O
ne local school turned a fall staple into a STEM lesson, and a community prepares to recognize area veterans with an annual parade. Here’s the 411 from communities around the region, including Nitro, St. Albans and Charleston.
Pumpkin Drop: Students at Nitro Elementary School celebrated the season with a hands-on physics lesson. On Monday, students competed in a pumpkin drop, an activity designed to test pupils’ knowledge of mechanics and creativity. Each classroom was challenged to create a structure to protect a pumpkin dropped from the height of 100 feet. Nitro Fire Department service members used the agency’s new aerial ladder truck as a post to launch the pumpkins. The students in Deanna Keeling’s third grade classroom took top honors and will be rewarded with a pizza party for their win.
Veterans Parade: Veterans Day is set for November 11, and some local communities are preparing to honor the brave men and women who have served our country with special services and events. The City of St. Albans will hold their annual Veterans Day parade on Saturday, Nov. 15. The parade, which is sponsored by VFW Auxiliary Post 6418 and American Legion Post 73, steps off at 11 a.m. Participants will begin lining up around 9:30 a.m. at Park Street and Sixth Avenue. Anyone interested in registering for the parade is asked to email vfwriderspots6418wv@gmail.com or call VFW Post 6418 Commander J. Mollohan at 304-982-1309.
Championships Return: In case you haven’t heard: West Virginia’s capital city will once again host the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships. Events will take place June 17-21, 2026, at various locations around Charleston. Also next year, the city will play host to USA Gymnastics for All GymFest, which runs June 25-28 at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Both events are expected to draw participants from all over the United States. “June 2026 is going to be one unforgettable month in our Capital City,” officials noted in a social media post about the events.
