Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Thursday, Sept. 14 

Planning a fall road trip? Check out Harpers Ferry and discover history and natural beauty… Public-private partnerships ease the financial burden on projects…and enter to win a chance to tandem BASE jump off the New River Gorge Bridge!..on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV LIVING –  Known for its historical significance and spectacular views, Harpers Ferry has long attracted history buffs hoping to engage with artifacts left over from the time of storied abolitionist John Brown and his renowned raid. It also sees its fair share of outdoor enthusiasts who are eager to take advantage of the area’s stunning vistas and numerous trails. 

While many of its attractions may be straight out of the 19th century, downtown Harpers Ferry is anything but dated. It offers a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for Civil War enthusiasts, nature lovers, families, and trendy day-trippers alike. 

Visitors can stroll alongside cobblestone streets lined with charming shops and eateries. History buffs will want to visit the grounds of Storer College -- once a groundbreaking school for formerly enslaved education seekers -- and tour Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Recreational opportunities abound, from rafting and tubing on the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers to bicycling on the C&O Canal Towpath and hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Learn more about this charming historical town and start planning your Almost Heaven getaway today!

Read more:

https://wvliving.com/happy-days-in-harpers-ferry/

#2 – From WV EXECUTIVE –  When a public sector joins a private sector in partnership to fund a service or project that is typically offered by the public sector, you have a public-private partnership. By working together, public and private sectors make the dream become a reality, without the financial burden.

There are many PPPs in the state of West Virginia that have proven successful, including various business ventures, infrastructure improvements and recreational destinations.

One example of that is Charleston’s Learning, Innovation, Food and Technology (LIFT) Center, an initiative led by the Charleston Area Alliance in partnership with the City of Charleston, Marshall University, Coalfield Development, several private sector companies and Advantage Valley, a regional economic development organization.

Included in the center will be the new Marshall Green Battery Institute, which will provide research and development on electric batteries for clean vehicles, zero-emissions airplanes and renewable energy storage. A Coalfield Development job training center and a food hub operated by Refresh Appalachia will also be included. 

Other examples of successful PPPs include the Claudia L. Workman Wildlife Education Center, Morgantown Industrial Park, ATV TrailCamp at Coaldale and more. Check out West Virginia Executive to learn how these partnerships benefit the community while saving money.

Read more:

https://wvexecutive.com/bringing-projects-to-life/

#3 – From DRIFT TRAVEL – Have you ever watched the jumpers on Bridge Day and wished you could do that too? Now is your chance!

The West Virginia Department of Tourism will award one thrill-seeker the opportunity to tandem BASE jump from the New River Gorge Bridge this fall. 

The winner will receive a free trip to West Virginia and the opportunity of a lifetime as a part of Bridge Day festivities Oct. 21 in the nation’s newest national park. The winner will tandem jump with Sean Chuma, who has completed more BASE jumps than anyone else in the world. 

To enter the contest, visit wvtourism.com/contest. Entries must be made by Friday, Sept. 30. One winner will be selected based on their interest and excitement for Bridge Day. 

Read more:

https://drifttravel.com/base-jump-from-a-bridge-in-the-nations-newest-national-park/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 13 

Learn how you can advocate for the Mountain State by joining the #YesWV social media campaign…Shine On, WV aims the spotlight on show choir and dance…and, what’s the buzz about West Virginia’s new honey trail?...on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV EXECUTIVE –  Say yes to West Virginia. That’s the concept behind the state’s social media advocate model stemming from the hashtag #YesWV.

“The #YesWV program empowers people who love West Virginia and gives them the opportunity to tell our story,” says Andy Malinoski, director of the Office of Marketing and Communications in the West Virginia Department of Commerce. “Our goal is to simply have the best, most engaged advocacy program in the nation.”

The success of the program is based on the same factor as any other social media campaign: engagement. The more people are engaged with the content, the more the word gets out about West Virginia and all the good that is happening here.

