On Wednesday, Gov. Justice encouraged all previously vaccinated West Virginians to move quickly to get their booster shot. Last week, the FDA and the CDC both officially approved booster doses for all Americans ages 18 and older.
“It’s getting colder, your immunity is low, and we know the Delta variant is multiple times more infectious,” Gov. Justice continued. “You cannot afford to hesitate. Go run to your health department or pharmacy and get your booster shot.”
West Virginians can go to any location offering COVID-19 vaccines with your vaccination card to receive the booster. If your card has been lost, you can request a new one from the DHHR.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks about COVID-19 to present checks for $500,000 each to two West Virginia food banks: the Mountaineer Food Bank and the Facing Hunger Foodbank. This marks the second year in a row that the Governor has been able to award this funding to these food banks. The Governor was joined for the briefing by Cyndi Kirkhart, Executive Director of the Facing Hunger Food Bank; and Brianna George, Chief Development Officer for Mountaineer Food Bank.
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Hunters in West Virginia have more to look forward to this year, including the chance to show off their harvests and win prizes by participating in the first ever “Big Buck Photo Contest,” open from Nov. 22 to Dec. 27. The contest is open both to West Virginia residents and nonresidents and includes two divisions: a Youth Division for hunters 17 and younger, and an Adult Division for hunters 18 and older. Five participants from each division will win prizes.
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First Lady Cathy Justice joined West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History Curator Randall Reid-Smith Tuesday to unveil her official 2021 Limited Edition Christmas Ornament. This year’s ornament was made by Beckley glass artist, John DesMeules.
The 2021 ornament features a red, green, and gold swirl design, blown into the shape of a round glass sphere. The shape of West Virginia is sandblasted on the front, with a gold star where Charleston is located. In keeping with tradition, a limited number of 500 ornaments are available for purchase at the Culture Center in Charleston and at Tamarack in Beckley for $25 each.
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Gov. Justice announced Monday that the Jobs & Hope West Virginia program now has a new and improved website, making it easier for people to learn about the program and start their journey to land a great job. Jobs & Hope operates within the West Virginia Department of Education and is the result of a concept brought forth by Gov. Justice during his 2019 State of the State address to remove barriers to job opportunities for those recovering from addiction. Since its inception in 2019, the program has had more than 232 participants graduate.
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Gov. Justice announced Tuesday that he has awarded $1,184,284.00 in Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program funds to 42 projects across West Virginia. These funds will be used to assist state agencies, local units of government, and private non-profit agencies in carrying out specific programs that offer a high probability of improving the functioning of the criminal justice system.
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Gov. Justice announced Tuesday that he has awarded $308,000.00 in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Title II grant funds to seven projects across West Virginia. These funds are awarded to public and private non-profit agencies throughout the state for the purpose of preventing juvenile delinquency, reducing racial and ethnic disparities, rehabilitating juvenile offenders, and improving the juvenile justice system in West Virginia.
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A six-lane upgrade to the West Virginia Turnpike near Beckley opened in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Three northbound and three southbound lanes of the Turnpike between mile markers 40 and 48 are officially open to traffic. The $140 million project was one of the first contracts to be awarded from Gov. Jim Justice's $2.8 billion Roads to Prosperity highway construction and maintenance program. The widening of the Turnpike to six lanes between mile markers 40 and 48 was first considered by the Parkways Authority in 2006 but was deemed too expensive at the time.
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The West Virginia Division of Highways is prolonging the life of its equipment and saving money by undercoating state vehicles. The DOH chose a product called Fluid Film to treat the undersides of road equipment. The anti-rust and anti-corrosion compound was developed for the marine industry and offshore oil rigs. Every year, the Equipment Division undercoats approximately 500 vehicles. The division has two truck-mounted spraying units that travel all around the state.
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On Tuesday, Gov. Justice and the West Virginia Division of Highways announced a contract for $7,166,000 to rehabilitate the historic Capon Bridge in Hampshire County. It was one of eight bridge construction, replacement or rehabilitation projects awarded from a bid letting held Tuesday, Nov. 9. Triton Construction Inc. was the lowest of three bidders for the project, which will renovate the span. The bridge carries US 50 over the Cacapon River in Capon Bridge.
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On Tuesday, Gov. Justice and the West Virginia Division of Highways announced a contract for $27,460,293.38 to widen a section of WV 2 near Parkersburg. The project will be paid for with funding from Gov. Justice’s $2.8 billion Roads to Prosperity highway construction and maintenance program. The project is part of an ongoing plan to upgrade WV 2 to four lanes all the way from Parkersburg to Chester in the northern panhandle. Approximately 38 miles of WV 2 have already been widened to four lanes.
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More than 2,000 acres of wildlife habitat in the Monongahela National Forest is being restored thanks to a collaborative project between the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and United States Forest Service. The work is being done on the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area in Randolph County as part of the Beulah Wildlife Enhancement Project, a major effort between the WVDNR and US Forest Service to better manage the area’s upland game wildlife, streams and fisheries.
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