Post by rainman on Nov 30, 2007 6:54:55 GMT -5
We’re so humbled by it’
By Jessica Legge
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT— “I really don’t have the words to say. It’s just wonderful,” Richard Turner said Thursday afternoon when ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” arrived at his family’s Montgomery Avenue home in Fairmont.
“Extreme Makeover,” Huffman Corporation of Bridgeport and the City of Fairmont announced plans to build the Turner family a brand-new home. Designers, contractors, work crews and volunteers will construct a 2,800-square-foot house — from foundations to equipment and appliances — in one week.
“We are so blessed,” Richard’s wife Angie said. “We’re so humbled by it. We thank God. We are just a blessed family.”
Richard and Angie brought their families together as one in 2003 when they married. Angie and her daughter Theresa and sons Tyron and Desmond, and Richard and his daughter Layton and cousin Michael all live under one roof.
The Turners coach football, basketball and cheerleading, serve as mentors and organize fundraisers. They also take care of mentally challenged adults, and have the goal of starting their own business to assist these individuals.
“That kind of energy and that kind of emotion is what our show is all about,” said Ty Pennington, “Extreme Makeover” design team leader and carpenter.
Demolition of the Turners’ existing house, which measures less than 600 square feet and is rotting, will take place Saturday. While the crews are busy working, the Turners will take a trip to Walt Disney World. The “Turner Family” episode of “Extreme Makeover” is tentatively scheduled to air on ABC in March.
The Turners are the first West Virginia family to receive an “extreme dream” home. The television series, which premiered in 2003, is working to do home makeovers in every state, and about nine states are left. Reaching all 50 states will be “quite a milestone,” Pennington said.
He said the crews have a lot of challenges to overcome with the Turners’ new home, such as weather, a steep hill, and no turn-around spot for vehicles and equipment. It takes a lot of work and help from the community to complete a project like this on schedule.
“The best part of the show no doubt is the amount of support we get,” Pennington said. “Our show is about the family story. You grow as a person just being involved with it.”
He said the Turner family has had to make sacrifices, but they have made the most of their situation. “Extreme Makeover” is working to give the Turners more space and make life easier for them.
“They’re really involved in the community,” Pennington said. “They’re great people.”
In spite of everything, the family dedicates their time and efforts to help others, said Wayne Huffman, owner and president of Huffman Corporation, which specializes in commercial contracting.
The Omni Associates-Architects Inc. of Fairmont, an architectural firm that primarily does commercial and industrial projects, worked with ABC design producers to design the new house. Richard Forren, principal of Omni, said the construction drawings are completed, and the team will coordinate changes along the way.
The home will be a combination of two story and one story, Forren said. When designing, the company had to overcome difficulties with the site itself, which is very small and has a severe slope.
Mark Eli, project manager for Huffman Corporation, said the endeavor will include about 800 man hours before the build and 106 hours to complete the construction. Most of the materials for the project have been donated.
“We’ll never forget this,” Eli said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
“It’s a team effort. We couldn’t do this build without the City of Fairmont.”
The City of Fairmont has been involved with the project from the beginning and paved the road leading to the Turners’ house. The city has also worked diligently to support the project and make sure it follows zoning rules and has the proper permits.
“We’re so elated,” Fairmont Mayor Scott Sears said. “This is just a wonderful day for Fairmont. We’re so happy for (the family).”
“They really represent West Virginia in a positive way,” Deputy Mayor John Dahlia added.
Citynet designed wvextremehomes.com as the “virtual home” where people in the area and state can follow the project, said Drew Pomeroy, senior vice president of Citynet.
On the Web site, visitors can meet the Turner family, find out about volunteering and getting involved, and view photographs of the construction process. Citynet also created a site for Huffman Corporation, which can be found at huffmancorporation.com.
The North Central West Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross is collecting homemade desserts and fruit to deliver daily to everyone at the work site. Persons may drop off items from 1-3 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday at the Red Cross office at 405 First St.