A competitive advantage for businesses, thriving creative communities, innovation and entrepreneurship are all here in the Mountain State. Would you like to join in the campaign to advocate for West Virginia? Email [email protected] to learn more. 

Let’s work together to promote the wealth, beauty, livability, careers and opportunity in Almost Heaven, West Virginia!

Read more:

https://wvexecutive.com/telling-west-virginias-story/

#2 – From SHINE ON, WV –  Brooke Smolder turned her love of show choir and dance into a job - even if it doesn't always feel like a job! Through choreographing and judging show choir competition shows for high schools, Brooke has been able to teach hundreds of kids not just how to dance, but how to love learning, growing, and creating in the arts no matter your background. 

Watch the video and subscribe to Shine On, WV for more features on West Virginia artists.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dPDhRk3dM4

#3 – From WV NEWS – Announcing the Mountain State’s sweetest trail: the West Virginia Honey Trail!

The trail is a collaborative effort by the Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau, Monongalia County Beekeepers Association and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Its primary goal is to foster sustainability and community engagement, connecting local pollinators and businesses with the general public.

“The honey industry is one piece of our toolkit that sets our destination apart from others,” said Maggie Parsons, Agritourism Marketing Specialist at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture “Through this collaboration, we get to celebrate the wonders of local honey and give well-deserved recognition to the pollinators that sustain the industry.”

Users can access a prebuilt itinerary using the Visit Mountaineer Country Trip Planner App, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Through the app, participants can customize their plans and discover an array of honey stops and related activities, from historical sites to flower farms and local markets.

Read more:

https://www.wvnews.com/morgantownnews/news/visit-mountaineer-country-cvb-announces-launch-of-west-virginia-honey-trail/article_4331e34c-4c33-11ee-91c1-5b45ded89121.html

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

In this week's podcast episode, we're serving up some delicious details about the West Virginia Ribfest, happening from September 14th to 17th at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston. If you're a fan of mouthwatering barbecue, lively entertainment, and a fantastic time by the river, don't miss this! 

To plan your visit and learn more about this year's West Virginia Ribfest, head over to their official website at https://www.wvribfest.com/. There, you'll find all the essential information about the event schedule, vendors, and more.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 12

West Virginia’s opportune location makes it an ideal home for defense companies…the WVDED breaks down the site selection process and how the state is taking steps to lure more big manufacturers…and how did West Virginia’s 55 counties get their names? The History Project breaks it down in just 2 minutes…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – West Virginia is ready and eager to welcome defense companies and federal agencies seeking a loyal workforce, opportune location and rewarding lifestyle for employees.

West Virginia’s proximity to major metropolitan areas makes it an excellent location for the production of military and defense products and technologies. 

Learn more about why the defense industry says #YesWV and view an interactive map of defense-related businesses in West Virginia.

Read more:

https://westvirginia.gov/industries/defense/

#2 – From WV EXECUTIVE – The competition among states for economic development projects is fierce, but the West Virginia Department of Economic Development is no stranger to competing, and winning, large projects.

Nucor. CMC Metals. The Clorox Company. These are just a few of the companies that said #YesWV after a successful site selection process. 

Site selectors have the responsibility of evaluating submissions from each state to create a short list of the best sites. The site selection process factors in data on demographics, workforce, cost of living, housing, taxes, utility rates, transportation logistics, material supply chains and many other variables.

One aspect of the site selection process the agency is working to improve is the availability of sites that are ready for development. The West Virginia Legislature recognized this need and passed House Bill 4002 in 2022 to create the Certified Sites and Development Readiness Program, a critical component in West Virginia’s future success in attracting new investment.

Attracting new companies to the Mountain State is a team effort that takes everyone pulling the rope in the same direction to create wins for all West Virginians.

Read more:

https://wvexecutive.com/secrets-to-site-selection/

#3 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT – How did West Virginia’s 55 counties get their names? Since West Virginia developed first as part of Virginia, many of its county names come from the mother state’s politics, but after its separation, the names diverge into the new state’s history. 

