October 9, 2025 • 32 mins
Mountantop Beverage People Team Leader Beth Pratt on operations in the Morgantown Industrial Park and their community enrichment efforts.
University High School Principal Kime Greene and Teacher Suzane Ernstes on the 100th graduating class and the Homecoming this weekend.
University High School Principal Kime Greene and Teacher Suzane Ernstes on the 100th graduating class and the Homecoming this weekend.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Youve be metronews dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Well, good Wednesday morning, clouds and fifty five degrees in
the University City. In studio, we've got Beth Pratt with
Mountaintop Beverage. She is the head of the people team
and I don't know about you, but we like people
around here.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
How you doing, I'm fine, Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you in, Beth.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Let's see Mountaintop Beverage in the Morgantown Industrial Park. You
guys have been in business now for I don't know,
is it going on three years?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Yeah, we did our first commercial run in May of.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Twenty Okay, yeah, boy, you get time flies, doesn't it?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
It sure does.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Okay, So you guys have to be excited when you
look out on I guess it would be to the
south when you see the bridge work.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Absolutely, we're very excited about that. We receive right now
today thirty to forty trucks a day, and we have
the potential to grow that to double one size, so
that access road is going to be very important to us.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Now, not trying to get too far off into the weeds,
but those tankers five thousand gallons all kinds.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Okay, oh really, okay, okay, Now, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I don't mean to catch you off guard, but you know,
at one point there was a concern of where your
raw milk was coming from.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
How's that going?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, no, it's still everything's going fine. We do a
lot with Somerset as well as Maryland in Virginia. We
get a lot of our raw milk products from there.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Now, okay, good deal.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Now let's see how many guys are how many guys
and gals are on your team?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Now?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
We are now currently at two hundred and twenty employees.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Wow, that's that's pretty good. Is there any more room
for growth?
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Absolutely? The way our facility is positioned, it has the
ability to double in size. We continuously are talking to
additional customers and working toward potential expansion plans in the future.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Okay, now, how much product do you make?
Speaker 4 (02:34):
We make a ton of product. The facility itself has
the ability to currently produce two hundred and eighty million
units a year.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
And currently are you on two shifts, three.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Shifts, twenty four by seven.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
Twenty four by seven.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yes, you know that's pretty exciting, it is it really
is okay.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Now, we're right along with providing jobs for the community.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
And just to take a half step back, are you hiring?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
We are?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
We are.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
We actually are pretty full right now. We have a
handful of positions and work constantly what we call ever
greening some of the jobs, our operator jobs. We like
to have a nice pipeline of candidates. Should someone leave
the organization, we can easily replace them.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Okay, and then I'm sure just like every other place. Now,
maybe a good place to start is your website. Absolutely Okay,
good deal, and I've got her.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
We'll get that out. But I guess let's talk about
let's talk a little bit about your community efforts if
we could, Beth sure.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
So.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
The one thing that our founders when they came to Morgantown,
one of the things that they had said, and it
really resonated with me, is they did not want to
be a facility that just was sitting on top of
the hill in Morgantown, West Virginia. They wanted a facility
that actually did stuff for the community and was working
for and with the community where our team members live
(04:00):
and work. We actually pull employees from five different counties.
Mand Marion Preston, Green and Fayette in Pennsylvania, and what
we wanted to do is to give back to those communities.
The first project that we worked on is what we
call our Kids Artwork Milk cartons. So what we did
(04:22):
was we partnered with our paperboard product producer called SIG
and what they did was they allowed us to take
We did a contest for We did a contest for
kids in the community where they could actually submit artwork.
And what we did was we selected three different artworks
(04:43):
for each of the with students and allowed them to
actually turn them into cartons for our actual milk products.
So we have three lactose free products, one percent white,
one percent chocolate, and a whole milk product. And what
we were what we did was we selected three local
(05:04):
students and actually brought that to life. So our products
now are based in those particular cardons.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
So what do we have to do to get strawberry
in the lineup?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Sure, absolutely, we do a lot of strawberry products, but
not in our own line right now, I'm sure that
will be happening.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Well, I'm sure that that's probably not the first time
you've been asked that question. So yet now you also
are involved with the Helpful Harvest and I know that
they recently had an event.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, absolutely, so we donate products to Helpful Harvest. The
other thing we are is we are a venue sponsor
for that particular foundation, so every year when they do
taste in Morgantow, Mountaintop actually sponsors that particular event.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Okay, Now, the product that you're delivering to schools is
a shelf stable milk product that goes through a very
special process.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Tell us about that if.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
You, yeah, absolutely, that's one of the things we're in
that niche area. Mountaintop Beverage is a septic extended shelf
life manufacturer of beverages. We have a lot of different
customers that are national brands, but very specifically, the way
we heat process the package as well as sterilize the
(06:18):
package before the product goes into it, it creates a
shelf stableness of the particular products. So for example, for
things that typically need refrigerate it, we can actually create
a shelf stability for it and it allows it to
not spoil.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Okay, And it's also great that there is some local
involvement with school launches. Still after some of the programs
we've seen maybe have fallen by the wayside in recent years.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
And this product is a great product for the backpack programs.
So we really try to partner some of the local
schools and they use it for the backpack. So think
about you can shove it in the backpack of a
student and send it home and if they forget to
tell their parents, they're not going to get spoiled milk
in three or four days.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Nobody wants that, trust me. Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Now, Beth Pratts with us and she's the leader of
the people team at Mountaintop Beverage, and if we could,
I'd like to talk just a little bit about your company.
And what's on my mind is I went to your website,
we talked you have just a few positions open, and
wanted to talk just a little bit about your values,
because when I look at your values, I don't see
(07:32):
the typical thing that you see with normal companies. For example.
I see things like, for example, one of your values.
