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The Flotsam River Circus makes a splash in Ohio River towns
The sun is the only spotlight for the circus performers who bound onto a ramshackle raft, docked in Parkersburg, West Virginia just across the river from Belpre, Ohio. A crowd of more than a hundred spectators watch in awe as a unibrowed trapeze artist flips in flippers, clownish sea captains attempt daring feats and strange puppets dance up and down the gangplank to the tune of fiddle-filled sea shanties.
Smith resigns Wood County Family Court judge post
PARKERSBURG — A Wood County Family Court judge is stepping down before her term ends. The resignation of Judge Ellen L. Smith, who presides in the 3rd Family Court Circuit, is effective Sept. 20, according to Jennifer Bundy, public information officer for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
Belpre Elementary releasing students early following air conditioner malfunction
BELPRE, Ohio (WTAP) - Belpre Elementary School students went home early Thursday due to issues with their air conditioning system. Students were dismissed at 12:30 p.m. According to Belpre City Schools Superintendent Jeff Greenley, a problem with the air conditioner damper was preventing the system from providing adequate cooling. Greenley...
As region enters ‘exceptional drought,’ rain loss may be ‘unrecoverable’
ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — As Athens County swelters in a return of extreme heat without significant rain, the regional drought that began in June has become even worse. In its Aug. 29 weekly report, U.S. Drought Monitor upgraded much of Athens County to “exceptional drought,” the most severe classification used by the service.
Memorial Health System to host community lab screenings event
MARIETTA — Memorial Health System (MHS) announces an upcoming reduced-cost community lab screening event. The screenings will be held from 7-11 a.m. at Wayne Street Medical Campus in Marietta on Oct. 5. RSVPs are required, with registration being held through Oct. 3. Tests that will be offered include a comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid profile, thyroid (TSH), A1C, Complete Blood Count, and PSA (for men only). These tests will cost $45 for women and $55 for men. Payments can be made by credit card in advance (when scheduling), or with cash or check on the day of the screenings. For information on locations and to RSVP, call (740) 568-4731. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
Cooling stations across the Mid-Ohio Valley help those in need
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - With the heat in the Mid-Ohio Valley leaving some people looking for relief, some places are changing into cooling stations to give a chance for people to cool down in case they don’t have somewhere to stay. On Wednesday, the Salvation Army in Marietta offered...
Mountwood Park installs new signs, kiosks
WAVERLY — Mountwood Park has partnered with the Mountaineer Trail Network (MTN) to bring updated and enhanced signage to Mountwood Park. Partner organizations include the River Valley Mountain Bike Association and the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, Wood County Commission, Appalachian Regional Commission, Downstream Strategies and Friends of the Cheat.
Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council receives $4.1 million grant
ATHENS — The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council has received a grant of a $4,180,045 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration under the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program. Funding will support the council’s Southeast to Southwest Ohio Responsive Interregional Deployment of Electrification Solutions project, called...
A holiday note to News and Sentinel readers…
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel will not publish a print edition on Labor Day, Sept. 2. This follows the paper’s policy of not having a print edition on major federal holidays, such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Our newsroom will remain...
Wood County Commission approves lease for new Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department location
PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission approved the lease for the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department to move into St. Joseph’s Landing during its Thursday meeting. The commission unanimously approved the final lease agreement which has been worked on for the past month. St. Joseph’s Landing Building Manager Jon...
Ohio Cross Country Season Preview
ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams are lacing up their shoes for their first meet of the season on Friday. Ohio kicks off its season at the Tommy Evans Invitational hosted by Akron at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton, Ohio, on August 30. Last season, the women finished second and the men finished seventh at the meet. It'll be a race to excite.
Senator Capito secures funding for local mental health program
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced that grant funding has been secured for dozens of West Virginia programs. One of the many programs that received Human & Health Services funding was Harmony Mental Health here in Parkersburg. Harmony will use the funding they received for the Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program and the Handle with Care Initiative.
Vienna officials choose Noffsinger to take Azinger’s seat on city council
VIENNA — Members of Vienna City Council unanimously voted to appoint former council member Chuck Noffsinger to the seat previously held by the late Tom Azinger. Noffsinger — along with Kim Couch, Corinne Ann Full and Barbara Joyce — was interviewed during a special meeting Tuesday at the city building to select someone to complete the term of Azinger, who passed away in July.
Parkersburg Utility Board gets update on sewer control plan
PARKERSBURG — Work done over the years to meet a virtually impossible standard of eliminating all sanitary sewer overflows has positioned the Parkersburg Utility Board well for new regulations after a change in its designation. Representatives of engineering firm Strand Associates updated board members this week on a long-term...
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