Huntington West Virginia Blog

I believe it is time to close the terrorist prison detention facility at Guantanamo Bay Cuba.

There are many dangerous men in that prison who need to be put on trial. The military has held them for several years and has not gone forward with trials. I suggest those who are accused of terrorist acts should be detained in a secure facility under the authority of a federal judge. It is time for the rule of military force to yield to the rule of law.

Federal Law allows for the death penalty for those terrorists held in Guantanamo who planned and executed terrorist actions against the USA. By all means let us proceed with trials for those who are accused of crimes against Humanity and the American people. Many of them are guilty of terrorism and some were simple illiterate foot soldiers for the Taliban.

The Guantanamo prison camp has been plagued with tales of abuse and scandal since it opened. The Guantanamo prison camp is an embarrassment to the American people. If we put the terror suspects on trial, it will uphold the rule of law under our constitution that gives the worst of humanity their right to a day in court. If we violate our precious constitution out of fear of terrorism, the bad guys win.

Stephanie Heck

Huntington WV

Cabell County Political Commentary:

It is my understanding that the Cabell County Assessors Office is publicly encouraging Cabell County Citizens to turn in their neighbors for having cars with out of state tags, who allegedly evade personal property taxes on cars by registering the cars out of state.

Most of the old junker cars with out of state tags in Cabell County are worth no more than 500 dollars so the personal property taxes are not the real issue. The issue is that due to poverty, some people cannot afford to comply with the state of West Virginia's mandatory insurance requirements. Ohio does not require proof of insurance to register and title a car. Consequently the offense is one of poverty, people cannot afford car insurance, and thus they cross the river to register the car in Lawrance County Ohio. Personal Property Tax evasion is not such an issue as insurance evasion in economic reality. It is regrettable that many in West Virginia struggle to survive on minimum wage. Enforcement of the law needs to be tempered with compassion for those in poverty.

The Cabell County Assessors Office is headed by Ottie Adkins who was the Chief of Police in Huntington during the 1970's, and the Former Sheriff. The job of the Cabell County Assessors Office is to assess and collect taxes. Not cultivate a community of busybody self righteous snitches with a grudge against thier neighbor. Law enforcement is the sheriff's job. It appears that Ottie is having nostalgia for his old job.

Citizens have a duty to report serious crimes and felonious acts, however government should not encourage its citizens to snitch on each other for failing to pay a ten dollar tax bill, on a 300.00 dollar old junker of a car. I can understand cultivating snitches in a jail or prison environment, where the average resident is a criminal, however that just does not cut it when dealing with the honest people of the public at large. American goverment is predicated on the unity of the majority weal, pitting citizens against each other as tattletales is not an admirable quality in a leader. If the public is asked to snitch on their neighbors over petty things, they will become desensitized and apathetic when police agencies ask for legitimate information on serious crime.

We live in an era where people value their privacy. It is bad enough that the citizens of Cabell County fear terrorists and drug crazed criminals without fearing being turned in for something PETTY by each other.

It would please me to see Ottie Adkins leave the solicitation of informants to the narcotics task force of the Cabell County Sheriff's Department. Ottie Adkins appears to be nostalgic for his old job as sheriff, and it undermines his credibility in his current one. Ottie Adkins wants the people of Cabell County to "Fink on thy Neighbor" rather than "Love thy Neighbor". Thos who believe in "Love thy Neighbor" may well crucify those who revise and contradict their philosophy in the next election.

Stephanie Heck
Cabell County
West Virginia

It is my understanding that 38 have died as the result of the terrorist attacks in London UK.

Many here in West Virginia wish to express our human empathy for the wounded, and our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased victims of terror in London. It is our sincere desire that those terrorist criminals who have attacked the people of London are soon brought to justice.

Stephanie

I compiled a simple web page called the West Virginia Casualty Report as a tribute to native West Virginians who have died as the result of combat in Iraq. May our fallen West Virginia Soldiers and Marines never be forgotten. Have a happy fourth of July folks and remember those who made the sacrifice for freedom.

