Delaney Wells, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Lives Are Still Lost To COVID-19 In W.Va.

Seven West Virginians died in the past week from COVID-19.

Seven West Virginians died in the past week from COVID-19 according to an update from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, bringing the total deaths in the state to 8,163.

There have been 29 new cases of COVID-19 in the state this week.

West Virginians six months and older are advised to stay up to date on the COVID-19 vaccination. The DHHR is recommending the Omicron shot to people 6 years and older.

Those 65 years and older and those moderately to severely immunocompromised are also eligible for at least one additional Omicron COVID-19 shot for updated protection.

West Virginia American Water Seeking Rate Increase

West Virginia American Water has applied to the Public Service Commission to build a new water plant at the former Century Aluminum site in Jackson County to support development planned there by Berkshire Hathaway.

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Ravenswood lost hundreds of jobs when Century Aluminum closed, and the new development could help to bring jobs back to the area. However, residents will see an increase in their water rates.

The average customer that uses 3,000 gallons of water a month will pay a $0.38 increase or $4.56 annually. This increase will be for all customers of West Virginia American Water, not just those in Jackson County.

“Should people in other counties be paying to support jobs in Jackson County?” asked Gary Zuckett of Citizen Action Group. “The economic development authority obviously thinks that’s the case, we’ll see what the Public Service Commission says. The project is supported by the West Virginia Economic Development Office.”

West Virginia Public Broadcasting reached out to West Virginia American Water, the Public Service Commission and the county commissions in Jackson and Kanawha counties but all declined to comment on the project application.

Marching Show Bands Championship To Be Held In Buckhannon

The World Association of Marching Show Bands is having its 2023 Championship in Buckhannon in Upshur County.

Seventeen bands will compete for the international title while three exhibition bands will also perform. Bands compete in areas of concert, field marching performance, drumline, and street parade.

“Buckhannon rolled their sleeves up and just worked hard to present the town and the infrastructure that we have to the international committee and convince them that Buckhannon would be the perfect place to host the 2023 World Association of Marching Show Bands competition” said Randy Sanders, president of the Buckhannon host committee.

This is the first time in six years the event is hosted in the United States and the first time hosted on the East Coast.

Countries represented are Canada, El Salvador, Germany, Honduras, Ghana, Poland, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United States, Hong Kong, Ireland, and Sweden.

Grammy Award winner Lee Greenwood, known for his song “God Bless the U.S.A.” will perform in the opening ceremony on July 19 and the U.S. Marine Drumline and Bugle Corps will perform for the official closing ceremony July 23 at 7pm.

The competition will take place July 17-24.

Shepherd University School Of Nursing Receives Federal Grant

The four-year rural health advanced practice grant aims to increase the number of primary care and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in the Eastern Panhandle.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration will provide Shepherd University with the $2.6 million grant. The school will receive about $650,000 a year and $417,000 of that will go toward yearly tuition for 30 graduate and certificate students.

“We have many specialists, but we don’t have sufficient numbers of individuals at the primary care level who are facilitating access into the healthcare system for patients who have the most vulnerable needs,” said Sharon Mailey, dean of the college of nursing, education, and health sciences and director of the School of Nursing.

Grant money will support scholarships to students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program and will offer post-graduate certificates to family nurse practitioners and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners beginning in the fall.

The grant will help students to have rural health experiences at four federally qualified health centers at Shenandoah Valley Medical Systems in Martinsburg, Tri-State Community Health Center in Morgan County, Washington County and Allegheny County, Maryland, and Fulton County, Pennsylvania; E.A. Hawse Health Center in Hardy County, and Mountaineer Community Health Center in Paw Paw, West Virginia.

W.Va. Celebrates Fourth Of July Statewide

Major celebrations are taking place throughout the state for the Fourth of July.

West Virginia will have a variety of events throughout the state celebrating the Fourth of July during the long weekend.

Some of the activities around the state include the Snowshoe Independence Day Celebration, Fayetteville’s Fourth of July Heritage Festival, the Shepherdstown Parade, the Fourth of July Car Show in Chester, the Grande Parade in Alderson, and fireworks displays all across the state.

There will also be festivities in Ripley. The city professes to have the nation’s largest small town Independence Day celebration.

Additionally, the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta begins on June 30 and will go until the Fourth with festivities all weekend for everyone across the state and out-of-state to enjoy. WVPB will also have an informational booth at the event.

Visit the West Virginia Tourism website for more events.

DHHR Opens Applications For School Clothing Allowance

The West Virginia DHHR Bureau of Family Assistance will begin accepting applications for school clothing allowance on July 1.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Bureau of Family Assistance will accept school clothing allowance applications July 1 to 31. Eligible children enrolled in West Virginia schools will receive a $200 benefit towards buying school clothing.

Families with children who receive West Virginia WORKS cash assistance, parents or guardians of children in foster care, children 4-18 years old who receive SNAP benefits, or are enrolled in school and whose household income is 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level as of June 30, 2023 will automatically receive school clothing allowance benefits.

Applicants must submit an income verification for July 2023 with applications for school clothing allowance.

“In 2022, 81,029 West Virginia children were assisted by the school clothing allowance program,” said Janie Cole, commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Family Assistance.

Recipients will receive an electronic benefit transfer card that will function like a debit card and can be used anywhere that accepts EBT cash transactions. Parents and guardians of children in foster care will receive their allowance benefit as a check.

All applications must be received by July 31.

Click here to apply or contact your local DHHR office.