Community news from around the area
Financial report ready
WINTERSVILLE — The Cross Creek Township financial report for 2024 has been completed and filed with the state auditor’s office. The report is available for inspection by calling the fiscal officer at (740) 264-7619.
Appalachian Ohio grant available
STEUBENVILLE — The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, in partnership with the Longaberger Family Foundation, is accepting grant applications to support K-12 civics-education programming throughout the region. Public schools, educators, students, public organizations and nonprofits serving kindergarten through 12th-grade students throughout Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties, are eligible to apply. Applications are being accepted and are due by March 14.
Funding is available for projects and programs that advance civics-education opportunities for public school students, with a goal of equipping youths with the knowledge and tools needed to be future leaders in their communities. Grant requests should be between $500 and $5,000, according to officials, who noted awards up to $10,000 will be considered based on potential impact. At least $30,000 in funding is available for this application cycle.
“We are committed to ensuring the children of Appalachian Ohio have the educational opportunities essential to their futures and the future of our communities, state and nation,” said Matt Kaido, Longaberger Family Foundation representative. “These grants will allow K-12 students to experience what it means to be engaged in their communities — opportunities that too-often go unfunded.”
Information and the application are available online at AppalachianOhio.org/civics. Applications must be submitted online through FAO’s grant portal, officials stated.
“Research shows that civic engagement has economic and health benefits for communities,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “By encouraging our youth to become more civically involved, we are helping to support overall well-being throughout Appalachian Ohio. We are grateful for the Longaberger Family Foundation’s continued partnership.”
More than $95,000 in civics-education grants have been provided through the Strengthening Civics Education in Appalachian Ohio program. FAO’s geographic affiliate partners serve the Nelsonville area and Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Vinton counties. For information, visit AppalachianOhio.org, e-mail info@ffao.org or call (740) 753.1111.
Made Men returns to Mountaineer
NEW CUMBERLAND — Made Men Promotions will make its return to Mountaineer Casino Resort on Feb. 15. “An exciting night of championship professional and amateur MMA is planned,” organizers announced. The scheduled 16-bout pay-per-view card will feature the top-rising stars in MMA.
CEO Angelo Magnone stated, “We are excited to return to Mountaineer Casino Resort. Each time we set foot in this amazing venue, it feels like home. Our team has been working around the clock to give fans a night of combat sports they will not soon forget. The warriors on this card are the future of our sport. You will see many of them at the next level soon.”
The main event will be a professional contest, featuring former world kickboxing champion Davis “Da Pitbull” Oraco Jr., who will square off against hometown legend Branko Busick. Oraco, who has not fought since June 21, will make his return to cage fighting out of Team Beast Mode.
Weirton native and Bellator veteran Busick, fighting out of Stout PGH, will seek to keep his winning-streak alive following a total kockout victory in August. “This light heavyweight is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seat,” officials stated.
Made Men Promotions will crown a new champion, as Bobby “We Have a Problem” Houston, clashes with undefeated Tony “The Latin Assassin” Tortorici, for the Light Heavyweight Title. Tortorici will look to become a Made Men Promotions two division champion, as he first captured gold in October by winning the middleweight championship.
Free youth admission at center
PITTSBURGH — Admission to the Sen. John Heinz History Center and Fort Pitt Museum will be free for children 17 years of age and younger during February’s Black History Month and March’s Women’s History Month.
The free admission is being offered through community partners UPMC and UPMC Health Plan. Now through March 31, the free general admission to the Smithsonian-affiliated history center, will include the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and the Fort Pitt Museum, located in historic Point State Park. Regular admission applies for all adult visitors and groups.
At the history center, families can explore six floors of award-winning exhibitions and interactive learning spaces, including spiraling down a 12-foot Liberty Tube slide in the Great Hall, designing pop art and constructing bridges in the Discovery Place exhibition.
Visitors can explore the “Neighborhood of Make-Believe,” featuring the original set and puppets in the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” exhibition.
Attendees can exercise their minds and bodies while climbing the UPMC SmartSteps — the world’s only history exhibition in a stairwell. Punch a stamp card on all six floors to win a free Heinz pickle pin.
Guests can land a space rover on the surface of the moon inside the Apollo 11 section of “Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation.”
At the Fort Pitt Museum, families can take an in-depth exploration of American-Indian tribes who once called Western Pennsylvania home, inside the new exhibition, “Homelands: Native Nations of Allegheny.”
The history center and Fort Pitt Museum are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.