Learn more about which kinds of politicians have the most counties named for them, which individual gave us two county names, and which is the only county named for a woman -- all in this entertaining 2-minute history lesson.

The History Project is the Daily304’s presentation of famous people, places and events that shaped West Virginia. Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don’t miss an episode!

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnGCkPRHUY4

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Monday, Sept. 11 

Find out why the wood products industry says #YesWV…Discover natural beauty, boutique shops, and even Bigfoot in historic Sutton…and the new Treplar manufacturing plant is a game changer for the food industry and Berkeley County…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Did you know that the wood industry of West Virginia generates $3.2 billion annually for the state’s economy? It provides more than 30,000 jobs within the state with 12 million acres of forestland and 75 billion board feet of timber inventory. 

West Virginia is the second-leading hardwood state in the U.S. and each of its 55 counties has some segment of the wood industry as an employer. Wood products manufacturing businesses include loggers, sawmills, dry kilns, rustic rail fence producers, veneer plants, furniture parts producers, kitchen cabinets and other wooden furniture.

Learn more about forest products companies in West Virginia and find out why these businesses said #YesWV!

Learn more:

https://westvirginia.gov/industries/forestproducts/

#2 – From WV LIVING – Located just off I-79 at the geographic center of the state, Sutton is convenient from anywhere. This former transportation and timber hub on the Elk River is now perfect for a quiet getaway. Stop in to browse the shops and museums and grab lunch, fish and camp on the lake, or book an overnight or weekend for a special occasion. And save the first weekend in October for the annual Sutton Festival. 

Some of the unique attractions and recreation you’ll find here include Sutton Lake and the Flatwoods Monster Museum. Plan a stay at the cozy boutique hotel, Elk River Hotel and Cafe, and browse local artisan creations at Mountain Laurel Country Store, home of the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum. Check out www.visitsutton.org for more information!

Read more:

https://wvliving.com/a-sutton-state-of-mind/

#3 – From METRO NEWS – State officials are excited about the recent Treplar announcement. The food packaging manufacturing company plans to invest $50 million in Berkeley County, resulting in about 600 jobs.

“What is going on in the Eastern Panhandle is phenomenal beyond belief,” Gov. Jim Justice said. “But what is going on all across this state is absolutely a movement towards jobs and opportunity for our kids and so many, many things right at our fingertips.”

Treplar aims to “help food businesses seamlessly transition away from banned single-use plastic to a more sustainable product that benefits our industry — and the planet,” he added.

Justice said the enterprise in Martinsburg is already well under way.

“The company has already set up a state-of-the-art facility, deployed cutting-edge equipment and has hired a skilled workforce aiming to begin production in the upcoming months.”

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2023/08/31/food-packaging-manufacturing-company-is-ready-to-roll-in-west-virginia-officials-announce/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Sunday, Sept. 10 

Recent data shows tourism in West Virginia continues to grow by leaps and bounds…the Mountain State’s forest products industry generates $3.2 billion a year…and, thinking of digging ginseng? The medicinal herb has many uses, but Forestry wants to make sure you follow the rules...on today’s daily304.

#1 – From THE GAZETTE-MAIL – West Virginia’s tourism industry continues to grow year over year, according to West Virginia Department of Tourism data revealed at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s annual business summit recently at The Greenbrier Resort.

The data show West Virginia tourism-related content received more than 7 billion impressions in 2022 — more than doubling 2021 numbers. Visitor spending generated more than $754 million in tax revenue for the state that same year.

“We have the newest national park in 2022 and West Virginia was the only state to get on every major travel list,” Chamber President and CEO Tricia Ball said. “CNN named us as one of the most underrated travel destinations. USA Today named us a top family destination and Lovely Planet ranked us as the No. 2 travel region ranking only behind Iceland.”

According to the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the industry accounts for about 44,000 jobs across the state and 21,000 job openings are projected within the next few years.

Read more:

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/business/officials-discuss-moving-wv-tourism-forward-at-business-summit/article_2f812c33-a303-5600-805e-2c4a9729f663.html

#2 – From WV EXECUTIVE –  While many associate the Mountain State solely with the energy industry, its nickname conjures up a different image. West Virginia’s beautiful, forested mountains make it the second-leading hardwood state in the country, ranked third nationally by percentage of forested land. 

The forest products industry—which is made up of loggers, sawmills, dry kilns, veneer plants and furniture and rustic rail fence producers—generates $3.2 billion for the state economy every year and employs more than 30,000 people in highly skilled and technical positions. Companies such as AHF Products, Gat Creek, Weyerhaeuser and Columbia Forest Products, among others, make use of the state’s 12 million acres of forestland and 75 billion board feet of timber inventory in an industry that reaches all 55 counties.

The promise of expansion, sustainability and an already skilled workforce positions West Virginia as a critical provider of hardwoods as more and more companies focus on utilizing sustainable products, according to Eric Carlson, executive director of the West Virginia Forestry Association. 

Carlson said he would also like to see more secondary and finish manufacturing investments and new products, as well as innovation in harvesting equipment, develop in the Mountain State.

“We have seen great cooperation with the state’s economic development team to date, but we also need private equity investment to modernize the entire supply chain,” he says. “Like many businesses, it takes years to recoup the initial investment, and market demand for products is crucial.”

Read more:

https://wvexecutive.com/fundamental-forest-products/

#3 – From THE REGISTER-HERALD – Ginseng season is underway in West Virginia and runs through Nov. 30

Wild ginseng has been an ingredient in Appalachian culture, as well as medicinal folklore, for generations. West Virginia ’seng diggers have been looking to make money from the golden root for nearly 200 years.

It has been used for centuries in North America and Asia for its purported medicinal properties. According to traditional folklore, ginseng roots are used in teas, soups, and medicines to treat sickness, increase vitality, relieve mental and physical fatigue, and prolong life.

The West Virginia Division of Forestry closely monitors the harvesting of ginseng to protect ginseng supplies for the future. If you’re a ginseng digger, consult (and heed!) the rules and regulations posted at wvforestry.com/ginseng-program. The site includes resources such as lists of West Virginia ginseng dealers and weigh stations.

Read more:

https://www.register-herald.com/ginseng-season-is-underway/article_6e82ccca-4808-11ee-9137-2326c125df19.html

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Saturday, Sept. 9 

A job fair in Beckley aims to give a second chance to former substance abusers…Fruits of Labor training center opens a pizzeria in Beckley…and WV State Archives works to preserve a crucial slice of the Mountain State’s history…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From JOBS AND HOPE – Jobs & Hope WV aims to bridge barriers and empower futures by connecting employers and workers during the inaugural Second Chance Job Fair in Beckley on Wednesday, November 8. 

Jobs & Hope WV is the state’s comprehensive response to the substance use disorder crisis, and was established by Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Legislature. 

“We all make mistakes, but that should not deny us an opportunity to redeem ourselves,” Gov. Justice said. “This fair is designed to help people get back on their feet and find good-paying work.”

Free services offered during the event include résumé preparation and printing and professional headshots.

To register for the Second Chance Job Fair, visit the official Jobs & Hope WV website, social media channels, or use the following link: Second Chance Job Fair – Jobs and Hope (wv.gov) 

Read more:

https://jobsandhope.wv.gov/bridging-barriers-jobs-hope-wvs-inaugural-second-chance-job-fair-aims-to-empower-future-opportunities/

#2 – From THE REGISTER-HERALD – The basement of the Fruits of Labor building in Beckley is now featuring a new wood-stone pizzeria, ice cream and coffee shop.

Fruits of Labor is a Nationally Certified Culinary & Ag Training Center in West Virginia supporting adults recovering from addiction.

Two of the program’s recent graduates are managing the new restaurant, owner Tammy Jordan said.

“We deeply believe in investing in each student and allowing them to grow and expand their skills,” Jordan said. “We are excited to welcome three new students to join our education, certification, training, and employment program.”

