FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, June 25, 2022
CONTACT: Jordan Damron, [email protected]
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West Virginia Week In Review
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On Monday, Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice invited all West Virginians to the State Culture Center at the Capitol Complex for a day of fun in celebration of West Virginia’s 159th birthday. They first announced the winner of the West Virginia Birthday Cake Contest.
Kim Wymer of Scott Depot was named the grand prize winner and her recipe – “Ms. Van’s Blackberry Skillet Cake” – is now the official birthday cake of West Virginia. It will be served annually on June 20 to commemorate the anniversary of West Virginia’s statehood.
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The day also featured a Golden Horseshoe Reunion, Gov. Justice being knighted with an honorary Golden Horseshoe, and a History Bowl Legends Tournament.
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Gov. Justice and the West Virginia Department of Tourism are inviting West Virginians – and all those who love West Virginia – to celebrate the Mountain State’s birthday by posting photos to social media of their favorite places around the state. This year, the Department of Tourism has picked nine of the most Instagramable spots across West Virginia to debut handcrafted, larger-than-life Almost Heaven swings located in some of the state’s most scenic locations.
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Gov. Justice took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of the new Larlyn Patrick McKinney Bluefield Area Transit Regional Transfer Station, located in the heart of downtown Bluefield. The $3.2 million, state-of-the-art facility will operate as the hub of the city’s Bluefield Area Transit (BAT) bus system. The local transportation network now serves more than 225,000 annual passengers on routes in Mercer and McDowell counties, including over 120,000 seniors and 15,000 passengers with disabilities.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice issued a statement after the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in Dobbs returning abortion law to the states.
“I applaud the Supreme Court’s courageous decision today," said Gov. Justice. "I’ve said many times that I very proudly stand for life and I am rock-solid against abortion, and I believe that every human life is a miracle worth protecting."
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On Monday, Gov. Justice declared a State of Emergency for Mingo County due to a severe weather system that struck the county on Friday, June 17, 2022. The storm caused flash-flooding as well as downed trees and power lines, causing road blockages and leaving thousands without power.
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Gov. Justice announced Friday that West Virginia Department of Commerce Cabinet Secretary C. Edward “Ed” Gaunch will retire from state government in July 2022 after more than three years of leading the Department.
Sec. Gaunch’s departure is effective at midnight on Friday, July 15, 2022. The next Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce will be appointed by Gov. Justice at a later date.
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During his briefing Wednesday, Gov. Justice was joined by members of West Virginia’s Pandemic Response Leadership Team, including State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad and Joint Interagency Task Force Director Jim Hoyer, who discussed the recent approval of COVID-19 vaccines for use in children as young as 6 months old.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice was joined by West Virginia pediatrician Dr. Lisa McBride, who owns Cardinal Pediatrics in Morgantown. In her remarks, Dr. McBride celebrated the recent approval of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for use in children as young as 6 months old and discussed the importance of parents choosing vaccination for their children.
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A project to widen Jefferson Road to five lanes between US 60 in South Charleston and Corridor G is on schedule and making good progress.
“The bulk of the work right now is concentrated on the new bridge over the Kanawha Turnpike,” said Jason Hamilton, P.E., area construction engineer for West Virginia Division of Highways District 1.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that Melissa Decker will lead West Virginia’s new office located in the Hall of States in Washington, D.C. Decker will work to identify areas where the State of West Virginia can compete for more federal grant funding. She will also serve as Gov. Justice’s liaison with West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation and will serve as the primary point of contact between federal officials and the State of West Virginia.
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Gov. Justice announced Wednesday that he has appointed Lorrie Smith to the new position of State Workforce Resiliency Officer. Created by the passage of the Governor’s West Virginia Workforce Resiliency Act, the new State Workforce Resiliency Office will operate on behalf of the Governor to coordinate workforce development, job training, education, and related programs across numerous State agencies and entities to grow West Virginia’s workforce and to provide more options for West Virginians seeking work and West Virginia businesses seeking employees. The Workforce Resiliency Officer is tasked with leading these efforts.
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