Author: Liz McCormick

Liz is WVPB's Webmaster/Digital Coordinator and Eastern Panhandle Bureau Chief, based in Shepherdstown, WV on Shepherd University's campus. Liz is a native of Charleston, West Virginia. She received a M.A. in Strategic Communication from American University in 2022 and a B.A. in Communication and New Media from Shepherd in 2014. Prior to her role as webmaster, Liz was WVPB's Eastern Panhandle reporter from 2014-2022, the House of Delegates reporter on "The Legislature Today" from 2015-2017, and she covered K-12/higher education from 2020-2022. Liz has also worked as a technical assistant and associate producer on "The Legislature Today."

House Approves Religious Freedom Restoration Act

A bill that looks at religious freedom was up for a final vote in the West Virginia House of Delegates Monday. House Bill 3042 is called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and is similar to a bill that failed in the West Virginia Legislature in 2016.

A bill that looks at religious freedom was up for a final vote in the West Virginia House of Delegates Monday.

House Bill 3042 is called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and is similar to a bill that failed in the West Virginia Legislature in 2016.

Supporters argue the state needs the law so residents can challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs.

Those in opposition say the proposal will be used to discriminate against LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups.

Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, attempted to amend the bill twice. One proposal would have required businesses to post signage in their windows saying what kind of people they would not serve. Pushkin’s amendments ultimately failed.

During full debate of the bill, Pushkin argued what he felt were the true intentions of the legislation.

“This is about whether or not somebody should be able to be kicked out of their apartment because they’re gay, somebody should be fired from their job because they’re gay, somebody’s refused service in somebody’s store simply because they’re gay,” Pushkin said. “If you believe that, go ahead and vote for it. I think you’re better than that. Vote against this garbage.”

Some delegates, such as Del. Todd Kirby, R-Raleigh, argued the intent of the bill is to protect individuals, such as school teachers, from having to speak in support of lifestyles they don’t agree with.

“Such things as promoting transgenderism, homosexuality, in our classrooms, in our grade school classrooms,” Kirby said. “And these policies are sold to the American public and to the labor unions, the teachers unions, as being open, which that may be the intention. But what is happening is these teachers and administrators rights are being violated. Their religious beliefs are being infringed upon, because they’re being forced and compelled to speak in a way that violates their religious beliefs.”

Other delegates in opposition argued the bill could cause medical discrimination if a doctor or pharmacist doesn’t agree with a patient’s lifestyle.

“Let’s say somebody, an unmarried woman, comes in for birth control. Can a pharmacist refuse to fulfill that prescription?” asked Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia. “What if a gay man comes in for an HIV pill? Can they refuse to fulfill that prescription? I think that’s what this is about. It’s about whether a doctor can refuse medical care.”

The bill’s lead sponsor, Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, told the body the law would not determine what is right and wrong but rather create a judicial process in state code for situations where religious freedom comes into question.

“We’re not determining something to be illegal,” Pinson said. “Rather, we’re creating a judicial test. We’re giving statutory instructions to the judiciary, that when a RFRA case where someone would allege that a law that we pass in this body or a local municipal ordinance or county ordinance is in violation of their religious conviction, that the judiciary is to use this to point us to a two question test: number one, is their compelling state interest? And number two, is the state acting in the least restrictive means possible?”

The House debated House Bill 3042 for more than an hour, and it passed 86 to 12.

It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Coal Country Keeps Holiday Traditions Alive And A Visit To Lost Creek Farm

This week on Inside Appalachia, we talk with James Beard-nominated West Virginia chefs Mike Costello and Amy Dawson, who serve up special dishes with stories behind them. And, we’ll visit an old-fashioned toy shop whose future was uncertain after its owners died, but has a new chance at life because of a twist of fate. We’ll also be sharing a few memories of Christmas past, which may or may not resemble yours.

This week on Inside Appalachia, we talk with James Beard-nominated West Virginia chefs Mike Costello and Amy Dawson, who serve up special dishes with stories behind them.

And, we’ll visit an old-fashioned toy shop whose future was uncertain after its owners died, but has a new chance at life because of a twist of fate.

We’ll also be sharing a few memories of Christmas past, which may or may not resemble yours.

