Fatcow Icon
Autumn’s arrival
by Nathan Jeffers
njeffers@heartlandpublications.com
<p>Pictured is a tree from Krodel Park getting a head start for the 2012 foliage season.</p>

Pictured is a tree from Krodel Park getting a head start for the 2012 foliage season.

slideshow
<p>Pictured is another area of Krodel Park where leaves are even further ahead and have already fallen.</p>

Pictured is another area of Krodel Park where leaves are even further ahead and have already fallen.

slideshow

MASON COUNTY — As temperatures start to fall and leaves begin to change, locals can start kicking off the air conditioner and open up their windows to feel the cool autumn breeze as the season officially changes.

For the year 2012, today, Sept. 22, is known as the autumnal equinox, or the first day of autumn. On this day of equinox, which comes from the Latin words for “equal nights,” the amount of daylight and darkness will last approximately 12 hours each and the days following will begin to get shorter.

Along with shorter days comes another highlight of the autumn season, which is watching the leaves turn beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow, also known as foliage. While some leaves have already begun that process, local WVU Extension Agent Rodney Wallbrown stated the peak of the fall foliage season for Mason County will most likely be around mid to late October.

According to a release from the West Virginia Division of Forestry, some areas of the state of West Virginia may experience their peak of foliage early than expected due to the dry weather from this past summer. According to Wallbrown, when there is a drought, the foliage of the leaves will typically not be as beautiful. Wallbrown also added since the area has experienced some rain before the leaves began to change this season, it may help Mason County’s foliage to still produce the well-known and beloved colors.

The Division of Forestry also briefly explained the science behind why leaves change colors in the fall, stating it’s a process known as photoperiodism. It was reported that as the sun moves further south and days become shorter and temperatures fall, the leaves begin to produce less chlorophyll, which is the chemical that makes the leaves green. As the amount of chlorophyll decreases, other pigments in the leaves become more prevalent, giving the leaf a new color.

“It’s just a natural way of the leaf dying and the tree shutting down for winter,” Wallbrown said on the foliage of tree leaves.

As the temperatures continue to drop as the season goes on, the chance of having frost also increases. Wallbrown stated the expected frost date for Mason County is normally around the middle of October, but it may be possible to go into November before a frost comes. But Wallbrown also stated the frost date is somewhat questionable, saying sometimes there is a day or two with frost and then temperatures will rise again for a few more weeks. In this case, Wallbrown says his usual advice for gardeners who want to save their plants as long as possible is to cover the plants when frost is first possible and then the plants may still survive for a few more weeks.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet


News
download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 363 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 145 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow
Read More News
Sports
download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 363 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 145 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow
Read More Sports
Opinion
download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 363 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 145 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow
Read More Opinion
Weather
Sponsored By:

RSS Feeds
All articles feed
News feed
Sports feed
Videos feed
Obituaries feed
Opinion feed
Local Features
download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 363 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 145 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow
Read More Local Features
Poll
Sponsored By:

download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 363 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 145 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow
View Previous Polls
Special Sections
download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 363 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 145 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow
download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 363 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 145 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow