Hello and happy fall from Barbour County where we are enjoying some much-needed rain.

Battler’s Knob (the former Alderson Broaddus University) and West Virginia Wesleyan College have formed a partnership. More details will be coming, but it looks like higher education will once again be on the hill… where it belongs. Congratulations to all.

Zumba Strong takes place upstairs at Belington City Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Work has been started on the new pickleball courts at the Belington City Park. This seems to be a popular game lately. Have you tried playing?   

Speaking of pickleball, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at North Philippi Park today, Sept. 28 at 10 a.m.

Battler’s Knob will be hosting A Night of Magic with Joey Stepp today, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.  Enjoy a night of fun with the whole family.

There will be a Hunter’s Safety Course on Sept. 28 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sept. 29 from 1-5 p.m. at the Union Community Building. Hunting season is upon us! Please make every effort to be safe.

Annie’s Smiles will be having their annual Jeep Charity Ride and Duck Race in Philippi, as well as their Craft and Vendor Show at the Barbour County Courthouse on Oct. 5. For more information, call 304-672-2744.

Belington will be having their second annual Chili Cookoff on Oct. 12 from noon until 2 p.m. at the Belington Civic Center.  There will be an entry fee. Come battle it out to see who wins the prize for the best chili.  

There will be a Bingo Benefit on Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Union Community Building. This will be to raise money for a 20-year-old young man, Taylor, who was in an accident and is unable to work for a while.

It’s that time of year again to mark your calendar for our annual Fall Festival on Oct. 19.

Homemade apple butter making over open fire, live entertainment all day, kids paint your pumpkin, kitchen all day with our famous Mt. Liberty hot dogs, apple blossoms (dumplings) with ice cream, etc. 

Crafters/vendors downstairs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Silent Auction 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Old Fashion Cake Walk from 6-8 p.m with Good Ol’ Boys singing, raffles available all day with a drawing at 8 p.m. at the end of the cake walk. 

Come out and enjoy the day with good food, friends and great entertainment. 

There will be a Community Baby Shower on Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Junior Town Hall.This is sponsored by the Barbour County Family Support Center.

There will be a Flannel Fest in Philippi on Oct. 26. Among other events, there will be a beard/mustache contest. Come on out and compete to see who has the best decorated beard, longest, and best groomed.

Mikey Hart Purse Bingo will take place Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. at Junior Fire Department. Doors open at noon. All proceeds go to the Mikey Hart Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact Judy at 304-823-2991.

There will be Barnyard Trunk or Treat once again this year at the Barbour County Fairgrounds on Oct. 29 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. This proves to be a great event for children as every year, there are several hundred treated in a safe and organized environment.

The city of Philippi will be having Trick Or Treat on Halloween night from 5:30-7 p.m.

Looking ahead, Barbour Community Health Association will be hosting their 13th annual 5K Turkey Trot on Nov. 2. Registration can be completed online this year at runsignup.com.

There will be a Battle on the Mountaintop cheer competition at Battler’s Knob on Nov. 2. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the competition starts at noon. For more information, email: battlercats24@gmail.com.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Please reach out and be a true friend to those who are in our lives. We never know what someone else is going through, and sometimes someone who cares can make a whole world of difference.

If you have any Barbour County news that you would like to see in The Inter-Mountain, give me a call at 304-614-7782. I love hearing from you.

Until next time… Treat everyone with kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are.