The Shepherd University Foundation has announced the creation of the Carl K. Rauch and Susan Besaw Rauch Endowed Scholarship for Business and the John T. Reynolds Endowed Chair for Chemistry.

The scholarship, funded by alumnus Carl K. Rauch of Chambersburg, Pa., will provide financial assistance to a student majoring in business or accounting.

Rauch funded his most recent gift, made through a bequest, to honor his former wife, a retired assistant professor of accounting at Shippensburg University. A former math professor at SU until his retirement in 1990, Rauch has already endowed five scholarships across several disciplines.

The endowed chair is funded by John T. Reynolds of Martinsburg. Funds from this faculty excellence award will be used to recruit, recognize and retain outstanding chemistry faculty. Areas in which awards may provide support include relocation and housing allowances, salary enhancements, research and academic travel.

Reynolds, a 1964 SU graduate, left a brief high school teaching career to join the CIA, where he served with the offices of imagery analysis, information technology and security as an intelligence officer. He was then assigned to the White House, where he performed risk analysis on White House computer systems until his retirement. He is currently active in Tuscarora Presbyterian Church and serves on the board of directors for the SU Foundation. Reynolds also established the Thomas Guy Reynolds Endowed Scholarship in 1999 to honor his father, a 1933 graduate of Shepherd.

For more information about this scholarship or to establish a scholarship, program or faculty excellence award through the Shepherd University Foundation, please contact Monica Lingenfelter, SU Foundation, P.O. Box 5000, Shepherdstown, WV, 25443-5000, 304-876-5397, or visit www.shepherd.edu/fndtnweb.

Commission denies PATH?dismissal

CHARLESTON – The Public Service Commission of West Virginia issued an order denying motions to dismiss the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) case, further tolling the statutory due date and adopting a revised procedural schedule.

PATH is a proposed 225-mile, 765kV electric transmission line and related facilities that, if constructed as currently proposed, would cross through 14 counties in West Virginia as well as parts of Maryland and Virginia.

On Dec. 10, 2010, commission staff filed a motion to dismiss the filing as insufficient or, in the alternative, require PATH to request a tolling. The Joint Applicants filed a response, objecting to the motion and requesting that the commission further toll the running of the statutory suspension period so that they could produce additional and more current information to the commission.

The revised procedural schedule calls for the evidentiary hearing to run from Oct. 11 to 26, 2011. The deadline for the commission’s decision is now Feb. 9, 2012.

In the Jan. 7 order, the commission stated that it was reluctantly denying the motion to dismiss and that all parties should proceed with the understanding that the commission “intends to complete the case within the revised deadline.”

More information, including a copy of the commission order and the Joint Stipulation, may be obtained by accessing the commission’s website, www.psc.state.wvu.us, and referencing Case Number 09-0770-E-CN.

Beekeeping course

slated for beginners

HEDGESVILLE – The Eastern Panhandle Beekeepers Association (EPBA) announces plans to offer its popular “Beginners Beekeeping Course” starting on Feb. 8.

The course, which will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on six consecutive Tuesday evenings, will be conducted at the James Rumsey Technical Institute on Route 9 in Hedgesville.

Registration is by family, with up to three individuals being permitted to participate for each registration. Classroom space is limited to 70 students, so registrations will be accepted on a “first come, first serve” basis.

The total cost of the class – which includes textbook, the course of instruction, supplemental handouts on beekeeping subjects and membership in the EPBA as well as the West Virginia State Beekeeping Association – is $45. The course concludes with a field day to allow students to gain “hands-on” experience in working with live bee colonies.

Fledgling beekeepers will be assigned mentors to answer questions and provide encouragement to get over the rough spots.

Interested members of the community may register online at www.WVEPBA. org or by calling EPBA President Herb Everhart at 304-876-3832 if they do not have a computer access.

Kenneth L. Ash lands new position at bank

MARTINSBURG/CHARLES TOWN – Kenneth L. Ash of Charleston has been named vice president, chief compliance officer at MVB Bank, Inc., and president of Bank Compliance Solutions (BCS), which will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of MVB Financial Corp (MVB).

BCS will be launched in 2011 to provide a wide range of compliance services including auditing, compliance monitoring, consulting and training to other financial institutions which require third-party compliance services. BCS will also serve banks who value the attractiveness of outsourced expert compliance services to augment their own internal compliance activities.

Ash’s experience in financial institution auditing and compliance management spans nearly 30 years. In addition to a law degree, he has a bachelors degree in economics from West Virginia University and is a graduate of the American Bankers Association’s Graduate School of Compliance and the Charleston National Compliance School.

“I’m very pleased to join MVB with its noteworthy history and stellar growth. I look forward to building upon their strong record of compliance and developing innovative services we will extend to other banks,” Ash said in a press release.

MVB is a West Virginia community bank with offices in Berkeley, Jefferson, Harrison and Marion counties.

Exhibit of photographs to be shown at gallery

SUMMIT POINT – Members of the Eastern Panhandle Photography Project announce an exhibit of photographs taken in the Panhandle between September and December 2010. The exhibit will be mounted in the Charles Town Visitor Center’s Firehouse Gallery at 108 N. George St.

There will be an opening day reception today from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will run through Jan. 31. The Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. For additional information, contact Curt Mason at 304-724-7008 or cmasonwhf@aol.com.

The photographs result from a three-month workshop conceived and led by Jefferson County photographer Frank Robbins. The project team consisted of Robbins, Rip Smith, Mary LeMont, Carl Schultz, Nancy McKeithen and Curt Mason. The project offered a unique opportunity for aspiring photographers to learn how to improve their techniques for creating and processing digital or film images working in both color and black and white. Participants worked together as a team throughout the fall to capture events, places, people and landscapes. With photos ranging from kids enjoying the thrill of rides at the county fair to local historic landmarks, the exhibit itself is a “snapshot” of life in the Eastern Panhandle in 2010.

End-of-life issues to be addressed at program

MARTINSBURG – The next program in a series of social worker continuing education programs that address end-of-life issues will be offered Jan. 21 at the Hospice of the Panhandle main office, 122 Waverly Court, Martinsburg.

The program, “Dealing with Emotional Crises in Home Care: Taking care of our clients and ourselves,” will be presented by Jeff Levesque, MSW, Hospice of the Panhandle Social Worker.

The registration fee of $35 includes materials and continental breakfast.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the class will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Seating is limited to 35. For information or to register, contact Ashley Young, marketing assistant, at 304-267-1870, ext. 207 or email her at ayoung@hospiceotp.org.