MOUNTAINS of
OPPORTUNITY
Staff photos by Eric DiNovo
Ridership along the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system increased 8.1 percent from July 1 of 2016 to February of this year. If that trend continues, it means the region can expect to see an additional 3,000 visitors over the next 12 months.
The Hatfield-McCoy Trail continues to grow By CHARLES OWENS Bluefield Daily Telegraph BRAMWELL — The Hatfield-McCoy Trail, the largest off-road trail system in the eastern United States, is still growing. Ridership along the 600 mile southern West Virginia trail system increased 8.1 percent from July 1 of 2016 to February of this year. If that trend continues, it means the region can expect to see an additional 3,000 visitors over
the next 12 months. That’s in addition to the nearly 40,000 visitors who traveled to southern West Virginia last year to ride the trail system. Construction also is expected to begin this spring on a long-planned trailhead facility for Mercer County. The hope is to have the facility open to serve riders of the trail system by September, according to Jeff Lusk, executive director of the HatfieldMcCoy Trail Authority. The facility will be constructed off of U.S. Route 52 near the town
of Bramwell at a former junkyard site. The project was originally advertised for construction last November, but those bids came in over original budget estimates. The project has since been rebidded. “We had bidded it out initially, and our bids came in over our projected cost,” Lusk said. “We are ribidding it out as a modular type structure in hopes and expectations of getting the costs back down.” Once completed, the trailhead facility will consist of an acre and a
half of parking for visitors, plus a 1,600-square foot building where ATV enthusiasts can buy permits. Permits to ride the trail will be sold at the sight year round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The Mercer County trailhead site will be similar in design to the trailhead facility in Boone County called the Little Coal River Center. Having to rebid the project did change its completion date. The original hope was to have the trailhead facility open in time for Memorial Day weekend.
The new completion date is now early September. “It did change our time frame,” Lusk said. “We will actually be opening up bids on March 8. We would hope to award a contract within two weeks, and probably give the contract 120 days. So we are now looking at a completion date of the first of September. But we are OK with that and with the idea that we are getting the product we want. We want it to be a showcase facility. This will be a lifelong facility
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2 Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Rural King opens at Mercer Mall
By BLAKE STOWERS Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD — From baby chickens to camouflage covered couches, Rural King officials focus on telling the story of each area within their store. Bluefield Rural King Store Co-manager Todd Perego said Rural King is “America’s Farm and Home Store.” “It started in 1960 in Matoon, Illinois,” Perego said. “They have steadily grown over the years, adding more products and now we’re almost an allin-one stop in shop for anyone wanting a home, farm and feed store.” Perego said the store provides an array of products. “We sell firearms, we have a complete automotive department, hardware, we sell some paint, we sell some power equipment,” Perego said. Perego said the store also sells animals. “Our pet department is as large as some independent pet stores,” Perego said. “We also have a large bird section for bird enthusiasts to feed birds. We sell chickens, ducks, guineas, some of our stores have piglets, so we’ve expanded that quite a bit. It’s a big attraction. The kids love to come in and hang out and take pictures. We sell quite a few.” Rural King also carries local products, Perego said. “We have Blue Wolf, we sell local with a local honey vendor,” Perego said. “We have a lady here local who sells peperoni rolls, we have a local candle vendor. We like to reach out in the community and find vendors who want to do business with us. They usually do really well.” Rural King has 10,000 square feet outside dedicated to farm equipment. “All of our stores have what we call a bull pen,” Perego said.
Staff photo by Eric DiNovo
Bluefield Rural King Store Co-manager Todd Perego said Rural King is ‘America’s Farm and Home Store.’ ‘It started in 1960 in Matoon, Illinois,’ Perego said. ‘They have steadily grown over the years, adding more products and now we’re almost an all-in-one stop in shop for anyone wanting a home, farm and feed store.’ “We sell King Cutter farm implements. We sell pipe, railroad ties, fencing posts, mesh panels. We sell a whole lot of fencing. We have quite a bit of equipment we house outside that we can’t house inside.” Perego said 75 people have been hired to the store so far. “We stay some were between the 75 to 90 person range,” Perego said. “I always tell my associates when they first come in you have an empty building to look around because you’re walking into a empty building and there’s nothing. I always tell folks to take a picture. You won’t even realize
that you’re in the same place because of all the counters and steel that goes up. You start hanging shelves and when product gets here you start filling up the store.” Perego and his team were putting the finishing touches on the store on Feb. 10. “Just making sure that all the products are were they’re suppose to be, and that they are priced appropriately for our customers,” Perego said. “We’re merchandising all our different things with ideas of where is the best place to put certain products. You try to set the store up from two perspectives. You want people to move
around and see everything that you have. And the other thing is that each area of your store needs to tell a story.” Perego said there are a lot of displays within Rural King stores. “A lot of our things in our stores are displayed,” Perego said. “We take things out of the package and actually show you what it is. So you can actually touch it, look at it.” Perego said officials received their first shipment of firearms at the beginning of February. “We received our first shipment of firearms,” Perego said. “We’re processing those right now. So those will be
out for everybody to see by the time we open.” Rural King opened their new store in Bluefield on February 20. The Grand Opening will be on March 2nd. “Rural King cares,” Perego said. “That’s their number one driving force is customers. What the customer is looking for, are they finding it? Are they finding it at the lowest prices, and if we get in a situation where we’re opening a store up and customers really like a certain item, if we find one category or several categories in the store that people are gravitating to, we’ll build that up.
We’ll make it more accessible to them.” Perego said that the associates that work in the store are “really, really dedicated.” “They do a great job,” Perego said. “We go from a month ago with nothing here, to almost ready to open, it’s been really smooth. It’s been fun. It’s been fun to watch something transform into what it is. And every morning when we have the meeting I always tell them to look around you, you guys made all this happen. It gives them a sense of pride in their work, when we turn an empty building into a Rural King store.”
