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

Today is Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.

Marshall University’s flight school expands its degree program to the Eastern Panhandle…the WVDNR announces two early black bear firearms seasons…and West Virginia University’s robotics program prepares students for everything from aerospace to agriculture…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV PUBLIC – Marshall University has expanded its degree program for professional pilots into the Eastern Panhandle. This fall, students can pair online classes with in-person training at an airport in Martinsburg.

The four-year degree includes all their licensing to be a professional pilot, according to Nancy Ritter, director of Marshall’s Bill Noe Flight School. 

She added that Marshall has several different career opportunities in aviation, including airframe and powerplant mechanic or aircraft maintenance technician. The flight school’s UAS -- unmanned aircraft training -- will also be offered in Martinsburg. There will also be flight attendant and dispatcher certification programs.

Ritter said there’s been a lot of interest among Martinsburg residents in pursuing the program.

“It’s been really great reception from the area. A lot of community involvement, a lot of excitement from different military units in the vicinity, and a lot of outreach from school districts within the counties that border Martinsburg and really the whole Panhandle area,” she said.

Read more:

https://wvpublic.org/marshall-university-expands-aviation-program-to-eastern-panhandle/

#2 – From LOOT PRESS – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has announced that two early black bear firearms seasons will begin on August 31 and October 5. Hunters are encouraged to prepare by purchasing the necessary licenses and stamps.

The first season runs from August 31 to September 8 in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties, while the second season is from October 5 to October 11 in Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas, and Raleigh counties. During both seasons, hunters have the option to hunt with or without dogs.

According to WVDNR Director Brett McMillion, the counties designated for these early seasons are above their bear management goals, so it is important to harvest additional bears to meet these objectives. He noted that the advantage of early seasons is that bears are still active since they won’t begin to den until later.

Visit wvdnr.gov to learn more or purchase a hunting license.

Read more:

https://www.lootpress.com/wvdnr-reminds-bear-hunters-about-early-firearms-seasons/

#3 – From DOMINION POST – West Virginia University’s new robotics engineering program is slated to receive a $1 million NASA grant.  

Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin separately announced the funding, obtained by them through Congressionally Directed Spending requests and included in the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill.  

The bachelor’s in science program launches this fall semester within the Statler College Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering. Program courses are hands-on and cover fundamentals of robotics systems, mobile robotics, robotic manipulators and autonomy. The four-year program includes a yearlong capstone project. 

“Our new Robotics Engineering major builds on more than a decade of WVU robotics success. WVU student teams have earned over 20 placement awards, including nine first-place finishes in high-profile national and international robotics competitions,” the school’s website says.

“With a WVU robotics engineering degree, you’ll be ready for careers in industries like aerospace, defense, transportation, healthcare and agriculture — as well as positions in government or academia.”  

Read more:

https://www.dominionpost.com/2024/08/15/wvus-new-robotics-engineering-program-is-slated-to-receive-a-1-million-nasa-grant/

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, Aug. 26, 2024.

Meet the “magicians” behind the magic of handmade Blenko Glass pieces…NASA funding enables WVU to launch a new undergraduate robotics engineering degree…and military training exercises in #YesWV include state-of-the-art robotics…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From OLD CENTRAL CITY – You’ve probably seen some of the beautiful glass pieces made at Blenko Glass Company in Milton. But have you ever wondered about the artists behind this craftsmanship?

A native of Nitro, James Woodson started work at Blenko in 2007 before taking a leave to travel and learn more about glassmaking. He returned to Blenko two years ago with new ideas and a renewed sense of creativity. He is the lead furnace technician for the Blenko Mobile Unit and he also assists with the company’s apprenticeship program,

Woodson’s specialty is in flameworking. Also called lampworking, it’s a type of glasswork that uses a torch to melt and shape glass. Once the glass is heated to a molten state, it is formed by blowing and shaping with tools and hand movements. 

“Flameworking has always been a passion of mine,” he said. “You can get more detail in the work with flameworking than you do necessarily with furnace glass.”

To learn more or schedule a tour at the glassmaking facility, visit blenko.com.

Read more:

https://www.oldcentralcity.org/2024/07/10/13313/inside-look-at-blenko-glass-companys-mobile-hot-unit-meet-james-woodson/

#2 – From WVU TODAY – With $1 million in NASA funding, West Virginia University is preparing its undergraduates and students across West Virginia to build the robots that will build the future.

The funding supports the fall 2024 launch of a new undergraduate robotics engineering degree, including state-of-the-art new equipment and laboratories at the WVU Benjamin Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, as well as significant additional robotics supplies and support for enhancing K-12 outreach programs.

