Amelia Wilson, 4, of South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, holds up a full plate as she stands in line to be served with various critters offered at Dunbar’s annual Critter Dinner on April 6, 2024.
A memorial wall showing local veterans of Vietnam War is displayed at the Nitro Wars Museum in Nitro, on Nov. 5, 2025. The orange stars represent those killed in action.
Spring is still around the corner after recent winter weather, but with warmer temperatures come more events throughout the region. For now, it was business as usual for municipalities in the Kanawha Valley, with ribbon cuttings, job openings and upcoming events planned. St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17, and one city in the western part of Kanawha County plans to celebrate with a festive pub crawl doubling as a fundraiser, while an unusual food-themed fundraiser is set for a nearby city across the Kanawha River.
Here’s a roundup of what happened in the month of February and a look ahead to March with municipal news and events in the region.
Belle
Belle town council approved the purchase of a new sign for Belle Centennial Park. Cost of the sign and installation will total about $1,600, according to Mayor Dave Fletcher. The original sign — installed in 1963 by Mayor H.L. Fletcher, the current mayor’s grandfather — has fallen into disrepair.
Belle received a grant from the Kanawha County Commission to install a kayak and canoe launch on the Kanawha River on the western end of town. Fletcher said they are getting closer to obtaining the property by lease from the former Occidental Chemical Company for the project to move forward. “We think that’ll be done maybe in the next two, three months,†he said.
Town officials are looking to begin a $1.5 million wastewater and sewer project with The Thrasher Group in the western end of town to replace infrastructure originally installed in the 1920s and 30s. They hope to get bids for that project in the next few months, Fletcher said. “We hope to put a couple new lines in. I’m the first mayor since the 60s to put any new lines in Belle. So, I can say at least I put a few new lines in the ground before I left office.â€
Belle Mayor Dave Fletcher is shown at the opening ceremony for Clean Seas plastics recycling center in Quincy on June 30, 2025.
Gazette-Mail file photo
After 25 years of service to the town, beginning as council member and recorder before becoming mayor eight years ago, Fletcher’s last day in office will be June 30. “It’s just time to sit back and relax I think,†he said.
The next town bingo will begin at 6 p.m. March 7 for town residents 18 and older.
The town plans an Easter egg hunt for 2 p.m. on March 28 on the front lawn of Boyd CAT, 1400 Dupont Ave. E.
The next town council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 17 at Belle Town Hall, 1100 Dupont Ave. E.
Cedar Grove
The next town bingo will be Feb. 27 at the Cedar Grove Community Center. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. for concessions, with bingo beginning at 6 p.m.
The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 10 at 302 Alexander St.
Chesapeake
Officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The next town council meeting is set for 6 p.m. March 23, at 12404 MacCorkle Ave. SE.
Clendenin
A new recreational gymnastics business, Tumble Starz LLC, opened in February. It is located at 107 Koontz Ave. Suite 4.
The next town movie night begins at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Clendenin Community Center, 4 First St.
Clendenin’s next scheduled town council meetings will be at 6 p.m. March 9 and March 23 at 103 First St.
Dunbar
The city of Dunbar is hiring a manager for the city’s building inspection and code enforcement department. Submit resumes no later than March 6 to P.O. Box 483 in Dunbar.
Amelia Wilson, 4, of South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, holds up a full plate as she stands in line to be served with various critters offered at Dunbar’s annual Critter Dinner on April 6, 2024.
Dunbar’s 52nd annual Critter Dinner fundraiser will begin at noon on March 21 at the Dunbar Recreation Center, 2601 Fairlawn Ave. The menu features a variety of meats, including bison, rabbit and alligator. Attendees can enter with a donation of five nonperishable food items or a $5 cash donation per person, all to benefit the Dunbar Institute Food Pantry.
The annual Dunbar Senior Center indoor yard sale will be from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 7 at the Dunbar Recreation Center.
