PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Putnam County is one of the fastest growing spots in West Virginia.

A new laundromat, sports complex in Hurricane, and apartment complex are just some of the new developments.

Ashley Alford Glance with the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce said there’s a reason why so many businesses choose the county as their new home.

“We are seeing a population growth and the reason we see that population growth is attributed to a couple different things. Our ease of access, of course, you know easily you can get wherever. We have that small town feel but we do have some of the amenities that you might want like in a city,” Glance said.

Residents have concerns about too much growth, but Glance said they try to make good decisions when picking locations for business.

“They choose to live here because of the ease of access and that they’re not sitting stuck somewhere because of an accident. We do try to make sure that we work with the DOT, the DOH to alleviate any problems that might come about,” Glance said.

Prestige Primary Care relocated to a building off Teays Valley Road after 25 years in South Charleston. Dr F. Scott Moore said they moved to remain an independent practice and be closer to home.

“Both myself and my business partner have seen nothing but positive growth in our business. We get a lot of phone calls on a daily basis as new patient requests, and it’s all been great,” Moore said.

Prestige Primary Care opened at its new location in early May, and Moore said he couldn’t ask for a better start.

“Biggest thing I’d say is just, the past three months from a business point of view has been probably three of the happiest months I’ve had.”

The Putnam County Chamber of Commerce said other new businesses will open soon.

Sunny Skies Boutique will open in the fall on Main Street in Hurricane, replacing Peyton and Poppi. Teays Valley Tire Service will be turned into three different unannounced businesses after renovations are complete, and Poca is also getting a new boutique called Lula Belle.

Alford Glance said new businesses have opened up in that area because of the newly developed shopping center in Poca.

Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

Gates are set to open for the 99th annual State Fair of West Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 8, at 8 a.m., with carnival rides opening at 11 a.m. To celebrate the return of the state’s largest multi-day event, catch opening day specials, including $8 gate admission and a $25 all-day ride pass.

“We have a great 10-days planned this year, including two already sold-out concerts, amazing fair food, thrilling rides, and livestock shows throughout the week,” State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. “Summer may be ending, but there is still time to get a few more days of fun in!”

The 2024 Concert Series features Turnpike Troubadours (8/8), Lil Jon with special guest Landon Cube (8/9), Buckin’ B Bull Ride (8/10), West Virginia’s own Charles Wesley Godwin with special guest Muscadine Bloodline (8/11), Seether (8/12), Anne Wilson with special guest Luke Bower (8/13), Jimmy Fortune (8/14), Bailey Zimmerman with Special Guest Matt Schuster (8/15), Oliver Anthony (8/16), Travis Tritt with Special Guest War Hippies (8/17).

Keeping true to tradition, the fair has a full 10-day schedule of livestock events, including the WV High School Rodeo, Junior 4-H and FFA livestock shows, horse shows, and the memorable and fan-favorite Draft Horse Pull on Friday, Aug. 16 at 9 a.m.!

The gate specials offered throughout the week will be the Opening Day gate and ride special (8/8), Communities in Schools of Greenbrier County – Tools for School Supply Drive (bring in three school supply items or two personal hygiene products and receive $8 gate admission OR $25 for rides and gate admission on 8/12), Senior Citizen’s Day (8/13), the Early Bird Special featuring $1 admission from 9 AM – 5 PM (8/14), Military Day (8/15) and an Afternoon Special for guests arriving after 4 PM (8/13 – 8/15). Children ages 10 and under will once again get in free all day, every day.

As always, there will also be exciting free entertainment opportunities for all ages, including the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, Live Shark Encounter, Butterfly Encounter, Hot Glass Academy, and the return of Hypnotist Catherine Hickland to the UScellular Free Stage!

The sponsors helping to make the 2024 fair a reality are 99.5 WJLS, Busch Light, Can-Am, Douglas A Bicksler CPA, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Farm Credit, First Energy Foundation, Freedm AG & Energy, H&M Electric & Construction, Long View Eye Center, People’s Bank, Pepsi, Tractor Supply, UScellular, Warren’s Real Estate and Auction, WV811, WV Adult Education, and the WV Lottery.

Mark your calendars and join us at the 2024 State Fair of West Virginia to celebrate the old and make new mountain memories!

See inside this edition for Mountain Media’s 2024 WV State Fair Guide for a full list of daily schedules, ride information, shows, and more!

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Despite losing a pair of veteran starters that are now in NFL training camps, the WVU offensive line could feature at least three senior starters and several multi-year contributors this fall.

The departures of four-year starter Zach Frazier and three-year starter Doug Nester are significant. Frazier, a Fairmont Senior High School graduate, was a second-round pick of the Steelers. Nester, a Spring Valley High School alumnus, signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Wyatt Milum started alongside Frazier and Nester for three seasons.

“It is a little weird because coming into college you have Frazier and Doug there,” Milum said.

“The biggest thing Frazier taught me is routine. Coming in early, doing the body maintenance that you need, doing the recovery, I think that’s the biggest thing Fraz [said]. Just taking care of your body was the biggest thing he taught me.”

Success for an offensive line can be quantified in a number of different ways. Milum says there is no reduction in standards or expectations despite the graduations of two key contributors.

“We plan on being great. We plan on nothing changing from last year. That’s our mindset and that’s our standard. We want to be a physical team and a physical O-Line. We expect nothing but being great.”

Milum is entering his fourth season as a starter and he is a contender for All-American honors at left tackle. Nick Malone (40 career games), Brandon Yates (48 games), Ja’Quay Hubbard (27 games) and Tomas Rimac (25 games) join Milum on the front line.

“I feel like we have an old group. We have Ja’Quay Hubbard, Brandon Yates, Nick Malone and Tomas [Rimac]. So they are older guys and they know what the standard is here. It is a leadership role. But it is a good thing because we have older players on the O-Line.”

Malone and Jacksonville State transfer Xavier Bausley look to be battling for the starting spot at right tackle opposite from Milum.

“He is playing really well right now,” Milum said about Bausley. “He came in during the spring and he is playing good football right now.”

Milum says his former Spring Valley teammate and offensive lineman Bryce Biggs is recovering well from a knee injury that limited him during spring drills.

“He improved a lot last year. But especially with his knee injury, he is getting back to full health. He is playing good football right now. Having him back is a big help.”

West Virginia’s top three rushers return from a year ago in Jahiem White (842 yards, 4 TD), CJ Donaldson (798 yards, 11 TD) and Garrett Greene (772 yards, 13 TD).

“Jahiem is more speed and CJ is more power. When we are blocking for them, you just have to know which type. CJ, he is going to be one cut and go. Jahiem, you don’t really know where he is going to go. It is a difference there.

“Having a mobile quarterback like Garrett, it allows a little more. You can mess up a little bit and he’ll still break it out. He’ll make you right.”

Milum is a top-tier professional prospect and is projected in some scouting services as a potential Day 1 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Milum has one eye to how the professionals play as part of his preparation for the season.

“You’ve got to be really good at the basic stuff and also really watching film. Watching NFL film really helps. You see what they do and you try to mimic some of it.”

In a relatively short summer for college football players, Milum says his time off the field was mostly spent outdoors.

“I went to Hinton, West Virginia and did some small mouth fishing with my brother and dad. So that was fun. I went fishing a couple times and that’s about it. That, football and golf.

“Golf is not really my game. You don’t know where it is going when I hit it.”