UP: To Master Chief E-9 Tim Lough, who will retire from the U.S. Navy in October after a 30-year career as a submariner. Lough, a graduate of Parkersburg South High School, was honored on Friday at a retirement celebration in Groton, Conn. Congratulations to Master Chief Lough for his service.
UP: To the West Virginia Department of Highways for delaying work this past week on the West Virginia 14 project at Mineral Wells, thus allowing motorists traveling to the West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition on Butcher Bend Road to avoid long delays at the Interstate 77 exit. Monday when workers were completing tie-in work on the southbound lane of W.Va. 14 long delays were encountered. Had this happened when the fair opened on Tuesday, it could have created extremely long delays and dangerous problems.
UP: To the members of the River Valley Mountain Bike Association who have volunteered more than 100 hours to clear fallen trees and debris from park trails after severe storms last month. Volunteers are finishing construction of a trail, the Savannah Around the Moon Trail, which should be completed by the end of the month. Volunteers have spent more than 150 hours building the 1.25-mile mountain bike trail. If not for the efforts of volunteer groups such as these, there would not be trails like these to ride.
UP: To the recent Sly Fox-sponsored poker run which raised $2,637 for the Parkersburg Humane Society. The money will help fund 20 free dog adoptions and 12 free cat adoptions with $185 going for special needs at the shelter. Thirty riders participated in the run which will become an annual event. Thanks to Sly Fox owner Bobby Starkey, Kate Morton and the girls who helped with the event.
-Submitted by Greg Reynolds
DOWN: To those crooks who operate in the shadows and the darkness of night to rummage through cars looking for money and valuables to steal from hard-working law-abiding citizens. Too many residents have been outraged when going to their vehicles in the morning to discover someone rifled through their cars. Hopefully the legal system will teach those convicted of such hooliganism that crime comes with a heavy price tag.
