The WV Podcast -West Virginia's Podcast: Recent Episodes

Jeff & Dee Holbrook

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This is a bi-weekly show that features the great state of West Virginia and the stories of the amazing people who make it such an wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

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On episode 18 of The WV Podcast, Sara Price-Fortney is back with a full length discussion about Geocaching in the great and scenic state of West Virginia. So, you don't know what Geocaching is? Well, you aren't going to want to miss this!

Intro

Welcome to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginia resident.

Welcome to Episode 18 of The WV Podcast.


Sara Price-Fortney was personally involved with Explore West Virginia, an organization that promotes geocaching as tourism in the state of West Virginia. She traveled around the state giving talks on the subject, and is quite the expert. On today's episode, Sara is giving a presentation that is going to make you want to get off the couch and spend time enjoying the beauty of our amazing state. Geocaching has something for everyone, and I am sure you will be ready to do this yourself when she is finished with her presentation.

We would like to thank Sara Price-Fortney for being so helpful and kind in giving us cool info about West Virginia once again. She was also in The WV Podcast episode 13 with an interview as the President of the West Virginia Jaycees. Check it out at:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/jaycees

Remember! Geocaching is for everyone!
Grab a friend or family member and get out there!

http://geocaching.com

For more info on Geocaching in West Virginia, contact:

John Morrison, program coordinator with the West Virginia Division of Culture and History
304-558-0220
john.d.morrison@wv.gov


New Short Links to subscribe to the show!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/iTunes

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/stitcher

We just started a YouTube Page!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/youtube


If you are shopping at Amazon, use this link to get there:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon


Thanks so much for listening to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/itunes

Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On episode 17 of The WV Podcast, our Famous West Virginian is Lawrence Kasdan, and The Travel Guys have a great interview Bill Richardson about Hatfield & McCoy based tourism in West Virginia.

Intro

Welcome to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginia resident.

Welcome to Episode 17 of The WV Podcast.

Jim Flook, formerly of the Rivers to Ridges Heritage Trail, sent me an email about an upcoming event in WV.

Dear History Friends,

The 2016 Civil War Days will be in a few short months! We’d like to provide you some basic information about our 2nd Annual Lecture series as well as the upcoming events. Would you please share information about the event with your members, families and friends who are interested in history.

Lecture Series
Friday April 1st 7p-8p: Prof. Jim Broomall: West Virginia in the Civil War. Dr. Broomall is the new Director of the Civil War Center at Shepard University.
Saturday April 2nd 12:45p-145p: JoAnn Peterson: Mary Lincoln. Ms. Peterson has been with Civil War Days for several years.
Saturday April 2nd 3:30p – 4:30p: Caitliin Kostic: Children in the Civil War. Ms. Kostic is a park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park, who has also worked at Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park

Major events
Thursday March 31st, 9a-2p: School Days
Friday April 1st, 9a-2p: School Days
Saturday April 2nd, 11:30a-12:30p: Ladies Tea
Saturday April 2nd, 2p: re-enactment of the battle of Scary Creek
Saturday April 2nd, 7:30p-10:30p: Military Ball
Sunday April 3rd, 10:30a-11:30a: Period Church Service
Sunday April 3rd, 2p: re-enactment of the skirmish of Hurricane Bridge

Websites:
http://putnamcivilwardays.weebly.com/ (A full schedule is not yet available, but will be posted here.
http://www.shepherd.edu/civilwar (George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of Civil War History at Shepard University)

Questions?
Please call Putnam County Parks and Recreation at (304)-562-0518
Sincerely,
Jim Flook

https://www.facebook.com/riverstoridges/?fref=ts

Cinema Toast Crunch Podcast gave us a shoutout on their show the other day and we really appreciate it!

Cinema Toast Crunch is another podcast produced in WV. They do reviews of movies that have been out for a while, and could be from any decade. At the beginning they list new releases and current movie news, but then go and watch the movie and come back to give their immediate impression. Really cool setup.
Garvis Reed II is a total movie buff and expert. Garvis Reed III is the showrunner and his wife Kayla adds some lively commentary to round out the show.
The show is not always family friendly, of course all movies aren't either, but the info is top notch.
Look for Cinema Toast Crunch Podcast on Facebook. A direct link is in the show notes. Right now they are making predictions for the Oscars!

https://www.facebook.com/CinemaToastCrunchPodcast/?fref=ts

Our Famous West Virginian was suggested by Garvis Reed II, of the Cinema Toast Crunch Podcast: Today, Lawrence Kasdan

Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He is best known as co-writer of the films The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Return of the Jedi. Kasdan co-wrote the Star Wars sequel trilogy film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and will co-write the series' Han Solo spin-off film.

He has been nominated for three Oscars: twice for Best Original Screenplay for The Big Chill and Grand Canyon and once for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Accidental Tourist. He is the father of directors Jake Kasdan and Jon Kasdan, and the father-in-law of musician Inara George.

Kasdan was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Sylvia Sarah (née Landau), an employment counselor, and Clarence Norman Kasdan, who managed retail electronics stores. His brother is the writer/producer Mark Kasdan. He was raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he graduated from Morgantown High School in 1966.

Upon graduation, Kasdan was unable to find a teaching position, so he became an advertising copywriter, a profession he did not enjoy, but remained in for five years (even picking up a Clio Award along the way), first in Detroit and later in Los Angeles where he tried to interest Hollywood in his screenplays.

Kasdan's introduction into the film business came in the mid-1970s when after being rejected 67 times, his script for The Bodyguard was sold to Warner Bros. as a vehicle for Diana Ross and Steve McQueen. The script became stuck in development and became one of several screenplays successively called "the best un-made script in Hollywood"; it was eventually produced as a 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.

After he sold his screenplay Continental Divide to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas commissioned Kasdan to write the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Lucas then hired Kasdan to complete the screenplay for his Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980) after the death of Leigh Brackett, who wrote the first draft. Kasdan made his directing debut with Body Heat (1981), which he also wrote. Lucas later commissioned Kasdan to write the screenplay for Return of the Jedi (1983).

Kasdan is known for both writing and directing his films, which have ranged from Westerns and romantic comedies to thought-provoking dramas. He has received four Academy Award nominations, for screenplays to The Big Chill, Grand Canyon, and The Accidental Tourist, for which he also earned a nomination for Best Picture. Grand Canyon won the Golden Bear at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.

He has cast Kevin Kline in six of his films, William Hurt in four, Kevin Costner and James Gammon in three.

From 1994 to 2003, he made a set of films that, in contrast to the hits he had in the 1980s, failed to break the bank in receipts; among these films were Wyatt Earp and Dreamcatcher, the latter based on the Stephen King best seller. 1995's French Kiss did gross $100 million.

He made cameo appearances as the lawyer of River Phoenix's character in I Love You To Death and in James L. Brooks' comedy As Good As It Gets as the fed-up psychiatrist of Jack Nicholson's novelist. In 2001, Kasdan was the recipient of the Austin Film Festival's Distinguished Screenwriter Award. In 2006, Kasdan received the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement from the Writers Guild of America.

Kasdan directed the 2012 dramedy Darling Companion, starring Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline.

In October 2013, it was announced that JJ Abrams had taken over screenwriting duties for Star Wars Episode VII (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), working alongside Kasdan, following the departure of Michael Arndt. In November 2015, Kasdan stated that after his involvement with the untitled Han Solo - Star Wars story film, he will leave the Star Wars universe, and will not be involved in Episodes VIII/IX.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001410/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kasdan


The Travel Guys Show is hosted by Mark Hoffmann and Tom Romano. The show airs EVERY Sunday, from 3-4pm pacific time on KFBK AM 1530 and Newstalk 93.1 FM in Sacramento, CA. The show streams live from kfbk.com, and is also released as a podcast.

On August 9th, 2015 the show was titled " Why West Virginia is a Must See". They interviewed Bill Richardson about Hatfield & McCoy based tourism in the state. The link to this episode is in the show notes. They have graciously granted us permission to play this interview on The WV Podcast.

http://travelguysradio.com/index.php/2015/08/09/3087/


Our featured video is "The Hatfield McCoy Country Commerical by Bill Richardson" The link is in the show notes for episode 17 of The WV Podcast. wvpodcast.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jQ0gq0BpSw

You find out more about Bill Richardson and the Hatfield McCoy House at hatfieldmccoyhouse.com.

New Short Links to subscribe to the show!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/iTunes

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/stitcher

We just started a YouTube Page!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/youtube


If you are shopping at Amazon, use this link to get there:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon


Thanks so much for listening to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/itunes

Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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This is a WV Podcast Extra. You can find us at wvpodcast.com.

The band Portal, from Parkersburg, WV traveled and performed contemporary praise and worship music for 10 years. They made two CDs, and today we are giving you the full recording of the title song of their second CD, "Strong God". This and their first CD, "Deeper Reason" are only available by contacting them on their Facebook site. All contact information will be given after the song is finished, and will also be available in the show notes for The WV Podcast Extra #2. Also check the show notes for the lyric sheet for this song.
If you would like your own song featured in a WV Podcast Extra, keep listening after the song has finished. Now, "Strong God". Written by Andrew Holbrook and Tonya Holbrook and performed by their band, Portal.