Seven new jobs have been created at the pizzeria, which offers seating for 64 people indoors and 20 on the outdoor patio. The pizzeria specializes in artisan style pizza and a wide range of specialty coffees and smoothies.

Read more:

https://www.register-herald.com/news/life/fruits-of-labor-owner-invites-community-to-pizzeria-grand-opening/article_fff16c64-4c42-11ee-9484-0fe99dd0c952.html

#3 – From WV WATCH – About 30 minutes into director Elaine Sheldon’s new film “King Coal,” the sides of the frame suddenly begin to creep inward, revealing old snapshots of the good times, when the industry was booming, employment was high and coalfield communities were full of life. 

But these images are not presented in grainy black-and-white. They come onto the screen in full, vibrant color.

“It looks like it could’ve been shot yesterday,” said Richard Fauss, audiovisual archivist at the West Virginia State Archives. “They’re kind of the gems of the collection.”

Fauss has managed the state archives’ massive collection of film and sound for the last 40 years. He’s the one who found the footage for Sheldon and her team. 

His workshop is a living museum of 20th century recording technology. The bulk of the collection came from West Virginia television stations. Beginning in the 1950s until the early 2010s, television news operations sent footage their reporters collected in the field to the archives for safe-keeping.

Sheldon would like to see the state allocate money to the audiovisual archive, to help Fauss and digitize the entire audiovisual archive. 

“Those are our stories, those are our origins,” she said of the materials in the West Virginia State Archives collection. “There’s an incredible wealth [there]. We cannot afford to neglect our history.”

Read more:

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2023/09/04/west-virginia-state-archives-film-collection-gets-big-screen-treatment-in-king-coal/?es_id=5082ade459

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Friday, Sept. 8 

The Hatfield and McCoy Trail system partners with Kanawha County to create 36 miles of dirt bike trails in St. Albans…the West Virginia State Wildlife Center holds a special celebration for its 100th birthday…and (train whistle) all aboard…for Hinton Railroad Days!...on today’s Daily304.

#1 – From METRO NEWS – The Kanawha County Commission has partnered up with Hatfield and McCoy and the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation to create 600 acres of the new trail system at Meadowood Park in St. Albans.

“This is something that Kanawha County has been looking forward to for a very long time,” said Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler. “For years we have thought about the impact of bringing Hatfield and McCoy to Kanawha County and what that would do.”

The trail system would contain up to 36 miles of single-track dirt bike and electric bike space with much of it also being flat enough for regular bikes to ride on, as well. 

The Hatfield and McCoy off-highway Trails make up over 1,000 miles of terrain throughout the mountains of Southern West Virginia, and Wheeler said they wanted Kanawha County to reap some of the benefits the Hatfield and McCoy trail system has brought to other areas.

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2023/08/30/hatfield-and-mccoy-trails-to-bring-600-acres-of-new-off-road-bike-trails-to-kanawha-county/

#2 – From WVDNR – Nature enthusiasts and families, mark your calendars for September 16 as we celebrate a remarkable milestone: the 100th anniversary of the West Virginia State Wildlife Center! 

Operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the Wildlife Center has been a sanctuary for native wildlife and a hub for educational experiences. Join us for a day of festivities, including free birthday cake, live music, and a meet-and-greet with the center’s famous weather prognosticator, French Creek Freddie.

In addition to exhibits, there is a large wooded picnic area with grills and a shelter. Look for waterfowl or fish for trout, bass, catfish and bluegill in the well-stocked pond below the picnic area. And the gift shop is available to satisfy your souvenir and refreshment needs. 

Read more:

https://wvdnr.gov/wv-wildlife-center-turns-100-celebrate-sept-16/

#3 – From LOOT PRESS – Mark your calendars for Oct. 13-15, when Hinton Railroad Days returns for another year to celebrate 150 years of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.

The festival, which takes place in downtown Hinton in the New River Gorge, will feature a wide array of food trucks, vendors, music, a kid zone, a car show, and a beer garden.

