GILBERT, W.Va. — During the two-month closure of Southern West Virginia’s Hatfield-McCoy Trails due to COVID-19 concerns, operators of businesses catering to trail riders wondered when, or even if, the trail system would be allowed to reopen for the year. That concern was alleviated two week…

Welcome to the first edition of Rivers and Ridges.

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JULIAN — Boone County Parks and Recreation will keep the $24,000 that the Boone County Commission provided Water Ways as start-up money, despite the water park deciding to not open for business in 2020.

WHITESVILLE — As Emergency Medical Services practitioners were celebrated last week, Whitesville EMS Paramedic Terry Vermillion approaches 36 years in the business.

KANAWHA COUNTY — A Bone County Ambulance Authority (BCAA) ambulance was involved in an accident in Kanawha County on May 15 with minor injuries reported from two BCAA employees and one driver from another vehicle.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — During a town hall conference call with Boone County officials, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner discussed early voting and how safety equipment related to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the process of voting in West Virginia in 2020.

DANVILLE — During a regular session on May 19 where social distancing was observed outdoors, the Danville Town Council unanimously voted to sell for $20,000 a property that has been on the market for months.

After two months, faculty and staff at Marshall University returned to campus briefly this week to receive a kit with supplies to keep them safe when campus begins to reopen.

CHARLESTON — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.

Two Democrats are facing off during this year’s primary election for the office of West Virginia Attorney General and a chance to face incumbent Republican Patrick Morrisey who running unopposed.

WHITESVILLE – The Whitesville Volunteer Fire Department/EMS agency lost one of its own on May 25.

To submit an item for the Community Calendar, send an email to pperry@HDMediaLLC.com.

CHARLESTON — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has released the results of the statewide COVID-19 testing of residents and staff at nursing homes.

For the gift, greenhouse and floral industries, spring profits can often determine the rest of the year’s success.

But with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many businesses in the Mountain State have taken a financial hit during their busiest season.

A citizen science project to learn more about the decline of West Virginia’s firefly population will soon resume, under the guidance of State Zoologist Mack Frantz and the state Division of Natural Resources.

Welcome back to Wrong Side of the Mountain, my column about what makes Boone County a good or bad place to live, depending on your perspective.

CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s Road Fund collection in April came in more than $38 million over estimates — but only because federal payments of $83.67 million were more than three times larger than expected, state Budget Office documents show.

MADISON — The members of The Boone County West Virginia Quilters are using their talent, resources and time to make masks for the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHARLESTON — Children who are homeschooled or attend private schools that don’t use the National School Lunch Program aren’t eligible for the previously announced roughly $313 per-child groceries relief, even if their families apply for it.

Boone Backpack Buddies volunteers gather with Ferrell and Hill Insurance Agency of Madison, who nominated Backpack Buddies for the Westfield Legacy of Caring Program and was awarded a donation of $5,000. This money will be used to assist in providing food for school children throughout the s…

West Virginia public school students would be required to continue practicing cursive through middle school, instead of that mandate ending in fourth grade, under proposed English learning standard changes.

MADISON — The Board that has directed the West Virginia Coal Festival for over 26 years has decided to suspend all plans for the festival in 2020 and focus its energy on planning for 2021.

WHITESVILLE — Three men were charged with possession with intent after a traffic stop in Whitesville on May 12 initiated by Police Chief Andrew White.

ROCK CREEK — A group of bus operators came together on May 11 to honor Boone County high school seniors with a bus formation that displayed “2020” to passers-by on Route 3, just a few hundred feet from the intersection of U.S. 119.

DANVILLE — A collective group of firefighters and associated professionals met on May 12 at the Danville Volunteer Fire Department facility to discuss Boone County Firefighters Association business, which included the importance of the upcoming levee that will be on the ballot in the primary…

CHARLESTON — West Virginia officials are using a new system to monitor COVID-19 spread in the counties.

CHARLESTON — A doctor who formerly worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Beckley, West Virginia, is accused of making unwanted sexual contact with six patients, two of whom reported they were immobilized at the time of the contact.

At the end of April, the three commissioners in West Virginia’s Monongalia County sent a letter to Gov. Jim Justice with a request.

LOGAN — City officials in Logan are still hoping to host the annual West Virginia Freedom Festival in late June — scheduled one week after the now-cancelled Coal Festival — despite an uncertain outlook caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Huntington Mall will reopen Thursday, May 21, after Gov. Jim Justice on Monday gave the green light by adding indoor malls to Week 4 of his Comeback plan.

CHARLESTON — Children’s author Jon Scieszka has joined the 2020 West Virginia Book Festival lineup as a featured speaker.

CHARLESTON — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.

CHARLESTON — West Virginia University is furloughing employees in the wake of the school shutting down much of its operations to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

CHARLESTON — West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue has launched a printable version of his office’s “Get a Life” financial education activity for parents and educators looking for at-home learning opportunities.

HUNTINGTON — Marshall University has announced it has tentatively rescheduled its spring commencement ceremony for Saturday, Aug. 8, in Huntington.

CHARLESTON — All staff at West Virginia assisted-living facilities and child-care facilities will be tested for COVID-19 per Gov. Jim Justice’s order.

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a phone interview with the CVN that his office is working diligently to identify and stop scam attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic and believes that educating the public regarding potential threats is essential.

MADISON — The City of Madison met on May 4 for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and navigated the meeting swiftly, chiming in at 35 minutes.