By: Gary Fauber, Sports Editor | Posted: Feb. 16, 2018 | Source: Beckley Register-Herald
It’s mid-February in southern West Virginia. That can only mean one thing.
It’s archery season.
Elementary, middle and high schools all over the state have adopted archery programs through the Archery in the Schools program. Some of them will be in Raleigh County today and Saturday. (more…)
By: Jake Jarvis, Staff Writer | Posted: Feb. 16, 2018 | Source: WV News
CHARLESTON — Braving long lines in the pouring rain, hundreds of teachers once again left their classrooms Friday to fill the halls of the state Capitol.
Teachers from at least seven counties came to Charleston to demand lawmakers give them a bigger pay raise, protect their seniority rights and fix public employees’ health insurance. (more…)
Photo Courtesy: Stacy Nelson | The Clendenin Leader
By: Mark Burdette | Posted: Feb. 16, 2018
CLENDENIN, WEST VIRGINIA (The Clendenin Leader) – The Clendenin Planning Commission held their third meeting on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 6:30 PM at the Recreation Building located beside Town Hall, in Clendenin, West Virginia. The meeting was facilitated by Jesse Richardson from WVU Law along with James Young (FEMA), Philip Maramba (FEMA), Julie Alston (WV HUD), Lorna Rosenberg (EPA), and Dr. Terry Polen (WV DEP) were in attendance.
After the minutes from the January 23, 2018 Planning Commission meeting were approved, Lorna Rosenberg, sustainable advisor from EPA, joined via phone conference from Philadelphia to discuss sustainable community programs that focus on local food, health, broadband, and Main Street. She discussed a focused approach to target sustainable actions to help Clendenin move forward to become more health resilient and to improve the economic resiliency. She went on to discuss that because Clendenin is a community that was affected by the flood, there will be an opportunity to focus and target a discussion and action plan around initiatives that have been created to improve the community. EPA and FEMA will facilitate a two-day workshop sometime in April or May, which will include experts from various agencies, to address specific topics and flood resiliency. Prior to this meeting, an action plan will need to be created, which should include targeted action items, along with funding information.
Mayor Shana Clendenin indicated that housing is still an issue in town and throughout the surrounding area. The mayor also added that the Kanawha County Long Term Recovery Committee and WV VOAD have done an exceptional job in residential recovery but there are still needs that need to be met. The Town of Clendenin is still struggling with business recruitment and business retention. Infrastructure is still a concern, especially wastewater treatment. According to Mayor Clendenin tourism is her primary focus right now centered around Elk River and Rails to Trails. The Town of Clendenin just applied for a TAP grant through WV Dept. of Highways for a complete streetscape of Main Street to beautify the area. Announcement of whether Clendenin will receive grant will be sometime in the fall later this year.
Kevin Clendenin, President of the Clendenin Planning Commission and Fire Chief for the Clendenin Volunteer Fire Dept., echoed many of the infrastructure challenges that the Town of Clendenin faces. Clendenin said, “We need businesses with stable jobs and need to broaden our footprint with utilities. Historically, utilities were run along the river and weren’t developed towards the interstate or residential areas like Reamer, who doesn’t have fire hydrants or city water. Less than a mile from where you’re sitting there are people drawing well water still today. We need to identify grants that can help develop our utilities.”
According to Mayor Clendenin upgrades to sewer, water and all drains in town are very much needed. The last project done on drains was the late 1990s. Dr. Terry Polen with WV DEP suggested putting a plan and process together to apply for a grant with the WV Water Development Authority could be an option to improve infrastructure needs in the town. James Young with FEMA said a mitigation grant can provide monies to upgrade infrastructure for stormwater, however, not much can be done at this point for much-needed maintenance on existing issues due to missing deadlines.
Listen to the full audio of the Clendenin Planning Commission meeting above to hear more about what is being done to revitalize the Town of Clendenin.
Posted: Feb. 16, 2018 | Source: The Marietta Times
WILLIAMSTOWN — Eli Inman had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to help lead Williamstown past Clay County, 58-46, and grab fifth place in the LKC.
The Yellowjackets, who finished the regular season 17-5 and await their postseason matchup, also got 12 points and seven boards from Cullen Cutright as well as 10 markers and seven caroms from Baylor Haught. Xavier Caruthers had an 11-point effort for the ‘Jackets, who also received eight points from Trent Lynch.
Clay County (12-8) was led in scoring by Thomas Haverty (14) and Isaac Workman (13).
