June 6, 2025 • 38 mins
Fairmont City Manager Travis Blosser on improvements to the Morgantown Avenue MiniPark and the city Opioid Grant program.
Adam Rowe with information about the 2025 Harrison County TANK Entrepreneur Pitch Contest
Adam Rowe with information about the 2025 Harrison County TANK Entrepreneur Pitch Contest
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Now this is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown
to Klucksburg. If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call
the show toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty
five eight two five five. Now Here is your host
for the Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good Thursday morning. It is nine oh six faire skies
and seventy two degrees in the University City. Welcome to
Talk of the Town. This is your program where we
highlight things that are important to you and your family.
I'm Mike Nolton. You'll find me out on AX as
your news guy, and we've got a text line we'd
love to hear from you. That number is three zero
(00:48):
four Talk three zero four. And on the program today,
I'm going to speak with the city manager from Fairmount,
Travis Blosser. Will spend some time with him this morning. Now,
the city and the local Rotary.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Club they're in Fairmount.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
They're investing about a one hundred thousand dollars in the
mini park on Morgantown Avenue. Plus the city's now accepting
applications for their opioid settlement grant program. Those applications are
accepted for up to one hundred thousand dollars for direct
services fifty thousand dollars for some indirect service projects. Now,
(01:23):
they do have some matching requirements and other rules, and
Travis will bring us up to speed on what those
rules are. You know the Tank, Shark Tank, you know
on TV they come on and pitch their entrepreneurial ideas
and qualify for money from other entrepreneurs in order to
(01:43):
finance that idea.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Well, that program has.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Spent, has expanded in north central West Virginia and coming
up at nine point thirty, have got Adam Rown. Adam
is from the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. He's not
really from the Chamber. We'll get more, but the Shark
the Tank program is put on by the Harrison County
Chamber of Commerce, and we're gonna get details about the
(02:07):
entry process.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
When you'd make your pitch.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And you know what you could possibly win, So you
might want to get the attention of all the whizbang
members of your family because we're gonna be doing that
at just about nine to thirty. A couple of headlines
before we get things started. Now, the WVSSAC State Basketball
Tournament that'll play out at go mart Ballpark and Charleston
(02:32):
over the next three days. Single and Double A semi
finals they begin today. Matter of fact, the first pitch
and Single A comes up next hour Triuplin Quada they'll
follow tomorrow the championship games. They're set for Saturday. So
here's the way it'll stack up. Over at wv metronews
dot com. We'll have twelve tournament games all available for
(02:55):
you on the stream. Then when the Championship round comes
on on Saturday, all those championship games are going to
get the high definition treatment. We're gonna ship them over
to Metro News TV so you can get the best
viewing opportunity possible, and those games will air on Metro
(03:18):
News TV coming up on Saturday. A couple in Upshur
County facing child in the glack charges after an investigation
in Rock Cave on Fraser Road Tuesday. Twenty five year
old Katara White twenty six year old Trevor how They
were reported living with three children amidst rotting trash, numerous dogs,
no water, and marijuana within reach of the children. Each
(03:41):
now being held on a fifty thousand dollars bond at
the Tiger Valley Regional Jail suspect suspected swatting incidents under
investigation in Randolph County. Multiple agencies responded to a report
in the hell Visha area. Police found three cabins, but
they didn't find anybody present or any apparent criminal activity
(04:04):
or a crime that had been committed. Multiple agencies continue
that investigation. I believe the Fusion Center is on that
one as well. Of the federal government wants more details
about snapwaiver that Governor Morrissey's requested. Fads want some clarification
on the sweet drink aspect, like are you going to
(04:27):
include sweet tea?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
And what kinds of hot.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Foods do you really want to include in the program
in your state. Those questions also include what the impact
on retailers would be as well. We've got that full
story at wv metronews dot com. And one last thing,
the investigation continues into a fire at the Preston Garrett
(04:50):
County Line Tuesday night. One person there was flown to
the Burn Center with unspecified injuries. Multiple crews were on
that scene for just about three hours. No other information
has been released and that investigation is ongoing. Metro newszaku
weather looks like we've got a decent day today. Matter
(05:12):
of fact, pretty nice right now, fair in seventy two,
building clouds throughout the day and high of eighty eight degrees.
So if you need to mow the grass, you need
to get something done, Today is the day to motivate yourself.
Drink plenty of water, by the way, and go out
and get that done because starting tonight, we'll start tonight
with a fifty percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. That'll
(05:34):
go up to eighty percent coming up on Friday. Right now,
fair seventy two. When we come back, we'll have a
conversation with Fairmunt City Manager Travis Blosser on top of
the town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point
five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Now back to the Talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well, good Thursday morning.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
It is nine to sixteen, fair skies, seventy four degrees now.
The text line is three oh four talk three four
and the Texter wants to know what is the timeline
for the approved allotment of funding for the implementation of
broadband to be installed. You know what, We're going to
effort that and get a more complete answer for the
(06:26):
texture because every.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Area of the county is just a little bit different.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
On the phone, we've got the city manager from Fairmont,
West Virginia, Travis Blosser.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Travis, good morning, How are you.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
I'm good, Mike, how are you.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I'm doing fine. Thank you very much, and certainly do
appreciate your time for joining us. Travis Parks, We've let's see,
I think you've been on the program three times, and
we've each time we've talked about improving recreational opportunities in
and around the city of Fairmont.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So tell us what you're up to now.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Yeah, So, Mike, we are continuing our Ford momentum in
terms of revitalizing all of our municipal parks, and one
of those in particular, which has a sentimental value to
me in Morgantown Avenue Mini Park Park that I grew
up being an East Park elementary student. The mayor herself
(07:22):
has a sentimental connection to it as well, growing up
visiting her grandmother and playing at that park and so,
and there's a lot of families that have It is
one of our kind of community parks, which is why
it gets its name Mini Park because it just kind
of is nestled right in a residential neighborhood on the
east side of Fairmont. And and what we're really excited
(07:43):
about this project is it's not just the City of Fairmont,
you know, heading down this effort, but we also had
a community partner of ours, the Rotary Club of Fairmont,
that decided they wanted to put skin in the game,
and not just you know, a bench or a couple
thousand dollars, I mean they're they're putting in twenty five
thousand dollars towards this effort, will then be matched with
(08:03):
the city seventy thousand dollars to do upwards of close
to ninety thousand dollars worth of improvements, and essentially that
entire park will get improved. There's some historic play equipment,
some concrete play equipment, dolphin a turtle, of which I
was made very clear by the students of East Park
Elementary School who were there at that event that those
are not to be touched. And I want to make
(08:26):
sure any of those kids, because they're out of school now,
may be listening to your radio show, that those that
turtle and dolphin, those items are staying. They're just getting
a nice spall day and they'll be back better than new.
