33 Receive High School Equivalency Degrees

MOOREFIELD (WV) EXAMINER, Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - 3
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33 Receive High School Equivalency Degrees
By Tom Burgess
Special to Examiner
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College formally recognized 33 new graduates in high school equivalency on
Thursday, May 22 at the Fellowship Hall, Moorefield Church of
the Brethren.
On hand were graduates, school
officials, and family members
for the evening event which was
opened by Ward Malcolm, Eastern WV Community and Technical College program director.
An Invocation was given by Pastor Lucy Webster and the guest
speaker was Dr. Charles “Chuck”
Terrell. president of Eastern WV
Community and Technical College
“I was taught that lessons in
life are a race,” Terrell said to the
assembled 20 graduates. “Some
are short, and some are long. My
track coach taught me that it’s not
always about being first, but crossing the finish line. The next race is
up to you.” Some graduates had worked on
this degree for a number of years,
while working full time. Some,
were completing their high school
equivalency diploma while set to
continue more education. Some, like Kim Brewster,
will be pursuing a registered
nurse degree. Matthew Teter,
17, of Moorefield, will pursue
an industrial maintenance degree at Eastern WV Community
and Technical College. Teter won
a scholarship for his work pursuing his equivalency degree.
Some, like Tim Gray, 20, are still
considering new options. “I quit
high school. Things weren’t going well. I don’t really know right
now. I’m looking at working at the
(poultry) plant, and I’d like to find
a college I can afford.” In this program, students are
brought to the Algebra 1 level in
math, but recent news suggests
that the new GED is much harder than most would imagine. According to an article in the
May 5 Nation magazine, “For
roughly 700,000 people (in the
U.S.) each year, the GED exam
is a key ‘alternative’ pathway to a
high school-equivalency credential. Evaluating knowledge in writing, reading, social studies, science and math, the score can be
a gateway to a professional job or
college degree, and can be used to
qualify for financial aid.”
But now a reformed GED is
threatening to narrow that gate.
The new format will be more rigorous, costlier and completely
computerized—daunting rigors
for people who may not be tech-
savvy. It all adds up to a harder
test for people already challenged
in many aspects of life: the testers
are on average in their mid-twenties, half of them people of color,
typically disconnected from the
formal education system and facing deep economic burdens and
maybe juggling work, family and
night classes on the side. “And they now face a $120 fee,
which the testing company, Pearson, apparently thinks is a fair
price for a shot at a certificate.”
West Virginia Adult Basic Education staff at Eastern WV Community and Technical College include
High school equivalency recipients participated in graduation ceremonies last week.
Malcolm, Program Director
Photo by Tom Burgess
•Amanda Barger, Grant CounJesse J. Durst
Mary Ann Mongold
Hardy County Recipients:
ty Instructor
Terrell
D.
Peterson
Mollie
B.
Akers
Cheyenne S. Firkins
•Vera Shockey, Hardy County
Johnathan H. Phillips
Travis R. Alt
Danell L. Grapes
Instructor
Nora M. Phillips
Annette M. Atteberry
Glenn D. Harold
•Cynthia Walters, ESL - Civics
Devin C. Smith
Jacklynn R. Bosley
Amanda R. Poland
Instructor
Rebecca G. Smith
Leah A. Bosley
Jenny N. Smith
Lisa M. Thorne
Wendy A. Chambers
•Elizabeth Simpson - Instruc Carlos G. Zuta
Michael L. Constable
tional Aide, Grant County
Pendleton County
Robert L. Dayhoff, Jr.
•Trinity Racey - Instructional
Recipients:
Timothy Gray
Grant County Recipients:
Aide, Hardy County
Rebecca L. Bennett
Joseph M. Helsley
Kimberly S. Brewster
•Andrea Falcone - InstructionLevi R. Crampton
Hunter T. Largent
Joseph A. Comb
al Aide, ESL - Civics
Tamera D. Combs
Matthew C. Teter
Justin Meadows
Hardy DOH Recognized for Work to Control Invasive Plants
Employees of the Hardy County Baker Substation of the West Virginia Division of Highways were recognized for their outstanding work
to help treat Japanese Knotweed. DOH employees Bill Robinette (left) and Steve Sites (right) for their leadership and oversight of this
project.