In This Episode:

Apple Butter And Communion Wafers At Lost Creek Farm

Mike Costello and Amy Dawson are the husband-and-wife duo behind Lost Creek Farm. The couple hosts farm-to-table suppers and were recently semi-finalists for the James Beard Award. They’ve entertained classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the late Anthony Bourdain. Mike and Amy serve dishes rooted in Appalachia’s rich food traditions.

Along with the meal, they share stories behind the recipes.

To open their dinners, Mike and Amy typically kick things off with an appetizer, mashing up two food traditions from their childhoods.

Folkways Reporter Margaret Leef brought us this story.

Old-Time Toys In The 21st Century At Mountain Craft Shop Company

In a follow-up to our 2019 story about Mountain Craft Shop Company, a West Virginia toy maker that specializes in Appalachian folk toys, we checked back in with the company.

The previous owners, Steve and Ellie Conlon, have since passed away, leaving the future of the business in question, but after a surprising twist, the next chapter of the Mountain Craft Shop Co. is starting to take shape.

Folkways Reporter Zack Harold has the story.

Christmas Cookies For Fasting Before The Feast

Recipes for the Christmas feast, like pecan pie, get handed down for generations, but what about recipes for a Christmas fast?

At St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Bluefield, West Virginia, parishioners spend the 40 days before Christmas abstaining from eggs, meat and dairy — but that doesn’t mean they still can’t enjoy something a little sweet.

Folkways Reporter Connie Bailey Kitts had a story about a Greek-Appalachian cookie recipe.

Season’s greetings, y’all.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Sycomores, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., Jim Hendricks, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton and Bob Thompson.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.

You can send us an email at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.

And you can sign-up for our Inside Appalachia Newsletter here!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Building The Next Generation Of W.Va.'s Tourism Workforce

West Virginia HEAT, which stands for Hospitality Education and Training, is a program within the West Virginia Department of Education that is dedicated to training the next generation of hospitality workers in West Virginia. These workers are often the first faces visitors see when they come to our state. Liz McCormick spoke with Tami Maynard, who works in the West Virginia HEAT program, to learn more.

To have a booming tourism economy, we need the workforce to make it strong.

There are more than 68,000 employees in the state’s leisure and hospitality industry, according to WorkForce West Virginia. But annually, there are about 4,800 vacancies in the state’s fast food and counter jobs.

West Virginia HEAT, which stands for Hospitality Education and Training, is a program within the West Virginia Department of Education that is dedicated to training the next generation of hospitality workers in West Virginia. These workers are often the first faces visitors see when they come to our state – and you know what they say, “First impressions are everything.”

Liz McCormick spoke with Tami Maynard, who works in the West Virginia HEAT program, to learn more.

The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.

McCormick: Tell us about the history of West Virginia HEAT. When was it created, and why was it something that we felt we needed to establish in West Virginia?

Maynard: It was created in 1994, and it was created to help and assist the hospitality industry to obtain marketable skills and secondary education developed by the hospitality industry.

McCormick: So it’s been around for quite some time?

Maynard: It’s more recognized in our high schools, colleges, universities, and technical centers, and we have three high school programs that are available to students who are interested in a career in the hospitality industry.

We have ProStart, which is a culinary program that is from the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation. And then we have a baking and pastry program of study. And then we have a hospitality and tourism program, a study which focuses on adventure tourism, parks and recreation, and convention and visitor’s bureau and marketing the state of West Virginia.

They’re spread out through all of the high schools. We have about 47 ProStart programs, about 25 baking and pastry, and 11 hospitality and tourism programs. High school students can just talk with their counselor to see what programs are available in their schools and enter one of those program areas. We also do industry training, and students can earn certifications while they’re in these programs.

We also do training for adults and people who are already in the workforce. ServSafe manager is a food service manager certification that is required in many of the counties in West Virginia, depending upon their food code. Then there are food handler and ServSafe alcohol certifications.

We have West Virginia welcome guests customer service training; we’re working to update that program. But then there’s also Guest Services Gold through American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute that students can participate in, in the high school and also in industry.

McCormick: How is the graduation rate among the programs in WV HEAT? How many on average do you see each year that graduate out of the program?

Maynard: Every year, we probably have around 200-300 program completers in our ProStart program, and maybe 50-60 in our baking and pastry, and maybe 30-40 in our hospitality and tourism program.

But we have about 700-800 kids enrolled in ProStart, and about 200-300 in baking and pastry, and about 100 or so in hospitality and tourism.

