WV Man In Mingo Case Seeks Prison Release Pending Petition

A Delbarton man convicted of selling drugs to a sheriff is seeking his release from prison until a judge hears a petition in his case.

The attorney for George White filed a motion in Mingo County Circuit Court in October. Ronald Rumora asks for White's release from Huttonsville Correctional Center until the yet-unfiled petition is decided. A visiting judge appointed to White's case hasn't ruled on the motion.

Former circuit judge Michael Thornsbury sentenced White in May to up to 15 years in prison.

Thornsbury resigned a month ago and pleaded guilty in a scheme to protect Sheriff Eugene Crum from revelations he'd bought drugs from White. Crum was killed in April in an unrelated shooting.

Mingo drug dealer sentenced in federal court

According to information provided by U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin, a Dingess man who mailed a package that contained more than 1,700 Oxycodone pills was sentenced to four years in federal prison on Tuesday.

Patrick Warren Napier, age 41, previously pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone. On April 29, 2011, investigators with the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package in Peach Creek, in Logan County. The package, which contained 1,789 30-milligram Oxycodone tablets, had been mailed by Napier. The package was intended for his associate, Michael Ray Fortuna. Napier told investigators that he mailed the package containing the Oxycodone and expected to be paid once the pills were sold.

Napier also told investigators that he obtained Oxycodone pills from a source of supply located in Florida beginning in April 2011.

Fortuna, 45, plead guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone. Fortuna faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 19th.

New Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge opens Friday

Residents of Nitro and St. Albans will get their first opportunity to try out the new Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge Thursday night before traffic does.

A “Walk The Bridge Party” is scheduled from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Residents will be able to walk the new bridge for the first time.

The Nitro and St. Albans historical societies have many activities planned for the party including a “trunk or treats”, since it is Halloween night.

“We’re going to have three or four cars with their trunks open with lots of treats in them and I believe we’re also going to have a couple vendors serving some food,” said Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt.

Those vehicles will be provided by the Nitro Antique Auto Club. Similar events will be taking place on the St. Albans side as well.

“We have quite a few people talking about coming and of course it’s going to be depending on the weather but hopefully the weather will cooperate and we’ll have a great event,” said Casebolt.

But the big day will be Friday when the new bridge will officially be opened to traffic after a special ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the center of the new bridge.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox, and other state, federal, and local leaders are expected to be on hand for the event, which is expected to last for about an hour.

The completion of the new bridge comes three weeks ahead of schedule. The bridge was closed for less than ten months, mainly due to the fact the contractor was able to reinforce and strengthen the existing piers while traffic continued to use the old bridge.

St. Albans Mayor Dick Callaway said the St. Albans-Nitro Bridge has evolved quite a bit since it was first built.

“The bridge was constructed by the City of St. Albans and it was a toll bridge that you had to pay to go to and from the two cities,” he said.

The new bridge features three 12-foot-wide travel lanes and an early turning lane on either end. It also has 6-foot-wide shoulders and 5-foot-wide sidewalks. This is much larger than the old bridge that had a two-lane system with 9-foot-wide lanes and a sidewalk between trusses.

Casebolt said the completion of the bridge is a day many were looking forward to.

“I am very excited and I know the business owners are very excited too,” he said. “They have really taken a pounding during this time on their loss revenue.”

Foot traffic will be allowed on the bridge Thursday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Then on Friday, the bridge will officially be opened after the conclusion of a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

Bands from Nitro and St. Albans high schools will perform during the ceremony. State and local officials are expected to give a couple comments during the ceremony.

WV adds more states to conceal carry agreements

WINFIELD, W.Va. – West Virginians with concealed handgun permits can now add New Hampshire and Iowa to the states that have reciprocity/mutual recognition agreements with West Virginia.

State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced the change on Wednesday alongside Putnam County Sheriff Steve Deweese at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in Winfield.

“West Virginia now has reciprocity agreements, or recognition, from 36 states. That’s significant,” said Morrisey.

Sheriff Deweese said he used to get calls all the time from West Virginians heading out of state wondering what they needed to do with their firearms when they entered a non-reciprocity state.

“They need to stop before getting to the state line and put all their ammo separate from their weapon into the trunk,” explained Deweese.

