November 29, 2025 • 35 mins
Morgantown Mayor Danielle Trumble on Small Business Saturday in downtown.
Laura Blankenship from the Better Business Bureau on personal security while shopping this holiday season.
Laura Blankenship from the Better Business Bureau on personal security while shopping this holiday season.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
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 and seven sixty five
eight two fivey five. Now Here is your host for
the Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning. It is black Friday, currently overcast and twenty
nine degrees in the University City Metro Newsaki Weather says
today mostly cloudy, could see a snow shower throughout the day.
Gusty winds and high temperature of thirty four degrees. Now
West Virginia five to one. One's reporting somewhat of a
(00:44):
mess on Interstate seventy nine south of Morgantown in the
Smithtown area. There's also an incident reported on Smithtown Road
as well. It all started this morning just about six
am at mya marker eight when a tractor trailer jack
knife at that location that then created oh set the
(01:06):
stage for a couple of accidents in the backup and
lots of frustrated people waiting in traffic. Now, right now,
I can tell you that the crash scene at mile
mark of one eight is still showing as being active.
Only one Lane is open in that area. That's the
(01:27):
southbound side of the Interstate. Then Smithtown Road. That accident
is in the twenty seven hundred block of Smithtown Road.
Let me zoom in and see if I can maybe
get a good It is very close to Tri State
exterminating was where that accident is reported at. We welcome
(01:51):
to Talk of the Town and Happy Black Friday morning.
I'm Mike Nolting. You'll find me out on X as
your news guy. I certainly hope to run in to you.
They're producing this fine program today is Sophia Wassick. Sophia
is at eight hundred seven six five eight two five five,
and of course the text line it is at the
(02:12):
ready for you that number three oh four talk three
oh four. That number again three oh four talk three
oh four. Left the building on Wednesday, got home, had
found out that two members of the National Guard had
been shot, and of course my thoughts were that they
(02:33):
could be West Virginians. Since that contingent has been there
about four hundred of them have been there for several
weeks now, and then God forbid, we got that news
that they were West Virginians. And then Heaven forbid, one
has passed away, and this morning we are mourning the
(02:54):
loss of specialist Sarah Bestrom, member of the West Virginia
Army National Guard. The twenty year old volunteer was shot
and killed by a suspected terrorist while on duty at
the nation's capital, just blocks away from the White House.
Governor Morrissey says fellow soldier twenty four year old to
Andrew Wolf, he's a member of the West Virginia Air
(03:17):
National Guard. He's in critical condition fighting for his life
this morning. Now. Beckstrom is from Somersville. She was assigned
to the eight sixty third Military Police Company, and Wolf
is a Martinsburg native member of the for Support Squadron
the one hundred and sixty seventh Airlift Wing. He decided
(03:38):
to volunteer serve his country back in twenty nineteen and
twenty year old Sarah Bestrom, she raised her right hand
and decided to put it all on the line back
in two thy and twenty three. Certainly, our thoughts and
prayers are with the families and also with the soldiers
(04:00):
that they've been serving with for several weeks. I'm sure
that nerves are a little bit raw. The Afghan refugee
accused of shooting. The pair will be charged with murder.
That's according to US Attorney for the District of Columbia,
Janine Piro. He entered the US legally back in twenty
(04:21):
twenty one under a humanitarian parole as part of the
Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome. That was in the aftermath
of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. During that event and
the investigation, on Wednesday, the White House was placed on lockdown.
(04:42):
Eb Let's see Beckstrom. She is from Webster County, and
a handful of residents got together on Thanksgiving evening to
pray for the Beckstrom family. That included members of the
Veterans Auxiliary Group and also VFW Post thirty seven twenty
eight There Commander Gerald Rose spoke at that event and
(05:05):
also spoke to WCCHSTV as well. Will have more as
details become available very soon. A fairmontine has been charged
after a Thanksgiving Day pursuit in Harrison County. Eighteen year
old Charles Roach clocked more than ninety southbound I seventy nine,
(05:25):
then got off the interstate as if he was going
to get off in the Harrison County rest area. However,
he drove through the rest area, and when he accided,
he reached speeds of more than one hundred miles an
hour of the pursuit ended in Clarksburg when police deployed stopsticks.
Roach has been charged with fleeing with reckless indifference and
(05:49):
fleeing while under the influence. I was an exciting Thanksgiving
Day at the home of US Senator Shelley Moore Capitol.
Multiple agencies called to Charleston home of Capitol. Officials said
the response was due to a post on social media. However,
no other details were released. The holiday shopping season, I
(06:11):
guess officially begins today with Black Friday. I know a
lot of people around knocking some things off of that
shopping list for Christmas, but the holiday season officially begins tomorrow.
In the city of Morgantown's got a ribbon cutting on
High Street. It's a public ceremony. It'll happen at eleven am.
And when we come back, I'm gonna spend a couple
(06:34):
of minutes with Morgantown Mayor Danielle Trumble and we'll get
all of the details. That's next on top of the
town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two five five.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
This is the talk of the town. Well, good Friday morning.
It is nine seventeen, plenty of clouds and twenty nine
degrees in the University city. Glad that you're with us.
The text line three oh four talk three oh four
in the hot seat this morning is Morgantown, Maritaniel trouble.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Good morning, Mayor, good morning. I don't like that you're
calling it the hot seat. I thought we were going
to talk about fun stuff today.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Well we are, but you came in saying that you
were cold, so I thought maybe I would create the illusion. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
There it short got cold quick, didn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yes it did, Yes it did. Okay, Mayor, I'll tell
you what. Let's start here. Why don't you tell us
a little bit about Morgantown Forward.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah I was, I was saying as I came in.
Morgantown Forward is the name of the volunteer group that
I helped to organize with Councilor Downs and a couple
of other elected officials in neighborhood and business leaders. They're
the group that's been doing all of those cleanups and
things under the South High Street bridge and along the
Deckers Creek Trail. We get a lot of volunteers out
(08:07):
for that kind of stuff. Well, this season I got
a little cranky that the city does not seem to
be very festive. So the other night we got together
and built an eight foot lit wreath with decorations. Last night,
on Thanksgiving evening, we went down and placed it in
front of the Warner on High Streets and it's all
(08:29):
lit up ready to go. So I hope folks will
go down and take their picture with it. This season.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Absolutely I saw a picture of it and it is
absolutely beautiful, and everything's donated and it's all done by
volunteer work. So definitely showing a lot of pride in
the community.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Yeah, the city did not pay for anything. The Director
of Engineering and Public Works, Damian Davis, did go down
and turn on the electricity on the power pole for
us so that we could plug it in. But but
the wreath itself is all donated materials. Yeah. I like lights.