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Staff photo by Eric DiNovo
The new Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store will be located off exit 58 in Bastian, Va., according to Bland County Administrator Dr. Eric Workman. The store will be where the old Citgo was once located.
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Construction to begin soon on Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store in Bland, Va. By BLAKE STOWERS Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLAND, Va. — The new Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store will offer 52 tractor-trailer parking spaces and an Arby’s for people traveling through Bland County. The new travel stop will be located off exit 58 in Bastian, Va., according to Bland County Administrator Dr. Eric Workman. The store will be where the old Citgo was once located. “We should have all the permits in by the end of February,” Workman said. “Construction should take off. They’re waiting on the permits from the Army Corp of Engineers.” Workman said the new travel stop will bring local jobs to the area. “It will bring in about 100 new jobs,” Workman said. “Sixty being full time.” The travel stop planned in Bastian will be open 24/7. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores External Communications Manager Ryan Welton said several things attracted Love’s officials to Bland County. “The county was terrific to work with first of all, including granting a sign variance that was needed for our high-rise,” Welton said. “The loca-
tion has a good ingress and egress, good utilities and great visibility. This will also be a location that allows us to provide services to professional drivers and travelers coming into Virginia from West Virginia along I-77. Traffic along that interstate has grown quite a bit over the last 10 years, too.” Welton said the current schedule has construction of the project starting in May. Welton said professional drivers look to Love’s for a friendly face and a clean place to rest in what’s always a busy day for them. “Our location will have roughly 52 truck parking spots, and it will feature an Arby’s restaurant and a wide variety of food and snack options throughout the store, including our Fresh to Go fruit and vegetable cups,” Welton said. “However, we bring a special brand of highway hospitality to both our professional drivers and our four-wheel customers as well. Our store will be clean. The smiles will be genuine and friendly. And we’ll get you back on the road quickly.” Welton said officials hope to open the new store by the end of the year, weather permitting. Welton said each travel stop is unique. “While our
417 locations across the country have similarities, each Love’s Travel Stops location is unique,” Welton said. The first thing you’ll notice is an abundance of good energy. There is a reason why Love’s prides itself on friendly faces, clean places, and that’s because we hire great people who care about Love’s customers and the communities where they work.” Welton said each store carries a unique and often-eclectic array of items. “From mobile electronics and gadgets for consumers to gizmos and utensils that provide quality of life for professional drivers who call the road home,” Welton said. “Our stores have clothes from hats, sunglasses and belts, t-shirts and jackets to sundresses and sandals,” Welton said. “We’ve got gifts from mini-TVs to fancy beverage coolers to big, stuffed plush animals to a wide array of DVDs and CDs. And this doesn’t even include the gifts and souvenirs that are location-specific, such as maybe a Virginia Cavaliers, VCU Rams or Virginia Tech Hokies ball cap or collectible knickknacks that customers can purchase as keepsakes. Each Love’s is worth a stop because you never
know what unique item you might find, and at a bargain to boot.” Workman said that Bland County officials look forward to Love’s getting construction underway and the store opening. “It’s about a $7 million capital investment,” Workman said. According to Workman,
this facility will help Bland County develop a strong tax base. Workman estimates that the travel stop could create $100,000 to $150,000 a year in new tax revenue. “Which will be a shot in the arm,” Workman said. Workman said that officials are working with VDOT to make the new
facility easily accessible. “We’re working with VDOT to make it an easy on and easy off,” Workman said. “The biggest thing is the site is located right beside the exit. It shouldn’t impact residential traffic.” Neighboring Wythe County is also home to a
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Big plans in Bluefield
City has much on its agenda in 2017 By CHARLES BOOTHE Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD — The City of Bluefield has a busy year ahead. Dane Rideout recently presented his goals and objectives for 2017 to the city’s board of directors, and it is chock full of projects. “I have an 11-page document that lays out our road map for 2017,” he said. “We are not sitting back on our laurels.” One upcoming change is the relocation of the treasurer’s office and Bluefield Police Department’s Detective Bureau to the old magistrates’ offices. Those offices are located on the second floor of city hall. Magistrates have already moved to the Mercer County Courthouse annex in Princeton. “The end state is to create a ‘one-stop’ payment location for the public,” he said of the treasurer’s office. “It will be co-located with the detective bureau for safety.” Rideout said the space will include “compartmented areas to protect personal information, safety from open view of currency, privacy to discuss confidential matters and consolidated historical file storage.” Information technology staff “will oversee construction and functionality build-out of these new locations while redesigning the top floor to house the city attorney, future GIS (Geographic Information System) capability, and organize a more permanent work space to support our internship program,” he said. Security will be upgraded as well as the defunct computer systems, and the overall appearance of city hall will be improved, he added. One of the goals for the Bluefield Police Department is to provide SWAT capability, to position the city to handle major events that could put police officers as well as residents at risk. Rideout used the downtown bank robbery, Bluefield Regional Medical Center’s armed breach and the Black Lives Matter demonstration as examples of where a SWAT team was needed. All of those happened in the last 18 months. Rideout also wants to equip the police force with active shooter ballistic vests, and a grant application for funding has been
Staff photo by Eric DiNovo
Work continues on upper tennis court restoration in Bluefield. submitted. In another move to enhance police protection, the city plans to acquire two or three properties on both Union and Preston streets, he said. “The intent is to move police officers into residences to have a permanent presence and provide stability to the neighborhoods,” he said. A new police firing range is also being explored. In the Bluefield Fire Department, Rideout wants to see as many changes as possible to meet all ISO (Insurance Service Office) requirements and automate current data. That includes development of a deputy fire marshal program and certifying the three current lieutenants to upgraded certifications. This helps lower ISO ratings, he said. A new fire training facility will also be designed, using external funding, to meet ISO certification requirements. Rideout said this will help improve ISO points in the “facilities and use” category as well as in the training category. “These two categories were the only two categories where points were not maximized,” he said. “It is critical for the safety of our officers and the efficiency
