ANN EATES CHOSEN WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN MONONGAH

 

Ann Eates, widow of Joe Eates, was named Woman of the Year by the Monongah Christmas Lights Committee.

Christmas Lights Committee president and founder Susan Staron posted:

“Ann Eates she's very well known in town and a beautiful women who is a huge supporter to our town. We honored her with a banner of her and her husband Joe who passed away a while ago (2020). Monongah Mayor Johnboy Palmer came with a bouquet of roses. It was an unforgettable experience. Just beautiful.”

In 2010 Ann and Joe were named Monongahfest Citizens of the Year. Both are Class of 1945. 

They were leaders of the Monongah Heroine Committee which, with a major financial boost from the government of Italy for the $75,000 project, put up a statue honoring the wives of the 362 miners killed in the 1907 mines explosions in Monongah.

 

Ann and Joe, whose home is at the bottom of Bridge Street hill, are the godparents of John Larry Olesky of Tallmadge, Ohio, the only son of John Olesky, Jr., Class of 1950, who also lives in Tallmadge.

Ann’s  parents were Anthony and Lucy Damico DeMary. Ann's siblings Jimmy DeMary, Virginia DeMary Rossi and Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr. are deceased. Plumber was in the Class of 1950 with me and Joe’s brother, Tony Eates.

 

Tony Eates lives in Fairmont with wife Lucy Cann Eates. Other siblings, all deceased, are Nick Eates, Class of 1935; Dominick Eates, Class of 1946, a former Monongah High football punter who married the late Mary Larry Eates from Carolina; Mike Eates; Mary Eates; and Angeline Eates.

 

Mike, who passed away in 2008, was married to the late Clarksburg Washington Irving High graduate Jeannie Eates.

CAROLYN AND CHUCK TICE IN MOTORCYLE ACCIDENT

Monongah Christmas Lights Committee vice president Carolyn Kelly Tice and husband Charles “Chuck” Tice were in a motorcycle accident Saturday, August 27.

Carolyn is in WVU Medical Center's Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Chuck said they hope she'll be released Tuesday.

Susan Staron Sanders, founder and president of what I call The Charge of the Lights Brigade, posted:

Sending out prayers to two of my very special members. V. P. Carolyn Tice and hubby Chuck Tice who were in a motorcycle accident on Saturday. Love her so much.  Chuck is my backbone he helps me so much.”

 

Carolyn is from York, Pennsylvania, who graduated from West York Area High School and at Meagher’s Irish Pub, where Chuck once was a cook, and Buffalo Wild Wings, as did Chuck. Chuck, who is from Bridgeport, West Virginia, also is into auto companies, working at Toothman Sowers Ford since 2019 and before that was in the parts department at Wilson Ford-Lincoln.

 

Carolyn in 2020 replaced Michelle “Shelly” Yankie as vice president. Carolyn moved to Monongah a few years ago with husband Chuck Tice. They bought the McCombs house on Main Avenue. Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, is married to Monongah fire chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976. Lisa is a retired Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children’s book author.

 

The Charge of the Light Brigade in 2022, who will have about 60 Christmas street lights in Monongah this Christmastime, really lighting up and brightening up the town:

President - Susan Sanders

Vice President - Carolyn Tice

Secretary - Chelsea McCann

Treasurer - Linda McCullough

Alternates Chuck Tice - Josh Scritchfield

Volunteers Teena Field Ailstock - Rae Ann Carter - Amanda Hawkins - Robert Hawkins - Marsha Fluhardy - Sheila Runyan – Beth Campbell -- Bill McCullough (who helps wife Linda with the cooking at fundraising events).

  

STAN CAMEON GETS LIFETIME INSURANCE HONOR

 

Stan Cameon, 1981 North Marion graduate after 2 years at Monongah High before the 1979 closure to merge with North Marion, won Eries Insurance 2022 Branch Sales Award for Life.

 

Stan is owner/operator of Stan Cameon Insurance and an All-State agent.

 

Stan’s wife, Cheri Slamen Cameon, 1980 North Marion graduate, also from Monongah. They were married in 1989.

 

Stan’s parents are Pete Cameon, Class of 1958, and Connie Cameon. He is a nephew of Nathalee Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948, who lives in East Chicago, Indiana; Linda Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1966; Bill Cameon, Class of 1960; Virginia Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1953; Pete Cameon, Class of 1958; and Albert Cameon, Class of 1947.

