeder-owners in the industry. Goebel, who operates out of Texas, agreed to provide the Whites with two dogs for racing, and breeding purposes. But, Roger allegedly kept the dogs and their offspring and has yet to pay Goebel anything.
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Over the years, he has compiled a long list of plaintiffs and or defendants in civil litigation and other complaints brought against association members who White becomes upset with. According to court records available, he has yet to win one case he has filed. And, he has left a trail of owner-breeders questioning his motives and reason he turned against them all. Dean Miner, a current wheeling member, says Roger White and his associate’s ethics are less than those of a “child molester.” After this story, we figure to be sued by him next. And that is fine.
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Roger White has been given “open access” from Senator Tomblin to roam the statehouse halls, create legislation and even get away with making unwanted sexual advances and harassing some female staff at the capital. In fact, one woman, who asked to remain anonymous said that Roger White was so “touchy – feely and creepy” that she would lock the door to the office if she even heard he was in the building. Another employee, (an executive) said that Roger White came right out and asked her to go to a hotel with him and have a drink while they were at a conference.
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When interviewing lobbyists and senators, all concur that Tomblin is very protective of Roger White and they all feel helpless to do or say anything about it. Why? They felt White either knows something incriminating about Earl Ray Tomblin, or, the senator uses White to do his dirty work, or both. Several people interviewed feel that Whites association with Earl Ray’s father is the connection.
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Earl Sr. is no saint. The former Logan County Sheriff was arrested in 1970 while in office for his role in the infamous “Logan Five” voter fraud case that rocked southern WV. Sheriff Tomblin, one of his deputies, and even then state senator Bernard Smith were caught and convicted buying and selling votes in Logan County. All five men were found guilty on September 13, 1971 in a federal trial in Huntington. Each defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Federal documents then show a reduction in sentence for Tomblin to 5 years. The federal case number is 3:71-cr-09520
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Then again, on May 1, 1992 Earl senior plead guilty in his role of the bribery of a state official in another infamous case involving an attempt to steal funds from the WV Public Public Employees Fund. According to court records in that case, Tomblin received a lower sentence for his “substantial assistance” to the US Attorney. He was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and ordered to pay back $22,439.00 to the WV consolidated retirement board. That case number is 2:92-cr-00047.
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To this day, he still likes to tell the story of how his own close relative set him up by wearing a “wire” for the feds to get evidence on him for his crimes. During the tape recorded conversation, his informant relative asked Earl if anyone knew what he was doing, and that it was illegal. The elder Tomblin replied, “Not even God knows.” Shortly after that, he was arrested.
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And if Earl senior thinks being arrested by the feds twice is bad luck, he may have a real surprise coming soon. And they can all thank Roger for it…..
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Back to Roger White……
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1. Embezzlement Of Funds??
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According to ethics commission records, Roger White filed to become a lobbyist on January 27, 2005. At the time, he was also president of the WV greyhound breeders association. His quarterly lobbyist reports claimed everything from being a current West Virginia greyhound owner to addressing the senate on house bills related to gaming. Both of which are untrue. White is not legally a greyhound dog owner, everything is in his wife’s name. Recent testimony in Kanawha County Circuit Court shows he has not had any direct involvement or received any money from the racing commission since at least 2004.
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In each and every lobbyist report, White certified that he did not have any expenses incurred as a lobbyist the entire year and a half he was registered. Each of his activity reports clearly states this and bears his signature. (available from the WV Ethics Committee)
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So, why did he then turn around and submit bills to the WV breeders association totaling $1,800 dollars between February and April 2005 claiming they were lobbying expenses? Two payments were documented in the greyhound racing association minutes for those months. White knew, or should have known that the requests were fraudulently submitted, and that taking the funds was embezzling money from the WV greyhound association funds.
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Or, he filed false lobbyist reports which is also a crime under WV code 6B-3-9.
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The legal definition of embezzlement is: “the crime of stealing the funds or property of an employer, company or government. Or, misappropriating money or assets held in trust.”
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What makes this even worse is the fact that White was president of the breeders association during that time, and his wife, Michelle, was treasurer.
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2. Political Payoffs
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Many people in the industry and statehouse have openly stated that they felt Roger White and both Tomblins were involved together in illegal and or unethical behavior. According to two credible sources (one law enforcement personnel requesting anonymity) information has recently come to light from Roger himself, who unknowingly bragged to a woman the details of a $12,500 dollar cash payment from Senator Earl Ray Tomblin to help make sure a house bill that was once defeated, gets through the second time.
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Senate bill 357 was successfully passed even though Harvey Maupin, vice president of the WVGOBA professed that the members DID NOT want this change and that it would cause more harm than good.
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One greyhound breeder stated that the change of the requirement for Greyhounds to stay in the state of West Virginia until they were 1 year old was the death knell for many small breeders who did not have the facilities to raise greyhounds until they were a year old. In the case of many other breeders, the cost for changing their facilities to accommodate greyhounds until they were 12 months old was staggering.
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White sold the plan as a way to “keep more money in West Virginia”. This is a ridiculous supposition since it required dogs older than 6 months to be kept on the farms thereby limiting the amount of greyhounds that could be raised.
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Why did Earl Ray want this bill passed? To push out more of the little guys which would greatly raise the purse amount payments for people like the Whites & Tomblins who would not be affected since their greyhound farms were large enough to handle the change.
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3. Point Enhancing.
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Each week, tri-state casino and racetrack issues checks to the breeders & kennels owners for their share of the dog race winnings. Payment amounts are determined on a point system which then pays a specific amount that is controlled by Danny Adkins, VP of Hartman & Tyner who owns the track. Neither the racing nor lottery commission has any authority or control over this process.
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Also, both the Tomblins and Whites have kennels that race, board and train other owner’s greyhounds. So, not only do the Whites & Tomblins receive money for their own dogs winning, they receive money from each dog owner that uses their kennel.
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Roger White recently bragged to a woman who then told on him, that a deal to enhance the points for him and the Tomblins puts an extra $40,000 a year in each of their pockets. Why would Danny Adkins approve such a fraud? According to Roger boasting, because it appears legitimate instead of a payoff when Danny needs a favor. Allegedly, one of those favors is coming up. Adkins needs senate approval to change the law requiring the hotel-convention center to be built by the end of next year. If it is not, he has to pay additional penalties that go as high as 3 million dollars each year until it is. This is above and beyond the $2.5 million a year for their licenses etc.
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So, in reality his ability to adjust points for cash on the weekly greyhound check is a good cover. And, with no one outside of the racetrack personnel being able to reconcile the money against the actual points; it’s a beautiful thing….. And who determines exactly what each point pays??? Yep, Danny Adkins.
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Until we recently began questioning the accuracy of the payouts to bettors and payments to the association members, there was a link available on the casino website that showed computer statements on each kennels earnings, standings and top dogs by win. That link, Sparky’s Space (click on blue link) was shutdown over the past two days. Even though there was no reference to the points verses money, you could at least determine who was being paid the most. When we examined the report last month, the Tomblins kennel was one of the highest paid. Closely followed by the Whites. Hopefully, after this story, they will bring that exact link back.
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In a recent 2008 meeting with the WV racing commission, Roger White stood up in front of a group of people (including this author & Attorney General lawyer Christy Utt) and introduced himself as a lobbyist, and was the man responsible for obtaining recent legislation in order to build 2 new greyhound dog training tracks. Outside of the fact he hasn’t been a lobbyist since his one year tenure ending in early 2006, he still claims that status.
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Ironically, also in the ethics commissions file is a letter dated in February 2006 from the WV Greyhound Owners & Breeders that clearly states;
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“Mr. White has been lobbying at the current session of the legislature. He is NOT AUTHORIZED to represents the WVGOBA. We hope he understands not to imply that he represents the WVGOBA.”
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Bottom line, Senator Earl Ray Tomblin has created a monster in Roger White by allowing him to use the senator’s name as a bargaining chip and threat to anyone who stands in his way. According to one current WVGOBA member, White has his own agenda since being removed as president of the association and from the national greyhound board. “Roger told me that he has a lot of people to pay back!”
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What type of power and intimidation does he carry with him? Listening to one executives secretary, “it’s bad enough being called onto the carpet before Earl Ray, but to be sitting in the outside office and see the door come open and out prances Roger White with a smirk on his face is a bit much..”.
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According to two female state employees who asked to remain anonymous out of fear for their jobs; he bragged to them that he would eventually “destroy the breeders association.” White may have succeeded. Since shortly after losing the presidents seat and his ranking in the national association, he managed to get a law passed that no longer requires a person to belong to the WV breeders association. So, he kept true to his threat to destroy the association. That law took effect this week.
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In closing,
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Everyone makes mistakes in life, Earl Tomblin senior admited his guilt and served his time. At the least, Roger White most likely committed a crime by falsely submiting invoices to be paid for lobbyist expenses when there were none. Bragging to a woman that you were receiving pay off money from Earl Ray to sway votes and receiving extra money from the track is pretty stupid no matter what the reason.....
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According to one registered lobbyist and one credible source, Roger White allegedly was served recently with “paperwork” by the U.S. Marshalls office in relation to his greyhound business and or association with the Tomblins and Danny Adkins. It is a fact that several local law firms are in the process of obtaining specific information on White for legal action. What they need to keep in mind is, the only thing Roger White has in his own name is that he is President of “Blue & Gold Kennel” (click on blue link)
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If anyone would like copies of the Federal Docket Reports on Earl Tomblin and or the Lobbyist & Greyhound records on Roger White, E-mail us and provide a mailing address or we can e-mail you a PDF copy.
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End Of Story......
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
P.O. Box 78
Shoals, WV 25562
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304-549-4978
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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Just Your Average Joe