It's the best part of the holidays.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, I agree with you. I agree with you. Okay,
Now let's see officially the shopping season kicks off tomorrow
with Small Business Saturday. Some people will say Black Friday
is really the kickoff, but you've got a big event downtown.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Yeah, Small Business Saturday is always one of my favorite
days in downtown Morgantown. It's kind of the kickoff to
the holiday shopping season. A lot more frequently this year,
I have started doing proclamations off site. Usually people come
to City Council meetings and we read a proclamation. I've
been trying to get out in the community and do
(09:48):
those on site more so Tomorrow at eleven am at
the Retail Lab on High Street, which is the old
Main Street Morgantown offices where YCF's offices are, we'll be
reading a proclamation. We're gonna cut the ribbon on the
holiday season, and I'm told Santa and Missus Claus are
going to help with the ribbon, so I'm very excited.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Wow. Okay, So Santa and Missus Claus will be downtown
at eleven am. The weather actually looks like it's going
to be it'll be chilly, but it'll feel like it'll
feel like Christmas.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
That's a nice way to put it. It's going to
feel like the holidays. Yeah, Santa and missus Claws are
going to be at the retail Lab from eleven to
two tomorrow. Bring the kids down or you know, if
you're like me, a kid at heart, maybe come down
and get your photo taken. Free photos. And and it's
a it's a pretty good Santa.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Okay, And let's see give us an update on downtown
Morgantown in terms of businesses and things like that.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Well, your parking lots open, number one. We've spent a
lot of time this fall talking about that parking lot
on Spruce Street. It is open and fully functional, and
downtown parking is free this weekend. So that's a great
way to check out that new parking lot.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
We got to stop right there because you know, you're right,
you're right. We've talked about that parking lot quite a bit,
and we've talked a little bit about Blue and Gold development,
and you know, some of the work that they've done,
and they've done good work. The parking lot looks great.
Might have just taken just a tad longer than what
was thought.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Yeah, and I'm not sure who the contractor for that
parking lot was. Blue and Gold are the ones working
on Walnut Street. Oh. I don't know if it's the
same contractor a different one, but there were some delays
on the parking lot. Let's say it was supposed to
be done a while ago. But but it's good to
go now. I know that that's one of the things
(11:51):
you always want to want to talk about. The downtown
businesses are having a lot of specials. Tomorrow from eleven
to four is kind of the small business Saturday celebrations.
I know places like Hoot and Howe have vendors set
up inside.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
It's a fun day, absolutely, and of course Main Street
Morgantown plays a big role in this. And what about
will this be a Poda.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Day on the weekends. Poda starts at eleven am, so
you can certainly grab a drink. We've been talking to
the owner of Poor Choices Pub and Grub on Chestnut Street.
We're trying to put together a downtown like promotion kind
(12:41):
of thing where if you take your picture with a
Poda cup with that wreath we were talking about maybe
we're gonna have a couple of gift cards from businesses.
That's not finalized yet, so stay tuned. I'd love to
come on in a week or two and talk about
that we're putting it together. But yeah, let's Morgantown a
festive place to be this month.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
And small business Saturday. You mentioned the whot and how
one of many small businesses. So many are downtown and
it's really important to come out and support them.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yeah, this is their big season for sure. They rely
on holiday sales to help them make it through the
rest of the year. And we love our downtown businesses.
There's so many. They're all locally owned. When you spend
money at those downtown businesses, it stays right here in
our community, supports your friends and neighbors. It's my favorite
(13:36):
place to shop certainly.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And I'll tell you when you go downtown and read
the proclamation and do all that right there, I think
it makes it just a little bit more official. And
I'm using air quotes when I say that, because sometimes,
you know, when you do it during a city council meeting,
it's just so sterile, and you know, sometimes you're not
(13:57):
really into it, but now you're there, you're.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Park it's hard to not be into it when Sanna's
standing next to you.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Mike, you better be you better be into it. If
the big jolly guys next to you. Okay, now, that
happens tomorrow at eleven Any cleanups or what's happening with
the tool trailer?
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
We used the tool trailer two or three weeks ago.
Morgantown Forward hosted some of the Adventure WV students and
did a cleanup. We removed some brush along the dog park.
I think it's a it's getting into the off season
for me, certainly too cold. I'm not sure if we'll
(14:42):
have a maybe if the winter is mild, we end
up with a couple of extra cleanups here and there,
kind of pop up, last minute kind of things, but
nothing scheduled right now.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Okay, okay, good deal. Now heading into the holidays, of course,
tomorrow is the kickoff of shopping season. That'll be at
eleven am. That would be What about the four hundred
block of High Street? Is that right about the.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Oh I'm bad with directions, mon.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Okay, Yeah, I think I think that's. I think that's
that's If it's not close, I can tell you this.
It's one block south of the courthouse.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
There you go. Yeah, I come right past the courthouse,
right past Pathfinder is where the retail lab. That's a
partnership between Main Street Morgantown and WU Merchandising retail students.
It's a consignment shop and a lot of students have
some of their handmade items in there for sale. It's
(15:40):
a really cool place. If you haven't been in, certainly
stop by there.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Okay, definitely, And now that is tomorrow at eleven. Anything
else on the event calendar for the City of Morgantown
As we move into the holidays.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Main Street Morgantown is again doing their Downtown Dash on
December thirteenth. That's an all day long event. It's a Saturday.
They do a scavenger hunt through some of the local businesses.
