Charleston Gazette

Tribute: ; Underwood's 'Honor, Dignity, Class' Recalled at Memorial Service Former Governor Remembered As Forward-Thinking

Gov. Cecil Underwood was remembered Monday as a forward-thinking politician who eschewed partisan politics, and as a loving father and grandfather whose dignified persona belied a sly sense of humor. Family, friends, former administration members, and political allies and opponents alike filled the chapel of Christ Church United Methodist Monday morning for a nearly two-hour service remembering Underwood, who died Nov. 24 at age 86.

Tribute

U.S. Ignored Meltdown Warnings: ; Expect Foreclosures, Expect Horror Stories, Lender Told U.S. Regulators in 2006

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration backed off proposed crackdowns on no-money-down, interest-only mortgages years before the economy collapsed, buckling to pressure from some of the same banks that have now failed. It ignored remarkably prescient warnings that foretold the financial meltdown, according to an Associated Press review of regulatory documents. "Expect fallout, expect foreclosures, expect horror stories," California mortgage lender Paris Welch wrote to U.S. regulators in January...

Owner Kills Tiger in Pocahontas After Big Cat Gets Loose, Official Says

The owner of a tiger on the loose in Pocahontas County put the animal down Monday afternoon, said Hoy Murphy, spokesman for the state Division of Natural Resources. David Cassell of Cass found the tiger and killed it, Murphy said. Murphy was not sure where or how the animal was killed. He was waiting for a conservation officer's report Monday evening.

Ex-Pastor Sentenced for Sex Assaults: ; Man Gets 45 Years for Abusing Underage Girls

WINFIELD - A former Putnam County pastor was sentenced to a maximum of 45 years in prison Monday morning after pleading guilty to videotaping himself sexually abusing three relatives and his stepdaughter. Putnam County Circuit Court Judge O.C. Spaulding sentenced Paul D. Smeltzer, 40, to 17 to 45 years in prison on three counts of sexual assault.

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Gazette Charities Christmas Fund: ; Couple Needs New Door for Home; Contribution Form 11a

Sandra is 51 years old and her husband, Don, is 48. The couple lives on a fixed income of $952 per month. Don was employed on a regular basis until a work-related injury nine years ago left him disabled. A few years ago, the couple was seeking affordable housing. With limited options on their fixed income, they were able to move into the home of one of Don's relatives. The relative had physical problems that required someone to stay with her and assist with her needs. In exchange for the assi...

Colleagues Mourn the Passing of Retired Federal Judge Staker

Read Judge Stakers obituary, 8B Former federal judge Robert Jackson Staker passed away on Sunday in a nursing home in South Point, Ohio. He was 83.

Dunbar Mayor Appeals Ouster

Former Dunbar mayor Roger Wolfe, who was removed from office in October after a three-judge panel ruled that he repeatedly and illegally overstepped his authority, has filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court. In a 41-page petition filed Monday in Kanawha Circuit Court, where the lawsuit by Dunbar City Council members to remove Wolfe from office originated, Wolfe argues that the charges against him did not justify his ouster from office.

Sc Christmas Parade to Be Held Saturday

South Charleston's Christmas Parade will be held at noon Saturday at Oakes Field. Santa will be arriving by helicopter. Kick-off for the parade will be noon at F Street and Third Avenue. The parade will follow Santa's arrival and proceed down D Street in downtown South Charleston. A Christmas party will follow the parade at the LaBelle Theatre.

Corrections

The Open House at the Craik-Patton House, 2809 Kanawha Blvd. E., is Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. Board members of the Friends of Craik-Patton will coordinate the holiday decorations. ***

State Briefs

Allegheny Energy plans to build Fairmont center FAIRMONT - Allegheny Energy says it has purchased land near Fairmont for its new multistate transmission operations headquarters.

W.Va. Power Plant Ahead of Schedule

MORGANTOWN - Construction of a coal-fired power plant near Morgantown is ahead of schedule, and the plant could be operational by fall 2010. The Longview Power Plant in Fort Martin is 56 percent complete, said general manager Charles Huguenard.

Raleigh Father Calls Shooting Death of Son, 3, with Shotgun Accidental

A man charged with child abuse resulting in the death of his 3- year-old son told police he was playing a game with the child, according to the criminal complaint filed in Raleigh County Magistrate Court. Gary Wayne Garretson, 44 of Coal City, shot his son Anthony Garretson in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to the complaint. Garretson told police he didn't know the gun was loaded. The incident happened about 1 p.m. Saturday.

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Opposition Mounts As Bush Finalizes Stream 'Buffer Zone' Rule

ONLINE: Read about the rule changes wvgazette.com Staff writer

Kanawha Considers Slashing Budget: ; Hardy Wants Big Cuts in Water-Line Projects

Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy is calling for $1 million in budget cuts in the county next year. County officials are beginning work on budgets for the fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11. Hardy wants to trim about $1 million from the budget to help pay for a $10 million bond sale to renovate the former American Electric Power building on Virginia Street.

U.S. Supreme Court: ; Justices Decline Massey Appeal; Coal Giant Claims Bias by Larry Starcher Led to Lawsuit Award

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to enter a politically charged case from West Virginia involving a large punitive-damages award and allegations of bias by a state justice. In an order Monday, the federal justices turned down coal giant Massey Energy Co.'s challenge to a $260 million jury verdict - including $100 million in punitive damages - in a contract dispute with Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Co.

Feel Like Being the Face of West Virginia?: ; Commerce Dept. Wants Spokesperson to Entice Expatriates to Come Back Home to Mountain State

"America's Next Top Model" is a reality TV sensation. Now West Virginians can vie to be the winner of the state's version of the television contest: the Come Home to West Virginia spokesmodel contest. The West Virginia Department of Commerce isn't looking for long, leggy ladies wearing designer togs. The agency is looking for a loyal and enthusiastic West Virginia resident to be part of a campaign to encourage former state dwellers to come home to live and to work.

Police Briefs

Wayne man sentenced to three years for heroin A Wayne man was sentenced in federal court in Huntington to more than three years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.