November 1, 2025 • 39 mins
Kathy Morris from the Action Network on the chances of seeing a ghost in West Virginia on Halloween.
Delegate David McCormick, R, Monongalia, 82, on his appointment to be Vice Chairman of the Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism Committee.
Delegate George Street, R, Preston, 83, on the proposed Bradonville Solar project.
Director of Child Nutrition for the West Virginia Department of Education on the inaugural Farm to School conference in Morgantown next week
Delegate David McCormick, R, Monongalia, 82, on his appointment to be Vice Chairman of the Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism Committee.
Delegate George Street, R, Preston, 83, on the proposed Bradonville Solar project.
Director of Child Nutrition for the West Virginia Department of Education on the inaugural Farm to School conference in Morgantown next week
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Klerksburg.
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 Notting.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
A good Friday morning. It is nine oh six, fair
skies and forty two degrees and good Friday morning, Happy Halloween.
Welcome to Talk of the Town. And also, oh, by
the way, welcome to the end of the week. I
don't know about you, but I'm certainly glad to see
this one wrap up. Its round of applause for each
(00:55):
and every one of you. Now, Sophia Wassick is our
producer this morning. She's at eight hundred seven six five
eight two five five. I'm Mike Nolting. You'll find me
out on X as your news guy. We've also got
the text line that is for your immediate access to
the program, that number three four Talk threeh four. Well,
(01:17):
Happy Halloween. Coming up at nine point fifteen, we're going
to spend a couple of minutes with Kathy Morris. She's
from the Action Network. Kathy and her staff they've taken
the time to analyze sightings involving the paranormal and the unexplained.
Believe it or not, that data shows that West Virginia
(01:38):
is the second most likely state in the country which
you'll have an encounter with a ghost. So we'll break
that study down with Kathy, and who knows, maybe you'll
see a ghost tonight you can tell us all about it.
Delegate David McCormick. He represents the residents of District eighty
two in Mond County and now he is the Assistant
(01:59):
Majority the Leader in the House of Delegates and he's
been added to the Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism Committee. We're
going to talk with David coming up at nine to thirty.
Then the one thousand acre Brandonville Solar Farm, well that's
being considered by the at peace excuse me, the PSC.
And we've got Delegate George Street. He's the vice chair
(02:22):
of the Energy and Manufacturing Committee from the eighty third
district in Preston County. He'll join us at nine to
forty to round out the program. We're going to take
a look at that project and get an update from
Delegate Street as to what some of the people are
saying about that the federal government shutdown. It is now
(02:43):
in day thirty one. US Senator Shelley Moore Capital calls
the shut down and march to misery, but she says
this one is especially hurtful for families and government workers.
Beginning tomorrow, the one hundred and forty four thousand households
across the state that would normally get snap benefits, well
(03:04):
they will not tomorrow. And you can donate to the
Mountaineer Food Bank if you would like to. You can
do that at wvonmetronews dot com. And if you are
a family or maybe you know of a family that
is experiencing some food insecurity, you can help them out
(03:25):
by using the two to one one line, that is
the United Way helpline. You can call two one one.
They'll have operators there that can give you it can't
make any promises, but they can give you an idea
of what you can possibly expect. Now, you know this
is a this is a good moment to bring this
(03:46):
up because what we found is beginning at the beginning
of the year, at the beginning of the year, rather
in the first round of cuts. And I'm getting a
lot of this information from Mont count Mont County Commissioner
Tom Bloom, but at the beginning of the year that
(04:06):
one point two billion dollars in cuts in the first
round of cuts announced by the Trump administration that severed
the link between local farms and these programs that are
able to infuse food into SNAP. And right now there
is I guess some worry with Thanksgiving approaching as to
(04:29):
how much bulk food will be able to be purchased.
Now you couple that with what's happening with the state
and SNAP benefits, thirteen million dollars to be matched, could
be twenty six million dollars that all hits the street.
Nobody really knows what's going to happen in the coming weeks,
(04:50):
and I think that there are a lot of people
that are certainly looking at this situation and they're definitely
hoping to help as much as they POSSI can. Coming
up one week from today, we as in wv RC
Media will be conducting a Cares for Community event and
(05:10):
that will be at the University Town Center. Giant Eagle
will do that from six am to six pm and
looking for non expired, unopened and undamaged non perishable food
items just to give you an idea. Maybe some canned vegetables,
(05:32):
granola bars, canned meats, dry pasta, some sauce maybe to
go with that rice always a good thing, cereals, and
you could throw in maybe a can opener, maybe even
some hygiene products. And one other thing about Giant Eagle
if that happens to be the store that you frequent.
(05:52):
Coming up tomorrow, this event will be running from eleven
am until four pm. You can exchange pennies for gift cards.
Here's how it works. It takes a minimum of fifty
pennies and what that does for you is you'll be
able to double that. So fifty pennies fifty cents, you
(06:15):
get a one dollar gift card. Bring in a one
hundred dollars worth of pennies and you'll get two hundred
dollars worth of gift cards. Now, let's see that is
the limit. But I guess maybe a more reasonable example
would be you take ten bucks worth of pennies to
over there to the Giant Eagle and they'll hook you
(06:36):
up with a twenty dollars gift card. And while you're
up there, you might want to check out Ali's because
Alli's is going to play host for the very first
Stuff the Truck event for Toys for Tots this year,
and that will be Marine Corps League Detachment three forty two.
(06:58):
They're going to be up at the Alli's Bargain Outlet
in Morgantown. They are gonna stuff that Truck tomorrow from
ten am until four pm. And all of these donations
they benefit mont County children. So just like the United Way,
and just like the Food drive coming up on the seventh,
you give money, you provide food, that food stays in
(07:22):
Montngelia County. Coming up next, spend a few minutes with
Kathy Morris with the Action Network and get the holiday
started right. That's coming up next on Top of the
Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point five
W A Jr.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven to
sixty five eight two five.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
This is the Talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
That's a fare in forty two degrees on Halloween morning.
And just a program note for the high school football fans.
The Morgantown University High School football game the Mohawk Bull
That will not be on Metro News TV, but we
will broadcast it live. That pregame will start at six
point thirty, and of course we'll hit the game at
(08:26):
seven o'clock. On the phone, we've got Kathy Morris from
the Action Network. Good morning, Kathy. How are you.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I'm pretty good.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
How are you hey, I'm doing great. Thank you very much. Well,
you and your staff have done a study of the
top ten states that one might see a ghost in,
and West Virginia happen to land at number two on
that list. Can you tell us why?
