Candlelight vigils are being held across West Virginia Sunday night by many education groups as part of the ongoing teacher strike protests. (MGN Online)
By: Ashley Bishop | Posted: Feb. 25, 2018 | Source: WVAH
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — Candlelight vigils are being held across West Virginia Sunday night by many education groups as part of the ongoing teacher strike protests.
Kanawha, Roane, and Braxton county plan to host them, but one county, in particular, is holding the vigil in honor of a teacher that was in a car wreck on Friday.
Roane County will hold a candlelight vigil at the County Courthouse in Spencer at 7:30 p.m. The vigil is meant to be a time of reflection, but organizers also plan to collect a monetary donation for a teacher who was injured in a car wreck.
Roane County teacher Bonita Schreckengost known to many in the community as B.J. was in a car wreck while returning from the capitol on Friday according to another Roane County teacher that works in the same school as Schreckengost. Three teachers were in the car when it hydroplaned and rolled several times on I-79. Two other teachers have minor injuries while Schreckengost, who was not wearing a seatbelt while in the backseat, was thrown from the car and suffered a broken back, pelvis and internal bleeding. According to the GoFundMe page set up on Schreckengost’s behalf. she is a single mom to a four-year-old and is “currently going through multiple surgeries and will have an extensive road to recovery.” The account was set up to assist with medical expenses.
Roane County teacher Bonita Schreckengost known to many in the community as B.J. was in a car wreck while returning from the capitol on Friday according to another Roane County teacher that works in the same school as Schreckengost. (Schreckengost Family)
Roane County teacher Bonita Schreckengost known to many in the community as B.J. was in a car wreck while returning from the capitol on Friday according to another Roane County teacher that works in the same school as Schreckengost. (Schreckengost Family)
Schreckengost sister Jeanette Schreckengost tells Eyewitness News that the family is overwhelmed by the amount of support the community is giving to their sister. She adds that her sister will be in the hospital for a while and will have another surgery Monday.
Fred Albert, president of AFT-Kanawha said they plan to ask every teacher and service personnel that enters the capitol on Monday to donate $1 to help the Schreckengost family through this tough time.
In Kanawha County, a candlelight vigil will take place at 6:30 p.m. on the capitol steps near the Kanawha River according to the event posted on Facebook. The public event says everyone is invited and it’s not just for educators. The event is being hosted by WVEA, AFT- Kanawha, and WVSSPA.
Albert said the idea of the event is all about peace and time to reflect. He said they did a similar vigil in 1990 and there is no exact planned program. Albert says people should bring their own flashlights, cellphone with flashlights or candles. He added flashlights are safer than candles want people to be safe, especially children.
In Braxton County, AFT-WV, AFL-CIO as well as some lawmakers will hold a candlelight rally at Braxton County High School which is located just off the Flatwoods exit on I-79. The vigil will start at 5:30 p.m.
