Mineral Daily News-Tribune
KEYSER - Not many people can say a group of veterans from all over the United States rode their bikes some 3,000 miles to honor them.
Clifton Brooks Sr., however, can not only say that, but he can also say family and friends joined those riders for a celebration unlike any other in recent memory in Keyser.
Brooks, 99 and a lifelong resident of Keyser, is a veteran of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and was active with them as a cryptographer during World War II. He is believed to be one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen alive today.
Barbara High
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER - The Patriots Pack will be arriving in Keyser Sunday, May 23, to honor city resident Clifton Brooks Sr. as one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen alive today.
Brooks, now 99, was part of the Tuskegee Airmen - the African-American military pilots and airmen who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps - during World War II. They formed the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group.
He will be honored by the group with a parade and an event where he will be awarded a citation and plaque.
According to John Brostrom, who along with Mike Stramaglio created the Patriots Pack, the riders will be leaving North Ridgeville, Ohio, and make the journey to Keyser to honor Mr. Brooks for being the hero that he is.
BITS & PIECES: Metcalf seems a good choice for Keyser Council
Mineral Daily News-Tribune
Tribune Managing Editor
Judging by what he had to say at the beginning of his first meeting Wednesday, Ron Metcalf would seem to be a good choice for the long-awaited appointment to the fifth seat on the Keyser City Council.
Although I only just met him two weeks ago when he took his oath of office, my first impression was a positive one and I truly hope he makes good on his pledge to: 1. Listen to the people, and 2. Work with the council as a team.
I would caution, however, that the concept of teamwork is not to be confused with a “good old boy network” where everybody gets along because they all publicly agree on everything and want the world to think everything is hunky-dory.
Keyser City Council appoints Metcalf; controversy continues
Mineral Daily News-Tribune
Tribune Managing Editor
KEYSER - The Keyser City Council voted Wednesday to approve the appointment of Keyser native Ron Metcalf to fill the council seat that has been empty since September, but the vote was once again not without controversy.
The seat was vacated by Wililam Zacot’s resignation last fall. In November, council member Billy Meek made the motion to appoint Curtis Perry to the vacancy since he had been the fourth highest vote-getter in the July 28 city election, and that vote passed.
At the next council meeting, however, a vote was taken to rescind the appointment, and Perry and the council have been arguing back and forth ever since in regard to the legality of the rescinded motions and whether mayor Damon Tillman failed to have the oath of office administered in a timely fashion.