Charleston man convicted of manslaughter

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A Charleston man has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a former Marshall University football player.

Jerel Addision Garner had faced a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Donte Newsome in July 2008. The Cabell County Circuit Court jury also convicted Garner of wanton endangerment and a concealed weapons violation Tuesday.

The jury acquitted Garner of attempted murder in the shooting of another man.

Originally from Chesapeake, Va., Newsome lettered at linebacker at Marshall from 2002 to 2005.

ACTC to present ‘Copacabana’

ASHLAND, Ky. — “Copacabana”, The Musical, a lush tribute to the Technicolor musicals of the 1940s, starts at Ashland Community and Technical College next weekend. The Broadway-style musical fantasy features original songs by Barry Manilow and dazzling costumes, sets and choreography.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, April 9, 10 and 16, 17 at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, April 11 and 18 at 2:30 p.m. in the J. B. Sowards Theatre on the College Drive Campus.

The story of Lola, the aspiring showgirl, and Tony, the bartender / composer, is told by Stephen, a present day aspiring songwriter.

Lola arrives in New York with show-biz aspirations and meets Tony, a bartender/composer. Tony helps her become a Copa girl and comes to her rescue when she is abducted by nightclub owner Rico. To add interest to the production, Tony looks like Stephen and Lola looks like Stephen’s wife Samantha.

Zack Davis, an ACTC Theatre veteran, portrays Tony and Stephen. Greenup County High sophomore Lauren Saltsman plays Lola and Samantha. ACTC theatre majors Brian Duty, Alana Mullins and Lindsey Taylor portray Rico Castelli, Conchita Alverez and Gladys Murphy respectively. Andrew Potter, a paralegal, plays Sam Silver. Area residents and students round out the cast.

Edward Figgins, ACTC Director of Theatre and Associate Professor, is the director and scenic / lighting designer. Kathy Saltsman, a music teacher at Wurtland Elementary School, is the musical director.

Eric Akers, orchestra conductor for Cabell County Board of Education, is the orchestra leader. Max Jackson, ACTC Professor Emeritus of Music, is the accompanist. Paula Krepsik, costume designer for ACTC Theatre, is the costumer. Tiffany Mays, an ACTC theatre major, is the properties designer.

Tickets are $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be reserved with a major credit card through the bookstore, 606-326-2014. Unreserved seats will be sold at the door before each performance with cash or check payment.

“Copacabana” is the last production of the ACTC 2009-2010 Theatre Season. For more information, call the Theatre, 606-326-2073.

River Park employee receives Prestera Award

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Karen Yost, the director of clinical services at River Park Hospital, has been awarded the 14th Annual Michael Prestera Award of Excellence by the Prestera Center for Mental Health Services, Inc.

Yost, who has more than 30 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse, was selected by Prestera for her unselfish and tireless commitment toward the advancement of her profession and the improvement of services to those in need.

Yost was nominated by two of her colleagues at River Park, Chief Executive Officer Terry Stephens and Director of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Lisa Kaplan, for her dedication in helping children, adolescents and adults understand, cope with and recover from mental health and substance abuse issues.

In addition to her work at River Park, Yost is active on many statewide committees devoted to improving the lives of those affected by mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as teaching at Marshall University and conducting statewide training sessions on these issues.

Openings remain for new evening welding class

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Only a few vacant slots are still available for the new evening welding class being offered by the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) in cooperation with the Cabell County Career Technology Center (CCCTC), according to RCBI Director and CEO Charlotte Weber.

RCBI is supplying the instructor and enrolling students while CCCTC is providing equipment and facilities for the new program, which begins April 19.

“We’re limited in the number we can accommodate so the earlier prospective students apply, the better,” Weber said. “There is an identified shortage of welders — not just in West Virginia but nationwide — and we are continuing to work to prepare individuals with proper skills so they are positioned to earn state welding certification and join the work force.”

The 16-week class will be conducted at CCCTC, located at 1035 Norway Ave., Huntington. The class, which will meet for four hours each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening, is a comprehensive one that includes both classroom instruction and hands-on training on the shop floor, with intensive student-instructor interaction.

The class can be taken independently to prepare the student to test for state certification in shielded metal arc welding or as part of RCBI’s comprehensive welding program that includes TIG (tungsten inert gas), MIG (metal inert gas) and Stick welding.

For more information or to register, contact RCBI’s Larry Cartmill at 304-781-1678, 800-469-RCBI (7224) or send an e-mail to register@rcbi.org.

Financial assistance is available to individuals who qualify.