Latest news with #FairmontState
Dominion Post
25-06-2025
- General
- Dominion Post
Donald David Meighen
Donald David 'D.D.' Meighen passed away on Monday, June 23, 2025, at the United Hospital Center in was born Dec. 31, 1944, a son of the late Harry Meighen and Helen Katherine is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dr. Mary Miller Gwinn Meighen, their three children and nine grandchildren: Chris and Laurie Meighen of Clarksburg and their three children: Ethan, Blake and Kaden; Drew and Bethany Meighen of Athens and their three children: Luke, Kyle and Clay; and Julie Meighen Perry and husband, Moses Perry of Fairmont and their three children: Lily and twins, Grant and Lincoln. Also surviving are a sister, Donna Kay Meighen Whitelock of Bellevue, Pa; his sisters-in-law, Rebecca Humphries of Oak Hill and Ann Steplowski of Beckley; and cousin, Donald Morris Jr. of Waynesboro, Meighen was a 1963 graduate of Fairmont Senior and 1967 of Fairmont State. He received his Masters of Divinity at Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. From 1968-2024 (56 Years) he served 17 churches of four denominations in four counties. He served the Meadowdale Charge (Pisgah, Winfield and Meadowdale UMC), Associate Minister at First United Methodist Fairmont; Vincent Memorial Church in Nutter Fort and Central United Methodist in Fairmont. He also served as campus minister at West Virginia University for both the Presbyterian and United Methodist Church. He served as interim minister at First Presbyterian and on three occasions at Central Christian (Disciples of Christ) in Fairmont. He also briefly was the interim at Grace Evangelical Lutheran. In addition he pastored three churches on the Carolina Charge in Marion and the Tunnelton Charge in Preston Meighen enjoyed using ministry in a variety of ways to help people and assist media, he wrote a weekly music column 'Today's Sounds' in The Fairmont Times West Virginian; he produced seven shows on three radio stations from 1971-1979 as well as cable shows in Meadowdale and Fairmont. He founded 24 hour Marion County Public Access Television from 2006-2018 on the Time Warner Cable, writing, filming and editing over 3,000 programs. He gave copies of all his programs to the Frank and Jane Gabor Folk Life Center and to the Marion County Library. He began Tv561 and Tv19 Facebook pages to continue live streaming events, particularly County Commission meetings. He started a VIMEO Channel in 2019 for Marion County Heroes of Faith and Justice. He served as media chair for the Greater Fairmont Council of Churches and was responsible for weekly Faith Journey articles in the local paper and assigning prayers at City and County Commissions education, he started the first after school program in in 1971 at Meadowdale's East Dale School, extending that to Monongalia County with students, WVU faculty and students. In Harrison County he developed a state model with Vincent Memorial Church and Nutter Fort Elementary, extending it to Washington Irving Middle. He was elected to the Harrison County Board of Education in 1999. Coming to Fairmont, he led a successful Bond Call to build a new West Fairmont Middle School in 2002 and developed a summer playground program at 5th Street and a 200 plus student after school program at Central United Methodist Church. For these efforts, The West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service and the Governor's Office awarded Vincent Memorial Church in Nutter Fort in 1998 and Central United Methodist Church in 2002 as the State Church of the Public Service, he formerly served as Chair of Mission West Virginia, Scott's Run Settlement House, United Way Fund Drive, and the Fairmont Coalition for Homelessness. He was a former Members of Center for Professional Development, the Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission, Presbyterian Neighborhood House in Pursglove, Marion County Senior Citizens, Fairmont Rotary Club, and Family Resource a minister, he served Central UMC where the first official Father's Day Service was held where he portrayed Fletcher Golden, the Father who inspired Father's Day. In 2006 he helped commemorate the first Miners Day Service in America with Creed Holden that set aside Dec. 6th as the yearly day to honor miners of WV & a sports fan, he was play by play announcer for high school and college sports, assisted in AAU teams, and started church basketball in Morgantown, while continuing the Fairmont Council of Churches Basketball has been honored in many ways: The First Donal Jack Squires Lifetime Achievement Award from Marion County Chamber of Commerce in 2008; Rotarian of the Fairmont Club in 2021; Senior of the Year by The Fairmont Times West Virginian in 2015; Harrison County Parks and Recreation Person of the Year in 1996; Family Resource Hero of 2016; 2021 Mission WV Board Emeritus Member; 2017 WV United Methodist Communication Conference family has entrusted the arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home, Ford Chapel, 201 Columbia Street, will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 26. Visitation will continue at the Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1640 Big Tree Drive, Fairmont, from 10 until 11 a.m. on Friday, June 27. The funeral service will be held in the church at 11 a.m. on Friday, with Rev. Dick Bowyer, Rev. Larry Buckland and Rev. Peggy Scharff officiating. Interment will at Woodlawn Cemetery, Fairmont. Online condolences may be made to the family at
