"The hunt for Bat Boy begins in Lewisburg," reports the West Virginia Daily News, published in the Greenbrier Valley.
"Bat Boy is a mysterious character who is said to be haunting the deepest crevices of Lost World Caverns," the Daily News' Aug. 7 edition reported.
"He has never been photographed in daylight," states the Daily News. If that statement is accurate, is indicates the supermarket tabloid Weekly World News' many photos of the half-bat, half-child mutant over the years might have been faked.
That brings into question other Weekly Word News photos published over the years, such as Bigfoot, aliens, and President Bill Clinton.
The team hunting for Bat Boy is producing a documentary to be called, oddly enough, "Hunt for Bat Boy." The team will consist of seven experts, including deep caving expert Keith Sweeney who "believes Bat Boy is actually part of a massive civilization that exists deep under the earth's surface."
The documentary will include an appearance by southern West Virginia basketball hero Bimbo Coles.
Readers who dare can see a few preview scenes of the shocking movie trailer at www.huntforbatboy.com.
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The Silverton (Colo.) Standard published a letter to the editor July 30 regarding an Environmental Protection Agency plan to plug a leaking mine in the area, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Less than a week later, the EPA crew accidentally released three million gallons of wastewater into Cement Creek, which feeds into the Animas River, turning it bright yellow:
"Based on my 47 years of experience as a professional geologist, it appears to me that the EPA is setting your town and the area up for a possible Superfund blitzkrieg," wrote Dave Taylor of Farmington, Colo.
"Here's the scenario that will occur based on my experience:
"Following the plugging, the exfiltrating water will be retained behind the bulkheads, accumulating at a rate of approximately 500 gallons per minute. As the water backs up, it will begin filling all connected mine workings and bedrock voids and fractures ... It will accumulate head pressure at a rate of 1 PSI per each 2.31 feet of vertical rise.
"... Eventually, without a doubt, the water will find a way out and will exfiltrate uncontrollably through connected abandoned shafts, drifts, raises, factures and possibly talus on the hillsides. Initially it will appear that the miracle fix is working.
"But make no mistake, within seven to 120 days, all of the 500 gpm flow will return to Cement Creek. Contamination may actually increase due to the disturbance and flushing action within the workings.
"The 'grand experiment' in my opinion will fail. And guess what [the EPA] will say then?
"Gee, 'Plan A' didn't work so I guess we will have to build a treatment plant at a cost to taxpayers of $100 million to $500 million (who knows).
"God bless America! God bless Silverton, Colorado. And God protect us from the EPA."
Mr. Taylor's prediction was only slightly wrong. Instead of taking at least seven days for the toxic water to spill, it took only six.
Like many West Virginia coal workers, Coloradans have learned what happens when the EPA steps in to "help."
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School started Thursday for students in Raleigh County, but many might return to classrooms without a long-term teacher.
Raleigh County has 53 teacher vacancies, Jessica Farrish of the Beckley Register-Herald reported last week.
"It's not a shortage that's coming," Superintendent David Price told the board of education. "We're in crisis mode right now, with our needs."
Price said teachers are needed in traditionally under-staffed subjects like science and math, and in subjects that have always had higher recruitment rates, like reading, physical education, the arts and health, Farrish reported.
Counties across the state are facing similar issues.
Without qualified teachers, students suffer. The newest classrooms and most up-to-date technology are meaningless if kids don't have a teacher leading the classroom.
Let's hope West Virginia does something to keep our well-trained, qualified teachers in state to educate future generations.