Charleston Gazette back issues from February 2008:
Recusal panel being sought: ; Lawmakers would amend state constitution
Feb 01, 2008; ... Lawmakers launched a legislative response Thursday to theconflict of interest allegations that have rocked West Virginia'sSupreme Court. Touched off by European vacation photos of the chief justice witha coal company's top executive, the bipartisan resolution wouldamend the state ...
County backs tax cuts for jets: ; Proposal will create jobs, Carper says
Feb 01, 2008; ... rustymarks@wvgazette.com Kanawha County officials say they will support a proposal toeliminate taxes on corporate aircraft despite the fact that themeasure will cost the county more than $1 million in annual taxrevenue. "I think it's the right thing to do," Kanawha County ...
Obama, Clinton face-to-face: ; Illinois senator's campaign reports raising record $32 million in January
Feb 01, 2008; ... LOS ANGELES - Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clintonsparred, for the most part cordially, over immigration, health careand the war in Iraq in their first one-on-one debate on Thursday asthey faced high-stakes Super Tuesday contests that could go a longway toward determining ...
Three charged in cattle-brokering scam: ; Ronceverte man accused in $4.2M swindle
Feb 01, 2008; ... BECKLEY - A cattle broker has been accused of defraudinginvestors and lenders of $4.2 million through scams that includedselling the same herd to different buyers. Kevin Scott O'Brien, 27, of Ronceverte, was charged Wednesday ina federal information with one felony count of frauds ...
Super supporters: ; Moss a 'hometown hero'; Friends to cheer for Rand native in Super Bowl
Feb 01, 2008; ... "Big Mike" Thomas' daily ritual as head custodian at DuPontMiddle School starts by unlocking the doors to the gymnasium andlooking high on the wall at a photo of his good friend, Randy Moss. In an adjacent hallway, Thomas glances into a trophy casehonoring Moss, ex-teammate Jason ...
Pocahontas deputy case to go to grand jury
Feb 01, 2008; ... gharki@wvgazette.com Pocahontas County Sheriff Robert Alkire's son was taken to thehospital after a Nov. 30 incident where the sheriff's deputy firedhis department-issue pistol at his girlfriend's house. Robert Alkire II got into a verbal altercation with hisgirlfriend ...
Advocates call for nursing home voting guidance
Feb 01, 2008; ... WASHINGTON - Nursing homes, notorious places for voter fraud,need greater guidance on how to help residents vote, senators andelections advocates said Thursday. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate Special Committeeon Aging, said he and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., planned ...
WVU narrows law school dean candidates
Feb 01, 2008 ... West Virginia University has narrowed its search for the dean ofits law school to six candidates. Each candidate will visit the school next month. The candidates are: Marion G. Crain of the University of NorthCarolina School of Law; Mary J. Davis of the ...
THINGS TO DO TODAY
Feb 01, 2008 ... Music * MARSHALL UNIVERSITY JAZZ FESTIVAL: 7:30 p.m. Adults $10,students $5. Featuring Dan Trudell, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra andMark Zanter Group. Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center, Marshall.Call 696-3147. * WEST VIRGINIA SYMPHONY: 8 p.m. Tickets $9 to $49 ....
Undersea Internet cables snap, shut out Asia, Mideast
Feb 01, 2008; ... NEW DELHI - At least for a while, the World Wide Web wasn't soworldwide. Two cables that carry Internet traffic deep under theMediterranean Sea snapped, disrupting service Thursday across aswath of Asia and the Middle East. India took one of the biggest hits, and the damage ...
Mountain Stage to play on Sunday
Feb 01, 2008 ... Regardless of what happens between the New England Patriots andthe New York Giants this weekend, the Mountain Stage show must goon. Mountain Stage's 25th season continues at 7 p.m. Sunday at theCultural Center in the Capitol Complex. Performers will include African-American ...
U.S. kills terrorist in Pakistan: ; Al-Qaida commander said to be behind
Feb 01, 2008; ... ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A missile from a U.S. Predator drone strucka suspected terrorist safehouse in Pakistan and killed a top al-Qaida commander believed responsible for a brazen bomb attack duringa visit last year by Vice President Cheney to Afghanistan, a U.S.official said ...
Behind the lawsuits, horrible pain
Feb 01, 2008; ... My brother formerly had a remote hilltop home near Wileyville,Wetzel County, reachable only by a one-lane gravel road. It was anenchanting example of Almost Heaven, West Virginia. The silence of nature there was engulfing and peaceful. Fromnearby crests, I could look over ridges ...
