Recent News Articles

Work on Kanawha library’s temporary Clendenin space expected to take 90 days

By: Lori Kersey, Staff Writer | Posted: Feb. 12, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

It will be at least three months before the Kanawha County Public Library can set up a temporary space in the old Clendenin Middle School, a library official said Monday.

The library is working on drafting a lease with 25045 — A New Clendenin, the nonprofit that owns the building, director Alan Engelbert told the library board Monday at the its regular meeting.

The fountain outside the main branch of the Kanawha County Public Library on Capitol Street in Charleston.

The fountain outside the main branch of the Kanawha County Public Library on Capitol Street in Charleston. Gazette-Mail file photo

The Kanawha County Commission has committed $50,000 toward renovation work at the space. The work will include taking down some walls within the facility as well as lighting and electrical work. It’s expected to take about 90 days, Engelbert said.

“I think anyone who’s doing a construction project who gives you a fixed date is probably kidding themselves,” Englebert said. “The county commission is going to be coordinating most of that work. So a lot of it will be up to their control.”

Englebert said the library appreciates the commission giving $50,000 to the project.

“We’re not sure that will cover all the expenses, and maybe the library will have to step up a little bit,” he said.

In the meantime, the library is preparing shelves, tables and chairs that it will need to put in the space. It’s also putting together a collection of books and materials, Engelbert said.

Though the library’s Clendenin facility was destroyed in the June 2016 flood, the library has retained the budget for the library branch, Engelbert said.

Last year the commission threatened to pull its $3.2 million in funding if the board decided not to rebuild the Clendenin branch.

Engelbert said the library’s space at the old middle school will be temporary.

Also Monday, Engelbert said the library has hired West Virginia Commercial to identify possible temporary locations for the main branch of the library during its upcoming $27 million expansion and renovation project.

Engelbert said library officials have yet to meet with the company to hear what those locations might be. The project is scheduled for this fall and is expected to take 18 to 24 months, during which the main branch will be moved to a temporary location.

The library board chose a bid from a Texas company for the first phase of a project that will allow self-checkout of library materials. The board chose PV Supa’s bid of $73,320 for radio frequency identification tags and programming.

The self-checkout will be implemented across the library system as the renovated main branch reopens, he said.

The equipment will have to be purchased before that happens, he said.

“We’re not going to do that right now,” Engelbert said. “We’ll do that as this branch gets closer to completion.”

In other business:

  • The library board approved a request from the Kanawha County Commission to allow the Sissonville branch to be a polling place for early voting from April 25 to May 5.
  • Appointed a committee to search for a replacement for Engelbert, who has announced he will retire in July.
February 12, 2018 in 2016 FLOOD, Local News, Long Term Aftermath & Recovery, NEWS

Class AA-A state wrestling tournament pairings

By: Gary Fauber | Posted: Feb. 12, 2018 | Source: Beckley Register-Herald

Class AA/A pairings for the first round of the 2018 West Virginia high school wrestling championships beginning Feb. 22 in Huntington, including wrestler, school, class and record (key: C-regional champion, R-runner-up, T-third place, F-fourth place, number is region; read paragraphs top to bottom as brackets):

106 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Blake Boyers, East Fairmont, fr., 32-4 vs. F4-Brandon Maynard, Man, fr., 29-7; R2- Joseph Blake, Lewis County, 40-9 vs. T3-Zach Barber, Oak Hill, sr., 22-4;

C4-Christopher Smith, Pt. Pleasant, fr., 31-3 vs. F1-Camden Barr, Oak Glen, soph., 24-20; R3-Marshall Clere, Greenbrier West, soph., 28-19 vs. T2-Noah Allman, Grafton, fr., 41-16.

LOWER BRACKET: C2-Jake Long, Braxton County, fr., 46-8 vs. F3-Bradley Brown, Liberty (R), soph., 40-15; R1-Wiley Houser, St. Marys, fr., 37-5 vs. T4-Billy Smith, Winfield, fr., 29-18;

C3-John Sanders, Independence, fr., 18-16 vs. F2-Ryan Murphy, Liberty Harrison, fr., 38-19; R4-Logan Powell, Wirt County, fr., 33-9 vs. T1-Eli Nazelrodt, Petersburg, fr., 25-20.

