This week I want to talk about deadheading flowers. As we roll into August, many annual and perennial flowers are blooming. This is the perfect time to get out in your flower beds to rejuvenate your plants and extend the season of color with this horticultural practice.

Deadheading is simply the process of pruning faded or dead flowers from plants to promote new growth and re-flowering. It is one of the most effective tools a backyard gardener can use to keep plants blooming longer, healthier, and more vibrantly.

Keep in mind it is important to keep up with deadheading in the garden throughout the growing season for healthier plants and continual blooms. It not only tidies up the appearance of your garden but also redirects the plant’s energy from seed production back into blooming.

The ultimate goal of a plant is to complete its life cycle through successful reproduction, in this case, by seed. If you leave the old flowers in place, the plant thinks its job is done since seeds have formed, so it stops producing new buds. Removing those spent blooms sends a signal to the plant to keep up the flower production.

As blooms fade, pinch or cut off the flower stems below the spent flowers and just above the first set of full, healthy leaves. Always check plants carefully to be sure that no flower buds are hiding amid the faded blooms before you shear off the top of the plant.

The best time to deadhead a flower is when its appearance begins to decline. The frequency of deadheading a particular plant depends on the life span of its blooms. This can range from a day to several weeks, depending on the species. Furthermore, weather greatly affects a flower’s longevity, as torrential rains and unseasonably hot weather can take a toll on blooms.

Deadheading is easy to do by hand, but here are a few suggestions. Locate the faded bloom and follow the stem down to the first set of healthy leaves or a new bud. For deadheading flowers, lightweight garden snips, small floral bypass pruners or mini floral snips work well, cutting just above the node. Make clean cuts to avoid tearing or damaging the plant.

Get in the habit of evaluating your garden frequently to determine if there are any deadheading needs. Spending a short time in the garden each day will make this task much easier.

Deadheading is a maintenance practice that can be done throughout the growing season and many gardeners find it enjoyable, relaxing and downright therapeutic.

Making a decision about deadheading can be difficult because it is advantageous for some plants and detrimental for others. Many perennials benefit from being deadheaded. These include yarrow (Achillea), false spirea (Astilbe), bellflower (Campanula), tickseed (Coreopsis), larkspur (Delphinium), blanket flower (gaillardia), bee balm (Monarda), evening primrose (Oenothera), and garden phlox (Phlox paniculata). Taller varieties of Sedum, such as Autumn Joy, should be cut back to prevent spindly branches and to promote compact growth.

However, some perennials are great self-seeders and should not be deadheaded. For example, columbine loves to spread and scatter its seedlings to places away from the parent plant. New plants can help fill in areas of your garden or allow you to share plants with other gardeners.

Deadheading is required maintenance for a show stopping garden, and there are a few methods you can use. The first is simply pinching off. If the flower stalks are thin and soft enough, pinch them off between your fingers or with your fingernails. This allows you to deadhead individual blooms on a plant very quickly.

Pinching back also encourages encourage branching and bushier growth, particularly in young or fast-growing plants. Instead of waiting for a flower to fade, you remove the tip of a growing stem, which redirects energy to the side shoots. This results in a fuller plant with more blooming stems later.

This method that works well with many annual flowers such as geraniums, zinnia, salvia, coleus and snapdragons. Pinching should be done when the plant has at least 6 inches of growth and several sets of leaves. Use your fingers or clean snips to remove the top inch of new growth, just above a leaf node.

When deadheading larger annuals or perennial plants with thicker stems such as daylilies and coneflowers, using a hand pruner is recommended so you have nice, clean cuts on the stems. In addition, this prevents plant-tissue injury that could become an entry point for disease.

Many perennials set flowers on stalks over an extended period of time. If there are still unopened buds lower on the stalk, then just remove the dead flower on top. If all blooms on a flower stock have opened, remove the entire stalk at the base of the plant.

When deadheading roses, make your cut right above a stem with five (not three) leaflets to stimulate reblooming. You might want to leave the last set of spent blooms on the plant at the end of the season to allow rose hips to form, as many are very attractive into the fall and winter.

Backyard gardeners should recognize that many perennial plants, such as the peony, only bloom once in a growing season and removing faded blooms will not promote new flowers.

