‘Wings Over Wheeling’ Event Draws Funding | News, Sports, Jobs

|Photo by Joselyn King| Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, left, commission Chairman Don Nickerson and Commissioner Zach Abraham, and County Administrator Randy Russell discuss the items before them at Tuesday’s meeting.

WHEELING – Next month’s “Wings Over Wheeling” event at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport has raised more than $30,000 in corporate sponsorships, Ohio County commissioners heard Tuesday night.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 24 at the airport. Vintage aircraft, an air show and a classic car “cruise-in” will all be part of the event.

Kevin Price, director of aviation development at Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, reported that $30,500 in sponsorships has been raised so far, with “more coming in every day.”

“And we’ve had some great in-kind sponsorships — one of which I want 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 are performing at the show. You have to provide them with rooms, and they don’t cost the county anything.”

Other things are happening at the airport. Construction of a classroom for flight training is nearly complete, while West Liberty University prepares to launch its new flight 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 Aug. 1 deadline for a Federal Aviation Administration inspection of the classroom is fast approaching and he expects the classroom to be ready by then.

Melissa Marco, Ohio County facilities director, pointed out to commissioners that the south porch of the City-County Building is now draped and being prepared for the removal and renovation of the granite slabs. The county received a grant 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 will be removed, polished and moved to the back of the building. New slate will then be installed on the porches facing Chapline and 16th Street.

According to Marco, the project will take four months.

Meanwhile, the county is still waiting for a central switch to arrive to install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit in the building. The switch was ordered in December 2022 and its delivery has been pushed back again until October, Marco explained. The temporary relocation of offices to swing spaces within the building has also been postponed until then.

The commissioners will next meet at 6 p.m. Aug. 6 in the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.

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