#OhioValleyMall

[ledenews]

Fabio’s Remains a Fixture at the Ohio Valley Mall

When the Ohio Valley Mall first opened in October 1978, the small pizza shop next to the hallway to Kaufmann’s was called Scotto’s Pizza. After 14 years, though, the name above the front door changed to Fabio’s Pizza after Tom Cracolici purchased the business and named it after his son. Kind of, and that’s because there is an interesting story behind the reasons why Cracolici named his son Fabio. “I named him after Fabio Grosso, who scored the winning goal when Italy last won the World Cup in 2006,” Cracolici explained. “My son is 28 now, and he works here, too, and Fabio has blessed me with a grandson this past Monday. Fabio's Pizza has been a very popular destination for mall patrons for nearly 30 years. “I came to America in 1974 because my father was a prisoner of war here, and he told us that it was the best time of his life. He got treated like a king even though he was a prisoner of war,” he said. “He was allowed to work even though he was a prisoner, and when World War II ended, he wanted his family to come here so we would have a better future. I don’t care what anyone says; this is the best damn country in the whole world.” But he still roots for Italy in the World Cup? “Of course,” Cracolici said with a masked smile. “I will always root for Italy.” The pizza buffet at Fabio's offers customers a wide variety of options. Pizza with Your Pandemic? At a time when the American public was learning how to distance and debating about wearing masks, the Cafaro Co. Read the full article

[ledenews]

J.P. Dutton – Serving Through It All

It was four years ago when J.P. Dutton decided to run for a seat on the Belmont County Commission and he did that because he believed a more conservative approach to the budget and the county’s debt would benefit the residents in the long-term. Dutton is running for re-election for a number of reasons, but one of them is to see through the cracker proposal in the Dilles Bottom area, a project he inherited when taking office and one which once again has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Will it happen? If not, what then? Hope is high, but that answer will not arrive now for another six-to-nine months. For now, it is about the impact COVID-19 has had on sale tax collections and county services. That is the balancing act he and the two other commissioners now must perform to preserve services for the people.

The Chik-fil-a opened at the Ohio Valley Mall two months ago and has offered drive-thru service.

How have you and your family handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

My family and I have handled the pandemic much like many other families across the Ohio Valley. We adjusted very quickly, especially in the beginning as each daily press conference from Governor Mike DeWine seemed to bring additional responses to a rapidly changing situation. Taking extra precautions became very routine, not just for everyone in our household but for others around us as well.  Showing a lot of appreciation for those working under more difficult circumstances has been important to us as well.  We have been assisting within our community with local efforts targeted at addressing specific needs that have emerged.  Finally, with three school aged children, we worked through daily assignments despite challenges that exist as it relates to broadband access.  COVID-19 has really highlighted even further the challenges that rural communities face as it relates to broadband quality and the disadvantage of substandard access. This is particularly true in Appalachia.  As a county, we have worked to be proactive over the past few years.  In the fall of 2017, we signed an agreement with Agile Networks to utilize the county's vertical structures (water tanks and 911 towers).  Agile has similar agreements with the State of Ohio in regards to MARCS towers which are used by the State Highway Patrol.  This agreement brought increased broadband service to residents near these structures.  We have also had discussions with companies like AT&T and Comcast to continue to stress the need for increased access in Belmont County and continue to search for possible innovative partnerships through the Belmont County Port Authority. As for Comcast, during this particular time, we have worked to connect them with Belmont County school districts in regards to the company's attempt to assist during the pandemic.  Specifically, we reached out to school superintendents and connected them with contacts at Comcast.  We still have a long way to go but we will continue to work to get there.  The youth of the Ohio Valley need these improvements so that they can have increased access to technological improvements in education and further compete with other students across the globe.

What financial impact will the closure of the Ohio Valley Mall have on Belmont County and the offered services?

Any long-term closure of businesses is difficult for a local government, particularly one whose general fund is fueled primarily by local sales tax. With business closures like those at the Ohio Valley Mall, sales tax revenues are expected to decrease significantly during this time. However, I remain very optimistic as businesses continue to reopen and we eventually emerge completely from the pandemic. Our local economy was strong prior and hopefully will rebound quickly. As for the Ohio Valley Mall, the property owners continue to advance future development while adjusting to changes in commercial real estate. Dunham's Sporting Goods and Chick-fil-A are a couple of recent projects that have been terrific additions to the community.  We look forward to the near completion of Five Below as well as the Hampton Inn.