You can enter to win a prize if you visit
the downtown businesses. But the co Op, Apothecary and Hoot
and how are all having vendor markets that day as well,
(16:16):
So it's a great way to support not only those
brick and mortar downtown businesses, but some of the local
artisans and vendors as well.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Okay, great, let's see the I'm trying to pull up
the calendar here because I believe that the Christmas Parade
that will happen on Monday, December sixth I I've got
it right. Okay, Monday, December sixth, that parade will step
(16:44):
off at six thirty there on High Street, and certainly
by six point thirty on December the sixth, it's gonna
be dark, gonna be night. It's gonna be a great
atmosphere for a holiday parade.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Alsoda appropriate, oh very.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Much, so, very much so. A great way to ring
in the holiday season, that's for sure. Well, Mary, I'd
like to give you an opportunity to wish your constituents
and the listeners merry Christmas.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Absolutely. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had
some folks over yesterday. We always kind of open it
up to friends and acquaintances from around Morgantown. So Happy Thanksgiving,
Happy Black Friday, Happy small Business Saturday. And I hope
everyone has a great holiday season.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Absolutely. And you know one thing is we do wish
folks a great holiday season. I think it's important to
It's important to note here that Pantry Plus More and
this is just one organization, they distributed more than eleven
hundred food boxes during the month of November alone.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Certainly with the government shut down and some of the
funding issues that people have run into, with lapses and benefits.
All of the local nonprofits have been working over time.
I told you when you called me on Wednesday, it's
kind of been in all hands on deck situation. We
have community taking care of community, and it's a great
(18:19):
thing to see. Really warms you up for the holidays,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
It does just that the texture is referencing maybe lack
of safety in downtown, and I guess I'd like to
just point out that I believe that safety in downtown
has become markedly better, and that's really because of the
Safe Streets program.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Absolutely, MPD has been doing their foot patrols and things
like that. I always say that the counter to claims
of being unsafe is for more people to use it,
more people on the street, more eyes, more ears. Definitely,
if you haven't been downtown in a while, now's a
(19:00):
good time to come down. It's it's a lot different
than it was even six months or a year ago,
certainly different than you know, three or five years ago.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
And I've got evidence, because you know, we've got studios
down on Spruce Street. I was there the other day
for a meeting, and I happened to talk to a
couple of people in the building and they were talking
about how things out back are much quieter now and
that there are there's a much more of a police
presence there now.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Yeah. Yeah, the Safe Streets program through the Morgantown Police
Department has been great. We've we as a council, a
couple of us anyways, have definitely stayed on top of
the city manager and the police chief to make sure
that that program continues.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Okay, good deal. Just wanted to be sure and address
that because, you know what, we want to be honest
here and if there's a problem, we want to point
it out.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Good Friday morning. It is nine thirty five clouds and
twenty nine degrees in the University City. Welcome to the program.
I'm Mike Nolton, and on the phone, we've got Laura
Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau and we're going to
be talking about, oh, some ways that some crooks might
be trying to get into your wallet or your purse
(20:31):
over the holiday season. Hey, good morning, Laura. How are you.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Good morning, I'm doing well.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
How are you, Mike?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Hey, I'm doing good. Thank you very much for asking.
So I guess here it is Black Friday, a lot
of people are probably out on their tablets or computers
making some purchases. What kinds of things do you want
them to know?
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, so every year millions of dollars are lost online
shopping scans, and as we know, Black Friday and the
big shopping weekend, that's a big time where a lot
of people are online because it's an easy way to
shop and you can beat the crowd. You're not having
to fight those crowds out in person. Well, gamers know that,
(21:14):
and they are ready. They have fake ads out there lurking,
whether those be on Google or on social media, and
they're waiting for you to click on those ads to
take you to a fake website or a lookalike website
of an actual retailler. So you have to be very
(21:35):
cautious when you're searching for businesses online.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
You know, sometimes when you see deals that look like
they're too good to be true, obviously would tell people
if it looks too good to be true, it likely is.
But a lot of times when you see these deals,
it's a foreign company, and then once you give your
credit card or banking information to that foreign company, you
(22:01):
know who knows what could happen next.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Absolutely, that's why it's so important to guard your personal information.
It's literally your identity because people can use the information
that they're stealing from you to commit identity fests. So sometimes,
you know, it could just be that you don't receive
the item. It could also be that they hack into
(22:26):
your bank account, or as I said, it could be
a long term thing where they get your information because
you know, when you're purchasing something online, you often have
to use your building address and put in your address
all of your information so they know where you live.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
So you have to just make sure.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
That you're searching for the business, you look at the
business URL, make sure that it matches the business name
and that it says HTTPS in the URL. That S
stands for secure. And it's so important to make sure
anytime you're putting in your credit card information that you're
doing so.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
On a secure website.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Also, if you're able to with a website used this
a third party, if you have PayPal or something where
you have some type of security, just in case it
does happen to you know, someone has happened to hack
into that website.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Laura Blanken Chip with the better Business Bureaus with us,
and we're talking about some ways you can keep yourself
safe while shopping over the holiday season. One thing that
I've noticed is the Facebook, market places and placeless things
like that are becoming more popular. What would you tell
people that maybe are going to meet a person's sight
(23:43):
unseen face to face to make a purchase.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Yeah, with marketplace, you know, it's great because you're able
to get items for cheaper, often because it's usually something
that's already purchased, and it may even be open box.
So that's becoming more popular. And with something like that,
you want to make sure that you're a meeting in
a location, a public location where people are around. You
(24:07):
may want to bring someone with you. But also if
you do decide to say it's a large item, you
need someone to pick up that item you're giving your address.
I would make sure that you do your due diligence.
First look at the profiles. So the profile is locked,
then it's probably fake. If it was just created, it's
(24:30):
probably fake. If the name doesn't match the name that
shows up. Now you can look through that profile and
usually have their name somewhere else. You can see that
that doesn't add up. That means that it's also a scam.
What they're doing is they're trying to get your phone
number or they're trying to get your address so that
they can commit fraud or scams in the future.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
You know, one thing that I've heard people talk about
are phishing emails. And you'll get an email that you know, again,
it'll have a deal that'll just knock your socks off
and just to make you want to click that link.
But I have been told that if you maybe Google
(25:15):
that in another window without selecting that link, that might
be a good way to vet that email before you
open it.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Yes, absolutely, if you receive you can open the email.
