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Charleston City Council approves budget for next Fiscal Year

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston City Council has approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.

Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin and Finance Director Andy Wood presented the $111 million budget during the Finance Committee meeting on March 4. Council members voted to pass the budget during their meeting Monday, March 18.

“This budget is centered on investments in our people, places, and spaces – and the way we operate – beginning with our City employees,” said Mayor Goodwin. “This budget maintains funding for paving and building demolitions and makes sure there are no new taxes or fees, but it also ensures we are taking care of our city employees – including funding for new boots and coats, coverage outside of normal working hours, more take-home cars for our officers, streamlining current processes, compensating the teams we rely on in an emergency, and making sure our teams have the equipment they need to be efficient in serving our community.”

Finance Committee Chair Joseph Jenkins said the budget shows that the city is “healthy.”

“This is a good budget with no increases in taxes or fees,” Jenkins said during council’s meeting Monday night.

A few things were added to the budget in between when the mayor initially introduced it and this week. The budget does include an increase in the uniform budget for employees who work outside every day. There’s also additional funding for a part-time employee and additional resources for Humane Officers and for grass and materials necessary to restore Cato golf course.

The approved budget will go into effect July 1.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

South Charleston robbery suspect pleads guilty

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man charged with robbing a Chase bank in South Charleston in November pleaded guilty Monday.

Logan Anthony Hall, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty by prosecutor’s information which bypasses the grand jury process. He appeared before Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers.

Investigators said Hall entered the bank and handed the bank teller a note demanding money, to which the teller obliged. Hall told Judge Akers Monday that he took off with about $6,000 that he allegedly ended up using to pay off debts and bills.

Hall was taken into custody after officers executed a search warrant at his residence, which is a half-mile from the bank. He had admitted of his actions to investigators.

Hall faces up to 20 years in prison. He may qualify for a youthful offender program.

Sentencing is set for April 30.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

August 2023 flood victims encouraged to sign up for FEMA disaster assistance as deadline to do so approaches

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports they so far have distributed over $2 million dollars in recovery assistance for the 2023 August flash flood victims across the five counties that were most affected. This follows the disaster declaration FEMA was able to obtain on January 31st.

After setting up four different Disaster Recovery Centers for residents of Kanawha, Harrison, Clay, Boone, and Calhoun counties to provide disaster assistance for the flood which took place from August 28 to Aug. 30, 2023, representatives with FEMA say they will soon be wrapping up their efforts and flood victims have just two weeks left to get registered to receive the assistance.

FEMA Media Relations Specialist, Tiana Suber, told MetroNews that the deadline to register for FEMA disaster assistance is Monday, April 1., and they are encouraging all of those who have not yet made it out to the recovery centers to sign up to do so as soon as possible.

“The important part about that is that if you register before the deadline, you can continue to get help after the deadline,” said Suber. “Once you have a registration number with us we will be able to continue to help you, and you know, if you feel like maybe you do, maybe you don’t need FEMA, register with us anyway.”

She said you never know what reimbursement opportunities that FEMA may have available for you regarding any expenses that may have incurred over the last six months in rebuilding after the flood.

To date, FEMA has approved a total of $1,926,131 in Individual Assistance, $1,842,349 in Housing Assistance, and $83,781 in Other Needs Assistance.

Suber said there has been a total of 557 registrations so far, with 254 being out of Kanawha County, 141 in Harrison, 62 in Clay, another 62 in Boone, and 38 in Calhoun County.

In addition, a total of 563 people have visited the DRCs so far, which are set up at the Harrison County Courthouse, Belle Town Hall and Penn VA Coal Carbon Center in Kanawha County, as well as a mobile unit was set up along Main Street in Clay County.

Suber said overall, the recovery centers have been running fairly smoothly, despite there being a little confusion at first as a result of people hearing some misinformation about the centers based on what they heard word-of-mouth.

“When you come to the Disaster Recovery Center we tell you everything that you need to know, because, a lot of people have learned something different than what their neighbor has told them, and so they were able to get the help that they needed and were glad they came in and did not miss the opportunity to get some kind of assistance from the flooding,” she said.

She said a couple of rumors that were started about the centers were that only certain towns were eligible to get help through FEMA, and that only people who have flood insurance were able to receive help, however, Suber said they want to clarify that everyone affected throughout each of the counties can get the assistance, and that one does not need to have flood insurance to receive it either.

Suber said every case has been different regarding the types of reimbursements and resources people have received based on individual circumstances. She said some needed reimbursements from whatever expenses they have already had to pay for while others needed assistance from FEMA from the beginning to end.

She said they try to assist every need as a result from the disaster at the centers, as well as make the process go as straightforward as possible.

