Louis Poluck, Class of 1973, married to Debbie Prunty Poluck, also Class of 1973, retired from Patriot Federal #2 Coal Mines after 40 years.

Let Debbie provide details of their life together:

“Louis & I were Monongah High School sweethearts & both graduated in 1973. We got married August 10, 1974 at the Swisher Hill Union Mission Church & our reception was at the old Monongah Union Hall.

“We have two sons, Eric & Todd, both North Marion gratuates. We live in Idamay (built our house in 1989).

“Louis worked at Patriot Federal #2 Coal Mines and had been there for 40 years. I graduated from WV Career College & did all the bookkeeping for my Dad's hydraulic shop & I have worked at Davis Electric for the last 35 years.

“We both hope to enjoy our camp at Elkins!”

Debbie and Louis were married on the same day at their life-long friend, Pete Basagic, Class of 1972, and Cathy Martin Basagic, also a Monongah High grad. Pete and Cathy were wed in St. Stanislaus Church, where Pete once was an altar boy.

Debbie’s brother is John Prunty II, 1980 North Marion High grad. He works at Quality Hydraulics and lives in Monongah. His son is John Prunty III.

John II’s father, John Prunty, Jr., is Monongah Class of 1949.

Tammie Poluck Shumate is Class of 1977.

Gary Price

Marion’s Price is president of state school administrators group

Marion County Schools Supt. Gary Price was elected president of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators.

He also was added to the state superintendent’s advisory council.

Price previousl was secretary-treasurer and vice president.

Tyler County Superintendent Robin Daquilante is vice president and Jackson County Superintendent Blaine Hess is secretary treasurer.
Only 3 other Marion Countians were president since 1933: J.J. Straight, Glen Keister and John Myers.

The Miracle at Brandywine

The Miracle at Brandywine on the Back 9 From Hell on the Z hole (named for its shape).

Sank 125-yard iron shot for a birdie 4. Rolled straight to the cup, like a 35-foot putt.

My daughter LaQuita and I could hear the ball hit the pin and didn't see the ball so we suspected it went in and LaQuita started taking photos of me at this momentous event.

After a 57 at Sunny Hill in Kent on Friday, I shot a 45 at Brookledge in Cuyahoga Falls on Monday, a 41 at Sycamore in Akron on Tuesday and a 43 at Brandywine in Peninsula on The Back Nine From Hell on Wednesday.

LaQuita was treating me to a belated Fathers Day gift (Paula and I were on our riverboat cruise out of Peoria on the Illinois River on Fathers Day), followed by lunch at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula.

 

WVU students soar to first place

WVU’s Experimental Rocketry team was first in the 10,000-foot altitude launch category at the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition in Las Cruces, New Mexico on June 20-24.

More than 100 teams from around the world competed in the event, which is run by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association.

The six-member team from WVU crafted a 12-foot long fiberglass rocket – emblazoned with the words “Wild and Wonderful” – that soared more than 9,600 feet with a 9-pound payload.

In April, the team went to Price, Maryland, for a test flight at a Tripoli Rocketry Association event where their rocket reached an altitude of 9,100 feet.  

Team members are Cameron Hale, a petroleum and natural gas engineering major from Blaine, Kentucky, mechanical and aerospace engineering majors Matt Hines (Buffalo, WVU Honors College), Austin Hodges (Millsboro, Delaware, Honors College), Zach Maddams (Claymont, Delaware, Honors College) and Kevin Nadler (Southbury, Connecticut), and chemical engineering major Nick Haynes (Princeton, Honors College).

It took $75,000 from Albert Sabo, Class of 1940, but the Say-Boy he began more than a half-century ago has re-opened at a new location.

And the old restaurant – whose name is a play on Sabo’s name – this week was razed, damaged beyond saving from the March kitchen fire.

The new Say-Boy, 3 blocks on Country Club Road from the old Say-Boy that was at 905 Country Club Road, is at 1228 Country Club Road. It opened April 12.

