Two West Virginia firefighters died in the line of duty in 2023. A memorial service in Emmitsburg, Maryland next week will honor their legacies, as well as those fallen firefighters from across the nation.
Home » Encore: Taylor Swift’s Appalachian Millipede, Agriculture Innovations And A Mysterious Disappearance
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Encore: Taylor Swift’s Appalachian Millipede, Agriculture Innovations And A Mysterious Disappearance
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This week on Inside Appalachia, we’ll hear about a farm in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that can grow a lot of agriculture on one acre of a former industrial site.
We’ll also hear about a podcast that remembers the “Back to the Land” movement in West Virginia during the 1970s and 1980s — as well as a mysterious disappearance.
And, we’ll hear about a team of entomologists who documented dozens of new species of millipede across Appalachia. One of them used the opportunity to pay tribute to a surprising influence.
That and more as we journey through Appalachia.
In This Episode:
Decade-Long Boil Water Advisory Lifted In Southern West Virginia
Saving Mountain-Lovers From Extinction
A “Swift” Discovery: Newly Identified Millipede Named For Pop Star
I Was Never There Podcast Sheds Light On 1988 Disappearance
Decade-Long Boil Water Advisory Lifted In Southern West Virginia
Accessing clean water in West Virginia’s McDowell County hasn’t always been easy. After years of inconsistent availability, some communities in McDowell County have been connected to a reliable tap water system. One of these communities is Keystone, where 74 percent of residents are African American and where there has been a boil water advisory for a decade. Jessica Lilly has the story.
Saving Mountain-Lovers From Extinction
Across Appalachia, plant species are rapidly dying out, but researchers are trying to save one plant, found only in the Appalachian Mountains, from extinction. Paxistima canbyi, or Canby’s Mountain-Lover” is a species of ground cover that is rare even in its home in the Appalachians. The Allegheny Front’s Andy Kubis brings us the story from Pennsylvania.
A “Swift” Discovery: A Newly Identified Millipede Named For Pop Star
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift didn’t technically grow up in Appalachia, though she did live in Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Still, a newly discovered Appalachian millipede was named for Swift. The Nannaria Swiftae (Swift Twisted-claw Millipede) is one of 17 new species of millipede found by entomologist Derek Hennen. Hennen spoke with our host, Mason Adams, about the discovery and about pop stars.
I Was Never There Podcast Sheds Light On 1988 Disappearance
The 1988 disappearance of Marsha Ferber has puzzled the community around Morgantown, West Virginia for decades. Ferber moved to Morgantown from New Jersey in the late 1970s and quickly became a fixture of the town, establishing a pair of clubs and the Mountain People’s Co-Op. Then, in April 1988, she vanished.
A new podcast, I Was Never There aims to shed new light on the disappearance, and on the “Back to the Land” movement that provides the story’s backdrop. The mother-daughter duo who created the show, Jamie and Karen Zelermyer, discuss the show with Chris Shulz.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Ona, Montana Skies, and Taylor Swift. Bill Lynch is our producer. 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 @InAppalachia.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Jewish holiday of Passover is coming to an end. It is a time for celebration and reflection. This year, it has been a bit more difficult, according to Rabbi Victor Urecki from Charleston. He spoke with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss the holiday and the struggle with the war in Gaza.
In March, broadcast journalists from Virginia and West Virginia were recognized when the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters met to present awards for notable stories produced in 2023. This week, we listen back to some of our award-winning stories.
On this West Virginia Week, Earth Day was Monday. We’ll hear from a hydrologist about the state’s rivers. We’ll learn more about why two leading candidates for governor are trading accusations in ads over transgender youth. And we’ll visit a community in southern West Virginia affected by contaminated water.
On this West Virginia Morning, an experimental apple orchard in the state is helping to fight pollution, improve food scarcity and some hope even heal veterans. Briana Heaney has the story.