Logan County Man Gets Probation in Coal Kickback Scheme

A Logan County man has been sentenced to five years' probation for his role in a scheme involving the Arch Coal Mountain Laurel Mining Complex in Sharples.

Stephen B. Herndon, of Holden, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Charleston in connection with what the government calls a multi-million dollar scheme.

Last July, the 37-year-old Herndon pleaded guilty to structuring a transaction to evade federal reporting requirements. He also admitted that he and a business partner paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks in exchange for business that was directed to a company in which he was a part owner.

Herndon has agreed to forfeit $132,000 to the United States. That represents a portion of the funds involved in and traced to the structuring scheme.

Paint Your Town Blue - Williamson

         The West Virginia Auxiliary – Wives Behind Badges will host, “Paint Your Town Blue.”

        They are asking Mingo County businesses, residents and schools to “Go Blue,” to show support for local law enforcement agencies. Community members are asked to wear blue as well as hang ribbons, bows, posters or banners around their homes and offices.

        A walk for the officers will begin at the Mingo County Courthouse in Williamson at noon on February 19^th and will end at the Williamson Fire Department where a luncheon will be held.

        For more information you can visit ‘Painting Mingo Blue’ on Facebook.

DeLong leaving Regional Jail Authority top spot to speak more frankly about workers’ needs

West Virginia Regional Jail Authority Executive Director Joe DeLong, who announced his resignation Monday, says he’ll spend the next two months on the job advocating for regional jail workers.

“My primary focus at this time is not about what happens on April 1. My primary focus at this time is doing the job I was paid to do up through March 31 and delivering on the promise I made to my employees during that time,” DeLong said.

The three-year director said he’s frustrated with lip service regional jail workers have been given about pay raises and other employment enhancements. DeLong said he can better talk about those needs knowing that he’ll no longer be the director in less than two months.

“I think this gives me the ability to say this is my fight and my fight alone,” DeLong said. “We can’t continue to make this a low priority. The people who work in these agencies have to become a high priority and have to realize they are a high priority and I just haven’t seen at this point in time that they are.”

DeLong said he’s long told correctional workers that if they would buy in to the changes made in recent years there would be a better chance that things would improve including pay and opportunities for advancement in the system.

“I owe it to those folks now to fight that fight and it’s just become evident to me that the best way is that I can fight that fight for those correctional officers, unencumbered, is to fight it as I’m heading out the door,” DeLong said.

One thing DeLong wants to see done is the removal of the regional jail workers from the Civil Service system, a move that was made by sate lawmakers in 2008, when DeLong was in the legislature. He said the designation currently hurts the workers. He said they have to apply for jobs they really don’t want in the system in order to advance in pay. DeLong said the people hired to fill the vacated position can then be paid more. He said it’s nonsensical.

DeLong added he’s also frustrated that the Regional Jail system gets lumped in with the state Division of Corrections when they are two different systems and should be treated as such.

DeLong said he can more freely speak out about the needs as he leaves the position.

“I’m doing it because I believe in may heart it’s the right thing to do. Legislators need to understand it’s time to stop giving lip service to these things. It’s time to stop increasing correctional budgets through general revenue without giving anything to the staffs,” he said.

Accomplishments cited in DeLong’s three years on the job include a reduction in the daily fee counties pay for inmates; a 34 percent drop in mandatory overtime for jail correctional officers; a 44 percent drop in lawsuits filed against the Regional Jail Authority since 2011and improvements in the authority’s financial office.

Bill ending straight-ticket voting could go to House Tuesday

The bill that would end straight-ticket voting in West Virginia will get a final vote from the state Senate Tuesday before moving to the state House of Delegates for consideration during the ongoing Regular Legislative Session.

With straight-ticket voting, a voter can make one mark, either electronically or on a paper ballot, and vote for a party’s full list of candidates. The change would require voters to consider each race individually.

Democrats have long pushed back against eliminating straight-ticket voting in West Virginia because of the Democratic advantage in party registrations. Last November, though, unofficial numbers from the Secretary of State’s Office showed 56 percent of straight-ticket ballots were Republican.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, West Virginia is one of 11 states still offering straight-ticket voting, also called straight-party voting. The others are Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

Straight-ticket voting has been declining in popularity nationally during the last decade. Rhode Island was the latest to eliminate the option with legislation that took effect last month.

Speakers say DEP doesn’t need legislature’s help with Clean Power response

What help if any does the state Department of Environmental Protection need in responding to the federal EPA’s Clean Power plan? A bill being considered by the House of Delegates would get the state legislature involved.

The bill, HB 2004, was up for public hearing Monday evening at the state capitol after passing the House Judiciary Committee back on Friday. Rob Goodwin with the West Virginia Environmental Council urged lawmakers to abandon the idea.

“This puts a lot of burden on DEP. They’ve testified already to the House Judiciary Committee that they need as much flexibility as they can possibly have in order to comply with the deadlines of the Clean Power plan,” Goodwin said.

The EPA’s proposed rule could be final by June and then states would likely have a year to submit their plans of compliance when it comes to cleaner air.

“Everything in this bill just puts more burden on them (EPA), makes their job harder,” Goodwin said at the public hearing.

But West Virginia Coal Association Vice President Chris Hamilton said the legislature routinely approves rules for state agencies. He said getting a look at the state’s response to the Clean Power rule would be similar work.

“Even with the complexities and level of importance contained in this action–the act of sitting in oversight is relatively the same,” Hamilton said.

The bill is now up for consideration by the full House of Delegates. 

Man admits to bank robberies in Kentucky, three other states

A man has admitted he robbed six banks in four states, including Kentucky.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says William McBride, Junior, 49, pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery. Investigators say he stole more than $21,000 from the banks during last summer's robberies.

Prosecutors say McBride could receive up to 25 years in prison for each robbery. Along with Kentucky, they say he robbed banks in Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia.

LIHEAP Applications Taken

West Virginia residents can now apply for the state's Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

The Public Service Commission says applications will be accepted at West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources through Feb. 6.

Those who need help with home heating costs are encouraged to apply.

The PSC says eligibility is based on income, household size and whether the household is responsible for paying the heating bill. To be eligible, household income must be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guideline.

Applications are available at local DHHR, community action agencies, senior centers operated by any Area Agency on Aging.

More information about LIEAP is available at 304-356-4619.