The Bloomdaddy Experience with Otis & Sam June 16, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Ze number one talk show in the Ohio Valley. This
is the bloom Daddy Experience. Your host, bloom Daddy, his
goal inform, entertain, and tick people off. The bloom Daddy
Experience on news radio eleven SEVENTYWVA starts now.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good morning. It is seven oh six on this Monday.
As we start this week after quite an emotional and tragic,
devastating weekend. Don't want to be you know, somber all morning,
but we are seeing unprecedented damage that we haven't seen

(00:45):
in decades. There are a lot of folks in our
community that are struggling are you know, they've lost everything.
So we are going to throughout the show update on
what the current situation is, along with the current needs
of folks for those who want to step up and

(01:08):
help friends and neighbors, along with what is currently available
for folks where they can go and receive things like
tetana shots, emergency shelter, all of that kind of information.
So we're going to be giving you that information all
throughout the show. Otison just wanted to let.

Speaker 3 (01:27):
You know that I received several texts yesterday and messages
via Facebook for those of you who may not be
aware We were actually on the air yesterday from two
to four with some breaking news. We had Lou Vargo on.
We had Erica Storch from AEP. We had Carrie Vance
from Vance Printing. We had.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
People that were effected.

Speaker 3 (01:50):
Leslie from Ruttenbuck's, Christine from Quaker Steak. You know, I
believe Ashley Abby, I'm sorry, Abby from Great Echoes, all
people that are all restaurants that have stepped up to
help feed first responders and those that need it. You know,
we had Lou Fargo on explaining what was going on.

(02:11):
We had Erica Storage with AEP telling us about the
power outages and what they were doing and what to
stay away from, and you know, the big thing.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Is expectations for restoration.

Speaker 4 (02:21):
All of it.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
Oh and we had Josh from Panhandle on as well,
and both Erica and Josh said, you know, if you
go into a house and there's water on the floor,
just make sure that the power is off, because that's
where accidental electrocutions take place, when you re enter a

(02:44):
house that maybe lost power and power has been restored
and then the next thing you know, you're walking into
an electrified pool. Yeah, that's not good. So just if
you if your house has lost power in your house
has water in it, before you enter, make sure the
power is off.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
And you mentioned you received text last night, So did
our Facebook page. We received instant messages and you know,
all kinds of different things. One thing I wanted to
pass along that we received is that the Shriners on
Krueger Street and Wheeling will be providing meals from four
to eight today for anybody in need of a hot meal.

(03:24):
That will be done at the Shriners on Kruger Street
in Wheeling. And then also the let me goodness, there's
so much going on.

Speaker 3 (03:34):
Just also known as the Asirish Shrine. Oh just I
mean just for people that you know, are familiar with
the area and you're thinking Shiners creating. You're not putting
Shriners in Kruger Street together. It's the Osirish Shrine, Okay.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
And then also Chef Adam from Chef and Company sent
us this. Starting today at five o'clock he will have
the American Legion Post one open to serve hot meals
to anyone in need, including first Response under his families
and community community members that of course have been affected
by this. One thing. He also wanted us to pass

(04:06):
along that he They are also accepting raw product donations.
Meats produce pantry atoms that can be broken down, and
then what they will do is take that and create
prepared meals for neighbors that can then physically take them
back to wherever they're working and all of that. So

(04:27):
if you do have products, because in times like this
we talk for you know, shelf stable and that kind
of thing, but they are going to take any raw
product that needs cooked and then Chef Adam will cook it,
prepare it and send it out to folks ground beef.

Speaker 3 (04:42):
Right, pork, you know, chicken, turkey, whatever you have. You
know that's they can make. You know, Chef Adam can
work wonders, but yeah, you know, I mean, but he
can make a basic meal like basically like a beef
strogan off or or maybe some sort of a soup
with the you know, that's that's going to be hardy

(05:02):
enough for us.

Speaker 4 (05:03):
Do that.

Speaker 3 (05:06):
You can throw in a cup and a bowl and
take it back to where you need to be to
get back and get your residents or your business back
in shape again.

Speaker 2 (05:16):
That's starting today at five o'clock at American Legion Post
one in Wheeling.

Speaker 3 (05:20):
And if you're not sure where the American.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Legion I was looking up is.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
It is the old El Tor It's the I'm sorry,
it's the old Italian American Club on Patterson Avenue out
by the Patterson ball Fields.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
Oh okay, all right, So that is also going on.
And then later on the show, we're going to be
talking to Stacy Stephen, the executive director for the United Way.
She has been working closely all day yesterday and is
already up this morning working with the Salvation Army, the
Red Cross and has plenty of information that she is

(05:53):
going to provide us and then of course talk to
you guys. So there is plenty, plenty of hamp plenty
of things happening. One thing to pass along TETNA shots.
We mentioned this yesterday in our special coverage. There are
two locations currently that you can receive TETNO shots Wheeling,
Ohio County Health Department, which is fifteen hundred Chaplain Street,

(06:16):
or also the RESPECTS Parking Lot in elm Grove. The
RESPECTS Parking Lot in Elm Grove is currently Command central.
Everything is happening there. They are taking donations and then
they are also doing tetnis shots. They will start being
distributed this morning at eight thirty. No registration is required,
but a proof of a West Virginia ID is needed.

(06:37):
If you do have questions, you can reach out to
the Health Department which is three zero four two three
four thirty six eighty two. Again that is two three
four thirty six eighty two and those will start today
at eight thirty at the Respecs parking lot. Also, Wheeling
Health Right is doing tetnan shots because with flooding like this,
and we had Josh Condregara, you meant on from Panhandle

(07:02):
yesterday talking about you know, as you're walking through the
after effects of flooding, there is so much.

Speaker 3 (07:10):
You think it's I think it's just like he said,
you think it's just creek water. And what's happened is,
you know, the oil drums have been swept away, the
you know, the the septic tanks have overflowed, or you know,
the water is filled and it's that's entered that water area.
You know, just animal feces, animal you know, animal waste

(07:32):
is being swept as well, and so you know, rusty,
rusty metals, anything like that is anything that's added to
the water is going to contaminate it. So that's why
it's good if you haven't had I think it's tetanos
shot is good for ten years. So if you haven't
had one, probably it's probably best if you get one.

Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, it's it's all about cautionary. It's all about health
and safety and being cautions.

Speaker 3 (07:56):
And I will say this, the tetans shot is one
of the worst to get because you feel it for
like three days after you get it.

Speaker 2 (08:03):
Oh, it's one of those Yeah.

Speaker 3 (08:05):
Like it feels like a horse kid like if they
put it like in your in your shoulder upper byStep area, and.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
Like sounds like a deep bruisey.

