Oct. 29, 2005
 
UPLAND ROUNDUP: News from Southwest Virginia, Upland West Virginia
 
Compiled By William Paine
Bluefield News Network Writer
 
Drug Arrests in Wyoming, McDowell Counties Net 56
 
West Virginia (BNN) -- Fifty-six people were arrested this week in Wyoming and McDowell Counties for drug charges. The arrests by the sheriff’s offices of Wyoming and McDowell counties in cooperation with the West Virginia State Police resulted from investigations of several drug dealers. These raids reportedly produced a large quantity of hydrocodone pills and fourteen firearms.
 
Artisan Center Announced for SW Virginia
 
Richmond, VA (BNN) -- Virginia Governor Mark Warner announced the construction of the Southwest Virginia Artisan Center. The center will be located on the campus of Virginia Highlands Community College in Abington and will be easily accessible from Interstate 81. $3.1 millions in funding for the 40,000 square foot facility will come from the Virginia Works program and an additional $1 million in funding will come locally. The center not only will showcase local artisans and craftsmen, but also contain a cafeteria, a conservatory, and a visitors’ center with information about local tourism opportunities.
 
Cyberinfrastructure Grant Awarded
 
West Virginia, Virginia (BNN) -- The National Science Foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant to Bluefield State College, the Galileo Magnet High School in Danville, Va., and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech to support education initiatives in cyberinfrastructure. A cyberinfrastructure is a research site where high-performance computer networks provide computational, data, and management services to researchers. The money will be used over a two year period to develop a course in cyberinfrastructure, broaden students’ access to computer technologies, and encourage trained students to pursue careers in information technology.
 
Wyoming County Gets Disaster Recovery Grant
 
West Virginia (BNN) -- The state of West Virginia awardr $1.8 million in Disaster Recovery Initiative Grants to seven counties. Wyoming County will receive $411,835 to purchase and demolish six residential structures. No other counties in the region received any funds from this grant. Bluefield Regional Hospital Back in Black
 
Bluefield, WV (BNN) -- Bluefield Regional Medical Center reported a net income of $1.1 million for the historically low earning months of July, August and September. In the first quarter of 2005 BRMC lost $2.3 millioin.
 
The hospital has been operating in the black for the past nine months. Also at BRMC four medical students are currently in rotation from the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine at Virginia Tech. The hospital plans to implement a full residency program in the coming years.
 
No Trick or Treating for Registered Sex Offenders
 
West Virginia, Virginia (BNN) --Registered sex offenders in Virginia will not be able to hand out Halloween candy this year. Virginia’s “Trick-nor-Treat” program is one of several in the United States that keeps sex offenders off the streets on Halloween night. Parents in 37 states can steer children clear of the dwellings of sex offenders by going to MapSexOffenders dot com.