Your Right to Know What is Happening with Your Children's Education

 

Public Access to Educator Certification and Counselor-Mandated Documentation in West Virginia

Executive Summary

The governance of public information in West Virginia is built upon a foundational presumption of transparency, particularly within the state’s education system. This briefing document explores the legal architecture—comprised of the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act, and West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) policies—that governs access to school counselor certifications and the legal documents they sign.

Key takeaways include:

• Public Accountability: Educator certification status, including disciplinary actions, is categorical public information accessible via the "Educator License Look-up" tool.
• Documentation Thresholds: School counselors sign a variety of legally significant documents, including Personalized Education Plans (PEPs), Section 504 Plans, and Comprehensive School Counseling Program (CSCP) Annual Plans.
• The Redaction Standard: While programmatic and certification records are generally public, documents containing student Protected Identifying Information (PII) are shielded by a "redaction barrier" to balance transparency with federal and state privacy mandates (FERPA).
• Workload Compliance: The "80/20" rule requires counselors to spend 80% of their time in direct counseling; the logs documenting this time are considered disclosable public records.

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Legal Foundation: The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, codified at W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1 et seq., establishes that the public has a right to inspect records concerning the conduct of the public’s business. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and county boards are defined as "public bodies" subject to these disclosure requirements.

FOIA Procedural Requirements

Component	Statutory/Administrative Reference	Operational Detail
Initial Response Window	W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3(3)	5 business days from receipt.
Cost per Page	WVBE Policy 126-10-4.1	$0.40 per page, payable in advance.
Request Format	W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3(2)	Written request to the custodian (Superintendent).
Standard for Denial	W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3(3)	Must provide specific reasons for exemption.
Enforcement	W. Va. Code § 29B-1-5	Circuit court petition for injunctive relief.

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Educator Certification and Public Oversight

Under WVBE Policy 5202, school counselors are classified as "professional personnel." Certification is a prerequisite for public employment and is treated as a matter of public record.

The Educator License Look-up Tool

The WVDE maintains a searchable database providing transparent verification of counselor qualifications. Accessible data elements include:

• Educator Name and ID: Fully public via the WVEIS certcheck system.
• Certification Type: Identifies the specific role (e.g., Support Personnel).
• Valid Date Ranges: Confirms current licensure status.
• Endorsement Areas: Confirms specific grade-level authorizations.
• Licensure Actions: A public registry of disciplinary measures, including revocations or suspensions for grounds such as immorality, cruelty, or felony convictions.

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The Counselor’s Signature: Legal and Professional Weight

A school counselor’s signature serves as a professional attestation with specific legal consequences. The accessibility of these signed documents depends on whether they are programmatic or student-specific.

Categories of Mandated Documentation

Document Type	Signatory Requirement	Legal Function	Public Accessibility
Personalized Education Plan (PEP)	Counselor, Student, Parent	Certifies academic/career path for graduation.	Redacted (FERPA protected).
Section 504 Plan	Interdisciplinary Team	Mandates disability accommodations.	Redacted (FERPA protected).
CSCP Annual Plan	Principal, all School Counselors	Formal contract of programmatic goals.	Generally Public.
Evaluation Receipt	Evaluated Personnel	Acknowledges receipt of performance review.	Restricted (Privacy Exemption).
Administrative Conference	Principal and Counselor	Agreement on the 80/20 time use.	Generally Public.

The 80/20 Rule and Time Analysis logs

W. Va. Code § 18-5-18b mandates that counselors spend at least 80% of their work time in direct counseling. To ensure compliance, counselors must maintain a "Time Analysis System."

• Public Interest: These time logs demonstrate how salaried hours are spent and are subject to administrative audit.
• Disclosure: While student names are redacted, the logs themselves are disclosable public records used to monitor district compliance with state law.

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Privacy Protections and the Redaction Barrier

The intersection of FOIA and student privacy is governed by the West Virginia Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act (W. Va. Code § 18-2-5h).

• Redacted Data Standard: This allows for the release of student datasets where parent and student identifying information has been removed.
• Policy 4350: Any record directly related to a student is confidential. If a citizen requests documents signed by a counselor in an official capacity, the agency must provide them in a redacted format if they involve student education records.
• The Evaluation Paradox: Routine performance evaluations (Policy 5310) are generally considered private personnel matters. However, if an evaluation involves high-level misconduct leading to formal disciplinary action, it is more likely to be deemed a public record.

