New code inspector contract still up in the air in Kingwood

June 29, 2023

KINGWOOD — Kingwood City Council answered questions from Mike Neel concerning the search for a building code inspector during its recent meeting. During their June 13 meeting, council members met with Code Inspector Trenton Cooper, from Elkins, and discussed the possibility of his helping with dilapidated buildings and condemned properties. Cooper told council members he was busy, but could commit to a couple days a week. If hired, council indicated Cooper would be contracted by job and would not receive insurance or other benefits. Council has discussed the need for a code ...

WVDEP, DHHR issue statewide air quality advisory due to smoke from Canadian wildfires

June 29, 2023

CHARLESTON — If you’ve gone outside in the past day or two, you’ve noticed the haze. But that smokiness in the air doesn’t just make it harder to see the sunshine. It can also make it more difficult — and dangerous — to breathe. The West Virginia Department of Environmental ...

Bloom: 63 cities, 13 counties will pick one member of West Virginia First Foundation

June 28, 2023

MORGANTOWN — Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom said a total of 76 letters are en route to 63 cities and 13 counties — each of the government bodies being asked to send a representative to the Mon County Center at 10 a.m. July 13.  From that meeting, the 13-county Region ...

Sens: MVP has received final permit from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

June 24, 2023

Both U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito reported Friday that the Mountain Valley Pipeline had received its final permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow for construction to be completed. Manchin said the approval of the Sec. 404 permit was great news for West Virginia and the nation. “The Mountain Valley Pipeline is essential to ensuring our nation’s energy and national security and providing affordable, reliable natural gas to hundreds of thousands of Americans,” Manchin said. “I am proud to have secured Mountain Valley’s approval in the ...

Governor says administration wasn’t focus of ‘Do It For Babydog’ probe

June 23, 2023

Gov. Jim Justice pushed back on a national report of a federal investigation involving the “Do It For Babydog” vaccine sweepstakes. In a briefing Tuesday, the governor and his chief of staff acknowledged a subpoena by federal investigators and confirmed that the administration had cooperated with the probe. But the West Virginia officials emphasized that the investigation was not about state actions. Instead, they said, it was focused on prices set by car dealers and indicated that it has concluded without a finding of wrongdoing. “We’ve been told that the case at the ...

Kingwood native to return as county administrator

June 20, 2023

KINGWOOD — Preston County will have a new County administrator beginning July 5. At a recent meeting commissioners announced they hired Nathan Raybeck, who is currently living in New York. Kathy Mace, who has served the county as administrator for more than 15 years is retiring, but said she will stay to help with the transitioning. Raybeck said moving back to Preston County is coming home. “I’m from Preston County,” he said. “I grew up in Kingwood. My family is still there, but I’ve been away for a quarter of a century.” Raybeck said when the opportunity to ...