November 14, 2025 • 37 mins
Nutcracker Ballet Sales director Bobbie Christopolis on the show coming to Morgantown December 1.
Aaron and Toni Marko on the Arise, Tree of Hope event at the Cavalry Chapel in Morgantown December 6.
Morgantown High School Athletics Director John Bowers on signing day, a volleyball championship, and the start of high school playoff action.
Aaron and Toni Marko on the Arise, Tree of Hope event at the Cavalry Chapel in Morgantown December 6.
Morgantown High School Athletics Director John Bowers on signing day, a volleyball championship, and the start of high school playoff action.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Clarksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two fivey five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike Notlting.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
At the top of the morning to you. It is
a Friday. We made it to the end of the week.
We got some cloudy skies in the University City this morning,
forty degrees Metro Newsaki Weather says, looks like it's gonna
be another nice day to get the weekend started. And
a beautiful night for the first night of high school
football playoffs. Today partly sunny, high fifty four degrees. Then
(00:48):
tonight just a slight chance for a shower, but it
won't come until after the last plays have been played.
Just a cloudy sky and a low temperature of forty
four degrees tonight, So a perfect night for high school football.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Welcome to Talk of the Town. I'm Mike Nolton.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You'll find me on x as your news guy producing
the program. Today is the one the only Sofia Wassick.
You'll be able to get to Sofia at eight hundred
seven six five eight two five five. Of course, the
text line is open and available to you. That number
is eight hundred seven six five. I'm sorry, that number
(01:33):
is three zero four talk three zero four.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
It is Friday. Don't know about you.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
But.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I feel like we all deserve a pat on the back,
a little bit of positive encouragement today. Let's take a
look at a couple of headlines, then we'll lay out
the map for the program today. Oh Governor Patrick Morrissey
traveled to the Rolling thundermine and l County Thursday evening,
and Morrissey said, the mind foreman, forty two year old
(02:05):
Stephen Lipscomb, whose body was recovered that morning, was a
quintin central West Virginian. Lipscomb was married with two children,
two thousand and one, graduate of Herbert Hoover High School,
and also a former marine and Purple Heart recipient. State
and federal investigators are continuing to look in to see
(02:25):
what caused the flood in that mind, but it's believed
that millions of gallons of water burst into the mind
Saturday afternoon. Lipscomb is credited with getting all the other
miners out, and that number was seventeen other souls, thoughts
and prayers certainly out to the Lipscomb family. West Virginia
(02:47):
residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits got some good news.
They're back in business. Cash was transmitted to cards across
the state within hours of the end of the longest
federal government and shut down in the history of the country. Now,
that vote was taken in the US House Representatives Wednesday evening.
(03:08):
Money backed cards Thursday, Governor Morrissey made that announcement. Thursday
was a big morning for the governor, that's for sure,
because he was presiding over the twoenty twenty five Governor's
Energy Summit that was in the capital city of Charleston. Now,
as a part of that, there was an announcement that
(03:29):
a group of developers planned to build a one point
two billion dollar gas fired plant in Harrison County at
six hundred and twenty five megawatt.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Facility will be added to the.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
First Energy one point two gigawatt facility that was announced
last week, so very quickly Harrison County becoming one of
the major producers of energy in the state. WVU Athletics
Director Rin Baker says fans should never come into contact
(04:03):
with visiting student athletes. A. Baker's issuing an apology in
connection with an incident that happened Wednesday evening after Marshall
beat WVU in the postseason men's soccer game. Now, Baker
says that contact that happened immediately after the game is
absolutely unacceptable. He says, quote, want to apologize to Marshall,
(04:26):
It's men's soccer program and its fans. There's a video
out there, as a matter of fact, it was caught
on an ESPN Plus broadcast of a fan swinging at
a Marshall player and he and others come over to
the fans that are.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Celebrating that winning goal.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
WVU Statler College of Engineering they're having their first ever
industry Day today. They've got a whole group of researchers,
students and professionals taking a look at different technologies and
some things like that. And now guests will also tour
twelve research labs that are showcasing work in robotics, energy production,
(05:09):
and advanced printing, advanced three D printing, I might add,
and certainly the robotics program is just nothing short of amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Certainly, don't get me started. Now.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Tonight the high school football playoffs start and top seeded Morgantown.
They'll be welcoming Buckhannon Upsher Pony lewis Field. You'll be
able to get that game, of course, live on the
air at WAJAR. I'm sorry the live game on WAJR
(05:45):
will be University hosting Parkersburg. But over on Metro News
TV you'll be able to get the broadcast of the
Mohegans and Buckhannon Upsher here in the city of Morgantown.
Coming up at about going to touch base with Morgantown
High School Athletics Director John Bowers, get some details on parking,
(06:07):
game traffics and things like that. We'll also talk about
their signing day that was held on Thursday, Thursday morning
at nine o'clock, I believe. Coming up next, gonna spend
a few minutes with Bobby Christopoulos, the director of sales
for the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet. Now, this is a
(06:28):
Broadway caliber national troop travels the country.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
They've been doing it for a few decades.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
We're gonna talk to Bobby about the show that is
coming up December first at the Creative Arts Center. And
I've got some good news regarding food pantries and food distribution.
We'll do that next on top of the town. AM
fourteen forty f M one h four point five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred seven sixty five
eight two fivey five. This is the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Good Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Glad you're with us nine eighteen clouds and forty by
the way in the University city. On the phone, we've
got Bobby Crystallopolis.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Well, i'll tell you what. That's a mouthful if you're
not ready for it.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Bobby is the director of sales with the Nutcracker Ballet.
Good morning, Bobby, How are you?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Good morning Mike. I am doing great.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
How are you, hey, I'm doing very well.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Thank you very much. Now, you and your group are
going to be coming to the city of Morgantown on
December the first, to the Candidate Creative Arts Center, and
we're very excited for your arrival.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah, at West Virginia University, we are very excited to
come to We have we've worked with West Virginia University
to bring our show to the Creative Arts Center for
a number of years and we so appreciate that the
West Virginia University presents us for this show, So thank you,
(08:17):
thank them. Happy to come.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Now, Bobby, I tell.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
You more, Yeah, absolutely, tell us what we're going to
see that night December the first.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Yeah, the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet, so very much a
Nutcracker like you would have seen. But we have some
more elements that are a little bit unique, and we
try to bring something new each year. Something that we
are very excited about this year is the kind of
(08:49):
circus type elements, acrobatics and these dancers are just so skilled,
so talented, and what they are able to do with
their bodies, it's amazing to me. So we'll look at
the larger than life puppets, these acrobatic techniques I mentioned,
and this year something brand new. We are bringing Sweets
(09:11):
the Dog, a puppet who will lead the party guests
into the Stalbum household. And he's just so adorable. I
love this little dog puppet and I can't wait to
see him when he's in my area. Now you'll see
him first at Morgantown.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Okay, Well, let's see. Just a few days ago we
had Jamie Willery on. He's the assistant dean of production presentation,
operations and cultural engagement, and he billed this as a
Broadway level production.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
Talk about that, Yeah, definitely, yeah, sure, sure, yeah, definitely.
We work with dancers from all over the world. We
have dancers from Japan, Italy, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Poland
and more on our tours. And they really this is
their life. They've been practicing ballet and learning ballet since
(10:06):
they were little children, and now you know, they're in
their twenties and they just are the best of the best.
Our sets and costumes were built in Europe, and our
costume designer is just incredible, Arthur Oliver. He brings amazing
things to the stage. Every time I go to one
(10:29):
of the shows nearer to me, I just sit back
and I listen to all the other patrons around me
oohing and eyeing at Arthur's incredible costumes. And I think,
you know, your guests will feel that same way. But
it's just it'll transform you. It'll transport you to something magical,
(10:50):
something exciting, something breathtaking every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Bobby Christopolis, she is the director of sales for the
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet. Now tell me about your tour
This year. How many cities are you hitting.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Yeah, we'll hit over eighty cities this year, from New
York City to Los Angeles. And in the Midwest, we
have some great shows in Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, ab We're
always happy to stop in Morgantown along the way, Dallas,
you know, San Antonio. We're going everywhere, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
And we're glad to have you, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Okay, Well, you can get tickets by heading out to
the WVU Candidate Creative Arts Center website and there's a
tab right there where you can get tickets. Still lots
of good tickets left. And once again, the show's coming
up on December the first, at seven point thirty at
the Candidate Creative Arts Center. Hey, Bobby, really do appreciate
(11:56):
your time, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Thank you, yeah, thank you so much, and happy holidays
to everybody.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Merry Christmas, absolutely, merry Christmas. And of course you've got
to throw in a happy New Year there, a.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Very happy new Year. I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Okay, Hey, Bobby, thank you. That's yeah. Well, Hey, thank
you for your time.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
I'm very very very welcome. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Absolutely, you take care of yourself.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Bobby Christopolis with the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Those tickets are.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Available and there are lots of good seats remaining, that's
for sure. Now I've got some good news just before
it came on the air today, and that is that
the Mountaineer Food Bank has reported that they are now
receiving shipments of food and they've got more coming. And
(12:46):
it just so happens that tomorrow, with the help of
the West Virginia National Guard, they will be over at
the Morgantown Mall in Westover. That event will be from
let's see, it'll be, I believe from ten to eleven
thirty in the morning. They'll be over at the Morgantown
(13:07):
Mall here in Montgelia County.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
And as I.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Understand it, we're going to see some National guardsmen helping
with the effort to distribute food for the residents here
in Montgelia County. Now, certainly, just one week ago today
you were instrumental in our ability to be able to
collect over one thousand dollars and more than forty three
(13:34):
hundred pounds of food for those in need across the community.
And of course, thank goodness that those snap benefits started
to hit cards yesterday those families are able to go
out and I guess take care of their hunger needs,
especially right before the weekend and right before the holidays
(13:56):
as well. But the Mountaineer Food Bank will be at
the Morgantown Mall tomorrow morning distributing food. They'll have the
help of the West Virginia National Guard to do that
as well. Now, PEIA, that's also on a radar and
going to mix in another topic we'll throw in green
(14:17):
bag road because next week they're going to be a
couple of very important meetings. On Monday, there is a
PEIA meeting and that meeting will be held in the
Mountain Layer. Of course, the last meeting that we had
regarding PEIA here was held at the Ericson Alumni Center
(14:39):
and drew probably two hundred and fifty to three hundred people.
Some people drove an hour and a half or two
hours to have their opinions heard, and of course there
were a variety of state lawmakers in attendance as well.
And now this meeting coming up on Monday, we certainly
expect the same thing. Pei A finance board is projecting
(15:03):
a three percent increase in those premiums for state workers,
including teachers, and I've been watching on social media a
lot of people talking about the premium increases, seeing some
pictures of some receipts and some comparisons to what people
(15:23):
are paying in comparison to what they were last year.
I guess when you go back here, just about a month,
the Montgelia County Commission, they went through the process of
renewing their health insurance policies for employees and they're looking
at I believe those employees were looking at a two
(15:44):
percent increase, yet the county was continuing to pick up
much of those costs. Three percent might be a typical
increase of what we see across the board for private
public just about across academia, and if you take a
(16:04):
look at healthcare costs and specifically maybe prescription drugs and
things like that, those increases probably much more than three percent.
So a three percent increase to pei A maybe not
quite as bad as we might think. But we need
(16:25):
to hear from the people, and we also need to
continue to work with the state lawmakers because you know,
there's been talk of a more durable solution for since
I came to this area, and it's just been talk,
so you know, hopefully can make some headway there. Now
(16:47):
green Bag Road might have been some of you. I
know I was one of them on a Thursday afternoon
that was caught in that traffic on green Bag Road,
and the way that works now Lucky Lane is now closed,
so you no longer have that cut through to get
from green Bag Road to cut across to get over
(17:10):
to Dorsey Avenue without having to maybe go up to
the intersection of the Kingwood Pike now coming up on
Tuesday evening at the Mountaineer Elementary or I'm sorry, the
Mountain View Elementary School there on Lucky Lane. You'll have
to access that from the old Family Dollar entrance or
(17:31):
from the that would be the east side coming off
of green Bag Road there by the Pipe Fitters Union office.
That's where you have to access the school because due
to some construction they've got Lucky Lane closed.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Now I was I think it.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I think I was stuck in there for probably thirty
five or forty minutes, and the traffic was absolutely solid
from the Child Advocacy Center around the bend, up the hill,
past the church, past the school, through the stop light,
(18:09):
and started to break up when you got down a
round Bluegrass Village. But certainly if that's what we're looking
at through the construction of green Bag Road, certainly hope
that there are plenty of people that will show up
Tuesday evening to let folks know maybe about a lack
(18:29):
of a traffic maintenance plan. But you know, then again,
maybe that was just a snapshot, just a bad day
up there on the road, and don't know, maybe there
could have been an accident that happened prior to that
that certainly exacerbated that traffic issue.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
But definitely.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Green Bag Road is going to be ground zero for
a lot of construction over the next few years.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
We certainly we talked about the roundabouts going down at
Mississippi and then the other roundabout up at the Kingwood Pike.
We know that those are definitely in process. Those are
definitely gonna happen this next phase from Lucky Lane down
to Route seven. That meeting coming up Tuesday evening at
(19:17):
the Mountain View Elementary School certainly encourage you to participate
in that process. Coming up next, we're gonna talk about
a tree lighting, the Tree of Hope. Gonna spend a
few minutes with Aaron Marco and talk about that effort
what it means. It's coming up on December the sixth
(19:37):
at the Castle at Calvary Chapel here in Morgantown. We'll
talk with Aaron Marco more about that coming up next.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Good Friday Mornings of Clouds and forty in the University City.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
I'm Mike Nolton in studio.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
I've got Aaron Marco and Tony Marco and good morning
to both of you.