On April 24, the Hardy County
Baker Substation of the West Virginia Division of Highways was
recognized for their work to implement the first cooperative invasive
species management project along
a road right-of-way and adjacent
private land in the state.
The Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area (CWPMA) hosted a
special luncheon for the substation
and presented awards to DOH employees Bill Robinette and Steve
Sites for their leadership and oversight of this project.
In 2013, the CWPMA worked
to develop a pilot project with
the Hardy County Baker Substation. By working together, the
CWPMA and the WVDOH were
able to more effectively control
a high priority invasive, Japanese
knotweed. For the inaugural project, staff from the WVDOH, the
Monongahela National Forest,
The Nature Conservancy, and the
WV Division of Natural Resources
surveyed a five mile section of road
along Kimsey Run near Lost River
State Park. They identified sites
where invasive Japanese knotweed
was growing in and adjacent to the
road right-of-way and developed a
collaborative management plan.
To implement the plan, WVDOH road crews mowed Japanese
knotweed in the right-of-way. After receiving permission from private landowners in the area, the
CWPMA field crew cut the Japanese knotweed that had spread beyond the right-of-way. Six weeks
later, the CWPMA field crew and
the WVDOH herbicide applicators
returned to spray all the re-sprouts.
Repeat treatments that cover the
entire infestation are essential for
successful control, and this partnership made that possible.
“Invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, Japanese stiltgrass,
emerald ash borer, and others have
had shocking impacts on native
plants and animals, agricultural
productivity, recreational opportunities, commercial and urban
forest resources, and ultimately local economies of West Virginia,”
said John Schmidt, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service as he presented
the awards. “Japanese knotweed
grows along many of our rivers and
threatens water quality and fish
habitat.”
Dustin Wichterman of Trout
Unlimited was also at the meeting to thank the WVDOH. “Only
by working together can we control
knotweed and other harmful invasive species,” said Wichterman.
In addition to providing lunch,
Trout Unlimited also presented
WVDOH employees with honorary memberships.
WVDOH is one of the largest
land managers in the state, with a
large field staff and an extensive
fleet of vegetation management
equipment. The WVDOH is a
natural partner for treating invasive plants. Invasive species along
roads pose problems because they
can block sight lines, grow through
asphalt, spread into adjacent lands
and waterways, reduce adjacent
pasture quality, and degrade wildlife habitat. Japanese knotweed
increases sedimentation which impairs water quality and affects fish
populations.
This first project was a great success and illustrates the power of
working together. The CWPMA
and the WVDOH were able to
control knotweed much more effectively by working together than
either could do alone. “We are happy to have had the opportunity to
work with the WVDOH and look
forward to continuing these efforts
over the summer,” said Cindy Sandeno, CWPMA Coordinator.
For more information about
Japanese knotweed or control
methods, please contact Cindy
Sandeno at [email protected]
or visit www.phcwpma.org.
Sourdough Recipe Wins Lost River Bread Bake-Off
By Jean A. Flanagan
Moorefield Examiner
Pity the judges. Five loaves of
fresh, homemade bread and only
one can be named the winner.
In conjunction with the focus of
this years’ exhibit, the Lost River
Museum sponsored the Family
Farm Bread Bake-Off on Saturday,
May 24.
At the end of the day, the winner
was Phyllis Sager Yankey of Lost
River with a scrumptious sourdough. “I used to get starters from people and bake my own,” Yankey
said. “Then I found this recipe and
really liked it. It was one of the few
recipes I’ve found with the starter
recipe.”
Yankey also uses the recipe to
make muffins and pizza crust. “If
you like a soft crust, this works
great,” she said.
Yankey won a $50 gift certificate
from the Guest House in Lost River. She has never eaten there but is
looking forward to redeeming her
certificate. The Museum was also pleased to
award a gift certificate to 10-yearold Carly Hershberger, a 4-H Club
member, who entered a Cinnamon
Whirligig bread. The winning recipe is copied
here:
SOURDOUGH BREAD AND
STARTER
Sourdough bread is the oldest form of leavened bread. The
first recorded civilization we know
about to have sourdough bread was
the Egyptians around 1500 B.C.
