Belle councilman Marc Doughty (far left) shared an update about a town mural project with his fellow members during the Sept. 17 meeting.Photo byShannon Graley via YouTube

BELLE, W.Va. -- In the comig months, the town of Belle will have its own mural dedicated to the people and businesses that call this eastern Kanawha Valley hamlet home.

At the Sept. 17 Belle town council meeting, councilman Marc Doughty shared an update about the mural project with his fellow members. The proposed 550 square foot fresco, which is expected to be displayed on a 660 square foot wall, will be designed by Marmet-based artist Blake Wheeler.

The Belle mural will mark Wheeler’s third in eastern Kanawha County.

Earlier this summer, Wheeler debuted a painting in Malden featuring notable historical scenes connected to the area.

This month, he revealed another mural in Marmet, featuring miners, Ebenezer Chapel, the Marmet Mustang school mascot and festivities to honor local veterans.

He’s also completed several public art pieces in and around Charleston.

On Tuesday, Belle council members discussed images they’d like to see in the town’s mural. An aerial view of Belle, the train depot, the DuPont plant, Samuel Shrewsbury’s home (commonly known as the Old Stone House), new municipal signs, Town Hall and a memorial for veterans were all mentioned as potential elements to include.

A mural in Malden created by Marmet-based artist Blake Wheeler highlights the town's history. Belle will soon get a mural of its own.Photo byBlake Wheeler

“I wouldn’t mind taking a couple of pictures of Caterpillar equipment [to include in the mural],” Belle Mayor David Fletcher said. “They’ve been in the town since back in the late [19]50s.”

Some council members agreed with Fletcher, noting that if it weren’t for companies like Caterpillar or DuPont, the town “wouldn’t have made it.”

“With the money we got out of Walker Machinery all those years, every street in town has been paved several times,” Fletcher said.

Councilwoman Melanie Vickers cautioned against putting too many elements into the final design.

“Just don’t make it so busy that you can’t see what it is,” Vickers said.

Council members agreed to leave the overall design to the artist and approved the $5,500 needed to complete the project.

Doughty told his fellow members that Wheeler would need four weeks to complete the mural artwork, and an additional three days to install the final product.

Neither a final design nor a completion date were approved at Tuesday’s meeting.

Upcoming community events

Parents and children attend the 2023 Belle Halloween Party. This year's party will take place from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31.Photo byNicole Fletcher via the Residents of Belle, West Virginia Facebook page

On Tuesday, council members gave updates on several upcoming events.

Next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28, Belle will host its annual Town Festival and Car Show. Councilwoman Vickers said 45 vendors have shown interest in participating, some of whom have never attended the festival before. The event will include a free bouncy house and obstacle course for kids. Anyone interested in volunteering for the festival is asked to call the town hall.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, the annual Fall Community Yard Sale will take place, Vickers said. Anyone who wishes to sell items in their yard may do so any time beginning at 8 a.m. In the case of rain or other inclement weather, the council has selected Oct. 12 as a backup date. Members agreed that going forward, the spring community yard sale would be held on the first Saturday of April while the fall community yard sale would take place on the first Saturday of October.

Finally, this year’s town Halloween Party will kick off at 7 p.m. Halloween night (Thursday, Oct. 31). This follows the community's Trick or Treat 6 p.m. start time, which the Kanawha County Commission had previously set for that day. Vickers said the party would be open to children aged 13 and younger. Games, prizes, hot dogs and treats will be provided at the party. Anyone wanting to volunteer for the event is asked to contact the town hall.

Other business

Also on Monday, Belle town council members:

• Received the August 2024 financial statement, which showed an income of $41,574.54 and expenditures of $74,136.91, leaving a $32,562.37 shortage for that month;
• Approved a $500 donation for the Riverside High School Project Graduation event;
• Reviewed the annual police pension plan, which is currently 127% funded at $1,535,863.25; and
• Accepted a $15,000 bid from Public Safety Solutions for emergency lights, cages and other vehicle equipment for the town police department.

The next regularly scheduled Belle town council meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Town Hall, 1100 E Dupont Ave.

Michael Ramsburg is a Kanawha County communities reporter. He can be reached at ramsburgreports@gmail.com or by calling 304-370-3067.