The spirit of Brogan Raddish, who passed away in 2009 while barely a teenager, shines brightly in Monongah.

So does the Christmas street light at Brogan Raddish playground. Every night.

It’s on a Murray Energy pole with a photo-cell.

And the first phase of the Monongah playground improvements is only $4,500 short of the $20,500 cost.

Mayor Greg Vandetta said that phase one includes resurfacing the basketball court, 3 musical pieces of equipment and a sign language panel.

“A couple of grants, the town’s contribution and donations from businesses and citizens” came within $4,500 of paying for phase one, Greg reports.

He added:

 “Phase two will include an addition to the current play area and a piece of equipment geared to older children.

“Phase three will be replacement of the sand with rubber playground mulch. I still have a few places to apply to for funds to complete phase one.”

Brogan’s parents are Marcie Goush Raddish of Monongah and Mark Raddish of Fairmont.

Brogan’s grandmother, Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959, has conducted fundraising for a decade for the Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund for students in Monongah. Dietta is an assistant teacher at North Central Community Action. 

The kayak launch ramp will be installed within a month with assistance from Marion County Parks & Recreation. MCPR's executive director is Tony Michalski, Ramona’s son, and the guiding hand behind the assist to Monongah.

And young people from the Cross of Christ Church and Girl Scouts will be busy planting flowers in various Monongah sites.

Brogan was 14 when she passed away from Ewing's Sarcoma, a cancer which usually starts in the bone.

But her spirit lives on in Monongah at her playground next to the Rails and Trails by the Monongah town parking lot.

If you want to contribute to the Brogan scholarship fund, make out a check to:

Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund

 And mail it to:

Dietta Harden Goush

675 Cottage Street
Monongah, WV 26554

Dollar store talk stirring again

It seemed like forever ago that we read about a Dollar store taking over the former Huntington Bank building at Camden and Walnut in Monongah. 

Well, it has reached the stage of looking at blueprints, taking photos and going through another round of bids for demolition of the bank building.

The problem? Family Dollar sold the property to Dollar Tree. But Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs wrote that "it's still a Family Dollar; it's just that Dollar Tree bought them."

There is a Family Dollar on East Park Avenue in Fairmont and a Dollar General in Worthington and at the Country Club Road shopping center and mall.

Dollar Tree, whose headquarters is Chesapeake, Virginia, has 4,900 stores. Family Dollar, based in Matthews, North Carolina, has 1,400 stores. Dollar General, out of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, has more than 10,000 stores.

Says Patty Steele McCombs: “We’re keeping fingers crossed the project may be taking off soon.”

Dollars to donuts on that, anyone? 

Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974, has another theory about the holdup.

Bev writes:

“Monongah isn't getting a Family Dollar from what I've heard. Dispute about property line with the people who live behind the old bank. So Farmington is supposed to get it instead.”

Bev’s father is Arnold Ray Morgan, Class of 1950, “who has been in Florida since I was 3. I was born in 1955.” Arnold lives in Palatka, Florida. 

Family Dollar Store closer to reality . . . give it another month

Patty Steele McCombs‎Monongah ~ Town News

Family Dollar Store: Mayor Vandetta spoke to Mr. Pittsmiller on April 24th about the Family Dollar project and was told they received the final budget approval!!!! Soooooo within a month we should see progress happening. He REASSURED us that it is coming!!!! YAY!

The store is going to be a Family Dollar Store. The one in Worthington is a Dollar General. The other Family Dollar store is on East Park Ave in Fairmont across the street from Domino’s Pizza. The one at Country Club shopping center and the mall is Dollar General. I am excited to have any new business come into town!!

Frank Pulice, Jr., Class of 1950, provides information on the Francisco Pulice home on Walnut at Camden, which was torn down to make way for the Huntington Bank, which is being razed to make way for the Family Dollar Store.  Nick Fiori’s family and the Gumont family lived there after the Pulice family.

THE CHILDREN OF FRANK, SR AND THERESA LARRY (loria) PULICE:

SAM PULICE, CALIFORNIA, DECEASED; TONY PULICE, ARIZONA, DECESAED; WILLIAM PULICE, DECEASED.

ROSE ANN SATTERFIELD, DECEASED; NORMA JEAN PULICE ZANNINO, DECEASED.

LIVING, KATHERINE PULICE MANNO, MARY LOUISE PULICE HEFNER,

FRANK PULICE, JR. FAIRMONT, JAMES A. PULICE , ARIZONA.

WE MOVED FROM CHIEFTON YEARS AGO, BOUGHT THE LARGE HOME YOU ARE SPEAKING OF AND, WHEN WE MOVED WITH 10 CHILDREN, MOM AND DAD, WE HAD 12 PEOPLE  THERE.

MY DAD KEPT THE HOME OUTSIDE WITH SO MANY FLOWERS, TREES, AND MOM KEPT THE HOUSE BUSY WITH MAKING SO MANY MEALS, ALWAYS HAD HOMEMADE BREAD, PIES, ETC.

WE HAD A GARDEN THAT CONNECTED TO THE GUMONT FAMILY, AND WE WOULD GATHER IN THE EVENINGS IN OUR BACK YARD WITH THE GUMONTS AND THE PULICE FAMILY.

GOOD OLD DAYS.

JOHN I LEFT OFF THE NAME OF JOSEPH ANTHONY PULICE, JOE NOW
IN ARIZONIA, RETIRED AND ENJOYING LIFE, NE NOW 86 years young

MANY THANKS, FRANK PULICE, JR.