Armstead says he won’t run for House again; may run for state Supreme Court

House Speaker Tim Armstead has a quiet moment at the podium: Photo by Perry Bennett – WV Legislative Photography.

By: Brad McElhinny | Posted: Jan. 19, 2018 at 10:45 a.m. | Source: WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — House Speaker Tim Armstead says he will not run again for election to the House of Delegates, saying he is considering a state Supreme Court run in 2020.

“I’ve made a decision to 2018 and am looking to the future in something I’m considering,” said Armstead, R-Kanawha. “I’m not planning to run for re-election to the House of Delegates this year.”

Armstead made the announcement public today on MetroNews’ “Talkline.” The Speaker went into a caucus with House Republicans prior to that to tell them the news. (more…)

Man accused of ramming Roane County deputy’s cruiser arrested

By: Leslie Rubin | Posted: Jan. 19, 2018 | Source: WCHSTV

A man wanted in connection to police pursuit where a Roane County deputy’s cruiser was rammed has been captured.

Brad Proctor, 40, of Clay faces multiple charges after the Jan. 10 incident, according to a criminal complaint filed in Roane County Magistrate Court.

Last week, the deputy was patrolling Amma Road and says he saw a truck pull out of Odell’s Exxon with no headlights. The truck came back as stolen. The deputy said the driver wouldn’t pull over and he began pursuing the truck that was being driven erratically. (more…)

West Virginia grants available for land protection

Posted: Jan. 16, 2018 | Source: AP News

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund says it’s accepting grant applications for land-protection projects with up to $1.2 million that may be awarded.

According to the fund, projects can include wildlife habitats, working forests and farmlands, as well as hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation areas.

The fund has an 11-member board of trustees from the state divisions of forestry and natural resources, land trusts, outdoor recreation and sportsmen’s groups, and professionals in biology, ecology, forestry and public health.

Grant application forms are available online at www.wvcommerce.org/resources/conservation/ohcf/default.aspx.

Note: Fiscal Year 2018 Grant Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2018.

Paintings sought for 2019 West Virginia wildlife calendar

Graphic courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The West Virginia Wildlife calendar for 2018 is now available for purchase.

Posted: Jan. 16, 2018 | Source: AP News

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is seeking paintings for its 2019 wildlife calendar.

The DNR says in a news release that the deadline for submitting original, color wildlife paintings is Feb. 19.

The statement says the paintings can depict game and fish species along with other wildlife, such as small mammals, bats, frogs, salamanders, snakes, songbirds, and turtles.

Artists can submit multiple entries. Paintings not chosen in previous years can be resubmitted. Each entry should include a high-quality electronic image that is 14.5-by-11.5 inches, although a print will be accepted. Electronic images can be emailed to Elizabeth.N.Akins@wv.gov.

A $200 prize will be awarded for each chosen painting, and the artist whose work is picked for the cover will get an additional $500.

Snow expected to affect afternoon commute

By: Anna Taylor | Posted: Jan. 16, 2018 | Source: WVAH

Snow is expected to continue to fall throughout the evening in the region, with the heaviest accumulation expected during the afternoon commute.

The latest round of winter weather has led to a number of school closings or dismissing early. Kanawha County Schools will be dismissing two hours early. Third Base and evening extracurricular activities also are canceled. Other schools districts closed for the day include Putnam, Cabell, Lincoln, Clay, Jackson, Mason, Harrison, Lewis, Gilmer, Barbour, Calhoun, Mingo, Wayne and Wirt. Wyoming County is dismissing at noon. Fayette County is closing three hours early.

In Ohio, the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College are closed and all athletic events have been canceled, a school spokeswoman said. Meanwhile in Kentucky, Boyd and Elliott counties are closed.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday for areas in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.

West Virginia counties under the advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Charleston are Wayne, Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Lincoln, Putnam, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Clay, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Taylor, Upshur and Barbour.

In Kentucky, counties under the watch include Greenup, Carter, Boyd and Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Ohio counties included are Meigs, Gallia and Lawrence.

Bob Aaron side streets covering Cross Lanes

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday for Pocahontas County in West Virginia.

During a winter weather advisory for snow, periods of snow will cause travel difficulties. Slippery road conditions are expected. The National Weather Service advises drivers to be prepared for reduced visibilities at times.

In the Kanawha Valley, 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected. Some areas could see 5 inches. Kanawha County had less than an inch as of 8:30 a.m. The area can expect about an inch by noon and another 2 to 3 inches throughout the afternoon and evening. For the latest Eyewitness News Storm Team forecast, click here.

Doug Harlow Twitter Post 1-16-2018

The heaviest snowfall is expected between 3 and 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Four minor crashes have been reported in the St. Albans and Cross Lanes areas since 6:30 a.m., according to Metro 911. In Athens County, Ohio, emergency officials said the county is under a level two snow emergency. Emergency officials said only those who feel it is necessary to travel should be out on the roads.

A flight from Yeager Airport to Charlotte has been canceled. For flight updates, go here.

Send your weather videos and photos here.

Homeschoolers push Tebow bill at West Virginia Capitol

By: MetroNews Staff | Posted: Jan. 16, 2018 | Source: WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Clay County woman said she believes her two homeschooled sons, ages 16 and 11, are academically on par with their peers in public schools and she wants to see them and other homeschoolers have access to the same extracurriculars.

It’s about homeschool freedom and a parent’s right to choose, argued Wendy Summers with the Christian Home Educators of West Virginia on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.” (more…)

Winter weather advisory issued for much of region

By: Jeff Morris | Posted: Jan. 15, 2018 | Source: WVAH

After a dose of freezing rain and snow over the weekend, Round 2 of winter weather could be coming to the region.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Tuesday for multiple counties in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia.

Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are expected in northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio and much of the West Virginia lowlands with slippery road conditions possible. (more…)

WV man gets more than six years in jail for child pornography

Posted: Jan. 14, 2018 | Source: WSAZ

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — A Kanawha County man was sentenced last week for child pornography, according to the FBI.

Stephen Lee Rhodes

40-year-old Stephen Lee Rhodes of Clendenin, West Virginia previously pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography. He was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison, was ordered to serve 20 years on probation, and will be required to register as a sex offender.

According to the FBI, Rhodes admitted back in June of 2015 that he had received on his computer a video of a minor engaged in sexual acts. He also admitted to having a large collection of child porn images and videos on computers at his home.

The investigation found that Rhodes was using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download, receive and distribute child pornography. FBI agents seized his computers and other digital storage devices before arresting Rhodes in March 2017.

UPDATE: Man rescued from vehicle after driving into creek in Elkview

By: Kelsey Hoak | Posted: Jan. 13, 2018 at 11:53 p.m. | Source: WSAZ

ELKVIEW, W.Va. (WSAZ) — UPDATE 1/12/18 @ 11:26 p.m. 
One man was rescued from his vehicle after driving into a creek in Elkview.

It happened Friday just after 10 p.m. along Little Sandy Road.

When crews arrived on scene, water was up to the vehicle’s windows.

A water rescue team had to pull the man out of the back window and onto a boat.

The man was trying to cross the creek a couple miles upstream when he told crews his vehicle got swept away.

Firefighters tell WSAZ the man called 911 himself and remained on the phone with a dispatcher for about 30 minutes while he waited for crews to arrive. He couldn’t get out himself, the doors were stuck while the water was rising.

The man is expected to be okay.

Clendenin, Frame and Pinch Volunteer Fire Departments responded.

ORIGINAL STORY 1/12/18 @ 10:46 p.m. 
Emergency crews are on the scene where a vehicle has gone into a creek in northern Kanawha County.

Crews tells WSAZ that the vehicle went into the water along Little Sandy Road in Elkview.

At least one person is in the vehicle. They were the one to call into 911.

Clay woman bags huge bear with long-distance shot

Courtesy photo: Bears weighing nearly 500 pounds aren’t common in West Virginia, and when Chelsea Mullins of Bomont downed one with a 252-yard shot in early December, it created quite a stir. The bear weighed 489.6 pounds and measured 7 feet from nose to tail.

By: John McCoy, Staff Writer | Posted: Jan. 13, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

You never know what you might encounter while deer hunting.

For Chelsea Mullins, it happened to be the biggest bear she, or any of her friends, had ever seen. And make no mistake, they’d seen a bunch of them.

“I’m an experienced bear hunter,” said Mullins, a 22-year-old dental assistant from the Clay County town of Bomont. “I’ve now killed three, and I’ve been along on a lot of hunts.”

All of those hunts, however, were with hounds that treed the bears so they could be shot. The bear Mullins killed on Dec. 2 was different.

“We couldn’t use hounds for this hunt because it was during [West Virginia’s firearm season for buck deer],” she explained. (more…)