The Belmont County Courthouse was closed just three months after the Christmas holiday because of the coronavirus pandemic.

What is the projection for the decrease in sale tax revenue throughout the county and what measures have the commissioners considered?

It is too early to have exact figures of the current impact. Sales tax collection numbers delivered from the state of Ohio run a couple months behind when the original transaction takes place.  April's report will be the strongest indicator, but unfortunately it is not yet finalized at the state level.  State guidance points to a potential 20 percent decrease in revenue for 2020.  This type of reduction would make the 2021 budget extremely challenging.  Unlike the federal government, Belmont County cannot operate in a deficit. Therefore, shortfalls in funding as compared to a prior year result in a reduction of funding for operations for that fiscal year. Fortunately, we have made conservative budgetary decisions before COVID-19 ever emerged. For instance, for the past three years, the Commission has taken an aggressive approach to county budgets with numerous cuts. Our office has always taken the largest cut in each of these years.  For example, our current budget is 11 percent less than last year which was nearly 10 percent less than the year before that. Most importantly, these reductions did not result in a decrease of services to the residents of Belmont County.  In addition, our Board has made great strides to further strengthen Belmont County's debt position. In the last three years, the Commission secured two major financing packages with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better finance existing water and sewer debt. In fact, the water package was the largest USDA package ever secured in the State of Ohio. These two packages make certain that water and sewer debt will be paid in the future by the Belmont County Sanitary Sewer District enterprise fund and not the county general fund. Unfortunately, this organization of debt has not always been the case causing a significant burden for Belmont County meaning that the general fund paid debt obligations that it should not have. Additionally, last year, the Commission expedited the total repayment of the new office building of Belmont County Senior Services as well as the 2008 expansion project of the Belmont County Jail.  Both of these projects are now paid in full.  This year, the Commission completely paid off a $1.6 million sewer project that was over 15 years old and was not eligible for the USDA package. This project was a perfect example of good initiative that unfortunately lacked an effective payment plan and therefore stayed in the debt portfolio without any payments taking place except interest. These recent activities place Belmont County in a very good debt position moving forward and strengthens its favorable Aa3 bond rating with Moody's, which is in the high-quality standard. Hopefully, these prior decisions of reducing budgets and eliminating debt obligations will lessen the financial impact of COVID-19. That being said, we will work extremely hard to work through the remainder of this fiscal year and prepare for the next.  We take our budgetary responsibilities very seriously even in a typical year.  All options are on the table, but we hope to limit the impact as much as possible.

This land once was home to First Energy's Burger Power Plant, but it has been cleared and sculpted in preparation for new development.

With the announcement that PTT Global will not make a final financial decision on the construction of a petrochemical "cracker" plant for six-to-nine months, many residents of the Upper Ohio Valley have grown pessimistic concerning the project. How do you and the other commissioners handle the negativity? What do you say to those residents?

Honestly, there has been very little negativity to handle. The recent announcement in regards to the project timeline was not surprising. At this point, everyone can relate to the complications that COVID-19 has had on all aspects of each of our lives. In this case, it is not hard to imagine how the pandemic would complicate the environment needed to make a major financial investment that is international in nature. I would describe the community reaction that we receive in general as supportive and optimistic. There have been major milestones reached over the past several months. Most recently, Belmont County, Mead Township, and Shadyside Local School District finalized a local tax agreement with the project leaders.  In general, one familiar with the project location cannot drive past the site today and not recognize the tremendous amount of excavation that has occurred since last summer. While a final decision has not been reached, tangible progress continues to occur.

