NEWPORT-After months of meetings discussing it, the Newport Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, Oct. 25, granted a variance to Costner-Maloy Funeral Home to build a floor in a new addition to be constructed that meets the minimum height above sea level as stipulated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The motion passed unanimously.

After the vote, Donnie Costner, owner of the funeral home, said to the members of the Board of Zoning Appeals and Mark Robinson, the Newport Planner he has worked with, "I appreciate the efforts you put into this."

Before the vote, Costner said building onto the funeral home was not an easy task because "we're trying to tie into a building that dates back to 1880."

For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.