🌱 Harmar Bridge Design Selected + Dave Whelan At Amputee Fun Festival

Hello, everybody! Miranda Fraraccio here with your fresh copy of the Marietta Patch newsletter, full of everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two. High: 86 Low: 70.
• Sunday: Humid with heavy t-storms. High: 80 Low: 67.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories in Marietta today:

1. A new design has been selected for Marietta's Historic Harmar Bridge, which has closed since January 2020 due to safety concerns. The final options were narrowed down to a replica-style bridge and a more modern design, but the replica was deemed unattainable due to deterioration and high costs. The chosen open design will preserve the turn span, keeping its historic significance, and will allow for its function as a pedestrian and cyclist bridge, with a more feasible budget of around $15 million. (WTAP)
2. A fatal two-vehicle crash took place on State Route 7 in Washington County, resulting in the death of one individual. The collision occurred when a Ford Taurus driven by Austin G. McConaha, 27, collided with a Kenworth T8 semi driven by Gregory S. Lawrentz, 57, who was attempting to make a right turn onto Veto Road. McConaha, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at Camden Clark Medical Center. Lawrentz sustained minor injuries and was taken to Marietta Memorial Hospital. (WTAP)
3. Paralympian Dave Whelan will take the stage as the guest speaker at the upcoming Amputee Fun Festival at the Amputee Center in nearby Parkersburg. The Jul. 22 festival, which showcases amputees and their achievements, will feature live music, guest speakers, vendors, food trucks, and various community services. Vendor applications and sponsorships are still being accepted — contact executive director Cat Bigley at 304-699-4909, amputeecenter@gmail.com, or here. (Parkersburg News)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Marietta:

Saturday, July 1

• River City Farmers Market At 200 Butler Street (8:00 AM)

Sunday, July 2

• Sunday Makebreak: Pom-Pom Flags At Michaels, Parkersburg (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• This week, Discovery World held its themed "Deep Dive" STEAM camp. Click the link to view photos. (Marietta Times)
• Today (Jul. 1), the Humane Society of Parkersburg is planning a special adoption event to encourage the community to adopt a new furry friend. To counter the shelter nearing capacity, the adoption fee for dogs is $50, while for cats it's $20. (Parkersburg News)
• On Thursday, Marietta Main Street announced the return of Build Up Marietta, a building improvement grant program for the C4 District managed by Marietta Main Street. The Summer Cycle for Build Up Marietta began on Thursday, Jun. 29 and applications are due by Jul. 25. (Marietta Main Street via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll catch up with you soon with a new update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.