By Liz Beavers
lbeavers @newstribune.info
Managing Editor
KEYSER – Friday night was a special - and unusual - evening for Gov. Joe Manchin.
Not only was he reunited with a Keyser resident whom he has often called his favorite singer, but he also had the experience of being “flocked” by Mineral County Special Olympics.
In town for the Mineral County Democratic Executive Committee’s Byrd/Randolph/Staggers dinner, Manchin was treated to the music of Keyser resident Karen McDonald, who sang several songs a capella at the Governor’s request, and then accompanied herself on the piano.
McDonald, who formerly lived  in Manchin’s home county of Marion, came to his attention when he was making his first bid for a seat in the House of Delegates. Desiring to “liven up” his political rallies, Manchin said he asked the singer/choir director to bring her rousing renditions of “The West Virginia Hills” and other songs to his campaign.
“Let me tell you, this lady is something,” he said Friday, putting his arm around McDonald. He then listened intently as she filled the air at the Keyser Presbyterian fellowship hall  with  “The West Virginia Hills” and “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.”
Later in the evening, Steve Stanislawczyk, whose father, Joe, was a long-time friend of West Virginia state governors, announced that the Governor had been “flocked.” Stanislawczyk, who had fallen victim to the Mineral County Special Olympics fund raiser earlier in the week when he found the plastic pink flamingoes in his front yard, made a donation to Special Olympics in order to have the birds present for Friday’s dinner.
Stanislawczyk attached one little proviso to the deal,  however – the Governor must don the pink flamingo hat which Stanislawczyk wore himself in a photo that appeared in the News Tribune.
Manchin happily obliged.
Also during the dinner, attended by Democrats and Republicans alike, was an announcement by Sen. Bob Williams and Delegates Allen Evans and Bob Schadler that a $12,500 Governor’s Community Partnership Grant would be awarded to the Mineral County Historical Foundation for continued work on their historic properties.
Foundation members Ed McDonald and Kermit Garretson, along with County Commissioners Wayne Spiggle and Cindy Pyles, accepted the award certificates.
Virgie Eagle, who was in the audience and celebrating her 87th birthday, was presented a cupcake with a birthday candle from the Governor.
The evening was not all lighthearted fun, however, as Manchin opened his comments with a moment of silence for the family of Keyser High School junior Matthew Helmick, who had lost his life early that morning in a vehicle accident.
“You don’t ever expect that to happen at such a very young age,” he said.
In his address to the crowd, Manchin spoke of those present as “family and friends,” and how much it has meant to him to serve the people of West Virginia.
“I get up every morning and I just can’t wait, because I know there’s something good I can do for you and for the state,” he said.
Noting that West Virginians are, for the most part, hard working and humble people, he told the crowd, “I believe in you more than you believe in yourselves.”