McCormick: Are these all high school kids?

Maynard: Yes, these are all high school kids. We did start an initiative this year to start a career exploration in middle school. And all of the students in the middle school who participate in the discovery or future course will get a glimpse into the hospitality and tourism industry by taking some of the lesson plans we have created that are directed toward middle school.

McCormick: What do you think are the benefits of learning hospitality training and education, in general?

Maynard: It provides students with an insight to our great state. West Virginia is a wonderful state. We are a tourism state, and allowing students and giving them the knowledge to discover what all is available in their home state might keep workers in West Virginia.

The restaurant industry is one of the biggest employers in the state of West Virginia. So this just helps them know that they can make a living here in West Virginia.

McCormick: How do you get students to want to work in the hospitality industry and help them understand what those opportunities are?

Maynard: Just awareness. A lot of people don’t realize when they are talking about the restaurant industry, for example, that some of our fast food chains – they think are low paying jobs – but as a cook, server or management in the fast food industry, these are very profitable. People can make anywhere from 75,000 to $150,000 [a year] being a district manager or store manager of a fast food restaurant. Restaurant work is hard work, so you really have to have a passion for it. But it’s very rewarding.

McCormick: When we think about the hospitality sector, how do these types of jobs benefit West Virginia, our economy and our image outside of the state?

Maynard: One of the big things we have to work on is changing the image. People may look down on West Virginia, but West Virginia is a beautiful state, and we are so friendly. Every time I interact with someone from out of state, they just talk about how friendly West Virginia is and how beautiful the state is.

So I think both of those are great factors to attract people to West Virginia. But just getting the awareness out, I know Chelsea Ruby [West Virginia’s Tourism Secretary] has been doing a great job with marketing our state across the United States [and] internationally.

I think just getting people here to see what the state is about, and we’re within 500 miles of half the population of the US, so just making sure everybody is aware of that and that we are a tourism state with four seasons. I think that is a big impact.

Author Barbara Kingsolver Reflects On Appalachian Writing, Climate Change And Upcoming Novel

Kentucky author Barbara Kingsolver is the 2022 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University. While Kingsolver’s fiction takes readers all over the world, she says her Appalachian roots inspire key themes and ideas in her stories. Liz McCormick sat down with Kingsolver to learn more.

Updated on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 9 a.m.

Kentucky author Barbara Kingsolver has won a 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for her latest novel Demon Copperhead. The book debuted in October 2022.

Kingsolver has won numerous awards and accolades over her career, including the National Humanities Medal, the prestigious Orange Prize for Fiction in Britain, and her 1998 novel The Poisonwood Bible won the National Book Prize of South Africa, held a spot on the New York Times bestseller list for more than a year and was an Oprah Book Club selection.

While Kingsolver’s fiction takes readers all over the world, she says her Appalachian roots inspire key themes and ideas in her stories. Last fall, Kingsolver was recognized by Shepherd University as the 2022 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence. Liz McCormick sat down with her at that time to learn more.

Listen to the extended conversation below:

EXTENDED: Author Barbara Kingsolver Reflects On Appalachian Writing, Climate Change And Upcoming Novel

https://wvpublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1007KingsolverQA_long_web.mp3?_=1

The transcript below is from the original broadcast that aired in West Virginia Morning on Oct. 7, 2022. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

Liz McCormick: What does it mean to be an Appalachian in your own experiences, in your own words?

Barbara Kingsolver: To me, it means home. It means recognizing and celebrating my own people. I grew up in the eastern part of Kentucky. I left my little rural town, as young people do. I lived all over the place on several continents, doing low paying jobs. And as I traveled the world, and this country, I encountered a lot of shocking stereotypes, a lot of condescension that made me mad, it still makes me mad.

After trying out a lot of different places, I came back home to Appalachia, and I now live on the other side of the mountains in southwest Virginia. But it’s the same culture. It’s the same language. It’s the same emphasis on community, and resourcefulness, and kindness that I grew up knowing and loving.

So as a writer, I see it as sort of my mission to represent us in a way that is seldom seen and seldom understood outside of Appalachia.

McCormick: Barbara, you’ve written a lot of diverse stories, ranging from novels, short stories, poetry; some of these stories take us all over the world. What sort of impact do your Appalachian roots play in your writing? Like with The Poisonwood Bible, it took place in the Congo, how does your background and roots here in Appalachia impact your writing?

