Turning 10, Again; Meteorologist Bradley Wells celebrates Leap Day Birthday

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Leap year is a unique day in our calendar dating back to 46 B.C., when the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar implemented the extra day in February. The measure was needed to fix a flaw in our current calendar.

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Without Leap Year, our calendar would “drift” 24 days every 100 years. For ease of math, that translates to a roughly 480 day error from 46 B.C. to today. In other words, instead of observing February 29th, 2024 this year, the date would read November 6th, 2022 and who wants Thanksgiving in winter, or summer, or at random from one year to the next?

The issues of a drifting calendar also extend to farming schedules. Do you plant corn in May or October of any given year? By adding an extra day to the calendar, Caesar was able to keep our calendar in line with our position around the sun and account for the 365.2425 Earth Year. Keeping our seasons, holidays, and months right where they should be, year after year.

So, what about those born on February 29th? A fun and unique birthday day was inadvertently born. For those lucky enough to be born on Leap Day, a birthday only comes once every four years. The odds of being born on Leap Day are 1 in 1,461. An easy way to stay young, if only by the number of birthdays celebrated. It just so happens, our own StormTracker 59 Morning Meteorologist, Bradley Wells, is a ‘Leapling,’ (a name for someone born on Leap Day,) and will celebrate his 10th birthday…again this year.

In 2021, Bradley brought his love of shelter pets to our screens with the Pet Walking Forecast in an effort to feature needy shelter pets available for adoption. Since then over 100 shelter pets have been featured with more than 80 being adopted by our viewers!

Kicking off the 3rd year of the campaign, Bradley decided to celebrate his Leap Day birthday in style with a special event at Leisure Lanes in Beckley on Leap Day, February, 29th, from 11am to 6pm.

Bradley is joining the Humane Society of Raleigh County and the Greenbrier Humane Society for a Leap Day Pet Adoption & Donation Celebration where Dogs and Cats adopted during the event will have a special “gotcha” Leap Day Birthday just like our ‘young’ meteorologist!

Bradley is also looking for pet supply donations are also being excepted at the event to help celebrate Bradley’s birthday. Dog & cat food, cleaning supplies, treats, leashes, carriers, monetary donations, etc., will be collected and divided between the two shelters.

Leisure Lanes will also be covering all adoption fees during the event!

For those looking for a lunch stop and to say hi to our Leapling, Leisure Lanes’ kitchen with expanded King Tut menu will be open. And if you think you can take on our 10 year old meteorologist on the lanes, open bowling sessions starts at 10am. “Super Value Thursday” rates are $3.35 per person/per game.

What a way to celebrate a “10 again” birthday than with good food and bowling while surrounded by puppies and kittens all for a good cause? For more information on Leisure Lanes including hours, rates, location, and menu, visit: https://leisurelaneswv.com/

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