Williamson Arrest

An arrest was made in the City of Williamson.

Williamson City Police Officer Josh Tincher arrested Samuel Little, 53, of Belfry on Wednesday morning.


His charges were defective equipment and a DUI.

Could West Virginia's Maze of Underground Wells Connect, Interact?

There are hundreds of thousands of oil, gas and water wells in West Virginia. How likely are they to cause problems for each other?


In West Virginia's natural gas boom, a potential concern is what might happen when the maze of underground wells intersect. There have been documented cases of deep Marcellus drilling and high-pressure fracking connecting with older wells.


Jim O'Reilly is an expert in regulation and liability. He says given the hundreds of thousands of wells, it's likely there are more problems no one knows about, that could be more frequent in the future. O'Reilly says a lot depends on the stability of underground concrete well casings. He adds, "Anyone that's walked on a crumbling sidewalk realizes that concrete has a life. It may be a matter of a year, it may be several years - but inevitably, the concrete in the wells will fail."


According to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, the industry has drilled more that 150,000 oil and gas wells in the state. The industry and state regulators contend that a properly constructed well casing should keep the pressure from Marcellus wells from traveling along natural cracks in rocks and connecting with other wells.

Flu widespread in West Virginia; health officials expect rough season

Many West Virginians were sick during the Christmas holiday with the flu and state health officials predict its going to be a rough flu season in the Mountain State.

West Virginia Influenza Coordinator Shannon McBee, with the state Bureau of Public Health, said Tuesday there is widespread flu activity in the state, the earliest it’s been this bad in five years.

“The percentage of flu cases has risen from 1.7 to 6.4 percent (in the past week). And these are levels that we saw during the 2009 Pandemic, so it’s going to be a rough flu season unfortunately,” McBee said.

The Bureau of Public Health surveys 70 doctors weekly to gather the number of patients that have been seen for the flu. McBee said there was a major spike during the past week. She said the flu usually doesn’t begin until January in West Virginia.

West Virginia was one of 22 states to report widespread activity from the past week to the Centers for Disease Control.

McBee said there a few things residents should do to keep from getting the flu.

“Make sure you are washing your hands everyday, covering your cough and sneezes and if you do become sick it’s really important that you stay home, that you don’t send kids to school and you stay at home from work that day,” she said.

Flu symptoms include cold chills, body aches, fever, cough and/or a sore throat

Murder suspect arrested in Logan County, West Virginia

The man suspected of shooting and killing a woman and critically injuring her son in Kanawha County has been caught in Logan County.

According to Logan County dispatchers, a Logan County deputy spotted the suspects white 2001 Chevrolet Tracker along 119 Tuesday morning and pulled him over.

Glenn Skidmore is suspected of Shooting a mother and son in Mink Shoals on Monday Night. 

The mother was killed and her son is in critical condition.

Governor Tomblin announces the elimination of the Business Franchise Tax

After 27 years, West Virginia will no longer implement its Business Franchise Tax

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced Tuesday the Business Franchise Tax will be eliminated effective Jan. 1, 2015. The move is being referred to as the latest step in a series of reductions attempting to improve West Virginia’s business climate and lead to new investments across the state.

“The Business Franchise Tax, created in 1987, was one of the taxes that made it difficult for West Virginia to compete for new and expanding businesses,” Tomblin said. “Coupled with the reduction in the Corporate Net Income Tax and the dramatic decrease in workers’ compensation rates, these changes have helped our state secure additional investments and will continue to pay dividends now and for years to come.”

West Virginia’s Corporate Net Income Tax –now 6.5 percent– is competitive nationally and lower than those found in multiple surrounding states. In addition, the Tax Foundation rated West Virginia 21st nationally for 2015, which is up from the state’s No. 47 ranking in 2004, and higher than any neighboring state.

“I appreciate the hard work of then-Governor Joe Manchin and members of the West Virginia Legislature as we worked together to enact responsible reductions in our state’s business taxes,” Tomblin said. “We already have seen many benefits from these changes, and I’m confident our state’s economy and business climate will continue to grow far into the future.”

City of Williamson Arrest

        The Williamson City Police made an arrest Tuesday morning.


        Williamson City Police Officer Josh Tincher arrested Nelson Richard Hall,24, of Lenore, with one felony and 10 misdemeanors.


        His charges include: left of center, defective equipment, no proof of insurance, assaulting an officer, officer battery, obstruction, fleeing on foot, possession with an infant, destruction of property, DUI and disorderly conduct.