Kingsolver: You know, they say that every writer is really writing the same story over and over again. And if that’s true, my story is about community. If I really examine all my works, even though I work hard to make each one entirely new, not just a new place and set of characters, but I ask a whole new question.

I’ve written about climate change and why that’s so hard for us to talk about. I’ve written, as you said, a book set in the Congo, which is about cultural arrogance, and how what one nation will do to another. So these are big, big questions, sort of urgent, modern themes. But if you sort of dig down into the heart of every one of these stories, it’s about community, what is our duty to our community? How do we belong to it? How does it belong to us? And how does that play against the really powerful American iconography of the individual, the solo flyer, the lone hero that’s supposed to be the American story.

But as a woman, and as an Appalachian woman, I always see the other people behind the solo flyer. The people who gassed up his airplane, the women who packed his lunch. I mean, there is no such thing as a lone hero. I’m interested in the heroism of people who think they’re ordinary, and people who are helping each other, creating families for each other or safety networks for each other, who are aware of their indebtedness to their neighbors and their people.

McCormick: I understand you have a book that is soon to be hitting bookshelves on Oct. 18. And that is Demon Copperhead. I want to ask you to talk with us about this book, and what can readers expect when they read this?

Kingsolver: Readers can expect a page turner. I live in deep, deep southwest Virginia, which is the epicenter of the opioid epidemic. So we are living with this, and I wanted for several years to write about it, and I couldn’t think of a good way in that would make this story interesting and appealing to people, to readers, because it’s a hard subject. It’s dark, it’s difficult. Kids coming up in this environment.

And then I sort of had a conversation with Charles Dickens, and I realized the way to tell the story is the way he told David Copperfield. Let the child tell the story. That’s what I realized I needed to do. So this kid who’s called Copperhead, because he has red hair. He has Melungeon heritage, if people know what that is, and he’s the child of a teenage, drug-using mother. He’s born on the floor of her single wide trailer home. And he comes into the world with this fierce — if a newborn can have an attitude, demon has it — he tells you his story from his point of view, mostly taking place in his teens and early 20s, as oxycontin is released into Lee County, where he lives.

But he tells this story in a way that’s in his own voice. In a way that will just give the reader a reason to turn every page because you need to know how he’s going to come through this. How he’s going to survive because he is a survivor. He’s funny, he’s fierce, and he’s passionate.

Clayton Burch To Serve As New Superintendent Of W.Va. Schools For Deaf, Blind

West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch is now the new superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, after stepping aside as the chief of the state's school system.

At the August meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education, board members, including newly appointed Board President Paul Hardesty, voted unanimously to approve Burch’s request to become the new superintendent of the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Romney.

There was no discussion following the vote.

Burch released a statement, however, later in the day, outlining his 13 years working in the Department of Education, his more than two years as state superintendent, and a vision for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind:

“One project stands out as especially dear to me. The students of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB) and the work of that venerable institution are always at the forefront of my mind. I have developed a special connection with the school. From the beginning of my administration until this very moment, I have made the WVSDB a priority. My team and I have been a consistent presence on campus to work through the challenges that exist – from facilities to services and instruction and more, we continue to give the WVSDB a level of support it has not had in many years.

I have a vision of what the WVSDB can become as a resource to serve children and families of our state, region, and beyond. All of the foundational elements have been laid, but they need the commitment of a full-time leader and visionary to solidify the work and see it to completion. I believe that the totality of my career, and my close ties to the Hampshire County community, including my personal residence there, have made me uniquely qualified to lead the school into the future.”

Burch’s full statement can be read on the West Virginia Department of Education’s (WVDE) website.

Burch will receive an annual salary of more than $142,000 in the new role, which is a pay cut from his current salary at around $230,000.

Last year, the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind came under scrutiny for several areas of non-compliance, including student care, instruction, and finances. Burch has been a longtime advocate for improving the schools.

In February, a historic administrative building on the campus was destroyed in a fire. While the building was unoccupied, it housed the technology servers that powered the campus internet, phones and surveillance system.

Burch and other state officials traveled to the site and worked, with support from Gov. Jim Justice and Frontier Communications, to get a temporary fix in place so students could continue with classroom instruction.

