Drug summit to offer information about abuse

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — For the past few years, the Drug Prevention Summit has allowed the community to come together to learn more about local substance abuse issues and community-wide solutions.

The fifth annual Drug Prevention Summit is Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Azalea Room at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena Conference Center. Dr. Jason Kilmer, research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, is the keynote speaker.

Community members and media are invited to attend. For more information, contact CCSAPP Project Director Anne McGee at 304-523-8929, ext. 5 or anne.mcgee@unitedwayrivercities.org

Virtual author to visit March 8

ASHLAND, Ky. — New York Times best-selling author Carrie Ryan will discuss her works and her methods at a special virtual visit to Boyd County Public Library on March 8.

The program, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Main Branch, 1740 Central Ave., is sponsored by the Teen Library Council and is part of the monthly Teen Tuesday s programming. All ages are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.

The first 20 people to attend the program will receive a copy of the “Forest of Hands and Teeth,” the first book in Ryan’s trilogy of critically acclaimed novels set decades after the zombie apocalypse. The second is “The Dead-Tossed Waves,” and the third, “The Dark and Hallow Places,” comes out this spring.

Ryan will speak with the audience and answer questions via Skype. Anyone who would like to submit a question can send it to agilmore@thebookplace.org or via the Library’s page on Facebook.

Premier reports lower 4th-quarter profit

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Premier Financial Bancorp says its profit fell nearly 55 percent in the fourth quarter.

Premier said Tuesday it earned $2.23 million, or 28 cents per share, in the final three months of 2010. Premier earned $4.9 million, or 61 cents per share, in the same period of 2009.

Premier says the decrease is largely due to a one-time $3.6 million gain related to the acquisition of Abigail Adams National Bancorp in 2009.

Huntington-based Premier has $1.2 billion in assets and operates banks in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.