Hollyhocks and foxglove are both biennials, so avoid deadheading these plants to allow them to set seed. If these plants are grown from seed in your garden, you will likely not see blooms until the second season of growth. These seeds will drop in the garden and germinate in the next year.

Some hybrid annuals have been bred to not set seed. This mechanism allows them to continue flowering throughout the growing season. It is not necessary to deadhead continuous bloomers, and you might sometimes hear these plants referred to as “self-cleaning.” Impatiens, vinca and begonia are “self-cleaning” and do not require deadheading.

Late fall can change deadheading practices for many flowering plants. Seed pods can provide food for wildlife to enjoy during the winter months. In addition, some plants have very decorative seed pods and present a beautiful display in the garden during the winter.

Birds enjoy perching on coneflowers and snacking on the seed heads. Plants such as Black-eyed Susan and sunflowers are great for attracting goldfinches with their seeds. This is crucial food for them in the winter.

Deadheading may seem like a simple chore, but it is a powerful tool to help you extend the life and beauty of your summer garden. Contact me at the Wood County WVU Extension Office (304)-424-1960 or e-mail me at jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu with questions. Good Luck and until next time, Happy Gardening!

According to WalletHub’s “States with the Most At-Risk Youth in 2026,” West Virginia is fifth. As in, only four states are worse. (Predictably, those four are Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.)

West Virginia ranks 9th for risks involving education and employment; and 5th for risks involving health. Drilling down, the state is 5th for the percentage of people aged 18-24 who do not have a degree beyond high school and are neither pursuing further education nor employed; 2nd for percentage of overweight and obese youth; and 3rd for youth poverty rate.

“A high share of youth who are not working, not getting education and generally stagnating in life can spell trouble for the future,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “States that are most impacted by this problem, as well as related issues like high youth poverty rates, widespread drug use and low test scores, need a wake-up call to invest more into improving conditions for young residents. Otherwise, the future economic and social progress of the state is in danger.”

Here in West Virginia, we know those who are among the best and brightest leave because they believe they must escape — again, unless they have reason to think they will be able to support themselves financially to a degree that breaks the cycle.

New Jersey, by the way, ranks 51st, meaning the Garden State has the fewest at-risk youth. Bruce Springsteen may need to rewrite some lyrics; but lawmakers in West Virginia would do well to take a look at what is working there and in states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Utah.

This state has so much to offer. There is so much wild, wonderful and welcoming about it — for some people. Knowing what far too many of them have experienced growing up here, West Virginia’s vulnerable kids shouldn’t have to plan to leave, get a remote job and earn $100,000 a year before they can let country roads bring them home.

You know what I love? OK, OK, enough guessing out there! Let me just tell you…

I love a good piece of symbolism. I know what you are thinking, too: What a sophisticated and textured thing to say, Mr. Moore! I told you that you don’t have to call me “Mr. Moore,” but I appreciate the flattery.

In reality, you were probably thinking: What a loser, English-teachery thing to say!

I own that. Heck, I am proud of that! I love my dorky side. Here’s what I love about symbolism: By saying something so simple and easy, you can communicate something so profound and cosmically attainable. By making something humbly relatable, you can guide the listener into depths previously thought inaccessible. Symbolism is a gateway to endless understanding!

For example: a Trojan horse. Ever heard of it? Sure you have. In Homer’s epic, “The Iliad,” Odysseus invents and enacts the ruse that ends the 10-year bloody battle. It was his keen mind, not a warrior’s huge muscles, that opened the gates of Troy. Odysseus’s plan was to use the Greeks’ oldest (and most trusted) custom of gracious hospitality, or “xenia.” When the Greeks appear to have retreated, the Trojans find a gift awaiting them on the beach – a large wooden horse.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: “When life hands you an enormous lumber equine, you politely redecorate your living room.” Ask my kids – I say it all the time!

The Trojans have no reason to question the gift; the Greeks, after 10 long years on Trojan soil, are now calling a truce. It is a peace-offering. It is a “sorry-for-killing-all-your-young-men” present. The impenetrable gates of Troy are opened as the symbol is wheeled in.

Under the cover of night, Odysseus and his men, who have been hiding in the unassuming offering, sneak out and butcher the sleeping, defenseless and unprepared Trojans. In their homes, in their comfy jammies, the Trojans are annihilated.

