Morgantown City Council passes ordinance banning trucks

An ordinance banning certain classifications of heavy trucks in downtown Morgantown is now law. City Council has voted six to one to adopt the ordinance at Tuesdays meeting. The ordinance will take effect in 90 days.

The 90 day delay is one of the changes made to the original ordinance because of two issues.

“The Police Chief, Prosecuting Attorney and the Public Service Commission all say that in order to enforce this ban, you will need to weigh the truck,” explained Morgantown City Manager Jeff Mikorski.

Mikorski says traffic enforcement stations will need to be set up for weighing trucks suspected of being in violation of the ordinance. Obtaining equipment for weighing trucks and training personnel on using that equipment will also need to be completed before enforcement can begin.

Mikorski explained that time will be needed to get the proper signage in place as well.

“In order to enforce this ban, we will have to get the authority of the state to allow signage, location and character of the signage, allowing the restrictions.”

90 days is a tight time frame to accomplish what needs to be in place before enforcement can begin, but Mikorski thinks it can be done.

“I think we could get very close to dealing with all these issues of the ban, hopefully within 90 days would be enough,” he says.

Council members also agreed to remove the definition of “three or more axles” for banned trucks because certain trucks that have only two axles can weigh more that 13 tons and other vehicles with three axles can weigh much less. At the recommendation of Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston, the ordinance now bans commercial motor vehicles registered as class 7 or greater making it easier for police to enforce.

Rewriting the definition of banned trucks and other changes during the second reading of the ordinance was one reason Council Member Wes Nugent was the lone dissenting vote on the ordinance.

“The fact that we’re still trying to tack down aspects such as this on second reading gives me pause for concern,” he says. Nugent added he doesn’t believe passing an ordinance that has caused so much controversy and is clearly opposed by the West Virginia Department of Highways and various business interests in Monongalia County is the best way to solve the problem.

Council member Ron Bane echoed the sentiments of the majority however.

“I’ve been on this council a long time, this has been an issue for a long time, and it’s time for us to get an answer.”

Bane says the worst case scenario is the ordinance is challenged in court and the city is told they can’t legally enforce it.

7 Tons of Trash Removed from Illegal Dump in Mingo County

Mingo County authorities have removed 7 tons of trash from an illegal open dump along U.S. 52 near Chattaroy.

County Commission President Greg "Hootie" Smith says several citations were issued for litter violations in connection with debris found at the site.

He says the property's owners are taking steps to bar public access to the site.

Smith says the cleanup is part of the commission's effort to clean up the county.

Detroit man pleads guilty to distributing nearly 700 grams of heroin in Mason Co.

A Detroit man, who goes by the name"Chevy," entered a guilty plea to distributing heroin on September 2. 

Bashiri Deon McDaniel, 36, admitted to a judge that in December, 2011, he sold heroin to a confidential informant working with the West Virginian State Police in the Point Pleasant area of Mason County.

McDaniel also admitted to being part of a ring that distributed 400 to 700 grams of heroin from Detroit to Mason County and Gallipolis, Ohio. 

McDaniel faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced December 1.

4 dead in series of Sunday accidents

Four people died in three separate accidents across West Virginia on Sunday.

State police in McDowell County said a man and woman were killed in a single-vehicle crash on Powerhouse Road just off of U.S. Route 52 near Maybeury. The victims were identified as the driver, Raheem Bons, and his passenger, Lauren Perdue. A second passenger suffered minor injuries.

An early morning crash claimed a 40-year-old man’s life in Clarksburg. Police said the victim lost control of his ATV on North Ohio Avenue, was thrown off and slammed into a retaining wall. The man was not wearing a helmet.

Police in Jackson County said Steven Collins, 28, of Ripley, was killed Sunday night in a single-car crash on state Route 21. Collins lost control of the vehicle and it flipped over.

Recent events in WV sends message to residents to be prepared

It shouldn’t take much to convince West Virginians to prepare for emergencies. During the last two years they’ve endured the derecho, Superstorm Sandy and a water emergency caused by a chemical called MCHM.

September is National Preparedness Month and it should ring home in West Virginia according to state Health Officer Dr. Letitia Tierney.

“Everybody needs to think about what they’re going to do in an emergency,” she said. “If we are already in the middle of the emergency it’s really too late.”

Dr. Tierney said there are basic supplies that should be in each emergency kit including “non-perishable food items, water, first-aid supplies, a flashlight, prescription medication and a supply of over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol(r) and aspirin.” Comfort items and important papers can also be added.

Tierney said storing those things in a plastic container with a lid may be the best option. She said it’s also good to have enough items for 72 hours.

“Usually within then the government is going to be able to come in and assist. So we’re looking for three days,” she said. 

Body Found by Ohio River Confirmed to be Missing Teen; Arrest Made

A gruesome discovery made this weekend will now lead to a murder charge.

The body of a missing teenager from Kanawha County was found along the banks of the Ohio River in Meigs County.

Ericka Brown, 16, had been missing for several weeks.

Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood confirms the girl's body was found Saturday, wrapped in a clear tarp, tied up and strapped to a cinder block. Brown was along the riverbank.

Wood also says Ernest Roach, 36, of Racine, Ohio, has been arrested and will be formally charged Tuesday with Brown's murder. Roach was arrested by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers.

Roach is already behind bars at South Central Regional Jail in Kanawha County.

Police sources say Roach was picked up early Saturday morning and admitted to killing the girl.

There's no word yet on a motive or whether the suspect and victim knew each other.

On Aug. 10, Brown's parents discovered her missing from their home in Cross Lanes, and immediately called 911.

It was believed she left the house on her own, but they were worried she may be in danger.

Multiple law enforcement agencies have been involved in the investigation, including the U.S. Marshals Service.

Ericka was a student at Nitro High School.

School officials say grief counselors will be on hand Tuesday for her classmates.

Missing Mother of Four Found Safe

West Virginia State Police troopers say a young mother who had been missing for more than a week has been found and is safe.

Ashley Nichole Toler, 26, of Gordon in Boone County, was reported missing Aug. 22.

Troopers say Monday morning, she contacted her family and told them she was in the Logan area and was on her way home.