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Institutional Contacts for Record Requests

Entities seeking records regarding certification or professional conduct should contact the following offices:

• Office of Certification: Manages the certcheck database and licensure status inquiries.
• Office of Legal Services: Handles investigations into educator misconduct and administrative hearings.
• Office of the Attorney General: Coordinates FOIA requests and provides legal guidance on the disclosability of personnel files.

Legislative Evolution

The "Green Book" summaries from the WVDE indicate a continuing trend toward increased parental rights and school transparency. Recent legislation has introduced new requirements for counselors to sign notifications regarding student wellbeing, potentially expanding the scope of administrative records available for public insight in the future.

Helping Your Board Member "Out" on Election Day

 

Look, being on the Board of Education is about making the "tough" calls that no one else has the vision—or the sheer audacity—to make. While some might point to West Virginia state law as a "requirement," I prefer to see it as a "creative suggestion."

Here are 20 perfectly logical, totally-not-concerning reasons why I voted to abolish the school counselor position at Pocahontas County High:

The "Fiscal Responsibility" Defense

1. The Magic Trick: If we stop paying for a counselor, that money magically transforms into new turf for the football field. You can’t tackle your problems, but you can tackle a linebacker on high-quality polyethylene.

2. Infrastructure Priorities: We realized the WiFi in the teacher’s lounge was slightly laggy. Sacrifices had to be made for the greater good of high-speed scrolling.

3. The "Ghost" Position: By keeping the title on the books but never hiring anyone, we’ve achieved the ultimate efficiency: a 0% burnout rate.

The "Character Building" Philosophy

4. The Frontier Spirit: This is West Virginia. If a student has a crisis, they should do what our ancestors did: internalize it until it becomes a sturdy, dependable ulcer.

5. Preparation for the Real World: In the "real world," no one listens to your problems for free. We’re just teaching them the market value of a listening ear.

6. The Darwinian Approach: Only the students with the most robust coping mechanisms should graduate. It’s natural selection, but for diplomas.

The "Creative" Solutions

7. The Suggestion Box: We replaced the counselor with a sturdy cardboard box labeled "Hopes and Dreams." It’s much cheaper and never takes a sick day.

8. The Magic 8-Ball Initiative: We’re considering installing a Magic 8-Ball in the hallway. "Outlook Not So Good" is basically 90% of a career counseling session anyway.

9. Crowdsourced Therapy: We’ve encouraged students to vent their deep-seated traumas on TikTok. The "likes" provide a much more immediate dopamine hit than a 45-minute office visit.

Deflecting Legalities

10. Semantic Loopholes: The law says we need a "certified" counselor. It doesn’t say they have to be human. We’re currently looking into the certification process for a very supportive Golden Retriever.

11. The "Wait and See" Method: We’re waiting for the state to notice. If they don’t say anything for six months, we’re claiming "squatter's rights" on that budget line.

12. Alternative Facts: If we simply rename the janitor "Vibe Consultant," does that count as a certification?

The Cynic’s Choice

13. Reducing Paperwork: Do you know how many transcripts a counselor has to send? By removing the counselor, we’ve effectively streamlined our "nobody is going to college" initiative.

14. Standardized Testing Zen: If there’s no one to help students with anxiety, they eventually reach a state of catatonic calm. This is great for quiet testing environments.

15. The Quiet Hallway Policy: Counselors' offices are magnets for "feelings," which are notoriously loud. We prefer the dignified silence of unresolved tension.

16. AI Superiority: Why have a human when a chatbot can give generic, soul-crushing advice 24/7? (Wait, ignore that one).

17. Strategic Neglect: If we don't have a counselor to identify problems, then technically, we don't have any problems. Our data has never looked better.

18. The "Grandpa" Clause: My grandfather didn't have a school counselor, and he only shakes uncontrollably twice a day. He turned out fine.

19. Budgetary Symmetry: The office looked too cluttered with a desk and chairs. It looks much sleeker as an empty storage closet for surplus industrial floor wax.

