Local beverage strike continues as negotiations stall, tensions escalate
Plus: SAHS Red Dragon’s Football Carnival, ice cream social and more Kanawha Valley news and events
June 4, 2026 | Weather: ☀️ 85° F / 🌖 58° F
Good Thursday, neighbor!
It’s June 4. If you missed last week’s carnival in Marmet, never fear — you have another opportunity this week in St. Albans. The SAHS Red Dragons’ Football Carnival kicked off yesterday at Roadside Park. It runs through June 7. The midway opens at 6 p.m. today and tomorrow, and at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. We’ve linked to more details in today’s community calendar below.
And we’re off.
BUSINESS
Charleston-area Beverage Market workers remain on strike as tensions rise
Negotiations are stalling and tensions escalating as employees for The Beverage Market in Charleston are entering the fourth week of their strike. Union officials say contract negotiations have reached a standstill while employees continue picketing and raising concerns about proposed benefit and compensation changes. (Via West Virginia Watch)
Today
7 a.m.-6 p.m. — WVRC Media’s Drop Your Snacks Donation Event, WVRC Media, 1111 Virginia St. E., Charleston.
8 a.m.-9:30 a.m. — BNI Power Chapter Visitors Day, UC Downtown Innovation Hub, 240 Capitol St., Charleston.
11:30 a.m. — Joy Club Luncheon, Eagles Nest, 143 Dutch Road, Charleston.
1-2 p.m. — Adult Book Club, Montgomery Public Library, 507 Ferry St., Montgomery.
1-3 p.m. — Dino Build Kits, Sissonville Branch Library, 1 Tinney Lane, Sissonville.
1:30-2:30 p.m. — New River Gorge Ranger Talk, Cross Lanes Branch Library, 5449 Big Tyler Road, Cross Lanes.
3:30-5:30 p.m. — Summer Library Club Kickoff Glasgow Edition, Glasgow Branch Library, Glasgow Town Hall, 129 Fourth Ave., Glasgow.
3:30-6:30 p.m. — Summer Library Club Kickoff: Ice Cream Social, Clendenin Branch Library, 107 Koontz Ave., Suite 100, Clendenin.
4-5 p.m. — Bright Star Theatre Presents “Dino Academy: A Dinosaur Discovery Show,” Kanawha County Public Library, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
4-5 p.m. — New River Gorge Ranger Talk, St. Albans Branch Library, 602 Fourth St., St. Albans.
6 p.m. — Celebrating the Seasons: DiTrapano Olive Oil Dinner, J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, 4797 Midland Dr., Malden.
6 p.m. — SAHS Red Dragon’s Football Carnival, Roadside Park, 612 MacCorkle Ave., St. Albans.
6-7 p.m. — Wholesome Bites Cookbook Club, South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston.
6-8 p.m. — Jordan Dyer, The Wine Down, 114 Washington St. W., Suite 101, Charleston.
6-9 p.m. — PRIDE Drag Bingo, Lee Street Lounge, 222 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.
6:30 p.m. — Taproom Bingo, Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main St., Clendenin.
6:30 p.m. — Vintage Bicycle Ride, John’s Cyclery, 309 MacCorkle Ave., St. Albans.
6:30-7:30 p.m. — Cross Lanes Fiction Addiction, Cross Lanes Branch Library, 5449 Big Tyler Road, Cross Lanes.
7 p.m. — Appalachian Championship Wrestling’s Free School’s Out 2026 Show, Buffalo Wild Wings, 70 Nitro Marketplace, Nitro.
7-10 p.m. — Charleston Rogues, Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. W., Charleston.
7-10 p.m. — Open Mic, Coal River Coffee Co., 64 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans.
7:30 p.m.-Midnight — Charleston Salsa Club Class & Dance, The ROQ, 1022 Quarrier St., Charleston.
8-11 p.m. — Open Mic Night, Prime 101, 101 Capitol St., Charleston.
9 p.m. — Josh Stowers, The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
Today’s Public Meetings
4 p.m. — Kanawha County Commission Meeting, Commission Courtroom, 407 Virginia St. E., Charleston.
7 p.m. — Glasgow Town Council Meeting, Glasgow Town Hall, 129 Fourth Ave., Glasgow.
7:30 p.m. — South Charleston City Council Meeting, City Hall, 401 D St., South Charleston.
Upcoming
Saturday, June 6 — 8 a.m.: CAMC Foundation Run for Your Life, Haddad Riverfront Park, 601 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston.
Saturday, June 6 — Noon-4 p.m.: Summer Fest, Ken Ellis Memorial Park, 714 Point Lick Terrace, Charleston.
Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7 — Various times: 2026 Special Olympics of West Virginia Summer Games, various locations (Laidley Field, Watt Powell Park, MLK Jr. Field), 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:
David Timothy Hannon, 77, of South Charleston, died June 1, 2026.
Toni Gail Hughes, 67, of Anderson, OH, formerly of the Kanawha Valley, died May 30, 2026.
Kara Beth McCormick, 45, of Kanawha Valley, died May 30, 2026.
Cheryl Courtney McLane, 77, of Bluefield, died May 30, 2026.
Anthony “Tony” Morgan Smith, 62, of High Point, N.C., formerly of Winfield, died May 27, 2026.
Gregory Lee Wolfe, 54, of Belle, died June 2, 2026.
Editor’s Note: An incorrect link for Kara Beth McCormick’s obituary was included in Wednesday’s newsletter. We have included the correct link above.
Support the Kanawha Valley Update
Without you, there’d be no Kanawha Valley Update. Here are a few ways you can help sustain this publication:
Forward this to a friend. Do you know someone who might be interested in community news, events, and other hyperlocal information? Share this newsletter with someone who may benefit from it.
Become a member. Consider supporting local independent journalism. Become a monthly member to ensure this publication never goes dark.
Give a one-time gift. If you’re not yet ready to commit to a monthly membership, that’s OK! Perhaps you’d give a one-time gift.
Advertise with us. We’d love to share the story of your local business with the Kanawha Valley Update’s engaged readers. Contact editor Michael Ramsburg at ramsburgreports@gmail.com.
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading! Looking for more locally-made news content from around the Kanawha Valley? Make sure you:
📱Download the FREE NewsBreak app
🏠 Be my neighbor on Nextdoor
👍 Like my local news page on Facebook
📷 Follow my multimedia on Instagram
🎞️ Watch my video journalism on YouTube
Have a question, comment or story idea? Write ramsburgreports@gmail.com or call/text 304-370-3067.