The West Virginia Casualty Report

http://www.sheck.com/westvirginiacasualtyreport/

Dear Cabell County Residents:

I am shocked at the level of recent crime in Huntington West Virginia. We have just had a quadruple murder here of four youth in the wee hours of the morning following a prom. These killings happened within 300 yards of Cabell Huntington Hospital. It seems that the only way to deal with the crack cocaine problem in Huntington is to place police right on top of the high crime areas. Police need to be in close proximity to crime to effectively combat it in high crime areas.

Suggestion: Due to the fact that Cabell County Commission is a major stockholder in Cabell Huntington Hospital. The sheriff would be well within his rights to have the security department at the hospital take training to qualify as auxiliary deputies. The sheriff is obligated to protect the county commissions property and has a valid legal interest in doing so. In the event of crime wave in the Hal Greer Blvd. area, these new auxiliary deputy sheriffs could be called upon to back up the Huntington Police Department and the sheriffs force of regular deputies. What I suggest is turning the security department at the hospital into an auxiliary deputy force under the authority of the county sheriff. The state constitution says the sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in a county, I am suggesting a strategy to help the sheriff expand law enforcement presence in close proximity to a high crime area that is well known for the illegal drug trade that has criminal repercussions throughout the county.

The Cabell Huntington Hospital has a legitimate medical interest in reducing the drug trade to defend the community health. The Cabell Huntington hospital has a vested interest in reducing crime in close proximity to the hospital grounds for the safety of the hospital employees.

The Cabell County Sheriff has a lawful enforcement interest in keeping high crime areas within the county under strict control.

The Cabell Huntington Hospital could could possibly partner with the County Sheriff's Department to expand the much needed law enforcement presence in the Hal Greer Blvd area, if only they would cooperate with each other for the sake of the community. The Cabell Huntington Hospital could amend the mission statement in the Hospital charter, to not only "promoting and protecting the community heath", but the amendment would include the "community heath and safety"

The lucrative contract for security at the hospital should be given to the sheriff's department because the County is part owner of the place. By all proper rights, the security of the hospital should properly be under the lawful authority of the sheriff as the constitutional law enforcement agent of the County commission. The sheriff has a right to control the courthouse law enforcement because the Cabell County Commission owns it. As long as the Cabell County Commission has part ownership of the hospital, the County Sheriff has a right to control all security and establish training standards for security personnel. I encourage the Cabell County Sheriff to exercise his rights to the detriment of the dope dealers in Cabell County. Those who wish to comment may do so at the link below this article marked comments. Feedback is appreciated.

Stephanie Heck

Cabell County

Huntington West Virginia

Election 2006

U.S. Senate Race Political Commentary for West Virginia

34 Year Old WV National Guard Captain Hiram Lewis has declared himself a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in West Virginia 2006 Election.

U.S. Senate Candidate Hiram Lewis's 2006 election web site has touted his commissioned connection with the WV National Guard in his capacity of a military officer to promote his political ambitions and leadership skills. It is understandable that a retired military officer would do this, because the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest is made void by the retired status. It is questionable if it is ethical to use ones current position with a state military organization to promote ones own political ambitions. This creates the appearance that the West Virginia National Guard endorses candidate Hiram Lewis in the 2006 Election.

The state police are not allowed to do this, is it permissible for a National Guard officer to do so? As I understand it, 34 Year Old Captain Hiram Lewis still holds an active commission in the West Virginia National Guard.

Captain Hiram Lewis's website reads more like a military resume, and Curriculum Vitae than a partisan political web site for a GOP senatorial candidate in the 2006 election.

Captain Lewis in his status as a National Guard officer is both a state employee, and a military man. The National Guard is the state military under the state Constitution, which is sometimes federalized to supplement the needs of the U.S. Army in time of war. The state of West Virginia funds the State Police, and the State National Guard from the states military budget. Mr. Hiram Lewis needs to clarify on his 2006 election web site that the WV National Guard does not and cannot endorse his political actions.

If he does not do this voluntarily, the Governor should be petitioned to order him to do so. Remember the Governor is the commander in chief of the state national guard as authorized by the state constitution. Captain Hiram Lewis needs to get it through his head that Joe Manchin is his commanding officer, prior to posting his affiliation with the State National Guard on a partisan political website for the 2006 election.

With the current situation in Iraq, and Afghanistan, there is a very real possibility that Captain Hiram Lewis may well be called to active duty in a military capacity for deployment to a combat zone...The US Army very much needs military officers with supervisory legal experience to manage the scandal laden prisons used to house Iraqi detainees. Captain Hiram Lewis is well qualified for a position as a warden there with his legal background as an attorney.