Speaker 6 (20:14):
How are you and good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
It is a pleasure to have you both here. Now.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
We are here to talk about the Arise Tree of
Hope program and it's operated at the Castle at the
Cavalry Chapel in the city of Morgantown. Aaron, why don't
you tell us about what this program is please?
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
So this is a function of it's an outreach actually
from our church at Cavary Chapel, Morgantown, which a lot
of people would know that by the big castle out
there on Tyrone Road, and so our church there and
so we facilitated a Christian based recovery outreach from the
church there. Meets every Thursday night, and you know our
upcoming event, our third annual Tree of Hope Grayson Remembrance
(20:57):
is what we're here to primarily talk about today.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Is December sixth at six thirty. I believe that's exactly right, O, Kate,
What are you going to do that night?
Speaker 6 (21:06):
Well, it's going to be a great event. So there's
a couple of primary things about the event. So it's
going to be a tree lighting ceremony, but it provides
an opportunity for the community to come together really focused
in on prayer, camaraderie, standing shoulders shoulder with others that
are dealing with suffering from addiction themselves or people that
(21:26):
love somebody that are struggling with addiction. Right, So oftentimes
we know this that the difficulty that's going on in
the country right now is at our doorstep. There are
very few people that aren't directly touched by this, right,
so everybody's got skin in the game. The insidiousness that
oftentimes is that we can feel very alone. So this
(21:48):
just gives people an opportunity to come together and stand
shoulder and shoulder and know that you're not alone in
such a difficult battle.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
That's Aaron Marco, Tony Marco, Aaron and Tony with us
here this morning. We're talking about the tree lighting ceremony
coming up on December the sixth. There's an opportunity for
you to get an ornament. We're going to talk about
that coming up here in just a moment. But Tony,
this is personal for you and your family.
Speaker 7 (22:12):
Yeah, it's very personal. Yeah, we lost our son eight
years ago today and we, you know, thought we were
fighting the good fight, fighting hard with him, and he
did go to a rise in Maine and he got
forty pounds heavier and happy, came back home. Wrong person
found out he was back and snuck it out to
(22:34):
our house. You know, we were told he could have
been cleaned ten years, fifteen years, the same thing happened.
So I just remember just feeling so alone, but just
the grace of God being so strong with us, and
he just laid on my heart and Aaron's heart to
just go out there and go after the families who
(22:55):
sometimes are just left devastated with not knowing what to
do or how.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
To move forward. What was your son's name, Chase, Chase,
Chase Marco. Yes, Okay, now tell us about these ornaments.
Speaker 6 (23:07):
Yeah, so you're telling about you will so we have.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
Three different colors which mean the different stages of addiction.
So there is blue that means struggling, gold is for sobriety,
and then purple is for remembrance. And when you register
an ornament, everything is completely free, completely confidential. But you
can register yourself, a coworker, a family member, anyone you want,
(23:31):
and then you'll come out that night if you want to.
You can hang it on the tree yourself. If you
can't make it, we will very lovingly hang it for
you and we leave the tree once we light it.
It stays lit through the Christmas season, just in remembrance
of you know, we're all here. You know, no one
wants to be in this little group, but we are.
(23:52):
And even though it may sound like a sad event,
the last two years was so nice just coming out
and just feeling just feeling support, just I don't know,
feeling hope.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Now, let's you say everything is free. But then again,
we have the Thursday outreach where we have meetings and
those meetings are broken into groups. Could you go into
a little bit of detail please.
Speaker 6 (24:18):
Yeah, Mike. So we meet every Thursday evening and you
know it's a christ centered recovery ministry really taking place
out of the Calvary Chapel location there. So we meet
seven o'clock. Look, our belief through our program here is
that you know that the answers are there for us
right and through a relationship with Jesus Christ, we can
find truly resurrection from the difficulties. And so we have
(24:41):
a meeting, we focus on a Bible study, and then
we break off into three primary groups. We have a
men's group, of women's group, and then we have a
family group which my wife and I head up. And
you know, we walk alongside and shoulder the difficulties and
navigate how to love someone who is struggling with addiction
right in a way that's biblical and godly and facilitates recovery,
true recovery and resurrection.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
So sounds like a lesson in forgiveness.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Well for sure, I mean mercies are never ending, for sure,
that's definitely true.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Okay, now you mentioned that this is all completely free. However,
I think you know, you know the community we live,
and we live in a great community we do, there
are going to be some people that want to step
up and help.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
So how can they do that?
Speaker 6 (25:26):
Well, they could certainly reach out to the ministry. You know,
we really don't think about the financial side of this
in any way whatsoever. That's really never been a part
of our focus. And you know, while we do facilitate
travel for folks for long term addiction recover, we help
find people placement in different programs. We really haven't you know,
(25:47):
you could certainly donate through Cavalry Chapel and you know,
so there's ways to reach them and you could certainly,
you know, put specifically for the ARISE program on any
donations you make, and that would be super great. But
the idea here is really just a stand shoulders shoulder.
They say that, you know, when we share pain, that
is pain divided, you know, and that's really the thing,
you know.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
So you could get more information at c C Morgantown
dot com. And this event is coming up December the sixth,
six point thirty at the Castle at Cavalry Chapel here
in the city of Morgantown. Don't know a lot about
the ARISE program, but you mentioned that there was an
(26:27):
ARISE affiliate in Maine, so it sounds like maybe a
national effort.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
What can you tell us about a RISE?
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Yeah, so the the outreach grew out of Matchia's Maine,
where there is addiction Recovery home there and it's a
long term discipleship program. It's a nine month program and
it's it's no fluff, it's no frills, it's and it's
fully christ centered. You show up and you get a
couple of days to kind of acclimate, and then you
get to work and you start learning how to recover
and be a productive human being again in society, right.
(26:57):
And it's it's a pay as you go think. It's
really it's not folks on money. It's focused on recovery.
That's what it's really about. And so we became affiliated
with it. And one of the things you can do
once you graduate that program, then you can actually go
through a longer discipleship program and then step out into
the community and help facilitate these So John Donne, a
great guy who had been through the program himself, came
(27:19):
down and helped set this one up here. So it's
really kind of spreading, right. That's the whole idea is
that you know, this thing grows. Look here, we're all
dealing with the difficulties of addiction and there's it's a
multi front battlefield so to speak. And we're trying to
do our part on our side. You know, that's what
we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Sure, you know you guys have been on this battlefront
for eight years, and I know that you know that
there are people out there right now that are teetering
on the line.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
You know, do I or don't I? Yes, what do
you say to them?
Speaker 6 (27:55):
I would say if you're to depending on who you
are in that you know, So if you're looking at
we talk about how do we how do we stop this? Right?
And so education people talk about education. Education is great,
I get it, but what are you educating? Go tell
a teenager, hey, this is dangerous. Is that going to
stop them from doing it? As a young man that
(28:17):
would tell me, I wanted you that tell me it's dangerous.
