Demolition Set For Former Poca Middle School

PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. -- The old Poca Middle School will be demolished this week.

Demolition crews will be on site today to tear down the old building. The demolition is expected to get underway mid-morning.

In 2009, voters approved a $56 million school bond to build a new Poca Middle School along with several other schools and additions.

The new Poca Middle School opened in 2012.

Poca Elementary, which is located next door, was also completely renovated.

Route 10 Closure Causing Concerns

LOGAN COUNTY, W.Va. -- Detours, delays, and dangers are all top of mind in Logan County where a major stretch of road is closed.

Tuesday night, a crowd packed the auditorium at Man High School to voice their concerns to Department of Transportation officials and community leaders.

Brent Walker, a spokesman with the Department of Transportation, says with all the rain this summer causing rock slides, the road being closed is a necessary inconvenience while crews work to repair it.

Crews had been working on the road and letting traffic through every 15 minutes, but Walker says that is no longer a viable option.

"The thought was we could stabilize that hillside and let them continue to work,” Walker said. “In those 15 minutes our contractor could only work seven minutes, because in the next remaining eight minutes, they needed to sweep the road off so we could continue to get traffic. We'd be here for a year in that process."

People at the meeting complained the detour over Kelly Mountain, along with taking about an extra 20 minutes, has a long list of problems also. Crews are working to put guardrails up and pave, leaving several parts of that road being closed to one lane.

Officials say they weren't prepared for that road seeing so much traffic.

Highway officials say they'll try to get coal trucks to come through at less busy hours to cut down on traffic on the detour route.

They're also having additional ambulances and a HealthNet helicopter stationed closeby to ease concerns about the extra time it'll take emergency patients to get to the hospital.

Gas prices down 3 cents in W.Va., averages about $3.65 per gallon

West Virginia motorists are seeing lower prices at the gas pump.

The Triple A's weekly fuel gauge reports a 3-cent decrease in the price per gallon of gas since last week. The statewide average is about $3.65 a gallon.

That's higher than the national average of nearly $3.62.

The auto club says the statewide average is about 13 cents more than the same week a year ago.

In West Virginia, pump prices range from a low of about $3.51 in Parkersburg to a high of more than $3.89 in Martinsburg.

West Virginia awards $63K in grants for litter control programs statewide

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is awarding grants to help fund litter control programs.

The state agency said Tuesday that 26 applicants have been approved for a total of $63,195 in grants. The money was awarded to state solid waste authorities, county commissions and municipalities.

It will help pay for the razing of dilapidated structures, fund community cleanups in places, and pay for trash receptacles and other supplies for litter control.

New EPA Administrator talks about curbing global warming in first speech

The new head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that the EPA plans to curb global warming while also fueling the economy.

“We need to cut carbon pollution to grow jobs,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “We need to cut carbon pollution to strengthen the economy.”

In her first speech as administrator, McCarthy told a 310 person audience at Harvard Law School that it’s time to stop talking about environmental regulations killing jobs, but rather embrace cutting-edge technology as a way to spark business innovation.

“We need to bring new ideas to the table, new ways of planning together, new ways of bringing capital to the table and new ways at working at green infrastructure,” said McCarthy.

In a statement released Tuesday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said he agrees with McCarthy that clean energy spurs economic growth, but adds that the coal industry has already made great strides in this area.

“Clean coal technology already is being used and it’s having a direct impact on our environment and our economy. In the last ten years, U.S. coal emissions have been reduced by 50 percent and coal-fired electric plants are expected to spend at least $80 billion by 2015 on new technologies to further reduce emissions,” Manchin said in the statement. “These investments would have an even greater impact on our economy and environment if we had a partner instead of an adversary in the federal government.”

Manchin recommended that while the nation invests in renewable and biofuel technology, it should also invest in making our most abundant natural resources cleaner, such as coal.

During her speech, McCarthy took time to praise the EPA and the Obama Administration for the progress that has been made so far, but added that there is much more work to be done and many more challenges to overcome.