 

Stan credits everyone else in his post:

 

“I am extremely proud to be honored at Erie Insurance’s 2022 ABM as the winner of the Branch Sales Award for Life insurance. Our agency couldn’t do it without the support of District Sales Manager Suzanne Bitonti and Erie VP and Branch manager Billy Aliff.
But we couldn’t do it at all, if it wasn’t for a great group of customers that we take care of like family!”

TOWN OF MONONGAH PLANS FOR JULY 4TH EVENTS

 The Town of Monongah will celebrate 4^th of July with a FREE barbeque!

Fireworks at the ball field (10 p.m.), wrestling show (3-5 p.m.) and a Marshall Lowry (6-9 p.m.) concert included among the events.

There’s be a dunk booth and games.

Johnboy Palmer

Monongah will be hosting our 4th of July celebration this year on Sunday, July 3rd. Stop on by for a great time with friends and family! In addition to our fireworks display, this year we’re excited to add a wrestling show and concert! Don’t forget - the BBQ is free!

MONONGAH POLICE CHIEF LEAVES

Monongah is looking for another Police Chief since Morgantown native Ian Bailey has resigned.

Monongah Town Councilwoman Susan Staron Sanders said: “He decided to leave law enforcement John and I just loved him. The kids, everyone loved him.”

Bailey began as Monongah Police Chief in 2020 after living in Louisiana and Georgia. Since 2016, he had been working in the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana as a sheriff’s deputy. Before that, he was in military law enforcement as a staff sergeant from 2007-2015 at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

 

Fairmont native Chris Veltri resigned as Monongah police chief in 2014 and retired from the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Police Department. Before Monongah, Veltri was police chief Rivesville.

 

Rick Barnhart, who came from the Salem Police Department to replace him in 2014, retired in 2017. He lives in Bridgeport.

Terry Queen, a police trainer in Clarksburg, replaced Barnhart. Terry resigned to become a patrolman in the Anmoore Police Department in the Clarksburg area, where Terry lives.

Douglas Montague also was a Monongah Police Chief.

My memories are of the Monongah Police Chief who was summoned to put my childhood dog, Fritzy, out of his misery after he was hit by a car and his back was broken. I think his name was Pasquale but I can’t be sure because I was still in Monongah High so it was in the 1940s. Even though he had a gun he seemed afraid of the dog and it took a couple of bullets to finish Fritzy off. 

351 years of service on Monongah Fire Department

 

 

 

 

The Monongah Volunteer Fire Department has been honored by West Virginia Fire Marshal for its 351 combined years of service!

Monongah Fire Chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, has been with the department for 45 years.

Josh Slagle is the department’s Fire Captain and has 19 years of service.  

All the members received Life of Service awards.

Harless is married to Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children's book author Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977. His brothers are Kevin McCombs, married to Vicky McCombs, and Bill McCombs, former Monongah Fire Department assistant chief and Monongah Water Plant chief operator forever till his retirement who is married to Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs.

Lisa’s mother, Pat Myers, taught at Monongah Elementary and her father, John Myers, was the Golf Pro at Green Hills Golf Club for many years.

 

Because his dad also was named Harless, Lisa’s husband goes by “Mutt.” Mutt’s mom is Loretta June Fox McCombs.

Harless attended more than 200 consecutive football games in Mountaineer Field. That’s even better than my 30 years of season tickets to Mountaineer Field. Harless had an advantage: His mother started taking him to Mountaineer Field when he was 7 years old.

Bill’s wife is Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs, a Fairmont East graduate deeply involved in promoting the annual Monongahfest Festival. They’ve been married 42 years. She moved to Monongah in her 20s, around the time she married Bill. Patty has been Town Recorder for 16 years. Bill has served on Monongah’s Town Council, off and on, for more than 20 years. And put in 23 years making sure Monongah’s water was safe to drink.

Bill and Patty owned for five years the Dairy Kone built and operated by Amelia Shenasky Zentz and her late husband Bruce Zentz.

Patty’s mother, Helen Lousie Stacy, passed away in 2017.

Ian Bailey saw the opening for the Monongah police chief position on Facebook and applied for the job.

Since 2016, the Morgantown native had been working in the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana as a sheriff’s deputy. Before that, he was in military law enforcement as a staff sergeant from 2007-2015 at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Bailey, who met Marion County Sheriff Jimmy Riffle and others during a meet and greet in Monongah, said there are great people in Monongah.

Chief Bailey said he would like to start outreach programs at Monongah Middle School.

Monongah mayor Johnboy Palmer calls Chief Bailey “a great asset to the community and for the town, for sure.”

Bailey has two sons, a 9-year-old and a 5-year-old.

Ian Bailey is Monongah’s new chief of police.