“We are definitely glad to help them when they come to visit our DRCs, because, you get that one-on-one help talking to a person in person and not over the phone, and somebody who is patient and willing to help you through that process step-by-step,” she said.

Suber said after the April 1 deadline to register with FEMA for assistance, people would then have to resort to local resources for assistance such as through non-profits.

She said they want to ensure everyone affected by the flood and had experienced damages to their homes and businesses are able to get the assistance they need.

“We try to just go above and beyond to try and help the survivors here, I know that in certain areas they were still struggling to get back on their feet, and when they found out we were here they were very happy to see us,” said Suber.

She said for people to make it out to the centers as soon as possible to register.

There are currently four Disaster Recovery Centers open:

· Harrison County Courthouse

301 W. Main Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301

Hours of operation:

Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

. Belle Town Hall

1100 E. Dupont Ave. Belle, WV 25015
Hours of operation:

Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

· Penn VA Coal Carbon Center

13905 MacCorkle Ave, Charleston, WV 25301
Hours of operation:

Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

· Clay County

Located at 223 Main Street Clay, 35043, WV
Hours of operations:

Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People can also fill out an application online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

Student leader says efforts continue to bring the Hunger-Free Campus Act to college campuses across the state despite not getting passed this legislative session

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A student leader at Marshall University says college students around the state plan to not back down with keeping the Hunger-Free Campus Act on lawmaker’s agendas, and that their efforts continue to get it passed during the next 60-day legislative session.

Marshall’s Student Body President Walker Tatum told MetroNews that when the bill passed in the State Senate in February, the West Virginia Advisory Council of Students and student leaders at universities across the state who have been advocating for the bill for a while now were ecstatic, as it seemed to be gaining a lot of momentum.

Walker Tatum

Then, he said, it was the House of Delegates turn to look it over, and that’s when it failed.

However, he said while it put them all back a pace, they plan for their efforts at getting the bill to pass to eventually prevail.

“I’d say that overall it was disappointing, but at the same time, I don’t think that any of us looked at that as, you know, an opportunity to just give up,” Tatum told MetroNews.

He said the bill did however, make it to the second reading before it was put on the inactive calendar in the House, but, was never brought back to the active calendar to go back into discussion and under a vote.

Senate Bill 292, or the Hunger-Free Campus Act, would provide grants to higher education institutions to aid in alleviating food insecurity for students on campus.

Tatum said he and other student advocates of the bill are currently in discussion with different politicians to help continue to keep the bill alive and relevant, and more promising for future passage than ever before.

“You know, it’s just kind of one of those experiences where you learn, and you come back and you try to do it better than how you did it the first time, or in this case, the last three or four times,” he said.

He said they are hopeful that the next legislative session they will be able to come at it full speed ahead and get an earlier jump start to advocate for the bill’s passage.

However, Tatum said as he’s only in the student body position for just a year and is set to graduate this April, it will be up to the next class of student leaders of the institution to decide whether to tackle the efforts of continuing to get the bill pushed through.

He said, but while he will assume a different role at the university after he graduates, he will continue to support the efforts the best he can and help the new successors navigate the legislative process, as his stance on the matter is unwavering– food insecurity is a prominent issue on college campuses in the state and there needs to be support for it no matter what.

“Especially, I feel like from a state legislature who very much focuses on keeping students healthy, thriving, and in the state, because I know that retention is a large thing, but no matter what I can do moving forward in my capacity, I will continue to make sure that I speak on it as much as I can to ensure that voices are being heard,” Tatum said.

Tatum said along with having a grant program set up through the Higher Education Policy Commission to address food insecurity on campus, the bill would also allow for the opportunity for students to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding on campus, as well.

He said he and his Vice President of the student body at Marshall were already very passionate about raising awareness and the effort to combat food insecurity on their campus.

Tatum said a portion of that effort involved a survey they sent out to students to acquire some data on just how many nutritional items students were consuming in a week, how many times they were eating in a typical day, where their food was coming from, etc. He said the answers they got back were shocking and that’s when they knew something bigger needed to be done.

“I feel like everyone always knows that there is food insecurity on a college campus, but it’s not as eye-opening to know that until you’ve seen the responses from students that talk about only having a meal on Wednesdays when they wait to have dinner at their church, or students that talk about how they only ate a bag of chips during these amount of hours because they didn’t really have the money,” he said.

Tatum said not having the access to good, nutritional food on a consistent and reliable basis on campus because a student can’t afford it is an issue that affects the health of their education, or possibly, even their ability to graduate.

He said as student body leaders, the student government felt it was their duty to act as the voice for all of them, and step up and at least make the effort to provide more nutritional resources available on campus.

“You know, students do suffer from food insecurity, it’s not something that’s made up, it is something that’s prevalent on campuses, and all we were trying to do in our position was assure that we were making that forefrontly known, and also just speaking for the students,” Tatum said.

Tatum said while the bill has been presented in a few different legislative sessions now, he said having it pass in the Senate this time around was a huge milestone that takes them an even bigger step closer to bringing those resources addressing food insecurity to college campuses across the state.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

Webster sets Detroit man’s murder trial to start April 18

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Detroit man charged in a 2022 Charleston shooting death is scheduled to go on trial next month.

Tyran Gray (WVRJA)

Tyran Gray, 27, is accused of shooting and killing 49-year-old Norman Sweeney in the 500 block of Wyoming Street in Charleston on Sept. 9, 2022.

Gray was scheduled to go on trial beginning Monday but Kanawha County Circuit Judge Carrie Webster agreed to reschedule to April 18 because one of Gray’s attorneys is scheduled to be out of town soon.

“We’re only going to be less than a month out of when we started,” Webster told Gray. “I think it is important that you have both of your counsel here.”

Gray was originally charged along with Cortini Ann Stovall, who authorities said was driving the car that sped away from the shooting scene. Stovall pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of accessory after the fact of first-degree murder. Stovall told the court she took Gray to another home after the shooting and was paid $600 to take Gray to Detroit.

Webster said it’s possible the trial could last more than a week.

“We should plan to start the trial, the opening (statements) on (April 19) and we’ll block out the entire week of (April 22) and into the following week,” Webster said.

The judge added she expected jury selection to take at least a half day on April 18.

The witness list currently has more than 40 people on it.

Gray remains in the South Central Regional Jail without bail.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

Kanawha man pleads guilty to fatal DUI crash that claimed 2 lives

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County man faces prison time after pleading guilty to two counts of DUI causing death in connection with a double fatal wreck in Oct. 2022.

Andrew Wyrick (Photo/KCSD)

Andrew Wyrick, 27, of Culloden, appeared before Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers Monday where he admitted to being under the influence of THC when he drove his pick-up truck across the double line on U.S. Route 60 west of St. Albans and slammed into an oncoming SUV.

The crash claimed the lives of Dotty Lou Haynes, 73, and her daughter Sherri McClanahan, 53, both of Hurricane.

Two others were injured in the crash. Wyrick was also charged with two counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury, but prosecutors dropped those charges as part of his plea deal.

Wyrick was scheduled to go on trial Monday, but instead entered a guilty plea.

Wyrick’s attorney Jeff Woods asked Judge Akers during Monday’s hearing to allow his client to remain free on bond until his sentencing. Akers denied the request.

“The court on its own is going to forfeit your bond Mr. Wyrick in order that you be held in the South Central Regional Jail until sentencing,” Akers said.

Woods interjected and said Wyrick has shown growth since the crash and should not be locked up.

“He has remained employed. He has great community support. He is taking care of his family quite well,” Woods told the judge. “We’re asking the court to give him time to adjust to the situation that’s coming and time to prepare to get his affairs in order.”

Woods said the crash was not intentional.

“This is not a purposeful, violent offense, so one can say that there’s no indication that he presents himself as a danger to the community,” he said.

Akers stood firm on her denial of Woods’ request. Wyrick faces 3-15 years in prison on each count.

“You understand that if the court were to order those sentences to be served consecutively, that would total not less than 6 and no more than 30 years?” Akers asked Wyrick.

Sentencing has been scheduled for April 30 at 9 a.m.

The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department has announced a news conference to discuss the plea for 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

Man charged in 2022 DUI with death case in court Monday

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man charged in connection with a double fatal crash in Kanawha County in October 2022 is due in court Monday.

Andrew Wyrick
(Photo/KCSD)

Andrew Jackson Wyrick, 25, of Culloden, is scheduled for trial before Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers but it appears Wyrick will be entering a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department has announced a news conference to discuss the plea for 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Wyrick faces two counts of DUI causing death and two counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury. Wyrick plead not guilty to the charges in April of 2023.

Wyrick was charged after crashing his pick-up truck on U.S. Route 60 west of St. Albans. The collision claimed the lives of Dotty Lou Haynes, 73, and her daughter Sherri McClanahan, 53, both of Hurricane.

Wyrick is scheduled to be in court Monday at 9 a.m.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

Residents can meet those running for public office Monday at Belle Town Hall

BELLE, W.Va. — The Upper Kanawha Valley Mayor’s Association is putting on a “Meet the Candidate” forum this week as a chance for Kanawha County residents to meet those running for office.

Candidates are invited by the mayors throughout the Kanawha Valley to attend the forum. The Mayor of Belle, David Fletcher, said as of right now, they have at least 30 candidates planning to be at the event Monday evening at Belle Town Hall.