Strong God
Copyright 2006 Andrew Holbrook Tonya Holbrook

They eyes of the Lord, they search
Over the entire earth
To find whose hearts long for Him
To show Himself strong for them
The ears of the Lord, they hear
The cries of the humble prayer
His touch brings healing to us
Revival to the seekers

He's a strong God, He's a strong God

The help of the Lord is close
We cling to Him, He upholds
His wings are spread to cover
He comforts like no other
The lips of the Lord, they speak
Love's promises to the weak
His mighty hand fulfulls each one
Great power makes his will be done

He's a strong God, He's a strong God
(2x)

He's a strong God, He's a strong God
He's a strong God, He's a strong God
He will show himself strong for you
He's a strong God
In our weakness, His strength comes through
He's a strong God
He's a strong God, He's a strong God

Strong Lord, strong hand, strong arm, strong in power
Strong Rock, Refuge Habitation and Tower (2x)
He's a strong God, He's a strong God, yeah

He's a strong God, He's a strong God
He's a strong God, He's a strong God, yeah


You can hear an interview with Tonya Holbrook on episode 16 of The WV Podcast

An interview with Andrew Holbrook and his wife Courtney, also in Portal, is available in episode 12 of The WV Podcast.

You can contact the band Portal on their Facebook site at: holbrooknewmedia.com/portal

This is the only way to get their CDs "Deeper Reason" and "Strong God". Purchase info will be available on the site, and they are offering a great deal right now. on one or both CDs as long as they last.


If you are an individual or band and have a professional quality recording of original music created in West Virginia, by West Virginians and would like to get your song out there for others to hear, go to holbrooknewmedia.com/wvartists to find the guidelines for submission. That's holbrooknewmedia.com/wvartists
As we select the best of the submissions, we hope to release 2 or 3 songs a month on the weeks between the biweekly podcast. Get your music heard! Let's showcase the best independent music West Virginia has to offer!

To get both The WV Podcast and The WV Podcast Extras like this one, go to wvpodcast.com for free subscription options.

New Short Links to subscribe to the show!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/iTunes

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/stitcher

We just started a YouTube Page!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/youtube


If you are shopping at Amazon, use this link to get there:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

Thanks for listening.

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This is a WV Podcast Extra. This is the full and original version of the song, "Maker Of The Rain". It was written and performed by Tonya Kouns-Holbrook.


The band Portal, from Parkersburg, WV traveled and performed contemporary praise and worship music for 10 years. They made two CDs, and today we are giving you the full recording of the song we use for the Official theme music for The WV Podcast, "Maker Of The Rain". The song is from Portal's first CD, "Deeper Reason". This and their second CD, "Strong God" are only available by contacting them on their Facebook site.

Check out Portal's Facebook page to get information on prices and how to obtain the CDs. holbrooknewmedia.com/portal will get you there.
There is some amazing music available and you won't want to miss this opportunity to get these CDs which are not available any other way.
Be sure to download this extra release file today as it will have the entire song "Maker Of The Rain" in a high quality stereo format.


Maker Of The Rain

Copyright 1995 Tonya Holbrook

Thunderstorm by God

In the midst of my thirst

You made the rain clouds burst

And soak into this desert heart

When the waters receded,

You delivered what you deeded

The drenching of Your power on my part

You're the Maker of the rain, Taker of the pain

Hearer of the cry, Listener up on high

Reliever of the grief, Destroyer of the thief

You will always be all these things to me

You watered this dry ground

and caused the fruit to abound

To feed the other hungry souls

You seeped into dry places and created this oasis

Where fertile ground yields to Your control

You're the Maker of the rain, Taker of the pain

Hearer of the cry, Listener up on high

Reliever of the grief, Destroyer of the thief

You will always be all these things

Designer of my soul, Bearer of the load

Knower of all, Tearer down of every wall

You're the Sower of the seed, Meeter of the need

You will always be all these things

You will always be all these things and more to me

You will always be all these things to me.

---------------------------------------------------------------

New Short Links to subscribe to the show!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/iTunes
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/stitcher

We just started a YouTube Page!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/youtube


If you are shopping at Amazon, use this link to get there:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

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On episode 16 of The WV Podcast, Dee has a full length interview with Tonya Kouns-Holbrook. We have had several comments on our theme music, "Maker Of The Rain". Tonya composed and performed the piece, and is having a conversation with Dee about her musical background and the events leading up to the writing of the song. As a bonus we are making available another separate release file today that lets you download the entire song in a high quality stereo format.

Intro

Welcome to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginia resident.

Check out Portal's Facebook page to get information on prices and how to obtain the CDs discussed on the show today. holbrooknewmedia.com/portal will get you there.
There is some amazing music available and you won't want to miss this opportunity to get these CDs which are not available any other way.
Be sure to download the extra release file today as it will have the entire song "Maker Of The Rain" in a high quality stereo format.


The WV Podcast will be accepting submissions for WV Podcast Extras. This will involve releasing on the weeks between the normal biweekly podcast professionally recorded original music by West Virginia individuals and groups. The purpose frankly, is to surprise the world with the quality and diversity of the music being written and recorded by West Virginians. If you want to submit your original song that you own the rights to for consideration, go to holbrooknewmedia.com/wvartists for the guidelines.


New Short Links to subscribe to the show!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/iTunes
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/stitcher

We just started a YouTube Page!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/youtube


If you are shopping at Amazon, use this link to get there:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon


Thanks so much for listening to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/itunes

Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On Episode 15 of The WV Podcast, We have some Christmas memories contributed by Larry Belcher, owner of the "All Of Us West Virginians" group on Facebook, and we talk about a few traditions of our own.


Welcome to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginia resident.


Merry Christmas! We hope you have a Wonderful Holiday Season.
Larry Belcher is the owner of the Facebook group "All of us West Virginians". He posted some Christmas memories of when he grew up, and we asked if we could include them in this special Christmas episode of The WV Podcast. Thanks Larry for allowing this to be read on the show.


A note from Larry--
This was the way it was in the 1950's coal camp up Lynco Holler near Oceana in Wyoming County. The camp is long gone. Every single word of this piece is the absolute truth. My father then my brother then my mother all passed away leaving Sharlene Belcher Cook and her lovely family and I. We had to move on. We had no idea how hard we had it, or dad and mom mostly. As resilient as I like to think I am, I wonder if I could have pulled all that off. As some of you know I have been very very ill for some time and just now getting back on my feet. I have put writing this off for years and years although I can't remember a Christmas that sis and I didn't talk about those ice cold linoleum floors. So this is not only a gift to her, but she and I believe in sharing. I think today they call it paying it forward and I love the concept. I hope you enjoy, those of you who know all so well what I am talking about. Thank you and Merry Christmas. If you have any questions about life growing up in the coal camp drop a line. Share if you wish, just mention your group as you do.


The Pantry is Full by Larry Belcher, 12/2014 Non-Fiction
The pantry is full. fruit, nuts, candy, even pop. Although ice clings to the inside of some of the windows in our coal camp home, it’s a special time. There is a glow from the Warm Morning stove mounted in the middle of the living room and a slight smell of the burning coal, but there is a tree and the scent cloaks any hint of the smoldering ashes. The pine resin leaves a trail throughout the house. The fresh cut tree is decorated with glass ornaments with an angel looking over us from atop the tree. It will take dad probably a year to pay the company store for all this, not counting the other surprises. Dad loved Christmas. Dad loved his family.
Of course mom did too as she prepared for what was about to take place. The old wood/coal cook stove, no running water inside our house, truly a labor of love as she stirred Grandma’s recipe for what she called custard. A once a year mix between eggnog, pudding and richer by far than I would ever be. Ham, turkey, cakes,pies, cookies all prepared on the Warm Morning stove. We didn’t know growing up we were dirt poor but we were richer than the coal company owners this time of year. We just didn’t have any cash.
There were three of us. I, the middle child, a younger brother and older sister slept in the same room, same bed, under the same quilts. It was so cold inside and out especially when the fire in the stove went out which thanks to dad didn’t happen often. Everything was magical. The smiles stamped on our faces and the anticipation probably made us feel, well a lot like kids. It’s almost time! Oh those tangerines are so good and the walnuts, oh my! Yellow cake with candy type of chocolate icing! We were ready. It’s time to go to bed but who can sleep? Not us, but if we don’t Santa won’t show up! So we force ourselves, and as silly as it might be having sugar plums dance in our head and we didn’t even know what sugar plums were!
Suddenly awaken by scuffling in the living room, daring not to get up. We close our eyes and wait, wait, wait! It’s only 5 in the morning and dad is stoking the Warm Morning. Wait, wait, wait! Now we get the “Come on” nod now that dad’s got the living room warmed up. And the first thing we see is the tree twinkling with the old tube looking lights. Our feet hit the floor and suddenly we can’t move and it’s as if we can’t breathe! That linoleum floor is so, so, so cold but it will not stop us from making the few steps from the bedroom to the living room.
My oh, my oh my … just look at this! My first guitar, Lone Ranger and of course cowboy outfits complete with six shooter cap guns. Tina, sis’s doll, a jeep, a Chevy, drums and toys as far as my five year old eyes could see! It’s all just lying in the floor between the tree and the Warm Morning. My oh my, oh my and it’s all ours! Sis and brother don’t think we will be causing much of a fuss with each other today eh ? I can feel today what that felt like, not poor today. Poor dad, working in 24 inch high coal, for another year to pay Santa his due. Ah, now what do we hear? Mom had sneaked away for a little while and she is calling us to the kitchen, we can play later.
Wait a minute, what is that ? Ham, eggs, biscuits, gravy and milk! We eat it down. Biscuits and gravy is still today my favorite food. Ok mom tricked us, she put something in the food cause we are getting very, very sleepy. It couldn’t have been the anticipation of the “big eyes” at night could it ? Ok back to our wonderland. Ok we gotta take a nap. Not because we want to or anyone told us to. Our eyes just quit working. We nod off listening to Silent Night, the First Noel and all, those beautiful mournful Christmas songs soulfully flowing from the old 33 1/3rd records.
A short nap, but now it’s time for some down home play time. I love you dad, mom and brother, whom I hope are celebrating in Heaven and Sis, we might be miles apart but you will forever be in my heart! I love you all! Merry Christmas from the past, the present and the future. The Pantry remains full.


