Mine Electrician Killed

{Rupert, West Virginia}…A mine electrician is dead after an accident at an Alpha Natural Resources mine in Greenbrier County. State officials say 27 year old Steven O’Dell of Mount Nebo was caught between a scoop and a continuous miner at the White Buck Pocahontas Mine near Rupert just before 1:30 A.M. Friday morning. O’Dell’s death is the sixth in a West Virginia coal mine this year.

Mardi Gras To Hold Career Fair

{Cross Lanes, West Virginia}…Mardi Gras Casino & Resort will host a career fair on Tuesday, December 4th from 11:00 A.M.-7:00 P.M. to fill 60 new positions which will correspond with a new buffet set to open early next year.

Attempted Robbery At Gas Station

{Huntington, West Virginia}…Police in Huntington are searching for a man they say tried to rob a clerk at knifepoint at the Rich Gas Station in the 200 block of Bridge Street in the Guyandotte area of Huntington about 10:45 P.M. Thursday night. Huntington Police say the man walked inside, pulled out a knife and demanded cash. When the clerk would not comply, the suspect took off.

Manchin Backs Senate Amendment

{Washington, D.C.}…U.S. Senator Joe Manchin was on the U.S. Senate floor Thursday urging President Barack Obama and the Senate to quickly end the war in Afghanistan. Manchin said, "After more than ten years, more than 1,900 American lives and more than $500 billion, it is time to bring our warriors home to a heroes welcome.” Manchin’s effort was part of him showing his support for the passing of a bipartisan Sense of the Senate amendment of which he was an original cosponsor, along with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley.  Manchin said he supported the amendment not only because it backs the President’s current plan to end combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 but also because it called for a quicker transition of security operations from U.S. forces to Afghan forces. Instead of the end of 2014, the amendment urges the transition to take place in the summer of 2013.

Man Charged With DUI Causing Death

{Williamson, West Virginia}…Monday, 40 year old Lewis Perry of Wilsondale was arrested and charged with felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor reckless driving. Investigators say, on November 7th, Perry was driving a vehicle that crossed the center line and crashed into a school bus near Breeden in Mingo County, killing his passenger, Randolph Marcum, of Breeden. Deputies say they found pill bottles and alcohol cans in Perry's car. Medical records show that Perry tested positives for marijuana and Xanex.

Rockefeller Urging Humana, CAMC Compromise

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Negotiations between Humana Inc. and Charleston Area Medical Center about whether to provide benefits to Medicare Advantage recipients are apparently continuing after talks broke down in September. If an agreement is not reached before the "open-enrollment period" ends next Friday, senior citizens who purchased Medicare Advantage health-plan benefits through Humana will not be able to get reimbursed for health care they receive at CAMC or from physicians at the hospital. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Thursday he has been actively involved in daily discussions and is encouraging all parties to go back to the table to work out a compromise.

Mercer County Man Sentenced

{Princeton, West Virginia}…Thirty-eight year old Andrae Cortez Simmons from Princeton, in Mercer County, was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison. Simmons admitted that, for several months before his arrest in February, he sold approximately 1,760 Oxymorphone pills, or "Opana," which are opiates, in Mercer County.The case is part of a larger investigation called the Bluefield Pill Initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at stopping prescription drug trafficking in Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming counties.

Man Charged With DUI

{St. Albans, West Virginia}…Fifty-four year old David B. Wilcox of Poca was arrested and charged with third offense DUI after being involved in an accident at the intersection of 3rd Street and Route 60 in St. Albans early Thursday morning. Wilcox has two previous DUI convictions and two pending DUI cases from earlier this year.

Trial Set In Clay County Shooting

{Clay, West Virginia}…A trial date is set for January 15th for former Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Hiram Lewis. Lewis was arraigned Thursday morning in Clay County Circuit Court on charges of malicious wounding, domestic assault and wanton endangerment involving a firearm. A not guilty plea was entered for him when he refused to do so. Lewis, a McDowell County native, is charged with shooting and wounding a man at a house in Procious in June. Lewis claims it was his house and the victim was breaking in at the time he was shot, but the victim says it was his home and Lewis was just staying there. A bond revocation hearing for Lewis will be held on December 6th after additional charges were filed against him earlier this month after he allegedly went to the home of Clay County Sheriff Randy Holcomb and threatened him, but Lewis says he just approached Sheriff Holcomb as a friend.

Copper Thieves Hit Substation

{Charleston, West Virginia}…More than 3,000 Appalachian Power customers were left in the dark after their power went out around 4:00 A.M. Thursday morning. Charleston Police Detective Bobby Eggleton says thieves broke into the Chesterfield Avenue Substation in Kanawha City and stole ground wiring. Power was knocked out in the Kanawha City area near MacCorkle Avenue and the Bridge Road area of South Hills. Eggleton says it's the second time in recent months the substation has been the target of thieves, and, in both cases, the wire fence around the substation was cut to gain entry. He says he wouldn't be surprised if it was the work of the same people. 