But we're completely renovating that park to provide a whole
host of amenities to the community and to the kids
that frequent that playground.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Well, that's good.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I picked up on a collective sigh of relief on
the dolphin and turtle.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yes, yes it is. Those have those date back to
probably win the park was first created, and there's only
a couple that park and Fifth Street Park that still
have those remaining. But those date back to probably you know,
we're trying to gather data on it, but we think
(09:13):
may date back to the fifties or sixties in terms
of when those were constructed and when those were very popular,
and so we really want to save that history component
that we have in those parks.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Very nice.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Now, you had a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June second.
I happen to have been at a ribbon cutting ceremony
or I would have been there. But tell us about
that groundbreaking ceremony, because I'm looking at some pictures now
and it looked like a crowded event of all ages.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Yes, we were. We were extremely happy that East Park
Elementary School students. You know, they have a playground at
their facility, but this playground is so close it gives
kids in that elementary school an opportunity for teachers to
kind of you know, kind of reward that with something.
They get to walk up the street, uh, to be
(10:02):
able to come to this park, and so it lets
them let loose. It's a much larger facility than their
playground facility at the at the elementary school, but it's
it's like a reward for them. And so we were
really pleased to have all of those students from East
Park Elementary kind of join us in this celebration, but
not even just join us, but also perform for us.
East Park Elementary School has an amazing uh you know,
(10:25):
music education teacher, and those students, uh, you know, performed
a melody of songs. Another student performed the national anthem,
you know. And I don't think there was probably a
dry eye in the house with that musical performance from
those students. It was very touching, you know, and that
that gives me hope for what our future looks like.
(10:46):
And that's why and and it's also a realization, as
the Mayor and I discussed, it's a realization of why
we do the work that we do and why we
look to make these improvements. Is it it's because of
the next generation. It's to create that community that allows
these kids to grow up, hopefully create families of their own,
and for those kids of theirs to play in this
(11:09):
playground and have this for future generations. And that's what
we do and why we get up every day to
do this work.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
The Mayor and City Council have also allocated seventy thousand
dollars from the Capital Improvement Plan to augment this. How
important is it for you to step up with the
Rotary Club and maybe other community partners in other areas
to kind of get these things off dead center and
get them moving.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Yeah, I mean that that is what we are hoping
that this contribution by the Rotary Club of Fairmont is
just an opportunity to get other community groups. There are
other groups, other Rotary clubs in the area, you know,
Lions Club. There's different organizations in this city and they're
all doing different things to give back. But interesting enough,
(11:53):
at that celebration, I had a past president of the
Rotary Club of Fairmont tell me, you know, I love
the idea, love that we moved forward with this, you know,
But you know, let's talk about some other parks and
other improvements and so you know, that gives me hope
for what partnerships may come into the future. You know,
but again, it takes making sure that community members are
(12:16):
seeing that the city is invested in it, and that's
then leading them to understand that their contribution is going
to make a larger dent and an impact because it's
coupled with those city dollars. And you know, this fiscal
year that we're getting ready to end this month, we've
spent upwards of over three million dollars. At the end
of the fiscal year, will have spent upwards of over
three million dollars towards municipal park improvements and recreational amenities.
(12:40):
You know, our game plan is to more than double
that in this next fiscal year with the improvements and
projects that are kind of in the pipeline and moving
forward in those projects that city Council, like the Morgantown
Avenue Minipark has has budgeted. And so what I would
tell a lot of residents who may see a park
in their neighborhood that that it needs attention to. We're
(13:00):
on our way, give us some time see these improvements
and understand they're coming your way. Because every municipal park
facility in the city should be pristine and something that
we should all be proud of.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And you know, Travis, not everybody goes to a city
council meeting, Not everybody knows the city budget or you
know even that you have a capital improvement plan. But
what this does show is that you care a great
deal about the city and the people that live there.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Yeah. I mean we we all every city staff member,
city council member, the mayor, we we are all invested
in this. We didn't you know, we didn't get in.
No one and no one gets into jobs in local
government to get rich and and council members don't do
it for the for the pay or the glory, because
there are those moments that you know that that that
(13:46):
suck as well in this in this role, because you
can't do something that you know or get something done
as quickly as you would like to get it done.
But I feel really happy with the team that we
have around us, but not just the team, but the community.
I'm seeing an energy inside the city of Fairmont that
and I grew up in this town that I haven't
(14:07):
seen in a long time. People are excited about the
opportunities that we have before us. And I think that
is what myself, city Council and our staff is really
aggressively working to do, is is to not lose that
opportunity that we're seeing, you know, new generation of folks
who are crying out and have wanted to see these
(14:27):
types of changes, and even folks who have lived here
for a long time want to see these changes happen.
And so that excitement is occurring, and we want to
do everything we can to keep moving that forward because
that's going to lead to economic growth and development because
your community is invested in itself, starts investing in their neighborhoods,
and then it leads to businesses deciding that they want
(14:49):
to call the City of Fairmont home and be part
of that progress. And they know that their workforce, the
people who live here are healthy and thriving.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
And I think when you have nice, clean Christine Park
around town, they lend themselves to maybe people there that
aren't up to mischievous things to use them.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Correct. I mean, we've done. One of the things we
talked to you about was the improvements that are going
on at Windmill Park, and you know, I was hearing
the weather update from you, and I'm hoping it holds
off for us. This Friday, We've got a ribbon cutting
event on our new pickleball courts that have been installed
up there. We've invested significant dollars there, and that was
one of the things that I heard. We heard from
community members was the concern that we were making these
(15:31):
investments and it would lead to vandalism or things like
that happening. And I'll just be frank, in large part
it has not occurred because I think people in the
community see the investment and they're stepping up. When they
see something, they're saying something. And that's what I think
is really important is that people they become connected to
these facilities because it's like we didn't have that before,
(15:53):
We've got it now and we need to take care
of what we've got.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Yeah, that should definitely make everybody feel good. Now right now, now,
you are granting opioid settlement funds. Could you run through
those particulars quickly?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Yeah? So opioide settlement funds, we have those. We have
an application process launched. It's on our website Fairmont, WV
dot gov. Forward slash opioid. If anyone goes there. All
the details are there. Our grant administrator, we've actually had
a conversation we're probably going to be hosting. We've received
a lot of phone calls from folks. We're probably going
(16:28):
to be hosting an event to have an opportunity for
anyone who's looking to apply for those to ask her
questions around the rubric that we've installed. But all of
that information is located at Fairmont, WV dot gov forward
slash opioid.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And the applications I might just add they're accepted for
up to one hundred thousand dollars for direct services fifty
thousand dollars for indirect service projects, and then there is
a required twenty percent match for the funds.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Yeah, yes, and then there are extenuating circumstances is where
that match can be waived, but those those will be
on a case by case basis.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
What's the deadline for applications.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
There is no deadline. UH. We that the application process
is open. UH. Once we receive a substantial amount of
applications and our grand administrator has reviewed all those to
make sure they're compliant, we will UH we will bring
our committee together to review those and do scoring and
then those those that meet the scoring metrics will be
(17:29):
forwarded at city Council for a final determination. And essentially
once that money runs out, UH, and we and until
we receive another allotment, we wouldn't approve any additional applications. Uh.