Opening the email isn't going to download that malware. It's
clicking on the links inside the email that's going to
download that malware. So that's why it's important to make
sure that you're not clicking on any links. You can
hover over the links and it will show you what
(25:47):
the actual link is, but it may look like it's
going to a legitimate retailer that you know, when in
reality it's going to Joe Schmoe down the street. You
can hover over that link and it'll say also cover
overs from address because they can make it look like
it's coming from anybody.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
But if the email doesn't match up with who it's.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
The business that it's supposed to come to, that's also
a red flag. And oftentimes if they're sending an email
about deals, if you go directly to that retiller's website,
as you said, you're going to be able to get
those deals. So fishing is very popular.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
At this time of year.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Something else that's popular and you know we always say
to look out or to look at the reviews. Well,
something that's popular now are brushing scams, and that's where
you received something in the mail, you think that it's
probably happened by mistake. It hasn't. It's usually a third
party is sending these items to and then writing glowing
(26:44):
reviews of these businesses and making it look like it came.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
From you because it was sent to you.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
They're getting your your address online and so those brushing scams.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Is very important to make sure you report that.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
Make sure that you're checking all of your online accounts,
make sure that they're secure.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Any if you receive.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Something like that is always good to just double check
and change your passwords as well.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Well. What about reporting these things. How do you go
about that.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Laura, Well, you can report it to US at BBB
dot org. Also report it to your attorney Joeneral's office.
You can go to that business website and also report
it because it should say to the business is from
If it's a legitimate mistake, they'll take it back. You
could also.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Look look at their reviews see if it has been
written anywhere to look like it's coming from you or
and then you can reply to that, you know, reply
to those reviews and say this is not me, this
is not legitimate.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Laura Blankenship with Better Business Bureaus with US and Laura,
I think it's also important to point out the fact
that taking just a couple of minutes to be sure
before you make that purchase is really the best thing
that you can do for yourself and your family because
the chances in most cases of catching these scammers are
(28:09):
actually very remote.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Absolutely, you have to do your due diligence because as
you said, it's very, very unlikely that they're going to
catch these people because it happens so often. It's very sad,
but a lot of the time they're not even in
this country.
Speaker 5 (28:27):
Sometimes they are, but it's very difficult.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
It's very sophisticated. I also want to make mention because
it's a very popular.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
Skin in the time of year.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
It's an employment scam. It's a reshipping scam where they
say that.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
They're a business.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
They want you to do quality control and check out
these packages. People think that they're going to get paid
after the holidays and to do a late Christmas when
in reality it doesn't exist. It doesn't exist. It's actually
illegal because these people are taking stolen items, sending them
to you, having you ship them somewhere else, and it's
(29:03):
just this different train and it goes to all these
different locations. So it's very difficult to track boy.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Laura Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau. You know, Laura,
I've had probably more than three police officers tell me
that most criminals scammers are actually very very bright people
and if they would use their mental faculties for good,
(29:31):
they'd probably be much better off than they ever were
as a criminal.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
Right, absolutely, they're very intelligent. You have to be to
be as sophisticated as they are.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
So right and no, please go ahead, I didn't mean
me interrupt you.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Oh no, you're fine. Unfortunately, they don't use their their
smarts for good. If they did, we'd be in a
lot better places.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
That's right, Laura Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau. Please
give that's your website, Laura.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
It's BBB dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Okay, fine, Hey, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving
in Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Thank you, Merry Christmas, Happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Thank you very much, Laura Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau.
But of course Black Friday and then of course Small
Business Saturday. You can get out and go to the
brick and mortar locations and check these retailers out for yourself.
Right now, it is nine forty five, clouds and twenty
(30:35):
nine degrees. Is the hyperloop dead or maybe is it
just taking a break? Talk about the hyperloop? Next Talk
of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four
point five w AJR.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Clouds and thirty degrees in the University City. It is
nine fifty and you know shopping small got a text
during the break. It's important to recognize that, you know what,
when you shop small, you're supporting your neighbors, and you're
supporting the folks that create a whole lot of jobs
(31:31):
around here. And it doesn't just have to be Morgantown.
That could be Let's see, it could be Grandville, could
be Star City, could be Westover, of course, could be
Kingwood or maybe even Mason Town or Reevesville. So when
you're out there making those decisions on where to buy gifts,
(31:52):
give your local retailers a chance. Don't forget that Tomorrow
is Small Business Saturday, and from eleven to four though,
we will be special deals in downtown Morgantown. Oh, the
hyper loop, remember that back in October of twenty twenty,
we didn't even know what a pandemic was yet, But
(32:15):
within a couple of months we were about to find out.
But state officials, along with some people from Sir Richard
Branson's Virgin Hyperloop Company, came to the Ericson Alumni Center
to announce that they would build a prototype, a test track,
if you will, on eight hundred acres in Tucker and
(32:37):
Grant Counties. Now, the hyperloop, just to refresh your memory,
that is a way to transport people or cargo through
a vacuum tube at speeds of up to six hundred
miles per hour. Now, that was when the project first
rolled out. One of the first things to happen was
about a year after, some time in twenty twenty one,
(33:01):
the company then said, well, you know what, we're not
going to focus on people, were instead going to focus
on cargo. They were able to raise a half billion
dollars in their pursuit to get this together. They also
built a very short test track out in Nevada in
(33:23):
the Las Vegas area, and they conducted a successful test.
But nevertheless, in December, the end of December twenty twenty three,
the Virgin Hyperloop Company closed its doors due to some
financial issues. Now, however, the idea is still it's still
(33:47):
getting some traction over in Europe. Now there are a
number of companies including Heart hyper Loop. They're based out
of the Netherlands, and then also there's Swiss Pod Technologies
out of the country of Switzerland. Those two companies are
still actively developing a European hyper loop center in the
(34:12):
Netherlands that would be their operational hub where they would
build the standards. In other words, what they're talking about
building in the Netherlands is what was proposed to be
built in Tucker and Grant Counties on that eight hundred
acre site. Certainly there was a lot of excitement, and
(34:33):
I know that retired Major General James Hoyer, that was
when he was involved with economic development efforts at West
Virginia University. There was a lot of hope. There was
a lot of promise for that project and the fact
that it could bring not only good paying jobs here
to West Virginia, but it would also create a training
(34:57):
ground to train people to work in the industry. Well.
One of the reasons that West Virginia was considered to
be a front runner as a site for this standards
center we'll call it is because of its location and
proximity to Washington, DC and the US Department of Transportation.
