Photo | Michael Browning

Sara Payne Scarbro, deputy director for U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, greets Hot Cup coffee shop owner Michael Cline and waitress Sabrina Damron on Thursday morning. Scarbro held a “Commonsense Connections” tour stop at the coffee shop in downtown Logan to hear West Virginians’ concerns and ideas and to take back information to Senator Manchin. Scarbro then traveled to Kermit in Mingo County for another stop on the tour. The senator’s staff will visit all 55 counties this week on the “Commonsense Connections” tour.

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U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s “Commonsense Connections” tour made a stop Thursday in Logan to talk with and collect feedback from Logan County residents.

Sara Payne Scarbro, the senator’s deputy state director, said Manchin’s staff will make stops in all 55 counties as part of the fourth “Commonsense Connections” tour.

“We are here to listen to West Virginians’ concerns and ideas and to take information back to Senator Manchin,” Scarbro said.

Michael Cline, co-owner of the Hot Cup Coffee Shop, said he was pleased to host the event.

“I’m honored that Senator Manchin’s office chose us as the hub to hear the concerns of Logan County citizens,” Cline said.

Senator Manchin’s staff will make 75 stops in 55 counties this week as they to meet with constituents, hear their commonsense priorities and concerns and to collect their feedback.

“There is absolutely nothing more important to me than the feedback, thoughts and ideas of West Virginians,” Senator Manchin said. “That’s what makes these ‘Commonsense Connections’ so important. Members of my staff will be in every single corner of the state to hear from you and assist you with whatever you may need, and I hope West Virginians will use this opportunity to share what’s on your minds.”

Senator Manchin launched his first-ever “Commonsense Connections” Week in February 2011, when representatives from his office traveled to all 55 counties in the state. This is the fourth time the Senator’s staff has criss-crossed the state for “Commonsense Connections.”

Scarbro set up in the Hot Cup Coffee Shop on the corner of Water Street and Dingess Street in downtown Logan and talked with people visiting the restaurant. She then traveled to Kermit for a stop in Mingo County.

Members of Manchin’s staff will be at McDowell County’s Northfork Public Library on Route 52 in Northfork today from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Prior to the stop in Logan, the staff made stops in Lincoln and Boone counties earlier this week.

The Hot Cup opened in October 2011 and has hosted comedians, musical acts and artists. The coffee shop features local artists’ work, such as photography and paintings and is very popular with local residents.

Hot Cup co-owner Christopher Smoot said he’s glad the coffee shop is a part of the revitalization of the city of Logan.

“It’s great to see Logan making an economic comeback,” Smoot said. “We’re so glad to be a part of it.”