Beverage Market strike continues with no agreement in sight
Plus: Red Cross Blood Drive, History Alive! and more Kanawha Valley news and events
July 9, 2026 | Weather: ⛈️ 84° F / 🌘 69° F
Good Thursday, neighbor!
It’s July 9. More than a month ago, the American Red Cross put out an urgent call for blood and platelet donors. Today, Elk River Church of the Nazarene in Charleston will host an American Red Cross-sponsored drive. We’ve got details on this afternoon’s event linked in the community calendar below. And if you can’t make it to today’s blood drive, there are several more taking place around our region in the coming days and weeks.
And we’re off.
BUSINESS
Beverage Market strike enters 8th week with no agreement in sight
Eight weeks into a strike, union representatives said Tuesday that the owners of the Charleston-based The Beverage Market and employees are not close to reaching an agreement to settle the labor dispute. Union representatives contend the company has “zero intentions” of reaching an agreement. (via West Virginia Watch)
Today
10:30-11:30 a.m. — Dirty Birds Storytime, Dunbar Branch Library, 301 12th St., Dunbar.
1-6 p.m. — Red Cross Blood Drive, Elk River Nazarene Church, 143 Dutch Road, Charleston.
2-3 p.m. — Hour of Code Jr., Elk Valley Branch Library, 313 The Crossings Mall, Elkview.
5:30-7 p.m. — Unearth Your Story: Writing Workshop with Prof. Sara Henning, Dunbar Branch Library, 301 12th St., Dunbar.
6 p.m. — Live Music with Josh Stowers, Bogey’s Driving Range, 150 Riverview Drive, Tornado.
6 p.m. — Live Music with Lo Jam, The Wine Down, 114 Washington St. W., Suite 101, Charleston.
6 p.m. — Live Music with Matthew Hill, Cafe Appalachia Downtown, 110 McFarland St., Charleston.
6-7 p.m. — Animals After Dark, Cross Lanes Branch Library, 5449 Big Tyler Road, Cross Lanes.
6-7 p.m. — History Alive! with Thomas Ingles, Clendenin Branch Library, 107 Koontz Ave., Suite 100, Clendenin.
6-7 p.m. — Hour of Code Jr., St. Albans Branch Library, 602 Fourth St., St. Albans.
6-7 p.m. — Minecraft Minigame Tourney, Sissonville Branch Library, 1 Tinney Lane, Sissonville.
6-7 p.m. — The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Hour, Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
6-7 p.m. — Wholesome Bites Cookbook Club, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston.
6-9 p.m. — Union Arena: Weekly Tournament, The Board Room, 1116 Fledderjohn Road, Charleston.
6:30-8 p.m. — Summer Family Ride Series, John’s Cyclery, 309 MacCorkle Ave., St. Albans.
6:30-9 p.m. — WVU Mountaineer Fan Club, Harding’s Family Restaurant, 2772 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston.
7 p.m. — Half & Half: Tail & Road Sunset Hike, Spring Hill Cemetery, 1555 Farnsworth Drive, Charleston.
7-8:30 p.m. — Live Music with Scott Fields, Fife Street Brewing, 180 Summers St., Charleston.
7:30 p.m.-Midnight — Charleston Salsa Club Class & Dance, The ROQ, 1022 Quarrier St., Charleston.
9 p.m. — Live Music with Matt Malinoski, The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
Today’s Public Meetings
4 p.m. — Charleston Public Art Commission, City Service Center Conference Room, 915 Quarrier St., Charleston.
4 p.m. — Spring Hill Cemetery Park Commission, Spring Hil Cemetery, Administration Building Conference Room, 1555 Farnsworth Drive, Charleston.
Upcoming
Friday, July 10 — 5-8 p.m.: Nitro Antique Car Cruze In, Nitro City Hall, 2009 20th St., Nitro.
Saturday, July 11 — 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: CLUMC Car Show, Cross Lanes United Methodist Church, 5320 Frontier Drive, Cross Lanes.
Saturday, July 11 — 7-10 p.m.: West Side Jamboree, Pythian Building, 211 Tennessee Ave., Charleston.
📅 Did you know? We only highlight some of the day’s events in this newsletter. There’s a lot more happening around the Kanawha Valley. Have a look at today’s full calendar by clicking the “More Events” button.
Today, we remember the following neighbors who have recently passed:
Norman Andrew Dunlap, 83, of Charleston, died June 30, 2026.
Okey J. Johnson, 91, of Pond Gap, died July 4, 2026.
Mamie E. “Sue” Martin, 75, of Kanawha Valley, died June 26, 2026.
Beckie Fink Mohn, 73, of Huntington, formerly of Charleston, died June 26, 2026.
Shirley T. Jones O’Dell, 90, of Cedar Grove, died June 27, 2026.
Azai Zy’Mer Pettigrew, 32 days, of Kanawha Valley, died July 2, 2026.
Luella Jane (Woods) Elmore Rucker, 95, of Clendenin, died July 7, 2026.
Helen Christine Selbe, 74, of Sissonville, died June 30, 2026.
James Owen “Butch” Thompson, 73, of Chesapeake, died July 5, 2026.
George Jonathan “Jon” Youell, 73, of Chesapeake, died July 6, 2026.
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