Youth line up at the Dunbar Pedestrian Plaza for the 2023 Boo Bash. This year's bash will be held Oct. 25, council members were told Monday.Photo byCity of Dunbar

DUNBAR, W.Va. -- The city of Dunbar will be alive with activities over the next few months, beginning with this weekend’s Fall Festival.

At the Sept. 16 regularly scheduled council meeting, Dunbar Parks and Recreation director Jessie Madden shared some of the upcoming city-sponsored events.

On Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21, the annual Fall Festival will kick off at the Dunbar Pedestrian Plaza at Myers Avenue and 12th Street. A recently released festival schedule details the live entertainment lineup, which includes The ‘77 Experience, DJ Sam Gasaway, the Charleston Ballet, Jeanie Raines, the Appalachian Lightning Band and Non-Friction.

Friday features a free wrestling show outside of City Hall. On Saturday – children’s day at the festival– a Kids Corner with a foam machine, splash pad, petting zoo, pony rides and inflatables will offer free entertainment to youth.

The Dunbar Fall Festival is one of many autumn celebrations throughout the Kanawha Valley scheduled for September and October.

Madden also shared future Dunbar events with council members during Monday’s meeting. Upcoming happenings include:

• Tuesday, Oct. 1.: Bitty ball and pickle ball begin at the Dunbar Recreation Center. Bitty ball will be Monday through Thursday and all day Saturday, while pickleball will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and 7-9 p.m. on Fridays. More info is available by calling 304-766-0223.
• Saturday, Oct. 5: The city-wide yard sale will be held throughout town. Dunbar residents interested in participating in selling should call 304-766-0223 to register their house for the event.
• Friday, Oct. 25: The annual Boo Bash Halloween celebration takes place from 5-8 p.m. The event is free and open for students up to 8th grade. Those interested in donating, volunteering or passing out candy are asked to call 304-766-0223.
• Saturday, Nov. 16: The James Campbell Memorial 5K Walk and Run will begin at 9 a.m. The race starts and ends at Dunbar City Hall.
• Friday, Dec. 6: The annual Christmas Parade kicks off the holiday season. Lineup begins at 6 p.m. behind Kroger, and the parade starts at 7 p.m. Individuals, businesses and other groups interested in participating should call 304-766-0223.

‘Ragged flags’ and ‘nuisance houses’

During Monday’s council meeting, Ward 1 Councilman Steve Arnott said some of his constituents had been asking about “ragged flags” being displayed in some parts of the town.

“Is there a law about flying a ragged [American] flag?” Arnott asked.

Dunbar Mayor Scott Elliott said he was not aware of a law that prevents displaying tattered and torn flags, but he is troubled by the idea.

“I saw one today,” Elliott said. “Me, and several others around here, have fought [in the military] for that flag.”

Elliot said he tries to speak to owners when he sees a tattered Old Glory.

“It does bother me,” Elliott confessed.

In a separate discussion, Elliott said steps were being taken to make progress on “nuisance houses” within the city.

Speaking on behalf of Dunbar Building Inspector Hugh Leishman, who was on vacation and absent from Monday's session, Elliott said a meeting has been scheduled for October regarding such properties.

Other business

Also at the Sept. 16 council meeting, the panel:

• Approved the payment of invoices totaling $93,539.32;
• Approved a payment of $3,645.45 for two drums of fuel from Schaeffer Oil for the city’s public works deparment, police department and fire department fleets;
• Approved a $12,000 payment to TLC Contracting;
• Approved a payment of $2,800 to American Tree Experts for the removal of five trees in the 1900 block of West Virginia Avenue; and
• Approved a payment of $7,882.75 to Standard Equipment Inc. to repair a city-owned backhoe.

Council members tabled a discussion on new software for the city’s fire department at the recommendation of the finance committee.

Dunbar City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at Dunbar City Hall, 210 12th St.

Michael Ramsburg is a Kanawha County communities reporter. He can be reached at ramsburgreports@gmail.com or by calling 304-370-3067.