The reason your 30 years was so free of disarray is that the HCBOE meetings were still at a time when the general taxpaying public could not attend and there was NO ONE TO LET US KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON however, biased the opinion may have been.

All of the members of the HCBOE were elected to serve. For that matter, Dr. Friebel worked as a paid employee on the premise to SERVE. And he did serve, his own agenda. Sometimes when people get to a position of power, all they know is to wield that power without question. Being in power is the ultimate responsibility of service. If used for any other reason, it is selfish.

What defines a “team player” in our county? If it weren’t for those that did not play along with the team, there would be no freedom, no rights, no laws, no accountability.

You mention your awareness of Monongalia and Marion Counties school systems. Your comments do to some degree sound as a plight for our students and does indeed pull the heart strings. The truth of the matter, no decision under the former rule really thought of the students, but yet thought of the morale that was being created within the empire. “Oh, what a tangled web we weave….” Did you think to mention the reduction in force layoffs facing the teachers in Marion County? How do you think that builds morale and opportunity?

You also mention the front page article and how it has soiled the HCBOE. Well education has had its hey dey on the front page as of late. Politics runs rampant in our school systems. If you are connected, you too can have a MBA. I am quite confident that Dr. Friebel did not leave his post because of a newspaper article or some emails that were forwarded to him. I would be certain that one facet would be because of the Charles Pointe and Hite Field fiascos. Also, the fact that moneys were not being spent on schools currently in existence as promised on bond issues which has left the public saying NO WAY to future bond levys. The Harrison County taxpayers held him directly responsible for the conditions of the schools. Thus, he was embarrassed and left feeling rejected and dejected, and quite rightly so.

The fact that there was no more than two applicants could stem from that those in the area which would qualify for the position thought it would be a waste to even dress for an interview. Ms. Collins had this sewn up like Betsy Ross’s new flag. Believe me, we in this county are not as ignorant to the ways and wiles as those who went before us.

As far as the teachers in the lounge and in the hall talking. I have experience in the school system too, as a student. I remember many times the teachers were not in the classrooms and not always for a greater good. Don’t get me wrong, I am not teacher bashing. I do believe that if it weren’t for teachers, none of us would know anything. But, please don’t idolize or immortalize the teacher. They are after all only human.

I think your comments on this blog will have the exact impact that you say the one sided board member has. Possibly you might want to reassess for which team you are rooting- the citizens and students of Harrison County or those that sit at the top on the HCBOE.

Our taxes have gone up every year, the max 10%, for several years, and we haven’t done anything in the line of improvements, except mow the grass.

I just wanted to let you know about unfair assessments in Harrison County by our current Assessor. It seems as if certain wealthy residents have not had their property assessments increased on certain parcels of property in over 10 years while almost all other people are receiving increases in their assessments regularly. In the past two years, over 25,000 letters have been sent out informing residents about increases in their assessments in excess of 10% which is terrible considering the cost of living increases we all have incurred including increases in gasoline($3.65 per gallon), milk and bread. I think we are all under assault as our wages are not keeping up with inflation especially senior citizens as this rise in inflation has been especially hard on them and at the same time our current assessor has continued to increase assessments at an alarming pace. I would like you to review the information contained at http://www.harrisoncounty.com as it contains information that most residents need to be aware of including suspicious assessments and accusations by your county commissioners regarding inconsistencies in assessments across the county. Even if you don’t like the candidate that published the website, you have to believe the research he has conducted is true as he is a local attorney and would be opening himself up to civil lawsuits had he published information that is incorrect. Again, the website http://www.harrisoncounty.com contains all the information residents need to be aware of concerning unfair property tax assessments in our county. Pass the information on to your friends and family including the website address http://www.harrisoncounty.com!

The sun was shining, a gorgeous day outside. She had some pictures to copy so we went to PDQ where we were treated so warmly and well by such nice folks there, then we went over to Embellishments and shopped and laughed and had a great time looking at all of the beautiful things that Cathy Goings (who has to be the most inspired buyer ever) selected for the shop, and they care that you find the most perfect gift, then we went up to the 5th Floor where my Aunt is going to have her class reunion and enjoyed all of the lovely views of downtown’s historic buildings.

You can see the new City Hall building. You can see the trees and houses on East Main Street. The 5th Floor is a terrific place, looks like it belongs in a big city. then we checked out Wicked Sisters dress shop and picked up some stuff from the tailor there, then walking back into the sunshine on the nice new side walks and listened to the music playing on the City’s music system. We ran into a bunch of people we knew, talked and laughed some more, reminised about great times in the old downtown and talked about good things to come, and the new businesses that have just opened up downtown, snuck peeks in the windows and shops, saying hi to people we knew (just about everybody) caught up on all the gossip then wound up at the Bluebird where it is fun to just walk in and talk with everyone in there and where everyone is all ways so cheerful and pleasant and nice and genuinely care about you and about how good their food is (and it IS!) and how you like it and who are just happy to be here. This is downtown Clarksburg to me. I am happy to work here. My aunt said that our tour was great and really fun.