(Richard was Dayton's football coach in 2005)
By Jessica Legge
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT— “I really don’t have the words to say. It’s just wonderful,” Richard Turner said Thursday afternoon when ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” arrived at his family’s Montgomery Avenue home in Fairmont.
“Extreme Makeover,” Huffman Corporation of Bridgeport and the City of Fairmont announced plans to build the Turner family a brand-new home. Designers, contractors, work crews and volunteers will construct a 2,800-square-foot house — from foundations to equipment and appliances — in one week.
“We are so blessed,” Richard’s wife Angie said. “We’re so humbled by it. We thank God. We are just a blessed family.”
Richard and Angie brought their families together as one in 2003 when they married. Angie and her daughter Theresa and sons Tyron and Desmond, and Richard and his daughter Layton and cousin Michael all live under one roof.
The Turners coach football, basketball and cheerleading, serve as mentors and organize fundraisers. They also take care of mentally challenged adults, and have the goal of starting their own business to assist these individuals.
“That kind of energy and that kind of emotion is what our show is all about,” said Ty Pennington, “Extreme Makeover” design team leader and carpenter.
Demolition of the Turners’ existing house, which measures less than 600 square feet and is rotting, will take place Saturday. While the crews are busy working, the Turners will take a trip to Walt Disney World. The “Turner Family” episode of “Extreme Makeover” is tentatively scheduled to air on ABC in March.
The Turners are the first West Virginia family to receive an “extreme dream” home. The television series, which premiered in 2003, is working to do home makeovers in every state, and about nine states are left. Reaching all 50 states will be “quite a milestone,” Pennington said.
He said the crews have a lot of challenges to overcome with the Turners’ new home, such as weather, a steep hill, and no turn-around spot for vehicles and equipment. It takes a lot of work and help from the community to complete a project like this on schedule.
“The best part of the show no doubt is the amount of support we get,” Pennington said. “Our show is about the family story. You grow as a person just being involved with it.”
He said the Turner family has had to make sacrifices, but they have made the most of their situation. “Extreme Makeover” is working to give the Turners more space and make life easier for them.
“They’re really involved in the community,” Pennington said. “They’re great people.”
In spite of everything, the family dedicates their time and efforts to help others, said Wayne Huffman, owner and president of Huffman Corporation, which specializes in commercial contracting.
The Omni Associates-Architects Inc. of Fairmont, an architectural firm that primarily does commercial and industrial projects, worked with ABC design producers to design the new house. Richard Forren, principal of Omni, said the construction drawings are completed, and the team will coordinate changes along the way.
The home will be a combination of two story and one story, Forren said. When designing, the company had to overcome difficulties with the site itself, which is very small and has a severe slope.
Mark Eli, project manager for Huffman Corporation, said the endeavor will include about 800 man hours before the build and 106 hours to complete the construction. Most of the materials for the project have been donated.
“We’ll never forget this,” Eli said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
“It’s a team effort. We couldn’t do this build without the City of Fairmont.”
The City of Fairmont has been involved with the project from the beginning and paved the road leading to the Turners’ house. The city has also worked diligently to support the project and make sure it follows zoning rules and has the proper permits.
“We’re so elated,” Fairmont Mayor Scott Sears said. “This is just a wonderful day for Fairmont. We’re so happy for (the family).”
“They really represent West Virginia in a positive way,” Deputy Mayor John Dahlia added.
Citynet designed wvextremehomes.com as the “virtual home” where people in the area and state can follow the project, said Drew Pomeroy, senior vice president of Citynet.
On the Web site, visitors can meet the Turner family, find out about volunteering and getting involved, and view photographs of the construction process. Citynet also created a site for Huffman Corporation, which can be found at huffmancorporation.com.
The North Central West Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross is collecting homemade desserts and fruit to deliver daily to everyone at the work site. Persons may drop off items from 1-3 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday at the Red Cross office at 405 First St.
(Richard was Dayton's football coach in 2005)