He doesn’t get those calls as much anymore now that more state’s have agreements with West Virginia.

In just the past few months Morrisey has also added Georgia, Colorado and Idaho to the list of states with CHL agreements with West Virginia. The only neighboring state without an agreement with West Virginia is Maryland. In fact, the bulk of states with no agreements with West Virginia are in the northeast.

Morrisey hopes to work with other attorneys general to come up with agreements in the future. He said it’s an American’s Second Amendment right to carry a gun and that should apply anywhere you go.

Court dates set in death cases

Two teenagers charged in separate death-related cases in West Virginia have new court appearances scheduled.

Joseph Spencer, 17, of West Union, is due in court for a pretrial hearing Jan. 3, 2014. He’s been charged in the Labor Day 2012 shooting deaths of his father, mother and sister.

Spencer, whose case has been transferred to adult status, is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 6, 2014.

In a separate case, a grand jury meeting this week in Randolph County indicted Cole Edmond on charges of DUI causing death.

Edmond, 19, of Dailey, was allegedly driving drunk on June 20 when he lost control of his car on U.S. Route 219 near Tygarts Valley High School. A passenger, 15-year-old Bo Hornick, of Mill Creek, was killed in the accident.

Edmond will be arraigned on the charges Nov. 6.

Decomposing remains found in Raleigh County

An investigation is underway after a decomposing body was discovered in Raleigh County Wednesday day afternoon.

The discovery was made near an abandoned house in Harper Heights on Old Turnpike Road near Beckley. Dispatchers said the remains were reported around 3:30 p.m.

Raleigh County deputies said two people found the decomposing remains in what appeared to be a shallow grave.

Both the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call.

Both agencies were working with a specialist to determine the body’s identity.

No other details are being released at this time.

Lincoln County Man Charged with Incest

A man has been charged with incest in a sexual abuse case involving a young girl.

Andrew McReynolds, 38, is accused of performing sexual acts on a young girl several times between August and this month.

The alleged abuse was discovered after the girl told friends at school, and her parents found love letters she had written to McReynolds.

According to the criminal complaint, McReynolds confessed to the allegations. 

Plea hearings set for two former Mingo officials

Plea hearings have been scheduled in U.S. District Court for two former Mingo County elected officials.

Former Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Sparks will enter a plea on Monday, Nov. 18 to a charge of violating a man’s Constitutional rights.

According to the court filing, Sparks allegedly participated in a conspiracy with other Mingo County officials to thwart a federal investigation into late Mingo County Sheriff Eugene Crum.

A plea hearing for former Mingo County Magistrate Dallas Toler was scheduled for Monday, Dec. 2.  Toler is accused of voter fraud for allegedly registering a known convicted felon to vote.

Toler and Sparks, who have both resigned since being named in federal information filings, are the latest to be charged as a result of the federal corruption investigation focused on Mingo County.

That investigation has already lead to guilty pleas and resignations from former Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury and former Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden.

Potential flood insurance rate hike delayed

Members of the Kanawha County Commission are relieved that a potential skyrocketing of flood insurance rates in the county as well as across West Virginia has been delayed for now.

“This is very serious and we are glad that they’ve looked at it,” said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill Monday reached a bipartisan deal to delay the implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act for four years.

Congress had passed the act last year in an effort to stabilize the National Flood Insurance Program, which is drowning in debt to the tune of $25 billion.

The law would do away with flood insurance subsidies, but an unintended consequence to that was the price for homeowners’ flood insurance policies going through the roof.

The new legislation passed Monday calls for a four-year delay in most rate increases and requires FEMA to complete an affordability study and propose regulations that address affordability issues.

If a delay was not enacted, not only West Virginians, but thousands of people across the country would have seen substantial increases in their flood insurance rates.

Healthnet Purchases Two New Helicopters

The EC-130 aircraft will fly primarily in support of Charleston Area Medical Center. The EC-135 aircraft will fly primarily in support of West Virginia University.

"When these two aircraft enter service in the first quarter of 2014 our average fleet age will be 2.5 years. That is unmatched in the critical care transport industry for a program our size," said Clinton Burley, President and CEO of HealthNet Aeromedical Services.

