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Boos & Applause

Applause to the organizers and participants in Thursday’s Legislative Luncheon at the Arts Center in Elkins. The annual event, presented by the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, featured Delegate Bill Hartman and Sen. Robert Karnes answering questions from the audience. Topics ranged from education and tourism to finance and taxes. More than 50 people attended despite the bad weather, which prevented at least one other legislator from taking part Thursday. This is a terrific event that gives local residents a chance to hear what our lawmakers are planning to focus on in the legislative session, and to ask questions about the issues that matter to them.

Applause to the Randolph County Commission for providing $6,000 funding out of the hotel/motel tax revenues for the Hillbilly Hardball Classic. This brings in tourism dollars from outside the area, filling up the hotels and restaurants, and contributes to the local economy.

Applause to the Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School’s boys basketball team, which presented Christmas gift bags to St. Joseph’s Hospital for distribution to oncology patients during the holiday season. The team gave 31 bags filled with items that included snacks, tissues, hand sanitizer, coffee mugs and crossword books. Staff will give the bags to patients receiving chemotherapy treatment in hopes that these gifts will provide some comfort to those going through a difficult time. Teams from several local schools have made donations and contributions of time to charitable causes in recent months. This is a great way for young people to get in the habit of doing good for others, in a way that’s both fun and helpful.

Applause to GeorgiAnna Raye Ware, the first baby born in 2018 at Davis Medical Center in Elkins. Proud parents Debbie and Chad Ware welcomed GeorgiAnna, as did her siblings, 14-year-old ViviAnne, 10-year-old CeCelia and 7-year-old Chancellor, who goes by Chance. The infant arrived at 7:59 a.m. Jan. 2, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces.

Boo to the unexpectedly bitter temperatures our region experienced Tuesday night, as the thermometer’s mercury dipped below zero and kept going, reaching close to 20 degrees below zero in some parts of our region. The intensity of the cold snap seemed to take forecasters by surprise, and many local residents woke up Wednesday morning to be startled by the still frigid temps, which stayed below zero even after the sun came up. This coming week’s forecast calls for several days’ high temperatures to reach up to the 50s. Hallelujah! Many people love to see snow, but no one seems to be a fan of bitter cold.

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