Speaker 3 (08:14):
So like if you if you get her on Monday, Tuesday,
and Wednesday, it feels like you got kicked by a horse.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, but that does not keep you from going to
do it exactly. No, no, no, no.

Speaker 3 (08:24):
The needle, the needles the easy part.

Speaker 2 (08:27):
It's after. Yeah, and as you as you venture out today,
First of all, if you have no reason to be
in the vicinity of this destruction and where the cleanup
is going on, do not go over there unless you
are in You know, you have loved ones and you're
going to help you're going to donate, stay out of

(08:47):
the vicinity where things have happened, but also keep in
mind an update on the current road closures and restrictions.
Wanted to pass along US forty National Road is closed
West Virginia eighty we Ate, Bethany Pike, Warden Run Road,
Shilling Bridge, Junior Avenue Bridge, Lumber Avenue, Lumbar Avenue, gc

(09:08):
and P Road, Middle Creek Road, Dixon Run Road, and more,
and we'll bring you more of those. But one thing,
if you have information, if you are out there and
you see updates on road closures or restrictions, please pass
them along. If you are setting up a donation drop off,
whether it's at your business, at your church, please let

(09:30):
us know that we can get this information out to
folks who want to donate. I actually had three people
personally text me last night asking about how they can help.
So again, please do what you can get us information
so that we can get out. And one thing, wanted
to let everybody know we have a new text line number.

(09:50):
That's one of the best ways to get a hold
of us. But we have a new number. That number
is Yes, I did you didn't quite have it lockdown yet.
But the new number is this seven zero four seven
zero seven zero four seven zero. And you started off

(10:10):
with bloom Daddy just like before, but again the number
is seven zero four seven zero. You're listening to the
bloom Daddy experience. Sam and Otis News Radio eleven seventy
WWVA seven twenty one. Welcome back on this Monday morning.

(10:36):
Of course, the top story of the day the devastating
flooding here in Ohio County. We are talking about that
throughout the show. Wanted to give you the most recent
update received last night from the Governor's office. Of course,
Governor Morrissey has declared a state of emergency in Ohio
County and has mobilized state resources to assist because roughly

(11:02):
three to four inches of rain fell in the area
and a very short time period. This effected the flash
flooding that happened around US forty and it impacted Middle
Wheeling Creek, Little Wheeling Creek and other bodies of water
that in that short amount of time could not, of
course withstand that heavy of a downpour.

Speaker 3 (11:24):
Well, I saw some videos from Peters Run on Peters
Run Road, Dixon's Run where Dixon's Run Road is, you know,
like you said, Little Wheeling Creek, Middle Creek and some
of those little tributaries that feed into those is what
did it in. I mean, people were standing out on

(11:44):
National Road in certain spots in the up in the
Tradephia area between Traidelphia and Valley Grove, and it literally
looked like a river going down the road. I mean,
you couldn't even see where the road was. And I
saw a video from Peter's run toward the bottom and

(12:06):
again it looked like, you know, it didn't look like
a river because Peter's run isn't that wide, right, Okay,
but it had it was where the run or the
creek is and it was all the way across the road.
So you figure about the width of Big Wheeling Creek

(12:26):
is what was headed down Peter's run. So you know,
just cars being swept away, if you if you, I mean,
I remember we had bloom Daddy on yesterday as well,
and we were talking about two thousand and four when
the hurricane stalled over the area and the the car

(12:49):
There was a car dealership there out by respects in
the El Grove shopping plaza there and there still is.
But those cars got swept into little Wheeling Creek either
just then they got swept either just passed or under
the Shilling Bridge, and they ended up between the Monument

(13:13):
Place Bridge, which is the bridge from like the McDonald's
where it goes up over the arch and takes you
right into the elm Grove area. There were cars between
that bridge and the Junior Avenue Bridge, which isn't very far.
It's a couple hundred feet but just eight ten, twelve

(13:34):
cars saw pictures yesterday are basically the same thing.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
And if we have really good photos on our Facebook page,
yesterday received a drone picture from a listener. If you
want to go and check that out. It gives you
a pretty good aerial visual of the destruction that has happened. Yeah,

(13:58):
it's shock. You know, we the power of Mother nature
and the power of water. In circumstances like this, it
just reminds you of how little we are when it
comes to things. You know, It's just it's it's amazing

(14:19):
the destruction that can happen by by water and that
short amount of time.

Speaker 3 (14:23):
Well, there's a reason they tell you not to drive
through high water. Yeah, yep, yeah, And you know, I'm
you know, I'm unfortunately you know, we did have some
loss of life in this in this event, and you know,
tragically a young mother and her three year old, you know,
or or the two that are standing out. But you know,

(14:43):
all loss of life is you know, is horrible.

Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, the total is now up to five. Five folks
have lost their life.

Speaker 3 (14:51):
And you know, not saying that these people were trapped
in a car or you know that it came up
on them or they tried to drive through anything. They
could have been just you know, walking into the house
and and this came and and you know, you just
really hate to see, you know the fact that you
got caught in something like that, and you know it's

(15:13):
obviously devastating for the families. I mean, you know if
I mean, I know it sounds I don't I don't
mean to sound trivial, but you know, a house can
be replaced, a car can be replaced, you know, tools, furniture, clothes,
that all can be replaced. You know, your your life cannot.

(15:34):
So you know, again, sympathies out to those that have
lost loved ones in this and you know, just live
and learn.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
And and as you said, the loss of life. We
are up to a total five individuals have been lost,
including as you mentioned, otis a unfortunately a three year
old child. There is also three others that are still
on account and for still missing.

Speaker 4 (16:00):
Now.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
The governor has utilized and mobilized the National Guard to
support local emergency operations along with the Division of National Resources.
They're currently using drones UTVs, four by fours, dive teams,
and swift water teams to look for the missing individuals.
There were the DNR assisted in nineteen successful swift water rescues,

(16:26):
so good, some good news out of this there, but
again five losses unfortunately due to this devastating you know,
just real quick.

Speaker 3 (16:38):
When I left here yesterday and I was headed home
at the convenient in Bethlehem, there were multiple side by
sides ATVs there too, you know, I guess they were
filling up gas to go help. And the other thing
that I saw right below Village Ballfield across from our house,

(17:01):
a whole line of DNR Department in Natural Resources vehicles
ready to be called out to do what they needed
to do. So everybody was out and about, volunteers, state employees, everybody.
So it was good to see that.

Speaker 2 (17:15):
Yes seven eight, you're listening to the bloom Ditty Experience
here on news radio eleven seventy WWVA. We are back
at a seven thirty six on this Monday morning. Now

(17:36):
we're going to play you our interview from yesterday's special
broadcast with Lou Vargo from the EMA. One thing wants
you to keep in mind again, this was from yesterday's
special broadcast, so some of the information may be a
bit outdated based on what we just brought you earlier
with the updated information, but here is the interview from

(17:57):
yesterday and details of what is going on. Welcome back
to my special Sunday edition of the Blue Daddy Experience
with Sam and otis here on news radio eleven seventy WWVA.
Why are we doing this special edition because last night
was devastating for a lot of residents in Ohio County

(18:20):
joining us now Ohio County EMA Director Lou Vargo, Good morning.
I was gonna say, good morning, hello, mister Vargo.

