Suzanne Higgins, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Text Your Way Into College

West Virginia’s Text Messaging Support Project, launched this month by the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission, provides a pilot group of high school seniors personalized college counseling by text message.

The initiative to increase the college-going rates of high school students was highlighted at a White House conference Thursday hosted by the President and First Lady.

Bluefield State College, Concord University, Marshall University and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College have signed on as partners.

In March, students planning to attend one of these institutions will begin receiving personalized text messages directly from that campus, and they’ll continue through the end of their freshman year.

The average college-going rate among West Virginia high school students is less than 50 percent.

Commission Chancellor Paul Hill said in a statement that the project was about developing a lasting source of counseling and support for these students, that all student messages will be answered, and that counselors will guide students through the application process, and their transition into higher education.

West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Inductee Homer Bailes Dies at 91

BailesMotherCrown.mp3

Bailes Brothers – Give Mother My Crown

BailesRememberMe.mp3

Bailes Brothers – Remember Me

Homer Bailes plays at the WV Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony

Born in 1922 near Charleston, WV, Homer Bailes, the last surviving member of The Bailes Brothers, passed away December 3, in Ruston, LA.

Along with his brothers Johnnie, Walter and Kyle, the family group played an important role in the development of early country music and were among the most popular and influential country music acts during the 1940s and 1950s. Early in their careers, the brothers worked in various combinations on radio stations throughout WV. In 1944, The Bailes Brothers became the first WV act to become regular performers on the Grand Ole Opry.

After moving to Nashville, the brothers began recording for Columbia Records where they recorded their hits “Dust on the Bible” and “Give Mother My Crown” and “Searching for a Soldier’s Grave.”

After leaving the Opry in 1946, they relocated to KWKH in Shreveport, LA, where they became charter performers on the Louisiana Hayride alongside Hank Williams.

In late 1949, the act broke up but various Bailes Brother combinations continued to play together well into the late 1980s. Their songs have been recorded by Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, Flatt & Scruggs, Webb Pierce, and others. In l983, the Bailes Brothers were inducted into The Walkway of Stars of the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum, in Nashville. In 2002, Germany’s Bear Family Records reissued all of the group’s Columbia material. With Homer accepting the award, The Bailes Brothers were inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Homer, who worked as a preacher during the last decades of his life, will be buried in the Coulee Bethel Cemetery in Campti, LA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Online condolences may be sent to the family.

For information about the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.

He’ll Make You Want to Lace Up Those Running Shoes

Last fall Bill Warner of Beckley was running through the woods of Thurmond when suddenly he noticed “a big ole black bear” just 10-12 feet away.

“I set a new age group record that day,” he laughs.

Bill is 60 years old and an ultra – marathoner – running up to 50-mile races – and winning!

Just this year he won first place in his age group against 118 runners at the USA 25k Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Then there was the Chicago Marathon where Bill placed first in his age group of 510 runners, and 769^th out of the total 38, 871 runners.

He’s also repeatedly placed first in his age group in the Charleston Distance Run.

“I have this thing that I will allow no one with gray hair to beat me,” Bill explained with a smile.

But those are road races and Bill prefers to run on trails, saying the trail runner must constantly be thinking about his next step or else he’ll end up “eating dirt.”

One of the things that’s so remarkable about this extreme athlete is that he’s only been running for 6 years – after a 33 year hiatus.

Bill is a recovering alcoholic, sober now for about 10 years.

“I got tired of that life and quite honestly I got on my knees and I turned it over,” he said.

“Life is too precious to waste.”

So Bill runs almost every day now, even in the snow, by himself or with family members and his dogs.

He battled a lung infection that required major surgery 2 years ago, but came back stronger and remarkably, even faster!

“God gave me a gift, and I’m simply using that gift to his glory.”

State Police Say Latest Meth Busts Underscore Funding Needs

West Virginia State Police say they’ve arrested dozens of people in southern West Virginia on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine during targeted efforts in the past month.

Since October 26 state troopers in Webster, Pendleton, Randolph, and Braxton counties found 2 meth labs, arrested 14 people and seized a little over $1000.

This resulted in 28 felonies and 2 misdemeanor charges.

During the same time, troopers in Greenbrier, Raleigh, Fayette, and Summers counties found 9 meth labs, 3 abandoned dump sites, arrested 18 people who were charged with 47 felonies.

First Sergeant Michael Baylous reported the numbers today in Beckley.

He said one of the reasons why the effort to bust these labs is so important is the number of children troopers have seen exposed to these toxic chemicals.

“They’re the innocent victims,” he said.

Baylous reported state police have seized just under 500 meth labs this year.

He called for more community input and an increase in state funding to battle the growing problem.

Rockefeller Receives Award From Japan

Sen. Jay Rockefeller say's he's deeply honored to receive the prestigious Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government. The…

Sen. Jay Rockefeller say’s he’s deeply honored to receive the prestigious Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government. The award recognizes Rockefeller’s work to strengthen the economic and cultural relationship between the two countries.

In a news release the senator says the people of Japan have shaped his life and the lives of thousands of West Virginians.

Rockefeller lived and studied in Japan for 3 years in the late 1950’s. He says the relationship he eventually built between West Virginia and Japan has led to the investment of billions of dollars and thousands of good paying jobs.

Rockefeller has led nearly a dozen trade missions to Japan, hosted Japanese visitors to West Virginia, and has been instrumental in bringing more than 20 Japanese companies to the state, including NGK Spark Plugs, Nissin, and Toyota.

His father, John D. Rockefeller III, also received the award in 1969.

Reconnecting McDowell helps bring new housing to Welch

New housing is in the works for McDowell County, thanks to Reconnecting McDowell, a group working on improving schools, growing the economy and addressing the needs of local families.

The 2-year old public-private partnership has just hired an architecture firm to design housing in Welch.

The lack of housing has for years been cited as a major reason why recruiting teachers is an ongoing problem for the McDowell school system.

Community Housing Partners Design Studio of Christiansburg, VA will propose what’s being called a Teachers Village, which could provide 30 housing units, community amenities such as a coffee shop, and areas for teachers to collaborate and relax.

The design firm will present options at Reconnecting McDowell’s Dec. 17 board meeting in Charleston.

The board plans to vote on one of the options after the presentation. The groundbreaking is expected in the Spring.