“It’s time for a transition at the EPA so that we can make sure that we are taking care of and addressing the challenges of today, which are increasingly more complicated than they have ever been before,” she said.

McCarthy claimed that by cracking down on global warming pollution, businesses could ultimately benefit.

“As more businesses think about the opportunity of climate change and see additional public and private investments being leveraged to support infrastructure, to support clean energy, that those investments would in turn leverage more,” she said.

But that won’t happen unless the public and the industries don’t step up to make a difference and work together, McCarthy stated. She assured the crowd that her agency will act and will work with others to encourage change.

“We will focus on innovation, we’ll focus on a path forward, we’ll focus on collaboration, we’ll respect what states have done and we will move forward together,” McCarthy said.

Some of West Virginia’s Democratic leaders are scheduled to meet with McCarthy on Thursday to discuss the impact of new EPA regulations on the coal industry in the Mountain State.

AG Morrisey approves final outside counsel policy

 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has given final approval on a new policy regarding the hiring of outside counsel.

The new policy states that private attorneys must now bid on state legal work, which is supervised by the Attorney General’s Office.

“This policy sends a strong message that West Virginia will be transparent and accountable with respect to the use of outside counsel,” Morrisey said in a news release. “With its implementation, West Virginia joins a number of states pursuing outside counsel reform and sets an example that will garner attention nationwide.”

Morrisey made the announcement Tuesday with the end of a 45-day period for public comment regarding the policy.

During the comment period, the Attorney General’s Office received six formal comment letters that provided suggested improvements and/or clarifications to the policy along with several informal comments expressing support for the overall intent of the policy.

From the comments, Morrisey’s office fine tuned the policy.

One of those changes is that Morrisey’s office will now consider during a competitive bidding process any potential conflicts of interest as well as relevant input from the state entity client.

The pre-bidding process was also revised to require both the re-evaluation of the pre-approved attorney list at least every two years and a written determination explaining the reasons for selecting a pre-approved attorney or firm any time the pre-bid list is utilized.

The new policy also requires Morrisey’s office to post written explanations for hiring outside counsel on the attorney general’s website, except when posting could jeopardize the attorney-client privilege or confidential work product.

In Tuesday’s release, Morrisey said he is pleased with the comments they got and believes the policy is a lot better because of them.

“We believe that our final policy on outside counsel strikes an appropriate balance between the need for transparency and accountability in outside counsel hires and the desire to provide the State and its agencies with top-notch legal services,” stated Morrisey.

Bank robbery in Putnam County

TEAYS VALLEY, W.Va. — Police in Putnam County were looking for a man who robbed a Huntington Bank branch on Tuesday afternoon.

Deputies said he walked into the bank—located at the Teays Valley exit on Interstate 64 near Route 34—and demanded money via a note he handed the teller.

The man left the bank and was last seen behind a nearby truck stop.

Amazon Announces Thousands of Jobs

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Amazon has announced they are hiring at facilities across the country, including the Huntington service center.

The company announced Monday it's adding 5,000 full-time jobs in its fulfillment network, which includes 17 facilities.

They are also hiring 2,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal positions at four customer service centers, including the Huntington and Winchester, Ky. facilities.

Amazon opened a new facility in Huntington in 2011.

Search Underway for Home Confinement Suspect

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. -- Kanawha County Sheriff's Deputies are asking for the public's help to locate a man who escaped home confinement.

Deputies say Charles Brett Cook, 29, of Sissonville, left his home on Apple Hill Road in Sissonville Monday morning without permission. Cook is serving home confinement after being convicted of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property.

Deputies spotted Cook, but he took off into the woods.

K-9 teams were brought in to search for him, but he still has not been caught.

If you have any information about Cook's whereabouts, you're to urged to call 304-357-0169.

Sentencing hearing delayed for ex-Massey official who pleaded guilty in conspiracy case

A sentencing hearing for a former Massey Energy executive has been pushed back until September.

