Steven's Facility Heralded as ‘Rebirth' During Ceremony

Congressman Nick Rahall joined County Commission President Gordon Lambert, Commissioner Carl Urps, Delegate Richard Browning, Sen. Truman Chafin, Sen. John Fanning, Sen. Walt Helmack, Department of Corrections Director Jim Rubenstein, and EDA Director Rachel Lester in cutting the ribbon for the newly opened Stevens Correctional Facility Friday afternoon.

“This is a rebirth for McDowell County , the beginning of more good things to happen in the next few years,” Delegate Browning (D-Wyoming) said.

The Stevens Facility, Browning said, represents the cooperative effort of all levels of government working together.

In touching on what the Stevens Facility will mean to the local economy, Browning replied, “Four million dollars is in the local economy that wasn't here one year ago.”

When you consider that those dollars turn over several times before leaving the county, Browning said that figure ends up being “$40 million here today (in the economy) that wasn't here a year ago.”

In welcoming the group to the ribbon cutting ceremony, Commissioner Lambert related that the financial outlay to construct the Stevens Facility is about $15 million, on which about 40 percent came from a state grant. Kit Lewis and MCNB Banks played an instrumental role in arranging the financing of the facility. Jim Sizemore and the Pioneer Bank also assisted. West Virginia Homeland Security director Jimmy Joe Ginato read a letter from Gov. Manchin commending the state and local teamwork that produced the facility. In his letter, Manchin also promised “to work with Sen. Byrd to reverse the White House decision to eliminate funds for the federal prison.”

Congressman Rahall heaped the praise on those involved in bringing the Steven's Facility to completion. “I salute you,” he said. “I'm glad to have been able to represent you for the past 30 years.”

Mincing no words, Rahall, like Gov. Manchin, vowed to fight President Bush's plan to ax the $142 million in funding for the federal prison that is to be the cornerstone of the Indian Ride Industrial Park .

Rahall reminded the audience that Sen. Byrd is leading the fight to restore funding. “First and foremost, without hesistation and equivocation, remember that Sen. Robert Byrd is spearheading (the fight)…

“Yes. I and Sen. Rockefeller are also there to stand strong behind you … for all the work you've done.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Commissioners Urps and Lambert dispensed a Team Work Award to those who played an important role in making the Stevens Facility a reality.

Those receiving a Team Work Award included: Don Hendrick, former warden Bill Bowman, MCNB Bank & Kit Lewis, former Regional Jail Director Steve Canterbury, former Region One Director Norm Kirkham, Jim Sizemore & Pioneer Bank, former County Commissioner Burl Laxton, George Mayhew, Welch Businessman Ron Dahon, Silling Associates, Region 1 Planning and Development Council, Swope Construction, and EDA Director Rachel Lester and McDowell County EDA Board.

Following the awards, Stevens Correctional Facility staffer Delmer Winebarger led a tour of the second floor of the facility.

Other notables at the ceremony included Warden Betty Harden, Del. Harry Keith White (D-Mingo), WVU Extension's Shelia Muncy and Tammy Grubb, County Manager Jennifer Wimmer, EDA Board President E. Ray Williams, Del. Clif Moore, King Coal Highway Authority Director Mike Mitchem, McDowell HSTA Director Tony Larkin, former EDA Board Member Harold McBride, Heath Beckner, MCNB's Terri Sly and David Fails, Tona Romeo-Kirkham, County Clerk Don Hicks, Iaeger Mayor Jim Stafford, Commissioner Judy Cortellesi, former commissioner Mike Cortellesi, Commission on Aging Director Emily Yeager, Dottie Winebarger, Tish Chafin, and various other McDowell and Mingo County officials.