The State Journal back issues from January 2009:
Braxton Center Designed for High-Tech Employers
Jan 02, 2009; ... It's called the Centralized Hospital and Emergency Medical Triage and Coordination Center. Also known as CHEMTAC, the organization is the newest tenant of the Braxton Technology Center. Situated near the Flatwoods interchange of I-79 the three-story, 30,000-square foot facility was a ...
Local Produce Makes Sense for Some Restaurants
Jan 02, 2009; ... CHARLESTON - The up-and-down price of fuel has had a major effect on shipping costs for many industries, and some advocates for local farmers have seen some new opportunities emerge for locally produced foods. Local restaurants such as Murad's at 35th Street in Kanawha City and local ...
Business Consultant Cooks Up Magazine, Food Show
Jan 02, 2009; ... After spending two decades helping other people figure out how to grow their businesses, David Allinder is putting his theories to the test for himself. Allinder, a Pittsburgh resident, recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of his first venture, a quarterly lifestyles magazine in ...
WVU Strives to Serve Returning Military Veterans
Jan 02, 2009; ... MORGANTOWN - As the ebb and flow of soldiers in and out of Iraq brings more home, and the new Montgomery GI Bill offers more attractive benefits, West Virginia University is finding avenues to address the concerns of this untraditional student group. "Vets are a special group of ...
Old Martinsburg YMCA Reborn as Business Incubator
Jan 02, 2009; ... MARTINSBURG - A stately building in the heart of downtown Martinsburg may have begun as a place for shaping the lives of young men, but it was rededicated in mid-December as a space for inspiring entrepreneurs to succeed. In 2002, David Levine and his two partners purchased the building ...
Northern Panhandle Science Program Spreads Across the State
Jan 02, 2009; ... A pilot program credited with improving the science scores of elementary-aged children in the Northern Panhandle is being implemented statewide. The WV-Handle on Science project began more than a decade ago to "raise the level of scientific literacy" among elementary schoolchildren ....
Adult Students Respond to New Clay County Facility
Jan 02, 2009; ... WALLBACK - Classes lead to degrees. Degrees will result in jobs. That's the formula now in place at the Valley Fork Education Center in Clay County. Several agencies have joined to offer college classes and job training at Valley Fork, a former elementary school a short distance from the ...
Trial Lawyers: 'Hellholes' Report Unreliable
Jan 02, 2009; ... The West Virginia Association for Justice president says the "Judicial Hellholes" study is propaganda supported by nothing. The group, formerly known as the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, was founded about 50 years ago to educate members about legal issues statewide and to ...
Proposed EPA Rule Changes Concern State Agriculture Officials
Jan 02, 2009; ... Farmers in West Virginia and around the country are holding their noses about new regulations under consideration by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The new regulations could result in some farms being charged for the methane emitted into the air by their cattle, pigs and ...
Former Basketball Star Moves Magic From Hardwood to Stage
Jan 02, 2009; ... Basketball fans associate the nickname Magic with legendary player Earvin Johnson Jr. Perhaps that's only because they've never watched Princeton native Jim Miller perform his tricks. A 6-foot-8-inch forward with a soft shooting touch, Miller was well known for his skills on the court ....
Buckhannon's Wallace Takes Unusual Trek to NBA
Jan 02, 2009; ... MEMPHIS - There are few Cinderella stories in the National Basketball Association, according to Chris Wallace. That is, of course, unless you would consider his own fairy tale-like journey. A native of Upshur County, Wallace has ascended to the leadership role at an NBA franchise without ...
Shentel Announces Plans to Upgrade Telecommunication Services in State
Jan 02, 2009; ... Virginia-based Shenandoah Telecommunications Co., also known as Shentel, a provider of telephone, Internet and cable television services in Virginia's northern Shenandoah Valley, said it plans to improve customer support and telecommunications infrastructure and provide new and expanded cable TV ...
Journalism Students Learn From, Teach Rural Newspapers
Jan 02, 2009; ... MORGANTOWN - Small, rural newspapers across the state will get a multimedia boost this winter through a project at West Virginia University's Parley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. It's the second phase of a school yearlong undertaking that got its start in the spring of 2008, when two ...
