#elmgrove

Every player has their own system, and some carry special cases for their Bingo game gear. One couple even had what appeared to be a Bingo “tackle box” to hold their rainbow of daubers and good luck charms. I was a first-timer; a rookie ready to learn. Adults of all ages started setting up their playing areas like they had done it a thousand times before, and everything had its place. The “buy-in” for the monthly Bingo event at Wheeling Post 1 in Elm Grove was $25 for nine boards and 16 games, and I stuck with the basic package even though I saw some players with 18 and 27 sheets. Bingo savants, apparently. I quickly learned during my first Bingo outing that the players have their own systems. Emcee Travis Erickson was terrific as he partnered with the technology for the “call”, and following the National Anthem, Post 1 past commander John Powell even offered the crowd a “Play Bingo!” to get us started. And off we went, one letter and number after another; I daubed this one and that one, and for the first six games, I needed only one more to win. At one point I contemplated, “Do I just say ‘BINGO’ or do I say something like ‘BA-DA-BINGO!!’” And then for Game 7, it was the “Four Corners” game, and I raced out with the three daubed blocks in the first nine calls and I thought … THIS. HAS. TO. BE. THE. ONE. … C’mon!! O-72! O-72! O-72!! Tracking nine boards for each game was easier than I expected, and that means I may add nine more on August 2nd when American Legion Post 1 hosts its next Bingo event. Nope. And that’s when I figured it out. That’s when I knew for sure. Bingo makes you cuss. That’s also when it was time for a new dauber strategy. On the way in, the ladies were selling the bingo markers and I chose two and nicknamed them “Orange Crush” and “Purple Rain”. Initially, I was alternating my markers per game, but desperate times called for desperate measures. After coming very close during the first seven games, it was time to change my strategy with the Bingo markers. It was time to uncap both daubers and attack these boards like a double-fisted pro, and the second half included more “One Line Anyway” games, a “Plus Sign” contest, and a “Inside Picture Frame” for No. 16. Better yet, there was an add-on “Cover All” as the 17th and final chance to win the biggest cash-money of the evening. I’ve learned a bingo player wants silence around them as their losing streak extends into embarrassment, and it seems you get quietly and politely serious as time runs short, too. Despite my enthusiasm, a terrific atmosphere at Post 1, the volunteer veterans who worked the event, and the food, snacks, and cash bar (yes, they have non-alcoholic beer!), I ended as an “O-FER”! A nice crowd gathered for Post 1's Bingo event, and organizers have scheduled monthly events for the remainder of 2026. And, as the baseball fan that I am, 0-for-17 is a troubling slump, but there’s good news – the game of bingo doesn’t remind me of America’s pastime. Instead, it reminds me of golf and of the occasional great shot mixed in with all the lost balls and double bogeys. That’s because you can get soooo close to winning a Bingo game, and that gives you enough hope to always go back again and again. And I will – the next Post 1 Bingo event is scheduled for August 2 with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. – and I’ll be in my same seat in the same row with my same “Orange Crush” and “Purple Rain” daubers ready to proclaim, “BA-DA-BINGO!!” Read the full article

Wheeling Police have arrested Cannon Lee Furman, 26, of Wheeling, on three counts of malicious wounding. The arrest stems from a stabbing that took place inside an apartment in the 2100 block of National Road in Elm Grove on Monday around 5 p.m. Furman was arraigned by an Ohio County magistrate today, who set bond at $150,000 and taken to the Northern Regional Jail. Read the full article

Inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances could change the project schedule.

