West Virginia
Hinton kicks off first day of ‘WV State Water Festival’
HINTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – The city of Hinton’s annual West Virginia State Water Festival returned Saturday for the 59th year.
Beginning the festival activities early Saturday morning, residents brought their dogs to participate in a dog parade. Traveling downtown in a little sprinkle of rain, they didn’t let that deter them as the small parade marched to 3rd Park Avenue, where a dog contest awaited participants. Several categories were open for owners to sign up their dogs, including best costume and best in the show.
Participants also had fun days with their animals despite the weather. Others in the city, however, decided that if they were going to get wet, they should do it while at the city pool. The Wild Water Express pool allowed free admission from 10 to 11 a.m. for kids and one parent to come in and swim at the pool for the day. However, Danaylee Long, the 2023 winner and Queen of the Water Festival Coronation, says she wanted to use her title to help her community.
“I just want to kind of get some information to give to the community and their parents.” Long said. “I want them to know about the different resources available for their kids.”
Long organized this event for the community to help bring awareness to the resources the area provides. Using her status as “Queen Mermaid,” she asked organizations such as Hinton’s Elks Lodge to come out to the event. Bob Bennett, president of the Elks Lodge 821, says activities like the one Long put together are the key to keeping kids active and healthy.
“We do these activities so that kids are engaged in healthy and fun activities so that the child can grow up and have a good life.” Said Beenett.
The mayor of the city, Jack Scott, adds that this festival doesn’t just impact the community. Adding to that, it demonstrates their willingness to not only hang on to tradition but to show people what the city has to offer in terms of entertainment and opportunities.
“It’s been a big part of our community and a big part of our tradition,” Bennett said. “It also helps create the necessary exposure to let people know what a great quality of life we have here.”
To see a full list of activities, you can click here to view them.
Copyright 2024 WVVA. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
Wheeling launches West Virginia’s first recovery housing program for young adults
WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling is home to West Virginia’s first recovery program designed specifically for young adults, offering a new track aimed at people ages 18 to 24 who are working to overcome substance use disorders.
Youth Services System announced it will offer the recovery track at the McCrary Center in Wheeling for young adults dealing with opioid or stimulant use disorders. The program is designed to provide recovery-focused housing and support services, giving participants a safe, structured environment as they work toward long-term recovery and stability.
“Our transitional living program has been licensed by the Department of Human Services, as well as the Office of Health Facility Licensure. We also achieved the West Virginia Alliance of Recovery Residence certification so there will be a lot of oversight in this program. And we look forward to our continued work with them,” YSS CEO Jill Eddy said.
Youth Services System received a one-time grant through the West Virginia Bureau of Behavioral Health to help expand services and launch the new track in Wheeling.
“Research shows that the longer a person is provided a safe space while in recovery, the chances of their success in recovery and remaining sober is definitely increased,” Eddy said.
Services will include substance-free and MAT-friendly housing, peer recovery support, therapy, recovery planning, and overdose prevention education. The program also supports individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions and prioritizes high-risk and underserved populations.
More information about Youth Services System is available here.
West Virginia
WestCare West Virginia opens male residential facility in Buckhannon
BUCKHANNON, W.Va (WDTV) – WestCare West Virginia cut the ribbon for its Hope in the Mountains complex on 22 N. Locust Street. The new facility will treat men with substance abuse issues with the hopes of fighting the drug epidemic in West Virginia.
Each room in the complex includes 56 beds, a television set and clean bathroom. Stephen Wright spoke ahead of the ribbon cutting along with Buckhannon officials. He said this facility differs from others on how they approach treatment.
“We really focus on the individual and the individual needs and focus on their progress in the program versus a number of days that a person is in treatment. So it’s really individualized,” said Stephen Wright, chief operating officer of WestCare Appalachia. “So we still need aftercare, outpatient counseling, and those things. But this really gives an opportunity for an intervention to break that cycle for individuals struggling with addiction. Because lots of times they must be separated from the living circumstances that they’re in at that time.”
Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
West Virginia Scores Rehearing Over Drug Discount Injunction
A federal appeals court agreed to rehear West Virginia’s request to lift an injunction barring enforcement of state restrictions against drugmakers seeking to limit discounts to pharmacies under a federal program.
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted Thursday West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey’s request to rehear en banc arguments over a preliminary injunction. All active judges in the court will review the case after a three-judge panel in March ruled to keep the state’s SB 325 temporarily blocked while litigation plays out over the law.
The court said the case is scheduled for oral argument …
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