Proposed Hydroelectric Plant at Tygart Lake Remains Under Study
Jan 02, 2009; ... A long-hoped for hydroelectric plant at Tygart Dam in Grafton remains under consideration. It's a project the city of Grafton would like to see finally completed. "It would create not only construction but permanent jobs, not a lot of permanent jobs, but some," said City Manager ...
West Liberty State College Prepares for New Year, New University Status
Jan 02, 2009; ... West Liberty State College's name will change in May to reflect its new status as a university. The board of governors is planning a weeklong celebration to celebrate the school's rebirth as "West Liberty University." The name change caps a more than year-long drive to achieve the ...
School's Offer: Get Degree, Career - Without Leaving the House
Jan 02, 2009; ... HUNTINGTON - Here's a career pitch that is perfect for those who believe there's no place like home: Students can complete the two-year program completely online without attending an on-campus class. Starting salaries are in the $60,000 range for a job that doesn't require leaving the ...
Official: Outlook for W.Va. Exports Stays Strong in 2009
Jan 02, 2009; ... CHARLESTON - West Virginia is on pace for another record-setting year for exports in 2008, and the prognosis for next year also looks strong, a state official said. The state's export sector grew rapidly throughout the year, and it looks as if that trend will continue into the new year, ...
Bank Official Urges Consumer Caution as Economic Factors Shift
Jan 02, 2009; ... The New Year could look a lot less gloomy for the banking industry if numbers trend up to follow the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut. Robert K. Welty, city president of Fifth Third Bank in Charleston, said West Virginia typically has rested somewhere in the middle of' the pack ...
Thrift Shops Report Upsurge in Holiday Sales
Jan 02, 2009; ... It was a green Christmas in more than one way for thrift shops and consignment stores throughout West Virginia. An economic downtown, coupled with renewed interest in reusing and recycling goods, brought lots of new customers and higher sales figures to retailers dealing in secondhand ...
AccessWV Insurance Ends 2008 With Steady Growth
Jan 02, 2009; ... For those with the greatest health risks, procuring health insurance can be a daunting task. Enter AccessWV, a health plan created by West Virginia statute to provide health insurance for West Virginians who have been unable to find or who have been denied health insurance. "It ...
'Battery King' Develops Niche Market
Jan 02, 2009; ... PARKERSBURG - Do you know where to find an M cell battery? How about a 2/3 D or a fat A cell? No? Although most people never will have need for such unusual batteries, Parkersburg's W. Lynn Fuller IV has made a living selling them. And his business, Batteries Direct, is thriving ...
After Years of Delays, Pomeroy-Mason Bridge Set to Open
Jan 02, 2009; ... MASON - A bridge that originally was scheduled to open two years ago soon will carry traffic between Ohio and West Virginia. The Pomeroy-Mason Bridge was supposed to open in August 2006. Problems, however, forced officials to delay the opening several times. Dec. 30 was the new opening ...
Economic Downturn Means Energy Slowdown in 2009
Jan 02, 2009; ... West Virginia can expect a slowdown in its energy sector in 2009 as national and global recession cut into demand. The price of coal already is down, and that puts downward pressure on coal production, said Jim Truman, a coal analyst with Hill & Associates. Exports, which had ...
Coming Off Big Tax Collections, State Sees Slight Dip
Jan 02, 2009; ... CHARLESTON - Despite insulation from the nation's big booms and the big busts that followed, West Virginia's tax collections may start to see a few drops, according to Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow. Muchow said as of the end of November, the state's general revenue fund was ...
Workers Top Out Steel at UHC's New Building
Jan 02, 2009; ... BRIDGEPORT - United Hospital Center recently celebrated the "topping out of the steel" at its $280 million facility under construction in Bridgeport. The celebration means the steel has been placed at the highest point of the building. Construction on the facility began in the summer of ...
Potential Coal-to-Liquids Plant Has Details to Refine
Jan 02, 2009; ... While West Virginia waits for Adam Victor's next move, questions still swirl around the recently proposed Mingo Count coal-to-liquid plant from TransGas Development Systems LLC. The announcement came Dec. 9 during the state's energy summit. Plans call for a new plant to convert as much ...
