INNformer

09/16/2025

And now it's time to play "Frontier Communications" daily game:

Works or Not!

The suspenseful game where we see if one or both of our phone lines are operational- allowing us to conduct normal business

-or-

Will we be faced with the challenge of not being able to do normal things, like run credit cards, make marketing calls or taking reservations.

During the suspenseful bonus round, if Line One works, we will then check to see if Line Two still has the screeching howl and scratching noises that makes us wonder if it is connected to an electronic hell!

And Today's answer is: NOPE! We can currently receive calls but can't dial out.

There was a period yesterday when we could actually make and receive calls but it was just a teaser for today's Frontier Communications Works of Not!

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09/15/2025

Update: "Wednesday" became 30 minutes.

Behold! The power of vile Yorkian temper!

Original post below

Thanks the absolutely astounding incompetence of Frontier Communications the only way to reach us is through messenger or via email until further notice.

Last night I called in a service call and reported that I couldn't make outgoing calls and only could receive them. They then, without asking my permission, forwarded all calls to a cell phone that is no longer functional.

Now, after an hour of dealing with someone in some God forsaken country, I am being told that due to problems with their switching equipment they can't take the forward off.

First it was "it will be fixed on Monday." Then, as the customer service guy is telling me it will be fixed on Tuesday, I get an email from them telling me that they won't be working on it until Wednesday.

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09/11/2025

The Sistersville Ferry is OPEN! It will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday!

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09/10/2025

Weather and Traffic
September 10, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, September 10 and the year is 2025, I think. Today is National TV Dinner Day, for all those who are nostalgic for Salisbury Steak and some sort of potato mush. And on a serious note, it’s World Su***de Prevention Day. Normally I would inappropriately inflict my whit and wisdom on everyone but I’m going to take a hard pass- just this one time.

I once stopped a tenant of mine from offing himself, by the way. I knew he was in a rough patch but didn’t see him as the type and I still wonder if I missed something.

If you, or someone you know, is in a similar situation, step-back and call or text 9-8-8, that’s the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline.

And remember, even after the darkest of nights, the dawn will come and the sun will shine. Be there to see it. Please.

Okay, now that I’ve done my good deed for the day....

On Thursday, Sept. 11, Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel, will be a special guest at the 57th Annual West Virginia Oil & Gas Festival. He will be sworn in as an honorary Deputy of the Tyler County Sheriff’s Department by Sheriff Dean Pratt at a ceremony ay 5:30 p.m. at the Sistersville City Park.

DJ is truly an inspiration. He was diagnosed in 2018 with brain and spinal cancer and has become a national symbol of bravery. He was recognized by President Trump during the State of the Union Address where he was sworn in as an honorary Secret Service agent.

This year’s Oil and Gas Fest looks to be the best in years!

On this day in 1609 John Smith was elected council president of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. In December 1607 Smith and two other colonists were captured by Powhatan warriors. While the two other men were killed, Smith, according to his 1624 account, was spared and released because of the intercession of Pocahontas, the 13-year old daughter of Chief Wahunsonacock, known as Chief Powhatan by the English.

In 1813 a fleet of nine American ships under the command of Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry defeated a British naval squadron during the Battle of Lake Erie. It was the first time in history that a US force had defeated a British squadron and led to the British evacuation of Detroit and ensured the control of Lake Erie and the northwest.

After the battle Perry sent the famous dispatch “We have met the enemy, and they are ours,” to US General William Harrison.

And in 1894, across the pond in London, taxi driver George Smith earned a footnote in history as the first person to be fined for drunk driving and in 1913 the Lincoln Highway was completed with a dedication on Oct. 31 of that year. The highway was conceived by Indiana entrepreneur Carl Fisher and was the first coast to coast route laid out.

Weather:
Perfect for the Oil and Gas Fest. Today will be sunny with highs in the low 80s with an overnight low in the upper 40s. Tomorrow, mostly sunny with highs in the lower 80s.

