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Mushroom Mania, Soul Food And Aunt Jeanie, Inside Appalachia

This week on Inside Appalachia, we head to the woods and take a master class in foraging for wild mushrooms. We also break bread and talk soul food with Xavier Oglesby. And we’ll hear about old-time music legend Aunt Jeannie Wilson.

This week, we head to the woods and take a master class in foraging for wild mushrooms.

We also break bread and talk soul food with Xavier Oglesby, who is passing on generations of kitchen wisdom to his niece, Brooklynn.

And we’ll hear about old-time music legend Aunt Jeannie Wilson. A marker has been set near the place where people used to hear her play.

These stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Fun With Foraging For Fungi

These chanterelles are about to be turned into a tasty treat. They were harvested the day before an unsuccessful mushroom hunt, and turned into a topper for vanilla ice cream.

*Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Mushroom hunting has always been a part of Appalachian culture, but in recent years especially, mushrooms have been having a moment.

Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch spent time with foragers in Virginia and West Virginia to learn more.

Sharing 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.

*Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Soul food is associated with Black communities in the deep south, but the cooking style is traditional to Appalachia, too. Folkways Fellow Vanessa Peña talked with Xavier Oglesby, a master artist in soul food cooking from Beckley, West Virginia.

A full interview with Xavier and Brooklynn Oglesby by Jennie Williams is archived at West Virginia University Libraries.

Aunt Jeanie Gets Her Due

West Virginia recently paid tribute to one of its traditional music greats. Aunt Jeanie Wilson was a clawhammer banjo player who performed for governors and presidents. She helped to keep mountain music alive through the 20th century during the rise of jazz, rock n’ roll and electric music.

WVPB’s Briana Heaney went to a ceremony honoring Wilson at Chief Logan State Park in Logan County.

Jayne Anne Phillip’s “Night Watch”

The career of author Jayne Anne Phillips spans nearly 50 years. Her home state of West Virginia has often figured into her books, giving a glimpse of the different decades of Appalachian life. Her latest novel is Night Watch, which takes readers to the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in the town of Weston several years after the end of the Civil War.

Bill Lynch spoke with Phillips about her book and growing up near the old asylum.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Town Mountain, Noam Pikelny, Justice & Jarvis, Jesse Milnes, Mary Hott and Little Sparrow.

This week, producer Bill Lynch filled in for host Mason Adams. 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 send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

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.

DHHR To Host Community Listening Sessions On Health

The listening sessions will be held from Oct. 13 to Nov. 9 around the state. DHHR’s Dr. Mathew Christiansen says the information gathered will be used to develop a five-year-plan to address public health issues.

The 2023 state health assessment is underway, and the Department Of Health And Human Resources (DHHR) will be asking state residents to fill out online assessments, collecting health data from partnering community and health institutions, and hosting eight community listening sessions to gather insight on health issues around the state.

The listening sessions will be held from Oct. 13 to Nov. 9 around the state. DHHR’s Dr. Mathew Christiansen says the information gathered will be used to develop a five-year plan to address public health issues.

“These listening sessions are really to provide a physical location where people can come and talk and brainstorm and think about what health improvement means to them here in West Virginia, and how we can improve their health,” he said.

The listening sessions will be held in Wheeling, Huntington, Charleston, Parkersburg, Berkeley, Morgantown, Buckhannon, and Mineral County.

Despite having the lowest life expectancies in the state McDowell, Boone, Logan, and Wyoming County will not have DHHR listening sessions.

“We are under a tight timeline to get this turned over and get this out the door,” Christiansen said. “Just because we’re not having a listening session in that region, doesn’t mean that the assessment won’t be responsive to those issues that we certainly understand.”

Justice Appoints New Delegates

Lewis graduated from West Virginia State University (WVSU), where he lettered in football and received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. He then attended law school at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Two new members of the West Virginia House of Delegates have been appointed in the past week.

