SARAH ANN — A local man won the title "Mountain State's Funniest Person" on May 20 at a comedy competition in Charleston.

Aaron Stone of Sarah Ann is no stranger to comedy clubs and such contests having come in among the top contenders for the title last year.

Stone, whose style of comedy looks for the ironies in life and human foibles, won out this year at the Comedy Zone in Charleston where he was up against eight other contestants from all over West Virginia and Kentucky.

As the winner, Stone not only received the prestigious title and trophy, but also the opportunity to perform at another Comedy Zone on the East Coast as a hired entertainer.

"It was a pretty nice trophy, Stone said. “It's not even plastic. And I get a paid gig out of it."

In addition to performing at the Comedy Zone in Huntington, Stone also performs his stand up routines at the Funny Bone in Huntington. Last year Stone tied for second place with another comedian at a competition at the Funny Bone splitting the $100 jackpot with another comedian, Jeremy Moore.

Stone has been studying comedy for years as well as performing at comedy clubs whenever and wherever the opportunity comes up. No stranger to the public, Stone was the director and creator of last fall's very successful "Trail of the Dead" event for The Aracoma Story Inc. at Chief Logan State Park and has performed in many plays for both The Aracoma Story Inc. and Southern West Virginia Community Technical College.

The versatile entertainer, who finds inspiration in the work of George Carlin and Rodney Dangerfield, is also a writer. Currently Stone is working on three new plays, "Long Cool Woman With Red Hair", "Knock" and a play about Mamie Thurman.