Because history is written by the victors, Odysseus is lauded as a hero … but the fact remains: He gained triumph by trickery – he slaughtered helpless humans using their honest hospitality.

Since ancient Greece, the phrase “Trojan horse” has become a symbol for deception and destruction against an unwitting host. A famous modern example of the usage is a “Trojan horse virus” – a virus that disguises itself as safe, preying on the trusting clicks of the unprepared. In true Trojan horse style, it cannot invade on its own; it needs to be welcomed in.

The power of a symbolism is thus: A simple phrase invokes centuries of meaning, rich stories and substance at your disposal. Choose your words carefully … and dear gods, be careful when accepting gifts from strangers!

<<< Now that the Trojan War is finally won, all of the amassed Greek army is beyond desperate to return home to their separate lands. Odysseus (Matt Damon), our hero, longs for Ithaca’s shores and the embrace of his family so long removed … but he does not travel alone. He is graced with many soldiers under his command to have survived the 10-year war, but they are lost and doomed if not aggressively guided. He also carries a dark passenger through the winds and waves: a guilt surpassing expression and without escape. Odysseus’s decisions may have won the war, but they have lost him much that cannot be replaced. As one day turns to 100 and the weeks fade into years, Odysseus’s resolve is washed by shame. The thought of home is paramount, but the remorse is paralyzing. With each man lost to a cruel fate, the trip becomes a depressing reality: Odysseus will never reach his ancestral sand. Not gonna happen! After 10 years, all hope seems lost, but intervention is introduced, and the wind begins to shift toward reunion and retribution… <<< I taught “The Odyssey” for 13 years, so this is not a normal story to me. It is one that I have memorized, internalized, studied, dissected … it is one that has become part of me. When the movie was announced in 2024, I was exceedingly excited! Christopher Nolan writing and directing one of my favorite stories … yes, please! For whatever reason, Hollywood has shied away from this epic masterpiece. I knew it would finally get its due treatment! Flash forward a few years, and it is now a fully-realized vision nearly 3,000 years in the making. As I had hoped, Nolan is the perfect person to truly bring this story to life. His insatiable desire for practical effects is inspiring, innovative and incredible; his refusal to “take the easy way out” makes all the difference. Instead of manufacturing ancient Greece, his team of magicians unearths it. Nolan’s imagination and execution are unlike anything Hollywood has ever seen. To make Nolan’s creative concepts exist takes a huge team of collaborative artists. Special effects supervisor Scott R. Fisher creates some real movie magic. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema seizes every moment and opportunity. Production designer Ruth De Jong is transportive in detail and execution. Supervising location manager Janice Polley found planet Earth’s best kept secrets. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick gave immense thought to the subtle and the bold. Visually, “The Odyssey” was an extraordinary treat! Sonically, the movie was grand. The music by Ludwig Göransson was diverse, decisive and dictated so much of the movie’s epic dignity. The sound design by Craig Henighan was majestic and painstakingly sharp. Matt Damon as Odysseus is an inspired choice! He has the grit, that is apparent, but the soul of Damon has always impressed me, as well. He brings to light the internal struggles, the shame and rejection and defeat and pain and lingering hope, with an ease and earnestness that gives the film its depth. Robert Pattinson was interestingly menacing as Antinous, the lead suitor. Tom Holland was OK as Telemachus, the son in turmoil. Anne Hathaway was a worthy opposite as Penelope, the faithful yet heart-sick wife. John Leguizamo was effective as Eumaeus, the trusted servant. Charlize Theron was wonderful as Calypso, the wishful lover. Jon Bernthal was a pleasant surprise as Menelaus, the mentor-king. Samantha Morton was amazing as Circe, the mighty-yet-misunderstood witch. My favorite part is Nolan’s script. Although it skips some pieces I would have included and simplifies some of Homer’s complexity, Nolan injects this ancient piece with something sorely missing: humanity. Real emotion. Real empathy. Nolan paints a worthy picture of regret. For all the criticism he has received in the past about shallow characterization, I think with “The Odyssey” and “Oppenheimer,” he has silenced those critics. “The Odyssey” can be seen now in theaters. See it on the big screen! REPORT CARD: The Odyssey

Grade: A+

Assessment: As epic as it is earnest.

