Ohio Valley Finds Many Reasons To Be Thankful
Shelley Hanson Trending
WHEELING -- As Ohio Valley residents enjoy their turkey, stuffing, pie and more today many are remembering what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving Day.
While shopping in the Centre Market area, members of the Depto family said they were thankful for family, good health, their children and more.
"I'm thankful for my family. I'm visiting from Florida," said Jill Depto, a Wheeling native, who now lives in Sarasota, Florida.
She said each year the family takes turns visiting each other at their respective homes for Thanksgiving.
"I'm thankful we're all together every Thanksgiving," she added.
Her father, Al Depto of Wheeling, said he is thankful for his family as well.
"I'm thankful for my family and the fact that everyone is in good health," he said.
He quipped he is also thankful he gets to "sponge off of" his daughter while visiting her in Florida every other Thanksgiving. Al Depto said he is also thankful for all the military veterans and their service to the country.
Michelle Kret, Jill Depto's sister and Al Depto's daughter, said she is thankful for many things including her friends, family and her marriage.
"I'm thankful for the strength I found in Jesus and for my health," she added.
The sisters' mother, Mary Depto, said she was thankful for having a healthy family and friends and for the veterans as well.
Moundsville resident Larry Travis, who was taking his turn working in the Artworks Around Town gallery at the Centre Market, said he has displayed his photography there since 2016.
"I'm thankful for all the friends I've made at Artworks," Travis said.
He noted he planned to "eat a lot of turkey" today at his son and daughter in law's house.
Justin Vanmeter of Moundsville was having a thankful moment after his friend and fellow college student Zachary Morrell of Wheeling found him a vintage video game system and game overseas.
"I'm thankful for Zach's random trip to Japan and him finding an original Game Boy," Vanmeter said. "And I'm thankful for having a car."
Morrell said he was thankful for what he learned during his trip to Japan, including exploring and discovering what the culture was like there. He added he is also thankful for his new career path here at home.
"I'm thankful for all the doors that opened just by putting myself out there and being part of the community," he said.
Morrell said he is a trained electrician, but he is going to college to become a software engineer.
"I said yes when opportunities were available, and I'm experiencing so much more than when I was an electrician," he said.