Published: July 25, 2008 05:48 pm         

Thumbs - Saturday, July 27, 2008

Thumbs up ... to Jan-Care Ambulance, construction company Veteran Enterprises and First Action Bail Bonds for donating $10,000 for Beckley Police Department’s newest K-9 dog, Helo.



Thumbs up ... to Pratt Elementary School, awarded $14,000 from the General Mills’/Hamburger Helper grant program. The money will be used to build a picnic shelter/outdoor classroom complete with tables.



Thumbs up ... to the recent opening of the new Mullens link to the Hatfield-McCoy Recreational trail. This step moves Twin Falls Resort State Park closer to becoming the first state park linked to the 600-mile multi-county trail system.



Thumbs up ... to Virginia Bazzie and Rita Davis, Baileysville Elementary and Middle schools’ Teacher of the Year and School Service Personnel of the Year.



Thumbs up ... to retired WVU professor Dr. James Amrine and former state legislator and local attorney Paul Hutchinson for their idea to use plants along the rails-to-trails that encourage butterflies and beneficial bees.



Thumbs up ... to former West Virginia University pitcher Jeremy Cummings, named to the 2008 United States Olympic Team. Cummings, who played at WVU from 1996-99, makes his debut with the team on Aug. 1 in the first of four exhibition games against Canada. Olympic competition begins in Beijing, China, Aug. 13-23.



Thumbs up ... to Lola Propps Zickafoose Bays who will celebrate her 94th birthday Aug. 1. She taught in the Fayette County school system for 34 years, both at Clifty and Divide Elementary at Lookout.



Thumbs up ... to the Fayetteville Wal-Mart Supercenter, along with a number of individuals, groups and businesses that came together to raise over $7,500 to help the American Cancer Society.



Thumbs up ... to the North-Elk Neighborhood Watch for restoring a sign proclaiming Northfork the “Basketball Capital of the United States.” From 1971 through 1984, the boys basketball team won 10 class AA state championships, including what was then a national record eight consecutive titles from 1974 to 1981.