wscott@heraldstaronline.com
NEW PROGRAM PROPOSED Michael Lewis, principal of the Brooke County Alternative Center; introduced leaders of the West Virginia National Guard’s Future Leaders Program to the Brooke County school board Monday. Warren Scott
WELLSBURG Leaders of the West Virginia National Guard’s Future Leaders Program have asked Brooke County school officials to consider offering it to students at Brooke High School and the Brooke County Alternative Learning Center.
West Virginia National Guard Lt. Col. Dave Eldridge told the board the program isn’t intended to recruit future members but to foster personal growth in students through a program focused on leadership, citizenship, life skills and military science.
Warren Scott
Because Brooke County Schools have been closed since November because of the pandemic, students at Brooke High School and Brooke Middle School weren’t able to hold their regular nonperishable food drives and toy collections for local charities. But staff at the two schools organized a toy and food drive on Thursday and received many donations outside the high school’s wellness center. Lee Weppler, right, principal of Brooke High School, presented the donations to Salvation Army Lt. Gene Hunt, who said they will be distributed through the Salvation Army’s Wellsburg Service Center. Hunt said there are still angel trees, bearing gift wishes of local children in need, at the Weirton Wal-Mart, and the Salvation Army welcomes volunteers and monetary donations for its Christmas kettle campaign, which will continue up to 3 p.m. Dec. 24 outside several local stores.