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Cops and Courts

Woman charged with 4th-degree arson in connection to March incident at Masontown Rainbow Tire

Fourth-degree arson charges were filed in Preston County Magistrate Court on Friday following an investigation into an alleged “suspicious event” that occurred March 10 at Rainbow Tire in Masontown. The well-known tire business has since closed due to the untimely passing of owner Christine Croucher, fondly known as “the Tire Lady." Croucher's death occurred less than two weeks before the alleged arson attempt. According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement was dispatched to the tire shop on Veterans Memorial Highway after being advised “someone attempted to start ...

Bridgeport doctor charged with illegal prescribing, destroying evidence

CLARKSBURG — A West Virginia doctor has been indicted for the unlawful distribution of controlled substances and for destroying evidence of his alleged crimes. David Elwood Hess, 59, of Bridgeport, was indicted Tuesday on 25 counts of improper prescribing and one count of destroying records in a federal investigation. According to court documents, Hess wrote prescriptions for Adderall, Xanax, Oxycontin and other controlled substances to individuals without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional practice. The indictment also charges Hess with remotely ...

DOH cuts enough tree canopy to stretch to Myrtle Beach

West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) maintenance crews cleared more than 430 miles of trees and branches away from the state’s roadways between November 2022 and the end of March, enough to stretch from Charleston to Myrtle Beach, S.C. Canopy clearing plays a vital part in prolonging the life of the pavement on West Virginia’s 36,000 miles of road. Along with keeping ditches cleared and proper drainage, keeping roads cleared of overhanging canopy is important both to the life of the road and to the safety of drivers. “I can't tell you how proud I am of the crews,” ...

Adkins retires from Mon Sheriff’s Department after 42 years

Rick Adkins has been an important part of the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department for 42 years. On Friday, he was joined by fellow officers, first responders and various others to celebrate his retirement from a lengthy career with a luncheon at the sheriff’s office.  “Rick ...

Two troopers reassigned, demoted, rape allegation added to police investigation

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice said multi-layered investigations of the West Virginia State Police are continuing, and administration officials confirmed that some high-ranking troopers have been bumped to new positions. Justice and administration officials said no one has been fired at this point, although the longtime superintendent abruptly resigned last week. “We had some things that are just so off the chart and it’s just unbelievable, conduct that we absolutely can’t have,” Justice said during a briefing Wednesday. “We’re trying with all in us, and we’ll get ...