But I think I would have I would hazard a
(35:19):
guests to say that if you're going to ride on
a hyperloop, it's probably not going to be in America,
but if you travel to Europe you probably have a
better chance. It is eight point fifty four. We'll be
back to wrap things up on Talk of the Town
coming up after this on AM fourteen forty FM oneh
(35:39):
four point five WAJR
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 and seven sixty five
eight two fivey five. Now Here is your host for
the Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning. It is black Friday, currently overcast and twenty
nine degrees in the University City Metro Newsaki Weather says
today mostly cloudy, could see a snow shower throughout the day.
Gusty winds and high temperature of thirty four degrees. Now
West Virginia five to one. One's reporting somewhat of a
(00:44):
mess on Interstate seventy nine south of Morgantown in the
Smithtown area. There's also an incident reported on Smithtown Road
as well. It all started this morning just about six
am at mya marker eight when a tractor trailer jack
knife at that location that then created oh set the
(01:06):
stage for a couple of accidents in the backup and
lots of frustrated people waiting in traffic. Now, right now,
I can tell you that the crash scene at mile
mark of one eight is still showing as being active.
Only one Lane is open in that area. That's the
(01:27):
southbound side of the Interstate. Then Smithtown Road. That accident
is in the twenty seven hundred block of Smithtown Road.
Let me zoom in and see if I can maybe
get a good It is very close to Tri State
exterminating was where that accident is reported at. We welcome
(01:51):
to Talk of the Town and Happy Black Friday morning.
I'm Mike Nolting. You'll find me out on X as
your news guy. I certainly hope to run in to you.
They're producing this fine program today is Sophia Wassick. Sophia
is at eight hundred seven six five eight two five five,
and of course the text line it is at the
(02:12):
ready for you that number three oh four talk three
oh four. That number again three oh four talk three
oh four. Left the building on Wednesday, got home, had
found out that two members of the National Guard had
been shot, and of course my thoughts were that they
(02:33):
could be West Virginians. Since that contingent has been there
about four hundred of them have been there for several
weeks now, and then God forbid, we got that news
that they were West Virginians. And then Heaven forbid, one
has passed away, and this morning we are mourning the
(02:54):
loss of specialist Sarah Bestrom, member of the West Virginia
Army National Guard. The twenty year old volunteer was shot
and killed by a suspected terrorist while on duty at
the nation's capital, just blocks away from the White House.
Governor Morrissey says fellow soldier twenty four year old to
Andrew Wolf, he's a member of the West Virginia Air
(03:17):
National Guard. He's in critical condition fighting for his life
this morning. Now. Beckstrom is from Somersville. She was assigned
to the eight sixty third Military Police Company, and Wolf
is a Martinsburg native member of the for Support Squadron
the one hundred and sixty seventh Airlift Wing. He decided
(03:38):
to volunteer serve his country back in twenty nineteen and
twenty year old Sarah Bestrom, she raised her right hand
and decided to put it all on the line back
in two thy and twenty three. Certainly, our thoughts and
prayers are with the families and also with the soldiers
(04:00):
that they've been serving with for several weeks. I'm sure
that nerves are a little bit raw. The Afghan refugee
accused of shooting. The pair will be charged with murder.
That's according to US Attorney for the District of Columbia,
Janine Piro. He entered the US legally back in twenty
(04:21):
twenty one under a humanitarian parole as part of the
Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome. That was in the aftermath
of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. During that event and
the investigation, on Wednesday, the White House was placed on lockdown.
(04:42):
Eb Let's see Beckstrom. She is from Webster County, and
a handful of residents got together on Thanksgiving evening to
pray for the Beckstrom family. That included members of the
Veterans Auxiliary Group and also VFW Post thirty seven twenty
eight There Commander Gerald Rose spoke at that event and
(05:05):
also spoke to WCCHSTV as well. Will have more as
details become available very soon. A fairmontine has been charged
after a Thanksgiving Day pursuit in Harrison County. Eighteen year
old Charles Roach clocked more than ninety southbound I seventy nine,
(05:25):
then got off the interstate as if he was going
to get off in the Harrison County rest area. However,
he drove through the rest area, and when he accided,
he reached speeds of more than one hundred miles an
hour of the pursuit ended in Clarksburg when police deployed stopsticks.
Roach has been charged with fleeing with reckless indifference and
(05:49):
fleeing while under the influence. I was an exciting Thanksgiving
Day at the home of US Senator Shelley Moore Capitol.
Multiple agencies called to Charleston home of Capitol. Officials said
the response was due to a post on social media. However,
no other details were released. The holiday shopping season, I
(06:11):
guess officially begins today with Black Friday. I know a
lot of people around knocking some things off of that
shopping list for Christmas, but the holiday season officially begins tomorrow.
In the city of Morgantown's got a ribbon cutting on
High Street. It's a public ceremony. It'll happen at eleven am.
And when we come back, I'm gonna spend a couple
(06:34):
of minutes with Morgantown Mayor Danielle Trumble and we'll get
all of the details. That's next on top of the
town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point five WAJR.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two five five.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
This is the talk of the town. Well, good Friday morning.
It is nine seventeen, plenty of clouds and twenty nine
degrees in the University city. Glad that you're with us.
The text line three oh four talk three oh four
in the hot seat this morning is Morgantown, Maritaniel trouble.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Good morning, Mayor, good morning. I don't like that you're
calling it the hot seat. I thought we were going
to talk about fun stuff today.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Well we are, but you came in saying that you
were cold, so I thought maybe I would create the illusion. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
There it short got cold quick, didn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yes it did, Yes it did. Okay, Mayor, I'll tell
you what. Let's start here. Why don't you tell us
a little bit about Morgantown Forward.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah I was, I was saying as I came in.
Morgantown Forward is the name of the volunteer group that
I helped to organize with Councilor Downs and a couple
of other elected officials in neighborhood and business leaders. They're
the group that's been doing all of those cleanups and
things under the South High Street bridge and along the
Deckers Creek Trail. We get a lot of volunteers out
(08:07):
for that kind of stuff. Well, this season I got
a little cranky that the city does not seem to
be very festive. So the other night we got together
and built an eight foot lit wreath with decorations. Last night,
on Thanksgiving evening, we went down and placed it in
front of the Warner on High Streets and it's all
(08:29):
lit up ready to go. So I hope folks will
go down and take their picture with it. This season.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Absolutely I saw a picture of it and it is
absolutely beautiful, and everything's donated and it's all done by
volunteer work. So definitely showing a lot of pride in
the community.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Yeah, the city did not pay for anything. The Director
of Engineering and Public Works, Damian Davis, did go down
and turn on the electricity on the power pole for
us so that we could plug it in. But but
the wreath itself is all donated materials. Yeah. I like lights.
