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West Virginia's ultimate Appalachian road trip north
by Duane Nichols 29 Mar '22

29 Mar '22

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/appalachian-road-trip-west-virginia The ultimate Appalachian road trip through West Virginia Amy C. Balfour, Lonely Planet, March 28, 2022 Country roads may not take you home on this curvy drive through the Appalachians, but the gorgeous views and small-town hospitality make it clear why West Virginians embrace John Denver’s classic song. This adventure is made for driving, with scenic backroads twisting up mountains, crossing ancient rivers, and swooping through hardwood forests. The route kicks off in the Eastern Panhandle then rolls through Morgantown, Charleston, the New River Gorge, the Greenbrier Valley, and Canaan Valley. From hot dogs to hot springs, a trove of roadside attractions await. Plan to spend at least a week on this drive. One bonus? State parks are free in the Mountain State. The town of Harpers Ferry is well-preserved as a National Historical Park. © Courtesy of West Virginia Department of Tourism Stop 1: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Walking along the cobblestone streets of Lower Town in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, one would hardly be surprised to see Thomas Jefferson striding along the streets lined with historic buildings. He called the view from a hill above town “one of the most stupendous scenes in nature.” Abolitionist John Brown, who attempted to spark up a slave revolt here in 1859, would likely recognize the backdrop too – the centuries-old structures are remarkably well-preserved. Today exhibits inside these historic buildings spotlight key events in the community’s history. Fun fact: Harpers Ferry is the easternmost point in the state, located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. The chalet-style Bavarian Inn overlooks the Potomac in Shepherdstown, another historical town nearby. Grab breakfast at Betty’s, a compact diner dishing up home-cooked food that’s just as outstanding as the friendly service. Route: Follow I-68E through Maryland. Stop 2: Overlook at Coopers Rock State Forest The view of the Cheat Mountain River Gorge from the overlook at Coopers Rock State Forest is an inspirational introduction to the Mountain State’s mountain-and-forest beauty. The park has 50 campsites across two campgrounds, and canvas glamping tents are also available. Non-campers should head to one of the hotels in Morgantown, home to West Virginia University, for an overnight stay — the newly renovated Hotel Morgan is a top choice. Join WVU students at Mario’s Fishbowl for tasty pub fare and enormous draft beers – served in fishbowl-sized goblets! The main overlook at Coopers Rock State Forest overlooks the Cheat River as it flows through Cheat Canyon. Route: From Morgantown, follow I-79S 20 miles to Fairmont. Stop 3: Yann’s Hot Dog Stand Whatever you do, don’t ask for ketchup when ordering your hot dog at this legendary food hut (300 Washington St) in downtown Fairmont. Just accept the slathering of mustard, onions, and spicy sauce, and give a nod to its messy glory. Open since 1927, Yann’s served low-cost hot dogs and pepperoni rolls to miners and railroad workers over the decades. Today, acolytes descend upon the eatery from across the state. Route: Follow I-79S for 40 miles to Weston. Stop 4: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum & the Museum of American Glass The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston isn’t for the easily spooked. A stone-cut behemoth stretching nearly one-quarter of a mile, this Gothic-style facility was a mental hospital until 1994. Eventually renamed Weston State Hospital, the complex treated patients for more than 150 years. Tours explore everything from the history of the hospital to paranormal shenanigans. Downtown, the Museum of American Glass showcases the region’s glass-making heritage and prowess. The expansive collection of colorful glassworks includes marbles, bottles, and tableware. After you’ve worked up an appetite exploring, try the potato encrusted salmon at Thyme Bistro- the dish is renowned across the state. Route: Continue 100 miles south to Charleston, the state capital. Stop 5: West Virginia State Museum A designated path rolls past 26 discovery rooms inside this compelling museum. Each room is dedicated to diving deep into the most important geologic, historical, and cultural stories of the Mountain State. The museum is on the grounds of the state capitol complex, which is anchored by the capitol building and its eye-catching gold-leaf dome. The Kanawha River flows past just a few steps away. Taylor Books is a lively downtown bookstore with a coffee shop and art gallery. On a sunny day, you might see lawyers, legislators, and tourists sharing the patio at Pies & Pints next door. A full homemade breakfast is served at the well-appointed Brass Pineapple, a B&B close to the capitol complex. Route: Route 60, also known as the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway, follows the Kanawha River east then climbs into the surrounding Appalachians. Stop by the 7th-generation JQ Dickinson Salt-Works in Malden, where the prized gourmet salt is mined by hand. Thirty-five miles ahead? The gravitational wackiness of the Mystery Hole. Stop 6: Hawks Nest State Park In a state filled with fantastic views, the overlook at Hawks Nest State Park is one of the most fantastic. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the viewpoint takes in the New River Gorge and its forested slopes. An aerial tram drops from the park’s lodge to a riverside marina. Watch as jet boats speed out for views of the New River Gorge Bridge. For views with brews, settle in on the riverside deck at Smokey’s, a bbq-and-burger joint at Adventures on the Gorge. Route: Follow Rte 60 through Ansted to US-19S. Turn right and take it to the national park. Stop 7: New River Gorge National Park & Preserve As America’s newest National Park, a stop at the New River Gorge is a must. Check out the view of the park’s centerpiece, the New River Gorge Bridge, from the overlook behind the visitor center. The rugged gorge was carved by one of the oldest rivers in the world, the New River, and the park runs along a 53 mile stretch of it. Get even closer to the bridge with a guided Bridgewalk tour, which has daring adventurers clank along the catwalk beneath the span, serving up dizzying views of the river more than 850ft below. The park is an outdoor activity epicenter known for hiking, rock climbing, rafting, mountain biking, and scenic drives. Feeling