I'll go through them and then I'll let you respond absolutely,
but I go through your values. One is we do
what we say. Nobody's going to argue with that. We
have each other's back, you know what. That's a big one,
(07:53):
especially in the workplace, and we welcome uniqueness, another highlight
of to day's communities, and we show grace.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
I guess that is really kind of the one that
got my attention.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
But if you would talk a little bit about Mountaintop
beverage values.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Absolutely So when I started at Mountaintop, I was the
sixth tire, so we had five founders and then I
came on board. The one thing we wanted to do
was to build a deliberate culture. So very specifically, as
we started to bring team members on, we got together
and decided what were the things that were important to
(08:32):
those initial team members. We probably had twenty or thirty
at the time. We came up with this list of
common values with the intent that we all wanted to
start to understand what characteristics and what behavior we were
going to expect out of each and every one of us.
These were the five that we could agree on, or
the four that we could agree on, and then what
(08:53):
we tried to do is we build that into everything
we do. For example, we show grace we are startup company.
A startup company means that we're going to make mistakes
at time, and what we want to do is to
make sure that those mistakes are not made in vain.
We use this time to actually teach people. So if
something doesn't work or there is a mistake that's made,
(09:14):
we spend a lot of time thinking about what was
the root cause and how can we make sure it's
not done again. And so that's really the area that
we show grace. The other area is we want to
make sure that people we got to give people the
benefit of the doubt. We have to always assume that
people are coming from the right place, and if we
start there, we have the ability to solve problems versus
(09:37):
you know, create more issues.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Definitely, you know what one of the other things and
they both kind of go together. But we do what
we say and we have each other's back because I'm
sure that your organization you have everyone from you know,
maybe a seasoned worker in their fifties to you know,
maybe the young person that's twenty trying to figure it out.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Absolutely, so, five generations in the workforce, a lot of
different personalities, a lot of different work ethics, a lot
of different approaches to work. We really try our best
to focus on you know, a lot of the information
that you hear about generations in the workforce is always
focused on the bad parts of each of those generations
as opposed to really leaning into the strengths. We've got
(10:22):
some people that have grown up in manufacturing and can
fix any problem that they see. We've got a group
of team members that are coming in from potentially right
out of high school and are wizards on their phones
and technologies. When we start seeing those groups work together,
we really start to get a great culture where we
really focus on those uniqueness.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
You know you, and I'm not disparaging anyone here, but
companies talk, Companies say a lot of things. I happen
to be up at the Morgantown Industrial Park at Mountaintop Beverage.
I believe it was on a It was the announcement
of the bridge, when the governor was up there and
you were having one of your company picnics or a company.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Me a family night, Yes.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
A family I'm glad you corrected me, because that was
exactly the atmosphere because when you went up there, you
kind of had to take a double take to make
sure that you were at a place of business and
maybe not a school or I don't want to say,
a daycare facility. Sir but you get what I'm trying
(11:27):
to say.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
So we have sponsored the last several years a family
Night and why that was very important to us in
the beginning is we had a lot of team members
that are coming that they weren't familiar with what we
were doing. So they were coming into a new industry,
into a new business, and it was important for us
to ensure that their family understood and felt the same
sense of pride that we do when you start to
(11:50):
see products that we know have been produced in Morgantown,
West Virginia, and that their family member made that product.
So really educating them about how the products made, what
types of products we're making, and how to found them
on the shelf has been really fun to actually extend
to the family members of our team.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
The future certainly looks bright for Mountaintop Beverage the Bridge
more than two hundred employees. You're producing products for national companies.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
What does the future look like from where you're sitting.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Oh, I think it looks bright for sure. I love
that we're established in steady, gainful careers for team members
in the Morgantown, West Virginia area. We have a lot
of team members that you know, are five generation farmers
that they literally want to stay in the state, and
so they have such a sense of pride in what
(12:43):
it is we're accomplishing. And so we've got a lot
of staying power and the potential for growth. So it's
really exciting to see something like that come alive.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
And you know, having grown up on a farm, I
just have to say that I'm sure that those farmers
that are on your team, those are the people that
you're talking about.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
They can solve anything absolutely with little to nothing. Absolutely
maybe some baling wire.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Exactly in duct tape.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Yeah, there you go, there you go, all right.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Mountaintop Beverage. They're in the Morgantown Industrial Park. They've been
in operations since May of twenty twenty three now, yes,
and employing more than.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Two hundred people.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Well, Beth Pratt, the leader of the people team, congratulations
on your great work.
Speaker 5 (13:26):
Keep it up. And I want an update. I want
to know when the strawberry milk is come.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Sure, we'll let you know.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
All right, Thank you very much, Beth, and I certainly
hope that you have a great day you too, Thank you,
absolutely all right.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Coming up next, the principal of University High School, Kim
Green is going to join us. Their homecoming is coming
up this weekend. They have already had the parade and
sure they've got pep rallies and all kinds of events
in order to get the student body revd up for
that event. We'll spend a few minutes with the principal,
(14:02):
Kim Green, coming up after the Metro News break. Right now,
clouds and fifty five degrees. Metro News Aci Weather says,
more clouds throughout the day, maybe some sunshine throughout the afternoon,
and I have sixty seven degrees and tonight look out
clear and a low of forty degrees.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
talk of the town.
Speaker 5 (14:41):
Well, good Wednesday morning. The Moncatti Commission.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
They'll be gabbling in for the regular meeting coming up
at the top of the hour. We'll be sure and
have a readout of anything that may occur during that proceeding.
This weekend is hopecoming for University High School. It'll be
the battle of the birds up on Baker's Ridge. I've
got the Connellsville Falcons coming to take on the University Hawks.
(15:07):
On the phone, We've got University High school Principal Kim Green,
and I believe one of the members of the organizing committee,
teacher Suzanne ernstas good morning, ladies.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
How are you good morning?