There is a very real possibility that he may be needed, because men with his combination of legal and military credentials are very hard to come by. Being a candidate for federal elected public office, would give Captain Hiram Lewis a viable exemption from potential deployment overseas for the duration of his term of office if elected. The fact that he is the GOP candidate for an elected office would give him exemption from deployment overseas until the election is over.

Traditionally, the National Guard and regular Army will not deploy its personnel overseas, if they are a federal candidate, party nominee, or holder of an elected public office out of respect for the constitutional electoral process. If Hiram Lewis advances his political capacities, it will diminish his military capacities for potential deployment.

There are several members of congress who hold commissions as national guard officers but they are not eligible for deployment overseas for exactly this reason.

That is what the military is all about, supporting and defending the constitution and the electoral process.

Mr. Hiram Lewis claims his campaign is not based on personal animosity for Senator Byrd. I wonder what his real motive for running for office is. A man of Captain Lewis's self professed military leadership skills are far to valuable to waste in public office in time of war. The war in Iraq is very unpopular among some members of the National Guard, but they are to be commended for doing their duty in spite of personal aversions to the Bush Administrations Iraqi cause.

However there are many members of the National Guard who will attempt all legal means to evade deployment to a war that they see as unjustified. I feel that the needs of the nations military are far greater than the needs of the State of West Virginia for a Republican Senator.

If Captain Hiram Lewis desires to serve the public, this is commendable. I wish to advise him to serve in the military capacity that he is most well trained and qualified. Patriotic West Virginian's cannot vote for him in good conscience, because we do not wish to deprive the armed forces with a qualified officer with scarce skills in time of war. This is simply a matter of patriotic sentiment on my part. There are several units of the WV National Guard currently in Iraq to my understanding.

Governor Manchin is the commander in chief of the WV National Guard, and our esteemed governor is well capable of making full use of Captain Lewis's greatly needed military leadership skills.

Captain Hiram Lewis has already done one tour in Iraq and he is commended for that, and if he desires to serve in a political capacity, he should follow the example of Dwight D. Eisenhower and patiently wait until the war is over to throw his political hat into the ring. General Eisenhower was a mature man who knew how to bide his time for political ambitions, and Hiram Lewis needs to patiently wait till the war in the middle east is over, before launching political salvo's at the U.S. Senate's senior democrat.

Traditionally Americans don't pass out military accolades until long after the war is over, and Eisenhower was smart enough to understand that. At age 34, Hiram Lewis has yet to reach that level of maturity. The question before the West Virginia voter is, is Bob Byrd too old, or is Hiram Lewis too young?

Robert Byrd is a fine Senator, and Hiram Lewis is a fine Military Officer with supervisory JAG Corps experience. The U.S. Senate needs Robert Byrd, and the nations military needs Hiram Lewis. Both men should serve in the capacity where they previously shown talent, and have established a proven track record. Mr. Lewis has a choice in engaging in political fighting with the democrats, or using his military talents to fight the armed mortal enemies of our nation. The question that profoundly begs an answer is "What are Hiram Lewis's priorities"? Does he even know?

Bond Election today in West Virginia. Whatever your political position is on this issue, time to get out and vote. The right to vote is precious and shoud be exercised in each election by every citizen in this state of West Virginia . If you dont vote you don't have much of a right to complain, so get out and vote if nothing else but to preserve your right to gripe about the government.

RESULTS: Gov. Joe Manchin's plans to re finance West Virginia's cronic problems with the underfunded state retirement system by selling up to 5.5 billion dollars in bonds was shot down bu the voters today. .Unofficial results from the special election showed the pension bond measure failed 46 percent voting for the bond measure, and 54 percent voting against the bond measure. Joe Manchin lost his arse on this one.

Stephanie Heck

Cabell County Huntington West Virginia 25701

Property Rights

A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Thursday that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development. Individual property rights are not what they used to be. The 5-4 ruling represented a huge defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are scheduled for destruction to make room for an office complex. The homeowners argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools. At issue was the scope of the Fifth Amendment, which allows governments to take private property through eminent domain if the land is for "public use."

