Mistaken Identities, Conspiracies, and Other Excuses

The Editors of the Calhoun Underground, after speaking at great length with Bob Weaver of the Hur Herald, feel that it is high time to set the record straight on our end.

The article this morning entitled “The Hur Herald IS Not The Internet” is absolutely true, and a shame. It is hard to imagine anyone literate enough to use a computer who is not able to recognize that the Hur Herald, The Calhoun Underground, The Calpatty Press, The Lone Meth Ranger, and even the regional jail website are not all run by the same person!!! Perhaps it is difficult for some to accept that there might actually be some credibility to what has been said regarding the state of affairs in this part of West Virginia. After all, if all these “crazy” blog sites can be connected to the Hur Herald editor, then we do not have to give the Hur Herald any credibility either, now do we? How convenient for those with the desire to keep these issues swept under the rug.

The outcome of this case of mistaken identities is that there are issues which can not be fully covered by the Hur Herald even if the editors desire to do so, at risk of being seen as “just another crackpot” or accused of being responsible for any number of other more infamous sites or at least conspiring with the authors.

Now, some may say that if all the authors of these websites and blogs are NOT one in the same, then surely they must be friends, collaborating among themselves to create the greatest amount of havoc. I can only speak for myself in that I had never heard of The Lone Meth Ranger, The Calpatty Press, The Crooked County Crooks, or Bob Weaver until I discovered them on the internet. It only follows that the editors of the Calhoun Underground have  had some limited communications with the other BLOG writers, because at least in some respects, we find ourselves on the same page. Regardless of our initial thoughts regarding these BLOG sites, I found it interesting that there was such an assortment of people raising a lot of the same issues and that there were others who actually had the NERVE to speak up. Being a writer myself and finding myself constantly at odds with certain happenings related to the State Police in Calhoun and Roane Counties, decided to do the same, for the sole purpose of attempting to give even MORE credibility to some of the most important issues facing ALL citizens in this county.

Now, the Hur Herald is NOT a blog, but a credible news source for this area. And our association with Bob Weaver is purely coincidental. We simply tend to share not only his views on the issues, but his desire to keep things aboveboard. I grew up with a writer/philosopher for a dad, and Bob Weaver’s writings are very similar to my Father’s in nature and scope. And in a small community like this one, individuals with similar ideas tend to become friends. But even finding ourselves in close quarters, we have mutually attempted to limit our connections as far as the internet community. My ideas are mine, his ideas are his.

It can be a handicap, being a writer, being in agreement with the Editor, but not being able to utilize the Hur Herald for a medium of communication. But, as we both realize, a certain distance must be maintained for our arguments to carry the greatest amount of weight.

The problems involved in presenting facts that tend to be unpopular are many, and one of the things I have endeavored to do is try my best to keep the Calhoun Underground as INDEPENDENT from the other blogs and the Hur Herald as possible, as I too am concerned about those who would try to lump all these individuals into one, at the expense of the truth.

Now, I would say it’s high time for readers of these many blogs and news sites to realize that maybe, just maybe what is being said about the corrupt practices in question, by all the various DIFFERENT people independently of each other, SHOULD be looked at more closely and stop being discredited by those with an obvious agenda.

Letter To the Editor of the Hurherald

Ah, it pays to have the inside scoop. Looks like there are a few more waves in the pond. Anyone with their own stories? We’ll publish them anonymously if need be. As long as they are TRUE. Send ’em in.

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Dear Editor,
This in response to your ongoing troubles with the WVSP and to those who
would dismiss the issue by claiming it is “just bad blood”.  I know first
hand of the incompetence within the Calhoun County State Police. My family
and myself have been victimized by the State Police under the direction of
Mr. Starcher and his ilk more than once over the years. The most recent
involving a search warrant obtained by Starcher using demonstrably false
information. The “probable cause” for the search warrant was entirely
fabricated, and the results of the search led to what can only be described
as baldfaced lies in statements to the media, with the case eventually
DISMISSED for lack of evidence. In this case, the issue was swept under the
rug and the “loss” of ALL evidence was never reported on to the media.  This
also led to a serious mental and health breakdown for my husband who suffers
from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe anxiety disorder when under
stressful situations. Which led to even more legal problems rather than a
doctors help.

Sure, people could say there is “just bad blood” between Starcher and myself
as well if you know the history. But ultimately the problem seems to be that
you have a person who was born and raised in Calhoun County, went to school
here, and now is a State Police officer here. He is familiar with just about
everyone and vice versa. This resembles to me something akin to “conflict of
interest” where people are simply too familiar with each other to  maintain
objectivity in critical situations. Any State Trooper needs specifically to
be ABOVE REPROACH in his actions in order to be effective and respected. I
feel that in these instances and circumstances that familiarity does indeed
breed contempt, and that it would serve the WVSP best interests to remove
him from this area all together, as there is far too much “bad blood”
floating around which would cause any State Trooper to be unable to actually
do his job properly.

I believe this is information that should be publicly known and so a copy of this letter has also been sent to the Calhoun Chronicle and the Times Record.

Patsy Buvoltz

Local Media Photographer has Camera Confiscated by State Police

This just in. Our own Hur Herald editor, Bob Weaver, while taking pictures of the unused Annamoriah Armory building for a news story regarding a bomb threat earlier that had State Police on the scene, was approached and his camera confiscated by  Trooper DOUG STARCHER of the Calhoun County Detachment. The trooper alleged that it is illegal for a Federal Building to be photographed.

A search for any law or rule in West Virginia or elsewhere stating that it is illegal for media personnel to photograph federal buildings proved fruitless. In fact, the only thing that I COULD find was something that said law enforcement should be VIGILANT if they see someone photographing such buildings. But that also assumes the officer does not actually KNOW the photographer on a FIRST NAME BASIS.

For people unfamiliar with the ongoing problem, this particular officer knows the photographer personally and knows fully well that he is not a “terrorist”, but a NEWS REPORTER. There are personal disagreements between Weaver and Starcher which have nothing to do with “law enforcement” but everything to do with corruption, with Weaver tirelessly reporting on the poor situation within the local State Police Department.

This particular officer has caused problems for Calhoun County media before when he arrested Weaver for photographing an accident scene. At that time, Starcher alleged that Weaver was taking pictures of a dead woman’s exposed breasts. It was later determined that the story as told by Starcher was a complete fabrication and the charges were dismissed.