It's the best part of the holidays.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, I agree with you. I agree with you. Okay,
Now let's see officially the shopping season kicks off tomorrow
with Small Business Saturday. Some people will say Black Friday
is really the kickoff, but you've got a big event downtown.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Yeah, Small Business Saturday is always one of my favorite
days in downtown Morgantown. It's kind of the kickoff to
the holiday shopping season. A lot more frequently this year,
I have started doing proclamations off site. Usually people come
to City Council meetings and we read a proclamation. I've
been trying to get out in the community and do
(09:48):
those on site more so Tomorrow at eleven am at
the Retail Lab on High Street, which is the old
Main Street Morgantown offices where YCF's offices are, we'll be
reading a proclamation. We're gonna cut the ribbon on the
holiday season, and I'm told Santa and Missus Claus are
going to help with the ribbon, so I'm very excited.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Wow. Okay, So Santa and Missus Claus will be downtown
at eleven am. The weather actually looks like it's going
to be it'll be chilly, but it'll feel like it'll
feel like Christmas.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
That's a nice way to put it. It's going to
feel like the holidays. Yeah, Santa and missus Claws are
going to be at the retail Lab from eleven to
two tomorrow. Bring the kids down or you know, if
you're like me, a kid at heart, maybe come down
and get your photo taken. Free photos. And and it's
a it's a pretty good Santa.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Okay, And let's see give us an update on downtown
Morgantown in terms of businesses and things like that.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Well, your parking lots open, number one. We've spent a
lot of time this fall talking about that parking lot
on Spruce Street. It is open and fully functional, and
downtown parking is free this weekend. So that's a great
way to check out that new parking lot.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
We got to stop right there because you know, you're right,
you're right. We've talked about that parking lot quite a bit,
and we've talked a little bit about Blue and Gold development,
and you know, some of the work that they've done,
and they've done good work. The parking lot looks great.
Might have just taken just a tad longer than what
was thought.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Yeah, and I'm not sure who the contractor for that
parking lot was. Blue and Gold are the ones working
on Walnut Street. Oh. I don't know if it's the
same contractor a different one, but there were some delays
on the parking lot. Let's say it was supposed to
be done a while ago. But but it's good to
go now. I know that that's one of the things
(11:51):
you always want to want to talk about. The downtown
businesses are having a lot of specials. Tomorrow from eleven
to four is kind of the small business Saturday celebrations.
I know places like Hoot and Howe have vendors set
up inside.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
It's a fun day, absolutely, and of course Main Street
Morgantown plays a big role in this. And what about
will this be a Poda.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Day on the weekends. Poda starts at eleven am, so
you can certainly grab a drink. We've been talking to
the owner of Poor Choices Pub and Grub on Chestnut Street.
We're trying to put together a downtown like promotion kind
(12:41):
of thing where if you take your picture with a
Poda cup with that wreath we were talking about maybe
we're gonna have a couple of gift cards from businesses.
That's not finalized yet, so stay tuned. I'd love to
come on in a week or two and talk about
that we're putting it together. But yeah, let's Morgantown a
festive place to be this month.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
And small business Saturday. You mentioned the whot and how
one of many small businesses. So many are downtown and
it's really important to come out and support them.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yeah, this is their big season for sure. They rely
on holiday sales to help them make it through the
rest of the year. And we love our downtown businesses.
There's so many. They're all locally owned. When you spend
money at those downtown businesses, it stays right here in
our community, supports your friends and neighbors. It's my favorite
(13:36):
place to shop certainly.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And I'll tell you when you go downtown and read
the proclamation and do all that right there, I think
it makes it just a little bit more official. And
I'm using air quotes when I say that, because sometimes,
you know, when you do it during a city council meeting,
it's just so sterile, and you know, sometimes you're not
(13:57):
really into it, but now you're there, you're.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Park it's hard to not be into it when Sanna's
standing next to you.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Mike, you better be you better be into it. If
the big jolly guys next to you. Okay, now, that
happens tomorrow at eleven Any cleanups or what's happening with
the tool trailer?
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
We used the tool trailer two or three weeks ago.
Morgantown Forward hosted some of the Adventure WV students and
did a cleanup. We removed some brush along the dog park.
I think it's a it's getting into the off season
for me, certainly too cold. I'm not sure if we'll
(14:42):
have a maybe if the winter is mild, we end
up with a couple of extra cleanups here and there,
kind of pop up, last minute kind of things, but
nothing scheduled right now.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Okay, okay, good deal. Now heading into the holidays, of course,
tomorrow is the kickoff of shopping season. That'll be at
eleven am. That would be What about the four hundred
block of High Street? Is that right about the.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Oh I'm bad with directions, mon.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Okay, Yeah, I think I think that's. I think that's
that's If it's not close, I can tell you this.
It's one block south of the courthouse.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
There you go. Yeah, I come right past the courthouse,
right past Pathfinder is where the retail lab. That's a
partnership between Main Street Morgantown and WU Merchandising retail students.
It's a consignment shop and a lot of students have
some of their handmade items in there for sale. It's
(15:40):
a really cool place. If you haven't been in, certainly
stop by there.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Okay, definitely, And now that is tomorrow at eleven. Anything
else on the event calendar for the City of Morgantown
As we move into the holidays.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Main Street Morgantown is again doing their Downtown Dash on
December thirteenth. That's an all day long event. It's a Saturday.
They do a scavenger hunt through some of the local businesses.
