Trending
* Applause to the excitement building in our area leading up to the appearance tonight of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in Elkins. The tree will tour the state of West Virginia, beginning with a kick-off event in Elkins tonight, stopping in communities along the way before it is delivered to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The tree, which was harvested from Monongahela National Forest in Randolph County on Wednesday, will headline a Mini-Parade on Third Street in Elkins at 5:45 p.m. tonight. Celebration events, including remarks by the statewide Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest winner, Ethan Reese of Beverly, and Mark Bowe, host of "Barnwood Builders," will begin at 6:10 p.m. at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center. The event should turn out to be a true community celebration.
* Applause to the two experienced sawyers who harvested the tree this week: Arden Cogar Jr., a West Virginia attorney and World Champion lumberjack, and Ron Polgar, a longtime Monongahela National Forest employee. Cogar's father, Arden Cogar, Sr., harvested the 1976 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree from the Gauley Ranger District. Polgar is an expert botanist, and has coordinated the Forest's saw program since 1990. He trains both chainsaw and crosscut sawyers and is known to meticulously maintain all tools.
* Applause to the Elkins High School Band Drumline, which was recently named Grand Champion at the Philip Barbour Horseshoe Classic/Governor's Cup Finals held at George Byrer Field. The Tigers scored 171 out of a possible 200 points to earn the distinction of drumline state champions. EHS defeated 10 other drumlines that competed in the finals of West Virginia Marching Band Invitational, which featured a total of 34 bands from throughout the state. Not only was the drumline presented with a large trophy for their accomplishment, but the band also received $27,000 worth of new percussion equipment from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.
* Applause to the Pocahontas County High School marching band, all nine members strong, who have pulled together and persevered this school year without having a band director. At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, members of the band were informed that the PBHS band director had accepted another job at another school and would be leaving Pocahontas County High. The band had 38 members at the beginning of the school year: nine elected to stay in the band and continue to play without a band director. Their inspirational story has been featured locally and also in an article in the Washington Post, and in a segment featured on ABC's "Good Morning America." The band is scheduled to play a Veterans Day Ceremony at school and will march in the Marlinton Christmas Parade.
* Applause to the organizers of the 12th annual Turkey Trot, which is set to kick off today at the Belington Wellness Center. The event will benefit the Heart and Hand House and Belington Presbyterian Church, organizations that give back to the Barbour County communities. Come out and take part in this much-loved local tradition.