Speaker 6 (15:21):
Good morning.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you on board.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I guess first off, give us an idea of the
level of preparation that goes into homecoming this week.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Well, this year, it's been a lot because this is
our one hundredth graduating class, so we're doing lots of
extra preparations because we're celebrating all year long. Tonight starts
off with our homecoming parade at six o'clock on High Street.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
A lot of alumni participation given it it is your
one hundredth graduation.
Speaker 7 (15:53):
Yes, we've tried to really reach out to our community
and we have had a wonderful response, and we're looking
forward to seeing many of our former homecoming queens. I mean,
we have graduated in years of nineteen sixty eight all
the way into the two thousands. Many of them are
(16:14):
going to be participating like they did in the past
in nice classic cars in the parade. We've got alumni
cheerleaders from the seventies all the way to the two
thousands as well. Many of them dug out old uniforms
and warm ups and they're excited. We've got an alumni
(16:36):
band that has been practicing and many people getting out
those instruments and going to join us. Some alumni athletes
will also be participating. The beginning of a parade is
going to be special. We've got our retired teachers that
are coming out, going to be on a float and
(16:56):
they're going to be joined with our current teachers and
their Families'll be a nice opener. And we also have
a lot of future Hawks. We have our feeder schools,
two Lake Elementary, Eastwood, Mylin, and Skyview all participating. And
then I'll let him talk about our most special part
of the parade is our oldest graduates.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Okay please.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
So we advertised for this because we wanted to find
our oldest living graduates of university high So we had
several entries and then some of them will be participating
in our parade tonight. Our oldest graduate that we had
nominated was Lewis Barrakis, who's ninety nine years old. He'll
be in our parade tonight. And then we have several
(17:41):
other graduates. We have Hannie Powley and Ruth Spangler, who'll
be in the parade tonight. They graduated in the class
of nineteen fifty one. We also have Alfred Jones, who
graduated in the class of nineteen fifty two. So we're
very excited to meet them. And here's some of their
stories from University High School from their time periods too.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Absolutely, we've got the principal of University High School, Kim Green,
and a teacher, Suzanne Ernstace. She's also the home a
member of the homecoming organizing committee.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Hey, if you don't mind give us some logistics about tonight.
When do you want people to start lining up? When
do you want people to show up?
Speaker 6 (18:25):
So our parade lineup starts at five o'clock at the
top of High Street and then the parade actually kicks
off at six o'clock and we have about I think
around fifty entries for the parade, so we have kind
of designated areas that we've put out to people. So
everybody's hopefully very organized for everything.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
And I can tell you looking at the weather forecast,
it looks like it might be a beautiful fall night
for a parade.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
We're hoping, so we're seeing the sun starting to peek
out now for us, so we're hoping it's going to
be perfo.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
A lot of times when you have special games up
on Baker's Ridge, there are maybe some travel arrangements for fans.
Are there any accommodations or is there even any need
for that this time.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
Yes, we're expecting a very large crowd on Friday evening.
The football game kick off is seven o'clock, but we
are going to have tailgating. We invite all of our
community and our alumni back. We're going to have a
tailgate starting at five o'clock and it'll be on the
back patio. We are going to have our overflow parking
(19:35):
lot open, so we'll have free shuttles that are starting
at five Well that'll be yes, around five thirty, but
that's at two ninety nine Baker's Ridge Road, which is
just down the road from us, and we ask everyone
to please ride those shuttles rather than trying to walk
down Baker's Ridge. Mm HM definitely run all evening long
(19:57):
until thirty minutes after the game, so it's very easy
to hop on those shuttles and get here. It makes
traffic a lot easier for you to navigate.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Well, the Hawks have certainly fought through a pretty decent season.
What do you think the outcome on the field will
be this weekend?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
Well, we're planning to win, definitely. For our homecoming game, you'll.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
Have you'll be serving Falcon stew That's right. Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Last thing I've got for you is I'm curious to
find out what you're doing inside the school building to
get the students ready for this big game in the parade.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
So we've been doing a lot of things. All students
have an advisory class that they get to every day,
and part of that advisory we've been spending on learning
about the history of the school and about the mascots
and about some of our traditions. They're also learning our
alma mater. So we've we're taking this time to really
(20:57):
help educate students so that they understand the deep rooted
traditions that we have and how proud we are to
have that. It to be one hundred years and it's
a once in a lifetime event. I mean, they're getting
to participate in this century.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Celebration, and you know what, I think it's really great
that you're able to express to them how important this
moment means. And what they're actually able to capture being
a part of the one hundredth graduating class, and then
you know, hopefully twenty twenty five years, they'll be able
to come back and help those students understand how important
(21:35):
these milestones are.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Yes, one hundred percent, Kim and I spent some time
this morning in the heritage room that's in our school
that will be open on Thursday. Anyone from the community
can come in from four to six to tour the
school to look in the heritage room. And we also
have it's nice and updated a coffee shop that's open
(21:58):
that a student. We have a University High School store
that student run to get some you know, some new
updated t shirts for the game, and just walk around
and find their pictures on the walls and trophies and
medals and you know, have some you know, good memories
with some you know, lifelong friends.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Now forgive me, but was that Suzanne, Yes, it's Suzanne, Okay, perfect.
I just wanted to make sure I knew who I
had here. Well, ladies, let's see that is a Homecoming
organizing Committee member teacher at University High School, Suzanne ernst Us,
And also on the call, we have University High School
(22:39):
Principal Kim Green, certainly do appreciate your time today. Enjoy
the parade, enjoy the weekend, and let's go Hawks.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
Let's get a win.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Let's go Hawks.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
All right, good deal. Well, thank you ladies, uh very much.
Make it a great weekend.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Yes, yes, you bet right now, clouds and fifty five degrees.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
When we come back, we're spend a few minutes with
Montaguelia County Sheriff Todd Forbes. It's Wednesday, It's wanted Wednesday.
