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President Joe Biden visits Smith Flooring, Inc., in Chester, Pa., Tuesday. The president is joined by owners Kristin Smith and James Smith. (AP Photo)
PARKERSBURG City and county leaders throughout West Virginia are waiting to see how much COVID-19-relief money they’ll receive, as well as how soon it will arrive and how it can be used.
Besides individual stimulus checks for most Americans and money for broadband, education, vaccine support, child care and more, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan approved last week by Congress includes money to be administered by Mountain State municipalities and counties.
editorial@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council is encouraging public comment for the upcoming Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.
The strategy-driven five-year plan for regional economic development is designed to build capacity and guide economic prosperity and resiliency. The regional plan covers Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood Counties.
A key part of the process is comment from the public on the region’s economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and resiliency. A survey which takes a few minutes to complete is available at https://arcg.is/1m9jv4.
The site will remain open until March 25.
The regional council is a governmental planning and development agency for Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties, also known as Region V. The goal of the council and its Board of Directors is to maximize the opportunities for local communities and public service ag
Delegate Pinson makes stop at City Council meeting
Jackson Newspapers
Newly elected House of Delegates Representative Jonathan Pinson was a special guest speaker at the Feb. 2 meeting of the Ravenswood City Council. During his introduction, Pinson spoke of the many roles in which he has served the community of Jackson County throughout the years.
A 2004 graduate of Ravenswood High School, Pinson attended the West Virginia State Police Academy and served in police departments in both Ripley and Ravenswood, as well as the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department under the direction of Sheriff Mike Bright and then Tony Boggs. Following his service as a police officer, Pinson took on the roll of serving as pastor of a church in Point Pleasant.
wtowner@newsandsentinel.com
VIENNA Vienna City Council continued to hear outside agency budget presentations during a special council meeting held Thursday at the Vienna City Building.
Mayor Randy Rapp said Thursday’s meeting was the last to hear budget and funding requests from city departments and outside agencies.
With the information gathered over the last few weeks, work will begin on crafting the city’s 2021-2022 balanced budget, which must be completed by March 28, he said.
Representatives from most of the outside agencies requesting funding gave brief presentations to council regarding their programs and services, often highlighting any specific to or serving Vienna.
PARKERSBURG The Wood County Commission has approved the documentation to make offers on eight structures in the Happy Valley area. Fred Rader, with the Mid