But there is no deadline. This is kind of a rolling,
rolling application process.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Okay, perfect, And this is not an effort to ambush
you or anything.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
But how are things going with Prime six?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Things are going great with Prime six. I know that
My last update with UH with Ricky is that that
they have hired a plant manager, they have an office manager,
they have a couple of staff. They are working to
bring equipment in. You know. I know that you know,
and I've had conversations with a couple of different community groups.
So by no means are yea ambush? I mean people
get excited by this stuff and they want to they
(18:15):
want to know what's going on with it. But ultimately, UH,
it the groundbreaking event that occurred out there was just
that a groundbreaking event. It's going to take them time
to get everything in, get all the equipment in. I
do know, I think they've probably had some hiccups. You
had a new gubernatorial administration that kind of wanted to
look over things because that happened right there at the
tail end. But at the end of the day, everybody's
(18:37):
on board. The investments are happening. People can drive by
and see changes to the roadway landscape that are happening,
so they can bring equipment in and out. So it's
moving forward. We're excited to see that happen. I know
they were participating with the unfortunate news around novellas they
were participating with the job fair that Novella's hosted to
(18:58):
look for for for employees, and so I know that.
I know that they are hopeful that in the next
couple of months to be able to ramping up hiring.
But they are moving full speed ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I'm appreciate you. I appreciate you doing that.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
We didn't discuss that in advance, so I didn't want
to throw that at you, but I appreciate no problem,
all right, Hey, Travis, really do as always appreciate your
time and we look forward to the next one.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Hey, no problem, Mike, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
May you got.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Well, good Thursday morning. A few more clouds than when
we started the show seventy four degrees. According to Metro
News Aci Weather. Coming up later this year, it will
be the Tank Entrepreneur Pitch Contest twenty twenty five. It's
put on by the Harrison County cham of Commerce. And
on the phone, I've got Adam Row. Adam Row is
(20:04):
the guy that makes it all happen.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Adam, how you doing, Mike, I'm doing great. Thanks much
for having me on.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you on, Adam. I
guess Adam, tell us a little bit about you and
what you do in the community.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Please, Yeah. Absolutely, So. I'm a wealth management advisor in Bridgeport.
I run a small firm that serves the community north
central West Virginia area, and I'm a big part with
the Harrison County Chamber.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
And I think that you're a veteran of just about
all the tank competitions, aren't you.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Actually, I'm the chair of the committee that started the
event back in twenty twenty three. Excuse me, and I've
you know, it's kind of taken it from there and
this will be our third event, so we're real excited
about it starting to really grow.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Okay, now we've got Adam Row with us. He is
the committee chairman for The Tank Entrepreneurial Pitch. Now, the
program has been expanded this year, so let's lay out
some basics.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Yeah. Absolutely, So when we started it, we wanted to
start small, kind of work out the case, and do
it in Harrison County as it is a partnership with
the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. But once we felt
like we really mastered it, we want to go take
it regional and this year, for the first time, we're
going to have it in north central West Virginia. So
anybody in the region is welcome to not only come
(21:28):
to the event, but to come compete in the event.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay, and now I think when we're talking about this,
people have a visual of the television show Shark Tank,
so I guess do the comparison for them?
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Yeah, absolutely, So it is similar in a lot of regards,
and of course that's what we're modeling after. The one
main distinction I think I we make is the judges
really aren't focused on encouraging you and helping you and
asking you good questions for your business, not trying to
risk you'll you and get a SoundBite, which you know
is one of the things that makes Shark Thinks so
(22:05):
pull around and and fun to watch. But for us,
it's really about helping you get a chance to get
your idea out there in a way that really promotes
you well that you know, then you can explain your business,
you can ask great questions. And one of the main
differences is most of these folks that never pitched an idea,
So we actually w Boy has been very generous in
(22:27):
helping record these pitches and help make them professional and
help edit them so that when they come out on stage,
these pitches get played for them behind them on the
big screen at the Robinson Grand and it can be
done professionally and then they can stand there and answer
questions from the judges.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Very nice.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Now, Adam, can you give us an idea of maybe
what some of the winning ideas have been in the
past and maybe what they're doing now.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Yeah, So this past year in twenty twenty five, or
was Pixie Sweets. You know, I wish she was on
to tell her story, cause I'm sure she could do
it better than me. But they kind of caught onto this,
this gourmet marshmallow trend, if you will. And then beyond that,
they have a food truck as well and things like that.
The year before it was Pause Up and Pause Up
(23:18):
had an especially patent designed dogtail to clean your dog's
paws when they come in from the from the outdoors
so they don't track up your house. And they had
a lot of other products they were stacking on as well.
So seeing both those companies still growing and still thriving
after being the winner of the event we have been't
really rewarding to see because the goal of the tank
(23:40):
when we set this up is really to provide mentorship
and exposure and funding to some of these promising business
ideas in our local region.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Certainly.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Now let's see the pitches will be done November the
twelfth this year in the Robinson Grand Theater. What is
the deadline? When do people have to have their stuff
ready to go?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yeah, So our process is we want all applications in
by July thirty first. And what that does It gives
our selection committee time to pick the five contestants we're
going to choose to allow to come in and compete.
But then it gives them time to work with our
mentors and coaches and again w A Watta to record
the pitch videos. It gives us that runway of really
(24:26):
get them prepared. So November twelfth, they have a cristic
story and they're able to promote their idea or product
in a very professional way that gives them a chance
to not only when it gives them a chance to
really give it some great exposure and learn and tell
us story.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Okay, Now, one thing that I wanted to ask you
about Adam.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
We've got Adam Row.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
He's the chair of the Tank Entrepreneurial entrepreneurial competition put
on by the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce, and that
is mentorship. I'm looking at the item here and it
says from experienced business leaders, and I would say think that,
you know, maybe for someone that has a towel that
(25:04):
you use to wipe your dog's paws with, that mentorship
is pretty dog gone valuable because you probably have other ideas.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Oh absolutely, yeah, and that mentorship I mean, you know,
our grand prize for the winner, the cash prize is
ten thousand dollars, but for the winner of the event,
you get another thirty to forty thousand dollars. In accounting services,
legal services, myself, financial planning services. There's so many professional
services that our community has really leaned in and offered
(25:37):
to donate to really come around these people and help
them go from where they are to where they're trying
to go.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Now, Adam, what kind of crowds do you draw these
events there at the Robinson Grand Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
I probably am not as prepared answer as I should be,
but I think I think last year it was around
two hundred and just a hair over two hundred. Maybe
I think the year before it was similar, but it's
grown just a pat and I think this year we're
expecting to much for your crowd, especially going regional.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yeah, because I was looking at your information here and
it says that ticket prices are ten dollars of person,
and they say that the attendees play a critical role
in the competition. Talk about that.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, So this is probably one of the
parts that is the most fun for me. So everyone
that comes and supports the event will pay ten dollars
to get in, but that ten dollars goes to the
fan favorite. So at the end of the night, after
all the pitches have been done, we let the crowd vote.