hungry? Sandwiches and lattes are served under stained glass windows at the Cathedral Cafe, a former church. Both Adventures on the Gorge and ACE Adventure Resort have cabins available to rent for overnight stays. Route: It’s a 30-minute drive from the visitor center to Tamarack via US-19S and I-64E. Stop 8: Tamarack A stroll around Tamarack is a fulfilling artistic and cultural journey around the state, with crafts and artwork for sale from more than 2,800 West Virginia artists. Short-term exhibitions in the fine arts gallery showcase the state’s best craftsmanship, with rotating shows that vary by theme. The restaurant serves comfort food and locally sourced fare, including West Virginia trout, fried green tomato sandwiches, and The Greenbrier’s peaches and cream, a popular dessert served at the nearby luxury resort. (More on The Greenbrier below!) Tamarack offers local crafts and art for sale. © Courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Tourism Route: Follow I-64E to Hwy 3E. Hold on tight for this curvy ride up and over the mountains. Continue north on Rt 26. Sandstone Falls is about 40 miles southeast of Tamarack. Stop 9: Sandstone Falls An eight-mile drive through New River Gorge National Park along the New River ribbons past gentle rapids, weathered trains, and waterfront homes on the way to another gem of the park: Sandstone Falls. One unusual sight? The river flows north – a fairly rare occurrence in the United States. Once you’ve reached the falls parking lot, take the wooden boardwalk as it crosses a soggy forest and ends at an observation platform with a view of the falls, which stretch 1,500 feet across the river. Nearby, Hinton, a former rail hub, is home to the Hinton Railroad Museum. The welcoming Market on Courthouse Square serves sandwiches and pizzas beside a pretty red-brick street dating from the 1870s. Route: Rte 3 E crosses downtown Hinton then follows the Greenbrier River out of town. Follow Rte 3 and several country roads on the 50-mile drive east. Stop 10: Bunker Tour at The Greenbrier For decades, The Greenbrier resort, a swanky, white-columned retreat, held a secret of highly-classified proportions. A vast bunker, carved into an adjacent hillside in 1958, lay in wait for the unthinkable – a nuclear attack on the US. In the event of a nuclear strike, members of Congress would relocate to the bunker for safety. An article in the Washington Post revealed its existence in 1992. Today, tours explore the facility, which holds 18 dorms, a power plant, a clinic, a cafeteria, and meeting rooms. Back above ground, the resort has plush rooms across various wings and cottages. Another overnight option is the historic General Lewis Inn in nearby Lewisburg. Live music, good pizzas, and cold beer are on tap at Lewisburg’s Hill & Holler, housed in a rustic cabin downtown. Route: Follow Rte 92N to Rte 66W. It’s just over sixty miles to the next stop. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park lets visitors experience West Virginia’s history. Stop 11: Cass Scenic Railroad State Park A steam train chugs to the summit of Bald Knob, the third-highest peak in the state, where views of mountains and valleys extend for miles. A lumber town for much of the 1900s, Cass today is a historic village and the home of five powerful Shay locomotives. The class C-80 Shay #5 has climbed Cheat Mountain – an elevation gain of 2,390 feet over 11 miles – for 115 years. Trips to the summit last about 4 1/2 hours. The multi-use Greenbrier River Trail is a pretty spot for a stroll. For a unique overnight stay, spend the night in one of the white-clapboard Cass company houses, once the homes of railroad workers. Route: It’s fifty miles of mountain-and-forest driving to Seneca Rocks via Rte 92N and Rte 28N, with the final leg on US-33W. Stop 12: Seneca Rocks A jagged fin rising from a sea of forested hills, the peaks of Seneca Rocks are one of the most iconic sites in West Virginia. They’re also a hotspot for rock climbing, and climbers have tackled the formation’s sheer flanks since the 1930s. Sign up for a rock-climbing class with a local outfitter or simply hike the short trail that climbs to a rocks-adjacent observation platform. From here, you can see 4,863 foot-high Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state. Managed by the Monongahela National Forest Service, the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center has loads of information about outdoor recreation in the region (Mar-Oct). Route: Follow US-33W to Rte 32N through Davis to Blackwater Falls. It’s a 45-minute drive. Seneca Rocks in the Monongahela National Forest are an iconic landmark beloved by climbers. Stop 13: Blackwater Falls State Park The robust Blackwater Falls tumble 57 feet into a tree-lined gorge. Tannic acid released by fallen hemlocks and red spruce needles gives the falls its unique amber hue. There are more than 20 miles of hiking trails to explore here, plus more than three dozen furnished cabins are available for rent, and a midcentury lodge (also inside the park) boasts views of Blackwater Canyon. Route: It’s four miles to Thomas. Follow Blackwater Falls Rd to Rt 32N. Stop 14: Purple Fiddle With its pressed-tin ceiling, wooden floor, and quaint collection of antique knick-knackery, the interior of the Purple Fiddle in Thomas resembles the small country stores that dot Appalachia. But the Purple Fiddle becomes something different altogether at night when musicians raise the roof – and sometimes croon sad songs – from the corner stage. The Fiddle is a hotspot for up-and-coming musicians as well as established acts, often playing songs infused with the musical sounds of Appalachia. They serve good sandwiches, too! Located in an old general store, The Purple Fiddle still serves up deli classics, though it's best known as a venue for live music. Route: It’s a 104-mile return to the eastern panhandle. Take US-48E to Rte 93E. Then take I-68E to US-522S into Berkeley Springs. Stop 15: Berkeley Springs State Park Inns across the East Coast may brag, “George Washington slept here.” But how many can say that George Washington soaked there? The warm spring waters of Berkeley Springs have attracted travelers for centuries, and one brick-lined tub on the lawn of the state park claims to be Washington’s bathtub! Soak in the Old Roman bathhouse, then fill your thermos from the outdoor spout – the mineral-filled spring water is drinkable and totally free. Enjoy fine farm-to-table fare at Tari’s, then conclude this trip with a comfy night at the Country Inn of Berkeley Springs. Want more inspiration for your West Virginia road trip? Request a free vacation guide. xxx