A True WV Army Hero Speaks Out Against Joe Manchin
By Jack Swint WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

"When Joe Manchin asked me and Tom Booher to help him win Kanawha County Voters during his 2004 campaign for governor, we honestly believed he was going to be the one person who could turn this state around. But, after being elected governor, we quickly saw how Manchin made disappointed fools out of us."
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In late1953, General Trudeau presented Corporal Sam Talbert of Charleston WV with the Silver Star for gallantry while in the Army. Talbert is credited as being a hero who fought in one of the deadliest battles in Korea known as "Pork Chop Hill." He does not remember a lot of what happened during the many days of this fierce battle. But according to witnesses, Talbert lead his squad into a strategic enemy held artillery barrage and took back the US Armies position by providing cover fire. Talbert himself is credited with killing over 200 enemy troops.
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According to his General Orders on September 29th, 1953. "Talbert reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service."
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Later in life, Sam Talbert and his close friend Tom Booher became heavily involved in politics when they decided to campaign for Charlotte Pritt when she defeated Joe Manchin for Governor in 1996. Calling themselves a "Grass Roots" political campaign group, they intended to get honest politicians in office to make changes in WV government. This was a very worthwhile cause to them. In fact, Talbert has been involved in close personal campaign positions with the Clinton-Gore presidential election and Teamsters Union election of Ron Carey.
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Joe Manchin approached both men to work for his election bid after he noticed their determination and constant pressure in support of Charlotte Pritt. Both showed the same aggressive grass roots campaigning for Manchin in 17 counties in the state and they are attributed with being a huge factor in the governors success. In fact, the night of the election win, Joe Manchin put his arm around Sam Talbert, kissed him on the cheek and said, "Sam, I love you, and want you to be apart of my family..... Talbert said he replied "I’m a free agent."
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So, what happened after Manchin was elected that has caused Talbert and Booher to regret the very day they became involved with the governor? According to Booher, "He quickly turned his back on the citizens of WV and his true colors came out." Booher went on to say "Joe made promises to provide everything from free prescription meds from Canada for low income seniors to creating roundtable groups for solving problems in state government and clean house." (The governor is reported to have promised to pay for some senior’s medications himself.) Nothing ever became of the long list of promises.
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When both men were asked their first inclination that the governor was not who he was portraying himself to be, they answered in unity. "When we learned he had claimed campaign expenses that just were not true." The one incident that haunts Booher and Talbert the most is a $6,800 campaign expense claimed by the governor and then close aid Brian Kastic. "That’s a bold face lie" according to Booher who says Manchins office claimed that a rally in Shawnee Park in 2004 was directly connected to the campaign. "It was hosted by us, the grass roots group to show appreciation for volunteers who had helped with the election."
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The governor did appear at the rally as a guest speaker. Talbert says the whole bill for the party may have reached $600 but it was their expense, not Manchin, Kastick or the campaign. Allegations have also arose that checks were made out by the now governor to pay for expenses that were never delivered to the actual recipients even though they were cashed. Talbert says he was one of the people who was to receive $160.00 reimbursement check but never did even though it was cashed. "Someone else must have signed my name and cashed it." Talbert also says that once, Manchin coaxed him into a back room away from others to covertly hand him $300 in cash.
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The significance of that check and the $6,800 are not the amounts involved. It’s the fact they were false claims being made to the Secretary of States office and other government agencies as legal campain expenses. And, Manchin intentionally tried to cover it all up. Talbert says he was interviewed in his home by US Attorney Larry Ellis and the FBI after it occurred. He provided copies of documents and his own statement. The last thing the feds told him was he could have to appear in front of a federal grand jury, but that has not materialized to this date.
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Tom Booher states that several months after this occurred, Joe Manchin approached him and Dick Miller at another political event and put his arm around Tom and whispered "Tell Sam he has to forget about the $6,800 and Shawnee Hills. Its an OK deal." Booher also said the governor said something to the effect that Brian Kastick had spent the money. That in itself is a violation of state and federal law as "bribery and or corrupt practices"(click on link) as outlined in WV code 61-5A 1 thru 11. (see 61-5A-9)
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Talbert has also complained to WV Attorney General Darrell McGraw to no avail. He cites WV code 61-5-28 Failure To Perform Official Duties as the law that requires McGraw to look into the allegations.
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"Don’t take me wrong," Talbert says. "I like Joe and Gayle both. He is just a huge disappointment to me as the governor. You cant help but like them because they appear to be very down home and honest people." Booher has his own story of how Joe Manchin told him about growing up as a child and coming home one day from school, walking through the back door of the house and there sat John and Bobby Kennedy along with Pete Thaw. They were sitting at the kitchen table talking to his dad. Manchin said in those days kids came in the back, not the front door.
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These two men are not the only people who feel Manchin has betrayed the citizens of WV. Politically connected and everyday residents feel the same. Rodney Loftis, a longtime Kanawha County businessman said he was in the supermarket the other day and a young father and his two little children were buying some bread and sandwich meat. One child was two or three years old and wanted his dad to buy him a candy bar. The father leaned down and told his son that there was nothing better he would like to do then buy his kids some candy but they just could not afford it.
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Loftis said he looked and saw the kids parent wasn’t buying beer or anything non-essential so he stepped forward and bought both boys a handful of candy. "How can the governor of this state go out and buy himself a new Harley Davidson for forty thousand plus dollars. Buy into 1/3 ownership in a new yacht with convicted felon and friend Dickie Berbour that is reported to be worth a half a million dollars. A new chalet in Snowshoe, a home down south, and an airplane too. All of these luxuries and toys while his people in this state are starving and going broke?" Not to mention a reported garage full of priceless cars in northern WV that includes a one hundred thousand dollar "excaliber."
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In Raleigh and Boone county, politicians and political watchdogs have the same feeling of ill content as the rest of the state. All acknowledge that during the first campaign they felt Joe Manchin was going to be the states savior and turn the poor economics, failing healthcare and poverty levels in a new positive direction. "Boy were we fooled." exclaimed one man in Raleigh County who has been in politics since Joe Manchin was a young kid.
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"Its a double cross of the worst kind" says one Glen Danials resident. "if your not in big business or have big bucks for campaign contributions your nothing to Joe." Using the example of the worst case against Massey Energy Company in history where the EPA claims the company violated the Clean Air and Water Act at least 4,500 times between January 2000 and 2006 by "discharging mining waste and sediment, including hazardous metals into streams and waterways." Part of the wastewater violations involved an area known as "Printer" in Boone county where the residents became critically ill from the water.
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The potential fines came to 2.4 Billion dollars. But, the governor signed off on the deal allowing a minimal 20 million dollars in fines. "Manchin could have protested and or appealed the decision but its election time and Massey Energy chief Don Blankenship is a strong political machine for the governor. Its the same way he screwed over the state on resolving the tobacco industry lawsuit a few years ago."
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Tim Arrington, an activist in Raleigh county points to alleged gross mis-management of funds by the state. Fraudulent acts that show the governor must not have a clue of what is going on in his own government. "Were talking about millions of dollars from Homeland Security funds(click on link) that is being used to buy things like chewing gum."
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Has the governor given anything back to the residents of West Virginia?? According to him, yes he has.
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The Inaugural Committee account had approximately $500, 000 left in it and the governor claims he used that money to give something back to the people of this state. Spending that amount, and another one million three-hundred thousand dollars to reportedly upgrade and remodel the governors mansion that includes a new state of the art sports bar complete with 12 LCD big screen TV's, gambling tables and special built designer chairs and pool tables in their private quarters. Family and friends do not have to worry about paying for their alcohol because the governor receives all of the liquor needed at WV taxpayers expense.
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In fact, according to an inside source in Manchins own office, the governors chef prepares a long list of the best liquor money can buy and then drives to the state warehouse where workers just hand over cases of booze for the governor, family and friends at your expense.
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Both Joe Manchin and his wife Gayle appear on the surface to enjoy the life they have come to know being governor and first lady. His lifestyle has changed drastically since the days of operating a furniture-carpet business before entering politics. As with other past governors, Manchin is alleged to have his own weaknesses and infidelities. One source asking to remain anonymous is adamant of a long time affair between the governor and Janie Lynn Lilly-Stewart. Witnesses at the Glade Springs Resort concur that both have been seen together and at least holding hands and kissing.
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Inside office staff report that the governor is a heavy drinker. He reportedly likes Black Velvet, Crown Royal, Canadian Mist and a taste for fine expensive wine.
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Are there any other skeletons lurking in his closet? Yes. Marion county courthouse workers, insurance commission employees and staffers from Manchins days as a state senator claim that in or about 1991, he had become involved in a scandal in Marion county that involved a fraudulent corporation filing for an alleged joint business venture for an equestrian horse park business between Manchin and horse trainer and developer Steve Garvin of West Milford WV. Garvin, owner of Garvin Industry, (click on link) filed a complaint with the prosecutors office that Manchin committed fraud in regards to false filings with the Secretary of State, Workers Compensation Division and for setting up a false account with the WV Department of Employment Security.