Among the results are visitors from beyond the Mid-Ohio Valley who get to experience not only a fun day in the park, but the rest of what our communities have to offer.

Both the Kids Fishing Derby and Long Doggy Fest were originally part of Belpre Homecoming festivities. But organizers found a way to better serve their audiences and spread their wings with events scheduled for a different day this year. At least in the case of the fishing derby, the idea was to make sure children did not have to choose between watching their bobbers and watching the Homecoming parade.

People from Tuppers Plains, Wileyville, Middlebourne, Athens — even an organization from Florida — showed up to celebrate their furry friends or see who would be leaving town with the biggest fish tale.

More than 100 kids participated in the fishing derby.

“We love these kids,” said Jerry Burkhart, president of Frontier Bassmasters. “Wouldn’t you (rather) have these kids out here instead of on a phone?”

Indeed, wouldn’t Belpre residents rather be welcoming ALL those visitors to their parks than having them looking for something to do somewhere else?

In talking about the success of the day, Burkhart thanked Belpre Mayor Susan Abdella and other city officials for the investment in improving Civitan Park’s pond, as well as other improvements throughout the park.

“If you build it, they will come,” right? Well, in Belpre’s case, if you take care of it, invest in it and welcome people to it, they will not only come, but enjoy themselves enough that they come back.

My driveway, and your driveway, can lead many more places. In fact it can lead to virtually every corner of the United States, and it all starts with how you decide to turn at the end of the driveway.

In 50 years of driving I figure I have driven around 750,000 miles, those miles and dozens of flights have taken me to all the corners of the country, until finally a few months ago I joined the 50 states club when the turn at the end of my driveway took me to Wisconsin.

The 50 states club is not really a club per se. Although it does have rules. The biggest, generally accepted rule is that airports do not count. You must step on the earth and breathe the air of the state. I have done this. Others believe that you must do something meaningful, or have a meal. Those people are just making it too complicated. My rule is simply that I visited the state and walked around a bit. I have spent 15 minutes in some states and 50 years in others.

As a child I camped up and down the eastern seaboard with my family, camping in a tent, on the ground. You almost become one with the states. As an adult, I have revisited most of the eastern states many times.

I have also driven to the west coast, twice. When you do this, you pass through what many call the flyover states, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and others. You haven’t lived until you spend the night sleeping in your car at a Kansas rest stop or tried to get your car fixed at a New Mexico gas station.

Those two trips allowed me to knock out a lot of states at an early age. Work helped me fill in some others. I’m not sure I would have gone to Marshall, Minn., if I hadn’t visited our sister newspaper, The Independent, there. Marshall is near the western edge of the state, so when I got there early, I took a side trip to South Dakota.

A different trip took me to the Minot Daily News. On the northern edge of North Dakota, Minot is home to a giant Air Force and missile base, built there to protect us from threats from the north. Minot is on the Great Plains, an area that is as flat as any I’ve seen. Odd to me was the fact that the city was sliced into two by a valley formed by the Souris River. Once you reach the top of the hill though, it is flat as far as you can see.

The trip to Minot got me thinking that I was pretty close to all the states. A later trip with my family took us to Colorado and Yellowstone to the north. While driving past Laramie, Wyo., we passed the same Motel 6 I had stayed at in 1982 when I had driven I-70 all the way across the country. Yellowstone sits in the corner of Wyoming next to Idaho and Montana. A short side trip into Montana gave us views of both a herd of bison crossing a river and a black bear crossing the highway.

I got the 49th state last summer when my family and I visited Alaska and got to see firsthand the magic that is that state.

I think my wife Lori and I have passed the love of travel down to our now adult children, who now do the lion’s share of planning on the adventures we take, and have traveled much farther than we have.

I’m up for any trip as long as I get to be with the people I care about. Just tell me what to pack and let me know which direction to turn when I get to the end of my driveway.

Art Smith is online manager of The Marietta Times and The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. He can be reached at asmith@mariettatimes.com.

Step one, of course, is to stop perpetually looking backward. But step two is to look for innovative ideas such as Ascend West Virginia.

NPR examined it and other similar programs across the country and noted the pandemic-born program has been effective enough that many individuals and families have chosen to stay long past their initial required tenure. That despite many employers believing THEY need to move backward and asking some of these folks to come back to the office.