Ohio County, WV – A portion of US 40 (National Road), in Elm Grove, will be restricted to one lane, beginning on Friday, June 19, 2026, through mid-July, for street light replacements.  Traffic will be maintained by flaggers. Motorists are advised to slow down and expect slight delays. Inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances could change the project schedule. Read the full article

There was a storm warning that came across our phones, and it mentioned something about flash flooding as it had before. And then it rained, hard in most areas of Ohio County, but then it stopped, and all was good. At least that’s what most believed. But what was happening in Valley Grove, Triadelphia, and Elm Grove was writing a much different, tragic, deadly story as many residents were forced to cling to what kept them from being swept away in what’s been described as white-capped water that claimed most of what was in its path. Everything from storage containers to backyard swing sets was consumed, and nine individuals – from 3 to 83 – lost their lives. Thousands of pounds of debris were cleared from the affected communities in Ohio County, and it was gradually hauled away over the weeks following the fatal flooding. Now, one year later, some wish to remember, and some, understandably, want to be left alone. As many as 500 folks attended the unveilings and dedications of the memorials yesterday at the Triadelphia United Methodist Church, and now the names of the victims will be remembered by all who visit. Michael Bokanovich, Michael and Connie Veronis, Lisa McMasters, Jesse Pearson, Kyleigh and Parker Shotton, Travis Creighton, and Sandra Parsons. But anyone who pumped out of their basements, or shoveled muck, ripped out walls, found a porch chair a mile down the road, and continues to battle back today needs to be honored as well. Sure, FEMA and the SBA finally arrived and were able to assist those who suffered material loss, but nothing can replace the photos, the diplomas, the birthday cards, the jewelry, the wedding dresses, or the first-step booties. More than 100 automobiles were destroyed by the flash flooding that took place one year ago this weekend. They know that now, and so should we. While several residents were permanently displaced and others have refused to return and rebuild, many residents who were directly affected have been forced to bend with nature, to live without answers, and to endure one “worst day” after another “worst day.” There are forever triggers, too; things as simple as a thunderstorm, the smell of dried mud, the sight of a crumpled car, and even the sound of a weather alert on our cell phones, and only time has the chance to heal those invisible wounds. Anyone traveling U.S. Route 40 through Triadelphia and Valley Grove these days can see the scars, the water marks, the empty lots, and the new construction, but what they don’t learn on those drives concerns the current residents, their communities, and their collective resolve to rise above and resurrect. Those will be the next stories to tell.   Read the full article

