Almost Heaven BBQ Bash

08/08/2023

If you enjoyed this year's Almost Heaven BBQ Bash, we'd appreciate your vote as your favorite special annual event! This category is the first one listed, so it's quick to vote.

Please share with your friends and fellow BBQ lovers so they can vote too. You can vote everyday from now till August 13th!

We appreciate your support as we plan the 2024 event!

Voting ends this Sunday, August 13th! Be sure to cast your votes for the 2023 Upshur Choice Awards brought to you by The Record Delta! You can vote once per day, per category.

Visit www.wvnews.com/recorddelta/contests

07/28/2023

code red - Blaze is in urgent need of rescue or adoption !!’ all info below !!

adoption fee sponsored to luv approved adopter

OWNER SURRENDER

Animal ID: 12553
Date Entered: 7/8/2023
Type Animal: Dog
Breed: Pit Mix
Hair: Short Brindle w/White
Weight: 65 lbs
Age: 3 Years
S*x: Male (not neutered)
Name: BLAZE
Info: Owner surrendered me. I am not doing well here at the pound with all the other dogs. I failed my first dog test. Staff is trying to give me a chance (I've been here for over a week) but the pound is packed full so I need a new home ASAP with no other dogs.

Adoption Fee $70

CONTACT:
Jan Cochran - Shelter Manager
[email protected]
(304) 472-3865 M-F 10-230 SAT. 10-NOON
http://upshuranimalcontrol.org/

**RESCUES WANTING TO PULL - FILL OUT AND RETURN THE FOLLOWING 2 FORMS ASAP**
http://upshuranimalcontrol.org/RescueAgreement.pdf
http://upshuranimalcontrol.org/RescuePullForm.pdf
LOCATION: Buckhannon, WV

07/14/2023

Everyone likes to save $$$$$ ....

07/14/2023

07/14/2023

The BBQ Bash may be over for this year, but the SAVINGS are still available till June 1, 2024. Get your deck of Almost Heaven BBQ Bash playing cards NOW to enjoy great savings at nearly 30 shops, restaurants, and more in and around Buckhannon and Weston.

Discount Decks of cards are available for $10.00 at:

The Chamber of Commerce / CVB (Main Street)
County Time Cooking Restaurant (old Elkins Road)
Fish Hawk Acres (Main Street)
Just Cuttin' Up Salon (Main Street)
Pop's Furniture (South Florida Street / in Jawbone Park)
Sweet A Licious (Corner of South Florida & Madison Streets)

LOTS of great deals and discounts from 10% - 20%, free desserts, and more ... use multiple times until June 1, 2024 (unless otherwise specified by vendor) - all for $10.00 .. and you still have a fun playable deck of cards too!

Pick up your discount deck at one of the retailers above, or leave a message here and we'll make sure to get a deck (or more) to you. A great holiday gift too ... stocking stuffer, birthday gift, etc.

After all, who doesn't like to save money???

07/04/2023

Enjoy this special holiday with family and friends ...

07/03/2023

More THANKS to those who helped make this year's BBQ Bash a great success!

Once again, Sharla Smith coordinated a great group of ladies from the Ruth House to coordinate several games, and worked hard keeping the Jawbone Park area clear of trash (and LOTS of it). Thanks to Sharla and her crew, including her hubby Shane, who've been invaluable assets the past few years.

Another new activity was a special VIP reception/dinner for our Judges and Teams, who travelled from nearly 20 states to participate in the BBQ Bash. Coordinated and prepared by Claudia, (owner of Mama Roma's Restaurant on Main Street) and Jerry Henderson (owner of the Baxa Inn), they created and served a delicious Italian meal for our visitors, with the help of Claudia's daughters Ana and Sara, Baxa Inn staff members Cathy, Wendy, and volunteers ... Susan Harman, Shelia Sines, Debbie Green, and John Shipman. Teams and judges have a wide variety of contests to attend, and we appreciate them choosing our event this year!

This was also a first for a new BBQ Bash Baton Twirling Contest, coordinated by Brittany Smith who worked hard securing performing groups and judges to highlight the skills of these great young athletes. Kudos to those who won trophies and all who participated!

Once again, a big thanks to the City of Buckhannon, especially the Street Dept. staff, electricians, Police, Fire, VIPS, EMS, and others who worked extra hours to make sure the event was a success, never hesitating to handle any issue during the weekend.

We hope to see you again in June, 2024! If you haven't, please "LIKE" our Almost Heaven BBQ Bash page for event updates and announcements in the coming months!

07/02/2023

Just wanted to send a huge THANKS to the nearly 50 CBJ's, TC's, and several volunteers, who participated in our recent Almost Heaven BBQ Bash, in Buckhannon, WV the weekend of June 16-17. Despite a few who had to withdraw (and BIG Thanks for notifying us in advance), we were blessed to welcome ALL who registered ... not a single no-show, and we truly appreciate that! Thanks also to Greg Gordon for serving as our Judge Coordinator making sure the Judge/Team ratio remained in balance for the fairest contest possible.