Do you remain confident the project will take place? Why or why not? (please explain)

I am very confident in the individuals leading this incredible effort towards a final investment decision. The project leaders have been very open through the entire process. They have been responsive to community questions and demonstrated a real commitment to developing strong relationships throughout the Ohio Valley. Due to this emphasis on communication and community, this project has developed tremendous backing at the federal, state, and local level. It truly is a team approach that has garnered real buy in from those involved. Read the full article

[ledenews]

J.P. Dutton – Serving Through It All

It was four years ago when J.P. Dutton decided to run for a seat on the Belmont County Commission and he did that because he believed a more conservative approach to the budget and the county’s debt would benefit the residents in the long-term. Dutton is running for re-election for a number of reasons, but one of them is to see through the cracker proposal in the Dilles Bottom area, a project he inherited when taking office and one which once again has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Will it happen? If not, what then? Hope is high, but that answer will not arrive now for another six-to-nine months. For now, it is about the impact COVID-19 has had on sale tax collections and county services. That is the balancing act he and the two other commissioners now must perform to preserve services for the people.

The Chik-fil-a opened at the Ohio Valley Mall two months ago and has offered drive-thru service.

How have you and your family handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

My family and I have handled the pandemic much like many other families across the Ohio Valley. We adjusted very quickly, especially in the beginning as each daily press conference from Governor Mike DeWine seemed to bring additional responses to a rapidly changing situation. Taking extra precautions became very routine, not just for everyone in our household but for others around us as well.  Showing a lot of appreciation for those working under more difficult circumstances has been important to us as well.  We have been assisting within our community with local efforts targeted at addressing specific needs that have emerged.  Finally, with three school aged children, we worked through daily assignments despite challenges that exist as it relates to broadband access.  COVID-19 has really highlighted even further the challenges that rural communities face as it relates to broadband quality and the disadvantage of substandard access. This is particularly true in Appalachia.  As a county, we have worked to be proactive over the past few years.  In the fall of 2017, we signed an agreement with Agile Networks to utilize the county's vertical structures (water tanks and 911 towers).  Agile has similar agreements with the State of Ohio in regards to MARCS towers which are used by the State Highway Patrol.  This agreement brought increased broadband service to residents near these structures.  We have also had discussions with companies like AT&T and Comcast to continue to stress the need for increased access in Belmont County and continue to search for possible innovative partnerships through the Belmont County Port Authority. As for Comcast, during this particular time, we have worked to connect them with Belmont County school districts in regards to the company's attempt to assist during the pandemic.  Specifically, we reached out to school superintendents and connected them with contacts at Comcast.  We still have a long way to go but we will continue to work to get there.  The youth of the Ohio Valley need these improvements so that they can have increased access to technological improvements in education and further compete with other students across the globe.

What financial impact will the closure of the Ohio Valley Mall have on Belmont County and the offered services?

Any long-term closure of businesses is difficult for a local government, particularly one whose general fund is fueled primarily by local sales tax. With business closures like those at the Ohio Valley Mall, sales tax revenues are expected to decrease significantly during this time. However, I remain very optimistic as businesses continue to reopen and we eventually emerge completely from the pandemic. Our local economy was strong prior and hopefully will rebound quickly. As for the Ohio Valley Mall, the property owners continue to advance future development while adjusting to changes in commercial real estate. Dunham's Sporting Goods and Chick-fil-A are a couple of recent projects that have been terrific additions to the community.  We look forward to the near completion of Five Below as well as the Hampton Inn.

The Belmont County Courthouse was closed just three months after the Christmas holiday because of the coronavirus pandemic.

What is the projection for the decrease in sale tax revenue throughout the county and what measures have the commissioners considered?