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In fact, county prosecutors office sources confirmed that then senator Manchin was in fact a target of a state grand jury investigation by then prosecuting attorney Jay Montgomery Brown(click on link) . Manchin was also being investigated by FBI agent Robert Kohler on federal charges relating to the incident. Documents provided show a letter dated on or about September 26, 1991 where then prosecutor Brown raised concerns involving the grand jury investigation and 1991 campaign contributions made to Judge Rodney Maryfield by the Manchin family shortly after the fraud complaint against Joe arose.
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It is alleged that Judge Maryfield blocked any attempt to pursue charges against Manchin who was also allowed to make a cash payment to Greg Burton, then director of the WV compensation division to cover the workers compensation policy that Manchin was supposed to have fraudulently set up.
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To date, Garvin is still attempting to build the $900 million dollar horse park near the StoneWall Resort but the governor is blocking it.
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In closing, Governor Manchin has his sights set on taking over US Senator Robert Byrd's position when Byrd has to retire or dies. Inside staffers at the statehouse swear that Manchin has made the comment in closed-door meetings "Why wont the old son of a bitch just lay down and die."
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Bottom line, does the state of WV really want four, or more years of this? Will the Manchin's deny the contents of this story? YES! The same way they denied their daughters WVU degree was legit. And we all know that was a lie.
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End Of Story.......
Contact Information:
Sam Webber & Jack Swint - pwdgroup@gmail.com... ( 206) 666-7587
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From The Archives....
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A Stroll Down BrickStreet Insurance Company
By Sam Webber & Jack Swint - PWDGroup@gmail.com
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"BrickStreet insurance company has a great interest in WV’s citizens and Employers… It’s from the millions of dollars a year in extra profit they make from just the interest earned on employers premium payments while sitting in BrickStreets bank accounts…"
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Statehouse records show that BrickStreet Mutual Company (Click On Link) was formed on March 9th of 2005 which is approx. 45 days after Manchin took office.
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Since the first day of operation, BrickStreet has cornered the market as a coercive monopoly business. This action violates both state and federal anti trust laws to allow one company to be the sole provider of workers compensation insurance. State officials actually approved this monopoly for a two-year period using the excuse they needed to work the bugs out of the new privatized insurance industry before allowing other companies to compete.
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No matter what the excuse is, they are in direct violation of W.Va. Code 47-18-1 et seq.
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Federal statutes under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 15 USCA (2)(4) make it a federal crime for any business to monopolize free trade or commerce in the United States. To add insult to injury, the state loaned BrickStreet at least 235 million dollars in startup costs. Officials knew, or should have known, this surplus loan was in support of a monopoly.
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As of July 1, 2008 BrickStreet will no longer enjoy carte blanche to the workers compensation market. WV will finally allow other insurance companies to offer their services in direct competition with BrickStreet. The majority of insurance carriers planning to compete say they could be at a huge disadvantage because BrickStreet has enjoyed being the sole insurance provider to 36,000 policyholders. (According to the Secretary of States records, there are 56, 816 Corporations, 27, 572 LLC’s and approximately 1,800 limited type partnerships in WV).
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According to the insurance commissioner’s office, at least 136 outside companies have registered their intent to compete with BrickStreet. These are companies that have never done business in WV before. Sources also believe that at least 27 will begin selling their services on July 1, 2008. The remainder will sit back and observe.
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The new insurance providers have one thing to offer employers that BrickStreet cannot. A wide array of insurance coverage besides workers compensation policies such as auto, business and life insurance to name a few. And, with substantial discounts for multiple coverage.
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Greg Burton, BrickStreets President and CEO states his company will retain at least seventy percent of the total market. Even less then that percent will still be a very lucrative business. According to BrickStreets 2006 financial reports, they earned 185 million dollars in 2007. Which more then doubled from 70 million in 2006.
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CEO Burton, who earns approx. $160,000 a year plus incentives (and says he could pay himself more) also boasts there are eight to ten other employees who are in the $200,000 + a year bracket. Most people interviewed say they do not understand how Burton became president of BrickStreet since he was over workers compensation when it was state owned and that system was on the verge of Bankruptcy.
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Burton and company have even snubbed their noses at WV as lately as this year when they decided to conduct an annual retreat convention outside of the state instead of financially supporting and utilizing the many resources this state has to offer.
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Bottom line…For the past two years BrickStreet has created an atmosphere that promises, "We are open for business, but, closed to the people of WV."
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According to inside sources at BrickStreet, there are three things corporate officials don’t want employers and claimants to discover.
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1. All of the millions of dollars a year in premiums paid by WV employers and other revenues sits in BrickStreets bank accounts collecting a high rate of interest. Unconfirmed estimates range from seven to ten million dollars annually. Money that reportedly is not declared as company profit.
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2. There is an understanding that the longer BrickStreet administrators can find a way to postpone or deny paying a claim to an injured worker, the more profits the company earns. Which means more money sitting in the bank drawing interest. This supports some reports that say BrickStreet looks at each claim as a fraud case first, then as a true injury. Also, by law, claimants who receive any delayed or back payments are entitled to the bank interest earned while their money has been "held hostage."
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3. As a company built on the premise that they are "jointly owned" by all WV employers, those business partners could be entitled to share in the interest being accrued from premium payments and investments also. By law, employers should receive a credit or payment on that interest from monies paid as BrickStreets "business partners." This money is above and beyond any profit dividends currently being withheld from policyholders.
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Claimants
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According to one attorney who handles workers compensation claims for the injured workers in WV says "It makes me sick to my stomach how the workers compensation system treats people who have been hurt on the job." When asked to pick one positive change that has occurred since the new changes began in 2006, he quickly replied "I’m trying to think of something, but I see nothing positive." According to sources, workers comp claim denials are up, but actual claims being reported are down.
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Administrators are said to evaluate each case and pre-determine an approximate payout the injury may eventually cost the company. That amount is earmarked and the longer it is prolonged, the better for BrickStreet. So, if a claimant’s case goes all the way to the Supreme Court, it could take two to three years for BrickStreet to ever pay up. While all along your money is sitting in their bank drawing interest to offset their losses.
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Another staggering statistic is that workers comp appeals take up approximately 37% of the Supreme Courts calendar each year. And the majority are either denied and or refused. Estimates are as high as 3,200 appeals that have been filed against workers compensation over the years.
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One former claims administrator admitted that some injured workers are bounced around from doctor to doctor if her superiors were not happy with a physician’s injury findings and reports. In fact, she alleges doctors names were taken off the approved list if that doctor appears to be "pro-patient" or to slow in releasing a claimant back to work before that person is actually ready. BrickStreets return to work experts appear to know more then trained doctors about patients needs.
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Another attorney interviewed describes both the physical and financial disasters that a lot of their claimants are subjected to after being injured on the job. "When a person is injured due to their employment, they should be able to expect proper medical care and to be adequately paid for any lost wages and a final settlement of compensation for any partial or total permanent disability due from their injury.
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Yes, one of the major concepts of a workers compensation program provides a company protection from being sued by that employee because they were injured on the job.
But, where does it state that someone who is injured or disabled has to be denied proper medical treatment, lose his or her dignity, life savings, home, car, and in some cases have to file bankruptcy or even thrown out on the street and lose everything? All just to protect employers and allow a company like BrickStreet to post enormous profits each year."
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And it doesn’t stop there. While waiting for claims to begin paying through normal channels and or the appeals process, most claimants interviewed say they have to turn to their relatives, friends and community outreach programs for financial assistance just to survive. This places an undue burden on those individuals who help claimants. There is a trickle down effect that no one wants to admit exists.
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In fact, no one wants to even address the truth that this workers compensation process is not working adequately at all. The only people seeing any financial success is BrickStreet and anyone else connected to the system. It’s a win win combination for everyone except those WV citizens who are injured.
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BrickStreet failed to even effectively handle the active workers compensation cases on injured workers before the new private system took over in 2006.