20. The Ultimate Power Move: I just wanted to see if I could actually do it. Turns out, the adrenaline rush of defying a state mandate is better than any "wellness" seminar.

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Garbage Too High

 

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The "Gift" Methods

1. The Porch Pirate Decoy: Neatly pack your coffee grounds and junk mail into an Amazon Prime box, tape it up, and leave it on your front porch. A "neighborhood volunteer" will have it cleared away by sunset.

2. The Mystery Box: List a heavy, taped-up box on Facebook Marketplace for $5. When people ask what’s inside, tell them it’s a "curated vintage experience."

3. The Return to Sender: Mail your trash to the IRS. Mark it as "Physical Evidence for Deductions."

4. The "Found" Property: Take a bag to the police station’s lost and found. Tell them you found this "luggage" at the bus stop and you’re just a Good Samaritan.

The "Artistic" Pivot

5. The Avant-Garde Sculpture: Pile your trash in the front yard, spray-paint it silver, and call it "Consumption’s Ghost." If the HOA complains, tell them they are stifling your creative expression.

6. The Time Capsule: Bury it four feet deep with a plaque that reads: "Open in 3026." Let the future archaeologists deal with your yogurt containers.

7. The Guerilla Museum: Leave a single, dirty sneaker on a pedestal in a local park. Put a small card next to it titled "Solitude (2024)."

8. The Upcycled Guest House: Stack your cardboard boxes and plastic jugs until they reach the height of a small shed. List it on Airbnb as a "sustainable, minimalist retreat" for $200 a night.

The "Social" Strategies

9. The Reverse Santa: Instead of taking things from a sleigh, drop one small item into every public trash can you pass during your daily commute. It’s like a marathon, but for refuse.

10. The Ex-Lover Special: Leave a bag on your worst ex’s doorstep with a note that says, "I thought you should have your stuff back."

11. The "Communal" Bin: Wait for a lunar eclipse, dress in all black, and redistribute your bags into your neighbor's bin. (The one who never mows their lawn).

12. The Wedding Favor: Wrap your old magazines and egg cartons in high-end floral paper and leave them at the gift table of a wedding you weren't invited to.

The Bold & Absurd

13. The Pothole Patch: Use organic waste and compressed cardboard to fill the potholes on your street. You’re not "dumping"; you’re "performing municipal maintenance."

14. The "Special Delivery": Put your trash in a suitcase and leave it at the airport. (Note: Do not actually do this unless you enjoy being tackled by TSA).

15. The Scientific Sample: Put your leftovers in a biohazard bag and leave them at a university biology lab with a note: "Is this a new species?"

16. The Movie Prop: Carry a bag of trash into a local theater. When you leave, "accidentally" forget it under the seat. If caught, say you were "immersed in the method acting."

17. The Geocache Grand Prize: Hide small bags of trash in the woods and upload the coordinates to a geocaching site. Label them "Ultra-Rare Urban Artifacts."

18. The Bird Habitat: Drape dryer lint and plastic wrap over your trees. Tell the neighbors you’re participating in a "Synthetic Nesting Initiative."

19. The Gym Bag Ruse: Leave a gym bag full of banana peels and old mail in a locker at the local YMCA. Walk away looking very exhausted.

20. The Message in a Bottle: Put your junk mail into empty wine bottles and throw them into the local river. You’re not littering; you’re "searching for a pen pal."

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Note: Just to be the grounded AI in the room—please don't actually do these. You'll end up with a fine much higher than the county's pick-up fee, and your neighbors will definitely stop inviting you to the block party.

Garbage

 

The $600 Garbage Bill: Why One Small County’s Trash Crisis is a Warning for Rural America

1. Introduction: The Invisible Ticking Clock

For the residents of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, the calendar is no longer a measure of seasons, but a countdown to a logistical "worst-case scenario." By December 2026, the Dunmore Landfill—the smallest sanitary landfill in the state—is legally mandated to close its gates. This isn't just a local permit expiring; it is the physical and regulatory exhaustion of a system that has served this mountainous community for decades.

As a Regional Infrastructure Analyst, the data is cold and unforgiving: the county is facing an existential crisis where the margin for administrative error has vanished. As a Rural Policy Journalist, the grit of the situation is even more palpable. We are watching a community realize that the simple act of "taking out the trash" is transforming into a multi-million-dollar liability. The Dunmore site is a canary in the coal mine for rural America, proving that when small-scale infrastructure fails, the cost of the "path of least resistance" is a bill that many neighbors simply cannot afford to pay.

