PARKERSBURG -Facebook fans may have noticed a new kid on the block, Wood County has launched its own Facebook page featuring photos of interest to locals, visitors and former residents surfing the Internet.
"We were interested in having a means to provide copies of photos to friends and family members when we have people in for presentations like the Spirit of Wood County awards. Often times individuals who couldn't be there for the presentation would like to have a photo, but we didn't really have a good way of getting them out. Then (county commission President) Blair (Couch) came up with the Facebook page idea. Our idea is to give those folks the ability to print off the pictures they want," said county administrator Marty Seufer.
"It's nice for the local people, but it's really nice for those out of town to have access to see what's going on, it's a touch of home when you're not here," Seufer said.
Seufer, who is a former computer specialist for the county, along with Kenny Balderson, systems administrator, got the site up and manage it. It is a secure site with limited access, Seufer said. Photos on the site are not under copyright.
"Anyone can take anything they want off there. Right now there's an album on there of photos I took of the courthouse showing some of the interesting architectural features. Many people don't notice those carvings. There are some photos taken from a bucket truck that show angles you would not ordinarily be able to see from the sidewalk level. It's really interesting," Seufer said.
Anyone who has a Facebook account can get access to the page, which was first put up less than two weeks ago. The page can be found under Facebook on the search at woodcountywv.
"Everything comes through me before we put it out there, everything is checked," Seufer said.
"There is basic information on the county. There are former residents who enjoy looking at what's happening in the area. It's generally what's going with the county," Seufer said.
"You've got 500 million people in one place on Facebook whereas with the county's website it's just whoever happens to come across it," Balderson said.
There are articles about the history of the Wood County Courthouse on the county's website at: www.woodcountywv.com.
Although it's been up less than two weeks, the site already has 356 people signed up as fans of the page.
