More Than A Geek® has added Ice Cubes, Inc. to their list of clients. 

Ice Cubes, Inc. is the manufacturer of MilitaryICE, ArmyICE, NavyICE, AirForceICE, MarinesICE, and CoastGuardICE Ice Cube Trays / Food Molds.
These are not just Ice Cube Trays - they can serve as Molds for Chocolates, Jello, Flavored Ice, or even soap!
You will find many ways to impress your friends and guests with these novel molds!

Chocolates!
Jello!
Flavored Ice!
Soap!
and of course - just plain ‘ol ICE!!

More Than A Geek®  is located in Berkeley Springs.  We specialize in websites for small to medium size businesses and office automation.  We can help your business gain more clients, and cut costs through the use of automating tasks you have to perform in your office.  Contact dave@morethanageek.com or call 304-707-0107.

Gateway Republican Women of Berkeley, Jefferson, & Morgan Counties invite you to join us and meet all the candidates for Berkeley County School Board on Monday, March 29th – 7:00 p.m. at Ryan’s Restaurant in Martinsburg.  All meetings are open to the public.  Come and bring friends to this important program.  The meeting room is open from 5:30 pm for a dutch treat dinner. 

Priscilla Thiele of Gateway Republican Women can be reached at 304-839-5539 or by email:  p-thiel@hotmail.com.  Please check our website at: http://gatewaygopwomen.blogspot.com if you would like to become involved with Gateway Republican Women.

Bill is likely unconstitutional; similar taxpayer financing schemes have been ruled unconstitutional in other states; and state government needs to stop running up the already $1 million tab footed by WV taxpayers defending unconstitutional campaign finance legislation

Charleston, WV – Delegates Jonathan Miller and Daryl Cowles are asking Governor Joe Manchin to veto HB 4130.  HB 4130 creates a taxpayer financing scheme of judicial races.

In a letter to the Governor, the two Eastern Panhandle delegates argue the legislation is likely unconstitutional.

“The US Supreme Court’s decision in Davis v. Federal Election Commission has been used to strike down taxpayer financing schemes of political candidates in other states.  If the provisions of HB 4130 are ever challenged, it is likely they will be ruled unconstitutional,” say Cowles and Miller in the letter.

“Considering unconstitutional campaign finance legislation has already cost West Virginia taxpayers about $1 million, it is wise and reasonable to veto this bill in order to prevent more tax dollars being wasted defending unconstitutional legislation.”

HB 4130 has finished the legislative process and is now before the Governor for approval.  The Center for Competitive Politics has also notified in a letter to Governor Manchin of the bill likely being ruled unconstitutional if challenged in court. 

- The Hedgesville High School Journalism Department is exploring online publishing and content creation in collaboration with InThePanhandle.com.  This interview with new Hedgesville High School Football Coach Rich Thomaselli is the first in a series of posts from HHS Journalism Students. We experienced slight technical difficulties with the audio during recording and production. -

Hedgesville High School’s football seasons have not done well for awhile, but new head coach Rich Thomaselli says he is going to make HHS football a winning team.

According to Thomaselli he believes, “Coaches get caught up in their own ego at the high school level. Everybody has a passion for the game. I have more of a passion for [helping] the athletes.”

His first plan to turn the program around will be to hire a coaching staff. “I was told a long time ago if you put together your own staff, get people that don’t know too much about the game because they are going to learn from you,” says Thomaselli. He sees the potential of these athletes, and he plans on inspiring them.

As a former player for the Houston Oilers, Thomaselli was more excited about his time as a high school player. “I enjoyed it [playing professional football], but in high school the people around me were excited, and it meant a lot to me that the community was getting into it,” says Thomaselli. “We’re gonna have exciting Fridays, and everyone is going to be involved.”

Thomaselli has coached at many different high schools, and his plan is to build a program. He once took a team that hadn’t been to the playoffs in 17 years, and molded a team that went that same year. He even took his previous team to the playoffs for three out of four years. “We came off of a 3-7 season and went 13 and 1 just last year,” says Thomaselli. He says what the athletes did was get in the weight room and built a bond of trust.