113 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Blake Whorton, East Fairmont, soph., 40-2 vs. F3-Matt Amick, Nicholas County, jr., 43-10; R4-Justin Cornell, Pt. Pleasant, soph., 39-6 vs. T2-Alex Burge, Braxton County, fr., 39-14;

C3-Bryce Perdue, Independence, fr., 21-11 vs. F1-Tyler Staggs, Keyser, sr., 42-6; R2-Zaiah Blackwell, Roane County, jr., 33-17 vs. T4-Hunter Poole, Wirt County, soph., 25-10.

LOWER BRACKET: C4-Brantley Guckert, Williamstown, sr., 32-5 vs. F2-Joseph Powers, Doddridge County, fr., 31-18; R1-Shawn Moore, Oak Glen, jr., 34-8 vs. T3-Tyler Teel, Herbert Hoover, fr., 27-8;

C2-Noah Hodges, Grafton, jr., 51-3 vs. F4-Matt Smith, Winfield, sr., 23-15; R3-Ashby West, Oak Hill, soph., 33-8 vs. T1-Brady Layman, Ritchie County, fr., 40-6.

120 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Cole Laya, East Fairmont, sr., 35-1 vs. F2-Paxton Cody, Moorefield, soph., 8-12; R3- Eric Crowe, Greenbrier West, jr., 24-19 vs. T4-Hunter Whittington, Sissonville, jr., 23-8;

C2-Keith Skaggs, Grafton, sr., 22-2 vs. F1-Wyatt Conley, Weir, soph., 28-16; R4-Mike Daley, Winfield, fr., 31-14 vs. T3-Davy Stoots, Liberty (R), soph., 36-10.

LOWER BRACKET: C3-Sean Dawson, Independence, soph., 25-9 vs. F4-AJ Garrett, Wirt County, fr., 23-16; R1-Connor Spaulding, Ritchie County, jr., 34-4 vs. T2-Blake Sontos, Clay County, fr., 36-12;

C4-George Smith, Pt. Pleasant, jr., 29-5 vs. F3-Levi Price, Shady Spring, fr., 23-31; R2-Tyee Ellison, Braxton County, fr., 40-13 vs. T1-Kevin Brewer, Fairmont Senior, sr., 27-8.

126 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Brock Whorton, East Fairmont, sr., 39-0 vs. F4-Dallas Hazelett, Nitro, soph., 21-19; R2-Reese Burnside, Doddridge County, fr., 36-11 vs. T3-Logan Seldomridge, Greenbrier West, sr., 35-9;

C4-Mitchell Freeman, Pt. Pleasant, fr., 40-8 vs. F1-Gavin Ray, Oak Glen, fr., 25-12; R3-Justin Stover, Herbert Hoover, sr., 38-5 vs. T2-Preston Peck, South Harrison, soph., 31-17.

LOWER BRACKET: C2-Aidan Gibson, Bridgeport, soph., 40-10 vs. F3-Kyle Barker, Nicholas County, sr., 34- 14; R1-Blaze Cain, Weir, sr., 29-17 vs. T4-Casey Burdette, Sissonville, jr., 23-14;

C3-Liam Lusher, Independence, jr., 24-10 vs. F2-Devin Barnes, Liberty Harrison, jr., 38-18; R4-Colton Whipkey, Wirt County, soph., 27-17 vs. T1-Cole Morris, Berkeley Springs, soph., 38-9.

132 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Caleb Rea, Weir, sr., 39-4 vs. F3-Dan Nutter, Greenbrier West, jr., 22-19; R4-Trevor Hunt, Wahama, soph., 33-12 vs. T2-Gunner Childers, Liberty Harrison, fr., 30-19;

C3-Hunter Taylor, Independence, sr., 9-4 vs. F1-Brandon Shaw, Berkeley Springs, jr., 45-12; R2-Anthony Colombo, South Harrison, soph., 18-13 vs. T4-Mason Deem, Williamstown, soph., 29-9.

LOWER BRACKET: C4-Wyatt Powell, Wirt County, jr., 33-6 vs. F2-Gage Smith, Doddridge County, soph., 29-17; R1-Peyton Hall, Oak Glen, soph., 41-5 vs. T3-Seth Martin, Oak Hill, sr., 30-12;

C2-Kemo Summers, Bridgeport, fr., 36-10 vs. F4-Tyler Messinger, Lincoln County, jr., 19-9; R3-Clayton Pettry, Liberty (R), jr., 43-14 vs. T1-Lane Flint, East Fairmont, jr., 41-7.

