The State Journal back issues from June 2007:
SPREAD THIN
Jun 01, 2007; ... KEYSER - Mineral County Sheriff Gary White feels a little overwhelmed some days. Right now, the sheriff's department has 10 deputies. But he said that's not enough to cover the entire county - all 327 square miles of it-- around the clock every day of the year. One deputy is responsible ...
DOJ Newspaper Suit Raises Unanswered Questions
Jun 01, 2007; ... CHARLESTON - In the week since the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against the owner of The Charleston Gazette and the former owner of the Charleston Daily Mail, more questions than answers have surfaced. What will happen to the two newspapers if the Justice ...
Wallboard Plant Construction Progressing in Marshall County
Jun 01, 2007; ... MOUNDSVILLE - State Route 2 travelers now can see the framework for a new gypsum wallboard plant about five miles south of Moundsville rising above ground nearly two years after its plans were announced. "The first part was moving a lot of earth," said Mike Loughery, communications ...
Spots Going Fast for State Pavilion at Chinese Mining Show
Jun 01, 2007; ... Since 1999, West Virginia companies have been a staple at the largest coal mining show in China. And as of this week, only three spots are left at the state-sponsored pavilion at the China Coal & Mining Expo 2007 Nov. 6-9 in Beijing, said Debra Martin, manager of international trade ...
Residents, Company to Meet On Reopening of Coal Mine
Jun 01, 2007; ... WHEELING - A state senator soon will instigate the scheduling of a public hearing about the reopening of an Ohio County coal mine. Officials of Alliance Research Partners have progressed with the plan to reopen the Valley Camp Coal after 35 years of inactivity and rename it Tunnel Ridge ...
BRNI Researchers Patent New Way To Deliver Medicines to Brain
Jun 01, 2007; ... MORGANTOWN - Researchers at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute have patented a new way to safely transport medicines across the bloodbrain barrier, the institute announced on May 23. "If you look at the history of this field, it's been an extremely difficult challenge to ...
Plaintiffs Step Back From Challenging Apogee Coal Mine
Jun 01, 2007; ... This week, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Goodwin was supposed to hear arguments over whether to issue a temporary injunction to halt a Logan County coal mine from dumping rubble in a valley fill. But several days before the hearing was supposed to occur, three environmental groups ...
CSX Technology Chief Receives Marshall Award
Jun 01, 2007; ... HUNTINGTON - During the past 12 months, CSX Technology has helped Marshall University's Rahall Transportation Institute develop new software for use in the nation's railroad industry. CSX Technology's parent company, CSX Corp., is using the institute's new R-Surveying Solution to help ...
Counties Forming Self-Insurance Group
Jun 01, 2007; ... CHARLESTON - The West Virginia Association of Counties is creating a new insurance group for its members, one that would allow them to control their own destinies, in a way. "We call it insurance being run for counties by counties," said Patti Hamilton, executive director of the county ...
King Finds Right Fit as WVU's Fundraising Chief
Jun 01, 2007; ... MORGANTOWN - In a match that was seemingly destined, the West Virginia University Foundation board of directors has named R. Wayne King president and CEO, effective July 1. "Wayne King has strong fundraising credentials in both the educational and medical fields," said David W. Hamstead, ...
Hocutt's Serves North Carolina Style in Moundsville
Jun 01, 2007; ... Travis and Elizabeth Hocutt, both 34, had good lives in North Carolina with three daughters, two restaurants and a fish market. But when Hurricane Floyd flooded both restaurants eight years ago, Travis knew he needed a change. "I was in a 100-year floodplain where my restaurant ...
FamilyCare Sees Steady Growth from Putnam Base
Jun 01, 2007; ... Martha Cook Carter is just trying to stay one step ahead of FamilyCare HealthCenter's growth, which isn't easy. What started in 1989 as birth center in Putnam County has now grown to a multi-site, federally qualified Community Health Center that served almost 20,000 people in 2006. "It's ...
Power Customers Will See Rate Decrease
Jun 01, 2007; ... Monthly power bills will drop about $1 for Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison customers following a rate decrease ordered by the state Public Service Commission effective May 23. Allegheny Energy filed the request for the subsidiaries last July, spokesman Allen Staggers explained ...