And close enough to Country Club Road Bakery, at 1211, to grab a dozen pepperoni rolls from the birthplace of the food on your way home after chowing down at Say-Boy.

West Virginia 47^th in teacher salaries

West Virginia ranks 47^th in average teacher salaries at $48,043, down 6 places from 2 years ago.

Only #48 Arizona, #49 Maine, #50 South Dakota and #51 Hawaii (at $34,308) are worse.

District of Columbia is included with the 50 states.

#1 is New York, at $75,279.

That isn’t considered is what it cost a teacher in the 50 states to live. $75,279 in New York City may not go as far as $48,043 in West Virginia.

Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, took her first trip to Alaska.

Her reaction: Cool!

Jackie went with her daughter, Renee, a pharmacist at WVU’s Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

Since Jackie, like me, is a graduate of WVU School of Journalism, I’ll let her tell the story:

John, as you well know, Renee and I went on the Alaska cruise.  We flew from Morgantown airport to Dulles airport (in D.C.) and on to Vancouver, British Columbia and boarded the Regatta ship. 

While it is impossible to describe everything we saw and did, I will highlight the parts that we were excited about. 

The weather was lovely with temps between 57-62 and no rain on us during any of our excursions. 

We saw hundreds of Bald Eagles on our Ketchikan trip and later we went on a small boat and went out to see the whales. 

We saw 5 humpback whales diving in and out of the water.  We went whale-watching in Maine one year so we knew how playful they can be, knowing they have an audience. 

Later we went through the Tongrass National Park that has trees and more trees, moss and Redwood trees.  My picture was taken by a Redwood tree that was 500-600 years old billed as the second oldest Redwood in the USA.  

The next day we were off to see the Mendenhall Glacier and Gardens in Juneau, the capital of Alaska.  This is a rainforest and colorful gardens. 

At the end of the tour, we saw a glacier that was impressive! 

Since we went more than 5,000 miles by ship, some of our tours were 24-36 hours apart. 

We went on to Icy Point (Hoonah) where our tour guide was a 17-year-old Tlingit Indian girl. 

She told us about their ancestors and struggles they faced.  They don’t have a long growing season so they can't grow vegetables.  All of their supplies come by boat or plane twice a week. 

Walmart came in but would sell all of its wares in two days and the Tlingit had to wait another two days before new supplies arrived.  Walmart closed after one year. 

We enjoyed the Tlingit tribal dancing with a narration of happenings. 

This island is isolated and has a population of 300. 

We were on the ship 36 hours and saw and took many pictures of the icebergs that broke off the Hubbard Glacier (which is called "calving").  The pieces were much larger than a huge house! 

The Captain let us take pictures for 30 minutes on the port side and then turned the ship for the other side.  Unbelievable and impressive! 

We went to Skagway and experienced the Yukon passage which is 3,290 feet above sea level. 

John aside: Skagway is where Paula and I flew with a bush pilot, sending moose scattering everywhere.

We boarded a catamaran to see the wildlife near Sitka.  Injured Bald Eagles and owls are nursed back to health and set free.  Those who never heal completely are kept at the center. 

We moved on, driving to the Fortress of the bear rescue facility at Silver Bay.  These bears were injured by car or other animals and brought here to live the rest of their lives. 

Alaskan state law does not allow the bears to be released to the wild again.  They had a forest type arrangement for them but humans throw food to them from a high bridge.  We were allowed to take pictures from this bridge. 

Our last day of exploring brought us to the gorgeous Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia.  We spent 3 hours in the gardens and certainly could have been there all day.  They have uninterrupted blooms from March to October. 

There is an Italian garden, Japanese garden and a sunken garden and many more around the widening paths. 

There are many waterfalls and fountains.  The flowers are beautiful and breathtaking with the rose garden being so special. 

I know I made this a long narration but I couldn't stop myself from reliving the precious memories we made. 

Love, Jackie

As always, if you email photos in jpeg format to John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com with details of YOUR trip I’ll put them on this Monongah High Alumni blog.

The leap in the number of hits shows me that other Lions want to know about the adventures of their former classmates and neighbors.