of our department.” The ISO rating impacts the cost of fire insurance because it analyzes fire protection. A new fire engine is on the agenda as well, he added. Parks and recreation will also have a busy year. Rideout said the department’s staff is planning to oversee the installation of new turf at Mitchell Stadium. That project should be finished by early summer. Administrators are also revising, coordinating and executing new stadium leases with the Mercer and Tazewell County school boards as well as Bluefield College. Both Bluefield and Graham high schools call the stadium their home field, as does Bluefield College. Many little league football teams lease the field as well. “A general lease for rental of the field will also be created,” he said. “Current leases do not fully cover operating expenses. This will cover operating costs and appropriate wear and tear on the facility.” An overall master plan for the department includes, at a minimum, new stadium lights, a strategy for paving city park parking lots, construction on the upper baseball field, soft-
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ball field construction, new trail systems on recently acquired property, upper tennis court restoration, tennis court lighting and the redevelopment of the old police range into a practice field. Other initiatives for the department include to explore the idea of a region-
al recreation authority, partnering with Bluefield, Va., area school systems, Bluefield Regional Medical Center and the Greater Bluefield Community Center; upgrade the facade at the city auditorium; and a “robust” overhaul of all city-owned playgrounds to “insure equity, safety and
property value enhancement.” Bus transportation with Bluefield Area Transit (BAT) is also on the agenda for this year. Rideout said staff is exploring expanding current non-emergency transport of veterans to facilities in Princeton and Beckley. “This will require competing for a federal contract with the Veterans Administration and may provide a new revenue source,” he said. A master plan on transit in city bus stops will be in the works as well. “This plan will include enhanced overhead shelters that present a progressive, clean and safe appearance,” he said. “It will relocate the downtown major hub to property next to the old Goodyear shop and will include safe ingress and egress for three buses, and it will be an enclosed, well-lit and have heated space for passengers with a bathroom facility for BAT drivers.” Public works has several projects to tackle this year, including developing a strategic master plan for a facility to house the department. “This master plan document will provide a phased funding and construction approach,” Rideout said. “The end state being a modernized facility providing a safe operating environment and protecting city equipment.” Sanitation services privatization for long-term
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Princeton Renaissance offering new vitality to Mercer Street By GREG JORDAN Bluefield Daily Telegraph PRINCETON — Bright murals, grants, new businesses, annual events and a theater’s renovation are gradually bringing new development and life to the long stretch of road known as Mercer Street. The Princeton Renaissance Project — an initiative that began as part of Princeton’s Blueprints Communities designation — is hoping to restore the former Lavon Theater on Mercer Street as a movie theater and playhouse. County Commissioner Greg Puckett, a project member with the Princeton Renaissance Project and executive director of Community Connections, Inc., said the group is hoping the renovation of the theater will jump start other economic development and redevelopment downtown. Volunteers working on the Princeton Renaissance Project see it not only in terms of economic development and redevelopment, but also as an artistic renaissance for Mercer Street. Originally opened as the Royal Theater, Puckett said the building has been utilized in a variety of ways throughout the years. It was also known as the Lavon Theater. The former Lavon Theater was a staple in downtown Princeton, across from the older Mercer Theater where the town square sits now, Puckett said. “It has a whole lot of history. I believe it was built in the 1930s as the Royal Theater. It would seat 300 to 400 people with a balcony and stage. There was a jewelry shop there at one
time. For many years in the mid-1980s it was used as a church. Reverend Fred Furches is the second minister who has been in there.” Puckett said many of the original architectural aspects of the theater are still in place. The stage is in good condition, and there are hardwood floors and original seats in the theater. The balcony was in good shape, but in need of restructuring. Renaissance volunteers are hoping the refurbished theater will encourage more people to visit Mercer Street. Renovations have been underway for three years, and the project is now going into its fourth year, Puckett stated. Workers are now looking to refurbish the electrical system and expand the stage, and work continues on the marquee. Community Connections recently acquired a $300,000 loan through the First Community Bank to maintain the effort’s momentum; however, more funding is needed to finish the work. “We need funds,” Puckett said. “The loan was the only way to go forward, but we need donations.” Besides seeking more donations from the community, the Princeton Renaissance will be seeking grants and other financial resources, too. One upcoming fundraiser is a combination Business After Hours reception and auction scheduled for May 18; it is being sponsored by City National Bank. During the auction, theater tiles painted by local artists will be offered for sale. People interested in donating to the Princeton Renaissance can go to
the Renaissance project’s Facebook page or call Community Connections, Inc. at 304-913-4956, Puckett stated. Businesses have opened and closed on Mercer Street since Princeton Renaissance came into being, but the program is moving forward, said Lori McKinney, of the Riff Raff Art Collective, who also works with Princeton Renaissance. “There are a lot of exciting things happening right now,” McKinney said. “Goals are right on track and we have reinvigorated our vision for 2020. We intend to get new businesses sparked and supported, continue to improve the aestethic and quality of life, and continue to work with the city and other partners to make Mercer Street an attractive destination and cultural center, where people gather and enjoy quality human interaction and activity.” Some businesses have closed or moved while at least one, Dayfly Books, changed owners. The bookstore is now The Hatter’s Bookshop. “Over the course of time, businesses have come and gone, but that is to be expected and is the nature of a transitional neighborhood like we are in. At any given time there have always been a handful of really creative, forward thinking businesses and each one has been an important part of the transformation. The energy of businesses like Local Mo’joe, Dayfly Books and Gary Bowling’s House of Art, as sad as we always are so see them go, have played key roles in keeping the energy moving
Staff photo by Eric DiNovo
Bright murals, grants, new businesses, annual events and a theater’s renovation are gradually bringing new development and life to the long stretch of road known as Mercer Street.