It is too early to have exact figures of the current impact. Sales tax collection numbers delivered from the state of Ohio run a couple months behind when the original transaction takes place.  April's report will be the strongest indicator, but unfortunately it is not yet finalized at the state level.  State guidance points to a potential 20 percent decrease in revenue for 2020.  This type of reduction would make the 2021 budget extremely challenging.  Unlike the federal government, Belmont County cannot operate in a deficit. Therefore, shortfalls in funding as compared to a prior year result in a reduction of funding for operations for that fiscal year. Fortunately, we have made conservative budgetary decisions before COVID-19 ever emerged. For instance, for the past three years, the Commission has taken an aggressive approach to county budgets with numerous cuts. Our office has always taken the largest cut in each of these years.  For example, our current budget is 11 percent less than last year which was nearly 10 percent less than the year before that. Most importantly, these reductions did not result in a decrease of services to the residents of Belmont County.  In addition, our Board has made great strides to further strengthen Belmont County's debt position. In the last three years, the Commission secured two major financing packages with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better finance existing water and sewer debt. In fact, the water package was the largest USDA package ever secured in the State of Ohio. These two packages make certain that water and sewer debt will be paid in the future by the Belmont County Sanitary Sewer District enterprise fund and not the county general fund. Unfortunately, this organization of debt has not always been the case causing a significant burden for Belmont County meaning that the general fund paid debt obligations that it should not have. Additionally, last year, the Commission expedited the total repayment of the new office building of Belmont County Senior Services as well as the 2008 expansion project of the Belmont County Jail.  Both of these projects are now paid in full.  This year, the Commission completely paid off a $1.6 million sewer project that was over 15 years old and was not eligible for the USDA package. This project was a perfect example of good initiative that unfortunately lacked an effective payment plan and therefore stayed in the debt portfolio without any payments taking place except interest. These recent activities place Belmont County in a very good debt position moving forward and strengthens its favorable Aa3 bond rating with Moody's, which is in the high-quality standard. Hopefully, these prior decisions of reducing budgets and eliminating debt obligations will lessen the financial impact of COVID-19. That being said, we will work extremely hard to work through the remainder of this fiscal year and prepare for the next.  We take our budgetary responsibilities very seriously even in a typical year.  All options are on the table, but we hope to limit the impact as much as possible.

This land once was home to First Energy's Burger Power Plant, but it has been cleared and sculpted in preparation for new development.

With the announcement that PTT Global will not make a final financial decision on the construction of a petrochemical "cracker" plant for six-to-nine months, many residents of the Upper Ohio Valley have grown pessimistic concerning the project. How do you and the other commissioners handle the negativity? What do you say to those residents?

Honestly, there has been very little negativity to handle. The recent announcement in regards to the project timeline was not surprising. At this point, everyone can relate to the complications that COVID-19 has had on all aspects of each of our lives. In this case, it is not hard to imagine how the pandemic would complicate the environment needed to make a major financial investment that is international in nature. I would describe the community reaction that we receive in general as supportive and optimistic. There have been major milestones reached over the past several months. Most recently, Belmont County, Mead Township, and Shadyside Local School District finalized a local tax agreement with the project leaders.  In general, one familiar with the project location cannot drive past the site today and not recognize the tremendous amount of excavation that has occurred since last summer. While a final decision has not been reached, tangible progress continues to occur.

Do you remain confident the project will take place? Why or why not? (please explain)

I am very confident in the individuals leading this incredible effort towards a final investment decision. The project leaders have been very open through the entire process. They have been responsive to community questions and demonstrated a real commitment to developing strong relationships throughout the Ohio Valley. Due to this emphasis on communication and community, this project has developed tremendous backing at the federal, state, and local level. It truly is a team approach that has garnered real buy in from those involved. Read the full article

[ledenews]

Getting Folks Back to Work

Patience may be a virtue, but when you’re an employee waiting to go back, minutes can seem like hours, hours like days. Days? How about over a month’s worth of waiting? Waiting not only to return to work but for the unemployment office to respond to your claim in the interim. That’s what employees of Red Lobster, like so many of their brothers and sisters in the restaurant industry nationwide, had to endure recently. The restaurant closed temporarily back in late March. It sat empty of employees for more than a month, finally reopening for curbside takeout on May 4. That allowed some of the workforce to return, and then on May 21, dine-in eating resumed statewide. That ended the pain of waiting for many restaurant employees, but not all. Red Lobster must follow the rules and allow only 60 percent capacity. That means some employees are still waiting. As the restart continues, that number should rise. Restaurant General Manager Jay Morgan has been leading the charge to get the store as close to back to normal as possible. Morgan’s been at the St. Clairsville store closing in on 20 years. He knows its importance to the dining community and to his employees. Getting back to work was paramount for both. That first came with the offering of curbside pickup, and then again a few weeks later. Each time more workers returned to the fold. But neither Morgan, nor Red Lobster, will be whole again until everyone is back inside, serving the public.

Red Lobster's doors were closed for more than a month, only reopening May 4 for curbside and then for dine-in a few weeks later.

How long have you been at Red Lobster? Has it all been here in the Upper Ohio Valley?

