Laura Dean Bennett
Contributing Writer
The Pocahontas County Opera House was in full bloom Thursday evening – decorated with cherry blossoms and forsythia stems for the Evening with the Arts annual showcase.
Sponsored by the Marlinton Woman’s Club, the evening showcases the artistic talent of local students in the fields of art, music and creative writing.
Refreshments were served by members of the Woman’s Club as attendees perused the art show provided by art students at Pocahontas County High School, Marlinton Middle School and Marlinton Elementary School, under the direction of art teachers Diana Nelson and Margaret Baker. The visual arts were judged and awarded ribbons.
Pocahontas County High School winners are:
Graphite pencil: first place, Kaylin Murray; second place, Jacob Hefner; third place, Laura Leyzorek; and honorable mention, Kaylin Murray.
Acrylic paint: first place, Audrey Lore; second place, Kristen Bennett; third place, Heather Pritt; and honorable mention, Amber Sisler.
Colored pencil: first place, Audrey Lore; second place, Audrey Lore; third place, Laura Leyzorek; and honorable mention, Emily Boothe.
Marker: first place, Danielle Cain; second place, Kyle Lester; and third place, Danielle Cain.
Tempera paint: first place, Laura Leyzorek; second place, Bryce Kranc; and third place, Laura Leyzorek.
Scratchboard: first place, Jacob Hefner; second place, Laura Leyzorek; and third place, Dylan Workman.
Mixed media: first place, Kyleen Alkire; second place, Amber Beverage; and third place, Audrey Lore.
Ceramics: first place, Michelle Murphy; second place, Michelle Murphy; and third place, Morgan Leyzorek.
Marlinton Middle School winners: first place, Ryleigh Vaughan; second place, Glen Wilt; and third place, Madeline Pritt.
Marlinton Elementary School: first place, Amanda Burns; second place, Kailynn Dean; third place, Taiylor Hoke; and honorable mention, Jaryd Friel.
Several students took part in the Pocahontas Liar’s Contest and spun tall tales to the delight of the audience.
The were: Mallori McCoy, “The Crazy Pig;” Trevor Tuskan, “Dinosaurs Attacking the City;” Haley Spencer, “The Weirdest Walk Ever;” Robert Pritt, “Billy Joe the Scarecrow;” Alan Gibson, “Freddie Coe’s Dirt;” Devon George, “Dot’s Cow Pie;” Sarah Warder, “The Big Mouth;” Rachel Burns, “The Beach;” and Makenna McKenney, “Daisy the Super Chicken.”
PCHS band director Bob Mann emceed the event. He and the PCHS Jazz Band had toes tapping as they rounded out the evening’s entertainment.