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Home | MMMPO
by Duane Nichols 20 Mar '22

20 Mar '22

METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Check out the DRAFT 2050 MTP! The Public review period runs until May 10th. The purpose of this project is to examine regional transportation systems within and around Morgantown, WV, recommending strategic priorities over the next 25 years. By transportation we mean: roads, buses, sidewalks, and accommodations for bicycles. This project webpage serves as a valuable conduit between you (residents and neighbors) and the project team. We are mobility planners and engineers, and we are looking for strategies to continually grow and efficiently move around the Monongalia region. We look forward to your participation as you help us plan the region’s future transportation network. Stay engaged, and be sure to subscribe for project updates that will keep you informed along the way. https://www.mmmpo2050.com/

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Learning About West Virginia | News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer
by Duane Nichols 19 Mar '22

19 Mar '22

https://www.theintelligencer.net/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2022/03/lear… Learning About West Virginia From Levi, Third Grade, Langley School, McLean, Virginia, Mar 19, 2022 To Editor, Wheeling News-Register: Dear people of the great state of West Virginia, Hello, I am a third-grade student in Northern Virginia. Our class is learning about the United States, and I will be teaching our school about the state of West Virginia. In the month of May, I will create a display for our State Fair that I hope will make you proud. Although I have gathered facts about your state from books and websites, I think I can receive the best information from the people who live there. This is why I am writing to you. I am hoping that you would be willing to send me some items to help me learn more about the best things in your state. You might consider sending items such as postcards, pictures, souvenirs, this newspaper article, or any other unique items that would be useful or show your state pride. Here are a few questions: – Why do you live in your state? What first brought your family there? – How do you make money? What is your job? – What does your state look like? – What do people do for fun? – What animals live there? – What traditional food/recipes does your state have? – What type of music is native to your state? – Do you have a state athletic team? – What geographic features are unique to your state? I need to gather all of my information by the second week of May. You can mail items to this address: Mr. Mike Gilchrist’s class, The Langley School, 1411 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101. I really appreciate your help! Levi, The Langley School, McLean, VA

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[Herald-Standard] Something to celebrate
by Duane Nichols 17 Mar '22

17 Mar '22

https://www.heraldstandard.com/entertainment/local/something-to-celebrate/a… Sent from my iPad, DGN

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Geothermal Energy in West Virginia
by Duane Nichols 15 Mar '22

