CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia State Parks is expanding its partnership with a popular distillery to sell its bourbon across the Mountain State.

The Lewisburg-based distillery Smooth Ambler has partnered with the state parks since 2023 to offer unique blends of its Old Scout Bourbon exclusively at restaurants and lounges located at Cacapon Resort, Canaan Valley Resort, Pipestem Resort, Blackwater Falls, Chief Logan, Hawks Nest, Stonewall Resort and Twin Falls Resort state parks.

On Monday, the state parks and Smooth Ambler have announced an expanded collection to be served at Audra, Blennerhassett Island, Cass Scenic Railroad, Coopers Rock, Babcock and Lost River state parks. The new line will also be available for purchase at select stores around West Virginia.

Andrew Robinson, Smooth Ambler’s blending and processing manager, is happy to see the partnership continue.

“We are pleased to honor our state parks with special labeling that showcases the natural beauty and spirit of West Virginia,” Robinson said. “We hope folks will enjoy our hand selected bourbon as much as they enjoy exploring the trails and nature in our state parks.”

The original line of drinks will still be available at their respective lodge restaurants.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A 24-hour, toll-free number is helping schools and counties all over the state.

The West Virginia Safe Schools Helpline is a number anyone can call any hour of the day to report violence, threats, harassment, or anything that negatively impacts students. Residents that call the number speak with an actual person every time, and do not have to provide confidential information.

Department of Education Safety Investigator James Agee presented data 2025 data about the helpline during the state board of education’s December meeting.

He says plenty of calls have been put in.

“They received 278 helpline reports that have went out so far this school year. That’s down from 439 this time last year,” Agee said.

“Among those reports are some things like student behavior issues that could include bullying or some other student concerns that could be on a bus or a school building. Occasionally, there are some alarming things about some suicidal ideations on the part of students, and also some more serious threats like maybe a gun threat,” he continued.

The helpline goes out to the affected county superintendents, a number of state department officials, and if serious enough, local authorities.

According to Agee, over two dozen calls have garnered serious attention.

“There’s about 30 immediate threats that have been there so far this school year. Before they put the report out, they get in direct contact with the county 911 center.”

Agee says the helpline also include issues with private schools.

“One notable threat last month was fellow students reported a middle school student that had talked about bringing a gun to his private school the next day. That went out, the county superintendent knew the director of that school, had contacted that director within five to 10 minutes,” Agee said. “They had developed a plan with the regional school safety officer, and within an hour, there was a law enforcement officer at the door talking with the students’ parents to address that threat.”

Agee says all the effort that goes into the helpline is worth it to provide an extra line of defense.

“In my view, this has been a great success and the money and expense and time that went into it proves that it’s working every day,” he said.

The West Virginia Safe Schools Helpline is 1-866-723-39-82.