Published: October 10, 2008 09:03 pm         

Thumbs, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008

Thumbs up ... to Robert C. Byrd, the Senate’s longest-serving member, for being honored on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry with the Dr. Perry F. Harris Distinguished Fiddler Award.



Thumbs up ... to the Beckley Civil Air Patrol for raising funds to work with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that honors fallen veterans at cemeteries across the country, including Arlington National Cemetery. The Beckley group will gather at noon Dec. 13 at the American Legion Cemetery in Beckley to perform a wreath-laying ceremony on the graves of fallen veterans.



Thumbs up ... to the combined teams of the U.S. Navy Dominators from Virginia Beach, Va., and U.S. Coast Guard from Homestead, Fla., which rafted to victory with guide Linc Stalling on the first day of last weekend’s all-military challenge in the New River Gorge. Sixty teams from every branch of the United States military competed in the annual 54-mile competition.



Thumbs up ... to The Greenbrier for adding to the hotel’s already impressive list of awards and accolades. The resort was recently named by readers of Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report as the No. 7 U.S. resort in its 27th annual survey, published in the September issue.



Thumbs up ... to 23 Concord University volunteers and three Summers County high school students who spent a recent Saturday morning helping the National Park Service clear trash from the banks of Bluestone National Scenic River.



Thumbs up ... to the Adult Education Center of Raleigh County for plans to open a GED preparation and testing center at the Cornerstone Educational and Recreational complex in Sophia on Oct. 16.



Thumbs up ... to Food Lion on Eisenhower Drive in Beckley for presenting Carpenter’s Corner with a check for $1,500. Carpenter’s Corner will use the money to feed those in need.



Thumbs up ... to a report issued by the Rockefeller Institute of Government that says West Virginia was one of 12 states to experience an increase in economic activity between May and August. The state’s economy grew by 2.2 percent during that period.



Thumbs up ... to Sen. Don Caruth, R-Mercer, selected as Legislator of the Year by the West Virginia Business and Industry Council.