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Yes, West Virginians have four point five percent odds of
seeing a ghost. A lot of the odds were driven
to West Virginia by the high amount of Simmis Harry's
per capita.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Okay, tell us about that. What do those numbers look like?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Yeah, West Virginia has twenty five cemeteries per one hundred
thousand residents, which is an astronomical number, very unique. To
put it into perspective, the national average is one hundred
and sixty eight for that population.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Oh wow, so that is a glaring number. Now. You
know what. One of the other metrics or stats that
I saw in the study was ghost towns, and West
Virginia has one hundred and four ghost towns. And you know,
I've seen reports about these. A lot of them are
you know, former coal towns. But for this study, what's
(09:45):
the criteria that you used to determine a ghost town?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Yeah, we use another established study that listed the ghost towns,
and many of them were, as you mentioned, appellations, cool
mining villages that are no longer that are no longer active,
other abandoned settlements like Thurman that was once a rail town.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
And I guess tell us, do the odds go up
on Halloween?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
You know, I can't say that for sure, but I'm
if I were in West Virginia, I might be looking
twice tonight, especially if you were going by one of
the many mini cemeteries.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Okay, Well, Kathy Morris is with us. She's from the
Action Network. They've done a study to find out, you know,
what states across the country are you're most likely to
see a ghost in West Virginia happened to pop up
to number two on that list, now number one on
the list. I wanted to talk about just real briefly,
but I have to tell you going into this that
(10:48):
West Virginia happens to be a horns down state. So
we're not gonna yeah, we're not going to give Texas
a whole lot of love here, but we do want
to know why are they number one?
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Yeah, you know, I guess everything's bigger in Texas, even
the ghost. There was a ton of ghost sightings per capita,
even when you had just for the larger population size
and a lot of reported sightings. And they also this
is kind of interesting. There's a lot of paranormal related
(11:21):
searches for things like how to get rid of a ghost? Okay,
you know, I mean maybe they should just call ghostbusters.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, I got you. Now. The other
thing that I wanted to get a little bit of
insight in. You've got total sightings in the study, and
those the sightings in Texas, those are more than seventy
six hundred. The ones in West Virginia are about six hundred,
(11:52):
just a little more than six hundred. What period of time.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Is that over, Yeah, that is over a few years,
And of course there's reported sightings. I think if I
saw a ghost, I probably would not be going online
to put it in the database. I would probably be screaming.
But it's a it's a it's a decent metric just
because there's a there's such a disparity between certain states,
and how do.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
You handle somebody if I were to call and say, hey, Kathy,
I just saw a ghost. I want to tell you
about it.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
You know, if you if you call me, I don't.
I don't know that I would. I would. I would
probably like, you know, be like okay, okay, where where
do you live? So I don't go there?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
It's smart. That would be exactly what I would do.
But uh, I guess when you get when you get
a report, you take it at face value.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Now, No, we don't maintain this database. Is it's a
publicly available database. It seems like there is some level
of recording. They make sure there's no just they make
sure there's no duplicates, and they look at where it's located.
Tou to tabulate it by location. It can get very
very micro. So if anyone in the audience is wondering
about ghosts in your town, they've got that data.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Okay, all right, good deal. Now let's see tell us
just a little bit about the Action Network.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
Yeah, we are a sports vetting and entertainment website, so
we do a lot of odds for games and other
things that might be more relevant to your day to
day than a ghost hopefully.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Okay, good deal. Kathy Morris with the Action Network, Well,
if we might be getting or whoever maintains that database,
they might be getting a bunch of calls from West
Virginia today and it would be because we provided the
positive suggestion.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
So that's very funny. Well, hopefully everyone has a good
Halloween and only friendly ghost or scene.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I'm with you there, I'm with you there. Okay, Hey, Kathy,
really do appreciate your time. Thank you very much, ma'am
any kind of have a good one, absolutely, you take
care of yourself. All right, Let's talk just a little
bit about what all is happening today, because you know what,
there's a whole lot going on. But before we do that,
(14:15):
I did want to just remind folks that you know,
this year will be the first ever quad eight state
soccer tournament, and the boys soccer team from MHS well,
they have advanced to the final four and the final
four this year includes Wheeling, Park Woodrow, Wilson and Hurricane
Morgantown rounds out that final four. Now they'll hit the
(14:37):
pitch coming up on Thursday to in Beckley to decide
who the who who the Quad A Champion will be
now also on the grid iron, of course, we've got
the Mohawk Bull that happens tonight on Baker's Ridge at
pregame that'll get started six thirty tonight on WAJR and
(15:02):
the game broadcast that'll start at seven o'clock and we're
going to have the entire team, I believe, Kyle Wiggs,
Hal Britter, John Kelly, Everybody's going to be in the
booth and Dave Wilson will be down working the field.
So it ought to be a great broadcast. You'll certainly
want to check that out now. Unfortunately that will not
(15:25):
be televised via Metro News TV. Now the Triple A
Metro News Game of the Week that's worth mentioning. Fairmont
Senior and Bridgeport will be playing in that game tonight.
Certainly Bridgeport has they've been scoring a lot of points
all year. Ought to be a track meet in that
(15:46):
particular game. And here's something that came across my desk
early this morning and really didn't have a chance to
work it in until late But remember the mural at
the State Capital that allegedly or did or didn't have
images of baby Dog in it. And resulted in the
(16:07):
lawsuit against Randall Reid Smith and the Capital Building Commission.
I don't know if you remember that or not, but
there was a lawsuit against a mural that was painted
inside the Capital that had depictions of baby dog that
were in the scenes that they were showing off early
(16:30):
life in early West Virginia. Well, that lawsuit has now
been settled. Settlement orders the State Capitol Building Commission to
hold a special public meeting. Now, during that special public meeting,
they're going to be asking if the public don't give
(16:51):
the public the opportunity to comment on the project, And
of course, based on those comments, the project could be rejected,
it could be removed, and the Capitol Building Commission will
have the final say after all the public comments have
been received. But I think the end result of what
(17:11):
you'll see as a as a as a consequence of
this lawsuit is going to be a much tighter set
of parameters whenever renovations want to be made at the
State Capitol or one of the historic state buildings. And
(17:32):
let's see, coming up at nine thirty, we do have
Delegate David McCormick. David represents the eighty second district and
he's in his first term. I know he's a campaigning
plans to run for a second term. He's now been
named the assistant Majority Leader in the House of Delegates,
(17:52):
and he's been added to the Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism Committee.
We'll have an opportunity to talk with David coming up
at nine point thirty, and certainly with his experience and
what his involvement with Firk and the Lakeland Power Generation
facility up in the Cheat Lake area, I think is
(18:16):
a good indication of how he can use maybe his
knowledge and his dedication as a member of the energy
manufacturing of the energy manufacturer i'm sorry, the Agriculture, Commerce
and Tourism Committee, how he can use that expertise to
(18:38):
help residents in the future with issues that they might have.
And of course, certainly he was active in the Moral
Project and we saw how the end result of the
map that came from next Era Energy Transmission would certainly
look like somebody was listening to someone when it came
(19:01):
to that. Well, it is Halloween and you can definitely
expect an increase police presence throughout the area all the
way through the weekend. That'll be State Police Morgantown Police
guarantee you that the Montagelia County Sheriff's Department will be out.
These are typically zero tolerance patrols, and we had First
(19:24):
Sergeant Kyle Totten on the program earlier this week and
he said, they're definitely going to be looking out for
intoxicated drivers, drivers who may be aggressive or not minding
their p's and queues, because certainly in the neighborhoods tonight,
there's going to be a lot of folks walking around
on the streets, so you'll want to watch out for that.
(19:46):
And I believe Madigan Avenue in the first ward that
will be closed for trick or treaters tonight, so keep
that in mind in your travels across the city.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Good Friday morning, Fair skuys forty two degrees. We're glad
that you're with us on the phone. We've got the
delegate from the eighty second district, David McCormick with us,
and David, good morning, sir. How are you.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
Good morning, Mike, I'm great.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
How about yourself now, I'm doing good. Thank you very much.
Now let's see looking at your bio. Now you have
been elevated to the Assistant Majority Leader and also added
to the Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism Committee. So congratulations, well
thanks Mike.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
I was named vice chair of the Agriculture Commerce Tourism
Committee recently and for the upcoming session, and I really
enjoy the work we do on that committee. You know, Uh,
it's kind of odd put lump in those three things together.
(21:08):
Maybe agriculture, Commerce and tourism. Commerce covers a lot of
things in the state, different departments. These are over a
lot of oversighted done on these committees. Obviously agricultures, uh,
you know, people take that for granted. Agriculture is a
huge industry in our state and deals with food safety
(21:32):
and things like that. And of course tourism is is
our most growing industry in West Virginia, and particularly with
the National Park status that was granted the New River
Gorge a couple of years ago, and the millions literally
(21:52):
tens of millions of people to visit our state.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Every year for.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
For that, and and the Hatfield McCoy Trails is a
huge part of that. Of course skiing and rafting. So
so yeah, there's a lot there on that committee. And
I was really uh flattered to be has to be
vice chairman of the committee as a freshman.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Particularly, I've had enough conversations with Kent Lee in Hard
to know that agriculture and tourism work hand in hand
and a lot of areas. I think, you know, you've
got the apple industry, You've got the wine industry. There's honey,
there's fresh meat. But they're definitely, Yeah, there's strong connections
(22:35):
between agriculture and tourism.
Speaker 5 (22:38):
There is and and I'll and I'll just say this,
Kent is a is a great uh in that role.
And uh he's been great for agriculture in the state.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
He's a great champion of that.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
He's done a great job now to State Fair and
and uh, he's he's he's he's a winner. He's a
good guy, and he's done a great job. I just
want to give him a tip of the cat.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
But uh, but yeah, I mean that you're right. I mean,
but you know, you know, our chicken industry over in
the Eastern panandles.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
Huge and and uh it's ah provides a lot of jobs.
Uh and and and in that in that area where
there's you know, there's not a lot of industry in
in the middle of the eastern panandle and and uh
Moorefield area and Peters Petersburg and and the chicken industry
(23:35):
is huge over there.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Now, tell us what you do as the assistant majority leader.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Well, the majority we just there's several of us. I
mean that that that that is uh, that was.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
A role that was bestowed on I think six or
seven folks last session too. Uh uh. Essentially it covers
a wide range of things in helping the majority leader
with you know, hurting the cats so to speak, and
uh communication mostly so.
Speaker 6 (24:15):
But the real, the real role that I'm that I'm
going to be involved in upcoming session is the work
on the on the committee that I just talked about
and being vice chairman of that. So so I'm excited
about it. Yeah, I mean I'm you know, Heybaye knows me,
(24:37):
knows that I really enjoy h my first year in
the legislature, and i feel like I've gotten a lot
done and I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
To go back.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Okay, good deal, DELI good. David McCormick representing the eighty
second district. Now, David, coming up next, I'm going to
talk to your neighbor over there in district eighty three
Delegate George.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
Yeah, and well, you know, George and I work together
on the snow removal bill that I sponsored. He was
a co sponsor. I was a lead sponsor. And George
and I work well together, so so you know, he
literally is my next door neighbor legislative wise, you know,
(25:24):
Preston county'd me being on the eastern.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Tip of.
Speaker 6 (25:28):
Mand So yeah, George's good people.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Okay, good deal. All right, David, appreciate your time today
and hope you have a great weekend and stay safe.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
It's Halloween, okay, Mike, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Yeah, you bet you. It is nine to forty fair and
forty two. When we come back, we'll speak with Delegate
George Street from Preston County. I'm going to be talking
about the Brandonville Solar Project. A good Friday morning. It
is in ninety five, and this is a talk of
(26:05):
the town. On the phone. We've got Deligate George Street
from the eighty third district. Sir, good morning, how are you?
Speaker 7 (26:13):
Yeah, sir, good morning, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I'm doing doing just fine, absolutely well. You've got the
seal of approval from Delegate David McCormick. But goody, it
would like to get an update on the Brandonville solar
project please.
Speaker 8 (26:31):
Yeah, this is.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
Something Frankly, I've gotten several complaints about a lot of
the local people just seem to think it's not a
good use of the land. So in my understanding of
the project, and I have not spoken directly with the
company who's who's in charge of it, but just you know,
(26:56):
from my research what I've read talk to people, it's
a uximately a thousand acres of of solar panels going
in in the Booston Brandonville area. You know, that's good
farm land. It's it's beautiful woods up there, and uh,
it's it's relatively level land, you know, compared to a
(27:19):
lot of a lot of West Virginia. And I tell you,
I've gotten a lot of complaints and a lot of
people just don't feel that it's an efficient use.
Speaker 9 (27:29):
Of our land.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
I'm sure I can understand that. Now a lot of people, uh,
they might complain, but then if they hear that there's
a benefit, that can kind of maybe ease some of
the pain that it may cause.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
Sure.
Speaker 7 (27:45):
The problem with solar panels is they don't create a
lot of local jobs, of almost any local jobs. And
I want to be clear here, I'm not on some
anti solar kick. You know, I'm not trying to make
(28:08):
solar illegal in the state of West Virginia.
Speaker 8 (28:11):
I'm not.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
I'm not on a witch hunt against solar. I'm just
trying to be pragmatic about it. If you want solar
panels on the roof of a building or something, great,
that may be a very efficient use of space. But
solar panels don't make the power that is usually advertised.
(28:35):
They advertise what's known as nameplate, an amount as that
that's called nameplate within the industry, and that's the actual
production is much much less. And this isn't just my opinion.
You can look at the PJAM, who's our grid operator.
They have their report online. It's open for anyone to see.
