KINGWOOD — Preston County will be taking two buses of eighth graders to Charleston for Preston County Day at the Legislature.
The annual event, which this year will be Jan. 29, is also Monongalia County Day at the Legislature, and the two counties work together on the project. Each sends representatives, but they work together because of the shared interests.
The Preston County Commission agreed 3-0 this week to pay up to $2,000 for school buses. County Administrator Kathy Mace said there’s a possibility a grant will pay $1,000, cutting the commission’s contribution.
The students will be in the state senate when a proclamation is read noting Preston County Day, then go to the Cultural Center, its museum and archives, Mace said.
“I think it’s important that we focus on educating our youth in the county,” Commission President Samantha Stone said.
The trip was open to all eighth graders, Mace said. The only cost to students is their dinner. Eighth grade was selected because that’s when students study West Virginia history.
Mace said Preston Assistant School Superintendent Brad Martin and principals helped organize the trip.
The emphasis during this year’s trip to Charleston will be on tourism, Mace said.
Among the displays that Preston will take to Charleston are renderings of the new hotel being built outside Kingwood and information about the craft beer industry, Alpine Lake, Friends of the Cheat, Dream Mountain and Preston Memorial.
“Our goal is to have both galleries packed with people from Preston County,” Mace said.
Another planning meeting for the day will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at the Preston County Economic Development Authority office, at the intersection of W.Va. 7 and 26 in Kingwood.
Also at this week’s county commission meeting, Reedsville Officer Paul Rowan asked the commission if the town can have one of the sheriff’s spare cruisers, a 2007 Dodge Charger.
Mace said she would have mechanics look the car over and report what repairs it needs. She also asked for a formal request from the mayor. The county would lease the car to the town. Terra Alta formerly used the cruiser.
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