David C. Hughart was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday on two federal conspiracy charges. He pleaded guilty in February.

U.S. District Judge Irene Berger on Friday approved a request by Hughart's lawyer, Michael R. Whitt, to delay the sentencing hearing because of a scheduling conflict.

Berger rescheduled the proceedings Sept. 10.

Hughart admitted to working with others to give miners at Massey subsidiary White Buck Coal Co. illegal advance warning about surprise inspections.

He is cooperating with the criminal investigation into the Upper Big Branch mine explosion that killed 29 miners in 2010.

Massey is now owned by Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources.

West Virginia Steel president dies in plane crash

GEORGETOWN, S.C. — The president of West Virginia Steel Corp. was killed when his war replica plane crashed in South Carolina on Monday afternoon.

Investigators said 79-year-old John Prince Harris of Charleston, W.Va., was killed when the decommissioned military aircraft he was flying crashed in a wooded area about a half-mile short of the Georgetown County Airport.

According to the FAA, the plane was a Folland Gnat T1, a British subsonic jet trainer and fighter aircraft introduced in the 1950s.

Georgetown County coroner Kenny Johnson told the Myrtle Beach Sun News that Harris was the only person in the plane.

Harris, who had served as a pilot in the Air National Guard, reportedly was on his way to visit his wife and friends when he crashed.

Harris’ body was sent for an autopsy. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Former mine foreman pleads guilty to falsifying mine safety documents

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Mercer County man who falsified mandatory mine safety reports while employed at numerous West Virginia mining operations has entered in a guilty plea.

According to a release form U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s Office, Craig Belcher, 36, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty Monday to providing a false statement, representation and certification in a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) document.

From January 2009 to July 2010, Belcher was hired to work as an underground mine foreman at four mines in West Virginia.

According to the release, those mines were Spartan Mining Company’s Road Fork No. 51 mine located in Wyoming County, Frasure Creek’s Mine No. 15 located in Fayette County, Pay Car’s Mine No. 58 in McDowell County and Double Bonus’s Mine No. 65 in Wyoming County.

Between January 27, 2009 and July 13, 2010, Belcher signed pre-shift and on-shift reports which indicated that he had properly examined particular sections at each mine and also falsified information on pre-shift and on-shift reports. The release said Belcher was not a certified foreman when he put the reports together.

Belcher faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on December 2.

Appeals court refuses to rehear battle over EPA powers in W.Va. mountaintop removal mine case

A federal appeals court is refusing to rehear a case challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's retroactive veto of a water pollution permit for a massive West Virginia strip mine.

The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied Arch Coal's motion to rehear the case.

In April, the court ruled EPA had the legal right to revoke permit in 2011 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had awarded years earlier to St. Louis-based Arch and its Mingo Logan Coal Co. subsidiary.

The EPA said destructive, unsustainable practices at the Spruce No. 1 mine in Logan County would cause irreparable environmental damage.

Arch Coal has 90 days to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kanawha County Tops in Sales of Meth-making Materials

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Kanawha County leads the state in per-capita sales of a common cold and allergy medicine that's used to make methamphetamine.

State figures show that more than 52,000 boxes of pseudoephedrine have been sold in Kanawha County since January.

That's 22 percent of the total number of boxes sold statewide.

Kanawha County also accounts for 56 percent of all meth labs seized in the state so far this year.

The figures were released last week during a meeting of a committee examining the meth problem in West Virginia.

Committee members include state lawmakers, law enforcement officers, health officials and pharmacists.

Logan Fire Leaves Family of Four Homeless

LOGAN, W.Va. -- A family is now homeless and turning to the community for a helping hand after fierce flames ripped through their home. It happened at the Big Daddy’s Barber Shop on Stratton Street in Logan.

The owner of the business, Jamie Mullins, says while he’s grateful he and his family survived the fire- they now have nothing.