Sheriff has a slate of featured felons we're going to
go through. That's next on top of the town. AM
fourteen forty f M one zero four point five W
A Jr.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five. This is the talk of
the town.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Good Wednesday morning, clouds and fifty five degrees in the
University city. In fact, it is University High School's homecoming.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
And on the phone, we've.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Got a University High School alumni, Triff Todd Forbes, say,
good morning, Sheriff.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
How are you?
Speaker 8 (24:04):
Mike? I hate to big the band this see you buddy,
But I'm I was Mordown High.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Morgantown High.
Speaker 8 (24:10):
Now, both of my boys went to University High, had
a very good experience there. But I'm a Morgantown High guy.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Okay, all right, Well my mistake, I guess uh, I
just took that extra step having listened to one of
your sons play baseball.
Speaker 8 (24:27):
Yeah, they both my wife and I were Morgantown High
and both of our boys were University so always know them.
Was always a week divided for us at our house.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
We divided, but then every weekend at least somebody wins hopefully, right.
Speaker 8 (24:43):
Yeah, we always here for all other local schools here.
It doesn't matter about about where we went or whatever.
We're supporters of the community, so it's all good.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Okay, we've got Sheriff Todd Forbes with us, and now
you'll be able to follow along with us at monta
Gillia shre Gov Sheriff. It's a wanted Wednesday, and you've
got a slate of featured felons. Why don't you tell
us who they are?
Speaker 8 (25:08):
Yeah, we sure do so again, I want to let
you know we've gotten twenty one commit twenty one individuals
since July the fifteenth, which is really good. This week
we have a few here, Suliman Alsam for failure to appear,
Melissa Bruto for battery and a police officer, a firefighter
or ems and failure to appear, Unique Davis for unlawful assault,
(25:34):
fail to appear, Jordan Johnson conspiracy to commit a felony
grand marsony, and lastly Cory Morris a feli possession of
fowerarm he's not supposed to have one and also a
failure to appear. So those pictures are on the website.
We'd appreciate any information we.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Can get, and of course that website is Monteingelia. I'm
sorry Montigelia Sheriff dot gov. And as always Sheriff, we
tell the listeners to you know, these are people that
you may know, you may see, but don't approach them.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Let the Sheriff's department do that part.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
Absolutely. Yeah, they should be considered dangerous. Obviously, they're not
compliant with the fact that they're supposed to be in customed.
They've done everything they could do to avoid that, so
who knows what they're capable of. Let professionals take care
of it. That's what we're for.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Okay, good deal, Sheriff Todd Forbes.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Well, Sheriff, really do appreciate your time this morning, and
I know that you'll be on the hunt.
Speaker 8 (26:36):
Yeah, absolutely, Mike, I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Hey, have a good safe day, sir, take care of yourself, okay.
Montiguelia County Sheriff Todd Forbes a graduate of Morgantown High
School we now know, but University High School having their
homecoming this weekend. Now, the parades tonight will be lining
up at five point thirty on North High Street. Of course,
the typical parade route down High Street and then disperse
(27:04):
at South High Street. Now this morning, Morgantown Community Resources
holding a special meeting, and of course, as we sit
here on October the eighth, the need for a warming
shelter is becoming more and more prevalent as we begin
to tick the days off deeper in to fall and
(27:25):
the temperature start to drop. Two of the locations there
are two only two that are under consideration at this point.
Those would be Hazel's House of Hope on Scott Avenue,
the former Ramada Inn property and the Bartlett House property
on West Run Now each presents some challenges and concerns.
(27:49):
Of course, we know that transportation would be an issue
at both locations, and there have been efforts between the
city and county to work with the Mountain Lion in
order to be able to provide transportation, but that doesn't
really seem to be the big issue this time around.
What does seem possibly maybe a bigger issue this time
(28:10):
around has been safety and security, and that has been
the issue up on Scott Avenue at Hazel's House of Hope.
That has I guess led to that group hiring a
private security firm to provide twenty four hour security. Now
we do know that since that security has been deployed
(28:30):
in that area, some things have calmed down a little
bit and there is a possibility that that plan, that
plan the private security could maybe just go to overnight
and not twenty four hours a day or during the
day and not overnight. Not really sure how they might
parse that out. However, we do know that there will be.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
A warming shelter.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Catholic Charities has operated the shelter, and Catholic Charities was
able to step in really at a key moment when
the city, when the Bartlett House lost their grant, we
really had nowhere else to turn. Catholic Charities stepped in
was able to provide a great service and to be
(29:17):
able to run that warming shelter. And now they're included
in these meetings as well as city officials, and we
do know law enforcement is involved as well as the
operators of each one of these facilities.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
Now we do know that based on.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
The point in time count, we're talking about roughly one
hundred and fifty people in the community that were reported
without homes during the last point in time count. Now
the next point in time count that'll come up in January,
so we'll be able to adjust.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
And update that number.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Actually, I've always wondered and questioned why you would do
that point in time count in the month of January
as opposed to maybe not July or August. But in
this particular environment, it might make sense because you get
to count the people that are in the warming shelter
that don't have homes. Certainly makes it a lot easier
(30:17):
to inventory the homeless people, certainly when the weather is
cold and they're in the warming shelter. Well, we'll be
back to wrap things up on a Wednesday, coming up
after this on Talk of the Town AM fourteen forty
FM one four point five WAJR.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
Good Wednesday morning.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
On Tuesday, members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding
heard from Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Doug Buffington about the response to flooding events in the
southern part of the state and also the northern part
of the state. Now, during that testimony, we learned that
(31:13):
in the northern part of the state, the Marion County
flood issues. That response began June fifteenth and lasted through
the third of July. They removed four hundred and eighty
tons of debris from Marion County. And it looks like
the cost share percentage between the federal government and the
(31:36):
state in terms of recovering from that disaster looks like
seventy five federal and twenty five state. That full story,
you'll be able to take a look at that at
wv metronews dot com. Also included testimony from Adjutant General
James Seward about their part of the response. Both in
(31:58):
the southern and the north are part of the state.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
Take a look at.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
That right now, Clouds fifty six in the University City.