Readers' forum
Feb 01, 2008 ... Break the chain of domestic violence Editor: I was in Kroger one day when I noticed a girl in front of me.When she stepped aside so I could pass, what I was looking at wasnot a pretty sight; she had two black eyes. I started thinking backto the time I looked like that ....
U.S. not ready for attack, report says
Feb 01, 2008; ... WASHINGTON - The U.S. military isn't ready for a catastrophicattack on the country, and National Guard forces don't have theequipment or training they need for the job, according to a report. Even fewer Army National Guard units are combat-ready today thanwere nearly a year ago ...
Math standards: ; Can W.Va. hack it?
Feb 01, 2008; ... DISTRESSINGLY, the reaction to higher math standards for WestVirginia high school students among some educators has a defeatistring. Teachers and counselors have lamented that if all high schoolstudents are pushed into algebra and higher math to graduate, as thestate Board of Education ...
Bigotry: ; Disgusting relic
Feb 01, 2008; ... SENIOR West Virginians can remember the days when the onlyAmericans who really counted were WASPs (white Anglo-SaxonProtestants). Actually, in those times, it was just male WASPs whoruled virtually everything. However, demography changes relentlessly. Minorities keep ...
Victim's family wants stiffer charge: ; St. Albans man accused of trying to steal wallet after wreck
Feb 01, 2008; ... rustymarks@wvgazette.com Friends and family of wreck victim Jeff Tyler want stiffercharges filed against the man who allegedly tried to steal Tyler'swallet rather than calling for help. On Jan. 5, Tyler was heading to work at about 5 a.m. when he hita patch of ice on W.Va ....
Boom to bust: ; Remaining mortgage brokers struggle to survive
Feb 01, 2008; ... Mortgage brokers who haven't fled the industry or been forced outare in survival mode. They're coping with little or no business as the economy slows,accusations that they're to blame for the mortgage meltdown,stricter lending standards and the threat of new regulations.Efforts ...
State briefs
Feb 01, 2008 ... Davis & Elkins reduces staff ELKINS - Davis & Elkins College has eliminated 10 staff positionsand is calling on some of its highest paid employees to voluntarilyreduce their salaries. The private Presbyterian college says it is trying to reduceoperating costs and align its ...
Putnam man sentenced to 15 years in carjacking
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Putnam County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison infederal court on Wednesday for a 2006 carjacking in Logan, the U.S.Attorney's Office announced. Larry David Elkins, 37, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty inSeptember, admitting that he stole a car at knifepoint outside ...
Readers' voice
Feb 01, 2008 ... * Is there anyway that Linda Arnold could furnish me copies ofher articles that appear in the [Gazette-Mail] on Sunday? I wouldgladly pay for it because her advice is better than any self-helpbook I have ever read. It is concise and easily understood. * I thought today's editorial ...
Mortgage rates rise for first time in '08
Feb 01, 2008; ... WASHINGTON - Rates on 30-year mortgages rose for the first timethis year after four straight weekly declines. Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.68 percent this week, up from5.48 percent last week. That had been the ...
National briefs
Feb 01, 2008 ... Navy SEAL shot, killed during training SAN DIEGO - The Navy is investigating the death of a SEAL who waskilled during a live-fire training exercise in Mississippi. The SEAL, whose identity was being withheld until relatives couldbe notified, died Wednesday after being shot ...
Nurse tells police he abused patients
Feb 01, 2008; ... SANDUSKY, Ohio - Investigators have verified 14 cases of abuse bya nightshift nurse who told police he abused nearly 100 patients athealth-care centers since the 1980s, authorities said Thursday. John Riems, 49, was arrested last week and has been charged withraping a partially ...
FDA warns epilepsy drugs may raise suicide risk
Feb 01, 2008; ... WASHINGTON - Epilepsy drugs used by millions of people mayincrease the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, the Food andDrug Administration warned Thursday in an alert to doctors. The FDA analyzed almost 200 studies of 11 anti-seizure drugs,some that have been on the market for ...
Mount Olive fugitive caught in Boone County
Feb 01, 2008 ... A man who escaped from the Mount Olive Correctional Complex inNovember was captured Thursday evening in Boone County, police said. Robert A. Brady was caught by officers from the U.S. Marshals andthe Boone County Sheriff's Department, said Sgt. D.W. Sutphin of thesheriff's ...
LOTTERY: ; LOTTERIES
Feb 01, 2008 ... Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 West Virginia: Daily 3 - 216 Daily 4 - 4577 Cash 25 - 2-4-6-20-22-23 Ohio: Night Pick 3 - 743 Night Pick 4 - 1294 Day Pick 3 - 333 Day Pick 4 - 0658 Rolling Cash 5 - ...
