UC offering free nursing boot camp for middle, high school students
Plus: Manna Meal founder dead at 90, the West Virginia Coffee Festival premieres and more Kanawha Valley news and events
April 13, 2026 | Weather: đŚď¸ 81° F / đ 63° F
Good Monday, neighbor!
Itâs April 13. The YWCA is hosting a candidate forum at the Katherine âKittyâ Dooley Center on Elizabeth Street beginning at 6 p.m. this evening. It will feature at-large candidates for Charleston city council. Weâve got more details linked in the community calendar below.
Letâs get this week started.
EDUCATION
University of Charleston offering free nursing boot camp
The UC Nursing Boot Camp will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5. The event is free for rising eighth through 12th graders, but space is limited and registration is required by April 24, 2026.
COMMUNITY TIDBITS
Coffee Festival, Taps & Trucks and more
In todayâs âTidbitsâ column, community news from Charleston, Chesapeake and Cross Lanes, including:
West Virginia Coffee Festival to debut in the Kanawha Valley
Lunch-and-learn series to help caregivers connect with teens
Local beer, food truck festival seeks vendors for May event
IN OTHER NEWS
More local news from around the region
Hereâs what other regional news organizations are reporting:
Minister Death: A well-known activist and local minister has died. Rev. Jim Lewis, a longtime rector at St. Johnâs Episcopal Church in Charleston, died Sunday afternoon at age 90, according to church officials. In addition to his ministerial duties, Lewis was also known for his community and social activism. He founded the local nonprofit Manna Meal in 1976. (WOWK)
Jail Panel: County officials announced last week that they created a new four-member task force to help combat the countyâs ballooning jail bill. They formed the task force using opioid settlement funds. Currently, Kanawha County pays upwards of $400,000 per month in taxpayer money to keep inmates jailed in state facilities, according to reports. Commission President Ben Salango said the task forceâs goal is to save $1 million in its first year by identifying non-violent and non-repeating offenders and recommending alternative monitoring or supervision, thereby reducing jail stays and eliminating the $67 per day the county pays to house each inmate. (WCHS)
Awareness Tournament: A weekend basketball tournament held at Nitro High School aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of sextortion, a type of online blackmail in which someone threatens to share private, sexual images or videos. Organizers named the Bryce Tate Tournament for a 15-year-old Nitro student who took his life after someone victimized him through sextortion. The tournament featured more than 40 basketball teams and took place over two days. (WV Metro News)
UC Marathon: A flood of athletes took to the streets of Charleston on Saturday and Sunday, marking two days of running events as part of the UC Marathon. Organizers held a 5K competition on Saturday, while Sunday featured both half and full marathon races. One UC professor and program director told WSAZ that individuals from as far away as California, Colorado, Nevada, and Florida came to the capital city to participate in the marathon, which served as a Boston qualifier. (WSAZ)
The Local News Games crossword, which is normally published Monday-Thursday, will return.
Today
9 a.m.-Noon â Spring Sports Classes, Quantum Sports Center, 419 58th St. S.E., Charleston.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. â Blood Drive, Thomas Orthopedic Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, 333 Laidley St., Charleston.
10 a.m.-8 p.m. â Spring Plant Swap, Elk Valley Branch Library, 313 Crossings Mall, Elkview.
1 p.m. â Power Up Exercise Class, South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston.
6 p.m. â Bingo Night, South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston.
6-9 p.m. â YWCA Council Conversations, Katherine âKittyâ Dooley Center, 412 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
7:30 p.m. â Folklore Presents: Anana Kaye & Bugswrrrld, Folklore Music Exchange, 191 Summers St., Charleston.
9 p.m. â Open Mic Night, The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
Todayâs Public Meetings
4 p.m. â Kanawha County Public Library Board Meeting, Kanawha County Public Library, Second Floor Board Room, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
6 p.m. â Clendenin Town Council Meeting, Clendenin Community Center, 103 First St., Clendenin.
6 p.m. â Smithers Town Council Meeting, City Hall, 2 Greyhound Lane, Smithers.
Upcoming
Tuesday, April 14 â 5:30-7 p.m.: Tuesday Cruiseday Group Bike Ride, Lee Street Triangle, 805 Lee St. East, Charleston.
Wednesday, April 15 â 7:30 p.m.: Whose Live Anyway?, Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.
Thursday, April 16 â 6-8:30 p.m.: April Cocktail Making Class, The Bullock Distillery, 121 Washington St. W., Charleston.
đ Did you know? We only highlight some of the dayâs events in this newsletter. Thereâs a lot more happening around the Kanawha Valley. Have a look at todayâs full calendar by clicking the âMore Eventsâ button.
Today, we remember the following neighbors who have recently passed:
Hubert âGeneâ E. Bain, 70, of Charleston, died April 7, 2026.
Mildred Evelyn âMidgeâ Carper, 93, of Elkview, died March 1, 2026.
Patricia Ann Davis, 87, of St. Albans, died April 8, 2026.
Thomas Charles Dooley, 86, of Charleston, died April 10, 2026.
James Allen Fleck, 41, of Belle, died April 10, 2026.
Dennis Hazelwood Sr., 72, of Charleston, died April 7, 2026.
Retta Mae Huffman, 91, of South Charleston, died April 7, 2026.
Timothy Michael Jackson, 63, of South Charleston, died April 7, 2026.
Lindsey Michelle Levy, 39, of Dunbar, died April 2, 2026.
James Edward Meadows, 78, of Hernshaw, died April 10, 2026.
Elizabeth âAshleyâ Nestmann, 60, of Charleston, died April 4, 2026.
Lila Jean Ramkey, 78, of Charleston, died April 1, 2026.
Joseph C. Riley, 88, of Charleston, died April 8, 2026.
Jackie Thompson, 67, of Prenter, died April 9, 2026.
Rickie Gail Woods, 68, of Kanawha Valley, died April 6, 2026.
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