(28:59):
It's called the gener Ration Interconnect Facilities Study Report, and
that you know. So, the advertised amount of megawalks for
this project is approximately one hundred megawalks, but it's really
only going to produce maybe somewhere in the fifties. The
maximum amount that PJM expects or to produce, I believe
(29:22):
is fifty nine is what they put in there. But
that's under you know, kind of the best West Virginia conditions. Right,
and back to the efficiency of use of land, there's
a map that is put out there for solar panel
use for all of North America, and West Virginia is
(29:45):
the low is in the lowest rated category of land
for solar panels in all of the continental forty eight states.
We're in the lowest ranking. Now, so for example, we're
like a ranking of three, where Arizona is a ranking
of six.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Right right now, is there any benefit for the citizens
of Preston County at all?
Speaker 7 (30:13):
There's a benefit to whoever owns the land. I'm sure
they're getting paid, you know, reasonable amount of money. And
that's you know, private land ownership and private business. That's
that's a that's a fair thing. So I'm not I'm
not condemning anyone for trying to use their land to
make money. I'm just saying, pulling back from the from
(30:39):
a public perspective, it's not a real efficient use of
land for power generation. Right. So, for example, Fort Martin
produces approximately a thousand megawatts. The Harrison Power Station produces
approximately two thousand megawatts. This is going to who's about fifty.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Well, I tell you what we've got, Delegate George Street.
George will have to leave it there for now, but
we'll leave the door open to get back in touch
with you. Do appreciate the update. We have an update
from the State Board of Education coming up next. That's
on top of the town. Am fourteen forty f M.
(31:23):
One oh four point five W A j R.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
This is the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Oh good Friday morning. It is eight fifty two and
coming up next week it'll be the inaugural Farm and
Farm to School Conference and that will be here in
the city of Morgantown. On the I've got Tony Crago.
Tony is the director of the State Department of Education
and Child Nutrition. Tony, good morning. How are you sir?
Speaker 8 (32:10):
Good morning. I'm doing fine.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
How are you hey, I'm doing great. Thank you very much.
Now Tony, tell us about the event.
Speaker 8 (32:18):
Well, the event is the main conference takes place. The
main conference takes place on Wednesday, November fifth, there at
the waterfront.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I tell you, I'll tell you what Tony can you?
Can you call us right back. That phone connection is
absolutely terrible, Sophia, can you help us out with that part.
And while we're waiting on Tony, this conference is going
to be next week down on the waterfront. It's the
inaugural Farm to School conference. And we actually learned about
(32:53):
this event come late yesterday and we're able to set
this up. Hopefully we'll be able to get Tony back.
I know that this will be a very important event,
especially in this area of the state. It'll be able
to draw from many surrounding counties. Let's see if we
(33:14):
can get Tony back. Oh, don't forget the Mohawk bull
that is tonight. We'll start the pregame at six point thirty.
Of course, kickoff is at seven o'clock. Now, this particular
game won't be on Metro News TV, but it will
be live on the air tonight that live broadcast. Kickoff
(33:36):
is at seven and the pregame starts at six thirty.
On the phone, Tony Craigo, Tony, I can tell already
that sounds good. How you doing.
Speaker 9 (33:48):
I'm doing fine, And I can tell miam it sounds
much better as well.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Okay, that's good, Okay, Tony take it from the top.
Tell us about this event please.
Speaker 9 (33:58):
Well, this event is it's something new for us here
at the West Virginia Department of Education. The main event, well,
the main conference takes place on Wednsley, November fifth there
at the Waterfront Hotel. The purpose for this conference is
to connect farmers, community members and counting nutrition directors to
(34:21):
try to help just make those relationships and build those
relationships and get more local food into our school meals
here in state of West Virginia.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
And you know what, Tony, with some laws that have
been passed about additives and colors and things like that,
that's got to be very very important to you.
Speaker 9 (34:41):
Yeah. You know, we've been working on farmer school efforts
for a lot of years and we've seen games every year,
so you know, it's it's just it just is important,
you know, these local ingredients that helps out to local communities.
It provides a more nutritious meal, and we're seeing more
and more of it across state and it's just been
(35:01):
a it's been a great program over the last you know,
ten or more years.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Tony Craig go's the director of the State Department of
Education Child Nutrition. Uh, Tony, I guess for farmers that
are out there, how can they get involved in Maybe
how small of a farmer is too small to get involved?
Speaker 9 (35:22):
Well, you know the best way to get involved is
to contact the Cheio Nutrition director of whatever county you're
you're either within or or or counties that you you
think you can help provide products too in your area
and too small is you know, it's really relative to
what the schools or the county needs. And I would
(35:46):
I wouldn't discourage anyone to to not reach out and
see what they may be able to do to help
get their products on the menu at schools.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Sounds to me like it might even be a good
idea to set aside some time and maybe attend this
conference next week.
Speaker 9 (36:03):
Yeah, you're anyone as welcome to come. It's open to
the public. We expect to see a lot of county
county employees, a lot of community partners, a lot of farmers,
you know, local food vendors. There's gonna be students. There's
gonna be a cookoff.
Speaker 7 (36:19):
That's the It's.
Speaker 9 (36:20):
Gonna be the CTE pro Start students from various pro
start programs around the state. They'll be using local products
to show off their skills. On Wednesday. So we're pretty
excited about that. We think we think that that's going
to really add a nice touch to the conference.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Tony Craig goes well us. He's the director of the
State Department of Education Child Nutrition. You know, I guess
talk just a little bit if you can about how
food for schools has changed in recent years, because there
have been big changes.
Speaker 9 (36:53):
Well yeah, I mean, you know the changes. Some of
it comes through regulation changes, some of it comes through
uh just uh manufacturer changes and and and a lot
of it comes through the schools just ability to do
more local purchasing. Over the years, farmers, vendors, students, they
(37:15):
begin they've begun producing in a way that schools can
take better advantage of their local products. And and that's
that's what this conference is all about, is just helping, uh,
you know, increase awareness of what options are out there,
and and just just to try to get more of
those local products in into these school meals.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Okay, so tell us when does the conference start? When
should we report for duty? For lack of a better word.
Speaker 9 (37:42):
So, so registration is open. There's a link on the
our Department of Education website at w v d E
dot u s and you can register on site the
day of the conference on Wednesday, you know, I think
registration will be open probably twenty seven to seven thirty
(38:03):
in the morning, and we'll start taking people in and
get started for the day.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Okay, good deal. Now, the folks from all fifty five
counties coming, That is that correct?
Speaker 9 (38:15):
You know? I would imagine there'll be people from all
People from all counties are welcome and included and invited.
I don't have a list to know for sure if
there's someone currently registered from every county, but we sure
hope someone from every county shows up.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Okay, good deal. Well, Tony, I'm very very grateful that
we got our phone situation worked out because that's some
very good information. I appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (38:40):
All right, Well, appreciate you having us on this morning.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Thank you absolutely. You take care of yourself. That's Tony Crago.
