photo by: Joselyn King

Wheeling Police Lt. Josh Sanders, left, speaks with Wheeling Park High School seniors BreOnna Milbert, Kaylynn Webb and Tyasia Stovall during a career fair Wednesday at the school.

Local employers are looking for young talent, and there are students at Wheeling Park HIgh School looking for both summer employment and career direction.

WPHS on Wednesday hosted its annual job fair, with 18 local employers seeking to hire either for short-term or long-term jobs.

The Wheeling Police Department was looking to recruit youths into its Explorer Program for teenagers to get them interested in a future law enforcement career. Oglebay Park, meanwhile, primarily was looking for summer help – with hopes a number of those hired might want to remain for jobs with the park after they graduate from high school.

Many of the employers had candy on their tables to attract the interest of students, but American Consolidated Natural was dangling even more – coal mining jobs starting at $30 an hour for new high school graduates.

No prior mining experience is required, and the company will provide all the necessary training, explained Jessica Widener, human resources coordinator for America Consolidated Natural Resources. Shadowing programs and internships for college students also are available.

She added the company is looking to hire about 1,000 people during the coming year for its facilities locally and across the nation to cover expected retirements and attrition.

“We probably have had about a dozen students seriously interested,” Widener said. “They see they can earn a good wage right out of school.”

She spoke of at least one young hire who left college to come work in the mines. He was able to go on to purchase land and a new truck without incurring any debt, according to Widner. She also is aware of another employee, also an engineering student, who was able to pay his college tuition with what he earned from his coal mining job.

Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier had drone technology set up at the fire department’s table. He explained the drones when launched give firefighters an aerial view of an active structure fire, and that it also provides heat-sensing imaging capabilities that can help them find missing persons in wooded areas.

“It’s the technology on display that draws them in,” he said of the students. “Dinosaurs like me haven’t dealt with it before, but it is the future.”

As for those wanting to become firefighters, Blazier said he was advising them to first join a volunteer fire department, “get their feet wet” and see if it is for them.

Senior Tyasia Stovall, a member of the state champion Wheeling Park HIgh School robotics team, took in many of the options available at the career fair, but she still had something else in mind.

“I want to do something with cooking,” she said. “Maybe I would like to cook in the Navy.”

Senior Macro Metz said he was just looking for a summer job, and wasn’t thinking yet about a lifetime career.

“It would probably be something to do with computer science,” he added. Metz noted he likely would be drawn to a career that involved technology.

Junior Alex Evans thought a career at the post office might be a good idea, but still had other thoughts.

“I am passionate about helping animals,” Evans said. “I might like to start my own animal rescue.”

Sophomore Caydn Adams said he was unsure of what job he might someday want to pursue.

“I’m in the welding program, but maybe I’ll go into sports,” he said.

Athletes were finding their way to The Highlands Sports Complex table, where sports director Ricky Moore was looking to hire for both full-time and part-time positions. Some of them were from more “non-traditional sports such as archery” who like to work out and practice at the facility.

Oglebay Park and the Wheeling Park Commission hire youths as young as 14 to do work in the summer there.

“After they’ve graduated, they could be hired on and eventually become management level employees,” said Jenn Jewell, recruitment director.

Lt. Josh Sanders of the Wheeling Police Department spoke to students about the department’s “Explorer Program,” which provides youths a chance to learn about law enforcement and even go on some patrols with officers.

“I tell them about the job — it’s nothing special,” Sanders said. “I provide an honest, open conversation.

“I ask them if they think they have the fortitude to do the job, and if they are that kind of person.”