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Washington County Relay for Life returns to Civitan Park in Belpre on Saturday, May 18
BELPRE, Ohio (WTAP) - Washington County Relay for Life is making its return to Civitan Park in Belpre on Saturday, May 18 for the 30th time. The event will start at 3 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m. Relay For Life is more than a walk – it’s a chance...
Marietta Aquatic Center will open for the season May 25
MARIETTA — The city of Marietta has announced the official opening date of the Marietta Aquatic Center. The city posted on its website Thursday that the MAC will open May 25 at 12 p.m. This announcement is the ending to a saga that started in April where it was uncertain if the MAC would open at all this year.
Patriot boys 4×4 team wins state title
CHARLESTON — Parkersburg South’s boys managed a 10th place showing here Saturday in the Class AAA portion of the state track meet held at Laidley Field thanks in part to a victorious effort in the 4×4. Lead leg Anthony Ott gave the Patriots of head coach Jason...
Let Pavilion pave way to Parkersburg’s future
I have been listening to the residents of Parkersburg on both sides of the pavilion issue. This includes multiple in-person conversations, listening to Mayor Joyce and members of city council, and reading the plethora of social media debates. After disregarding the misinformation regarding this project, I am hearing two basic motivations driving the arguments of placement of the new community center. The first motivation is financial. Mayor Joyce and the City Council have clearly outlined the process and reasoning they have used in the decision-making process and show that the new building replacing the existing pavilion will not put the burden of higher tax rates on the residents of Parkersburg. In fact, by replacing the pavilion, a great deal of the maintenance costs of dealing with a 100-year-old building will be eliminated. The second motivation I am hearing is emotional. When you have a public building that has been in place for over a hundred years — a building that contains the memories of thousands of residents from thousands of different events, there is an inevitable tug at the heartstrings at the thought of tearing it down. Human beings like permanence. And just because something is old doesn’t mean you throw it away.
Federal Hocking is facing a budget shortfall due to high premiums and low enrollment
STEWART, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Federal Hocking Local Schools will face a $1.66 million shortfall by fiscal year 2027 if it does not cut spending, according to a report from the district. Members of the Federal Hocking Board of Education met Thursday to discuss how the district will...
Mid-Ohio Valley Faith Calendar
Five gospel groups will perform in concert at 6 p.m. May 18 at Blennerhassett Middle School in a show hosted by the non-profit Rejoice Music. The Gerald Wolfe Gospel Music Hymn Sing will feature Greater Vision, the Mark Trammell Quartet, the Whisnant’s, the Mylon Hayes Family and the Hymn Sing Band performing live. Doors open at 5 p.m.
AIM transportation solutions brings jobs to Wood County
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - Aim transportation held their grand opening and job fair today in Parkersburg. At the job fair they were seeking employees interested in being a truck driver and diesel mechanic. Aim transportation is a company that spans as far west as Arizona and as east as Buffalo....
Wood County Magistrate Court
PARKERSBURG — The following cases were handled in Wood County Magistrate Court on May 3-5: * Roger William Kyle, 2030 Dutch Central Road, Rockport, pleaded guilty to a red-light violation and fined $181.48. * Damian Allen Hodge, 803 33rd St., Vienna, pleaded guilty to speeding and fined $196.48. *...
Op-ed: Parkersburg officials DID listen to public on new facility
The concept of providing the community with a new pavilion began in 2018, when the city adapted a new Parks Master Plan. A series of 4 public forums was held, seeking input from PKB citizens as to what they would like to see in our parks. Many individual citizens mentioned different needs for indoor facilities. It was quickly apparent that constructing several buildings to fulfill all these needs would be too costly. At those same public forums many groups and individuals felt the current pavilion was too old and needed replaced. That is when city officials first began meshing the ideas into one, resulting in the conclusion that the best way to fulfill the majority of citizen requests was to replace the century-old pavilion with a new pavilion that could accommodate these needs.
Survivors to lead lap at Relay for Life of Washington County
BELPRE — Two local cancer survivors will lead the “Survivors Lap” during Washington County’s Relay for Life at Civitan Park in Belpre Saturday afternoon. The Grand Marshal is Belpre resident Jennifer Woodyward who was diagnosed with stage IV bile duct cancer in July 2023. Prior to her diagnosis, she loved to bike, kayak, swim or work out at the gym.
Op-ed: Ready to be what kids need
Have you ever heard the phrase, “be the person you needed when you were a kid?” At the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg, I get to do just that! As a kid, the supportive adults in my life were usually found at school. If I had a tough year or a bad teacher (which rarely happened), I could find myself with nobody to turn to. As young as first grade, I decided I was going to be “that” person for kids.
An interactive Hymn Sing concert will feature five nationally recognized gospel groups
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - . Rejoice Music is hosting its second concert of the year. Five national award-winning gospel groups will be coming together for an interactive Hymn Sing. The Gospel Music Hymn Sing will be Saturday, May 18th at 6 p.m. at the Blennerhassett Middle School Auditorium. Taj Rohr,...
This Is Home: Dr. Torie Jackson celebrates first anniversary being WVU-Parkersburg President
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - On May 16th, one year ago, a special board meeting was held at West Virginia University-Parkersburg, where Dr. Torie Jackson was officially named President of WVU-P. Dr. Jackson says that from the moment she was announced as the new president, that she felt very honored. What...
Fed Hock’s senior project requirement draws criticism and praise as the district considers changes
STEWART, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Myles Vorisek has parked a black 1981 Yamaha motorcycle in the hallway of Federal Hocking High School. It’s not a senior prank. Vorisek, who is graduating this year, rebuilt the bike more or less from scratch for his 100-hour culminating learning experience — otherwise known as the Fed Hock senior project. Now, he’s showing it off to parents and other interested visitors.
Coolville man receives 20 to life prison sentence for rapes
ATHENS, Ohio — A Coolville man received 20 years to life in prison following his conviction of 10 counts of first-degree felony rape. Joshua D. Murphy, 35, of Coolville, was sentenced to a mandatory prison term of 20 years to life in the State Penal System on May 1.
Teen of the Week: Belpre junior Makayla Carmichael looks to career in math education
BELPRE — Makayla Carmichael, junior at Belpre High School, is active in the student council as Junior Class President, an honor student and a member of the school’s softball and volleyball teams. Carmichael said her favorite subjects at school are those related to mathematics. “It (math) is the...
Students open 30-year-old time capsule at Emerson Elementary School
PARKERSBURG — Students, teachers, alumni and administrators all gathered in the Emerson Elementary gym Wednesday as the school opened a time capsule from 1994. “I have some amazing fourth graders,” Emerson Elementary Principal Tabatha Efaw said. “They completely planned all of this. They did such a wonderful job.”
Coolville residents, village officials organize against proposed traffic project
COOLVILLE, Ohio – Coolville area residents say that proposed traffic changes on U.S. 50 in the village could have unintended consequences, including business closures and more crashes. Around a dozen people attended a public meeting on May 9 at Coolville Village Hall, where Mayor Neil Cowen encouraged villagers to...
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