HealthNet is a not-for-profit critical care transport system operated cooperatively by Charleston Area Medical Center, Cabell Huntington Hospital, and WVU Healthcare.

WVSP Collecting Coats and Boots for Children

West Virginia State Police are working to make sure children stay warm this winter.

Detachments in six different counties in southern West Virginia will be having a coat drive now through December 3rd.

Troopers say they are looking for new or slightly used coats and boots. If used, they ask that they are clean and in good condition.

The items can be dropped off at any state police detachment in Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Cabell and Wayne Counties.

Troopers also say anyone who knows of a child in need, to give them a call and they will make sure that child gets a coat and/or boots.

West Virginians to join rally for energy jobs in Washington, D.C.

West Virginia energy workers and their supporters will be among the thousands of people who are expected on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. this morning for the national “Rally For American Energy Jobs.”

Among those making the trip is Tim McLean, vice president of operations for Walker Machinery in Kanawha County, who said what happens in the coal industry directly affects his company.

“Our company, historically, which is going to be 60 years old this year, we have gone as well as the industry goes,” said McLean.  “When it’s going well, we do well and, when the coal industry is not doing well, we suffer from that, as well as all people in West Virginia.”

He said Walker Machinery is doing “okay,” in today’s current coal climate with challenges from the natural gas industry and the Environmental Protection Agency, but could be doing better.

Today’s “Rally for American Energy Jobs” is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the west side of the U.S. Capitol.

Funeral Tuesday for teen killed in big rig accident

Autym Wolfe, the 17-year-old Moorefield High School senior who was killed in an accident involving two tractor trailers on Route 220, will be laid to rest Tuesday.

Moorefield High Principal Avery Anderson said word of Friday’s crash has been difficult to process for the student body and staff.

“On Friday and again [Monday], we had counselors from other schools in the county be able to come and help the grieving students,” explained Anderson. “We also called the Ministerial Association to be able to come and give guidance.”

Wolfe was driving on Route 220 near her hometown of Purgitsville when her car was sideswiped by a big rig. State police said her vehicle spun around and was then hit by a second tractor trailer. She was killed instantly and investigators said she was not wearing her seat belt.

Wolfe’s viewing is set for Monday from 2-8 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home at the Burlington Chapel.  Her funeral will be held Tuesday at Old Fields Baptist Church at 11 a.m.

Consol to sell five West Virginia coal mines

Consol Energy, in a move to shift focus toward natural gas production, will sell five of its longwall coal mines in West Virginia to a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corporation based in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

The $3.5 billion sale was announced Monday morning.

The Consol mines that will be sold are McElroy Mine, Shoemaker Mine, Robinson Run Mine, Loveridge Mine and Blacksville No. 2 Mine.  The mines combined to produce 28.5 million tons of coal in 2012.

“The sale of these five mines, assets that have long contributed to America’s economic strength and our company’s legacy, was a very difficult decision for our team,” said J. Brett Harvey, Consol’s chairman and CEO.

Consol’s River and Dock Operations are also included in the transaction.

During a conference call with shareholders Monday, Harvey and other company officials said Consol would reinvest in its natural gas operations in the Mountain State. “We have a sizeable Marcellus shale footprint in West Virginia which will take a significant amount of labor and capital to develop,” said Harvey.

Consol officials said the goal was to close the deal with Murray Energy, which is subject to a number of conditions, before the end of the year.

Concerns raised at first community meeting in Wayne County

A proposed school reconfiguration plan in Wayne County to some heat during its first community meeting Monday night in Kenova. 

Hundreds of parents, teachers and community members packed the Ceredo-Kenova Wonderdome for the meeting as over 25 speakers voiced their concerns on the plan.

The questions and comments varied from person to person, but the overwhelming message by those in attendance was that the plan proposed by the Wayne County Board of Education did not sit well with them.

The plan would close Kenova Elementary and Ceredo-Kenova Middle School at the end of the school year.
Then students from Ceredo and Kenova elementary schools and Ceredo-Kenova Middle School would be dispersed to other facilities based upon their grade levels.

Parents were concerned about having their kids dispersed to other schools that they were not familiar with and also simply with the idea of having to shutdown two schools. There was also some concerns about how the plan came to light last week.