BOE Fires Marple For Second Time

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Thursday, the West Virginia Board of Education re-voted 6-2 to remove Dr. Jorea Marple from her post as state school superintendent, citing poor student achievement, lack of urgency to fix problems, and excuses not actions. Board members Gayle Manchin, William White, Lloyd Jackson, Bob Dunlevy, Wade Linger, and Michael Green voted in favor of the change, while Priscilla Haden and Jenny Phillips were against it. After Dr. Marple's firing on November 15th, Haden and Phillips announced their resignation effective December 31st. Chuck Heinlein has been appointed interim superintendent.

Blair Mountain Activists Appealing

{Blair, West Virginia}…Thursday, activists trying to protect West Virginia's historic Blair Mountain from coal mining announced they're appealing their latest loss in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. The 1,600-acre battlefield was briefly added to the National Register of Historic Places, and then removed when private property owners objected. The groups trying to have that status restored lost their court fight last month when a judge concluded they lacked status to challenge the de-listing.

Medicare Scam

Judy Strawderman, state director of community relations for the Better Business Bureau office in Canton, Ohio, which covers West Virginia, says her office has been inundated with calls over the past few weeks concerning high-pressure telephone scams targeting the elderly and others. The caller offers to send seniors new Medicare cards, including cards that offer extra benefits, and then asks for bank information. Strawderman says the scam is occurring as many seniors are up for renewal in the Medicare Part B program, and seniors should not be contacted by telephone for that. She says, if those callers get a person's information, it can be used for identity theft.

Former Massey Official To Plead Guilty

{Beckley, West Virginia}…Fifty-three year old David C. Hughart from Crab Orchard, the former President of Massey Energy's Green Valley Resource Group, has agreed to plead guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy stemming from safety violations at mines he operated in Nicholas County. The charges are a result of the ongoing investigation into the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine that killed 29 miners. He faces up to six years in prison. Hughart is the third person, and the highest ranking Massey official so far, to be charged in connection with the UBB investigation. 

Service Set For Mingo County EMT

{Williamson, West Virginia}…A memorial service is set for Thursday at the Williamson Field House for Mingo County EMT 35 year old Chris Staggs of Lenore. Staggs was pronounced dead at Williamson Memorial Hospital after he became ill behind the wheel of a STAT medical services ambulance on Saturday, lost control of the ambulance and crashed into the back of a house. Paramedic Joey Carey, who is Staggs' brother-in-law, says it appears Staggs suffered a seizure.

Judge Rejects Guilty Plea

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Wednesday, Charles March was wheeled into Kanawha County Circuit Judge Duke Bloom's courtroom, where he attempted to plead guilty to fatally strangling, dismembering and burying Kathy Goble of Charleston, who had worked with him at Kelley's Mens Shop in Charleston. Goble disappeared in 2010, but her remains weren't found until April 2012 in a shallow grave in the yard at March's home in Chesapeake. Judge Bloom rejected his guilty plea because not all the forensic evidence for the case is back from the Smithsonian Institute and the autopsy report is incomplete.

March's trial was scheduled to begin on December 10th, but Judge Bloom moved the trail to December 26th, at which time he told March he could then enter a plea, if he chooses to do so.

In the last seven months, there have been delays that have kept the case from going to trial including a jailhouse suicide attempt in August and a court-ordered psychological evaluation.

Drug Bust In Kanawha County

{Marmet, West Virginia}…The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office drug enforcement team STOP arrested Arthur Elkins Wednesday afternoon inside his house near Marmet after they found nearly five pounds of marijuana and almost $10,000 in cash on him. Elkins is charged with possession with intent to deliver.

Sissonville Man Arraigned

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Fifty year old Clay Culhane Counts of Sissonville was arraigned Wednesday in Kanawha Magistrate Court on 14 counts of first-degree sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child by a custodian, and use of minors in filming sexually explicit content. Counts was already being held at South Central Regional Jail on distribution-of-child-porn charges filed in September. Counts is accused of filming himself sexually assaulting the children of neighbors and friends, all of whom were under 14 years old when the tapes were made. Three victims have been identified, but authorities believe there are more.

Animal Shelter Gets Vote Of Confidence

Less than two weeks after a live puppy was found in a trash bag, by city workers at the Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter, the shelter got a vote of confidence from the Wayne and Cabell County Commissions Wednesday. Cabell County Administrator Chris Tatum says that puppy was euthanized by trained staff, under protocol conditions. Wednesday, both commissions pledged their continued support and vote of confidence in Director Jim Cumm, saying, since he took over as head of the shelter, euthanasia rates are down dramatically. Last year, the number of animals euthanized at the shelter was 8,277. This year, as of Wednesday, that number has dropped by 4,129.

Buffalo Mountain/King Coal Highway Initiative

{Newtown, West Virginia}...A public meeting regarding Consol Energy's Buffalo Mountain/King Coal Highway Joint Development Initiative will be held at the Mingo Central High School auditorium sometime in mid-January 2013, but the exact date hasn't yet been scheduled. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the public with an opportunity to gather information and provide comments regarding the

combining of the highway department's Supplemental Environmental Impact Study of the 94 mile long King Coal Highway corridor (from Bluefield to Williamson) with Consol's proposed Buffalo Mountain surface mine. The end result, if permitted, will allow future highway construction to occur on flat land created by a surface mining operation.