Speaker 5 (18:28):
Hi, how are you doing thing?

Speaker 2 (18:31):
We're okay, We're okay, but we're here too, you know,
let everybody know what is happening. So first of all,
can you give us a current update of things what
you're seeing?

Speaker 6 (18:42):
Well, basically, go back to last night we have between
two and a half four inches of rain come in
between a half hour forty five minutes, have massive fresh
funning and parts of Windsdale and Wheeling, Elm Grove and
mainly in the Tridelfia Valley Grove. Water came up within

(19:05):
our great Our Creek gauge Don't Grove one from two
feet to ten feet within ten minutes, that's how fast
the water rose. So we were immediately getting the rescue
culture people just being trapped in there. We died all
volunteer fire departments and the Wheeld Fire Department throughout the

(19:27):
city in the county to the point of fire department
punch a second alarm for all the rescue calls. Unfortunately,
three people passed away in that event because they got
caught in the rigi and water. We do have some
missing persons that today our infants on searching.

Speaker 5 (19:48):
For those people.

Speaker 6 (19:50):
We have major destruction of roads, bridges and things throughout
there all of our public works and the Department of
Highways is working on recovery from that. We have a
natural gas leaks water breaks throughout the city in the
county which we're working on. Some people are asking because

(20:12):
they don't have power wise takeing us so long. One
of the reasons is that we lost the substation. And
our thing is the power company and the gas company working,
because we have to make sure that before they turn
electricity on that all the gas has been ventilated out
of these homes because the spark could actually cause an explosion.

(20:35):
Lean Yestertory, the city.

Speaker 5 (20:37):
Wheeling in High County.

Speaker 6 (20:39):
Declared to state emergency and a couple hours the government
Morrisey also declared state of emergency for Wheeling in Ohio County,
which gives us the the ability for him to bring
the National Guard if we do need that. We do
have a mass care shelter set up elm Grovelementary where

(21:01):
we found about ten people that we've housed and in
that center.

Speaker 2 (21:07):
And for our listeners and those that want to help,
you know, what do you need from us the community?
How can we pitch in or is it better, you know,
just just stay away and let the professionals do what
they need to do well.

Speaker 6 (21:22):
The best thing we're telling people if you want to
volunteer during the we've established a line three or four
two three four seven one oh nine. But the biggest
thing that could really help us is you know, every
time I have to disaster, people want to.

Speaker 5 (21:39):
Come and look and take pictures and things.

Speaker 6 (21:41):
These roads are very very damaged. There's places where they
wished away. We have first responders out there searching for people.
We have Public Works and Department of Highways trying to
restore the roads and getting us Joey's back on. We'll
just ask some people to please stay away from it's
an active disaster zone. And Morrison could do is hinder

(22:05):
our response by going out there because we have traffic
control points and place.

Speaker 5 (22:10):
Of things and other than that.

Speaker 6 (22:15):
Just as are your thoughts and players wonderful, mister barco
uh Is there are there roads that you said some
have been washed away?

Speaker 3 (22:23):
Are there roads that you know are going to probably
maybe reopen within the next twenty four to four eight hours,
and then also are there roads that are going to
be closed indefinitely.

Speaker 6 (22:32):
There's a roads that Highways is working very dijently. They
have crews coming in from multiple counties and also different
districts throughout the state. We're trying to get at least
one lane and all these roads open back. But there
are some bridges and that is going to be a
prolonged closure until we've had cars and actually Conics blocks

(22:58):
is floating down the river that hit these brid just
so Highways is going to have to do an inspection.

Speaker 5 (23:02):
So some of those.

Speaker 6 (23:04):
Bridges going to be the worst thing.

Speaker 5 (23:06):
It's gonna take a little bit longer.

Speaker 6 (23:07):
But Highways is working very closely in our city street departments.
They're getting gold with the streets open, so at least
in one direction, so we could get see traveling going on.
All right.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
Well, mister Vargo, thank you so much for John. You're
a very busy man today, so of course our thoughts
and prayers are with you. The first responders and everybody involved.
Thank you so much for your time today.

Speaker 6 (23:29):
We appreciate that you're welcome anytime.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
Oh listen, Having that conversation yesterday not easy, not easy,
But we again thank you to mister Vargo for his
time yesterday jumping on with us, because you know, when
you're in that circumstance, you've got people coming at you
from every direction, So for him to take the time

(23:53):
and talk to us, we do greatly appreciate that. A
couple other numbers to pass along, I believe he mentioned these,
but volunteers and donations, if you have questions, if you
would like to volunteer, if you were like to donate,
here is a phone number that you can reach out to.
It opens back up today at ten am. That number
is three oh four two three four seventy nineteen. Again

(24:17):
three oh four two three four seventy nineteen. Then also,
if you have questions about the flood or you are
missing somebody, the number to call is three zero four
two three four thirty seven fifty six. Again three zero
four two three four thirty seven fifty six. And I

(24:37):
will put those numbers once again up on our Facebook page.
What we are seeing is tough, it's awful. There's no
reason in trying to shugarr head at what we're seeing
is it's hard. It's affected so many folks. What is

(24:59):
a ma to come out of this and not to
you know, I don't want to get emotional, but is
how quickly, how incredibly quickly, without hesitation. The people of
the Ohio Valley immediately want to know how to help,

(25:24):
plain and simple, How to help? What can we do?
What can we give? How much manpower? Do you need
a four wheeler? Do you need a phone charger? Do
you need cleaning supplies? People were asking those questions immediately yesterday,
as soon as I woke up, I have questions of

(25:45):
people texting me, what's going on? What can we do?
Where do they need us? Where's the worst devastation? Where
can I take stuff? That's how quickly people want to
be involved. And for a lot of folks, they remember
thirty five years ago in Shady Side, the flood of tears.

