Briefs for Thursday Feb. 22

Feb. 22—The Velveteen Rabbit coming March 2

TAZEWELL, Va. — The Barter Players are back with the childhood classic The Velveteen Rabbit as part of CART's (Citizens for the Arts) performing arts season, 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2 at Tazewell Middle School, Tazewell, Va.

The Velveteen Rabbit is a story loved by children of all ages, and sponsored by Huffman Insurance Agency and the Town of Tazewell with additional contributions from Mac and Mary Catherine Culbertson and Mulco Property Rentals. It is also supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which received support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

As the Velveteen Rabbit dreams of becoming a real live rabbit, the wise old Skin Horse tells him he will only become real "when a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you." This production, based on the Margery Williams book, has been adapted for the stage by Catherine Bush.

Adult tickets are $15 and students are $10. Available at the door or by calling or texting 276-963-3385. Join CART Saturday, March 2.

Capito Announces $69.7 million to upgrade state's drinking water, wastewater infrastructure

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Wednesday $69.7 million in funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in West Virginia through this year's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

"One of the cornerstones of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that we crafted and negotiated at the Environment and Public Works Committee is funding to repair, rebuild, and expand water and wastewater systems across the country. Importantly, through the State Revolving Funds, we also provided flexibility for states to address their own unique needs. I'm pleased to see these resources being disbursed today to continue upgrading our local infrastructure and provide safe, clean water for West Virginians," Capito said.

Pothole patching continues in West Virginia

Since Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Division of Highways announced Operation R.I.P. Potholes on January 30, WVDOH road crews have patched 18,071 potholes along 3,519 miles of road.

Justice and the WVDOH have been taking advantage of unseasonably warm weather to get a head start on the spring pothole patching season.

Asphalt plants in Poca, Princeton, and Morgantown remain open the week of Monday, February 19, 2024, allowing the WVDOH to make permanent pothole repairs with hot asphalt. Roads scheduled to be filled today February 22, 2024, include WV Route 83 in McDowell County and Red Sulphur Turnpike, Mercer County.

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com