According to the latest issue of Oakdale Digest, a final decision has been made regarding the upcoming maternity leave of The World of Oakdale's Maura West and a fresh, new, controversial storyline featuring West that the headwriter was said to be writing soon.

Headwriter Dusty Alford had planned to pen a special storyline this spring which would heavily feature Maura West, who plays the role of Carly Snyder, but due to West's maternity leave, some changes had to be made. Alford felt that the storyline was really special and was debating whether or not to continue his plan of writing the story with or without Maura West.

Fans were left with the opportunity to decide whether or not West should be recast and ultimately, whether or not the story would take place. But in the end, Alford decided to write an exit for West and wait until her return to pen the storyline. "I just can't see anybody else in the role of 'Carly' and I want to wait a while", says Alford. "I ask that the fans please be patient and know that once West returns, The World of Oakdale will kick off one of its most controversial storyline's ever".

West has definitely been a mainstay on the Oakdale backburner over the past few months, since her return from three month hiatus in 2006. Some nay-sayers may be prompted to believe that this exact situation may be repeated when West returns, but Alford promises otherwise. "I really want the fans to trust me on this one. They won't regret it". West's last airdate is January 16th.


In other casting news:

• Marty West [Jason] and CBS InTurn finalist Geneva [Erin] have left Oakdale a little sooner than expected. Their last airdate is January 5th.
  
• Rumors of the return of Andy Dixon and Denise Maynard's interracial daughter, Hope have been laid to rest. "Ther aren't any plans to bring her back", says Alford.
  
• Jesse Soffer [Will] and Jennifer Landon [Gwen] are in some rather heated contract talks. While some say that Landon would like to pursue her music career, others say that Soffer doesn't feel like being on the backburner much longer.