One of our cherished family traditions, as the family gathered for Christmas was my father, Floyde Holbrook, reading the Christmas Story from the Bible. He turned 81 last week, and I wish we could hear him read it on Christmas again, but we are separated, living in various states. I would like to read Luke Chapter 2, verses 1 through 20 in honor of my father and mother and the way they raised us all. I hope my parents, who have been married 55 years will have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year. We could never thank you both enough.

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.


Find Links to subscribe to The WV Podcast at wvpodcast.com. Instead of the normal ending for the show, just let us wish you all a Happy and meaningful Christmas and bright and wonderful New Year.

New Short Links to subscribe to the show!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/iTunes
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/stitcher

We just started a YouTube Page!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/youtube


If you are shopping at Amazon, use this link to get there:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon

Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon


Thanks so much for listening to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/itunes

Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On episode 14 of The WV Podcast, our Famous West Virginian is Jennifer Garner, and we have the story of Captain Philip J. Thurmond, a Confederate partisan ranger who was killed in an attack on Winfield, WV.

Intro

Welcome to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginia resident.

Welcome to Episode 14 of The WV Podcast.

Special Thanks to John Atkins.

The European Starling was brought to the United States in 1890, and has been largely regarded as a pest. It is unfortunate that its adaptability and intelligence is so good that it many times competes for nesting sites, and edges out other indigenous species that we like, such as the Bluebird and the Red Headed Woodpecker.
Where we live on rather densely wooded property, they generally stay away all year long, part of their intelligence prompting them to keep to open areas such as parks and fields so they can spot danger in advance.
The one exception is in the fall, as they leave the valley and gather in the trees up on the mountain where we live. The noise they make can be deafening, and can start and stop quite suddenly as they choose to abruptly fly in formation to another location in the trees.

I placed one of our digital recorders outside when they showed up this year and here is a couple of minutes of the cacophony. You will hear them as the number of starlings builds and wanes, then builds again, and then the sudden beating of thousands of wings as they react to my coming back outside to retrieve the recorder.


Famous West Virginian: Jennifer Garner

Actress Jennifer Anne Garner was born on April 17, 1972, in Houston, Texas. Her father was a chemical engineer and her mother a retired English professor. Garner was raised in Charleston, West Virginia, with her two sisters, where she graduated from George Washington High. Jennifer attended Denison University in Ohio, where she graduated with a degree in theater in 1996.

Jennifer performed in theater in New York City before moving to LA where she found work in television.

In 2000, Garner earned notice for her recurring role on the hit show Felicity, and the show's producer subsequently cast her as the lead in a new ABC drama, Alias, playing CIA agent Sydney Bristow, a role that made the young actress into an overnight success, earning her a loyal following of viewers, critical praise and several award nominations and wins.

Miss Garner met her future husband while co-starring in the 2001 movie, Pearl Harbor, and in June, 2005 the two married. The couple have three children together.

Jennifer is a huge supporter of her home state and serves on charities such as Save the Children, focusing on advocating early education, as well as being an ambassador for six years. In 2014 Garner joined the Invest in Us campaign, and in 2015 she appeared in a PBS documentary which focuses on rural poverty among children in West Virginia. Jennifer Garner was named the 2007 West Virginian of the Year by the Charleston Gazette.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Garner

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004950/

https://www.facebook.com/JenniferGarner


In the Civil War, Captain Philip J Thurmond commanded a company of Partisan Rangers who were mostly raised in Fayette, Greenbrier and Monroe counties in 1862. Being a partisan ranger was appealing because of the loose connection to the army. You could be a scout, a spy, or participate in raids for the cause, but you were able to stay near your home and not be subject to being shipped off to some other state to fight. The big liability involved being shot or hanged upon capture instead of being treated according to the normal rules of war. This still occurred sometimes in spite of the Virginia Governor issuing a declaration saying partisans were actually normal soldiers.

This was the way Thurman's Partisan Rangers operated early in the war, but by 1863, they had been incorporated in the 44th Virginia Cavalry. They fought in Gettysburg, East Tennesee and the Shenandoah Valley, and then began raiding out of a base in Tazewell, Virginia, reaching into north central West Virginia. Many engagements followed, including a raid on Weston, famously removing the money from the Weston Exchange Bank, and capturing the entire Union garrision at Buckhannon, including the commanding officer.

In October of 1864, attention was turned to Winfield, and on the 26th, an attack was launched. The Confederates came in from both ends of town. The battle lasted for around an hour, but the attack was repulsed. Even though the Federals pursued them for several hours, there was no chance to continue battle.

The union commander, Captain John M. Reynolds reported that Thurmond ordered a charge, led it himself, and was mortally wounded with the first fire they received. He died shortly thereafter in the company of his brother Elias in the home of Putnam County Judge Hoge in Winfield. He was buried in an unmarked grave near the Hoge House with the understanding the family would claim the body after the war. Unfortunately, no one ever came.

The historic Hoge House had been moved to a new location near the new Putnam County Judical Building, and on October 30th, 2010, was reunited with Captain Philip J. Thurmond when he was reburied with full honors beside it.

Here is some audio from Jim Flook of The Rivers To Ridges Heritage Trail giving the story of the battle, his burial, and subsequent reburial.

You can see the video of this by going to http://holbrooknewmedia.com/youtube.

You can find links to several other articles, and even a video drama of Captain Philip J. Thurmond's story by going to the show notes for episode 14 of The WV Podcast at http://wvpodcast.com.
Links to Articles and Video involving Captain Philip J. Thurmond:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61507088

http://centennial.legion.org/west-virginia/post187/gallery/reburial-civil-war-capt-philip-j-thurmond-146-year-later

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20141026/GZ01/141029454

https://www.facebook.com/One-Soldier-One-Grave-110536262342927/timeline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4rZ41sDI0M

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Thanks so much for listening to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

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Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On episode 13 of The WV Podcast, our Famous West Virginian is Woody Williams, and we have a great interview with Sara Price-Fortney, the 72nd West Virginia State president of the Jaycees.

Intro

Welcome to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginia resident.

Welcome to Episode 13 of The WV Podcast.

Talking about our 32nd wedding anniversary and our trip to see the movie Spectre, and dinner at Graziano's, 33 years after our Graziano's pizza when we first went to lunch together in 1982.
Francesco Graziano moved to New York City in 1960, and after trying to get started there, found success in Dunbar, WV with a real New York Style pizza place. Now his grandson, Philip makes us the same pizza we got 33 years ago. Excellent!!

http://www.grazianospizzateaysvalley.com/

From the article in wvencyclopedia.org

Woody Williams

World War II Medal of Honor recipient Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams was born October 2, 1923, in Fairmont. At 17, he dropped out of high school and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. After his 18th birthday, Williams sought to enlist in the Marine Corps but was rejected because at five feet six inches tall, he did not meet the height requirement. In May 1943, Williams enlisted after the height requirement was changed. Assigned to the Third Marine Division, he first experienced combat against the Japanese at Guam in the summer of 1944.

In February and March 1945, Williams distinguished himself during the Battle of Iwo Jima. On February 23, Williams neutralized seven concrete pillboxes from which came devastating machine gun fire. Aided by four riflemen who provided cover, Williams prepared demolition charges and destroyed one position after the other in a four-hour period. This act of heroism earned Williams the Medal of Honor. On March 6, he suffered a shrapnel wound, which earned him a Purple Heart. On October 5, 1945, President Truman awarded Williams the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House.

After his discharge in November 1945, Williams served in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring in 1969. From 1946 to 1979, he was a counselor with the Veterans Administration, working with veterans from West Virginia. In October 1945, he married Ruby Meredith, and they had two daughters. Williams was a lay speaker for the Methodist Church and served as the national chaplain of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. For 30 years, he ran a boarding and training barn for horses in Cabell County. He also remained active, talking to church, youth, and veterans’ groups. In October 2015, the Navy announced that it will name a ship, an expeditionary sea base, after Williams. Today's featured video tells his story, and will be featured in the show notes for episode 13 of The WV Podcast.

http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2328

http://www.hwwmohfoundation.org/

Link to our featured video on Woody Williams


Sara Price-Fortney is the 72nd President of the West Virginia Jaycees. Our conversations gives all the info on what the Jaycees are all about, how you can help your community and get personal development all at the same time!

email: wv@usjaycees.org

Sara's Cell: 304-784-4259

www.jci.cc/usa

Find them on Facebook!


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Thanks so much for listening to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

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Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On episode 12 of The WV Podcast, we have a full length interview with Andy and Courtney Holbrook, owners of Skylight Media, an audio, video, photography studio in Vienna, WV.

