NEW U.S. ATTORNEY GETS BIG WELCOME

Military, political and business dignitaries packed U.S. District Judge
Charles Haden's cavernous courtroom to overflowing to see West Virginia's
newest federal lawman take the oath of office.

From Ken Hechler to Buck Harless, all sides of the political spectrum
gathered Monday in Charleston federal court to wish Kasey Warner well as he
begins his four-year term as U.S. attorney for the southern half of the state.

Welcoming the group that filled not only his courtroom but another room two
floors below where the ceremony was shown on closed-circuit television,
Haden said that with a new president in the White House it was "time to
change the guard."

Most of the remarks were warm and sometimes funny. But when Warner took the
stand to speak, he welcomed the dozens who came to wish him well and then
took a serious tone that reflects not only the 32 years of military
experience he is leaving behind, but the importance of the job that lies ahead.

He promised an "independent" office ready to serve the "wide ranging and
diverse" needs and interest of Southern West Virginia, including a "rigid"
stance on drug dealing and other top priority crimes. But he also promised
to lead the charge to prepare the region to prevent and respond to any
potential terrorist strike.

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., also spoke at the ceremony, telling
Warner that all those in attendance "are very proud of your choice to
devote your life to public service," starting with his distinguished career
in the Army's Judge Advocate Corps and now moving to non-military law
enforcement.

On hand for the event was the chief of the Navy's Judge Advocate Corps and
the recently retired head of the Army's legal division.