Published: October 30, 2009 09:09 pm      

Thumbs

Thumbs up ... to two Fayette County organizations that will receive state grants. Neighbors Community Center in Harlem Heights was awarded a $10,000 grant for renovations, and Fayette County Starting Points in Falls View was granted $2,000 for supplies for their existing programs.



Thumbs up ... to Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Irene Berger, the state’s first black federal judge. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Berger to a lifetime seat on the U.S. Southern District Court of West Virginia. She had been nominated by President Obama to replace Judge David Faber.



Thumbs up ... to St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church of Beckley and Perry Memorial United Methodist Church of Shady Spring, which teamed up for Make a Difference Day. The churches prepared dinner for and served families, patients, volunteers and employees at Bowers Hospice House.



Thumbs down ... to West Virginia’s again ranking No. 1. This time, the state is about double the national rate in terms of not getting enough sleep, according to a federal health survey. Nearly 1 in 5 residents said they did not get good sleep compared to the national average of 1 in 10.



Thumbs up ... to the cleanup of an old dump site on Herndon Mountain thanks to a cooperative effort by the Wyoming County Commission and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Nearly 500 tons of debris were removed at a cost of $80,000.



Thumbs up ... to Katherine Atwater, 97, named Volunteer of the Year for 2009 for the Southeastern District. Atwater has been dedicating her time at Montgomery General Hospital for the past 38 years.



Thumbs up ... to Morgantown native Helen F. Lodge of Charleston. Lodge is one of eight registered dietitians honored with the 2009 Medallion Award from the American Dietetic Association.



Thumbs up ... to everyone involved in educating students about careers available in our communities during Career Day 2009. Students were given information on a range of options from police and fire departments, banking, health care, and more, as well as the many higher educational outlets in this area.