The majority of the comments were, however, in favor of a proposed bond election in May that would have taxpayers contributing $16.2 million. As part of the bond, the West Virginia School Building Authority would match that $16.2 million contribution.

The funding would be enough to build a new Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School and a PreK-8 in Crum as well as add classrooms at Wayne High School to get rid of the modular classes.

At the close of the meeting, Wayne County Superintendent Lynn Hurt established a committee that will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kenova Elementary. The committee will be made up of residents of Ceredo and Kenova, and the members will be selected by the principals at the Ceredo and Kenova elementary schools and Ceredo-Kenova Middle.

The plan is for each school to have a committee of five people, a principal, a teacher, a service employee, a parent and a member of the community.

Those committees will take a closer look at the proposed plan and then be able to come up with their own suggestions to modify the current plan and make it better.

Whatever plan the committee agrees upon will go before the Wayne County School Board for consideration and a vote. If approved, the plan will be submitted by school officials to the SBA before December 2.

A second community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night at 6 p.m. for Ceredo-Kenova Middle School in the school’s gymnasium.

Manchin says hydrocodone change significant

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said Friday the rescheduling of hydrocodone combination drugs will help shut the door on prescription drug abuse.

Manchin is hailing the decision by the federal Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services to make hydrocodone painkillers, like Vicodin and Lortab, Schedule II drugs instead of Schedule III.

Sen. Manchin told reporters during a conference call Friday the change will reduce the number of prescriptions doctors can write in many cases. Currently doctors can write 6-month prescriptions for the painkillers, the change will reduce that to only a 30-day prescription or up to 90-days for those with chronic pain.

Manchin said it will force doctors to communicate more with patients.

“They’re going to have to be more involved and if a person calls back and says ‘Hey Doc, I need you to give me another 30-day prescription,’ and he says, “Wait a minute I gave you 30 days, I gave you 90 pills, that should have more than cured you or taken care of your pain. You have something else wrong, you better get back in here.’ That’s what they (doctors) should be doing. Do your job,” Manchin said.

Under Schedule III doctors have been able to write 6-month prescriptions, which could be up to 500 pills. Sen. Manchin said that invites addiction and abuse.

“You’re addicted by then if you’re using them. If not, you’re selling them or if not, the grand kids are grabbing them and experimenting with them,” Manchin said. “Something is going wrong because we’ve had an explosion that basically has to have some control to it.”

Manchin first began pushing for the rescheduling back in Jan. He said the drug lobby was strong but finally he was told of the change this week. He said the change should also help police identify the abusers, both doctors and patients.

“So we can go after some first-class prosecutions, those people who are abusing it,” he said.

Manchin said HHS is expected to pass along the recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which will immediately begin the reclassification process.

Thousands of Pills Taken From Harm’s Way

Thousands of pounds of prescription drugs were handed in Saturday as part of National Drug Take Back day.

People could pass in pills from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that were unwanted, unused, or unnecessary.

It was all in an effort to keep those drugs from getting into the wrong hands.

At one location in South Charleston, the number of pills handed in was less than in previous years. An officer at the West Virginia Police Post said that's because many drugs have been handed over in previous years.

Ashland, Kentucky police collected more than 100 pounds of drugs Saturday.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says Ohio residents have turned in more than 8,600 pounds of prescriptions at local drop boxes throughout the past year. That's in addition to the amount collected Saturday.

Nationally, almost three million pounds have been collected in the event's six year history.

All of the pills turned in will be collected by the Drug Enforcement Administration. They will destroy them in the coming days and weeks.

Coal rally set for this week on Capitol Hill

More than a dozen busloads of West Virginians will be heading to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday for the national “Rally For American Energy Jobs” on Capitol Hill.

Organizers with “Count on Coal” said members of Congress, American energy and manufacturing workers from across the United States and citizens who want affordable domestic energy are expected to attend.

“Everyone’s frustrated.  They feel helpless in the sense of everything that’s coming their way from this Administration,” said West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney.

However, he admitted those in the Obama Administration, including officials with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, may not be willing to listen.

“You just never know, but you certainly won’t know until you go try.  We’ve got to see what kind of voice they will listen to up there,” said Raney.