Mullins, his wife and five- and two-year-old sons lived in an apartment above the business.

Mullins said shortly before the fire, the family of four was eating take-out when they noticed the smell of smoke and realized their home was on fire.

No customers were in the store at the time but Jamie said neighbors quickly stepped in to salvage what they could.

The Super Dollar Store, the First Baptist Church and the B&B Loans of Logan will all be accepting donations on behalf of the family.

The Logan Fire Department says the Fire Marshal will be at the barbershop today to investigate the cause.

Smoke Leads to Meth Lab; Four Arrests Made

CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. -- A routine police patrol in Chapmanville ends with four people arrested on meth charges.

Police say they noticed smoke coming from a home and when they went to check it out, they could smell a strong chemical odor.

They searched the home and found evidence of a meth lab in the kitchen, according to police.

Everyone inside the home was asked to leave.

Paul Cochran, Martha Cochran, Amanda Woody and Michael Farris were all arrested. They have been charged with operating a meth lab.

Pills Intercepted During Mail Delivery

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- A man is facing charges after deputies intercepted his mail, which included a package of hundreds of pills.

According to the criminal complaint, the US Postal Inspector got a search warrant on a package that was going to Brandon Lee Madden's home in the 5400 block of West Pea Ridge Road.

Inside the package, they found more than 300 oxycodone pills, according to the complaint.

They made a controlled delivery of the package to Madden's home. When the package was accepted, they took Madden, 33, into custody.

Deputies say Madden did not have a prescription for the pills. He is charged with possession with intent to deliver.

Madden was released from the Western Regional Jail after posting bond.

W.Va. awarded $659,084 federal grant for highway safety programs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded nearly $660,000 to West Virginia for highway safety programs.

U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin announced the grant on Thursday.

The funding supports programs such as seat belt and child restraint inspection, traffic record improvements and distracted driving prevention.

Huntington murder victim identified

 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Huntington Police say a Detroit man was shot to death early Thursday morning outside of a Huntington bar.

That man is identified as Lorenzo Craig, 25, who was found near the intersection of Hal Greer Boulevard and Eighth Avenue after 1 a.m.

Investigators said Craig had been at Poppy’s Bar, located nearby, prior to the shooting.

No arrests had been made as of Thursday afternoon.

Rep. McKinley’s Coal Ash bill passes U.S. House

 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A piece of legislation that gives states greater control over the management of coal ash is heading to the U.S. Senate for approval.

The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013, introduced by Rep. David McKinley, overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday with bipartisan support by a vote of 265 to 155. The legislation drew support from 39 Democrats.

“It’s the highest number from the Democrats that we’ve had on this legislation in two and a half years,” said Rep. McKinley.

McKinley believes past opposition to the bill was due to lawmakers not truly understanding what was in the legislation.

“It has such complexities to it that I think maybe it confounds some members as to what is trying to be accomplished here,” he said.

The legislation would protect the recycling of coal ash and give states the authority to set their own standards for the disposal of fly ash with oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) while protecting human health and the environment.

Coal ash is a coal combustion byproduct that poses environmental threats when put in landfills but is also commonly recycled for use in cement, concrete and other products.

The legislation would also require installation of groundwater monitoring at all structures containing coal ash and set deadlines for meeting groundwater protection standards. Companies with impoundments that leak would have up to 10 years to fix the problem. If companies fail to do so, McKinley said the outcome is simple.

“If they are endangering the human health and the environment, they have to close,” he said.

Despite voicing concerns over some aspects of the bill, the White House did not issue a veto threat as it often does with GOP environmental bills.

McKinley said he and fellow bill supporters held numerous meetings and discussions with EPA and other stakeholders getting feedback about the bill. All the feedback was then put into this bill and as a result, McKinley believes it’s a wonderful example of compromise.

“I think we’ve got something that is far reaching and it will have a profound affect and I think because of that has a greater chance of being considered in the Senate than in the past,” he said.

Even with bipartisan support in the House, McKinley said there is still a lot more work to do. 