2. The "Distance Paradox": Why Driving 144 Miles is Cheaper Than 110

At first glance, the logistics of Pocahontas County’s waste transition seem to defy geographical logic. If the Dunmore Landfill closes, the nearest alternative is the Greenbrier County Landfill, a 110-mile round trip. However, the Pocahontas County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) is looking further north to Tucker County—a grueling 144-mile round trip through the unforgiving, brake-burning curves of Route 92 and Route 219.

The reason is a brutal mathematical "Distance Paradox." The "tipping fee"—the per-ton price charged by a landfill to accept waste—is $61.00 in Greenbrier but only $53.30 in Tucker. That $7.70 difference creates a financial buffer so significant it outweighs the cost of diesel and wear-and-tear.

"Diesel would have to exceed $19.93 per gallon before the shorter trip to Greenbrier County becomes cheaper than the low tipping fees in Tucker County."

While the fuel-only break-even is nearly 20, a deeper analytical look reveals a more realistic "operational" break-even. When you factor in an extra 1.5 hours of CDL labor and the accelerated maintenance cycles for tires and oil on mountain hauls, the math shifts. Even so, the operational break-even sits at **11.65 per gallon**. Unless diesel prices triple, the longer road to Tucker remains the cheaper path, saving the SWA roughly $44,000 annually.

3. The Small Landfill Tax: The Brutal Math of Scale

Pocahontas County is currently strangled by the "Smallest Landfill Problem." The Dunmore facility handles a mere 7,000 to 7,400 tons of waste per year. To put that in perspective, regional neighbors like Greenbrier or Tucker are permitted for 5,500 to 10,000 tons per month.

In the world of waste, scale is everything. Whether a landfill buries 7,000 tons or 70,000 tons, the fixed costs—specialized labor, heavy machinery, environmental monitoring, and leachate treatment—remain largely static. Because Pocahontas spreads these massive overhead costs across such a tiny volume, its internal tipping fee has ballooned to between $72.75 and $95.00 per ton. Transitioning to a "transfer station operator" is no longer an optional upgrade; it is a mandatory survival strategy. By consolidating small loads into 25-ton "walking floor" trailers and outsourcing the final burial to regional giants, the county can finally stop paying the "small landfill tax."

4. The Ghost of Trash Past: The 30-Year Financial Hangover

Closing the gates in December 2026 isn't the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a multi-generational financial hangover. The cost to "cap and cover" the Dunmore site has skyrocketed to an estimated $3.2 million, a 178% increase since 2006. In a desperate survival tactic, the SWA is fighting for state approval to use "Closure Turf," a synthetic capping material that could bring the price tag down to $2.4 million.

Even if they secure that saving, the county is legally tethered to the site for three decades. Under state regulation 33CSR1-6.1.f, the 40.6-acre site becomes "sterilized." Agricultural use, building construction, and even excavation are strictly prohibited, turning a once-valuable tract of land into a permanent, non-productive liability.

Post-Closure Care Liabilities (30-Year Mandate):

• Groundwater Monitoring: $450,000 – $600,000 (Mandatory testing for plume contamination).
• Leachate Management: $600,000 – $900,000 (The permanent collection and treatment of toxic runoff).
• Cap Maintenance & Repair: $300,000 – $450,000 (Mowing, erosion control, and synthetic repairs).
• Gas Management/Reporting: $150,000 – $300,000 (Monitoring methane and carbon emissions).

5. The Administrative Gridlock: When a 2-2 Tie Means a "Stopgap"

While the physical landfill fills up, the halls of local government have become paralyzed. On February 18, 2026, the SWA met to approve a 15-year fixed-lease for a new transfer station—a deal designed to provide cost certainty. However, the vote resulted in a 2-2 tie. Under West Virginia State Ethics Commission guidelines, an abstention counts as a "no" vote. This procedural quirk effectively killed the project at the eleventh hour.

The human frustration in the room was palpable. With the landfill set to close in months and the lead time for permitting a new facility often exceeding a year, the county is staring into a service vacuum.

