The city of Logan made an important announcement this week and honored a longtime employee for five decades of service.

Carol Hale Conley, manager of the City of Logan Water Department, was honored by the city council for her 50 years of service to the citizens of Logan. Many people were amazed that the youthful Conley had worked for the town for so long, but Conley herself confirmed that she was a part of life in Logan from her childhood.

"My father was a police officer in the city and he was a former fire chief," she told The Logan Banner. "So I feel like I have been a part of the city since I was a child. I feel very close to Logan."

Conley, who routinely attends city council meetings to keep the council and public informed about water projects, was surprised at the honors.

"This means a lot to me," a surprised Conley told Jim Guy and the other councilmembers who presented her with a plaque.

"She is so dedicated and she is an excellent representative for the city of Logan," noted Councilman Jim Guy. "Carol is a wonderful employee and we have many, many great and dedicated people working for the city of Logan. We don't pay a lot, but we have great people working for us and she is definitely top notch."

Paving for a long delayed city project should start next week according to Logan's street commissioner.

On Aug. 12 Kevin Marcum told The Logan Banner that the Midelburg paving project should start on Monday, Aug. 17 around 7 a.m.

"We will have people put signs up to notify the public where paving is taking place and we want people to please clear streets for the work to take place," Marcum said. "We apologize for any inconvenience, but the citizens have been waiting a long time for this work to begin and we are glad to see it starting at last."

The paving project has been delayed for years after the initial contracts for the work were revised in the face of $3 and $4 gasoline prices increasing expenses for construction companies.

Mayor Serafino Nolletti briefly addressed the history of the project when the announcement was made Tuesday that a bid would be accepted.

The Mayor noted that two years earlier, the city received a $50,000 grant to pave Midelburg, however as the gasoline prices proceeded to soar so did the estimates for the work, eventually setting in the $87,000 range.

"We came up with a different approach," Mayor Nolletti said, explaining that a paving company had submitted a $50,000 bid to pave several sections of the area and $10,000 for an additional street.

Street Commissioner Kevin Marcum said the area in front of the bridge at Midelburg would not be paved, but noted that it was in good shape.

"But the main areas where people drive will be paved," Marcum noted.

Councilman Greg Glick made a motion to approve the bid.

Marcum told the Logan City Council that if the budget will allow, next year, he would like to purchase a new garbage truck to replace the aging one in the city's fleet.

"We just hope it lasts another year," he said.