Jackson-35 slide almost repaired

CHILLICOTHE — While most work for an emergency slide repair project on U.S. Route 35 East in Jackson County has been completed, the route continues to be restricted to one lane of traffic in the eastbound direction for final clean-up.

Crews from Stable Construction have removed the majority of large rock that rested along the hillside adjacent to U.S. 35 East, with the last large section of one boulder brought down earlier this week.

Although the contractors have completed their operations, the route continues to be reduced to one lane of traffic in the eastbound direction as crews from the Jackson County Highway Maintenance Facility will be clearing remaining rock and debris from the ditchline as weather permits.

Once the county forces complete the final clean-up and further excavate the ditchline through the area, the concrete barrier will be relocated to the shoulder and eastbound U.S. 35 will be reopened to two lanes of traffic.

Motorists are reminded to continue exercising caution when traveling through the project zone.

The emergency excavation project became necessary after a rock slide occurred Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the area just east of Caves Road, approximately six miles east of the Jackson-Ross County line.

Field review by ODOT engineers and geologists determined that other rocks or boulders along the hillside may be unstable and should be removed.

Stable Construction was awarded a Type A Emergency contract this week to remove the rock and repair the ledge and hillside between the 6.0 and 7.0-mile markers, adjacent to U.S. 35 East.

Health board sued over smoking ban

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — More than 50 businesses and veterans groups are challenging Cabell County’s ban on smoking in bars and video lottery parlors.

They filed a complaint Thursday in Cabell County Circuit Court against the Cabell-Huntington Board of Health.

The complaint seeks a preliminary injunction and a declaratory judgment hearing.

Health board members voted in January to extend a ban on smoking in public places to bars and gambling parlors.

The complaint says the expanded ban is arbitrary, unreasonable and denies the plaintiffs the economically viable use of their property.

Cabell-Huntington Health Department director Dr. Harry Tweel said he hadn’t read the complaint.

Tweel said the board is prepared to implement the regulation.

Officers elected for Tri-State Airport Authority

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Jim Booton of Wayne County was re-elected as President during the Tri-State Airport Authority’s annual meeting held on Feb. 25 at Tri-State Airport.

Dr. Calvin A. Kent of Huntington was re-elected First Vice President and Kevin Gunderson of Ashland was elected Second Vice President.

Dr. Bill Dingus of Lawrence County was elected Secretary and A. Michael Perry of Cabell County was elected Treasurer.

Mr. Booton, appointed to the Authority by the Wayne County Commission in 1995, has been a member of the Airport Authority for 15 years.

The Airport Authority is the governing body for Huntington’s Tri-State Airport.

Its 15 members are representatives from the Tri-State, which include: Wayne County Commission, Cabell County Commission, the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Cities of Huntington, Kenova, Ceredo, and Barboursville in West Virginia; the City of Ashland, the Ashland Alliance, and the Boyd County Fiscal Court in Kentucky; and the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce in Ohio.

Make shamrock jewelry at BCPL

SUMMIT, Ky. — Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, make some shamrock-inspired jewelry at a March 8 program at the Summit branch of Boyd County Public Library.

The Monday night program, which starts at 6 p.m., is part of the weekly Piece-ing it Together craft club. Once a month, the group makes a special take-home craft, and the library supplies the materials.

The Summit branch is located at 1016 Summit Road, across from Boyd County Middle School. New members are always welcome at the craft club meetings.

In April, the take-home craft will be decorative flower pots.

For more information on the craft club, call Allison at (606) 928-3366. To find out more about other library programs and services, visit the online branch at www.thebookplace.org.