Tag: Environmental Concerns

Step Dancing At WVSU And Radioactive Brine, Inside Appalachia

This week on Inside Appalachia, step shows are a tradition at many historically Black universities, including schools in Appalachia. We hear about one that’s part of West Virginia State University’s annual homecoming celebration. And, abandoned industrial sites have long been a magnet for people to explore and turn into not-at-all-legal hangout spots, but some come with hidden dangers. We learn about the danger at Fairmont Brine, a site in West Virginia that processed liquid used in hydraulic fracking.

Step shows are a tradition at many historically Black universities, including schools in Appalachia. We hear about one that’s part of West Virginia State University’s annual homecoming celebration. 

Abandoned industrial sites have long been a magnet for people to explore and turn into not-at-all-legal hangout spots, but some come with hidden dangers. We learn about the danger at Fairmont Brine, a site in West Virginia that processed liquid used in hydraulic fracking.  

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Steppin’ Up At West Virginia State University

Members of Delta Sigma Theta at WVSU’s homecoming. The sorority was part of the annual step show at the university.

Photo Credit: WVSU’s Alpha Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Fraternities and sororities at West Virginia State University (WVSU), one of the state’s two historically Black universities, introduced step dancing at the school decades ago. They made it part of the school’s annual homecoming celebration.

Folkways Reporter Traci Phillips has been attending step shows since she was a kid. Last fall, she brought along her 11-year-old daughter Jayli. They brought us the story.

Teaching Soul Food

Xavier Oglesby cuts onions for a macaroni salad he is cooking inside Manna House Ministries’ kitchen. A pot of boiling water is behind him, cooking the pasta for the dish.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

The Appalachian table is complex and varied. Along with biscuits and gravy, it includes things like collard greens, extra cheesy mac and cheese and fried chicken feet — soul food. 

Soul food is associated with southern Black communities, but it’s also traditional to Appalachia, too.

Folkways Fellow Vanessa Peña visited with Xavier Oglesby, a master artist in soul food cooking from Beckley, West Virginia.

Radioactive And Dangerous

Fairmont Brine has fallen into disrepair since it was abandoned.

Photo Credit: Justin Nobel

Starting in the late 2000s, parts of Appalachia saw a natural gas boom from hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. But, some of that faded and in some places, the oil and gas industry has left behind dangerous industrial sites — like Fairmont Brine in Marion County, West Virginia. 

Left alone, the abandoned site became a popular hangout spot for unsuspecting young folks. 

Justin Nobel, an investigative reporter, wrote about the issue for Truthdig. The story is titled “Inside West Virginia’s Chernobyl: A highly radioactive oil and gas facility has become a party spot in Marion County.” 

Mason Adams spoke with Nobel about his investigation. 

Sugar Syrup Season In Central Appalachia

Valerie Lowry offers samples to visitors at the Highland County Maple Syrup Festival.

Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Highland County, Virginia and its neighbors in West Virginia are some of the southernmost places in the U.S. to make maple syrup.

Generations of people in these communities have turned tapping trees for syrup into a longstanding tradition — but modern producers are experimenting with new syrups while adapting to changing demands, and a changing climate.

Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett brought us the story.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Tyler Childers, Amethyst Kiah, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood and Frank George.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Non-Profit Coalition Calls On Leaders To Create Jobs In Emerging Green Economy

A coalition of non-profit organizations is hoping local and national leaders will adopt a plan that they say could create 41,100 jobs in West Virginia. The group called Re-Imagine Appalachia released a blueprint last week.

The ReImagine Appalachia (RA) blueprint calls for environmental and infrastructure improvements across the state. The report suggests work like plugging gas wells, updating HVAC systems in public buildings, reclaiming abandoned mine lands and more. The group also wants to update the electric grid, expand broadband, and relaunch Franklin Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps.

The report takes another step to require such work be performed by union workers. Author Robert Pollin of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) pointed out in a webinar on Thursday, that the plan must have federal investments to succeed.

“If West Virginia were only to get its share of the Thrive Agenda endorsed by active members of Congress, based on population, West Virginia would get $4.4 billion a year. So we have the means to finance this project.”

Researchers also hope West Virginia is included in the anticipated Build Back Better plan from President Joe Biden. The plan is expected to address the pandemic’s influence on the economy for the short-term, in addition to creating job growth and equality across the country.

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