For one Ascender with whom NPR spoke, West Virginia has so quickly become home that she is now willing to spend two hours in the car — each way — three days a week to commute as required to Washington, D.C., because “at the end of the day, you’re going home to a sanctuary.”

The program is working on recruiting its second round; and has inspired First Ascent, designed to keep West Virginia college graduates from leaving the state; Teachers Ascend, to recruit classroom teachers; and Ascend Heroes, to attract military veterans.

According to NPR the original program brought 700 people into the state, which meant once their families had arrived, 1,500 new West Virginians came through Ascend. An incredible 96% of them have stayed.

These are people with an average income of approximately $100,000 per year, who had so far made an approximately $580 million contribution to our economy, according to a 2023 WVU study.

If you look at what they have to say about this state — if you look at what they love and what has made them choose it as home — it is not the filthy politics, it’s not the socio-cultural crusades of confused elected officials, it’s not the cripplingly retro approach to economic policy … it’s not any of the things we KNOW drive our best and brightest young people away.

Our incredible natural treasures and warm, welcoming communities drown out all of that, for people who are comfortable in their ability to support a good quality of life for themselves.

Ascend started not as a taxpayer-funded experiment out of Charleston, by the way, but with a $25 million budget provided by Brad and Alys Smith’s Wing 2 Wing foundation.

“Where the state leaned in, it was natural because the tourism department [led at the time by Chelsea Ruby] was already advertising West Virginia,” Kenova native, Marshall University graduate and president, and former Intuit CEO Brad Smith told NPR.

Lawmakers, cabinet secretaries, the governor … elected officials at all levels, across our state, MUST learn the lessons of Ascend.

Even their nonsense is not enough to drive away digital nomads whose employers provide a comfortable wage for them. Knowing they are supported financially, they can ignore the noise, and West Virginia is more than enough.

Politicians continue to demonstrate they do not want to learn this lesson. But it is clear our mission must be to diversify and expand our economy in a way that provides the same reassurance to young people who would desperately love to stay; AND stop sending the message that we are more interested in division and exclusion than in making them feel welcome at home.

What a slap in the face.

It was followed by a nauseatingly disingenuous, “DoHS appreciates the strong response to this year’s School Clothing Allowance program.”

The department had already confused vulnerable families by waiting until July 10 to open applications to a program many were expecting to see open July 1. Now, while families are left scrambling, elected officials on both sides of the aisle are finding it difficult to swallow the claim the program has run out of money.

“The dollars that were asked for in the budget that started July 1 were appropriated by the Legislature as the governor had asked for,” said Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood. “We are in the first month of that new fiscal year. There should be no reason that in less than 31 days that he has, quote unquote, run out of money. None at all.”

“I think we’re failing our children,” said House Finance Committee Minority Chairman John Williams, D-Monongalia. “I don’t think it’s been explained exactly what the problem that the governor’s office is having, and it’s hard to be helpful when you’re unsure of what the problem is.”

Further, State Treasurer Larry Pack, also a Republican, expressed significant skepticism on the matter.

“It is outrageous and unacceptable that, as we celebrate millions of dollars in surpluses, we claim we lack the proper funding for programs that protect our most vulnerable children,” Pack said. “Providing for these needy children is a fundamental duty of government. With rising costs, we must do more to ensure that needy families have the resources required to give their children a real chance at success.”

The situation certainly gives the appearance of playing political games — and why ANYONE would do such a thing when some of West Virginia’s most at-risk children are involved is beyond basic decency — or someone has made a mistake and isn’t talking.

“These are matching dollars for federal drawdowns, and therefore, if they have mismanaged their drawdowns or have mismanaged the money in 30 days, that is an administrative problem and not a legislative problem. And we will not cover him if he’s mismanaged the situation,” Criss said.

“Between new shoes, clothes, backpack essentials, and modern classroom tech, the costs stack up quickly,” Morrisey said, indicating he knows EXACTLY what families are facing, as he touted the sales tax holiday. “As your governor, my mission is to get government out of the way and put more of your hard-earned dollars back in your pocket.”

That’s cold comfort to families for whom government — or, perhaps, politics — is very much in the way of their ability to help their kids start the school year with the clothes they’ll need.