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The insurance commissioner received hundreds of daily complaints from those claimants alleging gross mismanagement by the company BrickStreet used as a third party. It became so intense that the state re-assumed handling those former claims even though they had to outsource and contract three private companies just to manage them because most of the commissioner’s staff was either transferred over to BrickStreet, to another state office or let go.
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Records show that claimants have been denied benefits even though doctors and employers state in writing and under oath that the injury sustained could only be work related. The system is so one sided that some claimants cases were stalled in order to allow new rules and legislation to become enacted that immediately cut back benefits that injured workers would receive.
According to one WV native, BrickStreet is just "another failed experiment in the economic disaster called West Virginia."
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So, how did this mess all reportedly start?
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According to one senior state official, Joe Manchin made a deal with the devil in order to help ensure he became WV’s Governor. Manchin allegedly gave his word that if elected, he would privatize the state run workers compensation division and open the door for his strongest group of political supporters to take it over. Everyone involved in that deal would make a fortune at the expense of injured workers and their families if Manchin kept to his covenant.
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The Governor did keep his promise and instrumentally dissolved workers compensation from the state in record time. Which subsequently led to the creation of BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company.
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End of Story….
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Casinos House Of Cards May Be Crashing Down
By Sam Webber & Jack Swint PWDGroup@gmail.com
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“As I have stated all along, we are not actively seeking out a buyer….. But, with that being said, we would entertain negotiating a possible sale with your group of investors.”……. Danny Adkins, VP of Hartman & Tyner,
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This is a segment from the July 16th, 2008 tape recorded telephone conversation of Adkins talking with a representative of several investors interested in purchasing the Tri-State casino.
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Danny Adkins, VP for Hartman & Tyner and owner of the Tri-State Casino and greyhound race track has been misleading the citizens, city, county and state officials as to the true intent of the company. The facility is for sale even though Adkins keeps using the media to say it is not. "Danny is intentionally stalling in an effort to sell. Why start construction on a hotel and spend all of that money if you're trying to sell?"
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CASINO OPERATIONS
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One former executive who worked closely with the corporate levels at Hartman & Tyner explained why the casino-racetrack has not been sold yet. “Danny wants too much money; he is trying to bargain with the table game and hotel license as though they were already in operation.”
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Going on to say that” Danny Adkins schmoozing days with everyone is about to come to an end.” The daily operation of the casino is about to implode due to the poor morale of employees, reckless bookkeeping, theft, revolving door of executives and total miss management. He wants to sell before the public finds out just how bad it is.
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Chris Brewer, former GM at the casino says that Danny Adkins has been deceitful ever since they took over the facility. Brewer, who began at the track when it first opened, worked her way up from selling programs to co-general manager with Kathy Brackbill, who also is no longer there.
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According to Brewer, and another former Hartman & Tyner manager asking not to be identified due to pending civil litigation, agreed that the only part of the operation which is accurate and safeguarded is the lottery commissions daily debiting of their monies from the casino slots. "The lottery commission controls the slots. Everything from turning them on & off, setting payoff percentages and knowing exactly how much the machines take in and payout. Down to the exact penny!"
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Excel spreadsheets obtained from the WV lottery commission do not match up to what the casino is reporting on their company reports we obtained.
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Links to these spreadsheets are posted below. Just download the “Zip File” Excel version”
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http://www.state.wv.us/lottery/vidsum.htm
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http://www.wvlottery.com/html/tablegamesreports.htm
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According to sources, the lottery automatically debits the casino’s bank account the total amount of money that the computers show the slots take in each day. Several days later, the lottery re-deposits the casino's percentages after the state takes it share and other payouts are calculated.
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At the same time, the casino money room removes and counts all cash every night from the machines. They allegedly handwrite it onto forms, and then someone else enters it onto computer & spreadsheet reports. Those are then sent to Danny Adkins and other appropriate company departments.
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"If the lottery records show the machines took in $1,000 that’s what is automatically debit from the casino bank account. If the daily cash record the casino performs only shows $900, the casino has to eat the loss."
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Is it unusual for discrepancies? "It has always been that way, and I’m told still is as recent as a couple months ago." according to Brewer who had direct access to the money room. "The money room has carried ongoing discrepancies as high as $100,000 before. There is no reconciliation process between what the lottery commission records show against the casinos money count. The lottery people don’t care; they get their money either way. "
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Both sources said that on any given day you could take an auditor down to the money room and conduct a spot audit and it would never match up to what was reported.
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They also concur that there were instructions by Adkins that anytime there was larger then average amounts of money on hand in the bank, they were to wire transfer those funds directly to Hartman & Tyner’s bank accounts in Michigan. Brewer said she was told, “Danny said that the money was being used to keep the Florida casino afloat.”
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Being a privately owned company, Hartman & Tyner can do as they please with their profits since they have no shareholders or board members to answer to. Unless they would be wire transferring money for illegal purposes, there is no law against it.
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According to both former managers; except for the bank records of the wire transfers, there were no other records kept of that money being sent to corporate.
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Over recent months, several Hartman Tyner employees have been arrested for embezzlement and money fraud crimes. The latest allegedly being 4.3 million dollars. According to media accounts, Hanan Dallo, 41, was arraigned on the embezzlement charge that she wrote work orders for services that were never done at several metro-Detroit apartment complexes.
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Brewer states that the same types of practice were being done at the Nitro Track and at Danny Adkins direction.
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When asked for one example of her claim against Adkins, she recalled how $20,000 dollars was spent on a haunted house exhibit for Tri-State that Adkins oversaw. It never arrived even though the invoice was paid from Tr-States bank account. Other questionable invoices and checks include purchases of new vehicles for prize drawings.
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These vehicles were bought from local dealerships at full price. “No one, especially when purchasing a vehicle straight out, pays full sticker price.” Brewer admits that even though she felt someone was receiving kick-backs, there was never any proof of it. “At the least, it was very poor negotiating and money management decisions.”
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At one point, Brewer stated that invoices became so questionable, that she notified Danny Adkins that he would need to start signing the payables and checks first. Then she would since two signatures were needed on some purchases.
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Both sources for this story claim that employee morale has been at an all time low for the past 4-5 years. And now, with the no human resource director, there is no one for them to go to.
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Other key positions open include the marketing director position and the recent loss of their long term chief financial officer, Angela McCoy, adds to the crippling effect the casino-track is feeling.
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Brewer stated that there was also a work environment drug problem with some employees while she was employed. And that there still is today. “If they ever gave a random drug test, they would lose a lot of people.”
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As for the construction of the hotel and reported ongoing table game construction. The hotel is on hold, and according to new sources, there are plans to install used poker tables from the Florida casino’s poker rooms to get the games underway in late August.
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And, the stand in architectural firm from Florida that Adkins referred to, ARC Avenue Inc that is assisting construction efforts out at the casino is not licensed to do business in the state of WV according to the Secretary of States Office as of yet.
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GREYHOUND RACING
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This author spoke to numerous visitors at the racetrack who came to watch the greyhound racing. Some complaints were made about the construction and how viewing the racing was partially blocked by a partition inside of the restaurant.
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All agreed that the outside seating was poorly protected from the weather elements and that trying to watch the dogs race outside was all but unbearable from the heat and humidity.
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One lady summed up feelings for the others. “It appears that the track personnel want people to watch from inside on the TV monitors upstairs or on simulcast big screens instead of actually watching the races in person. Not everyone can afford to sit in the restaurant and eat just to get a good view of the actual dogs running.”
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Bottom Line, is Danny Adkins aware of the problems???
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The Mardi-Gras casino and greyhound track is for sale for the right price, according to Adkins.….. But, in its current condition, would anyone really want to purchase it?
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Information for this story was corroborated by former and current employees at the casino. All documents were provided by the lottery commission and or casino personnel.
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End Of Story…………….
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Sam Webber & Jack SwintPWDGroup@gmail.com
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Saturday, July 18, 2009