Party safely at WVU

Niche has WVU ranked #4 among party schools, but #33 for best student life, #52 for best college athletics, #69 for best large colleges and #76 for best public universities.

WVU is ranked as the 34^th safest college campus in America. So if you party safely you can have a great student life, judging by these rankings.

The safest university is New Hampshire, in Durham, with Brigham Young #2, in Salt Lake City.

WVU has more than 30,000 students pursuing 191 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degree programs in 15 colleges. 

WVU has produced 24 Rhodes Scholars, 36 Goldwater Scholars, 22 Truman Scholars, and five members of USA Today‘s “All‑USA College Academic First Team.”

Peter Cameon, a North Marion and WVU grad, and Beth Passarella Cameon are celebrating their 6th wedding anniversary. They live in Morgantown.

Pete’s parents are another Pete Cameon and Connie Koldres Cameon, Class of 1963. His grandparents are Clyde and Maggie Cameon.

Other Monongah High Cameons are Virginia Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1953, married to Pat Mezzanotte and living in Fairmont; Natheleen Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948, who lives in East Chicago, Indiana; Linda Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1966, who lives in Carolina; Bill Cameon, Class of 1960, of Highland, Utah. The other siblings, Albert, Class of 1947, Arthur, Joe and Rudy Cameon, are deceased.

Virginia’s nephew, Stan Cameon, 1981 North Marion grad who is from Monongah but lives in Fairmont, is married to Sheri Slamen Cameon, 1980 North Marion grad.

Also on the extensive Cameon family tree are Francis King Cameon, Class of 1942; Angela Cameon Viney, Class of 1968; and Francine Cameon Jurasko, Class of 1978.

 

Except for Morgantown and Preston County, most of north central West Virginia dodged a more serious tornado threat Friday from the remains of Tropical Storm Cindy.

But, coming on the anniversary of the 1944 Shinnston tornado, the most deadly in West Virginia history, it was a scare that most could do without.

The Crab Shack Caribba on Cheat Lake got battered, but the owners hope to re-open sometime on Saturday.

Trees were toppled at Coopers Rock State Park.

A major accident pileup was reported near Hazelton, Maryland.

1,600 homes were without power in Monongalia County and another 100 in Preston County. 6,000 in the Mon Power area.

Parkersburg and Huntington got the most rainfall, well beyond 2 inches.

A flash flood warning was issued for Monongalia and Marion counties and for southeastern Greene and southwestern Fayette counties in Pennsylvania.

And for Harrison, Doddridge, Tyler, Taylor, Gilmer, Lewis and Tyler counties.

Apparently, the storm has moved out of the state. And another Shinnston tornado was averted.

Pat Levelle, Class of 1971, is celebrating his 39^th wedding anniversary with Fairmont East grad Cindy McVicker Levelle.

Cindy wrote:

“39 years!! Woohoo, it's been fun. Thanks, Pat Levelle! And to think I had the measles when we got married.”

Cindy’s father was the postmaster in Fairmont and married to Ocie Motter McVicker.  There are 7 older brothers and sisters.

Pat and Cindy live in Athens, Georgia. If you want to congratulate them, go on Cindy McVicker Levelle’s Facebook page.

There are a lot of Levelles who graduated from Monongah High.

 

Donna Levelle Vandergrift, Class of 1942.

 

Martha Koon Levelle, Class of 1942.

 

Nancy Jo Levelle Lee, Class of 1969, is married to David Lee, Class of 1967.

 

Michael Levelle, Class of 1970.

 

Robert B. Levelle, Class of 1970, who attended the 2010 Monongah High Alumni Reunion.

 Dr. J. Patrick Levelle, Class of 1971.

 

Mary Regina Levelle Humphrey, Class of 1973, lives in Worthington and is linked to Larry Salai, also Class of 1973.

Regina’s brother, John Levelle, is Class of 1971. Their parents are Joe and Margaret Levelle.

Mary R. Levelle, Class of 1973.

