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Boos & Applause

Applause to the unique opportunity Elkins High School students had this week to speak to U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., just as he was at the center of national speculation about him possibly being named to President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet. On Wednesday, students in Shelly Burda’s advanced placement U.S. Government class at EHS spoke with Manchin via Skype, an online, live video feed. Manchin told the students he will continue to put West Virginia and the United States first in any decision-making process. “If you’re a Republican and I’m a Democrat or I’m a Republican and you’re a Democrat, that doesn’t all of a sudden put up a blockade where we have to say, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t work with you because we’re on different sides,'” Manchin said. “We might have different ideas and we might have different approaches on how to solve things, but I don’t look at that branding of a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ as an obstacle for me or a barrier that I can’t cross.” The senator added he plans to work with Trump with the mindset that both individuals are Americans wanting to move the country forward.

Applause to everyone who helped put together the annual Christmas parade in Elkins Wednesday. Nearly 80 acts, including dance groups, area bands and Christmas carolers, dressed festively in holiday themed costumes as they entertained many from around the area in this year’s hour-long parade. More than 1,120 people took part in the parade, not including the hundreds of people who lined the streets to enjoy the holiday festivities. After the parade, families were invited to the Elkins YMCA to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy other activities. Some 100 children took part in these activities and waited restlessly to tell Santa what they would like to have for Christmas this year. The event was sponsored by The Inter-Mountain, the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA, Elkins Rotary Club and Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. The event provided youngsters with a free photo with Santa, compliments of The Inter-Mountain, snacks, entertainment and activities.

Applause to an event Thursday in which Elkins High School students visited the Randolph County Senior Center to learn from area residents about their lives and different parts of history. In the semester-long folk music class, students are able to do more than simply learn about the history of folk music, instructor Liz Marshall-MacVean said. Any program that encourages the young people in our community to learn from their elders is a positive one.

Applause to the 11th annual Friends First Christmas Party Tuesday night. Randolph County Technical Center students partnered with the Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living to throw the party for roughly 40 attendees with disabilities. The students in the center’s Career and Work Skills Training class collected money from classes throughout the technical center and used it to purchase gifts for the attendees. They also decorated and were able to get food donated by Kentucky Fried Chicken — one meal each for 50 to 60 individuals.

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