High Points of the Valley (Graphic Illustration)

* State Senators honored Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, last week — the longest continually serving senator in the state’s history. Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne, who was elected eight times during Boley’s tenure, said Boley is “an institution of the institution. … I will make a statement here that I don’t think that we need to make very often, but sometimes people serve here and they hold a position and they are in an institution that we revere,” Plymale said. “And some people come here and they become an institution of the institution. So, to me, she has done that.” How fortunate we are to have someone with that level of institutional knowledge and earned respect serving our district. Congratulations, ma’am.

* North Star Child Advocacy Center in Parkersburg was the beneficiary of a $10,000 donation from former teacher Wes Bargeloh recently. “What I learned from being a child during the Depression is that helping when you have the physical and financial means is one of life’s greatest blessings,” Bargeloh of Parkersburg said. Greg Collins, executive director of North Star, said, “I was out of town hunting and assistant director Julie Nutter began texting me saying she needed to tell me something and couldn’t contain herself. When she told me about the donation from Mr. Bargeloh, I nearly fell out of the tree I was in! I couldn’t believe it.” It is wonderful to know we have such compassionate and generous souls among us. Thank you, sir.