Friday's Internet Edition, July 25, 2008.
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Ryan Nester sets his sights on a target during archery class during Roane County 4-H Camp last week at Gandeeville. More than 180 campers and 40 adult volunteers took part in the annual event. |
Publisher - Owners of the Walton Inn say the pressure of a slumping economy will force them to close their doors at the end of this month.
The assisted living facility opened eight years ago, after Bob Boesch purchased the former Walton High School building from the Roane Board of Education.
At its peak about a year ago, the facility had 25 residents and a staff of 14, according to Boesch, who operated the facility with his wife, Lynn.
“Obviously it’s a very sad day for us,” Boesch said. “It was our dream, for us and even more so for the people of Roane County and the families we served.”
Boesch said sharp increases in costs including fuel and utilities sealed the fate of the facility.
“Our cost for food has gone up 35 to 40 percent in just the last few months,” he said. “But the people we take care of don’t have any more money.”
Boesch paid $100,000 for the building that operated as a middle school for a few years when Walton High School closed before Roane County High School opened in the fall of 1994.
The building underwent some extensive remodeling that included the addition of a sprinkler system, elevator, fire alarm and new heating and cooling systems. Rooms that once served as classrooms became patient rooms, new bath and shower rooms were built and the kitchen was upgraded.
“There was a great deal of time and money spent on remodeling the building,” Boesch said.
The Poca Valley Bank, which helped finance the project, will assume ownership of the building. Boesch said he had no complaints about the way he had been treated.
“The bank could not have been nicer to us,” he said.
“It’s been an excellent facility and I think our reputation stands on its own,” he said. “This was probably not the right location. If it had been in Spencer or Elkview, things might have been different. But we gave it everything we had.”
The facility now has 18 residents and Boesch said the staff is working with the state and families to find alternative placements.
One of those residents is Boesch, who suffers from multiple health problems himself. He said he is not sure where he will end up living.
He is more concerned about his staff, which now stands at 11.
“Roane County is not abundant with employment opportunities,” he said. “But these are very good people and I think they will all find something.”
