Banner Staff Report

Congressman Nick Joe Rahall has been meeting with the Logan Rotary Club for years when he makes trips to Logan and for good reason.

"I am a member of the Beckley Rotary Club myself," the congressman noted. In addition to major national news such as the latest on free trade agreements in Washington, concerns about roads and infrastructure and the economy, Rahall took time on his Wednesday visit to Logan to discuss community related activities.

"This is not my first visit to the Logan Rotary and hopefully it won't be the last," Rahall quipped. "So many projects that Rotary is involved with are important to our communities and I am proud to be a Rotarian myself."

Rahall discussed his club's preparations for the upcoming Salvation Army Kettle Bell season, among other Rotary activities.

Rahall said he was proud of his association with Logan County and he praised two newsmaking Logan residents for their recent successes.

"In the last few months we have seen a true son of the southern Coalfields get elected to the position of governor of West Virginia in Earl Ray Tomblin and I know he will do a good job," Rahall said. "I am also proud of Landau Murphy, who is preparing to start performing in Las Vegas. I can honestly say I voted for Landau about 30 times and

not worry about it! Both of these Logan natives will represent us with pride and we are all very happy for Earl Ray and Landau."

Rahall noted that not all of the news out of Washington was negative by nature.

"Our senior citizens are finally going to get a 3.6 percent cost of living increase," Rahall said of social security recipients.

Rahall was joined by several members of the New Route 10 to Man Road committee including community activist Rev. Mike Pollard, Man Mayor Jim Blevins, Mike Robinson, Mason Grimmett and others.

"The Congressman is a long time friend to Logan County, our region and the Rotary," noted Man area resident Ron Lemmon. Rev. Randy Skeens and several others present discussed their gratitude to Congressman Rahall for his assistance in the long term new Route 10 Road Project.

Rahall discussed federal transportation funding noting that he felt that given the need for spending on maintenance and repairs to federal highways and bridges that was one way that the government could both create jobs for people and give the public needed service.

"Our transportation funding is extended to next March," he noted. "That gives us time for working on a six-year bill."

Rahall said many people forget how important such infrastructure maintenance can be.

"But when you remember the Silver Bridge disaster in 1967, you realize, hey, we don't want that to happen again. But many of our roads and bridges are in desperate need of repair. Investing in infrastructure would also create jobs." Rahall said he was proud to have West Virginia natives like Logan County's own Robbie Queen on his staff and working with the public.

Rahall told WVOW's Jay Nunley that he felt there was some light at the end of the tunnel, in regards to current events and problematic issues, even though ratings for Washington were at an all time low.

"It cannot continue the way it is now, with all of us taking the heat of that public anger, not just one party," Rahall said.