Intro

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginian resident.

Welcome to Episode 12 of The WV Podcast. Today we have a full length interview with Andy and Courtney Holbrook of Skylight Media. After growing up making music, they now are providing audio, video and photography services. They just moved into a new studio in Vienna, WV, and are ready to give you a fun experience and excellent service. We had a lot of fun interviewing them and know you will enjoy it too!

Links to contact Skylight Media will be available in the show notes for Episode 12 at wvpodcast.com.

skylightmedia.com
facebook.com/skylightmediawv
email: info@skylightmedia.com
304-916-0146

Brock Davisson Artist Profile

https://vimeo.com/100764835


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Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

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Thanks so much for listening to The WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

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Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On Episode 11 of the WV Podcast, our famous West Virginian is Ted Cassidy, and we went to Eleanor, WV to help celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of this Homestead Community.

Intro

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginian resident.

Netflix- On a show called "How The States Got Their Shapes", there was a discussion on episode 3 "Force Of Nature" about the hillbilly stereotype applied to West Virginians. It is a frank and even handed discussion, talking about how big city newspapers made up stories during the Hatfield and McCoy feud without even coming to see for themselves. We are portrayed as a self sufficient people who are tough and do well for ourselves in spite of the rough terrain of the region.

World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Herschel “Woody” Williams
has an athletic field in Huntington named after him, as well as, a bridge in Barboursville and a National Guard Armory in Fairmont.
Now, Williams also will have a Navy ship named in his honor.


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Today's Famous West Virginian is Ted Cassidy.

Ted Cassidy was a 6’9” American actor known for his work in The Addams Family TV series and the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Synopsis
Born on July 31, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ted Cassidy developed a passion for acting, also working as a singer and radio announcer. A majestic presence at 6’9”, Cassidy’s roles included the butler Lurch from The Addams Family '60s TV show and Harvey Logan in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He also appeared in Gene Roddenberry’s pilot Genesis II.

Early Life
Theodore Crawford "Ted" Cassidy was born on July 31, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but raised in Philippi, West Virginia. As a boy and young man, he was a standout on the football field and basketball court, in part because of his great height (as a man, he would reach 6'9"). After high school, he headed off first to West Virginia Wesleyan College and then to Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Soon after graduation from Stetson, Cassidy married, settled in Dallas, Texas and began work in news radio. His job at WFAA in Dallas included coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Career Success and 'The Addams Family'
Cassidy began his film career in 1960 when he provided the voice of the Martian in The Angry Red Planet. In 1964, Cassidy took on the role for which he would become most famous; that of Lurch, the creepy butler on The Addams Family. During an audition for the role, which was supposed to be a non-speaking one, Cassidy adlibbed the "You rang" line which became his trademark. Although The Addams Family ran for just two years, it has lived on—enjoying cult status—in reruns and even on the big screen.
Cassidy's large size and deep voice made him a natural at playing villains and thugs, as well as providing distinctive voice-over talent. He voiced the role of Metallus on Space Ghost, The Thing on The Fantastic Four, and Braniac and Black Mantra on Challenge of the SuperFriends. In addition, he played characters such as Injun Joe on The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Harvey Logan in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Goliath in Greatest Heroes of the Bible. Cassidy also enjoyed success in the Star Trek world, providing the voice for Balok, portraying Ruk, and voicing Gorn in various episodes. Cassidy also worked with Gene Roddenberry in the early 1970s, when he played Isiah in the pilots for Genesis II and Planet Earth.
Ted Cassidy died in Los Angeles, California on January 16, 1979, from complications after open-heart surgery. He is survived by two children and his long-time girlfriend, having divorced his first wife, Margaret, in 1976.


Eleanor is a town in Putnam County, West Virginia, , along the Kanawha River. Its population was 1,518 at the 2010 census.

Eleanor was established in 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the county and developed it as a test site for families. It was one of three resettlement communities in West Virginia.

During the Great Depression, there was little in the way of housing, and the town, (which was named for Eleanor Roosevelt) was a social experiment called "subsistence homesteading".

More than 1,000 families applied to live in this new homestead called Red House Farms, about 30 miles west of Charleston, on property once owned by George Washington. After a vetting process to identify the physically and morally strong, just 150 were accepted.

The families moved into this community of opportunity, designed for “eventual self-support”: 150 homes on one-acre lots, each slightly different, each with a chicken coop, a small garden and that most exotic amenity, indoor plumbing. There was a hosiery factory in the works, a dairy farm, a canning operation, a grocery store, and even a pool hall.

The families paid a modest rent to the government that could be applied to the purchase price. The government expected them to work, grow vegetables, learn home economics and engage in cultural pursuits, like joining the band. Their children were to keep clean, stay in school and take cod liver oil to ward against rickets.

If a family did not meet these expectations, it faced “house notice” — public scolding that could lead to eviction.

In 1946, an organization was formed to manage the town, and in 1947, the citizens stopped renting and owned their homes outright. Papers were filed in 1965 with the Putnam County Court, and by majority vote in 1966, the incorporated town of Eleanor came to be.

2015 is the 80th anniversary of the founding of the town. The main road through town, State Route 62 (also known as Roosevelt Blvd) is part of the "Rivers to Ridges Heritage Trail. 3 large historic plaques were dedicated at a ceremony and of course the famous town photo was taken as is tradition. Here is some audio of the event. It involves the town council, Jim Flook, the Americore Vista worker who researched and and spearheaded the effort to get the plaques installed, and Marlene Carr, an original resident of town.

Images of the plaques and the town hall will be posted at wvpodcast.com. Look for episode 11.
http://www.eleanorwv.com/

http://riverstoridges.wordpress.com

Our featured video today is from "All 1 Productions". It's titled "Super Awesome: West Virginia". It features West Virginians who were disabled by accidents, war, and one who's father is discussing her life. She decided to be an organ donor when she first got her driver's license. Her parents supported her decision, not expecting it would actually happen. Check it out! The link is in the show notes for Episode 11. WVPodcast.com

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/10/28/super-awesome-west-virginia/

Outro

Thanks so much for listening to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

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Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On Episode 10 of the WV Podcast, our famous West Virginian is Herb Morrison, and we tracked down those involved in a heartwarming story our niece Tiffanee Rice posted on Facebook, involving a hotel in Vienna, WV, a boy named Conner, and two monkeys.

Intro

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, a lifelong West Virginia resident.

We first talk about a DUI wreck in front of our house. Here is a link to the blog post I wrote on the subject:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/10/08/the-decision-to-dui-is-made-when-you-are-sober/


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Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

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Todays Famous West Virginian is Herb Morrison

Herb Morrison (1906-1989), was an American radio reporter for Chicago station WLS, and is best known for his dramatic report of the Hindenburg disaster, a catastrophic fire that destroyed the LZ 129 Hindenburg zeppelin on May 6, 1937, killing 36 people.

Chicago radio station WLS had sent reporter Herb Morrison and sound engineer Charles Nehlsen to record the landing which was being celebrated as the first anniversary of the inauguration of transatlantic passenger service.

Morrison described the scene at Lakehurst, N.J., as the Hindenburg, a German airship, burst into flames and was destroyed in a matter of seconds. The podcast includes an excerpt of the recording.

In the famous recording, Morrison said,

"It's crashing! It's crashing terrible! Oh, my get out of the way, please. It's bursting into flames! And it's falling on the mooring mast. All the folks agree this is terrible, one of the worst catastrophes on the world. Oh, the flames, four or five hundred feet in the sky! It's a terrific crash ladies and gentlemen! The smoke and the flames now, and the frame is crashing to the ground, not quite to the mooring mast. Oh, the humanity, and all the passengers!"

Morrison and Nehlsen continued their work, reporting at length on the rescue efforts and interviewing survivors, with several pauses while Morrison composes himself.
Thirty-five people died in addition to one fatality on the ground. The 16-inch green lacquer disk recordings were rushed back to Chicago by airplane and broadcast in full later that night. Portions were rebroadcast nationally by the NBC Radio network the next day. It was the first time recordings of a news event were ever broadcast, and also the first coast-to-coast radio broadcast. Morrison's quick professional response and accurate description combined with his own emotional reaction have made the recordings a classic of audio history.

Morrison was born in Pennsylvania. He began his broadcasting career at WMMN in Fairmont,WV and is said to have worked in radio also in Clarksburg. After moving to Morgantown, West Virginia - his wife’s hometown - in 1970, he was often called upon to remember his famous broadcast for news outlets, especially on significant anniversaries of the event. He also involved himself with West Virginia University where he lectured and helped develop a radio and television program for the University Relations department at WVU. Charles Cremer, a journalism professor at West Virginia University invited Morrison into his classroom many times is the 1970s. Cremer said, “I would play the recording of the Hindenburg radio program for my class and then he would embellish it. He was modest and humble. He understood it could have been anyone behind that microphone and thought he owed it to the world to make his story known whenever he was asked. He never seemed to tire of telling his story.”
Morrison lived near Cheat Lake outside Morgantown after his retirement. He died on January 11, 1989, of pneumonia in Sundale Nursing Home in Morgantown where he spent his last years. He lived to be 83 years old, certainly enough time to reflect on his extraordinary life.

The video can be viewed on Archive.org. The link will be included in the show notes for episode 10 of the WV Podcast.

http://www.archive.org/details/hindenberg_explodes

https://archive.org/details/SF145


Monkey Time or Conner, Monk, and Wyndham (Listen to the podcast for the full story!)

Ok everyone grab the tissues and make sure to write this hotel down. This is an update from last week when i said the hotel couldn't find Conners monkey that was left behind. They sent him a package and we received it today. It was marked fragile all over the box and handle with care we opened it to find this. We read the letter and I cried , Conner cried and my mom cried ! Then we see these pictures ... They seriously went throughout the entire hotel to take pictures of this new monkey enjoying his stay! My heart is overfilled with joy right now. Conner was so sad to lose his best friend but for them to show how much they cared will make me stop in to see them next time I'm down that way! This is by far one of the most amazing acts of kindness I've ever been a part of! Please please show this hotel some love visit them on Facebook visit them if you are ever in Vienna ,WV !

Photos and Facebook post by Lindsey Taylor


Our featured video today is from WVCommerce. It's titled "West Virginia Welcome Video". Check it out! The link is in the show notes for Episode 10. WVPodcast.com

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/10/13/west-virginia-welcome-video-by-wvcommerce/

Outro

Thanks so much for listening to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android

Let's Tell Our Own Story.

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On Episode 9 of the WV Podcast, our famous West Virginian is Pearl S. Buck, and we are playing the audio from a visit to a BBQ restaurant called Dem 2 Brothers And A Grill.
The owner is Adrian Bay Wright, a man who has BBQ sauce in his veins and love for his community in his heart. The restaurant is located at 5 Corners on the west side of Charleston, WV.

Intro

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook

New Short Links to subscribe to the show!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/iTunes
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/android
http://holbrooknewmedia.com/stitcher

We just started a YouTube Page!

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If you are shopping at Amazon, use this link to get there. Shop as normal, and by referring you to them, we get a small commission to help with expenses of media hosting, equipment, and travel associated with the show. It costs you nothing extra!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/amazon


Todays Famous West Virginian is Pearl S. Buck.

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (June 26, 1892 – March 6, 1973), was an American writer and novelist. As the daughter of missionaries, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in China. Her novel The Good Earth was the best-selling fiction book in the United States in 1931 and 1932 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. In 1938, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces". She was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
After returning to the United States in 1935, she continued writing prolifically and became a prominent advocate of the rights of women and minority groups, and wrote widely on Asian cultures, becoming particularly well known for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption.
Pearl Sydenstricker was born in Hillsboro, West Virginia, to Caroline Stulting (1857–1921) and Absalom Sydenstricker. Her parents, Southern Presbyterian missionaries, traveled to China soon after their marriage on July 8, 1880, but returned to the United States for Pearl's birth. When Pearl was five months old, the family arrived in China
for more mission work.
She recalled in her memoir that she lived in "several worlds", one a "small, white, clean Presbyterian world of my parents", and the other the "big, loving merry not-too-clean Chinese world", and there was no communication between them. The Boxer Uprising greatly affected the family; their Chinese friends deserted them, and Western visitors decreased. Her father, convinced that no Chinese could wish him harm, stayed behind as the rest of the family went to Shanghai for safety. A few years later, Pearl was enrolled in Miss Jewell's School there, and was dismayed at the racist attitudes of the other students, few of whom could speak any Chinese. Both of her parents felt strongly that Chinese were their equals (they forbade the use of the word heathen), and she was raised in a bilingual environment, tutored in English by her mother, in the local dialect by her Chinese playmates, and in classical Chinese by a Chinese scholar named Mr. Kung.

When she won the Nobel Prize for Literature, The committee said,
"By awarding this year's Prize to Pearl Buck for the notable works which pave the way to a human sympathy passing over widely separated racial boundaries and for the studies of human ideals which are a great and living art of portraiture, the Swedish Academy feels that it acts in harmony and accord with the aim of Alfred Nobel's dreams for the future."

She also read voraciously, especially, in spite of her father's disapproval, the novels of Charles Dickens, which she later said she read through once a year for the rest of her life.
Pearl S. Buck died of lung cancer on March 6, 1973, in Danby, Vermont, and was interred in Green Hills Farm in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. She designed her own tombstone. The grave marker is inscribed with Chinese characters representing the name Pearl Sydenstricker.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_S._Buck

Pearl S. Buck International

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1938/buck-bio.html


Adrian Bay Wright was a Charleston High School standout, played for Virginia Union University, and then was a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After his football career ended in 1987, he got serious and started making barbeque. A quote:

"When it comes to food and football repetition is the key. In football you are learning plays and in the kitchen you are learning food. The taste and quality of the food has to be on point every day, and in football your performance matters. That's what keeps people coming back to Dem 2 Brothers. My parents were great cooks; I grew up cooking with them. I am the youngest of 10 kids so we were always in the kitchen helping out. It's a blessing!"

He starts out talking about exposure they received from the Food Network and other sources.

http://dem2brothersandagrill.com/

Our featured video today is from the 4 Fayette Media team and is a great story of Bridge Day 2014. Check it out! The link is in the show notes for Episode 9 of the WV Podcast.

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/09/24/bridge-day-2014-video/

Outro

Thanks so much for listening to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

Let's Tell Our Own Story.

View Details

On Episode 8 of the WV Podcast, our famous West Virginian is Homer Hickam, Jr. and we are playing the first half of an interview Jeff had on the New York based podcast, Look Like A Local. The host, Joel Hiscutt finds people in various cities to learn where to eat, what to see and do locally, so when a tourist visits, they won't seem like a tourist, but can Look Like A Local. Jeff is talking to Joel about Charleston, WV.

This episode is sponsored by Skylight Media in Vienna, West Virginia.

Intro

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook


Jeff- WV Musicians United Community on Facebook

For local WV musicians. Post your music, join new projects, meet fellow local artists. Closely monitored NO negativity, REAL music only, NO sell/trades.

https://www.facebook.com/WVmusiccommunity/info?tab=page_info


West Virginia Day In Florida

The page is about West Virginians in NW Florida who get together each year on the first Sunday in May to celebrate and remember their home state. It started 27 years ago and is still going strong. It takes place in Milton, Florida. Check out the page on Facebook for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/WestVirginiaDayInFlorida/info?tab=page_info


Dee-

Ellenboro is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 363 at the 2010 census. The town is located at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 16; the North Bend Rail Trail also passes through the town.[6]

Ellenboro once had a glass factory and at a much earlier time a very well known resort. However, both have ceased operation. The town was created in the early 1900s and was named after the postmaster's daughter, Ellen Mariah Williamson, the eldest daughter of the family that granted a right of way for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to build their line through the town; an earlier name for the community was Shumley.[7] Ellenboro was incorporated in 1903.[8]

Happy Trails Cafe

Our Story

by Gary Schoeny

Gary and Mary Ann Schoeny have always enjoyed skiing in the winter at Canaan Valley, West Virginia. They talked about how it would be great one day to open up a small Gourmet Coffee Roastery. They are “true” coffee lovers who enjoyed researching a great deal about coffee and the roasting process. Gary and Mary Ann thought that when they retired from their professional positions they would do something they were both passionate about. Gary worked as an Information Technology Manager for a large company, and Mary Ann worked as a Administrative Assistant/Contracting Officer for a government law office.

In April of 2003 (4 days before Easter) while still in Charlotte, Mary Ann was driving home from work in rush hour traffic and was in a severe car accident. She was in the right lane when a construction truck carrying 7, two hundred and fifty pound roof trusses, swerved causing its load to shift. The trusses hit the rear of her Trailblazer while spinning around the trusses were banging the side of the car then spun around and hit the front driver’s window by the front windshield post. She was told that 2 inches either way it would of killed her. The double impact caused her to have a traumatic brain injury.

Mary Ann was unable to read complete sentences or walk (without assistance) for about 4 to 6 months. She was told that the pathways in her brain had been damaged. She suffered severe headaches when trying to do or listen to anything. Test results showed that Mary Ann had a “traumatic encephalopathy”; recovery at that time was unknown.

Because of this, Mary Ann was no longer able to work at her position with the government. Her healing was going so slow, and Gary knew it would be a good time to resume looking for their dream of opening a Gourmet Coffee Roastery.

In the designing planning stages…Mary Ann would dream of what the coffee shop should look like. Gary tried to build just as she described to him. It was a long process of trying to put the Café together just right, but they were both pleased with the outcome. You can find the finished pictures at www.happytrailscafe.com.

In the fall of 2004 their Gourmet Coffee Roastery opened its doors…it was awesome to receive the great reviews. Gary and Mary Ann's dream of having a Gourmet Coffee Roastery had come to be. They were told by their customers how the atmosphere made them feel so much at home. Customers shared that they were able to feel the love that has built Happy Trails Café. Gary and Mary Ann still laugh about the stories their customers tell them about seeing Mary Ann , and how they enjoyed talking with her.

A few years ago they had to close the “eat in” portion of their café…it was very difficult for Gary to take care of Mary Ann and stay open for “walk-ins” full time. Mary Ann has to rest after each task in order for her pain to go away.

Additionally, their coffee is being sold in several restaurants, convenient stores and Coffee Shops. You can find them on FACEBOOK and at www.happytrailscafe.com

If you are ever in Ellenboro or enjoying the scenic North Bend Rail Trail, stop by and enjoy an amazing cup of gourmet coffee with The Schoeny's.

We are committed to roasting the best quality gourmet coffee. We devote ourselves to giving our customers the finest of quality care and service. We love what we do and look forward to serving you!


Homer Hickam, Jr

Homer H. Hickam, Jr. is the second son of Homer, Sr. and Elsie Gardener Hickam and was raised in Coalwood, West Virginia. He graduated from Big Creek High School in 1960. While there, he led a group of boys who built rockets. They called themselves the Big Creek Missile Agency. After working on finding the perfect way to build rockets, they took their designs to the 1960 National Science Fair, where the BCMA won a gold and silver medal in the area of propulsion. Hickam graduated from Virginia Tech in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering.

A United States Army veteran, Hickam served as a First Lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry Division during the Vietnam War in 1967 and 1968. For his service, he earned the Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star Medals. He served six years on active duty, leaving the Army as a Captain.

For the next 10 years he was an engineer for the Army, and then began working for NASA.

Hickam worked in spacecraft design and crew training. His specialties at NASA included training astronauts on science payloads, and extra-vehicular activities (EVA). He also trained astronaut crews for many Spacelab and Space Shuttle missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, the first two Hubble repair missions, Spacelab-J (the first Japanese astronauts), and the Solar Max repair mission. Prior to his retirement from federal service in 1998, Hickam was the Payload Training Manager for the International Space Station Program.

He began writing in 1969, publishing many articles in magazines and then had his first book published in 1989. It was called Torpedo Junction, and was about the battle against the uboats along the American east coast in WW2.

In 1998 the book he is most famous for, Rocket Boys was published, and it was a best seller in various editions, was the basis for the critically acclaimed movie October Sky.

He continues to write and publish today. Homer's newest book, 'Carrying Albert Home' will be available in October 2015.

http://homerhickam.com


Skylight Media is a team of photographers, videographers, audio engineers and editors dedicated to making high quality media products at an affordable price. Based in Vienna, WV, they provide photography and videography services for events, weddings, reunions, concerts and more. They love what they do and they want you to love it too! They provide a pleasant experience and a product you will be happy with, and proud to share!

Skylight Media

3201 13th ave

Vienna, wv 26105

304-916-0146

Look for their page on Facebook!

The Website: http://www.skylightmedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SkylightMediaWV

All of the contact info will be available on wvpodcast.com. Look for Episode 8.


Look Like A Local

Jeff was interviewed by Joel Hiscutt on the travel podcast, "Look Like A Local". It is a show that interviews a local resident of a town to find out what local restaurants, attractions and hidden gems are available so a tourist who visits will look like a local resident, knowing exactly where to go and what to do. Great concept for a show!

Today we are featuring the first half of this interview.

Here are the links to the two episodes of Look Like A Local that featured Jeff talking about Charleston.

http://bit.ly/charlestonwv1

http://bit.ly/charlestonwv2

https://www.facebook.com/looklikealocal

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/look-like-local-travelers/id993214217?mt=2


Our featured video today is a demo for the "All of us West Virginians" Facebook group. It was produced by Holbrook New Media and includes an amazing slideshow of images taken by members of the group showcasing the stunning beauty of the state of West Virginia. When combined with the beautiful piano soundtrack created and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook, this is a must see for anyone living in the state, or just wishing they were.

The link for this video will be in the show notes for episode 8.

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/09/05/all-of-us-west-virginians-facebook-group-image-gallery/


Thanks so much for listening to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's podcast. Come to wvpodcast.com and let us know what you think of the show. On the website there are links to subscribe. You can also email your comments and suggestions to feedback@wvpodcast.com

Let's Tell Our Own Story.

View Details

On Episode 7 of the WV Podcast, our famous West Virginian is Mary Lou Retton, and Jeff is having a conversation with Larry Belcher about his childhood growing up near Oceana, WV. Larry also attended Marshall University and was housed in the same dorm as many of the Marshall Football Team who were lost in the horrible plane crash on November 14, 1970. Larry is the owner of the "All of Us West Virginans" group on Facebook.

This episode is sponsored by Skylight Media in Vienna, West Virginia.

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook


Jeff was interviewed by Joel Hiscutt on the travel podcast, "Look Like A Local". It is a show that interviews a local resident of a town to find out what local restaurants, attractions and hidden gems are available so a tourist who visits will look like a local resident, knowing exactly where to go and what to do. Great concept for a show!

http://bit.ly/charlestonwv1

http://bit.ly/charlestonwv2

Jeff was also part of The Podcasters Roundtable Round 56. It's a roundtable discussion with Ray Ortega, Daniel J. Lewis and Dave Jackson, and then including 2 or 3 other podcasters for discussion of various topics of podcasting. This time Jeff was joined by Lex Starwalker who does gaming based podcasting.


Skylight Media is a team of photographers, videographers, audio engineers and editors dedicated to making high quality media products at an affordable price. Based in Vienna, WV, we provide photography and videography services for events, weddings, reunions, concerts and more. We love what we do and we want you to love it too! We will accomplish this by providing a pleasant experience and a product you will be happy with and proud to share!

Skylight Media

3201 13th ave

Vienna, wv 26105

304-916-0146

Look for their page on Facebook!

The Website: http://www.skylightmedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SkylightMediaWV

All of the contact info will be available on wvpodcast.com. Look for Episode 7.


Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is a retired American gymnast. At the 1984 Summer Olympics, she was the first American to win a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. Her performance made her one of the most popular athletes in the United States.

That year she was named:

-Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year

-Associated Press Female Amateur Athlete of the Year

-Women’s Sports Foundation Athlete of the Year

and received the

-American Academy of Achievement Award

Other competitive victories included being the only woman to win three American Cups (1983 -85), the only American to win Japan’s prestigious Chunichi Cup (1983), two U.S. Gymnastics Federation American Classics (1983 84), and the All Around title at both the 1984 National Championships and Olympic Trials. After Mary Lou retired from competitive gymnastics in 1986, she attended the University of Texas at Austin.

Retton was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, of Italian heritage (her family's original surname was "Rotunda"). Her father, Ronnie, operated a coal-industry transportation equipment business. She attended Fairmont Senior High School, but graduated through correspondence courses. [3] She competed in the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, California during her sophomore year of high school.[4] In 1997, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.[ She was the first female athlete to be featured on the front of a Wheaties cereal box, and General Mills reported an increase in sales as a result.

Her web site is marylouretton.com.


Larry Belcher Interview: Childhood near Oceana, WV, and his experience being a Marshall Student and band member at the time of the devastating plane crash.



There is a new menu item on our website titled Partner Sites. If you select it, you will find links to websites we have a close relationship with, such as the All of Us West Virginians Facebook group. The mission of this group is the same as ours, to provide information and promotion of the Great State of West Virginia, and stories of the wonderful people who are connected with it. Next time you are on Facebook, check out the All of Us West Virginians page!


View Details

Jeff was interviewed on the travel podcast, "Look Like A Local". It is a show that interviews a local resident of a town to find out what local restaurants, attractions and hidden gems are available so a tourist who visits will look like a local resident, knowing exactly where to go and what to do. Great concept for a show!

Jeff talked all about Charleston, WV and the surrounding area, and had great time doing it. Check it out! Here are the links to the two part interview:

http://bit.ly/charlestonwv1

http://bit.ly/charlestonwv2

Our Show:

http://www.wvpodcast.com

View Details

On Episode 6 of the WV Podcast, Dee is having a conversation with our daughter Ecil about how she obtained both a bachelors and a separate associates degree in West Virginia, paying for it herself with no grants and with no student loan debt.

This episode is sponsored by Skylight Media in Vienna, West Virginia

Welcome to the WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story.

Maker Of The Rain, our theme music, was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook


Skylight Media is a team of photographers, videographers, audio engineers and editors dedicated to making high quality media products at an affordable price. Based in Vienna, WV, we provide photography and videography services for events, weddings, reunions, concerts and more. We love what we do and we want you to love it too! We will accomplish this by providing a pleasant experience and a product you will be happy with and proud to share!

Skylight Media

3201 13th Avenue,

Vienna, wv 26105

304-916-0146

The Website: http://www.skylightmedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SkylightMediaWV


Our featured videos are a couple of great spots for West Virgina state parks. I discovered these on the We Heart WV website. You can find them at weheartwv.com Check the site out! You will find great news, video and stories about our great state. The videos are fantastic. Kind of makes us want to go camping right now!

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/08/11/two-amazing-video-spots-for-west-virginia-state-parks/

http://www.weheartwv.com

There is a new menu item on our website titled "Partner Sites". If you select it, you will find links to websites we have a close relationship with, such as the "All of us West Virginians" Facebook group. The mission of this group is the same as ours, to provide information and promotion of the Great State of West Virginia, and stories of the wonderful people who are connected with it. Next time you are on Facebook, check out the All of us West Virginians page!

View Details

On episode 5 of the WV Podcast, our famous West Virginian Segment is about Booker T. Washington , and we are featuring the Facebook group, All of us West Virginians. We have short bios on the admins of the group and some audio from Larry Belcher the founder and owner. Our sponsor is Brickhouse Cardio Club in Parkersburg, WV.

The theme music for the WV Podcast was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook.

The Story of Dragon, The Ballistic Cat

Our Famous West Virginian: Booker T. Washington


It's time to join the Brickhouse Cardio Club in PARKERSBURG, WV! The instructors are AFAA certified. They have a ROCKING sound system, party lights, a great dance floor, convenient class times and a fun, supportive atmosphere to help you meet your FITNESS GOALS! Everyone is having fun, getting fit, and losing pounds and inches!!! You can, too!!! Ask about the membership specials and take UNLIMITED classes at one low monthly price!

Stop by the Brickhouse Cardio Club today at:

2311 Ohio Avenue, Unit B, Parkersburg, WV

Phone: 304-488-4763

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brickhouse-Cardio-Club-Parkersburg-WV/161421670583398

http://www.brickhousecardio.com/location/Parkersburg-WV/34/


The Facebook Group "All of us West Virginians" is an amazing place to learn about our great state, and meet people from all over the world who are connected by their love of all things West Virginia. Some were born here, some moved here later in life, and some just visited and fell in love with the rugged beauty and friendly people.

As of the time we are recording this episode, the group has been in existence for 1 year, 4 months and 29 days. There are a total of 23,323 members with more joining every day.

The founder and owner, Larry Belcher was raised on Lynco holler near Oceana, WV, and has had an adventurous life here in the state and in other places in the US. He was at various times a healthcare administrator, a photographer for the Wonderful West Virgina Magazine, Governor Caperton's photographer to document his administration, and other things. Today we are going to major on the group, but in the conversation with him I got quite a bit of audio that we will feature in future episodes of the WV Podcast.

One thing that impressed me was the fact that he kept insisting that I feature the admins for the All of us West Virginians group and emphasize how essential they are to the phenomenal success of this amazing group. We have a short bio on each one. Then you will hear audio from Larry himself talking about the formation and mission of the group.


Beverly Tompkins

Beverly is a life time resident of Grant County (God’s Country) and currently lives about 9 miles from Petersburg on Rough Run. Beverly has been with the site since the near beginning. Bev was added to the All of us West Virginians group by a friend when it was one month old. She is affectionately referred to as the site's Facebook Guru. It all started when a member was trying to "share" an article to the group and she assisted them by personal messages, step by step. As the site continued to grow she continues to assist members with what to do if they have been hacked, how to report offensive postings or comments to the admins and other Facebook type problems. Beverly enjoys teaching people. The rapidly changing environment of Facebook keeps it challenging and interesting. Larry says that he knew nothing about Facebook before Beverly came along.

She also screens the requests to join the group to help keep hackers, spammers and other trouble from obtaining membership. She also monitors the group’s page for any arguments regarding political or religious posts and comments. Beverly believes, as do most of us, that those two topics are the biggest dividers of people and can often turn ugly real fast. “I will bet that you have heard, neither politics nor religion is to be discussed at the dinner table, please". Well, the same goes for the group” A direct quote from Beverly .The album according to Beverly, Hillbilly Cookin' Mountaineer Style, started as her “baby”. Larry and Bev got together to resolve this by “adopting” Granny’s Corner” as the sister site of the All of us West Virginians site, the only other group that Larry serves as an admin. Recipes, homemaker tips and garden ideas are prevalent on Granny’s. She has fourteen other sites and for the most part is the only admin. She deals with sales sites to lost animal sites. According to Larry “Beverly and the other administrators are responsible for our unique approach to Facebook Groups” and are truly loved!

Terry Hackney

Terry was raised just outside Ravenswood, but he’s lived all over the state. He currently owns Lens Creek Studios, an interpretive design and fabrication company in Fort Ashby, Mineral County that specializes in wayside markers and museum exhibits. His primary task is to help answer questions about state history, events, and photo locations. He also works with the other admins to keep the page a peaceful and friendly place for all who visit. Terry has traveled throughout West Virginia, especially on a mountain bike, and is very knowledgeable about our history, recreation, and places that are off the beaten path.

Nancy Young Sarver

Nancy was born in South Charleston WV. After graduation she traveled through a lot of the US and returned to WV 16 years later. She came home to So Chas then, and now calls her new home Campbell's Creek. Nancy retired in May after working in a variety of office positions for 49 years. She became fascinated with the historical pictures people were putting on this site and just knew they had to be kept for future generations. So she started putting posted photographs into folders that had already been set up. It was and is quite overwhelming, So for her next contribution she started changing our banner for the site every month or so to keep new people informed. She also introduced a member participatory process to ID "Member's Favorites" photos to highlight on the banner. Nancy helps with keeping inappropriate posts off the site as well.

Steve Davis

Steve was raised in Mineral County, until he joined the Army in 1975 and currently lives in Tampa Bay Florida. Steve returns home to Keyser every 12 to 18 months to visit with family and close friends that live there. Over a year ago, one of his classmates sent a join request, for this group. Steve enjoyed the community atmosphere, pictures and information. He then talked to one of the admins, about putting the folders, the Scenic and Historical Albums into alphabetic order. He found out that couldn't happen, so he offered to help, with moving pictures into the correct albums. Turns out he couldn’t do that without being an admin, so the site “got stuck with me” as he says. He found this site to be so popular, that he found he could not move enough pictures in a day, to keep up. Steve also helps, as all of us do, checking out profiles of new members’ requests and works with Nancy on our rotating Group Banners.

Tina Brown Horan

Tina is from Greenbrier County, currently living in Deale MD . Our newest Administrator has developed a Survey for capturing Demographic Information on our Members. This survey will assist by providing us with information such as member population per county, where the majority of our members have migrated to outside of our state and a general age range of members. Tina also monitors the site to assist users with Facebook functionality and technical issues experienced by our members. She helps us all to continuously monitor the site for malicious or inappropriate postings as established by the 7 rules for being a members

---------Listen to The WV Podcast, episode 5 to hear the Larry Belcher audio--------------

Go check out the All of us West Virginians group on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/602694456486155/?fref=nf


Our featured video today comes from Dana Tucker, the owner of Podcastingforum.net. It is some great shots of Sandstone Falls near Hinton, WV. Access this video by looking at the show notes for Episode 5 of the WV Podcast. Links to Dana Tucker's PodcastingForum.net and his podcast, Podcasters Blog can be found with the video.

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/07/11/sandstone-falls-near-hinton-wv/

http://mixlr.com/dana-tucker/

https://www.danatucker.com/

https://www.danatucker.com/podcast/

http://www.podcastingforum.net/


Keep listening to the WV Podcast for more stories of home.


wvpodcast.com

feedback@wvpodcast.com

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On episode 4 of the WV Podcast, our famous West Virginian Segment is about country star Little Jimmy Dickens, and we have an interview with Jessie Walker who attended the special release event of Blenko Glass Company's limited edition art glass for West Virginia's 152nd birthday. Our sponsor is Brickhouse Cardio Club in Parkersburg, WV.

The theme music for the WV Podcast was composed and performed by Tonya Kouns Holbrook


Check out the Facebook group, All of us West Virginians. The owner is Larry Belcher. He curates all kinds of resources and images for you to use and browse. The images are organized by county. He also recently set up an archive for The WV Podcast, and we really appreciate the opportunity to share on this most excellent group. We are looking forward to featuring it and Larry on Episode 5 of The WV Podcast. The link to the group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/602694456486155/?fref=nf


Famous West Virginian Little Jimmy Dickens...

**Born James Cecil Dickens on December 19, 1920 in Bolt, WV. Jimmy got his early radio experience on local radio station WJLS in Beckley, WV, with performers such as Mel Steele, Molly O'Day and Jonnie Bailes. Through out the 1940's Dickens hosted his own radio programs in Fairmont, WV; Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Topeka and Saginaw, Michigan. Once Roy Acuff heard Little Jimmy 1947, he brought him to the attention of both Grand Ole Opry officials and Art Satherley at Columbia Records. After guest appearances on the Opry, Dickens signed with Columbia on September 16, 1948 and joined the Opry shortly thereafter. He achieved rapid success in the studio and on the Opry stage.

Hank Williams gave Dickens the nickname 'Tater' from Dickens' hit 'Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait'.

Little Jimmy Dickens not only influenced country music's sound with his unique and specific tone from guitars, he also had an impact on its fashion sense when he became the first person on the Opry to wear a suit designed by Los Angles based tailor, Nudie Cohn. From the early 1950's, Cohn adorned some of Dickens' suits with rhinestones and Dickens became the first Opry star to glitter.

Over the years, Dickens had many hit songs, but his biggest hit came in 1965 with the new novelty song, 'may the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose', which peaked at #1 and went on to #15 on the pop listings. Thereafter, Dickens placed singles for Columbia regularly on the charts until 1972.

Later in Dickens' career, he was among the Opry's best known and best loved performers and he served as an ambassador for the show, hosting segments, holding court in his dressing room, and sometimes inducting new members into the Opry family.

Little Jimmy became best friend to fellow West Virginian and contemporary country star Brad Paisley, and he often appeared in Paisley's videos and in comedic cameos during the Paisley hosted CMA Awards and recording comedy tracks on Paisley's albums as a member of the 'Kung-Pao Buckaroos', with George Jones, Bill Anderson and others.

Sadly, we lost this wonderful West Virginia native and country music powerhouse on January 2, 2015. Grand Ole Opry announcer and WSM air personality, Eddie Stubbs wrote of 'the little man's outsized contributions, 'Jimmy Dickens is, without a doubt, one of the greatest entertainers, showmen, masters of ceremonies, goodwill ambassadors, troupers, singers of novelty tunes, and interpreters of country ballads that the country music industry has ever known.'**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Jimmy_Dickens

http://www.opry.com/artist/jimmy-dickens


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brickhouse-Cardio-Club-Parkersburg-WV/161421670583398

http://www.brickhousecardio.com/location/Parkersburg-WV/34/

It's time to join the Brickhouse Cardio Club in PARKERSBURG, WV! The instructors are AFAA certified. They have a ROCKING sound system, party lights, a great dance floor, convenient class times and a fun, supportive atmosphere to help you meet your FITNESS GOALS! Everyone is having fun, getting fit, and losing pounds and inches!!! You can, too!!! Ask about the membership specials and take UNLIMITED classes at one low monthly price!

Stop by the Brickhouse Cardio Club today at:

2311 Ohio Avenue, Unit B, Parkersburg, WV

Phone: 304-488-4763


Blenko Glass has been a family owned and operated company since 1893. They have been located in Milton, WV since 1921.

Exquisite color, skilled craftsmen, and imaginative designs have made Blenko famous in the time-honored craft of hand-blown glass. In a world of ever increasing automation, Blenko Glass prides themselves in paying particular attention to the forms and designs of their hand crafted products. We all need, now more than ever, hand-made possessions that are unique and inspiring.

Since 1980, Blenko Glass has been part of West Virginia's history by making a special piece of art glass for each of the state's birthdays on June 20th. These pieces have always been awe inspiring. In 2015, there were 152 pieces made, one for each year of the state's existence. It is a vase entitled, "Autumn Leaves", designed and signed by famous glass artist, Arlon Byliss. The original price was $152, but by the next day, a piece sold on Ebay for almost twice that amount.

Some people started camping out on Tuesday to make sure they were in line for the Saturday release of the historic art glass.

My friend Jessie Walker didn't camp out, but he got there early in the morning of the event to obtain one for his mother, who is a collector. I really appreciate Jessie letting me record the conversation I had with him afterwards.

Jessie also mentioned he saw New Blenko Glass plant manager Ron Hinkle who has his own glass making operation in Buckhannon, WV. You can hear the story about Ron, and find links to videos of his operation in the WV Podcast Episode 1.

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/06/20/maker-of-the-rain-and-a-maker-of-glass-wvp001/


Our featured videos today about about the Blenko Glass operations. Access these videos by looking at the show notes for Episode 4 of the WV Podcast.

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/07/21/videos-of-blenko-glass-in-milton-wv/

WV Living article on Arlon Bayliss

http://www.wvliving.com/Spring-2011/Blenko-is-Back/?cparticle=2&siarticle=1

http://arlonbayliss.com/

http://www.blenko.com/


Some special "Thanks" are in order for Dana McDonald who gave us the use of a very nice studio condenser microphone, and Dana Tucker who donated a mixing console that will enable us to capture telephone interviews of some West Virginia natives who now live out of state. Keep listening to the WV Podcast for more stories of home.

Dana Tucker also interviewed Dee for his own podcast, Podcasters Blog about the complications that can occur when trying to record an internet radio show with Sjogren's Syndrome and other autoimmune disorders. Check out the show notes for links on episode 4 of the WV Podcast.


Interview with Dee Holbrook

https://www.danatucker.com/podcast/?p=848

http://mixlr.com/dana-tucker/

https://www.danatucker.com/

https://www.danatucker.com/podcast/

http://www.podcastingforum.net/


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Today on Episode 3 of The WV Podcast, Our famous West Virginian segment is

about Baseball Great George Brett, and we have a live recording of some

traditional music at the Homecoming service at Kelleys Creek Independent

Baptist Church near Charleston, WV. We know you will enjoy Bluegrass Harmony.

Our sponsor is Brickhouse Cardio Club in Parkersburg, WV.

It's time to join the Brickhouse Cardio Club in PARKERSBURG, WV! The

instructors are AFAA certified. They have a ROCKING sound system, party

lights, a great dance floor, convenient class times and a fun, supportive

atmosphere to help you meet your FITNESS GOALS! Everyone is having fun,

getting fit, and losing pounds and inches!!! You can, too!!! Ask about the

membership specials and take UNLIMITED classes at one low monthly price!

Stop by the Brickhouse Cardio Club today at:

2311 Ohio Avenue, Unit B, Parkersburg, WV

Phone: 304-488-4763

http://www.brickhousecardio.com/location/Parkersburg-WV/34/


The band Bluegrass Harmony plays Bluegrass music on traditional instruments.

Each band member will be introduced on the recording. This recording is from the homecoming service at Kellys Creek Independent Baptist Church near Charleston, WV.

The Facebook page for Bluegrass Harmony:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bluegrass-Harmony/107192586001905?fref=ts


Our video feature for today is a HayscoProductions video of people at the

Charleston Town Center Mall giving their ideas about West Virginia

stereotypes and then saying what is best about living in West Virginia.

Interesting. Here is the link to access this video:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/06/11/west-virginia-stereotypes-and-whats-

best-about-west-virginia/


The WV Podcast is now in iTunes!!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wv-podcast-west-virginias/id1012369882

Hey, don't forget Jeff's solo podcast, Daggers Of The Mind at:

daggersofthemind.com

View Details

On Episode 2 of The WV Podcast, Our famous West Virginian segment is about Alex Shoenbaum, We have an interview with Scotty Rose, a world traveler who has come back home to WV, and you'll hear a little about the Creperi Cafe where they were very helpful and nice enough to let us conduct the interview after an amazing dinner.


We would like to give a special thanks to Scotty Rose for the interview, and to the Creperi Cafe in South Charleston. Contact info for the Creperi Cafe:

55 RHL Blvd

South Charleston, WV 25309

Phone: (304) 746-4040

Unofficial Creperi Cafe Facebook Page


Our sponsor is Brickhouse Cardio Club in Parkersburg, WV.

http://www.brickhousecardio.com/location/Parkersburg-WV/34/

It's time to join the Brickhouse Cardio Club in PARKERSBURG, WV! The instructors are AFAA certified. They have a ROCKING sound system, party lights, a great dance floor, convenient class times and a fun, supportive atmosphere to help you meet your FITNESS GOALS! Everyone is having fun, getting fit, and losing pounds and inches!!! You can, too!!! Ask about the membership specials and take UNLIMITED classes at one low monthly price!

Stop by the Brickhouse Cardio Club today at:

2311 Ohio Avenue, Unit B, Parkersburg, WV

Phone: 304-488-4763

Our video feature for today is about some people from the west coast trying foods from West Virginia. Interesting and funny at the same time.

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/06/11/video-of-californians-trying-wv-food-pretty-funny/

Let us know what you think! feedback@wvpodcast.com or @HolbrookPodcast on Twitter.

View Details

Today on the very first episode of the WV Podcast, we will introduce

ourselves, the show, and tell about a visit with Ron Hinkle, a master

glassmaker in Buckhannon, WV.

Jeff and Dee Holbrook met in 1982. Since both were determined to marry their

best friend, and that just happened to be each other, love blossomed and they

were married in 1983. They have always enjoyed working together on everything

from singing, photography and child rearing (their daughter Ecil was born in

1990), to podcasting. Jeff started his solo podcast, Daggers Of The Mind on

September 29th, 2014, and now, Dee has been bitten by the bug and the result

is the WV Podcast. This works out great since Dee is such a natural. (I’m

sure you can tell that Jeff is writing this!)

Jeff and Dee are both life long residents of West Virginia and love the

people, the culture and yes, the MOUNTAINS! We have an amazingly beautiful

state, and can’t wait to share the stories with you.

This episode is sponsored by Brickhouse Cardio Club in Parkersburg, WV."

http://www.brickhousecardio.com/location/Parkersburg-WV/34/

It's time to join the Brickhouse Cardio Club in PARKERSBURG, WV! The

instructors are AFAA certified. They have a ROCKING sound system, party

lights, a great dance floor, convenient class times and a fun, supportive

atmosphere to help you meet your FITNESS GOALS! Everyone is having fun,

getting fit, and losing pounds and inches!!! You can, too!!! Ask about the

membership specials and take UNLIMITED classes at one low monthly price!

The Address is:

2311 Ohio Avenue, Unit B, Parkersburg, WV

Phone: 304-488-4763

"Special thanks to Tonya Kouns Holbrook for allowing us to use "Maker Of The

Rain" as the theme music for the WV Podcast. A lifelong West Virginian, she

composed and performed the piece."

Ron Hinkle is a master glassmaker whose shop is near Buckhannon, WV. He

makes many beautiful pieces of art and is a major advocate for the dying art of

hand made glass. At the end of the article there is an audio clip of Ron

telling about his philosophy of glass making, and another clip of Heidi

Russell, who works for Ron in the glass shop. Check out video clips of this

interview at:

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/04/05/the-art-of-glass-making-part-1/

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/04/05/the-art-of-glass-making-part-2/

http://holbrooknewmedia.com/2015/04/05/the-art-of-glass-making-part-3/


Subscribe to the WV Podcast On Android

Don't forget to check out Jeff's solo podcast at

http://www.daggersofthemind.com

View Details

Check out The WV Podcast, West Virginia's Podcast. This show features the great state of West Virginia and stories of the amazing people who make it such a wonderful place to live. Your hosts are Jeff & Dee Holbrook. Let's tear down the negative hillbilly stereotype that has been assigned to us by the national media. Let's tell our own story. The WV Podcast is starting on West Virginia's 152nd birthday, June 20th, 2015. You can find us at wvpodcast.com