Pastor Michael Palmer believes an important part of the healing process is to remember those who were lost in the tragic fatal flooding that hit Ohio County nearly a year ago. That’s why Palmer has worked diligently with local government and business leaders to raise funds for the design and installation of a new monument that will be unveiled at the Triadelphia United Methodist Church on June 13th at 11 a.m. The new monument will be joined by a fresh placement of the wooden crosses that have rested outside the church since the tragedy took place during Father’s Day Weekend 2025. The crosses, according to Palmer, were donated by Chris Figaretti and the Newbridge Church community. Mike and Linda Palmer were attending an anniversary party when thunderstorms entered the region, but when they tried to return home, the roads were already closed. The new memorial was designed by the Mills Group of Wheeling, and sculptor Jeffrey Forster was involved with the creation of the memorial. The final cost of the memorial has yet to be finalized. “We sat around a table for a meeting one evening and we discussed the possibilities of a monument to honor those who were lost, and immediately people wanted to get involved,” Palmer explained. “The Ohio County Commission helped us, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston donated to us, our church itself also donated for it, and so did our town of Triadelphia. “Our friends at Savage Construction will be involved with the installation, and we’ve had so many people step up to help us in so many different ways,” he said. “Our community was devastated, and our community is fighting back.” Little Wheeling and Big Wheeling creeks were littered with debris following the flooding in Valley Grove and Triadelphia on June 14-15, 2025. Palmer hopes all family members, friends, first responders, volunteers, and those who donated to the recovery will be able to attend the ceremony next weekend.  “The scars are there in Triadelphia and Valley Grove, and they're going to be there for a long, long time, so we’re putting in this monument because we don't want to forget about the devastation. We want to remember this happened in Triadelphia, in Valley Grove, and in Elm Grove,” the pastor said. “We’re recovering from it, and we’re doing it together.   “This monument will be a part of that healing,” the pastor said. “This monument connects us forever, and that will be a source of strength for everyone in our community.” The monument will honor the nine victims of the fatal flash flood that swept through Valley Grove, Triadelphia, and parts of Elm Grove nearly a year ago. Emotional and Beautiful “There are thousands of individuals who were involved with our recovery, but I can't name them each and I’ll never be able to do that. But we do want them to know how much we appreciate everything. The food, the cases of water, the dollars that were donated, and the first responders who saved so many lives.” Palmer insists it feels like the tragedy took place just a couple of weeks ago. He and his wife were at a birthday party near Bear Rock Lake when it rained hard, but then stopped. Not long later, it started storming again, and Palmer had a bad feeling about the impact on the Ohio County area. He and his wife could not get home. They had to sleep in a gas station parking lot. When morning arrived, tears flowed from his astonished eyes. Now, nearly a year later, the recovery has been slow but steady for some, but not for all. These crosses are now in the front yard of the United Methodist Church in Triadelphia, and Pastor Mike is working on making them a permanent memorial for the lost lives. Between 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell on parts of Ohio County in less than an hour during the early evening of June 14th, and thunderstorms and a steady, hard rain continued into the early morning hours. First responders saved at least 50 residents from the white-capped rapids of water that covered U.S. 40 and swept away trailers, campers, storage containers, a power substation, and vehicles of all sizes. “Triadelphia is doing well in a lot of ways, (but) not so good in others, and there are still a lot of people mourning our losses. That’s to be expected,” Palmer said. “We're slowly recovering. Yes, there's been a lot of homes destroyed and there are still homes being demolished because those folks just don't have the finances – or the heart – to move back into the town. But there are good signs. “There's some life back in the area and businesses are starting to up again. We’re starting to see kids back in the yards playing, and things like that. And you see new construction. Houses are being built back up again,” he said.  “It's still coming alive, and it's recovering.”  Many residents and business owners have worked for nearly a year to recover and re-establish themselves since the storm changed the impacted parts of the county forever. The damage, though, is done, and the nine lives have been lost. Those who perished include Michael Bokanovich, Michael and Connie Veronis, Lisa McMasters, Kyleigh and Parker Shotton, Travis Creighton, Sandra Parsons, and Jesse Pearson. “You can still tell something really, really bad happened. If you know Triadelphia and Valley Grove and you drive through, you can tell there’s so much missing,” Palmer said. “If you drive through for the first time, you can still see the scars where people's houses used to be. So much has been torn down. “There are a lot of empty lots where people used to live, and we’ve lost some businesses, too,” he explained. “Where there were 10 or 15 homes, there are only five or six, but these days we are seeing new porches being put on some homes and some others are finally getting rebuilt. There were some folks who just left because they didn’t want to deal with it. “But they’ve come back, and we’re hoping even more return for the monument dedication. It’s going to be an emotional day, but a beautiful day at the same time.” Read the full article