Rape Torture Victim Megan Williams Says It Was Never A Hate Crime

Her Adopted Mother’s Recent Death Opens The Door To The Real Abuse Megan And Her Younger Sister Endured By, Jack Swint & Sam Webber WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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According to Megan, she wasn’t lured to Big Creek in Logan County in 2007. She left freely with Bobby Brewster, Alisha, George and Karen to go to a party. "That night, Bobby Brewster came to Carmen Williams (mother) home at 216 Stockton Street and they smoked drugs together, then went to the store. Then Brewster and Carmen returned. He had sex with my sister Shayla, and then he left for a while and came back with the others in his car. We all left together"… Megan Williams on the night of the alleged kidnapping.
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As most of America remembers, it was late 2007 when twenty year old Meagan Williams, pictured to the left with her adoptive mother Carmen, was allegedly lured to a party by a female acquaintance named "Christa" who then supposedly left her alone at a trailer on Big Creek to become a week long hostage and unwilling sex slave to 6 white racists in Logan County.
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Now, according to Megan, in this exclusive interview with WV News, "there never was a Christa... I left with Bobby Brewster and the others and drove from Charleston to Big Creek. They invited Shayla and me to a party but she didn’t want to go." Megan also stated to this author more then once, "it wasn’t a hate crime, and they never made me eat any feces or perform oral sex on the women either."
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Why did she contact us? Two recent stories we wrote, one about Al Sharpton and the other on the New Black Panther Party. Megan said both groups exploited her assualt.
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Why is she now refuting crucial facts in this horrendous rape-torture case? "I have always been so terrified of my adopted mom Carmen Williams, and she threatened me if I told the truth. Now that she is dead, I want to tell everyone the truth. She beat my sister and me all the time. My step dad (Mathew) made me have sex with him and they made me prostitute for money when I was young."
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In 2008 Megan fled to Columbus with her sister after she alleges Carmen came into the Pizza Hut where she worked and demanded money. When Megan refused, she said Carmen came behind the counter and dragged her out into the alley and brutally beat her.
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This author also spoke several times with Megan’s guardian, Valencia Daniels, in Columbus Ohio where both Williams women now live. She verified what Megan was saying and stated Carmen had even called several times to Ohio threatening Megan "to keep her mouth shut" when she found out what Megan was saying really happened in Logan County and Charleston.
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"She called Megan a retarded bitch and that she better shut up about it all." Ms Daniels, who’s known throughout Columbus as "Mama Dogg," drove to Charleston in June of 2008 to help Megan and her sister leave after Carmen areportedly assaulted her daughter "It was terrible what they were going through with their adopted mom and dad. Also, Megan has never seen any of the money that was donated to help her."
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She also said, "Even the laptop computer that was a gift from the Montel Williams show was sold by Carmen to buy crack cocaine."
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Megan, who always referred to her adopted mom as Carmen Williams, said she lied about a lot of things that never happened. "Carmen called people to have rallies and talked to the police and media making it worse then it was. She made it a hate crime and it wasn’t…. She knew Bobby Brewster before I did, they smoked dope together."
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The suspects did forcibly hold Megan against her will. She states that they beat and tortured her but never made her eat rat droppings and drink from the toilet as was reported. She admitted being doused with hot water, choked and stabbed seven times.
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At the time, Logan County Sheriff W.E. Hunter said that in his 30 years of law enforcement, he’d "Never seen anything like this. It’s something that would have come out of a horror movie." Others said, "The depravities and atrocities done to this young woman is nothing short of sick, perverted and sadistic."
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When asked how she is doing today, her voiced cheered up and she said, "Tell everyone I’m doing really good and I am really healthy." Valencia Daniels confirms the progress both women have made since moving to Ohio in 2008. "Megan is doing great. She is very happy now." Both Megan and Shayla receive social security benefits for their mental impairments.
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The worthless check charges against Megan in West Virginia have reportedly been paid in full according to Daniels. "I paid them off along with help from some friends here in Columbus."
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There are plans to have a rally in Megan’s behalf sometime in October 2009 so she can tell her story and the truth to what really happened. It seems very important to her that the truth comes out once and for all. Recently Al Sharpton and the New Black Panther party called for Megan saying they were planning to attend. Ms Daniels was quick to state… "I told them they weren’t here to help us when we needed them, we don’t need them now."
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Megan is still dismayed about all of the attention from the media and the Al Sharpton’s of the world. Even more startling was that once the media went away, all of the promises to help her did too. "No one has followed through that she is aware of."
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As for the convictions against her attackers, Logan County prosecutors promised they would take those charges to fullest extent of the law. In fact, prosecutor Brian Abraham went on record stating that they would not seek hate crime charges because it "carries only a 10-year prison sentence while a state kidnapping count could sentence a suspect to life in prison."
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But, when it all came down for trial, prosecutors forgot their promise to Megan and everyone else. In the end, all the defendants were allowed to plead guilty to lessor charges and prison time then anyone anticipated. Especially Megan, who was under the impression all of them would be gone for a long, long time.
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According to Division of Corrections Records…. (It appears any multiple convictions/sentences run concurrent)
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Bobby Brewster pled guilty to conspiracy to commit penalty for kidnapping where victim returned unharmed before ransom paid. One count of malicious assault and one count of sexual assault in the second degree.
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He will max out his sentence in 18 years on or about 9/9/2027 and eligible for parole on 9/9/2020.
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Frankie Brewster pled guilty to sexual assault in the second degree
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She will max out her sentence in 11 years on 3/8/2020 and be eligible for parole on 3/8/2017.
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Karen Burton pled guilty to assault during commission/attempt to commit a felony. One count of violating civil rights by violence or threat.
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She will max out her sentence in 8 years on 9/8/2017 and be eligible for parole on 3/9/2012.
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Danny J. Combs pled guilty to assault during the commission/attempt to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit kidnapping where victim returned unharmed after ransom. Sexual abuse in the first degree.
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He will max out his sentence in 8 more years on 9/8/2017 and is eligible for parole in 2 more years on 9/9/2011.
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Alisha Burton pled guilty to penalty for kidnapping where victim returned unharmed before ransom paid. One count of assault during commission/attempt to commit a felony.
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She will max out her sentence in 3 more years on 9/12/2012 and be eligible for parole on 3/13/2010.
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George Messer pled guilty to kidnapping where victim returned unharmed before ransom paid. Assault during commission/attempt to commit a felony.
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He will max out his sentence in 3 years on 9/12/2012 and be eligible for parole on 3/13/2010.
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In Closing, to speak with Megan Williams you come away with the sadness that this young women was constantly being tortured and abused long before she traveled to Big Creek in Logan County. Both Shayla and Megan have been victims most of their lives by the two adoptive parents who should have been protecting them. Carmen Williams only came to her daughter’s aid when the media and opportunities arose to possibly benefit to what happened.
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According to Megan, Carmen lied and manipulated everyone and instigated racial tensions.
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Shayla and Megan were terrified of their adopted parents. Enough so, that Megan was scared to tell exactly what happened to her, both at home, and at the hands of her six assailants. It’s only now, that she feels no more threat exists. Why? Because, Carmen Williams died in June 2009.
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Megan said she welcomes the news media, law enforcement or anyone interested in helping her to set the facts straight what really happened in Logan County. You can contact her, or Valencia Daniels at:
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(614) 515 0981
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End Of Story
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Jack Swint & Sam Webber
PO Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
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(304) 982-7024
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If you would like to comment on this story, please e-mail us at the above address. Or, use the comment section below....
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Friday, July 17, 2009