I hope those who participated will vouch for our efforts to take good care of both the Judges and Teams, and we hope you enjoyed your brief visit with us!

We're thrilled to have hosted some of the top BBQ teams on the East Coast, and with our event being an AUTO to the Jack Daniels contest (congrats to the official WV State BBQ Grand Champion, Wolf's Revenge), judges enjoyed some amazing entries. Plans are already underway for 2024, with tentative dates of June 14-15, so we hope you'll add the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash on your "to do" list.

Hope to see many returning, and new faces, in 2024!!!

06/26/2023

As we begin planning for 2024, we want YOUR input ... what was your favorite thing at this year's BBQ Bash?

06/24/2023

BEWARE: Long (but important) post ahead ... The 2023 Almost Heaven BBQ Bash is in the books, and what a success it was ... exceeded our expectations in so many ways. Despite a few speed bumps behind the scenes, we hope everyone had a great time, and are already looking forward to next year!

A HUGE thanks to our generous sponsors, esp. the City of Buckhannon who contributed funds to help with infrastructure and other needs for our return to downtown, along with tremendous staff support from Jerry Arnold and the entire city street and other dept. team members - couldn't have done it without each of you! Thanks also to our amazing Police, Fire, VIPS, EMS, and other law enforcement / public safety personnel who played a vital part in the safety & security of the event and all those involved.

A HUGE Thanks again to Kingsford Charcoal for their monetary support and donated charcoal for visiting BBQ teams ... they've been a primary sponsor since the event began in 2015. An event of this size couldn't happen without several sponsors, and we're very grateful for the continuing support of Shop-N-Save Express, Wal-Mart, and the Smokin' with Smithfield grant.

Other sponsors who played a big role in our ability to offer new activities this year include Highlines Oversize Specialists, the WV Lottery, and the WV Department of Arts, Culture, & History whose grant supported the bands on Friday & Saturday evenings.

In addition, a big thank you to Citizens Bank and Huntington Bank for sponsoring our DJ and other entertainment, Optimum for hosting the Arts & Crafts Show, WV American Water, Mountain State Log Homes, MIke Ross, Inc. and Arch Coal for their support.

In-Kind sponsors often provide HUGE assistance to our event, and we are very grateful to Ringers/Zinns Portable toilets, A. F. Wendlings Food Service, Foster Marketing Group, the BiCentennial Inn, Ralston Press (Brian Blankenship), The Inter-Mountain, Wolfpack Rentals, WV Radio, Mike Coffman and Dusty Zickefoose.

If you see or hopefully do business with some of these great companies and individuals, PLEASE THANK THEM for supporting the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash as we hope to partner with them, and other new sponsors, in the coming year.

Although my name appears alot, it's truly a team effort, a small, but hard-working board of directors and volunteers who spend many, many hours planning and coordinating the event. Fellow board members DeAnna Grogg, Jennie Barnette, Robbie Martin, and Janet McCorkhill are integral parts of the event's success every year, involved in every facet of the overall event.

This was the WV State BBQ Championship ... and largest BBQ contest in the state, with our Grand Champion, Wolf's Revenge BBQ, heading to the prestigious Jack Daniels Invitation BBQ Tournament and the American Royal BBQ Competition representing our event and the State of West Virginia.

A big thanks to the 42 wonderful BBQ teams and nearly 50 Judges who traveled from 20 states to participate. and hope they return in 2024. We appreciate your patience as we jockeyed team sites due to rain/mud, but look forward to that area's completion for next year's event. Thanks also to the great food vendors and talented arts & crafts exhibitors who offered a delicious variety of food and some amazing crafts and items for visitors to enjoy and purchase.

One of the newest additions and highlights of this year's event were those wild and wacky, and sooo creative Art Cars. Special thanks to Jada August (Dragonfly Whimzee), Paul McRae (Ribbons), and Becky Morris (Kat Balu) for traveling from Houston to this year's event, along with Steve Braithwaite (Big Banana Car) from Michigan, and Greg Phelps (That Car #4) from Columbus, OH. What an amazing addition these unique cars, and their wonderful artist/owners, provided to the weekend, and we hope to have several more in 2024.

We were also blessed with several dedicated volunteers including Jerry Henderson (who also hosted our ArtCars at the Baxa Inn) and her staff, Robyn Simons & Rachel Westfall coordinated the very busy and FREE Sand Art station, Claudia (owner of Mama Roma's), her daughters Ana & Sara, Susan Harman, Debbie Green, and Shelia Sines pulled together an amazing Welcome Reception. Jewel Fisher gathered sweet treats for the Cake Walks and prizes for the Cruise-In, Sharla Smith and the wonderful gals at the Ruth House helped with other games and kept the grounds clear of the massive amounts of trash. Bruce Henderson and Mike Cozad helped staff the Brokz Beer Garden, and parked cars for the Cruise-In, with help from Terry Mills, Jason Knicely helped whenever needed, and Mary Dean manned our HQ and Gift Shop.

