What Makes You Wonderful sits down with Michael David Valentine to talk about the Good Time Kids Show Friday, June 9. This interactive play is fun for the whole family... and it's free! You can find out more information here: https://www.foundrytheater.org/event-details/good-time-kids-show

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

Today is Monday, June 5 

Interested in a career in the film industry? Sign up for a Locations workshop in Morgantown…Students gather at Canaan Valley to learn leadership skills…and Gov. Justice introduces Get Paid to Pay It Forward -- a financial incentive to supply transportation to people in substance abuse treatment…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV FILM OFFICE -- Interested in working in the film industry?  The West Virginia tax incentive has recently been restored, attracting more productions to the state this past year and the need for Location Scouts and Location Managers are in demand.

West Virginia Filmmakers Guild and the West Virginia Film Office will host a Locations Workshop June 24-25 in Morgantown. 

Learn more:

https://wvfg.ticketleap.com/locations-workshop/details

#2 – From WVHEPC –  Fifty student government representatives from 13 two- and four-year colleges across West Virginia gathered recently at Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center for the 18th annual West Virginia Student Leadership Conference.

The WVSLC serves as a training event for student government representatives, many of whom are newly elected to their roles. During the conference, students learned leadership skills, networked with other student body leaders, and shared ideas for engaging their campus communities. 

“WVSLC gave me the invaluable opportunity to meet with other student leaders from collegiate student governments across the state,” Marshall University student Alyssa Hudson said. “I loved every minute of this insightful conference and found that my leadership skills were improving simply through the conversations I was having with my peers.” 

Read more:

https://www.wvhepc.edu/news/student-leaders-from-colleges-and-universities-statewide-come-together-for-the-student-leadership-conference/

#3 – From WVPB –  Gov. Jim Justice has announced a new initiative for people in recovery from substance use disorder.

Get Paid to Pay It Forward is part of the Jobs & Hope West Virginia program. The campaign offers a financial incentive to drivers who transport individuals in recovery to substance use treatment. 

Justice said by incentivizing people to step up and promote the program, the state can continue to make strides to equip people in recovery.

Transportation remains one of the biggest barriers for people seeking treatment, particularly in rural areas.

“I said it just a second ago, what’s a life worth? Now we have a program that’s like a modern day Uber service within ourselves,” Justice said.

To become a transportation provider, visit www.help4wv.com.

Read more:

https://wvpublic.org/justice-announces-transportation-initiative-for-people-in-recovery/?es_id=d059192cee

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, June 4 

Blackwater Falls State Park gets a makeover -- check it out and start planning your Almost Heaven getaway today…Advantage Valley launches an initiative to help new graduates find jobs…and hear some great tunes on Mountain State Music…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV COMMERCE –  The serenity and beauty of West Virginia is now on the next level with the newly renovated Blackwater Falls State Park. Located in Tucker County among the trees of the Allegheny Forest, your next destination for downtime is a welcoming experience from the moment you arrive. 

From sledding in the winter months to hiking, biking and exploring the beauty of the park’s numerous waterfalls, there’s plenty to do here.

Check out the renovations, then head over to www.wvstateparks.com to start planning your trip!

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t9vCwrbDlU

#2 – From LIVABILITY – West Virginia boasts an impressive collection of colleges and universities, bringing many young people to the state for education and college life. And until recently, once those graduates left school, they often left the state, taking their newly acquired skills and knowledge with them.

However, regions like the nine-county Advantage Valley, which includes Charleston and Huntington, have launched initiatives to guide students, graduates and young people in general into jobs made plentiful by the booming manufacturing, automotive, energy and agriculture industries (to name just a few of many).

Generation West Virginia, the Charleston Roots Initiative and similar efforts help young professionals secure jobs, make lasting connections, utilize local resources and discover crucial parts of the Advantage Valley community that make it a desirable place to live. 

Learn more:

https://livability.com/wv/charleston/education-careers-opportunity/why-advantage-valley-wv-is-a-great-place-to-live-for-young-professionals/

#3 – From WV.GOV – There are so many talented musicians in West Virginia, and the daily304 wants to shine a spotlight on each and every one of them. Every month, we introduce you to creative West Virginia artists and their original songs. It’s a concert from your couch, and you don’t even have to pay a cover charge. Sit back, relax and enjoy live music from the Folklore Stage.

Subscribe to the daily304 channel on YouTube so you don’t miss an episode!

Watch the videos:

https://www.wv.gov/daily304/mtnstatemusic/Pages/default.aspx

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, June 3 

Shepherdstown’s oldest church finds new life as a theater venue…satellite-based broadband is luring remote workers to relocate to rural West Virginia…and, find out what exciting festivals are taking place in June…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WVPB – A 275-year-old church in Shepherdstown will be repurposed as a theater venue.

The congregation of the Christ Reformed United Church of Christ donated the historic building to the Contemporary American Theater Festival, which produces and develops new plays for worldwide audiences. 

Founded in 1747, the United Church of Christ is the oldest church in Shepherdstown. It held its final service in January after the retirement of its pastor. 