Will The Kanawha County Prosecutor Intercede For Convicted Montgomery Cop

Does Mark Plants Strong Stance Against Domestic Violence And Female Abusers Include His Friends?? by, Sam Webber WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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"Domestic violence is cyclical and destroys families. The victim often times lives with the defendant. The abuser has ample opportunity to unduly coerce the victim. By increasing domestic advocate resources and targeted, specialized prosecution, we can help victims overcome the fear of testifying and break the cycle of domestic violence"... Prosecutor Plants Stance On Abuse Against Women.
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Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants has been in his newly elected position for six months now. In that short amount of time, Plants has reorganized the office staff, let several employees go and reassigned his seasoned senior prosecutors from circuit court cases & trials to walking the beat in magistrate court.
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Now, according to sources inside the courthouse, at least three alleged high-profile female assault & abuse cases are not being investigated and or prosecuted because Plants has personal ties to the two abusers.
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The first person is reportedly a long time friend since childhood. Former Montgomery cop Matt Leavitt, who recently pled guilty to civil rights violation in federal court. He has admitted to violating the rights of at least two residents in Fayette County WV.
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Inside sources told this author that Leavitt and Plants grew up together in the same neighborhood, went to high school together and are supposedly still friends today. In fact, Leavitt, Plants and his wife were inseparable back in the day. Close enough friends that the county prosecutor is considering interceding on Leavitt’s behalf as a "friend of the court" at his upcoming federal sentencing.
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Leavitt was also a police officer in Cedar Grove WV, which is in Plants jurisdiction.
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According to a civil complaint on file, on or about March 15th, 2008 and while on duty, Leavitt allegedly and "viciously sexually assault and/or sexually abused Patricia Oscha, the defendant, by physically conducting a body pat-down."
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The complaint goes on to say that Leavitt tried to induce sexual favors from Oscha in exchange for not being arrested on drug charges. The allegations go far deeper then just a simple request for sex. Leavitt reportedly targeted her for some time and went as far as to use his authority to unlawfully detain, then transport her out of his jurisdiction to a remote mountaintop area across from Riverside High School with the intent of sexually assaulting her.
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Oscha claims Leavitt intentionally abused his authority to unlawfully search her person in a provocative way, which is sexual assault. Reports indicate that at least two other police officers were present during this incident. When she reportedly refused his advances, Leavitt continued to illegally detain her and then drove down from the mountaintop to the Cedar Grove police station where he kept her there for approximately 2 hours while still attempting to get her to accept his sexual advances.
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Oscha is not the only female in the Cedar Grove area to complain about Leavitt. In fact, several have filed complaints for this same type behavior.
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Plants was not the lead prosecutor in 2008, but he worked in that office as an assistant. He knew, or should have known of the alleged incidents. Now, since taking office in January 2009, he has both ignored and refused to go forward with any official investigation into the allegations. Even after Leavitt’s recent guilty plea in federal court for the civil rights violations of Twan and Lauren Reynolds.
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According to sources inside the county, "if the accusations against Leavitt are true, he personally kidnapped and sexually assaulted this woman using his authority and power as a police officer to try and make it appear legal."
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Recently, another female came forward with a similar complaint and civil suite naming Leavitt in Kanawha County. Tanya Terrell also claims the former cop targeted and harassed her on at least 2 occasions because she was dating a black man. Terrell alleges that Leavitt told her "he had been waiting to pull over a nigger lover like her."
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According to the complaint in that case, Terrell was also sexually grouped; and illegally detained in which Leavitt is at the least a participant after the fact. County magistrates recognized the pattern and dismissed recent traffic charges against Terrell made by Leavitt who was again using his power and authority as a policeman to intentionally violate the rights of females to obtain sexual favors.
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One former prosecutor we interviewed said that prior to Leavitt pleading guilty in federal court, it could have been somewhat difficult to prosecute him on these two cases because of a somewhat "checkered past" with both women. But, now with the conviction for civil rights violations while he was a cop in Montgomery, "that will give their case a lot more credibility since there clearly appears to be a pattern of abuse by Leavitt."
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On a side note to the Leavitt federal case…. It is reported by sources inside the county administration offices that attorney Bill Forbes is defending the former cop for free. According to one person, "That alone should be startling to most people who know Forbes since he is usually known more for overcharging defendants."
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Next case... more recently, Plants dismissed a December 2, 2008 domestic battery & assault charge against Charleston Attorney John Charles "Max" Wilkinson Jr. According to the Charleston Newspaper, Attorney Wilkinson admitted to "throwing his wife, who was eight months pregnant, against a wall and to the ground" during an altercation.
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This all took place after Plants went on record with the Charleston Gazette in reference to his plans as prosecutor to deal with abuse against women. "Domestic violence is cyclical and destroys families. The victim often times lives with the defendant. The abuser has ample opportunity to unduly coerce the victim. By increasing domestic advocate resources and targeted, specialized prosecution, we can help victims overcome the fear of testifying and break the cycle of domestic violence."
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Police arrested attorney Wilkinson according to a complaint filed in Magistrate Court. Officers found bruising above Mrs. Erica Pulling’s right wrist and bicep from where he reportedly grabbed and shoved her against the wall and then pushed her down on her back as she tried to leave the kitchen. After he let her go, she ran upstairs to find a phone.
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She was eight months pregnant at the time.
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In her petition for a protection order, Erica Pulling (wife) admitted she open-handedly hit her husband first. She wrote, "As I was leaving the room, I struck my husband on the arm with my open hand." The March 19th, 2009 newspaper article also stated that her husband, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound former National Guard company commander in Iraq, "immediately grabbed me very roughly and threw me against the wall, we struggled and I tried to get away," she wrote."
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Pulling also said that he threw her to the ground and that knocked the wind out of her. Afterwards she ran upstairs to find a phone. Although this was the first incident involving physical abuse, there was a history of verbal abuse, threats and manipulation, Pulling wrote.
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Reportedly, the 911 call to dispatchers has her telling operators that he assaulted her and that she wanted him to leave. Pulling, 35 told police that she "asked Wilkinson to leave their home temporarily because the stress of their arguing was having an adverse affect on her health. When he continued to stand in front of her, she hit him on the arm, which led to him grabbing her."
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Prosecutor Plants decided that since Erica Pulling admitted she open handed hit her husband on his arm first, (before he knocked his pregnant wife down) the state would drop the charges against him. Plantz told the newspaper, "What you have here is an argument between a husband and a wife, and one of them was the aggressor and one of them decided to hit the other one first." And, he reportedly stated, "You just can't hit people."
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According to 2 out of county prosecutors we spoke with, they would have never dropped the charges against the husband. Especially since the wife was eight months pregnant! Instead of dismissing the case, both husband and wife should have been arrested and prosecuted for assault. They also agreed that the case should have gone to a judge or jury to decide, not the prosecutor. Especially when it is an alleged domestic assault and a local attorney, who is an officer of the court, is involved.
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Summary…..
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Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "pattern" as…. "Frequent and or widespread incidence." There is a distinct pattern of conduct that clearly shows Matt Leavitt used his power and authority to sexually and physically assault women for his personal gratification and agenda. There are at least 3 county civil complaints and 2 criminal charges in federal court relating to his acts.
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At least two of the crimes occurred in Kanawha County WV. These acts are known, or should be known to prosecutor Mark Plants. He has refused to investigate and or charge Leavitt for his pattern of abuse against women. Why? Reportedly because of his personal friendship and ties to Leavitt.
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Instead of charging, or at the least presenting the case(s) to a grand jury, Plants is reportedly going to intercede for Leavitt at his federal sentencing as a "friend of the court.".
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He also dismissed domestic battery charges against attorney John Charles "Max" Wilkinson Jr. who admittedly assaulted and injured his wife when he threw her to the floor when she was 8 months pregnant. Why did he drop the charges? Plants said because Wilkinson’s wife admitted she pushed her husband first. Or, is it because both men are friends, and both are attorneys and officers of the court.
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Conclusion… It is good to have friends in high places.
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End Of Story
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Sam Webber
PO Box 40511
Charleston, WV 25364
(304) 982-7024
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Recommended News Websites:
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Sunday, July 5, 2009

Is Al Sharpton The King Of Racial Terrorism In America

Sharpton Is Living Proof That One Man’s Freedom Fighter Is Another Man’s Terrorist. By, Jack Swint & Sam Webber

According to the United Nations General Assembly, a terrorist is anyone who’s…. "Acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstance unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or any other nature that may be invoked to justify them"…

Recently, this author saw a bumper sticker in southern WV that stated…. "I Love Al Sharpton."

Over the past ten years, racism across the US has greatly subsided between all races. As a nation, the election of President Barack Obama is the true example that Martin Luther King’s dream that all people join together is coming true. Now more then ever, there are countless success stories of men and woman of all color and nationality soaring to the top of the business world and in their everyday life. Bottom line, what occurred years ago to the Indians; along with Blacks and Whites being sold into slavery, is just that, in the past! In fact, most US citizens no longer judge a person by the color of their skin.

But, there are still those few who are lurking in the dark corners of society just waiting on the opportunity to keep racial tensions alive for their own personal agenda and mere existence on this planet.

Al Sharpton, is the true king of racial opportunity and bigotry. He has used his self-promoted blackness to keep racism alive. His direct belief and involvement has actually instigated violence across America. Examples include the Crown Heights riot of 1991 and a 1996 arson attack after Sharpton’s repeated calls for the removal of "white interlopers" and "bloodsucking Jews" from Harlem. Seven people were killed in that inferno inspired by Sharpton’s incendiary incitement.

What’s just as dangerous as Sharpton’s existence is the media who promotes and allows him to continue this form of terrorism in America.

From Fox News to CNN and MSNBC, all have routinely reinforced his bigoted overtones across the airwaves calling him a freedom fighter, "a man who is willing to tell it like it is." His faithful supporters believe "his ability and willingness to defy the power structure that is seen as the cause of their suffering" They also believe that "he is willing to go to jail for them, and he is there when they need him."

On the flipside, Sharpton's critics describe him as "a political radical who is to blame, in part, for the deterioration of race relations" one activist said Sharpton is nothing more then a "anti-Semitic racist."

People are quick to forget the countless blunders the self-proclaimed black hero has made in his ability to cause racist motivated civil unrest. One of the first clear signs of his intentional need to insight violence and racial terror across the country was the 1987 false accusations made by 15 year old Tawana Brawley. She claimed several white men abducted and raped her over and over again.

Her case received national media attention at the direct bidding of Al Sharpton, who claimed officials, all the way up through state government, were trying to cover up for the defendants because they were white. A media blitz focused on Sharpton’s unfounded truths that Ducthess County NY district attorney, Steven Pagones, was a white racist devil who was actually one of the rapists.

Sharpton also compared then state Attorney General Robert Abrams, a Jew, to Adolf Hitler. He also claimed that former Governor; Mario Cuomo was in organized crime and the Ku Klux Klan.

When the truth finally came out in the Brawley case, the media had to change their reporting because the 15-year-old female admitted she had lied about the entire ordeal. In fact, Tawana Brawley made it all up. She was scared because her mother had previously beaten the teen for running away and having sex with boys. Neighbors testified that during the media’s focus on the alleged rape they overheard Tawana’a mother state she should have taken the money being offered from celebrities like Bill Cosby who felt compelled to help her because of the alleged abduction and rape by the accused white men.

And, once the facts of the case came to light, Al Sharpton was nowhere to be found. In 1989, former DA Steven Pagones sued Sharpton and two others for defamation of character. A judge awarded him $345,000.

Not that long ago, Sharpton was again jumping to the forefront in the national racially motivated media coverage of the Duke University Lacrosse Team scandal & the Jena 6 story. In both cases, Sharpton was chief instigator in the media how blacks were being the victims of white abuse and white injustice.

He came straight out and incorrectly accused the Duke players of being racist and rapists of a black dancer during a party on campus. In the Duke story, his actions definitely caused racial tension and even death threats against the white athletes. When the truth came out, the female accuser was lying. Once again, Sharpton was the main instigator of the racial tension. And, again when it was found he was wrong, the good reverend was nowhere to be found.

In both the Tawana Brawley and Duke player’s cases, Sharpton refused to apologize for insighting terror and lies for his own personal agenda. In fact, he has never apologized for any of his mistakes.