Traffic:
The same. Expect delays in New Martinsville as it is annoying.

Currently at our Downtown Sistersville News Command Center it is 51 degrees under clear skies.

And remember 9-8-8.

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09/06/2025

Weather and yawn
September 6, 2025 9:47 a.m.

Good Morning! Today is Saturday, September 6 and the year is still 2025. Today we have two contradictory days to celebrate and one that everyone an get behind. First, it’s Fight Procrastination Day AND National Read a Book Day. I don’t about everyone else, but I read a book when I am procrastinating. Second, it’s International Bacon Day!

Advertise in the INNformer! The other day I was asked by a potential advertiser why they should advertise with me when there are other papers around that people subscribe to. I told them that my readers had to go find mine, which meant that they were far more likely to read it than the one that just shows up in their mail box.

I was going to write more, I have a whole list of things to include, but I think I’m going to read a book instead. Later I will fight procrastination, but not right now.

New Martinsville is really annoying and it feels like its going to rain.

Currently at our Downtown Sistersville News Command Center it is 60 degrees and cloudy.

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09/05/2025

Weather Brief
September 5, 2025 8:41 a.m.

Good Morning! Today is Friday, September 5, 2025 and this is going to be brief. Too much work to do to find time to procrastinate.

Weather:
Scattered clouds today, with isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. Some storms may be severe. Highs in the mid-80s. Tonight, scattered thunder boomers early, again some may be severe. Low 60.

Tomorrow, rain in the morning with highs around 70.

Currently at our Downtown Sistersville News Command Center its 61 degrees under cloudy skies.

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09/04/2025

Weather and Traffic
September 4, 2025 8:45 a.m.

Good Morning! Today is Thursday, September 4, 2025. It’s National Eat an Extra Dessert Day and National Wildlife Day, so be careful driving around as all those damn deer run around celebrating.

This week’s issue of the INNformer is going out for distribution today and tomorrow. As this issue covers Tyler County Speedway’s inaugural County Roads 100 and pretty much wraps up our Dirt Track racing for the year, there are several photo pages and write ups. Which works out- the end of August is always a slow news cycle. Next issue we will have an interview with WV State Senator Charlie Clements and a look at Monroe County’s Ecotome project, the complex being developed at the old golf course in Duffy.

Our recipes column will also return next issue- so when you don’t see one don’t worry. We need the space for photos. I suggested doing a very short “men’s recipe column.” You know- microwavable prepackaged meals- but was overruled.

On this day in 1609, Englishman Henry Hudson, sailing in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, discovers Manhattan and the river that now has his name. His discovery, which allowed the Dutch to lay claim to the area for future colonization, was made as he searched for a Northwest Passage to China.

Many explorers and their investors initially believed that North America was a narrow strip of land and there could be a passage that would allow quick passage for shipping between Europe and China.

And in 1833 something that warms my little heart occurred: The first newspaper boy was hired to deliver papers by the New York Sun News. His name was Barney Flaherty, he was ten-years old and was the first in a profession that gave tens of thousands a start in the newspaper business or was the very first job that any children had. As yes, I had a paper route and now do the deliveries. It was a lot easier on those 12 year old legs.

Weather:
Showers and a few thunderstorms today, some may be entertaining. High in the lower 70s. Tonight, partly cloudy with lows in the mid 50s.

For tomorrow, mostly sunny with highs in the mid 80s.

Traffic:
The song remains the same.

Currently at our Downtown Sistersville News Command Center it is 63 degrees under cloudy skies.

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09/03/2025

Traffic and Weather- the Midnight edition
September 3, 2025 3:30 a.m.

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, September 3, 2025. It’s US Bowling League Day, Skyscraper Day and National Welsh Rarebit Day, which I always thought was Welch Rabbit Day. But I was wrong, there isn’t any rabbit in the dish, just loads of cheese on thickly-sliced toasted bread.