Republican Jeff Campbell, of Lewisburg, will serve on behalf of the 46th district, which covers part of Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties.

Campbell replaces Mike Honaker, who resigned to take a position with the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security. Campbell will serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

Campbell graduated from Concord University with a bachelor of arts degree in communications and a bachelor of science degree in education. He was named Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 2019.

Campbell has also been a radio broadcaster in Greenbrier County since 1985 and serves as statistical coordinator for West Virginia University football broadcasts.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Justice announced that Democrat Hollis Lewis, of Charleston, will serve on behalf of the 57th district, which covers Kanawha County.

“I know Hollis will do a great job,” Gov. Justice said. “I’m really proud to be able to appoint him, and we wish him the very best.”

Lewis replaces Doug Skaff, who resigned earlier this month. Skaff said he plans on using the extra time to focus more energy on his businesses and coaching his three sons at soccer.

Since returning to Charleston in 2013, Lewis has held several positions, including Kanawha County Magistrate and adjunct professor at WVSU.

Lewis sits on several boards, including Charleston Urban Renewal Authority and the Clay Center, and is an Omega Psi Phi Fraternity member.

“First, I would like to thank God for filling me with vision and purpose,” Lewis said. “I look forward to serving the communities that make up the 57th District and the State of West Virginia.”

Fugitive Rapist Arrested In W.Va. Following Multi-State Investigation

“Believe it or not, West Virginia is a good place to hide. We’ve caught fugitives from Los Angeles, from Canada and other countries hiding here,” Waggaman said. “They think it’s a rural state, it’s off the beaten path, not a lot of people talk about this state, it’s a great place to hide, but luckily we have skilled deputy marshals and most of us are from West Virginia and very familiar with the state itself.”

A convicted rapist who escaped from an Arkansas prison facility more than a year ago has been captured in West Virginia.

U.S. Marshals were joined by Arkansas State Police and several West Virginia law enforcement agencies Tuesday in arresting Samuel Hartman, 39, at the Quality Inn in Lewisburg.

Hartman, who was sentenced to life in 2013 for raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter, was arrested along with his wife, Misty Hartman, 39, his mother, Linda White, 61, and White’s boyfriend, Rodney Trent, 52.

All three helped Hartman escape from the East Arkansas Regional Unit prison facility’s work detail on Aug. 12, 2022. The two women fired several shots toward the work crew as Hartman ran to an awaiting pickup truck. The four then fled to an area near the Mississippi river where they escaped on two pre-staged jet skis.

Mark Waggamon, a deputy U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia said Tuesday’s arrest involved the cooperation of multiple state agencies.

“We had deputy marshals from the northern district of West Virginia, we had our deputy marshals here in southern West Virginia,” Waggamon said. “We had deputies from the eastern district of Arkansas come, we had aid from the western district of Virginia and other agencies.”

Waggamon said the case started with the eastern district of Arkansas who developed information that Harman’s wife and mother were in West Virginia where Hartman’s mother has ties.

“We started our investigation and determined there was a very good possibility they are here based on records that we’ve done, interviews we’ve done and vehicles the suspect may be driving,” he said.

Waggamon said local agencies often request help from the U.S. Marshals with fugitive cases given their unlimited jurisdiction in territories that extend to places like Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

He said West Virginia has often served as a hideout for wanted fugitives.

“Believe it or not, West Virginia is a good place to hide. We’ve caught fugitives from Los Angeles, from Canada and other countries hiding here,” Waggamon said. “They think it’s a rural state, it’s off the beaten path, not a lot of people talk about this state, it’s a great place to hide, but luckily we have skilled deputy marshals and most of us are from West Virginia and very familiar with the state itself.”

Michael Baylous, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia credited the deliberate and determined law enforcement work of the U.S. Marshals Service, Arkansas State Police, and the Arkansas Department of Corrections and West Virginia law enforcement agencies with the arrests.

