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Print | E-mail to a friend SCHOOLS

School board visits sites, MU property appears favorite

August 23, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

The Herald-Dispatch

By BILL ROSENBERGER

HUNTINGTON -- Cabell County school board members on Friday visited the site that was rated highest among possible locations for a new middle school, and agreed that it seemed the best.

Only problem is it that the location, Marshall University's University Heights Apartments, may not be available -- something that school officials said they learned only this week.

Prestera Center, a local mental health facility, already has made a $1.7 million bid for the 12.8 acres of land behind the State Police barracks and the Prestera Center on U.S. 60. Marshall has scheduled a public hearing on Friday, Aug. 29, to discuss the possible deal.

School board president Ted Barr said he's upset that he and the rest of the board only found out about those discussions this week.

"We got snookered," Barr said. "We had been in communication with Marshall as late as a month ago."

Barr said he asked ZMM architect Dave Ferguson, Assistant Superintendent Mike O'Dell and board members Suzanne Oxley and Bennie Thomas -- all members of the site selection committee -- if they knew of Prestera's interest, and they all said, 'no.'

"I think it should have been handled a different way," Barr added.

The seriousness of Prestera's negotiations only became known by Cabell County Schools on Thursday after seeing a legal notice in The Herald-Dispatch about the public hearing.

"This just kind of came up recently," Oxley said. "There was never any indication that there was someone else pursuing the property."

The board members also visited two other sites, one beside the Cabell County Career Technology Center and the Veterans Memorial Field House in Huntington. Those locations remain on the board's radar, but it appeared that they all prefer the Marshall property.

"I like this site," Oxley said. "It's flat and requires relatively little excavation."

She also said it is central to both schools and has direct access to U.S. 60 from the front and to Norway Avenue in the back.

With time against it, the board has called a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the sites and rank them. It's unknown if any further action might be taken if the board decides it wants the Marshall property.

"We'll just have to see how discussions go with relevant parties," Oxley said. "This does expedite our time frame, but we still have two of our three top choices to consider."

Tim Morris, Prestera Center's director of corporate development and marketing, said a deal with Marshall for the property is all but done. The mental health provider plans to move its addiction recovery center from 1420 Washington Ave., in the West End of Huntington to the Marshall property.

Morris said next week's public hearing will let the community know of Prestera's intentions, which likely includes utilizing and keeping the buildings.

The addiction recovery center that Prestera wants to move to the Marshall property is now in a building that Prestera is leasing. He said the purchase would benefit everyone involved, and it would allow Prestera to have more of its services in one area.

Events

1940s Radio Hour
Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 4-6, and 11-13; matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. A "live" radio show with seven performances. Complimentary tickets offered to...

J. Chris Newberg
7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4-7. A refreshing smart and edgy humor, delivered with a streetwise sense of philosophical...

First Friday and Second Look Saturday
5-9 p.m. every first Friday, 2-6 p.m. every first Saturday. Visit with Pendleton artists in their studios. Questions, call 606-920-9863.

Lions Arts and Crafts Show
4-9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5-7. Hosted by the Lesage and Southeast Huntington Lions Clubs. The juried show is filled with...

"The Nutcracker"
school matinee begins at 9:30 a.m. and regular show at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Ashland Youth Ballet presents their annual presentation of The Nutcracker. Questions...

Christmas Tour of Homes
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6-7. Tour six outstanding homes in the Bellefonte area dressed for the holidays. Questions, call 606-329-8888 or visit...

2nd annual Holiday Candlelight Tour
2-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. A tour (inside and out) of eight prominent Huntington homes beautifully decorated for the holidays. Questions, call 304-733-ARTS.

Marshall Artists Series: "Wizard of Oz"
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, "The Wizard of Oz." Tickets, call 304-696-3326 or visit www.marshallartistsseries.org.

16th annual Joy to the World Holiday Concert
8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11; doors open at 7:30 p.m. Featuring Bob Thompson with guest vocalist Dwight Lenox. Tickets, visit www.mountainstage.musictoday.com or call...

"Cowboy" Bill Martin
7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11-14. The Texas native, who has toured with some of the biggest names in country music,...

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Dining

GOOD EATS: Rocco's Ristorante serves up Italian faves

November 27, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

CEREDO -- Rocco's Ristorante has been a favorite of the Tri-State since 1977. The restaurant continues to serve delicious Italian meals, which have attracted people from miles around.

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Education

Chris Harris/The Herald-Dispatch

Cabell County School officials, Superintendent William Smith, board members Suzanne Oxley, Greg Borowski, Bessie Holley check out University Heights Apartments, owned by Marshall University, houses non-traditional students. Prestera Center has made an offer on the property, which also has generated interests from Cabell County Schools for a new middle school.

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