Greer Arthur from the North Carolina Collaboratory will discuss how strategic partnerships drive transformative research programs and amplify real-world outcomes at noon Wednesday (Nov. 13) on Zoom.

Attendees will learn how collaboration can elevate your research impact and foster community connections.

Register to attend.

Learn more about West Virginia LSEN and sign up for email listserv.

For questions, contact Brooke Eastman at Brooke.Eastman@mail.wvu.edu

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Kevin Arnold, a regional forester with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, said fires in the state haven’t been this bad in more than three decades.

“1991 was the last time we had something similar to this. We generally have fires every fire season but not to this magnitude just because of the drought,” Arnold said.

The Cora Volunteer Fire Department in Logan County said they’ve taken 43 calls for brush fires since Halloween. Many counties said the recent rainfall has helped, but Arnold said it wasn’t enough.

“That little bit of wind we had today dried out what little bit of rain we got in this area out completely, so it’s just as dry as it was last Wednesday.”

Arnold said the majority of fires are currently contained, but people should use caution even if the state’s burn ban is lifted.

“We haven’t had significant rainfall in a long time. If you don’t absolutely have to burn something just don’t burn it. Wait until we get some you know some snow or something this winter or whatever and do it.”

Arnold said crews have worked everyday for nearly two weeks with help from local fire departments to create firelines– a barrier created to stop the spread of these fires to local homes and neighborhoods. He said there is still a concern for fires to spread until there is more consistent rainfall.

“We need a couple inches or so to start with to get the groundwater back. All the smaller streams and stuff are dry. Usually by this late in the fall they got a little bit of water in them.”

The Division of Forestry said recent fires in Mingo County still need to be contained and crews from Northern West Virginia will be available to help since they saw more rainfall.

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POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. (WSAZ) — An attorney in Mason County is seeking a court order to delay the West Virginia’s football playoffs for AAA, instead adding a play-in game that would give Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School a chance to participate in the state playoffs.

The petition for injunction was filed electronically Monday afternoon in Mason County.

If granted, Point Pleasant would face St. Albans on Friday, while Hampshire County High would face Capital High on the same day.

While the attorney’s petition sets forth that potential solution, no such order has been entered by the Mason County Circuit Court.

Point Pleasant and Hampshire County were two teams left out of the state playoffs when the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC) moved to adopt a court order out of Wood County.

The Wood County order forced the WVSSAC to score team rankings based upon their classification prior to August 2024, when the WVSSAC reclassified 22 teams after an SSAC appeals board agreed that certain smaller schools do not belong amongst schools in a larger classification.

This is a developing story. Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.

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