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Hey Mon County, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: West Virginia Women’s Pinball League, Mountaineer Train Show, and Jurassic Quest + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Mon County protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Processing goals under scrutiny: Morgantown is discussing benchmarks to speed permit approvals as it moves from paper to an online GIS system covering 55 permits, though Councilor Mark Downs called proposed timelines very conservative — get details on proposed targets.

Passion for pinball grows: West Virginia Women’s Pinball League is underway, a nine-week season mixing competition and community. Players must attend at least four sessions to reach finals, and Beth Howell champions it — read the full story.

Proven impact across West Virginia: Bonnie’s Bus, WVU Medicine’s mammography unit, will visit Clendenin, Elkins, Buckhannon, Reedsville, and Parsons with 3D screening mammograms. Uninsured West Virginia women 40+ can get screened at no cost — get all the details.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Join a St. Patrick’s Day play group
• Read aloud and choose story paths
• Discover dinosaurs and build LEGO creations

🫶 We got your back

Serious sandwich glow-up: Von Blaze boosts comfort classics into craveable, scratch-made sandwiches, with house-smoked touches, real-deal sauces, and hand-cut fries, all alongside local beer in a low-key downtown nook. When the what’s-for-dinner debate starts, this clever little spot ends it with gusto.

Riverside reset, anyone?: Stroll the paved paths, spread out on the amphitheater lawn, or make Hazel Ruby McQuain Park your HQ for easy river time… yes, there are docks and a boat launch. A simple, satisfying fresh-air fix when you want to stay close to downtown.

Screen-free wins, stat: Gift emergency or picky kid? Pinocchio’s Books & Toys delivers a smart mix of Playmobil, Melissa & Doug, arts-and-crafts kits, and board books, all wrapped in that cozy, old-school vibe they’ve honed since 1979.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎡 Wheel of Fortune @ Draft (Morgantown) | Thursday (3/12) at 7:30 PM – Thursday at Draft in Pierpont means one thing: Wheel of Fortune with Amethyst, good grub, and just enough competition to text about later. Free to play, with food and drink specials, plus prizes for the top three teams. Bring friends, flex that puzzle brain.

🗺 Public Tour Days @ Ridge Way Farm (Cheat Lake) | Friday (3/13) at 1:00 PM – Take a Friday-afternoon stroll to Cheat Lake’s Outdoor Classroom to meet ACCA’s resident birds, chat conservation, and ask every question you’ve saved for trivia night. It’s free, family friendly, and refreshingly low-tech, with weather cancellations posted on social.

🚂 Mountaineer Train Show @ Mountaineer Mall (Morgantown) | Sunday (3/15) at 10:00 AM – All aboard for Morgantown’s first-ever Mountaineer Train Show, where model engines, whistle-worthy layouts, and diehard collectors take over in the best way. Admission is free, so bring your curiosity, your grandkid, or your inner 10-year-old. Selling or swapping, tables are still up for grabs.

🤝 OLLI Spring Meet & Greet @ Mountaineer Mall (Morgantown) | Tuesday (3/17) at 2:30 PM – Spring’s here, so trade the couch for conversation at OLLI at WVU’s Meet & Greet. Hear from instructors, meet fellow members, and enjoy live music, snacks, and actual human interaction. Free and open to the public, RSVP helps, memberships and class sign-ups on site.

☘ St Patrick’s Day Party @ Morgantown Elks Lodge #411 | Tuesday (3/17) at 5:00 PM – Skip the student stampede and do St. Patrick’s Day the grown-up way at Elks Lodge 411. No cover, real seats, and Jason Keeling playing while you work through food and drink specials, giveaways, and stories you actually remember tomorrow. Bring friends, leave the chaos.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Mon County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 72°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 16%

A slight chance of rain between 10am and 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 77°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 86%

A chance of rain before 8am, then rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms before 5am, then rain and snow. Cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind around 12 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across West Virginia but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

New custom 5-bed, 3.5-bath in a gated Cheat Lake community with an airy plan, volume ceilings, and refined finishes. The main-level suite offers dual walk-ins and a spa bath, plus a study, butler’s pantry, and laundry. Upstairs brings four bedrooms and a loft. 12×40 front and 10×33 rear covered porches overlook a level acre, and a 3-car garage completes it.

Take a peek inside →