(26:07):
I was in high school at the time. I believe,
maybe Junior high one of the most devastating acts of
nature to ever hit the Ohio Valley. And got an
email late last night from listener Ron and he described

(26:27):
his memory of what happened at Luigi Creek. So as
we the timing is scary, creepy, the fact that it
was thirty five years to the day. You know, we
can't forget the lives that were lost many years ago

(26:48):
in Shady Side. As we discuss and think about the
lives that were lost in twenty twenty five, it's quite
a it's quite a time in our history here in
the High Valley. Quite a time. But once again, the
phone numbers that I mentioned, I will put up on
our Facebook page and if you have information you need

(27:10):
us to get out. You can text us. Our new
text number is seventy four seventy seven zero four seven zero.
That is our new text line. You started off with
bloom Daddy again seven zero four seven zero. Thank you
for tuning in on this Monday morning. It is seven
forty six The bloom Daddy Experience, salmon Otis News Radio

(27:32):
eleven seventy WWVA seven fifty one on this Monday Welcome
back the bloom Daddy Experience, salmon Otis News Radio eleven
seventy WWVA. As we said throughout the show, we're gonna
let you know about drop off points, emergency phone numbers,

(27:55):
updates on what is happening in Ohio County, but also
to bring you a couple other local stories that went
on over the weekend. Listen. Of course, the top story
is the devastating flood, but we've got to cover some
other things. So charges have been filed against Marshall County
Assessor Eric Buzzard. According to WTRF, Buzzard allegedly defrauded the

(28:21):
Marshall County Commission out of tens of thousands of dollars
when he purchased county vehicles from a local dealership. It
happened over a two year period, and it turns out
Buzzard told the dealership to bump up the resale prices
after the dealership purchased the vehicles from other dealerships. Both

(28:44):
Buzzard and the dealership benefited from the scheme financially. He
faces seven felony accounts of fraudulent schemes in this case.

Speaker 3 (28:54):
You would also think that somebody at the car dealership.

Speaker 2 (28:57):
Would be Yeah, the inside man, somebody who was doing
was working with them. Yeah, that was doing the deals.

Speaker 3 (29:04):
And if that's the case, I'm going to guess that
that person's probably no longer employed at this point.

Speaker 2 (29:09):
Yes, And I have not seen the name of the
dealership released anywhere. That has not that I have not
seen anywhere.

Speaker 3 (29:15):
Oh you do is probably go down and look at
the county tags on some of those cars and Marshall countyons.

Speaker 2 (29:19):
Oh yeah, it says on the back, Yeah, the license
plate frames.

Speaker 3 (29:23):
Or just a little sometimes there's a sticker, there's a
there's a medallion sort of thing.

Speaker 2 (29:29):
It's amazing what people will do.

Speaker 3 (29:31):
See how fast those come off? Now, Yeah, to.

Speaker 2 (29:34):
Get a quick buck. Also, AEP is proposing to raise
electric bills in Ohio and Marshall Counties by thirteen point
five percent. This would be an average of twenty three
dollars and seventy four cents to homeowners and the monthly billing.
This is according to West Virginians for Energy Freedom. The

(29:55):
last increase occurred in twenty eighteen, So what they're saying
is they've acum related debt over the last several years.
The Public Service Commission will be holding a hearing on
the proposed rate increase happening on Tuesday, so possible rate
increases for those in Ohio and Marshall County, and of

(30:18):
course everything that has been happening over the weekend here
in Ohio County also it has been you know, sometimes
well behind the scenes here sometimes Monday mornings can be
a bit of a struggle. It's kind of a slow weekend,
there's nothing to go on. That was not the case. That
was not the case this weekend because nationally, we had

(30:43):
many many things happening nationally. Of course, there was the
no Kings Day protest, which there were local protests that
were that happened here in Ohio County, also in the
Stupainville area, but one of the biggest stories over the weekend.
The suspect in the killing of the Minnesota lawmaker and

(31:04):
her husband was caught. The event happen over the weekend.
He has been caught and is set to appear in
court this afternoon. The gentleman's name is Vance Bolter, is
now facing multiple charges after the two day manhunt, including
two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

(31:25):
He's accused of killing Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband,
and shooting Senator John Hoffman and his wife. The Justice
Apartment is looking into possible federal charges after investigators say
they potentially found a hit list with names of some
federal lawmakers. And I don't know if you saw this

(31:45):
otis there is video circulating on social media of I'm
sorry the Representative Melissa Hortman after she voted on a
very controversial vote in Minnesota, and you could almost feel

(32:06):
that the the she was scared, like she had this
this tone of of worry because she went against the grain.

Speaker 6 (32:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (32:16):
I didn't see it, but I know that I had
read some things where you know, she she wasn't necessarily
she voted the way she did, but she wasn't necessarily
happy with how she voted.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
M Yeah, well, she she was the lone Democrat to
support the June twelfth bill, and what this bill did
was it cut healthcare for adult illegal immigrants. So she
kind of went against the grain for her party. So
this is being, of course called a politically motivated crime.
But this will of course be investigated and.

Speaker 7 (32:54):
He will.

Speaker 2 (32:56):
Be held accountable hopefully. That's that's all that we can
wish for. And then also a weekend rally and Salt
Lake City turned deadly. One person is dead after a
shooting during saturdays No King's protest near a federal building.
About ten thousand people were there. Police have a suspect
in custody, but they're still figuring out what the motive

(33:19):
would be. And then of course Israel has been under
heavy fire as tensions with Iran keep rising. Since Friday,
Iran launched around three hundred and fifty ballistic missiles at Israel.
Most have been intercepted, but some have made it through,
killing at least two dozen people. The attacks are hitting

(33:39):
Tel Aviv and Haifa, and Israel is urging people to
take shelter when sirens goes off. What a weekend, What
a terrible, terrible weekend. Did you see any of the
protesting they went on here for that? No King's Day?

Speaker 3 (33:56):
No, I refuse to go. Yeah, I'm not gonna. I
don't want to be where idiots are.

Speaker 2 (34:03):
I guess we know what.

Speaker 3 (34:04):
I'm surrounded by him daily.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
You're not referring to me.

Speaker 3 (34:09):
You can take that however you want.

Speaker 2 (34:10):
Hey, listen, you got an extra dose to me yesterday.

Speaker 3 (34:12):
I know, I know I've already had my fill in
a nice way.

Speaker 2 (34:18):
Yes, we're not trying to make light of anything.

Speaker 3 (34:21):
Well, I mean you guys still have to laugh. Yeah,
I mean we learned that after nine to eleven.

Speaker 2 (34:25):
Yeah, okay, we just got a text on our new
text line seven zero four seven zero Schultz Ford at
the Highlands. I'm sorry. They are a donation drop off,
so they are also involved in efforts happening. It is
seven fifty eight. We're gonna go to a quick break.
The bloom Daddy Experienced salmon Otis News Radio eleven seventy

(34:48):
w w.

Speaker 1 (34:48):
Va Z number one talk show in the Ohio Valley.
This is no bloom Daddy experience. Your host bloom Daddy
his goal inform, entertain and tick people off the bloom
Daddy Experience on news Radio eleven seventy WWVA starts now.