 Thomas Alan Levelle, Class of 1975.

Paula and I made our latest trip a riverboat cruise down the Illinois River from Peoria to Starved Rock State Park.

We saw dozens of bald eagles among the zillions of trees along both sides of the river, which is a mile wide at times.

And hundreds of white pelicans, which herd fish, much like wolves do on land, till they are packed together so tightly that the pelicans fill their 5-gallon capacity bills easily.

On the boat were musicians playing banjo, ukulele, guitar and calliope.

And 5 meals a day (3 before noon).

Since there are no staterooms, we stayed on shore in excellent hotels each night.

As usual, my WV clothing drew the attention of other Mountaineers, or relatives of WVU graduates, or people who knew someone from Morgantown or other Mountain State towns.

Starved Rock is where legend has it that one Native America tribe trapped another one atop the rock, which had only one way out, and arrowed or starved them to death. Except for one that they left live to tell others about the "victory."

Major drawback: 13 hours on the bus each way between Ohio and Illinois because Indiana Turnpike traffic was stop and go A LOT.

Ron Manzo, Class of 1969, and his wife, 1971 Fairview High grad Janice Manzo, are celebrating their 43^rd wedding anniversary Wednesday, June 22, and Ron’s birthday on Thursday, June 23.

Coal miner Ron and Janice have five children – Evan, Andrew, Aaron, Ashley and Jared. They have two grandchildren in Illinois.

 Janice is into physical therapy, once with Lakeview Fitness Center.

Ron’s sister is Monongah’s First Lady Debra Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973, married to Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975.

 

Monongah High history is littered with Manzos.

Phyllis Manzo Berardo is Class of 1935.

Genevieve Manzo Lopez is Class of 1937.

Mike Manzo is Class of 1941.

Patsy Manzo is Class of 1942. Pat Manzo is Class of 1973.

Helen Manzo Raspa is Class of 1945.

John “Duke” Manzo is Class of 1945. Another John Manzo is Class of 1979.

Jim Manzo is Class of 1946.

Raymond “Pigeon” Manzo is Class of 1947.

Mary Manzo Tiburzi, who married Joe Tiburzi, is Class of 1949.

Joe Manzo, Class of 1950.

Ernie “Frog” Manzo, Class of 1953.

There was a Manzo at Monongah High from 1935 through 1949 and 1969 through 1978 (the year before the final 1979 MHS graduation class that preceded the consolidation into North Marion High).

West Virginia birthday video

West Virginia Public Broadcasting

· June 20 at 6:39am ·

Happy 154th Birthday, West Virginia!

1863 - West Virginia Becomes the 35th State.

From the earliest days of settlement there were differences between Eastern has Western Virginia. Legislation often favored those in the East, who owned slave and land.

The American Civil War brought these issues to a head. When the Virginia legislature voted to secede from the Union in 1861, delegates from western counties walked out and went on to form a pro-Union government based in Wheeling.

As the Civil War turned for the Union, the state of West Virginia was created on June 20, 1863.

If you want to watch the Public Broadcasting video of West Virginia’s 1863 birthday as a state, click on https://www.facebook.com/WVPublic/videos/10154551650496471/

 

 

Barb Melton Earl, Class of 1978, and husband Dave Earl are celebrating their 26^th wedding anniversary.

Barb wrote:

“I hope we have many more.”

They live in Wadstown, West Virginia. Barb grew up in Monongah.

Her mother was Worthington’s Claudia Pearl Voyle Melton. Her late father is Class of 1951.

Barb’s siblings are Charles Melton, Class of 1973; John Melton, Class of 1975; and Thomas Melton, North Marion 1984 grad, all living in Fairmont.

Colette Stanley Melton, Class of 1970, United Dairy office manager who lives in Worthington, married into the family.

Her sister, JoEllen Stanley, Clas of 1972, lives in Harrison County.

 

Colette’s cousins include the late David Stanley, Class of 1965, and Keith Dorman “Legs” Beckner, Class of 1942.

