Hundreds of people attended the second annual Fall Festival sponsored by the 1982 Foundation for the purpose giving back to the community that has given so much to them. And give they did! Hot Dogs chips and drinks were available to all guests visiting the Calhoun County Community Center. Vendors were given space to set up to sell their products, childrens activities and prizes were awarded and music filled the air. Performances throughout the day included Heather Kutil, Pianist; Bruce Jones and friends, and closing the night out was Calhoun’s own John Richards.
Mid afternoon Crystal Mersh took to the newly built stage (which will certainly be a marvelous entertainment venue for Calhoun) where she shared the status of many of the projects for The 1982 Foundation. The work continues to get the Former High School listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings which will open more opportunities for Calhoun County tourism. With support from Senator’s Shelly Moore Capito and Senator Joe Manchin, Crystal has high hopes in the success of the School projects. To date, $2,213,943.85 has been raised toward the now 6 million dollar project. “We’re building history,” Crystal said, “This is home and there is no finer county than Calhoun. That is a sentiment shared by numerous volunteers that make events like the Fall Festival Happen.
New Board member Jeff Church gave an update on The Bootstrap Project, a group pulled together by Crystal for the purpose of focusing on key areas in the community to grow the economy. A group of about 40 people divided themselves into smaller groups to tackle toursim, business, marketing, farm to table, substance abuse and recreation. Jeff made the statement that the Bootstrap Project was there to “help get us out of the hole we’ve allowed ourselves to get in, Calhoun does not shirk hard work,” he said. He encouraged the people to bring any ideas for the community and business to the Bootstrap volunteers. Immediately an audience member asked about the possibility of an animal shelter, to which Jeff responded that it had been mentioned and they were looking into how they could help.
Eric Lupardus and Kyerstan Perkins spoke regarding other projects under construction by not only the Bootstrap organization but a newly formed Chamber of Commerce. Together, with Commissioner Matt Walker, they’re working on tourism by building access points to the Little Kanawha River for kayaking and float trips. They’re promoting established businesses, working with farm to table, and the county beautification project. Eric told the audience that ”we need to be proud of the river. The 1982 Foundation has done an amazing job and it’s time for change. It’s our time to shine!”
Shelia Burch, Director of the Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation announced the recent receipt of a $65,000 grant for a Business Incubation and Enhancement Center that will be located in the Calhoun Community Center. With involvement from Glenville State University, WVU Law Center and the Calhoun Gilmer Career Center the new office will be a big help to existing and start up business.
Aaron Spaur, who recently hosted a Celebrate Recovery event at the Wayne Underwood field addressed the fact that recovery and addiction are not just an individuals’s disease but the community as a whole. Economic impacts, job loss and lack of opportunities can lead to drug use. Recovery should also be done by the community by allowing those who suffer with addiction to recover without the concern of shame. He stressed that there are many barriers in recovery and through the help of Celebrate Recovery events and Calhoun Magistrate Court programs they are trying to help people recover out loud. Their next event will be a Chili Cook Off in February or March.
The 1982 foundation and organizations like the Bootstrap Project are seeing success in the Farm to Table and Pies to Progress effort. Although their Pumpkin Patch suffered from a rainy season, it did not dampen their spirits of the 40 people who volunteered their time to do it again next year.
A County Beautification team is committed to painting three building in town to further promote tourism and boost the economy. The buildings soon to receive facelifts are the Family Resource Network, Minnich Florist and Calhoun Realty. All three on Main Street.
The vision that overcame so much opposition last spring is soon to come to fruition with this coming spring plans for the new pool. The area will be tied into the new stage with a shared snack bar around center field and a pool house where the current shelter and snack bar are located.
The plans for the field don’t stop with the pool, but the bus garage will hopefully offer a Kayak Outfitters shop, access to the river and a back deck. A Recovery center may also be housed their with an activity center and place to hang out and share the struggles of the day.
With every corner of the field being addressed the old Driver’s Ed Building will not be left off the list. It’s to become the Elva Lamont Agriculture Center and Goat Stables.
The Country Roads Construction team will start work again this week to refurbish the gym with window replacement and the once the National Historical registry issue is determined the former school building will be remodeled to ho use class rooms, office space, the ”Spice” Restaurant, Fitness Center and an Air B & B.
Multiple winners were announced at the end of the evening:
Two quilt raffle winners: Roger and Mike Richards
Town beatification contest Winners: J & B Drug store for Best Home Town Spirit, Heritage & History award to Grinders, Best over All – Calhoun Banks, Most Creative – Minnie Hamilton Health System and Decorate Purple award to the Family Crisis Intervention Center for Domestic Violence.
Rid the Rubble, a community clean up project, awarded Brenda Bush four airline tickets to anywhere in the United States for her efforts of having cleaned up the most ”rubble.
The Best and prettiest pumpkin award was given to Mrs. Loretta Propst.
Two $500 winners in the BBQ Contest went to Honey Dew BBQ for their pork and Red Beard BBQ ofr their brisket.
Power Wheel contest winners were Dustin Carpenter, Connor Boggs, Eric Thompson and Jarrett Allen.
Stay tuned to an additional story on One Hundred Years of Football by Robert Bonar. An amazing tale of why Calhoun County is such a great place to live. Hopefully I’ll have it up this afternoon. ~ Shari Johnson, Publisher.
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