I'm going to do it right. At the end of
the day, our our goal is to remove demand, right
the demand side of this or supplying there's demand. And
if we can help remove demand by establishing a relationship
with Jesus Christ that I don't need to worry about
things in the world. I don't need to worry about
what the world thinks of me, right, then I can
(28:39):
do a little part in alleviating the demand side. That's
at least that's my kind of get up.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
And go Sure for me with the moms, to call
a mom and a nen abler is like a bad thing,
but to understand that it's okay for your adult child
to have consequences for what he's done. We've all had consequences.
So it's just helping moms get to a point that
you're not standing in the way of their recovery or
(29:07):
you're not pacifying them to where they never have to
feel the weight of what they're the life they're living,
because usually the thing that drives you to your knees
is the thing that makes you want to change, and
that's like the point. And then understanding that that's actually
a biblical and good parenting to let them be there
when they need it, but let them fall, let them
(29:27):
stuff with that consequence to where they cry out to
really want to help.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Aaron and Tony Marco really do appreciate your time today.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Anything else In closing.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
Yeah, I'll just say real quick if you want to register,
which we would hope you would love to come out
and celebrate and stand alongside with these other people. Like
I said, it's going to be December sixth. If you
want to register for that, if you know somebody that
you want to lean into prayer with, you want to
be recognized of this thing, you can go to the
Cavary Chapel website at cc Morgantown dot com. You can
(29:57):
navigate to the Rise from Addiction tab and the regist
stra is located under there, so you can register for that.
You can pick that. If you can show up, even better,
but if not, we gladly place that ornament on there
as a representation of your prayer for this person. Right
whether you're celebrating walking in recovery, whether you're struggling still
at this point in time and you lifted up, or
whether you have a loved one that is struggling and
(30:18):
you just want to know that you're not alone in it.
This is an event for you in the community. Okay,
So we'd invite you to come out.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
I want to tell you that I'm very, very sorry
for your loss, but at the same time, I'm unbelievably
grateful for your fight.
Speaker 6 (30:35):
Thank hey, thanks for having us so mus great.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Absolutely, you guys take care of yourselves.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Forty degrees in Clouds when we come back, it's going
to be high school football playoff action and we'll talk
about signing day at Morgantown High School. That's next Talk
of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four
point five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Well, good Friday morning, clouds and forty degrees Metro Newsaki
Weather says it will be a picture perfect night for
high school football playoff action.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
On the phone.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
We've got athletics director John Bowers from Morgantown High School.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
John, Good morning, how are you y?
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Good morning, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Absolutely pleasure to have you on board. John.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
First, let's talk about signing day. Happened on Thursday morning
at Morgantown High School.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Well, actually we you know, we were down the state
volleyball championship bringing home the hardware, so we bumped it
to today. So we had a great day. We celebrated
six of our of our young folks that have made
a declaration that they're going to go be student athletes
at the next level. We had Patrick Ackerman, Davis and
(31:59):
Elkins for Lacrosse La Miller Eastern Michigan for soccer, Camden
Smith Old Dominion for soccer, Amelia White going to lock
Haven for lacrosse. Kira Smith softball, she's going to Potoma
State and then our state champ for volleyball. He is
going to go play softball at Robert Morris MS. Mattie Wistman.
(32:20):
So it was a great, great morning to celebrate with
family and friends. And you know, it's a milestone. It's
a scrapbook kind of day. So we like those.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
And then you know, to do that, that was worth
the wait in order to pick up, as you call it,
the hardware state championship in volleyball. Tell us about that
big win because it was certainly nice to get. I'll
just get something out of your system when it comes
to Hedgesville.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Well, I'm so proud of our program. We've played in
four consecutive state championship games, won two championships, and we're
runners up place. Just just the staying power, the longevity
of the excellence within that program is fantastic. It culminated.
You know, these these seniors played in four state championship games,
(33:11):
which is really really impressive and super unheard of. Uh
So it was kind of fitting that they were able
to you know, culminate it with with a championship. They
certainly have worked hard and they've earned it, and it
just goes to show you the character counts. Uh, these
are kids of the highest character. You know, they spent
(33:31):
five hours Wednesday doing homework down the lobby and they're
just they're they're the best kids, and it's just it's
great to see.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
And uh, you know what, We've got one of your
former athletes producing this program this morning.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
So I just talked to her. You want to talk
about Mohegan excellence. So Fia wasik is the best.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
I couldn't agree with you more.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Hey now, John, tonight, big game, Buckhannon ups your It's
the beginning of the hopeful march of the Mohegans to
another state championship.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Yeah, let's hope. So we you know, we were fortunate
enough our kids and our coaches, our team have done
such a great job that we secured the number one seed.
So as long as as long as we're playing a
football game, it's going to be at Pony Lewis, which
is which is great clear till the I guess they're
calling it the Elite eight. Hopefully if we can, if
we can stretch it out that far. But yep, Coach
(34:28):
Bizer wouldn't want to look any further than tonight. We've
got Buchannan at home seven o'clock kick and you know
University High is also at home, so Clay Bateel is hosting.
So it's a it's a great celebration of some football
excellence here in mont County.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
And tickets available at the gate.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Yeah, it's actually through go Fan. It's it's through the
s SAC. We just happened to host the game. So
tickets through eight dollars through go Fan. We can redeem
them at the gate, but they have to be purchased
through go Fan.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Okay, Well, that game that will kick off tonight seven o'clock.
It will also be the featured game on Metro News TV.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
So let's see.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I guess, John Doy, do you have any any I guess,
gut field prediction, anything you want to tell us about
the game tonight.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
You know, when you're the coach, you obviously you know,
and I was the coach for a while, you have
different outcomes that you'd like. Obviously I'd like a Mohican victory,
but you know, you just hope that now that you're
the administrator. You just hope that operations go smoothly, right
the concession stand workers show up, no one gets hurt,
the official show off that you know, that kind of thing.
(35:47):
So logistically, my hope is for a safe, productive evening.
But Cannon is bringing their band, so there'll be two
great high school bands from north central West Virginia. It's
just gonna be a great night here on the on
the grounds of Morgantown High School.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
How does it change the bracket now that Martinsburg and
Parkersburg are split.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
Well, uh, you know, you know the prognosticators like to
say that Morgantown, Huntington, you know, Martinsburg are probably you know,
near the top. And when you talk about the favorites
and the fact that you know, Martinsburg and Huntington are
on the other side of the bracket. But we don't
have to worry about that. For a long time coach Byzer, well,
(36:32):
let you know, he's worried about Mechannan for fortunate enough
to get past them, Well, we'll worry about spring Mills
and Musselman or you know whoever we get after that.
You know, it's just it's just one step of a
time kind of deal. But yeah, that that sets up
very nicely for us.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Okay, good deal.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Hey John, really do appreciate your time here this morning,
and keep doing a good job with those young folks.
Thank you, sir, absolutely take care, have a great day
once again. High school football playoffs they start tonight, top
seeded Morgantown. They will entertain Buck Hannon Upcher Pony lewis Field.
(37:09):
That game will be live on Metro News TV. It
kicks off at seven o'clock over on the on the
air boy Get TV, Get Radio live on WAJR. We'll
have University hosting Parkersburg and then of course Clay Hotel.