He is the state Director of child Nutrition at the
Department of Education. And that inaugural Farm to School conference
that'll be coming up Wednesday down at the waterfront here
in the city of Morgantown. Sounds like a great event.
If you're in agriculture or know somebody who is, you
(39:06):
might want to share that with them. Well, it is Friday,
Halloween daytime now for Metro News talk line Everybody Make
it a Safe Halloween on the Voice of Morgantown one
oh four point five FM and AM fourteen forty W
A j R.
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Klerksburg.
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 Notting.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
A good Friday morning. It is nine oh six, fair
skies and forty two degrees and good Friday morning, Happy Halloween.
Welcome to Talk of the Town. And also, oh, by
the way, welcome to the end of the week. I
don't know about you, but I'm certainly glad to see
this one wrap up. Its round of applause for each
(00:55):
and every one of you. Now, Sophia Wassick is our
producer this morning. She's at eight hundred seven six five
eight two five five. I'm Mike Nolting. You'll find me
out on X as your news guy. We've also got
the text line that is for your immediate access to
the program, that number three four Talk threeh four. Well,
(01:17):
Happy Halloween. Coming up at nine point fifteen, we're going
to spend a couple of minutes with Kathy Morris. She's
from the Action Network. Kathy and her staff they've taken
the time to analyze sightings involving the paranormal and the unexplained.
Believe it or not, that data shows that West Virginia
(01:38):
is the second most likely state in the country which
you'll have an encounter with a ghost. So we'll break
that study down with Kathy, and who knows, maybe you'll
see a ghost tonight you can tell us all about it.
Delegate David McCormick. He represents the residents of District eighty
two in Mond County and now he is the Assistant
(01:59):
Majority the Leader in the House of Delegates and he's
been added to the Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism Committee. We're
going to talk with David coming up at nine to thirty.
Then the one thousand acre Brandonville Solar Farm, well that's
being considered by the at peace excuse me, the PSC.
And we've got Delegate George Street. He's the vice chair
(02:22):
of the Energy and Manufacturing Committee from the eighty third
district in Preston County. He'll join us at nine to
forty to round out the program. We're going to take
a look at that project and get an update from
Delegate Street as to what some of the people are
saying about that the federal government shutdown. It is now
(02:43):
in day thirty one. US Senator Shelley Moore Capital calls
the shut down and march to misery, but she says
this one is especially hurtful for families and government workers.
Beginning tomorrow, the one hundred and forty four thousand households
across the state that would normally get snap benefits, well
(03:04):
they will not tomorrow. And you can donate to the
Mountaineer Food Bank if you would like to. You can
do that at wvonmetronews dot com. And if you are
a family or maybe you know of a family that
is experiencing some food insecurity, you can help them out
(03:25):
by using the two to one one line, that is
the United Way helpline. You can call two one one.
They'll have operators there that can give you it can't
make any promises, but they can give you an idea
of what you can possibly expect. Now, you know this
is a this is a good moment to bring this
(03:46):
up because what we found is beginning at the beginning
of the year, at the beginning of the year, rather
in the first round of cuts. And I'm getting a
lot of this information from Mont count Mont County Commissioner
Tom Bloom, but at the beginning of the year that
(04:06):
one point two billion dollars in cuts in the first
round of cuts announced by the Trump administration that severed
the link between local farms and these programs that are
able to infuse food into SNAP. And right now there
is I guess some worry with Thanksgiving approaching as to
(04:29):
how much bulk food will be able to be purchased.
Now you couple that with what's happening with the state
and SNAP benefits, thirteen million dollars to be matched, could
be twenty six million dollars that all hits the street.
Nobody really knows what's going to happen in the coming weeks,
(04:50):
and I think that there are a lot of people
that are certainly looking at this situation and they're definitely
hoping to help as much as they POSSI can. Coming
up one week from today, we as in wv RC
Media will be conducting a Cares for Community event and
(05:10):
that will be at the University Town Center. Giant Eagle
will do that from six am to six pm and
looking for non expired, unopened and undamaged non perishable food
items just to give you an idea. Maybe some canned vegetables,
(05:32):
granola bars, canned meats, dry pasta, some sauce maybe to
go with that rice always a good thing, cereals, and
you could throw in maybe a can opener, maybe even
some hygiene products. And one other thing about Giant Eagle
if that happens to be the store that you frequent.
(05:52):
Coming up tomorrow, this event will be running from eleven
am until four pm. You can exchange pennies for gift cards.
Here's how it works. It takes a minimum of fifty
pennies and what that does for you is you'll be
able to double that. So fifty pennies fifty cents, you
(06:15):
get a one dollar gift card. Bring in a one
hundred dollars worth of pennies and you'll get two hundred
dollars worth of gift cards. Now, let's see that is
the limit. But I guess maybe a more reasonable example
would be you take ten bucks worth of pennies to
over there to the Giant Eagle and they'll hook you
(06:36):
up with a twenty dollars gift card. And while you're
up there, you might want to check out Ali's because
Alli's is going to play host for the very first
Stuff the Truck event for Toys for Tots this year,
and that will be Marine Corps League Detachment three forty two.
(06:58):
They're going to be up at the Alli's Bargain Outlet
in Morgantown. They are gonna stuff that Truck tomorrow from
ten am until four pm. And all of these donations
they benefit mont County children. So just like the United Way,
and just like the Food drive coming up on the seventh,
you give money, you provide food, that food stays in
(07:22):
Montngelia County. Coming up next, spend a few minutes with
Kathy Morris with the Action Network and get the holiday
started right. That's coming up next on Top of the
Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point five
W A Jr.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven to
sixty five eight two five.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
This is the Talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
That's a fare in forty two degrees on Halloween morning.
And just a program note for the high school football fans.
The Morgantown University High School football game the Mohawk Bull
That will not be on Metro News TV, but we
will broadcast it live. That pregame will start at six
point thirty, and of course we'll hit the game at
(08:26):
seven o'clock. On the phone, we've got Kathy Morris from
the Action Network. Good morning, Kathy. How are you.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I'm pretty good.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
How are you hey, I'm doing great. Thank you very much. Well,
you and your staff have done a study of the
top ten states that one might see a ghost in,
and West Virginia happen to land at number two on
that list. Can you tell us why?
