‘Livin’, lovin’, & sellin’: Behind the scenes of the Ham, Bacon, & Egg Sale
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV The 72nd annual Greenbrier & Monroe Ham, Bacon, & Egg Sale was held this past Friday evening at the West Virginia State Fairgrounds. Hosted by the WVU Extension offices in Greenbrier and Monroe counties, the Future Farmers of America (FFA), and local 4-H clubs, the sale gives young farmers the opportunity […]
Ronceverte lands region’s first action sports shop
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV Standing in the middle of the Ronceverte skate park, you look across the railroad tracks towards town. Underneath the old Workman Bridge, now stripped to its beams, you can barely see the soft glow of a leg lamp in a large frame window. It’s backlighting a black vinyl decal in the […]
Jumpin’ Johnny Spangler wins WV Pop-Off
Fifth victory in 2 years leaves competition salty By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV For the fifth time in 12 years, Jumpin’ Johnny Spangler of Monroe County has won the WV Pop-Off. Held in Charleston this February, the contest is hosted by the WVU Extension Service Small Farm office. “We started it as a way to promote […]
Blackwell’s: Big city cuisine served with small town hospitality
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV March 6, 2023 Nearly forty years ago, LeeAnn Gillilan took an apprenticeship in the kitchen at The Greenbrier Hotel Culinary Program under Rod Stoner. “I was the woman,” she remembers. “As in the only one. There weren’t many of us back then.” Today, LeeAnn is the owner/operator/chef at Blackwell’s Catering in […]
Dan, the man with a master plan for Ronceverte
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV March 2, 2023 As Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Ronceverte, Dan Withrow is the man with a plan. A master plan, to be more precise, for restoring The River City. “My dream is for you to ask your kids where they want to go spend the day, […]
New season of Barnwood Builders debuts Feb 23
Mark Bowe discusses the move to Magnolia Network, why he loves going to Lowe’s, and what he thinks every time he comes home to West Virginia. By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV Barnwood Builders will debut season 15 of the hit show this Thursday at 9pm on the Magnolia Network. According to star Mark Bowe, fans can […]
Barnwood Builders constructing log rentals in White Sulphur Springs
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in a log cabin built by Mark Bowe and his Barnwood Builders, hold onto your pickle jars. Your dream is about to become a reality. “We just turned in the paperwork today,” says Bowe with an excitement in his voice. “We’re building our own Airbnbs […]
All roads lead to Good Roads Bakehouse
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV February 18, 2023 Two years ago, Karri Roberts and Dan Cannon were living in Pittsburgh. She was a florist and he was a maintenance tech for a real estate firm. “The pandemic hit,” she remembers, “and I was like, ‘Take me back to the farm!’” Karri is originally from Craigsville (Nicholas […]
Pickaway Pickins, ‘The way your grandma did it’
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV February 12, 2023 If you order country fried steak at Pickaway Pickins, you’ll hear them pound out the fresh-cut sirloin and fry it in a cast iron-skillet with gravy. Every single menu item is made from scratch, fresh to order. “The way your grandma did it,” says manager & baker Andrea […]
The Sportsman Tavern, just the beginning of Ronceverte’s revival
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV February 12, 2023 The Sportsman Tavern in Ronceverte is one of the longest-running bars in West Virginia. After first opening in the 1920s during the town’s rise as a rail town, it’s now reopening under the leadership of local developers Mark Trent and Dan Withrow. “If you care about your community […]
