The manufacturer hopes to hire a first shift of 50 workers in July and a second shift of 50 more employees shortly thereafter.

The county maintains the right to terminate the contract if Northern Contours should default on the payments for any reason. The county has also agreed to have the septic tank inspected.

The entire load was transferred to dump trucks with a backhoe and taken to the Mason County Landfill.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald

Troy Emmons with Bradford Towing holds a six-pack of imported beer pulled from the charred remains of a refrigerated trailer.

In 1999 county residents in the area asked Rattlesnake Ridge about running water to the area.

Either water provider could appeal the matter to circuit court if they disagree with the county judge's decision after the public meeting.

Cordle explained that the CRSD program provides financial incentives for school improvement. The programs must be based on reliable research and effective practices, and must include an emphasis on basic academics and parent involvement.

The program also focuses on extensive professional development for staff members.

MMGM staff members will provide follow-up coaching to teachers and will work over a three-year period to ensure success.

The Vanceburg Depot Restoration Project has been rejuvenated by the help of Mayor Cooper and City Council for the funding of certain equipment and furniture for the restored building.

Several months ago Paula Franke (of the Herald staff) developed a very attractive web page for the project and it can be accessed on the internet by opening www.vanceburgdepot.com Through Dennis Brown's efforts we were able to secure the web site with an address that is easy to remember and it is illustrated with a photograph of the restored depot, taken by Dennis Brown. The picture of the depot gives a delightful introduction to the opening page of the site.

At present the web site carries two full-length articles on the history of the building of the Maysville and Big Sandy Railroad (Chesapeake and Ohio), both written by William M. Talley. The first article gives a detailed account of the problems involved in completing the railroad from Ashland to Maysville between 1850 and 1888. The other article gives detailed information on the early operations of the railroad, how it changed the lifestyle of Vanceburg and Lewis County's citizens, and how it connected Vanceburg with distant cities and trade centers.

During the last two weeks several important facets of the project have been completed. Through the efforts of Dennis Brown and Joni Pugh, various technological equipment (including telephones and computers) have been installed. Both new and period furniture have been moved into the east room.

With so many valuable acquisitions and equipment, it was necessary to install a state of the art security system, which was completed last week under the direction of Dennis Brown.

Purely by chance and good luck, we have made the acquaintance of George Gilkison, of Alexandria,, and his cousin, Robert "Bob" Gilkison, of Maysville, who have offered to place on loan their vast collections of railroad memorabilia. The Gilkisons are natives of Trinity, in this county, and have been employed for many years by the C&O (now CSX) in the positions of conductor and investigator. Their collection of old railroad memorabilia is remarkable and in the near future, we hope, we shall begin setting up a display of their collections. This is truly a fortuitous situation for this historical project.

The Depot Committee is soliciting other artifacts and historical materials, such as old pictures, stationary, Chessie calendars, railroad schedules, old ticket stubs, or any other items related to the days of railroad travel through Vanceburg. The Depot Committee met with the Gilkisons at city hall on Tuesday, March 13, and discussed various arrangements for bringing about the historical display. Since we hope to rotate the displays to develop more interest, we are hoping that various citizens will find items to place on loan at this little museum. All items will be appraised and safely kept locked in their display cases.

Helen Smith and Dorcas Gilbert have made efforts to locate a mannequin to place in the telegrapher's window, dressed in the attire that was traditional. Lois Taylor has volunteered to help with the framing of prints and photographs we wish to display.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald

George Gilkison of Alexandria shows Dr. William Talley and members of the Vanceburg Depot Committee some antique railroad locks which will be part of a display at the depot building. That display will be the first of a series planned for the depot building.

Plans are being made to develop a short historical video that can be played for visitors to the center. The committee would like to hear from persons who are interested in this project and would like to assist in making such a film.

In the near future, the committee hopes to acquire microfilm readers and film of the early census records and the old Lewis County newspapers for persons looking for information on their Lewis County ancestors.

In addition to these research instruments, Dr. Talley's database of Lewis County genealogy and history will be made available to the public. During the past two or three years there has been an increase in the number of persons who come into town seeking information on historical landmarks and looking for sources of information on their family history. We are optimistic about setting up the Vanceburg Depot as a site which people can use as a resource center, complete with county maps, brochures, and other sources of information.

We are sure that many people have stories handed down from family members of their experiences in traveling the trains of the old days, and stories relative to shipping geese, chickens, butter, cream, milk, etc., to Cincinnati. And, no doubt, there are many stories of people's travels on this rail line between Vanceburg and Cincinnati and other points. We would like for people to send us their stories and their memories to be placed on file at the Museum.

We also will need some stories and photos of the Kinniconick and Freestone Railway, which ran from Garrison to Carter City-Gesling. It was a spur of the C&O.

Mayor Cooper pointed out that many recruits in WWII left for the war from this little depot; families waved their goodbyes from the platform. It is the intention of the Depot Committee to have a special program honoring these men who left for the war on July 4, 2001. This is still within the planning stage.