By Jean Braithwaite
tribune correspondent

KEYSER — A small group of members of the Mineral County Healthy Coalition meet on Tuesday afternoon to address the needs to promote healthy lifestyles in the county.
To take steps for tobacco cessation, A. Jay Root, director of the Mineral County Health Department, gave the announcement that a sizeable grant was received by the health department to share with Hampshire County to fund an educational and prevention program named Tobacco-Free Pregnancy.
Continuing on with smoking cessation information, Margaret Miltenberger, West Virginia University Extension Agent, stated that 120 regional students recently met at Keyser High School, through the RAZE program, to “alk about the reduction of tobacco use among the young people.”

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She explained that the students, with the help of advisors, “implement plans dealing with tobacco prevention, with a focus on smokeless tobacco.”
County Commission Wayne Spiggle, who chairs the Healthy Coalition, cited that manufacturing companies now are “using new packaging techniques for smokeless tobacco to appeal to the youth and those of all ages.”
Spiggle will be communicating with the new Potomac Valley Hospital, giving words of thanks from the Healthy Coalition in regards to the campus of the medical facility being a smoke-free environment.
Saying the “real problem in this country is obesity,” Spiggle asked those in attendance the question, “how can we address this in Mineral County?”
Member Terry Stephens pointed out that churches are now building gymnasiums as part of their complexes, naming the Keyser Presbyterian as one of those who recently completed such a structure.
He also added that on the county level and in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation Commission, “activities could be organized and coordinated to promote physical awareness.”
Other business open for discussion among the coalition members was the appointment of a VISTA worker to assist with health-related events throughout the county.
Root stated that several people have been interviewed for the position, but a hiring freeze within the AmeriCorp organization would prevent the Coalition from taking on a worker.
“The cost share for the worker would be $10,000, and this is financially impossible for the Healthy Coalition to attempt,” Root said.
In addition, he added that other avenues are being investigated for obtaining a VISTA worker, and “hopefully by March, we will know something.”
Wanting a “presence of the Healthy Coalition at Mineral County Days in Charleston,” Spiggle stated a display to be viewed at the Capitol “would be an outreach tool.”
Suggested was the completed display, in addition to being in Charleston, could then be rotated around Mineral County.
Such places that the healthy information could be displayed are the county courthouse, restaurants, and store fronts.
The next meeting for the Mineral County Healthy Coalition will be Tuesday, Jan. 27, at noon, at the county health department.