Those with the EPA are currently traveling the U.S. with President Barack Obama’s proposed Climate Action Plan for a series of listening sessions.  The agency has been criticized for scheduling those public meetings in large cities and skipping the areas where coal is produced.

Earlier this year, the EPA released its proposed new rules limiting carbon emissions from new coal-fired power plants and is currently taking public comments on those possible regulations.

Emissions regulations for existing coal-fired power plants are scheduled to be released next summer.

The “Rally For American Energy Jobs” is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on the U.S. Capitol’s west side.

State crime researchers gain high honor

There’s a behind-the-scenes group of state workers that recently swept a number of national awards.

West Virginia’s Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center won all 3 awards from the Justice Research and Statistics Association.

“That’s actually quite remarkable,” West Virginia SAC Director Dr. Steve Haas said. “It’s the first time that I’m aware of that a statistical analysis center has been recognized to win all of the awards in a single year.”

The West Virginia SAC has fewer than a dozen workers but the information the group churns out is used prominently in crime fighting and public safety.

“We fill that gap between what data tells us and what science and what the field tells us is best practice and what we’re actually doing in making data driven decisions for policies in the state,” Haas said.

For example, the SAC will be heavily used as part of the new state law aimed at reducing prison overcrowding in West Virginia. Haas said the unit will be the “hub of the changes” assessing the quality of the programs.

One of the national awards the unit won had to do with a crime reporting study that Haas believes will help West Virginia and other states be more accurate in the reporting of crime.

“We compared our methods to the FBI’s methods and we found our methods showed more promise for being more accurate in helping us being able to stabilize our current crime trends,” Haas said.

Other awards came in the area of technical innovation and the SAC’s website. Dr. Haas was also chosen as the national organization’s new president. He said none of the honors would be possible without the state support and a quality staff.

“We’re thankful for the support we’re given by the Division of Justice and Community Service but also the staff,” Haas said that staff is made up by “good quality people who care about the work they do.”

Haas said statistic analysis centers in other states are based on university campuses or in larger cities with larger staffs.

Hatfield/McCoy Trail: No room at the inn

Thirteen years after the first trail opened to the public, the Hatfield-McCoy trail system is growing by leaps and bounds. But one issue is holding things back

“Our annual permit sales are up this year 13 percent compared to last year and, with 81 percent of our riders being non-West Virginia residents, we’re really seeing a nice boost in tourism,” according to Jeff Lusk, the executive director of the trail system.

It’s now the largest managed trail system in the eastern U.S. and contains 600 miles of trails that connect to 11 incorporated towns. This year more than 35,000 ATV and UTV enthusiasts traveled the trails. There’s just one thing missing.

“The biggest, single challenge we have is we just do not have enough lodging right now along the trail system to accommodate the number of riders that want to come and visit our project,” stressed Lusk.

Currently there are 44 lodging providers that have opened up shop since 2000. That adds up to 1,000 beds. Unfortunately, according to Lusk, that’s still not enough.

“If you look at Gilbert you’ve got 13 lodging providers in or around the Gilbert area,” said Lusk. “If you go to Mullens, you don’t have any. And they are both connected to the trail system.”

He said Gilbert is reaping the benefits. Mullens is not.

“It’s just opportunity lost! I think that’s why we’re only up 13 percent and not 25 percent,” said Lusk.

He believes, if all the trail communities had lodging, the sky would be the limit for the trail system. However, he said, just like vacationing at the beach, if you can’t find a place to stay near the water, there’s no reason to go.

“If we don’t get more entrepreneurs to step up and build more lodging infrastructure, our growth is eventually going to level off,” stressed Lusk.

He says when the trail system first opened, it was mostly men coming out for a weekend ride. But now 30 percent of permit holders are women. Lusk said that’s two very different demographics.

“Men will endure a campsite or something more primitive. But when you go on your family vacation, you’re really looking for more higher end lodging,” stressed Lusk. “You’re looking for turn down service, you’re looking for cabins, you’re looking for amenities. It’s really raised the bar for our entrepreneurs because the product our customers are looking for is much more sophisticated and much more costly to develop.”

Lusk used Bramwell as an example. He says it’s a tiny town but the community now has three lodging options since the trail system opened. All three are ready to expand.

