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Editor's note: During the course of a week, issues are covered that might not lend themselves to full editorial comment, but they are worthy of The Inter-Mountain weighing in -- pro, con or neutral.
Applause to everyone who has helped organize the July 4th weekend events at the Town Square in Elkins, which will culminate tonight with a fireworks display after dark. Things will heat up today when the 2024 Car Show begins at 9 a.m. Several streets in proximity to Town Square will be closed and lined with automobiles throughout the day until the show concludes at 6 p.m. Following the Car Show, the Rick K. Road Trip will take the amphitheater stage at 8 p.m. The fireworks will light up the sky after dark. Today's activities are the climax of three days of Independence Day weekend activities in downtown Elkins.
Applause to the return of Mountaineer Days today in Thomas in Tucker County. The activities kick off with the Tucker County Young Life again sponsoring a 5K Run/2K Walk Race. The popular vendor area and craft displays open at 10 a.m. along the railroad grade in Thomas. With more than 40 vendors, residents and visitors will enjoy sampling the food and exploring crafts. For the second year, the Tucker County Young Life is sponsoring inflatable amusement rides. The rides will be set up along the railroad grade in Thomas. The Mountaineer Days Parade begins at noon, with the line-up starting at 11 a.m. at the Division of Highways garage. Fire trucks will line up on Quail Ridge Drive. Following the parade, the county's largest cakewalk, sponsored by the Mountaineer Humane Society, will begin at 1 p.m. in the old Miners & Merchants bank lot. The Mountaineer Humane Society, a nonprofit, is seeking donations for this popular event. Musical entertainment begins at 11 a.m., with Nat Frederick taking the stage in the old Miners & Merchants bank lot. He will be followed by Rebecca Wudarski playing at 2:30 p.m., Jason Good Blues Band at 4:30 p.m., and Waylon Wyatt performing at 6 p.m. Cole Chaney, the event's headliner, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. The grand finale this evening will feature the 67th year of fireworks sponsored by the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department. Each year, the fireworks are put on with donations received from the public, roadblocks on the day of the event, and door-to-door fundraising efforts. This year's show will last about 45 minutes. On Sunday, the pancake breakfast sponsored by the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department will close the Mountaineer Days weekend activities. Breakfast will be served at the Thomas Fire Hall from 8 a.m. to noon.
Applause to the news that the two largest Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding amounts in the state will be going to two local counties. Pocahontas County will receive the largest amount of funding within the state of West Virginia, a total of $1,042,325. Randolph County will receive the second highest amount, $681,061. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $4,155,784 in funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to 36 West Virginia counties with federal lands within their county lines.