Hi All--

It's been a quiet winter on the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike but I
wanted to keep all of you abreast about what's going on with various
projects and news.

First of all, our own SPTA President Duke Talbott is running for
Mayor of Elkins! After serving for several years on Elkins City
Council, Duke has worked tirelessly to help build a skate park in
Elkins for our kids, he has also spearheaded the new water processing
plant project, the largest in Elkins history. Duke is a great leader
and a big supporter of historic preservation as well. If you live in
Elkins, don't forget to vote for Duke, election day is March 3 and
early voting is already underway.

Most of you know we have been working for a couple of years with
Michael & Carrie Kline of Talking Across the Lines. TATL created 4
CDs in 2001 and to follow up on the success of those CDs we have 3
more CDs that will be released as soon as we can produce the final CD
cover. The Old Stagecoach, Took Off Running and Old Virginians &
Wildcatters will cover such topics as the Underground Railroad, Early
Turnpike Life, the creation of the state of West Virginia and the
rise of the oil and gas industry in the western part of the Turnpike.
These 3 CDs are edited interviews with residents and old-timers who
have amazing stories to tell of Turnpike life. Interspersed with
ambient sounds of waterfalls, bird calls and wonderful music from
local musicians, these CDs are perfect to listen to on a long
Turnpike drive! Look for a release party coming sometime in the spring.

We were pleased as punch to find that the Department of Highways has
approved our Second Seed Grant entitled Driving Toward Excellence.
This grant will assist in helping to distribute brochures, with
keeping up on Turnpike correspondence and helping to network with
other historically-minded folk along the Turnpike.

On a tip from Chelley Depp of Rich Mountain Battlefield, I have put a
listing for SPTA on WeGoPlaces.com. It's free and we can track the
number of brochure requests and page hits we receive each month.
Also, an article about the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and the
Civil War is on the national byways.org site, as a place for a Civil
War vacation and road trip. Link: www.byways.org/explore/byways/10351/
stories/76127

I am busy putting final touches on three new grant applications that
will go into the Department of Highways by Feb. 25. The three grants
are for Marketing, Improved Wayfinding and Interpretation in Randolph
& Pocahontas Counties and our third Seed Grant.

Do you need more Turnpike brochures? Email me and I will make sure
you receive them.

Cheers to you from,

Mary Rayme
Coordinator, Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike Alliance