🌱 Students Invited To Apply For Youth Tour + Local Woman Missing

Hello again, neighbors. It's Thursday in Marietta and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy with rain tapering off. High: 49 Low: 35.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Marietta who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top 3 stories in Marietta today:

1. High school sophomores and juniors have an exciting opportunity! Those whose parents are members of Washington Electric Cooperative are invited to apply to attend Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid, week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Washington Electric has offered to sponsor two local students and they will have the opportunity to meet with Ohio's congressional leaders and tour the capital city. Applications are due Feb. 10 and can be accessed online. (Marietta Times)
2. The Buckeye Hills Regional Council is now accepting applications for Surface Transportation Block Grant funds. Applications are open until Jan. 10. The funding was provided through the House Bill 74 of the 134th Ohio General Assembly to assist rural communities with transportation projects. Portions of Washington County are eligible to apply. (Marietta Times)
3. In nearby Parkersburg, police ask for the community's help finding a missing woman. Gretchen Fleming, 27, was reported missing on Monday. She has not contacted friends or family in the last few days. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call 304-424-1072. (WTAP)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Marietta:

• Open Sew/Machine Basics At BB2C Marketplace (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Every Monday, the city of Marietta will feature a beautiful image of Marietta, Ohio, taken by local photographer Bruce Wunderlich. This week's image is of the Putnam House in Harmar Village, which is also Ohio's oldest former bank. The beautiful image can be seen here. (Visit Marietta Ohio via Facebook)
• Let's get wrapping! The Beverly Library will be having a present-wrapping party on Saturday (Dec. 17) from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. There will be wrapping materials available, you are welcome to donate, and the staff will be available to help. (Washington County Public Library via Facebook)
• The Marietta/Belpre Health Department will be in Belpre next Wednesday, Dec. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.! Walk-ins are welcome for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations; for other immunizations, please call ahead at 740-373-0611 - Ext 2312. (Marietta/Belpre Health Department via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.