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Seth and Shane Lanhardt, the sons of Rebecca Alt Lanhardt and founders of the Rebecca Alt Lanhardt Foundation, spoke during the ribbon cutting celebration of the new community pavilion in Petersburg. The Lanhardt’s donated $125,000 towards the project in their late mother’s honor.

Community members gathered in Petersburg last week to officially cut the ribbon on the new Petersburg Community Pavilion dedicated through the Rebecca Alt Lanhardt Foundation. Dozens of local officials, business owners, residents and artists attended the ceremony. “The pavilion represents a shared vision the community has had, coming together and creating a vibrant downtown that brings people together,” said Carla Kaposy, the head of the Grant County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “So this space is not just a structure, it is about connection. It is about connecting locals and visitors in a shared gathering space.”

A Tucker County mining accident took the life of one worker and left another injured last week. The accident occurred at the Mountain View Mine near Davis. The mine is owned by Mettiki Coal. The incident occurred in the early morning hours at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 6. The type of accident that occurred has not been confirmed.

Later that night, it was confirmed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey that Joey Mitchell Jr. was the miner killed in the accident. “Our coal miners are among the hardest-working and most courageous people in our state,” Morrisey said in a social media post. “They represent the strength, humility, and resolve that defi ne West Virginia. We owe these men and women an enduring debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day to power our communities and our nation.”

Officials confirmed that the injured miner was transported by helicopter from the scene to receive medical care.

As the effects of the federal government shutdown continue to ripple through the region, Faith Assembly of God in Petersburg has stepped up to help. The church began offering free hot meals last week to individuals affected by EBT and to furloughed government employees. “We started last Tuesday,” explained one of the organizers. “We’re doing this three days a week — we post updates on Facebook and announce it on the radio so people know when to come.” The meals are open only to those directly affected by the shutdown, but no paperwork is currently required to receive one. “We just want to make it as easy as possible for people to come and eat,” one volunteer said. Several local churches are pitching in. Volunteers from both the Faith Assembly of God and the Church of God are preparing and serving the meals.

The conversation concerning who was responsible for the upkeep of a portion of Potomac Avenue near the City of Petersburg continued last week when local business owner Randy Thorne appeared before the commission for a second time. Thorne had spoken with the council last month during their regularly scheduled meeting about the poor shape of Potomac Avenue, located in south Petersburg near Golden Lanes Bowling Alley. The Thorne family owns the bowling alley and requested the city crews do some repairs on the street. However, the council pushed back, saying that the street was not in the city limits and was beyond the scope of the city’s responsibility.

The Lady Vikings volleyball team opened regional tournament play with a dominant win over the the Frankfort Falcons on Tuesday, October 28. Petersburg swept the Falcons in straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-20, and 25-22 to claim a 3-0 victory. Leading the offense at the net was Addie Day with 20 kills, followed by Miley Tingler with 13 and Teila Thorne with 7. Setters Taylan VanMeter and Ayden Mayfield ran a balanced offense with 19 and 18 assists, respectively.

From the service line, Mayfield scored 11 points including 5 aces, while Makenah Shriver led with 15 points and 3 aces. Defensively, the Vikings were strong across the board. Tingler led with 23 digs, followed by Shriver with 17 and Mayfield with 12. At the net, Elizabeth Huffman recorded 3 blocks, Thorne added 2, and Tingler chipped in 1. After defeating Frankfort, the Vikings advanced in the winners’ bracket to face South Harrison on Thursday, October 30. In a hard-fought battle, the Vikings fell 1–3 by scores of 23-25, 17-25, 25-21, and 21-25.

Offensively, Tingler, Day, and Thorne each posted double-digit kills with 11, 10, and 10, respectively. They were assisted by Mayfield with 18 assists and VanMeter with 12. Blair Loy and Mayfield led the serving effort with 10 points each, including 5 aces from Mayfield. Defensively, Tingler tallied 25 digs, Shriver 22, Loy 21, Mayfield 18, and Day 11. At the net, Thorne dominated with 11 blocks, Huffman added 6, Mayfield 5, and Day 4.

The loss sent Petersburg to the losers bracket, returning to South Harrison on Monday, November 3, to once again face Frankfort. The Falcons came out strong, taking the first two sets, but the Vikings fought back to win the next three and take the match 3–2 by scores of 21-25, 21-25, 25- 9, 25-20, and 15-5. After a brief 30-minute break including warmup, the Vikings faced South Harrison again. Petersburg came out strong with a 25- 18 win in the first set, but South Harrison rebounded to take the next three (19- 25, 22-25, 15-25), ending the Vikings’ season with a 1–3 loss.