"The lack of action has effectively ensured a 'stopgap' in trash collection services starting in 2027." — Jacob Meck, Allegheny Disposal.

6. The "Fee Death Spiral": From $135 to $600

The ultimate victim of this gridlock is the household budget. Residents currently pay a "Green Box" fee of roughly $135 a year. However, without a $300,000 annual subsidy from the County Commission, that fee is projected to double or triple.

The situation is worsened by a "private competition" threat: Allegheny Disposal is considering building its own private transfer station in Green Bank. If the county’s largest private hauler exits the public system, the SWA loses its primary tipping fee revenue. This would leave a 600,000 hole in the budget, potentially forcing the household Green Box fee to hit a staggering **600 per year**.

For a county with a high population of elderly residents on fixed incomes, this is a "fee death spiral." As residents become unable to pay, the SWA will be forced to chase neighbors through Magistrate Court—an expensive, losing battle. The inevitable result? A surge in illegal dumping in the county’s pristine forests and streams. Ironically, the cost of cleaning those illegal dumps will fall directly on the county’s General Fund, proving that "saving" money by refusing to subsidize the SWA is a dangerous fiscal illusion.

7. Conclusion: The Path of Highest Cost

The crisis in Pocahontas County is a reminder that in rural infrastructure, inaction is the most expensive luxury a community can have. The administrative failure to reach a consensus has placed the county on the precipice of a total logistical collapse. As the December 2026 deadline looms, local leaders must face the cold reality that they are no longer in control of their own market.

Can a small community maintain environmental self-determination when it is forced to become a "price taker" in a regional market?

The failure to transition is not a failure of engineering, but a failure of consensus that could leave residents with a $600 bill for a service that no longer exists.

Formal Complaint Submitted 2/23/26

 

To: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), Office of Legal Services & Office of PK-12 Academic Support

West Virginia Department of Education

1900 Kanawha Boulevard East

Charleston, West Virginia 25305 

From: Nornan Alderman

135 Fossil Lane

Marlinton, West Virginia 

Date: 2/23/2026 

Subject: FORMAL COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION – Willful Statutory Non-Compliance and Clinical Endangerment by the Pocahontas County Board of Education

To the Respective Investigative Authorities of the West Virginia Department of Education:

I am submitting this formal complaint to urgently request an investigation into the Pocahontas County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams. On January 27, 2026, the board voted 4-to-1 to permanently abolish the mandated professional school counselor position at Pocahontas County High School (PCHS). To remediate this vacancy, the board has approved the employment of an uncertified "academic/graduation coach" and is improperly utilizing classroom/homeroom teachers to manage the mental and emotional welfare of its 833 students.

This administrative action prioritizes clerical convenience over student survival, blatantly violating state statutory mandates, endangering student welfare, and exposing the district to massive legal liabilities.

I. Violation of Legal Requirements for School Counselors

The board's substitution of a clinical professional with an administrative coach represents a severe departure from West Virginia law:

• W. Va. Code §18-5-18b Mandates: The law explicitly dictates that "each county board shall provide counseling services for each pupil" through a "professional educator" holding a valid school counselor certificate. An academic coach requires no clinical counseling certification.

 

• The 80/20 Rule Violation: Under §18-5-18b(f), school counselors are legally mandated to spend at least 80% of their time in direct, therapeutic counseling relationships with students to address academic, social, emotional, and physical needs. Administrative and clerical tasks (like transcribing grades and tracking graduation credits) are strictly capped at 20%. By hiring a graduation coach whose entire scope of practice is restricted to clerical and academic tracking, the board has entirely eliminated the 80% clinical requirement mandated by the state.

II. Dangers to Student Welfare and Clinical Safety

By abolishing this position, the board has created a dangerous "clinical vacuum" in mental health oversight, crisis intervention, and social-emotional learning.

• Loss of Crisis Intervention: Certified counselors are the primary gatekeepers for mental health screening in schools. Without a clinical expert on-site to conduct suicide risk assessments or threat assessments, students exhibiting warning signs of suicidal ideation or potential violence are likely to go unnoticed by a coach focused solely on credit recovery.

