This article was originally published by Ohio Valley ReSource. After years of leading the nation in overdose death rates, Ohio Valley communities are looking for new ways to deal with the addiction crisis. A national nonprofit organization promotes and partners with programs that do just that. The Addiction Policy Forum […]
Read MoreMonth: December 2019
Palmer’s House of Toys
Kids have their own way of judging what’s real, and it’s not necessarily based on the cost of the Santa suit. Here’s a Christmas memory from 1968, when Hazard, Kentucky, had three Santas — but only one would do. (This is a republication of a Daily Yonder holiday favorite). At 17, […]
Read MoreAmidst Decline, W.Va. Christmas Tree Farms Carry on Traditions
People have been decorating Christmas trees in their homes since the 16th century. It’s a tradition that began in Germany and spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world. According to statistics provided by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, about 4.3 million trees are sold in the United […]
Read MoreThis W.Va. Workshop Is Keeping Folk Toys Alive
When I was a kid, the thing that intrigued me most about Santa wasn’t the beard, or the flying reindeer, or the repeated breaking and entering. No — I was fascinated by his workshop. I loved to imagine the elves working tirelessly to make toys that would end up under […]
Read MoreStirring Up ‘Dark Waters’: The Complex Relationship Between Industry and Community
Seeing “Dark Waters” itself is a surreal experience for someone born and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia, at least in part because I never thought I would see a story about my hometown on the big screen. “Dark Waters” is an eco-thriller produced and starred in by Mark Ruffalo. It […]
Read MoreMeet the West Virginian Who Wrote the Christmas Classic ‘Frosty the Snowman’
This article was originally published by West Virginia Public Broadcasting in December 2014. The man behind the lyrics of Frosty the Snowman, Peter Cottontail, and Smokey the Bear is none other than West Virginian Jack Rollins. His song about a magical snowman coming to life and bringing holiday cheer can be heard almost everywhere […]
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