He believes the same success story could apply to communities like Mullins.

As for the future, four new trails are planned. The trail heads will be in Matewan, War, Oceana and East Lynn Lake.

Parents to discuss Wayne County school reconfiguration plan

The details of a proposed school reconfiguration plan in Wayne County will be unveiled to parents Monday night in Kenova.

The first of multiple community meetings will be held at 6 p.m. Monday for the Ceredo and Kenova elementary communities. Wayne County Superintendent Lynn Hurt said these meetings are intended to eliminate rumors and inform the public.

“We will answer as many questions as we can and listen to their concerns and see if there is anything that we can do to alleviate any concerns they may have,” she said.

The current proposal up for discussion would close Kenova Elementary and Ceredo-Kenova Middle School at the end of the school year.  

Ceredo-Kenova Middle students will be split up and sent to either Buffalo or Vinson Middle Schools. Then Ceredo-Kenova Middle will become the new home for Ceredo and Kenova Elementary students in second, third, fourth and fifth grades.

Ceredo Elementary would then house Pre-K, kindergarten and first graders from both Ceredo and Kenova.

Initial reactions to the plan, which was first announced last week, were mixed as parents tried to take in the news. Hurt said it was not easy coming up with this proposal.

“It’s hard to watch people hurt but I have to look at the bigger picture, we have to look at the bigger picture and include everyone and do what we can for as many kids as we can,” Hurt said.

There is also a second part to the proposal that involves another bond election on the May Primary in 2014. It asks voters to contribute $16.2 million to match $6 million from the general fund and $16.2 million from the West Virginia School Building Authority. The $6 million local contribution would come over a four-year period.

This proposed bond is less than half of what was asked for and rejected by voters in December and only includes the most immediate needs of the schools system.

It would be enough to build a new Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School and a PreK-8 in Crum as well as add classrooms at Wayne High School to get rid of the modular classes.

Hurt said they believe this plan is the best option they have to address the present needs.

“We don’t want to not include both of the schools and the high schools in need and we feel like by doing this we can get everybody on board,” she said.

The proposal still must be approved by the Wayne County Board of Education.

Monday night’s meeting will be held at the Wonderdome beside Kenova Elementary. Another community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night at 6 p.m. for Ceredo-Kenova Middle School in the school’s gymnasium.

Meetings also will be scheduled with the Buffalo, Vinson, Crum and Wayne communities in the coming weeks. 

Study: Many young people in West Virginia are doing nothing

One in five West Virginians between the ages of 16 and 24 are not going to school and they’re not working.

That’s according to a new report from the Opportunity Nation Coalition which showed, nationally, 15 percent of people in that age group are not on the job or in class.

It cost taxpayers an estimated $93 billion last year in lost revenues and increased social services.

Russell Krumnow, managing director for Opportunity Nation, said such inactivity affects everyone.

“We know if young people don’t get on the career ladder early, don’t get skills, don’t start building social networks and communities that they can benefit from, it depresses their lifetime earnings and, as a result, harms their communities and the larger economy,” said Krumnow.

The rate of young people out of school and out of work is one of the factors Opportunity Nation, a bipartisan nonprofit group made up of 250 organizations, used to determine West Virginia’s opportunity score.

The state’s score is one of the lowest in the United States at just less than 45 percent.

Other factors considered include the number of people living below the poverty line, Internet access, college graduation rates, income equality and public safety.

“Communities really matter and that’s what the data and the Opportunity Index tells us,” said Krumnow on Thursday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”  “Where you live makes a difference and, for way too many Americans, the zip code you’re born into often determines how high you can climb.”

Much of West Virginia is in the lower opportunity category.

The individual counties in West Virginia with the highest individual opportunity scores include Putnam, Wetzel, Monongalia, Pocahontas and Jefferson.  Even in those counties, though, the scores hover around the national average of almost 51 percent.

Red Cross stresses fire safety

Some simple reminders could save your life. The Red Cross wants all homeowners to follow the rules of the kitchen to avoid stove and oven fires.

“Kitchen fires are the leading cause of fire related injuries in the state. Two out of every 5 fires in the state are related to kitchen fires,” according to John Bernard, the Red Cross Regional Disaster Program Officer.