There's a QR code on your program when you come
(26:40):
in and we let the crowd get on their phone
and vote for the one they like the best. So again,
this isn't who the judges are going to pick as
the best one. It's the one the fans like the best.
And then all the door money, all the ticket sales
is directly to that fan favorite.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
And those people that buy a ticket are entered into
with drawing that includes some pretty nice prizes.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Yeah. Absolutely, so, we've really we've really had our our
path participants step up and start to be involved. So
some of those vendors will be on on display and
they'll they'll be participating as well in some of that
with the prizes and such.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Okay, perfect, Now let's see the ground door prize is
a weekend get away at the Ogle Bay Resort in Wheeling,
plus a two hundred dollars gift card. And don't forget that, veterans.
It'll be on Veterans Day or just after Veterans Oh there.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
It is.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
All military personnel with a military ID receive free admission
and attendees always look forward to the awarding of the
high school scholarships.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Is that happening at this event?
Speaker 4 (27:53):
It is?
Speaker 5 (27:53):
Yeah, absolutely so, Military veterans, we definitely want them to
come for free and be a part of it. In
the high school skar folarship we actually started last year.
So Triple H Enterprises has been incredibly generous and last
year they stepped up to fund five local students with
a five hundred dollars scholarship each. And those five local
(28:14):
students have won and participated in local high school entrepreneur
contests and we're recognizing them and Triple H again big
thanks to all that they do. But they stepped up
to do that last year, and they've agreed to step
up again this year to take care of the five
high school students again this year that have won their
local competitions.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
That's great and all this information is out on the
world wide web at Harrison County Chamber dot com. The
event is coming up on November the twelfth, and the
deadline for submissions is coming up on July thirty first,
And Adam, if you would like to give your business
contact information, I'd love for you.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
To do that.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
Yeah, absolutely, so contact us about the tank. We're happy
to take those calls or about if you have any
financial planning needs. We're Northwestern Mutual in Bridgeport. Our telephone
numbers three here, four six, two, four, five fours years ago,
and we'd love to talk to you and have the
community in any way that we can.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Okay, perfect, Adam Rowld. It's been a pleasure and I'm
a little bit excited for this.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Yeah, we're very excited, Mike. Thanks so much. I really
appreciate you having us on.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Absolutely take care of yourself, Adam, and have a great day.
Seventy four degrees partly cloudy skies in the University City.
We'll be back right after this on Top of the Town.
AM fourteen forty f M. One oh four point five
W A Jr.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven to
sixty five eight two. This is the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
A good Thursday morning. Looks like it's going to be
a pretty decent day now.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
The Wednesday edition of Talk of the Town included the
legal director of disability Rights at West Virginia. You can
check that story out at wvmetronews dot com. Some of
the things that Mike Folio talked about, certainly ieopening, but
let's not lose sight of some of the good that
(30:28):
he talked about, and that's actually some of the reforms
at the Department of Health and Human Services. We were
speaking exclusively about the Department of Health facilities, which of
course are two well they were chopped up into three,
and that's two thirds.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
Of what was the d hhh R.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Now coming up, we're going to reach out to Joey
Garcia in Marion County and maybe get a follow up
from him on some of the things that Michael Foley
and I spoke about. I know that Joey has been
pretty outspoken about keeping state run healthcare facilities open and
(31:13):
has also expressed concern about efficiencies and keeping things running correctly,
especially for the patients, but also fiscally for the state.
Now coming up, at the top of the hour, state
high school baseball tournament action gets underway, and this is
(31:34):
the first edition of the four class state tournament system.
And coming up at ten am at the top of
the hour, Webster County number four seed, they're thirteen and thirteen.
They're going to take on number one Madonna that is
coming up at ten am. So here's the way it's
going to work. From now until Saturday, We're going to
(31:54):
have twelve games. All twelve of those games will be
streaming on Metro News Radio. On the network at wvmetronews
dot com. So we'll have the semifinals today in Class
Single and Double A, the Class Triple and Quada semifinals
(32:16):
coming up on Friday, and then the championship matchups. Those
will be held on Saturday, and you'll be able to
enjoy each one of the championship games in high definition
on the Metronews Television app now if you don't have
the app yet, it is free and available also at
(32:40):
wvmetronews dot com. Coming up tomorrow on the program, we're
going to wake welcome State Agriculture Commissioner Kent Lileenheart to
the program, and we're going to talk a little bit
about where we are drought wise today and how bad
the drought got last year. And one of the things
(33:01):
that I want to talk to Kent about is that
this time last year, we were almost in the exact
same position. A matter of fact, I think we were
awfully dog gone close and we were still getting rain
during the month of June. However, just about middle of
June the rain shut off and didn't return until August.
And we know what the outcome was. It hurt farmers
(33:25):
horribly and it also brought out the need for some
of those relief programs. So we'll talk to State agg
Commissioner Kent Leonheart about that on Friday.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
And then I've.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Reached out to doctor Jessica Thompson with Grace Shelter that's
run by Catholic Charities up at Hazel's House of Hope,
and she provided her presentation to Morgantown City Council and
to the County Commission about the available beds and some
of the problems that they've had. And we're going to
bring Jessica onto the program because you know, since the
(34:02):
April municipal election and the camping band was upheld by
the voters, I've said from the beginning, say it again,
we have an opportunity here.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
We really do. We've got a big opportunity here.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
And we've known for a long time that shelter beds
are an issue. Well now we have not only the necessity, yes,
we have the necessity the camping band. We need more
shelter beds and it looks like that there are options,
and we're going to talk with Jessica Thompson about those options,
(34:38):
and that is coming up on tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
We'll do that at nine.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
To thirty right now seventy four and just a few
clouds in Morgantown. We'll be back to wrap things up
coming up right after this on Top of the Town
AM fourteen forty FM oneh four point five eight jr.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Now back to the Talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Well, good Thursday morning.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Don't forget about the joint operation between the River Road
Volunteer Fire Department and WVU Medicine Children's Hospital. It's called
Hope Bash. That's coming up on June fourteenth. That's a
Saturday down at the Morgantown Marriotta Waterfront Place in the
event center there. Tickets are on sale now.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
You can go.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Out to Hopebash dot com and get those tickets now.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
That include that event includes an.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Elimination dinner, a three hour unlimited beer and wine bar
in a buffet style dinner. They also have some silent
auctions and door prize drawings, and they've got a really
good live band that is just kind of on the
upswing and they're going to be performing live. And as
(36:06):
we know, we had Joe Statler on the program. I
believe that was on Monday. The situation for volunteer fire
services and ems across the state is certainly not getting
any easier. Getting any better in this event will certainly
help both organizations and tickets are on sale right now.
(36:28):
That website once again is hopebash dot com and the
baseball playoffs high school Baseball Playoffs. They'll get started at
the top of the hour. Morgantown won't play until tomorrow,
and we will have that game live on WAJR for
(36:48):
your enjoyment. Otherwise, all the other games will be streamed
live at wv metronews dot com. Everybody, make it a
great Thursday, gain it out, make it a productive one,
and get something done because the weather is coming.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
And it necessarily.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Doesn't look too bad, but it definitely definitely looks wet.