Against Frankfort, Loy and Tingler each led from the service line with 17 points, Loy recording 5 aces and Tingler 4. Mayfield added 13 points with 8 aces, and Shriver contributed 10 points with 3 aces. At the net, Tingler, Day, and Thorne were once again dominant with 14, 12, and 11 kills, respectively. Huffman added 5 kills and Mayfield chipped in 4. VanMeter and Mayfield each recorded 18 assists. Defensively, the Vikings were tenacious, led by Tingler with 29 digs, followed by Mayfield with 17 and Shriver with 16. Loy added 7 digs and Day 6. Thorne led at the net with 7 blocks, and Huffman added 3.

In their final match against South Harrison, Mayfield led the defense with 19 digs, followed by Tingler with 15, Shriver with 11, and Loy with 10. Huffman was a force at the net with 9 blocks, while Thorne added 8. Offensively, Tingler led with 14 kills, Day added 12, and Thorne had 8. Mayfield recorded 19 assists and VanMeter added 15. From the service line, Loy, VanMeter, and Mayfield each scored 8 points, with VanMeter and Mayfield each serving 4 aces.

The Lady Vikings closed out their season with an impressive overall record of 23-16-1 and ranked 12th and much to be proud of after a strong showing in regional play.

For Petersburg High School golf coach Todd Heare, success isn’t defined by trophies — though there have been plenty. Under his leadership, the Vikings have become one of the state’s most respected programs, built on consistency, discipline, and heart. Heare has been named the Potomac Valley Conference Coach of the Year four years in a row and the WVSACA State Golf Coach of the Year. But he’s quick to say those awards reflect more than his own work. “I’ve never viewed it as an individual award,” Heare said. “It’s a reflection of everyone who makes this program what it is — our players, parents, community, and assistant coaches. We do this together.”

This season, Petersburg capped off another historic run, finishing Class AA state runner-up at Oglebay’s Jones Course while breaking multiple school records and producing standout performances from both veterans and newcomers. “It all started back in 2009 when Seth Thompson came to me and asked if I would apply for the job and coach his team,” Heare recalled. “I had always loved playing the game, and when he asked me to coach, I wanted to experience that side of golf — helping grow the program and watching young people fall in love with the game.” After taking the job, Heare led the Vikings to the state tournament in both 2010 and 2011. “I was hooked,” he said.

At just 14 years old, Petersburg High School freshman Noah Shirk is already proving that strength and discipline have no age limit. Noah began lifting in seventh grade, drawn to the sport’s individuality. “It’s a solo sport — my progress is what I put into it,” he said. “I’ve been pretty serious about it since the start, just because I wanted to see how quickly I could progress.”

By the end of his eighth grade year, Noah earned the school’s Iron Viking Award, given to lifters who can combine at least 1,000 pounds across the bench press, deadlift, and squat. “It definitely took endless hours of consistent lifting workouts to accomplish it,” he said.

This fall, Noah took his training to the state level, competing in the West Virginia Strongman Competition in Kingwood on September 20. Events included the Hercules Hold, Conan Wheel, Apex Deadlift, Sandbag/Wheelbarrow/ Arm-over-Arm Car Pull, and Sandbag Log Press. Competing in the 13–15-year-old division, he earned first place in his debut competition. Noah trains daily at N2Fitness Gym for at least two hours. While local gyms lack the specialized equipment used in strongman events, he visited the host gym in Kingwood before the competition to practice the unique lifts and holds.

“Winning first place on my fi rst competition made me feel great and encouraged me to push harder for the next one,” he said. When progress feels slow, he doesn’t back off. “If I feel like I’m not progressing the way I should, I push harder and work harder,” he said. “You have to stay positive, even when you struggle, because the next time you lift could be your personal best.”

Noah researches his own training routines and doesn’t work with a coach. His family, he said, has been supportive every step of the way. “They know how much work and dedication I’ve put into achieving my goals,” he said.

Balancing school and training takes discipline. “I try to finish most of my schoolwork at school so I can go to the gym in the evenings,” Noah said. Winning his division has also qualifi ed him for Nationals, which he hopes to compete in next. “I want to keep getting better, trying to reach the next level,” he said.

For students thinking about lifting, Noah’s advice is simple: start where you are and stick with it. “You can start at the school gym, watch videos, and take advice from others,” he said. “If you’re serious about it, be ready to dedicate the time. I’d be more than willing to help anyone if they reach out.”