Canaan Valley Park Becomes Year-Round Destination
Jun 01, 2007; ... Just because the ski poles are packed away for next year does not mean the fun stops at Canaan Valley Resort State Park. Traditionally thought of as a ski resort, Canaan Valley is now a year-round tourist destination. "Once Snowshoe, Timberline and Wisp became operational, we weren't the ...
Date Change Increases Interest in Mountaineer Triathlon
Jun 01, 2007; ... MORGANTOWN - With a move to a new weekend in its third year, Morgantown's MedExpress Mountaineer Triathlon is on track for its largest participation yet. "Registration is ahead of last year's," said Jay Redmond, sports and special events recruiter for the Greater Morgantown Convention ...
W.Va. Gourmet Items Draw Visitors to Harpers Ferry Festival
Jun 01, 2007; ... CHARLES TOWN - Many of the thousands of visitors who'll make their way here later this month for the 36th annual Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival come to peruse handmade rugs, pottery, baskets, jewelry, toys, dolls, furniture and other exemplary goods created by more than 200 ...
New Upper Mon Brochure Maps Waterways, Docks
Jun 01, 2007; ... MORGANTOWN - New boater services offered along on the Monongahela River are reflected in an updated Upper Mon Water Trail brochure. "There are a lot of new docks," said Peggy Pings, who spearheaded the collaborative brochure project. Pings serves as outdoor recreation planner for the ...
Pools Fail to Produce Big Profits But Remain Popular
Jun 01, 2007; ... WHEELING - Although the operation of public pools is no longer money making ventures for municipal parks, nearly 1 million gallons of water were purchased in May to fill a pair of pools at Wheeling Park and Oglebay Resort and Conference Center. Nat Goudy, general manager of Wheeling ...
Stonewall Resort Offers Summer Recreation
Jun 01, 2007; ... Those looking for a place to cool off with some water recreation this summer may want to consider Stonewall Resort and Conference Center. Stonewall Resort spans 2,000 acres surrounding a state park. The resort is located two miles off Interstate 79 at exit 91 along the 2650-acre ...
Wine and Cuisine Festival Scheduled for Stonewall
Jun 01, 2007; ... Lambert's Vintage Wines of Weston and Daniel Vineyards of Beckley will host a Wine and Cuisine Festival at the Stonewall Resort and Conference Center June 9. This is the third year for the festival, which promises to be an extensive display overlooking the lake from the resort's patio, ...
The Call of Berkeley Springs: 'Hey, Girlfriend!'
Jun 01, 2007; ... BERKELEY SPRINGS - Michele Sandy, a busy school administrator with daughters ages 5 and 7, had passed through Berkeley Springs numerous times driving back and forth from her native Pennsylvania. But after a recent all-girl weekend to celebrate her closest friend's 40th birthday, the ...
Bigger Beerfest Coming to Wildernest This Year
Jun 01, 2007; ... The beer will flow at the Wildernest Inn July 14, and the event should be bigger than ever. "What we normally do is hold two or three a year, and use local, West Virginia brewing companies, and change it each time," said Kathy Hornby, coowner of Wildernest Inn. "We're just making one big ...
Monongahela National Forest Raises Questions
Jun 01, 2007; ... Designating a national forest used to be easy. National forests west of the Mississippi River had always been public domain land, so a stroke of the Congressional pen protected land that no humans had ever touched. The West Virginia Wilderness Coalition is a group that in 2002 ...
Other Royalty Lawsuits in Progress
Jun 01, 2007; ... As a $404 million Roane County verdict from January continues to hang over natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy, other producers are facing similar lawsuits in state and federal court in West Virginia.. Equitable Production Co., Statoil Energy Inc. and Ashland Oil Inc. are defending a ...
Wesleyan Program Geared to Help Advertising
Jun 01, 2007; ... Students at West Virginia Wesleyan College are getting hands-on experience planning advertising campaigns. Advertising Management, taught by MBA coordinator and part-time faculty member Briana Cicero Johns, allows students to integrate theory with planning, management and ...
