Notable People

Lauren Gorman, Clendenin Homecoming Festival Teen Queen to Compete in Miss WV Teen USA Pageant

 

By: Stacy Nelson | Posted: Sept.  10, 2018

On October 13-14th, 2018, Clendenin Homecoming Festival Teen Queen-Lauren Gorman will be competing in the Miss West Virginia Teen USA competition held at the Creative Arts Center Lyell B Clay Theatre at West Virginia University. Lauren has placed in the Top 5 for the last two years at this pageant and was third runner-up last year.  According to pageant director, Heather Rouch, “This year Lauren is in a great position to take the crown.  If she does, she would then go on to represent at the Miss Teen USA pageant.”

Lauren is a scholar athlete and currently attends Roane County High School where she is a senior.  She is actively involved in Varsity Volleyball and will also be leaving next week to prepare for New York Fashion Week where she is modeling for several designers.

Rouch indicated that sponsors are required for the competition. The Clendenin Homecoming Festival will be paying for her entry fee to compete; however, Lauren will need to prepare for competition and will need a wardrobe as well as beauty expenses. According to Rouch, sponsors will be listed in the official program, on the Miss Teen WV USA website as Lauren’s sponsor, and  will be promoted on Gorman’s social media for the entire term of her reign.  In addition, Gorman will be available for appearance opportunities.

Rouch stated, “Lauren is one of the most unique and amazing young women I’ve ever encountered. I could not think of a better person to represent our state at the Miss Teen USA pageant. She has been a wonderful representative for Clendenin and we are all so proud of her and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the future.”

If you are interested in helping to sponsor Clendenin Homecoming Festival Teen Queen, Lauren Gorman, to compete in the Miss West Virginia Teen USA Pageant, contact Heather Roush at hroush.director@gmail.com.

September 10, 2018 in COMMUNITY, Education News, Entertainment, Life & Style, Local News, NEWS, Notable People, Students

Meet Your Mayor – Shana Clendenin

CLENDENIN, W.Va. – The Clendenin Leader had an opportunity to sit down with Clendenin, West Virginia Mayor, Shana Clendenin. Not only did we learn about Mayor Clendenin, and why she decided to run for mayor, we also talked about the progress that has been made during her past 11 months in office. In addition to the upcoming Clendenin Homecoming Festival June 22-24, 2018, Clendenin is now a prime location for recreation and tourism based economic development.

A very important event coming up on Saturday, June 2, 2018 is the Elk River Clean-up. This is a great opportunity for the community to get involved and make a difference for the Elk River area. We plan to have more sit down discussions with Mayor Clendenin in the future to keep the Clendenin community informed and encourage everyone to get involved in the great things that are going on in the town of Clendenin.

May 17, 2018 in 2016 FLOOD, Business News, COMMUNITY, Community News, Life & Style, Local News, Long Term Aftermath & Recovery, NEWS, Notable People, Outdoors & Recreation, Politics

Youth Spotlight – Hunter White

While at Herbert Hoover High School, athletically Hunter White was a member of the Huskies basketball, baseball, and golf teams. Academically he was a member of the “We the People” debate team that made it to the second round of a state-wide high school competition in 2014, and the Math Field Day Team. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, was Salutatorian of the Herbert Hoover Class of 2014, and was awarded the President Award which goes to the top graduating male in each class.

Hunter chose West Virginia University to continue his education, and in 2016, the first year he was eligible, he was selected an Eberly Scholar. This is considered the most prestigious scholarship awarded at Eberly College, WVU’s largest college. Only twenty students per year are selected for this scholarship.

Hunter with his parents, both 1981 Herbert Hoover Graduates, Rhonda and J.E. White of Clendenin

A Senior now at WVU, Hunter is majoring in Biology and will graduate with highest honors (summa cum laude), receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree, with Honors, in May of 2018. He was recently named a 2017 Mr. Mountaineer Finalist, one of only five selected. He has already been accepted to medical school and will begin in the Fall of 2018. He is the son of J.E. and Rhonda White of Clendenin.

Susan Jack with The Clendenin Leader, sat down with Hunter and had a casual conversation with him while he was home on Christmas Break. He shared with us a little about his time at WVU, his activities, accomplishments, and his plans for the future. Click the play button below to listen. (more…)

January 28, 2018 in Academic Achievements, ANNOUNCEMENTS, Celebrations & Achievements, COMMUNITY, Education News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Notable People, Students

God Has a Plan for Clendenin

By Hannah Kessler Trautwein, Project Coordinator, Next Step Ministries

I’ll never forget the summer of 2016. At that time, I was serving in the role of Partnership Coordinator with Next Step Ministries in Braxton/Gilmer County. I had lived there for almost 2 years, working alongside some friends in a small town called Rosedale.

The week of June 19th, weather reports caught my attention, so the summer staff and I started preparing for heavy rains, and potential flooding. We had about 75 young teen volunteers with us that week, and I was very worried that I could have people under my purview in danger. The week passed and there was a lot of rain, some scary weather warnings, and a high creek leading into Rosedale. Other than that, I woke up on Friday the 24th and everything seemed okay. It wasn’t until later that day that I realized the weight of the damage done in other places. (more…)

January 23, 2018 in 2016 FLOOD, COMMUNITY, Local News, Long Term Aftermath & Recovery, NEWS, Notable People, Volunteers & Volunteer Organizations

Eric Douglas: Humility taught with cheerfulness

By: Eric Douglas, Author | Posted: Jan. 17, 2018 | Source: Kanawha Metro

I learned a lesson in humility recently.

With the cold weather, I was using my fireplace more than anticipated. I knew I wasn’t going to have enough firewood to make it through the winter, but my supply dwindled faster than I expected.

Just as we were running out, my wife found someone locally who could deliver to the house at, frankly, a better price than I expected. (Another quote was $50 more.)

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January 18, 2018 in Notable People

Local Volunteers Helping Out in Clendenin

It takes a village to restore a village. The people of Elk River know this well, having lived through the devastating flood of 2016, and having welcomed thousands of volunteers into the area to assist in recovery efforts. Town maintenance crews have been working hard to restore the infrastructure and cleanliness of Clendenin, but it’s a very large and ongoing task. Now that some locals are catching up on their own personal recovery issues, several are giving back to the community by volunteering their time and efforts to the town as well.

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December 30, 2017 in COMMUNITY, Local News, NEWS, Notable People

Hoover Alumnus, Garrett Burgess Named 2017 WVU Mr. Mountaineer, Hunter White Finalist

Every fall during Mountaineer Week at West Virginia University, two outstanding students are recognized as Ms. and Mr. Mountaineer. Five male and five female finalists are selected from the student body based on their outstanding academic achievements at WVU and their involvement in extracurricular activities. The honorees are then announced during halftime of the WVU football game at Milan Puskar Stadium, marking the conclusion of Mountaineer Week. (more…)

December 30, 2017 in Academic Achievements, COMMUNITY, Education News, NEWS, Notable People