New Entrance Fee for WV State Parks and Forests and Other Shorts

An entrance fee to seven West Virginia state parks and forests was put into effect on Memorial Day Weekend.

According to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the fee will include a $2 charge per vehicle, or a $12 annual fee that guarantees access to all seven parks.

The purpose of the fee is to provide the agency sufficient funding for park conservation and upkeep. — Rachel Pressley

Timber Rattlesnake Sightings Wanted

West Virginia’s state reptile, the timber rattlesnake, is in decline and the state Dept. of Natural Resources is requesting help from citizens to learn about the snake’s population distribution.

They grow up to four feet long, have a banded appearance and a rattle on the tail.

If you have observed a timber rattlesnake in West Virginia, there is a short survey online in which the department asks for the longitude and latitude coordinates where the snake was sighted, a photograph of the snake and the observer’s name with contact information. Access the survey at wvdnr.gov/rattlesnakereport. — Rachel Pressley

STAY Summer Institute Offers Opportunities for Regional Youth

Registration is open for the Stay Together Appalachian Youth Project’s STAY Summer Institute! The institute will be held at the Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, W.Va., July 6 to 9.

Young folks aged 14 to 30 living in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and West Virginia are encouraged to join the STAY Project for a weekend of learning, art, music, action and cultural sharing in an autonomous youth space.

Visit the STAY Project’s website at thestayproject.com to register or submit a workshop proposal. — Lou Murrey

Protecting the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountain Region