(37:30):
That'll be tomorrow at one o'clock in the afternoon, and
of course we'll be watching the weather forecast for that
particular playoff game.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Right now it is nine fifty six cloud's forty degrees
in the University City.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
We'll be back to wrap
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Things up on the Voice of Morgantown one oh four
point five FM and AM fourteen forty WAJR
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Clarksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two fivey five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike Notlting.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
At the top of the morning to you. It is
a Friday. We made it to the end of the week.
We got some cloudy skies in the University City this morning,
forty degrees Metro Newsaki Weather says, looks like it's gonna
be another nice day to get the weekend started. And
a beautiful night for the first night of high school
football playoffs. Today partly sunny, high fifty four degrees. Then
(00:48):
tonight just a slight chance for a shower, but it
won't come until after the last plays have been played.
Just a cloudy sky and a low temperature of forty
four degrees tonight, So a perfect night for high school football.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Welcome to Talk of the Town. I'm Mike Nolton.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You'll find me on x as your news guy producing
the program. Today is the one the only Sofia Wassick.
You'll be able to get to Sofia at eight hundred
seven six five eight two five five. Of course, the
text line is open and available to you. That number
is eight hundred seven six five. I'm sorry, that number
(01:33):
is three zero four talk three zero four.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
It is Friday. Don't know about you.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
But.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I feel like we all deserve a pat on the back,
a little bit of positive encouragement today. Let's take a
look at a couple of headlines, then we'll lay out
the map for the program today. Oh Governor Patrick Morrissey
traveled to the Rolling thundermine and l County Thursday evening,
and Morrissey said, the mind foreman, forty two year old
(02:05):
Stephen Lipscomb, whose body was recovered that morning, was a
quintin central West Virginian. Lipscomb was married with two children,
two thousand and one, graduate of Herbert Hoover High School,
and also a former marine and Purple Heart recipient. State
and federal investigators are continuing to look in to see
(02:25):
what caused the flood in that mind, but it's believed
that millions of gallons of water burst into the mind
Saturday afternoon. Lipscomb is credited with getting all the other
miners out, and that number was seventeen other souls, thoughts
and prayers certainly out to the Lipscomb family. West Virginia
(02:47):
residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits got some good news.
They're back in business. Cash was transmitted to cards across
the state within hours of the end of the longest
federal government and shut down in the history of the country. Now,
that vote was taken in the US House Representatives Wednesday evening.
(03:08):
Money backed cards Thursday, Governor Morrissey made that announcement. Thursday
was a big morning for the governor, that's for sure,
because he was presiding over the twoenty twenty five Governor's
Energy Summit that was in the capital city of Charleston. Now,
as a part of that, there was an announcement that
(03:29):
a group of developers planned to build a one point
two billion dollar gas fired plant in Harrison County at
six hundred and twenty five megawatt.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Facility will be added to the.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
First Energy one point two gigawatt facility that was announced
last week, so very quickly Harrison County becoming one of
the major producers of energy in the state. WVU Athletics
Director Rin Baker says fans should never come into contact
(04:03):
with visiting student athletes. A. Baker's issuing an apology in
connection with an incident that happened Wednesday evening after Marshall
beat WVU in the postseason men's soccer game. Now, Baker
says that contact that happened immediately after the game is
absolutely unacceptable. He says, quote, want to apologize to Marshall,
(04:26):
It's men's soccer program and its fans. There's a video
out there, as a matter of fact, it was caught
on an ESPN Plus broadcast of a fan swinging at
a Marshall player and he and others come over to
the fans that are.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Celebrating that winning goal.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
WVU Statler College of Engineering they're having their first ever
industry Day today. They've got a whole group of researchers,
students and professionals taking a look at different technologies and
some things like that. And now guests will also tour
twelve research labs that are showcasing work in robotics, energy production,
(05:09):
and advanced printing, advanced three D printing, I might add,
and certainly the robotics program is just nothing short of amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Certainly, don't get me started. Now.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Tonight the high school football playoffs start and top seeded Morgantown.
They'll be welcoming Buckhannon Upsher Pony lewis Field. You'll be
able to get that game, of course, live on the
air at WAJAR. I'm sorry the live game on WAJR
(05:45):
will be University hosting Parkersburg. But over on Metro News
TV you'll be able to get the broadcast of the
Mohegans and Buckhannon Upsher here in the city of Morgantown.
Coming up at about going to touch base with Morgantown
High School Athletics Director John Bowers, get some details on parking,
(06:07):
game traffics and things like that. We'll also talk about
their signing day that was held on Thursday, Thursday morning
at nine o'clock, I believe. Coming up next, gonna spend
a few minutes with Bobby Christopoulos, the director of sales
for the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet. Now, this is a
(06:28):
Broadway caliber national troop travels the country.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
They've been doing it for a few decades.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
We're gonna talk to Bobby about the show that is
coming up December first at the Creative Arts Center. And
I've got some good news regarding food pantries and food distribution.
We'll do that next on top of the town. AM
fourteen forty f M one h four point five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred seven sixty five
eight two fivey five. This is the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Good Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Glad you're with us nine eighteen clouds and forty by
the way in the University city. On the phone, we've
got Bobby Crystallopolis.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Well, i'll tell you what. That's a mouthful if you're
not ready for it.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Bobby is the director of sales with the Nutcracker Ballet.
Good morning, Bobby, How are you?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Good morning Mike. I am doing great.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
How are you, hey, I'm doing very well.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Thank you very much. Now, you and your group are
going to be coming to the city of Morgantown on
December the first, to the Candidate Creative Arts Center, and
we're very excited for your arrival.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah, at West Virginia University, we are very excited to
come to We have we've worked with West Virginia University
to bring our show to the Creative Arts Center for
a number of years and we so appreciate that the
West Virginia University presents us for this show, So thank you,
(08:17):
thank them. Happy to come.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Now, Bobby, I tell.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
You more, Yeah, absolutely, tell us what we're going to
see that night December the first.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Yeah, the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet, so very much a
Nutcracker like you would have seen. But we have some
more elements that are a little bit unique, and we
try to bring something new each year. Something that we
are very excited about this year is the kind of
(08:49):
circus type elements, acrobatics and these dancers are just so skilled,
so talented, and what they are able to do with
their bodies, it's amazing to me. So we'll look at
the larger than life puppets, these acrobatic techniques I mentioned,
and this year something brand new. We are bringing Sweets
(09:11):
the Dog, a puppet who will lead the party guests
into the Stalbum household. And he's just so adorable. I
love this little dog puppet and I can't wait to
see him when he's in my area. Now you'll see
him first at Morgantown.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Okay, Well, let's see. Just a few days ago we
had Jamie Willery on. He's the assistant dean of production presentation,
operations and cultural engagement, and he billed this as a
Broadway level production.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
Talk about that, Yeah, definitely, yeah, sure, sure, yeah, definitely.
We work with dancers from all over the world. We
have dancers from Japan, Italy, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Poland
and more on our tours. And they really this is
their life. They've been practicing ballet and learning ballet since
(10:06):
they were little children, and now you know, they're in
their twenties and they just are the best of the best.