Speaker 2 (35:16):
At six. Welcome back on this Monday, The Bloomdaddy Experience
samon Otis News Radio eleven seventy WWVA. Continuing our coverage
from yesterday are impromptu special coverage of the devastating floods
in Ohio County. Joining us now Stacy Stevens, Executive director
for the Upper Ohio Valley United Way. Good morning, Stacy,

(35:40):
thank you for your time this morning.

Speaker 4 (35:42):
Good morning, thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (35:44):
So you have been diligently doing everything with the United
Way that can be done starting yesterday. So can you
give everybody an update of what the United Way is
doing and what is available for you guys for victims.

Speaker 8 (36:00):
Sure.

Speaker 4 (36:01):
First of all, you know, we just want to sacute
us to the first responders and everyone that's been out there, you.

Speaker 7 (36:05):
Know, searching and cleaning up so far.

Speaker 4 (36:09):
We got together with about sixty agencies yesterday on a
zoom call just to see who can do what, and
we didn't want to duplicate services that it didn't need
to be, so we kind of.

Speaker 7 (36:21):
Divided and conquered on that.

Speaker 4 (36:24):
You know, I've been in contact with Sharon tussel Ring
at the Red Cross.

Speaker 7 (36:27):
They are desperately in need of.

Speaker 4 (36:30):
You know, volunteers. Still, Mutual Way has been down and
no grove cleaning up. So we are at the United
Way are taking monetary donations on our website United Away
uov dot org. And we have also been working with
the Salvation Army and Wheeling to open a shelter for
anyone in need.

Speaker 7 (36:50):
They do have showers, they have.

Speaker 4 (36:52):
Washers and dryers.

Speaker 7 (36:54):
You know, we'll be able to feed them.

Speaker 4 (36:56):
The Neighborhood Center has offered to bring over some meals.
The Soup Kitchen is working diligently to get meals to
all of the you know, first responders and people in need.
They need some help making sandwiches. So there's lots of
ways you can help. It's just you know, finding out
what suits you best.

Speaker 2 (37:15):
You mentioned monetary donations. Want to backtrack a little bit.
One thing I saw popping up on social media is
a lot of go fund me accounts that, of course,
you know, sometimes can be questionable. So for you know,
for those who want to do a monetary donation and
they're hesitant with things like like the gofund me and

(37:35):
I'm not saying the ones that are out there are
not legit, but you know there are there's some hesitation,
so one of the safest ways is through the United
Way correct.

Speaker 4 (37:45):
Correct and all one hundred percent of that. You know,
we've set up a flood fund on our page and
one hundred percent of that will go to helping flood victims.
We also have our two on one line open that
if anyone's in need of a system, you know, finding
a place to stay, finding food, finding anything they may need.

Speaker 7 (38:04):
We'll be able to assist them with that. So that'll
be open all day today.

Speaker 4 (38:09):
You know, we didn't have anyone in the shelter last night,
but it'll be reopening today at eight thirty and then
you know, we will make sure that all of those
donations get to where they need to be. You know,
we're in constant contact.

Speaker 8 (38:21):
With LOAD and Red Cross, you know, and the EMA,
so just to make sure that we're doing what's needed
where it's needed, and you know, well everyone's set to.

Speaker 7 (38:33):
Do the same.

Speaker 2 (38:34):
And speaking of things that are needed, now that some
time has passed, what are some of the items that
are most in demand that you know, we need to
let people know if they can donate they can't.

Speaker 7 (38:47):
Yeah, so they still need first aid kits, shovels, gloves,
cleaning supplies, non perishable food, muck boots, floorox, white water
charging stations, fly paper plates, utensils, candles, trash bag, toilet paper.

Speaker 4 (39:05):
Mops rooms. You know, we were at the shelter yesterday
people wanted to bring in clothes. We're not really in
need of clothing right now, so if you can buy
some of the other things and take those down to
the drop off points, you know, that would be super helpful.
We're not in that space yet where we're needing to

(39:26):
hand out clothing and distribute that.

Speaker 2 (39:28):
And one thing you mentioned was the Salvation Armory Army
and some of the facilities they can hold up to
thirty people, but they also have on site washers and
dryers and shower facilities.

Speaker 4 (39:40):
Yes, so they're located at one forty sixteenth Street. They
were there till eleven last night, opening back up at
eight thirty today. So if you just want to come in,
get a shower, you know, get a hot meal, maybe
threw your clothes in the washer and dryer. I know
it's probably hard to relax and lay down, but they

(40:00):
have brand new beds, and we also have rooms there
for families. So if you have a family and you.

Speaker 7 (40:06):
You know, don't want to go stay at a shelter with.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
Other people, we have rooms available for families so you
can be together in your own room. So you know,
it's it's not ideal, but it's a place to stay
and a place to keep warm for now and get
a shower and yeah, and do what you need to do.

Speaker 2 (40:25):
It's a place to stop, decompress and take a take
a breather from everything that's been going on. In the
fact that you're able to, you know, thanks to the
Salvation Army and their their facilities, do it together in
one room as a family is you know, very necessary
at this point in time. Anything else you would like
to pass along that maybe we didn't hit on, so

(40:45):
that you know, we get all the information out there we.

Speaker 7 (40:49):
Did at the shelter.

Speaker 4 (40:51):
We have sheets, We have blankets, they could still use
some pillows and pillowcases, and how for the showers. They
have laundry resurgent, they have all of the other stuff
they need. That was a couple of the things that
we were still needing at the shelter. We've had a
lot of calls at the United Way of people you
know who may be in hotels and weren't sure where
they're going next. So we're hoping to be there for

(41:13):
them and help them figure that out. We're hoping that
maybe some of the money that we raised can help
the families, you know, find someplace following the short term
in situation.

Speaker 2 (41:27):
Yeah, in contact numbers, you mentioned any others to be
able to put out there.

Speaker 7 (41:34):
Two one one, you know, but West Virginia Boat has
a survey.

Speaker 4 (41:38):
One two three that if you want to get on
there if you were affected by the flood, you can
fill that out. Also, if you were affected by the flood,
you can call one eight hundred Red Cross. They will
be there to help you. If you want to volunteer
for the Red Cross, you can go to Volunteer Connection
dot red Cross dot org. They're still looking for volunteers
and they will train you and let you know what
you need to do. Other than that, I mean, we're

(42:03):
just going to be out there today trying to figure
out what we can help with and we'll keep everything
updated on our website. The other part was Holy Family
is going to help with childcare and their number is
three zero four two four two five two two two.
So you know, if you are up part of the
flood and you need to do some things, you can

(42:23):
get a hold of pair out at Holy Family and
maybe get some childcare for a few hours while you
know you're trying to get things situated. You know, my
aunt was affected on the corner of Big Wheeling Creek,
so I know her her car floated down the respects
her her house is you know, pretty much destroyed by
the flood. So we're gonna try to head out there

(42:44):
and help as many people as we can. But like
I said, we'll keep all that information updated on our
website and you know, just try to help as many
people as we.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
Can well, and we will of course as we get
the information from you and you do updates, we'll share
it on our social media also to continue getting this
out there for you. Stacey.

