Thursday, December 2, 1948
Along in the fall time of the year, I make it a point to inquire of Cecil Curry at the municipal water plant about the fish which come over the water wheel as they travel downstream. This year, he reports that few bass came his way. This can easily be accounted for by the fact that Knapps Creek has had plenty of water the whole year through, so the bass could more easily go around, than go into the intake. However, Mr. Curry did give me a surprise when he told me that rainbow trout in considerable number were seen coming over the wheel. He observed a goodly number of trout at the intake, too. The average length was about nine inches. I will check the records to see where rainbow trout were planted last spring. Of late years, fish culturists have been telling about rainbow trout having a tendency to travel downstream. Mr. Curry now furnishes tangible evidence of how and when they do it.
The Deer Hunting
Rain, snow, sleet, slick roads and high water, marked the opening on Monday of the six-day hunting season for deer in Pocahontas County. There were about as many hunters as usual, but the guess is the kill was not as great as usual on the first day. The opening of the big Cranberry area took a lot of hunters into that part of the Black Forest.
Congressman Staggers
Congressman Harley Staggers passed through Pocahontas County last week, traveling to and from a speaking engagement down at Welch. As was expected, he was elected to Congress in the recent election by the comfortable majority of 10,000 and better. He is a good man, and the type to keep in the House of Representatives. He will set about to learn his trade as a Congressman. Believe me, it is a trade, too.
The background of Mr. Staggers is that of a teacher. I think I see clearly, there are two great causes long neglected, which are now at the forefront for consideration and action. I refer to federal defense against ignorance and disease…
National Forest
Arthur A. Wood, Superintendent of the Monongahela National Forest, had an all day planning meeting of his district foresters at the prison camp on Cranberry last Thursday…
Timber sales on the Forest are now in sufficient volume to supply a few local operators with continuous supplies of stumpage. This also provides timber stand improvement through removal of defective trees.
In this connection, there is need for the development of a demand by local operators for ties, pulpwood, mine props and other small tree products…
Satisfactory progress was reported on game food and shelter plantings over much of the forest area.
DEATHS
John Rodgers Hevener, aged 82 years, died at his home near Stony Bottom, Friday afternoon, November 26, 1948. On Saturday afternoon, his body was laid to rest in the family plot in Arbovale Cemetery. The service was held from Alexander Memorial Church… Mr. Hevener was the son of the late Uriah and Mary Rodgers Hevener… He married Miss Anna Virginia Pritchard, who preceded him some years since. Their children are John and Paul, Mary and Virginia.
Thus is noted the passing of a prominent citizen and a thoroughly good man. A humble and working Christian, he was for many years a Ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church…
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Mrs. Annie Gum Oliver, aged 72 years, widow of the late J. Washington Oliver, died at her home in Greenbank, Sunday afternoon, November 28, 1948… The funeral is set for the home on Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be in the family plot in Arbovale cemetery. The deceased was a daughter of the late Robert and Annie Riley Gum…
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W. A. McCray was born May 9, 1866, and died November 5, 1948. His parents, Elmus McCray and Mary Hughes McCray, came to West Virginia in the year of 1870 and settled near the mouth of the West Fork… Mr. McCray was twice married, his first wife was Miss Cordelia Garretson… He was married to Fannie G. Hanges, of Roane county in 1911. They made their home at Durbin, where he worked in the timber industry and farmed for about 40 years.
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John Henry Ryder, aged 90 years, of Williamsburg, died in a nursing home Friday, November 26, 1948. On Tuesday afternoon, his body was laid to rest in the Stony Bottom cemetery, the funeral being held from the Clover Lick Church.