Drifter gets life term for slaying hiker
Feb 01, 2008; ... DAWSONVILLE, Ga. - The wiry, graying drifter sought for severaldays in the New Year's Day disappearance of a 24-year-old hikerpleaded guilty Thursday to murdering her in what authorities calleda frustrated robbery attempt. In a startlingly swift resolution to the case, Gary ...
World weather
Feb 01, 2008 ... Amsterdam 44 35 Rain Athens 50 32 Clr Baghdad 50 26 PCldy Berlin 41 37 Rain Bermuda 68 56 PCldy Cairo 56 45 Rain Calgary 5 -20 Snow Dublin 43 32 Rain Hong Kong 51 46 Rain Jerusalem 46 44 Rain London 46 39 ...
National weather
Feb 01, 2008 ... Anchorage 11 3 Clr Atlanta 49 38 PCldy Boston 40 26 Snow Charlotte,N.C. 51 39 Rain Chicago 26 24 Snow Cincinnati 39 31 Snow Cleveland 29 25 Snow Dallas-Ft Worth 54 29 Clr Denver 34 18 PCldy Detroit 25 20 Snow Elkins 46 ...
Capital cuts Veritas down to size: ; Coal Classic; Roundup,; 4B
Feb 01, 2008; ... rickryan@wvgazette.com BECKLEY - Capital faced a tall task Thursday at the Coal Classic.Fortunately for the Cougars, they were "up" for the challenge. Malik Witten and Rio Berkley each scored 16 points and Capital'squickness vexed Veritas Christian all over the court, leading ...
Tough loss for WVU Tech: ; Cumberlands escapes with 59-58 victory
Feb 01, 2008; ... mikewhiteford@wvgazette.com MONTGOMERY - It was a typical night of Mid-South Conferencebasketball, spiced with the requisite rough stuff, bodies on thefloor and, not surprisingly, low shooting percentages. In its second season in the Mid-South, West Virginia UniversityTech ...
Wilkerson's emergence and other Herd notes
Feb 01, 2008; ... FOUR ITEMS to munch on before shopping for the perfect Super Bowlfood tray: * Marshall's basketball team desperately needs an inside forceand, finally, Tyler Wilkerson is delivering. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Lexington, Ky., scored 16 points inMarshall's overtime victory ...
Minter offered Herd position: ; Ex-Cincinnati head coach to fill slot as defensive coordinator
Feb 01, 2008; ... dougsmock@wvgazette.com Former Cincinnati head coach Rick Minter has been offered thedefensive coordinator position at Marshall, an MU official confirmedThursday. The hiring could be completed as early as this morning. TheSporting News reported Thursday that the deal has ...
Winfield boys forfeit 12 wins: ; Player ruled ineligible by SSAC after transfer
Feb 01, 2008; ... mikewhiteford@wvgazette.com The Winfield boys basketball team, which recently rose to No. 1in the Class AA poll, has been forced to forfeit 12 of its victoriesthis season because of the use of an ineligible player. Winfield athletic director Bruce McGrew learned Thursday ...
INSIDE
Feb 01, 2008 ... Out of nowhere Receiver Wes Welker has made ...
Meeting, etc.
Feb 01, 2008 ... * The North Putnam Little League is having its final sign-upstoday for ages five to 15 at the Eleanor Municipal Building from 6to 8 p.m. Three proofs of residency are required along with a birthcertificate to sign up. For more info, contact Jake Shilling at 552-2475. * The ...
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
Feb 01, 2008 ... Today's quote "Didn't say much. Very polite. Didn't talk like acoach. In other words, he didn't swear a lot. You're like, 'This guywill never make it ... He's not going to last. The players are goingto eat him up.'" Former Lions tight end Charlie Sanders on NewEngland coach Bill ...
Youth basketball
Feb 01, 2008 ... MIDDLE SCHOOL Girls Andrew Jackson 57, Elkview 14 AJ - Gordon 20, Allen 16; E - Paxton 5 Record - AJ: 16-0 Charleston Catholic 41, Sissonville 18 CC - Geis 15, Wood 11; S - Henry 7 Horace Mann 35, DuPont 19 HM - Tunstalle 13, Peoples ...
Coal Classic
Feb 01, 2008 ... Coal Classic At Raleigh County Convention Center, Beckley Monday's results * Game 1: Huntington 64, Nicholas County 19 (girls) * Game 2: Trinity Christian 61, Meadow Bridge 40 (A boys) * Game 3: Gilbert 50, Greenbrier West 48 (A boys) * Game 4: ...