Burch has served as West Virginia Superintendent of Schools since February 2020.

David Roach, executive director of the West Virginia School Building Authority, will take on the state superintendent role. No plans for a superintendent search were announced.

In a news release from the WVDE, Roach said he is honored to be the next state superintendent.

“I want to thank President Hardesty and the board members for their confidence in me,” Roach said. “I look forward to working with him, the board, and the staff at the West Virginia Department of Education. With the exception of student safety, student achievement has always been at the forefront of every position I have held. As a lifelong educator, I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to starting this new position.”

Roach is a graduate of Marshall University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Master of Administration in School Administration.

He will be the 33rd West Virginia Superintendent of Schools.

School Safety Tops Agenda For State School Board

With the fall 2022 school year just around the corner, school safety and preparedness were top of mind at the July West Virginia Board of Education meeting last week.

This summer began with a dark cloud hanging over the country, as the United States reeled from yet another devastating school shooting. This time, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas where 19 children and two teachers were killed.

For many state education departments throughout the country, the incident renewed conversations about school preparedness in the face of a crisis.

That has certainly been true in West Virginia.

With the fall 2022 school year just around the corner, school safety and preparedness were top of mind at the July West Virginia Board of Education meeting last week.

Emergency Preparedness

Board members received an update from the state department of education’s Jonah Adkins, who spoke on behalf of Rob Cunningham, Deputy Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security.

“Mr. Cunningham made this statement when we presented to the legislature a couple of weeks ago: that school safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Adkins said.

The West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security have had regular meetings throughout the summer since the horrific school shooting in Uvalde in May.

The agencies are exploring ways to better collaborate and ensure everyone is prepared in the event of an active shooter or other emergency at schools.

Adkins reiterated to the board the importance of “one caring adult,” which is an initiative set by the West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch. It builds off the idea that as long as a child knows that at least one adult at school cares for them, they will do well in school, both emotionally and academically.

“We have to ensure that children have the services and the support that they need to deal with any emotional, social and emotional issues they may have, or any mental health issues that they may be facing,” Adkins said. “We have to make sure that those students have those appropriate supports. It takes people speaking up. It goes back to that saying, ‘if you see something, say something.’ Everyone has a part, everyone has a role in ensuring that our students are safe.”

Adkins told the board that Cunningham wants to implement a new app where students can report concerning behavior at school via text message. Adkins said the one they are considering would interface with existing apps that many West Virginia schools use to report bullying.

He also said the Office of Student Support and Well-Being in September will provide threat assessment training for school administrators, counselors, social workers and psychologists.

“We look forward to ongoing collaboration between [the department of education], department of homeland security, School Building Authority, the Fusion Center, and the West Virginia State Police,” Adkins told told board members. “I really believe that we’re working more collaboratively. We’re seeing positive results come of these meetings.”

State police also explained that some of the training offerings will not only be made available to school personnel and emergency responders, but also to members of the community, according to the WVDE.

“We have to address school safety from many angles,” said State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch in a news release. “From creating safe and supportive school environments and being able to quickly recognize problem areas, to the role of our emergency response partners to protect public safety, we all have a part to play. Partners have plans in place that will also assist communities in understanding their roles in protecting schools. I believe by keeping this issue in front of us, we will be able to better protect our students.”

Paul Hardesty Named New Board Of Ed President

Also at the July meeting, former state senator and longtime public servant Paul Hardesty was elected unanimously as the new president of the West Virginia Board of Education.

Hardesty replaces former President Miller Hall who served as president since 2017.

Hardesty was first appointed to the state board as a member in Dec. 2021. Previously, he served on the Logan County Board of Education and was appointed by Gov. Jim Justice to an unexpired term in the West Virginia Senate.

Hardesty also held the positions of director of the Office Coalfield Development and legislative liaison for Gov. Bob Wise. He served as the director of the Public Energy Authority and was a member of the legislative staff for Gov. Joe Manchin.

Hardesty is a resident of Logan County.

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the great state of West Virginia and the children of our public school system,” said Hardesty in a news release. “We have many important issues in front of us, and we will work tirelessly to ensure our children are prepared for the opportunities available to them. I will start, day-one, to try and build back damaged relationships around the Capitol Complex, because, at the end of the day, we all want better educational opportunities.”

President Hardesty’s complete bio is on the WVDE’s website.