Tucker County Connection

If you're here looking for new articles and content we've officially moved over to TuckerCounty.net  so click on over and check out the new site. With the move to our new site I've added a ton of new content, an updated events calendar, and several other new tools to better serve the Tucker County area and I've updated my camera gear to provide better images for future articles. See you soon. Dave

Few things in life are more import than the education of our children, a fact that seems to have fallen on def ears when it comes to the governing body of our state as they proceed to cut benefits and fail to offer fair pay to the teachers and other public employees that fill that and other important roles in our daily lives. Educational staff, public employees,  and concerned citizens alike took to the courthouse square Thursday to vent their frustration while sporting signs declaring "Fund PEIA Now", "Will work for health care", "Stand up for your rights!", along with many other well thought out and to the point slogans. The public protest was met with a warm reception from a majority of drivers as they honked horns well into the evening showing support. Just what brought them out? It was primarily cuts to the states PEIA (Public Employees Insurance Agency) insurance program paired with lower than expected wage increases which are leaving West Virg...

It's been a few years now since I launched Dixie Dave's a company I started as an online retailer of Confederate merchandise and later expanded to include pro gun, military, patriotic, redneck, hillbilly, EMS, Firefighter, biker, religious and other merchandise while relocating the shop to a brick and mortar store located on Second St. in downtown Parsons.  It's been a lot of fun running the shop over the past few years and I've really enjoyed getting to know our first responders, military members, and Conservative citizens, over that time we became an NRA recruiter, NFIB member, and the place to go to get items that were considered politically incorrect, controversial, and hard to get. I made the decision recently to shutter the business in favor of launching in it's place a new shop focusing on locally made items, WV souvenirs, WVU merchandise, and anything else made in or to do with the state I love. If you missed getting in to see Dixie Dave's we...

While Parsons continues to become more known for it's country and bluegrass roots, bluegrass isn't the only act in town. While most residents of the small community of Parsons tend to frequent the lighter side of the musical spectrum The Backwoods Massacre prefers to offer a much wilder hardcore performance and they're gaining some major attention along the way. The Backwoods Massacre is a local theatrical heavy metal band whos shows sport a plethora of horror, blood, gore, and mayhem to entertain and delight their growing numbers of fans as they work to discover the heights of their potential in the industry. Along the way they've taken down awards such as The Smug Classics Heavy Metal Band Award, reached #1 in the region on Reverb Nation , and picked up sponsorship by both Coldcock Whiskey and Peridore Custom Sticks . The band is managed by Ellie Freeman and features band members Peter "Death Touch" Mallard- Vocals/Lyricist, Henry "Hardcore Ghost...

If you ask any redneck "Duct Tape can fix anything" if you ask Blackwater Falls State Park it makes for some great sleds, boats, and family fun. Over the years Blackwater Falls has began to host duct tape and cardboard building events. The fun all started with the sled race where teams and individuals build sleds using nothing more than duct tape and cardboard to compete on the Blackwater Falls sled run. Awards are given in different categories for the event from best design to best team spirit. This year will see the sled event take place on Feb 24th 2018 for it's sixth year running and will feature the theme "Looney Tunes". I honestly may have to make the trip myself to watch the event and plan on a possible entrance in later years. Three years ago they also decided to expand on their sled event by adding a duct tape and cardboard boat race in the spring which operated for the previous two years and has yet to make an appearance so far this year on the p...

When it comes to politics in the mountain state I'm no stranger to the political fray. Based on historical data showing a growing trend towards West Virginia becoming a "Red State" I called the Republican sweep of our state a couple of years before it happened, I've been to D.C. a time or two, toured the political buildings, and even became friends with Robert C. Byrd spending time in his office speaking to him as a teenager about the issues effecting West Virginia and our country. Politics are often a completely different world than most are used to. Where else can someone promise you four years of bliss and deliver four years of the opposite while keeping their job? Our upcoming Senate race is sure to be one to remember as Joe Manchin, Tom Willis, Patrick Morrisey, and others vie for our votes. Joe Manchin is no stranger to West Virginia as he's had a long political career, a career most West Virginians would probably say has lasted too long given his deta...

Few people in our area can match the culinary and business experience of John Bush, a fact that is easily seen when visiting his Piccolo Paula's location in Parsons, his Big John's Family Fixin's location in Davis, or utilizing one of his catering services. Piccolo Paula's is located in Parsons at the site of the former Barb's Drug Store and operates Mon-Fri from 11-2 with a daily special posted on their Facebook page as well as a set menu featuring calzones, paninis, crafted hot beverages, pasta, pizzas, salads, and more. From my own experience the pizza is wonderful, the loaded baked potato bread bowl (pictured) is one of my favorites, and the she crab bisque is to die for. I've been trying to snag a bread bowl of lobster bisque for a while now and always seem to make it in just a little too late and arrive after the point when supply caves in to demand, a fact that makes me want to try it even more. Having been familiar with John's cuisine since...

