KINGWOOD — Donna Ries said it’s an honor to be chosen to represent Preston County as the Preston Belle. Each year, local senior centers vote to choose a Belle to represent them at the West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville.
Three years ago, 88-year-old Ries was elected Belle — but then COVID hit.
“The pandemic struck and I didn’t get to represent the county,” she said. “I was elected again this year. That makes me the longest reigning Belle,” she said.
To qualify as a Belle, contestants must be 70 years old or older, possess qualities consistent with the spirit of the pioneer woman, participate in the Saturday parade and walk three level blocks, in her own period costume. Ries also submitted a recipe for the fair’s cookbook.
Janie Lou White, director of the Kingwood Senior Center, said Ries went to Glenville on Friday to represent Preston County at the Glenville State Folk Festival. She said the festival honors women 70 years of age or older.
White said every county in West Virginia is asked to sponsor a person to be part of the Belle program. She said Ries and the other county Belles will enjoy afternoon tea, a special breakfast, participate in activities, enjoy the music crafts, demonstrations, square dancing, the old fashion spelling bee, gospel singing and much more. and be in the parade.
“I think it’s a great honor to represent Preston County. I love Kingwood and am very happy being here,” she said. “My husband was in the Navy so we traveled a lot. We would spend a couple of years in one place, five if we were lucky. My oldest daughter was born in Germany. We spent two years in Hawaii, and he was stationed on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts.”
Ries said when she isn’t representing the county, she works on her hobbies.
“I sew a lot. I worked as manager at Piece Goods and did a lot of sewing. Right now I’m working on my new hobby — stained glass,” Ries said. “I took a 3-week course and enjoyed it so I bought a grinder so I could do it at home.”
She said she recently made stained glass magnolia for her sister. “I painted a picture of a magnolia and she took it. She likes magnolias. So I thought I would make her a stained glass one to match the painting.”
