First Presbyterian of St. Albans pastor retiring after 15 years

Pastor Paul Romine of the First Presbyterian Church of St. Albans is retiring later this month after 15 years at the helm of the historic church on Kanawha Terrace. The church is planning a celebration of his tenure on Sunday, Jan. 28, at the church.

By: Ben Calwell, Metro Staff | Posted: Jan. 11, 2018 | Source: Kanawha Metro

Pastor Paul Romine’s eyes seemed to glisten slightly as he talked about missing the mountains.

They moistened a bit more when he talked about missing the people.

Romine, pastor at First Presbyterian Church of St. Albans, is retiring later this month after 15 years at the helm of the historic church at 201 Kanawha Terrace. (more…)

WV Music Hall of Fame inductees come from various genres

John (left) and David Morris at the WV State Folk Festival at Glenville in 1974 courtesy of WV Division of Culture and History photograph by Carl Fleischhauer.

By: Julie Perine, The Exponent Telegraph | Posted: Jan. 11, 2018 | Source: WV News

CHARLESTON — This year’s West Virginia Music Hall of Fame inductees are rooted in various genres of music, but all are rooted in the Mountain State.

On Feb. 10, Hasil Adkins, Frank Hutchison, Ann Magnuson, The Morris Brothers, the late Fred “Sonic” Smith and Michael W. Smith will be inducted into the elite group of musicians. The awards ceremony, which will feature a musical segment for each inductee, takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the West Virginia Culture Center Theater in Charleston.

It’s an honor, said West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Director Michael Lipton, that is second to none. (more…)

Winter weather advisory issued for Friday night, Saturday morning

By: Jarrod Clay | Posted: Jan. 11, 2018 | Source: WVAH

With heavy rain expected to turn to snow Friday evening, the National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a winter weather advisory for much of the viewing area.

The winter weather advisory is in effect from 4 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday.

In West Virginia, the advisory includes Wayne, Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Lincoln, Putnam, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Mingo, Logan, Boone, Clay, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison and Taylor County.

In Kentucky, the advisory includes Greenup, Carter, Boyd and Lawrence County. In Ohio, Morgan, Athens, Washington and Jackson County are under the advisory.

After a night of heavy rain Thursday, more rain is expected to move into the area at about 11 a.m. Friday. Late Friday evening an arctic cold front will move through the region and rain will turn to ice and snow as the temperature plummets.

Friday’s high is expected to be about 61 degrees, but it is expected to fall into the low 20s.

A tenth of an inch of ice could accumulate Friday night as the rain turns to snow and the temperature falls.

Most of the area can expect to see 2 to 4 inches of snow overnight, with some models showing the possibility of 6 to 7 inches.

Doug Harlow Facebook Post 1-11-2018

The overnight snow will make for treacherous road conditions Saturday morning.

The snow is expected to move out of the area Saturday afternoon.

With heavy rain also expected Thursday night, much of the area was also placed under a flood watch through Friday morning.

NWS Charleston Flood Threat Graphic 1-11-2018

For the latest updates, follow meteorologist Jim BarachDoug Harlow and Brandon Stover on Twitter or head to the Eyewitness News weather page.

We want to see your videos and photos as this frigid system moves into the area. Send them to us here and we might use them online or on air.

Flood watch issued for multiple areas in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio

By: Jeff Morris | Posted: Jan. 11, 2018 | Source: WVAH

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for multiple areas in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, including Kanawha County.

The Weather Service said the watch will be in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday through Friday morning.

In West Virginia, the watch includes Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mingo, Pleasants, Putnam, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tyler, Wayne and Wirt. (more…)

Boil-water advisories: Jan. 11, 2018

Posted: Jan. 11, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Water advisories

West Virginia American Water has issued a boil-water advisory for about 90 customers on part of Campbells Creek Drive from Hiley Drive (not included) to Point Lick Drive in Campbells Creek. The advisory follows a water main break.

West Virginia American Water has issued a boil-water advisory for seven customers in the Bethel Road in Charleston. The advisory follows a water main break.

West Virginia American Water has issued a boil-water advisory for about 25 customers on Beechwood Drive in South Charleston from Mountain Road (not included) to Locust Avenue (not included). The advisory follows a water main break. (more…)

State Fair of West Virginia scholarship deadline upcoming

Posted: Jan. 10, 2018 | Source: Clay County Free Press

The State Fair of West Virginia 2018 Scholarship applications will be due January 15, 2018. Scholarships are funded through the State Fair Endowment, which was created in 2006, to ensure the long-term support of three key areas; Scholarships Career Advancement Initiatives, Youth Educational Enrichment Programs and Agricultural Competitive Exhibit Premiums.

Five, four-year scholarships of up to $1,000 are awarded to youth who have participated in the State Fair within the previous five years and plan to pursue a vocational trade, associate or bachelor degree, excelled academically, and demonstrated a financial need. Scholarships will be awarded to individuals who have participated in one or more of the following areas at the State Fair of West Virginia:

  1. State Fair Livestock Shows – market animals, purebred animals, and dairy.
  2. Equine Programs – State Fair’s Open Horse Show or Junior Horse and Pony Show.
  3. 4-H and FFA Youth Exhibit Program – 4-H and FFA Underwood Youth Center.

Applications are available online until January 15, 2018 at https://www.gvfoundation.org/ or by visiting the State Fair’s website www.statefairofwv.com/fair. Feel free to call the State Fair Office at 304-645-1090 for more information or questions.

