For the last 24 years, Becky's Beauty Box has provided much more than standard salon services to Milton.

From routine hair and nail care services to formal event stylings, Becky's Beauty Box is a one-stop-shop for local residents and a popular spot to socialize with old friends and peers.

Becky and John Shaffer always envisioned opening their own business.

In 2017, they purchased the former Farley's Famous Hotdogs stand across from the old Milton Middle School and began renovations for their own 1950s-style drive-in restaurant.

At The Grand Patrician Resort in Milton, West Virginia, history is in the remaking.

The resort, first the site of Morris Memorial Hospital, began as a polio rehabilitative hospital for children under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. With the eradication of polio, the hospital transitioned into a nursing home until it closed in 2009. In October 2017, the Hoops family purchased the vacant facility and its surrounding property.

Since 1986, Barbara "Barbie" Norris has made formal dress dreams come true for women in the Tri-State area.

In her new, customized purple shop, Barbie's Formals offers a one-of-a-kind variety of prom and homecoming dresses, pageant wear, formal shoes and shelves of glitzy costume jewelry.

In 1975, Vicky Clark started her business out of her living room.

Stocking her own 50-pound boxes of chocolate for candy making, locals began to inquire about her supplier, hoping to grab their own bulk supplies. The creative entrepreneur had a better idea.

With 25 years of business under their belts, Kim and LaDonna Jackson know a thing or two about managing greenhouses.

Located just seven miles off of Exit 28 on I-64, Kim's Greenhouse, owned and operated by the Milton-based couple, has flourished over the last few decades selling baskets of assorted annuals and perennials, seasonal crops and shrubbery.

When a series of unexpected events led Josh Taylor to start selling his childhood games and toys at the Milton Flea Market eight years ago, he wasn't sure what to expect. He'd battled medical issues that had interfered with his schooling, and he needed a little extra income.

For the last nine years, Ashley Alford, president of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, has devoted her career to making her home county a better place.

For Jennifer and Tim Burns, opening Pooch's Palace was a dream come true.

Their doggy daycare, located on Mount Vernon Road in Hurricane, offers boarding and grooming for the canines of Putnam and surrounding counties. The pair are extremely active in every facet of the business, especially when it comes to caring for their guests.

In 2016, Hurricane native Sherry Graley took a leap of faith and opened a booth called "Saving Vintage" in a local antique mall.

Jason Miller always had a knack for making barbecue, but he'd never considered making it his full-time gig.

"I had a bunch of buddies in the yard, just hanging out, and they kept telling me, 'Your food is good,'" Miller said. "I started seeing food trucks on the West Coast, and I started following them around. Then I built my own and went from there."

For Lynn Bright, baking is a labor of love.

Bright, who has been home baking for 50 years, opened Old Mill Bakery in downtown Hurricane earlier this year. At 62, she's going strong.

Nathan Wills can tell you where every historical item in his shop came from.

There's a saddle from Nelly in Culloden and a set of work mule collars and haims from Quincy Dickinson's granddaughters who lived just outside of Charleston.

For years, Dolores "Doedy" Dingess wished Putnam County had a specialty store for party supplies.

In planning birthday parties and her own wedding, she found that resources were often limited by timing or travel. Shopping online often led to additional shipping charges or potentially unsatisfactory investments.

As the sun begins to set, groups of friends and coworkers have already made their way in to share conversations over local drafts. For Putnam County residents, The Pallet Bar is becoming the local "Cheers."

Having lived in New York, Leah Meeks knows a thing or two about markets. Through The Putnam Market, it's been her goal to bring that kind of shopping experience — and convenience — to Putnam County.

After a dreary, overcast start, the sun emerges in the evening, illuminating the Ironton Bridge and skyline.

The view warrants a stroll through the Iron City.

As the evening sun is diffused throughout the windows, Assistant Manager TJ Layne and the rest of the Melini Cucina Italian Restaurant staff are hard at work in the charming space.

EDITOR'S NOTE: So many people in Ironton told us it was such a shame that we were there on a Wednesday, and not on a market day. So we popped back into town early on Saturday, June 8, to see what all the fuss was about. We were not disappointed!

For years, Ironton natives Abby Kuehne and Amanda Cleary envisioned a greener Tri-State - one that could support and promote sustainable living.

Throughout his prolific career, visual artist Robert Hutton has made an impression in his field - and in the Tri-State.

Just around noon, members of the Rotary Club file into the Giovanni's in downtown Ironton for another weekly gathering.

As rain trickles into the Ohio River, James Whitehead approaches Burlington Commons Park in Burlington, Ohio, with a pressure washer in hand.

Just off the Ironton exit at Ohio University Southern, faculty and staff are making preparations for the upcoming fall semester.