Our sets and costumes were built in Europe, and our
costume designer is just incredible, Arthur Oliver. He brings amazing
things to the stage. Every time I go to one
(10:29):
of the shows nearer to me, I just sit back
and I listen to all the other patrons around me
oohing and eyeing at Arthur's incredible costumes. And I think,
you know, your guests will feel that same way. But
it's just it'll transform you. It'll transport you to something magical,
(10:50):
something exciting, something breathtaking every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Bobby Christopolis, she is the director of sales for the
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet. Now tell me about your tour
This year. How many cities are you hitting.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Yeah, we'll hit over eighty cities this year, from New
York City to Los Angeles. And in the Midwest, we
have some great shows in Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, ab We're
always happy to stop in Morgantown along the way, Dallas,
you know, San Antonio. We're going everywhere, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
And we're glad to have you, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Okay, Well, you can get tickets by heading out to
the WVU Candidate Creative Arts Center website and there's a
tab right there where you can get tickets. Still lots
of good tickets left. And once again, the show's coming
up on December the first, at seven point thirty at
the Candidate Creative Arts Center. Hey, Bobby, really do appreciate
(11:56):
your time, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Thank you, yeah, thank you so much, and happy holidays
to everybody.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Merry Christmas, absolutely, merry Christmas. And of course you've got
to throw in a happy New Year there, a.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Very happy new Year. I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Okay, Hey, Bobby, thank you. That's yeah. Well, Hey, thank
you for your time.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
I'm very very very welcome. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Absolutely, you take care of yourself.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Bobby Christopolis with the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Those tickets are.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Available and there are lots of good seats remaining, that's
for sure. Now I've got some good news just before
it came on the air today, and that is that
the Mountaineer Food Bank has reported that they are now
receiving shipments of food and they've got more coming. And
(12:46):
it just so happens that tomorrow, with the help of
the West Virginia National Guard, they will be over at
the Morgantown Mall in Westover. That event will be from
let's see, it'll be, I believe from ten to eleven
thirty in the morning. They'll be over at the Morgantown
(13:07):
Mall here in Montgelia County.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
And as I.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Understand it, we're going to see some National guardsmen helping
with the effort to distribute food for the residents here
in Montgelia County. Now, certainly, just one week ago today
you were instrumental in our ability to be able to
collect over one thousand dollars and more than forty three
(13:34):
hundred pounds of food for those in need across the community.
And of course, thank goodness that those snap benefits started
to hit cards yesterday those families are able to go
out and I guess take care of their hunger needs,
especially right before the weekend and right before the holidays
(13:56):
as well. But the Mountaineer Food Bank will be at
the Morgantown Mall tomorrow morning distributing food. They'll have the
help of the West Virginia National Guard to do that
as well. Now, PEIA, that's also on a radar and
going to mix in another topic we'll throw in green
(14:17):
bag road because next week they're going to be a
couple of very important meetings. On Monday, there is a
PEIA meeting and that meeting will be held in the
Mountain Layer. Of course, the last meeting that we had
regarding PEIA here was held at the Ericson Alumni Center
(14:39):
and drew probably two hundred and fifty to three hundred people.
Some people drove an hour and a half or two
hours to have their opinions heard, and of course there
were a variety of state lawmakers in attendance as well.
And now this meeting coming up on Monday, we certainly
expect the same thing. Pei A finance board is projecting
(15:03):
a three percent increase in those premiums for state workers,
including teachers, and I've been watching on social media a
lot of people talking about the premium increases, seeing some
pictures of some receipts and some comparisons to what people
(15:23):
are paying in comparison to what they were last year.
I guess when you go back here, just about a month,
the Montgelia County Commission, they went through the process of
renewing their health insurance policies for employees and they're looking
at I believe those employees were looking at a two
(15:44):
percent increase, yet the county was continuing to pick up
much of those costs. Three percent might be a typical
increase of what we see across the board for private
public just about across academia, and if you take a
(16:04):
look at healthcare costs and specifically maybe prescription drugs and
things like that, those increases probably much more than three percent.
So a three percent increase to pei A maybe not
quite as bad as we might think. But we need
(16:25):
to hear from the people, and we also need to
continue to work with the state lawmakers because you know,
there's been talk of a more durable solution for since
I came to this area, and it's just been talk,
so you know, hopefully can make some headway there. Now
(16:47):
green Bag Road might have been some of you. I
know I was one of them on a Thursday afternoon
that was caught in that traffic on green Bag Road,
and the way that works now Lucky Lane is now closed,
so you no longer have that cut through to get
from green Bag Road to cut across to get over
(17:10):
to Dorsey Avenue without having to maybe go up to
the intersection of the Kingwood Pike now coming up on
Tuesday evening at the Mountaineer Elementary or I'm sorry, the
Mountain View Elementary School there on Lucky Lane. You'll have
to access that from the old Family Dollar entrance or
(17:31):
from the that would be the east side coming off
of green Bag Road there by the Pipe Fitters Union office.
That's where you have to access the school because due
to some construction they've got Lucky Lane closed.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Now I was I think it.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I think I was stuck in there for probably thirty
five or forty minutes, and the traffic was absolutely solid
from the Child Advocacy Center around the bend, up the hill,
past the church, past the school, through the stop light,
(18:09):
and started to break up when you got down a
round Bluegrass Village. But certainly if that's what we're looking
at through the construction of green Bag Road, certainly hope
that there are plenty of people that will show up
Tuesday evening to let folks know maybe about a lack
(18:29):
of a traffic maintenance plan. But you know, then again,
maybe that was just a snapshot, just a bad day
up there on the road, and don't know, maybe there
could have been an accident that happened prior to that
that certainly exacerbated that traffic issue.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
But definitely.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Green Bag Road is going to be ground zero for
a lot of construction over the next few years.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
We certainly we talked about the roundabouts going down at
Mississippi and then the other roundabout up at the Kingwood Pike.
We know that those are definitely in process. Those are
definitely gonna happen this next phase from Lucky Lane down
to Route seven. That meeting coming up Tuesday evening at
(19:17):
the Mountain View Elementary School certainly encourage you to participate
in that process. Coming up next, we're gonna talk about
a tree lighting, the Tree of Hope. Gonna spend a
few minutes with Aaron Marco and talk about that effort
what it means. It's coming up on December the sixth
(19:37):
at the Castle at Calvary Chapel here in Morgantown. We'll
talk with Aaron Marco more about that coming up next.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Good Friday Mornings of Clouds and forty in the University City.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
I'm Mike Nolton in studio.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
I've got Aaron Marco and Tony Marco and good morning
to both of you.
Speaker 6 (20:14):
How are you and good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
It is a pleasure to have you both here. Now.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
We are here to talk about the Arise Tree of
Hope program and it's operated at the Castle at the
Cavalry Chapel in the city of Morgantown. Aaron, why don't
you tell us about what this program is please?