Seventy four in Morgantown Metro News talk Line Next
Now this is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown
to Klucksburg. If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call
the show toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty
five eight two five five. Now Here is your host
for the Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good Thursday morning. It is nine oh six faire skies
and seventy two degrees in the University City. Welcome to
Talk of the Town. This is your program where we
highlight things that are important to you and your family.
I'm Mike Nolton. You'll find me out on AX as
your news guy, and we've got a text line we'd
love to hear from you. That number is three zero
(00:48):
four Talk three zero four. And on the program today,
I'm going to speak with the city manager from Fairmount,
Travis Blosser. Will spend some time with him this morning. Now,
the city and the local Rotary.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Club they're in Fairmount.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
They're investing about a one hundred thousand dollars in the
mini park on Morgantown Avenue. Plus the city's now accepting
applications for their opioid settlement grant program. Those applications are
accepted for up to one hundred thousand dollars for direct
services fifty thousand dollars for some indirect service projects. Now,
(01:23):
they do have some matching requirements and other rules, and
Travis will bring us up to speed on what those
rules are. You know the Tank, Shark Tank, you know
on TV they come on and pitch their entrepreneurial ideas
and qualify for money from other entrepreneurs in order to
(01:43):
finance that idea.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Well, that program has.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Spent, has expanded in north central West Virginia and coming
up at nine point thirty, have got Adam Rown. Adam
is from the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. He's not
really from the Chamber. We'll get more, but the Shark
the Tank program is put on by the Harrison County
Chamber of Commerce, and we're gonna get details about the
(02:07):
entry process.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
When you'd make your pitch.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And you know what you could possibly win, So you
might want to get the attention of all the whizbang
members of your family because we're gonna be doing that
at just about nine to thirty. A couple of headlines
before we get things started. Now, the WVSSAC State Basketball
Tournament that'll play out at go mart Ballpark and Charleston
(02:32):
over the next three days. Single and Double A semi
finals they begin today. Matter of fact, the first pitch
and Single A comes up next hour Triuplin Quada they'll
follow tomorrow the championship games. They're set for Saturday. So
here's the way it'll stack up. Over at wv metronews
dot com. We'll have twelve tournament games all available for
(02:55):
you on the stream. Then when the Championship round comes
on on Saturday, all those championship games are going to
get the high definition treatment. We're gonna ship them over
to Metro News TV so you can get the best
viewing opportunity possible, and those games will air on Metro
(03:18):
News TV coming up on Saturday. A couple in Upshur
County facing child in the glack charges after an investigation
in Rock Cave on Fraser Road Tuesday. Twenty five year
old Katara White twenty six year old Trevor how They
were reported living with three children amidst rotting trash, numerous dogs,
no water, and marijuana within reach of the children. Each
(03:41):
now being held on a fifty thousand dollars bond at
the Tiger Valley Regional Jail suspect suspected swatting incidents under
investigation in Randolph County. Multiple agencies responded to a report
in the hell Visha area. Police found three cabins, but
they didn't find anybody present or any apparent criminal activity
(04:04):
or a crime that had been committed. Multiple agencies continue
that investigation. I believe the Fusion Center is on that
one as well. Of the federal government wants more details
about snapwaiver that Governor Morrissey's requested. Fads want some clarification
on the sweet drink aspect, like are you going to
(04:27):
include sweet tea?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
And what kinds of hot.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Foods do you really want to include in the program
in your state. Those questions also include what the impact
on retailers would be as well. We've got that full
story at wv metronews dot com. And one last thing,
the investigation continues into a fire at the Preston Garrett
(04:50):
County Line Tuesday night. One person there was flown to
the Burn Center with unspecified injuries. Multiple crews were on
that scene for just about three hours. No other information
has been released and that investigation is ongoing. Metro newszaku
weather looks like we've got a decent day today. Matter
(05:12):
of fact, pretty nice right now, fair in seventy two,
building clouds throughout the day and high of eighty eight degrees.
So if you need to mow the grass, you need
to get something done, Today is the day to motivate yourself.
Drink plenty of water, by the way, and go out
and get that done because starting tonight, we'll start tonight
with a fifty percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. That'll
(05:34):
go up to eighty percent coming up on Friday. Right now,
fair seventy two. When we come back, we'll have a
conversation with Fairmunt City Manager Travis Blosser on top of
the town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point
five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Now back to the Talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well, good Thursday morning.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
It is nine to sixteen, fair skies, seventy four degrees now.
The text line is three oh four talk three four
and the Texter wants to know what is the timeline
for the approved allotment of funding for the implementation of
broadband to be installed. You know what, We're going to
effort that and get a more complete answer for the
(06:26):
texture because every.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Area of the county is just a little bit different.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
On the phone, we've got the city manager from Fairmont,
West Virginia, Travis Blosser.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Travis, good morning, How are you.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
I'm good, Mike, how are you.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I'm doing fine. Thank you very much, and certainly do
appreciate your time for joining us. Travis Parks, We've let's see,
I think you've been on the program three times, and
we've each time we've talked about improving recreational opportunities in
and around the city of Fairmont.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So tell us what you're up to now.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Yeah, So, Mike, we are continuing our Ford momentum in
terms of revitalizing all of our municipal parks, and one
of those in particular, which has a sentimental value to
me in Morgantown Avenue Mini Park Park that I grew
up being an East Park elementary student. The mayor herself
(07:22):
has a sentimental connection to it as well, growing up
visiting her grandmother and playing at that park and so,
and there's a lot of families that have It is
one of our kind of community parks, which is why
it gets its name Mini Park because it just kind
of is nestled right in a residential neighborhood on the
east side of Fairmont. And and what we're really excited
(07:43):
about this project is it's not just the City of Fairmont,
you know, heading down this effort, but we also had
a community partner of ours, the Rotary Club of Fairmont,
that decided they wanted to put skin in the game,
and not just you know, a bench or a couple
thousand dollars, I mean they're they're putting in twenty five
thousand dollars towards this effort, will then be matched with
(08:03):
the city seventy thousand dollars to do upwards of close
to ninety thousand dollars worth of improvements, and essentially that
entire park will get improved. There's some historic play equipment,
some concrete play equipment, dolphin a turtle, of which I
was made very clear by the students of East Park
Elementary School who were there at that event that those
are not to be touched. And I want to make
(08:26):
sure any of those kids, because they're out of school now,
may be listening to your radio show, that those that
turtle and dolphin, those items are staying. They're just getting
a nice spall day and they'll be back better than new.
But we're completely renovating that park to provide a whole
host of amenities to the community and to the kids
that frequent that playground.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Well, that's good.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I picked up on a collective sigh of relief on
the dolphin and turtle.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yes, yes it is. Those have those date back to
probably win the park was first created, and there's only
a couple that park and Fifth Street Park that still
have those remaining. But those date back to probably you know,
we're trying to gather data on it, but we think
(09:13):
may date back to the fifties or sixties in terms
of when those were constructed and when those were very popular,
and so we really want to save that history component
that we have in those parks.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Very nice.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Now, you had a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June second.
