DELBARTON — A Lincoln County-based bus service started routes running throughout Mingo County today.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held yesterday at Tri-River Transit’s new office at Helena Manor in downtown Delbarton. The ceremony was attended by several Mingo and Lincoln County officials.

Mingo County Commissioner John Mark Hubbard said the new transit service in Mingo County will be a big help to people feeling the crunch of high gas prices.

“As a little boy, my dad was a coal miner and my mom was a school teacher and dad would always drive to work and when I wanted to come to town, I always had to use the bus line,” Hubbard said. “I think we can all agree that gas is not going to stay at $2 a gallon and we need to provide a way of transportation for all our residents. The service will run throughout the county and will be housed here in Delbarton. Hopefully, by the end of the year we’ll have our second bus up and running.”

Hubbard said the bus service will run throughout Mingo County and will also go into Pike County, Ky.

“It will make a loop and go to the Gilbert area through this area, up Pigeon Creek into Matewan, come back, go to Williamson and cross the river into Pike County to go to Walmart and Food City,” Hubbard said. “It will also run to Appalachian Regional Hospital (in South Williamson, Ky.,) and to Williamson Memorial Hospital. It’s going to be about a 12-hour day driving.

“We’re excited about it. I think this is a pretty historical day for us. This is a service for everyone.”

Hubbard introduced Pike County Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford, who called the bus service “God-sent.”

“We’re all one people,” Rutherford said. “There are no borders to us. The Lord has blessed us.”

Schedules for the bus service’s pickups and dropoffs were available to all those in attendance.

Tom Scarpelini, the director of Tri-River Transit, which is based out of Lincoln County, said the bus service was started there in 2000 and expanded to Logan and Boone counties in 2001.

“This is a wonderful thing,” Scarpelini, who is a former Williamson resident, said. “We hope to expand. I’m excited.”

Also speaking at the event were Mingo County Commissioners David Baisden and Greg Smith.

Also in attendance was Lincoln County Commissioner Charles McCann and a host of Mingo County elected officials.

A luncheon was held after the ribbon cutting at the Delbarton Opry House.

Rev. Mitchell Bias gave the opening prayer and Albert Totten closed the ceremony with prayer.

Sen. H. Truman Chafin was not in attendance, but sent his congratulations via a letter.