It's time now for Metro News talk line on the
Voice of Morgantown WAJR.
Youve be metronews dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Well, good Wednesday morning, clouds and fifty five degrees in
the University City. In studio, we've got Beth Pratt with
Mountaintop Beverage. She is the head of the people team
and I don't know about you, but we like people
around here.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
How you doing, I'm fine, Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you in, Beth.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Let's see Mountaintop Beverage in the Morgantown Industrial Park. You
guys have been in business now for I don't know,
is it going on three years?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Yeah, we did our first commercial run in May of.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Twenty Okay, yeah, boy, you get time flies, doesn't it?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
It sure does.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Okay, So you guys have to be excited when you
look out on I guess it would be to the
south when you see the bridge work.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Absolutely, we're very excited about that. We receive right now
today thirty to forty trucks a day, and we have
the potential to grow that to double one size, so
that access road is going to be very important to us.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Now, not trying to get too far off into the weeds,
but those tankers five thousand gallons all kinds.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Okay, oh really, okay, okay, Now, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I don't mean to catch you off guard, but you know,
at one point there was a concern of where your
raw milk was coming from.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
How's that going?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, no, it's still everything's going fine. We do a
lot with Somerset as well as Maryland in Virginia. We
get a lot of our raw milk products from there.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Now, okay, good deal.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Now let's see how many guys are how many guys
and gals are on your team?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Now?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
We are now currently at two hundred and twenty employees.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Wow, that's that's pretty good. Is there any more room
for growth?
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Absolutely? The way our facility is positioned, it has the
ability to double in size. We continuously are talking to
additional customers and working toward potential expansion plans in the future.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Okay, now, how much product do you make?
Speaker 4 (02:34):
We make a ton of product. The facility itself has
the ability to currently produce two hundred and eighty million
units a year.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
And currently are you on two shifts, three.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Shifts, twenty four by seven.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
Twenty four by seven.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yes, you know that's pretty exciting, it is it really
is okay.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Now, we're right along with providing jobs for the community.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
And just to take a half step back, are you hiring?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
We are?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
We are.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
We actually are pretty full right now. We have a
handful of positions and work constantly what we call ever
greening some of the jobs, our operator jobs. We like
to have a nice pipeline of candidates. Should someone leave
the organization, we can easily replace them.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Okay, and then I'm sure just like every other place. Now,
maybe a good place to start is your website. Absolutely Okay,
good deal, and I've got her.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
We'll get that out. But I guess let's talk about
let's talk a little bit about your community efforts if
we could, Beth sure.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
So.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
The one thing that our founders when they came to Morgantown,
one of the things that they had said, and it
really resonated with me, is they did not want to
be a facility that just was sitting on top of
the hill in Morgantown, West Virginia. They wanted a facility
that actually did stuff for the community and was working
for and with the community where our team members live
(04:00):
and work. We actually pull employees from five different counties.
Mand Marion Preston, Green and Fayette in Pennsylvania, and what
we wanted to do is to give back to those communities.
The first project that we worked on is what we
call our Kids Artwork Milk cartons. So what we did
(04:22):
was we partnered with our paperboard product producer called SIG
and what they did was they allowed us to take
We did a contest for We did a contest for
kids in the community where they could actually submit artwork.
And what we did was we selected three different artworks
(04:43):
for each of the with students and allowed them to
actually turn them into cartons for our actual milk products.
So we have three lactose free products, one percent white,
one percent chocolate, and a whole milk product. And what
we were what we did was we selected three local
(05:04):
students and actually brought that to life. So our products
now are based in those particular cardons.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
So what do we have to do to get strawberry
in the lineup?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Sure, absolutely, we do a lot of strawberry products, but
not in our own line right now, I'm sure that
will be happening.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Well, I'm sure that that's probably not the first time
you've been asked that question. So yet now you also
are involved with the Helpful Harvest and I know that
they recently had an event.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, absolutely, so we donate products to Helpful Harvest. The
other thing we are is we are a venue sponsor
for that particular foundation, so every year when they do
taste in Morgantow, Mountaintop actually sponsors that particular event.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Okay, Now, the product that you're delivering to schools is
a shelf stable milk product that goes through a very
special process.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Tell us about that if.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
You, yeah, absolutely, that's one of the things we're in
that niche area. Mountaintop Beverage is a septic extended shelf
life manufacturer of beverages. We have a lot of different
customers that are national brands, but very specifically, the way
we heat process the package as well as sterilize the
(06:18):
package before the product goes into it, it creates a
shelf stableness of the particular products. So for example, for
things that typically need refrigerate it, we can actually create
a shelf stability for it and it allows it to
not spoil.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Okay, And it's also great that there is some local
involvement with school launches. Still after some of the programs
we've seen maybe have fallen by the wayside in recent years.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
And this product is a great product for the backpack programs.
So we really try to partner some of the local
schools and they use it for the backpack. So think
about you can shove it in the backpack of a
student and send it home and if they forget to
tell their parents, they're not going to get spoiled milk
in three or four days.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Nobody wants that, trust me. Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Now, Beth Pratts with us and she's the leader of
the people team at Mountaintop Beverage, and if we could,
I'd like to talk just a little bit about your company.
And what's on my mind is I went to your website,
we talked you have just a few positions open, and
wanted to talk just a little bit about your values,
because when I look at your values, I don't see
(07:32):
the typical thing that you see with normal companies. For example.
I see things like, for example, one of your values.