Fort Boreman Set to Open First Full Season in June
Jun 01, 2007; ... PARKERSBURG - Historic Fort Bareman will kick off its first season in full operation in June. The restoration was completed late last fall, and since then residents have had limited use of the park facilities. Now, however, the community is preparing for a grand opening ...
Biometric Devices Qualify for NBSP List
Jun 01, 2007; ... MORGANTOWN - The first round of evaluations conducted by the National Biometric Security Project's Test Research & Data Center has placed two biometric devices on the NBSP's Qualified Product List of biometric products, the organization said. The new QPL products are Bioscrypt's ...
Mineral County Pays Out Thousands for Lawsuits
Jun 01, 2007; ... KEYSER - Mineral County has been ordered to pay more than $250,000 in legal fees and settlements as the result of lawsuits, according to records. Two years ago, then-deputy clerk Debra Weasenforth filed a sexual harassment suit against Clerk Isaac "Sonny" Alt. Following months of ...
Fairmont-Marion Group Alters Consolidation Plans
Jun 01, 2007; ... A hard look at combining government services in Fairmont and Marion County, the first attempt at metro government in the state, has taken an unexpected turn. Authorized by the Consolidated Local Government Act of 2006, metro government enables local governments to seek efficiencies by ...
Wesleyan College Embarks on Performing Arts Project
Jun 01, 2007; ... West Virginia Wesleyan College has begun construction on the new Virginia Thomas Law Center for the! Performing Arts, the college announced May 11. "We are thrilled to make this longtime dream a reality for Wesleyan and the Buckhannon community," said WVWC President Pamela Balch. "We ...
The Doctor Is In
Jun 08, 2007; ... BIG OTTER - Dr. Christine Jones never knows what to expect when she walks into an examination room at Primary Care Inc.'s Big Otter Clinic. "I've had everything," she said. "People want to see if they can get taken care of here first. I've seen people with fishing hooks in their mouths ...
Corps Develops New Jurisdiction Rules
Jun 08, 2007; ... A U.S. Supreme Court decision on whether the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over water that flows only when it rains or when snow melts may mean changes for mining companies in West Virginia. But now, coal companies aren't sure whether the decision will make mining easier ...
Entrepreneurial Spirit Helps Fuel Research at Medical School
Jun 08, 2007; ... HUNTINGTON - In May, two scientists at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University launched a new company dedicated to manufacturing alginate, a product with a multi-billion-dollar worldwide market. Progenesis Technologies LLC will focus on new methods for producing ...
Marshall's Med School Campus Keeps Expanding
Jun 08, 2007; ... HUNTINGTON - Through much of its history, the old C&O Railway Hospital building in Huntington served the medical needs of people around the region. Built in the 1800s, the structure once was a popular destination for those seeking quality medical care, said Dr. Charles McKown, dean ...
Marshall Med School Set to Change Curriculum
Jun 08, 2007; ... HUNTINGTON - Since 1977, students who have attended the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University have been trained in basically the same manner. But that will change starting this fall. The medical school staff is preparing to begin using a new curriculum program that ...
Counties Realize Benefits From Oil, Gas
Jun 08, 2007; ... With an increase in oil and gas activity, oil and gas companies are clustering at the southern end of the I-79 High Technology Corridor in Lewis County. "We've had a lot of good luck, there's no question about it," said Doug Parsons, executive director of the Lewis County Economic ...
AT&T Prepaid Phone Card Increase Rates For In-State Calls
Jun 08, 2007; ... Holders of older AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards who recharge their minutes now are finding them depleted at a faster rate for in-state calls. Calls made within West Virginia using AT&T prepaid phone cards now cost three minutes of paid time for every minute of talk time. The increase ...
PSC to Consider Proposed Water Rate Increase
Jun 08, 2007; ... Thousands of West Virginia residents soon may have to pay more per gallon, and it has nothing to do with gasoline. West Virginia American Water Co. recently asked the state's Public Service Commission to approve a rate increase for the water it provides residents and businesses in 19 ...
