CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — As of Friday afternoon, all rubber ducks for the 2024 Great Rubber Duck Race are sold.

The race is an event that helps raise money to be used for the community. Eyewitness News spoke with Margaret O’Neal, president of the United Way of Central West Virginia, shortly after the rubber ducks sold out.

“We’re all a little bit hysterical and in tears because 10,000 ducks is a whole lot, and we have literally sold about 2,500 in the last 24 to 36 hours,” she said.

Selling 10,000 rubber ducks was the goal for the organization.

“We live in a wonderful community and tomorrow when all 10,000 of those ducks get dumped off the south side bridge, everybody that bought one should just know that you contributed to buying shoes for kids and making sure seniors have what they need and that healthcare is accessible and education is important,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal told Eyewitness News volunteers have worked hard to get the ducks ready for their big race on Saturday. She said they rent the rubber ducks from a company.

“We received them in town about three weeks ago from the last race they were in. We take the tags off from that race and then we put new tags on for our race. After they’re dumped off we have a bunch of volunteers, Kanawha River Navy, lots of strong backs that’ll help us get the ducks back out of the water,” O’Neal said.

The first 10 ducks will win prizes, with the first duck winning $4,000. If your duck comes in last, no worries. O’Neal said you will get 25 ducks in next year’s race.

“We didn’t really think we’d get there,” she said. “We didn’t think we’d sell out. It’s just a really happy day for the United Way today.”

The Great Rubber Duck Race will start around noon on Saturday. To see the ducks get dumped into the water, you can sit in the Hadad Riverfront Park stage area.

Dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene among key players back from 9-win season

Editor’s note: Sixth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.

AMES — West Virginia football coach Neal Brown not only saved his job, but also established goodwill after guiding the Mountaineers to their first season featuring nine wins or more since 2016.

West Virginia is poised to build off of that in 2024 — and will get to face Matt Campbell’s Cyclones in Morgantown.

The Mountaineers are loaded on offense. Dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene (29 total touchdowns, four interceptions) returns, as do top running backs C.J. Donaldson and Jaheim White. That duo combined for 1,640 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns last season, making it one of the most potent in the Big 12 — although Donaldson has been injury-prone. Greene led West Virginia in rushing touchdowns with 13 last season, but he completed just 53 percent of his passes.

West Virginia must replace leading receiver Devin Carter, but the addition of Oklahoma State’s Jaden Bray via the transfer portal — along with a long list of talented returners — should help in that regard.

The Mountaineers’ offensive line is one of the best units in the Big 12. Senior tackle Wyatt Milum is the program’s lone preseason all-conference selection by the media.

So does West Virginia have a weakness? Possibly. The defense needed to rebuild at cornerback via the transfer portal and was middling last season (64th in scoring defense nationally, 68th in total defense). The Mountaineers led the league in sacks last season with 33 and should boast a strong pass rush again.

Iowa State vs. West Virginia: 3 things to watch

1. Can the Cyclones’ offense achieve balance? West Virginia’s defense was marginally better against the run than the pass last season and features playmakers at each level. ISU will need a blend of solid runs from Abu Sama and company and big passing connections from Rocco Becht and his cohort of pass catchers in order to keep up on the scoreboard.

2. How will ISU’s defense contain Greene? The Mountaineers are adept at springing big plays in the run game, so keeping Greene off balance will be critically important if the Cyclones want to have a chance to win this one. His inaccuracy through the air is offset by his efficiency (16 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions last season). Staying gap sound while still applying a strong pass rush will be key, as Greene is capable of breaking off runs of 10 yards or more frequently.

3. How does ISU’s defensive line find a way to thrive? The Cyclones are deep up front on the defensive side of the ball, but stars must emerge from that group. Seniors such as Joey Peterson and J.R. Singleton may be poised to take that next step, as are juniors Tyler Onyedim and Domonique Orange. Sprinkle in talented transfer edge rusher Kenard Snyder and others (including redshirt freshman Zaimir Hawk), and ISU’s D-line should at least hold its own against West Virginia’s burly offensive front.

Iowa State vs. West Virginia: 2024 prognosis

This matchup will likely come down to a key series or two. The team that commits the fewest turnovers will win in a game that should remain close into the final minutes.

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – Applications are now open for the 2024/25 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program.

This program supports traditional artists and their apprentice in a year-long apprenticeship in a variety of traditional art forms.

Apprenticeships may include those in traditional music, dance, foodways, storytelling and more in any cultural community in the state, officials said.

Artists and apprentices must apply for the funds together.

West Virginia Folklife will award $3,000 to support the teaching artist and $800 to the apprentice. They may also request an additional $400 to cover expenses such as documentation or public presentation supplies, necessary tools and/or travel.

Applications for the program opened July 1st and will close on August 26th. Winners will be notified in October of this year.

To apply, visit https://wvfolklife.org/folklife-apprenticeship-program/.

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