As I am writing this, it’s 3 a.m. We go to press in five hours and I hopefully have finished my last article for the newspaper. In this week’s paper we have a lot of coverage of the recently completed three-day inaugural Country Roads 100 at the Tyler County Speedway.

Even if you are not a dirt track race fan you should be thrilled by the efforts that the local track management and volunteers have made to keep the tradition alive. It’s a tourism draw that has brought in race car drivers from all over the eastern United States, as well as race fans, and put Tyler County on the map. We are proud of our commitment to support this important segment of the business economy.

This week’s paper starts to go out for distribution on Thursday, once I catch up on my sleep.

On this day in 1189 Richard the Lionheart was crowned king of England. At the age of 16, when most kids these days can’t figure out if detergent is edible, Richard was already leading armies and he went on to be a key Christian commander during the Third Crusade.

In 1697, after nine years of fighting in both North America and in Europe King William’s War came to the end with the signing of the Treaty of Ryswick. The war was largely caused by the fact that the treaties that were reached at the end of the First Indian War (1675-1678) were not followed. Particularly, the English were alarmed that the French were giving arms to the Indians.

The Indians played on the English fears that they were in cahoots with the French, while at the same time making the French think that they were cozy with the English.

In 1777 the Stars and Stripes were flown in battle for the first time during a skirmish with British and Hessian troops at Cooch’s Bridge in Delaware.

And in 1783 the American Revolution officially ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed. With the treaty the British formally recognized the independence of its former 13 colonies and set the boundaries of the new republic.

During the treaty negotiations Benjamin Franklin demanded that Britain hand over Canada to the United States. Although this didn’t happen, the British conceded enough new territory south of the Canadian border to double its size. The United States also successfully negotiated for important fishing rights in Canadian waters and agreed, among other things, not to prevent British creditors from attempting to recover debts owed to them.

The British were actually fairly generous with the treaty, understanding that it was in their long term interests to quickly redevelop trade and relations with their former possessions in order to keep the French from dominating the new country.

Weather:
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and a stray thunderstorm later today. Highs in the lower 80s. Tonight will be partly cloudy with lows in the upper 50s.

For tomorrow, Rain and thunderstorms, some could be entertaining. Highs in the mid 60s.

Traffic:
About the same as every other day. New Martinsville is annoying and you will be motion sick on the Short Line Highway if you eat a large meal before driving between New Martinsville and Jacksonburg. It’s getting worse.

The Sistersville Ferry may be back in operation later this month. Stay tuned!

Currently at our Downtown Sistersville News Command Center, where the midnight oil is still burning, it’s 50 degrees under clear skies.

If news happens in the morning, it better not wake me up or there will be hell to pay.

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08/27/2025

Weather and Traffic
August 27, 2025 8:18 a.m.

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, August 27, 2025 and it’s National Just Because Day and National Petroleum Day. Did you know that Tyler County is an oil producer? That’s right, in 2024 286 barrels of oil were produced!

As we head into the fall, if your club or intentional not-for-profit is having an event coming up please send us a message via messenger so we can get it in the paper. Please give it to us at lease three weeks in advance so we have time to get it in the paper and then distribute it.

And advertise! We belong to both the Wetzel-Tyler and Monroe County chambers of commerce and we give member discounts.

A reminder, the inaugural Country Roads 100 is coming up this weekend. Three days (four if you count practice of dirt track racing fun at the Tyler County Speedway!

On this day in 1776 the disastrous Battle of Long Island took place on Brooklyn Heights. It was the largest battle, in terms of number of troops involved, during the entire Revolutionary War.

The failure of Washington’s Continentals to defend New York City lead to the city and its harbor being in British hands through the entire war.

In 1928 the Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed. Named after US Secretary of State Frank Kellogg and France’s Prime Minister Aristide Briand, the signers of this international agreement on peace promised not to use war to resolve “disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them. The pact was signed by the United States, France, Germany, the Soviet Union and fifty plus other countries.