Most of my life that I can recall has been spent in Tucker County from the time I was five I've lived in one part of the county or another. What I like about living in Tucker County is the friendliness from the locals, the small town setting, and the neighbor helping neighbor practice prevalent in our small town/country setting. If you're broke down chances are someone will stop to help you in one way or another, if you're hungry someone will feed you, or if you're otherwise in need it's usually taken care of by the many churches, friendly residents, or Community Action. NCWVCAA is a wonderful non-profit organization with many programs and resources to help low income families who fall short and can't pay their bills, need to find a place to stay, or otherwise need help. I found them when me and my wife first moved out of our parents homes and we had some unexpected financial setbacks resulting in us being a little short on rent. They stepped up with the he...

It's that time of the year again, the time when colder temperatures dictate you should bring your pets inside to enjoy the warmth and save them from the cold. Just what is enough though when it comes to ensuring your pet is safe and comfortable in the winter time? This year we've had the photo of the frozen dog from Preston County circulate around our area and many were shocked to hear that no offenses were committed as this dog had hay, food, shelter, and water. The fact is that most don't realize this may not cut it with certain breeds that aren't used to being left outdoors in the bitter cold, a Siberian Husky is better suited to the cold than say for instance your Poodle and other small, lean, or short haired breeds. It's always best for you and your pets sake to bring them indoors where it's nice and warm when possible during colder spells as failing to do so may result in the death of an animal or bring about a visit from the local Police or Animal C...

I tend to have an explorers mentality when it comes to my journeys around Tucker County often times locating lost landmarks, hidden hideaways, and other long lost or secluded places. I've discovered such things on my walks around the county as long ago abandoned vehicles, the foundations of long forgotten buildings, remnants of our old industrial past, and more. My passion lays in finding out forgotten facts and the misplaced history of our county. I'm one of the few people who can tell you that Hendricks once had a Knights of Pythias lodge based on information I found by digging an electric bill dated 1935 out of a rats nest in the rafters of an old building slated for demolition, I can tell you that on a really hot summer day the smaller culverts under the bike trail at the Hambleton intersection offer a cool place to relax for those who aren't afraid of snakes or spiders (pictured above), and I can tell you that a logging crew operating on Limestone Mountain several ...

Hu Maxwell 1890 The article and photo contained here are in the public domain due to the age of publication. I have done nothing to the work other than to fix a few spelling errors. RETREAT OF GENERAL ROBERT S. GARNETT. By Hu Maxwell. The Transallegheny Historical Magazine: Volume 1 Issue 3 Published October 1901 The most important military movement west of the Alleghenies in West Virginia during the Civil War was the effort made by the Confederate Government in 1861 to hold the northwestern part of the State, and the counter movement by the Federal forces to prevent it. The commanding general of the Confederates was Robert S. Garnett, and the Union army opposing was led by General George B. McClellan. In this article it is not the purpose to enter into details of the movements of the armies prior to July 12, the date on which the Confederates retreated from Laurel Hill. But fuller mention will be given to the incidents of the retreat, and in doing this the chief relian...

When internet service first reached Tucker County we were stuck with dial-up provided by local ISP's such as the long defunct Meer Net and still operational Frontier. Dial-up meant you couldn't make a phone call and surf the net at the same time, you were limited to 56KBPS, and downloading a movie at this speed usually took a week or more. As technology in the region expanded Frontier stepped up to offer the first DSL internet service with an advertised speed of around 1MBPS that in reality and from personal experience I found to be more along the lines of 256KBPS. Despite the slower than advertised speed experienced by many customers 256KBPS was still around five times faster than dial-up and offered the benefit of allowing customers to download a movie in around a day. Frontier DSL would be the status quo for more than a decade in our area as the local ISP market remained uncompetitive with little to no alternatives existing. Just a few years ago Atlantic Broadband ex...

It's only been a few years ago that Friday and Saturday evenings in Parsons usually meant a trip to the local video rental store. Mt. Lion Video was that local video rental store and featured a large selection of old and new movies and games while also allowing you to rent the machines and systems to play them on. A decade ago most would have never thought twice about the video shop going out of business as it was a staple in the community and it was a safe bet that almost every resident utilized their services at one time or another.  Mt. Lion Video while it was a much smaller local business suffered the same fate of the larger national Blockbuster chain at the hands of the internet and the growing popularity, cheaper cost, and simplicity of services like Netflix , Amazon Prime ,  Hulu , and other online video streaming services. As customers flocked away from brick and mortar video shops in favor of virtual ones sales and rentals declined resulting in it's eve...

As West Virginia struggles to deal with the opioid epidemic sweeping across the Mountain State small towns like ours are likewise getting caught up in the issue. In my high school days most of the available drugs in Tucker County consisted of Marijuana along with a small trickle of other harder drugs. In modern days that trickle has turned into more of a downpour as both harder street drugs and opioid based pharmaceuticals manage to find their way into our area on a daily basis. I hate seeing anyone go down the path of hardcore drug use in our community yet I've had to watch several do just that over the years and currently know several more fighting a loosing battle against these substances. Over my years in the public eye I've been offered every drug imaginable at one point or another and turned them down flat as I don't need a drug to ruin my life and I know that's exactly what they do. These drugs lure in users with promises of forgetting pain, providing an ...