 

• Unqualified Staff Managing Trauma: Because the clinical needs of the students remain, the "80% vacuum" of mental health support has defaulted to homeroom teachers. These educators entirely lack the therapeutic certification and clinical training required to safely manage complex adolescent behavioral crises, grief, and trauma.

 

• Denial of Special Education Rights: School counselors are vital "related service" providers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504. Abolishing the counselor position effectively ensures that highly vulnerable students with emotional and behavioral disabilities will be denied their federally mandated Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

III. Potential Institutional and Personal Liabilities

The decision to remove a clinical expert and replace them with an unqualified employee creates a cascade of severe liabilities that far exceed the district's cited budgetary savings:

• Institutional Financial Penalties: The district is now in a state of "statutory non-compliance". This exposes the school system to U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigations, federal lawsuits for "educational malpractice," and pro rata reductions in the county's state aid funding.

 

• Personal Liability for Board Members: The four board members who voted in the affirmative have engaged in a prima facie case of neglecting their duty to provide mandated services. Public officials lose "qualified immunity" when they act in bad faith or violate a "clearly established statutory right," exposing these members to removal from office under W. Va. Code §6-6-7 and leaving them personally liable for legal defense costs.

 

• Liability of the Superintendent: By recommending the abolishment of a legally mandated position instead of utilizing state-approved workarounds—such as contracting with external mental health agencies (Seneca Mental Health) or utilizing "Critical Need" substitutes—Superintendent Williams has arguably committed "willful neglect of duty," which constitutes grounds for dismissal under W. Va. Code §18A-2-8.

IV. Call for Immediate Investigation and Action

The state's task following the 2025 State of Emergency was to mandate that Pocahontas County establish a functional, certified counseling framework—not to delete the counselor from the organizational chart entirely.

I formally urge the WVDE to initiate an immediate investigation into this vote and mandate the following corrective actions:

1. Immediate Rescission: Force the Pocahontas County Board of Education to hold an emergency meeting to rescind the abolishment of the counselor position and reinstate it as a certified professional slot.

 

1. Enforcement of the 80/20 Rule: Ensure any personnel operating in a counseling capacity is legally protected from performing clerical tasks for more than 20% of their time.

 

1. Mandated Clinical Coverage: If a traditional hire cannot be immediately secured, mandate the district to legally contract with a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or an external mental health agency to fill the current clinical vacuum.

Failure to intervene allows administrative convenience to supersede the statutory right to therapeutic care, leaving the students of PCHS in a state of clinical abandonment. I look forward to your prompt investigation into this urgent matter.

Complaint 

normanalderman@yahoo.com

304-799-7374 

Growing Season in Pocahontas County

 

Climate Analysis 1893 and 1927

This image contains historical climate data for Marlinton and Arbovale, West Virginia, detailing frost dates and precipitation levels from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

Frost Data at Marlinton (S. L. Brown, Observer)

This table tracks the "killing frost" dates, which define the agricultural growing season for the area between 1893 and 1927.

• Average Last Spring Frost: May 16

• Average First Autumn Frost: October 4

• Average Growing Season: 146 days

• Notable Extremes:

  • Shortest Growing Season: 104 days (1913)

  • Longest Growing Season: 183 days (1919)

  • Latest Spring Frost: June 17 (1914)

  • Earliest Autumn Frost: September 6 (1924)

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Precipitation at Arbovale (H. S. Sutton, Observer)

The second table lists monthly and annual precipitation (in inches) for the years 1924 through 1927.

Year	Wettest Month	Driest Month	Total Annual
1925	July (6.67")	August (1.23")	37.41"
1926	August (6.85")	May (2.84")	46.88"
1927	April (6.85")	September (1.15")	43.27"

Note: The data shows significant volatility in monthly rainfall. For instance, in 1927, April saw nearly 7 inches of rain, while September of that same year saw barely over an inch.

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Historical Context

These records were likely part of a geological or agricultural survey (indicated by the page header "Historical and Industrial Development"). Data like this was vital for early 20th-century farmers to determine planting cycles in the mountainous terrain of Pocahontas County.

Would you like me to transcribe a specific year's full row of data or calculate any other averages from these tables?

