.Many years ago when I worked at THE COURIER I did a monthly column entitled ‘HOMETOWN HEARTBEAT’. Schmaltzy, huh? But, not to me! I wrote about individuals whom I viewed as the very heartbeat of a small town. These individuals had their on the pulse of the community and made sure things got done. Quite frankly, they felt ownership of their town. I wrote a lot of ‘HOMETOWN HEARTBEATS’ and I still have most of those columns. Teddy Turley, Rev. Fields, John Kuzio, Mary Jones, Miss Marshall, I even did my own Dad, John D. Herron. Most have passed, but in all very separate and diverse ways they made a difference in their hometown.
……..No, we’re not Mayberry, RDF and Chickie Skinner not Andy Griffith, but his involvement in every aspect of the community rivals any small town. Chickie doesn’t just live and work in New Cumberland, he LIVES New Cumberland. I wasn’t covering Council for very long before I realized Chickie didn’t just attend Council meetings, he gave opinions and information on the issues confronting the town. He is a visible presence at every town event and makes sure many of those events take place, He works relentlessly to make sure kids have presents for the Childrens Breakfast and is a driving force on the parade and festival committee.
……..Edwin Flowers was one of my very favorite people. I knew he had reached far beyond the farm in New Manchester to achieve his goals, but he never truly left us. He came back to set up his law practice (sister Marsha was his first secretary) and he and Dad bonded immediately. They had a lot in common. They were both farm boys who had left the farm. Edwin and Ellie built their house beside us and I became the designated babysitter. The thing I think I valued the most in Edwin was his spark of enthusiasm. When I read about him organizing parades for his eight- year- olds buddies, I could see it immediately in my mind’s eye. I thought yep that’s Edwin, who else gets a group of eight- year-olds to march behind him. But, I saw that same enthusiasm in him when he was vice president of institutional advancement for WVU (fancy word for lobbyist). He enthused you about WVU and inspired you about the University’s potential. His enthusiasm and energy made you want to follow Edwin’s lead.
………It’s gloomy and the news is often negative. If you want a feel-good Sunday, make sure to attend next week’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony and Spirit of Scouting award. It’s not an event for close family and friends, it’s for the entire community to recognize not only these inductees, but those who came before them. I promise it will make you feel good and I can assure you it make the inductees and their families day even more special.
……..Filing for election is over and only a few surprises. I thought there would be more vying for the Board of Education. I think there will be a real race between Gittings and Polgar for Sheriff and it very well turn out to be a north/south race. While Gittings is a northern Hancock guy, he still doesn’t have much exposure in Weirton. Polgar, on the other hand lives in Weirton, but covers the entire county with his ambulance service and has been PRO officer at Oak Glen and a cop in New Cumberland.
…….Will the Democrats in the State races be token ones just to fill the ticket. I don’t think Steve Williams will be for Governor, he’s a formidable candidate and a likeable campaigner. Not sure, why Theresa Toriseva entered the Attorney General’s race. The Democratic candidate lost a bid for the House of Delegates and it’s a quantum leap from a District race to a Statewide race. While she’s known for representing public employees, they may be able to vote for her, but many are prohibited from campaigning for her.
…….Looking forward to watching the races unfold from the best seat in the house.