Clendenin Little League is one of the oldest charters in the state. The league recently announced it is starting a new fundraiser in celebration of their 60th Anniversary. They will be selling t-shirts and ball caps. (more…)
Clendenin Little League is one of the oldest charters in the state. The league recently announced it is starting a new fundraiser in celebration of their 60th Anniversary. They will be selling t-shirts and ball caps. (more…)
By: Ryan Quinn, Staff Writer | Posted: April 19, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
The Kanawha County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to close Bridge Elementary, buy a roughly $147,000 charter-type bus and spend another $147,000 to replace Riverside High’s gym floor.
This new bridge replaces an extension ladder the Clay County couple had been using – Photo Courtesy WV VOAD
By: Jeff Jenkins | Posted: April 19, 2018 | Source: WV MetroNews
IVYDALE, W.Va. — The number 50 looked great to Jenny Gannaway Thursday afternoon along a small stream in Clay County. (more…)
Coach Jason Nichols explains how backed up drains from the 2016 flood led to collapse of the school’s football field – Chris Lawrence, WVMetroNews.com
By: Chris Lawrence | Posted: April 19, 2018 | Source: WV MetroNews
CLAY, W.Va. — Two years after the massive West Virginia flood and the recovery goes on. The work to make repairs to the Clay County High School football field is expected to get started next month. Coach Jason Nichols said once that process is underway, it will be a race against the clock until August. (more…)
By: Phil Kabler, Staff Writer | Posted: April 18, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
With House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, stepping down after nearly 20 years in the West Virginia Legislature, the House of Delegates’ 40th District is a wide-open race, with one Democrat and three Republicans vying for the open seat.
While the platforms of two of the Republicans, business owner Dean Jeffries and lawyer Kenneth Tawney, check off several of the traditional GOP boxes — anti-abortion, pro-Second Amendment, less government and lower taxes — the third candidate is a bit unique.
Ron Shamblin, a longtime union crane operator, shares many of the traditional party values, but also objects to the Republican majority’s votes to repeal West Virginina’s prevailing-wage law and to enact the right-to-work law, and supports increasing the severance tax on natural gas to fund state programs.
Shamblin first ran against Armstead in 2016, irate over repeal of prevailing wage and enactment of right to work.
He said repeal of prevailing wage sent a message to construction workers that, “We are not worth what we were being paid.”
Shamblin said he believes measures such as right to work, which he considers anti-union, not only hurt the state, but, ultimately, the Republican Party itself.
“Probably about 60 percent of our union membership are Republicans, and when the Republicans sit there and blast the unions, they’re not realizing they’re blasting their own people,” he said.
While many of the projects Shamblin has worked on in recent years involve natural gas drilling sites, he also supports increasing severance taxes on natural gas, and said he was irritated that legislative leadership would not even consider an increase to fund education and teacher pay.
Shamblin said he believes the booming natural gas industry would hardly notice a small severance tax increase, adding, “When it comes right down to it, this belongs to our state.”
Shamblin faces formidable opposition in the May primary election.
Elkview insurance agent Dean Jeffries bills himself as a “Christian Conservative Republican,” and has endorsements from Armstead and the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee, which said that, as a small-businessman, Jeffries knows the challenges business owners face in the Mountain State.
“Mr. Jeffries is a vocal supporter of the Second Amendment, right to life, [and] supports limited government and fiscal responsibility,” the endorsement states. “He stood side-by-side to help those who were affected by the 2016 flood.”
Jeffries said the aftermath of the flooding in the Elkview area was one of the reasons he decided to run.
“We’ve watched a lot of people leave since then,” he said. “It’s been kind of an unfortunate opportunity for a lot of people to leave.”
Likewise, he said, it is difficult when his teenage children discuss possibly having to leave the state at some point for job opportunities.
“As a local businessman, as you watch your population decrease, you want to do something about that,” Jeffries said. “I want to do things to bring jobs back to West Virginia.”
Jeffries said he is optimistic going into the primary, particularly with Armstead’s endorsement.
“I’ve known Tim for a while. I’ve worked with him on some things,” Jeffries said. “We feel pretty good about it.”
Lawyer Kenneth Tawney could not be reached for comment, but his campaign website says he wants to use his “experience, skills and conservative values to keep our State moving in a positive direction toward prosperity.”
Tawney’s platform includes promoting economic growth by “lowering the barriers to new businesses,” cutting state government spending, promoting better roads and infrastructure, including expanding high-speed internet access, and “protecting Constitutional rights, including the right to life and right to bear arms.”
Like Jeffries, Tawney worked on flood recovery efforts in 2016, noting, “I am frustrated every time I drive from Big Chimney to Clendenin and see so much that remains to be done. One thing I am confident about is that ‘Elk River Strong’ is not just a cliché. We can and will meet this challenge, and I want to do everything I can as a legislator to provide the resources and the assistance required to rebuild our communities.”
Shamblin, meanwhile, said he believes his 2016 primary race, when he got nearly 25 percent of the vote running against Armstead, bodes well for the May 8 primary, and said he believes mainstream Republicans will not be dissuaded by his pro-union positions.
“I have conservative values,” he said. “I’m a Christian. I’m pro-life. I’m very, very strong Second Amendment pro-gun, but I’m also a 21-year union crane operator. I know the value of labor, and the Republican Party used to know the value of labor, as well.”
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Melissa Riggs Huffman in the general election. Huffman, an Elkview teacher, is running unopposed in the 40th District Democratic Primary.
Reach Phil Kabler at philk@wvgazettemail.com,304-348-1220 or follow @PhilKabler on Twitter.
Miss Stover and Lucy Gonzales of Clay County Middle School.
Posted: April 17, 2018 | Source: Clay County Free Press
For over 30 years, the West Virginia Young Writers Contest has celebrated student writing in the state. The YWC grows out of a deep commitment to writing in all subjects, and to the publishing, displaying and celebrating of student writing. (more…)
Posted: April 17, 2018 | Source: WV Divison of Natural Resources
News Release: April 17, 2018
Media Contact: Samantha Smith, Commerce Communications Director
(304) 957-9364 | samantha.smith@wv.gov
Contact: Kayla Donathan, Wildlife Resources Section
(304) 558-2771 | kayla.m.donathan@wv.gov
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Approximately 500 students from 55 schools participated in the 13th annual Archery in the Schools state tournament, hosted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources at the Summersville Arena and Conference Center on March 24. (more…)
By: Briana Warner, Communications Director | Posted: April 16, 2018 | Source: KCBOE
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Charleston, W.Va. – Kanawha County Schools announced today that they’re accepting applications for their new virtual online school pilot program for middle school students, which will begin this Fall. The pilot program will allow 30 Kanawha County 6-8 graders to participate in a full-time or part-time virtual school program. This program is free to students who are currently being homeschooled and public school students in Kanawha County. Applications are available at the Kanawha County Schools board office or on the KCS website.
“Our high school pilot project has been going very well and we are pleased to be able to offer the program to middle school students,” said Kanawha County Schools Executive Director of Virtual School, Valery Harper. “The virtual online school option meets the needs of so many students and provides another tool to give our students a world class education, no matter their situation.”
The Kanawha County Schools virtual program, and other virtual programs across the state, are possible after state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 630 – the Accessibility and Equity in Public Education Enhancement Act – during the 2017 regular legislative session. The bill allows for the creation of virtual programs by county boards.
The Kanawha County Schools Virtual School Policy is available on the KCS website through this link.
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You can reach Briana Warner at bwarner