Horse Park ‘At Impasse’,
Garvin Says
Steve Garvin, whose five-plus year effort to establish a horse-themed attraction in Lewis County, again appeared before the Lewis County Commission. He presented a letter reflecting his opinion that he is “at an impasse” with his efforts to gain “passage of legislation allowing the Horse Theme Park to come to West Virginia.”
The legislation he referred to was H.B. 4405 which would have permitted pari-mutuel gambling and video slots at a racetrack that would be a part of the park.
Commission President Sam Hicks asked Garvin, “But didn’t you say some months back that gambling wasn’t necessary?”
Garvin’s response was in the negative. He said, “Video slots are the economic engine of the project” and indicated that, without them, there would not be big enough purses for the races.
All three commissioners inquired if he wanted to continue with plans for a town hall type meeting, Garvin said, “If we are at an impasse, if he isn’t going to give the go-ahead for the legislation, why give the governor all that heat. I may have to go back to the legislature eight months from now. We already have his answer (via a statement from his Chief Executive Officer Jim Petrolo. I see no purpose.”
After the meeting, Garvin told reporters that he was “always going to try to keep the horse park in West Virginia.” However, he said, “I can’t wait four more years until there is a change in the governor’s office to make it happen.”
Frank Robinette, Weston City Manager and a board member for the Mountain Lakes Convention and Visitors Bureau, appeared on behalf of the CVB with a report on their activities. He was accompanied by Terri Burhans, who recently resigned as executive director of the Lewis County Chamber to “stay at home to play with my babies and volunteer.”
He reported that Bill Adler had resigned as the chairman of the CVB and that Linda Aman was the new chair.
The organization has accepted about 20 resumes for the position of executive director and the committee is reviewing them and will begin interviewing in the next few days.
“Then,” said Robinette, “We can do like you guys want us to do.” A later explanation revealed that he was talking about the Mountain Lake CVB working with the Lewis County CVB to ensure that all activities in the county are being covered and that there is no duplication of effort.
With help from Burhans, he reviewed the latest issue of Retirement Times newspaper with an ad for Lewis County and answered questions pertaining to the ad.
Commissioners complimented the two on the work of the CVB.
In other business, the commission:
- received a legal opinion from the W.Va. Public Service Commission that E911 funds could not be used to purchase computers for the Sheriff’s Department because the purchase “does not involve the expenditure of funds for rural address conversion”;
- authorized the purchase of a new flag pole, hinged at the base and made of fiberglass, for the courthouse at the cost of $1,080;
- named a road off of Glady Fork Road as Fiddler’s Ridge; and
- learned that Lewis County was benefiting from Transportation Enhancement Funds totaling nearly 1/2 million dollars for the purchase and installation of welcome signs coming into the county, for a pedestrian bridge at Stonewall Jackson State Park and for a trail and brochures at the same park.
Large Primary Election Turnout Is Expected in County
By JOHN WOLFE
In the 2004 presidential year primary election 52% of registered voters in Lewis County turned out to vote. This was one of the state’s highest percentage rates of voter turnouts and much higher than the total state turnout of only 39%.
If national trends tickle down to the local level that percentage is expected to be even higher when Lewis County voters go to the polls next Tuesday to choose their party nominees for the November General Election.
Nationwide the campaign for the Democratic Party nomination for president has sparked record numbers of new voter registrations and much larger turnouts at the election polls.
With the selection of the Democratic Party nominee for president possibly still up in the air and a host of competitive state and local elections, voter interest is at an all time high.
At the national level, West Virginia could be in the spotlight as the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton could conceivably continue on depending on what happened in yesterday’s primary elections in Indiana and North Carolina. (Results were not known at press time.)
For the U.S. House of Representatives Democrats will be selecting among three candidates to challenge Republican Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito in November. Those candidates include Anne Barth, a long time aide to Senator Robert C. Byrd; Richie Robb, a longtime popular mayor of St. Albans; and Thornton Cooper, a South Charleston attorney and Democrat Party activist.