Speaker 3 (43:04):
Thanks Stacy, don't don't forget uh just I mean, I
know it's a little change of pace and you know,
switching gears here, but we do have celebrity scoopers this week.

Speaker 4 (43:14):
We do we do Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so we're
also trying to get ready for that. Yeah, but you know,
we'll get it.

Speaker 7 (43:22):
We'll get it figured out well.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
And and events like that, you know, celebrity scoopers and
the different things that you do give the the financial
capabilities to do what you're doing this week for the
victims of the flood. So you know, sometimes we talk
about things like celebrity scoopers and like Otis and I,
we have a really good time with it. We have
we get a little competitive with one another, but in

(43:47):
the grand scheme of things, this is the point of
these different events. So yeah, so thank you for all
that you're doing. Yep, yep. We'll keep us posted and
as I said, as you develop information that needs put
out there, we will share it out there also. Stacey,
thank you so much this morning. Thank you, thank you.
Stay safe. Oh god, it's amazing what people will do.

(44:10):
But we will share all of that information out there
for you on our Facebook page. It's a fifteen on
this Monday. You're listening to the bloom Daddy Experience samon
Otis News Radio eleven seventy WWVA. We're back. It is

(44:33):
eight twenty one on this Monday, The bloom Daddy Experience
samon Otis News Radio eleven seventy WWVA Again. Thank you
to Stacy Stephen of the United Way, the executive director,
for taking the time to jump on with us this
morning to discuss everything that is available through the United Way,
the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army with what is

(44:53):
happening here of course in Ohio County, in the flood area,
in the victims, and with what they're all dealing with.
So there's plenty going on. Wanted to hit on, you know,
something national. So over the weekend, if you didn't hear,
or you weren't paying attention, or you were possibly confused

(45:18):
by things, there was a parade in the Capitol and
woke up Saturday morning to this headline on social media
from the Akron Beacon Journal. Their post, their posts headline,

(45:41):
it says, what time is the Trump parade? Why is
he having a military parade? Was there a parade? Yes?
Was it Trump's parade?

Speaker 6 (45:55):
No?

Speaker 2 (45:56):
Dig a little deeper. The parade was in celebration of
the two hundred and fiftieth birthday for the United States Army.
It was not Trump's personal parade. It was not how

(46:18):
a lot of news outlets were trying to paint the
picture of this dictator show of force. Beat your chest
we have this strong army trying to in a way
compare it to communist China and their displays of military force.

(46:41):
That is not what this was. This was not a
display of how strong Trump is and Trump's army and
Trump's parade in all of this rhetoric and how they
tried to paint the picture of what this parade was. No,
let's take a step back, folks, and let's really pay
attention to what this was. This parade was in celebration

(47:07):
of the two hundred and fiftieth birthday of the United
States Army. The direction that outlets like the Akron Beacon
Journal with that headline again, the headline was what time
is the Trump parade? Why is he having a military parade?

(47:29):
And other media outlets painting this narrative of this dictatorship
type rule is getting really really old, really really old.
And you would think after the fact that all of

(47:54):
these different narratives that they have presented to the American
people have fallen on fears that people have woke up
and realized that a lot of the way words are
used are used to manipulate what is actually happening now

(48:19):
when it comes to the US Army, not only was
it a celebration of that branch of our military, it's
a celebration of our soldiers, past, current, and future. We

(48:42):
cannot forget that these service members and their families are
called out of patriotic duty or love for this country,
be of service to this country. That's what part of

(49:07):
that celebration was. On Saturday, I tuned in for a
small amount of time and got to see the reenactors
that rode horseback, and I think there was a gentleman
who led who was to be General George Washington. Yes,

(49:27):
they're reenactors, but you know, you stop, you take you
take a you take a minute, and you think about
those people who we will never know all of their names,
will never know all of their names. But those men,
at that point in time and their families gave up

(49:48):
the ultimate sacrifice to give us the nation that we
live intoday. They fought for the rights that we have,
like freedom of speech for people to quote unquote peacefully
protest like they have been doing since last weekend. So

(50:10):
I call shame on these media outlets and other organizations
who took the opportunity away from the families of service
personnel with us today and the soldiers today who are

(50:32):
part of our military and the branch of our army
and created a dark cloud over what Saturday was supposed
to be. Shame on them, because, as I said, if
it wasn't from those in the past who gave up

(50:55):
the ultimate sacrifice, they wouldn't have the ability, because of
free speech, to say what they want to say and
take away the celebration that was supposed to be on Saturday.
How dare they? How dare they? At some point in

(51:18):
time we have lost we have lost vision on what
it is to be an American and support this country.
We have lost our way, ladies and gentlemen, to where
we support our troops, we support our families, we fly

(51:43):
our flags proudly, we do not burn them. We have
lost our way. Not everybody, not everybody. But to take
away that celebration it still went on. Listen, it was
a beautiful celebration. But to try and change what it

(52:05):
actually was, Shame on those folks. Shame on those folks.
Eight twenty eight. You're listening to the bloom Daddy Experience
salmon Otis News Radio eleven seventy WWVA Welcome Back. Eight

(52:26):
thirty six. The blim Daddy experienced Salmon Otis News Radio
eleven seventy WWV on this Monday morning. Of course, we've
been talking all morning about everything that is happening in
Ohio County with a devastating flood. We will be posting
and we have posted a lot of information out there,
contact numbers, locations for donation drop offs, donation pickups, folks

(52:48):
that are supplying food. We spoke to a lot of
people yesterday, local business owners that have stepped up. Greco's, Otis,
who are some of the.

Speaker 3 (52:58):
Pea Yeah, Rutten Bucks, Chef Adam out at Post one,
the know Cyris Shrine is stepping up to for hot
meals today. Post one is after after five pm. The
o Ciris Shrine is four to eight pm this afternoon.
I believe they're still going to be having some food

(53:19):
possibly out at Respecs in the parking lot area out there,
you know, but you know there are Greco's was offering.
I saw where Papa John's is making ten pizzas an
hour for donation.

Speaker 2 (53:32):
Yeah, they say come pick it up, yeah yeah.

Speaker 3 (53:35):
And so I mean, just you know there, I'm sure
there's plenty of businesses out there that are donating food.
Or they're cooking or they're telling you to come and eat.
So you know, with that being said, you know, if
you want us to mention your business, just give us
a shout one eight and sixty four eleven seventy or

(53:56):
hit our new text line at seven zero four seven zeros.
Started off with bloom Daddy, tell us your business, what
you're offering and we'll put it out there.

