During Thursday’s press briefing, Gov. Justice one again reminded West Virginians of the importance of being vaccinated and receiving a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine prior to the holiday season.
Specifically, he urged individuals age 50 and older to make sure they are fully vaccinated with a booster dose before holiday shopping with large crowds or attending events with loved ones.
"We have a small percent of people 50 and older who are fully vaccinated but have not taken their booster shots. That is just plain not smart," said Gov. Justice. "Run to the fire and get your booster shots. We have to do better."
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On Thursday the West Virginia National Guard held a ceremony to promote Col. Michaelle M. Munger to the rank of brigadier general. Munger is the first female general officer for the West Virginia Army National Guard in the state’s history.
She follows in the footsteps of Brig. Gen. Paige P. Hunter who became the first female general officer for the West Virginia Air National Guard in 2016.
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Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice are encouraging all West Virginians to watch the annual Joyful Night celebration on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at 7 p.m. The festive evening will feature many beloved holiday traditions and several captivating performances by West Virginians from near and far to ring in the holiday season.
This year’s program will again be virtual. The celebration will be broadcast statewide on the West Virginia Channel. Find your station here.
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Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Department of Tourism announced on Wednesday that West Virginia has been selected as one of the Best Places to Go by Condé Nast Traveler.
This designation follows a series of recent major announcements by Lonely Planet and TIME Magazine, that together rank West Virginia as a leading global destination for travel in the New Year.
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Gov. Jim Justice announced on Wednesday that the State has broken several all-time historic economic records. West Virginia’s General Revenue collections for November 2021 came in at $88 million above estimates and 27.2% ahead of prior year receipts.
“West Virginia is writing the comeback story of all time, and these unprecedented surplus numbers are proof that this rocket ship ride that I promised is real,” Gov. Justice said.
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On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Justice announced the winners of 127 prizes through his Do it for Babydog: Round 3 vaccination sweepstakes.
Khloe Thayer of Cameron won the individual grand prize of a $50,000 Educational Savings Fund. An additional 25 young West Virginians each won a prize of a $10,000 Educational Savings Fund. All Educational Savings Fund prizes will be in the form of a 529 plan, managed by the State Treasurer’s Office, which will be invested and grow over time. The fund can be used for any educational-related expenses, not just higher education.
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Gov. Jim Justice traveled to Wirt County Middle School / Wirt County Primary Center in Elizabeth on Tuesday to present students and staff with a $50,000 check as winners in Round 3 of the “Do it for Babydog” vaccination sweepstakes.
The Governor brought along his pet English Bulldog and sweepstakes mascot, Babydog, and threw a party for the entire school to celebrate.
“Today is a really special day that we celebrate you,” Gov. Justice said. “We also want to encourage you, and everyone, to get vaccinated.”
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On Tuesday, Gov. Justice and state medical experts extensively discussed the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which was identified in South Africa last week.
“The Omicron variant is a very concerning variant because it has a really large number of mutations,” State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh said. “Whether this variant turns out to be one that outcompetes the Delta variant and becomes the most common variant in the United States, or in West Virginia, we don't know yet. But what we do know is that COVID remains very active and it is ultimately important for us to make sure that we are vaccinating all of our population fully and boosting the part of our population that is eligible.”
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Traffic on the West Virginia Turnpike was up nearly 30 percent during the week of Thanksgiving as out-of-state travelers experienced the state’s beauty and hospitality.
Nearly 733,000 vehicles went through Turnpike toll booths between Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 and Sunday, Nov. 28, almost 30 percent more than during the same period in 2020.
The busiest days on the Turnpike were the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday. Nearly 157,000 vehicles went through Turnpike toll booths on Wednesday, Nov. 24, while more than 165,000 passed through on Sunday, Nov. 28.
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Gov. Jim Justice traveled to Cameron Elementary School in Marshall County on Monday to present students and staff with a $50,000 check as winners in Round 3 of the “Do it for Babydog” vaccination sweepstakes.
The Governor brought along his pet English Bulldog and sweepstakes mascot, Babydog, and threw a party for the entire school to celebrate.
“Out of all the schools in West Virginia, there are only four winners, and you are one of them,” Gov. Justice said. “I couldn’t be more proud of you and your school. You’re all so special.”
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