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If and when construction begins, the first work that will have to be completed is the limited access break of U.S. Route 460 into the Leatherwood property. That would allow traffic exiting the College Avenue Shopping Center, which includes Sam’s Club and Lowe’s, to enter into the Leatherwood property.
Bluefield, Va., officials remain optimistic about Leatherwood property By CHARLES OWENS Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD, Va. — Town officials in Bluefield, Va., are still anticipating a future development of the Leatherwood property. The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a long-awaited request for a limited access break of U.S. Route 460 near the existing Sam’s Club and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores last December. The Leatherwood Corporation now has six months to complete all required permitting for the project, according to Bluefield, Va. Mayor Don Harris. “They’ve got to get stormwater, permitting for the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) and all governmental bodies that would pertain to development,” Harris said. “If Leatherwood doesn’t comply with the requirements set by VDOT after that period of time, actually they will have to start over again.” However, Harris said town officials are hopeful
that all of the necessary permitting can be completed during the six-month time frame. Current plans call for a mixed-use commercial development of approximately 1,000 acres of land on the Leatherwood property, which is located near the state line of Virginia and West Virginia. “We are very much hopeful that we will see some sort of movement on that property within sometime this year,” Harris said. “One sure sign of progress being made is when you start to see dirt moving on it.” If and when construction begins, the first work that will have to be completed is the limited access break of U.S. Route 460 into the Leatherwood property. That would allow traffic exiting the College Avenue Shopping Center, which includes Sam’s Club and Lowe’s, to enter into the Leatherwood property. Harris said town officials have been trying for more than a decade to facilitate the development of the Leatherwood property. “I’ve been up and down the road probably more than 15 years trying to get
that property developed,” Harris said. “At this point in time it is refreshing to see that they have made plans to break the limited access on the property.” As far as any specific plans for commercial development, those details and applications would be submitted to the town for approval later in the process, according to Harris. The hope is to see retail and commercial development at the site. Harris said the national and regional economy is moving again following the election of President Donald Trump. With the stock market surging, and federal restrictions on coal being loosened, Harris said he is hoping that more companies will begin to expand and relocate to the area. “We are looking with great anticipation to do some things in Bluefield, Va, to expand the services we are offering,” Harris said. Along those lines, the town is still looking for and talking with potential tenants for the old Staples and Ryan’s buildings. “To my knowledge
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there is no movement on Staples, but there is some interest being shown at this time on the Ryan’s building,” Harris said. “We are encouraged. At this
point we are hopeful that this business will locate in Bluefield, Va. And we are offering our services for any business that would like to locate into Bluefield,
Va.” Earlier efforts to develop the Leatherwood property back in 2008 were impacted by the onset of the Great Recession.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 7
Higher education: Expanding horizons By TOM BONE Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD — To meet the expectations of a new generation of students, and of a shifting employment picture, a college or university must be attuned to its region, and must adapt continuously. The changes evident at campuses on both sides of the West Virginia-Virginia state line show that their staffs are thinking in new ways and doing what they can within limited budgets to give those students a shot at success once they graduate. The progress ranges from newly-packaged academic programs, to new construction and renovations, and to inventive new ways to serve students with financial need. Both Bluefield State College and Concord University are state institutions that have had their public funding cut multiple times as West Virginia lawmakers deal with continual budget shortfalls. But both have ambitious plans to serve students from the Mountain State and beyond. Bluefield College, a Virginia Baptist college, and Southwest Virginia Community College at the other end of Tazewell County, are pursuing their separate missions with an eye on local and regional needs. • • • Southwest Virginia Community College in Wardell is putting a $1.4 million federal grant to work to help dislocated coal miners retrain for new jobs. The college has established REDI — Retraining Energy Displaced Individuals — to “assist laid off coal miners and dislocated supply chain workers impacted by the downturn in the coal energy sector to receive retraining and educational opportunities to prepare them for successful re-entry into the workforce,” according to the college website. College President J. Mark Estepp said in a press release, “We have great respect for those who have worked in an industry that was traditionally at the core of our region’s economic success, coal mining. ... The REDI Center will make possible a way for laid off coal miners to transition into other well-paying and viable jobs in and out of the area.” Dr. Barbara Fuller, vice president of academic and student services, said, “SWCC has a proven track record of training and retraining the coal mining communities, which it serves.” The federal money
Staff photos by Eric DiNovo
The changes evident at campuses on both sides of the West Virginia-Virginia state line show that their staffs are thinking in new ways and doing what they can within limited budgets to give those students a shot at success once they graduate. came from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Economic Development Administration in the Commerce Department. The funds were awarded through the Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) grant program. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, in a release, said the grant “specifically focuses on areas with significant economic need, providing support for critical workforce development programs and efforts to attract businesses to the region. Funds from the Virginia Tobacco Commission and a private foundation are also providing money for REDI, according to the college. Among other initiatives to serve its region, SWCC offers an extensive list of short-duration classes in adventure tourism and outdoor recreation. A unique offering of the program is “Map Your Future,” a three-week summer camp in June for children ages 11 through 13 that introduces the students to maps, compasses and GPS technology. Students will learn about career opportunities and the education required to attain those jobs. • • • Bluefield College achieved its largest class of new “traditional student” enrollees in its history, 242 newcomers, in August. That was 10 percent above the college’s goal for the fall, and produced the third-highest number of traditional student enrollees, 539, in BC’s long history. The residence halls on campus were about 94 percent full in the 2016 fall semester, said director of residence life Emily Wingfield. Bluefield is currently touting the second year of “half-price tuition” through its Pathways Program for commuting students who live at home with parents or a guardian within a 45-mile radius of the cam-
