Charleston Gazette

Electronic Data Recorders Provide Wealth of Information in Some Newer Cars

Stephen Keating isn't sure he'd like "my car testifying against me." The brave new world of automotive electronics makes him appreciate older cars all the more, he said. "I'm sticking with the old cars," the executive director of the Privacy Foundation in Denver said.

Added Attractions Highlight Many 2004 Vehicles

Ah, we are becoming a spoiled bunch inside our cars and trucks. The newest features appearing on 2004 vehicles show a trend toward easier-to-use phones, better sound systems, more comfort items, larger, let-in-the-sky roofs and new wheels.

Movies Such As 'the Matrix Reloaded' Push the Marketing Envelope

The lure of Hollywood is strong - not just for aspiring starlets but for aspiring vehicles, too. Just look at the extraordinary effort of Cadillac to get the edgy CTS sedan and aggressively styled Escalade EXT in the lengthy, high- tech chase scene in this summer's movie, "The Matrix Reloaded."

Community Events

BETTER SCHOOLS MEETING The Better Schools, Better Communities group will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12 at Sissonville High School.

Neighbors

The Town of Chesapeake has announced the winners of the Holiday Lighting Contest held on Friday, Dec. 19. The winners were The Rev. and Mrs. Cornell and Vonda Byers, first place, $100; Lairdy and Madelyn Hodge, second place, $50; and George and Ann Mitchem, third place, $25. The contest was judged by two Boone County residents, Kay Morrison of Racine and Shirley Perry of Rumble. Navy Seaman Joshua M. Hall, son of Debra L. Flowers of Charleston, and his fellow crew members recently hosted acto...

Mayors Weigh in with 2004 Community Outlooks: ; Beautification, Water and New Business Among Goals

cthomas@cnpapers.com While no modern Nostradamus exists to incisively and infallibly divine all that will unfold in the new year, five Metro East-area mayors were available and willing recently to share their forecasts for 2004 for the communities they serve.

Bus Ride: ; Narrow Roads, Hills Part of Driver's Daily Route; Second of a Five- Part Series

It's 5:30 a. m. and I just pulled out of my driveway heading for Eleanor, Putnam County, to meet the school bus I am scheduled to ride this morning. Man, is it foggy along Coal River and Kanawha River! I'm traveling about 30 miles per hour on U.S. 35 and no one is passing me. Of course, there aren't many nuts like me driving through this mixture of darkness and fog. Yesterday, Nov. 17, I met with Putnam School Superintendent Sam Sentelle and his transportation guru, Allen Johnson, to arrange ...

Poet to Present Woodson Portrayal in Beards Fork

In recognition of History Alive! and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Norman Jordan will portray Carter G. Woodson, "The Father of Black History," at the Southern Appalachian Labor School in Beards Fork at 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. Woodson spent his young adult years in West Virginia as a railroad worker, coal miner, teacher, principal and professor. He went on to become the first son of former slaves to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard and then devoted his life to bringing the achievements of his race t...

Bulletin Board

LITTLE LEAGUE SIGNUPS Signups for Kanawha Central Little League baseball and softball teams will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 18 in the DuPont Middle School gymnasium. The league is open to children ages 5 to 18, at a cost of $30 per child or $50 per family. Registrants must bring a birth certificate and parents' proof of residence. For further information, telephone 925-6057.

Titans Hold 'Madden Challenge' Fund-Raisers

cthomas@cnpapers.com Forget the foosball.

Gauley Bridge Health Center Hosts Health Day This Month

Officials at Gauley Bridge Health Center will conduct a Cancer Screening and Preventive Health Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16. The event will focus on the importance of preventive screening and routine health examinations. The following health screenings will be provided to the public at no charge:

Adopt a Pet: ; Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association Shelter:

Meet Marty (ref. 1196), a 4-month-old male Lab-mix, and Weena (ref. 802), a 9-month-old female cat. Marty came to the animal shelter as a stray. He is a nice dog and would make an excellent pet. Weena has a "sweet" personality, according to shelter officials, and is trained to use a litter box.

Stroke Screening to Be Offered Saturday

Residents in and around Kanawha City can be screened this Saturday to reduce their risk of having a stroke. Life Life Screening will be at the Kanawha City Community Center on Saturday, Jan. 17.

More Vehicles Sold with All-Wheel Drives

Can it really be that 80 percent of the buyers of the Honda CR-V and Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicles live in wintry climates and-or drive off road? You might be tempted to think so. After all, 80 percent of the CR- Vs and Escalades purchased by consumers last year had four- or all- wheel drive, according to automaker sales figures.

Safety Upgrades Added to 2004 Selection

You probably won't notice them right away in 2004 vehicles. But a couple of telltale alerts or labels somewhere on the dashboard or around the ceiling of these newest models are the first signs that new safety equipment is on board.

News of Note

Chrysler loaners AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - The 2004 Chrysler Crossfire and 2004 Pacifica are the first Chrysler-branded vehicles to receive an upgraded warranty program that includes free loaner cars during some repairs and maintenance.

Business Planning Workshop Scheduled in Dunbar

On the Web: Www.Autobeat.Com

Correction

2004 West Virginia International Auto Show Will Cater to Car Buffs of All Ages

cthomas@cnpapers.com A kind of Christmas feeling comes extraordinarily early to the capital city every year for hard-core car buffs and automotive aficinados, and 2004 is no exception.