He succeeds Terry Queen, who followed Rick Barnhart in the position. 
Bailey lives in Morgantown was a deputy in the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. He is studying criminal justice at American Public University.

Based on the tongues-stickout photo, Ian looks like a gun guy and a fun guy.

Bekah Altazan thinks Ian is a fun guy, too.

Monongah Volunteer Fire Chief Harless McCombs will attend his 200^th consecutive Mountaineer Field game November 23 when Oklahoma State visits West Virginia’s Mountaineers.

Harless said:

"I've been to every game at the new stadium except for the 1988 game (against Boston College).” The Evansdale stadium opened in 1980.

Harless has been to eight bowl games and many away games, bringing his WVU total to more than 300 games.

You can credit Harless’ mother.

"To be honest with you, it was kind of like I born with it. My Mom took me to games and she took me to old Mountaineer Field.

"I remember one of the very first games I went to (when) I was 7 years old and I ran into a very tall, slender gentleman who stopped and talked to me who happened to be Jack Fleming. I was like, 'Wow. This is a guy that I hear on the radio and now I'm actually getting to meet him. ' . . . From that time on, I had to be there."

I’ve missed only two Mountaineer Field games in 30 years but Harless makes me look like a lukewarm fan by comparison. A snowstorm that iced down I-79 and caused dozens of pileups was one, after my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, phoned and told me to turn around (we were halfway there). The other was after my surgery this year.

Harless and wife Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, made their wedding a tailgate with then-Mountaineer linebacker Reed Williams among the guests.

Lisa is a Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children’s books author. Lisa’s mother, Pat Myers, taught at Monongah Elementary and her father, John Myers, was the Golf Pro at Green Hills Golf Club for many years.

Because his dad also was named Harless, Lisa’s husband goes by “Mutt.” Mutt’s mom is Loretta June Fox McCombs.

Mutt’s brother, Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, has been assistant fire chief and also Monongah’s water expert and currently serves on the Monongah Town Council. Bill’s wife is Fairmont East graduate Patty Steele McCombs, Monongah Town Recorder.  

To read the Fairmont Times article, click on https://www.wvnews.com/fairmontnews/news/monongah-wv-s-harless-mccombs-to-attend-th-consecutive-wvu/article_94944149-f666-5e84-9d15-9d7c0852806f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR00qZv4qEcbzlO1eQxR_M9ocCIUcQ5GlSFNuboAFx_S4aASg5FEg4Nry7E

Terry Queen is resigning as Monongah’s police chief, effective November 30, to become a patrolman in the Anmoore Police Department in the Clarksburg area, where Terry lives.
 
In response to my request for details, Terry replied:

“I am going to Anmoore PD. I will be a patrolman there. It's less stress, more money on the hour, same benefits and it's only 2 1/2 miles from my house.”
The Anmoore Police Department is practically next door to the Clarksburg Hilton Garden Inn on Emily Drive in Clarksburg.

Terry came from Clarksburg to replace Rick Barnhart, who left to become Harrison County Courthouse security chief.

Terry is an experience trainer of police in the use of rifle and handguns and frequents the Salem Rifle and Pistol Club. He also is a member of the Brothers in Blue Motorcyle Club for police officers.

Terry posted:

“Yes, the rumors you may have heard are true. I am leaving Monongah as of the last day of November. I have obtained a job closer home. Though I will be leaving, doing so is bittersweet. In the past 3 years I have been fortunate in meeting a lot of folks who have become my friends, people who I will never forget. Many of you have accepted me and have shown me kindness, the likes I have never known.”

Terry added that students at Monongah’s schools treated him as if he were their grandfather, even calling him “PapPap.”

Another former Monongah police chief, who also served in the same capacity at Rivesville, Chris Veltri, a Sts. Peter and Paul School graduate, passed away in 2017 at the age of 56. He was retired from the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Police Department and moved back to Monongah before his passing.

North Marion High graduate and former Monongah Middle School student Taylor Thompson has become the first female firefighter at McConnell Air Force Base since 1997, according to a post on the Monongah Fire Department Facebook page.

The post:

“Today is a special day for one of our own. Taylor N. Thompson is working her first shift as an Air Force firefighter. She is the first female firefighter at McConnell Air Force Base since 1997. Congrats kid! You earned it.”

Taylor is a great-granddaughter of the late Mary Jean “Mickey” Walker Aldridge, Monongah’s town clerk for 30 years.

Chris Thompson, nephew of Larry Danny Eates, works at Marion County Homeland Security & Emergency Management and lives in Worthington. He once resided in Hundred. I found Chris and Taylor in a family gathering photo.

