daily304's podcast West Virginia Department of Commerce

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
Today is Friday, June 2 
Take a trip back in time to the drive-in movies this summer…the historic Thurmond Depot is getting a makeover…and the new Frito Lay facility in Teays Valley is a game changer for the region…on today’s daily304.
 
#1 – From WOWK-TV – Are you feeling nostalgic for the old drive-in movie showings? Or perhaps you’ve never even been to one. Luckily for you, there are at least six different open drive-in theaters in West Virginia just waiting to be explored.
From the oldest operating drive-in theater in Shinnston (opened in 1947) to the newest one in Oak Hill (opened in 2016), these theaters bring in carloads of people every summer. Check out the full list on WOWK-TV and start planning your movie night!
Read more:
https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/drive-in-movie-theaters-in-west-virginia/
 
#2 – From WVPB –  A group from the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center is working with staff at the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve to restore its historic Thurmond Depot.
The building is an old railroad depot built at the beginning of the 20th century during Thurmond’s heyday as a railroad town. Its location on the main line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad meant the depot became an entry point for regional business during the Industrial Revolution.
The Thurmond Depot was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1984 before reopening as a visitors center for the National Park a decade later, in 1995.
The restoration of the depot doubles as a workforce training program. The national initiative, called the Campaign for the Historic Trades, helps train park workers on how to best preserve historical buildings.
Read more:
https://wvpublic.org/workforce-training-helps-preserve-historic-new-river-gorge-depot/
 
#3 – From METRO NEWS – Officials at Frito Lay say a new state of the art facility in West Virginia will serve their needs for distribution for many years into the future.
The new warehouse and distribution center opened at the Teays Valley exit of I-64 in Putnam County. The facility is four times the size of the former facility which was used for many years in Poca.
“It’s really big. It’s got 35 loading docks which is amazing,” said Laura Maxwell, Senior Vice-President of Supply Chain for Pepsico Foods.
The 70,000 square foot facility represents a $16 million investment.
About 100 employees transferred from the old Poca warehouse to Scott Depot. The expansion also created 25 new jobs for the facility.
Read more:
https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/21/frito-lay-says-new-putnam-county-warehouse-is-an-investment-in-the-future/
 
Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 
That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
Today is Thursday, June 1 
Tune in to “What Makes You Wonderful,” where we uncover wonders that make West Virginia truly extraordinary…Plan your Almost Heaven getaway to the Northern Panhandle…and, hot dog! Check out the new foodie trail that’s just opened in Huntington and Wayne counties…on today’s daily304.


#1 – From WV.GOV – You can find out all of the amazing places to go and interesting people to meet each week listening to the daily304’s “What Makes You Wonderful” podcast – we uncover wonders that make West Virginia truly extraordinary. Host Tiffney Lopez connects with other local leaders and experts to share fun events, take you to uniqu​e places to visit, and venture down literary roads of local reads. Tune in to “What Makes You Wonderful” and let the magic of the Mountain State inspire you!
Listen to the podcast:
https://www.wv.gov/daily304/wmyw/Pages/default.aspx
 
#2 – From WV TOURISM –  The Northern Panhandle in West Virginia represents one of two panhandles in West Virginia. With historic cities like Wheeling, Weirton, Moundsville and others within one-hour drives of each other, Almost Heaven will amaze you with its array of options to spend time in the Northern Panhandle. 
Explore historic attractions like the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum, West Virginia Independence Hall. Plan a stay at Oglebay Resort or Tomlinson Run State Park. Take a zipline ride at Grand Vue Park. And dine at renowned eateries like Vagabond Kitchen.
Start planning your Northern Panhandle road trip today!
Read more:
https://wvtourism.com/summer-road-trip-to-the-northern-panhandle/
 
#3 – From METRO NEWS – From historic drive-ins like Stewart’s Original Hot Dogs to newer establishments like Dog Haus Biergarten, the Huntington area has earned a reputation as the “hot dog capital of West Virginia.” And now the tourism industry wants to capitalize on that.
The Huntington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau recently launched the Huntington Area Hot Dog Trail in Cabell and Wayne counties.
The trail features nine local hot dog stands. Those who visit every restaurant will receive a free T-shirt and those who complete five stops are eligible for an official Hot Dog Trail pin.
“I think people love food and they love something fun to do, so if we can give them that, and people are also patronizing these businesses, it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Anna Adkins, director of Sales & Marketing at the Huntington Area CVB
To sign up, visit VisitHuntingtonWV.org/HotDogTrail.
Read more:
https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/27/hot-dog-trail-launches-in-huntington/


Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 
That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
Today is Wednesday, May 31 
A Morgantown student’s Google Doodle is a finalist for the website’s homepage contest…Calling all creative types! The WV Makes Festival is Oct. 6…and the WV Waterfalls Trail adds more waterfalls for you to chase…on today’s daily304. 
#1 – From WDTV –  A Morgantown student could soon have her art on the Google homepage for hundreds of millions of people to see.
Kelly Meadows, a fifth grader from Ridgedale Elementary, is one of 55 Doodle for Google winners with her “Waffles and Cheese” doodle.
Doodle for Google is a contest that allows K-12 students across the United States and territories to create their own version of the Google logo.
“I have created this Google Doodle to represent my love for cheese and rats. This Doodle will hopefully show people that it’s OK to be different and like or love weird stuff,” Kelly said. 
The national winner will take home a $30,000 college scholarship, and their school will receive a $50,000 tech package toward the establishment or improvement of a computer lab.
Read more:
https://www.wdtv.com/2023/05/18/morgantown-student-wins-doodle-google-west-virginia/?fbclid=IwAR3PMJXDeQmK2VzfLyv1Ho7ha5laoHjqX6hIgub9cohLzhFiE0A03CkdYI8
 
 #2 – From WV MAKES FESTIVAL –  Calling all makers! The West Virginia Makes Festival, the state and region’s largest maker fair, returns Friday, October 6, 2023!  
The 10th annual festival, on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, is a celebration of creativity and ingenuity in all forms. Show off your innovations, inventions or other creative endeavors and compete for prizes, including cash. The free event features awe-inspiring demonstrations, hands-on making activities for people of all ages, music and more. 
Learn more: https://www.rcbi.org/2023-west-virginia-makes-festival/ #3 – From WV GOVERNOR – Gov. Jim Justice today has announced a major expansion of the popular West Virginia Waterfall Trail. Since its launch last June, the statewide wonder has received over 35,000 participant check-ins with visitors from 49 states and 15 countries.
The trail has received rave reviews which inspired the Department of Tourism to ask West Virginians to help identify new waterfalls. Those nominations led to the addition of several new falls, which will allow those who have already started their adventures to keep exploring.  
Visitors can now explore 38 jaw-dropping cascades throughout the Mountain State while winning exclusive prizes along the way. Prizes include a West Virginia Waterfall Trail branded sticker, water bottle, and T-shirt – all exclusively available through this program. 
With the addition of these new waterfalls, the West Virginia Department of Tourism has also commissioned Base Camp Printing Company in Charleston to create a limited-edition waterfall art print that will be mailed to the dedicated waterfall explorers who check in at all 38 cascades along the trail. 
Read more:
https://governor.wv.gov/News/Pages/Gov.-Justice-announces-expansion-of-the-popular-West-Virginia-Waterfall-Trail.aspx



Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 
That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

The daily304 and Folklore Music Exchange are proud to present our second Mountain State Music Concert from the Folklore Stage in Charleston, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. This week's guests include Andrew Adkins and Annie Neeley! It's a concert from your couch and there's no cover charge. Sit back, relax and enjoy LIVE music from West Virginia.

What Makes You Wonderful talks to Amanda Stevens about this weekend's Taste of Parkersburg. You can expect delicious new foods and restaurants to try as well as West Virginia wine and live music! 
You can find more information here: https://www.downtownpkb.com/events/2022/6/2/taste-of-parkersburg-xxex2-5c8by
 

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
Today is Tuesday, May 30 
WV Inventors prepare to set Huntington aglow with bright ideas next month…Discover the charming New River Gorge town of Fayetteville…and students compete in a drone competition at Fairmont State University…on today’s daily304.


#1 – From WV INVENTORS SOCIETY – Calling inventors, entrepreneurs, innovators…and the curious! The West Virginia Inventors Society will gather June 22, 2023 in Huntington. This is your opportunity to network with like-minded folks, connect with service providers, and find inspiration in others’ stories. 
Register now:
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ejqv5tjjdeadb142&oseq=&c=&ch=
 #2 – From MSN –  Planning a road trip this summer? Consider adding Fayetteville, West Virginia, to your itinerary. This charming town offers a plethora of outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and historic landmarks that will make your trip unforgettable.
Nestled in the heart of the New River Gorge National Park, Fayetteville offers many exciting opportunities for adventure seekers. Whether you enjoy hiking, rock climbing, or zip lining, Fayetteville has something for everyone.
Visit the iconic New River Gorge Bridge. Shop and eat in downtown Fayetteville. And of course, take advantage of all the incredible outdoor activities in the Gorge. 
Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/the-ultimate-road-trip-to-fayetteville-west-virginia-guide/ar-AA11E1Cu?li=BBnbklE
 
#3 – From TIMES WV – Students from across the United States took their skills to new heights by competing in the Aerial Drone Competition Championship at Fairmont State University.
The May 20 event, which hosted 62 teams from 10 states, gave middle and high school student drone crews an opportunity to display their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics abilities while also learning about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s upcoming mission, the Dragonfly.
The event was produced by the NASA Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility located in Fairmont, and hosted by the West Virginia Robotics Alliance.
“I love doing robotics things because it keeps me involved in STEM,” said Lily Farry, a member of the Robo BeeGees from Saint Albans, West Virginia. “I think it is really cool.”
Read more:
https://www.timeswv.com/news/local_news/students-show-off-skills-in-blackout-drone-championship/article_4e93561a-f695-11ed-8816-e3619629de71.html
 
Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 
That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.