Upgrading to or purchasing advanced technologies means the robotic engineering students can do things like design drones that fly themselves, build a “swarm robot” or run experiments on a giant robotic fruit fly.

WVU will also bring these kinds of technologies out into the state, through hosting middle school and high school robotics competitions, enhancing Statler College summer camps and offering merit badge courses at WVU Merit Badge University, among other engagement opportunities.

Read more:

https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2024/08/15/launch-of-wvu-degree-in-robotics-engineering-means-cutting-edge-resources-for-students-local-industry-and-k-12-outreach

#3 – From WV DED – If you’re a fan of action movies, you’d be pleased to know that some real-life military training exercises happened in West Virginia recently. 

The Civil-Military Innovation Institute hosted a military field training exercise and experimentation event, known as Driving Innovation in Realistic Training (DIRT) Days 23-001, in partnership with the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command and the 101st Airborne Division. 

The event, held at  CMI2’s Adaptive Experimentation Facility in Fola, West Virginia, was designed to emulate future operational environments the soldiers could experience in an age of intensifying technology and threats. In short, it was a chance for soldiers to have fun, learn some new skills, and prepare for whatever the future might bring them.

With its world-class military training facilities, strategic location, and business-friendly environment, West Virginia is an ideal location for defense companies that want to develop new tactics and technologies and work closely with the military.

Read more:

https://westvirginia.gov/robots-in-yes-west-virginia-say-what/

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, Aug. 25, 2024.

Stay connected with the people who shape West Virginia with Innovators and Entrepreneurs...Johnson Controls teams up with WV Corrections and Rehabilitation to improve facilities and reduce recidivism…and Lost River Vacations finds its niche with the Deaf community…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From INNOVATORS & ENTREPRENEURS – The daily304’s Innovators and Entrepreneurs helps you stay connected with the people who shape West Virginia. Whether it’s a brand-new invention or an improvement to our community, there are so many talented innovators and entrepreneurs who have stories to tell. 

Tune in every other week to hear about the amazing inventions, innovations, insightful messages and awe-inspiring testimonials happening right here in the Mountain State. And don’t forget to subscribe to the daily304 YouTube channel so you don’t miss an episode!

Watch the videos:

https://daily304.wv.gov/programs/innovators-and-entrepreneurs/

#2 – From JOHNSON CONTROLS – Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has initiated the second phase of its two-phased energy savings performance contract with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to improve its infrastructure, operational efficiency and reduce recidivism. 

The combined phases — addressing approximately 20 facilities throughout Corrections — required no upfront capital from the state and will result in over $56 million in savings for the division.

Phase two includes an HVAC learning lab that will offer job skills training to combat recidivism at the division. Johnson Controls HVAC Vocational Training Programs introduce inmates to careers in the energy and HVAC sectors, equipping them with essential skills for reintegrating into their communities.

Existing onsite learning labs at correctional institutions have shown promising results in reducing recidivism, with a program success rate of less than 4% of participants reoffending.

Read more:

https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/media-center/news/press-releases/2024/08/06/johnson-controls-assists-west-virginia-division-of-corrections-and-rehabilitatioh?es_id=bebd9c2cba

#3 – From WV LIVING – Nestled in the wooded hills of the Lost River Valley, two tiny houses offer stunning places to stay. String lights glitter through the trees, and big picture windows frame vistas that may as well be paintings. At Lost River Vacations, the rentals feel like true tiny homes—not just tiny houses.

The company is owned by two Deaf people, Jane Jonas and Shawn Harrington, and their mission is bigger than simply offering sleek vacation accommodations. After noticing that many camps and programs for the Deaf lacked the funding to truly thrive, they set out to establish a for-profit business model that could support these endeavors through funding and an elevated platform. 

They have big plans for the future and have already made a great impact—the craftspeople who built the homes, the designers of Lost River Vacations’ logo and website, and the artists behind the decor guests gaze upon during their stay are all Deaf.

“There’s a growing movement to empower Deaf business owners,” says Jonas. “We’re seeing more community support, collaboration, and, most importantly, Deaf consumers choosing Deaf-owned businesses. This creates a ripple effect—by investing in our community, everyone thrives.”

Check out lostrivervacations.com to learn more.

Read more:

https://wvliving.com/river-lost-community-found/

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, Aug. 24, 2024.

Learn all about the famous people, places and events that shaped West Virginia with The History Project…WVDNR’s Wild Yards program encourages private landowners to help with wildlife conservation…and Summersville breaks ground on its new athletic complex…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT –  Perfectly centered among the Eastern states, West Virginia is where the thresholds of the North, South and Midwest all converge with the Appalachian Mountains, to tell the history of our nation in microcosm. 

Major events like the Revolutionary and Civil wars, and famous people ranging from Daniel Boone to Katherine Johnson, mix with the rich heritage of Native Americans and men and women of all colors who reshaped the world and serve as guides through the American story.

Check out The History Project’s videos to learn more about the famous people, places and events that shaped West Virginia. 

Watch the videos:

https://daily304.wv.gov/programs/the-history-project/

#2 – From WV WATCH – Tomi Bergstrom skips the lawn mower on the lower half of her lawn in Charleston. She’s growing native plants with the goal of protecting the state’s native wildlife. 

Bergstrom’s yard is one of the 400 that have been certified by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resource’s as a Wild Yard over the program’s 25-year history. The program aims to help the state’s wildlife by encouraging property owners to grow native plants and incorporate animal habitats. 

The state’s Wild Yards program is similar to a number of programs around the country that encourage planting native plants for wildlife, coordinator Michelle Fonda said. West Virginia’s program is free to be certified. Certified lawns get signs letting neighbors know of their participation in the program. 

“You can get started pretty easily by planting a few native wildflowers like milkweed, goldenrod, an oak tree,” said Fonda.

Manuals for the program are available by calling the state Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Diversity Program at 304-637-0245.  

Read more:

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2024/08/13/dnrs-wild-yard-program-lets-private-landowners-get-in-on-wildlife-conservation/

#3 – From WSAZ-TV – When you hear Summersville, you probably think of Summersville Lake and with good reason. Now, Mayor Robert Shafer hopes to expand on that tourism aspect with a brand new project.

The Summersville Athletic Complex will host soccer fields, mountain biking, hiking trails and much more. Shafer says more is coming to the Complex’s 128 acres, including a baseball/softball complex, basketball, pickleball and dog park.

City officials sought inspiration from the Shawnee Sports Complex in Kanawha County, which has hosted numerous national sporting events. 

Read more:

https://www.wsaz.com/2024/08/12/new-athletic-complex-headed-summersville-wva/

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 episode of What Makes You Wonderful, we chat with West Virginia State Parks Executive Chef Matthew Welsch about this year’s Farm-to-Table dinners. These culinary masterpieces highlight the best local ingredients and expertise. The dinners are held at different parks and offer a variety of dinners, views, and experiences. Each dinner is created with fresh, locally sourced produce, meats, and dairy, allowing you to savor the true taste of West Virginia.

For more information and to purchase tickets CLICK HERE.

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

Today is Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.

Check out some of West Virginia’s most talented musical artists, all from the comfort of your couch, with Mountain State Music livestream videos…Discover Almost Heaven at Family Adventure Camp at the Summit, in the heart of the New River Gorge…and plan the ultimate adventure road trip through northeastern West Virginia…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From DAILY304 – 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, recorded live at Folklore Music Exchange.

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.

Watch the videos:

https://daily304.wv.gov/programs/mountain-state-music/

#2 – From SUMMIT BSA – Family fun awaits at the Summit Bechtel Reserve! A vacation to this unique getaway is something that your family will remember forever. From scenic hikes, a variety of lodging options, and exciting outdoor activities, the Summit has something for everyone. 

Family Adventure Camp at the Summit is in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, next to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Discover why so many people call this land “Almost Heaven,” with its breathtaking natural beauty, abundant ecosystems, and many activities. 

The camp is open to ALL Families; no BSA or Scouting affiliation is required!

Learn more:

https://www.summitbsa.org/familyadventurecampwv

#3 – From BACKPACKER – Thanks to the establishment of the country’s newest national park in the New River Gorge, West Virginia is having its time in the limelight right now. Even in this small state, there’s plenty to explore beyond the park’s boundaries. The northeastern part of the state, from the Dolly Sods to Blackwater Falls, has hiking trails, waterfalls, and funky small towns that offer no end of outdoor adventure.

If you’re ready to explore but also want to be close enough to Main Street to grab a drink or dinner post-hike, pitch your tent in Tucker County near the towns of Davis and Thomas for some good, clean (but actually probably pretty muddy) outdoor fun. 

Check out Backpacker’s 5-day itinerary for the ultimate Almost Heaven road trip!

Read more:

https://www.backpacker.com/trips/road-trip-through-west-virginia/

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, Aug. 22, 2024.

West Virginia is positioned to be at the forefront of the nation’s advanced air mobility market…Learn why the state’s growing cluster of of aerospace companies say #YesWV…and Marshall University’s flight school welcomes its largest class yet…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From VERTX PARTNERS – The release of a new study on Advanced Air Mobility puts West Virginia front and center on the national stage. If it acts strategically, the state has an opportunity to help lead the national AAM plan and tap into a projected $115 billion market.