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
So this is a function of it's an outreach actually
from our church at Cavary Chapel, Morgantown, which a lot
of people would know that by the big castle out
there on Tyrone Road, and so our church there and
so we facilitated a Christian based recovery outreach from the
church there. Meets every Thursday night, and you know our
upcoming event, our third annual Tree of Hope Grayson Remembrance
(20:57):
is what we're here to primarily talk about today.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Is December sixth at six thirty. I believe that's exactly right, O, Kate,
What are you going to do that night?
Speaker 6 (21:06):
Well, it's going to be a great event. So there's
a couple of primary things about the event. So it's
going to be a tree lighting ceremony, but it provides
an opportunity for the community to come together really focused
in on prayer, camaraderie, standing shoulders shoulder with others that
are dealing with suffering from addiction themselves or people that
(21:26):
love somebody that are struggling with addiction. Right, So oftentimes
we know this that the difficulty that's going on in
the country right now is at our doorstep. There are
very few people that aren't directly touched by this, right,
so everybody's got skin in the game. The insidiousness that
oftentimes is that we can feel very alone. So this
(21:48):
just gives people an opportunity to come together and stand
shoulder and shoulder and know that you're not alone in
such a difficult battle.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
That's Aaron Marco, Tony Marco, Aaron and Tony with us
here this morning. We're talking about the tree lighting ceremony
coming up on December the sixth. There's an opportunity for
you to get an ornament. We're going to talk about
that coming up here in just a moment. But Tony,
this is personal for you and your family.
Speaker 7 (22:12):
Yeah, it's very personal. Yeah, we lost our son eight
years ago today and we, you know, thought we were
fighting the good fight, fighting hard with him, and he
did go to a rise in Maine and he got
forty pounds heavier and happy, came back home. Wrong person
found out he was back and snuck it out to
(22:34):
our house. You know, we were told he could have
been cleaned ten years, fifteen years, the same thing happened.
So I just remember just feeling so alone, but just
the grace of God being so strong with us, and
he just laid on my heart and Aaron's heart to
just go out there and go after the families who
(22:55):
sometimes are just left devastated with not knowing what to
do or how.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
To move forward. What was your son's name, Chase, Chase,
Chase Marco. Yes, Okay, now tell us about these ornaments.
Speaker 6 (23:07):
Yeah, so you're telling about you will so we have.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
Three different colors which mean the different stages of addiction.
So there is blue that means struggling, gold is for sobriety,
and then purple is for remembrance. And when you register
an ornament, everything is completely free, completely confidential. But you
can register yourself, a coworker, a family member, anyone you want,
(23:31):
and then you'll come out that night if you want to.
You can hang it on the tree yourself. If you
can't make it, we will very lovingly hang it for
you and we leave the tree once we light it.
It stays lit through the Christmas season, just in remembrance
of you know, we're all here. You know, no one
wants to be in this little group, but we are.
(23:52):
And even though it may sound like a sad event,
the last two years was so nice just coming out
and just feeling just feeling support, just I don't know,
feeling hope.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Now, let's you say everything is free. But then again,
we have the Thursday outreach where we have meetings and
those meetings are broken into groups. Could you go into
a little bit of detail please.
Speaker 6 (24:18):
Yeah, Mike. So we meet every Thursday evening and you
know it's a christ centered recovery ministry really taking place
out of the Calvary Chapel location there. So we meet
seven o'clock. Look, our belief through our program here is
that you know that the answers are there for us
right and through a relationship with Jesus Christ, we can
find truly resurrection from the difficulties. And so we have
(24:41):
a meeting, we focus on a Bible study, and then
we break off into three primary groups. We have a
men's group, of women's group, and then we have a
family group which my wife and I head up. And
you know, we walk alongside and shoulder the difficulties and
navigate how to love someone who is struggling with addiction
right in a way that's biblical and godly and facilitates recovery,
true recovery and resurrection.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
So sounds like a lesson in forgiveness.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Well for sure, I mean mercies are never ending, for sure,
that's definitely true.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Okay, now you mentioned that this is all completely free. However,
I think you know, you know the community we live,
and we live in a great community we do, there
are going to be some people that want to step
up and help.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
So how can they do that?
Speaker 6 (25:26):
Well, they could certainly reach out to the ministry. You know,
we really don't think about the financial side of this
in any way whatsoever. That's really never been a part
of our focus. And you know, while we do facilitate
travel for folks for long term addiction recover, we help
find people placement in different programs. We really haven't you know,
(25:47):
you could certainly donate through Cavalry Chapel and you know,
so there's ways to reach them and you could certainly,
you know, put specifically for the ARISE program on any
donations you make, and that would be super great. But
the idea here is really just a stand shoulders shoulder.
They say that, you know, when we share pain, that
is pain divided, you know, and that's really the thing,
you know.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
So you could get more information at c C Morgantown
dot com. And this event is coming up December the sixth,
six point thirty at the Castle at Cavalry Chapel here
in the city of Morgantown. Don't know a lot about
the ARISE program, but you mentioned that there was an
(26:27):
ARISE affiliate in Maine, so it sounds like maybe a
national effort.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
What can you tell us about a RISE?
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Yeah, so the the outreach grew out of Matchia's Maine,
where there is addiction Recovery home there and it's a
long term discipleship program. It's a nine month program and
it's it's no fluff, it's no frills, it's and it's
fully christ centered. You show up and you get a
couple of days to kind of acclimate, and then you
get to work and you start learning how to recover
and be a productive human being again in society, right.
(26:57):
And it's it's a pay as you go think. It's
really it's not folks on money. It's focused on recovery.
That's what it's really about. And so we became affiliated
with it. And one of the things you can do
once you graduate that program, then you can actually go
through a longer discipleship program and then step out into
the community and help facilitate these So John Donne, a
great guy who had been through the program himself, came
(27:19):
down and helped set this one up here. So it's
really kind of spreading, right. That's the whole idea is
that you know, this thing grows. Look here, we're all
dealing with the difficulties of addiction and there's it's a
multi front battlefield so to speak. And we're trying to
do our part on our side. You know, that's what
we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Sure, you know you guys have been on this battlefront
for eight years, and I know that you know that
there are people out there right now that are teetering
on the line.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
You know, do I or don't I? Yes, what do
you say to them?
Speaker 6 (27:55):
I would say if you're to depending on who you
are in that you know, So if you're looking at
we talk about how do we how do we stop this? Right?
And so education people talk about education. Education is great,
I get it, but what are you educating? Go tell
a teenager, hey, this is dangerous. Is that going to
stop them from doing it? As a young man that
(28:17):
would tell me, I wanted you that tell me it's dangerous.
I'm going to do it right. At the end of
the day, our our goal is to remove demand, right
the demand side of this or supplying there's demand. And
if we can help remove demand by establishing a relationship
with Jesus Christ that I don't need to worry about
things in the world. I don't need to worry about
what the world thinks of me, right, then I can
(28:39):
do a little part in alleviating the demand side. That's
at least that's my kind of get up.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
And go Sure for me with the moms, to call
a mom and a nen abler is like a bad thing,
but to understand that it's okay for your adult child
to have consequences for what he's done. We've all had consequences.