I'll go through them and then I'll let you respond absolutely,
but I go through your values. One is we do
what we say. Nobody's going to argue with that. We
have each other's back, you know what. That's a big one,
(07:53):
especially in the workplace, and we welcome uniqueness, another highlight
of to day's communities, and we show grace.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
I guess that is really kind of the one that
got my attention.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
But if you would talk a little bit about Mountaintop
beverage values.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Absolutely So when I started at Mountaintop, I was the
sixth tire, so we had five founders and then I
came on board. The one thing we wanted to do
was to build a deliberate culture. So very specifically, as
we started to bring team members on, we got together
and decided what were the things that were important to
(08:32):
those initial team members. We probably had twenty or thirty
at the time. We came up with this list of
common values with the intent that we all wanted to
start to understand what characteristics and what behavior we were
going to expect out of each and every one of us.
These were the five that we could agree on, or
the four that we could agree on, and then what
(08:53):
we tried to do is we build that into everything
we do. For example, we show grace we are startup company.
A startup company means that we're going to make mistakes
at time, and what we want to do is to
make sure that those mistakes are not made in vain.
We use this time to actually teach people. So if
something doesn't work or there is a mistake that's made,
(09:14):
we spend a lot of time thinking about what was
the root cause and how can we make sure it's
not done again. And so that's really the area that
we show grace. The other area is we want to
make sure that people we got to give people the
benefit of the doubt. We have to always assume that
people are coming from the right place, and if we
start there, we have the ability to solve problems versus
(09:37):
you know, create more issues.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Definitely, you know what one of the other things and
they both kind of go together. But we do what
we say and we have each other's back because I'm
sure that your organization you have everyone from you know,
maybe a seasoned worker in their fifties to you know,
maybe the young person that's twenty trying to figure it out.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Absolutely, so, five generations in the workforce, a lot of
different personalities, a lot of different work ethics, a lot
of different approaches to work. We really try our best
to focus on you know, a lot of the information
that you hear about generations in the workforce is always
focused on the bad parts of each of those generations
as opposed to really leaning into the strengths. We've got
(10:22):
some people that have grown up in manufacturing and can
fix any problem that they see. We've got a group
of team members that are coming in from potentially right
out of high school and are wizards on their phones
and technologies. When we start seeing those groups work together,
we really start to get a great culture where we
really focus on those uniqueness.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
You know you, and I'm not disparaging anyone here, but
companies talk, Companies say a lot of things. I happen
to be up at the Morgantown Industrial Park at Mountaintop Beverage.
I believe it was on a It was the announcement
of the bridge, when the governor was up there and
you were having one of your company picnics or a company.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Me a family night, Yes.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
A family I'm glad you corrected me, because that was
exactly the atmosphere because when you went up there, you
kind of had to take a double take to make
sure that you were at a place of business and
maybe not a school or I don't want to say,
a daycare facility. Sir but you get what I'm trying
(11:27):
to say.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
So we have sponsored the last several years a family
Night and why that was very important to us in
the beginning is we had a lot of team members
that are coming that they weren't familiar with what we
were doing. So they were coming into a new industry,
into a new business, and it was important for us
to ensure that their family understood and felt the same
sense of pride that we do when you start to
(11:50):
see products that we know have been produced in Morgantown,
West Virginia, and that their family member made that product.
So really educating them about how the products made, what
types of products we're making, and how to found them
on the shelf has been really fun to actually extend
to the family members of our team.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
The future certainly looks bright for Mountaintop Beverage the Bridge
more than two hundred employees. You're producing products for national companies.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
What does the future look like from where you're sitting.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Oh, I think it looks bright for sure. I love
that we're established in steady, gainful careers for team members
in the Morgantown, West Virginia area. We have a lot
of team members that you know, are five generation farmers
that they literally want to stay in the state, and
so they have such a sense of pride in what
(12:43):
it is we're accomplishing. And so we've got a lot
of staying power and the potential for growth. So it's
really exciting to see something like that come alive.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
And you know, having grown up on a farm, I
just have to say that I'm sure that those farmers
that are on your team, those are the people that
you're talking about.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
They can solve anything absolutely with little to nothing. Absolutely
maybe some baling wire.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Exactly in duct tape.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Yeah, there you go, there you go, all right.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Mountaintop Beverage. They're in the Morgantown Industrial Park. They've been
in operations since May of twenty twenty three now, yes,
and employing more than.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Two hundred people.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Well, Beth Pratt, the leader of the people team, congratulations
on your great work.
Speaker 5 (13:26):
Keep it up. And I want an update. I want
to know when the strawberry milk is come.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Sure, we'll let you know.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
All right, Thank you very much, Beth, and I certainly
hope that you have a great day you too, Thank you,
absolutely all right.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Coming up next, the principal of University High School, Kim
Green is going to join us. Their homecoming is coming
up this weekend. They have already had the parade and
sure they've got pep rallies and all kinds of events
in order to get the student body revd up for
that event. We'll spend a few minutes with the principal,
(14:02):
Kim Green, coming up after the Metro News break. Right now,
clouds and fifty five degrees. Metro News Aci Weather says,
more clouds throughout the day, maybe some sunshine throughout the afternoon,
and I have sixty seven degrees and tonight look out
clear and a low of forty degrees.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
talk of the town.
Speaker 5 (14:41):
Well, good Wednesday morning. The Moncatti Commission.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
They'll be gabbling in for the regular meeting coming up
at the top of the hour. We'll be sure and
have a readout of anything that may occur during that proceeding.
This weekend is hopecoming for University High School. It'll be
the battle of the birds up on Baker's Ridge. I've
got the Connellsville Falcons coming to take on the University Hawks.
(15:07):
On the phone, We've got University High school Principal Kim Green,
and I believe one of the members of the organizing committee,
teacher Suzanne ernstas good morning, ladies.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
How are you good morning?
Speaker 6 (15:21):
Good morning.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you on board.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I guess first off, give us an idea of the
level of preparation that goes into homecoming this week.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Well, this year, it's been a lot because this is
our one hundredth graduating class, so we're doing lots of
extra preparations because we're celebrating all year long. Tonight starts
off with our homecoming parade at six o'clock on High Street.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
A lot of alumni participation given it it is your
one hundredth graduation.