Danny Thompson, Class of 1975, and wife Letha, daughter of the late Betty Morris Gorbey, live in Monongah.

Dene Saban Thompson, Alabama coach Nick Saban’s sister, is a teacher in Monongah. She is married to former Monongah High football player Leroy Thompson, Class of 1964, who played under legendary coach Jim Feltz in the early 1960s. George Leroy Thompson attended the 2014 Monongah High Alumni reunion with Jerry Thompson, Joann Thompson and Sam Thompson. Joann and Sam also attended the 2018 MHS Alumni Reunion.

Leroy and Jerry both worked at Four States Mine #20, whose survivors hold reunions. Leroy also headed up the reunion of former Hutchinson School students that drew 63 in 2015.

Joann Davis Thompson, Class of 1962, is married to Don Thompson. Joann's sister is Marlene Davis Christopher, also Class of 1962. Joann lives in Fairmont after her WVU graduation. She retired after 43 years at Pleasant Acres Christian Haven since 1972. Joann is the widow of Don Thompson.

Sandy Thompson Barton, Class of 1967, lives in Fairmont.

Violet Irene Satterfield Thompson, Class of 1942, lives in Worthington. Her brother is Steven “Bucky” Satterfield, Class of 1949, of St. Albans, part of the faceitiously named Gang That Terrorized Marion County that I ran around with as a teenager. Bucky is a retired West Virginia State Police Officer. He went from being chased by the police to being a policeman.

I haven’t been able to definitely connect any of the Thompsons mentioned except Chris to Taylor. If you know, post on the John Olesky Facebook page or email me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com Thank you.

Well, it wasn’t Christmas but Monongah lit up like the famous street lights anyway Wednesday, October 17 for the 2018 North Marion Homecoming Parade, which rotates among the schools that consolidated into North Marion in September 1979.

It was Monongah’s turn to host the North Marion parade, which is assigned alphabetically by the original schools’ names: Barrackville, Fairview, Farmington, Mannington and Monongah.

The future ladies man working on the fire-colored snow cone is Greysen Perkins, son of Chrisi McCombs Perkins and grandson of Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs, a Fairmont East grad, and Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, Monongah’s water expert.
 
The trio on the Monongah Paw Packs vehicle are Josie Pudder, daughter of Amelia and Joey Pudder and granddaughter of Jennifer, a Monongah High grad, and Jake Pudder; Audriana Pierson, daughter of Chris and April Campbell Pierson and granddaughter of Lisa Criado Campbell and Mark Campbell; and Briella Sphon, daughter of Clyde and Sarah Sphon.
Tristen Orme and Aunavyn Brumage, North Marion freshman cheerleaders on the Grant Town fire truck, are the granddaughters of Shellie Yankie, a 1982 North Marion graduate living in Monongah who knows a bit about lighting up Monongah, too, since she helps Susan Sanders, Class of 1971, with the Charge of the Lights Brigade, as I call Susan’s Christmas street lights committee that will have 26 lights shining in Monongah this December, including the one I purchased near my former Church Street Home (the pearl in a shell).

At nightfall, the traditional bonfire capped off a busy, exciting time for Huskies fans traipsing around Monongah day.

Now, if the North Marion coach Willie Offord can light a fire under his players, maybe the Huskies can burn Braxton County (from Sutton) in Friday night’s football game.

North Marion Homecoming parade in Monongah this year

Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs’ calendar for October includes this interesting tidbit:

The North Marion High School Homecoming parade will be in Monongah this year. It will begin October 17 at Monongah Elementary School and end at the Monongah Town Hall.

There will be a bonfire at River Point after the parade.

For those thinking about food, Heavenly Hoagie will start cranking out its goodies at 3 p.m. and Sip Station will do the same at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Parking lot.

Patty, a Fairmont East grad, is married to Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, Monongah’s water expert.

The October calendar that Patty posted:

OCTOBER 09th ~ The Regular Council Meeting @ 6:30p will be moved from Monday to Tuesday due to the holiday. OCTOBER 17th ~ Monongah will be hosting the North Marion High School Homecoming Parade @ 6p. Parade will begin at Monongah Elementary School and end at the Town Hall. Bonfire at the River Point following parade. Heavenly Hoagie will start around 3p & The Sip Station will be open at 5:30p in the town parking lot. OCTOBER 20th ~ Monongah Town Dump Day from 7a to noon in the town parking lot. This is for residents who live in the city limits only. NO CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NOTHING WITH FREON, NO PAINT CANS OR TIRES, NO ELECTRONICS. You must show a water bill for proof of address. $5.00 small load ~ $10.00 large load. OCTOBER 22nd ~ Council Meeting @ 6:30p in Monongah Town Hall. OCTOBER 31st ~ TRICK or TREAT ~ Times to be announced.

