PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jefferson County and Ranson Turn Second Annual Kickball Rivalry Into 1,260 Pounds of School Supplies
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Edwina Benites-LM, county administrator
Phone: (304) 728-3284
Email: edwina.c.benitesLM@jeffcowv.gov
CHARLES TOWN, WV (August 13, 2026) – A friendly rivalry turned into a big win for local students Wednesday evening as Jefferson County and the City of Ranson faced off in their second annual kickball showdown and school supply drive, collecting a combined 1,260 pounds of school supplies for children returning to school.
Ranson claimed bragging rights on the field with a 6–2 victory, while Jefferson County narrowly edged out Ranson in the amount of school supplies donated.
The August 12 event brought employees from departments across both local governments together for an evening of competition, camaraderie and a shared goal of supporting students in the community.
“It was just a lot of fun seeing employees from departments that don’t always get the opportunity to work together come out for one goal — helping local kids start the school year with the supplies they need,” said Nikki Painter, Jefferson County Commission Taskforce member and event organizer. “And, of course, beating Ranson was a pretty good motivator too.”
“The best part was watching everyone get into it — collecting supplies, cheering each other on and having fun together outside of the normal workday,” said Laura Kuhn, Jefferson County Commission Taskforce member and event organizer. “At the end of the night, 1,260 pounds of school supplies is something both teams can be proud of.”
Ranson City Manager Todd Wilt said the matchup once again showed that his smaller team was ready for the challenge.
“I’m incredibly proud of our small but mighty Ranson team,” Wilt said. “We may be taking on a significantly larger local government, but we proved we can more than give them a run for their money.”
The donated school supplies will help local students as they head back to school, turning a spirited local government rivalry into support for families throughout the community.
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