Nominate Your Volunteer Winner

Since being elected to public office, Delegate Overington has established and awarded the Winners Volunteer Award every year or two to a volunteer or group that has shown exceptional volunteer effort and community service.

The selection criteria is that those involved look at things positively and be ready to lend a hand to provide assistance to others. They show leadership in dealing with problems, find solutions in ways to help people and improve the community.

If you would like to nominate a person or group, please send to Del. Overington your name, address and phone number as well as the same for the person you are nominating and why you feel that person is a winner. This year's group was nominated by Falling Waters resident Sherry Dockeney.

Other individuals and groups that recently have been nominated and awarded the Winners Award include volunteer firefighters, Crime Solvers, the people helping with litter cleanup, animal welfare, road improvement efforts, and community beautification.

Overington Receives "Friend of the Taxpayers" Certificate

Earlier this year Delegate Overington received the "Friend of the Taxpayers of West Virginia" certificate from Henry Thaxton, President of West Virginians Against Government Waste.

WVAGW publishes an annual scorecard of state legislators. They are rated on their votes as being "friendly" or "unfriendly" to taxpayers. For the 2year period 19971998 Overington received one of the highest "friendly" ratings among legislators. He has a 6-year cumulative rating of 94%. Overington said, "I appreciate the award. Working men and women should be able to spend more of their money without the government taking it. After all they are the ones who earned it, who worked for it and should be able to spend more of it."

Overington Works with Local Residents on Road Projects in District

In July Delegate Overington met with Highway Department officials including Burlington District Engineer Bill Hartman and local resident Jim Webber to discuss Grade Road. The curve at the bottom of the hill at the intersection of Nessle Quarry Road will be reduced by moving the road to the north. Surveying, engineering, and design work have started with construction to be done next year.

During meetings on the road bond funding in Charleston, Delegate Overington was able to get a commitment from the State Highway Department to improve the curve on Grade Road.

"That is one of the fastest growing areas of the county. With the growth have come increased traffic and accidents, especially at the curve at the bottom of the hill where the road intersects with another road. These improvements will make Grade Road safer," Overington stated.

The highway department is also planning to replace the bridge over the Opequon Creek known as the Light Sperow Bridge. Surveying, planning, and engineering work are planned for next year with construction the following year. Because the bridges downstream and upstream have been removed, upgrading the Sperow Bridge is especially important including raising the entrance to the bridge to avoid flooding.

"I have also been pleased to work with Earl Simpson and others to assist in getting the old Shepherdstown and Rosedale Road entrance onto Route 45 just beyond Woodberry Avenue improved, with a traffic light added to help deal with the traffic backups that have occurred there," Overington said.

He added, "I have enjoyed working with the Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department to get a signal light put up that when installed will alert motorists when a fire or rescue vehicle is coming."

Orphan Road Bill Passed May Help with Subdivision Roads

The legislature earlier this year passed H.B. 4003 where the Division of Highways (DOH) will establish a program to acquire and maintain roads and bridges starting with an identification program. The DOH will locate and designate each orphan road and bridge. Rights-of-ways must be donated to the DOH.

The DOH commissioner will then determine which roads and bridges will be added to the state-maintained system based on criteria of availability of state funds, the number of persons served, the condition, design and layout of the road or bridge, as well as the availability of alternate routes and suitable maintenance equipment being available.

If you wish to have your road considered for state maintenance, contact the local highway department for the necessary forms and petitions at 267-0060 or 591 Rock Cliff Drive in Martinsburg.

Senior Citizen Issues, Suggestions

By Sherry Dockeney Del. John Overington's Senior Citizen Volunteer Coordinator

I would like to work with senior citizens to help organize a satellite club in North Berkeley County. Seniors could meet monthly with Delegate Overington and me to discuss issues and concerns that may be of importance to them. One possibility would be to meet on a Saturday morning in the Marlowe-Bedington area. Please call me anytime if you have any suggestions or questions concerning this effort or if you are interested in participating. My number is 274-1257. As most of you know, my focus is for all seniors in Berkeley County. Your continuing attendance and participation are fundamental for the success of the programs at the Senior Center.

