CHARLESTON, W.Va. –It’s officially Christmas season in West Virginia, as Governor Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice watched as the state Christmas Tree was lit during Wednesday evening’s “Joyful Night “celebration.
The event brought people from across the area out to the West Virginia Capitol Complex in Charleston to celebrate the season by listening to Christmas music performed by three different local choirs, ensembles, and bands before the tree was lit and fireworks were released.
Henry, who sang in the Barboursville Elementary School choir, says the festivities were fun, and the firework show took the cake.
“It was super fun, especially the fireworks. It was just amazing. The tree lighting was good,” he said. “It’s always fun to be here and I’m so happy that I get invited to do these things.”
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Henry also says that he knows just how special it is to be invited to sing on the Capitol steps during Christmas celebrations.
“It’s really cool because most people don’t get to do that stuff, and I’m just lucky that I get to do it,” Henry said. “It’s fun because me and my friends are here. We all get introduced as a school and it’s just fun to be here.”
Gov. Jim Justice
Justice says the last Christmas celebration as governor was touching, but he was not ready for the nearly five-minute firework show.
“I sure didn’t expect the fireworks. I don’t know where that one came from,” Justice said. “It was really touching to Cathy and I because we love the people, and we love the state.”
The official state tree that was lit Wednesday evening hails from Watoga State Park in Pocahontas County. The Norwood Spruce tree stands at 54 feet high and is now fully lit in front of the South Steps of the Capitol Complex, right next to Kanawha Boulevard.
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Along with the large choir from Barboursville Elementary School, the Nitro High School Showcats performed Christmas numbers, as well as the Woodrow Wilson High School marching band.
Jheyda Hopkins, a drum major in the Woodrow Wilson marching band, says
“It was really nice because, us as a band, we’ve never got to do this before, so this is like our first time ever doing something like this,” Hopkins said.
Kiley Casto, a member of the Nitro High School Showcats, says performing during Joyful Night was a unique and festive experience.
“Honestly, with show choir, we get a lot of amazing opportunities, but with this one, it felt a little bit more close to home,” Casto said. “It’s just something different about Christmas. I love how it was very festive, and I loved every moment of it. The tree, the fireworks, just being with all my friends here.”
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According to Casto, her group has been preparing Christmas pieces for months.
“We have been working on Christmas numbers since about June,” Casto said. “We have about a five-day-long show choir camp, and we just do nothing but work on Christmas.”
In addition to the young musical talents, Joyful Night featured a somber remembrance during the holiday season. The West Rotunda of the Capitol now features a multitude of Christmas trees honoring Gold Star Mothers, as well as members of the United States Air Force and local first responders.
Justice says that the Christmas holiday is important for two big reasons.
“It’s important first of all to realize the birthday that’s coming up in not very long of Jesus Christ,” Justice said. “It is so important for people to know that they’re not alone and that there’s people that love them.”
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Randall Reid-Smith
Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History Randall Reid-Smith, who had a large part in planning the event, says it’s a joyous occasion every year, and he views it as a statewide celebration of the holiday.
“This is a joy, and I don’t think about what’s the biggest. I always think that West Virginia itself is just one, large community,” Reid-Smith said. “The thing that is great about my job is I get to work all 55 counties, and I’ve met people from all over the state in the last 19 and a half years and this is a wonderful way to celebrate that. It’s all about joy, and tonight, everybody was happy.”
The West Virginia Mountaineers (10-3) welcome the Maryland Terrapins (10-5) to Kendrick Family Ballpark Tuesday afternoon the first encounter between the two programs since 2023 and the first meeting in Morgantown since 2018. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
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The Mountaineers captured their fourth consecutive series of the season after taking two of the three games from Columbia over the weekend. West Virginia sophomore Matt Ineich and senior Brodie Kresser both blasted grand slams during the series. Ineich lifted WVU in game two with a walk-off grand slam in the 10th in game two, and Kresser ignited a 16-1 rout, capping a six-run second inning in the series finale.
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Gavin Kelly leads West Virginia at the plate with a .436 batting average with a Big 12 leading nine doubles. Ineich and senior Paul Schoenfeld has raked in a team-leading 16 RBI apiece, while senior Matthew Graveline has clubbed a team-high three home runs.
On the mound, West Virginia is expected to start sophomore David Hagen. The right-hander has made four appearances on the season, including one start. He last started in the home-opener against Ohio where he pitched two scoreless innings and recorded a strikeout to collect his first win of the season. He holds a 1.00 ERA with five strikeouts on the season.
After starting 3-4, Maryland is 7-1 in its last eight games. The Terrapins won two of three at UNC Wilmington in the season opening series, followed by a midweek win against Georgetown before getting swept at Louisiana. The Terps bounced back with a pair of midweek wins versus Delaware and swept a one-win Wagner team.
Junior Brayden Martin is batting a team-best .443 to go with four doubles and 12 RBI. Redshirt freshman Ryan Costello leads the Terps in home runs (9) and RBI (21) and is third in batting average at .328, while freshman Ty Kaunus has a team-high seven doubles and has .269 batting average.
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Maryland is scheduled to start freshman Nic Morlang. The right-hander has four appearances on the season, including four starts. He allowed five earned runs in his appearances, coinciding with his two starts, in six innings of work. In his last two appearances in relief, He’s allowed one earned run on five hits.
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West Virginia leads the all-time series 8-5, including a five-game winning streak over Maryland.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a series of parties in Morgantown over the weekend.
Morgantown police officers, West Virginia University Police and state police responded to reports of overcrowded parties, underage drinking, physical altercations and multiple injuries.
Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffie said several citations were issued for open containers and underage consumption.
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Two large parties were dispersed and six arrests were made without incident.
None of the reported injuries are believed to be serious or life-threatening.
The Morgantown Fire Department assisted in the operations.
Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.
Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.
“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.
Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.