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Yes, West Virginians have four point five percent odds of
seeing a ghost. A lot of the odds were driven
to West Virginia by the high amount of Simmis Harry's
per capita.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Okay, tell us about that. What do those numbers look like?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Yeah, West Virginia has twenty five cemeteries per one hundred
thousand residents, which is an astronomical number, very unique. To
put it into perspective, the national average is one hundred
and sixty eight for that population.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Oh wow, so that is a glaring number. Now. You
know what. One of the other metrics or stats that
I saw in the study was ghost towns, and West
Virginia has one hundred and four ghost towns. And you know,
I've seen reports about these. A lot of them are
you know, former coal towns. But for this study, what's
(09:45):
the criteria that you used to determine a ghost town?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Yeah, we use another established study that listed the ghost towns,
and many of them were, as you mentioned, appellations, cool
mining villages that are no longer that are no longer active,
other abandoned settlements like Thurman that was once a rail town.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
And I guess tell us, do the odds go up
on Halloween?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
You know, I can't say that for sure, but I'm
if I were in West Virginia, I might be looking
twice tonight, especially if you were going by one of
the many mini cemeteries.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Okay, Well, Kathy Morris is with us. She's from the
Action Network. They've done a study to find out, you know,
what states across the country are you're most likely to
see a ghost in West Virginia happened to pop up
to number two on that list, now number one on
the list. I wanted to talk about just real briefly,
but I have to tell you going into this that
(10:48):
West Virginia happens to be a horns down state. So
we're not gonna yeah, we're not going to give Texas
a whole lot of love here, but we do want
to know why are they number one?
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Yeah, you know, I guess everything's bigger in Texas, even
the ghost. There was a ton of ghost sightings per capita,
even when you had just for the larger population size
and a lot of reported sightings. And they also this
is kind of interesting. There's a lot of paranormal related
(11:21):
searches for things like how to get rid of a ghost? Okay,
you know, I mean maybe they should just call ghostbusters.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, I got you. Now. The other
thing that I wanted to get a little bit of
insight in. You've got total sightings in the study, and
those the sightings in Texas, those are more than seventy
six hundred. The ones in West Virginia are about six hundred,
(11:52):
just a little more than six hundred. What period of time.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Is that over, Yeah, that is over a few years,
And of course there's reported sightings. I think if I
saw a ghost, I probably would not be going online
to put it in the database. I would probably be screaming.
But it's a it's a it's a decent metric just
because there's a there's such a disparity between certain states,
and how do.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
You handle somebody if I were to call and say, hey, Kathy,
I just saw a ghost. I want to tell you
about it.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
You know, if you if you call me, I don't.
I don't know that I would. I would. I would
probably like, you know, be like okay, okay, where where
do you live? So I don't go there?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
It's smart. That would be exactly what I would do.
But uh, I guess when you get when you get
a report, you take it at face value.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Now, No, we don't maintain this database. Is it's a
publicly available database. It seems like there is some level
of recording. They make sure there's no just they make
sure there's no duplicates, and they look at where it's located.
Tou to tabulate it by location. It can get very
very micro. So if anyone in the audience is wondering
about ghosts in your town, they've got that data.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Okay, all right, good deal. Now let's see tell us
just a little bit about the Action Network.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
Yeah, we are a sports vetting and entertainment website, so
we do a lot of odds for games and other
things that might be more relevant to your day to
day than a ghost hopefully.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Okay, good deal. Kathy Morris with the Action Network, Well,
if we might be getting or whoever maintains that database,
they might be getting a bunch of calls from West
Virginia today and it would be because we provided the
positive suggestion.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
So that's very funny. Well, hopefully everyone has a good
Halloween and only friendly ghost or scene.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I'm with you there, I'm with you there. Okay, Hey, Kathy,
really do appreciate your time. Thank you very much, ma'am
any kind of have a good one, absolutely, you take
care of yourself. All right, Let's talk just a little
bit about what all is happening today, because you know what,
there's a whole lot going on. But before we do that,
(14:15):
I did want to just remind folks that you know,
this year will be the first ever quad eight state
soccer tournament, and the boys soccer team from MHS well,
they have advanced to the final four and the final
four this year includes Wheeling, Park Woodrow, Wilson and Hurricane
Morgantown rounds out that final four. Now they'll hit the
(14:37):
pitch coming up on Thursday to in Beckley to decide
who the who who the Quad A Champion will be
now also on the grid iron, of course, we've got
the Mohawk Bull that happens tonight on Baker's Ridge at
pregame that'll get started six thirty tonight on WAJR and
(15:02):
the game broadcast that'll start at seven o'clock and we're
going to have the entire team, I believe, Kyle Wiggs,
Hal Britter, John Kelly, Everybody's going to be in the
booth and Dave Wilson will be down working the field.
So it ought to be a great broadcast. You'll certainly
want to check that out now. Unfortunately that will not
(15:25):
be televised via Metro News TV. Now the Triple A
Metro News Game of the Week that's worth mentioning. Fairmont
Senior and Bridgeport will be playing in that game tonight.
Certainly Bridgeport has they've been scoring a lot of points
all year. Ought to be a track meet in that
(15:46):
particular game. And here's something that came across my desk
early this morning and really didn't have a chance to
work it in until late But remember the mural at
the State Capital that allegedly or did or didn't have
images of baby Dog in it. And resulted in the
(16:07):
lawsuit against Randall Reid Smith and the Capital Building Commission.
I don't know if you remember that or not, but
there was a lawsuit against a mural that was painted
inside the Capital that had depictions of baby dog that
were in the scenes that they were showing off early
(16:30):
life in early West Virginia. Well, that lawsuit has now
been settled. Settlement orders the State Capitol Building Commission to
hold a special public meeting. Now, during that special public meeting,
they're going to be asking if the public don't give
(16:51):
the public the opportunity to comment on the project, And
of course, based on those comments, the project could be rejected,
it could be removed, and the Capitol Building Commission will
have the final say after all the public comments have
been received. But I think the end result of what
(17:11):
you'll see as a as a as a consequence of
this lawsuit is going to be a much tighter set
of parameters whenever renovations want to be made at the
State Capitol or one of the historic state buildings. And
(17:32):
let's see, coming up at nine thirty, we do have
Delegate David McCormick. David represents the eighty second district and
he's in his first term. I know he's a campaigning
plans to run for a second term. He's now been
named the assistant Majority Leader in the House of Delegates,
(17:52):
and he's been added to the Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism Committee.
We'll have an opportunity to talk with David coming up
at nine point thirty, and certainly with his experience and
what his involvement with Firk and the Lakeland Power Generation
facility up in the Cheat Lake area, I think is
(18:16):
a good indication of how he can use maybe his
knowledge and his dedication as a member of the energy
manufacturing of the energy manufacturer i'm sorry, the Agriculture, Commerce
and Tourism Committee, how he can use that expertise to
(18:38):
help residents in the future with issues that they might have.
And of course, certainly he was active in the Moral
Project and we saw how the end result of the
map that came from next Era Energy Transmission would certainly
look like somebody was listening to someone when it came
(19:01):
to that. Well, it is Halloween and you can definitely
expect an increase police presence throughout the area all the
way through the weekend. That'll be State Police Morgantown Police
guarantee you that the Montagelia County Sheriff's Department will be out.
These are typically zero tolerance patrols, and we had First
(19:24):
Sergeant Kyle Totten on the program earlier this week and
he said, they're definitely going to be looking out for
intoxicated drivers, drivers who may be aggressive or not minding
their p's and queues, because certainly in the neighborhoods tonight,
there's going to be a lot of folks walking around
on the streets, so you'll want to watch out for that.
(19:46):
And I believe Madigan Avenue in the first ward that
will be closed for trick or treaters tonight, so keep
that in mind in your travels across the city.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Good Friday morning, Fair skuys forty two degrees. We're glad
that you're with us on the phone. We've got the
delegate from the eighty second district, David McCormick with us,
and David, good morning, sir. How are you.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
Good morning, Mike, I'm great.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
How about yourself now, I'm doing good. Thank you very much.
Now let's see looking at your bio. Now you have
been elevated to the Assistant Majority Leader and also added
to the Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism Committee. So congratulations, well
thanks Mike.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
I was named vice chair of the Agriculture Commerce Tourism
Committee recently and for the upcoming session, and I really
enjoy the work we do on that committee. You know, Uh,
it's kind of odd put lump in those three things together.
(21:08):
Maybe agriculture, Commerce and tourism. Commerce covers a lot of
things in the state, different departments. These are over a
lot of oversighted done on these committees. Obviously agricultures, uh,
you know, people take that for granted. Agriculture is a
huge industry in our state and deals with food safety
(21:32):
and things like that. And of course tourism is is
our most growing industry in West Virginia, and particularly with
the National Park status that was granted the New River
Gorge a couple of years ago, and the millions literally
(21:52):
tens of millions of people to visit our state.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Every year for.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
For that, and and the Hatfield McCoy Trails is a
huge part of that. Of course skiing and rafting. So
so yeah, there's a lot there on that committee. And
I was really uh flattered to be has to be
vice chairman of the committee as a freshman.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Particularly, I've had enough conversations with Kent Lee in Hard
to know that agriculture and tourism work hand in hand
and a lot of areas. I think, you know, you've
got the apple industry, You've got the wine industry. There's honey,
there's fresh meat. But they're definitely, Yeah, there's strong connections
(22:35):
between agriculture and tourism.
Speaker 5 (22:38):
There is and and I'll and I'll just say this,
Kent is a is a great uh in that role.
And uh he's been great for agriculture in the state.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
He's a great champion of that.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
He's done a great job now to State Fair and
and uh, he's he's he's he's a winner. He's a
good guy, and he's done a great job. I just
want to give him a tip of the cat.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
But uh, but yeah, I mean that you're right. I mean,
but you know, you know, our chicken industry over in
the Eastern panandles.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
Huge and and uh it's ah provides a lot of jobs.
Uh and and and in that in that area where
there's you know, there's not a lot of industry in
in the middle of the eastern panandle and and uh
Moorefield area and Peters Petersburg and and the chicken industry
(23:35):
is huge over there.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Now, tell us what you do as the assistant majority leader.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Well, the majority we just there's several of us. I
mean that that that that is uh, that was.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
A role that was bestowed on I think six or
seven folks last session too. Uh uh. Essentially it covers
a wide range of things in helping the majority leader
with you know, hurting the cats so to speak, and
uh communication mostly so.
Speaker 6 (24:15):
But the real, the real role that I'm that I'm
going to be involved in upcoming session is the work
on the on the committee that I just talked about
and being vice chairman of that. So so I'm excited
about it. Yeah, I mean I'm you know, Heybaye knows me,
(24:37):
knows that I really enjoy h my first year in
the legislature, and i feel like I've gotten a lot
done and I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
To go back.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Okay, good deal, DELI good. David McCormick representing the eighty
second district. Now, David, coming up next, I'm going to
talk to your neighbor over there in district eighty three
Delegate George.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
Yeah, and well, you know, George and I work together
on the snow removal bill that I sponsored. He was
a co sponsor. I was a lead sponsor. And George
and I work well together, so so you know, he
literally is my next door neighbor legislative wise, you know,
(25:24):
Preston county'd me being on the eastern.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Tip of.
Speaker 6 (25:28):
Mand So yeah, George's good people.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Okay, good deal. All right, David, appreciate your time today
and hope you have a great weekend and stay safe.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
It's Halloween, okay, Mike, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Yeah, you bet you. It is nine to forty fair and
forty two. When we come back, we'll speak with Delegate
George Street from Preston County. I'm going to be talking
about the Brandonville Solar Project. A good Friday morning. It
is in ninety five, and this is a talk of
(26:05):
the town. On the phone. We've got Deligate George Street
from the eighty third district. Sir, good morning, how are you?
Speaker 7 (26:13):
Yeah, sir, good morning, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I'm doing doing just fine, absolutely well. You've got the
seal of approval from Delegate David McCormick. But goody, it
would like to get an update on the Brandonville solar
project please.
Speaker 8 (26:31):
Yeah, this is.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
Something Frankly, I've gotten several complaints about a lot of
the local people just seem to think it's not a
good use of the land. So in my understanding of
the project, and I have not spoken directly with the
company who's who's in charge of it, but just you know,
(26:56):
from my research what I've read talk to people, it's
a uximately a thousand acres of of solar panels going
in in the Booston Brandonville area. You know, that's good
farm land. It's it's beautiful woods up there, and uh,
it's it's relatively level land, you know, compared to a
(27:19):
lot of a lot of West Virginia. And I tell you,
I've gotten a lot of complaints and a lot of
people just don't feel that it's an efficient use.
Speaker 9 (27:29):
Of our land.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
I'm sure I can understand that. Now a lot of people, uh,
they might complain, but then if they hear that there's
a benefit, that can kind of maybe ease some of
the pain that it may cause.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
Sure.
Speaker 7 (27:45):
The problem with solar panels is they don't create a
lot of local jobs, of almost any local jobs. And
I want to be clear here, I'm not on some
anti solar kick. You know, I'm not trying to make
(28:08):
solar illegal in the state of West Virginia.
Speaker 8 (28:11):
I'm not.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
I'm not on a witch hunt against solar. I'm just
trying to be pragmatic about it. If you want solar
panels on the roof of a building or something, great,
that may be a very efficient use of space. But
solar panels don't make the power that is usually advertised.
(28:35):
They advertise what's known as nameplate, an amount as that
that's called nameplate within the industry, and that's the actual
production is much much less. And this isn't just my opinion.
You can look at the PJAM, who's our grid operator.
They have their report online. It's open for anyone to see.
(28:59):
It's called the gener Ration Interconnect Facilities Study Report, and
that you know. So, the advertised amount of megawalks for
this project is approximately one hundred megawalks, but it's really
only going to produce maybe somewhere in the fifties. The
maximum amount that PJM expects or to produce, I believe
(29:22):
is fifty nine is what they put in there. But
that's under you know, kind of the best West Virginia conditions. Right,
and back to the efficiency of use of land, there's
a map that is put out there for solar panel
use for all of North America, and West Virginia is
(29:45):
the low is in the lowest rated category of land
for solar panels in all of the continental forty eight states.