“We met with the representatives from the church, and I had a long conversation about really protecting the integrity of some of the historical elements of the church,” CATF Artistic Director Peggy McKowen said. “The stained glass windows, also with the church comes the graveyard and the responsibility of that. I think the church congregation felt comfortable that CATF would uphold the usage of the building with a great sort of responsibility and grace to maintain the things that were really valued about it.”

The church will be used as a rehearsal space in the short-term with plans to use it as a performance venue in the future. 

Read more:

https://wvpublic.org/historic-shepherdstown-church-to-be-repurposed-as-live-theater-venue/

#2 – From WV EXPLORER – Satellite-based broadband is allowing telecommuters to settle in even some of the most remote areas in West Virginia. The revolutionary development is changing the face of the chiefly rural state at the center of the eastern U.S.

“Thanks to Starlink and other broadband initiatives, West Virginia is welcoming thousands of new residents who are well-educated and affluent. There will be growing pains, yes, but I can't imagine a more positive future for the state,” said David Sibray, the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine and a Foxfire Realty agent who specializes in marketing rural and recreational properties.

Nate Adams, who is among the state’s new residents and a Starlink  user, says the technology is enabling remote work across West Virginia. An expert in home heating and cooling systems, Adams is popularly known as The House Whisperer and travels the country lecturing on atmospheric control.

“My wife, Rachel, and I moved to the New River Gorge  two years ago from the Cleveland area. Her family is from West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. We’ve been traveling here for short trips for years and planned to retire here, but we moved our timetable up to—well, now,” Adams said.

“The biggest reason we could? We both work remotely, and there’s fast internet here. Now there’s an option for remote workers like us that want to live in a beautiful place but require a good internet connection.”

Read more:

https://wvexplorer.com/2023/05/28/starlink-broadband-remote-west-virginia-david-sibray/

#3 – From WOWK-TV – Planning a weekend getaway or mini staycation in June? Check out some great festivals taking place this month in the Mountain State. 

The Mountain Music Festival in Fayetteville is going on today, featuring live bands all day long. Check out the Weston Carp Festival June 9-10, with a fishing tournament, live music, kayak float and more. 

Then there’s Summerfest, the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash, the West Virginia Wild and Wonderful Celtic Festival and Highland Games, and the West Virginia Renaissance Festival.

Check out the story on WOWK-TV for dates, locations, and ticketing information.

Read more:

https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/west-virginia-festivals-happening-in-june/

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.

The iron industry had already been a force in the Northern Panhandle when the Bessemer process brought steel into the fore.  There were steel mills in various towns around the state like Clarksburg, Huntington and Morgantown, but Wheeling and Weirton set the pace not only in the state but in steel production on the world stage. 

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

Today is Friday, June 2 

Take a trip back in time to the drive-in movies this summer…the historic Thurmond Depot is getting a makeover…and the new Frito Lay facility in Teays Valley is a game changer for the region…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WOWK-TV – Are you feeling nostalgic for the old drive-in movie showings? Or perhaps you’ve never even been to one. Luckily for you, there are at least six different open drive-in theaters in West Virginia just waiting to be explored.

From the oldest operating drive-in theater in Shinnston (opened in 1947) to the newest one in Oak Hill (opened in 2016), these theaters bring in carloads of people every summer. Check out the full list on WOWK-TV and start planning your movie night!

Read more:

https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/drive-in-movie-theaters-in-west-virginia/

#2 – From WVPB –  A group from the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center is working with staff at the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve to restore its historic Thurmond Depot.

The building is an old railroad depot built at the beginning of the 20th century during Thurmond’s heyday as a railroad town. Its location on the main line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad meant the depot became an entry point for regional business during the Industrial Revolution.

The Thurmond Depot was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1984 before reopening as a visitors center for the National Park a decade later, in 1995.

The restoration of the depot doubles as a workforce training program. The national initiative, called the Campaign for the Historic Trades, helps train park workers on how to best preserve historical buildings.

Read more:

https://wvpublic.org/workforce-training-helps-preserve-historic-new-river-gorge-depot/

#3 – From METRO NEWS – Officials at Frito Lay say a new state of the art facility in West Virginia will serve their needs for distribution for many years into the future.

The new warehouse and distribution center opened at the Teays Valley exit of I-64 in Putnam County. The facility is four times the size of the former facility which was used for many years in Poca.

“It’s really big. It’s got 35 loading docks which is amazing,” said Laura Maxwell, Senior Vice-President of Supply Chain for Pepsico Foods.

The 70,000 square foot facility represents a $16 million investment.

About 100 employees transferred from the old Poca warehouse to Scott Depot. The expansion also created 25 new jobs for the facility.

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/21/frito-lay-says-new-putnam-county-warehouse-is-an-investment-in-the-future/

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, June 1 

Tune in to “What Makes You Wonderful,” where we uncover wonders that make West Virginia truly extraordinary…Plan your Almost Heaven getaway to the Northern Panhandle…and, hot dog! Check out the new foodie trail that’s just opened in Huntington and Wayne counties…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV.GOV – You can find out all of the amazing places to go and interesting people to meet each week listening to the daily304’s “What Makes You Wonderful” podcast – we uncover wonders that make West Virginia truly extraordinary. Host Tiffney Lopez connects with other local leaders and experts to share fun events, take you to uniqu​e places to visit, and venture down literary roads of local reads. Tune in to “What Makes You Wonderful” and let the magic of the Mountain State inspire you!

