Wheeling West Virginia Jamboree making a comeback !

Jamboree Making A Comeback By CASEY JUNKINS POSTED: January 12, 2008

WHEELING — Alan Jackson. Randy Travis. Lee Ann Womack. Kathy Mattea. Ohio Valley native Brad Paisley. These are just a few of the country music stars Wheeling lawyer Jeff McCamic and his new, nonprofit corporation, the Wheeling Jamboree Inc., want to bring to the Friendly City in an effort to help reinvigorate downtown Wheeling. “Wheeling is for country,” McCamic said Friday. McCamic and his group have signed a contract to bring events to WesBanco Arena, with the first show slated for 7 p.m. April 12. McCamic said the Jamboree’s first act is scheduled to be the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. “We are also looking to produce some studio shows at venues that hold 50 to 100 people, but we are signed on for WesBanco,” he said. The Wheeling Jamboree board of directors includes McCamic, Kathy Salsberry, Bud Forte, Roger Hoard, Lee C. Paull IV and Brad Paisley’s father, Glen Dale resident Doug Paisley. McCamic said Doug Paisley has confirmed that Brad Paisley is “very excited and anxious to see this happen.” “We hope to eventually bring Brad and his show to Wheeling,” McCamic said. McCamic hopes the Jamboree will help bring life back to a downtown he said has been struggling in recent years. “When I walk through downtown Wheeling right now, I don’t see the vibrant business community I once saw. The Jamboree used to be a huge deal, as tour buses would line up along Main Street to bring people to the shows. We are going to do everything we can to get back to that,” he said. McCamic noted Wheeling Jamboree Inc. is not involved with the Capitol Music Hall. “Our group has nothing to do with anything that may be going on with the Capitol Music Hall. We would like to eventually get some of our shows in the Capitol if someone buys it and fixes it so it is usable, but our deal is not related to anything that may be going on with the Capitol,” he said. McCamic said the purpose of the nonprofit Wheeling Jamboree is for the promotion of musical education, the promotion of performing arts and the promotion of tourism in the city. “Our organization is designed to raise money for these purposes,” he said. Salsberry, an East Liverpool resident who previously expressed an interest in acquiring the Capitol, said in a news release, “We are counting on the local support of our community including corporate partnerships, ticket sales to the shows and anyone who would like to see Jamboree come back.” “To be a voting member of Wheeling Jamboree, a person must live in Ohio, Marshall, Brooke or Hancock counties in West Virginia or Belmont County in Ohio,” McCamic said. He pointed out that the organization is applying for several state grants to assist with its planned projects and is asking members of the community to step forward with assistance. Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said he previously met with the board of directors regarding the plans for the Jamboree. “I think what they are doing is an excellent effort to maintain the tradition of the Jamboree in Wheeling, which will be good for the city,” Herron said, adding he hopes all businesses in the city will be able to capitalize on the efforts of the Jamboree. “I am excited about the possibilities this may mean for the future.” For those who cannot make it to the shows, the Jamboree will be broadcast live over the airwaves of AM 1170 WWVA, via the cooperation of Clear Channel Radio. For more information about The Wheeling Jamboree Inc. or to make donations to the organization, call McCamic at 304-232-6750