Met Theatre Brightens Morgantown's High Street
Jan 02, 2009; ... MORGANTOWN - The Metropolitan Theatre, a historic landmark on High Street, now sports a new, state-of-the-art marquee that is a replica of the original circa 1920s marquee. "We had some really good photos of the original marquee," said theater manager Joe Kaehler. "The original was ...
Meditation Retreat Planned for Hampshire County
Jan 02, 2009; ... By the end of 2009, a private, environmentally friendly retreat costing between $10 million and $15 million will be constructed in the Three Churches area of Hampshire County. Global Country of World Peace has purchased two parcels totaling 170 acres for $750,000, according to Bob ...
Jackson County, Aluminum Have Had a Shared, Sometimes Twisted History Since 1957
Jan 02, 2009; ... RAVENSWOOD - Jackson County is the aluminum capital of West Virginia. The county can claim that title thanks to Henry J. Kaiser. The industrialist became a national figure for his role in the construction of Hoover Dam and Grand Coulee Dam. His reputation was further enhanced by his ...
WVU Research Focuses on Impact of Injuries Among Elderly
Jan 02, 2009; ... MORGANTOWN - Many families have experienced the heartbreak of the fall from which Grandpa never fully recovered. It's a pattern Mary Carter of the Department of Community Medicine at West Virginia University believes the health care industry could improve on. Carter's research ...
Losing Century Would Be Major Hit to Jackson County
Jan 02, 2009; ... RAVENSWOOD - Century Aluminum is a major player when it comes to the Jackson County economy. With 650 employees, the plant trails only neighboring Rio Tinto Alcan Rolled Products and the county school system in the number of jobs it provides. The average salary of a Century employee ...
County Officials Have Limited Support of Proposed Tax Appeals Changes
Jan 02, 2009; ... County commissioners and assessors across West Virginia are behind the state Chamber of Commerce's draft legislation to reform property tax appeals, but only tiny bits of it. The rest they adamantly dislike. At the County Commission Association, Vice President Brad Tuckwilier of ...
Aracoma Coal to Pay $4.2 Million in Alma No. 1 Mine Fire Case
Jan 02, 2009; ... Aracoma Coal Co. agreed Dec. 23 to pay $4.2 million in fines and penalties related to the Aracoma Alma No. 1 Mine fire in January 2006. The payment resolves citations issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office, the U.S ....
Walking a Tightrope
Jan 02, 2009; ... RAVENSWOOD - There will be no requests for a Wall Street handout, nor a Big Three-like bailout for Century Aluminum's smelter near Ravenswood. Instead, company officials, state government, organized labor and plant suppliers are hoping a cooperative "workout" effort will keep the Jackson ...
Brutality Lawsuit Filed Against Police, Pocahontas County
Jan 09, 2009; ... A tale of police brutality and a month-long stay in a mental hospital began with a public intoxication charge, according to a lawsuit filed against 39 defendants Dec. 24 in Kanawha County Circuit Court. The case, Flanary v. Pocahontas County et al., like many police or government ...
Judge Says WVU Didn't Violate West Virginia's FOIA Laws
Jan 09, 2009; ... A Monongalia County judge has ruled in favor of West Virginia University in a Pittsburgh newspaper's lawsuit to obtain telephone records from former WVU President Mike Garrison. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sued WVU under the state's Freedom of Information Act to gain access to Garrison's ...
Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott Opens Charleston Office
Jan 09, 2009; ... A northeastern law office has combined forces with a Charleston firm and has eventual plans for expansion into Morgantown. Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott LLC opened its first West Virginia law office Jan. 1 in Charleston, combining with 12 lawyers from the former Hendrickson & ...
State Agencies Look to Go Green With Hybrids
Jan 09, 2009; ... The Mountain State may go green, but the climb up that mountain will be paved with biodiesel and ethanol efforts at energy independence. State government has only a few hybrids on hand right now, but is open to further green efforts in its vehicle fleets. "I do know that there ...
Bus Service Begins Between Huntington, Charleston
Jan 09, 2009; ... Commuting between Huntington and Charleston can be a frustrating and costly hassle. But the hundreds of commuters who make that trip every morning and evening now have another option. Thanks to a cooperative agreement involving the state, Tri-State Transit Authority and Kanawha Valley ...