15 Mar '22

Full WV Senate to consider bill that would set up regulatory program for geothermal energy | Legislative Session | wvgazettemail.com, Mike Tony, March 9, 2022 https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/legislative_session/full-wv-senate-to-co… NOTE ~ WV Senate passed this HB 4098 on March 12, 2022. DGN The full West Virginia Senate will consider a bill that would set up a state regulatory program for geothermal energy. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced House Bill 4098, which would give the Department of Environmental Protection regulatory oversight of geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source within the Earth that is used to heat buildings and provide electricity. HB 4098 would grant ownership rights to geothermal resources to the owner of surface property over the resource unless severance of the geothermal resource is clear in documentation conveying ownership of it. The bill requires the DEP to create a permitting system for geothermal development for which it must establish temperature levels and volumetric flow rates. The legislation would make the agency responsible for establishing rules for geothermal drilling and site reclamation — including proper plugging — after a well no longer is used. West Virginia University geothermal research plans prompted the bill. House Energy and Manufacturing Committee counsel Robert Akers previously told the committee, which was first to approve the bill, that a permit for the university is the only one that would be pending initially under a new geothermal regulatory program. HB 4098 would allow the DEP to issue civil penalties ranging from $100 to $500 for each violation of rules established under the bill, and take civil action against violators in any circuit court where a well is located for injunctive relief. The House Judiciary Committee previously amended the bill to exclude geothermal heating and cooling heat pump systems for private residential dwellings and farm buildings from DEP jurisdiction. The Senate Judiciary Committee amended the bill to make technical changes. Lawmakers intend for the bill to apply to wells thousands of feet underground. Samuel Taylor, assistant director of strategic partnerships and technology at the WVU Energy Institute, handed out PowerPoint slides to Energy and Manufacturing Committee members in January. The slides showed that Northern West Virginia could be a potential “hot spot” for geothermal energy. A map on one slide showed patches of Earth in the region hotter than most of the rest of the Eastern United States. Another slide noted that geothermal could be a popular alternative energy source as companies with local footprints, like Chemours and Dow, strive to meet company-set carbon dioxide emission-reduction goals. The university’s U.S. Department of Energy-funded project includes drilling and sampling a deep-exploratory well to a depth of 15,000 feet to validate subsurface temperatures, according to one of the PowerPoint slides from Taylor. The slide noted a focus of the project is to gauge the potential of heating the university campus using a geothermal resource. West Virginia Environmental Council President Linda Frame said her organization supports the production of geothermal energy but stressed that it be done with minimal disruption to the environment and landowners. xxx

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Donna, can you post this on CLEAR .....
by Duane Nichols 14 Mar '22

14 Mar '22

https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/niche-releases-best-places-to-live-… Niche releases best places to live in WV in 2022 by: Sam Kirk, WBOY News 12, Clarksburg, WV, Mar 14, 2022 CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – You may love or hate where you live, but have you ever wondered what’s the best place to live in West Virginia? Using data from the U.S. Census and the FBI and ratings, Niche has released its top 25 best places to live in each state for 2022. Each town or city was given a letter score in 12 categories to determine rankings. Here are the top six places in West Virginia, according to Niche. #6 Morgantown Home of West Virginia University, Morgantown in Monongalia County is known for being full of young people and full of life. It’s not surprising that Morgantown has a rating of A+ for nightlife, but other notable qualities from Niche include an A rating for public schools and an A ranking for good for families. It also has an A- for outdoor activities and an A+ for commute. Morgantown’s worst rating in Niche’s 12 categories is a C for the weather. #5 Winfield If you value safety, Winfield in Putnam County might be a good place for you. Winfield rates A+ on Niche’s crime & safety category. It also secured A’s in the housing, good for families, and jobs categories. It also scored an A- in public schools and cost of living. The lowest rating Winfield received was a B- in several categories. #4 Star City This Monongalia County town is located just outside of Morgantown, giving it a similar score as Morgantown in several categories. Nightlife is a strong suit for Star City as well as good for families and public schools. Star City does not have a crime and safety rating, however. According to Niche, it offers a “dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes.” The lowest rating in Star City is a C for the weather. #3 Cheat Lake The top-rated place to live in Monongalia County is also the best place in West Virginia to raise a family, according to Niche. Cheat Lake has a rating of A+ for good for families and overall. It also has A’s for public schools, housing and jobs. Like its other Monongalia County locations, it has a C rating for the weather. Cheat Lake does not have a rating for crime and safety, and at least 80% of people who live in Cheat Lake own their own home. #2 Athens With an overall rating of A+, this Mercer County town offers a lower cost of living compared to some of the other top places in the state. Although it has no individual A+ category rankings, it has A’s in housing, good for families, cost of living, and commute. The median home value in Athens is over $100,000 less than the national average, making it more affordable. If high levels of diversity and jobs opportunities are on your must-have list, Athens may not be for you; it has C+ rankings in both categories. #1 Bridgeport Bridgeport in Harrison County has been named the best place to live in West Virginia. It has A rankings in housing, good for families and jobs. It also has several A- in public schools and health & fitness. The lowest categories in Bridgeport are B- in crime & safety, nightlife, weather and commute. Other north central West Virginia places that made the list are Westover at number 13 and Pleasant Valley at number 21. For the full top-25 list of the best places to live in West Virginia, click here.