Thomaselli was the youngest of four children (an older brother and two sisters). He says that he was raised by “a very competitive family.” “My brother was the one who got me into football at the NFL level,” says Thomaselli. All Thomaselli can say about what is expected in this season is intensity. “These athletes are excited and they’re starting to see changes in their attitude and the way they feel about themselves,” Thomaselli adds. All that needs to be said is: the community of Hedgesville better be ready for the ‘Rage in the Cage.’   

Zachary Waters
Staff Writer

Video Interview
Kelsie Vanderwijst
Zachary Waters

SHEPHERDSTOWN,WV—The Shepherd University Sketch Factor—a group of Shepherd student actors, writers, and directors, along with guest director Tad Janes—bring the Shepherd sketch comedy Tea Baggin’ My Coffee in a preview performance April 15 at 8 p.m. Evening shows will be April 16, 17, 21, 22, 23 and 24 at 8 p.m., and a matinee on April 18 at 2 p.m. in the Studio Theatre in Sara Cree Hall.

Janes is founder of the Comedy Pigs, and co-founder and artistic director of Maryland Ensemble Theatre. Tea Baggin’ My Coffee is produced by Bryce Britton, Shepherd adjunct theater professor; assistant directed by Thomas Spruill; costume design by Peggy McKowen, CATF’s associate producing director; light and set design by Patrick Wallace, CATF’s production manager; and sound design by Christina Smith, CATF’s production manager. 

Tea Baggin’ My Coffee is written by and features Shepherd students Heather Barton, Charles Butler, Jourdan Dietz, Scott Donaldson, Tommy Dukeman, Katie Godman, Leslie Hencke, Thomas Huenger, Tara Keller, and Joshua M. Riese. Stage is managed by Marta Senn and Amy Tatina.

Tickets are free to Shepherd students, $8 for faculty, and $10 for the general public.  For tickets, call 304-876-5525 or visit http://www.shepherd.edu/theaterweb.

For more information about the show, press pictures, or to schedule any interviews, contact Bryce Britton at 206-369-1514 or bbritton@shepherd.edu.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With the start of the 2010 spring gobbler season approaching, the West Virginia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) will pay $200 cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons who illegally kill or possess a wild turkey.  “This cooperative effort between the NWTF and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is designed to curtail illegal activities associated with the state’s wild turkey resource,” said Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Section.
       
The public is urged to contact their local conservation officer or their local DNR District Office if they see someone illegally killing a turkey or know of a person possessing an illegally killed turkey.  The informant’s identity will remain confidential. 
       
“By reporting poaching incidents, the public can make a significant contribution to West Virginia’s wild turkey management program,” Taylor said.  The West Virginia statewide spring gobbler season runs from April 26 through May 22.  In addition, the one-day youth spring turkey season will be held on Saturday, April 24.
       
Hunters are reminded that it is illegal to bait wild turkey in West Virginia. The West Virginia State Chapter of the NWTF pays a reward of $100 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of persons attempting to kill wild turkeys through the use of bait or who willfully destroy the nest or eggs of wild turkey.
       
“Unfortunately, baiting and trespassing continue to be the most common hunting violations reported in the Wildlife Resources Section’s Annual Spring Gobbler Survey,” according to Taylor. “Baiting turkeys is illegal, unethical and creates disrespect for the great sport of spring gobbler hunting. I encourage turkey hunters to report any such activity to their local conservation officer.”
Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer 304-957-9365 hoy.r.murphy@wv.gov
Contact: Curtis Taylor, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

As most trout anglers know, many waters that should have been stocked in February could not be stocked. Continuous snowfall and poor road conditions caused many scheduled stockings to be canceled.
However, all missed stockings will be made up, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. More fish will be added to subsequent stockings if possible, or separate runs will be made.
       