You can enter to win a prize if you visit
the downtown businesses. But the co Op, Apothecary and Hoot
and how are all having vendor markets that day as well,
(16:16):
So it's a great way to support not only those
brick and mortar downtown businesses, but some of the local
artisans and vendors as well.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Okay, great, let's see the I'm trying to pull up
the calendar here because I believe that the Christmas Parade
that will happen on Monday, December sixth I I've got
it right. Okay, Monday, December sixth, that parade will step
(16:44):
off at six thirty there on High Street, and certainly
by six point thirty on December the sixth, it's gonna
be dark, gonna be night. It's gonna be a great
atmosphere for a holiday parade.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Alsoda appropriate, oh very.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Much, so, very much so. A great way to ring
in the holiday season, that's for sure. Well, Mary, I'd
like to give you an opportunity to wish your constituents
and the listeners merry Christmas.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Absolutely. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had
some folks over yesterday. We always kind of open it
up to friends and acquaintances from around Morgantown. So Happy Thanksgiving,
Happy Black Friday, Happy small Business Saturday. And I hope
everyone has a great holiday season.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Absolutely. And you know one thing is we do wish
folks a great holiday season. I think it's important to
It's important to note here that Pantry Plus More and
this is just one organization, they distributed more than eleven
hundred food boxes during the month of November alone.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Certainly with the government shut down and some of the
funding issues that people have run into, with lapses and benefits.
All of the local nonprofits have been working over time.
I told you when you called me on Wednesday, it's
kind of been in all hands on deck situation. We
have community taking care of community, and it's a great
(18:19):
thing to see. Really warms you up for the holidays,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
It does just that the texture is referencing maybe lack
of safety in downtown, and I guess I'd like to
just point out that I believe that safety in downtown
has become markedly better, and that's really because of the
Safe Streets program.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Absolutely, MPD has been doing their foot patrols and things
like that. I always say that the counter to claims
of being unsafe is for more people to use it,
more people on the street, more eyes, more ears. Definitely,
if you haven't been downtown in a while, now's a
(19:00):
good time to come down. It's it's a lot different
than it was even six months or a year ago,
certainly different than you know, three or five years ago.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
And I've got evidence, because you know, we've got studios
down on Spruce Street. I was there the other day
for a meeting, and I happened to talk to a
couple of people in the building and they were talking
about how things out back are much quieter now and
that there are there's a much more of a police
presence there now.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Yeah. Yeah, the Safe Streets program through the Morgantown Police
Department has been great. We've we as a council, a
couple of us anyways, have definitely stayed on top of
the city manager and the police chief to make sure
that that program continues.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Okay, good deal. Just wanted to be sure and address
that because, you know what, we want to be honest
here and if there's a problem, we want to point
it out.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Good Friday morning. It is nine thirty five clouds and
twenty nine degrees in the University City. Welcome to the program.
I'm Mike Nolton, and on the phone, we've got Laura
Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau and we're going to
be talking about, oh, some ways that some crooks might
be trying to get into your wallet or your purse
(20:31):
over the holiday season. Hey, good morning, Laura. How are you.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Good morning, I'm doing well.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
How are you, Mike?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Hey, I'm doing good. Thank you very much for asking.
So I guess here it is Black Friday, a lot
of people are probably out on their tablets or computers
making some purchases. What kinds of things do you want
them to know?
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, so every year millions of dollars are lost online
shopping scans, and as we know, Black Friday and the
big shopping weekend, that's a big time where a lot
of people are online because it's an easy way to
shop and you can beat the crowd. You're not having
to fight those crowds out in person. Well, gamers know that,
(21:14):
and they are ready. They have fake ads out there lurking,
whether those be on Google or on social media, and
they're waiting for you to click on those ads to
take you to a fake website or a lookalike website
of an actual retailler. So you have to be very
(21:35):
cautious when you're searching for businesses online.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
You know, sometimes when you see deals that look like
they're too good to be true, obviously would tell people
if it looks too good to be true, it likely is.
But a lot of times when you see these deals,
it's a foreign company, and then once you give your
credit card or banking information to that foreign company, you
(22:01):
know who knows what could happen next.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Absolutely, that's why it's so important to guard your personal information.
It's literally your identity because people can use the information
that they're stealing from you to commit identity fests. So sometimes,
you know, it could just be that you don't receive
the item. It could also be that they hack into
(22:26):
your bank account, or as I said, it could be
a long term thing where they get your information because
you know, when you're purchasing something online, you often have
to use your building address and put in your address
all of your information so they know where you live.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
So you have to just make sure.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
That you're searching for the business, you look at the
business URL, make sure that it matches the business name
and that it says HTTPS in the URL. That S
stands for secure. And it's so important to make sure
anytime you're putting in your credit card information that you're
doing so.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
On a secure website.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Also, if you're able to with a website used this
a third party, if you have PayPal or something where
you have some type of security, just in case it
does happen to you know, someone has happened to hack
into that website.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Laura Blanken Chip with the better Business Bureaus with us,
and we're talking about some ways you can keep yourself
safe while shopping over the holiday season. One thing that
I've noticed is the Facebook, market places and placeless things
like that are becoming more popular. What would you tell
people that maybe are going to meet a person's sight
(23:43):
unseen face to face to make a purchase.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Yeah, with marketplace, you know, it's great because you're able
to get items for cheaper, often because it's usually something
that's already purchased, and it may even be open box.
So that's becoming more popular. And with something like that,
you want to make sure that you're a meeting in
a location, a public location where people are around. You
(24:07):
may want to bring someone with you. But also if
you do decide to say it's a large item, you
need someone to pick up that item you're giving your address.
I would make sure that you do your due diligence.
First look at the profiles. So the profile is locked,
then it's probably fake. If it was just created, it's
(24:30):
probably fake. If the name doesn't match the name that
shows up. Now you can look through that profile and
usually have their name somewhere else. You can see that
that doesn't add up. That means that it's also a scam.
What they're doing is they're trying to get your phone
number or they're trying to get your address so that
they can commit fraud or scams in the future.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
You know, one thing that I've heard people talk about
are phishing emails. And you'll get an email that you know, again,
it'll have a deal that'll just knock your socks off
and just to make you want to click that link.
But I have been told that if you maybe Google
(25:15):
that in another window without selecting that link, that might
be a good way to vet that email before you
open it.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Yes, absolutely, if you receive you can open the email.