Python

import pandas as pd
from datetime import datetime

# Precipitation Data (1925-1927 for full years)
precip_data = {
    'Jan': [3.11, 3.97, 2.36],
    'Feb': [1.64, 3.66, 5.36],
    'Mar': [3.64, 2.77, 1.47],
    'Apr': [2.05, 2.48, 6.85],
    'May': [2.83, 2.84, 1.69],
    'June': [2.68, 2.39, 3.72],
    'July': [6.67, 6.49, 4.31],
    'Aug': [1.23, 6.85, 5.72],
    'Sept': [3.14, 3.00, 1.15],
    'Oct': [5.66, 4.23, 3.72],
    'Nov': [3.36, 3.24, 3.31],
    'Dec': [1.40, 4.96, 3.61]
}

df_precip = pd.DataFrame(precip_data)
monthly_avg = df_precip.mean()
annual_avg = df_precip.sum(axis=1).mean()

# Frost Data - Latest date with temperature 32 or lower in spring
spring_32_dates = [
    "May 19", "Apr 23", "May 4", "May 9", "Apr 17", "May 10", "May 14", "May 6",
    "May 12", "May 24", "May 28", "May 1", "May 16", "May 7", "June 10", "June 10",
    "June 17", "May 18", "May 20", "May 26", "May 16", "May 17", "May 8", "May 18",
    "May 23", "May 27", "May 4", "May 2"
]

def date_to_day_of_year(date_str):
    try:
        dt = datetime.strptime(date_str, "%b %d")
        return dt.timetuple().tm_yday
    except:
        return None

days_spring = [date_to_day_of_year(d) for d in spring_32_dates]
avg_day_spring = sum(days_spring) / len(days_spring)
avg_date_spring = datetime.fromordinal(datetime(2023, 1, 1).toordinal() + int(avg_day_spring) - 1).strftime("%B %d")

# Frost Data - Earliest date with temperature 32 or lower in autumn
autumn_32_dates = [
    "Oct 16", "Sept 24", "Sept 21", "Oct 15", "Sept 28", "Oct 11", "Sept 10", "Sept 30",
    "Sept 28", "Sept 27", "Oct 24", "Oct 24", "Oct 1", "Sept 22", "Oct 9", "Sept 19",
    "Sept 11", "Sept 22", "Oct 19", "Oct 1", "Sept 26", "Oct 5", "Sept 6", "Oct 10",
    "Oct 8", "Sept 22"
]

days_autumn = [date_to_day_of_year(d) for d in autumn_32_dates]
avg_day_autumn = sum(days_autumn) / len(days_autumn)
avg_date_autumn = datetime.fromordinal(datetime(2023, 1, 1).toordinal() + int(avg_day_autumn) - 1).strftime("%B %d")

print(f"Monthly Average Precipitation:\n{monthly_avg}")
print(f"Annual Average Precipitation: {annual_avg:.2f}")
print(f"Average Latest 32-degree Date (Spring): {avg_date_spring}")
print(f"Average Earliest 32-degree Date (Autumn): {avg_date_autumn}")

Code output

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 40, in <module>
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'NoneType'

Python

import pandas as pd
from datetime import datetime

# Precipitation Data (1925-1927)
precip_data = {
    'Month': ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'June', 'July', 'Aug', 'Sept', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec'],
    '1925': [3.11, 1.64, 3.64, 2.05, 2.83, 2.68, 6.67, 1.23, 3.14, 5.66, 3.36, 1.40],
    '1926': [3.97, 3.66, 2.77, 2.48, 2.84, 2.39, 6.49, 6.85, 3.00, 4.23, 3.24, 4.96],
    '1927': [2.36, 5.36, 1.47, 6.85, 1.69, 3.72, 4.31, 5.72, 1.15, 3.72, 3.31, 3.61]
}
df_precip = pd.DataFrame(precip_data).set_index('Month')
monthly_averages = df_precip.mean(axis=1)
annual_averages = df_precip.sum().mean()

# Frost Data - Latest date 32° in Spring
spring_32_dates = [
    "May 19", "Apr 23", "May 4", "May 9", "Apr 17", "May 10", "May 14", "May 6",
    "May 12", "May 24", "May 28", "May 1", "May 16", "May 7", "June 10", "June 10",
    "June 17", "May 18", "May 20", "May 26", "May 16", "May 17", "May 8", "May 18",
    "May 23", "May 27", "May 4", "May 2"
]

