WV MetroNews
The Voice of West Virginia
WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Highways is holding a special ceremony Wednesday to honor workers who have been killed in the line of duty.
Wednesday’s ceremony is planned for the Fallen Workers Memorial at the Williamstown Welcome Center on Interstate 77.
On Thursday, April 4, 2024, Kathy Ann Ruth, a flagger working for contractors A.L.L. Construction, was killed in a work zone on US 340 in Jefferson County. She was run over by a driver who allegedly failed to yield to stopped traffic.
Five people were killed in work zone crashes on West Virginia highways last year. In 2022, there were 800 crashes in West Virginia work zones, killing eight people and injuring 276. More than 50 WVDOH highway workers have been killed on the job, according to the WVDOH.
WVDOH Secretary Jimmy Wriston said bad things are more likely to happen if drivers are distracted.
“It’s up to you West Virginia. We need your help. We need you to take responsibility,” said Wriston. “If you’re speeding through a work zone, bad things are going to happen.”
On Monday, the WVDOH held a press conference urging drivers to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. The press conference was punctuated by 57 men and women dressed in orange and draped with black sashes to remember the 57 highway workers that have been killed.
Wriston said drivers must be committed to ending the loss of life on West Virginia roadways. They have a goal of zero fatalities in work zones and on highways.
“We’ve got to prevent this with everything we can do and work together on this,” Wriston said.
The effort is supported by West Virginia State Police, the Federal Highways Administration, and the Contractors Association of West Virginia.
John Rogers, a local representative with the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), said 94 highway workers were killed in work zones nationwide during 2022. Alarmingly, work zone deaths increased by 62 percent between 2013 and 2021, largely due to distracted drivers or speeding.
“With work continuing in all 55 counties across the state, the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia Department of Transportation remind the public of the importance of keeping everyone safe in work zones by keeping “Heads up; phones down!””
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Today on MetroNews This Morning:
–A death bed confession leads to the discovery of bodies of a mother and daughter missing for almost 24 years
–The Attorney General says he’ll have an announcement today about the recent ruling involving West Virginia’s transgender sports act
–There may be new life for the old Cleveland Cliffs tin mill recently idled in Weirton
–In Sports: WVU baseball on the road at Penn State and we’re nearing this weekends Gold and Blue Game in Morgantown
Listen to “MetroNews This Morning 4-24-24” on Spreaker.
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HURRICANE, W.Va. — With the start of sectional play less than two weeks away, No. 8 Hurricane appears to be rounding into form. The Redskins (15-7) collected their seventh consecutive victory in dominating fashion, defeating Spring Valley 14-4 in five innings.
Hurricane collected 16 hits in their four innings at the plate and each player in the starting lineup had at least one base hit or drove in a run.
“They were definitely aggressive,” said Hurricane head coach Brian Sutphin. “Their guys were throwing strikes. It was nice to see some really aggressive swings early in the count and good base running and taking advantage of opportunities.”
The Redskins sent ten batters to the plate in a six-run first inning. Tyler Baxter’s grand slam put Hurricane up 5-0 before a single batter was retired.
“He squared it up. There were a lot of good swings that inning, for sure in the bottom of the first. He hit a couple balls hard through the middle and a couple balls the other way. That was good to see.”
Trailing 7-0 in the fourth inning, Spring Valley got on the scoreboard for the first time with a three-run home run from Sam Booth. However, the Redskins scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Braden Sloan, Deuce McClain, Weston Smith, Baxter, Blake Bradley and Wesley Sutton all had two hits for the Redskins.
Hurricane Starting pitcher Jayden Lester allowed three runs in four innings of work. He led the Redskins with three hits.
“Overall, I love the way he competed. It will set him up good for next week.”
Hurricane and No. 7 St. Albans own the longest winning streaks in Class AAA with seven-game runs.
“Early on, guys just hadn’t played together that much. We get off to a 3-0 start and then we played some good teams that pitched good ball games. We were right in a lot of games and looking back, I am sure the guys feel like they should have won those ball games. But tip your hat to those teams. They played well at those times.
“Since then, we have really picked it up. Hopefully the best is yet to come down the stretch. This is the best time to be playing good baseball.”
No. 4 Spring Valley (16-6) received multi-hit games from Grant Stratton and Garrett Wagoner.
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West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act specifies that sports teams for girls and women “shall not be open to students of the male sex.” That prohibits a transgender girl from participating on the girl’s team.
Last week’s 2-1 decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals cast that law into question. It cleared the way for a Bridgeport Middle School transgender girl to continue to participate on her school’s track team.
The ruling did not invalidate West Virginia’s law against such participation, but it did determine that the law unfairly discriminated against the student, Becky Pepper-Jackson, under federal Title IX. That law prohibits sex discrimination at schools that receive federal funding.
So, what does all this mean going forward?
West Virginia coaches and athletic directors are left in limbo. They could follow the West Virginia law and block transgender participation, but they might get sued. Or they could allow a transgender girl to play on the girl’s team and risk upsetting athletes and their parents. Recently, five girls on the Lincoln Middle School track team protested the participation of Pepper-Jackson in the shot put event.
West Virginia Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Patrick Morrisey has said he will appeal the decision. He has scheduled a press conference for later today where he promises “a major update” in the case.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education has proposed changes to Title IX addressing transgender eligibility in athletics. Here are key takeaways from the proposal:
–Schools would be prohibited from categorically banning transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
–However, the proposed rule “would allow schools flexibility to develop team eligibility criteria that serve important educational objectives, such as ensuring fairness in competition or preventing sports-related injuries.”
–Elementary school children would generally be able to participate on school sports teams “consistent with their gender identity.”
–However, schools would be permitted to “limit participation of some transgender students” at the high school level to ensure fairness in competition.
These proposed rules would provide guidance, but they may never be finalized. The Washington Post reports the Biden administration has delayed their release until after the election.
“Folks close to Biden have made the political decision to not move on the athletics (regulation) pre-election,” an administration source told the Post. “It seems to be too much of a hot topic.”
That is probably a wise political move, but it is no help for educators, coaches, administrators, policy makers and parents who are all trying to navigate this complicated terrain.
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HURRICANE, W.Va. — Trailing 3-2 in the fourth inning, Hurricane scored seven runs over the final three frames to defeat George Washington, 9-4 on Military Appreciation Day at HHS.
Hurricane took a lead they would not relinquish thanks to a four-run fourth inning. The Redskins racked up six hits in that frame. HHS collected 13 hits in their six innings at the plate.
Hurricane’s top five hitters in their lineup — Jaden Jones, Alexandra Anderson, Kyndall Harper, Katelyn Hopkins and Kenzie Kessel — each collected two hits apiece. No. 9 batter Grace Robie also added two hits. Harper and Jones each hit home runs.
Kate Justice picked up the win in the circle for the No. 8 Redskins (15-5). She struck out eight batters and reached the 100-strikeout mark for the season.
Natali Tomblin went 3-for-3 for GW (16-8). She had a triple and drove in a pair of runs. Kaitlyn Swisher added two hits for the Patriots.
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The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed $95 billion legislation for weapons and support to American allies, with Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito voting in favor.
The package also includes legislation to ban or force a sale of TikTok because of concerns over the video-sharing platform’s Chinese ownership.
“American leadership means standing with our allies and standing up against authoritarianism. I am proud to vote for this national security package that advances America’s interests both on the world stage and right here at home,” said Manchin, D-W.Va.
Elements of the foreign aid package have been swirling for months. President Joe Biden last October proposed a $106 billion package including aid for Ukraine and Israel and additional financial support for border security.
In February, a majority of the Senate voted in favor of aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The House of Representatives finally passed the package on Saturday. Now it goes to President Biden to sign.
“Our nation is facing the most dangerous global threat level we have seen in decades. Our allies are under attack, our national security industrial base has been weakened, TikTok poses a major national security threat, and adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran are working together in unprecedented ways against the U.S. and our allies like Israel.
“Tonight, we are taking a stand against all of these dangers, in the vacuum of leadership from a president who has refused to establish strong deterrence,” Capito, R-W.Va. said in a statement released by her office. Tonight, we stand for our freedom and with our allies.”
In the House vote on Saturday, Congresswoman Carol Miller, R-W.Va., voted in favor of the foreign aid package as she had previously said she would do. Miller represents counties in the southern half of West Virginia.
Congressman Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., was listed as “not voting” on the legislation considered Saturday afternoon. Mooney represents counties in the northern half of West Virginia.
Mooney, who is running for governor, spent Saturday at campaign stops around West Virginia.
Mooney’s congressional office said Saturday, “Congressman Mooney was in West Virginia today and not present in DC for votes. Rep. Mooney already voted twice to support Israel funding and continues to strongly support our ally Israel. Rep. Mooney believes funding for other countries should only be considered when our own border with Mexico is secured first.”
The legislation now passed provides $17 billion in weapons for Israel and about $9 billion of humanitarian assistance for Gaza and elsewhere.
Another $8.1 billion in aid for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region is meant to counteract the influence of China.
The $60 billion aid package for Ukraine is meant to help that country’s effort against invading Russia. Most of the money goes to U.S. weapons manufacturers to build back depleted U.S. weapons supplies, and about 20 percent of that goes directly to the country in the form of a loan.
One of the manufacturers of munitions providing that support is Northrop Grumman’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) in Rocket Center, Mineral County. Allegany Ballistics Laboratory produces solid rocket motors and other key components for critical munitions.
The facility is in Mooney’s district.
Capito said she is pleased that a state manufacturer and employer could benefit from the aid package.
“The national security supplemental we passed expands the capacity of our industrial base and restocks American munition stockpiles with newer and more advanced weapons, many of which have critical components manufactured in West Virginia,” Capito noted.
Manchin also noted that much of the money will flow first to American manufacturers.
“By investing in our allies, we are also investing in our own economic interests by creating new jobs to produce weapons here in the United States and reinvigorating our defense industrial base,” Manchin said. “Today, we are demonstrating our commitment to peace through strength and I look forward to seeing the President quickly sign this package into law.”
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BRIDGPEORT, W.Va. — Class AAA No. 2 Bridgeport set the tone in Tuesday’s home matchup against No. 3 Morgantown by generating early offense through quality at bats in a four-run first inning.
While the Mohigans countered with three runs in the second, the Indians hardly let up. Starting with a solo home run off the bat of Zach Rohrig, Bridgeport matched Morgantown’s three-run second and its 7-3 lead was intact until the sixth inning, when the Indians produced an additional six runs, including a two-run home run from pinch hitter Jacob Stavrakis to finish off a 13-3 six-inning victory at BHS.
“The biggest thing is our plate patience and our pitch selection has improved from the beginning of the year,” Bridgeport head coach Robert Shields said. “That’s a big key and taking the ball the other way. The fat part of the bat is on the end of the bat and we keep trying to preach that.”
After Bridgeport’s Rowen Michaelis tossed a scoreless first frame, the Indians ensured he’d take the mound to start the second with a lead by connecting for five hits to score runs in their first trip to the plate.
Bridgeport (19-3) got a two-run double from Mark Biafore to open its scoring, before Grant Lively and Ashton Curry each accounted for a run-scoring single.
“If he takes the ball the other way and doesn’t try to pull the ball, he’ll improve his average over 100 points,” Shields said of Biafore. “That’s what we try to emphasize with him. We have to start taking the ball the other way. We’ve emphasized that we fly out too much when we try to pull it and when we wait a little bit and let it travel, we’re hitting the ball solid and getting a good piece of the bat on the ball and we’ll make things happen that way.”
Morgantown (16-6) wasted no time getting back into the game as its first four batters reached in the second, including Caleb Nutter’s RBI double and Weston Mazey’s two-run single, which was nearly caught by Lively in right field, but instead brought his team to within a run at 4-3.
Michaelis retired three of the next four batters to keep his team in front by one, before Rohrig belted a solo home run to left field to lead off the second.
After Brody Pierce followed with a base-on-balls, it marked the end of the outing for Mohigans’ starting pitcher Maddox Bowers.
