The annual John Marshall High School Queen of Queens Pageant will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the school’s Center for Performing Arts.

The pageant will feature 10 senior girls competing for the crown and the honor of representing JMHS in the OVAC Queen of Queens Pageant in July. Interview, talent, and poise/presentation are the three categories in which the contestants will be scored. Participants include: Kendra Callahan, Morgan Carlin, Audrey Ferguson, Megan Gary, Sydney Gray, Laiken Jones, Abby Korngiver, Reagan Miller, Jadyn Parker and Mylie Scott.

Pageant coordinator is Tracey Filben, while the emcee will be Tony Summers. Doors to the event open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets will be sold at the door. If you have a personalized Marshall County Schools Activity Pass, admission will be free.

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Under the direction of Tracey Filben, the JMHS Steel Drum Band has been selected to play at the upcoming 79th annual West Virginia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. The performance will take place at 11:30 a.m. March 7 at the Charleston Civic Center in the Little Theatre. The JMHS Steel Drum Band was the top choice to perform for the X-Honor Ensemble, an honor that recognizes non-traditional groups. The X-Honor Ensemble started in 2016, and bands are only eligible every other year. JMHS has been selected five times.

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During a special board of education meeting Tuesday, members unanimously approved a new four-year contract for current Superintendent Shelby Haines. She has been the superintendent since July 1, 2019, and the new contract begins July 1, 2025.

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The Marshall County Association of Retired School Employees will have its next luncheon meeting March 13 at the Ash Avenue Church of God beginning at noon. The menu will be potato soup, chicken or ham salad croissant, tossed salad, Texas sheet cake, with coffee, tea, or water to drink. Reservations are due to Lexie by March 5. The community service project is to bring snacks for the church’s teen center, The Future of Moundsville. Guest speaker will be Charmel Radcliffe, WVARSE officer.

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At the Moundsville City Council meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rick Healy provided an update on the new municipal building. Over the past two weeks, additional steel has be en set in place, ceiling grid work has been installed, and drywall finishing is still ongoing.

Over the next two weeks, additional steel work, drywall, and decking will be completed. Also in the coming weeks electrical and HVAC work will re-start and the fire suppression sub-contractor will return.

Healy also reported that the Fostoria Glass Museum is installing an elevator to provide more access to the facility. This will delay their normal opening from early March until May or June. They will also be submitting a request for Council to assist with this project.

There are openings or upcoming renewals on the following Boards and Commissions: Building Commission, Housing Authority, Planning Commission, Sanitary/Stormwater Board, and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Please reach out the City Manager Healy if you are interested in serving.

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The Marshall County Business After Hours will be next Thursday, February 27th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Moundsville Center. Delicious catering will be provided by the John Marshall High School culinary students. RSVP to the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce.

Also next week from February 28th to March 1st is the 2025 Business and Health Expo at the Moundsville Center. Experience live demonstrations and explore diverse industries including: home improvement, finance, health care, education, real estate, and banking.

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On March 8th at 7:00 p.m. the Bealtaine Irish Celtic Rock Concert will be held at the Strand Theatre. This event celebrates St Patrick’s Day for an evening of Irish revelry in memory of Larry Freeland. Bealtaine is a folk band based in Pittsburgh. With roots in Irish and Scottish folk, songs from Canadian Maritimes, traditional tunes, and working-class anthems, Bealtaine looks to make their own mark on the folk music world. Tickets are $25.00 and are available at Frame and Fortunes, on the Strand’s website, or at the door on the day of the performance. Doors open thirty minutes prior to show time.