Three Senior Deputies Leaving W.Va. AG’s Office

The West Virginia Attorney General's Office has lost three top staff members to the Legislature.

The Associated Press reports senior deputy attorney general Marty Wright has accepted a job as the House Judiciary Committee's head lawyer.

Senior deputy attorney general Richie Heath is now chief counsel to incoming Senate President Bill Cole.

Senior deputy attorney general Tracy Webb has accepted a job as head lawyer of the House Government Organization Committee.

The positions came open after Republicans won control of the Legislature for the first time in more than eight decades.

Little Jimmy Dickens hospitalized

West Virginia native and Grand Ole Opry legend Little Jimmy Dickens is in critical condition at a Nashville-area hospital. The cause of his medical problem hasn’t been released.

Dickens, a native of Bolt in Raleigh County, was hospitalized on Christmas Day, less than a week after his 94th birthday Dec. 19. The birthday was celebrated at the Opry during its Dec. 20 show.

The 4-foot-11 Dickens is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. He first began appearing on the Grand Ole Opry in 1948.

Marshall University names White interim president

The Marshall University Board of Governors named Logan County native Gary White to the role of interim president.

After the death of the university’s 36th president Stephen Kopp, the board’s executive committee examined potential candidates, and on Monday unanimous recommended White during a special meeting.

A Marshall graduate, White served as vice president of the state Board of Education, was appointed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and has served on the University of Pikeville board of trustees.

The BOG also took into account White’s time serving as president and CEO of International Industries, Inc., based in Gilbert.

White’s tenure will begin effective Jan. 1 and will last until a permanent replacement is found. In previous meetings, the BOG indicated the candidate for the interim position and the permanent replacement would be two separate individuals.

As part of his appointment, White will step down from his position on the Higher Education Policy Commission. Governor Tomblin issued a statement after Monday’s announcement.

W.Va. Authority Approves Rate Increase for Five Hospitals

(AP) - Five hospitals have received state approval to raise their rates.

The rate increases approved by the West Virginia Health Care Authority apply to nongovernmental patients paying with private insurance or out-out-pocket.

The Associated Press reports Logan Regional Medical Center's average rate will increase from $21,512 to $22,587.

Williamson Memorial Hospital's average rate will rise from $11,759 to $12,229.

The average rate at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center will increase from $13,486 to $14,320.

United Hospital Center received permission to increase its average rate from $21,133 to $21,916.

Raleigh General Hospital's average rate will increase from $23,333 to $24,476.

Tim Bostic, former coach and mayor, dies

Tim Bostic, a community leader who was well-known in Magoffin County and Pike County, died Sunday after suffering a heart attack. He was 69.

Bostic was from the Belfry community of Pike County but spent much of his life in Salyersville, serving two terms as mayor and running the town's newspaper, the Salyersville Independent.

Bostic is survived by his wife, Carol, nine children and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Magoffin County Funeral Home is handling the arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

Next House Speaker promises action on judicial reforms in New Year

The next Speaker of the state House of Delegates says the proposed judicial reforms the Legislature will take up in the New Year are designed to make West Virginia’s court system more fair.

Once the 2015 Regular Legislative Session opens two weeks from Wednesday, lawmakers are expected to see a series of bills, backed by groups like Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse and the Chamber of Commerce, aimed at different aspects of West Virginia’s civil justice system.

Those proposals could include an intermediate court of appeals or damage caps.

 “These are issues that we’ve talked about for several years and wanted to see progress on,” said Del. Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha,40), the leader of the new House Republican majority.

“It’s a fairness issue and, I think when we take that to the people of West Virginia, they will agree and they have already agreed and already urged us to take these steps.”

Earlier this month, the American Tort Reform Association ranked West Virginia #3 in its annual list of “judicial hellholes” nationwide.

Sen. Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 06), the next Senate President, has agreed with that assessment and is joining Armstead in promising that tort reform will be one of the GOP’s legislative priorities.

Those with the West Virginia Association of Justice, made up of the state’s trial lawyers, are pushing back and disputing what they’ve called “a false representation” of the state’s judicial system.

Armstead said West Virginia’s court system should be fair and predictable. “I’m not saying that everything is unfair about it, but there are certainly things that need to be changed,” he said.

The 2015 Regular Legislative Session begins at the State Capitol on Jan. 14.

