BUSINESSES RECOGNIZED — Several area businesses were among those recognized as part of Tuesday’s Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet. The event was held at the Lauttamus Communications Banquet Room. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Members of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce gathered, Tuesday, for an evening of friendship, networking and a reminder of the importance of supporting one another.

The chamber held its 87th annual membership meeting and awards banquet at the Lauttamus Communications Banquet Room, with chamber President Brenda Mull welcoming those in attendance and noting some of the programs and activities offered each year.

“Our goal is to help you grow and bring value to your membership,” she said.

Mull also reflected on the cooperative nature of many of those efforts, with members and other volunteers coming together to serve, not only local businesses, but, in many instances, the entire community.

It is that same spirit, she said, which is needed now as Cleveland Cliffs has announced plans to indefinitely idle the Weirton tinplate facility in reaction to tariff rulings by the U.S. International Trade Commission. The idling will affect more than 900 employees, as well as their families, but Mull explained the impact will be felt throughout the community and beyond.

“It affects everyone in this room,” she said. “It’s not just a valley issue, it’s a national issue.”

In recent weeks, Weirton City Council and the Hancock County Commission have drafted letters and petitions, to be sent to President Joe Biden, encouraging action to overturn the ITC’s ruling. Tuesday evening, petitions were available for the signatures of those in attendance written by the chamber and the United Steelworkers.

“We’re not a community that gives up,” Mull said. “We don’t know what the final decision will be, but I don’t want us to just sit back.”

The evening also included elements of celebration, as the chamber recognized two of its former board members – Nick Latousakis and Chris Orris – for their service, and former chair Joyia Lytle.

Several businesses were presented with Shining Stars awards in celebration of their years in operation: Hancock County Savings Bank, 125 years; M&M True Value Hardware, 110 years; Weirton Eye Clinic, 50 years; Jack Fowler State Farm Insurance and Lombardi Development, 25 years; and Buffo Insurance, Homeland Firearms, Miss Tiffany’s Early Childhood Education House, Ohio Valley Vision Center, Pietro Fiorentini USA, Route 22 Sports Bar, and Sunny Vibes LLC, each with five years in business.

Support for the dinner was provided by Trinity Health System, platinum sponsor; West Virginia Northern Community College and Southwestern Energy, gold sponsors; Hancock County Savings Bank, Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs and Grille, and Starvaggi Industries, silver sponsors; and Frontier Group of Companies, Gus’s Goodies, JK Auto Glass, Lauttamus Communications, Mountaineer Casino Resort, and United Bank as bronze sponsors.