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Local Government

Officials want to revisit issue of oil, gas inspectors

Last year when the Legislature was considering a bill to generate money to hire more state inspectors for oil and gas wells, lobbyist David McMahon warned that it wouldn’t be enough. “We appreciate this bill. We think it’s not enough,” McMahon, co-founder of the West Virginia Surface Owners Rights Organization, told senators. And now, with the legislative session just ahead again, McMahon is advocating to revisit the issue. The regular session of the West Virginia Legislature begins Jan. 10. Senate Energy Chairman Randy Smith, R-Tucker, agreed that the support for oil ...

Injured trooper out of ICU awaiting word on arm surgery

Injured State Police Trooper Abe Bean is out of intensive care and waiting on word about an upcoming arm surgery. Bean and fellow Trooper Cadin Spessert were injured in a Dec. 17 shootout in Martinsburg while trying to execute a search warrant. Investigators said Tobias Ganey opened fire on the troopers. They returned fire claiming Ganey’s life. Spessert suffered one gunshot wound and is out of the hospital. Bean was shot four times, including twice in his left leg. The leg had to be amputated above the knee. Bean’s father, Brian Bean, gave an update of his son’s ...

Manchin to kick off exploration of the political middle with N.H. appearance

Sen. Joe Manchin’s search for the political middle is taking him to an early presidential primary state next month. Manchin is set to appear Jan. 12 at a “Politics & Eggs” event hosted by the New England Council and New Hampshire Institute of Politics. The event links Manchin’s appearance to “Americans Together,” described as “a new organization that is creating a platform for the middle to connect and empower moderate voices around the country.” Manchin and his daughter Heather have been pitching wealthy political donors on supporting a centrist political ...

Commission approves funding request from the County EMS Association

KINGWOOD — The Preston County Commission approved a $7,000 request from the Preston County EMS Association. The funds will be used to pay for training 10 individuals. Once trained the individuals must test and work for the county EMS for a year. If the individuals don’t test, they must pay the money back. Commissioners took the $7,000 from the county contingency fund, and will be reimbursed out of the EMS salary fund, according to commissioner Hunter Thomas. In other business commissioners voted to change to the Per Diem Policy. Per Diem is a Latin term that means per day. ...

White Park bridge and trail project proving complicated

MORGANTOWN — It’ll happen, but it’s complicated.  Those five words sum up Morgantown Staff Engineer Drew Gatlin’s recent update to BOPARC regarding the new bridge and trail network planned for White Park.  The bridge in question would allow access to the south side of the ...

City Council discuss plans to recreate sections of Maplewood Cemetery

KINGWOOD — A discussion about plots and urns in Maplewood Cemetery was the first item of discussion on the Tuesday evening Kingwood City Council agenda. On May 21, 2022, accountant Vickie Hammond took on the job of organizing and doing research on the cemetery. Hammond worked to recreate sections of the cemetery so the information could be put online and made available to the public on the City of Kingwood’s website. At that time, she said there would be 12 sections for plots, plus two rows of cremations. Hammond said information that would be placed on the website would ...