WVU researcher: state’s population needs a shock

Population loss in West Virginia has been reported for the last two years according to John Deskins, the director of WVU’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. His prediction, after evaluating the numbers, is much of the same down the road.

Deskins said the state would lose around 19,500 people (1.05 percent) between 2010 and 2030.

In recent years, the population loss recorded in West Virginia has been slight, but there’s concern for a continued declining trend in population.

From July 2013 to July 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau reported West Virginia lost 3,269 people (0.2 percent). The year prior, from July 2012 to July 2013, the population loss was recorded as 2,376.

For West Virginia’s business outlook to improve, Deskins said the population in the state needs to be increasing instead of decreasing.

According to studies by the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research, over the last two years the population loss has been due to natural declines as well net out-migration.

Addressing business and population concerns will not take a single state-wide approach said Deskins.

“The state lines are drawn somewhat arbitrarily. What’s happening in one part of the state is completely different from what’s happening in other parts of the state,” said Deskins. “I think it’s crucial that policy makers recognize that that we tailor our economic development strategies to those very significant differences.”

Some areas – such as Morgantown and the eastern panhandle – are still growing healthily in population.

Board of Pharmacy alerting doctors of drug problems

Doctors who prescribe medicine are being urged to pay closer attention to the patients getting those prescriptions. A group affiliated with the state Board of Pharmacy is looking for red flags among doctors who show potential problems.

Letters were recently issued to a number of doctors, pharmacists, and others across the state about the two problems. One of the letters identified doctors who had an abnormally high number of patients who died as a result of prescription drug overdoses or other problems associated with medication.

The second letter is to advise doctors some of their patients might be doctor shopping and they were being used in the chain.

The monitoring program is a data base of every prescription written in West Virginia. It includes the patient’s name, the doctor who prescribed it, and the pharmacy which dispensed it. State Code requires all doctors to have access to the database, but only in a few narrow circumstances are they actually required to use it. 

New information in Mingo County, WV murder case

New information has been released regarding a Mingo County, WV murder case.

According to police, Roland Stafford’s alleged killer might be in Pike County, KY.

Kentucky State Police troopers say they have received tips indicating Stafford’s truck was seen in the Stopover area.

West Virginia State Police troopers found Stafford dead inside his home Monday and his red Ford Ranger pickup was missing.

The truck has a West Virginia tag 4TK 331.

Anyone with information is asked to call WVSP at 304-235-6000 or KSP at 606-433-7711.

Tomblin getting ready for legislative session

This is arguably the busiest time of the year for Gov. Earl Tomblin and his staff, as they get ready for the 60-day regular legislative session.

“We are in the mode. We are having lots of meetings with proposed legislation, agency legislation,” Tomblin said. “I wish I had it done. It’s a lot of work, but we’ll get it done.”

The governor will deliver his state of the state address Jan. 14 to open the session. Tomblin has been keeping a close eye on the state’s tax collection numbers, which have looked better in the past month.

“They are trending that way, we had a couple of bad months that kind of put us all on the bad foot for the first part of the fiscal year, but they are picking up,” the governor acknowledged.

State revenue numbers could be further enhanced with a strong holiday season. Some of those numbers should be available next week.

New legislative leaders know there’s a possible $200 million budget hole to address. Tomblin agreed the budget would once again be tight.

“We are not getting to set the world on fire (with revenue numbers) but it is better than it was two months ago,” he said.

2nd former executive wants prosecutor off chem spill case

Another former Freedom Industries executive wants U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin's office removed from prosecuting criminal charges in a chemical spill.

Ex-Freedom president and part-owner Dennis Farrell filed Tuesday's motion in Charleston federal court.

Farrell's lawyers claim Goodwin's office has a conflict of interest because its employees and their families were victims of the Jan. 9 chemical spill that left 300,000 residents without tap water for days. Another ex-Freedom president, Gary Southern, filed a similar motion.

Prosecutors responded Wednesday, saying a recusal would be against public interest and fly in the face of the law.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston scheduled a Jan. 5 hearing on the motion.

Southern, Farrell, the company itself and four other Freedom officials face pollution charges. Southern also faces fraud charges related to Freedom's bankruptcy case.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

General contractor faces fines from state DEP for violating Water Pollution Control Act

A general contractor based in Braxton County is facing punishment from the state Department of Environmental Protection for violating the Water Pollution Control Act at a site in Tucker County.

