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Boy Scouts’ announcement ‘unbelievable partnership’
GLEN JEAN — “We won!”
Don Striker, National Park Service superintendent for the New River Gorge National River, couldn’t wait to get those words out of his mouth Wednesday when it was announced that the Boy Scouts of America would be making Fayette County its permanent home for not only a high adventure base but for its National Scout Jamboree.
Fueled by an incredible $50 million contribution from the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve will be developed over the coming months and years on a 10,000-plus-acre tract situated due east of the Glen Jean-Mount Hope area and bordering more than 70,000 acres of National Park Service property.
Following the Boys Scouts’ centennial celebration in 2010 and its final Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, The Summit will become the host site for the Jamboree, held every four years, beginning in 2013. Approximately 40,000 Boy Scouts attend the Jamboree and tens of thousands of outside visitors also participate.
It was also revealed by Bob Mazucca, BSA chief scout executive, that efforts are now under way to try and bring the World Scout Jamboree to Fayette County a decade from now, in 2019.
“I’m blessed to be able to give back,” Steven Bechtel Jr., who became an Eagle Scout in 1940, told hundreds of people packed into the Glen Jean Armed Forces Reserve Center. Mr. Bechtel emphasized how scouting teaches values, ideals, character-building and knowing what’s right.
“I’m proud to help return the many gifts scouting provided to me.”
Gov. Joe Manchin was among the many to thank Mr. Bechtel for his gift and predicted that “it will keep giving ... for eternity.”
Manchin said when state Commerce Secretary Kelly Goes came to him 18 to 20 months ago to discuss the opportunity to bring the BSA to West Virginia, she pointed out the competition included approximately 32 states and 80 or more sites.
“I told her to assemble the team,” Manchin said. And so Project Arrow was launched.
Acknowledging the efforts of many, Manchin said the BSA project will “transform who we are as a state, who we are as a people” and that “the news that goes forth is that we are a special place.”
“I’ve never been more proud of West Virginia than I am today,” Manchin added.
Fayette County Commission president Matt Wender said the establishment of the National Scouting Reserve in the New River Gorge region is “an unbelievable partnership for us,” and he took time to credit the work done by many from Fayette County in the 1960s and ’70s.
“We must pause to thank a former generation,” Wender stated. “Those who took bold, visionary steps” to make certain that different uses “of our natural resources” were “sustained to give us a competitive advantage.”
“The Boys Scouts are here forever,” remarked Tico Perez, national commissioner for the BSA. “It’s a perfect day. This place is heaven, this place is unbelievable.”
Perez said 3 million kids are currently involved in scouting and that during the next 100 years another “100 million kids will be involved” and will come to West Virginia to experience The Summit.
“I wrote down what Mr. Bechtel said. He talked of inspiration, hope and direction for kids. With this, your mountain, it is done, Mr. Bechtel.”
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Nuttall Mine structures, historic district get funds
The National Park Service has approved $6.88 million in federal funds for the New River Gorge National River to stabilize and preserve the historic Nuttall Mine structures and make the Nuttallburg Mining Complex and Town Historic District in Fayette County ready for visitors, Rep. Nick Rahall announced Friday.
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Fundraiser all about the water
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Good times
The Midland Trail High School players and fans celebrate their section basketball championship over Fayetteville Friday in Fayetteville.
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Former fire president, deputy arrested for pocketing funds
A former Fayette County sheriff’s deputy and former fire department president who State Police say took about $374,000 in fire funds was arrested Monday.
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River recognized by magazine’s readers
The New River gained more kudos recently as it was named the Best Whitewater River by readers of Get Out!, the online magazine of outdoor adventure in the Ohio River region. Snowshoe Mountain also was chosen as Best Ski Resort by the magazine’s readers.
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Fayetteville women ‘Read Across America’
Members of GFWC Fayetteville Junior Woman’s Club and GFWC Fayetteville Woman’s Club visited Fayetteville Elementary School last week during the Read Across America event to remind FES students of the joys of reading.
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‘Way Out West’ to open at HFT
It’s not “Unforgiven,” “Gunsmoke,” nor even “Blazing Saddles,” but “Way Out West In A Dress, Or Life’s A Hurdle When Your Wearin' A Girdle” is, well, let’s just say a different kind of western about a big misunderstanding and a cover-up, but still with plenty of the standard “good triumphing over evil.”
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Management plan available for review; meetings scheduled
Members of the public have the opportunity to study the results of hours of scoping sessions and background work as the National Park Service’s draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP) and draft Foundation Plan for New River Gorge National River have been released for public review and input.
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Digging out
The old saw claims “Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it.”
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Innovative water project awarded stimulus funding
A West Virginia American Water project in Fayette County has been selected by the state Department of Health and Human Resources to receive $3.85 million in federal stimulus money.
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Nuttall Mine structures, historic district get funds
