Community for ‘Titletown’

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PARKERSBURG - Get on board.

That's the battle cry being heard around Parkersburg as the community prepares for ESPN's visit on Friday, July 18. An ESPN crew plans to tape interviews at a pep rally scheduled for 6 that evening at Parkersburg High School's Stadium Field as part of its "TitleTown USA" promotion.

From a fan-submitted list of 2,000 nominations, Parkersburg was selected as one of 20 finalists. Throughout the first three weeks of this month, ESPN is visiting each of the finalists with each segment being aired on SportsCenter. Starting July 23 and ending July 26, on-line voting will be conducted to select a winner, which will be named on July 27.

"We're going to be showing ESPN around the city," Parkersburg High School athletics director Richard Lance said. "I've talked with Parkersburg mayor Bob Newell and we want to make sure everything is looking good. Whenever ESPN does come in, we want to show them all three schools (PHS, Parkersburg South and Parkersburg Catholic)."

Invitations have been extended to such dignitaries as West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and West Virginia University football coach Bill Stewart.

Organizations such as the PHS basketball boosters are getting into the act and trying to do everything they can to make sure Stadium Field is filled for the pep rally. The boosters called for an emergency meeting on Tuesday night and among those in attendance was Jann Collins.

"Our booster club started discussing ideas and everybody had great ideas," Collins said.

T-shirts with a logo designed by Shirt Tales will be made available to purchase at a cost of $15 apiece. According to Collins, starting Thursday J.P. Henry's Restaurant will be selling those T-shirts. Additional locations, which will be determined at a later date, will also be utilized.

"It's quite an honor to be selected as a finalist," Collins said. "This is something the community should get behind. We're hoping for a large turnout and trying to get the message to anybody so that they will show up there."

Kanawha School principal Anne Monterosso and her 17-year-old daughter, Christina, are involved in a project to spruce up the traffic circle located between Garfield and Murdoch avenues. They have been granted permission by the West Virginia Department of Highways to repaint an old Don Emilios Restaurant sign, which stands approximately 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide. When the painting is complete, Monterosso's intention is to celebrate Parkerburg's selection as a "TitleTown USA" finalist.

"It's just a little token from us," Anne Monterosso said.