# Frost Data - Earliest date 32° in Autumn
autumn_32_dates = [
    "Oct 16", "Sept 24", "Sept 21", "Oct 15", "Sept 28", "Oct 11", "Sept 10", "Sept 30",
    "Sept 28", "Sept 27", "Oct 24", "Oct 24", "Oct 1", "Sept 22", "Oct 9", "Sept 19",
    "Sept 11", "Sept 22", "Oct 19", "Oct 1", "Sept 26", "Oct 5", "Sept 6", "Oct 10",
    "Oct 8", "Sept 22"
]

def avg_date(date_list):
    days = []
    for d in date_list:
        try:
            dt = datetime.strptime(d, "%b %d")
            days.append(dt.timetuple().tm_yday)
        except ValueError:
            # Try with longer month names just in case, though the table uses 3-4 letters
            try:
                dt = datetime.strptime(d, "%B %d")
                days.append(dt.timetuple().tm_yday)
            except:
                continue
    if not days: return None
    avg_day = sum(days) / len(days)
    # Using 2023 as a non-leap year for average calculation
    res_dt = datetime(2023, 1, 1).replace(day=1) # dummy
    # Just calculate the date from day of year
    res_dt = datetime.fromordinal(datetime(2023, 1, 1).toordinal() + int(avg_day) - 1)
    return res_dt.strftime("%B %d")

avg_spring_32 = avg_date(spring_32_dates)
avg_autumn_32 = avg_date(autumn_32_dates)

# Combine and show results
print("--- PRECIPITATION AVERAGES (1925-1927) ---")
print(monthly_averages)
print(f"Annual Mean: {annual_averages:.2f} inches")
print("\n--- FROST DATE AVERAGES ---")
print(f"Average Latest 32° (Spring): {avg_spring_32}")
print(f"Average Earliest 32° (Autumn): {avg_autumn_32}")

Code output

--- PRECIPITATION AVERAGES (1925-1927) ---
Month
Jan     3.146667
Feb     3.553333
Mar     2.626667
Apr     3.793333
May     2.453333
June    2.930000
July    5.823333
Aug     4.600000
Sept    2.430000
Oct     4.536667
Nov     3.303333
Dec     3.323333
dtype: float64
Annual Mean: 42.52 inches

--- FROST DATE AVERAGES ---
Average Latest 32° (Spring): May 15
Average Earliest 32° (Autumn): October 11

Based on the data from both tables, here are several additional averages that provide deeper insight into the historical climate of Marlinton and Arbovale:

Precipitation Averages at Arbovale (1925–1927)

Calculating the monthly averages across the three full years of data reveals distinct seasonal patterns:

Month	Average Precipitation (Inches)
January	3.15"
February	3.55"
March	2.63"
April	3.79"
May	2.45"
June	2.93"
July	5.82" (Wettest)
August	4.60"
September	2.43" (Driest)
October	4.54"
November	3.30"
December	3.32"
Annual Mean	42.52"

• Summer Peak: July and August were consistently the wettest months, likely due to summer thunderstorms.

• Variable Spring/Autumn: May and September show the lowest average rainfall, though the individual years show high volatility (e.g., April 1927 had 6.85" while May 1927 had only 1.69").

---

Frost Date Comparison at Marlinton

By averaging the secondary frost columns (which track the actual 32°F threshold rather than just "killing frosts"), we find the following:

• Average Latest Spring 32°F Date: May 15

  • Comparison: This is nearly identical to the "Last Killing Frost" average of May 16, suggesting that in spring, any 32°F event was typically considered a killing frost.

• Average Earliest Autumn 32°F Date: October 11

  • Comparison: This is one week later than the "First Killing Frost" average of October 4. This suggests that in the autumn, "killing frosts" often occurred slightly before the temperature officially dropped to 32°F at the observer's station, possibly due to ground-level frost or specific local conditions.

Growing Season Variations

While the table lists the average growing season as 146 days, the extremes were significant:

• Maximum: 183 days (1919)

• Minimum: 104 days (1913)

• Range: There is a 79-day difference between the shortest and longest recorded growing seasons, highlighting the unpredictable nature of high-altitude farming in this region during that era.