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Each of the eight Mon Forest Towns will be adding a unique piece of functional art to their area with the creation of canoe kiosks, designed to refl ect their specifi c town as well as hold informational brochures for visitors.

These canoe-shaped kiosks were created by students at the South Branch Career and Technical Center and are part of an overall collaborative effort with not only SBCTC but also West Virginia University Preservice student chapter of the National Art Education Association (NAEA).

Kelson Thorne, a nationally acclaimed artist based out of Petersburg, will paint each kiosk with a design created to symbolize each canoe’s specifi c town. Petersburg’s kiosk, which will serve as a prototype for the project, features the town’s iconic golden trout. The kiosks will also feature the matching vinyl logo of the Mon Forest Towns Program at the top of the canoe as well as the town’s name.

On Dec. 30-31, 2025, deputies with the Grant County Sheriff’s Department responded to two separate fatal vehicle accidents on U.S. 48 (Corridor H).

According to a press release put out by the department,

Two recent cases in Pendleton County Circuit Court are showing how West Virginia enforces its sex offender registry laws, with both matters centering on reporting requirements rather than allegations of new sex crimes. In each case, prosecutors allege that the defendants failed to comply with registry rules requiring individuals to keep their personal and online information up to date. Court records indicate neither case involves charges of a new sexual offense.

Ruble Case

The Best of Grant County Awards give our readers a chance to celebrate the people, places, and businesses that make Grant County special. Nominations open from January 1 to January 15. During this time, readers can nominate their favorites in any category.

You can fill out the online form https://forms.gle/HWuPdGMcvUU4V2kk6  for as many or as few categories as you want. After nominations, the top individuals, businesses, and organizations in each category move on to the final voting round, which runs from January 16 to January 30. Voting is online, and each person can vote once per category.

If you cannot vote online, you may stop by the Press office and fill out a paper ballot. Winners will be chosen by popular vote and announced on January 31. The results will be published in a Best of Grant County section in the February 3 issue of the Grant County Press. Winners will receive a certificate and an online social media badge to display.

Anyone can participate, but nominees must be located in Grant County.

BY DAVID ROGERS

Petersburg High School boys’ basketball team traveled to Lost Creek on Saturday afternoon for a regional matchup with the South Harrison Hawks. Petersburg returned home with a hard fought 58-53 victory. The win extends the Vikings’ win streak to four games.

BY CLAY FRITZ

The Vikings began the New Year battling against local rivals at the annual Baker Brawl hosted by East Hardy. Hampshire, Moorefield, Pendleton County, and Tucker County were also in attendance. This is the fi rst year as a program for Tucker County. The team fi nished 4-1 with wins against Hampshire (48-18), Pendleton (53-12), East Hardy (42- 18), and Tucker (60-0).