138 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Austin Pumphrey, Frankfort, sr., 54-0 vs. F2-Kevin Wetzel, Moorefield, fr., 31-23; R3-Bailey Alderman, Richwood, sr., 40-11 vs. T4-Wyatt Wilson, Pt. Pleasant, fr., 31-17;

C2-Gage Vincent, Braxton County, sr., 49-4 vs. F1-Ethan Zimmerman, Berkeley Springs, soph., 51-9; R4- Eli Stump, Calhoun County, sr., 36-5 vs. T3-Colton Testerman, Shady Spring, soph., 32-19.

LOWER BRACKET: C3-Tanner Harris, Independence, sr., 24-8 vs. F4-Luke Hughes, Nitro, fr., 27-15; R1- Alec Cook, Madonna, jr., 44-5 vs. T2-Russel Murphy, Liberty Harrison, soph., 17-5;

C4-Casch Somerville, Williamstown, soph., 38-11 vs. F3-Eli Sedlock, Fayetteville, fr., 28-18; R2-Addison Courtney, Bridgeport, soph., 28-14 vs. T1-Khaleb Fazenbaker, East Fairmont, sr., 37-12.

145 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Zach Davis, Berkeley Springs, sr., 48-1 vs. F4-Clay Tanner, Ravenswood, soph., 25- 13; R2-Dillion Williams, Grafton, soph., 47-7 vs. T3-Trevor Edenfield, Greenbrier West, sr., 39-11;

C4-Jamie Ward, Winfield, jr., 30-2 vs. F1-Dylan Burks, East Fairmont, sr., 25-10; R3-Gamon Trigg, Bluefield, jr., 33-7 vs. T2-Gavin Triplett, Braxton County, jr., 28-6.

LOWER BRACKET: C2-Jake Whiting, Roane County, jr., 42-3 vs. F3-Ben Kee, Herbert Hoover, soph., 30-10; R1-Ethan Swick, Petersburg, sr., 34-13 vs. T4-Julian Stoneman, Williamstown, fr., 27-15;

C3-Alex Hart, Independence, sr., 31-7 vs. F2-Tanner George, Philip Barbour, jr., 21-8; R4-Zac Samson, Pt. Pleasant, soph., 33-14 vs. T1-Tyler Mason, Keyser, jr., 39-7.

152 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Dylan Kincell, East Fairmont, sr., 33-9 vs. F3-Sammy Pullens, Fayetteville, jr., 28-16; R4-Ethan Herdman, Wahama, sr., 37-9 vs. T2-Austin Gibson, Bridgeport, jr., 38-11;

C3-Haegan Harvey, Independence, sr., 30-6 vs. F1-Garrett Conaway, North Marion, fr., 44-15; R2-Adam Reichard, Roane County, sr., 47-7 vs. T4-Bryce Breeden, Winfield, jr., 24-5.

LOWER BRACKET: C4-Logan Southall, Pt. Pleasant, soph., 25-11 vs. F2-Logan Conley, Braxton County, fr., 39-20; R1-Davy Mundey, Berkeley Springs, sr., 58-2 vs. T3-Cameron Crislip, Nicholas County, sr., 46-8;

C2-Hunter Mitchell, Lewis County, sr., 48-4 vs. F4-Noah Garrett, Wirt County, sr., 18-15; R3-Malik Cox, Greenbrier West, soph., 25-11 vs. T1-Noah Kiszka, Frankfort, soph., 44-10.

160 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Hunter Baird, Madonna, sr., 21-8 vs. F2-Caleb Crabtree, Lincoln, jr., 42-19; R3-Trent Pullens, Fayetteville, sr., 40-5 vs. T4-Jacob Roub, Pt. Pleasant, sr., 30-16;

C2-Isaac Van Meter, Moorefield, fr., 50-2 vs. F1-Scotty Collins, Ritchie County, sr., 18-8; R4-Dalton McCune, Calhoun County, jr., 8-2 vs. T3-Colton Kessler, Greenbrier West, jr., 31-14.

LOWER BRACKET: C3-Connor Gibson, Independence, sr., 29-7 vs. F4-Caleb Whittington, Sissonville, sr., 15-9; R1-Dimarrian Thomas, East Fairmont, jr., 15-5 vs. T2-Jacob Whitney, Braxton County, sr., 50-7;

C4-Jay Hall, Winfield, sr., 31-7 vs. F3-Zach Paxton, Herbert Hoover, fr., 16-13; R2-Deacon Stearns, Liberty Harrison, jr., 43-8 vs. T1-JC Cousins, Frankfort, sr., 23-3.

170 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Shayden Daugherty, Keyser, sr., 45-3 vs. F4-Jacob Bryant, Pt. Pleasant, sr., 27-19; R2-Will Kunh, Lewis County, 39-12 vs. T3-Hayden Burdette, Richwood, sr., 22-10;

C4-Hunter Moore, Wirt County, sr., 32-5 vs. F1-Wyatt Wingrove, Cameron, sr., 22-18; R3-Tucker Lawson, Independence, sr., 25-13 vs. T2-Lincoln Mayle, Philip Barbour, jr., 26-15.

LOWER BRACKET: C2-Jordan Williams, Braxton County, soph., 48-3 vs. F3-Kris Wilson, Fayetteville, jr., 35-13; R1-Nate Kotsko, East Fairmont, jr., 38-8 vs. T4-Chance Dixon, Winfield, jr., 33-14;

C3-Chase Patterson, Greenbrier West, soph., 42-5 vs. F2-Benson Bassell, Bridgeport, sr., 38-14; R4-Vinny Devaney, Nitro, sr., 32-7 vs. T1-Peyton Thompson, Berkeley Springs, fr., 47-11.

182 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Garrett Cook, Madonna, jr., 44-4 vs. F3-Ben Lusk, PikeView, sr., 40-10; R4-Clayton Hill, Pt. Pleasant, sr., 28-17 vs. T2-Seth Meador, Braxton County, soph., 41-17;

C3-Adam Daniels, Independence, sr., 14-2 vs. F1-Grant Postlethwait, East Fairmont, jr., 25-21; R2-Colton Casto, Clay County, fr., 39-6 vs. T4-JD McCallister, Winfield, jr., 28-9.

LOWER BRACKET: C4-Paul Frampton, Nitro, sr., 38-4 vs. F2-Kyle Parsons, Roane County, jr., 33-20; R1- Alec Burgess, Petersburg, jr., 44-6 vs. T3-Zach Spencer, Herbert Hoover, jr., 27-10;

C2-Colten Hovermale, Lincoln, soph., 42-7 vs. F4-Christian Thomas, Wahama, sr., 28-12; R3-Colton Dorsey, Greenbrier West, jr., 30-9 vs. T1-Josh Mason, Ritchie County, sr., 36-6.

195 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Jackson Moomau, Petersburg, sr., 48-0 vs. F2-Ryan LaAsmar, Notre Dame, sr., 22-5; R3-Noah Brown, Greenbrier West, fr., 36-9 vs. T4-Glenn McFee, Wirt County, jr., 19-14;

C2-Elias Stamm, South Harrison, jr., 40-3 vs. F1-Nate Gerau, East Fairmont, jr., 18-18; R4-Juan Marquez, Pt. Pleasant, soph., 36-12 vs. T3-Eric Workman, Liberty (R), sr., 32-10.

LOWER BRACKET: C3-Mason Kump, Independence, jr., 27-11 vs. F4-Jacob Reynolds Jr, Poca, jr., 20-11; R1-Donovan Kirby, Madonna, jr., 35-7 vs. T2-Sturgis May, Braxton County, fr., 30-7;

C4-Alex Hale, Winfield, sr., 43-4 vs. F3-Jordan Vaught, PikeView, jr., 27-9; R2-Jaden Marino, Robert C Byrd, jr., 35-4 vs. T1-Kyler Flanigan, Oak Glen, sr., 18-23.

220 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Doug Morral, Petersburg, jr., 44-6 vs. F4-Waytt Stanley, Pt. Pleasant, soph., 17-12; R2-Quinn Meador, Braxton County, soph., 44-7 vs. T3-Ben Bailey, Herbert Hoover, sr., 26-4;

C4-Gavin Shamblin, Sissonville, soph., 29-9 vs. F1-Austin Conaway, North Marion, sr., 21-8; R3-Christian Lively, Oak Hill, sr., 24-5 vs. T2-DJ Smith, Roane County, soph., 27-13.

LOWER BRACKET: C2-Kavaughn Summers, Bridgeport, jr., 31-1 vs. F3-Logan Price, PikeView, jr., 37-12; R1-Tanner Clark, Berkeley Springs, sr., 15-4 vs. T4-Jacob Scraggs, Lincoln County, jr., 15-3;

C3-Trey Gunnoe, Independence, sr., 11-7 vs. F2-Seth Pumphrey, South Harrison, jr., 24-17; R4-Antonio Serevicz, Wahama, jr., 33-3 vs. T1-Antone Herring, St. Marys, sr., 31-8.

285 pounds

UPPER BRACKET: C1-Zach Frazier, Fairmont Senior, soph., 36-0 vs. F3-Devin Vance, Liberty (R), soph., 26- 23; R4-Cody Riley, Buffalo, soph., 14-8 vs. T2-Michael Junkins, Notre Dame, fr., 25-9;

C3-Levi Lesher, Midland Trail, sr., 30-5 vs. F1-Mikey Hamrick, Magnolia, soph., 21-8; R2-Ryan Metzgar, Lewis County, sr., 36-8 vs. T4-DJ Browning, Man, sr., 18-7.

LOWER BRACKET: C4-Jake Muncy, Pt. Pleasant, soph., 23-14 vs. F2-Isaiah Cumberledge, Braxton County, sr., 31-8; R1-Cory Chipps, Tyler Consolidated, sr., 29-3 vs. T3-Hunter Isom, Independence, soph., 17-6;

C2-Garrett Ware, Grafton, sr., 47-3 vs. F4-Tyler Mileto, Logan, jr., 24-6; R3-Trey White, PikeView, sr., 34- 3 vs. T1-Steven White, Keyser, sr., 36-6.

February 12, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Englebert echos Carper’s goals for Clendenin library, which could open in May

By: Alexander Thomas | Posted: Feb. 12, 2018 | Source: WCHS News Network

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Reflecting remarks made last week by Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, Kanawha County Public Library Director Alan Englebert said a temporary library in Clendenin would be operational in 90 to 100 days.

The library Board of Directors announced in December it plans to enter an agreement to rent the first floor of the Clendenin Middle School building for a temporary space. The board is still working on reaching a deal with 25404 A New Clendenin Inc., who owns the property. (more…)

February 12, 2018 in Local News, Long Term Aftermath & Recovery, NEWS

Temporary Clendenin library could be open by late May

By: Alexander Thomas | Posted: Feb. 12, 2018 | Source: WCHS News Network

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A temporary library in Clendenin could open by late May, according to Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, providing town residents with its first standing library since the June 2016 flood destroyed their permanent facility.

The plan is to transform the first floor of the Clendenin Middle School building into a usable library area. The Kanawha County Public Library Board of Directors will pay $1,500 in rent per month to use the 3,000-square-foot space. (more…)

February 12, 2018 in 2016 FLOOD, Local News, Long Term Aftermath & Recovery, NEWS

After flood warning, rains moving out

The yard of a home on Orchard Road, in the Fayette County community of Whipple, was flooded after heavy weekend rains.
Photo by F. Brian Ferguson | Gazette-Mail

By: Staff Reports | Posted: Feb. 11, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

The heavy rains that led to flood warnings in much of West Virginia Sunday morning mostly moved out by afternoon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said.

The flood warning that had been in effect for southeastern Kanawha County and much of the state south of the Interstate 64 corridor and east of the Interstate 79 corridor was expected to expire Sunday afternoon. (more…)

February 11, 2018 in Local News, NEWS, Weather

Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation gives fourth-quarter grants

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

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Board of Trustees approved the distribution of 15 grants totaling $528,074.

Since she was very young, Danette’s granddaughter McKayla had always been fascinated with books; she wanted to handle them and have them read to her. When she entered first grade, McKayla was disappointed and frustrated that she could not seem to pick up reading and writing simple words like her classmates. Her frustration increased when, in second grade, she was unable to keep up with her classmates and was failing all of her subjects. (more…)

February 11, 2018 in Local News, NEWS

Hotel lawsuit hits developer Abruzzino for almost $19 million

The Hilton Garden Inn in Morgantown is in bankruptcy proceedings. Photo by Brad McElhinny/MetroNews

By: Brad McElhinny | Posted: Feb. 10, 2018 at 4:50 p.m. | WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A recently-filed federal lawsuit contends West Virginia developer William Abruzzino is personally responsible for $18,822,851.95 on the defaulting Hilton Garden Inn in Morgantown.

The lenders filed a breach of contract lawsuit Feb. 2 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The lawsuit contends Abruzzino and his wife Rebecca have violated the terms of their personal guarantee on the loan.

A similar lawsuit filed in October held the Abruzzinos personally responsible for $17 million for the loan on another of their developments, the Crossings Mall in Elkview.

Lawyers for the Abruzzinos filed a response in that case on Jan. 31, denying the claims and countering that the lenders have acted in bad faith.

The Abruzzinos have had developments floundering over the past couple of years in a variety of West Virginia communities.

The troubles even hit two Abruzzino-owned Elkins shopping centers that foreclosed and were sold at auction for $10 million this past week.

More prominent have been defaulting hotels in Morgantown, Clarksburg, Elkins and Elkview that have been in bankruptcy and in litigation.

The State of West Virginia, as well as county and local governments, has been trying to get hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes that were collected from customers but not passed on.

The original loans were taken out by an investment group that included Sen. Joe Manchin and longtime aide Larry Puccio. Recent bankruptcy documents filed in the Morgantown hotel case indicate they are not current investors but it’s not clear when they got out or under what circumstances.

The latest court action says the Abruzzinos signed a personal guarantee on the $15,470,000 loan they took out in 2013 for the Hilton Garden Inn at Sun Crest Town Center.

Mountain Blue Hotel Group, an investment group that has William Abruzzino as its lead investor, has filed bankruptcy on the Hilton Garden Inn twice in a year’s time.

That and the failure to pay property taxes has triggered the guarantee, the lender contends.

“As a result of the above and other actions, all amounts due and owing under the Loan Documents have been accelerated and are immediately due and payable,” lawyers for the lender state in the recent filing.

The lawyers say $18,822,851.95 debt remains. That includes what’s still on the loan plus attorneys fees, costs and expenses from the ongoing legal battle.

Brad McElhinny is the statewide correspondent for MetroNews. Brad is a Parkersburg native who spent more than 20 years at the Charleston Daily Mail. Email Brad at brad.mcelhinny@wvmetronews.com and follow him on Twitter @BradMcElhinny.

February 10, 2018 in Business News, Local News, NEWS

Oil and natural gas industry’s biggest bill of the session moves out of committee

West Virginia Capitol Dome photo by Chris Dorst with WV Gazette-Mail.

By: Kate Mishkin, Staff Writer | Posted: Feb. 9, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

The Clendenin Leader 2018 WV Legislative SessionA bill that would allow companies to drill on minority mineral owners’ land without their consent moved from committee to the House of Delegates floor Friday afternoon, but not without an hour of public comments and nearly three hours of committee deliberation.

House Bill 4268, also known as the co-tenancy bill, would pave the way for natural gas and oil companies to drill as long as the majority of mineral rights owners, or three-quarters of the ownership, say it’s OK. (more…)

February 9, 2018 in Business News, NEWS, Politics

Elkview gym honors veteran

By: Jarrod Clay | Posted: Feb. 8, 2018 | Source: WCHS view video here

ELKVIEW, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — A veteran was honored Thursday in Elkview as part of Anytime Fitness’ Member Appreciation Day.

The fitness center surprised David Fields.

Fields, 76, has Parkinson’s disease, and workers at the Elkview Anytime Fitness said he is in the gym almost every day and is an inspiration and pleasure to have as a member.

To show their appreciation, workers decided to dedicate a treadmill in Fields’ honor with a plaque.

“I never dreamed that I would have anyone celebrate anything that I did, but it was all for me,” Fields said.

Fields was once a distance runner and mentored runners at Herbert Hoover High School.

Additional video footage available on Facebook.

February 8, 2018 in Local News, NEWS