TAKE A SNEAK PEEK

At The New Hhhs

This month ERL features a pictorial tour of the new home of the HHHS Huskies. Photographer

Tim Cunningham of Tim’s Take Photography captured these photos in mid-February so that ERL could share the exciting progress with our Elk River audience.

In mid-January 2023, the staff of Herbert Hoover was afforded the opportunity to do a walk-thru at the new school to get a first-hand look at the progress to date. It was exciting to see hallways and classrooms in a couple of the wings of the building while other areas were at different completion phases of construction. For example, the gymnasium(s) looked more like a storage warehouse than a gym.

Now, transition to four weeks later, the middle of February, and things look much different. All of the classrooms and hallways are nearing completion. The main gym has been painted, lighting installed, and flooring materials now occupy the room. According to the architect, Ted Shriver, the building has been moved from temporary electrical power to permanent power and the HVAC system is due to be up and running in February as well. As for the exterior of the building and the sports fields, work moves along at a rapid pace as weather permits. What makes Herbert Hoover different from other new schools is the level of completion that is required. In the construction field, “substantial completion” is defined as: a project is substantially complete when it can be used for its intended purpose. A construction project need not be absolutely complete; however, any remaining work or defects must be relatively minor and unimportant...

Since the new Herbert Hoover High School is a FEMA replacement project, not only is there a new building, there are all new furnishings as well. Due to the size of the project, Shriver has divided the job into two parts: the academic and the athletic side.

The substantial completion date for the athletic side is April 28th and the academic side is June 2nd. Shriver and Terry Stilwell, the construction manager of Swope Construction, are confident these are still achievable target dates. The school cannot be turned over for usage until both sides are fully completed and all parties involved sign off on the project.

Remember, “good things come to those that wait”... but it just can’t come soon enough for our students and the Elk River community. As excitement mounts and these dates draw closer, look for more updates here in the Elk River Living magazine.

WE WALK ON TUESDAYS!

The Elk River Walking Club wore red on Valentine’s Day and for Heart Month. It was a gorgeous day for a walk on the trail at Clendenin. Come and join The Elk River Walking Club every Tuesday at 4PM at the Clendenin North Trailhead through March 7.

Daylight Savings Time begins on March 11, so the meeting time for the Club will change to 6 PM (effective the second Tuesday in March). You can come anytime, walk as far as you want, and as fast

New DNR Boat Launches are ready for you to hit the Elk River Water Trails!

as you want. From beginner to advanced, everyone is welcome. Also, plan to grab something to eat after your walk at one of the delicious eateries in Clendenin! We hope to see you on the trail on Tuesdays!

Elk River Water Trail Launches

Have you noticed the Division of Natural Resources’ (DNR) new boat launches at Blue Creek and at Big Chimney? They are ready for you, your family, and friends to use to enjoy the beautiful Elk River Water Trails. DNR has public access launch sites on Elk River at (traveling north): Mink Shoals (Coonskin Park), Big Chimney, Blue Creek, Clendenin South, Clendenin North, Queen Shoals, King Shoals, Jack’s Bend, Dorfee, Hartland Bridge, Clay County Courthouse, WVDOH Clay Access, Mary L. Chilton Roadside Park, Ivydale, Duck, Tate Creek, Strange Creek, Frametown, Sutton Lake Bee Run, and Sutton Lake.

Scan the QR code below for information on each site via the WV DNR Interactive Fishing Map. In addition, there are five launch sites along the Elkhurst section of Elk River in the Wallback Wildlife Management area in Clay County that are not improved and have minimal parking, but they are available for public access.

Elk River Trail Foundation is currently mapping other public access sites on the Elk River that are not owned or operated by the DNR, including those on Elkhurst, the old church property at Queen Shoals, Dundon, and Little Italy, and is exploring opportunities for other public access. “Ideally, the Foundation would like to have public access sites with public parking available every five to seven miles” according to Barry Curry, chair of the Foundation’s Water Trail Committee.

The map will be placed on the Foundation’s website. Curry also related that the Water Trail Committee has purchased mileage signs to place along the river’s edge from Sutton to Charleston so that boaters can plan trips and to provide a guidepost for emergency responders.

Anyone willing to help with these projects should contact elkrivertrail@gmail.com

Our floaters, boaters and kayakers should be aware of the DNR’s requirements and prohibitions as you begin using these sites because fines can be levied for violations. According to the DNR website:

• Public boating and fishing access facilities shall be used solely for the purpose of launching and retrieving watercraft fishing from the shore. No other use of access sites is allowed.

• After launching, vehicles shall be parked in available parking spaces.

• Any law enforcement officer acting under proper authority may prohibit an individual from launching a watercraft from any public boating and fishing access sites.

• The following are PROHIBITED at fishing and boating access sites:

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages or possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage.

• Swimming or bathing.

• Camping.

• Open fires.

• Trash disposal except where trash receptacles are provided.

• Discharge of firearms, fireworks and explosives.

• Leaving unattended watercraft.

• Commercial use except as authorized by the Director.

• Parking of any vehicle or the mooring of any watercraft in such a manner as to obstruct any avenue of ingress or egress, except for the purpose of launching.