(Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down)

UP: To those who will no doubt give generously during Tuesday’s 10th annual Give Local MOV campaign. The 24-hour fundraiser offers an online portal to giving to 63 local programs, where donors know their money will do real good, right here at home. Thumbs up as well to the corporate sponsors who give matching funds to help donors’ gifts make an even greater impact. “Sponsors like Superior Toyota are what pushes this campaign forward and we are so grateful for their continued support, we hope that others will also step-up to sponsor this campaign to help encourage gifts to our region’s nonprofit and school partners,” said the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation’s Julie Posey. Thank you, to the sponsors, and to all who plan to give.

UP: To the West Virginia Public Service Commission’s order for the Pleasants Power Plant to remain warmed up for one year while Monongahela Power Co. and Potomac Edison Co. continue negotiations with Texas-based Energy Transition and Environmental Management to finalize a letter of intent to maintain the power plant and keep the plant’s 154 workers employed. Commissioners were right that, in the balance of things, the move was best for the public interest. Now we wait to see whether the move will pay off.

UP: To Ravenswood’s FFA taking first place in the West Virginia Envirothon for the second year in a row. The five-member team from Ravenswood included Garrett Delong, Harold Miihlbach, Grace Fellure, Isaac Lane and Issiah Border. They explored current environmental and earth sciences within the framework of five disciplines: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current environmental topic known as the “fifth topic” (Adapting to Climate Change). Congratulations, folks.