Patriot Bankruptcy Case Moved

{New York}…U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman in New York ruled Tuesday that Patriot Coal's federal bankruptcy case will be moved from New York City to St. Louis. An $802 million financing package was approved in August so Patriot can continue operating while it restructures. Patriot is responsible for more than 10,000 retirees and 10,000 dependents, most of them in West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio.

Lavigne Returns To Prison

{Winfield, West Virginia}...After more than a year of freedom, Joseph Lavigne returned to prison Tuesday to finish a 22 to 60 year prison sentence after being sentenced in 1996 for the brutal rape of his then five year old daughter. Lavigne's daughter, Katie Haught, is now 22 and denies that her father attacked her. The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled last week that former Judge O.C. Spaulding abused his discretion when he overturned Lavigne's conviction in May 2011 and granted him a new trial. At the time, Lavigne had served more than 15 years in jail. Lavigne will be eligible for parole in 2023. His lawyers plan to appeal.

Lewis County Deaths Investigated

{Weston, West Virginia}...Lewis County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating the deaths of Beth Kraus and her two children, Kaden, 5, and Keira, 3, who were found dead on November 12th in a burned shed on Crooked Run Road. Doug Kraus told police he returned home early that morning after working the night shift to find his shed burned to the ground with his wife and children dead inside. Doug Kraus called for emergency workers around 8:00 A.M. The bodies were sent to the state Medical Examiner's Office in Charleston for identification and autopsies. Investigators sent samples from the fire to the State Fire Marshal's Office lab, but results are not back yet. Investigators previously said they recovered a pistol from the rubble of the burned Alum Bridge outbuilding.

High School Aide Arrested

{Quincy, West Virginia}...Heather R. Lively, 34, of Hansford, an aide at Riverside High School has been charged with assault, battery and possession of a controlled substance. Police say Lively walked into the Magic Mart in the Quincy shopping mall Monday morning, took off the cowboy boots she had been wearing, placed them on the counter, wanting to return or exchange them. Store manager Gary Lee Harrah told police that, when he refused, Lively became enraged, began yelling at him, picked up the boots and threw them at him, striking him in the face. Lively was arrested and taken to the State Police's Quincy detachment, where police say Lively's purse contained two packages of Suboxone, a drug used to treat opiate addiction. Police say Lively told them she is addicted to Suboxone and purchased it from someone off the street.

Jail Correctional Officers On Suspension

{Charleston, West Virginia}...During an appearance before an interim legislative committee Monday, Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority executive director Joe DeLong said 15 correctional officers at the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville are on suspension. Some are accused of using excessive force against inmates. Others allegedly brought contraband into the jail. DeLong said some of the guards are accused of helping to cover up wrongdoing, and that concerns him more than the use of force. DeLong told lawmakers that the authority wants to install surveillance cameras in the regional jails, but it will require a significant investment of funds.

Woman Admits Setting Boyfriend On Fire

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Forty-six year old Cynthia Swoboda from Dunbar pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding Monday in Kanawha County Circuit Court after being charged with attempted murder and malicious wounding. Police say Swoboda poured gasoline on her boyfriend, Shane Stone, in the parking lot of the CVS on 10th Street in Dunbar in May and then set him ablaze. Swoboda received a one-year jail sentence, with credit for time served.

Trial In Officer Shooting Postponed

{Charleston, West Virginia}…A trial was scheduled for Monday morning in Kanawha County Circuit Court, but it was postponed until January 24^th after a defense psychiatrist told Kanawha County Circuit Judge Carrie Webster that 37 year old Nickey Smith from Glasgow is incompetent to stand trial. Smith is charged with malicious wounding and attempted murder for allegedly shooting Glasgow Police Officer Steve Smith in December 2011. Officer Smith was responding to a call about a burglary at Smith's home with another officer when he was shot. Nickey Smith pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and malicious wounding in August but has already pleaded guilty to federal gun charges connected to the incident. Because is a convicted felon, he was not supposed to have a gun.

Capito Announces Senate Run

{Charleston, West Virginia}…West Virginia Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, who turned 59 Monday, announced Monday morning that she is running in 2014 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Jay Rockefeller. Capito has long considered a run for the Senate but passed it up following the death of long-time Senator Robert Byrd. Rockefeller, 75, is serving his fifth term in the Senate. Prior to that he served two terms as Governor. Rockefeller hasn’t indicated whether he plans to run for re-election in 2014, but there continues to be speculation that he may retire at the end of this term. Capito was elected to her seventh term in the house on November 6th.