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HAPPY TRAIL NEWS! construction underway....
by Duane Nichols 05 Mar '22

05 Mar '22

From: Ella Belling <ella(a)montrails.org> > Date: March 5, 2022 at 8:12:28 AM EST > Subject: HAPPY TRAIL NEWS! construction underway.... > > Happy Rail-Trail News! Construction begins on the next stretch of the Sheepskin Trail from Point Marion, PA along the Cheat River /Nilan Road toward the Cheat Lake Dam. There will be another 1.5 miles to explore when they complete this section- will end near Nilan Apostolic Church. I shared the Friends of Sheepskin Trail FB post and you can see more photos there or at MRTC FB page. > > Exciting news but hope everyone stays away from construction area and lets them work without disruption. Cheers, Ella > > Ella Belling, Executive Director, Mon River Trails Conservancy > P.O. Box 282, Morgantown, WV 26507 > http://montrails.org, 304-692-6782

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Cheat Lake Video .. Through the Seasons by Steve Heap
by Duane Nichols 10 Feb '22

10 Feb '22

Cheat Lake through the seasons. A photographic exploration...... https://youtu.be/sJ-I5-Ud76o This exploration of the Cheat Lake near Morgantown in West Virginia couples the dramatic photography of local photographer, Steve Heap, with the story of this lake from its beginnings to the present day. The video illustrates the changes both along the length of the lake but also as the seasons develop and contains some striking images from the air from a drone. This video is also available as an article which is also published with the images used in the video on https://www.BackyardImage.com and you can find these and many more images of the Morgantown area in my online store, https://steven-heap.pixels.com/collec..., available as prints and many other products.

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Is the Coronavirus in Your Backyard? - The New York Times
by Duane Nichols 07 Feb '22