Speaker 7 (15:53):
Yes, we've tried to really reach out to our community
and we have had a wonderful response, and we're looking
forward to seeing many of our former homecoming queens. I mean,
we have graduated in years of nineteen sixty eight all
the way into the two thousands. Many of them are
(16:14):
going to be participating like they did in the past
in nice classic cars in the parade. We've got alumni
cheerleaders from the seventies all the way to the two
thousands as well. Many of them dug out old uniforms
and warm ups and they're excited. We've got an alumni
(16:36):
band that has been practicing and many people getting out
those instruments and going to join us. Some alumni athletes
will also be participating. The beginning of a parade is
going to be special. We've got our retired teachers that
are coming out, going to be on a float and
(16:56):
they're going to be joined with our current teachers and
their Families'll be a nice opener. And we also have
a lot of future Hawks. We have our feeder schools,
two Lake Elementary, Eastwood, Mylin, and Skyview all participating. And
then I'll let him talk about our most special part
of the parade is our oldest graduates.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Okay please.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
So we advertised for this because we wanted to find
our oldest living graduates of university high So we had
several entries and then some of them will be participating
in our parade tonight. Our oldest graduate that we had
nominated was Lewis Barrakis, who's ninety nine years old. He'll
be in our parade tonight. And then we have several
(17:41):
other graduates. We have Hannie Powley and Ruth Spangler, who'll
be in the parade tonight. They graduated in the class
of nineteen fifty one. We also have Alfred Jones, who
graduated in the class of nineteen fifty two. So we're
very excited to meet them. And here's some of their
stories from University High School from their time periods too.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Absolutely, we've got the principal of University High School, Kim Green,
and a teacher, Suzanne Ernstace. She's also the home a
member of the homecoming organizing committee.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Hey, if you don't mind give us some logistics about tonight.
When do you want people to start lining up? When
do you want people to show up?
Speaker 6 (18:25):
So our parade lineup starts at five o'clock at the
top of High Street and then the parade actually kicks
off at six o'clock and we have about I think
around fifty entries for the parade, so we have kind
of designated areas that we've put out to people. So
everybody's hopefully very organized for everything.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
And I can tell you looking at the weather forecast,
it looks like it might be a beautiful fall night
for a parade.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
We're hoping, so we're seeing the sun starting to peek
out now for us, so we're hoping it's going to
be perfo.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
A lot of times when you have special games up
on Baker's Ridge, there are maybe some travel arrangements for fans.
Are there any accommodations or is there even any need
for that this time.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
Yes, we're expecting a very large crowd on Friday evening.
The football game kick off is seven o'clock, but we
are going to have tailgating. We invite all of our
community and our alumni back. We're going to have a
tailgate starting at five o'clock and it'll be on the
back patio. We are going to have our overflow parking
(19:35):
lot open, so we'll have free shuttles that are starting
at five Well that'll be yes, around five thirty, but
that's at two ninety nine Baker's Ridge Road, which is
just down the road from us, and we ask everyone
to please ride those shuttles rather than trying to walk
down Baker's Ridge. Mm HM definitely run all evening long
(19:57):
until thirty minutes after the game, so it's very easy
to hop on those shuttles and get here. It makes
traffic a lot easier for you to navigate.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Well, the Hawks have certainly fought through a pretty decent season.
What do you think the outcome on the field will
be this weekend?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
Well, we're planning to win, definitely. For our homecoming game, you'll.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
Have you'll be serving Falcon stew That's right. Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Last thing I've got for you is I'm curious to
find out what you're doing inside the school building to
get the students ready for this big game in the parade.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
So we've been doing a lot of things. All students
have an advisory class that they get to every day,
and part of that advisory we've been spending on learning
about the history of the school and about the mascots
and about some of our traditions. They're also learning our
alma mater. So we've we're taking this time to really
(20:57):
help educate students so that they understand the deep rooted
traditions that we have and how proud we are to
have that. It to be one hundred years and it's
a once in a lifetime event. I mean, they're getting
to participate in this century.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Celebration, and you know what, I think it's really great
that you're able to express to them how important this
moment means. And what they're actually able to capture being
a part of the one hundredth graduating class, and then
you know, hopefully twenty twenty five years, they'll be able
to come back and help those students understand how important
(21:35):
these milestones are.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Yes, one hundred percent, Kim and I spent some time
this morning in the heritage room that's in our school
that will be open on Thursday. Anyone from the community
can come in from four to six to tour the
school to look in the heritage room. And we also
have it's nice and updated a coffee shop that's open
(21:58):
that a student. We have a University High School store
that student run to get some you know, some new
updated t shirts for the game, and just walk around
and find their pictures on the walls and trophies and
medals and you know, have some you know, good memories
with some you know, lifelong friends.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Now forgive me, but was that Suzanne, Yes, it's Suzanne, Okay, perfect.
I just wanted to make sure I knew who I
had here. Well, ladies, let's see that is a Homecoming
organizing Committee member teacher at University High School, Suzanne ernst Us,
And also on the call, we have University High School
(22:39):
Principal Kim Green, certainly do appreciate your time today. Enjoy
the parade, enjoy the weekend, and let's go Hawks.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
Let's get a win.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Let's go Hawks.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
All right, good deal. Well, thank you ladies, uh very much.
Make it a great weekend.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Yes, yes, you bet right now, clouds and fifty five degrees.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
When we come back, we're spend a few minutes with
Montaguelia County Sheriff Todd Forbes. It's Wednesday, It's wanted Wednesday.
Sheriff has a slate of featured felons we're going to
go through. That's next on top of the town. AM
fourteen forty f M one zero four point five W
A Jr.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five. This is the talk of
the town.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Good Wednesday morning, clouds and fifty five degrees in the
University city. In fact, it is University High School's homecoming.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
And on the phone, we've.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Got a University High School alumni, Triff Todd Forbes, say,
good morning, Sheriff.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
How are you?