Prep basketball
Feb 01, 2008 ... BOYS Conference standings Mountain State Athletic East Pos-School Div Conf All 1. Woodrow Wilson 4-0 7-2 7-3 2. Capital 4-1 10-1 12-1 3. George Washington 3-1 8-2 9-4 4. Princeton 3-2 3-7 5-9 5. Parkersburg 2-2 3-7 ...
Table Tennis
Feb 01, 2008 ... Charleston Table Tennis Club Through Jan. 28 Teams 1. Carpenter 9-3, 62-45; 2. Wilkerson 8-4, 56-57; 3. Tucker 8-4,55-57; 4. Leary 7-5, 51-51; 5. Jones 6-6, 54-51; 6. Saul 6-6, 52-56; 7. Myatezh 5-7, 52-48; 8. Corica 0-12, 44-64 ....
NBA
Feb 01, 2008 ... EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Boston 36 8 .818 - Toronto 25 20 .556 111/2 New Jersey 19 26 .422 171/2 Philadelphia 18 28 .391 19 New York 14 31 .311 221/2 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Orlando 29 18 ...
NHL
Feb 01, 2008 ... Wednesday's results Minnesota 5, Anaheim 1 Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 1 Detroit 3, Phoenix 2 Buffalo 1, Florida 0 Colorado 6, Chicago 3 Calgary 5, San Jose 4 Thursday's results Carolina 3, Toronto 2, OT Washington 5, Montreal 4, ...
Sports briefs
Feb 01, 2008 ... Golf: Woods picks up where he left off Tiger Woods shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a two-shot leadafter the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic. Woods, coming off an eight-stroke victory Sunday in San Diego inthe PGA Tour's Buick Invitational, had a bogey-free round ...
Sports on TV/radio
Feb 01, 2008 ... TELEVISION (TGC) 8:30 a.m. - golf: European PGA, Dubai Desert Classic (same-day tape) (TGC) 3 p.m. - golf: PGA Tour, FBR Open (ESPN2) 7 p.m. - track & field: Millrose Games (ESPN) 8 p.m. - NBA: Nets at Heat (VERSUS) 8 p.m ....
Men's basketball
Feb 01, 2008 ... BIG EAST CONFERENCE Conf.Overall W L Pct. W L Pct. Georgetown 7 1 .875 17 2 .895 Notre Dame 5 2 .714 15 4 .789 Pittsburgh 5 3 .625 17 4 .810 Marquette 5 3 .625 15 4 .789 Connecticut 5 3 .625 15 5 .750 Louisville 5 3 .625 15 6 ...
Women's basketball
Feb 01, 2008 ... BIG EAST CONFERENCE Conf.Overall W-L Pct. W-L Pct. Connecticut 7-0 1.000 20-0 1.000 Pittsburgh 7-0 1.000 17-3 .850 Rutgers 7-1 .875 17-3 .850 West Virginia 6-1 .857 17-3 .850 Syracuse 5-2 .714 17-3 .850 Notre Dame 4-2 .667 16-4 ...
Super Bowl XLII - Giants vs. Patriots,: ; 6:17 P.M. Sunday; 11; Giants coordinator thorough, aggressive and a good listener
Feb 01, 2008; ... CHANDLER, Ariz. - Steve Spagnuolo didn't mind setting the recordstraight about his last name. It's Italian and, as his father would say, the 'g' is silent. "Spah-NYOO'-loh," said the New York Giants defensive coordinatorand the man responsible for coming up with a Super Bowl ...
Super Bowl XLII - Giants vs. Patriots,: ; 6:17 P.M. Sunday; 11; Coughlin: If Giants win toss, they'll take the ball; Notebook
Feb 01, 2008; ... PHOENIX - The question was ridiculous, but New York Giants coachTom Coughlin answered it anyway. Because teams that win the coin toss have a losing record inSuper Bowls, would he consider kicking off if the Giants win thetoss? "So we're going to give the Patriots the ball one ...
Super Bowl XLII - Giants vs. Patriots,: ; 6:17 P.M. Sunday; 11; Wes is more; Welker has been an invaluable contributor for unbeaten Patriots
Feb 01, 2008; ... PHOENIX - During wide receiver Wes Welker's rookie year, theMiami Dolphins didn't even give him a playbook. They just told himto worry about returning kicks. That pretty much tells the story of Welker's first three seasonsin the NFL before he was acquired by the New England ...
