New ASL Dean Ready to Build On Law School Successes
Wes Shinn Looks Forward to Challenges Ahead

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
   As Wes Shinn takes over the reins at the Appalachian School of Law as its interim dean next week, he said, he is ready to get to work to continue the successes the law school has experienced in recent years.
  Shinn, who first came to ASL in 1999, left in 2001 for five years and returned again this past August, said he was happy to return, having enjoyed his time at ASL the first time time around.
  When former Dean Jeff Kinsler called him in 2005 to offer him an opportunity to return to ASL, Shinn said it was nice to know he was wanted and as that offer was also extended by a couple of ASL board members as well, Shinn said the decision to return to what he called "a comfortable and friendly environment," was an easy one.
  "I'm glad to be back," he said. "This is a good place with good people."
  Shinn is a graduate of Tulane School of Law, where he graduated with highest honors. While there, he was elected to Order of the Coif and served as editor in chief of the Tulane Law Review. He earned an LL.M. from Harvard Law School.
  He has published in the legal field of civil law obligations, secured transactions, and environmental law and is a frequent speaker in the area of wills and estates.
  He previously taught at ASL until 2001 when he left to return to the deep south to be near family and to teach at Mississippi College School of Law. He was there in 2005 when he received ASL's invitation to return as a full professor.
  At ASL, he currently teaches courses in property, secured transactions and estates and trusts.
  Prior to returning to teaching in 1999, Shinn was a practicing attorney in New Orleans, La., for more than 25 years.
  And while he is currently the interim dean, Shinn confirmed he has also tossed his hat into the ring to be named the school's permanent dean. A national search to name a permanent dean is now underway.
  "This is an interim position now as the search continues, but I intend to do this job as if it were permanent," Shinn said of the focus and work he intends to put into the post.
  In addition to being named interim dean, Shinn was also named chief operating officer, which he said is a governance issue recommended by the ABA.
  And while he focuses on the day-to-day duties of the dean, Shinn will also continue to teach classes in wills and estates and property.
  Shinn said he considers himself to continue to be "a student of the law," and added he recommends to all his students that they continue to challenge themselves to learn and to stay abreast of changes in the law by always remaining students of the law themselves.
  Looking ahead, Shinn said, ASL must continue to prepare for its next review by the American Bar Association. ASL was granted full accreditation earlier this year, which puts the school on track for another review in three years. After successfully passing the three-year review coming up, under ABA rules, law schools are then evaluated on accreditation issues every seven years.
  Based on the current schedule, Shinn said he expected a site team would visit the school in the fall of 2008 or spring of 2009.
  Currently, faculty and staff are reviewing the institution's strategic plan and self study which will be revised as needed and submitted to the ABA prior to the site team review.
  Surveys of students and data gathering are ongoing now.
  "We want to see what we do well and see what areas we can improve upon," Shinn said. 

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.  

County Tax Deadline Is Set for January 5

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor  
  Buchanan County residents are reminded that county real estate, personal property and merchants capital taxes are due next week.
  The deadline for the payment of 2006 county taxes is Friday, January 5, 2007.
  The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors changed the tax due date for 2006 to January, instead of December, in action taken in earlier discussions on the date taxes are due.
  Historically, the board had changed the due date on an annual basis from December to January.
  Residents paying after the January 5 deadline will be subject to a 5 percent penalty  and 10 percent interest beginning January 6, 2007.
  Tax rates are $1.95 per $100 assessed value for personal property; 49 cents per $100 assessed value for real estate; and $2 per $100 assessed value for merchant's capital.
  Anyone who has not yet received a tax ticket or who has questions about them may call Treasurer Bill Keene at 935-6551.
  For questions related to the value of the real estate or personal property, Commissioner of Revenue Victor Breeding may be reached at 935-6541.

CEDA Recognizes Yates for His Service to Region

  The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) during its final meeting of the year last Friday recognized retiring Executive Director Charles Yates for his tireless efforts and dedication to the region.
  Yates, who has served since 1989 as the Coalfield Authority’s only executive director, is retiring Dec. 31. Jonathan Belcher, who had been serving as acting executive director since July, was named executive director at the board’s Nov. 9 meeting.
   “Because of the hard work of Charles Yates, Southwest Virginia has seen excellent results in advancing the economy of the coalfield region,” said Donald Baker, chairman of the VCEDA executive committee, who presented Yates with a resolution from the board.
  The resolution honoring Yates said: “Under Mr. Yates’ leadership as Executive Director, great advances in economic development and diversification were made in the seven-county and one-city Coalfield Region of Virginia, including a significant reduction in unemployment rates, the creation of thousands of new jobs, and the location of many major new industries to the region.”
  In other action, the VCEDA board presented a $1.4 million grant to the Breaks Interstate Park Commission for the construction of cabins along Laurel Lake in Breaks Interstate Park .
  The board also elected its current slate of officers for another one-year term. Officers are Mark Wooten, chairman; Jay Rife, vice chairman; Richard Edwards, secretary; and Mike Quillen, treasurer.