Several individuals made comments this week pertaining to the Sanford Center as work began on the demolishing the former school.

This structure was built in 1919 and closed its door at the end of 2009 school year. That same year the city of Moundsville acquired the deed for the building from the Marshall County Board of Education for the purpose of establishing a self-sufficient community center. It would serve in that capacity until 2020.

The building had four names: Third Street School, Sanford School, Sanford Elementary and Sanford Center.

I attended Sanford School in the 1940s, and at that time the students went there for first through fifth grades.

In addition to the school, there were two other buildings both of which were wooden structures. One was a classroom for sixth and seventh grades, but when I got there it had been closed. Its location was east of the school and had been called “The Chicken Coop.” The other wooden building, to the north, housed the principal’s office.

Third Street School was remodeled twice, one in 1955 and in 1962.

Classmates back then had to go to either First Ward or Central after the fifth grade, based on which side of Third Street they resided.

After the two years at these schools it was on to Moundsville High School.

When the Sanford Center is torn down, it means that the individuals like me have seen their three schools become a thing of the past.

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A Relay for Life “Baking for Hope” Bingo event will take place Sunday at the Limestone Community Center.

Doors will open for lunch featuring homemade noodles and kielbasa and kraut, along with sandwiches and a selection of homemade goodies.

Games will start at 1 p.m. The coverall prize will be a West Virginia basket filled with West Virginia Honey and Wine, West Virginia wine glasses, pepperoni rolls and a West Virginia Cookbook.

A $5 donation will be accepted at the door.

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The Marshall County FRN will partner with the Mountaineer Food Bank for a Mobile Food Pantry serving Marshall County residents on Wednesday at the Four Seasons Pool, located at 300 Mulberry Avenue in Moundsville.

The hours will be 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Families are invited to drive up and receive a food box that will be placed into their vehicle. One food box will be given to each family while supplies last.

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The John Marshall High School’s HOSA students, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America, will team up with Vitalant for a blood drive open to the public taking place from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on March 21 in the school’s gymnasium.

To schedule an appointment go to CentralBloodBank.org, using the group code HSO10209 when registering.

Walk-ins, the day of the event, will be welcome, however, appointments are recommended.

Those giving blood are to bring their full name photo ID as proper ID’s are required to donate blood.

All usable blood donated will be used at local hospitals and thus help local residents who need blood.

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John Marshall High School’s Monarch Company will be presenting the classic musical, “The Wizard of Oz,” on March 25 through March 27. The hours are 7 p.m. March 25 and 2 p.m. March 26 and March 27.

Familiar songs, colorful costumes and characters and a story full of fantasy should bring smiles to those present to go on the “yellow brick road.”

The cast will feature 23 high school thespians and 18 elementary-aged actors along with a tech crew of 10 JMHS students.

Tickets will be $5 for students and senior citizens, and $8 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at johnmarshallhs.com, or at the door.

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Winners of the Marshall County Art Show Best of Show and People’s Choice Award were:

Best of Show high school division — Laurel Shipley of John Marshall and Carter Trowbridge of Moundsville Middle School.

The People’s Choice Award went to Austin Heath from JMHS, and Dylan Renzella from MMS.

The 2022 Marshall County Young Writers Contest winners will have each of the original stories printed in this year’s Marshall County Writers Anthology.

The stories of students who placed first in the county were submitted to the West Virginia Writers Contest. Additionally, all Marshall County first-place entries will be recognized during a celebration on May 13 at the Wheeling Virginia Day at the University of Charleston.

The first place winners’ grades names, schools and stories are:

– Grades 1-2, Dexter Choi, The Time Travel, Center McMechen.

– Grades 3-4, Gavin Pickett, Game Escape, Hilltop Elementary.

– Grades 5-6, Cooper Doughery, The Hunt, Sand Hill Elementary.

– Grades 7-8, Tesse Burke I Don’t Need the City, Sherrard Middle.

– Grades 9-10, Carter Bertram, Escape, Cameron High.

– Grades 11-12, Abbigale Carney, Sundown, Cameron High.

Second place honors being Aubrey Gatts, Ruby Hunter, Hayden Harvey, Avery Etzel, Thaddeus Dempewolf, Trixie Calissie.

Third place, Evan Teets, Dalton Lucas, Addison Stern, Ella Games, Jacob Meneely, Audrey Bock.

Honorable Mention, Everett Aubrey, Alex Shrumpp, Chloe Pickett, Jacob Thames, Joshua Meneely, Annie Martin.