pus and are able to receive the federal Pell Grant. “It makes it much more affordable,” said Evan Sherman, director of traditional admissions at BC. “And what we’ve done for students outside of that (Pathways) region is, we’ve provided scholarship opportunities for them, so that many times it’s just as affordable for those students ... .” The Bluefield College list of majors is at approximately 44 “and growing,” he said. An online master’s degree in nursing, created for the working registered nurse, was rolled out just a few weeks ago. It includes concentrations in family nurse practitioner and leadership / education. Featuring both traditional and non-traditional delivery methods, the new master’s program focuses on preparing graduates to work in rural health care environments. Though predominantly online, the program will include clinicals, conference sessions and two three-day sessions on the BC campus. It also includes a service component in which students participate in service projects in their communities. The criminal justice offering at Bluefield was ranked “No. 1 in the state of Virginia (among 40 programs) for supporting careers in criminal justice and corrections” by the website correctionalofficer. org, he said. National accreditation of the teacher education progam was reaffirmed last fall by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), he said, adding that both programs have a 95 percent placement rate of their graduates. Sherman said the college has an average class size of 15 and offers “a very personal experience. They’re not just going to be a number when they come here, and they can actually get that one-onone experience with their professors and other mentors on campus, so they can develop in more ways
than just academcially.” He said the increased on-campus enrollment, “I think, (is) really great for our student body, because the larger we grow, the more diverse we get in our makeup. ... The social and economic diversity, as well, is good in the classroom. ... I think it adds to the overall learning environment.” “Someone from, say, an upper-middle-class family in Tazewell is going to have different experience from someone from an upperclass family in Finland, or somebody from the inner city of Richmond or Charlotte. And we have all those students represented here. We have about 7 1/2 percent of our population that’s international students.” The newest residence halls on campus, Bluestone Commons, have provided students with “a greater sense of independent living,” said Dr. David Olive, BC’s president, in a press release. “We are very cognizant of the changing expectations of today’s college student, and we are building to meet those expectations and to ensure a strong, vibrant future for Bluefield College.” The resident student increase “fills the dorms,” Sherman said. “So I think campus life is more vibrant with student organizations and with activity for the students... .” Bluestone Commons opened in December 2014. Bluefield College alumni director Josh Grubb said that there are “about 8,400 living alumni in our database.” He has been working on reviving “our regional alumni chapters,” he said. “We immediately had our eye set on the New River Valley region, because there were already so many alumni there.” He estimated there were “about 400 alumni” in that area. “By end of this semester, we hope to have the chapter re-chartered with the alumni board,” he said. “Our alumni love to be involved. Many times, it’s a matter of meeting them
where they are,” he said. “They’re glad we’re out and about and working on ways to engage them.” “Recently we started discussions (to begin) a mentorship program that will match alumni as mentors, and students being mentees,” he said. • • • Bluefield State College is planning to move forward by mid-March to seek further approval to construct the first on-campus residence halls in more than four decades. Dr. Marsha Krotseng, Bluefield State’s president, said the goal is “bringing that residence life back to campus, which we’re really excited about.” “I just think it will transform Bluefield State, because it will bring that sense of community, that 24/7 student life,” she said. Research shows that resident students’ grades and graduation rates tend to be better, she said. She said some money to build the residence hall may come from federal funds. Bluefield State is exploring a federal program known as New Markets tax credits, which offer incentives for “community development entities to invest in worthy building projects in areas that have really been hit hard by the economy,” Krotseng said. “There are special incentives for investment in areas like Bluefield and Mercer County where we have just been devastated by the loss of coal and its affiliated jobs.” A parking structure is also planned in the valley where the on-campus tennis courts are currently located. Krotseng said the building would have a flat roof that will become “an area where students, faculty and staff can come together and interact,” Krotseng said. “On one side of that we would build the first residence hall,” which is projected to house around 140 students. Highlights emanating from the academic fields include the nationally accredited engineering
technology program, the continuing need for graduates from the School of Nursing and Allied Health, the successful robotics team from the computer science division, the Biomedical Club housed in the School of Arts and Sciences and a teacher-in-residence project that is in the works in the School of Education. The W. Paul Cole Jr. School of Business at BSC began classes this semester leading to a new entrepreneurship minor, Krotseng said. Among other programs, the business school also offers the minor in health services management. Among the many activities of the biomedical student club is an event that brings in 160 to 180 area school children on campus to learn more about careers in science. Bluefield State is committed to enriching the communities around campus, Krotseng said. “We absolutely have to connect, because we’re part of the community. For the college to be vibrant, we need a vibrant community — and vice versa.” Bluefield State students help people file tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. BSC is coordinating the appearance in Bluefield on March 22 of the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors. The institution hosts Fulbright Scholars as campus guests. On Feb. 16, the on-campus auditorium was “packed,” she said, for a performance of a play, “The Eleventh Hour,” by Bluefield resident Vain Colby. The college offers a community choir open to students and non-students alike. Engineering technology students have helped build displays for the annual Holiday of Lights in Lotito Park, and other holiday light displays on campus. Krotseng said, “Our students are out in the communities, serving, and they’re getting good experience at the same time.” • • • Concord’s two largest residence halls are being renovated inside and out. The work on North Tower was essentially completed in early January, while half of South Tower is encased in plastic sheets as crews substitute new energy-efficient windows and exterior walls designed to be more efficient in heat retention and moisture resistance. Other workers are inside those walls, updating the student rooms and common areas. Rick Dillon, CU’s vice president for administration and associate dean of
Horizons, 8
“The Princeton Mercer County Chamber of Commerce promotes economic development and advances professional and educational growth to our businesses and communities.”
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High-flying fun Mercer County Airport remains an essential piece of infrastructure By GEORGE THWAITES Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Horizons... Continued from 7
students, said, “The dorm rooms are being equipped with state-of-the-art technology upgrades, new heat and air systems, carpeting, paint and a completely renovated bath area that includes floor to ceiling ceramic tile and new bath fixtures.” Concord vice president and academic dean Dr. Peter Viscusi said the renovated buildings will include “basically the fastest internet in southern West Virginia.” He said the new living space has been designed to be “student-oriented and friendly.” The eight-story-tall residence halls, opened in 1968, contain floor space
Staff photo by Eric DiNovo
Mercer County Airport has been, and will continue to be, a vital engine of prosperity for Southern West Virginia for years to come. with an aircraft.” Mercer County Airport has been, and will continue to be, a vital engine of prosperity for Southern West Virginia for years to come. The airport recently undertook around $40,000 worth of renovations on the terminal, including a new carpet and ceiling, fresh paint and new furniture. A new vending machine has been purchased which will soon be in operation. There us a pilot’s lounge with free wifi, complimentary coffee and popcorn, satellite television, satellite weather. There is also a flight simulator where pilots can log flight time. “We’ve made a lot of improvements to our terminal building to attract more return visitors and we’ve been doing pretty well,” Ransom said. “If somebody is flying up and down the East coast, we’re a good midway point for somebody traveling, say, from New York to Florida.: Mercer County Airport has been promoting its services to such travelers through its website: flyblf. com. The airport not only sees
a lot of air traffic passing through. There is also a great deal of air traffic coming in and going out that is vital to the local economy. As the dormant coal industry of Southern West Virginia has begun to stir again in recent months, Ransom has also noticed that local heavy equipment businesses have been utilizing the airport with greater frequency. “We’re really hoping with the new administrations, both at the state and federal level, that business will pick up,” Ransom said. “We’re like everyone else in Southern West Virginia. When coal is down, we’re down. We see a lot of other industry besides coal. But it would be nice to see coal coming back.” The airport already sees a great deal of transient general aviation with other national and international companies with presences in Southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. “We get a lot of people coming in from different branches of business. Walmart, Kroger, Dollar General, Caterpillar ... companies like that,”
Ransom said. The airport is also vital to the regional practice of medicine. “LabCorp uses the field five days a week flying lab samples in and out,” Ransom noted. Such is the daily grind at Mercer County Airport. But the Fourth Annual Fly-In and Car Show, which will be held on May 27, is more about pleasure than business. “Last year we had about 160 cars in the car show. That was everything from Model T’s to muscle cars and newer custom rides. We also had around 30 aircraft fly in. In the past we’ve had a Czechoslovakian fighter jet. And we’ve had some home-builts and some 1940s (Piper) Cubs and things like that,” said Ransom, who said live music and street vendors lend to the festival atmosphere of the event. “We’ve had pretty good success over the last few years and we hope to have a pretty good crowd again this year,” said Ransom, who noted that the West Virginia Air National Guard regular brings aircraft and displays to
of 173,500 square feet. The renovation project, carrying an overall price tag of $16.2 million, is tentatively scheduled to be completed by September, Dillon said. New academic emphases, drawing on existing on-campus expertise, are being developed, Viscusi said. He said Concord’s admissions counselors are hearing constantly from the “grassroots” level. “They’re always fielding questions,” Viscusi said. “They can tell if there’s an interest (in a new program).” He said new offerings must be “marketable, viable and based on what we can offer.” Classes serving a new emphasis in broadcast meteorology are already being offered this year, he said. “There is no offer-
ing similar to that in our region,” he said. “This is based on science (of meteorology). It’s not a course in just forecasting weather.” He said, “This is one of those opportunities where we already have people well qualified to offer the courses,” many of which already exist in the university’s geography and broadcasting programs. An emphasis in criminology has been approved to begin this fall. Viscusi said he discussed this proposal with Bluefield State College officials, since BSC has had a criminal justice program for years. The new Concord emphasis will be part of the sociology department and is “much more theoretical” than the Bluefield State program, he said.
Dr. Tracy Luff, a professor of sociology at Concord, said in a press release, “Students will learn the major theoretical perspectives and research methods used by criminologists and tackle such questions as: Why does crime exist? How do societies decide upon which behaviors to label ‘criminal’? How do we explain criminal behavior? What is the relationship between social inequality and crime? What social policies can reduce crime? What forms of punishment are most effective?” “The sociology major with emphasis in criminology is a good choice for students who wish to pursue careers in criminal profiling, victim advocacy, the analysis of crime data and policy, corrections, or to
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siasts with a public service bent, Mercer County Airport is the base for the Civil Air Patrol Mercer County WV Composite Squadron. This is a relatively large and active squadron — a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force — that meets at the airport every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. “They have a cadet program that is almost like a junior ROTC program and they have a lot of local kids in it,” said Ransom. “They also fly sorties for the Air Force Auxiliary. If there is a missing or downed aircraft, they do search and rescue type missions.” He noted that during the flooding in Southern West Virginia during this past summer, the local CAP squadron did a lot of aerial flood-damage assessment flying and surveying using the squadron-owned Cessna 172 that is hangared at Mercer County Airport. One of the most intriguing air services out of MCA is a commercial long line operation offered through High Line Helicopters. “They do anything from aerial crane work where they’ll set air conditioning units on top of buildings and things like that. I think their bread-and-butter is cutting power line rightof-ways with big, aerial saws,” Ransom said. He noted that the helicopters are outfitted with a long, rigid line that is kind of like a flag pole tipped with 100 H.P. engine with six 36-inch saw blades on it. It sounds ...dangerous. “It’s probably one of the deadliest jobs out there,” Ransom said. “They also do “Bird On A Wire” operations where they transfer power line workers onto live power lines. Oh, yeah. Those guys are the cowboys of the sky.”
