The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

January 30, 2013

Planning Commission updated on everything from breakfast to fireworks for scout jamboree

By C.V. Moore Register-Herald Reporter

FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayette Planning Commission heard an update Monday from the Boy Scouts of America on everything from breakfast to fireworks at this summer’s 2013 National Scout Jamboree near Mount Hope.

Gary Hartley, community and government liaison for the Summit Bechtel Reserve, summed it up with one statement.

“It’s a lot of moving pieces,” he told members of the commission.

“For this first Jamboree, there’s a lot of things we’d like to do, and a few things we have to do. One thing we really have to do is not screw it up. We want to get those basics down and make sure we have a good, safe event.”

Construction continues at a breakneck pace at the Summit, where the Scouts can’t afford to miss their July 15 deadline. That’s when 40,000 Scouts show up and the adventure begins.

Visitors will be welcome to explore the Summit Center — 100 acres of displays, exhibits, concerts, and stages — during set hours on seven of the Jamboree days, which have themes like West Virginia and sustainability.

On July 20, the Grammy Award-winning band Train will perform at the Summit’s stadium show, followed by Carly Rae Jepsen and fireworks by the famous Zambelli Family.

Throughout the event, Scouts will fan out into Fayette and other southern West Virginia counties for activities like whitewater rafting and community service.

Hartley showed commissioners a video featuring some of the on-site adventure sports the Scouts will be treated to, courtesy of world-class builders of zip lines, mountain bike trails and skate parks.

“Nowhere do you have all those things brought together in one spot like you have here,” said Hartley.

“It’s amazing how much progress has been made since we’ve been out there,” commented Guy Dooley, commission president, after watching the video.

Commissioners asked Hartley about safety, among other topics. The Department of Defense has a congressional mandate to support the National Jamboree, he said.

This weekend, the military will be doing tabletop exercises at the Glen Jean Armory on fire, evacuations, flooding and other potential disasters.

A joint inter-agency task force formed under executive order by the governor will pull together a number of agencies and begin “ramping up” soon, said Hartley. The West Virginia National Guard has also lent support.

— E-mail: cmoore@register-herald.com

 

Text Only
Local News