07 Feb '22

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/health/coronavirus-deer-animals.html Is the Coronavirus in Your Backyard? White-tailed deer could become a reservoir for the virus, putting people and animals at risk, health experts say. Feb. 7, 2022, 5:00 a.m. ET Suresh Kuchipudi, a veterinary microbiologist at Penn State University in State College, Pa., with Cashew, a young white-tailed deer in the university’s deer research center.Hannah Yoon for The New York Times In late 2020, the coronavirus silently stalked Iowa’s white-tailed deer. The virus infected large bucks and leggy yearlings. It infiltrated a game preserve in the southeastern corner of the state and popped up in free-ranging deer from Sioux City to Dubuque. When scientists sifted through bits of frozen lymph node tissue — harvested from unlucky deer killed by hunters or cars — they found that more than 60 percent of the deer sampled in December 2020 were infected. “It was stunning,” said Vivek Kapur, a microbiologist and infectious disease expert at Penn State, who led the research. Dr. Kapur and his colleagues have now analyzed samples from more than 4,000 dead Iowa deer, diligently marking the location of each infected animal on a map of the state. “It’s completely mad,” he said. “It looks like it’s everywhere.” From the start of the pandemic, experts were aware that a virus that emerged from animals, as scientists believe SARS-CoV-2 did, could theoretically spread back to animals. Mink have garnered much attention after the virus spread through mink farms in Europe and North America, leading to massive culls of the animals. But white-tailed deer, which may wander into urban and rural backyards, are also easily infected. Infections in free-ranging deer, which display few signs of illness, are tricky to detect and difficult to contain. Deer also live alongside us in dizzying numbers; about 30 million white-tailed deer roam the continental United States. Vivek Kapur, a microbiologist at Penn State University. “It’s completely mad,” he said. “It looks like it’s everywhere.”Hannah Yoon for The New York Times If white-tailed deer become a reservoir for the virus, the pathogen could mutate and spread to other animals or back to us. Adaptation in animals is one route by which new variants are likely to emerge. “This is a top concern right now for the United States,” said Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, who directs the One Health Office — which focuses on connections between human, animal and environmental health — at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If deer were to become established as a North American wildlife reservoir, and we do think they’re at risk of that, there are real concerns for the health of other wildlife species, livestock, pets and even people,” she added. The virus is likely to continue circulating in deer, many experts predicted. But crucial questions remain unanswered: How are deer catching the virus? How might the pathogen mutate inside its cervid hosts? And could the animals pass it back to us? White-tailed deer are a “black box” for the virus, said Stephanie Seifert, an expert on zoonotic diseases at Washington State University: “We know that the virus has been introduced multiple times, we know that there’s onward transmission. But we don’t know how the virus is adapting or how it will continue to adapt.” Cervid surge A researcher trying to swab a white-tailed deer at a wildlife center at Texas A&M University in College Station.Sergio Flores for The New York Times The coronavirus enters human cells by attaching to what are known as ACE2 receptors. Many mammals have similar versions of these receptors, making them susceptible to infection. Early in the pandemic, scientists analyzed the genetic sequences for ACE2 receptors in hundreds of species to predict which animals might be at risk. Deer ranked high on the list, and laboratory experiments later confirmed that the animals could become infected with the virus as well as transmit it to other deer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service began looking for coronavirus antibodies in blood samples from deer in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. In July, the agency reported that 40 percent of the animals in those areas had antibodies, suggesting that they had already been infected by the virus. Some months later, Dr. Kapur’s team, which partnered with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, reported that active coronavirus infections were common in Iowa deer, and another group announced that more than one-third of the deer they had swabbed in northeastern Ohio were infected. Genomic analysis suggested that in both Iowa and Ohio, humans had passed the virus to deer multiple times and then the deer readily passed it to one another. “The early detections in companion animals, in mink farms, in zoological collections — those were all different because those were confined populations,” said Dr. Andrew Bowman, a veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University, who led the Ohio research. “We didn’t really have a natural setting where the virus could run free.” Whether the virus makes deer sick remains unknown. There is no evidence that infected deer become seriously ill, but humans might not notice if a wild animal was feeling slightly under the weather. And these early studies — which have largely relied on pre-existing disease surveillance or population control projects in deer — provided only a snapshot of what could be a sprawling problem. “I wouldn’t be surprised if more sampling uncovers the fact that these are not necessarily sporadic events,” said Dr. Samira Mubareka, a virologist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and the University of Toronto. In Canada, reports of infected deer are beginning to trickle in from Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. When Dr. Mubareka’s team sequenced virus recovered from Canadian deer, the researchers found it closely matched sequences in Vermont. “Deer don’t respect borders,” said Arinjay Banerjee, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan. Samples taken from deer that tested negative in Dr. Kapur’s lab at Penn State UniversityHannah Yoon for The New York Times ‘No masking, no social distancing’ How humans are transmitting the virus to deer remains an open question. “It’s definitely a mystery to me how they’re getting it,” said Dr. Angela Bosco-Lauth, a zoonotic disease expert at Colorado State University. There are many theories, none entirely satisfying. An infectious hunter might encounter a deer, Dr. Mubareka noted, but “if they’re good at hunting,” she added, “it’s a terminal event for the deer.” If an infected hiker “sneezes and the wind is blowing in the right direction, it could cause an unlucky event,” said Dr. Tony Goldberg, a veterinary epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Or if people feed deer from their porch, they could be sharing more than just food. And white-tailed deer are expert leapers, reaching heights of eight feet. “If you want to fence deer out of a place, you have to be trying very hard,” said Scott Creel, an ecologist at Montana State University. Deer would have no trouble jumping into alfalfa fields to graze alongside cattle, perhaps inviting a close encounter with a farmer, Dr. Creel said. Transmission could also happen indirectly, through wastewater or discarded food or other human-generated trash. “Deer, like most other animals, will sniff before they eat,” Dr. Kapur said. And deer release their feces as they feed, creating conditions where other deer might forage in areas contaminated with waste, or snuffle around waste that has feed mixed in, experts say. But it’s not clear how long the virus would remain viable in a polluted water source or on the surface of a half-eaten apple, or whether enough of it would be present to pose a transmission risk. An intermediate host, such as an itinerant cat, might ferry the virus from