Mister Bee Potato Chips to Construct New Warehouse
Mary Anne Ketelsen, owner of the West Virginia Potato Chip
Co., is in the beginning stages of building a 10,000-square-
foot warehouse next door to the current factory. Thanks to a
more than $2 million investment by Ketelsen in new equipment,
Mister Bee is experiencing and forecasting additional sales
growth in both public and private sectors.
The upgrades alone have tripled production capacity while
bringing costs down 40 percent. The number of 1- and 2-ounce
bags that can be filled in a minute has jumped from 25 to about
90. The capacity for 16-ounce bags went from six to eight to
around 30 a minute, while 9-ounce bags jumped from 15 to 50.
“We’ve increased our production and efficiencies and at
the same time streamlined our processes,” says Ketelsen. “It
only makes sense that this is the next step. We should be in it
by Christmas.”
“Hot Rod” Wins Regional Emmy Award
“Hot Rod: The Clown Prince of Basketball” won the Nostalgia
category during the 55th Annual Ohio Valley Regional Emmy
Awards earlier this year. “Hot Rod” is a documentary chronicling
the flamboyant life of basketball great and West Virginia native
Rod Hundley, an unforgettable player and broadcaster, who
used the game to achieve heights no one could have imagined.
Dan Lohmann, a Morgantown native and director/producer
at Pikewood Creative, directed and edited the film.
Pikewood Creative interviewed more than 30 basketball
and broadcast luminaries and traveled to six states during pro-
duction. The film features comments from many of Hundley’s
broadcast partners, including Jim Nantz, Dick Enberg and
Brent Musburger.
“We’re thrilled to receive Emmy recognition for this project,”
says Tony Caridi, managing partner of Pikewood Creative.
“Over a three-year period, this movie became a labor of love. At
long last, Hot Rod Hundley’s amazing life story has been told.
Rod was truly one of a kind, and we’re honored to have had
the chance to share the life of an unforgettable Mountaineer.”
region. The governor understands this and recognizes that we
must put every resource of the state to work to capture this
opportunity.”
Country Roads Angel Network
to Grow Businesses, Create Jobs
The Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN), which serves all
55 counties in West Virginia, is seeking to expand its investments
and job creation among diversified new and growing businesses.
Thanks to a $194,672 grant from the U.S. Economic Devel-
opment Administration, seed fund support is available to recruit
new investors who can in turn boost new early-stage companies
throughout the Mountain State.
Over the next three years, CRAN is expected to bring at
least $2 million from 40 potential private investors, creating
at least 25 jobs and launching eight to 12 new and existing
innovation-based businesses in West Virginia.
The CRAN program will include the development of an
access-to-capital education program to educate entrepreneurs,
small business owners and investors in rural and underserved
communities in the Mountain State with a specific focus on
serving Southern West Virginia.
Calvert Named Recipient of the Brian F. Thomas
Community Service Award
Clear Mountain Bank is proud to announce that Tim Calvert
has been chosen as the recipient of the bank’s Brian F. Thomas
Community Service Award for 2019. This award is presented
annually to a Clear Mountain Bank employee who demon-
strates a selfless devotion to philanthropy, community service
and volunteerism.
New Downstream Jobs Task Force to Capitalize on
West Virginia’s Future in the Petrochemical Industry
Governor Jim Justice has announced the establishment of
the Governor’s Downstream Jobs Task Force, a new task force
that will work to bring downstream manufacturing opportuni-
ties to West Virginia ahead of an anticipated expansion of the
petrochemical industry in Appalachia.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the anticipated
Appalachian petrochemical renaissance could lead to significant
growth in the region, including $36 billion in capital investments,
more than 100,000 steady jobs, $28 billion in economic expan-
sion and $2.9 billion in annual tax revenues. West Virginia
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Austin
Caperton has been appointed by the governor to run the task
force and will serve as its chairperson.
“I am honored that the governor has chosen me to lead this
most important effort,” says Caperton. “As a state, we cannot
afford to miss the opportunity presented to us by our natural
gas resources. That opportunity is to create billions of dollars
of investment, billions of dollars of additional revenue to the
state and a projected 100,000 new, high-paying jobs for our
Calvert (center) is presented with the 2019
Brian F. Thomas Community Service Award.
“I’m pleased to announce Tim as the recipient of this year’s
Brian F. Thomas Community Service Award,” says David
Thomas, president and CEO of Clear Mountain Bank. “Tim
has dedicated countless hours serving our community in many
ways, and his commitment to volunteerism goes above and
beyond expectation.”
Nagy Completes First Sutureless Aortic Valve
Replacement at Mon Health Medical Center
Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Alexander Nagy recently
performed the first Perceval aortic pericardial heart valve
replacement at Mon Health Medical Center.
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