Fatal crash in Kanawha County

HUGHESTON, W.Va. — A person is dead and several others are injured after a single-car crash Thursday.

The crash happened around midnight on Hughes Creek Road near Hugheston.

Police said the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when it went off the road, hit a telephone pole and slid through several yards.

The car hit a garbage bin and several fences before coming to a stop in front of a house.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unclear whether he was the driver of the car. Four other people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. 

W.Va. Racing Panel Considers Animal Cruelty Police

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia Racing Commission plans to seek public input on a proposed animal cruelty policy.

Commission executive secretary Jon Amores says the policy is an attempt to clarify the panel's authority to punish racing permit holders if abuse is proven.

The commission oversees greyhound and horse racing.

The commission discussed the policy Tuesday.

Amores says the policy will be posted on the commission's website for public comment.

According to the policy, the commission would investigate all reported acts of animal cruelty, mistreatment, neglect, abandonment or abuse.

Administrative punishments would include fines and revocation of racing permits. A veterinarian would be consulted to determine whether cases should be referred to authorities for possible criminal prosecution.

2-Year-Old Found Unresponsive in Bathtub; Father Charged

LINCOLN COUNTY, W.Va. -- A father is facing charges after his 2-year-old daughter was found unresponsive in a bathtub.

West Virginia State Police in Hamlin say Jason Riffe, 34, of Harts, is charged with child neglect resulting in injury and child neglect creating the risk of injury.

Troopers say the 2-year-old girl was left unsupervised on July 13 in the bathtub at his home on Frances Creek Road in Harts for a significant period of time.

She was flown to Cabell Huntington Hospital and was listed in critical condition.

She was released from the hospital Sunday. She and her 8-month-old sister are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

According to the criminal complaint, Riffe told troopers he left his daughter in the bathtub for 10 to 20 seconds while he went to get a towel from another room. He says he heard a noise and when he went back into the bathroom, he found the girl unresponsive.

Doctors say after assessing the little girl's condition, there is no way the extent of her injuries could occur during the time frame of events described by Riffe.

The complaint also states Riffe's girlfriend and the child’s mother, Jessica Nicholson, told troopers Riffe has a history of drug use and has manufactured meth at their home several times.

Troopers say Riffe later admitted to taking a Xanax pill while at the hospital.

Riffe turned himself in to State Police Wednesday afternoon.

Marco the Marshall mascot to get makeover, fans to decide on new look

Marco the Marshall University mascot is getting another makeover, and the school is asking fans to decide on the bison's new look.

Voting will take place on Marshall's Facebook page through Aug. 10. Fans can choose to keep the mascot's current design or make limited or complete changes.

Marshall chief of staff Matt Turner says Marco's 5-year-old costume has undergone extensive wear and repairs, so it's time to replace it.

Turner says the new costume is expected to be finished in time for Marshall's home game on Oct. 5 against Texas-San Antonio.

Online:

https://www.facebook.com/marshallu

Investors who sued Massey Energy agree to enter mediation; W.Va. judge gives talks 6 months

Shareholders who say the former Massey Energy Co. lied about its safety record to inflate stock prices before the Upper Big Branch mine disaster are taking the case to mediation.

U.S. District Judge Irene Berger signed an order last week giving the parties six months to discuss settling.

Investors led by the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment say Massey repeatedly lied about its record, artificially inflating stock prices between 2008 and 2010.

They say shareholders had no knowledge of Massey's long history of violations until after the southern West Virginia mine exploded in April 2010. Twenty-nine men died.

Massey was later bought by Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources.

The civil case has been on hold because the judge is shielding evidence the shareholders want to use from an ongoing criminal investigation.

Yeager Airport board votes to cut gate guards, replace with cameras in effort to save money

Yeager Airport in Charleston is cutting guards at its gates in order to save money.

The airport's board approved a plan Wednesday to cut its budget by 3 percent due to a drop in the number of passengers. Officials trace the drop to the loss of Airtran's Florida flight.

