Photo by Joselyn King West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Thursday presented the Mt. Zion Cemetery Association with a check for $2 million to assist in clean up and restoration following a mudslide there on April 4 that toppled more than 150 tombstones. speaks Thursday at the Mt. Zion. Pictured from left are State Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio; Delegate Diana Winzenreid, R-Ohio; Paula Stein, treasurer of the Mt. Zion Cemetery Association; Charles Yocke, association president; Justice; Moore Capito, Republican gubernatorial candidate; and Senate Majority Whip Ryan Weld, R-Brooke. West Virginia first dog “Babydog” is seated in front.

MOZART — The Mt. Zion Cemetery Association received $2 million from the state of West Virginia Thursday to begin clean up and restoration following a landslide there earlier this month — but officials with the cemetery aren’t sure how far the money is going to go.

It’s estimated that more than 150 tombstones were toppled during a massive slide that happened there during flooding on April 4.

“It will go some way,” said Charles Yocke, president of the Mt. Zion Cemetery Association. “We’re still collecting damage. We’re still waiting on costs from the engineers, and what the prices will be to restore the tombstones.

“Then there’s still going to be the price to stabilize the slip.”

He noted work will start “when we get enough money together.”

“It’s all about the almighty buck,” Yocke added.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice was in the Wheeling area on Thursday, and made a stop at the Mt. Zion Cemetery to present the $2 million check.

Among those present were Moore Capito, Republican candidate for governor; State Sen. Laura Wakim-Chapman, R-Ohio; Delegate Diana Winzenreid, R-Ohio; Senate Majority Whip Ryan Weld, R-Brooke; and Randall Reid-Smith, curator for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.

Justice recounted the flooding that struck his Greenbrier Resort property as they prepared for a professional golf tournament there in 2016.

He said the devastation there was unbelievable as they found three bodies on the golf course, and a fourth one six weeks later.

“It’s really, really tough stuff,” he said. “And what you’ve gone through in this area has been unbelievable. Lots and lots of people have lost everything they had, and it’s terrible.”

The years of now-destroyed memories they had stored in the basement were piled up outside their homes, and were taken away by an endloader,

“Today, we will celebrate a contribution that maybe will do some towards — if not all — fixing this bad event,” Justice continued. “There were 150 stones (damaged). Thank goodness we didn’t get any actual gravesites washed away.”

He thanked those present for “the love they have for each other.”

“In the end, that’s what pulls you through,” Justice said. “We want to give a check, but a check is just a check.

“What’s going to win the day is you helping one another. I’m going to do all in my power to stand with you, and I truly believe you are going to get through this. It’s not any fun. It’s tough stuff, and it (recovery) happens slower than you think.”