Thumbs up ... to volunteers who serve with the Beckley-ARH Auxiliary. For their latest project, the group raised funds and enlisted the help of Beckley decorator Fran Klaus to transform a small room into an attractive, warm area where patients and their families can talk with their physicians.



Thumbs up ... to a story titled “Roses in Wintertime” written by Stephanie Todd of Stanaford and “Mountain Music,” a lively photo of a local band submitted by Patty Jo Morum of Ghent, winners of the West Virginia South contest for fiction and photography, sponsored by Concord University.



Thumbs up ... to Mike Darby, selected as the 2008 recipient of the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA’s Spirit of Beckley award. For more than 30 years, Darby has worked from behind the scenes for the benefit of Beckley and southern West Virginia. Darby is president and CEO of Laurel-Lodge Enterprises Inc., a hotel management company which includes five hotels in Beckley, Princeton and Clarksburg.



Thumbs up ... to Charlie Cole of Cole Harley Davidson in Bluefield, who recently donated a 1998 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Springer for the fourth annual Bids for Kids Charity Auction by Burlington United Methodist Family Services. The charity auction is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at the Burlington Children’s Home.



Thumbs up ... to Dr. Hassan Amjad, an author who has researched fossils found in West Virginia. Thanks to his efforts, Megalonyx jeffersonii became the official state fossil March 8. Remains of this long-extinct ground sloth/bear-like creature were discovered in Monroe County in the 18th century, but the animal is believed to have been around during the North American Ice Age thousands of years ago.



Thumbs up ... to Southern West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau, honored recently at the “Stars of the Industry” award luncheon at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Chester. The SWVCVB was presented with The Best Overall Advertising Campaign 2008 award. This award was based upon the complete marketing campaign which included print advertising in magazines and newspapers, radio spots, television promotions, and Web site marketing.



Thumbs up ... to Mountain State University for honoring local leaders who embody leadership characteristics such as modeling, inspiring, challenging, enabling and encouraging. Recognized at a reception held at the John W. Eye Center were Beckley businessman Roy Shrewsbury, Bishop Fred Simms of Heart of God Ministries, Beckley Newspapers Executive Editor Carl “Butch” Antolini, Delegate Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh, and Raleigh General Hospital CEO Karen Bowling.



Thumbs up ... to a small group of Beckley residents that decided to organize and take action regarding the wretched conditions that plague 80-year-old Greenwood Memorial Park cemetery. CARE (Cemetery Awareness and Restoration Edification) is working to restore, beautify and maintain the grounds.