Helen FieldsScience Writer

Back in April, I went on my first work travel in ages. A magazine sent me on a big, exotic trip to…West Virginia. Ok, it doesn’t sound so exotic, and it’s certainly not very far. But it was fascinating. I was in McDowell County, the southernmost part of the state. It’s a coal mining region – and there are a lot fewer jobs in coal mining than there used to be. In the 1950 census, the county had 98,000 people; in this census, they say they’ll be lucky to break 25,000. Two high schools were closing at the end of this spring to reopen in a new, consolidated school. (Read my story here.)

I had a wonderful couple of days in the town of Welch. People were very friendly. I realized after I came back that I’d managed to meet everyone who was running to represent the area in the state legislature. The Democratic primaries were coming up and there were yard signs all over town. One was the incumbent, so we stopped in to say hi at his office across from the beautiful old court house.

I met another of them when I had dinner with the Kiwanis Club. (I was treated like a visiting dignitary. I was hardly allowed to pay for any meals.) We ate at a drive-in, which also had indoor seating – not to worry.

I met the third candidate when I visited the high school, where he’s a teacher. The stop at Mount View High School was the reason I went to West Virginia. I was there to report on HSTA, an after-school and summer program that’s designed to get high schoolers excited about careers in science and health. The program is funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, whose magazine I was writing for.

Here’s the only motel in Welch, West Virginia.

That’s me with Cathy Morton-McSwain, my gracious host and chauffeur. She works for HSTA and drives all over the state visiting schools.

McDowell County really is beautiful. Spring was just arriving, the hillsides were green and lush, and everyone was so nice. I’d love to go back sometime. Here’s my story – enjoy!