pursue graduate study in criminology,” Luff said. A new option in music is being offered under Concord’s interdisciplinary degree umbrella as an “interim step,” Viscusi said, but its viability depends on increasing student enrollment in the field. “When we get to a critical mass (of enrollment), we’ll move forward with a music major,” he said. He also discussed changes that took effect in January in CU’s program of general education, required of all students seeking a four-year degree. The number of semester hours required in those classes has been reduced from 49 to 39 hours. Students still need at least 120 credit hours to graduate, but the reduction
of general-studies hours “opened up a number of choices,” Viscusi said. Students may now fit in a major and a minor field of study or two more easily, or perhaps complete two majors, “and have room for electives,” he said. “Students can prepare themselves better to market themselves for whatever specialty (suits their talents and goals),” he said. Student response to the general education revision “has been wonderful,” he said. To serve students better who self-identify themselves as having an autism spectrum disorder, Concord and the West Virginia Autism Training Center announced a partnership in November to develop on-campus support in Athens.
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BLUEFIELD — A few thousand citizens flocked to Mercer County Airport last year during a single day on Memorial Day Weekend. The rest of the year, many of those visitors may take the 500-acre general aviation facility located between Bluefield and Princeton for granted. It’s been around for more than 60 years, after all. For some folks, the old airfield may even seem to have lost some of its former luster. To some degree, the airport can’t help but be a reminder of the area’s economic downturn during the collapse of coal. The commercial air service that the airport housed since 1954 departed after 2007. Since then, a decade has elapsed. But make no mistake: Mercer County Airport remains an essential piece of infrastructure that is vital to the region’s hopes for greater recovery. Quietly, steadily and without any fuss, it continues to contribute to meaningful economic growth. Mercer County Airport Manager Clint Ransom noted that Rural King, the newest retailer coming to Mercer Mall, has been using the airport with great frequency during the months leading up to the store’s opening. Without Mercer County Airport there may very well be no Rural King coming here. Without the airport there would be a lot of things we likely wouldn’t have. “An airport drives a local economy more than people realize,” said Ransom. “Chain business owners often won’t set up in an area they can’t access
engage the public. Two years ago, aerobatic pilot Johnny White from Abingdon proved extremely popular, putting on two acts with different aircraft. White has since retired, however, but a helicopter skydiving act has helped to retain some adrenaline in the air show. “Another thing we do is give out free airplane rides to kids. Last year we gave out approximately 500 rides to kids under age 18,” Ransom said. “I had six air planes and two helicopters going, giving out rides.” You could call the annual Fly-In and Car Show sort of a tent revival to introduce general aviation culture to the general public. Insofar as Mercer County has a general aviation culture, Mercer County Airport is its center. There are 35 private aircraft based on the field. Without over-romanticizing civil aviation, most people recognize that even the most conservative and buttoned-down pilot is not your average cat. It takes a bit more training, technical expertise and adventurous spirit to join this club. “We have a Flying Club at the airport for prospective pilots and some of whom who are pilots now. The have a shared ownership in an aircraft and there are shares available for members on that,” said Ransom. “This provides a more economically-friendly way to obtain flight instruction as well as airplane ownership.” Another option for obtaining instruction is the flight school operated at the airport by Appalachian Flying Service, which also offers a charter service through the airport. For civil aviation enthu-
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 9
Street...
Continued from 5 forward,” she stated. “It’s been like a turning wheel; when one has to move on, the energy re-forms and emerges in a new way. Right now, there are some plans in the works that are going to be key projects and catalysts for growth.” A grant program the Renaissance project was recently awarded is opening up new opportunities for up to four people who are interested in locating a business on Mercer Street, McKinney said. “The New Business Grant program is yielding some exciting results. We have some great applica-
Bluefield... Continued from 4
cost savings will also be explored. “Options are expected to range from all city sanitary operations being privatized to a hybrid approach of contracting and building a waste transfer station that lowers landfill tipping fees,” he said.
Truckers... Continued from 3
couple of truck stops and according to Executive Director David Manley these truck stops help to introduce travelers to the
Trail...
