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Diana Winzenreid Deserves a Full Term in the W.Va. House

As the primary election comes upon us, I want to express to you what I observed during the legislative session from Delegate Diana Winzenreid. She was selected by Gov. Jim Justice from three nominees of the Ohio Republican Executive Committee to fill the House of Delegates 4th District seat after Erikka Storch resigned. During my 10 years in office, there have only been a handful of new Delegates each year who make me think, “wow, they are a really hard worker.” Delegate Winzenreid read every single bill, and she scheduled meetings with me and other members to understand the ...

Students Excel in Social Studies; Golf; and Star Wars

The West Virginia Department of Education hosted more than 500 students in Charleston recently as part of the 2024 State Social Studies Fair. Division I consisted of Elementary Students in Grades 3 -5 while Division II was for students in Grades 3-8. Marshall County School had nine students earn first place, three second place, nine students placed third and five students honorable mention. First place winners were (Division I) Aubree Gatts, Addilyn Ellwood and Maya Laudermilk. Division II first place winners were Chloe Pickett, Braxton Haught, Abby Allman, and Gracylynn Welch. Second ...

NATO as It Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary

Born out of the ashes of post WWII, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, commonly referred to simply as NATO, was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and ten Western European nations to provide collective security against the growing threat of a hostile Soviet Union and to alleviate regional instability. This past week, NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary. Seventy-five years of friendship, partnership, and common bonds that tie and strengthen us. Since its inception, the alliance has flourished, overcoming challenges, welcoming new members and partners, and helping to set ...

A Few Odds and Ends

I’m leaving for vacation later this week, heading on an eight-day cruise of the Caribbean, so I’m suffering a bit from vacation-brain as I write this. The following will be more of a stream of conscience of things that are on my mind. --- My apologies to Delegate Joey Garcia, D-Marion, but he could possibly have competition after all. I wrote last week that with Republican hospital executive Jonathan Board dropping out of the race for the state Senate held by the retiring Sen. Mike Capito, D-Marion, to run the West Virginia First Foundation meant Garcia had in essence locked up ...

Marshall Memo: Library Week Events and Summer Concert Series

The Moundsville-Marshall County Library will take part in National Library Week, April 7-13. Special events will be held during the week. On April 8th at 6 p.m., West Virginia historical character “Mary Lydia Weaver Sapp: A daughter and wife of the Civil War,” will be performed by storyteller Jo Ann Daidsman. On April 9th at 6 p.m., the film “The Boys in the Boat”, a bio-drama centered on a Depression-era rowing team will be shown. On April 10th at 5 p.m., Pittsburgh Puppet works will present a puppet show title “Inky’s Library Mystery.” There will able be a preschool story ...

West Virginia Legislative Races Worth Watching This Year

As your state government reporter based in the State Capitol Building in Charleston, I cover the West Virginia Legislature, but I do not cover individual legislative races. My focus is covering statewide state and congressional races. There are just too many House of Delegates and state Senate seats for one person to cover one-on-one. Your local newspaper is better capable of covering individual legislative seats. But I do enjoy doing analysis of legislative seats. Naturally, all of the media attention is on the Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, governor, and even some of the ...