Reba Woosley can still hear her father's voice today, telling old tales of how far molasses got him back in the 1920s.
   Surprisingly, it really did take him places – just not in the way one would think.
   As a young man, he was one of the few people who could drive an automobile in Buchanan County, she says. So when the family backed up their farm goods to peddle in War, WV, he was the obvious choice to drive.
   But, it was on the trip back home to Slate Creek that Everett Rowe made clear just how little he actually knew about automobiles. Noticing the engine was dry of oil and not carrying any on the trip, his eyes wandered to the fresh molasses sitting in the back seat.
   "It got them back," Woosley says, laughing. "But, it was hard getting started back up."
   She remembers her father telling that story every year during the family molasses stir-off.
   "I'm very proud of my heritage," she says. "I get very defensive when people make fun of Appalachian people. I think there's no better people. And, that's something I've taught my children."
   After she married Stuart Woosley in 1966, they continued the tradition until 1986.
   "It got to be too much work," she says. With family and a job to tend to, she says she realized processing cane into molasses was a full-time job.
   The process of extracting sugar from sugar cane is a long one, with molasses a by-product of that process.
   First, the sugar cane plant is harvested and stripped of its leaves and its seeded top. The juice is extracted by crushing or mashing the cane and is then boiled.
   As a thick foam rises to the top, it is skimmed off and the juice slowly turns a golden amber color with constant stirring.
   The Woosleys use a vertical three-roller mill. The central roller is attached to a large vertical gudgeon, which, in turn, is attached to one large log. The log was harnessed to and turned by horses many years ago. With all three rollers cogged at the top as the central roller is turned, the others also rotate.
   But, in recent years, the Woosleys felt their cast-iron mill was too fragile to be turned by horse or tractor. Instead, the family riding lawn mower proved the perfect method.
   Because the Woosleys last used the mill 20 years ago, Reba Woosley says it was important to them to show their children and grandchildren the old family tradition.
   She remembers one of the last times she and Stuart made molasses.

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
  A grassy strip of land between the Levisa River and Rt. 460 from the red light at the mouth of Garden Creek, along the front of the University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy campus was declared surplus property by the Buchanan County School Board.
  At a meeting of the school board September 21, it was noted the land in question was apparently not conveyed along with the rest of the property when the board declared the old Garden Elementary-Middle School sites as surplus.
  Board members agreed to declare the property as surplus and further to waive any conflict of interest which might be perceived related to Attorney Vern Presley's presence at the meeting as it was discussed.
  Presley informed board members he had done the initial title work for UACP on the property.
  Board members agreed unanimously to the conflict waiver and the declaration of the land as surplus.
  In other business, Shea Shrader approached the board to ask for permission to bring Mike Jenkins, a motivational speaker, into the county schools to present a program to county youths.
  Shrader noted Jenkins had been a visitor in the schools before. Board members agreed to allow the presentations to go forward.
  Board members also discussed a building engineering post at Council.
  Hurricane School Board Member Willie Sullivan asked if the funds set aside for the building engineer position -- which was never filled -- could be used for additional custodial and cafeteria help at the school. He noted a custodian who had been working without a contract could be hired to work at the school with the funds set aside for the building engineer post used to pay her salary. Board members noted the custodian had been approved for hiring earlier in the meeting and noted the assignment of personnel is a decision left up to school principals.
  On another topic, North Grundy School Board Member Don Newberry asked who was responsible for employees hired and working at the schools under a general contractor.
  Administrative Assistant Joyce Presley noted the general contractor hired by the school system is responsible for his own employees.
  Lastly, board members agreed to hold the October board meeting on October 23 at 5:30 p.m.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now. For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today!
   

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor 
  From hayrides and craft displays to apple bobbing and a pie eating contest, there's plenty on tap for area residents to do October 20 and 21 as the 11th annual Davenport-Council Octoberfest gets underway.
   The festival will he held at the William P. Harris Recreation Park beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, October 20 with hayrides, bingo, a haunted trail, costume contest and street dance. Concessions will be available.
  The fun starts up again Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with an opening ceremony followed by games, pony rides, a pig roast, an antique and classic car show, arts and crafts sales and displays, civil war relics and more.
  Inflatable rides will be on hand for the kids, along with a roping contest, rockwall climbing, hay rides and cartoon characters.
  Live music will begin at 11 a.m. by local gospel, country and bluegrass groups.
  The haunted trail will open again at dark.
  Games scheduled for Saturday include apple bobbing, a greased pig contest, an egg toss and a pie eating contest.
  Arts and craftspeople interested in displaying their items for sale as well as those interested in delaying them and having them judged may do so. Judging will be at 10 a.m.
  There is a $25 fee for an eight by 10 foot sales area, but there is no fee for judging or arts and crafts displays. For more information, interested persons may call 859-0708, 859-2631 or 859-2422.
  A free shuttle will be offered and parking will be available at the Council Industrial Park.