Calhoun County 67, St. Marys 63
ST. MARYS — Ben Frederick double-doubled and visiting Calhoun County shot 50 percent from the field Thursday night as the visiting Red Devils knocked off St. Marys, 67-63, to capture 11th place in the Little Kanawha Conference.
St. Marys, which dropped to 7-11 and got a game-high 21 points from Evan Lamp, held a 23-17 lead after the opening quarter.
Frederick finished with 16 points and 10 boards while Red Devil teammates Adam Parsons (15), Trevor Carder (13) and Soney Wilson (13) also provided plenty of scoring punch. Parsons added five assists and John Whipkey chipped in eight markers.
Richard Dornon double-doubled with 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Devils, who also got 10 points and a game-high six assists from William Steele. SMHS also had a combined 17 points from Peyton Auxier and Cameron Miller.
Calhoun County (5-15) returns to action with a road tilt Tuesday versus Harman.
Wood County Christian 68, Calvary Baptist 56
SUMMERSVILLE — Wood County Christian was sizzling from the floor Thursday in a West Virginia Christian Athletic Tournament game.
The Wildcats (10-14) knocked off Calvary Baptist (21-5) 68-56 to advance to the semifinals at 6 p.m. today against Cross Lanes Christian.
Wood County Christian made 23 of 38 (61 percent) shot attempts. Luke Spencer led the way with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. Trey Davis added 14 points, Garrett Napier netted 12 and Sam Cremeans and Ethan Thibault chipped in 10 apiece.
Isaac Massie led all scorers with 21 points for Calvary Baptist. Robert Clutter added nine.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Valley (Wetzel) 45, St. Marys 44
PINE GROVE — A tough season for St. Marys didn’t get any better here Thursday as Mary Taylor’s potential game-winning basket went off the iron as host Valley (Wetzel) survived the Blue Devils, 45-44, on senior night.
Sophie Palmer finished her final regular season game with 23 points to lead all scorers for the hosts. Caitlyn Underwood chipped in 11 markers for Valley (12-9), which squandered a 30-16 halftime advantage.
SMHS, which will carry an 8-14 record into a 3:30 p.m. Saturday home sectional game versus Paden City, battled back to take a 44-42 lead late. After the Blue Devils missed two foul shots, Valley made one and the visitors had the ball. However, a SMHS turnover then proved costly and Valley made two more freebies and then held on at the end.
Addie Furr (16) and Ciara Bennett (11) led the Blue Devils, who went 20 of 40 from the charity stripe, in scoring. Kylie Wright grabbed 10 boards and had three assists in the setback.
Victory Christian Academy 36, Wood County Christian 22
SUMMERSVILLE — In the opening round of the WVCAT here Thursday, Wood County Christian couldn’t recover from a 15-4 deficit after the first quarter as the Wildcats were saddled with a 36-22 defeat at the hands of Victory Christian Academy.
WCC, which dropped to 6-13 and plays at 9 a.m. today versus Greater Beckley Christian, received eight points from Hannah Headley and four markers apiece from Ellie Powell and Sidney Strause.
VCA (9-7) was led in point-production by Abby Gregory with 10 and Emily Markham with nine.
Caldwell 66, Paden City 22
CALDWELL — Cayton Secrest was three steals shy of a triple-double Thursday, registering 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven swipes in Caldwell’s 66-22 victory over visiting Paden City.
The Redskins also got a 14-point, 11-board double-double from Julia Griffith, 12 points and four assists from Cloe Siddle and 10 points from Lexie Weisend.
Paden City got 13 of its points from Hannah Loy.
UPDATED: Feb. 16, 2018 at 3:41 p.m.
The National Weather Service has extended the FLOOD WARNING for Kanawha, Roane and Clay Counties until 7:00 p.m. Stay tuned for more updates if and when they become available.
Originally Posted: Feb. 16, 2018 at 10:12 a.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Kanawha, Roane and Clay Counties until 4:00 p.m. Heavy rains are possible today. We will continue to bring you more information throughout the day.
By: Ryan Quinn, Education Reporter | Posted: Feb. 15, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
The Kanawha County Board of Education approved Thursday evening paying about $108,000 to re-roof Pinch Elementary, heard schools were getting 400 more carbon monoxide detectors and proposed a policy change that would improve chances for “resident vendor” companies to win county public school system contracts over non-resident vendors. (more…)
By: Max Garland, Staff Writer | Posted: Feb. 15, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
Armacell’s expansion of its Spencer operations is on pace to receive help from the state Economic Development Authority, as the agency gave preliminary approval Thursday for a $3 million loan to help prepare the larger facility the company will move into.
The 10-year loan will go to the Roane County Economic Development Authority, which owns the former Mustang Survival facility that Armacell is moving to, for various renovations and repairs at the site if given final approval.
Armacell’s Spencer operations are currently housed in a 40,000-square-foot facility in the city’s downtown. The insulation supplier began its operations there in 2005 after buying it from Monarch Rubber. Production at the new, 103,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in mid-2018.
“This will keep [Armacell] in Spencer, but move them to where they can expand,” said David Warner, the EDA’s executive director.
Armacell is growing its Spencer operations in order to meet the increased demand for the foams it makes for equipment insulation, according to Warner. In a news release, Armacell said the expansion will help better serve East Coast customers.
The expansion will create 13 jobs in the span of a year, which would bring the company’s employee total in Spencer to 87, according to data provided by the EDA.
Mark Whitley, executive director of the Roane County Economic Development Authority, said the EDA’s preliminary approval is welcome news for an expansion that should bring in $12 million in capital investment from Armacell.
Also Thursday, the EDA approved $3.72 million in loan insurance for Clear Mountain Bank, which is providing a loan to Digital Connections, Inc., a Morgantown-based provider of internet and phone services for North Central West Virginia.
Digital Connections will use the loan to help expand its gigabit service area in Preston County.
Warner said he hopes the loan insurance approval will encourage more applications to the EDA relating to broadband internet services, which legislation passed last year — House Bill 3093 — helped pave the way for.
In other news, the EDA:
Reach Max Garland at max.garland@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4886 or follow @MaxGarlandTypes on Twitter.
By: Lhalie Castillo | Posted: Feb. 14, 2018 | Source: WV Record
CHARLESTON – A Clendenin couple allege a new Toyota vehicle they purchased has a defect that has not been corrected after multiple repair attempts.
Ernest G. Mullins and Sharry K. Mullins filed a complaint Jan. 19 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. alleging violation of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on Jan. 16, 2016, they purchased a 2016 Toyota Tacoma from defendant’s dealer for $35,763.39 on credit. After purchase, they allege they repeatedly heard a noise from the rear end of the vehicle and took it in three times to correct the defect with no avail.
The plaintiffs hold Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to confirm the vehicle with its warranties.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek all damages, including the refund or the purchase price, plus interest, attorney’s fees, costs and any further relief that the court may deem proper. They are represented by Clinton W. Smith of The Law Office of Clinton W. Smith in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 18-C-60
By: Ryan Quinn, Education Reporter | Posted: Feb. 14, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
Ruffner Elementary School teachers Diana Bailey (left) and Krystal McConihay attend a January teachers’ rally in the Capitol Rotunda. KENNY KEMP | Gazette-Mail file photo
Public school employees in at least three more counties, Lincoln, Clay and Mason, are joining those in Cabell and Wayne counties Friday in shutting down their schools and protesting in the state Capitol.
School workers in Logan, Mingo and Wyoming counties, and possibly other Southern West Virginia counties, already shut down their schools on Feb. 2, and instead rallied at the Statehouse. (more…)
Posted: Feb. 12, 2018 | Source: The Morehead News
Morehead State softball picked up another win early in its 2018 campaign, but recorded its first loss, bringing its record to 3-1 on the season.
The Eagles defeated Central Michigan for the second time this season, recording a 3-2 victory on a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning. Appalachian State handed Morehead State its first loss after a 15-8 late-night contest at Sikes Field.
MSU 3, CMU 2
Freshman Paige Scruggs sealed the win for Morehead State, but senior pitcher Chelsea McManaway carried the Eagles with a full game in the circle. McManaway struck out eight, allowing only one earned run among 24 batters faced.
Each of Morehead State’s three runs were scored off home runs by freshman players. Kalle Coleman homered to left center in the top of the second, followed by a two-run game-winner from Scruggs in the final inning. Allison Rager recorded three hits in four at-bats, while Taylor Wheeler logged two hits and one run in three at-bats.
ASU 15, MSU 8
Rager began the Eagles’ second matchup in the circle, pitching the game’s first 2.2 innings. Rager allowed nine hits and seven runs, striking out four and walking one. A trio of Eagles relieved Rager, led by 2.2 innings from freshman Megan Murphy. Rager received the loss on the day, brining her season record to 1-1.
In a game-high five at-bats, Taylor Wheeler logged two hits and two runs with a solo homer in the first inning. Rager took the plate with one run and a hit in three at-bats, complemented by two RBIs. Coleman recorded three hits in four at-bats, bringing home one run and two RBIs.
