David Sibray
GILBERT, W.Va. — As the tale goes, folks in the neighborhood of Codger Town in Wyoming County were haunted by a thundering rumble, the origins of which were attributed to a ghost they called “Old Thump.” Reuben Mitchell heard it himself as a boy in the ’60s. “I’ll never forget it! One night, I was … Read more
MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — Tales of supernatural lights are not uncommon in the Appalachian Mountains. While science has dispelled some of these phenomena, the lore remains, and one example in West Virginia has yet to be studied and solved. In the case of the Brown Mountain Lights of western North Carolina, scientist George R. Mansfield in … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In West Virginia, nature has provided an unmatched setting for wildlife portraiture. With a plentiful population of critters and dramatic and diverse scenery, it’s a cornucopia for artists who strive to capture wildlife in paint and pigment. Artists who wish to share their work with a perpetually appreciative audience are invited to … Read more
WHEELING, W.Va. — Thanksgiving Day was first celebrated in West Virginia before being celebrated nationally, thanks to a politician who hoped to provide some potential for peace during the U.S. Civil War. The anniversary of the first Thanksgiving was not nationally celebrated until 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared a day of “thanksgiving and praise” to … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — West Virginia has been asked to furnish a second Christmas tree to Washington, D.C., this year — to appear on the Ellipse near the Washington Monument. While a first tree is being delivered to the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol, a second tree has been raised at the White House near … Read more
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — According to National Park Service officials, a forest fire that has swept over more than 2,000 acres in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in southern West Virginia is now at 70 percent containment. Known as the Steep Valley Fire, it continued to burn in the War Ridge and … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — With its walkable towns and seemingly limitless hiking trails, West Virginia is ideally suited to “rucking,” an extremely accessible exercise growing in popularity both as a group pursuit and a solitary endeavor. Rucking, or simply walking with a weighted backpack, is relatively easy and inexpensive and can provide for dramatic weight loss, … Read more
HARMAN, W.Va. — A West Virginia-grown Christmas tree harvested in the Monongahela National Forest will adorn the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in 2023 — the third time a West Virginia tree has appeared on the grounds that look across the National Mall toward the Lincoln Memorial. The first and second … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A West Virginia University researcher has found a way to locate, access, and destroy invasive plants more efficiently. Yong-Lak Park, a professor of entomology, is researching the efficacy of dropping natural enemy insects on invasive plants using drone technology and artificial intelligence. With a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — Most of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia is open year-round, closing only when access roads are snow-covered, though some developed campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor centers routinely close from late fall through mid-spring. According to forest service media contact Kelly Bridges, officials have posted the following seasonal closures for winter … Read more