Morrisey and leaders at the Department of Human Services must do what is necessary to resolve this shortfall — now.

Last week, the Department of Human Services announced that after being open only a week, the application window was closed for the back-to-school clothing voucher program funded through the TANF program due to running out of money. Families still had 20 days left to apply before the program was closed.

DoHS and the governor’s office have pointed to disclaimers stating that the clothing voucher program would be open until Aug. 15 or if the funding was exhausted, whichever came first. But the program application period opened only on July 20. It’s out of TANF funding in eight days?

Last’s year’s clothing voucher program served approximately 55,000 applicants, according to the governor’s office. So far, the program has processed only 52,000 applications for the eight-day period; a number they say could go up once pending applications are processed. Last year’s clothing voucher cost the state $11.4 million.

The clothing voucher program provides $200 per eligible child for back-to-school clothing and supplies. It’s unclear to me if the number of program applicants includes multiple children per application. But let’s assume each application is one child. To get to last year’s clothing voucher applicant number, it would only cost the state an additional $600,000, or $200 per child.

According to the invoices I’ve seen so far from Morrisey’s America 250 Capitol City Celebration, we paid more than $737,000 out of the Governor’s Civil Contingency Fund just for the four-day light show on the front of the Capitol.

A few columns ago, I defended the state for celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But I can’t fault anyone for being upset with the $2 million budgeted for the Capitol City Celebration when $1 million would likely keep the clothing voucher program at least able to get to last year’s applicant number.

Morrisey has been touting what he calls a structure deficit for TANF since May. I’ve talked with the governor in more detail about this and while I broadly understand what he is talking about, I’m still not understanding why this is an issue for the current fiscal year.

In short, an overreliance on COVID-19 federal dollars that dumped additional funding into several programs, such as TANF, caused the state to increase funding into certain TANF-funded programs. Federal TANF funding has largely returned to pre-COVID levels, but spending on state TANF programs has not changed, causing the state to spend more to maintain these TANF-funded programs and use unspent TANF carryover funds to bridge the gap. Those TANF carryover funds are dwindling and could be gone in the next 13 months, causing the state to review TANF-funded programs and make some hard choices.

TANF is made up mostly of federal funding, but the state also is required to include matching funds, usually an 80/20 split. The Legislature amended and approved the governor’s recommended general revenue budget line item for TANF for fiscal year 2027 beginning on July 1, which is $177.1 million. But the governor’s office argues that this amount is merely spending authority and not indicative of how much the TANF program has for FY27.

That explanation is not making sense to the lawmakers I have talked to on-the-record for stories or in private conversations. If there was going to be an issue with TANF funding for the current fiscal year, they wonder why the issue was not raised during the 2026 legislative session when the general revenue budget was being crafted instead of Morrisey announcing the issue in May.

Plus, DoHS has a great deal of flexibility to move funds around within its budget despite attempts by the Legislature to limit this authority. Lawmakers wonder why DoHS is not moving money around to deal with the clothing voucher issue. If more money is needed, the governor could call lawmakers into a special session to pass supplemental appropriations.

The issue is putting some Republican lawmakers facing contested elections in November into the position of being on the defensive. Democratic statehouse candidates already have wedge issues, such as the controversy over data centers and lack of local control through House Bill 2014. If I was a Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates or state Senate, I’d be pointing to the TANF issue even though it seems clear to me this was not the fault of the Legislature.

And for Morrisey, the TANF issue is already being used by a potential 2028 GOP primary challenger: State Treasurer Larry Pack, who criticized Morrisey for allowing the clothing voucher to go dry. Now, to be clear, the treasurer’s office has no real role in TANF, so I leave it up to you to decide if it is appropriate for Pack to comment on this issue through his official office instead of in his private capacity. But why hand your political rivals a metaphorical weapon?

When Morrisey first took office, he brought out a white board to explain why his revenue people were projecting a $400 million structural deficit in the FY26 general revenue budget unless he got spending under control. I would urge Morrisey to once again break out the white board and provide additional information on this TANF structure deficit to lawmakers and the general public.

