By Betty Gandee

While swimming with some friends on Thursday evening at Queen Shoals in Clendenin, 17 year old Cody McCallister attempted to swim across the river and became distressed, calling out for help. His friends say that it wasn’t until they reached the other side of the bank that they realized he had been pulled under by the current.

The Clendenin Fire Department responded to the call in attempts to rescue the young man. South Charleston, Charleston, and Clendenin fire departments deployed rescue divers into the water and recovered McCallister’s body at 11:20 p.m. Friends and family of Cody gathered at Herbert Hoover High School on Friday night to honor the teen that had a bright future ahead of him. Cody was due to leave for the Marines on July 16 and had just graduated high school. His friends say that he was one of the most genuine people
you could’ve knew. They all shared stories about Cody at the vigil and wrote down memoires that could later be read by the family.

There will be several fundraising events to help with the funeral expenses for Cody McCallister.
On Saturday, July 14, the Clendenin Paddlefest will be held on the Elk River with 100
percent of the proceeds going to Cody’s family.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the float begins at 11:15 a.m. On Sunday, July 15, Momma Payne’s Dinner in Clendenin will hold a spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Meals will be $10 and all proceeds will go the McCallister family. You can also drop of monetary donations to the Poca Valley Bank.