Now, Sharpton has managed to become the black spokesperson in the death of singer Michael Jackson. Most people are amazed that Sharpton hasn’t tried to blame Jackson’s death on the white man, saying it was a racist plot to stop the "king of pop" from making a comeback in his career. Ironically, it wasn’t that long ago that Sharpton and other black celebrities chastised Jackson for "playing up to white folks" and accused him of wanting to be a "white man." Now, he is singing Jackson’s praise as a black hero and the king of pop.

Sharpton sees much of the criticism he receives as a sign of his effectiveness. "In many ways, what they consider criticism is complimenting my job," said Sharpton. "An activist’s job is to make public civil rights issues until there can be a climate for change. So when people get angry at me for raising these issues and making them public, well, that’s my job! That’s what I’m supposed to do. If I could not get the public’s attention on an issue, then I’m not a good activist."

His Own Legal Problems

The reverend is not without his own legal and moral shortcomings. Most people have forgotten that back in 1983, FBI videotape shows him talking about laundering drug money with former mobster Michael Franzese, a Mafioso-turned-undercover-FBI informant posing as a cocaine dealer.

Now, to be fair, no indictments were issued and the sting operation was never completed because Sharpton was reportedly tipped off before they could consummate the deal.

He got himself into this mess through his friendship with boxing promoter Don King, a longtime friend of his. Franzese, a former Colombo family captain, alleges that a South American drug dealer looking to launder money through boxing promotions approached him. According to Franzese, Sharpton was going to arrange a meeting between the dealer and King.

But the drug dealer was really an undercover FBI agent in a probe of boxing corruption. Sharpton claimed the tape was a "total attempt to set up and criminalize people," that it was leaked to scuttle his possible presidential bid.

Then there is the 1.2 million owed on back income taxes. Also, infidelity problems surfaced back in early 2000 when palm pilot e-mails from Marjorie Harris were published that showed Sharpton telling the woman he couldn’t wait to see her and how he needed to "release bodily fluids."

A recent lawsuit was filed against him, and his company, for allegedly skipping out on an $88,000 bill to the Peabody Hotel in Memphis Tennessee. Sharpton’s group was involved in a 2008 convention that was to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King in the city.

In closing…..

The late Reverend Jerry Falwell pointed out during a TV debate with Al Sharpton that the man has "never had his own church or even run a substantive social program." To bolster his own image, Sharpton allegedly leaked the information on his mentor, Jesse Jackson’s 1999 mistress scandal with Karin Stanford.

He has no morals or game plan except to heighten his own self worth at the cost of playing the race card for his own gain at any given opportunity. His acts have directly and or indirectly caused riots, civil unrest and even death.

And, the media is to scared not to promote his racist driven appearances even knowing his false accusations and racial agenda. Why? They are scared that he will cause black advertisers to boycott any media outlet that doesn’t cover his press conferences, civil marches and public appearances. If the media would just quit covering him in the news, Sharpton would just fade away.

If, he were a white man spewing all the hatred and false accusations against blacks, the media would crucify him for being a racist bigot.

End Of Story…..

Jack Swint & Sam Webber
PO Box 40511
Charleston WV 25364
(304) 982-7024

WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com


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Monday, June 8, 2009

Two Bad Montgomery Cops Hope For One Good Plea Deal From Feds

Plea Bargain To Misdemeanor Civil Rights Violations May Be In The Works
By, Sam Webber & Jack Swint... WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

Update.... 6/09/2010. As reported here first...Former police officers Matt Leavitt and Shawn Hutchinson, will plead guilty to federal charges of civil rights abuse.... Great job by the US Attorneys office!

May 22, 2009... Two Former Montgomery WV police officers may get a great plea bargain agreement with the Federal Government for civil rights and hate crimes violations. Abuse of authority complaints surfaced months ago that both officers were harassing and physically abusing several black residents in the Fayette County town. Civil lawsuits are currently pending in County Court detailing events that led up to the FBI and US Attorneys office getting involved in a criminal investigation.

Reportedly, Matt Leavitt and Shawn Hutchinson’s lawyer, William "Bill" Forbes, is in closed-door negotiations with the feds in hopes of obtaining "misdemeanor" criminal charges for his clients instead of felonies, that could carry up to ten years if either men are convicted. Ironically, with Forbes negotiating for both men, he may be creating a conflict of interest since the feds will want Hutchinson to testify against Leavitt as part of any negotiated plea agreement. In a sense, Forbes deal would be pitting both men against each other.

According to sources close to the case, Matt Leavitt is strongly considering the plea agreement offer, and has until the June 2009 federal grand jury convening to make his decision. Allegedly, he agreed to take an FBI polygraph exam and "failed it."

Our source also believes it is possible that Hutchinson could receive a "diversion sentence" that would pave the way for his conviction to be expunged if he stayed out of any further trouble over a specific amount of time. Several people we spoke with feel that Hutchinson was just caught up in a scenario that he was just following the lead of a "rogue mentor" and is "basically a good kid who followed the wrong persons example of what a police officer should be."

Attorney Mike Clifford, who represents at least one of the alleged victims in the civil case against the officers and the city of Montgomery, stated he was unaware of any final or factual plea negotiations between the US Attorney and the accused. But, he will entertain any positive options and closure available that are in his client’s best interest. As long as it includes stipulations that, "Matt Leavitt can never again be a police officer anywhere."

According to Clifford, misdemeanor convictions for this type of crime is not uncommon at all. If Leavitt and or Hutchinson are allowed to plead to the lessor offense, each could face up to one-year incarceration and fines. That being said, the sentences could be served on home confinement and or a federal halfway house if the judge elected.

Several Montgomery residents told this author that they are happily surprised that any law enforcement or public official is actually investigating the allegations against the officers and police department. "if it takes the FBI coming here and turning this town upside down to get to the truth, we will roll out the red carpet for them."

Sources also say that Leavitt still maintains his innocence in the civil and or any criminal charges that could arise. But, he is considering any and all options.


In a twist to this case, the Montgomery City Police Departments computer hard drive was examined and reportedly found to have contained numerous pictures and other material depicting Black, Asian and Caucasian pornography.

End Of Story.....


Original Story On Abuse In Montgomery
http://westvirginianews.blogspot.com/2009/03/did-federal-agents-halt-former.html

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Civil Lawsuit Against Leavitt & Hutchinson
http://www.wvgazette.com/static/multimedia/twansuit.pdf


Jack Swint & Sam Webber
West Virginia News
PO Box 40511
Charleston, WV 25364
(304) 982-7024

WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
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Anyone wishing to comment or contribute on this story, use the "comment" section below or e-mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com


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Sunday, June 7, 2009

The New Black Panther Party Recruiting In West Virginia

Another Racist Hate Group In The Mountain State
By, Sam Webber & Jack Swint WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

"We kill the women. We kill the babies. We kill the blind. We kill the cripples. We kill them all. We kill the faggot. We kill the lesbian. ... When you get through killing them all, go to the goddamn graveyard and dig up the grave and kill them a-goddamn-gain, because they didn't die hard enough the first time."… NBPP

According to three New Black Panther Party members recent comments, WV is a priority recruitment state for new black militants.

In late February 2009, three alleged members of the "NBPP" took a late night ride from Huntington, WV, to Toledo Ohio on a Greyhound Bus. During the 4-hour trip, all three men discussed amongst themselves, on cell phones to their counterparts, and loud enough for everyone on the bus to hear, of their seemingly successful trip to the mountain state. Specifically, the WV State University campus located in Institute, local NAACP connections, and people they associated with while staying in the area for four days.

According to those conversations, this journey to West Virginia was both a scouting and membership drive to join their racist group with radical philosophies.

Also traveling to Ohio by bus was this author. Sitting one row behind the three militants, who appeared to be in there mid to late twenties. The conversations gave a brief, but alarming look into this new group of "let’s hate white people and Jews." Just like members of the KKK and other radical white supremacist groups must sit around and talk about "let’s hate black people."

None of these NBPP members showed any concern or fear about openly talking of their beliefs and desires as we drove along. As a group, they seemed to intimidate several white and Amish passengers who got up and moved further to the back of the bus. But, when we stopped for a break, two of the black radicals exited to a small convenient store while the third man, who was the more outspoken of the trio, remained aboard. Now, he appeared on the surface to be meek, timid and almost scared to be by himself with the other passengers. At least until his two other comrades came back onto the bus.

Their recruitment drive had reportedly covered at least the cities of Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Morgantown, Beckley, Huntington and Charleston area. Martinsburg and Shepherdstown are both close to Baltimore and Washington DC which is a strong hold of this group. Focussing their attention on college campuses, especially ones with a high percentage of black students.

The goals and philosophy on this trip were words of violence. From civil unrest to guerrilla warfare. Even the artwork of a patch worn on one of the mans shirt depicted a black panther, and the words claiming…. "Freedom or Death." After arriving in Columbus OH, this author departed with a mental note to look into this blatant hate mentality that these people have against whites, Jews and uncle tom’s. The outcome from weeks of research and development into the "New Black Panther Party" platform was very alarming and disturbing…

The New Black Panther Party (NBPP)


This is a home grown black terrorist hate group organization founded in Dallas, Texas in 1989. They believe that the white man is not just a devil, he is the devil himself.

The "new black panther party" has a whole new hate philosophy and outspoken beliefs that they should "genocide" white people and Jews. Even the original black panther group from1960 and the 1970’s denounced the NBPP saying that this party is "illegitimate" and that there "is no new Black Panther Party." Even Bobby Seale, a founding member of the original Panthers, called this organization "a black racist hate group."

In the old days, "We worked with all different ethnic groups, especially the white left, to build a coalition," said David Hilliard, an early member of the original Panthers and now director of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, in Oakland, California that bears the name of a deceased Panther leader. The new Panthers' "whole philosophy is 'Black Power, Black Power,' to the point of being separatist," he says. "We were never separatist."

The fact is, the new black panther party, despite some similarities to the vastly more successful nation of Islam, has not picked up the support of millions of black people. It has angered whites, Jews and most blacks, which see it as fundamentally racist. And it has left a bitter taste in the mouths of at least some of the communities that its members, guns in hand, purport to be helping.

The Blame Game

The NBPP blame today’s non-black society for everything from slavery to the holocaust. Especially the Jews, or, as one of their leaders refers to as, "hooked-nose, bagel-eating, lox-eating, perpetrating-a-fraud, so-called Jew."

And, if you are a successful black man or woman in this country, you must be a "flunky vassal (slave), or the modern day custodians of uncle tom’s cabin. The lackey’s and stooges that advocate civil rights, social equality and miscarriages of justice in America." Those beliefs by NBPP members might be an insult to the ever increasingly number of black men and women across this country who have been role models to all walks of life.

Most men and women of all races who pursue careers in corporate America will not make it to the top. Those who do must demonstrate talent, good judgment, resourcefulness, and guts. Not blaming every other race or expecting a free ride on the "woe is me" train…

Just to name a very few successful black executives:

US President, Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle.

George Lewis, vice president and treasurer of Philip Morris Companies, Inc.

Roger L. Plummer, president and CEO of Ameritech Information Systems.

Alfred T. Mays, president of Chicopee Worldwide, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

Carl Ware, deputy group president of Coca-Cola.

Barry Rand, group vice president of Xerox Corporation.

Brenda E. Edgerton, vice president and treasurer of the Campbell Soup Company.

Richard D. Nanula, senior vice president and chief financial officer of The Walt Disney Company.


George R. Lewis, vice president and treasurer of Philip Morris Companies Inc.

William S. Norman, executive vice president of the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

Wayman F. Smith III, vice president of corporate affairs, Anheuser-Busch Companies.

Curtis J. Crawford, vice president of AT&T Microelectronics division.

Judy Barker, vice president of corporate social responsibility for Borden Inc.

Leroy C. Richie, vice president & general counsel Chrysler Corporation.

Don Thompson, president McDonalds USA.



NBPP Demands

The NBPP has published its "nationalist manifesto" and is linked below. Along with a standing platform of 9 local objectives, a study guide, black national anthem and an application for anyone (besides whites and Jews) interested in joining.

Some demands taken from their 10-point platform of wants and beliefs reveal a deep-rooted belief that the world owes them a living for what occurred long before most of them were even born. (links are included at the end of this story)

Topping the list of demands, that they should "be exempt from paying any taxes, and that they are still owed reparation from the United States, England, France, Spain and Europe. Africa and the Arabs also owe them from decades ago."

They demand that "the guilty parties relinquish billions of dollars owed in finances, land and other necessary supplies, as partial payment to compensate them for over 400 years of slavery, discrimination, racism, brutality, robbery, theft, land-stealing, suffering, death, physical and mental injuries, general abuse, defamation, slander and a host of other crimes and torts of the broadest and worst magnitude."

Also, "freedom for all Black Men and Black Women held in international, military, federal, state, county, city jails and prisons."

"We want all Black Men and Black Women to be exempt from military service."

"Full employment for our people and we demand the dignity to do for ourselves what we have begged the white man to do for us."

Another demand is that since they believe the white man has kept them "deaf, dumb and blind, and used every dirty trick in the book to stand in the way of our freedom and independence," they should be gainfully employed until such time that all members can employ and provide for themselves.

What Extent Will The NBPP Go To Get Respect And Those Demands?

"We kill the women. We kill the babies. We kill the blind. We kill the cripples. We kill them all. We kill the faggot. We kill the lesbian. ... When you get through killing them all, go to the goddamn graveyard and dig up the grave and kill them a-goddamn-gain, because they didn't die hard enough" the first time. That speech, was given by former NBPP National Chairman Khallid Abdul Muhammad, at Howard University. (a link is below)

Why kill the babies? They will grow up to become blue eyed devils. Why kill the woman? They give birth to the devils. Why kill the old people? They managed to become old by killing and or destroying the blacks.

A Washington DC attorney, and current chairman of the NBPP, stated not long ago that
"We will never bow down to the white, Jewish, Zionist onslaught."

Hate Groups In West Virginia

What defines a hate group? Beliefs and or practices that attack or discriminate against an entire class of people, typically for their unchangeable characteristics. Group activities can include criminal acts, marches, rallies, speeches, meetings, leafleting or publishing.

West Virginia, (along with the surrounding states of Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio) is already home to at least 14 hating groups across the state. From several versions of the Ku Klux Klan, to Neo-Nazi’s and the Communist Party. In Hillsboro and Ravenswood WV, there are record companies and or recording studios that promote racist music.

Kentucky is home to 11 hate groups, Ohio 23 and Virginia 26.

There appears to be one large difference between the NBPP, and all other alleged homegrown racist groups in West Virginia today. Outside of the black panthers, no other organization is so extreme, or takes such pride and determination in advocating violence or calling for the murder of all children, woman and men of a specific race. A belief that is all based on the mere fact they feel their ancestors, and now them, have been oppressed and even owed back pay because of it.

During an unrelated interview with a source for another story in April, this author met with a man known only as "Smitty." We met in Pocahontas County WV. "Smitty," a highly educated businessman and self-proclaimed long-time standing member of a white racist group, explained his beliefs and some little known facts about the Klan. For one, until now, this author never knew that there were actually black members in the KKK.


Not undercover cops infiltrating the group, but actual card carrying hooded members. Over 1,000 at one point. He said this information has been available for years, even on the internet. Researching that statement turned out to be true… and more. But, no one wants to admit that fact since it would defuse the image of an all white racist hate group.
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Another surprise was to learn that not all members were just portrayed to be wacko separatists who burn crosses and preach hate and violence against other races.

Several former US Presidents, and even a US Supreme Court Judge, have also been members of the Ku Klux Klan. Presidents Warren G. Harding, Woodrow Wilson, William McKinley, Calvin Coolidge, and even Harry S. Truman. It is reported that Harding was actually sworn into the clan by then Imperial Wizard, Colonel William Simmons inside the White House.

Supreme Court Justice, Hugo Black, was also a Klansman. His Klan Robes, complete with his name in them, were found in an old Klan Klavern Hall in the 1960's. Unfortunately under intense political pressure he superficially repudiated the Klan during its notorious period of scandals. He served on the Supreme Court from 1937 to 1971. His reason for joining the clan? Judge Black felt it would be good for his political career.

According to "Smitty," the majority of white hate type groups have "mellowed out" over the years, and now concentrates on family and church. He admits that no racist group could really survive without the other. "All groups beliefs and practices feed off each other, black racists feed off the whites and we them. If we all went our own separate way, who would be left to hate?"

Summing up the new black panther party, Smitty believes that "if you take away all of the hate preaching smokescreen to kill all white and Jewish babies, children, women and men, all you have left is a gang of unemployed thugs, who just want a free ride from society using what happened hundreds of years ago." He says that white supremacist members have jobs, pay taxes, respect the law of the land and are active in community programs.

"We love and support America. The black panthers say they can’t stand the ground they stand on… If it is that bad here, go live in Africa and see how that works out for you."

His last thoughts on this topic raise a valid question. There are good whites and bad whites just like in all ethnic groups. No one can change the past, and in reality, there is only one race in the USA with a valid claim to prejudice and abuse….The Indians!

As sad as it is, slavery has been around since before mid-evil times. Even the Vikings enslaved people. Muslim pirates raided and captured over 1 million Europeans for slavery from the 16th to the 19th century. The Nazis enslaved millions of Jews into forced labor and worked them until they died and or killed the ones who became to ill to work. Soviet labor camps enslaved millions.

Over half of all white immigrants to Colonial America during the 17th and 18th centuries consisted of slave servants.

According to Smitty, "Today, black people have as much, if not more rights and opportunities as everyone else. Look at the President of this country. Enough is enough, how would blacks react if whites came out with their own Miss White America, like thier Miss Black America? or, White Entertainment Television (BET), National Alliance for the Advancement Of White People (NAACP), White History Month, White TV Awards etc etc?
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They would be up in arms screaming discrimination and racism."

End Of Story….

Sam Webber & Jack Swint
PO Box 40511
Charelston, WV 25364
(304) 982-7024