West Virginia
Award Winning Stories From 2023, Inside Appalachia – West Virginia Public Broadcasting
In March, broadcast journalists from Virginia and West Virginia were recognized when the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters met to present awards for notable stories produced in 2023.
This week, we listen back to some of our award-winning stories.
In This Episode:
How Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage Gets Made
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Zack Harold is the unofficial foodie for Folkways. Last summer, he took us to see how the sausage gets made with Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage. The recipe originated in the Calabria region of Italy, but it’s made in West Virginia.
Make Way For The Mushroom Hunters

Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Gathering foods like ramps, sassafras or blackberries from the forest has always been a part of Appalachian culture. In recent years, mushroom hunting has been having a moment.
Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch spent time with mushroom hunters in Virginia and West Virginia and brought us the story.
Winter Wassailing In Asheville

Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Not many folks are thinking about winter holiday traditions this time of year. But back before Christmas, Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams explored the old English tradition of wassailing in Asheville, North Carolina. A group of friends there got into this old singing tradition as a way to connect to their roots. Williams reported.
Season Of The Witch

Photo Credit: Llewellyn Worldwide
In Appalachia, witchcraft goes way back. Wise women still practice herbology or trace the patterns of the moon. H. Byron Ballard is a practicing witch in Asheville, North Carolina. She’s also the author of several books, including Small Magics: Practical Secrets from an Appalachian Village Witch. Last fall, she spoke with producer Bill Lynch about her way of life – and quizzed Bill on cryptids.
We also want to congratulate WVPB reporters and Inside Appalachia contributors Emily Rice and Breana Heaney, news director Eric Douglas and Us & Them host Trey Kay. Each of them won awards from the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters.

Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Christian Lopez, Dave and Tim Bing, John Inghram, Marissa Anderson, Frank George and Hank Williams Jr.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways editors Chris Julin and Nicole Musgrave.
You can send us an email at 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.
West Virginia
Texas Tech fans rally to support West Virginia after National Guardsmen shooting
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Rivalries are some of the best parts of college football and a reason why so many look forward to Saturdays in the fall. But one man saw a need in his team’s opposing fan base and took action.
“I know the hearts of [Texas] Tech grads and folks in West Texas, and I knew that they would want to help,” said Texas Tech fan Dan Isset. “And something that binds us all together is not just the love of the sport but the love of our country.”
Dan Isset saw the news like many did on Wednesday. Two National Guardsmen had been shot in Washington DC, and both were natives of West Virginia. His Texas Tech Red Raiders were set to take on the Mountaineers over the weekend, but he had something else on his mind.
“I was told from some West Virginia fans on Twitter that the National Guard did quite a bit of work with local food banks there,” Isset said. “So it seemed like we had a great opportunity for folks in West Texas and Texas Tech fans to show our support and our love for folks in West Virginia and what y’all are going through and those families in particular.”
Donations from Red Raider fans started coming into the Mountaineer Food Bank, one of the places where guard troops had assisted during the government shutdown. CEO Chad Morrison said the support was incredible.
“I was looking at our donations and the messages that the donors had put,” Morrison said. “There was a lot of heartfelt messages, supporting the National Guard and the state of West Virginia and just really made you feel really good to see that kind of support from across the country.”
Right now, Red Raider fans have donated close to a thousand dollars to help the Mountaineer Food Bank.
“Even though they’re a football opponent, we’re all working on this together, and we’re all people at the end of the day,” Morrison said.
Isset, a veteran himself who used to live in DC said he’s always enjoyed visiting the Mountain State because it reminded him of home.
“West Texas is one of the friendliest places in all the world. I’ve been to West Virginia a few times and it always reminds me of home whenever I’m there,” he said. “Folks are very similar in West Virginia and in West Texas and there’s a lot that binds us together that they can bring folks together and I’m real happy that I got to be just a little bitty part of that.”
West Virginia
West Virginia defense stifles Mercyhurst in blowout win
West Virginia
‘Quiet strength’ — Sarah Beckstrom’s West Virginia hometown remembers slain National Guard member
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