Murder Plea Postponed

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Charles March was scheduled to enter a plea in front of Judge Duke Bloom in Kanawha County Monday afternoon, but the hearing was postponed until Wednesday. March is accused of murdering Kathy Goble, a co-worker at Kelley's Mens Shop in Charleston, in 2010. Police say March killed Goble, dismembered her body and buried her remains in the yard at his home on Ohio Avenue in Chesapeake. Goble went missing in April 2010, but her remains were never found until May 2012. Officials at the South Central Regional Jail say Charles March tried to jump off the second tier of a cell block in August.

Interim Meetings Begin

{Charleston, West Virginia}…State lawmakers are in Charleston this week for the November interim meetings. On Monday, legislative committees heard testimony about the effects of national economic changes on West Virginia's economy and looked at severance tax collections from coal and natural gas. Tuesday, state Board of Education President Wade Linger will be in front of an education subcommittee to detail the Board's response to the comprehensive education efficiency audit that came out in January. Interims for current lawmakers continue at the State House through Wednesday. Lawmakers will meet three more times before the start of the 2013 regular legislative session on Wednesday, February 13th. The scheduled dates for interim meetings between now and then are December 10-12th, January 7-9th and February 10-12th.

Supreme Court Urging Appeals Change

{Charleston, West Virginia}…The West Virginia Supreme Court is urging lawmakers to reconsider whether surface landowners in the state should have the right to appeal when oil and gas drilling permits are issued for their land. Current state law does not give appeal rights to surface property owners who don't also hold title to oil and gas reserves buried underground. Justice Margaret Workman, writing for a unanimous court, noted that current laws on drilling permit appeals were written prior to the extensive development of the Marcellus Shale in the state.

Mine Layoffs Announced

{East Lynn, West Virginia}…Workers at Argus Energy say they were called to a meeting just days before Thanksgiving and given a memo that says some of their operations in Wayne and Lincoln Counties are shutting down because the company was unable to obtain more mining permits. The layoff affects about 30 workers.

Mingo County Accident Kills Ambulance Driver

{Williamson, West Virginia}…Police in Mingo County say Chris Staggs had a seizure while driving an ambulance in Williamson Saturday, causing him to lose control of the ambulance and hit a wall, go up on the sidewalk, hit the railing of a church and then hit the front of a business. Staggs was taken to the hospital but died Saturday night from his injuries.

Police Chase Ends In Arrest

{Gilbert, West Virginia}…Police say Steve Fortner attempted to steal gas and sell drugs at a Speedway in Gilbert, and then was caught speeding, going south on U.S. 52. When police attempted to stop Fortner, he led them on a chase into Wyoming County and over into McDowell County, where he lost control of his car in Panther State Forest after hitting a rock cliff. Police say Fortner has a previous record that is some 10 pages long. 

Man Who Donated To Marshall University Dies

{Huntington, West Virginia}…Huntington businessman Arthur Weisberg, who donated millions to Marshall University and its engineering program in recent years, died Saturday at the age of 88. Weisberg and his wife, Joan, founded State Electric Supply Co. in Huntington in 1952. Weisberg, who grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from City College of New York, helped to re-establish Marshall University’s engineering program in 2006. In honor of his support, the university named its Arthur Weisberg Family Engineering Laboratories and the $50 million Arthur Weisberg Family Applied Engineering Complex, which had its groundbreaking last month, after Weisberg and his family.  

Pastor Beaten By Intruder

{Marmet, West Virginia}…Police have arrested Charles Galloway and charged him with malicious assault, daytime burglary and fleeing on foot after he allegedly beat a Marmet pastor. Police say Pastor Charles Watson and his wife Nancy returned home around 2:00 P.M. Friday and noticed their dog was acting unusual. Watson noticed the door leading upstairs from the basement entrance was open and went upstairs to check and make sure everything was all right and that's when Galloway struck him four to five times in the face with a wooden club. Watson was also hit in the arms while trying to keep Galloway from hitting him. Watson was taken to CAMC, where he was treated and released.

Pizza Hut Delivery Driver Robbed

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Charleston Police are searching for two men who robbed a Pizza Hut delivery driver near 6th Street on Charleston's West Side around 9:00 P.M. Friday night. The driver told police two black men came up to him, pulled out a pistol and demanded money. One of the suspects was wearing a black hoodie and jeans, and the other suspect was wearing a red hoodie and jeans. 

Marshall Defensive Coordinator Resigns

{Huntington, West Virginia}…Marshall defensive coordinator Chris Rippon announced Saturday he has resigned. The announcement came a day after the Thundering Herd (5-7) finished the season with a 65-59 loss in double overtime at East Carolina. Marshall allowed an average of 43 points per game this season. Rippon spent three seasons at Marshall. He also had assistant coaching roles at Rutgers, Mississippi and Syracuse.

Holiday Campaigns Kick Off

{Huntington, West Virginia}…The Salvation Army has officially kicked-off their Red Kettle Bell ringing campaign. Several large retail stores in the tri-state are hosting the bell-ringers from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. during the campaign which is expected to raise nearly $90,000 for the Huntington Salvation Army. The Angel Tree campaign has also kicked off, where customers can buy gifts for underprivileged children in the Salvation Army organization from the area. 

