Thursday, February 23, 1967
We had extremely high winds last Wednesday night, blowing off roofs, etc. Reports had it as high as 60 to 80 miles an hour, but the instruments at Green Bank were broken and no one else has any records. The wind was mild but brought cold air on Thursday and four to six inches of snow Friday.
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The seven registered nurses of Pocahontas Memorial Hospital again met with the Board of Trustees on February 15, 1967, in regard to a raise that we had asked for. We had met with them on February 6 and asked for a raise of $100 per month on each nurse’s check and a 40 hour work week. The board of Trustees refused our request and offered us $375 with a 44 hour week and all fringe benefits to stand as they are at present or $400 per month with no fringe benefits and 44 hours. We felt we could not accept this, so we gave the Board of Trustees a blanket resignation signed by all seven registered nurses, effective March 1, 1967…
In the February 9 issue of The Pocahontas Times, it was stated that our base pay was $354 or $314 after deductions for hospitalization, insurance, retirement and social security… We only make $314 base pay, and total take home pay is $247.54.
We do not feel that we are asking for too much. It is not our desire to see the hospital closed but this is what we have been told is going to happen. We feel that the hospital has stayed open at the expense of the nurses for a long time. We feel that it is time for someone to give and bend a little instead of the nurses doing it all.
Therefore, we area all agreed that if the decision is not made in our favor, we will no longer be employees of the hospital as of March 1, 1967.
– The Nurses
VARMINT
The Greenbrier Independent carried the story last week of the killing of a “critter” that had played havoc with sheep in the Richlands area of Greenbrier County for 18 months. Sam Jarrett shot the animal, variously described as a cross of a Russian Wolf-hound, a cross of Norwegian and German Shepherd, a timber wolf and a red wolf. A veterinarian said it definitely is not a dog. Most who have seen the fierce looking animal say it fits the picture and description of a red wolf. The red wolf is a fast disappearing animal found in East Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Since 1965 various people have reported seeing wild looking animals and hunts have been made and traps set. An old animal and three cubs were reportedly seen once so there are more “critters” around. This animal’s age was placed at 8 to 10 months.
At least 200 sheep have been killed by the varmints. Many were killed with a slit throat without being eaten or having wool torn.
National FFA Week
“Agriculture – Strength of America” is this year’s Future Farmers of America Week theme, Agriculture accounted for $392 million in West Virginia’s economy in the 1964 survey, and 40,000 persons worked full-time in agricultural occupations.
Pocahontas County has three FFA Chapters, made up of boys studying vocational agriculture. Green Bank has 62 boys, Hillsboro has 36 boys, and Marlinton has 53 boys…
NRAO
Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va) announced today that the National Science Foundation expects to spend $6,424,000 in West Virginia in the 12-month period which begins on July 1, with the principal expenditure proposed for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank.
“The expenditures at Green Bank are expected to total $5.6 million with the remaining $824,000 earmarked for research and educational development grants for West Virginia Schools,” said Byrd.
“I am pleased to learn that research at Green Bank has produced important new findings in the field of quasi-stellar objects, which are new found bodies existing outside our galaxy and located four to five billion light years away…”
Engagement
Mr. and Mrs. Cloy Nottingham, of Dunmore, announce the engagement of their daughter, Carolyn, to Charles Sheets, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Sheets, of Green Bank.
A June wedding is planned.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Simmons, of Dunmore, a daughter, named Anita Jean.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Glen Curtis Pyles, of Clifton Forge, Virginia, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. June Buzzard, of Marlinton, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Alderman, of Mill Point, a daughter, named Melissa Kaye.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Grady Mullens, of Hunters-ville, a son, named Chuck David.
DEATHS
Mrs. Genevieve Moss Doyle, 53, of Stony Bottom; born at Caldwell, a daughter of the late William and Amanda Moss. Burial in the Stony Bottom Cemetery.
Fred Golden Conrad, 76, a lifelong resident of Arbovale; a son of the late Emory and Eliza Jane Wooddell Conrad. Burial in the Arbovale Cemetery.
Robert Melvin Sparks, 61, of Marlinton; a son of Samuel and Emma Griffin Sparks. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
Homer Birchfield, 52, of Hillsboro; burial in the Old Brick Church Cemetery at Hillsboro.