Speaker 2 (54:04):
Or if you know of donation locations, you don't have
to be a business either, you know, if you have
no donation locations, whether you know you're a church, a foundation,
a local business that's not involved with food, anything that
we need to get out to our listeners, that's what
we want to We're here to do so again, the
text number is seven zero four to seven zero. Started

(54:26):
off with bloom Daddy turning gears a little bit. Let's
get into some sports. Talk up up your alley, otis baseball.
The Pope's involved. We knew it was coming. Chicago White
SOWX fans got a special message on Saturday from one
of their own, the New Pope. Thousands packed Rate Field

(54:48):
Saturday to celebrate the historic election of the Chicago native
Pope Leo the fourteenth, he spoke to the crowd in
a live streamed message preaching peace and unity. That's got
to be a first the pope.

Speaker 3 (55:03):
Have you seen some of the popes comments very very
left His comments are very left in liberal. He's not
a Trump fan, no, no, but.

Speaker 2 (55:17):
It's got to be the It's got to be a
first to have a pope live streamed at a Major
League baseball game.

Speaker 3 (55:23):
I'm sure it is. This has got to be also
in baseball news. He's been on the shelf as a
pitcher for about a year and a half now, but
show hey, O Tawny will be your starting pitcher tonight
for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Speaker 2 (55:36):
I haven't heard that name in a while.

Speaker 3 (55:37):
Oh he's been well. He was last year's MVP hit.
He's the first player to hit fifty fifty stolen bases.

Speaker 2 (55:44):
No, I mean right now this season?

Speaker 3 (55:45):
Oh yeah, well he's he's tearing it up. I mean,
he's your MVP leader right now in the league. Oh yeah,
oh so, But he is making his pitching debut for
the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight. He had an injury that
kept him from pitching. He didn't pitch at all last season.
They shutting down in two thousand is twenty three. They're
shutting down early in twenty twenty three, and so we're

(56:08):
about halfway through the season and he's going to make
his debut for the Dodgers tonight as a pitcher. So
we'll see what happens there.

Speaker 2 (56:14):
Well, the Dodgers are in the headlines for another reason. Unfortunately,
politics has hit the major leagues. The Los Angeles Dodgers
invited Hispanic singer Neza to perform a Spanish rendition of
the United States national anthem, but she divied the team's
instructions by singing it in Spanish to make a political statement. Clearly,

(56:38):
the Dodgers did not want to stoke this political discourse.
Of course, if you've had to have been living under rock,
if you didn't know everything that's been going on in
LA with the riding and the I'll call it riding
peaceful protesting. But yeah, so she goes out there and

(56:58):
she sings it in Spanish, not what they requested. Goes
back to just let sports be sports.

Speaker 3 (57:05):
You know, you don't have to know who you're hiring.

Speaker 2 (57:08):
Yeah, well that too, Yeah, you're right, But I mean,
if if they hire her and they say, here's your instructions,
you expect the person. Yeah, well yeah, but you expect
somebody to be professional.

Speaker 3 (57:24):
Well, and they're in LA. Let's not forget that.

Speaker 2 (57:27):
Well, yeah, that's a good point. That's a good point.
Should she be allowed to sing the national anthem again?

Speaker 3 (57:34):
You know, Clayton Kershaw, the Dodger star pitcher for the
last fifteen twenty years, has come out publicly and said
he does not support the Pride Day or Pride Weekend
or whatever it is that the Dodgers recognize. And he
didn't want to wear a Pride patch on his uniform,
didn't want to participate in the Pride activities, and he

(57:55):
caught a lot of flag for him. And he has
that right.

Speaker 2 (57:59):
He has that right. And that's where the double standard
and the hypocrisy comes in. Is I I have the
right to agree to disagree with you. I have the
right to tolerate your stance on things. And that works
both ways. That works both ways.

Speaker 3 (58:19):
Yep. You don't have to call him names, you don't
have to call him a homophobia. It's just it's it's
not his beliefs. Yeah, and I respect him for standing
up for himself, right, And you know for those that
participated willingly, then so be it they did. I mean
they have that right too.

Speaker 2 (58:36):
And here's here's what it goes back to. That's the
beauty of what we have called free speech.

Speaker 6 (58:43):
Mm.

Speaker 2 (58:44):
That's the beauty of it. You can disagree on topics.
That doesn't mean you have to completely hate a person
just because they believe and think differently than you do,
or disagree with you on a subject. That doesn't mean

(59:09):
you hate somebody. That doesn't give you the right to
label them with some horrible term like racist or misogynist,
or homophote or transphobe or what other words that has
been come up with lately, just because you disagree. If
we have to tolerate, if folks have to tolerate LGBTQ

(59:30):
month and Pride month in the whole thing, then you
have to tolerate how somebody else believes too. It's that simple.
It's that simple. But staying along the baseball line of things, here,
do you know the name Betsy Yackham? By chance?

Speaker 3 (59:50):
I do not?

Speaker 2 (59:50):
You do not. One hundred and four years old, she's
the last member of the original group that inspired the
film A League of their Own.

Speaker 3 (01:00:01):
I did see this. I just didn't remember her name.

Speaker 2 (01:00:03):
Remember the name? One hundred and four years old. In
her obituary she was an out theader. It mentioned that
she was an outfeader, fielder, first base person, based woman,
and pitcher. She is a baseball icon from Southfield Village.
When she passed away. She is survived by her sister
and her good friends Phyllis Smallwood and Diane Graham. She

(01:00:26):
played for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League beginning
in nineteen forty three. She was signed by the South
Bend Blue Sox and remained on the team for five years.
Again the last remaining oh the All American Women's Baseball League.
I love that film. I absolutely love that film. It

(01:00:49):
doesn't say exactly if she inspired a particular character in
the film.

Speaker 3 (01:00:53):
You loved No No Madonna, No no No.

Speaker 2 (01:01:01):
I just like the film in general. The fact that
they had to wear skirts, though, was just ridiculous.

Speaker 3 (01:01:07):
But again, she that was a sign of the times.
I know that was because they wanted him to look feminine. Wow,
you can't say that today, can you?

Speaker 2 (01:01:15):
No, No, you can't say that again. She was one
hundred and four years old and her baseball her uniform
is a permanent display in the Smithsonian Museum, So if
you want to check that out, you can check that out. Also,
it's eight forty five on this Monday. Thank you for

(01:01:35):
tuning in. You're listening to the bloom Daddy Experience. Salmon
Otis News Radio eleven seventy WWVA. We are back. It
is eight fifty The Bloomdaddy Experience, samon Otis News Radio,
eleven seventy WWVA. It has been a big busy more

(01:02:00):
it's been a busy past twenty four hours. Everybody is affected.
Everybody's stepping up of course, talking about what is going
on here in Ohio County. One thing, when we're done
with the show, I'm going to post a lot of
the stuff that we have received from the United Way,
the Red Cross, businesses that are offering free food, all
of that. One thing I wanted to mention in otis

(01:02:21):
you shared these videos with me last night that I
posted on our Facebook page. Yes, we have been hit
hard in Ohio County, but our friends down south have
been hit really hard. Also, if you go to our
Facebook page, the videos are up there of Fairmont, Morgantown
and the things that you sent me. Who have you

(01:02:42):
spoke to down there.

