Commission buys turf on installment plan to speed Shawnee sport complex development

Commission buys turf on installment plan to speed Shawnee sport complex development

By: Rick Steelhammer Staff writer | Posted: Jan. 4, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

An agreement allowing the Kanawha County Commission to use an installment plan to buy $2.5 million worth of artificial turf for the Shawnee Park Multi-Sport Complex also makes it possible to build a $500,000 concessions stand/press box building and stay within the project’s budget.

The new turf, purchased from Field Turf Co., through four payments of $625,000 each, will be used to surface the complex’s six soccer fields and four baseball/softball infields. Nearly one million square feet of artificial turf was bought through the arrangement, approved during a County Commission meeting on Thursday.

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January 4, 2018 in Local News, NEWS

Roy Lee Peck

Posted: Jan. 4, 2017 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Roy Lee Peck, 66, of Blount, passed away on Monday, December 25, 2017. He was preceded in death by his mother, Tina Lucinda (Belcher) Johnson; stepfather, Donald Lee Johnson; and his sister, Flossie Ellen Peck.

He is survived by his three children, sons, Walter Peck of Clendenin and Terry Peck, to whom he is married to Jessica Peck of Clendenin, and his daughter, Marlena Mullins, to whom she is married to Kenneth Mullins of Elkview, and his five grandchildren, Jason Mullins, Alexis Peck, Katarina Mullins, Zadrian Peck and Elizabeth Peck.

A memorial visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2018. at Hafer Funeral Home, Elkview.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.haferfuneralhome.net.

Hafer Funeral Home, 50 North Pinch Road, Elkview, is assisting the family.

January 4, 2018 in ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWS

Clendenin-based boxer from Hurricane to make professional kickboxing debut

By: Clint Thomas, Metro Staff | Posted: Jan. 3, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

After years of amateur preparation and ring success, Laura Byrnes, who trains at the Elk River Boxing Club in Clendenin, will make her professional kickboxing debut later this month in Moundsville.

Byrnes, a Florida native who lives in Hurricane, will fight on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Moundsville State Penitentiary. She will compete against Crystal Beyers of Wheeling in the 145-pound weight division.

Byrnes’ match will be part of the Felony Assault live boxing and mixed martial arts card at the penitentiary, which was retired from prison use in the mid-1990s. The contests will get underway at 5 p.m. on Jan. 20. (more…)

January 3, 2018 in Local Olympic & Professional Athletics, NEWS, Sports News

Betty Lou Howell Runion

Posted: Jan. 3, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Betty Lou Howell Runion, 88, of Comfort, went home to be with the Lord December 30, 2017, at CAMC General Hospital, Charleston.

She was a former secretary at East Bank Junior High School and was a longtime den mother for the Chesapeake Cub Scouts. She was a Christian and began playing piano at the age of 14 at the Cheapeake Assembly of God, where she also served as a Sunday School Teacher. She most recently attended White Oak Community Church at Orgas and was active in the Boone County Senior Citizens. She loved camping, reading her Bible and she never met a stranger. (more…)

January 3, 2018 in ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWS

Obituary-Jimmie Edgar Martin

Posted: Jan. 3, 2018 | Source: Hafer Funeral Home

Jimmie Edgar Martin, 81, of Elkview, passed away on Friday, December 29, 2017, at home with his family.

He was retired from the Robert C. Byrd Health Center and had worked for Elk Refinery for 21 years prior to their closing of the plant. Jimmie served his country in the U.S. Army and attended Blue Creek Advent Christian Church. He liked to go hunting, cooking and enjoyed quality time with family. (more…)

January 3, 2018 in ANNOUNCEMENTS, Obituaries

Obituary-John Roger Sloan

Posted: Jan. 3, 2018 | Source: Matics Funeral Home

John Roger Sloan, 71, of Clendenin, passed away Monday, January 1, 2018, at CAMC Memorial Hospital, after a short illness.

He was the son of the late Carl N. Sloan and Delphia Gay Abbott Sloan. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Jack Sloan; sister, Virginia Cummings.

John was a member of the United Mine Workers. He was also a former employee of Welding Inc., Kanawha County Parks and Recreation, and Shafer Pipeline. (more…)

January 3, 2018 in ANNOUNCEMENTS, Obituaries

Obituary-Earl Vaughn Drake

Posted: Jan. 3, 2018 | Source: Matics Funeral Home

Earl Vaughn Drake, 85, of Clendenin, passed away January 1, 2018, at Hubbard Hospice House after a short illness.

Earl was the only son of the late Tarlton V. (Tike) Drake and Hattie Guinn Drake. Earl was also preceded in death by the love of his life, Wanda Wyatt Drake; sisters, Naomi Samples, Mary Carper, Hellen Young, Ruth Carper, Hannah Drake and June Logan. (more…)

January 3, 2018 in ANNOUNCEMENTS, Obituaries

Obituary-Ronald Isaac Holmes

Posted: Jan. 3, 2018 | Source: Matics Funeral Home

Ronald Isaac Holmes, 73, of Elkview, went home to be with the Lord December 30, 2017.

He was a born again Christian bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. He attended Union Valley Gospel Tabernacle Church Sissonville.

Ronald was a Vietnam Army veteran and a retired barber with several years of service.

He was preceded in death by his parents Mose and Wanda Holmes; and brother, Dick Holmes. (more…)

January 3, 2018 in ANNOUNCEMENTS, Obituaries

Obituary-Arnold Cantley

Posted: Jan. 2, 2018 | Source: Curry Funeral Home

Arnold Edward Cantley, 78, of Alum Creek, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 31, 2017, after a short battle with leukemia. Arnold was born on May 5, 1939, to Archie and Lois Flowers Cantley of Alum Creek, WV.

Arnold was also preceded in death by the love of his life for 55 years, Evia Hughes Cantley; brothers, Jerry, Bob and Jimmy Cantley; sisters, Ellen Pauley and Linda Cantley; and faithful companion, Shaggy. (more…)

January 2, 2018 in ANNOUNCEMENTS, Obituaries

Readiness on all fronts is focus for West Virginia National Guard at start of new year

By: MetroNews Staff | Posted: Jan. 2, 2018 at 12:05 am | Source: MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Year 2018 will bring new deployments for members of both the West Virginia Army National Guard and Air National Guard after some of them spent the holidays overseas, according to West Virginia’s adjutant general.

“In the current world environment, we’ve always got to keep our focus on the highest levels of readiness,” said Major General James Hoyer.

Major General James Hoyer

In 2017, more than 100 Air Guard members from the 130th Airlift Wing deployed in support of contingency operations for Operation Freedom Sentinel, the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, and Operation Inherent Resolve, focused on ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

For hurricane relief in a devastating Atlantic season, 14 members of the West Virginia Army National Guard provided immediate infrastructure support after Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Virgin Islands. (more…)

January 2, 2018 in 2016 FLOOD, Long Term Aftermath & Recovery