“We’re just trying to see who we can get out,” said Fletcher while on “580 Live” with Dave Allen last week.

Fletcher said he and the other mayors work together to create a brochure to send to candidates that are running for office. They welcome any candidate to attend the forum, regardless of the office they’re seeking.

“It’s pretty much open to anybody,” Fletcher said. “We actually have a congressional candidate that’s going to be there.”

A congressional candidate will be there, according to Fletcher, including those running for county board of education, sheriff, assessor, commissioner, magistrate and family and circuit court judge.

Fletcher expects the forum to last for around two hours. Candidates will have an opportunity to speak to residents about why they’re running and what they stand for.

“Different things that a voter wants to hear,” Fletcher said.

Monday’s event starts at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Candidates can contact Montgomery Town Clerk Angela Tackett at 304-442-5181 or Belle Town Clerk Lynne Sizemore at 304-949-3841 to let them know they want to take part in the event.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

PSC says Gauley Bridge PSD, WVAWC need to do better

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Public Service Commission issued an order Friday telling the Gauley River Public Service District and West Virginia American Water Company to come up with a better operating agreement.

The PSC determined last year the Gauley River PSD was a distressed or failing utility and in an order issued last August told it and West Virginia American to submit a standard operation and maintenance agreement. The PSC received the proposal in November but said in Friday’s order it doesn’t go far enough.

“The Agreement did not contain standard terms of an operations and maintenance agreement as required by the Commission, but instead contained terms outlining a vague consulting agreement between Gauley River and WVAWC for a term of 36 months,” the PSC said.

MORE read order here

The agreement proposed by West Virginia American and Gauley Bridge PSD leaves the system too much in the hands of the local PSD, the commission said in Friday’s rejection order.

“Rather than WVAWC operating and managing Gauley River’s water service, the proposed Agreement merely calls for WVAWC to make recommendations that Gauley River may accept or reject,” the PSC said. “The proposed Agreement leaves Gauley River entirely in control and responsible for the ongoing operations and maintenance of the water system.”

The PSC is giving the two parties until next Friday, March 22, to come up with a new agreement that more closely follows the commission’s August 2023 order.

The Gauley Bridge PSD provides service to the state prison at Mount Olive.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV

Charleston to host St. Patty’s Day events including Green Chili Shootout, Capitol Crawl

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Several events are taking place in Charleston this St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

The Green Chili Shootout to benefit the Charleston Parkinson’s Support Group will be held outside Capitol Market from 12-4 p.m. Saturday.

Evan Osborn of Capitol Market said more than 50 cooks will be showing off their skills.

“This is the first year we’ve really had the opportunity to have the capacity to bring it back and we’re bringing it back big,” he said. “The winner will go on to the world championship later in the year in Myrtle Beach. We have 1-2 returning champions that are participating.”

The event is associated with the International Chili Society with a total payout of $1,000 for first place and a spot in the ICS World Championships. Second place receives $200, and third place receives $200.

Osborn said green chili or Verde is popular in the American southwest.

“It uses traditionally a tomatillo and jalapeno base and then as opposed to beef, it’s traditionally going to feature pork,” he said.

Adam Harris of Mountain Stage said they will also be a pro wrestling event at Capitol Market Saturday.

“The idea was to attach wrestling on to other successful events and try to prove what we’ve known for many years which is West Virginia is a pro-wrestling state and Charleston is a pro-wrestling city and we’re starting to act like that more and more now,” Harris said.

The St. Patrick’s Day Capitol Crawl will be held Saturday night. Charleston Urban Works and the Downtown Charleston Association are working together to host 13 pubs throughout Charleston’s East End and Downtown districts beginning at 6 p.m.

Ric Cavender of Charleston Urban Works said there will be more sites to visit thanks to an expansion between several groups to keep everyone safe.

“We have a trolly running by KRT, sponsored by Mountain State Beverage, and they will be on a loop starting at City Center in front of Fife Street. It will go to Lee Street Lounge and then go to the East End in front of the Red Carpet Lounge from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. for anyone wearing and has purchased their wristband to participate in the Capitol Crawl,” Cavender said.

Online registration is taking place on the Charleston Urban Works Facebook page. In-person registration can be made at Black Sheep Burritos and Brews at the start of the event. Each participant will be given three discounted beer tickets.

Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Tim Brady said the events coincide with the Boys State High School Basketball Tournament at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

“The goal is to drive activity in the city, not only for locals but also for visitors,” he said.

Osborn, Harris, Cavender and Brady were all guests on Friday’s “580 Live” with Dave Allen heard on 580-WCHS.

Source: Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV