West Virginia
Blackwater River included on America's Most Endangered Rivers list for 2024 – WV MetroNews
DAVIS, W.Va. — One of West Virginia’s best known and most scenic waterways has been included on this year’s list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers. The Blackwater River in West Virginia is number ten on the list compiled and released today by the American Rivers organization.
In their announcement, American Rivers specifically noted the plans for construction of Corridor H through through the Tucker County towns of Thomas and Davis as the chief reason for the inclusion of the waterway on the endangered list.
“The Blackwater River is threatened by the currently State-preferred (but not yet adopted) route for a major four-lane highway, known as Corridor H, that would cross all of the river’s headwater streams
with major construction activity at each. This route was designed 30 years ago, with little thought to preserving the Blackwater River’s unique cultural, historic, and environmental integrity.” wrote the organization in a press release.
Judy Rodd is the longtime Executive Director of the Friends of Blackwater. She believed it was a significant development for their push to persuade the Federal Highway Administration to adopt what is often called the “northern route” for the Thomas and Davis section.
“This is a national group looking at the problems created by the mega-highway being built in the headwaters of the Blackwater River,” said Rodd. “It’s beloved by West Virginians and is a significant part of the tourism economy.”
The West Virginia Division of Highways and local advocates for the Corridor H project have maintained the current route, which would go between the two towns, is the most economical and appropriate route. However, the Federal Highway Administration in a notice of intent earlier this year allowed for an examination of not only the preferred route, but also the northern route.
Rodd said to her organization it’s an important shift in the analysis of the plans for the highway by the federal agency.
“It divides the historic towns of Thomas and Davis, with a big four-lane which is ridiculous in this day and age when the Biden Administration is saying, ‘We don’t want to divide towns anymore and make it difficult for people to visit each other,” said Rodd.
She added the other concern is environmental, which was what attracted the attention of American Rivers.
“It cuts over top of the North Fork of the Blackwater, which is the entry way to the Blackwater (Canyon). It cuts over top of the rail-trail, over top of a water treatment system we’re installing and over top of the Loop Trail which is a new venture. Then it cuts over five major waterways which feed into the Blackwater River,” she said.
“It would be a grave mistake on the part of the West Virginia Division of Highways and Federal Highway Administration, and a major disservice to local communities, to threaten the Blackwater River and simultaneously hinder the growth of the thriving outdoor recreation economy in this area,” said Olivia Miller, program director of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy in a press release. “To those who know and love Tucker County—the Blackwater Canyon is the heart and soul of this region. To rob present and future generations of the opportunity to fully experience these special places and reap their many benefits is a huge error in judgment.”
The West Virginia Division of Highways has long maintained the current route they are putting forward is the fastest, most economical route and deny it poses any of threats to the environment or the historical status of the region which are claimed. However, Rodd and her organization hoped the designation would change before dirt is turned on what will be one of the final stretches of Corridor H. It’s also one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the entire longstanding project to connect Weston to I-81 in Virginia.
“A million people visit this area every year and those people are concerned their enjoyment of this area will be diminished and the people who live there are disturbed it’s going to tear up their landscape for years,” Rodd said.
“Part of this announcement is a call for people to take action and say what they think by sending those comments to the federal highway people,” she said.
Granada Theater – Opened in 1927, the Theater is located at 537 Commerce Street, Bluefield. It is contributing to the Bluefield Downtown Commercial District and while originally used as a vaudeville and movie theater, is currently used for cinema and live performances.
Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center – Opened in 1913, the Robinson Grand is located at 444 W. Pike Street, Clarksburg. It is contributing to the Clarksburg Downtown Historic District, and was designed and is still used for cinema, live performances and as an events venue.
Elk Theater – The Elk Theater was opened in 1940 and is located at 192 Main Street, Sutton. It is contributing to the Sutton Downtown Historic District. It was designed and is still used for Cinema and Live Performances.
