News Staff The maintenance director for Boone County Schools has been federally indicted after authorities said he used his position to falsify documents that led to the school system being defrauded of approximately $3.4 million. Federal authorities arrested Michael David Barker after a grand jury indicted him on 18 counts. According to the indictment unsealed on Wednesday, … Read more
Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee were told this week that actual tax collections are close to the state’s revenue estimates for the fiscal year, five months into it. November tax collections were nearly 5% above revenue estimates and tax collections for July through November added up to more than $5 million in surplus … Read more
A bill addressing behavioral issues at school could see new light in the upcoming session of the West Virginia Legislature. Monday afternoon, state lawmakers heard from teachers and administrators on the topic. School staff told members of the Joint Standing Committee on Education if they want to improve test scores, they first must deal with … Read more
A Putnam County man was arrested Monday after he allegedly burned copper from railroad tracks. Court records show 29 year old Zachary Shamblin of Poca has been charged with destruction of utility equipment. The criminal complaint said deputies were dispatched to Charleston Road in Poca where firefighters had responded to a blaze near railroad tracks. … Read more
The Fort Gay Town Council met Monday to fill the positions of mayor and recorder after the positions were vacated following accusations of financial crimes. Eyewitness News reported the council appointed lifelong Fort Gay residents Ralph Dent to serve as mayor and Wade Cyrus as town recorder. The shakeup in leadership follows the arrest of … Read more
A Putnam County mother accused in the death of her 16-day-old infant pleaded not guilty Monday. 32-year old Brooke Kessler of Hurricane pleaded not guilty in the case related to her infant’s death in June. A trial date in the case is set for Feb. 18, 2025. Medical staff at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital … Read more
A special call of the Huntington City Council has been made to address the challenge of election results, according to city officials. Two candidates – Sasha Chapman, District 1 and Carl Eastham, District 9 – have opposed the wins of their political opponents, according to a memorandum from the city. The city had recently voted … Read more
Lawmakers met to discuss updates on the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management and what could be changing during the next legislative session. Monday was the start of December interim meetings at the West Virginia state Capitol, and Eyewitness News said no quorum was met in Monday’s PEIA meeting, meaning nothing was finalized. The … Read more
A man accused of firing shots at utility workers and refusing to come out of his home for law enforcement was in court Monday. Eyewitness News said 32-year old Aaron Grindstaff pleaded guilty to wanton endangerment in an incident that happened along Wills Creek Road in Clendenin in February. Grindstaff is accused of firing several … Read more
A retired coal miner has been nominated to be the next president of the West Virginia Senate. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, was nominated during a closed-door session Sunday evening. Smith has most recently served as chairman of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee and currently represents a Senate district that covers parts of Monongalia, Taylor, … Read more