‘Wings Over Wheeling’ Event Attracting Financial Support
Trending
WHEELING - Next month's "Wings Over Wheeling" event at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport has exceeded $30,000 in corporate sponsorships, Ohio County commissioners learned Tuesday night.
The event is slated to take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 24 at the airport. Vintage planes, an air show and a classic car "cruise-in" all will be part of the event.
Kevin Price, chief development officer for aviation at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, reported $30,500 had thus far come in for sponsorships, and "more are coming in everyday."
"And we've had some wonderful in-kind sponsorships - one of which I would like to highlight," he said. "Oglebay Resorts and the Wheeling CVB (convention and visitors bureau) have partnered to cover the cost of hotel rooms that are part of performance contracts and military contracts for those who perform at the show. You have to provide them rooms, and these will come at no cost to the county."
Other things also are happening at the airport. Construction of a classroom for aviation instruction there is nearing completion just as West Liberty University prepares for the start of its new aviation program this fall. WLU and Marshall University are partnering to establish a satellite location for Marshall's Bill Noe Flight School at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport.
Price said the facility is fast approaching an Aug. 1 deadline for a regulatory inspection of the classroom by the Federal Aviation Administration, and he expects the classroom to be ready by then.
Melissa Marco, facility director for Ohio County, pointed out to commissioners the south porch of the City-County Building is now draped, and is being prepared for the removal and rehabilitation of its granite slabs. The county has received grant money from the State Court Facilities Fund for the project, Marco noted. Angelina Stone and Marble in Bridgeport is doing the work for $187,000.
The granite on the front of the building is going to be removed, polished, and moved to the back of the building. New slate then will be placed on its porticos that face Chapline and 16th streets.
The project is expected to take four months, according to Marco.
Meanwhile, the county is still awaiting the arrival of a switch central to the installation of a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit in the building. The switch was ordered in December 2022, and its delivery has once again been delayed until October, Marco explained. The temporary relocation of offices to swing spaces within the building also has been set back until then.
The commissioners are next set to meet at 6 p.m. on Aug. 6 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.