So it's just helping moms get to a point that
you're not standing in the way of their recovery or
(29:07):
you're not pacifying them to where they never have to
feel the weight of what they're the life they're living,
because usually the thing that drives you to your knees
is the thing that makes you want to change, and
that's like the point. And then understanding that that's actually
a biblical and good parenting to let them be there
when they need it, but let them fall, let them
(29:27):
stuff with that consequence to where they cry out to
really want to help.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Aaron and Tony Marco really do appreciate your time today.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Anything else In closing.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
Yeah, I'll just say real quick if you want to register,
which we would hope you would love to come out
and celebrate and stand alongside with these other people. Like
I said, it's going to be December sixth. If you
want to register for that, if you know somebody that
you want to lean into prayer with, you want to
be recognized of this thing, you can go to the
Cavary Chapel website at cc Morgantown dot com. You can
(29:57):
navigate to the Rise from Addiction tab and the regist
stra is located under there, so you can register for that.
You can pick that. If you can show up, even better,
but if not, we gladly place that ornament on there
as a representation of your prayer for this person. Right
whether you're celebrating walking in recovery, whether you're struggling still
at this point in time and you lifted up, or
whether you have a loved one that is struggling and
(30:18):
you just want to know that you're not alone in it.
This is an event for you in the community. Okay,
So we'd invite you to come out.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
I want to tell you that I'm very, very sorry
for your loss, but at the same time, I'm unbelievably
grateful for your fight.
Speaker 6 (30:35):
Thank hey, thanks for having us so mus great.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Absolutely, you guys take care of yourselves.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Forty degrees in Clouds when we come back, it's going
to be high school football playoff action and we'll talk
about signing day at Morgantown High School. That's next Talk
of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four
point five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Well, good Friday morning, clouds and forty degrees Metro Newsaki
Weather says it will be a picture perfect night for
high school football playoff action.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
On the phone.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
We've got athletics director John Bowers from Morgantown High School.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
John, Good morning, how are you y?
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Good morning, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Absolutely pleasure to have you on board. John.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
First, let's talk about signing day. Happened on Thursday morning
at Morgantown High School.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Well, actually we you know, we were down the state
volleyball championship bringing home the hardware, so we bumped it
to today. So we had a great day. We celebrated
six of our of our young folks that have made
a declaration that they're going to go be student athletes
at the next level. We had Patrick Ackerman, Davis and
(31:59):
Elkins for Lacrosse La Miller Eastern Michigan for soccer, Camden
Smith Old Dominion for soccer, Amelia White going to lock
Haven for lacrosse. Kira Smith softball, she's going to Potoma
State and then our state champ for volleyball. He is
going to go play softball at Robert Morris MS. Mattie Wistman.
(32:20):
So it was a great, great morning to celebrate with
family and friends. And you know, it's a milestone. It's
a scrapbook kind of day. So we like those.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
And then you know, to do that, that was worth
the wait in order to pick up, as you call it,
the hardware state championship in volleyball. Tell us about that
big win because it was certainly nice to get. I'll
just get something out of your system when it comes
to Hedgesville.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Well, I'm so proud of our program. We've played in
four consecutive state championship games, won two championships, and we're
runners up place. Just just the staying power, the longevity
of the excellence within that program is fantastic. It culminated.
You know, these these seniors played in four state championship games,
(33:11):
which is really really impressive and super unheard of. Uh
So it was kind of fitting that they were able
to you know, culminate it with with a championship. They
certainly have worked hard and they've earned it, and it
just goes to show you the character counts. Uh, these
are kids of the highest character. You know, they spent
(33:31):
five hours Wednesday doing homework down the lobby and they're
just they're they're the best kids, and it's just it's
great to see.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
And uh, you know what, We've got one of your
former athletes producing this program this morning.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
So I just talked to her. You want to talk
about Mohegan excellence. So Fia wasik is the best.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
I couldn't agree with you more.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Hey now, John, tonight, big game, Buckhannon ups your It's
the beginning of the hopeful march of the Mohegans to
another state championship.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Yeah, let's hope. So we you know, we were fortunate
enough our kids and our coaches, our team have done
such a great job that we secured the number one seed.
So as long as as long as we're playing a
football game, it's going to be at Pony Lewis, which
is which is great clear till the I guess they're
calling it the Elite eight. Hopefully if we can, if
we can stretch it out that far. But yep, Coach
(34:28):
Bizer wouldn't want to look any further than tonight. We've
got Buchannan at home seven o'clock kick and you know
University High is also at home, so Clay Bateel is hosting.
So it's a it's a great celebration of some football
excellence here in mont County.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
And tickets available at the gate.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Yeah, it's actually through go Fan. It's it's through the
s SAC. We just happened to host the game. So
tickets through eight dollars through go Fan. We can redeem
them at the gate, but they have to be purchased
through go Fan.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Okay, Well, that game that will kick off tonight seven o'clock.
It will also be the featured game on Metro News TV.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
So let's see.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I guess, John Doy, do you have any any I guess,
gut field prediction, anything you want to tell us about
the game tonight.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
You know, when you're the coach, you obviously you know,
and I was the coach for a while, you have
different outcomes that you'd like. Obviously I'd like a Mohican victory,
but you know, you just hope that now that you're
the administrator. You just hope that operations go smoothly, right
the concession stand workers show up, no one gets hurt,
the official show off that you know, that kind of thing.
(35:47):
So logistically, my hope is for a safe, productive evening.
But Cannon is bringing their band, so there'll be two
great high school bands from north central West Virginia. It's
just gonna be a great night here on the on
the grounds of Morgantown High School.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
How does it change the bracket now that Martinsburg and
Parkersburg are split.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
Well, uh, you know, you know the prognosticators like to
say that Morgantown, Huntington, you know, Martinsburg are probably you know,
near the top. And when you talk about the favorites
and the fact that you know, Martinsburg and Huntington are
on the other side of the bracket. But we don't
have to worry about that. For a long time coach Byzer, well,
(36:32):
let you know, he's worried about Mechannan for fortunate enough
to get past them, Well, we'll worry about spring Mills
and Musselman or you know whoever we get after that.
You know, it's just it's just one step of a
time kind of deal. But yeah, that that sets up
very nicely for us.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Okay, good deal.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Hey John, really do appreciate your time here this morning,
and keep doing a good job with those young folks.
Thank you, sir, absolutely take care, have a great day
once again. High school football playoffs they start tonight, top
seeded Morgantown. They will entertain Buck Hannon Upcher Pony lewis Field.
(37:09):
That game will be live on Metro News TV. It
kicks off at seven o'clock over on the on the
air boy Get TV, Get Radio live on WAJR. We'll
have University hosting Parkersburg and then of course Clay Hotel.
(37:30):
That'll be tomorrow at one o'clock in the afternoon, and
of course we'll be watching the weather forecast for that
particular playoff game.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Right now it is nine fifty six cloud's forty degrees
in the University City.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
We'll be back to wrap
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Things up on the Voice of Morgantown one oh four
point five FM and AM fourteen forty WAJR
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