PARKWAY GROUP MAY GO TO WASHINGTON - New Logo Placed At Courthouse

(03/23/2001)
By Dianne Weaver

The Little Kanawha River Parkway Authority met last night in Grantsville. Chairperson Reta Kight presented the new parkway logo to be hung in the courthouse, part of a promotion to familiarize the movement to build the access highway through the neglected west central region of the state. Several local people attended the meeting.

Kight told the group the importance of moving ahead with plans and announced a charter bus trip to Washington to meet with Senator Robert C. Byrd. Calhoun's representatives on the Authority, Dan McDonald and Danny Law were in attendance, as were Calhoun's three County Commissioners, David Barr, Larry McCallister and Bob Weaver.

Ambrose Collins, a Grantsville Town Councilman, presented a Calhoun Chronicle from 1976, where Darrell McGraw, a candidate for Congress at the time, said the Parkway would be built within a few years.

The proposed four-lane corridor would connect I-79 at Burnsville and I-77 near Mineral Wells, Wood County, opening up the interior counties. It would extend through Braxton, Gilmer, Calhoun, Wirt and Wood Counties.

One spokesperson said "Grantsville and Calhoun County are regressing."

Gilmer County resident Jim Bailey said the LK Scenic Byway is not connected to the Parkway project. The Byway is an effort to pull tourists and others off the interstate system, using the Little Kanawha River, its natural beauty and the area's cultural qualities. He said it is called "Heritage Tourism."

Kight said Gov. Bob Wise met with the group on February 21st. "He is very supportive of the project," she said.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wirt County, according to Wirt representative Steve VanCliff of Burning Springs.

Reta Kight presents new LK Parkway logo

(L to R) Commissioners McCallister, Weaver, Barr, Dan McDonald and others accept new logo

Calhoun Parkway members Dan McDonald and Danny Law, far left; Reta Kight of Gilmer County

Several attend meeting at Senior Center