The West Virginia State Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease announced the recipients of the 2024 Celebrating Healthy West Virginia Award at Glade Springs Resort. The Buckhannon River Paddlers group was among those honored.
The awards were hosted by Active Southern West Virginia. This recognition celebrates 43 organizations committed to fostering environments that offer everyone the opportunity to live a healthier life.
Cabinet Secretary Sherri Young praised the recipients, stating, “The dedication and passion of these organizations are truly inspiring. Their commitment to improving the health and well-being of our communities reflects the very best of West Virginia. By supporting and acknowledging their work, we hope to encourage even more initiatives that promote healthy living across our state.”
The 2024 award recipients include a diverse range of organizations making significant strides in health promotion and community wellness:
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Active Southern West Virginia
Arthurdale Heritage
Buckhannon River Paddlers
Cabell-Huntington Health Department
Center for Active WV
Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Inc.
Clendenin Elk River Walking Club
Columbia Forest Products
Community Markets Inc.
Elk River Trail Foundation
Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley, Inc.
Free Meals Appalachia
Fun Fitness Foundation Inc.
Girls on the Run of the Shenandoah Valley
Grayhound Youth Sports
Grrl Gang Runners and Friends
Healthy Berkeley County
Heart+Hand Outreach Ministries
HoH-Share
Keep Your Faith Corporation
KEYS 4 HealthyKids
Laughlin Memorial Chapel
Lewis County Family Resource Network
Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center
Mountaineer Food Bank
Mountains of Hope Outreach
Niterra North America, Inc
Parents Auxiliary Inc. Ken Ellis Memorial Park
Plant the Seed Project
Potomac Valley Audubon
Rebuilding Together Charleston
Refresh Appalachia
Roane General Hospital- Prescription for Your Health
Southern Appalachian Labor School
Southern West Virginia Health System
Spotted Owl Healthcare Organization
The Amputee Center
Try This WV
We Bike WV
Wetzel County Family Resource Network
WV National Interscholastic Cycling League
WVU School of Dentistry’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program
Several organizations received special honors for their exceptional contributions:
Arthurdale Heritage was recognized with the 2024 Inspiring Innovator Award.
The Amputee Center received the 2024 Jessica G. Wright Health Equity Award.
Rebuilding Together Charleston was awarded the 2024 Community Care Award.
WV National Interscholastic Cycling League earned the 2024 Trailblazer Award.
“These organizations work tirelessly each day to create a healthier and more vibrant community for their members,” said Sheryn Carey, Director of the West Virginia HPCD. “We are thrilled to celebrate their remarkable efforts and the positive impact they have made across our state.”
The Celebrating Healthy West Virginia awardees will receive special signage and promotional materials to highlight their commitment to policies, programs and practices that foster healthier lifestyles.
To learn more about the Celebrating Healthy West Virginia initiative and discover how your community can get involved, please visit celebratinghealthywv.com.
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – West Virginia lawmakers continued working as the Saturday midnight deadline approaches.
Senate Action
The Senate passed 12 bills, including one requiring adult content websites to use age verification to block minors. Senators also passed a bill creating a Cold Case Task Force.
House Bill 49-90, targeting gift card crimes, and House Bill 54-37, the Vape Safety Act, also passed unanimously. All four bills now go to the House for concurrence.
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Delegates passed Alyssa’s Law, allowing teachers to wear mobile alert buttons that notify 9-1-1 and trigger a school lockdown in emergencies. The bill is named after a victim of the 2018 Parkland shooting.
Bill 4005, which clarifies jobs prohibited for workers under 16 — including bar work and logging — also passed. Both bills now head to Governor Patrick Morrisey’s desk.
Senate Bill 4 would require bystanders to stay at least 30 feet from first responders.
Senate Bill 75 would allow West Virginia law enforcement to cooperate with officers in bordering states. A bill from the Education Committee would allow teachers with at least 15 years of experience to become certified as school principals.
For more legislative coverage, go to our website at wdtv.com.
The West Virginia Mountaineers (10-3) welcome the Maryland Terrapins (10-5) to Kendrick Family Ballpark Tuesday afternoon the first encounter between the two programs since 2023 and the first meeting in Morgantown since 2018. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
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The Mountaineers captured their fourth consecutive series of the season after taking two of the three games from Columbia over the weekend. West Virginia sophomore Matt Ineich and senior Brodie Kresser both blasted grand slams during the series. Ineich lifted WVU in game two with a walk-off grand slam in the 10th in game two, and Kresser ignited a 16-1 rout, capping a six-run second inning in the series finale.
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Gavin Kelly leads West Virginia at the plate with a .436 batting average with a Big 12 leading nine doubles. Ineich and senior Paul Schoenfeld has raked in a team-leading 16 RBI apiece, while senior Matthew Graveline has clubbed a team-high three home runs.
On the mound, West Virginia is expected to start sophomore David Hagen. The right-hander has made four appearances on the season, including one start. He last started in the home-opener against Ohio where he pitched two scoreless innings and recorded a strikeout to collect his first win of the season. He holds a 1.00 ERA with five strikeouts on the season.
After starting 3-4, Maryland is 7-1 in its last eight games. The Terrapins won two of three at UNC Wilmington in the season opening series, followed by a midweek win against Georgetown before getting swept at Louisiana. The Terps bounced back with a pair of midweek wins versus Delaware and swept a one-win Wagner team.
Junior Brayden Martin is batting a team-best .443 to go with four doubles and 12 RBI. Redshirt freshman Ryan Costello leads the Terps in home runs (9) and RBI (21) and is third in batting average at .328, while freshman Ty Kaunus has a team-high seven doubles and has .269 batting average.
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Maryland is scheduled to start freshman Nic Morlang. The right-hander has four appearances on the season, including four starts. He allowed five earned runs in his appearances, coinciding with his two starts, in six innings of work. In his last two appearances in relief, He’s allowed one earned run on five hits.
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West Virginia leads the all-time series 8-5, including a five-game winning streak over Maryland.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a series of parties in Morgantown over the weekend.
Morgantown police officers, West Virginia University Police and state police responded to reports of overcrowded parties, underage drinking, physical altercations and multiple injuries.
Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffie said several citations were issued for open containers and underage consumption.
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Two large parties were dispersed and six arrests were made without incident.
None of the reported injuries are believed to be serious or life-threatening.
The Morgantown Fire Department assisted in the operations.