The case on the Supreme Court Docket is { Kelo et al v. City of New London }

Commentary: You now have the right to own real estate, just as long as the city does not want it for the use of some private developer. Your property rights are now dependant on the municipal integrity, rather than the bill of rights. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, argued that cities should not have unlimited authority to uproot families, even if they are provided compensation, simply to accommodate wealthy developers. However she was out voted when she stood up for the little guy at the Supreme Court. Her argument was rejected by the majority.

I feel the founding fathers deemed property rights to be human rights due to free people. When eminent domain was first invoked in the early days of the republic, it was used to secure right of way for public and post roads. Eminent Domain was used to build a road across a farmers cornfield but never to tear someones house down until recent years, because people had a right to be secure in thier homes, persons, and papers, and to be safe and secure from unreasonable searches and siezures. Abuse of eminent domain would have been seen as an unreasonable siezure until recent devcades. Using eminent domain against somones home was unheard of in the days of the founders when American's had property rights in abundance. Only the filthy rich have rights in this day and time. The Constitutional rights of the common American just ain't what they used to be.

Stephanie Heck

Huntington

Cabell County

West Virginia

There are many political loudmouth people in national politics. I speak to thier defense.

Howard Dean has a big loudmouth and he says exactly what he thinks in national political debate as a liberal Democrat. Rush Limbaugh has a big loudmouth and says exactly what he thinks in political debate as a conservative Republican. The founders of this nation intended for the truth to be distilled from the intellectual chaos that comes from loudmouth political debate. As American's, let us revere free speech, rather than what is politically correct.

The science of rhetorical articulation has become so genteel and respectful, that it undermines the dirty business of loudmouth political debate that actually results in efficient government. Harry Truman was very much a loudmouth and was prone to employ numerous expletives in his lexicon, yet all who knew hin deemed him to be a man of great integrity. I prefer the ravings of an honest loudmouth to those of a rhetorical word-smth who takes ten thousand words to say nothing of value. Verbosity demands a measure of integrity.

By all means, let the liberal and conservative loudmouth politcal people fight it out. Political Free Speech is what makes America great, and we loudmouth political people know it well,  so shout it from the mountaintops.

Friends:

Please pass this article along to any and all officials of the democratic party and any other organization who might read it. We need to get this to the DNC so some action could be taken. Cabell County West Virginia has some of the most right wing democrats (closet case republicans) in the country running the county executive committee.

Stephanie

Is this Kosher? Not Hardly.

I was driving down Third Avenue in Downtown Huntington in Cabell County West Virginia when I saw this big billboard that had been posted as a paid political ad by the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee. This Billboard in Huntington claims that "DEMOCRATS ARE CHRISTIANS TOO". I have no idea why the Cabell County West Virginia Democratic Executive Committee is using party funds to preach a religious message. It would please me enormously if both the democrats and republicans would leave religion alone and quit generating theocratic propaganda. One of the reasons that I am registered as a Democrat is because I do support diversity and pluralism as opposed to the conformist conservative agenda of the GOP that relies heavily on the followers of TV preachers and evangelicals to keep them in office. It is the policy of the Democratic National Committee to support religious diversity and leave religion to the individual as a matter of individual faith and individual rights. The West Virginia Democratic Party is of a similar position to the best of my understanding. The Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee does not seem to get the message that religion and politics are a binary explosive combination that can hurt the party at higher levels when seeking donations and fundraising.

The Billboard in Huntington West Virginia Clearly States "Paid For By The Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee". This christian billboard campaign by the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee is grossly insensitive to the religious identity if non christian voters who just happen to be democrats. This conduct by the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee gives the impression that one has to be a "good christian" to be a "good democrat". It also gives the clear impression that non christian candidates cannot expect support from the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee. This type of gross insensitivity to the non christian voters who happen to be democrats by a county party committee should be brought to the Attention of the DNC and other organizations concerned with religious freedom. Help me get the word out please.

I sent the picture above to several of my Jewish friends who happen to be Democrats, and they were quite offended that the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee as a county extension of a political party of which they are members, would represent the party as a christian entity, or brag about a christian majority or the religious affiliation of the majority of democrats. To quote my Jewish friends: "It sends a message that non Christians are not quite welcome", and " As a Jewish person I will not donate to a party that puts out christian messages on billboards".