I have been with Red Lobster for 25 years and 17 here in St. Clairsville. I have been blessed to work with the best hospitality team throughout my career who cares most about the guests and each other.

How soon after it became apparent that the pandemic was going to cause shakeups to businesses to the St. C. store move to react? What were some of the initial changes?

The biggest change is the ability to seat approximately 60 percent of the dining room.  We started preparing as soon as the governor made the announcement.

How did the curbside pickup business go during the time you could not have dine-in customers? Was it a smooth transition on the customers' side? How about the employees?

Curbside, takeout, and delivery went well.  The guests were very understanding.  We had to change from putting food on 99 percent plates to 109 percent to-go boxes.

How excited were you learn that the restaurant could open back up to indoor dining? Were you able to bring back any staff that might have been temporarily laid off previously?

We were very excited and relieved to be open for dine-in.  We had 76 people working before COVID 19 and now about 40 are back.

Morgan noted his staff has adjusted well to the new indoor dining regulations put out by Governor Mike DeWine. The customers have also responded in kind.

How difficult has it been adjusting to the current indoor-dining regulations? Was it more of a transition for the staff or the customers?

The transition has been very easy for us.  We are known for caring tremendously about sanitation and safety.  The guests have been great.  We do temperature checks and wellness evaluations every day for our staff.  We have six feet marked everywhere that it needs to be along with seats that are not able to be sat in right now. Read the full article

[ledenews]

Ohio Valley Mall Now Open

Although the owner of the Ohio Valley Mall did not know many of the 80 stores would open for business this morning, the doors to the 40-plus-year-old facility were unlocked at 10 a.m. in accordance to orders issued by Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine. Employees of the Ohio Valley, according to Anthony Cafaro of the Cafaro Co., will wear face covering and practice social distancing while performing their duties. “We are very happy to return to a degree of normalcy beginning (today) at the Ohio Valley Mall. It really doesn’t matter if we are talking about an enclosed mall or any other kind of business, there’s no script and that is why we have been paying very close attention to what Ohio state officials have been talking about throughout this crisis,” Cafaro explained. “By now, we know what has worked and what hasn’t worked in other areas of the country, so we are moving forward with that information on our minds. “There exists no exact plan as far as what we needed to do in preparation for the re-opening of the Ohio Valley Mall, so we are being as careful as possible to keep everyone as safe as possible,” he said. “Now, there are guidelines and, of course, we will be adhering to all of those guidelines. Plus, our staff there is going to use a lot of common sense because the coronavirus is pretty much all we have heard about for the past two months, and that includes a lot of information about what precautions we all should be taking.”

Redevelopment has taken place at the Ohio Valley during the last few years.

Open and Still Closed

Cafaro was not positive how many of the retailers would re-open today during his Monday interview on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY), but confirmed that Boscovs will as well as other eateries throughout the facility would. “It was easy before this situation for the shoppers to expect all of our stores to be open for business, but now, it’s all up to those individual companies as far as they approach re-opening their businesses at their different locations,” Cafaro explained. “It is very difficult for some of the larger chains to re-open because of the different guidelines that have been established by leaders of the states. “We have had conversations with some of our retailers that have said that they can’t open up because their distribution facility is in another state and is not allowed to re-open yet,” he said. “That’s just one example, and there’s also the question whether or not you can open a number of stores, but everyone can still remain safe right now. I can tell you, though, that at the Ohio Valley Mall, we will have a number of stores that have re-opened today.”

The Chik-fil-a opened at the Ohio Valley Mall last month and has offered drive-thru service only.

Disinfected

An extensive scrub down, Cafaro confirmed, has taken place in all areas of the complex, and communication also has taken place with their corporations to make sure those officials understand Ohio’s requirements. “We have made sure that our staff at the Ohio Valley Mall is completely aware of the protocol that has been established by the leaders of the state of Ohio,” Cafaro explained. “Face coverings, social distancing, and non-stop cleaning will be taking place all day and every day, but our patrons will not be able to do any sit-down dining at any of our restaurants, but the take-out services can continue. “The sit-down dining, as of now, will not be permitted unless May 21st as long as everything goes well with their first few steps that are being taken,” he said. “We are also making sure that our tenants are familiar with the guidelines established for the stores inside the Ohio Valley Mall because they are dealing with the same thing we are. We have shopping centers in many different states and those guidelines are different in some ways in each of them, so we have wanted to make sure those companies understand what has to be done at the Ohio Valley Mall.”