Some believe that Capito will be particularly vulnerable in the November General Election because of her staunch loyalty to President George W. Bush, who at this time has the largest unfavorable rating of any president in history since such polls have been taken.
Many current office holders such as U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and Governor Joe Manchin have only token opposition and are expected to win their respective nomination races handily.
At the state level the races that have garnered the most attention are for the Secretary of State and Supreme Court Justice.
Current Secretary of State, and the only Republican state office holder, Betty Ireland, chose not to seek reelection. Three Democrats are in a hotly contested race to become the party nominee for this position. They include Natalie Tennant, who came very close to being the Democrat nominee in 2004; Joe DeLong, a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and the youngest House Majority Leader in the state’s history; and Billy Wayne Bailey, a member of the West Virginia Senate and Senate Majority Whip, from Wyoming County.
The race to become the Democrat nominees for the open seat on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has gathered nationwide attention following media scrutiny of Democrat incumbent Elliott “Spike” Maynard. Maynard’s close association with Massey Coal C.E.O. Don Blankenship has given rise to questions of his integrity when hearing cases involving coal companies, particularly Massey Energy, in which he had refused to remove himself from the hearing.
Former Justice Margaret Workman, Huntington Attorney Menis Ketchum, and West Virginia University Law Professor Bob Bastress are challenging Maynard for the Democrat nomination. Beth Walker is the sole Republican candidate for the Supreme Court.
The battle for district nominees to the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates has captured much local attention and record-breaking expenditures by the candidates.
Lewis County House of Delegates member Doug Stalnaker is seeking his party’s nomination for the State Senate. He is challenged by Sutton businessman Doug Facemire. They are vying to take over the seat being vacated by the retiring Senator William R. Sharpe, Jr., who decided not to seek reelection. Over $131,000 has been spent on this race, believed to be the most costly of any for State Senate election race this year.
As no Republicans filed for this office the decision of who will be the next Senator to represent the 12th District made up of Lewis, Braxton, Gilmer and Harrison counties will very likely be determined in the Primary Election.
Most observers see Harrison County as the decision-maker in this race because of their population advantage over the other counties in the district.
Political pundits predict that Stalnaker will win his native Lewis County, and Facemire his native Braxton County. Gilmer County is predicted to split; depending on the area of the county, but has only enough voters to be a determining factor in a very tight race.
Harrison County is anyone’s guess. Facemire has poured large amounts of money into the campaign and that could be a factor in his favor.
With Stalnaker running for the State Senate, his seat in the House of Delegates is open and has attracted eight total candidates hoping to replace him as the representative of all of Lewis County and part of Upshur, which comprise the 38th Delegate District.
On the Democrat side, candidates hoping to be elected include Mike DeBarr, Kim Harrison, Peggy Donaldson-Smith and Bob Stultz. Those seeking the Republican nomination include Bruce Beam, Derek Love, Steve Moneypenny and Claude Riffle. The Democrat and Republican winners will then square off in November.
At the county level the race capturing most attention is for the open seat on the Lewis County Commission. Democrats hoping to win their party’s nomination include Patrick Boyle, Mike Holden, Bill McVay and Joy Stalnaker. Christal Hensil and Bob Taylor are seeking the Republican nomination. The choices of both parties will face each other in the November General Election.
In the race for Lewis County Assessor, current Assessor R. Gary Smith, is being challenged by Sam Hicks, the outgoing member of the Lewis County Commission. As no Republican has filed, the Primary Election results will very likely decide who the next assessor will be.
Candidates facing no opposition for their quest to become their party nominee include: Sheriff Mike Gissy, Democrat; Circuit Judge Thomas Keadle, Democrat; Family Court Judge Robert Sowa, Republican; and Joe Wagoner as the only Republican candidate for Prosecuting Attorney and Gary Morris as the only Democrat candidate for the prosecutor’s seat. Incumbent Magistrates Dan Moody, Republican, and Sharon Hull, Democrat, have no opposition.
