Morgantown Dominion Post
15 April 2006
By Evelyn Ryan
The first Monongalia River Summit was deemed a success by members of the Monongalia River Recreation and Commerce Committee, a supporter of the event.
The committee met Friday at the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce conference room to review the summit, held Monday at the Radisson.
Two committees were formed Friday, both resulting from conversations at the summit, Greater Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce President Brad Allamong said.
The first, chaired by Peggy Pings, with the U.S. Forest Service, will work with the Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission to develop a brochure featuring water trails in the entire Monongahela River watershed.
Pings reminded the Monongalia River boosters it has a contract offer from the Pennsylvania agency to pay most of the printing cost for such a brochure and distribute it in Pennsylvania and at specialty events.
It would also bring this area to the attention of people in other regions, added Paula Martinelli of the Greater Morgantown Community Trust.
Pings will be joined on the committee by Frank Jernejcic, state fish biologist; Don Strimbeck, secretary of the Upper Monongahela River Association; engineer David Weaver of DMJM Harris; and Wally Venable, Tim Terman and Rich Little, all river users.
The second committee, suggested by Little, will determine the best way to post the river with signs indicating where to call in emergencies. Some areas, Little noted, don't have cell service, while CB radio doesn't work in others.
To develop a closer relationship with Fairmont and Pennsylvania communities along the river, such as neighboring Point Marion, the group agreed to rotate their monthly meetings among the communities to make it easier for others to attend.