Development continues around the Ohio Valley Mall, including a new Hampton hotel.

More Than a Trickle

A mad rush of shoppers was not expected for this morning’s re-opening, and that is because people throughout the country are likely to remain determined not to become another number in the overall statistics. To date in the United States, nearly 1.4 million citizens have contracted COVID-19, including almost 25,000 in the state of Ohio and 1,400 in West Virginia. Nationwide, 82,000 deaths have been recorded nationwide with 1,360 taking place in the Buckeye State while 57 have passed away in the Mountain State. “We do expect shoppers to return to the mall today because that is what we have seen at our other locations in states that allowed us to re-open our facilities last week, but there hasn’t been that surge of traffic. It’s been more than a trickle, but it’s not been like Black Friday,” Cafaro said. “And we are actually happy that these openings have not attracted those kids of crowds. “Retailers and shoppers are being very cautious, and so are we, and that is why we have many procedures that have been put into place. The most important thing to us is that the patrons and the employees are as safe as possible,” he continued. “We don’t want to create problems for those folks, but instead we would prefer to be part of the solution that allows people to get out and shop and also allows the employees to return to their jobs.” Read the full article

[ledenews]

An OPEN LETTER to ... Eager Restaurant Servers

It’s not an easy job and anyone who has worked in the foodservice industry knows it from experience, and when a server gets stiffed a tip, it not only hurts feelings but challenges personal budgets. There are more than ever men and women working in that particular industry here in the Upper Ohio Valley thanks to the development that’s taken place at The Highlands, the Ohio Valley Mall, the Ohio Valley Plaza, at Centre Market, and in downtown Wheeling. Some folks work at two eateries while others have a full-time job and they moonlight on the weekend to make ends meet, and for that to happen, those tips have to add up. Most of the chain restaurants have training programs that instruct the waiters and waitresses how to provide the service the respective corporate offices deem fitting for their eateries while most locally-owned restaurants go about it with a less formal approach but still realize that a customer’s experience determines whether or not they will patronize again. The food must be good, of course, but if the service sucks, a return trip is much less likely.

These steps were established by the Big Boy Corp. and adopted by the owners of Elby’s Family Restaurants. That is why a nine-step system for serving was developed by the Big Boy Corp. before the first Elby’s Family Restaurant opened along National Road in Wheeling. The best part about the steps, even for a first-time server, is that each one makes complete sense when it comes to taking care of customers. Of course, a customer wants to be recognized soon after sitting down, and of course, they want their hot food to arrive hot and cold food to arrive cold … and of course, if there is an issue with the food delivered to the table, they want it corrected much sooner than way later. If these nine steps are followed, even by veterans at the chains, more tipping and less stiffing likely will take place. Sincerely, (Hint: You want our money)

The Big Boy Platter was a very popular menu at Elby’s. #RealInOV - PS1 An OPEN LETTER To ... The Drug Dealer Home Cooking with Jess - Italian Sausage Read the full article

[ledenews]

Brenda Danehart – Telling an Honest Story

She’s Brenda Danehart. You know her. You have watched her on the news, during telethons, special reports, and the annual Christmas parade in downtown Wheeling. She’s the one with the infectious smile and the perennial positive attitude despite covering an Upper Ohio Valley for the past 39 years. Danehart, as producer, reporter, anchor, and news director, has witnessed the decline that’s taken place on both sides of the Ohio River, and she and her ever-evolving staff have covered the resulting Rust Belt region honestly. There has been positive news, though, like the development of The Highlands and the rebirth of the Ohio Valley Mail, the economic impact of the gas and oil industries, the successes of students from private, parochial, and public schools, and wonderful work at our local animal shelters. Brenda, who was hired by the legendary Mark Davis, has been married to her husband, Dave Gessler, for 29 years (30 in June), and her two children remain local, as well. She was a member of the first graduating class of Wheeling Park High School, and then earned her Bachelor’s Degree from West Virginia University. She did consider leaving home for more pay and greener pastures once upon a time ago, but thankfully THE Brenda Danehart stayed so she could guide an honest narrative about the past, present, and future of the Upper Ohio Valley.