We're in the lowest ranking. Now, so for example, we're
like a ranking of three, where Arizona is a ranking
of six.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Right right now, is there any benefit for the citizens
of Preston County at all?
Speaker 7 (30:13):
There's a benefit to whoever owns the land. I'm sure
they're getting paid, you know, reasonable amount of money. And
that's you know, private land ownership and private business. That's
that's a that's a fair thing. So I'm not I'm
not condemning anyone for trying to use their land to
make money. I'm just saying, pulling back from the from
(30:39):
a public perspective, it's not a real efficient use of
land for power generation. Right. So, for example, Fort Martin
produces approximately a thousand megawatts. The Harrison Power Station produces
approximately two thousand megawatts. This is going to who's about fifty.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Well, I tell you what we've got, Delegate George Street.
George will have to leave it there for now, but
we'll leave the door open to get back in touch
with you. Do appreciate the update. We have an update
from the State Board of Education coming up next. That's
on top of the town. Am fourteen forty f M.
(31:23):
One oh four point five W A j R.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
This is the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Oh good Friday morning. It is eight fifty two and
coming up next week it'll be the inaugural Farm and
Farm to School Conference and that will be here in
the city of Morgantown. On the I've got Tony Crago.
Tony is the director of the State Department of Education
and Child Nutrition. Tony, good morning. How are you sir?
Speaker 8 (32:10):
Good morning. I'm doing fine.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
How are you hey, I'm doing great. Thank you very much.
Now Tony, tell us about the event.
Speaker 8 (32:18):
Well, the event is the main conference takes place. The
main conference takes place on Wednesday, November fifth, there at
the waterfront.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I tell you, I'll tell you what Tony can you?
Can you call us right back. That phone connection is
absolutely terrible, Sophia, can you help us out with that part.
And while we're waiting on Tony, this conference is going
to be next week down on the waterfront. It's the
inaugural Farm to School conference. And we actually learned about
(32:53):
this event come late yesterday and we're able to set
this up. Hopefully we'll be able to get Tony back.
I know that this will be a very important event,
especially in this area of the state. It'll be able
to draw from many surrounding counties. Let's see if we
(33:14):
can get Tony back. Oh, don't forget the Mohawk bull
that is tonight. We'll start the pregame at six point thirty.
Of course, kickoff is at seven o'clock. Now, this particular
game won't be on Metro News TV, but it will
be live on the air tonight that live broadcast. Kickoff
(33:36):
is at seven and the pregame starts at six thirty.
On the phone, Tony Craigo, Tony, I can tell already
that sounds good. How you doing.
Speaker 9 (33:48):
I'm doing fine, And I can tell miam it sounds
much better as well.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Okay, that's good, Okay, Tony take it from the top.
Tell us about this event please.
Speaker 9 (33:58):
Well, this event is it's something new for us here
at the West Virginia Department of Education. The main event, well,
the main conference takes place on Wednsley, November fifth there
at the Waterfront Hotel. The purpose for this conference is
to connect farmers, community members and counting nutrition directors to
(34:21):
try to help just make those relationships and build those
relationships and get more local food into our school meals
here in state of West Virginia.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
And you know what, Tony, with some laws that have
been passed about additives and colors and things like that,
that's got to be very very important to you.
Speaker 9 (34:41):
Yeah. You know, we've been working on farmer school efforts
for a lot of years and we've seen games every year,
so you know, it's it's just it just is important,
you know, these local ingredients that helps out to local communities.
It provides a more nutritious meal, and we're seeing more
and more of it across state and it's just been
(35:01):
a it's been a great program over the last you know,
ten or more years.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Tony Craig go's the director of the State Department of
Education Child Nutrition. Uh, Tony, I guess for farmers that
are out there, how can they get involved in Maybe
how small of a farmer is too small to get involved?
Speaker 9 (35:22):
Well, you know the best way to get involved is
to contact the Cheio Nutrition director of whatever county you're
you're either within or or or counties that you you
think you can help provide products too in your area
and too small is you know, it's really relative to
what the schools or the county needs. And I would
(35:46):
I wouldn't discourage anyone to to not reach out and
see what they may be able to do to help
get their products on the menu at schools.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Sounds to me like it might even be a good
idea to set aside some time and maybe attend this
conference next week.
Speaker 9 (36:03):
Yeah, you're anyone as welcome to come. It's open to
the public. We expect to see a lot of county
county employees, a lot of community partners, a lot of farmers,
you know, local food vendors. There's gonna be students. There's
gonna be a cookoff.
Speaker 7 (36:19):
That's the It's.
Speaker 9 (36:20):
Gonna be the CTE pro Start students from various pro
start programs around the state. They'll be using local products
to show off their skills. On Wednesday. So we're pretty
excited about that. We think we think that that's going
to really add a nice touch to the conference.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Tony Craig goes well us. He's the director of the
State Department of Education Child Nutrition. You know, I guess
talk just a little bit if you can about how
food for schools has changed in recent years, because there
have been big changes.
Speaker 9 (36:53):
Well yeah, I mean, you know the changes. Some of
it comes through regulation changes, some of it comes through
uh just uh manufacturer changes and and and a lot
of it comes through the schools just ability to do
more local purchasing. Over the years, farmers, vendors, students, they
(37:15):
begin they've begun producing in a way that schools can
take better advantage of their local products. And and that's
that's what this conference is all about, is just helping, uh,
you know, increase awareness of what options are out there,
and and just just to try to get more of
those local products in into these school meals.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Okay, so tell us when does the conference start? When
should we report for duty? For lack of a better word.
Speaker 9 (37:42):
So, so registration is open. There's a link on the
our Department of Education website at w v d E
dot u s and you can register on site the
day of the conference on Wednesday, you know, I think
registration will be open probably twenty seven to seven thirty
(38:03):
in the morning, and we'll start taking people in and
get started for the day.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Okay, good deal. Now, the folks from all fifty five
counties coming, That is that correct?
Speaker 9 (38:15):
You know? I would imagine there'll be people from all
People from all counties are welcome and included and invited.
I don't have a list to know for sure if
there's someone currently registered from every county, but we sure
hope someone from every county shows up.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Okay, good deal. Well, Tony, I'm very very grateful that
we got our phone situation worked out because that's some
very good information. I appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (38:40):
All right, Well, appreciate you having us on this morning.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Thank you absolutely. You take care of yourself. That's Tony Crago.
He is the state Director of child Nutrition at the
Department of Education. And that inaugural Farm to School conference
that'll be coming up Wednesday down at the waterfront here
in the city of Morgantown. Sounds like a great event.
If you're in agriculture or know somebody who is, you
(39:06):
might want to share that with them. Well, it is Friday,
Halloween daytime now for Metro News talk line Everybody Make
it a Safe Halloween on the Voice of Morgantown one
oh four point five FM and AM fourteen forty W
A j R.
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