I happen to have been at a ribbon cutting ceremony
or I would have been there. But tell us about
that groundbreaking ceremony, because I'm looking at some pictures now
and it looked like a crowded event of all ages.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Yes, we were. We were extremely happy that East Park
Elementary School students. You know, they have a playground at
their facility, but this playground is so close it gives
kids in that elementary school an opportunity for teachers to
kind of you know, kind of reward that with something.
They get to walk up the street, uh, to be
(10:02):
able to come to this park, and so it lets
them let loose. It's a much larger facility than their
playground facility at the at the elementary school, but it's
it's like a reward for them. And so we were
really pleased to have all of those students from East
Park Elementary kind of join us in this celebration, but
not even just join us, but also perform for us.
East Park Elementary School has an amazing uh you know,
(10:25):
music education teacher, and those students, uh, you know, performed
a melody of songs. Another student performed the national anthem,
you know. And I don't think there was probably a
dry eye in the house with that musical performance from
those students. It was very touching, you know, and that
that gives me hope for what our future looks like.
(10:46):
And that's why and and it's also a realization, as
the Mayor and I discussed, it's a realization of why
we do the work that we do and why we
look to make these improvements. Is it it's because of
the next generation. It's to create that community that allows
these kids to grow up, hopefully create families of their own,
and for those kids of theirs to play in this
(11:09):
playground and have this for future generations. And that's what
we do and why we get up every day to
do this work.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
The Mayor and City Council have also allocated seventy thousand
dollars from the Capital Improvement Plan to augment this. How
important is it for you to step up with the
Rotary Club and maybe other community partners in other areas
to kind of get these things off dead center and
get them moving.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Yeah, I mean that that is what we are hoping
that this contribution by the Rotary Club of Fairmont is
just an opportunity to get other community groups. There are
other groups, other Rotary clubs in the area, you know,
Lions Club. There's different organizations in this city and they're
all doing different things to give back. But interesting enough,
(11:53):
at that celebration, I had a past president of the
Rotary Club of Fairmont tell me, you know, I love
the idea, love that we moved forward with this, you know,
But you know, let's talk about some other parks and
other improvements and so you know, that gives me hope
for what partnerships may come into the future. You know,
but again, it takes making sure that community members are
(12:16):
seeing that the city is invested in it, and that's
then leading them to understand that their contribution is going
to make a larger dent and an impact because it's
coupled with those city dollars. And you know, this fiscal
year that we're getting ready to end this month, we've
spent upwards of over three million dollars. At the end
of the fiscal year, will have spent upwards of over
three million dollars towards municipal park improvements and recreational amenities.
(12:40):
You know, our game plan is to more than double
that in this next fiscal year with the improvements and
projects that are kind of in the pipeline and moving
forward in those projects that city Council, like the Morgantown
Avenue Minipark has has budgeted. And so what I would
tell a lot of residents who may see a park
in their neighborhood that that it needs attention to. We're
(13:00):
on our way, give us some time see these improvements
and understand they're coming your way. Because every municipal park
facility in the city should be pristine and something that
we should all be proud of.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And you know, Travis, not everybody goes to a city
council meeting, Not everybody knows the city budget or you
know even that you have a capital improvement plan. But
what this does show is that you care a great
deal about the city and the people that live there.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Yeah. I mean we we all every city staff member,
city council member, the mayor, we we are all invested
in this. We didn't you know, we didn't get in.
No one and no one gets into jobs in local
government to get rich and and council members don't do
it for the for the pay or the glory, because
there are those moments that you know that that that
(13:46):
suck as well in this in this role, because you
can't do something that you know or get something done
as quickly as you would like to get it done.
But I feel really happy with the team that we
have around us, but not just the team, but the community.
I'm seeing an energy inside the city of Fairmont that
and I grew up in this town that I haven't
(14:07):
seen in a long time. People are excited about the
opportunities that we have before us. And I think that
is what myself, city Council and our staff is really
aggressively working to do, is is to not lose that
opportunity that we're seeing, you know, new generation of folks
who are crying out and have wanted to see these
(14:27):
types of changes, and even folks who have lived here
for a long time want to see these changes happen.
And so that excitement is occurring, and we want to
do everything we can to keep moving that forward because
that's going to lead to economic growth and development because
your community is invested in itself, starts investing in their neighborhoods,
and then it leads to businesses deciding that they want
(14:49):
to call the City of Fairmont home and be part
of that progress. And they know that their workforce, the
people who live here are healthy and thriving.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
And I think when you have nice, clean Christine Park
around town, they lend themselves to maybe people there that
aren't up to mischievous things to use them.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Correct. I mean, we've done. One of the things we
talked to you about was the improvements that are going
on at Windmill Park, and you know, I was hearing
the weather update from you, and I'm hoping it holds
off for us. This Friday, We've got a ribbon cutting
event on our new pickleball courts that have been installed
up there. We've invested significant dollars there, and that was
one of the things that I heard. We heard from
community members was the concern that we were making these
(15:31):
investments and it would lead to vandalism or things like
that happening. And I'll just be frank, in large part
it has not occurred because I think people in the
community see the investment and they're stepping up. When they
see something, they're saying something. And that's what I think
is really important is that people they become connected to
these facilities because it's like we didn't have that before,
(15:53):
We've got it now and we need to take care
of what we've got.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Yeah, that should definitely make everybody feel good. Now right now, now,
you are granting opioid settlement funds. Could you run through
those particulars quickly?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Yeah? So opioide settlement funds, we have those. We have
an application process launched. It's on our website Fairmont, WV
dot gov. Forward slash opioid. If anyone goes there. All
the details are there. Our grant administrator, we've actually had
a conversation we're probably going to be hosting. We've received
a lot of phone calls from folks. We're probably going
(16:28):
to be hosting an event to have an opportunity for
anyone who's looking to apply for those to ask her
questions around the rubric that we've installed. But all of
that information is located at Fairmont, WV dot gov forward
slash opioid.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And the applications I might just add they're accepted for
up to one hundred thousand dollars for direct services fifty
thousand dollars for indirect service projects, and then there is
a required twenty percent match for the funds.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Yeah, yes, and then there are extenuating circumstances is where
that match can be waived, but those those will be
on a case by case basis.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
What's the deadline for applications.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
There is no deadline. UH. We that the application process
is open. UH. Once we receive a substantial amount of
applications and our grand administrator has reviewed all those to
make sure they're compliant, we will UH we will bring
our committee together to review those and do scoring and
then those those that meet the scoring metrics will be
(17:29):
forwarded at city Council for a final determination. And essentially
once that money runs out, UH, and we and until
we receive another allotment, we wouldn't approve any additional applications. Uh.