“The apprehension of these dangerous fugitives demonstrates the close and outstanding relationship that CUFFED (Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division Task Force enjoys with our local and state partners, other USMS Districts, and the USMS Domestic Investigations Branch,” Baylous said.

County Officials Prepare To Request Federal Assistance For Communities Hit Hard By Floods

“We had no warning. The high river was our warning,” Carper said. “When the calls started coming to 911 and people were literally running out of their homes fleeing, and roads were being covered up, washed out, that was our warning. And then the National Weather Service put out just about the strongest alert they know how to put out for floods.”

The unofficial damage toll for communities hit the hardest by Monday and Tuesday’s floods will not be known for several days. And that’s if the weather cooperates.

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said he has talked with people who have suffered devastating loss after up to nine inches of rain fell in a short span of time in some areas.

Carper said the unusual weather pattern created the perfect storm for areas already deluged by a downpour of rain on Saturday.

“They were already saturated, the creeks were full, ” Carper said. “There was nowhere for this massive amount of rain to go.”

While immediate rescue efforts by the National Guard and firefighters mitigated a potential loss of life, reports of damage to properties and homes is high. Carper said he sees the need to request federal assistance and attempt to meet the disaster declaration threshold to offset the flood damage.

“We’re going to work with our citizens, neighbors, friends, try to get federal assistance, work with Congress, with Senators Manchin and Capito, and Congresswoman Miller,” Carper said. “We always hear, ‘Well there weren’t that many deaths.’ Well, when someone loses everything they own, that is devastating.”

The Kanawha County Commission meanwhile has announced supply distribution points for flood victims at the following locations from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Belle Town Hall located at 1100 E Dupont Ave, Belle
Chesapeake Town Hall located at 12404 MacCorkle Ave SE, Chesapeake

Donations, specifically, contractor grade trash bags, bleach, push brooms, and shovels will be gratefully accepted. People are requested to not drop off clothing at these locations.

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department will be administering free tetanus vaccines in Belle this week for those affected by recent flooding.

The mobile shot clinic will be at the Belle Town Hall distribution site Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Floodwaters carry disease-causing organisms that can lead to serious illness or even death,” Dr. Steven Eshenaur, KCHD’s Health Officer said. “Foremost, stay out of the floodwaters. If you’ve already been in them or are conducting cleanup now, please make sure your tetanus shot is up to date”

Eshenaur said Tetanus is a serious disease but is easily preventable. “If you get a wound – small or large – tend to it immediately. Bacteria can invade your body through the smallest punctures and scratches.”

KCHD will have Environmental Health staff in the affected area this week to answer questions, test private and community wells, and help provide public health safety guidance for businesses so they can reopen as soon as possible.

Residents of homes with private or community wells are advised to contact KCHD for testing of any well, pump, springs, cisterns or pipes that have been exposed to floodwaters. Private water system testing of in-use wells serving flood-impacted homes will be free.

Call 304-348-8050 to make an appointment.

West Nile Virus Detected In W.Va.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cases of the virus are spiking upwards in the United States.

West Virginia has reported its first case of the West Nile virus this year in Hardy County following the screening of a blood donor.

The individual, who donated blood, did not show any symptoms at the time of the procedure but their blood later tested positive during a screening for West Nile virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cases of the virus are spiking upwards in the United States. West Nile can affect both humans and animals with horses particularly susceptible to the virus which expresses itself in through neurological tremors and coordination problems.

A vaccine is available for horses but not for humans.

The virus spreads through mosquitoes that can become infected after feeding on an infected bird. So far this year, 190 cases have been identified across 27 states.

According to the CDC most people (8 out of 10) who become infected with West Nile virus do not exhibit symptoms. One in five people who become infected with West Nile virus develop mild flu-like symptoms including headaches, high fever, muscle weakness, vomiting or a rash.

In rare, but more severe cases, one in 150 people can develop encephalitis, or meningitis which affects the brain and spinal cord.

For more information on West Nile virus visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/.