Many of you may have seen the logo pictured, but what exactly is PRO ON TRAC and what do they do for the community? According to their mission statement "The mission of PRO ON TRAC is to achieve historic preservation and downtown revitalization by stimulating economic growth, enhancing Parsons’ core assets, and promoting Parsons as an appealing and vibrant place to live, work, and visit.". Since first starting to work in Parsons in 2001 and later setting up a permanent presence in the city in 2009 PRO ON TRAC has worked in conjunction with local governments, business owners, and the community to remain true to that mission statement and have become instrumental in bringing back Parsons to what it is today and what it will be tomorrow. The task they've undertaken is no menial one and indeed they've had their work cut out for them yet they've still managed to repair, repurpose, and fill crumbling commercial buildings, host a wide range of local events, banque...

With the cost of everything going up constantly wouldn't it be great to get away from the daily grind and find a few moments of complete solitude to just relax without paying for it? What are you waiting for? Tucker County is mostly a vast wilderness featuring an abundance of national forests, parks, trails, and other secluded areas. You can spend a day or two relaxing by the river at a camp site, walking one of the many trails at places like Nursery Bottom, Otter Creek, Dolly Sods, Blackwater Falls, or one of the other trails in our area, or you could always do my favorite and go off the beaten path for a wilderness hike in the national forest. The best things in life are free and we've got plenty of free and inexpensive options everywhere you look in Tucker County. Fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, and many other outdoor adventures await those who have the will to leave the house and the urge to explore. Remember not to forget your camera for those g...

Being a teen in Parsons in the 90's usually meant that you had at some point had a job as a pin setter at the bowling alley, a friendly cross town rivalry still existed between Parsons and Hamrick, and evenings were mostly spent hanging out, shooting pool, and buying or trading cards at Hanks. Hanks was a local sports card shop and arcade located in the tan building beside Long's operated by former sheriff Hank Thompson. While Hanks wasn't the actual name of the business it was what most of us local kids came to know it by as Hank was always there to greet you, talk sports, and sell you the latest packs of sports cards. In it's heyday Hanks was the hottest afterschool spot in town attracting most local teens with coin operated pool tables, the latest arcade machines, and a huge selection of sports cards. They were well poised as the only card shop in town and managed to ride the sports card craze of the early to mid 90's. Sadly the sports card market was more...

If you're anything like me you're already counting down the days until summer rolls around so you can hit the rivers to swim, kayak, fish, and relax. While I'd been swimming in the Cheat River since I was a little boy I only discovered kayaking this past summer when a friend invited me along for a trip and I quickly fell in love with the freedom of being out on the river. In no time at all I was out picking up my own kayak to enjoy my newfound hobby and busy making several trips up and down the river at St. George getting the hang of paddling, turning, balancing, and stopping while planning for longer trips to come. Next summer I look forward to making several longer trips on the river as I continue to explore the waterways of Tucker County while carrying my waterproof camera along with me to take some unique shots as I paddle and glide across the clear waters. A day at the river doing a bit of kayaking can be a great way to spend some fun time with the family on ...

Everyone loves a warm cheesy slice of pizza. Parsons Pizza located on Second St in Parsons offers customers the chance to sit at home and relax while they do the work and deliver, you come in for a pickup, or bring the family and dine in. Offering a Big Momma for $10 or a large one topping for $5.99 makes them a more than affordable option on those "I just got off work don't feel like cooking" evenings. Parsons Pizza is another local business I frequent quite often as it's located close to my shops on Second St. and affords me to the ability to grab a quick lunch without going far. They offer good pizza for a good price and it comes with an abundance of fast friendly service. The menu here includes pizza, hoagies, jumbo wings, fries, salads, and cheese bread along with a small gift shop that carries rustic and country décor for last minute gift ideas. Don't forget to join them Friday Dec 22nd from 6-8PM as Santa makes a visit to their shop and you may wan...

Many may think that the recent snowfall means staying indoors wrapped up in a heavy blanket cursing the cold for it's annual arrival. In Tucker County snowfall means tourist are once again flowing into the area for some skiing, tubing, and sledding at one of our local resorts. At Canaan Valley Resort you can partake in one or more of it's 43 slopes and trails featuring an 850 foot vertical drop that allows for all skill levels to partake in the fun. They offer skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating and more. At Timberline you can enjoy one of their 37 slopes and trails featuring a vertical drop of 1,000 feet and offering a ski-school to allow for training and upgrading of your skills. While at Timberline enjoying all of the skiing you can also enjoy taking in sleigh ride, attending a ski-in church, or one of the many other memorable and pampered experiences offered there. Blackwater Falls State Park one of the most famous and pho...