Continued from 1 for us. This is an investment we will use for the next 100 years. So we are OK with it taking an extra four months.” The Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority currently oversees more than 600 miles of ATV-UTV trails in Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, Logan, Kanawha, Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo and Boone counties. More than 83 percent of those individuals who ride the trail are classified as non-residents, or those who travel from outside of the region to ride the trails. Lusk said those out-of-town visitors also are spending money in the region helping to support local stores, shops, convenience stations and restaurants. Income from businesses located along or near the trail totaled about $22 million in 2014. Lusk believes that number could top $30 million this year. Many of the trail riders come to the Bluefield and Princeton areas to finding lodging, restaurants and entertainment. Lusk said there is still a critical need for additional accomodations along the trail, including lodging
are they that can make things better, and it is so fulfilling to be a part of the change. I hear a lot of negative nellies say that Princeton has nothing to offer, but they are missing the point. The exciting thing about our town right now is that we have the opportunity to get involved with the transformation. We are the ones that can determine what the future looks like. I say, take that dream you have been dreaming- take that vision of what you think Princeton should look like, and make it happen! Jump on board and let’s get this train rolling.” — Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline. com
tions in and I can tell you that the public is going to be very satisfied,” she said. “The grand finale pitch contest is Thursday, March 9 and the public is invited to come cheer these entrepreneurs on as they make their pitches to win cash grants, advertising packages and more. We will see four diverse creative businesses open on Mercer Street in 2017.” Annual holiday events are continuing to bring more traffic to Mercer
Street, too, McKinney stated. “I know events such as New Year’s Eve have been well-attended, and I wanted to ask if any other new events are in the works. You can add something about the Valentine’s event you had, too,” she said. “We are always thinking in terms of events. We will continue all the annual events such as Celebrate Princeton Street Fair, All Together Arts Week, Mercer Monster Mash
and The Downtown Countdown, and there will be other events added throughout the year, like concerts in The Room Upstairs and nights on the towns like the La Rouge Red Dress event we held for Valentine’s Day,” McKinney said. “The Cruise-In folks will hold their regular Cruise Nights and Cruiser’s reunions, which have been an awesome catalyst for downtown development. We will also continue our
Renaissance Rap Sessions periodically, which is an open community conversation and opportunity for folks to gather, meet new friends, share ideas and get involved with the progress.” McKinney said that entrepreneurs who are considering Mercer Street would find that the neighborhood has to offer.” “It is an incredibly exciting time for downtown Princeton, ripe with possibility and potential. We have the opportunity to make an impact and shape the future of this neighborhood! So many people say, “They need to fix this and they need to fix that,” but the reality is that ‘We’ are ‘They’. We
In-house paving expansion will be explored, he said, with the possible acquisition of a milling machine, which removes the surface of pavement in preparation for repaving. “This will reduce overall paving costs and increase the number of feet paved per year by the city,” he said. “The goal is to achieve industry standards of paving the entire city every 25
years. This will require 4.3 miles per year. Currently, we are averaging 3.4 miles the past two years.” Other goals for the year include: • A phased master plan for signage replacement in the city. • A refreshed website to provide social media integration and pay portals for bills and events. • More targeted
approach of acquiring properties in commercial areas. • Digitization of city clerk files. • Plan and execute citywide elections. • LED street light conversion. • Upgrade of email services. • Hiring a new city attorney. Current city attorney Brian Cochran has
announced his resignation. Rideout said many steps are also being taken to help the city move forward to “put Bluefield on the map” as a hub city focused around a railroad and interstate system. Being aggressive about economic development is an area that needs investments, he said. “We have not lost sight of that.” Mayor Tom Cole said
that “one of the things you hear Dane say so often” is the term strategic. “A lot of things we do are not about today,” he said. “There is an awful lot of what we do that is about tomorrow.” Cole said Rideout and his staff are “doing a great job.” — Contact Charles Boothe at cboothe@bdtonline.com
area. “Wythe County is the home of no less than a dozen truck stops depending on your definition,” Manley said. “They are important contributors to our local economy and help introduce travelers to our area. Expenditures from
travel related activities in Wythe County amounted to over $137 million in 2014, placing it well within the top-third of localities in Virginia.” According to Manley, travel related services employ around 1,000 peo-
ple in Wythe County and contribute over $19.5 million in payroll. “Travel related industry and services tend to locate in clusters,” Manley said. “Love’s new location will more than likely spur additional growth in the area based
on what I’ve seen here and in other areas.” Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1964 and has more than 360 locations in 40 states. Love’s provides
professional truck drivers and motorists with 24 hour access to gasoline, diesel fuel, travel items and snacks. “I’ll be very excited to see earth work get started and take off on this project,” Workman said.
facilities, to serve the ATV riders. “We could be looking at an additional 3,000 riders over the next 12 months that were not here (last year), and those folks have to have a place to stay,” Lusk said. “We are hoping to get some more investments there in Mercer County. I know we have been working with and have had contact with several folks, but the biggest low hanging fruit is to get the people who are already there to expand. They already have the property, and getting them to make some investments would be great. I know I sound like a broken record, but it (lodging) is truly our biggest need.” Lusk said many of the off-road riders are looking for cabins to rent while in the area. And to that extent some additional expansions are already underway. For example, new cabins are now being constructed at the Mud Pit in Mercer County. “The number one request is cabins,” Lusk said. “And that is what he is building. It adds to the experience.” More than 1,700 beds have been added to the 600-mile project area to date, but there still isn’t enough lodging to accomodate the riders.
The trail also is growing in McDowell County. Lusk said the authority is very close — in fact just one license agreement away — from beginning construction on a new segment of the HatfieldMcCoy Trail in McDowell County. The new Warrior Trail system will connect the cities of Welch, War and Gary. “I think this year we are going to see some of those bigger projects started,” Lusk said. “We are working on the Warrior Trail system. We need one more license agreement to get the project built. Hopefully those folks are moving forward. We are one license agreement away from making that happen.” The trail authority also is hoping to work with the proposed Head of the Dragon motorcycle trail planned in McDowell County. The Head of the Dragon is an extension of the existing Back of the Dragon motorcycle route in Tazewell County. The trail authority hopes to make Mercer County one of the kickoff spots for the Head of the Dragon because of its close proximity to Interstate 77 and U.S. Route 460. This is the 15th year of operation for the HatfieldMcCoy Trail. The hope
is to eventually reach a thousand miles of trails in the Mountain State. In neighboring Tazewell County, the Virginia-side Spearhead Trail also is still growing. The Pocahontas Trail in Bramwell borders the Spearhead Trail in Pocahontas where many ATV riders are currently
crossing the state-line border to ride both trails. In addition to the nearly 50 miles of off-road trails in Tazewell County, the Southwest Virginia-based Spearhead system also has trails open in Wise and Buchanan counties. The Mountain View Trail at St. Paul in Wise County was
the first Spearhead Trail to open for off-road riders in Southwest Virginia. Since that time, Coal Canyon Trail in Popular Gap in Buchanan County opened with 20 miles of trails and the Stone Mountain Trail in Pennington Gap also was opened with another 30 miles of trails.
ooo A grant program the Renaissance project was recently awarded is opening up new opportunities for up to four people who are interested in locating a business on Mercer Street, McKinney said.
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