Published: August 31, 2007 09:53 pm         

Thumbs - Saturday, September 1, 2007

Thumbs up ... to the Fayette County assessor’s office for its new Web site which features access to the Geographic Information System. The site (www.fayetteassessor.com) will allow individuals or businesses to perform property searches as well as other things via computer instead of a sometimes-inconvenient visit to the county courthouse.



Thumbs up ... to Lucy Prather, who celebrated her 100th birthday recently at her home with her daughter and caretaker Mary Ann Robertson by her side. Mrs. Prather was born July 28, 1907, at Oak Hill.



Thumbs up ... to Allyson Rae Warner and Christopher Payne, crowned queen and king of the 2007 Beautillion/Cotillion Ball held recently at Mountain State University’s John W. Eye Conference Center.



Thumbs down ... to people feeding bears. DNR officials will try to relocate a bear when situations arise where an animal or animals are being regularly fed by humans, such as has been the case at the intersection of W.Va. 99 and 85 near Kopperston.



Thumbs up ... to recent fundraisers that helped pull in $94,000 for a skatepark targeted for Fayetteville Town Park. The funds bring the skatepark within range of its projected $250,000 cost. The local community has raised about $75,000 during a two-year period, and town officials have pledged $30,000 in services, labor and equipment. The most recent donation brings the total raised to $199,000.



Thumbs up ... to the state for offering an heirloom birth certificate. The stylish document features either a heritage quilt or majestic mountains. Part of the purchase price goes to the West Virginia Children’s Trust Fund.



Thumbs up ... to the History Channel’s series “Lost Worlds,” which recently featured The Greenbrier’s congressional bunker. The episode “Secret U.S. Bunkers” investigated the height of the Cold War and the United States’ plans to protect the country and the president. The show will air again at 3 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15.



Thumbs up ... to the state for finding a record $95 million for road paving. That could translate into about 1,500 miles — or about 400 more miles than last year — of new asphalt all across the state.