Early settlers brought sour-
Tour & Crafts Donates to Library
The Hardy County Tour &
Craft Association was proud to
make a donation of $3,000 to the
Hardy County Library. On hand
for the donation was Kriston
Stricker, 2014 Heritage Weekend
Chair and President of the Hardy
County Tour & Craft Association,
Tammy Moats, Secretary of the
Hardy County Tour & Craft Association, Mike Crites, President of
the Hardy County Library Commission, and Carol Koontz, Head
Librarian. The goal of the Hardy County
Tour & Craft Association is to
support the Hardy County Library
and the historical preservation
of Hardy County. Please help us
make the 2014 Heritage Weekend
a success and help us give back to
the local community.
Please visit www.heritageweekend.com for up to date information about the weekend and ways
to get involved.
SOURDOUGH STARTER
3 tablespoons instant mashed
potato flakes
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
(one package)
Combine all ingredients in a
glass container, stir with a wooden
spoon. Cover with clean dish cloth
or cheese cloth and let sit for 5
days, stirring daily with a wooden
spoon. Do not refrigerate.
On the morning of the 5th day,
feed the starter 3 tablespoons instant potatoes, 3 tablespoons sugar 1 cup warm water
Stir and cover and let stand until
evening or at least 6 hours.
Remove one cup of starter and
place the rest of the starter in the
refrigerator. Make sure there are
holes in the top of the container.
The starter needs to be able to
breathe.
Every five days repeat feeding
instructions. Remove one cup and
discard or make bread.
SOURDOUGH BREAD RECIPE
1 cup sourdough starter
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup white
sugar
1/2 cup corn, vegetable or canola
oil
6 cups all-purpose flour
Mix sugar, oil, salt, water and
starter in a large bowl. Add flour.
Turn out onto floured surface and
knead several times until forms a
ball adding flour if needed. Place
the dough in a large oiled bowl,
turn once so the dough will be
greased, cover with clean dish towel and let rise overnight.
The next day, punch the dough
down, turn out onto a floured surface, knead for several minutes,
divide in half, place in 2 greased
bread pans. Cover and let double
in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 40
- 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Turn out to cool.
This bread makes your kitchen smell great while cooking and
makes two great loaves of fresh
bread for your family. Note: If you can find a quart
sized or smaller glass jar with a
plastic top and punch holes in the
top, this makes the perfect container to keep your starter in the
refrigerator.
Note: Recipe reprinted with permission from The Southern Lady
Cooks.com.
Next on the agenda for the Lost
River Museum is the Student Photography Contest. Hardy County
students are encouraged to enter
up to three photographs which illustrate farm buildings, family
members, animals, work activities
or any combination of the above. Deadline to submit photos is Friday, June 6. Five finalists will be selected by July 19. For information
e-mail lostrivermuseum@gmail.
com or call 304-897-8437.
Two men from Virginia have
been convicted in Hardy County
magistrate court and fined more
than $10,000 on charges related
to the illegal dumping of building
materials, according to Captain
Tom Stuckey of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement office in Romney.
On May 7, 2014, DNR Natural
Resources Police Officer Adam
Kuykendall learned about two
large piles of refuse that had been
dumped in a rural area of Grant
County. Officer Kuykendall and
NRPO Steven Dawson investigated and soon located and issued
citations to two men who had been
hired to clean out a residence under foreclosure.
Marcus A. Cook and Nicholas
S. Calhoun, both age 23 and both
of Centerville, Virginia, received
11 citations, including four counts
of littering, two counts of trespassing, two counts of creating an
open dump, one count of driving
on a suspended license, one count
of obstructing an officer and one
count of possession of marijuana.
The defendants were convicted
of all charges and ordered to clean
up the refuse. Total fines assessed
were $10,071.
dough starters from Europe and it
is said that Christopher Columbus
had a crock of sourdough aboard
ship when he discovered America. Virginia Residents Convicted
For Illegal Dumping