Speaking solely for myself: I am displeased that the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee is using party funds for this purpose. Non Christians do not desire for their religion to be re-defined by a political party of which they are members. When political parties start endorsing religions, it is not too long before political leaders are forced to toe the religious line to gain the parties endorsement, and I don't think the founding fathers would have liked that. We have seen Far too much of that from the republicans.

In Cabell County West Virginia we have some conservative "democrats" in leadership positions who are D.I.N.O's (Democrats In Name Only), AKA "Closet Case Republicans". If a liberal democrat would run for office in this county, the executive committee is far too right wing and ultra-conservative to support them. The Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee did not even try to organize the Huntington gay community against the Bush Campaign in the last election and made only a half hearted attempt to organize other disenfranchised and marginalized groups. As the result Bush won in West Virginia because regretably Democrats did not work hard enough to win.

It seems as though the evangelical goal of the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee is to prove that the political "loose cannons" have united to form a loose artillery unit. It is little wonder that the Governors campaign staff shunned the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee during the last election. The Governor is smart enough to avoid trouble like the plague until such time as the State Democratic Party gets a handle on Cabell County's Democratic Executive Committee, for impersonating a church in a democratic party that officially leaves matters of faith to the individual by official policy at the national level.

This is what happens when ultra conservative D.I.N.O.''s ( Democrats In Name Only ) get control of a County Democratic Executive Committee and go into a bad case of "Stark Raving Republican-itis". There is nothing conservative about Mr. Jefferson's conception of Democracy. True patriotism mandates a liberal broad mind that comprehends that "freedom" is a very liberal rebellion against the regressive arch-conservatism of the defenders of the status quo.

I fully support religious expression for individuals and religious institutions, but not for political parties because they are too closely tied to the electoral process and I respect the separation of church and state. Am I the last remaining liberal Democrat left in the State of West Virginia? One of the reasons I love the Democratic Party is because the Democratic National Committee acknowledges that religion is an individual matter. The Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee does not understand that a religious choice DOES NOT equate to a political choice in a democracy therefore the billboard in question is irrelevant to any legitimate political goal.

Jerry Falwell And Pat Robertson may feel that party affiliation is a religious choice, and by posting that Billboard the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee is playing the republican game on GOP turf and provoking non christian democrats in the process. The entire purpose of the establishment clause and free exercise clause of the First Amendment is to separate religion and politics and to protect the rights of religious minorities. Religion is not a majority rule proposition like political issues are.

I personally feel that the evangelical movement in the GOP known as the "religious right" is neither religious or right. Just another theocratic political movement under the command of the political commanders who run it with total contempt for the First Amendment.

If the billboard said "DEMOCRATS ARE ATHEISTS TOO" instead of "DEMOCRATS ARE CHRISTIANS TOO" think what an uproar it would create in West Virginia. Religious messages are subject to such a wide interpretation that there is no correct way to present one in a political context. I am not hostile to anyone's faith or lack thereof. I just prefer that the states democrats refrain from the same type of religious sloganeering that the GOP uses. The Theo-politics of the GOP that assumes the holier than thou mentality is contagious around election time. Let us not become what we detest. Non Christians are not in a habit if making a stink for the most part in this state. They will just passively refuse to donate to a party that claims to be christian on its billboards. The results of this sort of thing show up in fund raising reports the next time the state party goes on a fund raising drive.

The pages of political history are best turned in reverence for the way things are, rather than the way we desire them to be. To be pragmatic: Religion is the art of divinely dictated absolutes, and politics is the art of debate and compromise. Religion defies compromise, and politics embraces few if any absolutes. Mixing religion and politics is a recipe for something that can easily come back to haunt you in the next election.

Putting religious messages in a political slogan Billboard cheapens both religion and the sloganeer. All democrats have a vested interest in upholding the integrity of the party. I wish to thank the state executive committee for NOT following the religious example of the Cabell County Democratic Executive Committee on a state wide basis. We would never live that one down. It is because I do care about the integrity of the party that I oppose these Billboards, and those D.I.N.O's (Democrats In Name Only)who advocate undermining the DNC standard of leaving religion to the individual. To advocate political affiliation with the religious majority is to politically undermine religious minorities. For every action there is and opposite and equal reation and I regret to say the laws of physics are relevant to politics as well as the universe.There is nothing conservative about Mr. Jefferson's conception of Democracy. True patriotism mandates a liberal broad mind that comprehends a that freedom is a very liberal rebellion against the arch-conservatism of the defenders of the status quo.