The next city council meetings will be at 7 p.m. March 2 and March 16 at City Hall, 210 12th St.
Marmet
Marmet officials are at work on a 10-year plan for what residents would like to see happen in Marmet, including improvements and upgrades for buildings and infrastructure and more community oriented outdoor recreation, like a permanent stage for the ball field or a water park for kids. Marmet Mayor Frances Armentrout said February’s comprehensive plan meeting went well, and more community meetings to discuss the plan are in the works. “We need to do a couple more of those, and they’re hoping to have our comprehensive plan ready by the end of June,†Armentrout said. “So we’re looking forward to that; we do have another meeting planned, we’ve not set the definite date, but it will be sometime around the end of March.â€
There will be a children’s Easter egg hunt at the end of March, which is also still in the planning stages, according to Armentrout.
The Marmet Recreation Committee will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Marmet Recreation Center, 8505 MacCorkle Ave. SE.
Marmet’s next council meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Town Hall, 9403 MacCorkle Ave. SE.
A memorial wall showing local veterans of Vietnam War is displayed at the Nitro Wars Museum in Nitro, on Nov. 5, 2025. The orange stars represent those killed in action.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail file photo
The annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day event of the West Virginia Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 30 at the Nitro Living Memorial Park, Second Avenue and 21st Street. All veterans are invited to attend, which honors Vietnam veterans as well as veterans of all conflicts involving U.S. military servicemen and women. The event highlights West Virginia Vietnam War veterans and will feature several speakers throughout the day. Representatives from the West Virginia Veterans Administration will be on hand to answer eligibility and benefit questions. The nearby Nitro Wars Museum, home of the West Virginia Vietnam War Memorial Wall, will be open during the ceremony, according to Joe Stevens, executive director of the Nitro CVB.
The City of Nitro Athletic Complex Pool is hiring lifeguards for the summer. Applications are available at city hall.
Nitro’s next city council meetings will be at 7 p.m. March 3 and March 17 at 2009 20th St.
Pratt
Pratt officials did not report anything for this month.
The next town council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 10 at Town Hall, 200 Center St.
St. Albans
St. Albans Mayor Scott James said there are about two months before completion of the city’s water tank project.
The former McKinley Middle School gymnasium saw its first event in February, a professional boxing match. “That had a fantastic turnout, and it’s booking up very quickly with youth groups, youth sports,†James said. “That’s as close to a community center as we’ve ever seen here in St. Albans.†To rent the facility, contact St. Albans Parks and Recreation Department at 304-722-4625.
The Crawl-O-Green 2026 pub crawl fundraiser is set for 7-11 p.m. March 7 at Olde Main Plaza. Five bars and restaurants will participate with drink specials, with games and activities on the street. Proceeds benefit the Alban Arts Theatre restoration fund.
Tractor Supply’s plans for a new location at the former Parkway Supermarket building, 2515 MacCorkle Ave., have been approved by the city, and work on building renovations is slated to begin soon.
USA Dance Chapter #6014 is hosting a ballroom dance workshop March 21 at the Hansford Center, 500 Washington St. Rumba lessons are from 10 a.m. to noon, and a ChaCha class runs 1-3 p.m., with a dance for attendees from 7-10 p.m. Beginners are welcome, and no partners are required. Sessions are $15 per person with lunch provided.
St. Albans’ next city council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. March 17 at 1499 MacCorkle Ave.
The eSports gaming center recently opened in the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Community Center in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
An esports gaming center for organized competitive video gaming opened at the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Community Center on Feb. 13. “Kids go to college now on scholarships for this stuff,†said Mayor Frank Mullens. “So we made an investment and opened up a section of the community center and put in the gaming center there, and I think it’s going to be a big hit.†The esports facilities are located in Room 3 at the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Community Center, 601 Jefferson Road. In addition to public gaming hours, the facility provides space rentals, tournament hosting and specialized programming for seniors.
The next city council meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at 401 D St
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