But there is no deadline. This is kind of a rolling,
rolling application process.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Okay, perfect, And this is not an effort to ambush
you or anything.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
But how are things going with Prime six?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Things are going great with Prime six. I know that
My last update with UH with Ricky is that that
they have hired a plant manager, they have an office manager,
they have a couple of staff. They are working to
bring equipment in. You know. I know that you know,
and I've had conversations with a couple of different community groups.
So by no means are yea ambush? I mean people
get excited by this stuff and they want to they
(18:15):
want to know what's going on with it. But ultimately, UH,
it the groundbreaking event that occurred out there was just
that a groundbreaking event. It's going to take them time
to get everything in, get all the equipment in. I
do know, I think they've probably had some hiccups. You
had a new gubernatorial administration that kind of wanted to
look over things because that happened right there at the
tail end. But at the end of the day, everybody's
(18:37):
on board. The investments are happening. People can drive by
and see changes to the roadway landscape that are happening,
so they can bring equipment in and out. So it's
moving forward. We're excited to see that happen. I know
they were participating with the unfortunate news around novellas they
were participating with the job fair that Novella's hosted to
(18:58):
look for for for employees, and so I know that.
I know that they are hopeful that in the next
couple of months to be able to ramping up hiring.
But they are moving full speed ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I'm appreciate you. I appreciate you doing that.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
We didn't discuss that in advance, so I didn't want
to throw that at you, but I appreciate no problem,
all right, Hey, Travis, really do as always appreciate your
time and we look forward to the next one.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Hey, no problem, Mike, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
May you got.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Well, good Thursday morning. A few more clouds than when
we started the show seventy four degrees. According to Metro
News Aci Weather. Coming up later this year, it will
be the Tank Entrepreneur Pitch Contest twenty twenty five. It's
put on by the Harrison County cham of Commerce. And
on the phone, I've got Adam Row. Adam Row is
(20:04):
the guy that makes it all happen.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Adam, how you doing, Mike, I'm doing great. Thanks much
for having me on.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you on, Adam. I
guess Adam, tell us a little bit about you and
what you do in the community.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Please, Yeah. Absolutely, So. I'm a wealth management advisor in Bridgeport.
I run a small firm that serves the community north
central West Virginia area, and I'm a big part with
the Harrison County Chamber.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
And I think that you're a veteran of just about
all the tank competitions, aren't you.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Actually, I'm the chair of the committee that started the
event back in twenty twenty three. Excuse me, and I've
you know, it's kind of taken it from there and
this will be our third event, so we're real excited
about it starting to really grow.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Okay, now we've got Adam Row with us. He is
the committee chairman for The Tank Entrepreneurial Pitch. Now, the
program has been expanded this year, so let's lay out
some basics.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Yeah. Absolutely, So when we started it, we wanted to
start small, kind of work out the case, and do
it in Harrison County as it is a partnership with
the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. But once we felt
like we really mastered it, we want to go take
it regional and this year, for the first time, we're
going to have it in north central West Virginia. So
anybody in the region is welcome to not only come
(21:28):
to the event, but to come compete in the event.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay, and now I think when we're talking about this,
people have a visual of the television show Shark Tank,
so I guess do the comparison for them?
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Yeah, absolutely, So it is similar in a lot of regards,
and of course that's what we're modeling after. The one
main distinction I think I we make is the judges
really aren't focused on encouraging you and helping you and
asking you good questions for your business, not trying to
risk you'll you and get a SoundBite, which you know
is one of the things that makes Shark Thinks so
(22:05):
pull around and and fun to watch. But for us,
it's really about helping you get a chance to get
your idea out there in a way that really promotes
you well that you know, then you can explain your business,
you can ask great questions. And one of the main
differences is most of these folks that never pitched an idea,
So we actually w Boy has been very generous in
(22:27):
helping record these pitches and help make them professional and
help edit them so that when they come out on stage,
these pitches get played for them behind them on the
big screen at the Robinson Grand and it can be
done professionally and then they can stand there and answer
questions from the judges.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Very nice.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Now, Adam, can you give us an idea of maybe
what some of the winning ideas have been in the
past and maybe what they're doing now.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Yeah, So this past year in twenty twenty five, or
was Pixie Sweets. You know, I wish she was on
to tell her story, cause I'm sure she could do
it better than me. But they kind of caught onto this,
this gourmet marshmallow trend, if you will. And then beyond that,
they have a food truck as well and things like that.
The year before it was Pause Up and Pause Up
(23:18):
had an especially patent designed dogtail to clean your dog's
paws when they come in from the from the outdoors
so they don't track up your house. And they had
a lot of other products they were stacking on as well.
So seeing both those companies still growing and still thriving
after being the winner of the event we have been't
really rewarding to see because the goal of the tank
(23:40):
when we set this up is really to provide mentorship
and exposure and funding to some of these promising business
ideas in our local region.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Certainly.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Now let's see the pitches will be done November the
twelfth this year in the Robinson Grand Theater. What is
the deadline? When do people have to have their stuff
ready to go?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yeah, So our process is we want all applications in
by July thirty first. And what that does It gives
our selection committee time to pick the five contestants we're
going to choose to allow to come in and compete.
But then it gives them time to work with our
mentors and coaches and again w A Watta to record
the pitch videos. It gives us that runway of really
(24:26):
get them prepared. So November twelfth, they have a cristic
story and they're able to promote their idea or product
in a very professional way that gives them a chance
to not only when it gives them a chance to
really give it some great exposure and learn and tell
us story.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Okay, Now, one thing that I wanted to ask you
about Adam.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
We've got Adam Row.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
He's the chair of the Tank Entrepreneurial entrepreneurial competition put
on by the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce, and that
is mentorship. I'm looking at the item here and it
says from experienced business leaders, and I would say think that,
you know, maybe for someone that has a towel that
(25:04):
you use to wipe your dog's paws with, that mentorship
is pretty dog gone valuable because you probably have other ideas.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Oh absolutely, yeah, and that mentorship I mean, you know,
our grand prize for the winner, the cash prize is
ten thousand dollars, but for the winner of the event,
you get another thirty to forty thousand dollars. In accounting services,
legal services, myself, financial planning services. There's so many professional
services that our community has really leaned in and offered
(25:37):
to donate to really come around these people and help
them go from where they are to where they're trying
to go.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Now, Adam, what kind of crowds do you draw these
events there at the Robinson Grand Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
I probably am not as prepared answer as I should be,
but I think I think last year it was around
two hundred and just a hair over two hundred. Maybe
I think the year before it was similar, but it's
grown just a pat and I think this year we're
expecting to much for your crowd, especially going regional.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yeah, because I was looking at your information here and
it says that ticket prices are ten dollars of person,
and they say that the attendees play a critical role
in the competition. Talk about that.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, So this is probably one of the
parts that is the most fun for me. So everyone
that comes and supports the event will pay ten dollars
to get in, but that ten dollars goes to the
fan favorite. So at the end of the night, after
all the pitches have been done, we let the crowd vote.
There's a QR code on your program when you come
(26:40):
in and we let the crowd get on their phone
and vote for the one they like the best. So again,
this isn't who the judges are going to pick as
the best one. It's the one the fans like the best.
