West Virginia
Welch residents still reeling from flooding
WELCH, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Located deep in the mountains of southern West Virginia, the town of Welch has been hammered by historic flooding through the years — and they did not escape the latest round.
The downtown area in particular was one of the hardest hit in McDowell County.
WSAZ’s Tim Irr, who visited Welch earlier this week, said one of the first things you notice is the unmistakable smell of river mud. In mid-February, the bowels of the Tug Fork spilled out all over the streets and deep inside the buildings along McDowell Street.
“There’s four foot of water in here from the river,” one flood victim said.
Irr saw the destruction firsthand, saying the tally of damaged buildings is repeated over and over again. He also visited with Roberto Diaz, who operates a taco restaurant that has become a full-time food mission.
How long it will take to clean up, disinfect and rebuild the riverfront park and all the other places ravaged by the river is anyone’s guess, as people in what was historically known as Coaltown USA try to decide what’s even worth saving after another historic flood.
Diaz and his wife, who opened Latin Appalachian Restaurant three years ago, said they haven’t once asked for donations, but the donations of food and water and money are pouring in.
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GRAFTON, W.Va. — The 159th annual West Virginia Memorial Day Parade is set to take place in Grafton on May 25th. The parade will begin at 10 a.m.
This tradition that Grafton residents hold near and dear to their hearts has been recognized nationwide as the longest continuous running Memorial Day parade in the country.
“We tightened up our boot straps, and hopefully we will put on a very nice program and remember what the day is about this year,” Scott Willis, Parade Committee Chairman, said.
In 2016, the West Virginia Legislature designated Grafton’s parade as the Official Memorial Day Parade of West Virginia, a distinction earned through unwavering devotion, remembrance, and community pride.
“Grafton does it right, we really do,” Willis stated. “We hold true to what the day is about and understand the importance of Grafton, as it has the only national cemeteries in the state.”
As the parade continues to grow, Grafton hopes that more volunteers will continue to offer aid and assistance.
“We’re always looking for volunteers,” Willis said. “We’re a complete volunteer organization that puts this on every year.”
In addition to seeking volunteers, to further prepare for this event, Grafton will be hosting organizational meetings every Monday up until Memorial Day weekend at the City Council Chambers. The meetings will begin at 7 p.m. The meetings will aid in discussing volunteer work, logistics of the entire event, and consider some of the success in previous years.
“We feel we have a responsibility not only to the participants and the patrons of this, but our biggest responsibility is to those who lay beneath the white markers at both of our national cemeteries in Grafton because that’s what the day is about,” Willis added.
Those interested in learning more about the event or seeking to volunteer, may email parade@wvmemorialday.com or visit wvmemorialday.com.
HURRICANE, W.Va. (WCHS) — A house in Hurricane was deemed a complete loss after a fire on Sunday, the city’s mayor said.
The fire was reported on Tiara Court near Hurricane City Park, according to Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards.
Edwards said despite the house being deemed a complete loss, no injuries were reported in the blaze.
The scene had responding units from the Hurricane Fire Department, Teays Valley Fire Department, Culloden Fire Department and the Milton Fire Department, as well as Putnam County Emergency Management and Putnam County EMS, according to Edwards.
No other information was immediately available.
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This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Former St. John’s guard Joson Sanon has committed to West Virginia basketball, he announced on social media Sunday morning.
Sanon (6’5″, 200 pounds) played in 32 games and made 11 starts for the Red Storm last season. He averaged 7.2 points while playing 20.5 minutes per game, shooting 31.5% from the floor and 32.8% from three.
WVU will be Sanon’s third school in three years after he began his time in college at Arizona State. As a Sun Devil, Sanon played in 27 games with nine starts, averaging 11.9 points in 28.2 minutes per game.
Sanon was a consensus top-25 prospect coming out of Vermont Academy in Fall River, Mass.
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