Byrd Drums Up $200K For Capitol
By CASEY JUNKINSArticle Photos
WHEELING - Efforts to fully restore the Capitol Theatre got a $200,000 boost Monday, thanks to U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd and the federal "Save America's Treasures" program.
"We have been working on this for more than a year. ... We are very excited to receive this," said Hydie Friend, executive director of the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corp.
Friend and others have said they need roughly $3.3 million over a number of years to complete the Capitol project.
Byrd - the senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee - included the funding in the Fiscal 2010 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. President Obama signed the bill into law Friday.
"Anyone who has ever been to the Capitol Theatre knows what a gem it is, as well as its role as an anchor for a revitalized downtown Wheeling," the senator states in a news release. "I was pleased to be able to secure funding to help in this significant restoration effort."
Currently, the Wheeling-Ohio County Convention and Visitors Bureau owns the Capitol, with the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority tasked with operating the facility. Including the $615,000 purchase price, about $1.75 million has been spent to re-open and operate the historic 1928 theatre since the CVB acquired it from LiveNation earlier this year.
This $200,000, combined with the $396,000 in Community Development Block Grant Money that members of Wheeling City Council directed to the Capitol earlier this year, means $596,000 worth of federal money has been used at the theater so far. With the $396,000 going toward handicap-accessible restrooms, Friend said the $200,000 will be used to "ensure the envelope of the building is weatherproof."
"It will be used to secure the building from weather," she said, noting the money will go toward repairing the terra cotta facade and roof. She said work should begin in spring or summer.
"That is exciting," Entertainment authority Executive Director Dennis Magruder said upon learning of the $200,000 grant. "We will be able to do some great things with this."
One project on the immediate to-do list calls for spending $450,000 to construct a new fire escape in the southwest corner of the building, just off the stage.
Other future plans include spending $270,000 for electrical, plumbing and HVAC upgrades; $366,000 for digital sound, video and lighting upgrades; $92,000 for a cinema screen projector with Dolby sound; $400,000 for ballroom upgrades; $400,000 for roof and facade repairs; $300,000 for historic paintings and finishes; $350,000 for a new roof; $222,000 for exterior masonry wall corrections; $786,000 to re-upholster or replace seats; and $150,000 to install an elevator connecting the main floor to the ballroom.
But Friend stressed these plans are part of a "long-term project."
"We are going to continue applying for grants and seek additional sources of funding," she said.
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bassman
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11-04-09 1:07 PM
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wrong again, akkkousticportal. He's one of you and he has never denounced them that I ever heard.
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acousticportal
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11-04-09 12:21 PM
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Oh come on...you repubs are just put-off because Senator Byrd saw the light and denounced the KKK instead of embracing it like you do.
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bassman
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11-03-09 10:50 PM
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Sorry, "Robert KKK Byrd!" D*** BUSH!
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bassman
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11-03-09 10:49 PM
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It's not called the Capitol anymore! It's the Robert C. Byrd Big Daddy Hall.
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WVEXPAT
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11-03-09 10:31 PM
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Let the spin begin!!
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Shark88
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11-03-09 10:29 PM
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Democrats going down in New Jersey & Virginia tonight!
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EllisWyatt
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11-03-09 10:21 PM
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GymJones, the Kool-Aid drinker, never fails to disappoint. If your goal is to impress upon readers your lack of intelligence, you have succeeded. When will you add ONE fact or ONE semi-intellectual thought? At least take a page from Nancy or Wonder and copy and paste from Huffington or some other liberal rag! You say that I "hide" behind a screen name. Well, what is GymJones? If you were the REAL Jim Jones, you would do us all a favor and drink the special Kool-Aid, instead of the man juice you swallow on a daily basis.
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JamesT
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11-03-09 9:34 PM
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"ACORN is working the hospitals in Orange in Newark. Registering up to 10 people for absentee ballots and submitting it for them on their behalf," the e-mail said. If true, the official said, this would be a clear "oversight" on the part of the hospital. New Jersey law allows third parties to collect a limited amount of absentee ballots, but the official said it would be troubling if activists were involved. Congress also decided to refund ACORN financial losses yesterday during a late night special vote.
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JamesT
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11-03-09 9:25 PM
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Looks like The Democratic Machine in New Jersey is alive and well. Massive voter fraud in the heavy Dem district precincts. We will see Democratic Party lawyers defending dead voters and ACORNS multiple voters like Mickey Mouse and James Tiberius Kirk voting among others. Don't forget the black Panthers intimidating white voters. Gotta love liberal politic tactics!!
