MADISON – Kris Richmond was sworn in last week to become a new member of the “Country Roads Scenic Byways committee by Boone County Commission President Mickey Brown. Richmond was sworn in during the commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. “It’s an honor to represent Boone County on this group,” Richmond said. “These scenic byways have the potential to bring in economic benefits to southern West Virginia.” Richmond, along with the director of the Boone County Community and Economic Development Corporation, Larry V. Lodato, and local Boone County businessman Joy Underwood, are represenatives from Boone County on the committee. “The group puts up signage to get locals and visitors to take scenic routes when traveling around the state to see the beauty from a different vantage point,” Lodato said. When hitting the Coal Heritage Trail of the scenic byways in southern West Virginia, the journey through coal country. It takes visitors back to a time when coal was king and business was booming. “Thousands of men came from all over the world making the coal fields a melting pot of race and religion,” the West Virginia Tourism Web site says. “Mansions built by wealthy coal barons and miners' shanties still stand in the storied coal towns that dot the Coal Heritage Trail.” The National Coal Heritage Area preserves and protects the coal mining heritage of West Virginia through preservation of historical museums and displays, Lodato added. For more information, visit the online Web site at www.wvbyways.com • In other county commission news, the commission announced that the Boone County Abandoned Building/Dilapidated Structure Board hearing was postponed until the next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18. There will also be a meeting regarding the county’s water and sewer projects on the same date. • The commission said it will have a ceremony to officially announce the opening of the new Boone County Judicial Annex, located behind the Boone County Courthouse, on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. The ceremony is scheduled to begin around 11 a.m., according to commission president Mickey Brown. • Larry Lodato told commissioners that a second draw down for $99,476.70 was made from an energy efficiency grant the county received to install and maintenance several new and existing lights in the county and at county buildings. He said there was $20,000 left on the grant. • Boone County Parks & Recreation received $3,000 from the commission for security cameras for the walking trail at Water Ways Water Park in Julian.