Connect with us

West Virginia

Ohio couple aims to uplift central West Virginia via $100K gift to WVU

Published

on

Ohio couple aims to uplift central West Virginia via 0K gift to WVU


More than 10 years after moving away from the Mountain State, an Ohio couple is strengthening their commitment to central West Virginia with a $100,000 gift to expand local outreach and experiential learning opportunities via the West Virginia University Center for Community Engagement, a unit under the WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement.

George Lee and Rosemary H. Fisher first came to West Virginia in 1975, when they purchased a small farm in Braxton County. They maintained the farm for nearly 40 years and became deeply connected to their neighbors and the community.

“Our hearts have always been centered there, even though we’ve moved on to a different phase of our lives,” Lee said. “I think when you experience a place like West Virginia for as long as we did, it just naturally becomes a part of you.”

The Fishers’ gift to WVU establishes a namesake fund that supports the Purpose2Action program, a paid community engagement experience that places undergraduate students with nonprofit and public-sector organizations to work on mission-driven projects. Per the couple’s wishes, first preference will be given to students from Braxton County and/or student engagement work with Braxton County nonprofits.

Advertisement

The fund prioritizes projects and organizations focused on youth education, entrepreneurship, technology, nutrition, veterans, animals, career development and food scarcity.

“Students are curious and motivated to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges that enrich their education while gaining valuable career skills and making a meaningful impact in local communities,” WVU Center for Community Engagement Director and Assistant Dean Kristi Wood-Turner said.

The Fishers met as undergraduates at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and spent their careers in the Philadelphia area, where Lee worked in corporate finance for the rail industry and Rosemary was a schoolteacher.

The Braxton County farm fulfilled a lifelong dream for Lee and served as a peaceful getaway for the couple until the early 2000s, when they retired and moved there full-time.

“It was like going home,” Rosemary said.

They both volunteered at Little Birch Elementary and belonged to the Braxton County Rotary Club, among other community groups.

Advertisement

At the urging of then-Governor Joe Manchin, Lee got involved at the state level. He held leadership roles with the West Virginia Board of Accountancy, the West Virginia Broadband Deployment Council and TechConnect WV. Lee, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, was also involved in veterans’ affairs issues.

In their spare time, Lee enjoyed fishing, while Rosemary sewed and quilted. She has given away over 100 quilts to West Virginia friends and neighbors as graduation presents, condolence gifts, recognition for military service and more.

The couple previously established the Lee and Rosemary Fisher Scholarship to benefit graduates of Braxton County High School who attend WVU.

“We’ve both been blessed with being able to give things away, and I think that’s partially due to the way we were raised,” Lee said. “Our parents recognized there’s always someone else who may live next door that might be in a worse situation than you are, so don’t let you become the subject of your whole life. Recognize there are people around you that you might be able to help, and if you’re in a position to provide that help, just do it. That’s the way we’ve looked at all our gifts.”

The Fishers noted that rural communities in central West Virginia face unique challenges that aren’t easily understood by residents of Morgantown, Martinsburg and other cities in the state, so they wanted to help. They hope their generosity enriches central West Virginia communities, broadens the skills and perspective of students from the area, and inspires others to give.

“When we decided we would create this gift, we were determined that it was going to stay in the center of the state and not go anywhere else,” Lee said.

Advertisement

Despite the Fishers’ passion for West Virginia, health struggles prompted them to return to Oxford in 2013. They have family nearby, and Lee has continued his education at Miami University, taking over a dozen courses in the past decade.

In addition to spending time in Florida, Rosemary said the couple still returns to Braxton County regularly to visit their “adopted family on the hill.”

“The students’ willingness to serve truly changes the lives of our fellow citizens and enriches their learning here at WVU,” Associate Vice President and Dean of the Division for Land-Grant Engagement Jorge Atiles said. “We are so thankful for thoughtful donors like the Fishers who share a passion for service and for our West Virginia communities.”

The Fishers’ gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.



Source link

West Virginia

West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted

Published

on

West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted


A West Virginia man accused of threatening to attack President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers was federally indicted this week.

Cody Lee Smith, 20, of Clarksburg was indicted on two counts of threats to murder the president, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder and one count of influencing a federal official by threat of murder, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Smith is accused of making a series of public posts on Instagram encouraging and threatening the murder of Trump, those who support him, Israelis and “all government officials,” the news release said.

The indictment also alleges that Smith sent a direct message via Instagram to Donald J. Trump, Jr., stating he would kill his father by cutting his “jugular.”

Advertisement

In a phone call with the ICE tip line, Smith also threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg and employees staffing the tip line.

Comment with Bubbles

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Smith faces up to 5 years for each of the presidential threat charges and faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

West Virginia

West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews

Published

on

West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews


West Virginia has said the right things about the need to capitalize on opportunities.

The Mountaineers aren’t following through when they come about.

