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Local pools set to reopen
MASON COUNTY — Mason County’s two public swimming pools will be receiving $5,000 each from the county for this swimming season though next swimming season is another story. As reported last week, both the Harmon Park Pool and New Haven Pool had their county funding completely discontinued for Fiscal Year 2013-14. However, this fiscal year doesn’t begin until July 1 and the pools are still due to receive their $5,000 which was budgeted for t...
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Commission approves $7.2 million budget
MASON COUNTY — The Mason County Commission recently approved its $7.2 million budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14 and though it came with budget cuts, it is balanced. Commission President Rick Handley has said the cuts were “unfortunate” but unlike the federal government, the county must balance their budget and so it has, despite some major losses in funding. As most have heard, the county is losing $429,000 in revenue from the main unit at t...
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Poison safety tips highlighted
MASON COUNTY — “Use it or lose it.” While there have been several local attempts to help end certain addictions, such as the Mason County Anti-Drug Coalition’s town meeting on meth, it’s easy sometimes to forget the dangers of everyday household items and the potential poisoning risks they pose. According to the West Virginia Poison Center (WVPC), many different age groups can be at risk for accidental poisonings, either from prescription...
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Grading and class rank policies updated
POINT PLEASANT — Changes in policies regarding grading and class rank were approved at a Mason County Board of Education meeting on Thursday. Director of Curriculum/Technology Greg Martin noted the changes made to policy 5421-Grading and policy 5430-Class Rank for board members. Regarding grading, Martin noted the change in weighted grades for Advanced Placement (AP) classes and honors classes and how they figured in with students’ grade po...
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Students wary of teacher’s potential transfer
POINT PLEASANT — Several choir and music students from Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School (PPJSHS) attended Tuesday’s special transfer hearing meeting of the Mason County Board of Education to voice their opinion on the potential transfer of choir teacher Alyssa Russell. Both current and past students attended the hearing to support Russell’s claim that the current choir program at PPJSHS would suffer if she is transferred to a differ...
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Commission receives grant from governor
MASON COUNTY — In a release on Tuesday, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced the awarding of several grants to West Virginia County commissions, one of which went to the Mason County Commission. According to the release, the grants will help fund the commission with their respective records management and preservation projects, which were approved by the Records Management and Preservation Board (RMPB). The projects will improve management, ...
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Relay for Life kickoff party set
MASON COUNTY — A major local event in the past, plans for revamping the Mason County Relay for Life will soon kick off. The Mason County Relay for Life Kickoff Party will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 25 at the Mason County Public Library in Point Pleasant, and American Cancer Society Community Manager Tambra Cheman will speak about the current plans for the Relay and discuss any other possible ideas to revamp the event and to make it even ...
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BOE approves agenda, personnel items
POINT PLEASANT — At the most recent meeting of the Mason County Board of Education, board members approved the following agenda and personnel items. Approved Minutes, Agenda 12-27, February 21, 2013. Approved Minutes, Agenda 12-28, February 26, 2013. Approved volunteers from Ashton Elementary, New Haven Elementary, Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, Roosevelt Elementary, and Wahama Jr/Sr High, for the remainder of the 2012-13 school year. Accepte...
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Point still negotiating on drainage easements
POINT PLEASANT —There are around seven individuals (10 properties) which have yet to sign right-of-ways for the North Point Pleasant Drainage Project (NPPDP). This number was reported by City Attorney R.F. Stein to Point Pleasant City Council at its regular council meeting this week. Stein said the city is working with these residents to hopefully obtain a right-of-way agreement. If agreements aren’t made, as a last resort, the city can fil...
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Rite Aid reopening slated
POINT PLEASANT — For those who didn’t take advantage of some free health screenings at the recent health symposium, another opportunity is approaching. A newly remodeled Rite Aid Wellness Store will be opening next week and during a grand opening ceremony from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, and as part of the reopening several free health screenings and information will be available for local residents. Those attending can take adv...
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School calendar changes approved, discussed
POINT PLEASANT — The last day of school for Mason County students is now, officially, May 31. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Mason County Board of Education, board members approved changes to the school calendar as well as discussing some confusion among students and staff regarding the changes. The changes included moving three Outside School Environment (OS) Days, where school is not in session, to the end of the year therefore moving the st...
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New director for ‘Crosslight’
ASHTON — A growing, Christian community outreach program on the Southern end of Mason County has a new director. Delyssa (Huffman) Edmonds has been chosen as the new director for Crosslight of Hope. She was selected by the organization’s board members which include President Jeanie Nibert, Vice-President Marjie Moran, Secretary Brandi Templeton, Justin Moran and Anne Legge. According to Edmonds, Crosslight of Hope serves 435 individuals b...
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New ER in Meigs a step closer to reality
POMEROY — After more than 10 years without an emergency room, it looks as through Meigs County may soon have one again. During Thursday’s Meigs County Commissioner’s meeting, a resolution was approved stating the “intention to issue industrial development revenue bonds and authorizing execution of agreements with Meigs County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).” The resolution, approved by a unanimous vote, allows the county to under...
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Skatepark dismantled over insurance concerns
POINT PLEASANT — The skatepark in Point Pleasant has been dismantled due to insurance concerns but there is hope a metal replacement for the wooden structure can be financed over time. The park came down on Wednesday, according to Mayor Brian Billings. Though there have been no injury claims filed at the park, the insurance company will not pay any injury claims if someone was to get hurt on the wooden structure which was used when it was p...
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New Haven looking closer at vehicle registration
NEW HAVEN — The Town of New Haven will be taking a closer look at local residents’ vehicle registration to ensure all vehicles are registered in West Virginia. According to the meeting minutes, Police Chief D. L. Hardwick recently met with Mason County Commissioners to discuss out of state license plates and the county’s pursuit to ensure fairness when it comes to personal property taxes on vehicles, as reported on in a previous edition. As...
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Courthouse security still new to public
POINT PLEASANT —Three months after tighter security measures were implemented at the Mason County Courthouse, the public is still learning to adapt to the new reality for many government buildings. Back in December, the Mason County Commission, along with the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, decided to reduce entrances into the courthouse to one. The only way into the facility is through the first floor entrance facing Main St., and that ...
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Commission educated on loan program
MASON COUNTY — The Mason County Commission wants to add Mason County to a list of others who are benefiting from a loan program offered to small businesses. At the most recent commission meeting, Carol Jackson of the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council (MOVRC) spoke about the revolving loan programs her organization already offers in Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties. The loan fund is part of the stat...
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VFW Post 9926 to award scholarships
MASON, W.Va. — The Stewart-Johnson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9926 will award up to 15 tuition scholarships of $500 each to qualifying area college students and high school seniors who have been accepted into college. Members of VFW Post 9926 and their immediate family will receive first consideration for these scholarships, but other veterans and their family may also be considered. Scholarship applications may be picked up at the VFW...
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Data released on Ohio Valley graduation rates
OHIO VALLEY — The U.S. Department of Education recently released data from the 2010-11 school year comparing schools’ number of high school graduates and the percentage of those graduates who earned their diploma in four years. According to the department’s news release, the 2010-11 school year was the first school year in which all states used a common measurement for reporting the number of graduates. By collecting this data, the Departme...
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Unemployment rises in Mason County
MASON COUNTY — For the fifth month in a row, the unemployment rate in Mason County was on the rise. According to WorkForce West Virginia, the unemployment rate has been steadily rising since September and went from 9.7 percent in November, to 10.1 percent in December, to 11.6 percent in January. This means Mason County was ranked 10th out of 55 counties in terms of its unemployment rate. Mason County shared tenth place with Hancock County...
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Nomination period for Governor’s Service Awards open
MASON COUNTY — Governor Earl Ray Tomblin recently announced nominations are being accepted for the 2013 Governor’s Service Awards. Coordinated by Volunteer West Virginia, the Governor’s Service Awards recognize outstanding individuals, families and organizations for extraordinary service and commitment to their communities. Nomination forms are available through Volunteer West Virginia’s website, www.volunteerwv.org, or by calling (800) WV-...
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Local woodland educational tour set
MASON COUNTY — Locals who own wooded properties and wonder what projects might be available to make them more productive will soon have a chance to do so. In conjunction with the West Virginia Woodland Owners Association, an educational tour has been set for Mason County from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, for those interested in these kinds of projects for their own land or for information about other woodland owners’ project...
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County cracking down on illegal registration
POINT PLEASANT — People with vehicles who have out-of-state tags who are also living in Mason County are being put on notice to change their registration within the 30 days the law allows, or face fines. According to Mason County Commission President Rick Handley, this week a meeting on this very topic was held at the Mason County Courthouse with Handley, Commissioner Tracy Doolittle, County Administrator John Gerlach, as well as representa...
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Claflin foundation to award scholarships
MASON COUNTY — High school seniors who have already began gathering funds for college have one more possible scholarship to apply for with a deadline of May 1. The Robert and Louise Claflin Foundation will award scholarships to selected individuals in the high school graduating class of 2013 and eligible students must be from Wahama High School, Point Pleasant High School or Hannan High School. The anticipated award is $1,000 per year for...
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