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GymJones
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11-03-09 8:59 PM
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WAHH!!! WAHH!! WAHH!!! WAHH!!! Man up puzzies, get on the plane and move the fark out. I guarantee we will not miss you losers.
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1whoworks
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11-03-09 8:47 PM
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That's our Bobby! Bringing home the bacon again. More bills for our grand children.
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JamesT
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11-03-09 8:46 PM
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wv26003 Perhaps you should look into Nancy Pelosi and Diane Fiestiens profiting in Iraq & Afghanistan. From thier non bid governmental contracts to thier sleazy connections with defense contractors making them millions. There are only TWO companies in the world who specializes in what Halliburton does. Jay Rockefeller is a limosine liberal carpetbagger making millions from oil prices skyrocketing along with Weird Al Gore's ownership in Occidental Oil. Ther's plenty of blame and special interest on all sides.
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GymJones
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11-03-09 8:43 PM
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Cry us a river, DUMBDICKS!!!!! Your impotent rage does nothing behind a computer screen Ellis. Maybe you should get on the TEABAG BANDWAGON and head out to the next BECK-A-THON. Did I mention you're a DUMBDICK?
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atoddh
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11-03-09 8:38 PM
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Spending public money to lose public money???
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atoddh
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11-03-09 8:30 PM
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While other areas of the State ask for and receive Federal money for meaningful job creating endevors,Wheeling does not.Will the Capital investment result in significant job growth.Or will it create an additional burden for the tax payers? Senator Byrd is doing what the local economic development agents ask of him. It would be foolish to buy an expense(for the locals) with tax dollars vs funding industrial or high tech job creating projects as is occuring elsewhere in WV. Note the Capital purchase did not include the Jamboree USA Show which was the prior main tourist attraction and income source for the building.
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wv26003
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11-03-09 7:31 PM
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EllisWyatt didn't object to no-bid contracts for Halliburton. Why the sudden outrage? Oh, I forgot --- hypocrisy, greed, and selfishness is all the Republican knows these days.
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EllisWyatt
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11-03-09 6:51 PM
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"The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our money for unexplained projects forbids it in the disposition of the public moneys." "I do not know on what principles of reasoning it is that good men think the public ought to pay more for a thing than they would themselves if they wanted it." Do you understand this, liberals? What President Jefferson was saying is, why should taxpayers pay for a project or expenditure that YOU, YOURSELF, would not pay out of your own pocket? I hope the Capitol does well. I do not think tax dollars should go to pay for something that could not attract private investment.
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EllisWyatt
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11-03-09 6:47 PM
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To supporters of wasteful spending, ala Sheets Byrd, let me give you some quotes from a REAL American, President Thomas Jefferson: "The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale." “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” "Economy in the public expense, that labor may be lightly burdened, I deem [one of] the essential principles of our government, and consequently [one of] those which ought to shape its administration."
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EllisWyatt
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11-03-09 6:40 PM
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I don't think anyone is opposed to the Capitol's re-opening. I cannot think that anyone would not want to see the Capitol succeed. What you lib labs need to do is seperate two very distinct issues. 1) The Capitol re-opens. 2) Taxpayers are on the hook for $10 million or more in secretive, no-bid union contracts that benefit politically connected hacks. Noone will oppose Item 1. Those of us who take issue with the Capitol situation oppose it because of Item 2. Why should taxpayers pay for this? If people really believe in it, why don't they put their money where their mouth is? Because they know that the Capitol is not a viable venue and because they live to line their pockets with taxpayer dollars. "We must have a strong policy. The debt must be paid. If we do not do this, our children, our grandchildren, and many generations to come will have to pay for our mistakes." - Albert Gallatin
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boxerboy
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11-03-09 5:33 PM
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"350,000 for a new roof." Wow.
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laangelrubia
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11-03-09 4:48 PM
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While this thread is amusing and made me laugh... let's be serious for a moment, and be thrilled we're seeing even the minutest smigeon of progress in our hometown, instead of knocking each and every little thing.
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Highland
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11-03-09 3:05 PM
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Since we taxpayers are forking over the money for this project, does that mean we get free admission to events at the Capitol? I didn't think so.
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richardwhee
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11-03-09 2:11 PM
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Here we go again- more tax money goes down the dark hole, never to be seen again.
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RudyKing
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11-03-09 11:37 AM
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West Virginia's life expectancy rates would be even lower but Byrd has lived so long he skews the results! That's one thing he has done for us.
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acousticportal
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11-03-09 11:17 AM
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The good thing about you negative people not liking Wheeling, the OV, or anything to do with WV......you are not here. It's beautiful, life is good, progress is happening...without you fools. Mu ha ha ha!
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