The latest example came Tuesday night at Kansas State, which scored 21 unanswered points in the second half before holding off a furious West Virginia charge for a 65-53 victory at Bramlage Coliseum.

“The level of urgency and desire to win a game with so much on it wasn’t where it needed to be,” West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge said on postgame radio.

Advertisement

The Wildcats (12-18, 3-14) played without leading scorer PJ Haggerty, a surprise scratch with an undisclosed injury.

Although WVU (17-13, 8-9) defeated Kansas State 59-54 with Haggerty in the lineup during a January matchup in Morgantown, the Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on his absence in the rematch and fell to 1-4 in their last five games.

Both teams were dismal offensively in the opening half, which ended with West Virginia leading, 26-23.

The Mountaineers got 10 points apiece from reserve forwards Chance Moore and DJ Thomas, helping the visitors to at least somewhat overcome a starting lineup that scored six points on 3-for-15 shooting over the first 20 minutes.

“When you’re playing a team that is a little down and out, you can’t give them life and can’t give them hope,” Hodge said. “We had so many opportunities in the first half and at the beginning of the game to make some plays and entice a team that’s been struggling to maybe keep struggling.”

Advertisement

After a scoreless first half, WVU guard Honor Huff made his 100th three-pointer this season with 18:33 to play, allowing the Mountaineers to lead 31-27.

West Virginia went the next 8-plus minutes without a point, and Wildcats took control during that stretch.

Khamari McGriff scored the Wildcats’ first four points of the extended 21-0 spurt and accounted for four buckets and eight of the first 15 points during that time.

A jumper from CJ Jones with 10:53 remaining left the home team with a 48-31 advantage, before Thomas scored from close range to end his team’s extended drought at the 10:27 mark.

“I’m aware of our shortcomings and I understand when you’re deficient in some areas, your margin for error to win is razor thin,” Hodge said. “I’m disappointed with what was at stake, we got beat to loose balls. Would it have been nice to make more layups and threes? Of course. But when those things aren’t happening, you better do those other things.”

Advertisement

KSU had separate 19-point leads, the latter of which came at 57-38 when McGriff made two free throws with 7:29 to play.

WVU then increased its aggressiveness offensively and reeled off the next 11 points, while the Wildcats began to play tentative while in possession.

A three-pointer from K-State’s Nate Johnson left the Wildcats with a 60-49 lead with 3:48 left, but the Mountaineers continued to battle and trailed by six when Chance Moore scored in the paint at the 1:24 mark.

Moore’s next basket made it a five-point game, and after a Johnson turnover, Huff made two free throws to bring WVU to within 61-58 with 48 seconds left.

Another KSU turnover gave the visitors the ball back, but after Moore missed a shot that the Mountaineers rebounded, Huff committed a costly turnover. 

Advertisement

Johnson made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and McGriff added two more with 7 seconds remaining before Huff made a trey at the buzzer.

Moore led WVU with 18 points and made 6-of-7 shots, but again struggled on free throws, finishing 5 for 9. WVU hurts its cause at the charity stripe and made only 9-of-16 attempts.

Brenen Lorient was the Mountaineers’ second-leading scorer with 14 second-half points, while Thomas followed with 12 and Huff added 11 on 3-for-11 shooting.

Treysen Eaglestaff led all players with 11 rebounds in defeat, but made only 3-of-12 shots in a six-point showing.

McGriff led KSU with 18 points and added seven rebounds.

Advertisement

Johnson finished with 16 points and nine boards.

WVU had nine of its 13 turnovers in the second half. 

“Nine turnovers in the second half creates more busted floors, more cross match opportunities and through that, it makes you vulnerable for paint touch opportunities,” Hodge said. 

K-State played under the guidance of interim head coach Matthew Driscoll. Driscoll replaced Jerome Tang, who was fired in between the team’s first and second matchups with West Virginia this season.

“Sometimes in life you get what you deserve,” Hodge said, “and we deserved to lose tonight.”

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

West Virginia

Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews

Published

on

Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews


NITRO, W.Va. — It’s a done deal.

Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt signed an agreement Tuesday with West Virginia American Water Company President Scott Wyman completing the sale of the Nitro Regional Wastewater Utility including the sewer plant for $20 million.

Advertisement

The water utility will now own and operate the city’s water and wastewater systems. The state Public Service Commission recently approved the deal.

Casebolt said it’s good to get the long-talked-about agreement signed. He said the city can’t afford to make the improvements required at the sewer plant.

“We’re looking at needing between 40 and 50 million dollars of upgrades to our system and expecting our four-thousand customer base to try to offset those costs is not even practical,” Casebolt said.

Casebolt said sewer bills are going to go up but he said they were going to go up regardless. He said the city was facing increasing rates by as much as 50 percent.

West Virgina American is planning $42 million in upgrades to the sewer system over the next five years, Casebolt said.

Advertisement

“It’s a much-need investment and actually allow the system to handle rainwater much better where it’s not backing up into people’s homes,” Casebolt said.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending