FAIRVIEW — The town was awash in blue and gold when the Mountaineers visited Wednesday.
The Fairview Senior Center hosted a West Virginia University Mountaineer tailgate party with a few special guests: Six freshman football players, a cheerleader and Mountaineer Rebecca Durst.
Many Fairview residents came and brought their friends and family for the event.
Resident Midge Greene brought her sisters Nancy Durst of Belington and Betty Grant of Pennsylvania.
Durst and Grant were visiting with their sister, and all three attended the Toothman reunion over the weekend. When they heard about the party, the sisters decided to stay. Durst had to run home to Belington Tuesday to watch her grandchildren, who were very excited about the event. They pulled out pictures of all the Mountaineers, Durst said.
“This is big excitement for Fairview,” Grant said. “This is such a nice town.”
“This is the biggest thing that’s happened here for a while,” Greene said.
Resident John Knisely is a big sports fan and an even bigger Mountaineer fan. Even though he lives in Fairmont, he still comes home to his native Fairview to support the town’s activities.
“This is a great chance to meet the Mountaineers,” Knisely said. “Fairview’s always been special and this is just another way to show Bill Stewart and the boys we’re behind them 100 percent.”
Mountaineer Rebecca Durst arrived with six football players and a cheerleader to overwhelming applause and requests for autographs. Each of them took the time to speak with the residents, sign different items and pose for pictures.
“This is a great reception,” Durst said. “I’ve had a great time traveling the state and visiting the Mountaineer friends. I’m so proud to be the Mountaineer and I’m really anxious for football season.”
Wednesday’s tailgate was organized by the senior center, said Director Jo Ann Dodd, who gave all the credit to her family member, Sonja Wilson, who coordinates appearances for the Mountaineer.
“Sonja made it all possible,” Dodd said. “We appreciate she could do this for us.”
Dodd said they only confirmed the date last week, so the senior center had a week to plan and organize, but it all worked out thanks to many volunteers. Rebecca Durst, from Point Pleasant, has the distinction of being the 60th Mountaineer. She is also only the second woman to hold the coveted title. The first, Natalie Tennant, is a native of Fairview. Tennant is now West Virginia’s Secretary of State.
Hosting an event to welcome Rebecca Durst as the Mountaineer was designed to make her feel welcome, Dodd said.
“We wanted an event so Fairview could welcome her,” Dodd said. “She represents our state.”
E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
PHOTO BY DANNY SNYDER
Fairview awash in blue and gold
Senior center hosts WVU tailgate party; Mountaineer mascot among participants
- Local News
-
-
‘Saudi Arabia of Coal’
Approximately $40 million in Recovery Act funding will go to the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown for further development of carbon capture and storage technology.
-
School bond support sought
A school bond committee met Wednesday to strategize and discuss ways to get the voters to support a bond that will pay for a new middle school for East Fairmont and renovations at Fairmont Senior High.
-
Political experts: 1st District race close
Political experts predict a close race for the 1st Congressional District in November.
Mike Oliverio, D-Monongalia, defeated 14-term incumbent Rep. Alan Mollohan in a bruising Democratic primary battle for the 1st Congressional District in May. Oliverio faces Republican David McKinley in the general election on Nov. 2. -
Seeking answers
A distinct odor of raw sewage permeated the late summer air near a shallow Colfax-area stream Tuesday afternoon as pitch black water trickled from a pipe below a nearby housing development.
-
BOE declines comment on investigation
Superintendent Tom Deadrick officially informed the Marion County Board of Education about a West Fairmont Middle School teacher who is under investigation for throwing a chair and using inappropriate language during class time while students were present.
-
Hearing today for nuisance ordinance
At today’s commission meeting, public opinions on a proposed countywide noise and nuisance ordinance are set to be heard before officials take a final reading and vote.
-
Agencies team up to promote preparedness
Thousands of text messages will be sent from Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington Friday. And they won’t be updates on the game’s score.
-
Chief: Fire caused by paper shredder
Crews from several local fire companies were kept busy on Labor Day fighting an afternoon fire at the SFK Pulp Mill.
-
‘Best of both worlds’
Like many area residents, Joyce Lipinski Evans grew up celebrating her Italian culture in part through the food her mother, Goldie DeFazio Lipinski, would make for her family in Monongah.
-
‘Still my teams’
Mike Tipi leads quite a life.
He has spent about 20 years with the Fairmont Little League. He says he coached there for seven years and then became the public address announcer and scorekeeper. - More Local News Headlines
-
