IS EVERYONE ELSE WRONG - OR AM I RIGHT?

April 26, 2000 - "Is everyone else wrong, or am I right?" That has to be the question the Yeager Airport supporters is asking themselves. If the Air Traffic Controllers, Chambers of Commerce, members of the Congressional Delegations, Economic Development groups, County Commissions and others support the new regional airport, why is the Kanawha County Commission and Yeager Airport against a new regional airport for western West Virgina? The photo (right) shows Putnam County Commission President, Jim Caruthers, talking with Boyd County, Kentucky Judge Executive Bill Scott and Ashland Alliance Executive Director Jim Purgeson about the proposed new regional airport.

Support continues to grow for the new regional airport. At this evening's meeting of the Just In Time Regional Transportation Committee, Leff Moore, member of the Corporation's board suggested that "this airport is a poster child for a regional approach. It'll be a 'disadvantage valley' if Charleston leaders don't sign on" for the development of the new regional airport.

Evelyn Richards, Cabell County Commissioner, suggested that "they (Kanawha County) can't advance unless they have what we have to offer." Roger Crawford, former Mayor of Winfield, said "egos in Charleston are going to have to slow down...in order to do what's right for western West Virgina."

Jim Purgerson, Executive Director of the Ashland Alliance, reported to the members that five (5) counties in Eastern Kentucky have endorsed the new regional airport. Elliott, Boyd, Greenup, Carter and Lawrence Counties have endorsed the construction of a new regional airport that can spell new economic development oppportunities. All of the talk about regional approaches to solving economic development woes of the area appear to rest on the construction of the new airport with new opportunities for eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio and western West Virginia.

It was also reported that Lawrence County, Ohio had passed a resolution in support of the airport. Representatives of West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio are gathering steam to support the construction of the new regional airport.

At the Board meeting held at 6:00pm this evening, members voted to employ Stephen Haid and Associates to handle the media campaign, conduct legislative briefings and to handle the public relations aspect of the board's approach. The board also voted to organize as a 501(c)(4) corporation that allows the lobbying activities necessary to influence the state's legislature as well as federal legislators. The board had originally discussed organizing as a 501(c)(3) but due to time constraints, the "(c)(4)" organization was selected to enable the organization of a corporation by as early as this Friday.

The group selected a May 15th date as an official "kick-off" date for the public information campaign. Media will be invited to a proposed May 12th Media Information meeting where facts about the proposed development will be provided and a public kick-off will be held on May 15th at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club if the facilities are available.

Stephen Haid, of Stephen Haid and Assoc., was on hand to explain that the regional approach will include the "future for Yeager Airport as well as Tri-State Airport" in the regional approach. Anticipation of new industry - possibly telecommunications ant others and the integration of a new regional transportation strategy" that will provide for the future of existing airports as well as the new regional airport to survive and prosper in the coming years as an integral part of the new transportation strategy. The regional nature of the approach as well as the grassroots support will be emphasized in the public relations campaign. The momentum as just begun.