“LORD, HEAR OUR CRY,” is the theme of this year’s “National Day of Prayer” being observed on Thursday, May 7.

In St. Clairsville, the ceremony will take place at the Belmont County Courthouse Plaza with music by Rachel Beck at 11:30 a.m. At noon, prayers will be said for Government, Church, the Military, Family, Education, Media and Business. A Bible Reading marathon at the Courthouse Plaza began on May 1,and will continue to May 7.

Featured speaker will be Randy Marple, Modern Prophecy Teacher, of East Richland Friends Church.

There will be nine other National Day of Prayer observances in the county.They are in Barnesville, Bellaire Bethesda, Bridgeport, Flushing, Martins Ferry, Maynard, Powhatan Point and Shadyside.

Ken and Nancy Williams of St. Clairsville are the NDP coordinators.

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THE 16th Annual Caregiver Support Fair will be held Tuesday, May 5, from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Ohio Valley Mall. There will be loads of exhibitors, including several new ones who will participate in the event. Jeanette Wojcik, chairperson for the planning committee, said there will be a variety of exhibitors who will offer free health testing. There will be a pharmacist from Riesbeck’s Pharmacy who will be available for consultation from noon to 1 p.m. The Ohio Valley Medical Center will have a diabetes educator available from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be entertainment and a fashion show. Riesbeck’s Food Markets will provide a cake for all visitors. The Fair is sponsored by the Belmont County Adult Services Coalition, a network of organizations and companies which provide services to the older adults in the county. The fair is free and open to the public.

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FRIDAY, May 8, is a special one in the history of our great nation. It was on May 8, 1945 when World War II ended in Europe. There were all kinds of celebrations all over our Ohio Valley. Church bells rang and fire whistles and horns were blowing. Although the war in the Pacific was still being waged, everyone sensed that the conflict there would end soon and that our troops would be coming home. We hope everyone remembers that day. Let us take a few minute to get on our knees and thank God for that Greatest Generation who made many sacrifice to keep our country strong, safe and free.

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“CUTTING CLASS For A Cure” will take place on Friday, May 15, from 8 a.m to 3 p.m at the Barnesville Middle School. This marks the sixth year for the event which is designed to raise funds for the 3C Cancer Support Group, an organization which offers financial support to cancer patients living in Belmont County. Last year the students raised $13,000.

The way it works is that kids pay a dollar for each class they want to cut. When they cut class they can go outside or to the gym m where food vendors and games are set up. Kids can walk the track, play cornhole or frisbee, etc.

While the kids make up the large portion of those attending, members of the community are also welcome to attend.

Denise Leach, middle school teacher is in charge of this year’s event. She said some 3C members always come to volunteer. “We really appreciate it, especially since their event, (The Annual Cancer Walk), is just a couple of weeks away from ours.”

Leach said the students appreciates the donations sent in by businesses. She said the group has a Facebook Page, “Barnesville Middle School Cutting Class for a Cure”.

“Everyone is welcome to attend and any donations can be sent to Banesville Middle School,” she said.

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THE Belmont County Saddle Club will have a “Let’s Ride” event on May 9-10 and Oct., 17-18 at the Saddle Club located in Morristown. Cost is $20 for adults whether riding or camping, $10 for children age 11-15 and free for children 10 and under.

The agenda for May 9 and Oct. 17 is 7:30 a..m. for coffee and donuts, (provided by the club); 9:30 a.m.; ride leaves the camp, (pack your own lunch); 5:30 p.m. covered dish dinner, (club provides meat and coffee); and 8 p.m., round and square dance.

The agenda for May 10 and Oct. 18 is 7:30 a.m. coffee and donuts, (provided by the club); 8-8:30 a.m. church service and 9:30 a.m., ride leaves camp (pack your own lunch)..

Breakfast will be available to purchase on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

For more information . call (740) 782-1289.

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A TIMBER STAND Improvement (TSI), Workshop will take place on May 8 from noon to 4 p.m. at Dysart Woods. It is an instructive and hands-on-workshop. Instructors are Jeremy Scherf, Service Forester; Dan Lima, OSU Extension, Liza Butler, Belmont SWCD Wildlife/Forestry Specialist; Kim Brewster, Belmont SWCD Captina Creek Watershed Coordinator, Joe Lehman, NRCS Conservation Technician and Dave Bauerbach, NRCS Soil Conservationist.

The workshop will help identify garlic mustard and the control methods on eradicating the problematic plant. Also up for discussion are control measures on gravevines and how they can can affect your woods, and ailanthus identification and control methods. During the workshop, the group will be manually pulling or digging garlic mustard in a dense area of Dysart Woods. You are reminded to bring a shovel or hand spade and dress according to the weather. Reservations are requested by May 7. For information, contact Liza Butler at (740) 526-0027.

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HOLLOWAY/ FLUSHING TOWNSHIP will hold its Annual Community Clean-up Day on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m at the village garage, 45 South St., Holloway. Wholesale Electronics of Bellaire will provide a household electronics collection and old televisions and monitors will be accepted.

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PATTY MINE Road, Pease Township Road 462. will be the site of an illegal dumpsite clean-up on Wednesday , May 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are being asked to join the JB Green Team and Belmont County Township Trustees in the project. T-shirts and gloves will be provided. Funding for the project is provided by the Ohio EPA Litter Clean-up and Tire Amnesty Grant. For information, call the JB Green Team at (740) 296- 5376.

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OWNERS of dogs and cats in Belmont County are reminded that 2015 Rabies Vaccination Clinics will be held Tuesday and Thursday, May 5 and May 7., On May 5, clinics will be held at the Centerville School Yard and at the Municipal Building in Bethesda at 6:30 p.m. The clinic on May 5, at the David Jones Auction Barn in

Flushing will be held at 5 p.m.

Clinics on May 7 will be held a 6:30 p.m. at the new school yard in Powhatan Point and at the Barnesvlle Vet office.

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THE AREA III Envirothon will be held Tuesday May 5, at the Zion Christian Retreat and Nature Center, located at 73999 Reservoir Hill Road, Flushing. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Student will receive an orientation to the competition at 9:30 a.m and teams will begin their first station at 9:45 a.m. The competition will conclude shortly before 1 p.m. The event is being hosted by the Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District. Belmont County schools participating are two teams from Barnesville High School and two from Olney Friends School.

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THE Martins Ferry Chamber of Commerce will host its 31st Annual Academic Recognition Banquet on Tuesday, May 5, at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.

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THIS is a reminder that Primary Elections will be held on Tuesday, May 5. We have a duty, right and privilege to cast our ballot. Let us pray and hope we never lose that precious right.