High Points of the Valley (Graphic Illustration)

* Career Technical Education opportunities are important for high school students looking to learn skills that will significantly improve their readiness for careers. Here in Wood County, we have one of the best. According to the West Virginia Department of Education, the Wood County Technical Center is among the top five such facilities in the state. It got the highest accountability scores across all indicators that included participation, concentration, completion, work-based learning, technical assessments and teacher endorsement. “They care about the kids, they put the extra time in needed for them and it really shows,” said Jason Hughes, director of the Wood County Technical Center and the Caperton Center for Applied Technology. Students seem to agree with the state’s assessment. “The instructors here are great,” said Logan Peloquin, a foreman in the Auto Technology program. “I’ve met some instructors that have helped me change and grow as a human and I appreciate that a lot. … Some people learn the traditional way in a book. Some people can’t. I can’t,” he said. “I think that a good, healthy environment to learn, is the reason that kids show up and want to be here and do their best work.” Our communities owe our gratitude to the administrators and educators who have made this kind of education possible. It’s incredible for the students, but it is good for those of us who will benefit from all they are learning, too.

* His roots in banking and in Wood County run deep, and Executive Chairman of the Board at United Bank Richard Adams has certainly earned the Spirit of Wood County award he received from Wood County Commissioners last week. “I have done it all,” he said of jobs he had at the bank. “I had a lot of great experiences.” But in doing it all, Adams never forgot the work he was doing was about people. “I thought that walking into your bank today it is so amazingly different,” said Commissioner Jimmy Colombo. “The atmosphere is so great and the people are so friendly and that is because of some of the things you instilled in there.” Integrity, teamwork, hard work and caring. Those are Adams’ values, and the rest of us could certainly learn a thing or two from them. Congratulations, sir.