Breakaway, Inc. is believed to have discharged sediment into Deckers Creek near Bretz at a work site. This altered the creek enough to violate regulations, according to a Notice of Violation issued by the DEP

The company has agreed to pay over $8,000 in administrative penalties if further violations are found after the final settlement –which is subject to public comments, which will be received until Jan. 9 by the agency. If not, Breakaway will only pay the first $3,000 of the penalty.

According to the company’s website, Breakaway, Inc. offers “services in design/build, site work, utility and reclamation.”

PSC orders WVAWC to make more information public

The state Public Service Commission says West Virginia American Water Company is holding too much information back from the public in connection with how it responded to the Jan. 9 chemical spill in the Elk River in Charleston that touched off a water emergency in parts of 9 counties.

The PSC ordered the company Tuesday to produce more information no later than Friday, Jan. 16 at 4 pm.

The order said current documents submitted by the water utility were “significantly over-redacted.” The PSC said it previously cautioned the company to use “a light hand in redacting its documents.”

The PSC said in a Tuesday news release that “it is apparent that WVAWC ignored its warning and significantly over-redacted those documents.”

The PSC has agreed with West Virginia American Water that some information should be protected from public disclosure but the company has gone too far according to the agency.

Tuesday’s order is part of the PSC’s ongoing investigation into the water company’s response to the spill of thousands of gallons of MCHM from the Freedom Industries site just up river from West Virginia American’s Kanawha Valley Plant. The spill contaminated the tap water of some 300,000 residents.

The PSC is scheduled to conduct a hearing on the investigation in February. 

Workman to lead high court in 2015

State Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman will serve as chief justice in 2015. It will be Workman’s fourth stint in that position. Workman was chief justice in 1993, 1997 and 2011.

Justices often rotate the duties of the chief justice. Workman takes the place of Justice Robin Davis who served this year.

Update: Wayne County Murder

The two men charged in what investigators say was a deadly home invasion robbery over drugs have waived their cases to a grand jury.

William Robert Messer, 31, of Kermit, and Shane Robert Marcum, 24, of Kermit, are charged with murder and armed robbery in the death of Jeffery "Bub" Crum, 32, of Kermit.

The incident happened at a home on Tripp Siding Road near Crum, W.Va. Saturday night.

State Police said it was not a random attack. According to the criminal compliant, the two men went to steal the homeowner's prescription pills and that Crum came to the house to purchase pills from the homeowner.

Preliminary hearings for Messer and Marcum were scheduled for Tuesday morning, but both men waived their cases to the next grand jury which is set to meet in early March.

FDA going after sellers of pure caffeine powder

(AP) - The Food and Drug Administration is building a legal case against companies that sell pure powdered caffeine, which can be fatal even in small doses.

The FDA warned consumers to avoid pure powdered caffeine this summer after the death of an Ohio teen. Some major retailers have stopped selling it in bulk, but the substance is still widely available on the Internet and in some stores.

Even a teaspoon of the powder, which is equivalent to 25 cups of coffee, can be lethal. 

Eighteen-year-old Logan Stiner of LaGrange, Ohio, died in May after consuming it. It was also linked to the death of a Georgia man this year.

FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor says it is "inherently irresponsible" to market such a potentially dangerous product.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Update: Mingo County Murder

A man made a disturbing discovery in Mingo County on Monday when he found his friend dead. West Virginia State Police are calling the death a murder.

Troopers say Roland Stafford, believed to be about 70 years old, was killed in his home in Taylorville.

Because of the investigation they are not releasing details about how he was killed, but they do say it was brutal.

At this point, it's not even clear when he was killed because no one had seen him since Wednesday night's church service.

A concerned friend went to check on him about 10:30 a.m. Monday and found him dead.

Right now, there are no suspects and finding the person or people who killed Roland won't be easy.

Troopers are searching for Roland's truck which is missing. It's a 2003 burgundy extended cab Ford Ranger, with the license plate number 4TK 331.

If you have any information that could help with the investigation, call WVSP in Mingo County at (304) 235-6000 or Logan County at (304) 792-7200.

State police: Wayne murder victim told deputy he didn’t know attackers

A Mingo County man walked in at the wrong time and today he’s dead. State Police say Jeffery “Bub” Crum went to visit the home of a friend, Larry Blackburn Saturday night.  But he walked in and found Blackburn being tied up by two men in the middle of a home invasion.

“Once inside they restrained the homeowner Larry Blackburn,” said State Trooper D.J. Chapman. “While they were dealing with him, Bub walked in on the home invasion and an argument and confrontation ensued.  Mr. Crum was stabbed in the torso.”

Chapman said a Wayne County deputy arrived and was able to talk to Crum before he died.  He indicated he didn’t know the individuals, but Trooper Chapman said he did think Blackburn was familiar with the attackers, identified as Shane Marcum, 24, and Willie Messer, 31, both from Kermit. The criminal complaint said the two were at Blackburn’s house for prescription drugs.

“My understanding was when he entered into the home he saw what was going on and didn’t want any part of it,” said Chapman. “No normal person would.”

Authorities ay Messer and Marcum fled the scene. They were captured later Saturday night on Jenny’s Creek in northern Mingo County near the Wayne County border.  They are both jailed today, faced with charges of first degree murder and armed robbery.

Like old Legislature, new Legislature will have to deal with budget shortfall

One of the first tasks for the new Republican leaders in the state Senate and state House of Delegates in the New Year will be to identify ways to reduce next year’s state budget by $200 million.

Incoming Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 06) said he is opposed to pulling half of the needed amount to fill that budget hole from the Rainy Day Fund. He said the true size of the state’s government, at a time when the population continues to decline and technology allows for streamlined services, must be addressed.

“The price of government goes up every single year, so we need to figure out what we can do to cut,” Cole said. “I’m not talking about across-the-board, 7.5 percent cuts. It’s truly, what are we duplicating? What can we do without? And we need to take a hard look at our cost of government.”

Incoming House Speaker Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha, 40) agreed.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. There are going to be some tough decisions made but, truthfully, we believe there are ways to streamline our government, to make it run more efficiently, and we’re looking at those issues every day,” Armstead said.

Armstead recently finalized the House leadership positions now that Republicans how a 64-36 advantage in the House. 

Del. Marty Gearheart (R-Mercer, 27) has been appointed to serve as chairman of the House Roads and Transportation Committee. Armstead said he does expect Gearheart to look for ways to permanently remove the tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike in that role.

“Frankly, I agree with him that I think that should be our goal is to be able to eliminate those tolls,” Armstead said. “So we’re going to work toward that goal. How quickly we can do that, we still need to discuss, but that’s certainly something that I’d like to see us do.”

In the short term, Cole said any Republican proposals would have to be revenue neutral because of the state of the budget. Any major tax reforms, he said, may have to wait.

The 2015 Regular Legislative Session begins on Jan. 14. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will deliver his State of the State Address that night in the state House of Delegates chamber.

Judge denies W.Va. ex-coal baron travel home for holidays

A judge won't let a West Virginia ex-coal baron facing criminal charges head home for the holidays.

A docket entry on Monday shows U.S. District Judge Irene Berger in Beckley denied ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship's motion to travel home for the holidays.

During his case, Blankenship's travel is restricted to southern West Virginia, Pike County, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. Other travel needs judicial approval.

Blankenship now has a home in Nevada, but it's unclear if that's where he wanted to travel.

The case's court filings are unavailable to the public under a gag order, which The Associated Press and other media are challenging.

Blankenship is charged with conspiring to violate safety and health standards at Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia. A 2010 explosion there killed 29 men.

Troopers looking for victim’s truck in ‘brutal’ murder

A Mingo County man was found dead in his home Monday, the victim of what state police described as a “brutal” murder.

Troopers said Roland Stafford, 69, was found in his Taylorville residence. He hadn’t been seen since last Wednesday night at church.


Investigators believe Stafford’s truck may have been stolen as part of the crime. They released a photo of a his red 2003 extended cab Ford Ranger with West Virginia license plate 4TK-331. 

WV Contractors Say "Don't Repeal the Prevailing Wage"

The state's prevailing wage law is under fire, but many construction firms say getting rid of it would be a mistake. They say it helps local companies compete and rewards productivity - and the argument that it raises costs is a fiction promoted by low wage advocates.


Many of the state's contractors say repealing West Virginia's Prevailing Wage law is a terrible idea. The new Republican leadership at the legislature says it wants to do away with the law, which mandates that construction workers on public projects make the going rate for their specialty in a given area.


Kim Caragna with J.D. & E. says for decades the prevailing wage has been key to their ability to maintain a high-quality workforce. He says without it, low-cost out-of-state contractors will try to under bid local companies. He says, "You're bringing in out-of-state contractors that will undercut our projects. The safety issue comes into it, the quality issue comes into it."


The proposal is expected to come up during the legislative session, which starts next month.

Tomblin has another opening to fill on PSC

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin recently filled a vacancy on the state Public Service Commission–now he’ll have to do it again.

The governor’s office confirmed Friday nine-year PSC Commissioner Jon McKinney has handed in his resignation effective at the end of the year.

Tomblin appointed former state Senator Brooks McCabe last month to fill another opening on the PSC.

Kentucky Company Awarded W.Va. Road Contract

A Kentucky company has won a contract to build a section of the Coalfields Expressway in southern West Virginia.

Bizzack Construction, LLC of Lexington, Kentucky bid about $45 million for the project. West Virginia officials announced the contract on Friday in a news release.

The new segment will link Mullens to sections of the expressway under construction. It's expected to be completed in the fall of 2018.

West Virginia Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox says in the release that the project will be the Division of Highway's first public-private partnership project under a 2013 state law.

The law allows the DOH commissioner to reach public-private road project deals without legislative approval.

When completed, the Coalfields Expressway will run from Raleigh County in West Virginia to Buchanan County in Virginia.

US coal mines nearing record low in worker deaths

Deaths and injuries at the nation's coal mines have been declining since a West Virginia underground mining disaster killed 29 workers less than five years ago.

Coal mines are on pace this year to set a new low mark in mining deaths. So far in 2014 there have been 15 coal mine-related deaths, and with less than a month left in the year, the number could stay below the record 18 set in 2009.

Federal mine safety officials say increased enforcement efforts since the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in 2010 have improved the safety at all the nation's mines. Assistant Labor Secretary Joe Main says officials focused on making coal mines safer after the West Virginia tragedy.

AAA says more drivers will hit the roads this holiday season

With Christmas this Thursday, the hustle and bustle of Holiday travel is in full swing. Especially for those trying to get a head start.

According to AAA, over 90 million drivers will hit the roads, which is a four percent increase from last year, and with gas close to 70 cents than this time last year, no wonder why more families are deciding to drive than fly.

Arrests made in Wayne County Murder

Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man in Crum, W.Va.

William R. Messer, 31, and Shane R. Marcum, 24, both from Kermit, W.Va., have been charged with Armed Robbery and 1st Degree Murder.

West Virginia State Police say they're responsible for the stabbing death of Jeffery "Bub" Crum.

Both Messer and Marcum are currently being held in the Western Regional Jail pending arraignment.

Troopers say an additional arrest is forthcoming

.

Mingo County Health Department Job Opening

        The Mingo County Health Department currently has an opening for a nurse position.

        The Mingo County Health Department is currently looking for a qualified candidate to fill a nursing position. The job asks for a licensed West Virginia registered nurse, have dependable transportation and a valid driver’s license.

        To apply for this position, submit your resume to the Mingo County Health Department no later than December 30^th.

        For more information, call 304-235-3570.

More coal layoffs in southern West Virginia

More than 50 coal miners are being laid off in McDowell County ahead of the holidays.

ArcelorMittal issued layoff notices to 58 miners total at three mines in the Big Sandy Region identified as the Concept, XMV and Extra Energy mines.

Company officials said market conditions were to blame for the layoffs as the demand for coal continues to decline.

ArcelorMittal operates coal mines in West Virginia and Virginia along with Kazakhstan and Russia.

Mingo Man Facing Several Charges

A Mingo County man is facing 14 charges after West Virginia State Police say he fired shots and rammed a police cruiser, all while on drugs.

State Police were called to the home of 54-year-old Terry Huff in Varney, West Virginia for a domestic disturbance.

Huff's wife said he physically assaulted her by pulling her hair and holding broken glass to her throat.

When police arrived, they say Huff barricaded himself inside his home and fired a shot.

Huff then got in his car and rammed a police car as he was leaving, causing over $2,500 in damage.

Police continued to ask Huff to surrender, but he fired another shot into the air.

Police were eventually able to arrest Huff and determined he was wearing body armor.

Huff is being held in the Southwestern Regional Jail on a $13,500 bond. He is facing numerous charges including obstruction, brandishing a weapon, domestic assault, domestic battery, DUI, and felony destruction of property.

W.Va. Gov. Won’t Declare Holiday

A spokesman for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says the governor has no plans to officially declare a state holiday for the Friday after Christmas.

Christmas falls on a Thursday this year. Tomblin spokesman Chris Stadelman says that state employees who want to take off Dec. 26 should contact their supervisors.

Tomblin in previous years has declared the days following Christmas as state holidays, giving nonessential staff an extra day off.

The Friday after Thanksgiving has been a state holiday since legislation was enacted in 2006.

Blankenship will seek change of venue

Attorneys for former Massey Energy President and CEO Don Blankenship told a federal judge Wednesday they plan to seek a change of venue.

Blankenship is scheduled to go on trial next month on charges that he committed fraud by the way he operated the Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County in the months before the 2010 explosion there that claimed the lives of 29 coal miners.

His attorneys said they want U.S. District Judge Irene Berger to delay the trial and they plan to ask her to move it out of southern West Virginia. Judge Berger granted a motion Wednesday that will extend the deadline for filing motions in the case.

The trial is currently scheduled for Jan. 26.

Berger did not make a decision Wednesday on a motion from several media outlets calling for her to reverse her gag order in the case.

Blankenship, 64, appeared in person at Wednesday’s hearing. 

Unemployment in W.Va. Drops

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment fell to 6.3 percent in November.

WorkForce West Virginia says that rate compares to 6.5 percent in October. It says the number of unemployed state residents fell by 2,200 last month.

Employment declines of more than 1,000 last month were reported in leisure and hospitality, construction, and professional and business services. Strong employment gains were reported in government.

Total nonfarm payroll employment since November 2013 has risen by 7,200.

Nationally, the unemployment rate held steady in November at 5.8 percent.

Marshall president Stephen Kopp dies after suffering heart attack

Stephen Kopp, who oversaw $200 million worth of campus expansion during his nine years as Marshall University’s president, died of an apparent heart attack Wednesday night.

Kopp suffered the heart attack at home, police said. He was pronounced dead at Cabell Huntington Hospital around 9 p.m.

Marshall Board of Governors chairman Michael Sellards called Kopp “one of the most dedicated and long-serving presidents in the 177-year history of Marshall University.”

Kopp was Marshall’s 36th president, beginning his work on the Huntington campus on July 1, 2005.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller said Marshall grew in scale and popularity during Kopp’s tenure, which included the largest freshman class in university history.

West Virginia Higher Education Chancellor Dr. Paul Hill said the entire education community in West Virginia is diminished by Kopp’s passing.

Kopp is survived by his wife, Jane, their two children, Adam and Liz, and two grandchildren.

Committee on Economic Development presents bill aimed to improve craft beer industry

The state legislature is looking to encourage the brewing craft beer industry in the Mountain State.

In a September interim session, lawmakers heard a presentation from the West Virginia Craft Brewers Guild –representing the interests of the 12 licensed craft breweries in the state/

The Joint Commission on Economic Development took the guild’s recommendations on how they could make the state more friendly to the industry and asked legal counsel to create a bill.

While the first draft presented during the committee’s meeting Tuesday couldn’t incorporate every recommendation, it was able to include one of the major complaints craft brewers had in the licensing.

Currently, there are two types of licenses to those who brew in the state, one for resident brewers and one for foreign corporation brewers.

In the proposed draft, the fee would change based on production, requiring breweries to provide an estimate of how much beer they will produce when applying for the license. For those producing over 20,000 barrels –at 31 gallons per barrel– per year, the fee would remain $1,500. For those producing between 6,000 and 20,000 barrels per year, the fee would be $1,000. For the small operations producing less than 6,000 barrels per year, the fee would be $600. If the company produced more than estimated and reclassified, they would have to pay the difference on the next license.

The license for breweries wishing to sell their beer on site, known as brewpubs, the fee would now be $400, thereby making the total cost for a microbrewery producing less than 6,000 barrels per year and selling the product on site $1,000 dollars in licensing.

Task Force to Expand Economy

With the tough times the coal industry is facing and so many workers finding themselves out of jobs, state leaders in West Virginia are trying out a new approach.

That's why Senate President Jeff Kessler formed a senate task force, with the goal of creating economic growth in southern West Virginia.

Tuesday night, they talked with a crowd at the Chapmanville town hall, listening to presentations about potential opportunities for economic expansion.

Some of the ideas that were tossed out Tuesday night in Chapmanville that Kessler says may gain support are possibly stocking parts of Logan County with elk for hunting and tourism, and growing agri-business by starting potato and pig farms on top of former strip mine sites.

Kessler says the task force will take the input they've gathered and propose legislation supporting this initiative during the upcoming legislative session.