Buckwheat Cake and Sausage Dinner
There will be a dinner with sausage gravy, real maple syrup and yummy bake sale from 3 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Maple Spring Church in the Family Life Center. Donations of $12 for adults, children 6-10 is $6, children 5 and under eat free. Proceeds go to Family Life Center, contact 304-735-5202 for more info.
Free Friday
Free Friday will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Parsons in the fellowship hall on Friday, September 27, at 6 pm. The menu will consist of a variety of soups, cornbread, sandwiches, and desserts. No donations accepted – just come out and enjoy the meal and fellowship!
Flanagan Hill Fall Festival
Flanagan Hill Fall Festival will be held Saturday, September 28th, at the community
building in Red Creek. Roast Beef Dinner from 1:00-5:00 PM. We will have raffle tickets
for a $200 Gift Card, train ride for 2 from Cass to Whittaker Station, and Gandy Dance
Theater tickets for two Chinese Auction, Theme Basket Raffle, and 50/50 chances will
be sold throughout the day. Also we will have homemade apple butter for sale. Live
music and cakewalk will begin at 6:30 and snack bar will be available. Cake donations
are appreciated. Hope to see you there.
Tucker County Historical Society
The Tucker County Historical Society invites all to come to the Parsons Railroad Depot on Sunday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m. for a stage presentation on the life and poetry of Karl Dewey Myers as presented by Cindy Karelis, historian, and Tom Yocum, appearing as the Bard. Don’t miss. Light refreshments and visitation to follow. (See article in this paper.)
Monongahela National Forest Issues Fire Restriction for Dolly Sods Wilderness
ELKINS W.Va., September 17, 2024 – Effective immediately, building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal fire or campfire is prohibited on all National Forest lands, roads, and trails within the confines of the Dolly Sods Wilderness. The area incorporated into this restriction is within the Monongahela National Forest, Cheat-Potomac Ranger District, Randolph, Grant and Tucker Counties, West Virginia.
The purpose of this fire restriction is to protect public health and safety and natural resources by prohibiting recreational fires during periods of high fire danger. West Virginia is in a prolonged drought leading to decreased fuel moistures across the forest. Current and predicted weather shows little to no relief heading into the fall season. In addition, any fire starting in the wilderness would prove difficult to suppress.
Wilderness has restrictions in place already that make suppressing fires more difficult than non-wilderness areas. Dolly Sods has the added complexity of being a known unexploded ordinance area, further hampering firefighting tactics and endangering the welfare of the public and emergency responders.
Further information may be obtained at the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District Office at 304-478-3251, and at the National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 304-363-1800.
West Virginia Highlands Conservancy’s Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards Program Receives Spirit of West Virginia Award
CHARLESTON, W.Va—The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy is proud to announce that West Virginia Tourism has awarded its Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards program the Spirit of West Virginia Award. This award is presented to organizations that have made outstanding contributions to promoting and enhancing West Virginia tourism while preserving the state’s cultural, historical, or natural heritage.
Established in 2021, the Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards program was created in partnership with the Monongahela National Forest in response to a surge in visitation and the resulting impact on the wild natural areas found in Dolly Sods Wilderness. Since then, over 100 dedicated volunteers have worked to ensure that visitors can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Dolly Sods while maintaining its wilderness character. The program includes visitor education, Leave No Trace principles, trail maintenance, and solitude monitoring to safeguard this unique ecosystem for future generations.
“This award is testimony to the enormous contribution made to Dolly Sods by our volunteer Stewards over the past three years,” said Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards Coordinator Dave Johnston. “And it reflects recognition that the long-term success of a state economy increasingly based on tourism must support the sustainability of the natural resources that attract visitors. We look forward to continuing our efforts to maintain and enhance West Virginia wilderness.”
A key component of the program is the Trailhead Stewards initiative, where volunteers are stationed at popular trailheads during peak seasons to greet and assist visitors. Trailhead Stewards provide valuable information about wilderness ethics, trail conditions, and safety tips, ensuring that every visitor to Dolly Sods has the knowledge they need to explore the wilderness responsibly. The Stewards have also been involved in essential conservation tasks, including trail maintenance, campsite inventories, and solitude monitoring to track visitor interactions and maintain the wilderness experience. A new initiative, funded with the support of the Appalachian Stewardship Foundation, will send Backcountry Stewards in to work with visitors on the trails and camping areas within the wilderness.
The Spirit of West Virginia Award recognizes organizations that not only promote tourism but also enhance community pride and the local environment through imaginative and innovative development. The Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards program embodies these ideals, demonstrating a powerful model of conservation through collaboration between volunteers, government agencies, and local communities.
As the Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards Program continues to grow, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy is actively seeking new volunteers who are passionate about wilderness preservation and outdoor recreation. Whether you are interested in educating visitors, maintaining trails, or helping monitor the wilderness, your contribution can make a lasting difference. For more information on how to get involved, please visit our website wvhighlands.org
