STAND-UP COMEDIAN: Jo Koy, one of today’s premiere and award-winning stand-up comedians, brings his “Jo Koy: Just Being Koy Tour†to ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum and Convention Center at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. Tickets are $53.50 to $83.50, plus additional fees, at chaswvccc.com.
AWARDED: Seth Skiles, West Virginia native and six-year music educator at Rock Branch Elementary School, was recently presented with keys to a 2025 Toyota RAV4 to be used throughout his travels during his one-year term of being the 2025 West Virginia Teacher of the Year. The presentation was made by David Rosier, Toyota WV president, and Dr. Sonya White, deputy state superintendent of schools. Seth has a Bachelor of Arts in music education from Anderson University and a master’s degree in church music with a conducting concentration from Belmont University. He taught elementary music in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, before returning to his native state. Congratulations to this music educator on this honor and award.
COMEDY: Jon Reep, winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing Season 5, presents a night of laughs beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Alban Arts Center, St. Albans, West Virginia. Tickets are $35, available at albanartscenter.com.
RECOGNIZED: Nearly a dozen ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, West Virginia, residents were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Concord University, Athens, West Virginia. The 10 individuals include Trinity Burns, Sophia Chugha, Benjamin Darlington, Isabella Lemley, Jayden Mitchell, Angela Settle, Anna Simmons, Katherine Smith, Latasha Spry and Jazlyn Strack. To be recognized for this distinction, full-time undergraduate students who were registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours and have attained a grade point average of 3.5 or above at end of the semester. Congratulations to these students on this achievement.
CONCERT: Kingsmen Quartet shares the gospel in song at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at Teays Valley Church of the Nazarene, 3937 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane, West Virginia. Tickets are $65.
NOMINEES: Two chefs with West Virginia ties — William Dissen and Chase Collier — are among the 2025 semifinalist nominees for the 35th annual James Beard Awards, a prestigious honor for the culinary industry, by the James Beard Foundation. Dissen, a West Virginia University graduate before studying culinary arts and graduating with honors from The Culinary Institute of America in New York, is a semifinalist for outstanding chef. He is owner of The Market Place in Asheville, North Carolina. Collier, born and raised in southwest Virginia, was named a regional finalist for Best Chefs presented by Capital One in the Southeast Region for his work in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s Ristorante Abruzzi. Final nominees are announced April 2 before the award ceremony for winners at Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 16. Congratulations to these chefs for their culinary work.
DENTAL VISITS: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, Valley Health-Milton, 220 John’s Creek Road, offers “Give Kids a Smile Day.†Comprehensive cleanings and exams are available to children from ages 14 and younger who haven’t had exam in past six months. Dental insurance will be billed with no additional costs to participants. Walks-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 304-743-1407.
PERFORMANCES: Lee Dean, local gospel singer/minister, performs Friday, Feb. 7, at two locations: His “Games and Giggles†performance begins at 2 p.m. at Celebration Villa Senior Living, Teays Valley, West Virginia. The Elvis fundraiser show for The Alum Creek Alliance begins at 6 p.m. at Washington District Community Center, South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, West Virginia.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Susan Korstanje, member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, joins the ranks of WSAZ TV 3 anchors/staff members (Tim Irr and Keith Morehouse celebrating in January) hearing the words of the birthday song Monday, Feb. 3; Mary Taylor, Linda McMahon, Sarah Mease.
TODAY’S ANNIVERSARY: Gisela and Dan Kemper.
LATE BIRTHDAYS: Henry Thomas, Jan. 27; Debbie Harman, Yeon Choi, Charlie Pletka, Feb. 1; Aiden Via, Tyler Tucker, Debra Perkins, Chris Chaney, Curt Mann, Jason Napier, Terry Smith, Roger Sizemore, Sarah Beth Hill, Katie Sheils, Campbell Murphy, Leslie Adkins, Leslie Cummings, Jean Fredrick, Feb. 2.
CHUCKLE: A British fisherman won a trophy and $1,300 when he landed the largest bass during a fishing tournament. He was later arrested and disqualified when it was learned the winning fish had been stolen ... from an aquarium.
Send items to Brenda Lucas, P.O. Box 596, Ona, WV 25545; or email to bklucas53@aol.com.