humans to deer. Farmed deer, which have frequent contact with humans, might also pass the virus to their wild counterparts through an escapee or their feces, Dr. Seifert said. (More than 94 percent of the deer in one captive site in Texas carried antibodies for the virus, researchers found — more than double the rate found in free-ranging deer in the state.) Dr. Sarah Hamer, a veterinary epidemiologist at Texas A&M University, who is interested in contact tracing of deer to understand how their social interactions influence viral transmission.Sergio Flores for The New York Times It may not require many spillovers for the virus to take off in a herd. Infected deer, which shed virus in nasal secretions and feces and have an infectious period of five to six days, can readily spread the virus to others, said Dr. Diego Diel, a virologist at Cornell University. Wild deer are social — traveling in herds, frequently nuzzling noses and engaging in polygamy — and swap saliva through shared salt licks. And unlike humans, deer have no tools for flattening the curve. “They don’t have rapid antigen tests,” Dr. Banerjee said. Dr. Kapur added, “No masking, no social distancing.” Dr. Sarah Hamer, a veterinary epidemiologist at Texas A&M University, is seeking funding to start contact tracing of deer to understand how their social interactions influence viral transmission. She hopes to use proximity loggers to record the time and duration of the animals’ interactions with one another. “What deer are hanging out with what deer?” Dr. Hamer said. “Are there deer superspreaders?” Research is still in early stages, but understanding how the virus is spreading is essential both for slowing transmission in deer and for protecting other vulnerable wildlife. Deer may graze alongside other cervids, such as boreal woodland caribou, which are endangered in Canada and are a traditional food source of First Nations peoples. And if humans are contaminating the wilderness with the virus, it could threaten other, highly endangered species, such as the black-footed ferret, which experts fear may be vulnerable to the virus. “If it’s in the environment, and we don’t know exactly how it’s in the environment or how it’s spreading, all of a sudden we have these endangered animals that are at even higher risk,” said Kaitlin Sawatzki, a virologist at Tufts University. Knowing how we are giving the virus to deer is also crucial for assessing the risk that they may pass it back to us. “The metaphorical window is open, and we don’t know where,” Dr. Bowman said. Dr. Hamer took a sample from a house cat to see if it had the coronavirus after its family had been infected. Cats could be an intermediate host between humans and deer.Sergio Flores for The New York Times Herd immunity The virus is clearly spreading in deer. But what happens next, and how worried should we be? Many experts said they expected the virus to become established in deer and circulate indefinitely. “If it’s not already established, it’s heading in that direction,” Dr. Mubareka said. The Coronavirus Pandemic: Key Things to Know The state of the virus in the U.S. The coronavirus has now claimed more than 900,000 lives across the country, and the Covid death rates remain alarmingly high. The number of new infections, however, has fallen by more than half since mid-January, and hospitalizations are also declining. Still, scientists said they needed longer-term data to be sure, and the outcome was not a given. Currently, people appear to be reintroducing the virus to deer frequently; but if human case rates fell substantially, and people stopped spreading the virus, it could disappear from deer populations. Moreover, deer do develop antibodies to the virus; if the antibodies are strong enough and enough deer develop them, literal herd immunity could squelch the spread. But scientists know very little about deer immunity. “Does exposure to one variant protect the deer population from subsequent variants?” Dr. Banerjee asked. If the virus does establish itself in deer, it is likely to evolve in ways that help it thrive in its new hosts. A deer-optimized version of the virus would not necessarily be more dangerous for people; the virus might adapt in ways that make humans less hospitable hosts. “If this became ‘Deervid,’ then that would be great,” Dr. Goldberg said. (“Hopefully it would stay benign in deer,” he added.) But the virus could retain its ability to easily infect humans while picking up more worrisome mutations, including ones that might allow it to evade our existing immune defenses. “Even if you got the human population immune and fully vaccinated, if there’s still a reservoir persisting in the animals, then that can allow the virus to continue to evolve,” said Linda Saif, a virologist and immunologist at Ohio State University. There is not yet any evidence that deer are infecting people, and for the foreseeable future, experts agreed, humans are far more likely to catch the virus from one another than from anything with hooves. “Even if deer were infecting people, it’s largely inconsequential in the grand scheme, because millions of people are getting infected from human-to-human transmission,” said Dr. Scott Weese, an infectious diseases veterinarian at the University of Guelph in Ontario. “But it becomes more of a risk as we start to control it.” Hunters, who handle deer carcasses extensively, could be at higher risk for contracting the virus from deer, scientists said. (There is no evidence that people can be infected by eating deer meat cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.) People who hand-feed their local deer — a practice experts warn against — could also be at risk. An abundance of ungulates Dr. Hamer at the deer pen at Texas A&M. Scientists worry that the virus could incubate in deer and morph into a variant capable of spilling back into humans or infect other animals.Sergio Flores for The New York Times Other animals, too, may be at risk from infection from deer. Predators such as mountain lions which kill deer by biting into their trachea or over their nose and mouth, could be infected while feasting. Scientists were relieved when early research suggested that cattle and pigs were minimally susceptible to the virus. But inside the bodies of white-tailed deer, the virus could morph into a pathogen capable of infecting such livestock. “That could be a big problem for food production stability,” Dr. Seifert said. Health officials must stay vigilant, experts said. The U.S.D.A. is now working with state agencies to collect blood samples and nasal swabs from dead deer in more than two dozen states. The work should help experts estimate how many deer have already been infected and whether certain characteristics, from age to habitat type, put some deer at elevated risk. “As we learn more, we will continue to refine and target our surveillance,” said Dr. Tracey Dutcher, the science and biodefense coordinator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the U.S.D.A. Long-term genomic surveillance is also needed, experts said. “If we start to see some really divergent viral variants popping up in deer in certain places, that would be a red flag,” Dr. Goldberg said. Depending on what scientists learn in the near future, officials could consider a variety of potential mitigation measures, including vaccinating captive deer, thinning infected herds or cleaning up whatever environmental viral contamination is giving the deer the virus in the first place. “I think we’ve got to get our hands around the situation before we really make plans on where to go,” Dr. Bowman said. For now, scientists also advise keeping a close eye on other wildlife. If the virus is so prevalent in deer, which are relatively easy to sample, it could be silently spreading in other species, too. After all, the only reason scientists found the virus in deer is because they thought to look. “We hadn’t realized it was spread in deer at all,” Dr. Kapur said. “We had no clue.” Sent from my iPad

