David Sibray
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In the late 19th century, as West Virginia was still defining itself as a young state, Morris Harvey placed his faith not in coal seams or rail lines, but in education. A descendant of one of the region’s first families, he may be best remembered as the benefactor whose name was given … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia physician and former law-enforcement officer is urging state leaders to invest in a chronic care hospital aimed at treating the mentally ill, drug addicted, and homeless. “This is not only a West Virginia issue, but a national one, and it is nonpartisan,” Dr. Norman Wood said in a written … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s reputation as a destination for sports tourism was on full display in Charleston in 2025 when major athletic events brought visitors, national attention, and millions of dollars in economic impact to the region. From cycling championships and high school tournaments to national basketball events and marquee car shows, the Capitol … Read more
SKULL RUN, W.Va. — A traveler motoring through the pastures in this wooded section off the Ohio River might have little idea of the dark tales that have arisen there. With its grazing cattle, it seems a world away from warfare, but according to the late historian Nathan Goff Carder, its red clay isn’t all … Read more
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — In the hills and river bottoms of Marion County in north-central West Virginia, stories have long circulated that blur the line between frontier memory and myth. Few are as strange or as enduring as a tale recorded by the late historian Glenn D. Lough in his book “Now and Long Ago: A … Read more
KEYSER, W.Va. — One of America’s most enduring holiday songs—and the animated television specials it inspired—has roots that trace back to the snowy Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia. Though its lyrics never name a place, “Frosty the Snowman” was co-written by a native of northern West Virginia, and its origins are closely tied to the … Read more
PRINCETON, W.Va. — In 1872, when the name Frank James still carried the weight of fear and notoriety across the border states, the older brother of Jesse James quietly rode into Princeton, West Virginia, and walked straight into the Bank of Princeton—not to rob it, but to study it. The incident, preserved in a March … Read more
FRANKFORD, W.Va. — Long before viral videos and roadside attractions, West Virginia produced a creature so outsized that stories about him drifted into legend. Yet, despite decades of exaggeration, the animal at the center of the tale did exist. According to the late Jim Comstock, the renowned West Virginia storyteller and publisher of the West … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Tourism has earned international recognition for its consumer branding efforts, receiving a Gold Adrian Award from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International for its “Screen-Free Summer” campaign. Now in its 69th year, the Adrian Awards are the world’s largest and most prestigious travel marketing competition, honoring … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University is seeing its most substantial application numbers in a decade, alongside steady gains in student retention and graduation rates, signaling momentum as the flagship institution prepares for commencement and the next incoming class of Mountaineers. WVU President Michael T. Benson shared the update Friday, Dec. 19, during a meeting … Read more
