Thursday, October 10, 1968
Work is progressing on a new home for Mr. and Mrs. Dharl Dever below Marvin Chapel Church.
Rev. and Mrs. Carl E. Boggs spent the weekend in Beckley. They were accompanied by their son, Maurice Boggs.
Mrs. Ethel Stewart and Mrs. Mary Davis visited Leal Truss in the Ronceverte Hospital on Sunday.
Football
Marlinton continued its winning streak by defeating Union Friday 55 – 12, making it 18 consecutive wins. The team is ranked second in the State in the State Class A rating this week, one behind leading Monongah; both have 6 – 0 records. Last week, Ivan Withers, Marlinton’s leading scorer with 65 points, ranked fifth in the state’s scorers, Teddy Dunbrack, sixth, with 63 points and Mike Cain, seventh, with 61 points at that time.
Bear Meeting
If there had been any illusion in Charleston that Pocahontas farmers weren’t vitally concerned about the bear refuge in the Back Country, it was dispelled Monday night when 150 or more interested citizens met with Director of Natural Resources T. R. Samsell.
Samsell was noticeably on the defensive as he explained his Department’s responsibility under law for all of the renewable resources of the State of West Virginia, which include game, for the good of all 1,800,000 of her citizens; the latest addition to its responsibility was control and reclamation of strip mining areas. The Department has 645 employees for enforcement, parks, game and fish, water control, etc.
Samsell presented information concerning the game program and then fairly and sympathetically heard all opinions and comments…
Pete Zurbach estimated the bear population in West Virginia at about 500, which is concentrated in the eastern section, including Pocahontas, but bear have been sighted in all counties, now coming back in deserted coal areas. The kill in West Virginia averages around 50 compared to 100 to 400 in Virginia. The main breeding places are Otter Creek in Randolph, Flat Rock, Tucker, the Cheat area and Cranberry Back Country, and the eastern edge of Monroe…
He estimated bear hunters spend $1,300.000 each year. In comparison, the sheep industry is worth three to four million dollars. Sherman Beard, Harvey Galford and Bert McMillion gave actual examples of how the 100,000 acre bear refuge is a real threat to their livelihood, forcing them to abandon thousands of acres of good grazing land.
Tom Edgar suggested that the boundary of the refuge area be moved back.
Argile Arbogast and others were seeking a clarification as to whether or not they could pursue a sheep killing bear into the refuge. Samsell would not state that was permissible now…
Samsell proposed the selection of a representative group to meet with the Department of Natural Resource within the next 10 days or so to work toward a solution. The following men were named: Don Vandevender, Slaty Fork; Sherman Beard, Hillsboro; Harvey Galford, Slaty Fork; June W. Galford, Dunmore; John Wimer, Hillsboro; Bert McMillion, Renick; Tom Edgar, Hillsboro; Eugene Simmons, Marlinton; Fred Burns, Marlinton; and Argile Arbogast, Hillsboro.
DEATHS
Mrs. Ella Moore Grimes, 82, of Huntersville, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Susan Moore. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
Carl Lou Gibson, 65, of Marlinton, a son of the late Frank and Rosa Belle Shelton Gibson. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery at Marlinton.
Mrs. Lynn Gay Hamilton, 84, of Buena Vista, Virginia; born near Marlinton, a daughter of the late Levi and Lucy Levisay Gay. Burial in Buena Vista. Miss Margaret Gay and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Gay attended the funeral of their sister and aunt, Mrs. Lynn Gay Hamilton, in Buena Vista, Virginia.
Mrs. Ruth Elizabeth Wells Demotto, 47; born at Beard, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Wells. Burial in the Morningside Cemetery at Renick.
Mrs. Mae E. Zimmerman, 62, of Marlinton, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kiner. Burial in the Cochran Cemetery.
Everett Amos Dilley, 73, a lifelong resident of Dunmore; a son of the late Amos and Arminta Dilley.