AAM seeks to integrate unmanned aerial systems and sustainable aircraft such as electric vertical take-off and landings. West Virginia’s strategic location, rugged landscape, and local demand for accessible, multimodal transportation provide many opportunities for early AAM research and operations, the study, conducted by Vertx Partners, concluded.

Situated within a 500-mile flight radius of 40% of the U.S. population and bridging several metropolitan centers in the Midwest and East Coast, the state is positioned to be a regional hub for AAM innovation and infrastructure. 

Read more:

https://vertxpartners.org/utilizing-west-virginias-existing-infrastructure/?utm_source=Vertx+Partners&utm_campaign=16b6844d71-_18_04_2022_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_78067557b9-16b6844d71-587156483

#2 – From WV DED – The aerospace industry is a dynamic, emerging economic sector in West Virginia. From up-and-coming high-tech innovators to established titans of the industry, the state’s growing cluster of aerospace companies is fueled by an array of advantages.

West Virginia is within a day’s drive of 34% of the top domestic purchasing sectors of aerospace products and national defense contractors, corporations and federal agencies. Additionally, the state is in close proximity to original equipment manufacturers based in the South, including Boeing, AirBus, Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream.

Check out the West Virginia Department of Economic Development online to learn more about the aerospace industry in #YesWV and download a business assistance brochure.

Learn more:

https://westvirginia.gov/industries/aerospace/

#3 – From METRO NEWS – Nearly 70 more new student enrollments are coming in to learn to fly planes this fall at Marshall University’s Bill Noe Flight School.

The flight school, located on the grounds of West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, hosted an orientation for new students earlier this month. Marshall’s flight school also welcomed in their new G7 Cirrus SR20 plane in conjunction with the orientation that included a fly over and water cannon salute for the new students.

Chief Aviation Officer and founder of Marshall’s flight school Bill Noe said this was the largest number of enrollments the school has seen since it opened in 2021.

This fall the school expects to break ground on a new hanger that’s about three times the size of their current one. In addition, Noe said they will also continue to grow their aircraft fleet with plans to eventually boast over 30 single-engine fixed wing planes, 7 to 10 multi-engine, and 4 rotor-wing helicopters.

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2024/08/12/marshall-universitys-bill-noe-flight-school-welcomes-65-new-students-new-plane/

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, Aug. 21, 2024.

West Virginia State University greenhouses are aiding in groundbreaking research in agriculture…Med students participate in a simulation program designed to help them understand economic hardships of some Appalachians…and … it’s a record year for record fish caught in West Virginia…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From METRO NEWS – West Virginia State University President Ericke Cage says the new greenhouses on campus will continue to boost their ongoing agricultural research and development. 

The 6,912 square foot series of greenhouses will also help to enhance the agricultural research that’s already being conducted at the facility in particular.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to expand our capability [and] provide more space for our researchers to do the cutting-edge research that they do every day to help support agricultural sustainability,” Cage said.

Two research teams will use the four bays set up within the greenhouses. One team will focus on plant genomics and watermelon production, looking at disease-resistant watermelon growth to potentially bring onto the market. The other research team is looking at growing switchgrass for bio-oils for bio-fuels that can be used for jet fuel. 

Funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the greenhouses are an extension of the work the university has already been doing with the USDA around agriculture sustainability.

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2024/08/11/west-virginia-state-university-welcomes-in-new-greenhouses-to-further-advance-agricultural-research/

#2 – From WV PRESS – First-year medical students at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine have just completed the first mandatory activity of the academic year -- a simulation designed to introduce the concept of the social determinants of health.

Created to mimic some of the health inequities present in rural Appalachia, many of the simulation’s characters had limited income, lack of access to health care and education, poor social support systems, and experienced discrimination based on their social status. The simulation’s objectives were to help WVSOM students identify these determinants, recognize their effects on patient health and outcomes, and find strategies for health care workers to address them. 

If the activity made students anxious, it was by design, said Courtney Eleazer, who teaches in WVSOM’s Department of Biomedical Sciences and helped lead the activity.

“By placing students in the role of patients, this simulation serves to recreate the chronic stress many rural community members face in response to health inequities,” Eleazer said.

Read more:

https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/in-wvsoms-student-designed-activity-appalachian-stories-illustrate-the-social-determinants-of-health/

#3 – From WV NEWS –  Anglers reeled in six state record breaking fish so far in 2024. And with five more months left in the year, officials expect to break the record for number of records broken.

