County approves $25,000 CVB funding request | News, Sports, Jobs

ELKINS — The Randolph County Commission has voted unanimously to approve a $25,000 funding request from the Beverly Heritage Center CVB.

The center was seeking funding to help with its operations for the second half of the fiscal year 2021-2022. In a letter to the commission, the CVB said that any support from the commission would help sustain growth and success at the facility.

Commissioner David Kesling, who was present at the meeting alongside Commission President Chris See and Commissioner Cris Siler, said any county money that goes to the Beverly Heritage Center is a good investment.

“By approving this funding request, we are investing money into the county,” Kesling said. “According to the National Park Service, visitors’ presence at the center in the year 2021 led to $272,000 being put back into the county.”

The $25,000 will be taken from the county’s hotel-motel tax revenue, half of which goes to the county’s CVBs.

“If we invest this $25,000, we are going to get a good return for our money,” Kesling said. “And that’s what I believe we try to do, is not spend money frivolously but to make sure it goes to a good cause or we’re getting our money back.”

The Beverly Heritage Center is made up of four adjoining buildings in the heart of downtown Beverly, including the Beverly Bank (built in 1900), the original Randolph County Courthouse (1808), the Hill Building (1912), and the Bushrod Crawford/McClellan’s Headquarters building.

The center has museum exhibits, visitor information, public restrooms, a gift shop and research archives. For more information call the center at 304-637-7424 or go to beverlyheritagecenter.org.

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Also at the meeting, the commission unanimously approved the hiring of Kim Collins to a new position at North Central Community Corrections.

Collins, who is already employed with NCCC as an assistant, will be promoted to the role of DRC officer. She will replace an employee who departed for a job with the FBI. Collins will receive $25,000 with full county benefits.

Pending a completed background check, the commission also approved the hiring of Lauren Whittier, a student at Davis & Elkins College, as an intern. •••

Also at the meeting, the commission unanimously approved the hiring of three new dispatchers for the Randolph County 911 Center.

Sheila Cross, Rachel Shanholtz and MiKayla Blosser will fill those positions. Each will be on a six-month probationary period. The jobs are full time with full county benefits.

Officials with the 911 Center said there are still openings for operators at the center. For more information call 304-636-0483.