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Tri-Staters greet the new year in style
Joe Eddins entertains guests as he sings “Stay With Me” on Monday at New Year’s Eve Casino Night at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.
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HUNTINGTON -- The final day of the Gregorian year has come and gone.
And even though the year 2007 had its ups and downs for some, thousands of visitors and Tri-State residents attended several New Year's Eve parties in Huntington and made sure they finished out the year with a blast.
Resolutions can be personal for those who choose to live their lives in privacy, but plenty of party-goers Monday night shared what they look forward to in 2008 -- everything from the upcoming presidential election, wishes of running a successful business, to a couple hoping to hear wedding bells soon.
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TODAY ON TV Will you be tuned in to TV today, to watch the bowl games, of which there will be plenty? Our how about a parade? Following is a listing of the standard New Year’s Day fare that catches many viewers’ attention: 11 a.m. — The Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., features Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4). It will be on ESPN.\ 11:30 a.m. — The Cotton Bowl in Dallas will put Missouri (11-2) against Arkansas (8-4), on FOX. 1 p.m. — The Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., will have Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida (9-3), on ABC. 1 p.m. — The Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla., pairs up Virginia (9-3) and Texas Tech (8-4), on CBS. Note: Ironton’s Million Dollar Marching Band will participate in the halftime show of this game. 4:30 p.m. — The Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Calif., features Southern California (10-2) vs. Illinois (9-3), on ABC. 8:30 p.m. — The Sugar Bowl at New Orleans will pit Hawaii (12-0) against Georgia (10-2), on FOX. |
Bringing in the new year at the "Magic Party" at the Pullman Plaza Hotel, Lincoln County native Bill Wilson said he looks forward to having a better life and taking one day at a time. But most of all, he wants the Republicans to stay in office.
"I'm a Republican myself and I'm not sure how this election is going to go, but hopefully the Democrats will be willing to share," he said.
Eric Ferguson, of South Point, Ohio, agreed. Ferguson, who was also in attendance at the Magic Party, said he looks forward to a "scary" presidential election.
"Hillary might take office and I'm worried she might pull us out of the war," Ferguson said. "I feel that if we start something, we should finish it."
Ferguson said this was his third year attending a New Year's Eve party at the Pullman Plaza Hotel. Besides the hotel enforcing its "no-smoking" rule in the party room, he said it's a safe place to celebrate and you don't have to worry about driving.
Partying over at the second annual "Casino Night" at Keith-Albee, co-organizer of the event Chris McNeely said he's not a political person, but he will be watching the presidential race closely.
"America needs a change, and to have a minority that can be possibly elected, it's just amazing," he said.
Unlike Wilson, Ferguson and McNeely, Misty Hutchinson said she hopes that all three of her businesses prosper and that she will be able to continue to serve the public.
Hutchinson, the owner of Hutchinson Chiropractic in Barboursville, a pet sitting business and a dog grooming business, had to relocate her businesses from Huntington to Barboursville because of an illness.
"At first I was scared that I might lose all my customers, but they followed me right along to where I'm at now," she said. "I just hope it continues to move as smoothly as the transition was."
Hearing the melodies of an Eric Clapton song playing at a New Year's Eve party at Big Sandy Superstore Arena, both Jessica Rogers and Darin Allen have something in common they look forward to this year-- a wedding.
"I want to get married because I met the love of my life. And I've been trying for a year," Rogers said.
Allen said the couple met two years ago at a car show in Huntington and haven't separated since. He said they chose to come to the arena's party, sponsored by 100KEE FM, because it's calm and not a lot of noise like local bars.
"We both want the same thing for this year and we want it to be affirmative," he said.
