COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice directs West Virginia National Guard to Princeton nursing facility; awards $1.3 million to fairs and festivals – West…

HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE SALES UP 40 PERCENTGov. Justice took time out of his briefing Monday to report that June 2020hunting and fishing license sales were up by nearly 40 percent compared to thesame month last year.

In June 2020, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources sold 43,091licenses, compared to 31,148 licenses for the same month in 2019.

In an effort to encourage outdoor activity among West Virginia residents at asafe distance during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Justicegreatly expandedthe state's annual Free Fishing Days promotion, holding dates for free fishingin March, extending the promotion through nearly all of Apriland May,and holding an additional free fishing weekend in June.

As a result,this June, more than 10,000 total fishing licenses were sold,shortlyafter the series of free fishing promotions came to an end.

Over 50 percent of all fishing license sales this year have been from new,first-time license holders, Gov. Justice said. Now, what does that tell you?It tells you that when we did the program to let people go fishing for free, alot of people went and they had a great time and now theyre buying licenses.

Last week, the Governor also announcedthat West Virginia State Parks had seen a 227 percent increase in onlinereservations from West Virginia residents in June 2020 compared to the previousyear as a result of the states ongoing WVSTRONG Discount.

Im just tickled to death that people are getting out and enjoying the greatoutdoors of this state because it is absolutely magnificent, Gov. Justicesaid. Go fishing, go hunting, go walking, go hiking, go biking. This stateabounds in beauty like you cant fathom.

Gov. Justice encourages all West Virginians to practice proper socialdistancing and maintain at least six feet of space between themselves andothers as they continue to explore Almost Heaven through the rest of thesummer.

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COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice directs West Virginia National Guard to Princeton nursing facility; awards $1.3 million to fairs and festivals - West...