Pastor Michael Palmer believes an important part of the healing process is to remember those who were lost in the tragic fatal flooding that hit Ohio County nearly a year ago. That’s why Palmer has worked diligently with local government and business leaders to raise funds for the design and installation of a new monument that will be unveiled at the Triadelphia United Methodist Church on June 13th at 11 a.m. The new monument will be joined by a fresh placement of the wooden crosses that have rested outside the church since the tragedy took place during Father’s Day Weekend 2025. The crosses, according to Palmer, were donated by Chris Figaretti and the Newbridge Church community. Mike and Linda Palmer were attending an anniversary party when thunderstorms entered the region, but when they tried to return home, the roads were already closed. The new memorial was designed by the Mills Group of Wheeling, and sculptor Jeffrey Forster was involved with the creation of the memorial. The final cost of the memorial has yet to be finalized. “We sat around a table for a meeting one evening and we discussed the possibilities of a monument to honor those who were lost, and immediately people wanted to get involved,” Palmer explained. “The Ohio County Commission acquired a $30,000 grant for the bulk of the funding, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston donated to us, our church itself also donated for it, and so did our town of Triadelphia. “Our friends at Savage Construction will be involved with the installation, and we’ve had so many people step up to help us in so many different ways,” he said. “Our community was devastated, and our community is fighting back.” Little Wheeling and Big Wheeling creeks were littered with debris following the flooding in Valley Grove and Triadelphia on June 14-15, 2025. Palmer hopes all family members, friends, first responders, volunteers, and those who donated to the recovery will be able to attend the ceremony next weekend.  “The scars are there in Triadelphia and Valley Grove, and they're going to be there for a long, long time, so we’re putting in this monument because we don't want to forget about the devastation. We want to remember this happened in Triadelphia, in Valley Grove, and in Elm Grove,” the pastor said. “We’re recovering from it, and we’re doing it together.   “This monument will be a part of that healing,” the pastor said. “This monument connects us forever, and that will be a source of strength for everyone in our community.” The monument will honor the nine victims of the fatal flash flood that swept through Valley Grove, Triadelphia, and parts of Elm Grove nearly a year ago. Emotional and Beautiful “There are thousands of individuals who were involved with our recovery, but I can't name them each and I’ll never be able to do that. But we do want them to know how much we appreciate everything. The food, the cases of water, the dollars that were donated, and the first responders who saved so many lives.” Palmer insists it feels like the tragedy took place just a couple of weeks ago. He and his wife were at a birthday party near Bear Rock Lake when it rained hard, but then stopped. Not long later, it started storming again, and Palmer had a bad feeling about the impact on the Ohio County area. He and his wife could not get home. They had to sleep in a gas station parking lot. When morning arrived, tears flowed from his astonished eyes. Now, nearly a year later, the recovery has been slow but steady for some, but not for all. These crosses are now in the front yard of the United Methodist Church in Triadelphia, and Pastor Mike is working on making them a permanent memorial for the lost lives. Between 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell on parts of Ohio County in less than an hour during the early evening of June 14th, and thunderstorms and a steady, hard rain continued into the early morning hours. First responders saved at least 50 residents from the white-capped rapids of water that covered U.S. 40 and swept away trailers, campers, storage containers, a power substation, and vehicles of all sizes. “Triadelphia is doing well in a lot of ways, (but) not so good in others, and there are still a lot of people mourning our losses. That’s to be expected,” Palmer said. “We're slowly recovering. Yes, there's been a lot of homes destroyed and there are still homes being demolished because those folks just don't have the finances – or the heart – to move back into the town. But there are good signs. “There's some life back in the area and businesses are starting to up again. We’re starting to see kids back in the yards playing, and things like that. And you see new construction. Houses are being built back up again,” he said.  “It's still coming alive, and it's recovering.”  Many residents and business owners have worked for nearly a year to recover and re-establish themselves since the storm changed the impacted parts of the county forever. The damage, though, is done, and the nine lives have been lost. Those who perished include Michael Bokanovich, Michael and Connie Veronis, Lisa McMasters, Kyleigh and Parker Shotton, Travis Creighton, Sandra Parsons, and Jesse Pearson. “You can still tell something really, really bad happened. If you know Triadelphia and Valley Grove and you drive through, you can tell there’s so much missing,” Palmer said. “If you drive through for the first time, you can still see the scars where people's houses used to be. So much has been torn down. “There are a lot of empty lots where people used to live, and we’ve lost some businesses, too,” he explained. “Where there were 10 or 15 homes, there are only five or six, but these days we are seeing new porches being put on some homes and some others are finally getting rebuilt. There were some folks who just left because they didn’t want to deal with it. “But they’ve come back, and we’re hoping even more return for the monument dedication. It’s going to be an emotional day, but a beautiful day at the same time.” Read the full article

Ohio County, WV – A portion of Interstate 70, both eastbound and westbound, will have shoulder closures from milepost 7.0 (Middle Creek Bridge) to milepost 14.5 (Pennsylvania state line) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. beginning Thursday, May 21, 2026, through Friday, May 29, 2026, for guardrail adjustments. Motorists are advised to slow down. Inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances could change the project schedule. Read the full article