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tree of Knowledge: Fairmont State receives Division of Forestry grant for planting project
Jun. 11—FAIRMONT — Don't call it "landscaping." Fairmont State University last week received a grant from the West Virginia Division of Forestry, which it will use for a tree-planting project on its Locust Avenue campus — but the motivation, participants say, has roots going way deeper. "The trees themselves are a great project, " architecture major Ryan Williams said. They include the American Holly, Eastern Rosebud, Common Witch Hazel trees, all of which are native to north-central West Virginia, and all planted near the dormitories that line the Campus Drive East entrances, which are currently devoid of greenery. "But even more than that, I hope it will inspire more students to get involved, " continued Williams, who is on the school's Creative Sustainability Council and helped secure the Community EquiTree grant through the forestry division. "The more people are engaged with their community and campus, " the student said of the project expected to be completed at month's end, "the more we can better serve." And the best way to engage and serve, Williams continued, is by celebrating nature, which is perpetually blooming, growing and evolving. Such celebration, the student said, happens whether we realize it or not. For many, the academic family tree goes back 41 years to 1984, when celebrated biologist and naturalist Edmund O. Wilson wrote and published a slim book he titled, "Biophilia " — or literally, "love of life." "Life, " in the case of Fairmont State, being what happens on the other side of the classroom wall. Humans, inherently — and unconsciously, even — just "feel " better in the presence of greenery and trees in places they may not normally be found, the naturalist surmised. Especially, he said, in cities and other locales where concrete, neon and gray buildings prevail. College campuses, too. At the height of the pandemic five years ago, with its student population sequestered under quarantine, Fairmont State did a nod to Wilson. The university created Falcon Park, a walking trail which takes in 7.9 wooded acres at the top of campus and is a haven for native birds, turtles and butterflies. Falcon Park has since been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation. Meanwhile, the most recent tree project, said Devin Carpenter, an assistant construction manager at Fairmont State, will be enjoyed for future generations — aesthetically and environmentally. As the trees grow, he said, their root systems will stabilize hillsides, preventing soil erosion. Their canopies will shade asphalt during the hottest days of summer. And their fall foliage will add to the beauty of campus, Carpenter said. "And they offer back to nature a piece of what urban development once removed, " he said.
Dominion Post
11-06-2025
- Science
- Dominion Post
Tree of Knowledge: Fairmont State receives Division of Forestry grant for planting project
FAIRMONT – Don't call it 'landscaping.' Fairmont State University last week received a grant from the West Virginia Division of Forestry, which it will use for a tree-planting project on its Locust Avenue campus – but the motivation, participants say, has roots going way deeper. 'The trees themselves are a great project,' architecture major Ryan Williams said. They include the American Holly, Eastern Rosebud, Common Witch Hazel trees, all of which are native to north-central West Virginia, and all planted near the dormitories that line the Campus Drive East entrances, which are currently devoid of greenery. 'But even more than that, I hope it will inspire more students to get involved,' continued Williams, who is on the school's Creative Sustainability Council and helped secure the Community EquiTree grant through the forestry division. 'The more people are engaged with their community and campus,' the student said of the project expected to be completed at month's end, 'the more we can better serve.' And the best way to engage and serve, Williams continued, is by celebrating nature, which is perpetually blooming, growing and evolving. Such celebration, the student said, happens whether we realize it or not. For many, the academic family tree goes back 41 years to 1984, when celebrated biologist and naturalist Edmund O. Wilson wrote and published a slim book he titled, 'Biophilia' – or literally, 'love of life.' 'Life,' in the case of Fairmont State, being what happens on the other side of the classroom wall. Humans, inherently – and unconsciously, even – just 'feel' better in the presence of greenery and trees in places they may not normally be found, the naturalist surmised. Especially, he said, in cities and other locales where concrete, neon and gray buildings prevail. College campuses, too. At the height of the pandemic five years ago, with its student population sequestered under quarantine, Fairmont State did a nod to Wilson. The university created Falcon Park, a walking trail which takes in 7.9 wooded acres at the top of campus and is a haven for native birds, turtles and butterflies. Falcon Park has since been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation. Meanwhile, the most recent tree project, said Devin Carpenter, an assistant construction manager at Fairmont State, will be enjoyed for future generations – aesthetically and environmentally. As the trees grow, he said, their root systems will stabilize hillsides, preventing soil erosion. Their canopies will shade asphalt during the hottest days of summer. And their fall foliage will add to the beauty of campus, Carpenter said. 'And they offer back to nature a piece of what urban development once removed,' he said.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State grants helps Fairmont State University plant more trees on campus