West Virginia
Oklahoma State basketball vs. West Virginia: Prediction, picks for Cowgirls-Mountaineers
OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt with baby Harlow, who got her first Big 12 win
OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt with baby Harlow, who got her first Big 12 win
STILLWATER — One quick look at the top part of the Big 12 women’s basketball standings tells you how big this West Virginia at Oklahoma State game is.
The Cowgirls (13-2, 3-1 Big 12) are tied for third place in the league with WVU (13-2, 3-1), and while there’s a lot of basketball left to be played, this game could be important as the standings shake out in late February.
Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
A duel of conflicting strengths
Though OSU’s offense has been struggling lately, it still remains the best in the Big 12, putting up 84.4 points per game. West Virginia, on the other hand, is the second-best defense in the league, giving up just 51.1 points per game.
The Cowgirls’ recent shooting struggles are the bigger concern. They’ve scored just 66 and 64 points in the last two games, most recently defeating Cincinnati 64-48.
Can Anna Gret Asi heat up?
A key piece of Oklahoma State’s offensive attack is combo guard Anna Gret Asi, but the senior hasn’t been seeing shots fall lately.
Over the last two games, Asi is 1 for 16 from the floor and 0 for 12 from 3-point range. That has dropped her 3-point percentage from 42.9% to 37.1%.
Cowgirls must avoid turnovers
OSU’s guard-heavy lineup has been reliable in taking care of the ball this season, averaging just 14.2 turnovers per game.
That will be critical in holding off WVU on Saturday. The Mountaineers rank fourth nationally and well ahead of everyone else in the Big 12 in turnovers forced, causing 25.9 per game.
How to watch OSU-West Virginia women
The Cowgirls and Mountaineers will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 2 p.m. Saturday. Streaming for the game can be found here. The OSU radio broadcast will be on KGFY 105.5 FM.
Score prediction for OSU-West Virginia women
West Virginia 64, OSU 63: A few key Cowgirls, like Asi, have been cold from the floor in recent games, and that trend is sure to turn in their favor soon. But West Virginia’s defense might be catching OSU at the ideal time to steal a road win.
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West Virginia is one of the most successful programs in college football history. As a matter of fact, they are the winningest team in college football without a national championship.
Is that a good thing? Well, yes and no.
It shows that the program has consistently won and is at a high enough level to be among the best programs in the country. However, it’s certainly not a label that Mountaineers fans are exactly proud of. The 1988 and 2007 seasons are still burned into the memory bank of WVU fans and getting back to the big dance in this day and age is a tall task.
The Mountaineers entered the 1988 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame with an unblemished record and clobbered many of their opponents on their path to the big game. Unfortunately, star dual-threat quarterback Major Harris injured his shoulder on the third play of the game and wasn’t the same player the rest of the game. The Mountaineers would fall to the Fighting Irish 34-21.
In 2007, well you all Mountaineer fans know the story. But for those who don’t, West Virginia entered the final week of the season ranked second in the country and all they needed to do was beat a 3-8 Pitt team in the Backyard Brawl, at home, to secure a spot in the national championship.
The high-powered WVU offense went stagnant as star quarterback Pat White injured his non-throwing hand early in the game. White didn’t return until late in the fourth quarter and the Panthers were able to hang on to pull off the stunning upset, defeating the Mountaineers 13-9.
That was the last time WVU has been on the doorstep of a national title.
So, which team in the NFL has shared that same level of misery yet has been a consistently winning organization? That would be the Minnesota Vikings.
They have the best winning percentage of any team in the NFL who have yet to win a Super Bowl. Only the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and Kansas City Chiefs have a better winning percentage, but they all have Lombardi Trophies.
Now, technically, the Detroit Lions have the most wins of any NFL team without a Super Bowl win, but they have a winning percentage of .455, so it’s not exactly an accurate representation of the success West Virginia has had at the collegiate level.
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