Local News

BEVERLY, W.Va. — A Beverly resident faces multiple charges after threatening to shoot two people at a Randolph County apartment complex on Tuesday.

Troopers with the West Virginia State Police made contact with Justin Lewis, 35, who had allegedly pointed a handgun and threatened to shoot two people at an apartment on Main Street in Beverly.

In an unrelated matter, troopers served a search warrant at his residence and found scales, packaging materials, and a tube containing nearly six grams of methamphetamine.

Troopers have charged Lewis with wanton endangerment and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Lewis is being held on a $100,000 bond in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. The Bartlett House Board of Directors has sent a letter to the Monongalia County Commission asking the community for an immediate financial bailout of $300,000, or it could be forced to close their facilities on Scott Avenue and West Run within 60 days, where 81 people are currently sheltering.

Board President Nick DeMedici made the request and detailed the issues leading up to their financial troubles.

DeMedici explained that the severity of the situation wasn’t understood until recently, following the March 2024 termination of then-executive director Keri DeMasi.

The letter details a drop in funding totaling about $250,000 for 2024 due to the loss of the Housing and Urban Development Emergency Solutions Grant and funding from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. The loss of funding he explained in all three cases was because of a lack of organizational control.

The organization has more than $250,000 in past-due payables and is in arrears on $500,000 worth of loans and a line of credit from Clear Mountain Bank. Included in those payables are $20,000 for credit cards, $88,000 for the rent at Hazels House of Hope, $20,649 to Highmark for employee health insurance, a $30,000 personal loan from an employee, $37,900 to their former auditing firm, and $10,000 to the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management.

The letter said many of the past-due balances were caused by the decision to meet payroll obligations, and currently, employees are without healthcare and have not received payments to their retirement accounts. The letter said the ability to meet the current payroll will depend on receipt of federal grant this week.

The board hoped to use proceeds from the sale of their downtown location to trim debt, but that balance will be claimed by Clear Mountain Bank due to the past-due balances on the line of credit and loan.

Due to financial constraints, the board is unable to hire the new executive director they have identified and has agreed to take the position for what DeMedici called a “modest salary.”

In addition to a bailout, the letter cites the need to become more self-sufficient and also says they are correcting the internal shortfalls.

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. A West Virginia State Police search for a wanted subject led troopers to a stash of dangerous drugs in Preston County.

On Wednesday, troopers served an arrest warrant for a resident of a home on Hielman Road in Bruceton Mills and encountered a vehicle in the driveway occupied by two people.

When one of the occupants, identified as Brooks Reckart, 60, got out of the car, troopers said there was a bag in plain view containing what they thought was crack cocaine and small folds of paper containing a mixture of what was thought to be fentanyl and heroin.

When troopers searched the vehicle, they found 28 of the small folded pieces of paper. The field tested positive for heroin or fentanyl.

Reckart has been charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Crews from the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) will begin a $115,000 waterline replacement project on North High Street that will close a portion of the street for about four weeks May 6.

MUB Senior Engineer Cory Jones said the work is in response to a customary review of facilities prior to street work done by the city of Morgantown in the area this year.

“Based on some leaks we’ve had in the past and the age of the system, we want to upgrade our infrastructure there,” Jones said.

The work zone will consume both lanes of North High Street and will include the closure of the entrance to the Mountainlair parking garage. Jones said signage will be in place to help motorists get around the area during the closure.

“Replacing an existing 8-inch waterline between Prospect Street and Maiden Lane on North High Street,” Jones said. “Once we have that replaced, we’re going to do some spot repairs on our sanitary and storm sewer mains between Maiden and Fife Streets.”

Due to the close quarters in the work area, the decision was made to entirely close the road. Typically, this type of work can be completed in less time when the work area is closed to traffic, so if traffic were maintained through the project, it would likely take more than four weeks to complete.

“We are going to have to shut down the portion of North High Street between Prospect Street and Maiden Lane while we replace the waterline due to construction activities and the laydown/staging area,” Jones said. “That part will need to be closed for the duration of our replacement project.”

The current waterline lays under the curb, according to Jones, and the new line will move closer to the centerline and the existing storm and sanitary sewer lines.

“We’ll be moving it a little farther out into the road with our new line, and our existing sanitary and storm sewers are right in the middle of High Street, Jones said.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A subject wanted on an outstanding warrant for sex crimes has been arrested in Monongalia County and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail.

Police got a tip Jacob Hammer, 23, was in the area of a home on Community Drive and had an outstanding warrant from Wichita, Kansa for sexual exploitation of a child.

Police said hammer was taken into custody without incident.

MARION COUNTY, W.Va. — Marion County Schools have been named one of 16 districts in the state to earn the Purple Star Award given by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and Common Ground Partnership. The award recognizes districts and schools that dedicate support and services to military families.

Superintendent Donna Heston said this is the second time the district has won the award, and serving military families is an honor for each employee.

“It is the highest commitment that anyone can make to their country, and we’re thankful for their service,” Heston said. “We’re honored to be a Purple Star district, and certainly it is especially an honor to salute our students who make that commitment.”

The program started at Rivesville Elementary School with then assistant principal and member of the West Virginia National Guard, Chris Donato, who is now the principal at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.

On the most recent Military Signing Day, Donato, who is in training in Oklahoma, participated virtually with the Board of Education to recognize students in the district who have made the commitment to serve in the military.

“We got to see our principal through his leadership and service to our country and speak to his community, as well as being live streamed during the board of education meeting,” Heston said.

In the district, every school has a sponsor to connect with military families to offer support. Heston said that support also extends to employees of the district, like Donato, who took time during training to address wearing uniforms.

“We certainly support him as the principal and leader of one of our schools. We certainly support that commitment and the example he’s setting for our students and families,” Heston said. “That was just a very special moment.”

The dedicated program in Marion County Schools recognizes the unique needs of students with family members serving in the military, and Superintendent Heston calls the mission “vital” to the district.

“That is all that we can do to support them and recognize as a school system what their family is doing for our country and what we can do to keep them connected,” Heston said. “That’s vital for our school system.”

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It’s donation time for the 2024 Blue and Gold Mine Sale. The “rummage sale” repurposes household items for new owners, and the proceeds benefit local non-profits.

The event is hosted by the WVU Office of Sustainability and the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. Marissa Earle is the graduate assistant in charge, helping to organize the event.

“The profits we make go to this year’s campaign,” Earle said. “It’s one of the first events for the campaign.”

Earle said they are looking for purses, bags, luggage, shoes, clothing, home decor, kitchen items, exercise equipment, furniture, and anything else in reasonably good condition that the current owner would like to pass on.

“We’re collecting a little bit of everything, and we have already received a lot from college students moving out of their dorms and apartment complexes,” Earle said. “And we’ve also received items from families in the area.”

The goal of the sale is to raise about $1.2 million, which will support the missions of more than 20 non-profits serving a wide variety of needs in the two-county area.

“The organizations support anything from child care to food insecurity to veteran health and anything in the community, helping the public and serving those in need,” Earle said.

Earle said in addition to donating items for sale, they are also looking for people willing to donate their time on the day of the sale, May 11.

“We’re still looking for volunteers and will be up until the day of the sale,” Earle said. “If anyone would like to volunteer, just reach out to our United Way of Monongalia and Preston County offices at 304-296-7525.”

On May 11, early birds can participate before the crowd from 7 to 9 a.m. for a $5 fee. General admission is free and runs from 9 a.m. to noon, when the sale will close temporarily. The sale reopens from 4 to 6 p.m., with all stock discounted by 50 percent. Also included in the event is the $25 “fill-a-bag” sale.

Items will be accepted through May 8 at the following locations:
– All WVU Residence Halls (Student Use)
– Chateau Royale
– Top of Falling Run Rd
– Area 81- Mountaineer Station Parking Lot
– Grant Avenue near Summit Hall
– College Park Apartments Willey Street Entrance

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Detectives from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department have made four drug-related arrests after serving a search warrant at a home on Randolph Street.

Detectives and members of the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested Crystal Blankenship, 38; Eric Bellomy, 34; Joseph Lane, 34; and Jordan Sines, 27, for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine as well as conspiracy to possess and deliver methamphetamine.

Officers recovered controlled substances, scales, paraphernalia, and packaging materials.

All four suspects are being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Through a team effort between the Morgantown Area Partnership (MAP) and the Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA), the area is now included in the BUILD WV territory to incentivize the construction of affordable housing.

President and CEO of MAP, Russ Rogerson, said qualifying housing development projects within a 20-mile radius of Browns Mill, WV, can receive state sales and use tax exemptions for building materials and a 10-year property value adjustment refundable tax credit to defray building costs. The Browns Mill location was selected as the center point in order to maximize the area of land in each county.

Projects eligible for the BUILD WV Act must meet the following criteria:
Be in a certified BUILD WV Act District.
-Generate approved costs greater than $3 million, or include at least six units or houses.
– Create a significant positive economic impact on the state.
– Will directly or indirectly improve opportunities in the area where the project will be located for the successful establishment or expansion of other commercial businesses.
– Provide additional employment opportunities in the state.

“The developer now needs to get their project certified by the state, and that is an important step,” Rogerson said. “Once they do that, it becomes more of an administrative process to receive the sales tax credit.”

Passed in 2022, the program is managed by the West Virginia Department of Development, and applications must get the approval of James Bailey, Secretary of Commerce, Chelsea Ruby, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, and Mitch Carmichael, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development.

PCEDA Executive Director Roberta “Robbie” Baylor said local developers are prepared to take advantage of the program.

“For our district, we actually had a developer that came to us and asked to apply for this status because they wanted to take advantage of it,” Baylor said.

A tight monetary policy leading to rising interest rates and high inflation is forcing many developers to pump the brakes on new construction.

“Say, somebody is looking at the increased cost of development, and their numbers aren’t quite as attractive as they need to be; building material processes are up,” Rogerson said.

Baylor said the program incentivizes the construction of workforce-affordable homes for families, but not necessarily low-income homes.

“The hope is it will provide incentives to builders to develop, not low-income, but workforce affordable housing in both Preston and Monongalia Counties,” Baylor said.

Co-owner of Metro Properties David Biafora told WAJR News the program would be of value to some developers.

“On a $5 million project, if you can save at least the 6-percent sales tax to the state,” Biafora said. “That goes a long way against the rent.”

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Appointed Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Paul Gwaltney continues to speak to voters as part of his re-election bid for the Division 1 seat on the 21st West Virginia Judicial Circuit.

Gwaltney, a long-time attorney who has served on the bench since he was appointed by Governor Jim Justice in 2023, will face two other candidates in the non-partisan race as part of the 2024 primary election on May 14. As he travels across the county to meet with voters to discuss his goals if he’s elected to his first full term, Gwaltney wants to be considered a candidate who approaches every case fairly and will support any way to help Mountain State residents get the justice they deserve.

“When I was seeking the appointment, I made it clear to the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission to the Governor that I recognize that for those before me, the decision I make is probably one of the most important days in their lives,” said Gwaltney. “And I treat it as such,” he said.

One topic that Gwaltney and the other candidates running for the Division 1 seat on the 21st West Virginia Judicial Circuit have discussed is the establishment of a family treatment court. While there’s an expectation that some establishment of such a court will be approached on a state level, Gwaltney, if elected, hopes to increase local involvement in the court, which would offer different avenues for people with drug addiction-related charges to get treatment and avoid family conflicts. In Monongalia County, Gwaltney hopes that the close proximity of West Virginia University will be able to be explored.

“What I would like to do is leverage the university, we have many students in social work that need community service hours,” said Gwaltney on WAJR’s Talk of the Town. “They can’t, right away, be in visitation, but as people graduate and get closer to reunification, that’s something they could do,” he said.

In regards to handling cases on the bench, Gwaltney emphasizes that the amount of case preparation that he partakes in plays a major role in how justice is served, regardless of the issue. This includes hours of conversations with attorneys on each side, case workers depending on the person facing the bench, and a review of case law in the past that will allow him to make the best ruling as possible on an individual basis. This effort, which he feels can be confirmed by any person in the Monongalia County legal community who has had him preside over a case, is something voters can take from him heading into the ballot box.

“I meet with my probation officers before every sentencing, I spend time with them, discussing with them the individual that’s before me,” said Gwaltney about some of what he does ahead of sentencing.

Gwaltney will face Monongalia County Public Defender’s Corporation Chairman Michael Simms and attorney Natalie Sal in the 2024 primary election. The winner will also be on the seat for an eight year term, where they will preside over cases in Monongalia County that are not able to be handled by lower courts. With the election expected to have a significant impact on the county court system, Gwaltney encourages voters to remember his reputation during his time on the bench and his efforts to offer every individual a fair trial in his courtroom.

“I consider is that the right sentence for the defendant, but is it also the right punishment in the situation from the victim’s eyes, it’s finding that balance,” said Gwaltney. “It’s tough, but it takes the preparation, hopefully the people that have been before me can see that I put that in,” he said.

Early voting for the 2024 primary election is from May 1 until May 11. Election day is May 14.