Sandy Hunt of the Wetzel County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau appeared before Wetzel County Commissioners Tuesday morning to request that they provide funds toward the Chili-Fest.

The event will be held on Main Street in New Martinsville on Oct. 26, noon to 4 p.m. Hunt stated that funds donated by the commissioners would contribute to costs associated for entertainment for the festival. Commissioners advised her to write a formal letter requesting the funds, then they would consider it.

Additionally, the commissioners granted Hunt permission to use the courthouse steps that day, as well as electricity and restrooms.

In another matter, Hunt asked the commission if they would like to contribute to the full page ad that the WCCVB is taking out in the upcoming state travel guide. The cost of a full page ad is $8,200; Hunt explained that 75 percent of that amount should be covered through grant funds. The rest of the amount will be covered through the WCCVB partnering up with other businesses in the county. Per the grant requirements, WCCVB is required to have at least two partners for the ad.

Hunt spoke with the commissioners regarding the recent WV Living magazine in which New Martinsville was featured as the best small town in the northern panhandle. She said WV Living was going to feature New Martinsville again in its spring issue; furthermore, WV Living’s wedding issue is going to feature camouflage Realtree and Mossy Oak rings from S&S Jewelry, along with a wedding-related item from The Tin Ceiling.

Hunt also spoke highly of the county’s farmer’s market, stating she would eventually like to see community-supported agriculture, which she has heard about at different conferences. Hunt said, with this initiative, supporters will pay a weekly fee to farmers, who will in turn give supporters a percentage of products. Hunt said many wonderful things can be done with the market.

“We are really happy with the market,” she said, adding that she had taken the WV Living editors to the community gardens. “We all need to support these efforts,” she said, noting that jobs exist in agriculture.

Furthermore Hunt reminded the commission that the county’s museum would be opening Sept. 26 and would be open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. She said the museum would be presenting a river display, making of shoes, a “call to arms” display, river boat display, pharmacy display, and an early settlers display.

Hunt said even though the museum opens Sept. 26, work is still being done, with a grand opening planned by the end of the year.

In other commission-related matters, the commission approved of a bid submitted from Mountaineer Services from Horner, W.Va., for aerial photography and orthophotography services for the county’s assessor’s department.