Facing no opposition for two non-partisan Board of Education seats, Sylvia Mc Neish and Cline Craig will be reelected to those positions.
For more information on the candidate, readers can check out the Election Tab Supplement with this issue of the paper.
John Shaffer New
L C Park Director
Some readers may remember when the 4-H clubs of yesteryear had a slogan that read, “It ain’t all cows and cookin” in an effort to attract the non-farm kids to 4-H and to illustrate the many activities and projects available to members.
If the new director of the Lewis County Park had a slogan it might say, “ It ain’t all reunions and swimming!”
John Shaffer, who took over the lead position at the park, began his new duties as director in mid-April. It is his goal to see the park grow into one that is utilized for many activities beyond the usual trip to the swimming pool or reunion gathering.
Its not that he does not think those activities are a vital part of park activities, it is just that he would like to see more people involved in other activities available at the park. If he has his way and if his plans pan out he will see just that.
The new director is a native of Lewis County having grown up in Horner. He is a graduate of Lewis County High School. He resides at Shadybrook with his wife of 21 years, Shirley, and his 16 year-old son Matthew.
For 19 years Shaffer was an employee of Sharpe Hospital and was a certified crisis prevention and intervention instructor. After 19 years at Sharpe, he said he witnessed a growing number of clients at Sharpe with drug and alcohol addiction problems that led to their mental difficulties and that at times it just was too much. He admits that he was a little burned out when he decided to leave his job at Sharpe and decided that he wanted to do something that would have a positive impact on kids so that they would not become the future patients at Sharpe. “Maybe I can make a difference when they are younger, “ he said.
It is not that he hasn’t worked with the youth before. He has coached Pee Wee baseball for the last 11 years and has also served as Vice President for the baseball program for six years. He has worked with kids as a youth league basketball coach and has served on the Youth League Commission. He is completing a stint as a substitute bus driver for Lewis County Schools, and will hopefully become a full-time driver with the start of the new school year.
Shaffer has big plans to help increase participation among all ages at the park. He is working on getting some instructional programs such as basketball and tennis for the youth. He foresees the time that the involvement of middle school youth in an instructional tennis program could help produce better players for the high school.
In the near future Shaffer hopes to renovate the volleyball court and hopes to get people, young and old, involved in some organized summer volleyball activities. He mentioned tournaments as a possibility.
Shaffer says he would like to see more people utilize the three lighted tennis courts and voiced praise for Senator William Sharpe, Jr., and Delegate Doug Stalnaker for securing the necessary funds to build the courts.
The miniature golf course has been revamped thanks to a generous donation from the Weston Rotary Club. Shaffer also wants to make improvements to the playground equipment.
At the swimming pool, the high dive is being replaced with a slide to provide for safer fun for the youth. And a beautiful outside clock, similar to the Caplan’s clock in downtown Weston, stands ready to be installed in the pool area. The ornate clock was donated by Gerry Donaldson in memory of her husband Gene, a lifelong supporter of the park.
Shaffer is excited about the potential of the park and the help he will receive from the employees, some permanent and others temporary.
He will utilize the knowledge of Tom Alkire who is maintenance supervisor at the park and has worked there for 24 years. Rob Waugh ably assists Alkire as assistant maintenance supervisor. This summer there will be two other seasonal employees to help with the upkeep at the park.
He will have an assistant helping him out this summer. Elizabeth Stobbs, a college student at WVU, will be working as assistant director throughout the park season.
Current plans call for the summer employment of ten lifeguards and four concession workers.
Right now Shaffer is busy becoming familiar with his duties and getting things coordinated for the opening of the park on Memorial Day weekend.
Shaffer commented, “The Park is a beautiful place. I want people to come and visit, to have a good time and to take part in all the activities we have to offer