Building Demolition Opens Land for Redevelopment
Jun 08, 2007; ... Demolition of a sprawling, dilapidated storefront in downtown Weirton eliminates an eyesore and opens up a sizeable parcel for redevelopment, city officials said. The property, owned by the Kusic family, until recently housed classic cars and other memorabilia, even though it had fallen ...
Vienna Opts Not To Move City Offices
Jun 08, 2007; ... Vienna officials have scrapped a proposal to move city offices into a soon-to-be vacated church building in the heart of town. The congregation of Fellowship Baptist Church had offered to sell their current building on 46th Street to the city for $800,000, significantly less than its ...
Report Details Underground Coal Mine Seal Strengths
Jun 08, 2007; ... Twice in the past year, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration has revised guidelines on how strong underground mine seals should be. According to a report released June 4, mine seals need to be installed according to a three-tier analysis, with the necessary strengths ranging ...
State Farm to Lower Auto Insurance Rates
Jun 08, 2007; ... State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., the largest insurer of autos in West Virginia and in the nation, is lowering its overall rate level in West Virginia an average of 2.5 percent effective July 2. The change represents an annual savings of $16.5 million to the company's West ...
NIOSH Nearly Ready for Testing
Jun 08, 2007; ... West Virginia coal mines are set to begin installing underground refuge chambers in the coming months even though the federal government has yet to begin testing the shelters. Plans are moving forward for full compliance with new mine safety laws requiring underground shelters in the ...
W.Va. Communities Ponder Metro Government
Jun 08, 2007; ... Several West Virginia communities continue to look at government consolidation as a way to become more economically efficient and competitive, according to Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, the legislator who has championed the idea for the past several years. "The key thing is it's ...
Morgantown Architect Maintains Past for Future
Jun 08, 2007; ... MORGANTOWN - Bringing a passion for history together with a waste-not-want-not sensibility, Mills Group architects in Morgantown are preserving structures across the state. The success of the approach is obvious. Started less than two years ago, Mills Group and lead architect Michael ...
WVU Breaks Ground on New Alumni Center
Jun 08, 2007; ... MORGANTOWN - With a celebratory shot from the Mountaineer's gun and shouts of delight from community leaders, friends of the university and alumni, West Virginia University's Alumni Association broke ground on a new Erickson Alumni Center June 1. "The alumni are a powerful force," said ...
Physical Therapy Center to Open in Hampshire County
Jun 08, 2007; ... ROMNEY - A $6.9 million wellness center, funded in part by a state bond issue, is near completion. "We should be able to occupy the building by June 29," said Les Shoemaker Jr., acting executive director of Hampshire County Development Authority. Located on three acres off Route ...
Hughes Supply Opens New Beckley Office
Jun 08, 2007; ... BECKLEY - Hughes Supply Co., which manufactures, installs and services underground communication systems for mining and other underground industries, has opened a new facility at 300 Rural Acres Drive. The company has become a player in advancing underground communications since the ...
Bank of Romney Opens Sixth Branch
Jun 08, 2007; ... ROMNEY - The Bank of Romney's Sunrise Branch hosted a grand opening June 2, giving away more than 100 prizes purchased from local businesses. The $2.5 million, 3,800-square-foot building was completed in May. Sunrise touts four drive-through lanes, a separate drive-up ATM, large ...
Report Focuses on Coal-Fired Emissions
Jun 08, 2007; ... Evaluating the two dominant policy approaches for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as likely ineffective, the Center for American Progress released a report May 31 advancing a third approach. "Global Warming and the Future of Coal" addresses the concern that the large number of ...
United Bankshares Chief Rings Opening Bell at NASDAQ
Jun 08, 2007; ... NEW YORK - For the past 20 years, investors around the world have been able to by stock in United Bankshares Inc. on the NASDAQ stock exchange. In commemoration of that anniversary, the bank's chairman and CEO, Richard Adams, rang the opening bell May 29. "They invited us up to ...
Plaza Developers Want Downtown Wheeling Tax Breaks
Jun 08, 2007; ... WHEELING - Developers of the proposed Fort Henry Plaza in Elm Grove said they hope to gain the same business and occupation tax reductions offered to new and existing businesses in the downtown district. The reductions, however, may not occur, said Wheeling Councilman Barry ...
