Photo by Joselyn King Elm Grove Elementary fifth grade student Roy Louthen, in back, releases trout into Wheeling Creek as young Ava Fulknier watches. Expand Energy and Williams teamed up with Elm Grove Elementary Wednesday for an Earth Day activity to clean the banks and release 4,000 lbs. of trout into the water.

WHEELING – Earth Day saw local energy companies lead local students to the water at Wheeling Creek and assist in stocking the waterway with trout.

Then the students received a fishing pole for their efforts so they could come back and fish later.

At least 150 employees of Expand Energy and Williams, as well as some of their family members, turned out early Wednesday morning to first clean the stream areas of Wheeling Creek to the Marshall County Line. This prepared the area for the release of approximately 4,000 pounds of trout into the water.

Assisting in the endeavor were about 50 fifth grade students from nearby Elm Grove Elementary School, who received a hands-on life sciences lesson on Earth Day.

“We have been involved with this for several years now, and for the past couple years we have been working with Expand and Williams,” said Principal Richard Dunlevy. “It’s through their partnership we’ve been able to do this.

“It’s a great activity for the students to partake in on Earth Day. What better way than to be in an outdoor classroom, learning science and stocking trout?”

The students were led across the street from the school to the creek, where Expand workers had constructed a stairway over the embankment leading to the creek.

A trout truck sat parked there, filled with fish that were about to find a new home, and the students lined up to receive a bucket with trout inside. Workers from Expand and Williams helped them down the stairs to the creek as they carried the bucket.

There were a few shrills of amazement along the way as they poured the fish into the water. A few of the trout even tried to swim back toward land and the children.

Nearby heron also seized the opportunity to swoop down and grab a couple of trout for an early lunch.

The students each received a small plastic fishing pole from Expand Energy for their efforts, as well as a swag bag from Williams.

Expand and Williams employees volunteered to do the creek clean up and trout stocking on Wednesday morning, according to Maggie Wallen, community and project outreach manager for Williams. Many of them brought their children.

“They are teaching them at a young age how important it is to give back to the community, and to get involved in their communities,” she said. “We have a lot of people, and it is all hands on deck.

“Our employees live in this area and work in this area, so we are happy to be good neighbors and get everyone involved in a community effort.”

Bill Vavrek, water superintendent for Expand Energy, brought his children along for the creek clean up. He added he also likes to fish.

“We have to take a lot of water out of the stream, so it’s a way to give back,” Vavrek said.

He reported that among the 4,000 pounds of trout were rainbow, brown, brook, blue and tiger varieties. They were stocked at different locations along the creek.

Vavrek noted there was more trash than usual along the creek, and that that could be attributed to the high water from June 14, 2025 flooding.

Stephanie Paluda, community affairs manager for Expand Energy, said Wednesday’s Earth Day events marked the fourth year the company has worked with Elm Grove Elementary. Last week, Expand Energy had some of its employees go to the school to answer questions from the students. They even brought along some live trout to show them, she added.

“They talked to the students about how clean the streams have to be for trout to survive, and they did some pre-work with them before they came out to stock the trout,” Paluda continued. “It’s kind of a full circle of being in the classroom with them and educating them about protecting the environment and protecting the streams.”