Thumbs up
Sep. 28—Thumbs up to Sen. David "Bugs" Stover, R-Wyoming, and the Wyoming County Commission for their renewed efforts to save the ancient petroglyphs in Lynco.
The petroglyphs, or rock carvings, on rock outcrops south of Oceana, have fascinated archaeologists, scholars, and the public for decades.
Some experts claim the carvings were done in the sixth, seventh, or eighth centuries AD, while others estimate they were created much later — in the 1300s to 1500s.
Some believe the images are an old Irish Christmas message, others believe the markings could have been made by sharpening stones or tools, still others think the "sunburst" glyph on the left side is a "picture" of a super nova that lit the sky around the 11th century.
No matter the origin, Stover and commission members believe it is important to protect the petroglyphs from further damage as well as provide a means for the site to be easily accessible to the public.
Stover believes the site could draw as many as 10,000 visitors a year — if the site is made easily accessible for viewing.
----Thumbs up to Betsy Miles as she becomes the new executive director of the West Virginia Press Association (WVPA), which was established shortly after the Civil War and serves as the newspaper industry representative for the state's 69 newspapers.
Miles has been assistant executive director and advertising director at the WVPA since 2018, after serving as the WVPA's accountant since 2012. She will replace current Executive Director Don Smith, who is leaving the association for a position at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, in Lewisburg.
"Newspapers aren't just good business, they're the glue our communities need to bring everyone together. I am eager to get started in my new role and even more so to be a part in moving this industry forward," Miles said.
----Thumbs up to the City of Oak Hill administration, its current and former councils and everyone who's been involved in the planning and preparation for a major upgrade of Oak Hill City Park. Ground was broken last week for phase 1 of the multi-phase endeavor.
Current offerings at the park will be renovated and updated, including the addition of new baseball dugouts and playground equipment, and a skate park and a basketball court also will be added.
Mayor Charles Briscoe said the project, which started in March 2022, "has been a collaborative effort of many groups of people, including former council, current council, city administration, Oak Hill Public Works staff, community members, representatives of the Oak Hill Little League, Camp Royal staff, Thrasher Engineering, American Ramp Company, and now we're joined by Veritas Contracting, and they're going to bring it all to life."
Congratulations to all who have worked together to create more opportunities for the city's children.