Some waters, such as upper Shavers Fork, Cranberry River and Williams River, are still inaccessible. It is currently unknown when trout stockings can resume on these waters.  The Division of Natural Resources requests anglers to be patient as hatchery personnel work hard to make up missed stockings and will complete them as soon as possible.  Anglers can follow daily trout stockings by calling the Hunting and Fishing Hotline at 304-558-3399 or by going online to http://www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/Stocking/DailyStock.shtm .

Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer 304-957-9365 hoy.r.murphy@wv.gov
Contact: Curtis Taylor, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

SHEPHERDSTOWN,WV—Shepherd University’s debate and forensics team won 12 awards in Ocean City, Maryland, from March 5 to 6 at the CFA Tournament.

Amy Joy Hess, Hedgesville, won eight awards: first place in the Lincoln-Douglas debate; first place end of the year award in poetry; second place best song score in poetry; third place in dramatic duo; fourth place in impromptu; and sixth place in prose, communication analysis, and the pentathlon.

Timothy Leonard, Wheeling, won two awards: fourth place in the Lincoln-Douglas debate and third place in the dramatic duo.

Jess Leasure, Middletown, Maryland, and Ed Rhodes, Rohrersville, Maryland, were honored in career distinction debate forensics. Shepherd University was awarded fourth place in team sweepstakes.

Bloomsburg University, Morgan State University, Randolph-Macon College, Lord Fairfax College, and Alderson-Broaddus College also participated in the tournament.

Sheila Joy and her husband Jeff Jolles are pleased to announce the opening of their new store, Bentley’s Specialty Pet Foods in the heart of Historic Hedgesville.  The store is located on the corner of Main and Mary streets, more commonly known as routes 9 and 901.

Recently, Virginia Fairbanks, owner of The Pet Lovers Store next to the Hedgesville Food Lion, unexpectedly passed away.  While saddened by the loss of such a wonderful person, Joy and Jeff realized they also lost their only local source of natural and holistic pet food.  And Bentley, their spoiled Cavalier King Charles, has come to rely on this sort of diet for his overall well being.  They believe many other cat and dog owners in the area have also moved away from the more common and mass marketed pet foods. 

Natural, organic, and holistic – it’s all the rave, but what does it really mean?  “Natural and organic are fairly clear, but holistic – that’s a little less so,” Jeff admits.  It was Bentley’s breeder who recommended and turned the couple on to Holistic Select, a dog food that cannot be found in the large retail pet stores.  Jeff points out, “[Bentley’s] products have no chemical preservatives - there are vitamins that naturally preserve food.  They have no byproducts and no pesticides. These products are all made in America except for one and all come from factories where food is made for human consumption meaning they meet USDA requirements regarding food for people.”

While it is a small store by comparison, there is a wide selection to choose from. Bentley’s currently stocks California Natural, Taste of the Wild, Natural Balance, Nature’s Variety, Solid Gold, Evanger’s, Wellness, Merrick, Innova and other natural, organic and grain free food for dogs and cats.

Is there another food in this category of interest to you and your pet? Stop by and talk to Joy or Jeff about it. If they do not carry it, they will consider adding it to their inventory.

Bentley’s Specialty Pet Foods, 100 E. Main St., Hedgesville WV

Open 7 days a week.  304-579-8555

Bentley’s is a pet friendly store. All paws are welcome inside. 

Gateway Republican Women announce an opportunity to apply for a summer internship in Charleston, WV.  The Underwood summer internship aims to develop potential Republican Party leaders and staff.  Interns will develop conservative values, leadership skills and gain valuable work experience.  The program is open to all college students with preference given to those who have demonstrated leadership ability, academic achievement, and an interest in government and politics. 
 
Applications are available at Underwoodinstitute.org and must be submitted by April 7, 2010 to Shane Wilson at Underwoodinstitute@gmail.com or to his attention at P.O. Box 2711, Charleston, WV 25330.
 
The internship begins May 31 and runs for 9 weeks.  Interns will be based out of the WVGOP headquarters in Charleston.  Lodging in Charleston must be obtained and financed by the intern.  Any questions concerning this internship should be directed to Shane Wilson at 304 539-0694 or to the above email address.”