Address Conversion Proceeding

Address conversion is proceeding in Berkeley County with duplicate and similar sounding road names being identified. Affected residents are being notified so they can have input in selecting a new road name. According to Mary Kackley, director of 911, the goal is to have all new street numbers and names determined with residents notified of their new address by the end of the year. The post office would then begin using the updated addresses sometime early next year. If you have questions about this, you can call Mary Kackley at 263-5271.

Overington Votes 100%

Recently Delegate Overington received a Certificate of Distinction from the Clerk of the House for voting 100% of the time. For most of Overington's years of service he has received a 100% attendance record.

"I am proud of my attendance record, the fact that I did not miss one vote during the 60-day legislative session. I take very seriously my responsibility to my constituents and part of that is to be there to vote to represent their views and to fulfill the trust the voters have placed in me."

Overington Helps to Get "Jerro" Back on Duty

"Jerro" the local state police K-9 dog is back on duty and more than earning his keep in assisting in tracking down suspects. Del. Overington worked with local activists Dorothy Snow and Kim Sencindiver who had raised money to provide for Jerro. Overington took their case to Charleston to call attention to the need to get Jerro back on duty.

Earlier this year at one of Overington's town meetings, Dorothy Snow presented Overington with a petition signed by thousands of local supporters. Overington personally presented copies to the Governor and State Police Superin-tendent Gary Edgell. "The end result is that we are all pleased that Jerro is back on duty helping our law enforce-ment effort. There are a lot of people who believe in this dog and it showed," Overington said.

Governor Signs Overington's Euthanasia Technician's Bill

Berkeley County Humane Society thanked Delegate John Overington of Berkeley County for his tireless efforts in getting the Euthanasia Technician Bill passed during this year's 1998 WV Legislative Session. Working with Delegate John Overington were Wanda Goodwin of the WV Veterinary Association and Sylvia Shafer of the Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association.

Earlier this year Governor Cecil Underwood signed H.B. 2656, the Euthanasia Technician bill. Pictured above from left, Wanda Goodwin, Executive Director of the West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine, Sylvia Shafer, Executive Director of the Kanawha County Animal Shelter, Governor Underwood, and Delegate John Overington, the bill's chief sponsor.

For full article from BCHS, click here...

A state taxpayers' group concerned about excessive taxation and wasteful government spending honored Delegate John Overington with a "Taxpayers Best Friend Award". He was recognized during the 1997 legislative session for his stand in 1996.

WVAGW Chairman Greg Henshall praised Overington for standing up against special interest groups wanting to raise taxes and increase spending.

Overington was one of five delegates to receive a 100% rating. For the last five years that the WVAGW has been rating legislators on taxpayer issues Overington has been recognized.

Overington said, "I was proud to receive the certificate from West Virginians Against Government Waste. The government takes too much of our hard earned money. It is too easy to raise taxes every time another group wants more tax dollars. Taxpayers who earn the money should keep a greater portion of it."

Overington works with Governor on Eastern Panhandle Issues

Del. Overington is working with Governor Underwood to see if he will locate an office in the Martinsburg area to help bring state government closer to our area. Other projects include getting an I-81 Exit 14 for City Hospital, and recognition of the famous western artist William Robinson Leigh who was born and raised in the Marlowe area.

"It is important that the governor and state government agencies are aware of the concerns of the Eastern Panhandle. We are the fastest growing area in the state, and we must work closely with our Charleston friends in dealing with this growth and opportunities it presents," according to Overington.

Sherry Dockeney Volunteers to Help Overington on Senior Issues

Sherry Dockeney who formerly spent a year working for Berkeley Senior Services has volunteered to assist on issues of special interest to seniors.

A new senior center is being built for Berkeley County and seniors need to take advantage of the opportunities it presents.

Sherry, thanks for volunteering to assist in this important area. Sherry is currently working with seniors and can be reached at 274-1257.

Delegate Part of Civil War Re-enactment Effort

Delegate Overington is a member of the Regional Civil War Heritage Subcommittee of the Quad-State Legislative Conference whose job is to plan for and coordinate a Civil War re-enactment event in the year 2000. The event will involve sites of historic significance in the four-state area.

"Our region is rich in Civil War heritage. This event will help focus on this heritage and simultaneously boost our tourism effort," Overington said. "I am proud to be a part of this project."

Overington Report