T-L Photo/J.D. Long The Beep Beep Driving School in St. Clairsville is in the midst of replacing their current fleet of vehicles as they display one of their newer ones accompanied with a new logo.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — You may find the sign with the funny child-like name seem cute but it’s all serious when it comes to driving.

The Beep Beep Driving School, located at 252 W. Main Street in St. Clairsville, provides a thorough state-mandated driver education course owned and operated by Shawn and Julie Powell.

BBDS was born from and heavily influenced by former law enforcement personnel such as, Julie’s father Mike Nelson and husband Shawn, as well as former owner Bob West who decided to stay on as a driving instructor after selling the business to the Powell’s this past January.

“The whole concept of the school is run by cops,” Julie said, adding that after Shawn, who is also a veteran, left the force to work in the coal mines, missed being a patrolman and began interacting with kids with one being good driving skills.

Julie said they wish to be a part of a foundation that helps prevent the type of accidents that can be avoided.

And as for the instructors Julie feels she has the best staff of instructors a business could have.

“All our drivers are amazing,” she said of the group, which consists of West, Rita Foder, a former youth leader, Allan Rutter who makes the drive from Moundsville each day, Harry Wright, a former police officer and Jim Weisgerber who Julie calls a jack-of-all trades.

“I don’t know if I can say enough about our employees,” she said in glowing terms. Her father, Mike is also a former officer with the Ohio Highway State Patrol for 26 years and now instructor for 11 years. Another instructor she is proud of is the Mayor of Brookside, Rich Kurner – a state licensed instructor by the Ohio Department of Public Safety as all their drivers/instructors are.

The young students, when under the age of 18 must complete a total of 32 hours of driver education broken down to a 24-hour online course and the remaining eight hours of actual driving. Also included is an additional 50 hours of driving experience with a parent or guardian, as well – 10 of those hours must be conducted at night.

The award winning school – first place two consecutive years for Best of Ohio Valley Readers Choice – provides a service for youth from all around the area including West Virginia, which does not have the state requirements that Ohio does, according to Julie. But she said they will still come to the school, some 18 and older, because the parents either don’t have the time to help their child to become a better driver or they’re just plain worried and want more driver’s education for them.

“We have lots of West Virginia kids,” she said. And one thing she’s learned close up are the nuts and bolts of the operation after BBDS’s longtime secretary Terri Conaway retired and Julie had to take over those duties.

“She was a sweetheart,” she said of Conaway. There are plenty of helpful links on their official website (beepdriversed.com) and instructions and costs for programs. The number to reach them is: 740-699-0333.

“We’re really blessed to have such amazing people that work here,” Julie explained.