Some Government Buildings Boast Green, Efficient Features
Jan 09, 2009; ... One of the state's newest schools also is going to be one of its greenest. The new elementary school on Berkeley County Schools' Spring Hills campus is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design "silver" certification, meaning that it will be built to consume less energy and ...
Green Movement Reaches Into the Grave, But Not in West Virginia
Jan 09, 2009; ... "For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," states Genesis 3:19. A commonly used verse at funerals for centuries is becoming a more frequent burial choice. "Green" funerals generally mean either cremation or full-body burial with no chemical preservatives and a ...
Local Foods Have More Than Just Green Impact
Jan 09, 2009; ... Green can describe more than just leafy vegetables. Both chefs and agriculturalists say the idea of eating local foods, slow foods or green foods can have quite the effect. "I think the thing I want people to understand is if you eat food in season when you're supposed to eat it ...
Cities Take Advantage of Energy Performance Contracts
Jan 09, 2009; ... It might sound fairly mundane, but changing the light bulbs in the 1,800 streetlights in Morgantown might save the city an estimated $80,000 each year. Switching to light-emitting diode, or induction lighting would mean lower energy bills for the city, said Dan Boroff, city ...
State Greenhouse Gas Inventory Awaits Federal Rules
Jan 09, 2009; ... West Virginia may not get its first statewide greenhouse gas inventory until 2012, but at least one observer believes that sooner would be better than later. "It would be helpful to have a baseline in place so we can show that we are clearly paying attention, investing very significant ...
School Districts See More Families applying for Lunch Program
Jan 09, 2009; ... CLARKSBURG - Chris Babyak is noticing a scary spike these days. Babyak, Harrison County Schools Director of Child Nutrition, said she recently noticed the number of applications for free and reduced-cost student lunches in the county skyrocketing in the past couple of months. Between ...
Urban Planning Moving Away From Automotive Culture
Jan 09, 2009; ... "Walker friendly" is probably not the phrase first-time visitors would use to describe Barboursville if they entered the community through Interstate 64. At the eastern edge of the village sits the Huntington Mall and the thousands of automobiles it and other stores in the vicinity ...
Sheetz Chain May Be Next Business To Call The Highlands Home
Jan 09, 2009; ... Ohio County commissioners are ready to sell a building site at The Highlands, adding to the development's retail appeal even as it helps ease the credit crunch that's brought construction activities at the Triadelphia development to a virtual standstill. Commissioner Tim McCormick said ...
St. Joseph's Hospital Welcomes New CEO
Jan 09, 2009; ... PARKERSBURG - St. Joseph's Hospital's new chief executive officer says the challenge in health care today is to maximize efficiency without sacrificing quality. John G. "Jack" Julius was named to St. Joseph's top job in December. The appointment followed a two-month stint as interim ...
Norfolk Southern to Upgrade Point Pleasant Railroad Bridge
Jan 09, 2009; ... POINT PLEASANT - For the past century, the railroad bridge dissecting Point Pleasant in Mason County has carried trains across the Ohio River. Now, the 100-year-old bridge is in need of an upgrade. Norfolk Southern Corp. does not yet have a start date for the proposed $1 million ...
Natalie Tennant Plans to Upgrade I.T. Department
Jan 09, 2009; ... Secretary of State-elect Natalie Tennant said improving the information technology system of the office will be an early priority. Since winning election in November, Tennant has been assembling her leadership staff and planning her course of action. Her four-year term as the state's ...
States Take Different Approaches to Energy Portfolios
Jan 09, 2009; ... Coal is currently the single largest source of power generation in the U.S., but states across the nation are working to change that. Many have adopted energy portfolios mandating that utilities get a large percentage of their electricity from renewable resources by a certain date. West ...
4 Cities' Air Pollution Draws Continued Restrictions
Jan 09, 2009; ... MORGANTOWN - Because of fine particle air pollution, the Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg and Weirton areas may be subject to federal restrictions on development into 2012 or beyond. "There's a very high hurdle for new companies" to locate in those areas, said Fred Durham, deputy ...