Bernard said for your safety and the safety of those in your house, you need to be clear headed in the kitchen.

“If you’re cooking in the kitchen, you need to stay in the kitchen. If you’re going to baking something, use a timer,” stressed Bernard. “If there are kids in the house, don’t let them be in the kitchen without you.”

October is Fire Prevention Safety month. C.W. Sigman, the deputy emergency manager in Kanawha County, set up a simulated kitchen fire outside the Red Cross office Thursday to show the danger of grease fires.

With a natural gas hot plate and a small skillet of grease, Sigman was able to recreate a sizable fireball just by adding a few drops of water into the skillet.

Most kitchen fires in West Virginia don’t end in a fatality. Sigman said that’s because people are awake when they’re preparing food. But Bernard stressed it can still be a disaster.

“Even if everybody makes it out alive, you don’t have a roof over your head. You don’t have a place to sleep. You don’t have the right clothes,” explained Bernard.

For more information on fire safety, log on to www.redcrosswv.org.

Man found guilty of leaving child in hot car while shoplifting

The man who was accused of leaving a boy alone in a hot car while he went shoplifting with the child’s mother has been found guilty .

A jury Thursday found Stephen Clemens guilty of child neglect and entering without breaking.

The incident took place in the parking lot of Kohl’s at the Highlands back in July.

Police said Clemens took his girlfriend’s 9-year-old son to a hot car after the child was being fussy in the store. While the boy was in the car, Clemens and his girlfriend, Jeanette Darnley, shoplifted in the store.

Darnley entered an Alford Plea on a charge of child neglect on October 18. The plea means she did not admit guilt but recognized prosecutors have enough evidence to convict her.

Darnley faces up to 5 years behind bars when sentenced. Clemens faces one to five years in jail on the child neglect conviction, and one to 10 years for entering without breaking.

Mike Huckabee making a stop in Charleston

Hundreds of people are expected to be in Charleston Friday when former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee makes a visit.

Huckabee is the featured guest for the West Virginia Republican Party’s Fall Freedom Dinner. Around 400 people are expected to attend.

In a release, West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas said they are thrilled to have Huckabee has their guest.

“Governor Huckabee is a proven leader in the Republican Party with a strong following in West Virginia,” Lucas stated in the release. “It is an honor for the West Virginia Republican Party to have him join us for this special event.”

The dinner will take place at the Charleston Marriott in downtown. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner to follow at 7 p.m.

2 West Virginia coal mines on MSHA’s POV list

Two mining operations in southern West Virginia have been placed on notice by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration for showing a pattern of violations.

MSHA chief Joe Main said Thursday Brody Mining LLC’s Brody Mine No. 1 in Boone County and Pocahontas Coal Company’s Affinity Mine in Raleigh County have demonstrated a disregard for the health and safety of miners through a pattern of significant and substantial violations. (S&S violations)

MSHA’S POV notice is given to the mines that pose the greatest risk to safety. When S&S violations are issued the mine is required to withdraw, which basically shuts down operations.

“MSHA’s new POV rule, which we will vigorously enforce, enhances protections for miners and shifts the responsibility for monitoring compliance and taking action to prevent POV enforcement actions to the operator,” Main said in an agency news release.

The Brody No. 1 Mine received 253 S&S violations from MSHA. It had nearly 1,800 lost work days. MSHA said Brody failed to report some of those injuries to the agency.

The Affinity Mine received 124 S&S violations. MSHA said there was a high negligence or reckless disregard for the health and safety of miners. Affinity received 35 closure orders during the review period.

Tram Energy LLC’s Mine No. 1 in Floyd County, Ky., is the third mine on MSHA’s POV list.

MSHA revised its POV rule earlier this year. The three mines named were the first under the new screening provisions.

Thousands of state residents still waiting for exchange problems to be fixed

The executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care says it’s past time for problems with the health insurance enrollment process, through the federal exchanges, to be fixed.

“It’s taken far, far too long to resolve these glitches and it needs to happen sooner rather than later,” said Perry Bryant. A supporter of the Affordable Care Act, he is critical of how the enrollment process has gone since its launch on Oct. 1.