Stephanie Heck

Huntington

Cabell County

West Virginia

I would like to meet other Computer Professionals who live in the Huntington West virginia area that have an interest in advanced web based technology.

I am a Linux web server network admin with a specialty in search engine optimization and keyword density enhancement for SEO in the linux platform.

I also specialize in MySQL driven PHP business applications, and content management applications, that are hosted server side with a web based html style graphic user interface to display data driven applications via port 80 with Apache 2.0 on a Fedora Box. I also do PHP / CGI tweaking and customization of freeware from sourceforge.

If you actually understood what I just said, I would like to meet you.

West Virginia Political Commentary:

Senator Robert C. Byrd has been in the U.S. Senate since before I was born. I think he has been there since Pharaoh was a pup. I am concerned that the daughter of Arch Moore ( Ms. Capito ) is planning to run against Senator Robert C. Byrd in the 2006 election.

Robert C. Byrd is one of the most accomplished constitutional scholars in the Senate, and is well recognized as an expert in the evolution of the rules, and the history of the Senate as a lawmaking body. A legal, historical, and and senate rules expert with decades of seniority will be hard to beat.

Let us be pragmatic: The United States Senate runs on a seniority system and Pork is the spoils of political warfare. Senator Robert C. Byrd has massive seniority and thus he has the capacity to bring home West Virginia's fair share of federal money. The reputation and seniority of Senator Robert C. Byrd is a tremendous asset to West Virginia that has served this state well for decades. Should Senator Robert C. Byrd choose to follow the example of Senator Jennings Randolph and spend the remainder of his life in the U.S. Senate, I will support him in that choice.

Nothing against Congresswoman Capito, but it will take at least 25 years of Senatorial Practicum to amass the skills necessary to replace Senator Robert C. Byrd in a lawmaking body that rewards seniority and relegates first term Senators to minor positions. There will come a time for a new face in the Senate but that time is in the distant future. Senator Robert C. Byrd spent a lifetime building up seniority and political skills, and in the U.S. Senate... seniority means power... and there is no way around that fact. Why abandon a known entity of proven merit at his political apex, and greatest productive capacity, for a newcomer who will not mature to full potential for 25 years?

My position has nothing to do with gender, but has more to do with mathematics. I just think that a senior ranking senator such as Robert C. Byrd can bring home more Federal money to West Virginia than a freshman senator can possibly hope to do. West Virginia needs money to overcome the huge loss of jobs in this state that has come about as a result of GOP policies that have been implemented to the great economic detriment of this state. The Federal Government has not had a balanced budget since the Democrats left the White House, and I an not quite ready to send another Republican to the Senate to spend our grandchildren into the poorhouse with deficit spending.

The troubles of the current generation are enough to keep a senior Senator like Robert C. Byrd busy defending the very few rights we have left.

There will come a time that West Virginia has a Woman Senator and I desire that in the future. However I will not vote to remove a powerful Senator like Robert C. Byrd to support a matriarchal feminist ideal. A Republican in a skirt is none the less a Republican, and gender is irrelevant. I also advise Democratic Women not to run against Senator Robert C. Byrd so party is really irrelevant too.

If Robert C. Byrd leaves the Senate, the whole state of West Virginia loses, because his seniority is not passed on to the new senator and this seniority is just too valuable an assent to dismiss on a whim.

Senator Robert C. Byrd still has quite a few tunes left to play on his Fiddle in his senior years when he is at the height of his power. I do not know anyone, be they male or female, who is qualified to replace him.

I strongly advise Congresswoman Capito to continue in the House of Representatives until she has sufficient seniority that she can attempt transition to the Senate without hurting the state in the process. A well seasoned house member integrates into the Senate far better than a junior member of the house. The time is not yet right for Ms. Capito to make a Senate bid because she has yet to pay her political dues in the House.

I suggest Congresswoman Capito refrain from running for the Senate until one of our West Virginia senators retires or dies. Ambition should give way to common sense. The pages of political history are best turned in reverence for the way things are, rather than the way we desire them to be. Robert C. Byrd is a very hard act to follow, and there is no feasible way that any first term Senator can fill his shoes as long as the U.S. Senate reserves its best positions for senior ranking members. If by some means Ms. Capito were to defeat Robert C. Byrd and then were not able to bring home the bacon like Senator Byrd does, People would resent her and she would only serve one term at best.

Both of the Senators from this state are very senior in senate ranking, and it is in the best interest of the state to keep it that way.

Stephanie Heck

Cabell County
Huntington West Virginia

http://sheck.com Is a web hosting provider and web design house. I own it. It has yet to catch on in this area but I have been consistantly promoting it online. Eventually I hope to promote business in this area.

Sheck Search Engine  Is a place where you can go to search the web or search sheck.com at your option. It is a branded interface to google and it is convienient.

Huntington Community Forum Is a message board that I have set up for huntington people to discuss items of interest to the Huntington West Virginia Area. The sheck.com website is ranked number one on the MSN search engine for Huntington WV. I figured a community discussion forum for local news might be a good idea for something potentially positive to let outsiders see Huntington West Virginia in a more positive light. I stress the word POSITIVE.

Sheck Chat Server for Huntington West Virginia  Is a chat room server that I have set up for huntington people to discuss items of interest to the Huntington West Virginia Area. The sheck.com website is ranked number eleven on the Google search engine for Huntington WV. I figured a community discussion forum for local news might be a good idea for something potentially positive to let outsiders see Huntington West Virginia in a more positive light. In short a potential employer wanting to locate here might want to ask questions about the area directly from Huntington West Virginia residents. The city of Huntington West Virginia spends money on a "Technology park" but makes little effort to reach out to the technology community, and thus I fear that Sony, Intel, and Microsoft are not going to relocate here in the near future. Is there something positive that can be done on a local level to make this town more attractive to the tech industry which is outsourcing large numbers of jobs to China and India at the moment. All I have done is set up a forum for local Huntington Residents to discuss it. So far it has not garnered much traffic but the word is still getting out ans I am sure that will change.

Comments and feedback are welcome. If you post a comment you might not see it immediately as I have had to moderate comments to keep the spammers under control. I read all comments submitted.

Stephanie

This Huntington West Virginia blog has hit counters on each article that is viewed because each article has its own individual page. The frontpage of the blog is an aggregate compilation that has its hit counter at the very bottom of the main page. It is very small. This site does about 1000-1500 views a day and half that traffic is local. This is developing into a potential communtity resource for the Huntington West Virginia area.

Prom Night turned out to be a tragic night of death for four youth aged 16-19, on prom night in Huntington West Virginia.

In the 1400 block of Charleston Avenue in Huntington, West Virginia, (about 4 A.M. Sunday morning) police discovered four youth aged 16 to 19 had been shot to death in the wee hours of the morning following the prom at the high school. 2 of the Victims were from Huntington West Virginia, and a third was from Barboursville and the fourth was from South Point Ohio.

Details are vague at this point, and police have yet to make much information public, as much related to this Prom Night tragedy of four deaths is still being investigated. The area around the Charleston Avenue scene of the prom night killings is known as a high crime area with much dope related crime, and it has been the scene of past shootings. The motive for the four prom night murders is unknown at this time.

A two year old Huntington WV girl has been mauled to death by a Pit Bulldog canine Attack in the Guyandotte section of Huntington on Buffington Street.. It is no wonder that the Pit Bulldog is banned in parts of Canada and Australia and complete bans on Pit Bulldogs are in effect in Italy and Germany. Leave it to West Virginia to tolerate an animal that has been banned in numerous jurisdictions because they are prone to attack children on a regular basis. The best cure for a pitbull is a 38 Smith & Wesson.

Pit Bulldogs are not bred to be pets, they are bred to kill or be killed as fighting dogs. Pit Bulldogs are frequently used by drug dealers to thwart police raids. Dogfighting and drug dealing are both illegal in West Virginia and I have no idea why the legislature allows these malicious dogs to be classified as domestic pets.