What's in a guarantee? Not a lot, even if you're The Greatest: ; Commentary
Feb 01, 2008; ... PHOENIX - There are guarantees, and then there are guarantees. Muhammad Ali spent his career making them, though he had anadvantage. Not only could he do them in rhyme, but he could backthem up with his fists. So when Ali was a bigger underdog against the fearsome ...
Hurricane hangs on for win over Midland: ; Boys Basketball
Feb 01, 2008 ... Hurricane nearly squandered a 25-point lead in the final fourminutes but regrouped to down Cabell Midland 68-62 Thursday. Midland went on a 23-0 run to cut the gap to two points beforeJared Nicely made two free throws with 50 seconds left. The Redskins(8-7) had trouble at the ...
GW tops Spring Valley on Senior Night: ; Girls Basketball
Feb 01, 2008 ... Senior Katy Somerville netted five 3-pointers, scoring 19 pointsto lead host George Washington to a 44-33 victory over Spring Valleyon Senior Night. Morgan Foster scored 10 points for the Patriots (8-10) and seniorBrittany Pratt added seven. Sarah Adkins led Spring Valley with ...
Strickland leads UC to 75-59 win over Seton Hill: ; WVIAC WVC hoops
Feb 01, 2008 ... Robert Strickland scored 21 points to lead the University ofCharleston to a 75-59 West Virginia Conference men's basketballvictory over Seton Hill Thursday night at Eddie King Gym. Marquis Brooks netted 16 points, including four 3-pointers, forUC (12-6, 6-5 WVC) while John White ...
Earnhardts aren't happy with Texas Motor Speedway billboards: ; NASCAR
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Associated Press FORT WORTH, Texas - Reason No. 1 for Texas Motor Speedway toreplace billboards: unhappy Earnhardts. Four identical billboards referring to the strained relationshipbetween Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother, Teresa, will bereplaced within the next two ...
Pacman gets a break in court: ; Tennessee judge drops misdemeanor charges
Feb 01, 2008; ... MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Adam "Pacman" Jones is busy clearing awaythe legal problems that led to his suspension from the NFL. His biggest challenge, however, may be proving he can controlhimself. Suspended for the 2007 season, the NFL will review Jones' statusafter the Pro ...
Tincher's free throw gives JM win over Summers: ; Coal Classic
Feb 01, 2008 ... Ernie Tincher made a free throw with no time remaining to giveJames Monroe a 49-48 win over Summers County in the Coal ClassicClass AA consolation game Thursday in Beckley. Tincher was fouled going for a defensive rebound as the finalbuzzer sounded. Eli Bookout led the ...
Barth, aide to Byrd, holds her first rally
Feb 01, 2008; ... tomsearls@wvgazette.com A longtime aide to Sen. Robert C. Byrd opened her own politicalcareer Thursday by borrowing from an old Jimmy Carter speech. "Hello. My name is Anne Barth and I'm running for Congress," shesaid as she stepped to the podium before a small but loud crowd ...
House honors animals' advocates: ; The CAPITOL REPORT; 2008 Legislature
Feb 01, 2008; ... tomsearls@wvgazette.com On a day when they honored people who have spent their liveshelping animals, the state House of Delegates considered changes tostate law that could help protect animals from cruel treatment. The House declared Thursday Animal Appreciation Day, honoring ...
Senators differ on drug ad controls
Feb 01, 2008; ... philk@wvgazette.com A new law that will require pharmaceutical companies to disclose -in broad terms - what they spend on consumer advertising and onmarketing to physicians drew mixed opinions in the Senate Thursday. Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, said he believes the disclosure ...
Money coming for roof at levee: ; Haddad park construction may start in fall
Feb 01, 2008; ... balow@wvgazette.com Visitors to Haddad Riverfront Park will finally get some relieffrom the hot summer sun, following a $2.4 million federalappropriation announced Thursday by Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va. They may have to wait until the summer of 2009, however.Construction ...
City picks up strongest man event
Feb 01, 2008; ... balow@wvgazette.com Add boulder lifting and car carrying to the things you watch onJuly 4 besides fireworks and the symphony. America's Strongest Man, patterned after the World's StrongestMan competition, will be held July 4-6 on Kanawha Boulevard and atHaddad Riverfront ...
Business briefs
Feb 01, 2008 ... Google's 4Q profit up, but below analyst views MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Google Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit fellbelow analyst expectations, signaling the crumbling U.S. economy hasdented the Internet search leader's moneymaking machine. The Mountain View-based company said ...