And then all the door money, all the ticket sales
is directly to that fan favorite.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
And those people that buy a ticket are entered into
with drawing that includes some pretty nice prizes.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Yeah. Absolutely, so, we've really we've really had our our
path participants step up and start to be involved. So
some of those vendors will be on on display and
they'll they'll be participating as well in some of that
with the prizes and such.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Okay, perfect, Now let's see the ground door prize is
a weekend get away at the Ogle Bay Resort in Wheeling,
plus a two hundred dollars gift card. And don't forget that, veterans.
It'll be on Veterans Day or just after Veterans Oh there.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
It is.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
All military personnel with a military ID receive free admission
and attendees always look forward to the awarding of the
high school scholarships.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Is that happening at this event?
Speaker 4 (27:53):
It is?
Speaker 5 (27:53):
Yeah, absolutely so, Military veterans, we definitely want them to
come for free and be a part of it. In
the high school skar folarship we actually started last year.
So Triple H Enterprises has been incredibly generous and last
year they stepped up to fund five local students with
a five hundred dollars scholarship each. And those five local
(28:14):
students have won and participated in local high school entrepreneur
contests and we're recognizing them and Triple H again big
thanks to all that they do. But they stepped up
to do that last year, and they've agreed to step
up again this year to take care of the five
high school students again this year that have won their
local competitions.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
That's great and all this information is out on the
world wide web at Harrison County Chamber dot com. The
event is coming up on November the twelfth, and the
deadline for submissions is coming up on July thirty first,
And Adam, if you would like to give your business
contact information, I'd love for you.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
To do that.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
Yeah, absolutely, so contact us about the tank. We're happy
to take those calls or about if you have any
financial planning needs. We're Northwestern Mutual in Bridgeport. Our telephone
numbers three here, four six, two, four, five fours years ago,
and we'd love to talk to you and have the
community in any way that we can.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Okay, perfect, Adam Rowld. It's been a pleasure and I'm
a little bit excited for this.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Yeah, we're very excited, Mike. Thanks so much. I really
appreciate you having us on.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Absolutely take care of yourself, Adam, and have a great day.
Seventy four degrees partly cloudy skies in the University City.
We'll be back right after this on Top of the Town.
AM fourteen forty f M. One oh four point five
W A Jr.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven to
sixty five eight two. This is the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
A good Thursday morning. Looks like it's going to be
a pretty decent day now.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
The Wednesday edition of Talk of the Town included the
legal director of disability Rights at West Virginia. You can
check that story out at wvmetronews dot com. Some of
the things that Mike Folio talked about, certainly ieopening, but
let's not lose sight of some of the good that
(30:28):
he talked about, and that's actually some of the reforms
at the Department of Health and Human Services. We were
speaking exclusively about the Department of Health facilities, which of
course are two well they were chopped up into three,
and that's two thirds.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
Of what was the d hhh R.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Now coming up, we're going to reach out to Joey
Garcia in Marion County and maybe get a follow up
from him on some of the things that Michael Foley
and I spoke about. I know that Joey has been
pretty outspoken about keeping state run healthcare facilities open and
(31:13):
has also expressed concern about efficiencies and keeping things running correctly,
especially for the patients, but also fiscally for the state.
Now coming up, at the top of the hour, state
high school baseball tournament action gets underway, and this is
(31:34):
the first edition of the four class state tournament system.
And coming up at ten am at the top of
the hour, Webster County number four seed, they're thirteen and thirteen.
They're going to take on number one Madonna that is
coming up at ten am. So here's the way it's
going to work. From now until Saturday, We're going to
(31:54):
have twelve games. All twelve of those games will be
streaming on Metro News Radio. On the network at wvmetronews
dot com. So we'll have the semifinals today in Class
Single and Double A, the Class Triple and Quada semifinals
(32:16):
coming up on Friday, and then the championship matchups. Those
will be held on Saturday, and you'll be able to
enjoy each one of the championship games in high definition
on the Metronews Television app now if you don't have
the app yet, it is free and available also at
(32:40):
wvmetronews dot com. Coming up tomorrow on the program, we're
going to wake welcome State Agriculture Commissioner Kent Lileenheart to
the program, and we're going to talk a little bit
about where we are drought wise today and how bad
the drought got last year. And one of the things
(33:01):
that I want to talk to Kent about is that
this time last year, we were almost in the exact
same position. A matter of fact, I think we were
awfully dog gone close and we were still getting rain
during the month of June. However, just about middle of
June the rain shut off and didn't return until August.
And we know what the outcome was. It hurt farmers
(33:25):
horribly and it also brought out the need for some
of those relief programs. So we'll talk to State agg
Commissioner Kent Leonheart about that on Friday.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
And then I've.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Reached out to doctor Jessica Thompson with Grace Shelter that's
run by Catholic Charities up at Hazel's House of Hope,
and she provided her presentation to Morgantown City Council and
to the County Commission about the available beds and some
of the problems that they've had. And we're going to
bring Jessica onto the program because you know, since the
(34:02):
April municipal election and the camping band was upheld by
the voters, I've said from the beginning, say it again,
we have an opportunity here.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
We really do. We've got a big opportunity here.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
And we've known for a long time that shelter beds
are an issue. Well now we have not only the necessity, yes,
we have the necessity the camping band. We need more
shelter beds and it looks like that there are options,
and we're going to talk with Jessica Thompson about those options,
(34:38):
and that is coming up on tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
We'll do that at nine.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
To thirty right now seventy four and just a few
clouds in Morgantown. We'll be back to wrap things up
coming up right after this on Top of the Town
AM fourteen forty FM oneh four point five eight jr.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Now back to the Talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Well, good Thursday morning.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Don't forget about the joint operation between the River Road
Volunteer Fire Department and WVU Medicine Children's Hospital. It's called
Hope Bash. That's coming up on June fourteenth. That's a
Saturday down at the Morgantown Marriotta Waterfront Place in the
event center there. Tickets are on sale now.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
You can go.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Out to Hopebash dot com and get those tickets now.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
That include that event includes an.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Elimination dinner, a three hour unlimited beer and wine bar
in a buffet style dinner. They also have some silent
auctions and door prize drawings, and they've got a really
good live band that is just kind of on the
upswing and they're going to be performing live. And as
(36:06):
we know, we had Joe Statler on the program. I
believe that was on Monday. The situation for volunteer fire
services and ems across the state is certainly not getting
any easier. Getting any better in this event will certainly
help both organizations and tickets are on sale right now.
(36:28):
That website once again is hopebash dot com and the
baseball playoffs high school Baseball Playoffs. They'll get started at
the top of the hour. Morgantown won't play until tomorrow,
and we will have that game live on WAJR for
(36:48):
your enjoyment. Otherwise, all the other games will be streamed
live at wv metronews dot com. Everybody, make it a
great Thursday, gain it out, make it a productive one,
and get something done because the weather is coming.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
And it necessarily.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Doesn't look too bad, but it definitely definitely looks wet.
Seventy four in Morgantown Metro News talk Line Next
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