From a Genetic point of view a Wolf is a species of canine, but you do not want one for a pet because they are wild animals with a mean streak when hungry, and they are always hungry. It is illegal to keep a wolf as a domestic pet because they are classified as wildlife.

How many children have to die before the legislature acts to ban these hateful badly bred malicious Pit Bulldog animals from our state of West Virginia?

Pit Bulldogs are great if you are a dope dealer. If Pitbulls were banned, all the dope dealers would be missing their pets...and be forced to get a lazy hound dawg instead.

If Huntington City Council had any creative backbone, we would have a 2500.00 license fee to own a Pit Bulldog and force all these blasted dope dealers to pay their fair share and register with the city so the cops would be able to know where they live. The money could be used to pay funeral expenses for mauled children and pay the medical bills for Huntington WV policemen who were bitten by dogs during drug raids.

It would please me enormously to see the Circuit Court order the animal shelter destroy these animals upon arrival to reduce their numbers in the community. but that is an intelligent and creative thought. The Huntington housing authority could legally justify banning the breed from public housing projects due to the presence of children, I know that thought would displease the dope heads up in Marcum Terrace, but Frankly Scarlett.......

In light of the fact that a policeman can be sued for shooting someones pet, I would like to see the legislature give police immunity from liability if they are required to shoot a malicious dog.

There are more Pitbulls in this town than ever before, because there are more dope dealers than ever beforeand we need to be creative in our strategies to control them. There is a word for a worthless animal that constitutes a health hazard.....PEST.

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Stephanie Heck

Huntington West Virginia 25701

Friends:

I spent most of the day doing housework. The dishes were impersonating Pikes Peak while the laundry pile looked like it was impersonating the Swiss Alp's. It was a mountain of a job. Alas, it is springtime, so it is time to clean house with a bulldozer and a shovel. (Dynamite helps) Massive quantities of Clorox, 409, and detergent make the job much easier ( The climbing gear makes the trek to the top of the laundry pile go so much faster.)

I actually think there is a black hole in the bottom of the washing machine that devours missing socks that are never heard from again.

I hear a squeak in the washing machine belt that convinces me that the machine is making lamentations over the work load. If I look in the back end of the dryer I am afraid I will find all the missing lint. The dryer quit working last February. I think it gave up Lint for Lent.

Anyway the cat seems enormously pleased that I am am cleaning up her place, because the cat is convinced I am trespassing in her house, but she seems content to tolerate my presence as long as I am doing housework.

Stephanie Heck

I ran into Bobby Nelson yesterday evening in a public place. The years have been kind to Bobby Nelson. He appears to be in good health and in a good mood. I have known Bobby Nelson since I was a child, at that time Bobby Nelson was Congressman Ken Hechler's assistant.

I have witnessed that the City of Huntington West Virginia has published the names of municipal fee deadbeats on the city of Huntington West Virginia website. When the global search engines index that website and your name becomes available as a deadbeat to the global internet, you will be upset with city hall.

When you pay your fees they are supposed to remove your name from the deadbeats list.

However when something is published online, it cannot be retracted. The City of Huntington did not think this through. This is the reason that the state of West Virginia does not put legal notices of tax delinquency on the internet. Because it cannot be retracted when the obligation is met. The internet has its drawbacks and it is not like a newspaper where an editor is in charge. There is no central authority on the internet to enforce the duty to retract once the obligation is met.

The reason that the state of Florida put a list of convicted sex offenders online is because it is a permanent label for convicts that the state desires to be permanent and does not wish to retract. The newspaper is much better suited for notices of delinquency, and the internet is better suited for notices about convicted sex offenders. Simply because information that is published on the internet can never be retracted.

I just hope nobody gets the City Of Huntington West Virginia list of tax and municipal fee deadbeats mixed up with the states sex offender list. That deadbeats list is a treasure trove for unscrupulous internet data mining companies who sell information about people.

The law allows for publication of a tax deadbeats list in the newspaper located within the jurisdiction of the government making the publishing. There is no physical location for the internet. Legal notices of delinquency are properly published locally and not globally. I would be enormously pleased if the City of Huntington West Virginia were to think first before acting.

When you start getting junk mail galore because Internet data mining companies have picked up that list. Maybe you can forward it all to city hall. Nobody seems to have thought about that... did they?

Stephanie Heck

Cabell County

Huntington West Virginia