Former Wheeling-Charleston Diocese Bishop Michael J. Bransfield dies at 82

May 8, 2026

WHEELING — Michael J. Bransfield, the former bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, died Thursday. He was 82. Diocesan officials in Wheeling announced Bransfield’s death via email, with the following statement attached: “As it is the tradition in our Church to pray for the dead as well as for the living, we pray for the repose of his soul, asking God’s mercy upon him. His funeral and burial will not take place in West Virginia, but we invite all the faithful to pray at this time for his family, friends, and caregivers.” Bransfield, a Philadelphia native ...

Sheriff Mark Warden announces funding to support six-county sheriff’s department coalition

May 8, 2026

MARIETTA - Washington County Sheriff Mark Warden, alongside sheriffs from Morgan, Athens, Meigs, Monroe, and Noble counties, announced access to congressionally directed spending funds totaling $454,000 for southeast Ohio. Warden said with help from the county commissioners and various ...

Marietta High School choir program receives honors, heads into spring concert season

May 8, 2026

The Marietta High School choir program earned top honors at both the Ohio Music Education Association State Large Group event and a Chicago Heritage Festival in Chicago. On April 16, the choirs traveled to Chicago, where the Cantabile, Bass and Treble Choirs each earned Gold First Place honors at a national-level choral competition. In addition, both Cantabile and Bass Choirs received the Adjudicator’s Award for exceptional performance and quality. The Cantabile Choir was further recognized as the Overall Best Choir, the highest honor awarded at the event. Honors awarded to the ...

Voices of Valor: Four Mid-Ohio Valley veterans inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame

May 8, 2026

COLUMBUS – A group of three veterans from Washington County and one from Noble County were recently inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for valiant service to their country and their fellow soldiers. U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Meredith L. Barnett, U.S. Army Technical Sgt. Harley E. ...

Backyard Gardener: Dianthus for Mother’s Day

May 8, 2026

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley gardeners and farmers! A blessed happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there in the valley. West Virginia has a special connection with Mother’s Day, as the first official celebration was held May 10, 1908, at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton. Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations in honor of her mother to the first formal Mother’s Day service. Over the next few years, Jarvis worked to make Mother’s Day a national holiday and President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914. Carnations became an integral ...

Fleming earns honor at West Virginia University

May 7, 2026

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Parkersburg native is among eight recent graduates of West Virginia University to earn the Order of Augusta, the University’s most prestigious honor for academic excellence, leadership and service. The eight inductees were selected from the 52 WVU Foundation ...