Six months ago, the cityscape of downtown Ironton looked a bit different.

Today, it's hard to miss the bold lettering that reads "Iron Town Coffee Lab" on the corner of South 2nd Street. In early January, Ironton native Richard Fisher opened the Iron Town Coffee Lab with a vision to help revitalize the downtown area and create a cozy, caffeinated environment for residents and visitors alike.

At the corner of Main Street and Depot Street, there's something tasty coming.

What looks like a nondescript field surrounded by a chainlink fence actually houses some of the fastest-growing items in Barboursville.

Route 60 is bumper to bumper but moving steadily as the post- work commuters make their way home. At the corner of U.S. 60 and Davis Creek Road, people are stopping for flowers and fresh vegetables at Floyd's Fruits and Flowers.

A new day dawns in Barboursville. A line of cars wraps around the curve on Central Avenue as parents drop off eager youngsters at Village of Barboursville Elementary (VOBE). Spirits are high as kids are greeted by teachers as they run to the main doors.

The community garden isn't the only the only thing growing in Barboursville. A drive around the village and surrounding areas shows a community growing with retail stores and restaurant choices.

It's a laid-back day in the offices of Village Caregiving on Main Street.

"Well, if I would have known you were coming by, I would have dressed a little better," Matthew Walker said to a reporter and photographer as they showed up unannounced.

On Main Street, an open door greets customers at Michelle's WV Quilt.

Inside, a smiling and outgoing Michelle Hill greets everyone who comes through that open door.

The lunch crowd is just starting to trickle in to the Tortilla Factory.

The Tortilla Factory is located just off the Huntington Mall exit of I-64. The menu features traditional Mexican food and signature favorites like the Molcajetes. The Molcajetes is named for the volcanic stone pot in which the salsa verde is served. It comes with a variety of meats like chicken, steak or shrimp and features sides like black beans, rice and tortillas.

ORIGIN: Barboursville was established in 1813. Named after Virginia Gov. James Barbour (1812-1814), the village was the county seat of Cabell County from 1814 until 1887.

The Barboursville Buckle Series brought a kickin' good time to the Barboursville Community Park on June 8. H&H Rodeo offered bull riding by age category, Mutton' Bustin' for little sheep wranglers, bull wrestling, chasing the ribbon on the bull's tail, lasso skills, obstacle course horse racing and even ostrich riding.

Barboursville Community Park: This park is located in the village of Barboursville, located off of U.S. 60 and near the Huntington Mall.  

It's hard not to spot the food truck sitting in front of the Pottery Place at Pullman Square.

The generator quietly hums inside the white, pink and blue truck as people line up to buy one of Abbey Kimball's unique macarons. This day's special is the Lucky Charms flavored macaron and there's not many of them left.

The day was hot and the reporter found himself needing something cold to drink. The Wild Ramp helped quench that thirst.

It's one of Huntington's most distinct features - the spinning giant mug atop Frostop Drive-In on Hal Greer Boulevard.

At St. Cloud Commons, the sound of children playing fills the air.

St. Cloud boasts Cabell County's first all-inclusive playground with playground equipment designed for every child no matter their physical abilities.

Sometimes the best-laid plans don't quite come together.

The Cabell County Emergency Response Center (CCERC) on Gallaher Street houses the telecommunicators for Cabell County 911. It's also a place where people can get a child safety seat installed by certified professionals.

At the Village Renew-All Antique Mall at Old Central City, a visitor is happily checking out with her finds.

"I found these books for my niece," Sienna Cordoba said while holding her treasures.

Visitors to Ritter Park can't help but notice the hundreds of American flags planted near the playground on the 12th Street side of the park. There are 453 flags, to be exact. They represent the 453 children in need of a foster family in Cabell County.

The Market on 3rd Avenue is a hive of activity during the lunch hour. A mix of people wearing business suits, casual business attire, and exercise clothing are all mingling and getting food at the open-concept marketplace across from the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Recently the West Virginia legislature approved the West Virginia Invests grant. West Virginia Invests is a state-funded grant program that covers the full cost of basic tuition and fees for select certificate and associate degree programs at a West Virginia public two- or four-year institution.

In Old Central City, the smell of old books and fresh coffee intermingle and create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere at Cicada Books and Coffee.

Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was counted at 49,138 in 2010. Huntington is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area, with nearly 290,000 residents. Huntington is the largest city within the MSA and the second largest city in West Virginia, behind Charleston.

HUNTINGTON — It's a muggy Monday morning at Harris Riverfront Park along the shores of the Ohio River in Huntington. It's quiet for the most part, with the exception of a honk from a goose and the chatter of the ducks congregated around one man standing and tossing alms of food for the feathered flock.