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 ...

Ihlenfeld creates investigative team to review Upshur County Schools spending

June 17, 2023

WHEELING — U.S. Attorney for Northern West Virginia Bill Ihlenfeld said Friday he’s made no predetermination but he’s heard enough about how federal pandemic relief money was spent in the Upshur County school system to begin a federal investigation. Ihlenfeld said he was contacted earlier this month by state education officials who noticed red flags in their review of the spending. He has now formed an eight-member team to do an independent investigation. “I put together a team that will subpoena all of the relevant documents, that will interview witnesses, that will issue ...

Council considers contracting building inspector

June 16, 2023

KINGWOOD — Kingwood City Council members are considering hiring Trenton Cooper, a building code inspector from Elkins. If hired, he would be contracted by job and would not receive insurance or other benefits. A building code inspector inspects homes and commercial buildings to ensure local laws and zoning ordinances are being followed. “Someone (on council) contacted me and asked if I do contract work,” Cooper said. “I’m not opposed to it. I’m busy but I could commit to a couple of days a week for you.” He said removing dilapidated buildings and bringing ...

Mon Commission to host 13-county meeting to select one member of opiate settlement board

June 14, 2023

MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission learned Monday that it has about a month to bring 13 counties together to elect one person to help oversee the distribution of hundreds of millions of opiate settlement dollars.   A letter from West Virginia Attorney General Patrick ...

PEIA: open enrollment active following changes

June 10, 2023

Managers of the Public Employees Insurance Agency are encouraged by open enrollment, which has come after big changes to the program. And they are monitoring the results of opt-ins for spouses following the establishment of a surcharge. “We’ve had one of the largest open enrollments you can imagine,” acting PEIA director Jason Haught told finance board members during a Thursday afternoon meeting. Online, the insurance plan had more than 20,000 finalized enrollment transactions, he said. Among people who filled out enrollment forms on paper, Haught estimated about ...

Solid Waste Authority hears about youth program opportunities

June 9, 2023

KINGWOOD — Preston County Solid Waste Authority board members met in regular session Wednesday evening. The agenda included a visit by Jo Ann Snoderly, Youth Environmental Program District 1 Coordinator. The program is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and provides opportunities for West Virginia youth to participate in environmental projects within their communities. Snoderly, whose office is in Fairmont, said District 1 covers Brooke, Hancock, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Taylor and Wetzel ...