Recreation grants awarded

STEUBENVILLE — A little more than $213,000 in recreation grants is being distributed to cities, villages and townships across Jefferson County, just about half of the total requests that came in.

The Jefferson County Commissioners said 2026 grant recipients are: Toronto and Wintersville, $13,000 each; Steubenville, Amsterdam, Mingo Junction, Richmond, Tiltonsville, Salem Township, Smithfield Township, Springfield Township and Warren Township, $10,000 each; Steubenville Township, Wayne Township and Wells Township, $9,000 each; Stratton and Saline Township, $8,000 each; Dillonvale, Irondale and Island Creek Township, $6,000 each; Adena, Bergholz, Bloomingdale, Empire, Mount Pleasant and Cross Creek Township, $5,000 each; New Alexandria, $4,000; and Rayland, $2,500.

Funding for the grants is derived from a portion of the county’s permissive sales tax, Auditor E.J. Conn said.

Follansbee St. Anthony to celebrate

FOLLANSBEE — St. Anthony of Padua will celebrate its 120th anniversary Friday and Saturday with food, fellowship and praise, organizers have announced.

The kick-off jubilee Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Herb Keller at 4 p.m. Friday, with the street jubilee on the church plaza set to run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be hot dogs, pasta salad, popcorn, drinks, games, bingo and music.

Saturday’s events begin with a procession at 3 p.m., followed by Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Brennan of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese at 4 p.m. Dinner will follow on the plaza, with pasta, meatballs, antipasto salad, rolls and drinks. Food will be complimentary, with donations appreciated.

Everyone is asked to bring historical literature, pictures, newspapers items, etc., celebrating St. Anthony church and school.

For information, call the parish office at (304) 527-2286 or Benjamin Arthurs, anniversary coordinator, at (304) 374-4965.

Weirton to celebrate Juneteenth

WEIRTON — The celebration of Juneteenth in Weirton will cover two days, organizers said.

Sponsored by the Weirton Ecumenical Council, events will begin at 6 p.m. June 19 with a revival service at St. Peter’s AME Church, 1050 County Road. The revivalist will be Bishop Darrell W. Cummings of the Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly.

Activities will move to the Weirton Event Center on June 20, and will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be food, a bouncy house, games, music and more.

Larry D. Branham will serve as master of ceremonies for gospel entertainment that will include singers, instrumentalists, praise dancers, flags and rappers. Scheduled to participate are the WEC choir, Melanye Wares, ReKonception, the Rev. Karen Wayne, Linda Ross Brown, Bishop Michael Toliver, Tina Hines and Dave and Don Edmunds.

Joining with the ecumenical council to sponsor the activities are Christ the King Church, Morning Star Baptist Church, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly, St. Peter’s AME Church and the city of Weirton.

Pleasant Hill open houses set

STEUBENVILLE — The Pleasant Hill School House Historical Museum has scheduled its yearly series of open houses.

Each of this year’s events will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held on Sunday, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13. A special event to commemorate the county’s 250th birthday will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on July 11, which will include patriotic songs, free refreshments and memorabilia.

Andy Lesnansky has been named the museum’s newest board member. The seventh- and eighth-grade social studies teacher in the Edison Local School District, Lesnanky replaces Michelle Yuricic, who has resigned from the board.

The museum is located at 3125 state Route 213.

Glory Women’s Gathering opens 2026 Steubenville conference season

STEUBENVILLE — More than 600 women from across North America gathered June 5-7 at Franciscan University of Steubenville for Glory: Women’s Gathering, opening the 2026 Steubenville Conferences summer season.

Hosted in partnership with Life Restoration Ministries, the event centered on the theme “Graves Into Gardens,” focusing on prayer, healing, friendship and spiritual renewal through Mass, eucharistic adoration, worship, prayer ministry and presentations.

Speakers included Heather Khym, Debbie Herbeck, Michelle Benzinger, Monica Richards and Sarah Kaczmarek, who encouraged attendees to trust in God’s ability to bring hope and restoration through suffering and uncertainty.

Prayer ministry teams assisted participants throughout the weekend, and a Holy Hour led by Franciscan University President Father Dave Pivonka provided additional opportunities for spiritual reflection.

Organizers reported a 91% satisfaction rate among attendees. The conference concluded Sunday morning with participants departing for additional 2026 summer events at Franciscan University, including the Power & Purpose Conference, St. John Bosco Conference, Applied Biblical Studies Conference and Defending the Faith Conference, along with four Steubenville Youth Conferences marking the 50th anniversary of the program.

More than 43,000 teens are expected to attend youth conferences across the United States and Canada this summer.

Dollar General opens in Adena

ADENA — Dollar General has opened its new store at 1187 U.S. 250 in Adena and will host a grand opening celebration at 8 a.m. Friday, the company announced.

The event will include $10 gift cards for the first 50 adult customers and DG tote bags for the first 100 customers.

Company officials said the store will employ approximately six to 10 people and will provide access to affordable household goods while contributing to local tax revenue and job growth. Dollar General also highlighted its literacy and education initiatives through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, which has awarded more than $292 million in grants since 1993.

The company said schools, nonprofits and libraries within a 15-mile radius may apply for literacy grants supported by the new location.

Saint Francis University announces Dean’s List

LORETTO, Pa. — Saint Francis University has announced students named to the Spring 2026 President’s and Dean’s Lists.

Students must achieve full-time status and a GPA of 4.000 for the President’s List or 3.500 for the Dean’s List.

Local honorees include Karsen Blake of Wintersville, majoring in Health Science OT, and Megan Brown of Steubenville, majoring in Health Science PT, both earning Dean’s List recognition.

Saint Francis University is the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States and offers traditional and online programs focused on faith, service and academic excellence.

Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County sets summer programs

JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County has announced its “Unearth a Story” summer reading program with events scheduled across multiple branches.

Teen grab-and-go craft kits will be available June 24, while adult programming includes a living terrarium workshop June 24 at the Main Library and patriotic wall hangings June 22 and 25 at Adena and Dillonvale branches. Tai chi is scheduled outdoors June 25 at 10 a.m. at the Main Library, weather permitting.

Children’s programming includes visits from characters from the “How Do Dinosaurs Say” book series at multiple branches June 23-25, along with dinosaur-themed crafts, origami and movie events.

The Brilliant Branch will host “Stories in the Stones” June 23 at 5:30 p.m. with presenter Daniel Caron, who will discuss fossils and give one away to a participant. Similar programming will be offered at the Toronto Branch June 25 at 5:30 p.m.

The Schiappa Branch will host a Dungeons & Dragons tournament June 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with an Open Art Night June 23 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

For information, contact individual branch locations.