FAIRMONT — The number of native trees on the campus of Fairmont State University recently increased with help from a grant from the West Virginia Division of Forestry. In April, students and staff planted American holly, Blackhaw viburnum, common witch hazel and eastern redbud trees with the goal of boosting biodiversity on campus. Dubbed the Community EquiTree grant program, which originates on the federal level, helped plant alongside Campus Drive East, which is adjacent to Fairmont State's residence halls and outdoor recreation areas, which "will allow more students and local community members to experience the trees and their benefits," according to a press release. "As a public institution, Fairmont State University is committed to fostering a beautiful, welcoming campus where students, faculty, staff, and community members feel a true sense of belonging," the press release continued. Fairmont State's Creative Sustainability Council, a group of students, faculty and staff members, spearheaded the initiative. Assistant Construction Manager Devin Carpenter, Associate Professor of English Nathaniel Myers, and Councilmember and architecture major Ryan Williams collaborated on the grant. 'The trees themselves are a great project, helping to develop this underused space on campus into something that is both a beautiful showcase of West Virginia trees and helps to mitigate local issues like soil erosion or larger ones like global warming," Williams said. "But even more than that, I hope projects like this inspire more students to get involved. The more people are engaged with their community and campus, the more we can improve and better serve the present and the future.' The WVDOF Urban and Community Forestry program cooperates with communities to promote the long-term care of trees in cities and communities throughout the state. The program also establishes guidelines for planting, caring for and protecting trees throughout West Virginia. Fairmont State's project meets the goals of this program by providing an opportunity for students to get involved with community sustainability projects, for faculty to improve their instruction by helping others understand the importance of trees and nature, and for everyone to better understand and engage with their local environment during and after the planting. "As the trees grow, their benefits will as well. The canopies will help shade the area, especially nearby asphalt parking lots and roads, which can store heat. The roots of the trees will grow into the hillside, stabilizing the soil and preventing erosion. Additionally, their fall foliage will create a beautiful scene familiar to many West Virginians," states the press release. 'The planting of these native species not only aids in beautifying our campus but also offers back to nature a piece of what urban development once removed," Carpenter said. In the coming months, the Creative Sustainability Council will measure the success of the tree planting program using surveys to be administered in the local community and among students. A ceremonial tree planting was held on April 25, 2025 to mark the beginning of the project, which is expected to be completed this month. 'We are all very proud of Ryan and his hard work on this project,' Myers said. 'Hopefully this will inspire future projects that will contribute to sustainability on our beautiful campus.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fairmont State graduate students complete Zen Garden community project
FAIRMONT, (WBOY) — Two Fairmont State graduate students have taken what they've learned in the classroom and applied it outside for everyone to enjoy. Madison Corbin and Caden Moore celebrated the completion of their community project, a Zen Garden, with a ribbon cutting at Morris Park in Fairmont Thursday morning. The project was completed in collaboration with the city of Fairmont and Morris Park. Corbin was happy to have had the hands on experience. 'This project, it allowed us to go beyond the book, go beyond the textbook,' Corbin said. 'So, it allowed us to show this project in real life and get hands on experience.' Morgantown student to compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee Moore was also grateful for the experience and the opportunity to give back to the community. 'It just offers a peaceful space, tranquility. Just somewhere to come and relax and just get away from work.' East Fairmont High School students also added to the project by decorating the path to the Zen Garden with a fairy garden theme. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
