Breaking News

Community

Preston County’s new IT director gets started on a technical report

KINGWOOD — Preston County’s newest IT director was busy working on a technical report Tuesday, according to County Administrator Nathan Raybeck.  Preston County commissioners approved the hiring of Alex Hines  as IT director during their last meeting, at a yearly salary of $73,000, full benefits and a September probation period.   Commissioners also approved a Victim of Crime Acts (VOCA) grant application presented by victim advocate Stacy Greaser.  A VOCA grant is a federal grant program that supports direct services to victims and survivors of ...

(Return) road trip: MountainFest is coming back to Morgantown this week

Hear that? Thunder, off in the distance — and Mother Nature doesn’t have a thing to do with it. It’s MountainFest, throttling its way back to Morgantown. Make that, the rebranded Wild & Wonderful MountainFest, the return of the University City’s iconic motorcycle ...

Hiring changes expected to ease staffing issues at FCI Hazelton

The federal Bureau of Prisons is changing its hiring process, which could help relieve staffing shortages at the Hazelton Federal Prison in Preston County.   The change comes more than a year after protests and pickets were held due to increased safety concerns for officers and inmates because of staffing issues at Hazelton. There are currently believed to be 90 job vacancies at the prison.   The BOP now allows for hiring at the local level.   American Federation of Government Employees Local 420 President Justin Tarovisky said before the change ...

Lazy summer? Not at MCHD, which is offering new services

It’s not that we don’t like a little down time ourselves, but with six active programs combined with our passion for public health, things don’t seem to be slowing down.  There are so many new and exciting opportunities coming soon to MCHD that a roundup of activities seems appropriate.  Offerings that are being launched in the next few months include both nutritional counseling and lead testing to any community member who wants it; an HIV PrEP clinic and a built-to-order customized RV that will serve as our new Smile Express mobile dentistry ...

AARP awards grants to Preston organizations

Two Preston County organizations were recent recipients of the National AARP Community Challenge Grant Awards. Arthurdale Heritage Inc. received $10,025 and the town of Reedsville, $5,000.   According to an AARP news release, the Community Challenge grant program is part of ...

MCHD WIC’s Harrison County lead testing expands to Monongalia, Marion

With the growing popularity of a grant-funded lead-testing pilot program in Harrison County, Monongalia County Health Department’s Women, Infants and Children (MCHD WIC) will be expanding the service into Monongalia and Marion counties, to anyone 1 and older.  Harrison County testing has been conducted for more than a year in response to higher rates of lead in the public drinking water.  “The concern for water in Marion and Monongalia counties is not as strong, but there are still older homes or work exposures that can make exposure to lead possible,” said Jason ...