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Applause to everyone who has already filed to run for state or county offices in the Mary 14 primary, as the filing period began on Monday. The filing period will remain open until Jan. 27. Six Randolph County incumbents filed on Monday, including Sheriff Rob Elbon, Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker and County Commissioner David Kesling. In a show of solidarity, all three of the county's magistrates filed at the same time Monday morning, Tracy Harper for Division I, Mike Dyer for Division II, and Ben Shepler for Division III. Meanwhile in Buckhannon, Monday was the first day to file for the May 14 city election. We encourage those who wish to make a difference to file to run for elected office. Take part in our democracy and the electoral process. Win or lose, you will learn a lot, and afterward no one can say that you haven't done your part.
Applause to the announcement that a paving project for the next section of Corridor H from Kerens to Parsons is set to begin soon.. Gov. Jim Justice announced during his 2024 State of the State Address Wednesday evening that the project will soon be underway, paving all four lanes of a 3.3-mile section of Corridor H from US 219 to the interchange with WV 72 and allow the West Virginia Division of Highways to open a new section of Corridor H to traffic. The project will be paid for with bonds sold through the $2.8 billion Roads to Prosperity program. J.F. Allen Company made the successful paving project bid of $22,919,328.
Applause to our local first responders, who were kept on their toes by this week's winter storms. Area residents woke up to road closures and school closings on Wednesday morning, as weather conditions led to icy roads and flooding throughout the area. In Randolph County, many motorists were unable to travel to destinations early in the morning. Several roads in the southern part of the county, particularly in the Valley Head, Mill Creek and Dailey area, were closed due to flooding. Area schools closed on Wednesday included those in Randolph, Tucker, Barbour, Upshur and Pocahontas counties. Students at Tygarts Valley High School and George Ward Elementary in Mill Creek were dismissed early on Tuesday as high winds knocked out power to more than 600 residents in the Valley Head area. Close to 300 residents in Beverly also lost electricity on Tuesday. We applaud all our first responders for always being willing to step up and help during an emergency.
Applause to the Kump Education Center for offering a new series of free lectures at the historic Kump House in Elkins. The Woodlands Heritage Lecture Series will begin Wednesday at 7 p.m., with the first lecture, "Where the Bison Once Roamed," featuring Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy, Research Forester with the U.S. Forest Service. Other lectures in the series include: "Nature's New Deal: Monongahela National Forest and the New Deal," set for Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m., with Robert C. Whetsell, Archeologist, U.S. Forest Service; "Nature and the Economy in Appalachia," set for Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m., with Eriks Brolis, Director of Economic Development & Strategic Initiatives at The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia; and "From Coal Mine to Forest: The Mower Tract Revival," set for Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m., with Kris Hennig, Partnership Coordinator with the U.S. Forest Service.