Speaker 8 (24:04):
Mike? I hate to big the band this see you buddy,
But I'm I was Mordown High.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Morgantown High.
Speaker 8 (24:10):
Now, both of my boys went to University High, had
a very good experience there. But I'm a Morgantown High guy.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Okay, all right, Well my mistake, I guess uh, I
just took that extra step having listened to one of
your sons play baseball.
Speaker 8 (24:27):
Yeah, they both my wife and I were Morgantown High
and both of our boys were University so always know them.
Was always a week divided for us at our house.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
We divided, but then every weekend at least somebody wins hopefully, right.
Speaker 8 (24:43):
Yeah, we always here for all other local schools here.
It doesn't matter about about where we went or whatever.
We're supporters of the community, so it's all good.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Okay, we've got Sheriff Todd Forbes with us, and now
you'll be able to follow along with us at monta
Gillia shre Gov Sheriff. It's a wanted Wednesday, and you've
got a slate of featured felons. Why don't you tell
us who they are?
Speaker 8 (25:08):
Yeah, we sure do so again, I want to let
you know we've gotten twenty one commit twenty one individuals
since July the fifteenth, which is really good. This week
we have a few here, Suliman Alsam for failure to appear,
Melissa Bruto for battery and a police officer, a firefighter
or ems and failure to appear, Unique Davis for unlawful assault,
(25:34):
fail to appear, Jordan Johnson conspiracy to commit a felony
grand marsony, and lastly Cory Morris a feli possession of
fowerarm he's not supposed to have one and also a
failure to appear. So those pictures are on the website.
We'd appreciate any information we.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Can get, and of course that website is Monteingelia. I'm
sorry Montigelia Sheriff dot gov. And as always Sheriff, we
tell the listeners to you know, these are people that
you may know, you may see, but don't approach them.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Let the Sheriff's department do that part.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
Absolutely. Yeah, they should be considered dangerous. Obviously, they're not
compliant with the fact that they're supposed to be in customed.
They've done everything they could do to avoid that, so
who knows what they're capable of. Let professionals take care
of it. That's what we're for.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Okay, good deal, Sheriff Todd Forbes.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Well, Sheriff, really do appreciate your time this morning, and
I know that you'll be on the hunt.
Speaker 8 (26:36):
Yeah, absolutely, Mike, I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Hey, have a good safe day, sir, take care of yourself, okay.
Montiguelia County Sheriff Todd Forbes a graduate of Morgantown High
School we now know, but University High School having their
homecoming this weekend. Now, the parades tonight will be lining
up at five point thirty on North High Street. Of course,
the typical parade route down High Street and then disperse
(27:04):
at South High Street. Now this morning, Morgantown Community Resources
holding a special meeting, and of course, as we sit
here on October the eighth, the need for a warming
shelter is becoming more and more prevalent as we begin
to tick the days off deeper in to fall and
(27:25):
the temperature start to drop. Two of the locations there
are two only two that are under consideration at this point.
Those would be Hazel's House of Hope on Scott Avenue,
the former Ramada Inn property and the Bartlett House property
on West Run Now each presents some challenges and concerns.
(27:49):
Of course, we know that transportation would be an issue
at both locations, and there have been efforts between the
city and county to work with the Mountain Lion in
order to be able to provide transportation, but that doesn't
really seem to be the big issue this time around.
What does seem possibly maybe a bigger issue this time
(28:10):
around has been safety and security, and that has been
the issue up on Scott Avenue at Hazel's House of Hope.
That has I guess led to that group hiring a
private security firm to provide twenty four hour security. Now
we do know that since that security has been deployed
(28:30):
in that area, some things have calmed down a little
bit and there is a possibility that that plan, that
plan the private security could maybe just go to overnight
and not twenty four hours a day or during the
day and not overnight. Not really sure how they might
parse that out. However, we do know that there will be.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
A warming shelter.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Catholic Charities has operated the shelter, and Catholic Charities was
able to step in really at a key moment when
the city, when the Bartlett House lost their grant, we
really had nowhere else to turn. Catholic Charities stepped in
was able to provide a great service and to be
(29:17):
able to run that warming shelter. And now they're included
in these meetings as well as city officials, and we
do know law enforcement is involved as well as the
operators of each one of these facilities.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
Now we do know that based on.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
The point in time count, we're talking about roughly one
hundred and fifty people in the community that were reported
without homes during the last point in time count. Now
the next point in time count that'll come up in January,
so we'll be able to adjust.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
And update that number.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Actually, I've always wondered and questioned why you would do
that point in time count in the month of January
as opposed to maybe not July or August. But in
this particular environment, it might make sense because you get
to count the people that are in the warming shelter
that don't have homes. Certainly makes it a lot easier
(30:17):
to inventory the homeless people, certainly when the weather is
cold and they're in the warming shelter. Well, we'll be
back to wrap things up on a Wednesday, coming up
after this on Talk of the Town AM fourteen forty
FM one four point five WAJR.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
Good Wednesday morning.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
On Tuesday, members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding
heard from Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Doug Buffington about the response to flooding events in the
southern part of the state and also the northern part
of the state. Now, during that testimony, we learned that
(31:13):
in the northern part of the state, the Marion County
flood issues. That response began June fifteenth and lasted through
the third of July. They removed four hundred and eighty
tons of debris from Marion County. And it looks like
the cost share percentage between the federal government and the
(31:36):
state in terms of recovering from that disaster looks like
seventy five federal and twenty five state. That full story,
you'll be able to take a look at that at
wv metronews dot com. Also included testimony from Adjutant General
James Seward about their part of the response. Both in
(31:58):
the southern and the north are part of the state.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
Take a look at.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
That right now, Clouds fifty six in the University City.
It's time now for Metro News talk line on the
Voice of Morgantown WAJR.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com