 

Colette’s aunt, Almira Stanley Murphy, Class of 1945, is deceased. Another aunt, Doris Stanley Urich, Class of 1947, has attended recent Monongah High Alumni Reunions.

Fields of History: Monongah Football

WBOY-TV reposted this. It appeared originally in 2014, then in 2015. It’s worth another look.

MONONGAH -- Very few things change the landscape of high school athletics like consolidation.

Marion County once boasted nine high schools, now the county has three.

Monongah High School was consolidated into North Marion in the 70's. But still today, the Lions have more state football titles than North Marion, East Fairmont and Fairmont Senior have combined.

"It was tremendous to know you had such a great team here that would be fighting for a state championship each year," said John Veasey, editor for the Times West Virginian.

Where Monongah Football once played their games, now stands an elementary school and playground.

Veasey began covering Marion County sports in 1959. He remembers an era dominated by the Lions.

"They were just better than all the other teams around," he said. "They opened every year against East Fairmont. A AAA team versus a smaller team, and about every year East Fairmont would lose."

Monongah won 5 state football titles (1952, 1955, 1968, 1969, 1973). Its most notable alumni led two of them. (Also a state baseball title in 1955.)

Kerry Marbury was a WVU football star who played pro ball in Canada. His teammate Nick Saban needs no introduction.

"I played professional football, I played College football, Pop Warner, and High School," said Marbury. "I played all levels, and the most fun I had was in High School and Pop Warner."

"Kerry Marbury was just a college player among high school kids," said Veasey. "And Nick Saban, Earl Keener would always call him a coach on the field."

Marbury and Saban are still friends. Their bond goes back for years.

"Nick Sr. told us if we started winning he'd take us to the Dairy Queen he had," said Marbury. "That motivated us and we started winning, so much so, he almost went broke."

Monongah spent it's latter years playing at East-West Stadium. The field where Monongah Elementary now stands became a practice field.

Today only the rusted out backstop of the former duel-purpose field, and a torn down scoreboard tucked in the woods still remain.

"Some of the most fond memories I have took place at that field," Marbury said. "The comradery we had, the friendships that were developed there I will never forget."

 

I can’t think of a better Monongah High Fathers Day article than one centered on the Colisino brothers.

All five served in World War II. And they all survived to live out their lives for decades. As fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

Ronda Colisino of Clarksburg, daughter of Carmen Colisino, one of the five brothers who were Monongah’s version of the famous Sullivan brothers but with a happier ending, and Ann VanGilder Colisino, started me thinking about it. Larry Colisino was Ronda’s brother.

Carmen’s parents were Mary DeSalvo Colisino and James Colisino. His brothers were Patsy, Louis “Skeeter,” Frederick, who lived in Baxter, and Anthony. Their sisters were Flora Payne, Elizabeth Marano and Rosemary Klam.

Carmen’s daughters are Karen Miller and companion Richard Edwards and Rhonda Colisino and companion Charles Pinnell. His daughter-in-law is Cindy Colisino.

Carmen, who was stationed in Alaska during World War II, later was a captain in the police reserves. He loved to fish and hunt, but threw the fish back most of the time and never killed a deer. He loved to garden, particularly raising blackberries.

Ronda recalls: “Mom and dad bought their property in Monongah in 1950. My father was Catholic but marrying my mom who was Methodist he converted so that they both became members of the First United Methodist church of Monongah."

Patsy’s sons are Harry James Colisino, 1974 Mannington High graduate, married to Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974;  Patsy Colisino, Jr., Class of 1975, who lives in Barrackville and works at Fairmont General Hospital; and Robert Louis Colisino. He had 2 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

 

In 1975, Patsy the papa earned his GED from Fairmont West High School and was the longest continuous resident of Carolina, having been born in the same room in which he died. He was a truck driver and a coal miner.

Patsy’s first wife was Margaret L. Markley. His widow was Erma M. Nuzum Colisino.

 So this is a triple salute: To the Colisino brothers of Monongah, to everyone who served America in its too-many wars and to fathers everywhere, alive or looking down from Above.