LEON, W.Va. — Retired Washington Post photo editor Joseph Elbert didn’t have to go looking for inspiration when he decided to start building furniture. It nearly fell on him. When a derecho swept across West Virginia on June 29, 2012, strong winds damaged buildings, uprooted trees and took down power[Read More…]
Month: June 2014
Striking the right balance for higher ed funding
An editorial from The Exponent Telegram CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The state of West Virginia has faced, and will continue to face, ongoing budgetary challenges for the foreseeable future. This has impacted higher education funding at a time when there is a continuing decline in the number of graduating high school[Read More…]
State superintendent must shrink his job
An editorial from the Charleston Daily Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state school board hired Michael J. Martirano as the new state superintendent. For the last nine years, he has headed the public school system in St. Mary’s County, Md. In St. Mary’s, Martirano oversaw the instruction of 17,454 students.[Read More…]
Williamson wins award for health efforts
WILLIAMSON, W.Va. – The city of Williamson is one of six winners of the RWJF Culture of Health Prize, awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The prize honors communities that are harnessing the collective power of leaders, partners and stakeholders to help residents live healthier, more productive lives. The[Read More…]
Fayette County readies memorial to 1915 disaster
BECKLEY, W.Va. — Of the 165 men who walked into Layland No. 3 Mine on March 2, 1915, 112 would never see the light of day again. A massive explosion killed 111 inside the mine and another was thrown 125 feet by the explosion, killing him. This marked the worst[Read More…]
Alumnus says, ‘There goes my English class’
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Several former students who walked through the halls of the old East Fairmont Junior High School on Thursday gathered to watch as the building they grew up around was demolished. “It’s bittersweet,” said Katie Musgrave, who graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1964. “It is kind[Read More…]
Returning soldier-mom surprises kids at daycare
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A brother and sister received a special surprise Thursday after their naptime. Batina Church, the mother of Gavin and Isabella Church, surprised her children at the LearningLand Daycare & Preschool on Thursday afternoon. Gavin and Isabella were asked why Thursday was such an important day. Five-year-old Gavin[Read More…]
W.Va. soccer fans find ways to watch big game
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – Although the United States had the losing number on the scoreboard, the overwhelming crowd at Buffalo Wild Wings broke out into cheers, claps and a deafening chant of “U-S-A” at the end of Thursday’s World Cup soccer game. Despite the loss to Germany, the United States will[Read More…]
Incoming W.Va. schools chief to apply ‘laser focus’
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The man expected to be West Virginia’s next schools superintendent says his primary focus will not only be graduating more students but closing the achievement gap shown by poor and minority students. In West Virginia, more than half of all students live at or below the poverty[Read More…]
Huntington welcomes an opulent Queen
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — She’s a portal to the time when Mark Twain penned classic tales while looking out onto the mighty Mississippi. She’s the American Queen. Described as the largest, most opulent riverboat in the world, the American Queen steamed into Huntington Monday morning to the delight of the crowd[Read More…]