Listen to the podcast:

https://www.wv.gov/daily304/wmyw/Pages/default.aspx

#2 – From WV TOURISM –  The Northern Panhandle in West Virginia represents one of two panhandles in West Virginia. With historic cities like Wheeling, Weirton, Moundsville and others within one-hour drives of each other, Almost Heaven will amaze you with its array of options to spend time in the Northern Panhandle. 

Explore historic attractions like the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum, West Virginia Independence Hall. Plan a stay at Oglebay Resort or Tomlinson Run State Park. Take a zipline ride at Grand Vue Park. And dine at renowned eateries like Vagabond Kitchen.

Start planning your Northern Panhandle road trip today!

Read more:

https://wvtourism.com/summer-road-trip-to-the-northern-panhandle/

#3 – From METRO NEWS – From historic drive-ins like Stewart’s Original Hot Dogs to newer establishments like Dog Haus Biergarten, the Huntington area has earned a reputation as the “hot dog capital of West Virginia.” And now the tourism industry wants to capitalize on that.

The Huntington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau recently launched the Huntington Area Hot Dog Trail in Cabell and Wayne counties.

The trail features nine local hot dog stands. Those who visit every restaurant will receive a free T-shirt and those who complete five stops are eligible for an official Hot Dog Trail pin.

“I think people love food and they love something fun to do, so if we can give them that, and people are also patronizing these businesses, it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Anna Adkins, director of Sales & Marketing at the Huntington Area CVB

To sign up, visit VisitHuntingtonWV.org/HotDogTrail.

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/27/hot-dog-trail-launches-in-huntington/

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, May 31 

A Morgantown student’s Google Doodle is a finalist for the website’s homepage contest…Calling all creative types! The WV Makes Festival is Oct. 6…and the WV Waterfalls Trail adds more waterfalls for you to chase…on today’s daily304. 

#1 – From WDTV –  A Morgantown student could soon have her art on the Google homepage for hundreds of millions of people to see.

Kelly Meadows, a fifth grader from Ridgedale Elementary, is one of 55 Doodle for Google winners with her “Waffles and Cheese” doodle.

Doodle for Google is a contest that allows K-12 students across the United States and territories to create their own version of the Google logo.

“I have created this Google Doodle to represent my love for cheese and rats. This Doodle will hopefully show people that it’s OK to be different and like or love weird stuff,” Kelly said. 

The national winner will take home a $30,000 college scholarship, and their school will receive a $50,000 tech package toward the establishment or improvement of a computer lab.

Read more:

https://www.wdtv.com/2023/05/18/morgantown-student-wins-doodle-google-west-virginia/?fbclid=IwAR3PMJXDeQmK2VzfLyv1Ho7ha5laoHjqX6hIgub9cohLzhFiE0A03CkdYI8

 #2 – From WV MAKES FESTIVAL –  Calling all makers! The West Virginia Makes Festival, the state and region’s largest maker fair, returns Friday, October 6, 2023!  

The 10th annual festival, on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, is a celebration of creativity and ingenuity in all forms. Show off your innovations, inventions or other creative endeavors and compete for prizes, including cash. The free event features awe-inspiring demonstrations, hands-on making activities for people of all ages, music and more. 

#3 – From WV GOVERNOR – Gov. Jim Justice today has announced a major expansion of the popular West Virginia Waterfall Trail. Since its launch last June, the statewide wonder has received over 35,000 participant check-ins with visitors from 49 states and 15 countries.

The trail has received rave reviews which inspired the Department of Tourism to ask West Virginians to help identify new waterfalls. Those nominations led to the addition of several new falls, which will allow those who have already started their adventures to keep exploring.  

Visitors can now explore 38 jaw-dropping cascades throughout the Mountain State while winning exclusive prizes along the way. Prizes include a West Virginia Waterfall Trail branded sticker, water bottle, and T-shirt – all exclusively available through this program. 

With the addition of these new waterfalls, the West Virginia Department of Tourism has also commissioned Base Camp Printing Company in Charleston to create a limited-edition waterfall art print that will be mailed to the dedicated waterfall explorers who check in at all 38 cascades along the trail. 

Read more:

https://governor.wv.gov/News/Pages/Gov.-Justice-announces-expansion-of-the-popular-West-Virginia-Waterfall-Trail.aspx

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.

The daily304 and Folklore Music Exchange are proud to present our second Mountain State Music Concert from the Folklore Stage in Charleston, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. This week's guests include Andrew Adkins and Annie Neeley! It's a concert from your couch and there's no cover charge. Sit back, relax and enjoy LIVE music from West Virginia.

What Makes You Wonderful talks to Amanda Stevens about this weekend's Taste of Parkersburg. You can expect delicious new foods and restaurants to try as well as West Virginia wine and live music! 

You can find more information here: https://www.downtownpkb.com/events/2022/6/2/taste-of-parkersburg-xxex2-5c8by