T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK City officials and volunteers deliver Valentine’s Day tokens for seniors and youths Friday. Pictured, from left, are Ann Marie McConaghy, niece of St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman, Mary Lou Kanopsic, resident of Kontogiannis Terrace Apartments, Officer Greg Clark and Thelma Tirpak, resident of Kontogiannis Terrace Apartments.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — City officials spread the love Friday to older and younger residents, marking the upcoming Valentine’s Day.

Ann Marie McConaghy, niece of St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman, took up a toy Cupid’s bow and accompanied police Officer Greg Clark visiting older residents at Kontogiannis Apartments, Continuing Healthcare at Forest Hills, and to several individual residences where they handed out small boxes of chocolates to seniors.

Later, they stopped by Fox Run Center for Children and Adolescents and gave out cupcakes and cookies baked by Clark’s mother, Nancy Clark.

Officer Clark said the recent bad weather, in combination with persisting fears from the COVID-19 pandemic, have dampened many spirits.

“This brings a smile to everyone’s face after last week,” he said. “With the ice storm we got and the weather conditions, and also the COVID. A lot of people are still afraid to go out. … I did a lot of home checkups with people. … Not only COVID, but with the icy conditions they’re afraid they might fall and break a bone.”

McConaghy, who has participated in holiday parades and other community outreach events, said it was important to lift residents’ spirits.

“It’s good for people to know that we care,” she said. “We love our city.”

“I think it’s a wonderful effort they’re doing to reach out to people during this pandemic and letting people know that they really care about them. They’re not just here to protect them, they’re there because they care so much,” Nancy Clark said. “This is what the Lord tells us to do, to take care of others.”

“That’s what we’re here for. To love each other and watch out for each other,” Officer Clark’s father, Gary Clark, said.

“We’re letting our residents know again that St. Clairsville cares about them, and we not only talk the talk, we walk the walk. We took care of our people this weekend in that storm, we had our policemen going door-to-door knocking to get people out of their apartments because it was so cold,” Thalman said. “It’s Valentine’s Day and we love you as citizens and we’re there for you.”

Thalman added elderly residents who would like a regular checkup by one of the city police officers can call the city building at 740-695-1324.

“It’s very important to take care of our elderly, as well as…to take care of people who are vulnerable,” she said.