Talent show in Monongah

There will be a regional talent show in Monongah this summer (date to be announced later) with winners advancing to the Marion County Parks and Recreation finals August 25 at Fairmont’s Palatine Park.

Monongah’s talent will compete against regional winners in Fairview, Rivesville and Fairmont.

Regional winners will get gift certificates or wave pool passes. Palatine finalists have a shot at $500 and booking for a Marion County Parks show next year.

John Provins is parks director.

Tony Michalski, Marion County Parks and Recreation Comission executive director, is a grandson of Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, who lives in Monongah, and the late Frank Michalski, who played football for Monongah High through the 1948 season.

Ramona lives off Bridge Street Extension in Monongah (near the top of the hill) and is my de facto Monongah Bureau Chief for Lions news with help from Adam Michna, who graduated from North Marion in 1980 after attending Monongah High for 3 years.

The Fairmont Time has an excellent article about Bill McCombs and Patty Steel McCombs.

Bill, Class of 1969, is the #1 expert on Monongah’s water system. Wife Patty, a Fairmont East graduate, has been the heart and soul of Monongahfest since its inception.

 

I’ll step out of the way and let those who don’t get the Fairmont Times but do read this blog wherever they are living together read it:

 

FACES: Bill and Patty McCombs’ involvements and activities in Monongah span fun events and government and everything in between

·         By Leah Nestor Times West Virginian

 

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MONONGAH — Patty McCombs moved to Monongah in her 20s, around the time she married Bill.

Bill had lived in Monongah all his life and became involved in the community early on. They’ve been together 40 years.

“I think it’s the friendship, maybe the fellowship of the town, that brings everyone together,” Patty explained. “I mean everyone just gathers to help you do everything. That’s the way this town is, and that doesn’t happen in a lot of towns.”

Patty and Bill have been very involved in the town for most of her life and all of his.

“I like my town, and I like to see good things happen to it,” Bill said.

“He gets so wrapped up in the town,” Patty said about her husband. “He cares more than anybody I’ve ever seen about a town.”

Their involvements and activities in Monongah span fun events and government and everything in between.

Patty has helped with Monongahfest since its inception. Monongahfest is now on its 29th consecutive run.

“(The creators) wanted to have a community gathering of some sort where everyone just got together and enjoyed the day,” Patty said. “And it just bloomed into what it is today.”

Patty has also served as the town recorder since 2003.

“(I just had) an interest in the town, and now I feel like if I quit I’m going to miss something,” she laughed.

A few years before Patty decided to run for town recorder, Bill began running for town council. He was a councilman for about 20 years. He is running for it again after a four-year hiatus.

“Because of the water projects and sewer projects that are coming up, I’d like to be involved with that and have some input,” he said.

Long before his time on council, he began volunteering with the Monongah Volunteer Fire Department in 1971 when he was 20 years old. After 45 years, he is now assistant fire chief and treasurer.

“All of us guys got together and we built this ourselves,” Bill said about the department’s building. “(It) took three or four years to build this. We don’t owe a penny on it.”

He said he always enjoyed helping people and knows that there are many people who either cannot volunteer or will not volunteer.

Way back when there was a Monongah Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary, Patty was on that, too. A lot of fundraisers were done for the fire department, she said, and she continues to help with the department even though the women’s auxiliary is no longer in existence.

After years as chief operator of the Monongah Water Plant, Bill has waffled between retirement and working again, going into retirement and returning to help train a new water plant supervisor.

“I retired and one guy took my place. He lasted three months; the other one lasted six months,” Bill explained. “So now I’m training another one. I told him he had to last at least a year.”

In their spare time, when they are not getting involved in another aspect of the town, they’re getting together with their neighbors.

“They’re all friends, and if they don’t know each other then their parents knew each other,” Patty explained. “It was just something that’s just come down the line that they all kind of inherited.”

She said that friendship is what has kept her here.

Not only do they find time to spend with their neighbors, all the families have camp sites at Big Bear Lake where they spend the weekends together.

“Everybody says you’re supposed to go to camp to get away from your neighbors, but all of our neighbors are at camp,” Patty laughed.

In addition to government, fire department, events and time with neighbors, Bill and Patty said they owned the ice cream shop for about five years. And although the businesses in the town have changed or left, she said the people have stayed the same.

“When you come (to Monongah), you feel like no one is a stranger in this town because everyone always treats you as if they’ve known you forever,” Patty said.