Stone Center in Wheeling Still Waiting on Second Tenant
Jun 08, 2007; ... WHEELING - The recently renovated Stone Center @, Market Plaza has yet to attract its second tenant nearly a year after the structure reopened, but the executive director of the Regional Economic Development Partnership said the pace does not concern him. "We are always making efforts to ...
Princeton Strives to Enhance Downtown's Appeal
Jun 08, 2007; ... PRINCETON - The Princeton Railroad Museum is the latest addition to the city in an attempt to open and increase business in the downtown area. As part of an ongoing plan to revitalize the Mercer Street area, city officials last fall added the museum - once the location of the original ...
WVU Researchers Look to the Stars
Jun 08, 2007; ... Collaboration between West Virginia University and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory has led to discoveries that researchers say even Einstein would liked to have seen. Researchers are looking at the pulsars created from rapidly rotating, highly magnetized neutron stars that emit ...
Wheeling Breaks Ground on Skatepark Project
Jun 08, 2007; ... WHEELING - The city of Wheeling broke ground for the Mountain State's only permanent inline skating facility June 1, a day Wheeling resident Diana Mey has been awaiting for the past five years. Mey generated the interest, collected committee members and played a large role in raising ...
AG Still Wants MySpace List
Jun 08, 2007; ... CHARLESTON - The West Virginia Attorney General's Office is taking steps to obtain a list of registered sex offenders who have Web sites through the MySpace.com. social networking Web site. At the same time, that office and possibly even law enforcement agencies are being made aware of ...
By the Numbers
Jun 15, 2007; ... CHARLESTON - For 75 years, Pile Hardware on Charleston's West Side has given shoppers a place near their homes and businesses to buy tools, equipment and maybe get advice for an upcoming project. And owner Bill Pile said he is sure his business will continue to serve customers for the ...
Two Down, Two to Go
Jun 15, 2007; ... All eyes were on Ohio and Jefferson counties during their June 9 table game elections, and now it's up to Hancock and Kanawha counties to pursue their elections this summer. Ohio County voters gave games the green light by nearly a two-to-one margin. Jefferson County voters shot down the ...
State Lags Behind in Gross Domestic Product Ranking
Jun 15, 2007; ... More West Virginians than ever may be working, but the actual productivity of the state is barely growing. This week, the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis released the Gross Domestic Product growth in each state from 2005 to 2006. While the nation's Gross National Product grew by 3.4 ...
Wheeling Hospital to Launch Outreach Program
Jun 15, 2007; ... Wheeling Hospital is launching an East Wheeling Outreach to make free health care screenings more readily available to some of the people who most need them. Ronald L. Violi, the hospital's chief executive officer, said community leaders had told them of the need for health screenings ....
Wheeling Officials Believe Venue Can Be Saved
Jun 15, 2007; ... WHEELING - Several city officials said they believe the Capitol Music Hall could be the centerpiece of downtown activity if the historic structure can be refurbished in time to save it from the wrecking ball. Wheeling City Councilman Barry Crow said representatives of various ...
Scrap Dealers Sue Esmark
Jun 15, 2007; ... Esmark, the Chicago-based steel services company that took control of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. after a bitter proxy fight, is being sued by two scrap dealers claiming breach of contract. Metal Management, a Chicago scrap dealer, filed its complaint June 7 in New York, alleging ...
Spencer Veneer Plant Closing Will Affect About 130 Workers
Jun 15, 2007; ... Roane County development officials say they've run out of options for keeping Spencer Veneer open, though no one is ruling out the possibility a new buyer may emerge. The closing, which will affect about 130 workers at the Spencer plant, was announced June 8. The closing takes effect ...
ArcelorMittal Invests In Equipment for Weirton
Jun 15, 2007; ... ArcelorMittal is investing in equipment at its Weirton plant that local union leaders hope will boost efforts to make it the nation's premier tin mill product producer. Mark Glyptis, president of United Steelworkers Union Local 2911, "reiterated their goal is to make us the premier tin ...