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Harpers Ferry is a historic West Virginia city and international tourist hub. But four years ago the national park and surrounding town were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Winning, Running And Flooding Inside Appalachia
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One thing we know to be true about Appalachians: we love to compete. But there’s more to a competition than winning. In this week’s Inside Appalachia, we meet competitors who are also keepers of beloved regional traditions.
First, we’re headed to eastern Kentucky, where residents are reeling from thousand year floods after rainfall of roughly 16 inches. At least 37 people are dead, and hundreds of homes and businesses are destroyed. Katie Myers with the Ohio Valley ReSource reports from Whitesburg, Kentucky.
Going For Gold At The West Virginia Senior Sports Classic And Beyond
Thousand Year Floods In Eastern Kentucky Residents of eastern Kentucky are reeling after thousand year floods killed at least 37 people, destroying homes and businesses in the process. Katie Myers with the Ohio Valley ReSource reports.
Reducing Roadkill Rates In North Carolina You can’t drive very far anywhere in Appalachia without seeing roadkill. Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains Association now have a new strategy for reducing wildlife deaths on North Carolina highways. Matt Peiken of Blue Ridge Public Radio has more.
Musgrave Reports From Mountain Mushroom Festival
Have you ever heard of mushroom hunting? Every year, people take to the woods in search of mushrooms like morels — also known as ryland fish, molly moochers or hickory chickens. They’re a seasonal favorite in Appalachia, and they inspire all kinds of competition. Folkways reporter Nicole Musgrave reports from the Mountain Mushroom Festival in Irvine, Kentucky.
An Accident Of Appalachian History Led To A New Style Of Pizza
In Wheeling, West Virginia, people are passionate about their pizza. People there say that an accident of history led to a new style of pizza — Appalachia’s contribution to America’s great regional pizza traditions. Folkways reporter Zack Harold visited DiCarlo’s Famous Pizza to find out more.
Brave Kids Continue Eisteddfod Tradition In Wales, the word “Eisteddfod” refers to a traditional music competition that goes back nearly a thousand years. Immigrants brought the tradition to southern Ohio, where it has endured for generations, thanks in part to some brave kids. Folkways reporter Capri Cafaro has this story.
Going For Gold At The West Virginia Senior Sports Classic And Beyond
Carol Rustin from Jefferson County, West Virginia is an avid runner who recently won a gold medal at the West Virginia Senior Sports Classic, qualifying her for the National Senior Games. What makes her stand out is that she’s successful despite having lost her ability to see. Reporter Shepherd Snyder spoke to Rustin about her experience as a blind athlete.
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What about you? What kind of competitions are happening in your neck of the woods? Maybe you know about a sport or contest we’ve never heard about. Or someone there makes pizza like nobody else. Tell us about it. Write to us at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. Or, you can find us @InAppalachia on Instagram and Twitter.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John R Miller, Ona, Chris Stapleton and Dean Martin, a member of the famed Rat Pack who’s from Steubenville, Ohio — and an Appalachian by birth. Producer Bill Lynch wanted to make sure we mentioned that.
Alex Runyon is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode. You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @InAppalachia.
On this West Virginia Morning, tourists from around the world visit Harpers Ferry each year to immerse themselves in U.S. history. But the number of visitors fell in 2020, as public health restrictions ramped up nationwide. Jack Walker visited the town to learn how things have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Across the nation, there are more and more local news deserts; communities with no local newspaper, television or radio station to cover what’s going on. When a small town paper like The Welch News in McDowell County, WV, can’t compete and shuts down, losing those local eyes and ears can affect accountability. No one is there to watch over things. Local news also provides a sense of cohesion and identity for a community. What happens when it’s gone? This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.
On this West Virginia Morning, it has been a year since allegations of illicit recordings of cadets and other women at the West Virginia State Police barracks launched federal and state investigations into the law enforcement department. We speak with the superintendent of state police for an update.
On this West Virginia Morning, political analysts say the two Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming May primary election give voters some particular, and troubling, food for thought. The candidates themselves say voters need to focus on the positives, not the negatives.