And in 1964 Walt Disney released Mary Poppins in the US. Its classic song “Spoonful of Sugar was inspired by Disney songwriter Richard Sherman’s son, who received an oral polio vaccine soaked into a sugar cube.

Weather
Today will be pleasant, partly cloudy, with highs in the mid 70s. Tonight, cloudy with lows in the upper 40s. For tomorrow, partly cloudy with highs in the mid 70s.

Traffic:
The usual mid-week traffic. Gas at the BP in Sistersville is $2.95 this morning.

Currently at our Downtown Sistersville News Command Center it’s 49 degrees under clearing skies and I’ve got a lot of work to do. Anyone have any buckets of driveway sealer they want to get rid of?

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08/27/2025

08/26/2025

Weather and Traffic
August 26, 2025 8:15 a.m.

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, August 26, in the Year of Our Lord 2025. It’s National Dog Day, National Cherry Popsicle Day and, for all your hoarders who still have a secret stash from five years ago, National Toilet Paper Day.

That’s probably one of those things that future historians will use as a benchmark in the decline of Western Civilization. The supply chains were collapsing, the world was going to hell and people grabbed all the crapper paper they could get their mitts on. Next time there is a lock- down may we suggest stockpiling something different? You know, stuff you can eat?

Advertise!

While our paper is free to our readers, it certainly isn’t free to produce. We are advertiser supported and we have exactly one small space for an ad left in the next paper- and it’s on a black and white page. If you want to advertise in color in the second paper of September send me a message. We give Monroe County and Tyler- Wetzel chambers of commerce discounts.

On this day in 1629 an often overlooked first step on our nation’s path to Independence was taken with the signing of the Cambridge Agreement. The document was between the shareholders of the Massachusetts Bay Company and encouraged those who wanted to stay in England to sell their shares in the company to those who were planning to emigrate on the Mayflower.

The agreement stipulated that the Massachusetts Bay Colony, early colonies were set up as commercial ventures, would be under local control where the colonists landed- rather than under the thumb of a board in London. Having all of the stockholders of the company in the colony basically guaranteed that it would be self-governed and established a tradition which the colonials a century and a half later would fight to maintain.

And in 1765, a Boston mob destroyed the home of Thomas Hutchinson, Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, because of his support of the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was imposed by British Parliament in March to raise revenue and required that all paper transactions be made on stamped or embossed paper.

As the mob approached, Hutchinson was persuaded by his daughter to flee, he wanted to stand and fight, and the rabble completely wrecked his home. As the sun came up the next day men were observed up on the roof pulling shingles off.

In 1939 the first Major League Baseball game was broadcast live on TV with sportscaster Red Barber calling the action. The Cincinnati Reds beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and, as an aside, space aliens 100 light-years away are now watching the game. That’s how far the broadcast has reached, so far.

Weather:
Today we will see increasing clouds in the afternoon. High in the mid 70s with overnight lows in the upper 40s. Tomorrow, again partly cloudy with highs in the mid 70s.

Traffic:
The Sistersville- Fly Memorial Highway Bridge is experiencing construction delays, although their “Tuesday is for Tourism” programs is still in effect. This week tourists from New Jersey have been chosen to be the lucky winners. Jersey folks get priority crossing over to Ohio. Please use the right lane.

The work to make the Route 2 rougher coming southbound out of Paden City appears to be finished.

And the section of the Short Line Highway west of Pine Grove has been nominated for the 2025 RUSHOFF award. The prestigious annual ‘Road to Use to Scare the Hell Out of Friends and Family’ award highlights the roads that reinforce how wonderful our country roads are. If you want to experience the section for yourself we suggest on an empty stomach.

Oh, and New Martinsville is still annoying.

Currently at our Downtown Sistersville News Command Center it’s55 degrees under clear skies.

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08/25/2025

What'cha all think. Ditch our traditional 'Paper Boy' logo and go with the updated look?