There are probably some I've unintentionally missed recognizing, but know that we appreciate every single person who helped in any way ... all those pieces of the puzzle helped make it happen.

The BIGGEST thanks goes to YOU ... every family & individual who attended any part of the event, who purchased food from our great vendors (most who sold out completely), visited the arts & crafts area, enjoyed the music, the ArtCars, the Dino! Roar show, played games, or just relaxed with some good BBQ on a great summer weekend!

The event is nothing without YOUR attendance and support. Many of YOU asked for the BBQ Bash to return to downtown Buckhannon ... we listened, and YOU supported it, and we couldn't be more grateful!!! Onward to 2024!!!

06/23/2023

06/19/2023

These beautiful boards were a HUGE hit with our BBQ teams, judges, and ArtCar artists who traveled from nearly 20 states to participate in this year's Almost Heaven BBQ Bash this past weekend. Several have already posted photos of these indicating they are the nicest gifts they've ever received at a BBQ contest. FYI, the logs for the 2 main trophies were also provided by another local business, Appalachian Forest Products, who cut, kiln dried, and finished these bases for our 2 top awards of the entire event. Another huge shout out to Charlie and Janet McCorkhill, owners of Highlines Oversize Specialists for their generous sponsorship to provide these one-of-a-kind gifts. Almost Heaven, West Virginia ...

06/19/2023

A great weekend of serious BBQ competition with 42 top ranked teams, so here are the results!

06/19/2023

Love the video ... thanks for sharing!

06/19/2023

06/16/2023

Don’t forget to stop by Stockert Youth Gym to see our amazing crafters!

06/16/2023

06/16/2023

06/16/2023

Come take advantage of this great opportunity to meet with representatives of the WV Treasurer's Office at this weekend's Almost Heaven BBQ Bash and see if YOU might be the owner of some unclaimed property and check out some of the great programs offered by their office. Lots of great BBQ and other food vendors, activities for kids and the whole family, entertainment, and a special appearance by several ArtCars from across the US.

WV Treasury staff is looking forward to the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash this weekend! ☀️

While enjoying delicious food and fun activities with your friends and family, be sure to swing by our booth to conduct an unclaimed property search. You can also learn about how our savings programs help West Virginians achieve their educational and career goals.

06/14/2023

Our first ArtCar has arrived all the way from Houston, TX. A huge WV Welcome to Jada August and her Dragonfly Whimzee creation! So excited for all the BBQ Bash fun this weekend!

06/14/2023

Excited to add a couple new things for this weekend's BBQ Bash, including a booth staffed by the WV Treasurer's Office offering lots of helpful information. Come see if YOU might have some Unclaimed Property or discuss the other great programs offered thru the WV Treasurer's Office.

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY:
The State Treasurer's Office is responsible for returning unclaimed property to individuals, businesses, and other organizations and has more than $300 million in unclaimed property listings in its database. WV Treasury Staff will be on hand to help attendees search for unclaimed property. You can also search for unclaimed property online at: www.wvunclaimedproperty.com

SMART529:
SMART529 is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage families to save for college. A SMART529 savings account can be used to cover qualified higher education expenses at thousands of eligible institutions throughout the country, including colleges, universities, vocational schools, and private and religious K-12 schools. More information about SMART529 is available at www.SMART529.com.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP:
Hope Scholarship is West Virginia's education savings account program that gives parents an opportunity to build an individual learning experience that works best for their child. Hope Scholarship allows K-12 students to receive financial assistance that can be used for tuition, fees, and other expenses. More information is available at: www.hopescholarshipwv.com

JUMPSTART:
The first in the nation, the Jumpstart Savings Program provides West Virginia tradespeople, entrepreneurs, and blue-collared workers with a new way to save. Jumpstart is a state-administered career savings account designed specifically for current and future members of the skilled workforce in West Virginia. Account owners may be able to save for tools, supplies, equipment, licensing and certification, and other business costs while enjoying special state tax advantages. More information is available at: www.wvjumpstart.com

WVABLE:
WVABLE is a savings and investment option for people with disabilities. West Virginia partnered with STABLE Account, a national ABLE plan, to make STABLE accounts available to residents of West Virginia. STABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities to save and invest money without losing eligibility for certain public benefits programs, like Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). Visit www.wvtreasury.com/Savings-Programs/WVABLE for more information.

Stop by the WV Treasurer's Office booth with any questions you might have on these, or other issues, handled thru that office. We thank WV Treasurer Riley Moore and his staff for making this possible. PLEASE share this so others can take advantage of this opportunity to speak personally with these State Representatives.

06/13/2023

Who's getting excited!

In conjunction with Almost Heaven BBQ Bashh we are proud to announce the return of Brokz Beer Garden!

Join us:
Thursday, June 15, 2023 - 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Friday, June 16, 2023 - 11:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday, June 17, 2023 - 11:00am - 8:00pm
Where: Traders Alley (Across from the Buckhannon Post Office)