Opening the email isn't going to download that malware. It's
clicking on the links inside the email that's going to
download that malware. So that's why it's important to make
sure that you're not clicking on any links. You can
hover over the links and it will show you what
(25:47):
the actual link is, but it may look like it's
going to a legitimate retailer that you know, when in
reality it's going to Joe Schmoe down the street. You
can hover over that link and it'll say also cover
overs from address because they can make it look like
it's coming from anybody.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
But if the email doesn't match up with who it's.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
The business that it's supposed to come to, that's also
a red flag. And oftentimes if they're sending an email
about deals, if you go directly to that retiller's website,
as you said, you're going to be able to get
those deals. So fishing is very popular.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
At this time of year.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Something else that's popular and you know we always say
to look out or to look at the reviews. Well,
something that's popular now are brushing scams, and that's where
you received something in the mail, you think that it's
probably happened by mistake. It hasn't. It's usually a third
party is sending these items to and then writing glowing
(26:44):
reviews of these businesses and making it look like it came.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
From you because it was sent to you.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
They're getting your your address online and so those brushing scams.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Is very important to make sure you report that.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
Make sure that you're checking all of your online accounts,
make sure that they're secure.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Any if you receive.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Something like that is always good to just double check
and change your passwords as well.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Well. What about reporting these things. How do you go
about that.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Laura, Well, you can report it to US at BBB
dot org. Also report it to your attorney Joeneral's office.
You can go to that business website and also report
it because it should say to the business is from
If it's a legitimate mistake, they'll take it back. You
could also.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Look look at their reviews see if it has been
written anywhere to look like it's coming from you or
and then you can reply to that, you know, reply
to those reviews and say this is not me, this
is not legitimate.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Laura Blankenship with Better Business Bureaus with US and Laura,
I think it's also important to point out the fact
that taking just a couple of minutes to be sure
before you make that purchase is really the best thing
that you can do for yourself and your family because
the chances in most cases of catching these scammers are
(28:09):
actually very remote.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Absolutely, you have to do your due diligence because as
you said, it's very, very unlikely that they're going to
catch these people because it happens so often. It's very sad,
but a lot of the time they're not even in
this country.
Speaker 5 (28:27):
Sometimes they are, but it's very difficult.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
It's very sophisticated. I also want to make mention because
it's a very popular.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
Skin in the time of year.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
It's an employment scam. It's a reshipping scam where they
say that.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
They're a business.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
They want you to do quality control and check out
these packages. People think that they're going to get paid
after the holidays and to do a late Christmas when
in reality it doesn't exist. It doesn't exist. It's actually
illegal because these people are taking stolen items, sending them
to you, having you ship them somewhere else, and it's
(29:03):
just this different train and it goes to all these
different locations. So it's very difficult to track boy.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Laura Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau. You know, Laura,
I've had probably more than three police officers tell me
that most criminals scammers are actually very very bright people
and if they would use their mental faculties for good,
(29:31):
they'd probably be much better off than they ever were
as a criminal.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
Right, absolutely, they're very intelligent. You have to be to
be as sophisticated as they are.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
So right and no, please go ahead, I didn't mean
me interrupt you.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Oh no, you're fine. Unfortunately, they don't use their their
smarts for good. If they did, we'd be in a
lot better places.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
That's right, Laura Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau. Please
give that's your website, Laura.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
It's BBB dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Okay, fine, Hey, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving
in Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Thank you, Merry Christmas, Happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Thank you very much, Laura Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau.
But of course Black Friday and then of course Small
Business Saturday. You can get out and go to the
brick and mortar locations and check these retailers out for yourself.
Right now, it is nine forty five, clouds and twenty
(30:35):
nine degrees. Is the hyperloop dead or maybe is it
just taking a break? Talk about the hyperloop? Next Talk
of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four
point five w AJR.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Clouds and thirty degrees in the University City. It is
nine fifty and you know shopping small got a text
during the break. It's important to recognize that, you know what,
when you shop small, you're supporting your neighbors, and you're
supporting the folks that create a whole lot of jobs
(31:31):
around here. And it doesn't just have to be Morgantown.
That could be Let's see, it could be Grandville, could
be Star City, could be Westover, of course, could be
Kingwood or maybe even Mason Town or Reevesville. So when
you're out there making those decisions on where to buy gifts,
(31:52):
give your local retailers a chance. Don't forget that Tomorrow
is Small Business Saturday, and from eleven to four though,
we will be special deals in downtown Morgantown. Oh, the
hyper loop, remember that back in October of twenty twenty,
we didn't even know what a pandemic was yet, But
(32:15):
within a couple of months we were about to find out.
But state officials, along with some people from Sir Richard
Branson's Virgin Hyperloop Company, came to the Ericson Alumni Center
to announce that they would build a prototype, a test track,
if you will, on eight hundred acres in Tucker and
(32:37):
Grant Counties. Now, the hyperloop, just to refresh your memory,
that is a way to transport people or cargo through
a vacuum tube at speeds of up to six hundred
miles per hour. Now, that was when the project first
rolled out. One of the first things to happen was
about a year after, some time in twenty twenty one,
(33:01):
the company then said, well, you know what, we're not
going to focus on people, were instead going to focus
on cargo. They were able to raise a half billion
dollars in their pursuit to get this together. They also
built a very short test track out in Nevada in
(33:23):
the Las Vegas area, and they conducted a successful test.
But nevertheless, in December, the end of December twenty twenty three,
the Virgin Hyperloop Company closed its doors due to some
financial issues. Now, however, the idea is still it's still
(33:47):
getting some traction over in Europe. Now there are a
number of companies including Heart hyper Loop. They're based out
of the Netherlands, and then also there's Swiss Pod Technologies
out of the country of Switzerland. Those two companies are
still actively developing a European hyper loop center in the
(34:12):
Netherlands that would be their operational hub where they would
build the standards. In other words, what they're talking about
building in the Netherlands is what was proposed to be
built in Tucker and Grant Counties on that eight hundred
acre site. Certainly there was a lot of excitement, and
(34:33):
I know that retired Major General James Hoyer, that was
when he was involved with economic development efforts at West
Virginia University. There was a lot of hope. There was
a lot of promise for that project and the fact
that it could bring not only good paying jobs here
to West Virginia, but it would also create a training
(34:57):
ground to train people to work in the industry. Well.
One of the reasons that West Virginia was considered to
be a front runner as a site for this standards
center we'll call it is because of its location and
proximity to Washington, DC and the US Department of Transportation.
But I think I would have I would hazard a
(35:19):
guests to say that if you're going to ride on
a hyperloop, it's probably not going to be in America,
but if you travel to Europe you probably have a
better chance. It is eight point fifty four. We'll be
back to wrap things up on Talk of the Town
coming up after this on AM fourteen forty FM oneh
(35:39):
four point five WAJR
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