Wheeling’s Online Magazine

Welcome to Weelunk.

Weelunk is a nonprofit online magazine that shares Wheeling WV’s story.

What is Wheeling’s story? It depends on who you ask. That’s why Weelunk is created by the community, for the community. Weelunk is made up of a variety of community writers, each with their own perspectives. Our goal is to offer our readers stories and content that allows them to see themselves, and feel connected to our collective culture.

We want to encourage conversation and engage everyone in what’s happening here. We want you to feel connected to Wheeling – whether you’ve lived here all your life, moved away, or you haven’t even visited yet.

But what is a “Weelunk” you ask?

Both “Wheeling” and “Weelunk” are words believed to be derived from a Native American phrase “place of the skull” or “place of the head”. The folklore surrounding this phrase suggests that a skull was used as a geographic marker, claiming the territory that today we recognize as downtown Wheeling.

The folklore surrounding this skull is problematic, and it is worth noting that it is also an undocumented story. However, the root of both “wee” or “whee” remain as evidence of the language and culture of the original inhabitants of our area. As an organization, we choose to maintain the brand Weelunk so as not to erase what little evidence of indigenous stewardship we have.

The line between cultural appreciation and appropriation is a difficult one, and we hope that our content and approach helps all of us become a more inclusive and thoughtful community.

“Do something.” It’s more than just our motto. It’s a reminder to all of us that we can spark positive action in our community and beyond. We hope Weelunk inspires you to do something. Share your perspective. Get out and experience what there is to offer. Be a part of the Weelunk community.

Weelunk is a part of Wheeling Heritage — a nonprofit with the mission to serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of Wheeling. Part of that mission is telling Wheeling’s story, both past and present.


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Subscribe now to stay up-to-date with the community you know and love. We’ll keep you in the loop with upcoming Wheeling-area events, top articles, and all the latest happenings in Wheeling.

Submit Content

Are you interested in writing for Weelunk? Do you have an event or topic you’d like to see covered? Follow the link below to learn more!

Advertise with Weelunk

If you’re interested in advertising on Weelunk, follow the below link to view some of the ways we can help share your story, or email akarrasch@wheelingheritage.org for more info.

Our Staff

Riley Carpenter
Director of Heritage Programming

Johnathon Porter
Digital Content Specialist

Dillon Richardson
Digital Content Specialist

Amy Karrasch
Communications & Development Manager

Writers

Authors

  • Alex Panas

    Alex Panas is a writer, communication professional, and community builder. She is passionate about working with artists, small business owners, and community members to co-create meaningful experiences that foster a sense of community pride. In her free time, Alex enjoys gardening, perfecting her sourdough recipe, cuddling with her four cats, and chasing her five chickens around in her backyard.

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  • Anna Cipoletti

    Raised in Wellsburg, West Virginia, Anna Cipoletti is a proud alumna of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, West Liberty University and Kent State University. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from West Liberty in 2014 and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State in 2017. Anna has made a career out of a lifelong love of books and works full-time at Bethany College as a librarian and parttime as a bookseller and book reviewer. She resides in Beech Bottom with her sister and two Siamese cats. A nature enthusiast, Anna often spends her free time visiting one of West Virginia’s many beautiful parks or kayaking along Buffalo Creek.

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  • Crin Joy

    Crin Joy is originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area. She obtained a degree in psychology from Wheeling Jesuit University. She has spent 16 years of her adult life in Wheeling and loves putting her psychology and social work background into everything from operational and marketing consulting, event organizing and anything else that helps Wheeling continue to grow. When not working on one of her many projects, she’s out and about in town or simply relaxing at home with her boyfriend and her fur kids.

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  • Ellen Brafford McCroskey

    Ellen Brafford McCroskey is a lifelong resident of Wheeling and a proud graduate of Wheeling Park High School, where she discovered her love of writing as a member of the yearbook staff. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management at the former Wheeling Jesuit College. By day, she utilizes that degree at the international law firm where she is employed. After work, you can find her relaxing with family, friends, and her clowder of cats.

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  • Emma Wiley

    Emma Wiley, originally from Falls Church, Virginia, was a former AmeriCorps member with Wheeling Heritage. Emma has a B.A. in history from Vassar College and is passionate about connecting communities, history, and social justice.

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  • Griffin Nordstrom

    Griffin Nordstrom is a native of Morgantown WV, but currently resides in Pittsburgh while he pursues a Master’s in public history at Duquesne University. He is the 2023-2024 AmeriCorps member for Ritchietown Renaissance Inc., where he is helping establish the organization's digital presence and mapping South Wheeling’s history. He received Bachelor’s degrees at West Virginia University in Sculpture and Art History.

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  • Justice Hudson

    Justice Hudson is an AmeriCorps volunteer and citizen journalist originally from Saint Albans, West Virginia, and has lived in Wheeling since January 2020. He studied history and women and gender studies at West Virginia University and has worked in farming and community education since moving to the Friendly City. In February 2023 he began writing as a folk reporter independently for the Hudson Household Editorial and for organizations including Mustard Seed Mountain, BlackByGod: The West Virginian, and Weelunk.

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  • Karin Butyn

    Karin Butyn was born and raised in Wheeling, WV. A graduate of Wheeling Central, West Liberty University, and Wheeling Jesuit University, Karin spent nearly a decade teaching both English as Second Language and Reading Language Arts. She is currently in her third year as an Assistant Principal for Ohio County Schools. In her free time, she enjoys running and music. She and her husband, TJ, are raising their young sons, Finn and Watson, in Warwood.

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  • Makayla Carney

    Makayla Carney is a graduate of DePaul University's Film and Television program. She adores all kinds of art, a lavender latte, and the occasional performance on the Towngate Theatre stage. When not writing, you can oftentimes find her tending bar at Later Alligator, reading from her stack of library books, or trying a new tofu-based recipe.

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  • Melissa Rebholz

    Melissa Rebholz was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, to a Sicilian/German family. She grew up in a household revolving around food. In 2007, a summer of volunteering for GrowNYC (New York City's Farmer’s Markets) led her down the path to culinary school at The Natural Gourmet Institute and 10 subsequent years of farming from Long Island to Sonoma to Tennessee. Working simultaneously in kitchens to support her farming habit, Melissa migrated back to the rustbelt in October of 2019 to help Grow Ohio Valley open the Public Market as the head chef. Her hobbies include foraging, baking, dinner parties and exploring her new home of Wheeling, West Virginia.

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  • Provided
  • Taylor Abbott

    Taylor Abbott is the treasurer of Monroe County, Ohio, and was born in Wheeling, West Virginia. He is a graduate of Ohio University and is co-founder and president of the Ohio Valley River Museum. He serves on the board of directors for the Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen and is an advisor to the Ohio River Museum in Marietta, Ohio. He enjoys hiking, travel, historic preservation and restoration work. Taylor resides in Clarington, Ohio, with his wife Alexandra in a former church they purchased in 2016 and renovated into their home.

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  • Weelunk Staff
  • Wheeling Heritage Media

    Wheeling Heritage Media, a subsidiary of Wheeling Heritage, creates a variety of multimedia experiences in order to tell Wheeling’s story, both past and present. Through videos, podcasts, photos, and more, they create content and provide digital access to help more people feel connected and engaged with this vibrant, growing community.

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  • Wheeling Heritage Staff