Instead of guards, new cameras and microwave technology will be used to protect the gates.

Airport director Rick Atkinson says the technology will automatically dial the police and set off an alarm if there's an intrusion.

Officials are hoping to find another carrier to bring the Florida flight back to Yeager.

House leaders making the move

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Some office shifting is getting started at the State Capitol where members of House Speaker Tim Miley’s leadership team are starting to move into their new roles.

Del. Brent Boggs (D-Braxton) is the new House Finance Committee Chairman.

New House Finance Committee Chair Brent Boggs is making the move.

“I have truly enjoyed serving as Majority Leader but, I have to tell you, the opportunity to go up and chair the Finance Committee is truly one that I have been interested in for a long, long time,” said Delegate Boggs. (D-Braxton, 34).

In the past, he has served as Finance Vice Chair.

He said his new role will be an important one during continued tight budget times.

“FY ’15 will probably be the toughest year that we have out there in the foreseeable future,” Boggs said.

Boggs is swapping jobs with Delegate Harry Keith White (D-Mingo, 21) who has served as House Finance Chair for the past six years.  White will be the new House Majority Leader.

Delegate Tim Manchin (D-Marion, 50) is taking over as House Judiciary Committee Chairman, the role Miley had held before being selected to be Speaker.

Interim meetings for state lawmakers wrapped up Wednesday afternoon in Charleston.

CAMC to purchase new HealthNet helicopter

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Area Medical Center will soon be purchasing a new HealthNet helicopter.

The hospital’s board Wednesday approved the new helicopter purchase for $3.5 million, which will replace a 13-year-old aircraft.

Board members said the new helicopter will allow them to take advantage of improved technologies and significant advancements in aviation. The new technology is expected to allow pilots to fly more missions in bad weather.

HealthNet is a joint operation of CAMC, WVU Healthcare and Cabell Huntington Hospital. CAMC is responsible for the upkeep of two helicopters, based in Beckley and Ripley, which serve the Charleston area.

All three parties will determine what to do with the old helicopter. Board members said it will either be used as a backup or sold for $1 million.

The board also decided to refinance the debt on its other helicopter in order to take advantage of low interest rates.

Coal Miner’s Petition Fires Back At President Obama’s Energy Policy

Some coal miners in Eastern Kentucky think President Obama has declared a war on coal and they want him to know they won't stand for it.

So they are signing a petition in hopes the President will hear them out.

Last month, President Obama delivered a speech, laying out his latest policy on climate change.

"I'm directing the environmental protection agency to put an end to the limitless dumping of carbon pollution from our power plants," said Obama.

His words did not sit well with many coal miners in our region.

Officials with the West Virginia Coal Association started a petition to tell the President that coal is here to stay.

Many Eastern Kentuckians have signed on.

The petition must get 100,000 signatures within 30 days.

If organizers meet that goal, the White House has to respond to the petition.

For those interested in learning more about the petition, you can see it here:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/end-his-assault-our-nation%E2%80%99s-coal-mining-families/8lygsMqp

Camden Park Reopens

 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Camden Park reopened Tuesday to long lines of faithful fans after a fire closed the park early Sunday.

The fire started early Sunday morning and shut down the park all day Sunday as crews accessed and cleaned up the damage after a fire destroyed the iconic bumper cars.

Management believes a power surge may have started the fire. The surrounding area lost power during severe weather Saturday night. When it came back on, it's believed that's when the fire started.

The park is back open on regular summer hours.

State Police Shortage

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- They're charged with policing the state of West Virginia, but now State Police are coming out to say they need more manpower.

As of Tuesday, Lt. Reggie Patterson of the West Virginia State Police said the agency is short 33 troopers and could soon be down as many as 50 officers because of upcoming retirements. 

Those figures don’t include the 275 troopers Patterson said the agency feels they need to operate most efficiently.