How exhaustive has the pandemic been when it comes to covering local news?

I think I would use the word challenging to describe the pandemic. I had two new reporters just in the door when the virus hit. They jumped into action with the rest of my talented staff and we didn’t miss a beat. We have not only told some amazing stories, we have provided much needed information to our community. We dedicated more than 10 minutes of our news time every day to cover this virus on our broadcast platform. We also expanded our news to an hour Sunday night to provide our viewers with more news. WTRF has provided several hourly specials and this week are part of a food bank telethon with our neighboring Ohio Television stations. Next week we are part of a one-hour live broadcast called, ‘’Opening West Virginia.” On our digital platform we reached 1.3 million pageviews at the height of the pandemic. WTRF started up a restaurant page so our viewers could support local businesses. It’s called Restaurants to the Rescue. We have three daily Coronavirus streams to provide the very latest information on the virus and we provide daily updates from President Trump, W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice, and Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine.

How has the crisis been a good teaching tool for you when it comes to your younger reporters?

There was no playbook for covering this massive story, even for our veterans, but what has come out of this will most likely change how television stations do interviews. Facetime, Skype , and Zoom meetings are all being used on a daily basis and they are working really well for us. Our younger reporters excel at this and didn’t really have to be shown how to use the social tools. They already knew them which was a huge bonus. Nexstar, our parent company, has been a blessing to us here at WTRF, providing us great resources. We have a D.C. bureau that provides us with daily news, and we also have a statehouse reporter in Ohio and political reporter in West Virginia.

Why have you decided to remain in Wheeling and at WTRF for such an extended time as a reporter, anchor, and new director?

I started out in my own hometown and only one time did I think about trying to get a job in a larger market. But I weighed leaving my family and now I know I made the best choice for me. I got to spend all of my career in my hometown with the family and people I love. That really means a lot to me especially since I recently lost my mom. You can’t get that precious time back that I was able to spend with both my mom and dad.

What “news” are looking forward to the most when the pandemic subsides to the point to where life can be as normal as it can be?

The wonderful community stories that we do almost every day. Also covering the events when they eventually start back up again that support our agencies. So many of these fundraisers have been cancelled, so now it’s our job to hopefully help these agencies and businesses right here in the Upper Ohio Valley.

In your opinion, what is the best part and the worst part of being a media member in the Upper Ohio Valley?

Easy question on the best part and that’s our people. I am definitely a people person and I love going to events and seeing everyone. We have so many wonderful festivals and fundraisers every weekend. Obviously, there’s no bad part to my job or I wouldn’t have stayed in the business 39 years and counting. Although it can be a stressful job, and sometimes there is little down time, but I am on call seven days a week. Read the full article

[ledenews]

Susan West: Farmers Market is Back!

Pandemic or no pandemic, people are ready for market fresh produce. Saturday’s turnout for opening day of the Ohio Valley Farmer’s Market proved that point. OVFM Manager Susan West noted the number of customers dwarfed previous seasons’ opening days. Up until restrictions started easing, there was a real fear the market’s opening was in jeopardy. But West and other board members waited out the restrictions. As they eased, plans were put in motion and vendors responded, some without much-advanced notice. The result is an Upper Ohio Valley summer shopping staple is back and stronger than ever. Opening Day Part II is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Ohio Valley Mall. Vendors will set up between Panera Bread and the new Chic-Fil-A. Additional information can be found on the market’s website or Facebook page. The farmers market is an Ohio Valley summertime and fall staple, at both the Bellaire and Ohio Valley Mall locations. How did this year's opening compare to those in year's past in light of the last few months? More vendors and customers? Less? We had a fantastic opening day! Other than the first two or three years after we moved to Bellaire in 2008, this was probably our best one. Our vendor count was about the same as a typical season start-up. We expect it to grow over the next few weeks. We definitely had far more customers than usual for week one. #Bellaire #freshproduce #OhioValleyFarmersMarket #OhioValleyMall #OVFM #SusanWest #UpperOhioValley Read the full article