Replacement Food-Stamp Benefits Offered

{Charleston, West Virginia}…The Department of Health and Human Resources is offering replacement food-stamp benefits to people in 16 counties hit by the severe June 29th storm. It will start accepting applications for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, Monday and take them through December 2nd. The affected counties are: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Greenbrier, Jackson, Lincoln, Mason, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, McDowell, Pocahontas, Roane, Tyler, Webster and Wood.

Warnings Of Fake Charities Issued

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin have issued warnings urging residents be on the lookout for fake charities seeking to exploit Superstorm Sandy and the holiday giving season. Goodwin says the best way to be safe is to stick with well-known charitable organizations you know and trust. Tennant says, if you're contacted by a charity you think isn't legitimate, ask where the charity is located, where the money will be going, and if they could send you literature. The Secretary of State's office maintains an online database of 3,248 registered organizations that can be accessed at www.wvsos.com, by clicking on the "Wise Charitable Giving" link at the top of the page. Not all valid charities are listed, however. Only those that receive more than $25,000 in donations during a year and do not use professional fundraising consultants or counsel are required to register.

Highway Construction Halts For Winter

{Charleston, West Virginia}…DOH Spokesman Brent Walker says much was accomplished from June through last week on the concrete replacement project on Interstates 64 and 77 in Charleston, but the construction has been suspended for the winter. A California-based company is being paid $21 million to replace the original surface put into place when the interstates were built in the 1970s. Walker says, when the job resumes in March, the concentration will be on elevated on and off ramps and the three lanes heading westbound to the Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge. He says the concrete will also be replaced on the bridge. The remaining work could stretch through the summer next year.

Holiday Parties Set

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Invitations will soon be in the mail for the five holiday parties Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and first lady Joanne are hosting this year at the Governor's Mansion. The invitation-only, black-tie-optional affairs attract about 2,000 partygoers each year. Guests are typically members of the state's political elite, including elected officials, lobbyists and political constituents. The festivities kick off Friday, November 30th, with other parties following December 1st, December 8th, December 13th and December 15th. The events are slated to begin at 6:00 P.M. each night.

Murder Conviction Overturned

{Huntington, West Virginia}…The state Supreme Court of Appeals has overturned the murder conviction of 46 year old Robert S. Frazier in the August 25, 2008 killing of 53 year old Kathryn Gale Smith. Smith died from a gunshot wound received to the face during a domestic dispute at a residence in the 500 block of Richmond Street in Guyandotte. The Court determined Cabell Circuit Judge Alfred Ferguson erred in allowing the state's chief medical examiner to testify on behalf of a terminated deputy, Dr. Richard Belding, who performed Smith's autopsy. The four justices concluded depending upon the agency's chief as its sole witness deprived Frazier's defense of a chance to cross-examine Belding on contradictions between his clinical summary and autopsy report. Attorneys for the state conceded the lack of Belding's testimony amounted to a constitutional error, but maintained it was harmless and did not impact the jury's verdict. defense disagreed, arguing Belding's contradictions bolstered Frazier's insistence the shooting was accidental as Frazier pulled the gun from Smith, who first threatened him. Frazier will get a new trial.

State Of Emergency Extended

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced Wednesday that the State of Emergency issued after the October 29th storm has been extended in 22 West Virginia counties until December 21st. The counties will continue to receive state and federal help with debris removal and other needs. This recent declaration cancels out the state of emergency previously issued for 33 counties in the state.

The counties included are Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Grant, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lewis, Marshall, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur, Webster and Wyoming.

Monument To Honor UBB Miners

{Beckley, West Virginia}…Raleigh County officials plan to spend  about $6,500 to place a monument on the courthouse lawn that will honor the 29 miners killed in the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion. County administrator John Humphrey says the monument is completed, but it doesn't yet have a base. He says it probably will be dedicated in the spring. Another memorial honoring the fallen miners is located in a small park-like plaza in Whitesville. It was dedicated in July.

Police Department Installs Take Back Drop Box

{Huntington, West Virginia}…The Huntington Police Department, in collaboration with Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership, has installed a permanent drug take back program drop box in the front lobby of HPD headquarters, 675 10th St., Huntington. Available to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. each day, the box is designed for safe disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Officials Focus On Jail Costs

{Charleston, West Virginia}…In October, county officials paid more than $397,000 to house inmates at the South Central Regional Jail. The bill was more than $40,000 higher than October of last year. Kanawha County Commission administrative assistant Kim Fleck says the bill has been higher than usual for four straight months. Fontalbert says the jail bill was running a little more than $350,000 a month last year, but has increased to about $400,000 a month, and it costs about $4.3 million a year to house county inmates at South Central. The state Regional Jail Authority has voted to lower the jail per-diem rate from $48.80 a day to $48.25 a day beginning July 1, 2013. The move is expected to save counties more than $500,000 a year.

Lavigne Ordered Back To Prison

The state Supreme Court has ordered Joseph Lavigne Jr. back to prison and denied him a new trial. Lavigne was released in May 2011 after serving 15 years for the sexual assault of his then five-year-old daughter, Katie Haught, who has publicly said her father was not her attacker. Former Putnam County Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding overturned the 1996 conviction and ordered a new trial, ruling Lavigne's first trial included improper jury selection, an incorrect limit on character witnesses and insufficient evidence. Putnam County Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court, saying it was arguably obvious to the state quite frankly that the Circuit Court of Putnam County imposed their personal opinions as to the facts of the case. Lavigne was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison. Lavigne’s first parole date is 2021, and his discharge date is 2035.

Boone County Mother Awaiting Trial

Police in Boone County are reviewing medical records involving 22 year old Rachel Nelson of Costa. Nelson  is accused of trying to suffocate her 4 month old son at least 15 times at home and at hospitals in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A judge in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania found probable cause Wednesday to move the case to trial. Nelson has been held under evaluation at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh since last month. Police say Nelson tried to suffocate her son at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Children's Hospital on October 20th. She was charged in October with felony aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment of another person. She is being held in Allegheny County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bail.

Convicted Murderer To Seek Reduced Sentence

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Thomas Mallo of Charleston will turn 18 in December and must begin serving a 40 year prison sentence in the 2009 murder of 80 year old Phyllis Jean Phares. Mallo was 14 when police say he fatally stabbed his neighbor. Mallo, who has been held at the Industrial Home for Youth in Salem since he pleaded guilty in 2010 to second-degree murder, plans to seek a reduced sentence, but Kanawha County assistant prosecutor Maryclaire Akers says she'll oppose any reduction in Mallo's sentence. Mallo also faces charges in Harrison County of attacking an officer and trying to escape from the Salem facility.

Charleston Man Found Fatally Shot

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Charleston Police are investigating the murder of 39 year old Clinton "Blue" Green whose body was found in the middle of the road on Charleston's West Side. Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper says Green was shot several times near 924 Main Street before 2:00 A.M. Wednesday morning. Cooper says Green had a criminal history and was well known by the Charleston Police Department. According to court documents, Green had a court date scheduled for early January 2013. Green's death is the sixth homicide in Charleston so far this year.

Body Found In Huntington

{Huntington, West Virginia}...An investigation is underway after the body of 52 year old Billy Taylor of Huntington was found around 3:00 P.M. Wednesday afternoon along the riverbank of the Ohio River under the Sixth Street Bridge in Huntington by a volunteers delivering supplies to homeless people. Taylor's body has been sent to the West Virginia State Medical Examiners Office to determine a cause of death.

Fatal Accident In Cabell County

{Lesage, West Virginia}...Cabell County Sheriff's Deputies say 25 year old Justin Ray of Kenova died in a two-car accident that occurred about 11:15 A.M. Tuesday morning on Ohio River Road, also known as Route 2, in the Lesage area. Deputies say Ray was driving a van when he rear-ended a truck that was stopped along Route 2.

Man Charged With Malicious Wounding

{Charleston, West Virginia}...An investigation into an incident that happened last Saturday in the South Hills area of Charleston shows that Estill Jones was trying to leave after an argument with his wife, Sarah Rubincan, when he hit her with his vehicle. Police say Rubincan was standing in front of the truck, trying to stop Jones from leaving, when she climbed onto the side of the truck as Jones drove away. Rubincan asked Jones to stop, then lost her grip and fell off the truck. Jones is charged with malicious wounding.

Kidnapped Woman And Child Returned To Home

A woman and child who were kidnapped in Calhoun County about 10:30 Thursday night were returned to their home about 2:15 A.M. Wednesday morning. West Virginia State Police say 30 year old Joesph Paul Kute went to a home on Tipton Road, kicked in the door and then took his ex-girlfriend and their child. Kute told police that he took the woman and their baby to several other friends' houses, but when no one was home, they finally returned to the house where the woman was staying. Kute was arrested and charged with two counts of domestic battery, burglary and child endangerment.

Miner Injured

{Cabin Creek, West Virginia}…A miner was injured at Speed Mining in the Cabin Creek area of Kanawha County around 8:30 A.M. Tuesday morning. Speed Mining Inc. is based out of Dawes, West Virginia and is owned by Patriot Coal. The Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training says Harold Miller of Danville suffered a leg injury when he was pinned between a scoop and the wall of the mine.

Fatal Accident In Kanawha County

{Guthrie, West Virginia}…Kanawha County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating a fatal accident which occurred around 12:30 P.M. Tuesday afternoon on Sissonville Drive near Guthrie. Police say John Potter was killed in the two-vehicle accident.

Hunter Found Dead

{Charleston, West Virginia}…The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is investigating the death of 73 year old Joe Clayton of Smithville who collapsed Monday in Ritchie County while hunting on the first day of deer season. Officials say Clayton suffered an apparent heart attack.

Murder Case Goes To Grand Jury

{Huntington, West Virginia}…Twenty-one year old Thomas White of Huntington was in Cabell County Magistrate Court in Huntington Tuesday morning for a preliminary hearing after being charged with two counts of murder during the commission of a felony. Huntington Police responded to a shooting on Foster Avenue on November 6th and found 22 year old Darrell Fuqua had been fatally shot. Devonte Penn, 17, was also shot and later died in the hospital. Both victims were from Detroit. Police say the murder began as an attempted robbery. The case has been sent to the grand jury. 

