A PLACE TO REST — Through the support of the Mutual Municipal Insurance Co. and the Pro Insurance Group, a shelter and picnic tables have been added to the Brooke County Pioneer Trail. Among many on hand for a ribbon-cutting for the shelter were, from left: Becky Szabo, secretary of the Brooke County Pioneer Trail Association; Eric Fithyan, president of the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce; Brian Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Mutual Insurance; Marc Chernenko, chairman of the Wellsburg business’ board of directors; Beech Bottom Mayor Becky Uhlly; and Doug Wayt, president of Ohio Valley Trail Partners. -- Contributed

WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Pioneer Trail Association held a dedication for a new shelter built along the trail with support from two local businesses.

Located by the Short Creek Road/Old Ferry Road trailhead, the shelter and picnic tables inside were donated by Municipal Mutual Insurance Co. and the Pro Insurance Group, both of Wellsburg.

The ribbon was cut by Marc B. Chernenko, chairman of the board of Municipal Mutual, and Brian M. Taylor, Municipal Mutual’s president and chief executive officer.

On hand for the occasion were staff from Municipal, officers and members of the trail association and the Wheeling Heritage Trail/Ohio Valley Trail Partners, and representatives of the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce and Beech Bottom, through which much of the trail runs.

The paved trail links the Wheeling trail at the border between Ohio and Brooke counties with Wellsburg’s Yankee Trail at the south end of the city.

“The construction of this shelter is a significant addition to the region’s recreational trail system as it is the only shelter on the trail between Benwood and Wellsburg,” Chernenko said. “It will provide trail travelers with protection from the elements as well as a convenient place to rest during a walk or ride.”

“Municipal Mutual has been a part of the fabric of the Tri-State Area for more than 115 years,” Taylor added. “This shelter is a testament to its community spirit and dedication to improving the lives of residents in the Northern Panhandle.”

The bridge includes a bicycle lane leading from the trail to Brilliant, expanding travel options for trail users and the number of people who may use the trail.

“The Brooke Pioneer Trail Association appreciates the generosity of Municipal Mutual Insurance and its employees in making this gift,” said Becky Szabo, secretary of the Brooke Pioneer Trail Association. “The shelter is first class. Its location near the Brooke-Ohio County line will be the perfect rest spot for trail users before turning back north to Wellsburg or proceeding south to Wheeling. With the Wellsburg Bridge construction now completed, the trail is in tiptop shape and is beautiful in the fall.”

Szabo noted several park benches were added to the trail this summer. The benches were built by students in Jack Minger’s carpentry class at Brooke High School through a donation by Luke Mester, a longtime Brooke County Schools employee, in memory of his late wife, Earla.