Sunday's Internet Edition, September 07, 2008.

West Virginia First Lady Gayle Manchin makes a point as she addresses the audience at the annual dinner meeting of the Roane Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority. DAVID HEDGES/SPENCER NEWSPAPERS

That was the message of First Lady Gayle Manchin as she spoke to the nearly 60 people who attended the annual Roane Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority dinner meeting Tuesday night at the Committee on Aging building.

“How can you have economic development and not have education at the table?” Manchin asked.

Manchin said her husband, Gov. Joe Manchin, had made a commitment to a collaborative effort involving business, labor and education. The First Lady, a former teacher, is a member of the state jobs cabinet that helps formulate economic policy.

“It’s so we can make the right decisions every step of the way,” she said.

Manchin mentioned the goal of establishing broadband Internet service statewide by 2010 and the recently implemented requirement of health screenings for preschool children as successful initiatives by state government. She said the preschool screenings would help level the playing field for students with health problems that could be diagnosed early.

“Children who start school behind the eight-ball have a very difficult time keeping up,” Manchin said.

Educators need to look at things differently, especially regarding new technology, and continue raising the bar when it comes to challenging students.

“We should be able to give every child in the state of West Virginia the same education that any child in West Virginia can get,” she said. “Until we do that, we’re not living up to our responsibilities.”

Schools need to provide the proper skill sets for students in order to remain competitive in the global economy, Manchin said. She said people need to be concerned that immigrants from countries including China and India would increasingly compete for desirable jobs in the United States.

“I think we are moving in the right direction,” she said. “It’s going to take a team effort; we can’t afford to lose one child.”

Manchin also said leaders in the business community need to continue working toward better communities. She praised the quality of life in West Virginia and said she was seeing excitement and enthusiasm as she visited various parts of the state.

“People hope their children and grandchildren will come back and have a home,” Manchin said.

The evening also included remarks by Roane County Commissioner David Boothe, Spencer Mayor Terry Williams and Jim McCulty, president of the Roane EDA.

McCulty said the EDA had recently produced a marketing brochure through a $2,600 grant from the state. The brochure had been distributed to 100 companies, he said, adding that two serious inquiries had been made about the former Spencer Veneer plant in the Roane Industrial Park.

Ray Dietz was honored as the Citizen of the Year. Dietz, a Spencer business owner, was selected for volunteerism with the Roane County Emergency Squad and Spencer-Roane Volunteer Fire Dept. as well as membership on several boards and committees.