The Hinton Railroad Museum will also be open during the festival and features a plethora of history on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, which Hinton played a major part in.

Another cool thing with this year’s festival is that on Friday and Sunday, one could ride a train directly to Hinton and ride it back home the same day. The Amtrak Cardinal runs on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays twice a day through the New River Gorge.

Read more:

https://www.lootpress.com/ride-a-train-to-hinton-railroad-days-festival-through-new-river-gorge-national-park/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Thursday, Sept. 7  

Charleston’s Bullock Distillery wins a rare and coveted award at a world spirits competition…take a look at one of the newest niche sports: low-water paddling…and an Ohio County library unveils a colorful new mural…on today’s Daily304.

#1 – From GAZETTE-MAIL – During all the hubbub surrounding Chef Paul Smith’s James Beard finalist nomination earlier this year, another local star was making a name for itself on the international stage.

That “star” is The Bullock Distillery’s flagship Karst Water Select Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which recently won a rare and coveted Double Gold designation at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The competition is the largest in North America, with thousands of entries, but only a few dozen Double Golds. 

“Every bottle we entered won,” says sales manager Royce Tanner. “Our vodka won Silver, our Gin won Gold, and our bourbon won Double Gold.”

Learn more at www.bullockdistillery.com.

Read more:

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/life/food_and_dining/the-food-guy-local-bourbon-scores-rare-double-gold/article_a7c1a5d4-b64e-5df7-802a-883fdca207c8.html?utm_source=wvgazettemail.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fonthego%2F%3F-dc%3D1693512008&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline

#2 – From HIGHLAND OUTDOORS – Dylan Jones writes about his annual pilgrimage to float the Smoke Hole Canyon—a ruggedly spectacular wonderland where the South Branch Potomac River cuts a deep gorge through Pendleton and Grant counties.

Because the South Branch Potomac flows through the rain shadow of the Allegheny Front and to the east of North Fork Mountain—the driest single ridgeline in the entire Appalachian Mountain range—it is a low-flow rio that typically offers a brief window of reliable levels for paddling in early spring.

It’s called low-water paddling, and it’s as X-stream as it gets. (Get it? because no water means it’s an ex-stream).

“In late April 2021, the South Branch Potomac was at 2.4 feet—just a smidge below the recommended level. But given our newfound love for this world-class stretch of river, we decided to test the waters and see just how low we could go,” Jones writes. 

Read more:

https://highland-outdoors.com/low-water-paddling/

#3 – From THE WHEELING INTELLIGENCER – The Ohio County Public Library unveiled a new mural inside the library’s main floor recently, offering a colorful change of scenery with an unusual combination of inspirational figures.

Completed by local artist Vondel Bell, the new mural called “Colors and Thoughts” is anchored by a cross-section of a human brain divided into “left-brain, right-brain” hemispheres, highlighting the theory that people boast different personalities because of their use of different parts of their brains. 

The mural also features two famous figures who embody these two different characteristics — poet Maya Angelou and theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. The faces of the two 20th century icons are shown in vibrant color, and they are positioned with a twist – as Angelou appears on the analytical side of the brain and a laughing Einstein appears on the artistic side.

“I think it’s beautiful,” said Sean Duffy, programming director and local history specialist at the library, noting that the mural offers several positive messages – particularly that the library is a place where everyone is free to think and express themselves without judgment.

Read more:

https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/community/2023/08/ohio-county-public-library-unveils-colorful-mural-designed-to-inspire/?fbclid=IwAR1R4zedHm3U2gIy8yeBQq624Yael0NIhPFADNRBsk8of-ErapeQOtq5Hqk

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

It’s time for a weekend of fun for everyone as What Makes You Wonderful spends time enjoying nature, people, and the awesome food West Virginia has to offer. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day September 9-10 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Beckley! This is your chance to get a taste of wild game, have the kids compete in outdoor sports, listen to live music and much more. 

For more information or to purchase tickets: https://wvdnr.gov/nhfd/