Oversight

WASHINGTON - Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., released the following statement Friday after voting against the financial bailout bill: "While we've seen some key adjustments around the edges, this is fundamentally the same bill we considered on Monday," said Capito. "We're still talking about $700 billion dollars, and we're still talking about a process that lacks sufficient oversight and taxpayer protections for West Virginia families who pay their bills and play by the rules.

Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr. read the following statement aloud Tuesday at a press conference to announce he had changed his voter enrollment from Republican to unaffiliated: Today, I'm announcing that I have formally changed my voter registration to Unaffiliated. The announcement is scheduled to coincide with a House Republican Caucus in Annapolis. As they meet to plan strategy and develop positions for the upcoming General Assembly Session, I am deciding to chart a new course.

"With all the controversy that surrounds school redistricting, can you imagine the contention that will grow out of establishing districts for electing county commissioners as proposed by the home rule committee? We would be trading legislative oversight for turf battles and political squabbling among local neighborhoods. Who needs it? Let's keep what we have. " - Washington County "North Hagerstown High School's student 'interaction activity': 'How is the federal grant benefiting our students?

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - It once was lost, but now it's found. Earlier this summer, mistakes blamed on outdated payroll records resulted in a discrepancy of $6,406 in Jefferson County's finance department accounts. On Friday, Jefferson County Sheriff Everett "Ed" Boober, who also serves as the county's treasurer, said he had been advised that most of the money had been found. "It was an oversight by the tax office," Boober said. "There were five deposits not accounted for. " Boober said he was informed of the oversight by his chief tax deputy.

Shadrach is employee of the month at health department Shannon Shadrach has been chosen as the Washington County Health Department's employee of the month for February. Shadrach has been employed at the health department since 1995 in the nursing division's School Health Program. As a nurse's aide at E. Russell Hicks Middle School, she provides direct care to students and staff during those times when school is in session. Her selection is a reflection of the cheerful competence she brings to a dynamic and demanding work situation.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Berkeley County Commission voted to allow a popular wine festival to be held at a historic Martinsburg property Thursday, and in doing, appeared to put the cork back on a bottle full of contention over the property's purchase by the county farmland protection board late last year. In a meeting that capped a string of victories for the Berkeley County Farmland Protection Board this week, the commissioners voted unanimously to allow the board to lease the 13-acre Boydville property to the Arts Centre to hold its annual summer Wine and Jazz Festival there in May, providing the commission be included as an insured party on any insurance policy obtained for the event.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta recently appointed Hagerstown Regional Airport Manager Carolyn Motz to the federal Airport Cooperative Research Program Oversight Committee. The Airport Cooperative Research Program will carry out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. The need for ACRP was based on a study sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Department of Social Services Robert McEnroe, a Human Service specialist with the Washington County Department of Social Services, recently received the Beulah T. Meyers Award for Humanitarian Service from the local chapter of the American Red Cross. The award is the Washington County chapter's highest volunteer award. As a member of the local Red Cross since 1996, McEnroe has been a shelter manager, a facilitator of the Disaster Action Team, a volunteer recruiter, and a contributor to the agency's strategic planning process.

HOUSE Private property rights Voting 376 for and 38 against, members on Nov. 3 sent the Senate a bill (HR 4128) denying all types of federal aid to any state or locality using powers of eminent domain to acquire private property for transfer to another private owner for purposes of economic development. The bill seeks to negate the 2005 Supreme Court ruling Kelo v. City of New London, which held that private economic development could be a legitimate public use under the "takings clause" of the Fifth Amendment.

A proposal to give Washington County oversight of ambulance operations in the county is on hold for at least two weeks. The Washington County Commissioners decided Tuesday to allow Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association members to vote on the proposal. Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook said he wanted the association to vote before the commissioners decide whether to create an emergency medical services coordinator, who would oversee activities of ambulance companies.