Speaker 3 (01:02:44):
Well, obviously, my dad lives in Morgantown. They had lost
power for a while. I mean, he really hasn't gotten flooded,
or any of my step brothers, but they, you know,
tarential rains, they did lose power for a while. Patterson
Drive in Morgantown was flooded yesterday. There's an apartment building

(01:03:08):
in Fairmont that the water just rushed through and basically
blew the backside out of the apartment building.

Speaker 2 (01:03:13):
Yeah, that's the video that we have passed it. It's
just it's amazing.

Speaker 3 (01:03:18):
That that I mean, and not to not to stress
the loss or to to minimize the loss, but the
fact that the water was moving that fast and that
powerful that it blew the back of a building out

(01:03:38):
is is you hate to use the word impressive, but
you know, you don't you don't think water could do that,
and it does.

Speaker 2 (01:03:48):
Yeah, and that's what I'm watching the video now. It's
a story building.

Speaker 6 (01:03:54):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:03:54):
I didn't mean impressive in a right, you know, Yeah,
but it just when you when you look at the
your power of water and you think, oh, well I
can walk through that. If it's blowing out the back
of a building, no, you can't.

Speaker 2 (01:04:08):
Yeah, when you see the visuals, like I said, it's
the videos up on our Facebook page of the apartment
complex that Otis was just mentioning, it is shockingly impactful,
the vision of, like you said, the power and the
strength that the water has to do this. So you know,

(01:04:28):
everybody here in the Wheeling tried Alphia area, Ohio County,
we are dealing with what we are dealing with, but
our friends down south are also dealing with it.

Speaker 3 (01:04:39):
They just got it twenty four hours later. That's all.

Speaker 2 (01:04:41):
Yeah. Yeah, Well, talking to bloom Daddy yesterday, he was
on his way back from Virginia and he had just
come through there.

Speaker 6 (01:04:48):
Right.

Speaker 3 (01:04:49):
Well, Washington County, PA also got hit fairly hard in
certain spots. There was some flooding in Washington County, which
basically is the neighbors to Ohio County. And I believe,
if I'm not mistaken, I saw somewhere where the West
Alexander Fairgrounds are taking donations for flood relief, So both

(01:05:09):
for the residents out in the Valley Grove area and
I believe in Washington, so I think the West Alexander
Fairgrounds are also a drop off site you may want
to check their website just to confirm.

Speaker 2 (01:05:24):
Well, and just so everybody knows. As of right now,
up until ten o'clock this evening, we are still under
a flood watch. These conditions are expected to last possible rain.
It's supposed to be cloudy all day. This is according
to the weather app that I have on my phone.
Just a FYI in the high seventies. I don't see.

(01:05:45):
There's not rain mentioned until roughly nine o'clock with only
a fifteen percent chance. So throughout the day we should
get a you know, a break in this water that
we have been seeing. And here's the thing, it's, you know,
the rain huge part of this. It's the ground saturation

(01:06:06):
we have. It feels like I was talking to a
neighbor over the weekend and out of like the past
twelve weekends, only one weekend there has not been any rain.
Now don't quote me if that's exactly right, but it's
a shocking number. So not only have we gotten we
have received a huge amount of rain in a short
period of time, which of course caused the flash flooding,

(01:06:28):
but we also have a heavily saturated landscape currently, which
just does not help the situation that we're all that
that we've been dealing with with all of this weather.

Speaker 3 (01:06:42):
So and some people were asking about the river and
so on and so forth. Keep in mind that a
lot of the creeks that are flooding are coming in
on this on the south end of Wheeling Island that area,
so and then where the water is going to get
higher is probably down rear. And so right now we're

(01:07:03):
looking at approximately a peak in the Ohio in the
Ohio River today at Pike Island Dam of twenty one
point four feet, which is well below floodstage, and from
that point on it should be receding. So you know,
it doesn't appear to be any threat of river flooding.

Speaker 2 (01:07:24):
Okay, well, that's that's some good news after everything that
we've been dealing with and what's been going what's been
going on. So again, throughout the day, we will continue
to post any information that we are given. If you
have information, please pass that along. You can email me
Sam at iHeartMedia dot com. That's Sam at iHeartMedia dot com.

(01:07:49):
Of course, you can get to our Facebook page and
send us a private message. You can comment on one
of our posts because we are throughout the day going
to keep everybody in the loop of what is going on,
where there are things available, where you can drop things off,
meals that are being provided. That is all going to
be up on our Facebook page. And then of course

(01:08:11):
we've got our new fabulous text line. What's that number?

Speaker 3 (01:08:17):
Roe is seven zero four seven zero, put you on
the spot seventy for seventy seventy for seventy.

Speaker 2 (01:08:25):
Yes, that is our new text line. It still works
the same, start it off with bloom Daddy and you
can get us information that way. Listen, this is a
bit of a different show. We didn't have any you know,
chances to win or anything like that. But that not
not the point of today, not at all the point
of today. The point of today is to get out

(01:08:45):
as much information as we can. And again I will
share these really important phone numbers two three four seventy
nineteen three oh four two three four seventy nineteen volunteers
and donations. If you have questions, that's the number to call.
If you are concerned about a loved one and you
have other questions about what is going on with the
flood three zero four two three four thirty seven fifty six.

(01:09:10):
We'll get that out on our Facebook page.

Speaker 3 (01:09:13):
Also, and don't forget, the Osiris Shrine will be serving
a hot dinner meal today at from four to eight
at the shrine there and off of Kruger Street. And
also American Legion Post one out by Patterson Ball Fields.
The Old Italian American Club Chef Adam will be doing

(01:09:34):
meals out there from five o'clock on so also taking donations.
Elmgrove Elementary said they do not need clothes, but cleaning
supplies and so on and so forth in that situation, diapers,
dog food, nonperishable foods. Don't forget the out of Armory
drive out in your figure readies is a drop off

(01:09:56):
location almost the command center now and I'm assuming I
mean that you know there are locations throughout the valley
that are taking accepting donations.

Speaker 2 (01:10:04):
There's a lot of working parts parts going on, folks,
so and the other thing. Road closures will post those.
Stay patient, stay patient, stay diligent, and take care of
your friends and neighbors. Thank you guys. We'll be back
tomorrow