“It is a failure on the healthcare.gov website and it needs to be resolved to allow people to go on, see what their choices are and let let them think about those choices and come back and make a decision at some point,” he said.

As of now, federal officials are not releasing details about how many people have successfully enrolled for subsidized health care coverage through the federal exchanges, including the exchange in West Virginia that offers plans from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.  Over the past more than three weeks, the process has been described as “clunky” and “inoperable.”

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is scheduled to testify next week on Capitol Hill about the many problems with the enrollment launch.

Sebelius told CNN this week President Barack Obama did not know of the problems with the ACA website, including the fact that the site crashed on a test run, until after its launch at the start of October.

In contrast, Bryant said enrollment in the Medicaid expansion in West Virginia has gone much smoother with an estimated 50,000 state residents enrolling automatically, so far, after being notified by the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

“We’re a national leader in this,” he said.  “We’re doing exceptionally well.”

Bryant, though, is critical of another state agency, the state Offices of the Insurance Commissioner.  He said 270 people were supposed to be hired with federal money to help residents, across West Virginia, personally work through their health care coverage options.  At this point, he said only 80 are in the field.

The enrollment period continues through March 31.

As far as the enrollment website, Sebelius said a team of high tech experts, lead by Jeff Zients, a former CEO and acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, has now been tasked with fixing the problems with healthcare.gov.

West Virginia is one of more than 30 states utilizing the federally run exchanges.  In 16 states, state-run exchanges are reporting more success in enrolling people who do not currently have health insurance.

Bryant said a “window of opportunity” is closing with every day that passes without an efficient enrollment system.  “They need to get the website fixed and be able to let people see what their options are and make a choice, an informed decision, and the sooner the better,” he said.

West Virginia sees improving high school graduation rates

West Virginia’s high school graduation rates have improved over the past five years.

According to new state Department of Education figures, the rates have jumped 8.5 percent since the fall of 2008.

In the 2012-13 school year, data shows that 79.3 percent of high school seniors graduated. That number is up from 2008-09 numbers of 70.8 percent.

The improving numbers is being credited to retention and alternative education programs in schools, as well as an anti-truancy initiative the state Supreme Court started last year.

Supreme Court Justice Robin Davis applauded circuit court judges Wednesday for upholding the program that holds families accountable when kids miss too much time from school. 

2 Men Arrested On Meth Charges in Lincoln County, W.Va.

Two men were arrested Wednesday evening in Lincoln County after deputies found several meth labs, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department says.

Philip Justice is identified as one of the men arrested. Deputies said they found him with two active labs and three inactive labs in Little Harts Creek, W.Va. One lab had just begun cooking.

In another meth-related case, Joshua Holley was arrested. Deputies say he was cooking meth and disposing the materials in an open dump.

Both tips came through an anonymous tip line. 

Unemployment trust fund down but still solvent

The fund that finances unemployment benefits in West Virginia has dropped about $14 million in the last year but state lawmakers were told Wednesday the fund remains stable.

Russell Fry, acting executive director of WorkForce West Virginia, told members of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance the state Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund was at about $133 million this time last year but it would likely be closer to $121 million at the end of Oct.

“We’re worse than we were a year ago but better than we were 2 years ago,” Fry said.

The trust fund ended 2010 at $76 million coming off the recession.

West Virginia, unlike many other states, has been able to keep its trust fund solvent. Many states had to borrow money during the recession to cover unemployment and that’s now being paid back with a special fee.

The trust fund hit a low mark this year of $61 million back in March but the balance had grown to $135 million by August.

Fry told lawmakers the trust fund balance relies on two factors.

“How many individuals are actually working and paying into the trust fund is just as important as how many are drawing from the trust fund,” he said.

The latest unemployment rate in West Virginia was at 6.2 percent.

NTSB Delays Final Report on Sissonville Pipeline Blast

The National Transportation Safety Board has delayed release of the final report on a massive natural gas line explosion last year in Sissonville.

It happened last September. The blast destroyed several homes and damaged a section of Interstate 77.

The report was expected to be released by Dec. 3. The NTSB says that won't happen, though, because many of its investigators were furloughed during the recent government shutdown.

There is no word on when the report will be released.