Program is key to jobs: ; State lets people lease vehicles to find work

She joked about keeping oars in the back seat.

But Mary Burghy is truly grateful for that "boat."

If it weren't for the 1981 four-door Ford LTD, Burghy might stillbe sitting at home without a driver's license and, perhaps, withouta job.

Burghy, 33, lives on the outskirts of New Martinsville. Two yearsago she was the first person to participate in the Wheels to Jobsprogram, coordinated by Community Resource in Wetzel County.

Program participants lease cars from the agency for $60 per monthso they can get to work, said Pam Billeter of the Wetzel agency.

Now officials at the Department of Health and Human Resourceswant to create a statewide program, …