* Parkersburg Moose Lodge #1118 is hosting a blood drive today (and another in October), and the Red Cross’s recently declared blood supply crisis inspired organizers to want to reach out — not only to let the public know about their own event, so they could fill all the timeslots available, but to encourage readers to seek out whichever local blood donation opportunity suits their schedule. That kind of determination to spot a problem and do something about it should spur more of us to roll up our sleeves, but also to look around at what WE can tackle.

* West Virginia Central Federal Credit Union stepped up this year for Mid-Ohio Valley students by sponsoring free admission to the annual Back-to-School Bash at Discovery World on Market over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Spartan Foundation funded a book vending machine in partnership with Wood County Schools, which the district’s director of curriculum, Ashlee Beatty, said increases kids’ access to books throughout the year. Community partners are what make the difference when local businesses and nonprofits work to support our kids. Thank you, folks.

***

Wood County Residents of the Revolution, continued…

(Taken from grave marking activities of the Captain James Neal Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution.)

∫ John Gard — Born in 1742, served as a private in the Continental army for one year and had been a wagon master in the N.J. militia. It is not known when he and his wife, Nancy Watson Gard, came to Wood County. He died December 1824 and was interred in the Burnt Hill Church Cemetery.

* John Hill — Born 1750 in Pennsylvania, served in the war from October 1776 until January 1779. He was married to Agnes Stuart. He was originally buried at the Hill Cemetery but was moved to Mt. Zion Cemetery at Mineral Wells. His tombstone inscription reads: John Hill, Leech’s Co. PA. Mil, Rev. War.

* John James — Born c. 1745, following his Revolutionary War service Captain James and his family moved to Blennerhassett Island, living there for several years. He then bought 700 acres on Stillwell Creek and the Little Kanawha River. He died in May of 1799, and though the exact site is unknown, he is reportedly buried in Riverview Cemetery. It is also possible that James was buried on his farm on Stillwell Creek.

* Frances Langfitt — Born 1760 at Dumfries, Prince William County, Va. He enlisted 1777 in the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons until honorably discharged in 1782. Received a pension in Wood County, Va. in 1826, at which time he was 65 years old. He lived in Wood County with his wife Emily and daughter Nancy Glasscock. Langfitt died 1847 and was buried in Parkersburg Memorial Gardens.

* Matthew Maddox — Born 1752 in Saint Mary’s County, Maryland. Married Rachael Bonnifield 1774. At the age of 28 he enlisted in the Colonial Army. While in battle he was shot in the leg and carried off to die. He did recover and received a full pension. He died c.1831. He and Rachael had 64 grandchildren and 115 great grandchildren. They are buried in the Maddox Cemetery.

* Richard Mayhew — Born 1754 in Trenton, N.J., after enlistment he served until the end of the war. His death occurred in 1841 in Wood Co. Va. on his farm below the L.K. River. He was the first person buried in Tracewell Cemetery.

* James Neal — He was born about 1738 in England. In 1778 he raised a company of men and supported George Washington at Valley Forge. He served as Captain of the 13th Va. Regiment for three years. Neal and his family immigrated to Wood County in 1785, forming the first permanent settlement, known as Neal’s Station. He died 1821, first buried in the Tavenner Cemetery. Later his remains were moved to Mt. Olivet. His original gravestone is in the Blennerhassett Museum.

* Charles Parsons — Born about 1745 in Maryland, later moving to a fertile farm on the South Branch of the Potomac River, which provided much food for the Continental Army. Following his service in the Revolution, he served as a military scout and Indian fighter. After a life of service and adventure, Parsons passed away in 1823 and was buried in what is now the Parsons Cemetery, a.k.a, the Baptist Grove Cemetery near Ripley, WV.

* Bailey Rice — Rice was born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in 1753. During the Revolution he served in the Second Virginia Regiment. He applied for a pension in 1821 in Wood County. Papers attesting his war services were signed by James Neal. Rice’s death occurred in 1851. He and his wife, Elizabeth Morehead, are buried on what was his farm on the Old St. Mary’s Pike.

* Spencer Sharp — Born in 1762 in Fauquier Co., Va., he was at the surrender of Cornwallis. After the war, the 33-year-old married 22-year-old Nancy Arnold. They settled in Wood County in 1806. They had 11 children, all of whom reached maturity. Spencer Sharp died in 1851. Both are buried in the Sharp Cemetery off Corbitt Hill Road near Waverly, WV.

Concluded next week…

***

Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.