Investigation Into Human Remains Continues

{Ona, West Virginia}…An investigation into human remains found last month off Wire Branch Road in Ona reveals a driver's license belonging to Michael Whittier Rigdon was found at the scene. Experts from the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., surveyed the site Monday and will be helping the state medical examiner's office with the ongoing identification process.

Woman Sentenced For Failure To Register

{Huntington, West Virginia}…Forty-two year old Tammy L. Payton of Crum has been sentenced to one year in federal prison with 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty in August to violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by failing to update her sex offender registration when she moved from Ohio to West Virginia in 2007. Payton was convicted in 2001 of complicity to commit rape and kidnapping of a minor child younger than 13 years old.

Man Sentenced On Drug And Firearms Charge

Fifty year old David Michael Persons of West Columbia, in Mason County, has been sentenced to ten years in prison after being found guilty in August on three counts of illegal drug distribution, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities say Persons sold heroin and cocaine to a confidential information in 2010. On April 20, 2010, investigators executed a search warrant at Persons' house and seized several items that included a quantity of heroin, digital scales, a .22 caliber rifle and a .410 gauge shotgun. Persons is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a 2007 felony conviction.

Marple Firing To Be Reconsidered

{Charleston, West Virginia}…West Virginia Board of Education  President Wade Linger said Tuesday that the board will meet again November 29th to vote on Superintendent Jorea Marple's firing after concerns were raised over whether the board violated the open meetings law when it voted 5-2 to fire her last Thursday. State Board of Education member Gayle Manchin, wife of Senator Joe Manchin, said Tuesday that the need to change the deep-seeded culture at West Virginia's public school system prompted her vote last week to fire Superintendent Jorea Marple. Manchin blamed a mindset at the state Department of Education for West Virginia's chronically poor rankings on test scores and graduation rates. Manchin says, although close to $2 billion was spent this budget year, one of the highest investments of education in the country, the "results certainly do not attest to that."

Blair Mountain Battle Continues

{Blair, West Virginia}…In 1921, some 10,000 coal miners attempting to unionize marched to the southern West Virginia town of Blair and scrambled up the mountain to battle an army of police and hired guns who had homemade bombs and machine guns. At least 16 men died before the miners surrendered to federal troops in what became the nation's largest armed uprising since the Civil War. Residents, environmentalists, history buffs and other activists trying to protect West Virginia's historic Blair Mountain from strip mining are now fighting the renewal of a mining permit that St. Louis-based Arch Coal is seeking from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The public comment period on the Adkins Fork permit ends Friday. Archaeologist Brandon Nida, who said he has found artifacts in the permit area, says the Adkins Fork permit would destroy one of the most important sections of the battlefield.

West Virginia Storms Cost Millions

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Based on regulatory filings and government estimates, storms have cost West Virginia more than $370 million this year. Approximately $340 million are the result of a June derecho. Then, in late October, Superstorm Sandy left up to 2 feet of snow across the eastern portion of the state. Sandy's costs already top $30 million. Appalachian Power has said its costs were $62 million, while FirstEnergy puts its costs at $110 million. Customers will be asked to pick up some of those costs.

FEMA Deadline Extended

{Charleston, West Virginia}...FEMA has extended the deadline for West Virginia residents impacted by the June 29th derecho to sign up for individual assistance to December 19th. That applies to resident in: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Roane, Tyler, Webster, and Wood counties. If you have yet to register for assistance, you can call the FEMA hotline at 1-800-621-FEMA between 7:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M. or log on at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Murder-Suicide In Mingo County

{Dingess,  West Virginia}...West Virginia State Police are investigating what appears to be a murder-suicide which occurred around 10:00 P.M. Sunday night outside a house at Twelve Pole in Mingo County. When police arrived, they found 45 year old William Warren Browning and 32 year old Teri Ann Browning, both from Dingess, dead. Neighbors say they heard them arguing, and then, heard gunshots. 

Murder Warrant Issued

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Police have issued a warrant charging 24 year old Richard Hilliard with murder in the October 11th shooting death of 26 year old David Booker, who was found fatally shot on Milton Street on the East End of Charleston. Police say Hilliard has been known to frequent the South Charleston and Rand areas. He also have relatives in Ohio. Charleston Police have looked for him there, but his family said he was still in the Charleston area.

Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Murder

{Wayne, West Virginia}...Twenty-one year old Sara Worstell of Ceredo was arraigned in Wayne County Circuit Court Monday, where she pleaded not guilty to murder in the November 27, 2011 death of her boyfriend, 22 year old Michael Meachem. Ceredo Police were called to an apartment complex along Greenwood Drive, where they found Meachem on the floor, and unresponsive. He was taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy showed that Meachem died of positional asphyxiation. Police say Worstell told investigators that Meachem was on his knees and she was behind him and had him in a choke hold. A trial is set for February 25th.

