The Hurricane High School Red Hot Show Choir (pictured) was honored at the April Hurricane Council meeting. Members are: Mia Adams, Ethan Adkins, Madelyn Aldridge, Robert Barbe, Brook Brown, Maya Brown, Jordan Browning, Julia Carney, Braxton Carver, Brody Carver, Addison Chaffin, Autumn Cooper, Harley Davis-Boyle, Aidan Dunn, Brandon Eckhart, Shelby Eddy, Kalea Edwards, Peyton Edwards, Payton Elliott, Cooper Ellis, Lena Gillispie, Kaylyn Granger, Kathryn Grose, Gabriel High, Zachary Hodges, Cooper Holland, Owen Howard, Tyler Joyce, Makenna Justice, Matthew Kerrigan, Hailey Kincaid, Aiden Kinser, Cole Lemons, Frida Leyva, Kendall Marcum, Talia Marcum, Adam McCartney, Dante McKinney, Matthew Metheny, Elijah Miller, James Mullins, Jana Naylor-Aten, Gavin Niedbalski, Jillian Noel, Carter Parsons, Isabella Paxton, Addison Poling, Connor Poling, Savannah Priestley, Dorothy Robie, Alexis Ruby, Avery Shaffer, Katelynn Siders, Valerie Simpkins, Chloe Smith-Zimmerman, Regan Spencer, Tanner Sutherland, Riley Thornhill, Colbi Vickers, Lucas Vite Mosqueda, Ashton Warner, Jacob Wiley, Emme Wills, Weston Smith, Abigail Collins, Audra Price, Makayla Young, Zane Boyd, Joshua Kerrigan, Luke Elliott, Loralei Jones, Jada Brown, Joshua Gooden, Irene Niteo.
The Hurricane City Council meeting of April was a time of Autism Awareness for an audience that included members of the Hurricane High Red Hot Show Choir and their families. Bella Ramey, an autism victim, helped Mayor Scott Edwards call the meeting to order by striking the gavel. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Edwards read a Proclamation declaring April 2025 as Autism Awareness Month in the City of Hurricane.
The Red Hot Show Choir members were presented Certificates of Recognition for their accomplishments this school year. The Red Hots, in addition to defending their West Virginia State Show Choir Championship, placed first in national competition held in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the conduct of regular business, council heard updates from the Hurricane Police and Fire Departments, the City Manager, and Director of Marketing.
Fire Chief Paul Niedbalski reported that the HFD will receive a $472,000 grant for the construction of a training tower. The tower facility will allow HFD to become a regional training center serving fire department in West Virginia and neighboring states. Niedbalski expects the facility to be built and in use before the close of the 2026 calendar year.
Niedbalski also informed council that the department had trimmed response time to calls from one minute and 34 seconds to one minute and 11 seconds. Niedbalski said the shorter response times may allow Hurricane residents to qualify for lower insurance rates.
City Manager Andy Skidmore was pleased to announce that he has received glowing reports from visitors using the ball parks at Bridge Park. Skidmore said ball park users included visitors who slept over at the Wingate by Wyndham in Hurricane.
Marketing Director Amanda Ramey said that both professional and amateur disc golfers will compete in a tournament that utilizes both Bridge Park and Valley Park. The professional competition will begin 9 a.m. this Saturday (April 12) with 140 pros teeing off. The amateurs will tee off at the Valley Park course.
Putnam County Solid Waste Authority Director Rob Vanater addressed council concerning the new recycling center which will be located at 1000 Midland Trail in Hurricane. The center will accept paper and cardboard, aluminum cans, and certain plastics and is scheduled to open in June. Plastics is limited to #1PET plastics (clear food grade containers). Bottle caps should be removed. Vanater said that mixing #1PET with other plastics makes it necessary to deposit the entire collection into a land fill. “Landfill costs cause plastic recycling to fail,” Vanater said.
In other business, council approved a request by Thor Meeks to rezone 2530 Main Street, 161 and 163 Hale Street from Residential to B-3. Access to the property will be from Main Street. Council also approved a variance which allow CitySwitch to a taller than allowed sign on CSX property on Mill Road.
The City of Hurricane Main Street Spring Festival will be May 3, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Main Street will be closed between A-Z Storage and the old fire station during the festival.
The next regular council meeting will be Monday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m.
Proclamation
City of Hurricane, West Virginia
WHEREAS, anyone can be affected by autism, regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status or geography; and
Whereas, children and adults with autism are our family members, friends and neighbors because autism affects 1 in 36 children – more than 5.4 million people in total in the United States; and
Whereas, each individual with autism carries a unique diagnosis across the spectrum and has distinctive skills, characteristics and qualities; and
Whereas, research shows that early intervention can improve a child’s development and support provided by trained professionals can lead to better outcomes for individuals and caregivers; and
Whereas, individuals with autism may benefit from specialized services and community support to ensure their health and safety and successful participation in community life; and
Whereas people with autism, families, professionals and community members are supported through connecting with others in a variety of settings and the sharing of resources; and
Whereas, the aim for Autism Acceptance Month is to recognize the diverse nature and abilities of people with autism and to encourage support through family, friends, professionals and the community which will allow for a broader understanding and appreciation of these individuals.
Therefore I, Mayor Scott Edwards, do hereby proclaim April 2025 as
Autism Awareness Month
In the City of Hurricane, West Virginia
Given under my hand and the seal of the City of Hurricane, West Virginia this the Seventh day of April in the year 2025
Scott Edwards, Mayor