The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on West Virginia, is a 501c 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information visit www.statefairofwv.com.

Settlement for 2014 Elk River chemical spill nears final court approval

By: Michael Lemley | Posted: Jan. 10, 2018 | Source: WV News

CHARLESTON — A $151 million settlement for a class-action lawsuit over a 2014 chemical spill is close to its final court approval following a hearing Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver said that he wants to see updated numbers on the number of claims have been filed and also receive a report from a court-appointed guardian, who works to protect the interests of children who have claims to part of the settlement, before granting the approval.

As of Dec. 19, over 43,000 households in the affected areas have filed claims, as well as nearly 2,000 businesses, according to a claims report filed to the District Court Dec. 29.

In 2014, chemicals were released from a Freedom Industries plant into the Elk River. The spill occurred upstream from an intake for a West Virginia American Water Co. intake, treatment and distribution center and resulted in contaminated water for hundreds of thousands of customers. Portions of nine counties were affected: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane.

The lawsuit is against West Virginia American Water and Eastman Chemical Co., and alleges that both companies inadequately handled the incident. The suit says that West Virginia American Water did not adequately prepare for or respond to the spill. It also claims Eastman Chemical did not warn Freedom of the dangers of the chemical or take action when Eastman officials learned that the Freedom facility was in disrepair.

Affected households and businesses can file simple claims to receive flat sums of money based on the number of residents in the household or the size of the business or submit a detailed claim that documents losses. The deadline to submit claims is Feb. 21, and, assuming approval, distribution will begin after.

Copenhaver scheduled a hearing to consider the requested information for Feb. 1.

Program aims to help youths develop their own business

By: Jordan Nelson | Posted: Jan. 10, 2018 | Source: Register-Herald Reporter

Create West Virginia is on the hunt for the six most creative 11-14 year olds in West Virginia to become a “Goal Miner,” a program where students can collaborate and develop their own business.

The Goal Miners will be a team of six individuals set up to develop a business with a budget of $600, and with the guidance of business coaches and local business owners the students will build a business of their own choosing.

According to Create West Virginia officials, after students take part in a series of workshops, their business will be put to the test through the summer during which they will receive matching funding if they reach their goals.

Officials said the process will not be easy, but students will have a lot of help along the way.

According to the program’s official website, twice a month through the spring season, students will be admitted into “Work’n Title Workshops” along experienced business owners. Create West Virginia will also provide students with mentors to guide their team towards success.

“Through summer, your team’s business will be put to the test,” the website stated. “If you’ve met your goals by fall, your team will be rewarded with matching funds and a year of consulting so you may continue growing the business together.”

If students decide to not grow their business together, they also have the choice to cash out and part ways with their earnings.

The Goal Miner program is offered to all West Virginian students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Officials said students may work with a team remotely, but for the best experience students in only these counties should apply: Kanawha, Cabell, Putnam, Lincoln, Boone, Raleigh, Fayette, Clay, Roane and Jackson.

Students have until Friday, Jan. 26 at 11:59 p.m. to apply to become a Goal Digger.

Applications can be found online at https://www.createwv.org/goal-miners.

To be eligible you must:

  • Live in West Virginia
  • Be 11 to 14 years of age
  • Dedicate a few hours weekly from March to mid-August
  • Travel to meet your Charleston centric team or work remotely
Email: jnelson@register-herald.com; follow on Twitter @jnelsonRH

 

Roane County schools receive grants

Posted: Jan. 10, 2018 | Source: The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

SPENCER — Roane County students will build robots and create digital art thanks to two grants awarded to the Roane County Board of Education.

For the second consecutive year, Roane County Math Instructional Coach Chad Strimel has been awarded a grant to bring hands-on work with robotics and computer programming to students in the county’s elementary classrooms.

The grant will expand Strimel’s current inventory to include robotics kits from Lego and software that will allow students to program these robots using the various computers already available to them in the classroom, according to a press release.

In the second grant, county Technology Integration Specialist Josh Holley partnered with Walton Elementary/Middle School art teacher Sarah Duncan to develop a digital art program. Students will use digital tablets to draw, manipulate, and produce artwork on laptops provided as part of Roane County’s 1-to-1 device program.

“STEM” — an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — is used to describe the national, cross-curricular effort to expose students to the many careers available and skills required in the modern, technology-driven workforce, the school system said.

Roane County Superintendent Richard Duncan, the former STEM coordinator for Mingo County Schools, praised the efforts of these and other educators to expand the opportunities presented to students across the county. “These grants will bring exciting, engaging learning experiences to our students while building on our existing technology infrastructure to show our communities just what is possible in our schools,” Duncan said.

The grants, totaling nearly $5,000, are presented with support from the Governor’s STEM Initiative and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.

DNR: West Virginia hunters harvested 108,160 deer in 2017

By: Will Reedy | Posted: Jan. 9, 2018 | Source: WV Explorer

Preliminary counts indicate hunters harvested 108,160 white-tailed deer in West Virginia during the 2017 hunting seasons. The 2017 harvest was four percent below the 2016 harvest of 112,384 deer and 15 percent below the five-year average of 127,803, according to a report published today by the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources.

A breakdown of the combined 2017 deer seasons reveals 44,127 bucks were harvested during the traditional buck firearm season, 33,584 antlerless deer were killed during all antlerless firearm seasons, 26,206 deer were harvested by bows and crossbows, and 4,243 deer were taken by muzzleloader hunters. (more…)