About one-third of the state's detachments have four or less troopers, which Patterson said puts a real strain on those troopers.

One of the areas most in need of more manpower is the Crimes Against Children Unit, according to Patterson.

West Virginia gasoline prices increase by 5 cents per gallon to nearly $3.68

Gasoline prices have increased an average of about a nickel per gallon during the past week in West Virginia.

AAA East Central says the price for a gallon of regular unleaded is nearly $3.68 per gallon. That's about a penny higher than the national average and 17 cents higher than a year ago in the state.

Prices range from $3.58 in Parkersburg to $3.82 in Martinsburg.

West Virginia leads nation in per capita spending to promote awareness of health care law

A campaign to promote public awareness of the new health care reform law is spending the most per capita in West Virginia.

Data compiled by The Associated Press from federal and state sources shows $17.1 million in outreach spending in West Virginia. That amounts to $9.23 per resident. The next-closest state is Arkansas at $8.28 per resident.

The $17.1 million spent in West Virginia on federal marketing and advertising grants ranks 11th among the states.

In May, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced West Virginia is extending Medicaid coverage to an estimated 91,500 uninsured low-income residents under the health care overhaul starting in January 2014.

Expanding Medicaid is expected to help the state's hospitals by providing coverage to thousands of residents now treated at hospitals without compensation as charity care.

Name released in Putnam high water death

BUFFALO, W.Va. — Putnam County authorities say a man trying  to save his property from rising water died when he fell into a swollen stream near his home Tuesday.

John Wilbur Mobley, 64, of Leon, was trying to remove debris from a bridge on Bear Branch in front of his home on 18 Mile Creek Road when he apparently fell into the water.

“He was removing debris to keep the water flowing away from his house,” said Putnam County Sheriff Steve Deweese.

Mobley was noticed missing about 9 p.m.

“Family members had checked on him twice and looked out the door for him a third time after about 20 minutes had elapsed and they did not see him,” Deweese said.

Members of the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department responded and found Mobley downstream about .9 miles face down in the water and dead. Deweese said it’s unclear if Mobley fell into the water and drowned or if he was struck by something causing him to fall.

Mobley’s body has been send to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Principal found not guilty of child abuse

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — A Mason County educator hopes to be back in the principal’s office after his acquittal Tuesday on felony child abuse charges.

Mason County Circuit Judge David Nibert found Cameron Moffett not guilty during the bench trial in Point Pleasant. The judge handed down his decision right after the prosecution presented its case.

“The judge concluded the state did not meet their burden for a criminal prosecution at the conclusion of the state’s case,” defense attorney Jim Lees, who did not have to put on his case, told MetroNews. “That’s what I’ve been saying on behalf of my client for over a year.”

It was March 2012 when Moffett, then principal at Point Pleasant Intermediate School, came on a field trip-bound school bus because of a problem with student Zach Plants. Moffett ended up forcibly removing the 11-year-old Plants from the bus. The incident was caught on the bus video. Moffett was later charged with felony child abuse.

Lees said the prosecution couldn’t prove Moffett had any criminal intent because there was none.

“Testimony came out in the trial that this kid disobeyed at least five directives from adults to move his seat on the bus.”

Lees said Moffett knew the history of the student’s previous behavioral problems when he got on the bus.

There were teachers, the Mason County school superintendent and others at Tuesday’s trial in support of Moffett. Lees said he should have never been charged. He said almost as bad was the delay of getting the case prosecuted. Moffett wasn’t indicted until earlier this year.

“Cameron Moffett is a good principal and he was unable to be a principal for an entire school year because he just sat there,” Lees said.

Moffett remained employed as maintenance director for the Mason County school system. Lees said Tuesday Moffett wants to return to his job as principal.

“Obviously his hope is that he will be reinstated to some school as school principal, that’s what he is,” Lees said. “I don’t think he wants to continue his career as maintenance director.”

The Plants family has a civil lawsuit pending against Moffett and the Mason County Board of Education.