CSX Corp. Evaluates The Greenbrier Resort's Track Record
Jan 09, 2009; ... The Greenbrier needs some answers about its business prospects, and the earlier in the new year it finds them the better. An unresolved labor dispute and lackluster economy are among the factors contributing to $35 million in losses at the historic White Sulphur Springs resort. Owner CSX ...
Cities Line Up For Infrastructure Dollars
Jan 09, 2009; ... Billions of dollars may be on the way to fund infrastructure projects around the country, and while states have been scrambling to position themselves to catch some of that windfall, many cities are arguing that local governments would spend the money better. President-elect Barack Obama ...
Train Service Offers Way to See Obama Inauguration
Jan 09, 2009; ... MARTINSBURG - As 2008 wrapped up, Eastern Panhandle residents got some welcome news from the Maryland Transit Administration along with the not-so-welcome word that the cost of commuting from the area by train will soon become more expensive. First the bad news: Commuter train passengers ...
Citizens for Coal Hope to Spread Message of Supporting Industry
Jan 09, 2009; ... After brooding, stewing, some begging and prodding, Roger Horton decided to do something. "What happened was for the longest time we'd been hearing here in the coalfields that there are two sides," Horton said, "those of the environmentalists and those of the coal industry. "We'd ...
Furthering the Cause
Jan 09, 2009; ... When Gov. Joe Manchin wanted bold ideas from young voices to improve the state and enhance its image, he immediately looked to Generation West Virginia. He called for a male and female representative from each of six respective regional groups under Generation West Virginia, and he ...
Minister Who Marched With MLK: 'We've Come a Long, Long Way'
Jan 16, 2009; ... MARTINSBURG - More than four decades after he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Ala., retired minister James G. Macdonell on Jan. 11 praised the slain civil rights leader for laying the groundwork for next week's inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation's first black ...
Potomac State Receives Gift Of $1 Million
Jan 16, 2009; ... KEYSER - Potomac State College of West Virginia University recently received the largest single contribution ever to be made to the institution. The nearly $1 million donation from Ruth Ann Davis, an alumna and retired professor of biology and chemistry, was made in the memory of her ...
Freeze in Corporate Net Income Tax Reduction Possible
Jan 16, 2009; ... CHARLESTON - The state's rainy day fund shrunk $133 million in the last six months of 2008 - a decline that could mean a freeze in the phase down of the state corporate net income tax in 2012. The state's rainy day fund balance was $448 million as of Jan. 12, an amount equal to about ...
Economist, Consumer Advocate Shed Light on Lowered Credit Limits
Jan 16, 2009; ... Major issuers of credit cards surprised customers last year by slashing limits. But to many, the move does more than merely cap consumer spending in a recession - it trickles down to lowering credit scores making future borrowing more difficult and costlier. Why is this all ...
Weirton Medical Center Announces Job Cuts
Jan 16, 2009; ... Weirton Medical Center is cutting jobs as part of an ongoing effort to improve its bottom line. WMC Communications Director Kevin Brown said the equivalent of 36 full-time jobs will be eliminated over the next month. Workers who will be impacted have been notified, he said. The ...
West Virginia Farmers Learn About Alternative Markets
Jan 16, 2009; ... SOUTH CHARLESTON - West Virginia State University Extension Service gathered a diverse crowd Jan. 12 to teach the basics of producing more alternative and ethnic foods for West Virginia. A group of nearly 50 - farmers, agriculturalists and a rabbi gathered to hear Susan Shoenian of the ...
Refinance Applications Rise in Wake of Low Interest Rates
Jan 16, 2009; ... Mortgage applications increased the first week of the new year, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The Association's Weekly Mortgage Application Survey for the week ending Jan. 9, 2009, shows refinancing applications accounted for most of the increase, according ...
United Bank Enters Tough Year With Success Under Its Belt
Jan 16, 2009; ... Rick Adams, president of United Bank, said 2009 is going to be a difficult year, but the bank has some successes from 2008 to carry over. The S&P 600 SmallCap Index, the stock market index from Standard & Poor's, named United Bank one of 31 stocks that increased in 2008 - by ...