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'I'd call him an English gentleman': Family describes missing Cheat Lake man
by Duane Nichols 07 Feb '22

07 Feb '22

https://news.yahoo.com/id-call-him-english-gentleman-043700171.html 'I'd call him an English gentleman': Family describes missing Cheat Lake man From an Article by Jim Bissett, Morgantown Dominion Post, February 5, 2022 Feb. 5—It's been more than a month since Bryn Hargreaves last spoke to family in his native England. And when Monongalia County deputies tried the door to his Whisper Creek apartment after he was declared missing Jan. 16, the easy give caught them for a second. That's because it wasn't locked. Once inside, they discovered his wallet and his keys. The clothes in his closet were neatly arrayed on hangers, as always. Nothing was out of place. Well, except for him. He wasn't there. "It was like he was abducted, or he did a walk-around, " his mother, Maria Andrews said this past Thursday in the newsroom of The Dominion Post. She and another son, David Hargreaves, had traveled to the U.S. from their home in Wigan, a working-class city in northern England, right between Manchester and Liverpool, the home of The Beatles. Wigan is known for more than its close proximity to where John, Paul, George and Ringo once roamed. It's also a hotbed for rugby, the rough-and-tumble sport that helped inspire American football, and Bryn Hargreaves, who is now 36, was one the best, turning pro at a young age. He played on championship teams and enjoyed fame, but, like a lot of athletes, he didn't have a long go of it. New shores ~ In 2012, his contract wasn't renewed — in part, because his team was losing money and facing liquidation, his mother said. "So he got disillusioned with the old game, " said Andrews, whose father and brother also played the sport professionally. The year previous, he met an American woman while on holiday in Mexico. A courtship turned into marriage, and that led to a trip across the pond to Pittsburgh, where his new wife had connections. "At 26, he had still had a quite a few years in him, " his mother said. "So he was off to America with the start of a new life." A buddy reaches out ~ Except, it didn't quite click, both his mother and brother said. The marriage didn't last either, and the only job he could was at an engineering firm in the Steel City that did pipeline work and natural gas exploration in the Marcellus shale. "It wasn't the job he wanted, " Andrews said. Still, he made a good go of his employment — with an easy grin and the stiff upper lip of a Brit at the same time. He quickly advanced to the position of project manager. At 6-foot-2 and a muscled 220 pounds, no one was going to outwork him on the job site. His brother said a job transfer for a project brought him to Morgantown right before the pandemic hit two years ago. Which didn't help, both David and his mother said. A co-worker contacted the family asking about Bryn's well-being, David said, when his brother hadn't been seen for a while. Mired in Morgantown ~ Being an ocean away from a close family, while being divorced on top of that, didn't help. Plus, he had a car crash this past Dec. 8, leaving him with a nagging back injury and an undrivable Jeep. He'd been relying on Uber or walking to get around, his family said. David Hargreaves said his brother has been on medical leave since the wreck. The injury has left the once-formidable athlete frustrated, his mother said. It's been a perfect storm for blue feelings, she and David said. "He hasn't been in a good place, " Bryn's brother said. "I think COVID, the crash, the season — Christmas — and I think something along with the medication because of his injury ..." his mother said, trailing off. The search continues ~ Meanwhile, deputies and a volunteer with trained dogs are continuing to search the wooded expanses behind Whisper Creek Apartments and in the Cheat Lake area where the luxury complex is located. "We have people out there almost every day, " said Detective Stephen Currie, the lead investigator on the case. "It hasn't been easy with the snow." A broader search is being planned with the Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, the detective said. There's that, plus the canvassing of all Hargreaves' electronic transactions and other online activity from Google to Apple — "And that takes time, " Currie said. "I know people get frustrated." "We know he's not driving his car, " he said. To date, there have been no eyewitnesses or sightings on surveillance cameras at the businesses and restaurants Hargreaves has been known to frequent. He's a fan of the Primanti Bros. sandwich chain for one, his brother said. Anyone is information is asked contact the Marion County Sheriff's Department at 304-291-7260, the detective said. Private messages may also be left on the department's Facebook page — which now also home to several groups formed to assist in the search. Just type in his name in the search field. "We know the police are doing everything they can, " David Hargreaves said. "And we're so thankful for the support of everyone else, with the social media push." Signature traits ~ If he is out and about, Bryn Hargreaves may be sporting a beard, his brother said. Or, maybe not. There's that distinctive tattoo of the family crest on his right arm, also — which will likely be covered by a coat or jacket — and his size, which can't be missed. While he hasn't kept up with his conditioning, he hasn't gone to fat either, his brother said. He's also left-handed, should you catch him signing his name somewhere. There's that, and his now Angelo-American accent, a distinct mashup that's not fully Yank and no longer 100 % Brit, either. Along with Bryn and David, there's another son in the brood, Gareth, who got married three years ago. That was the last time Bryn was back home, and his brothers teased about his almost-American accent. "He now says 'aluminum, ' whereas we still say 'awl-you-min-EEH-um, '" David remembered. The other thing that's distinctive, he said, is his brother's personality. Despite starring in an extremely aggressive sport, he's gentle and softspoken, his brother said. He plays guitar, does drawing and sketches and is well-read. There's that British drollery, also. Ask him, in American fashion, how he's doing, and wait for the signature response: "Absolutely average." "Everybody loves him, " David said. "I'd call him an English gentleman."

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