Gun Season For Deer

{Charleston, West Virginia}...West Virginia's gun season for deer hunters started Monday. Wildlife resources chief Curtis Taylor says the November firearms season opens the Monday before Thanksgiving every year. The DNR is also reminding hunters that there are 10 counties or portions of counties that require buck firearm hunters to first take an antlerless deer. As in past years, many counties are open to concurrent antlerless deer hunting on private land and selected public lands.

Mother Charged With Child Neglect

{Williamson, West Virginia}...Holly Hammond, 26, and her boyfriend, Rafael Judkins, 37, were arrested and charged with child neglect with risk of injury after Williamson Police found Hammond’s two year old roaming alone behind Williamson Middle School Saturday.

Man Shoots Intruder

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Police say Jack Boggess of Charleston called 911 about 3:00 A.M. Saturday morning and told dispatchers he shot 33 year old Darin Lanning of Culledon in the shoulder after he found him half-naked and eating in his kitchen. Lanning had allegedly kicked in Boggess' door, entered his home, taken off his cowboy boots, jeans and coat, and was closing the refrigerator door when Boggess woke up. Police say, when Boggess pointed a gun at Lanning and ordered him to the ground, Lanning took two steps toward Boggess in a threatening manner, Boggess then shot him and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Lanning told police he thought he was at a friend’s house in Hurricane. About 1:00 A.M. that morning, Hurricane police had arrested Lanning at the Creek Side Bar, where they had found him lying face down in the parking lot.  He had been taken to an alcohol treatment facility in Charleston and apparently walked away.

Board of Education To Hold Special Meeting

{Charleston, West Virginia}…The West Virginia Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting Wednesday to discuss its response to a wide-ranging audit of the state’s education system. Board President Wade Linger says West Virginia’s statewide graduation rate is 78 percent, while one in four high school students doesn’t graduate on time, and  his top priority is increasing student achievement. Wednesday’s meeting comes less than a week after the board voted 5-2 to fire state Schools Superintendent Jorea Marple.

Drug Raid In Mingo County

{Williamson, West Virginia}…Friday night, the Williamson, Delbarton, Matewan and Gilbert Police Departments along with the Mingo County Sheriff's Department conducted a raid on three suspected drug dealers. Fifty-one year old John Bland of Red Jacket, his son, 27 year old Nicholas Bland of North Matewan, and Megan Berger, 35, of North Matewan were all charged for drug crimes. Investigators also confiscated eight pounds of marijuana, dozens of Hydrocodone pills, firearms and approximately $3,000 in cash.

Two Charged With Break-ins

{Smithers, West Virginia}…Friday, Fayette County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 38 year old Clinton Hall of Mossy and 52 year old Vernon Estep of Gallagher. Investigators believe Hall may have been responsible for at least 11 break-ins around Fayette, Raleigh and Boone Counties. Deputies say the crime wave may have begun with the July 8th break-in at the Custard Stand in the Lochgelly area of Oak Hill. Friday morning, deputies tracked Hall's truck to Smithers following a break-in at the nearby Taco Bell. Deputies stopped Hall's truck and found money they believe was missing from the Taco Bell and "burglary tools" in the back of his truck. Investigators said more than $50,000 dollars has been stolen from the businesses. Hall is charged with one count of breaking and entering and one count of grand larceny, and Estep is charged as an accessory after the fact, while other charges are pending. Both have prior convictions for theft.

Jury Says Board Members Discriminated

{Charleston, West Virginia}…Friday, a Kanawha County jury concluded that Sam Sommerville, Ron Stoner and Norm Cannada, three members of the Bob Burdette Center, withdrew the center's executive director's job offer to 34 year old Jessica Hudson of Charleston after a staffer found out through social media she was in a relationship with another woman. Hudson applied for the after-school program's vacant executive director position last year. She had two interviews with the board members, who agreed to hire her. After she accepted the position and after she quit her own job, one of the board members withdrew the offer and accused her of lying on her résumé. The jurors found that the center's board did not discriminate against Hudson based on gender stereotypes and that they were not liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Mingo County Accident Kills Two

{Kermit, West Virginia}...Two people are dead after a head-on accident just after 7:00 A.M. Friday morning on U.S. Route 52 at Middle Burning Creek near Kermit in Mingo County. Randy Goble of Kermit and Donald Hill of Staffordsville, Kentucky both died at the scene of the crash. Investigators believe Hill may have fallen asleep just before the accident.

Huntington Man Sentenced

{Huntington, West Virginia}...Lamont Lee Miller Jr., 23, of Huntington, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison on firearms and crack cocaine distribution charges. Miller pleaded guilty in June to five counts of distribution of crack cocaine. Miller admitted that on five separate occasions between June 24, 2010 and August 20, 2010, he entered the Smokin' Aces store in Huntington and sold crack cocaine to an undercover agent working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He also admitted that between June 16, 2010 and November 2, 2010, he and an associate sold at least 18 firearms, but no more than 20 firearms, to undercover ATF agents at the Smokin' Aces store.