“This year will probably end up being the most,” said Mark Scott, assistant chief of Fish Management for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

So far this year, record specimens of tiger trout, redbreast sunfish, bowfin, redear sunfish, black crappie and most recently the channel catfish have all been caught.

On average, four state fishing records are broken each year. Since 2020, 17 records have been broken with five being new records for the blue catfish.

Read more:

https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/six-record-fish-caught-throughout-west-virginia-this-year-with-five-more-months-to-go/article_9468e330-54c2-11ef-9403-7f57ec5e2cbf.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 Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024.

Achieve your dream of starting or growing your own small business with help from the experts at the WV SBDC…a new scholarship is available for WVU students in the landscape architecture or horticulture programs…and sign up for outdoor education programs offered at the Summit Bechtel Reserve…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV SBDC – Since 1983, the West Virginia Small Business Development Center and its network of partners have helped construct a statewide ecosystem to foster the spirit and success of thousands of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators. 

The WV SBDC provides coaching, training, and tools for those wanting to start and grow a small business while fostering connections with entrepreneurs statewide. In 2023, the team helped support just over 2,700 jobs, a significant contribution to the local economy, and made a significant impact in the communities we serve.

The WV SBDC team wants to help you achieve your dream of starting or growing your own small business. To learn more, visit wvsbdc.com and click “Become a client.”

Read more:

https://wvsbdc.com/the-west-virginia-small-business-development-center-5-years-of-small-business-growth-in-the-mountain-state/

#2 – From WVNLA – West Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association announces a newly created scholarship for rising college freshmen.

The George W. Longenecker Memorial Scholarship is available to rising freshmen accepted into the landscape architecture or horticulture programs at West Virginia University. 

Recipients will receive full tuition reimbursement for four semesters while maintaining a 3.0 GPA with full credits in either the landscape architecture or horticultural programs. The scholarship will be renewable to the student each semester as long as they are in good standing with the requirements.

Learn more:

https://wvnla.org/news/announcing-a-new-scholarship/

#3 – From SUMMIT BSA – Looking to expand your outdoor skills? The Summit Bechtel Reserve offers a variety of training programs for the public, including a Certified Angler Instructor Course and Hunters Education Certification Program. 

Located in Mount Hope, The Summit is a training, scouting, and adventure center for the millions of youth and adults involved in the Boy Scouts of America and anyone who loves the outdoors. TO learn more or sign up for a course, visit summitbsa.org. 

Read more:

https://www.summitbsa.org/programs/training/

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, Aug. 19, 2024.

WVU’s Center of Nursing will soon begin accepting applications for the tuition-free program…Twin Falls Resort’s nature center gets an overhaul and a new location--at the park’s lodge…and check out 9 charming West Virginia small towns just right for a 3-day weekend getaway…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WBOY – WVU Medicine’s new Center for Nursing Education will soon begin accepting online applications from those who want to join its fall 2025 cohort.

The CNE offers a new 21-month, tuition-free program where students receive a hospital-based nursing education in exchange for a 3-year work commitment with the WVU Health System upon graduation.

The program will be housed in a newly renovated facility within the WVU Innovation Corporation. In an attempt to address barriers some students may experience to receiving an education, the facility will include study rooms, laundry facilities, a food bank and lactation rooms.

Visit WVU Medicine to learn more about the program.

Read more:

https://www.wboy.com/news/monongalia/west-virginia-university/wvus-tuition-free-nursing-diploma-program-accepting-applications-soon/

#2 – From WCHS-TV– State officials have announced the opening of the relocated and revitalized Nature Center at Twin Falls Resort State Park in Mullens. 

The new location at the park’s lodge offers modern amenities, a dedicated area for classroom presentations and an audiovisual system totaling nearly $50,000 in renovations.

The revitalized Nature Center replaces the old one along Smokey Ridge Road that required guests to drive to and offered limited parking. The new location is more convenient and allows visitors to easily pop in and out during their stay, according to Brett McMillion, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Visit wvstateparks.com to learn more and book your Almost Heaven getaway.

Read more:

https://wchstv.com/news/local/revitalized-and-relocated-nature-center-opens-at-twin-falls-resort-state-park#

#3 – From WORLD ATLAS – Imagine a place where the only rush hour anyone experiences is the gentle swirl of river rapids and the occasional flurry of fireflies. 

From the Civil War history of Harpers Ferry to the vibrant arts scene of Thomas, West Virginia's small towns offer a restful blend of adventure and relaxation waiting to make a much-needed long weekend unforgettable.

Check out the story at World Atlas to learn more about these and other charming small towns in Almost Heaven.

Read more:

https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/9-ideal-west-virginia-destinations-for-a-3-day-weekend-in-2024.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.