Bowers was replaced by Vincent Ali, who struggled with his control early as both Pierce and Kasen Baun scored on wild pitches to increase the Tribe lead to 7-3.
However, from that point forward, Aloi largely settled in and retired six of seven batters faced over the third and fourth innings.
“Getting down 4-0 is always hard, and then giving up seven runs over the first two innings, that’s really challenging,” Morgantown head coach Pat Sherald said. “I tip my hat to our guys for competing and getting us back within striking distance. Vinny Aloi really competed for us and kept us in the game.”
Yet the way Michaelis was pitching, there was no further cutting into the deficit for Morgantown. The Mohigans had two baserunners with one out in the fifth, but Michaelis struck out Elijah Boggs and got Tristan Milik to hit a ground ball to shortstop to escape the threat with no harm done.
“Rowen pitched lights out,” Shields said. “He hit his spots really well and he’s done that his last two outings. From the get go, he was in control of his pitches.”
Aloi logged another scoreless frame in the fifth, before Michaelis retired the side in order in the sixth.
Bridgeport ultimately didn’t need a pitcher for the seventh after it produced six runs in the sixth to end the matchup.
Rohrig singled to right to start that inning, ending the outing for Aloi, who was replaced by Tommy Montague. Pierce greeted Montague with a bunt single, and after a walk to Baun loaded the bases, Montague recorded his first out on a fielder’s choice that didn’t allow a run.
However, Biafore immediately followed with his second two-run double to make it 9-3, and Lively lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored pinch hitter Ben Bifano for the 10th run.
Following Conner Blake’s double that scored Biafore, Stavrakis blasted a two-run home run to left field — his second in as many nights after he also accounted for one Monday in a win against North Marion.
“We’re starting to hit the ball a lot better than we were early in the year,” Shields said. “Maybe it’s due to some warm weather, but yesterday against North Marion and today we had some solid contact.”
Michaelis struck out four, issued one base-on-balls and allowed seven hits.
Bridgeport’s 13-hit attack was led by Blake with three hits and Rohrig, Biafore and Lively, who recorded a pair of hits apiece.
Pierce and Baun each scored three runs.
Bowers took the loss and charged with six runs on six hits and two walks in one-plus inning. Aloi struck out five and allowed one run on three hits in four-plus innings.
Dylan Travinski and Noah Fields led the Mohigans with two hits.
“I know the scoreboard doesn’t show it, but I was pleased with our bats,” Sherald said. “We hit the ball hard and didn’t find holes in certain situations.”
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Morgantown High School’s Team 1 earned the Academic Showdown Championship Title this week.
The competition’s finale took place at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston on Tuesday. Bluefield High School was named the runner-up.
More than 90 teams from 50 different high schools across 31 West Virginia counties have competed in seven regional competitions hosted at college campuses statewide this year, the largest field of participating schools ever. 71 teams were in the Showdown last year while 21 teams participated in 2022.
“The Academic Showdown has been a game changer over the past three years,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “The excitement continues to grow along with the participation among our schools. Some of the scholars have participated every year because this program challenges them with rigorous competition.”
Teams were made up of students in grades 9-12. They were tested on their knowledge in math, science, history, fine arts, general knowledge and pop culture.
For winning the Showdown, each member of Morgantown’s team received $2,000, courtesy of Microsoft®. Bluefield’s team members each received $1,000 and Wheeling Park team members received $750.
Sawyer Rudy from Morgantown High School was named the Academic Showdown MVP. The tournament’s Most Valuable Player was awarded $1,000.
“Celebrating the Showdown like we celebrate sports brings more awareness to academics and encourages other students to join academic events,” said Morgantown High School Team 1 Captain Sawyer Rudy.
Those selected to the All-Tournament Team received $325:
Simeon Schray, Huntington High School
Steven Tian, Morgantown High School Team 2
Preston Hetrick, Morgantown High School Team 1
Nathan Yost and Quinn Brown, Bluefield High School
The WVDE also provided grants to each participating school to support their Showdown program.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A first of its kind bill will motivate 911 dispatchers in the Mountain State to stay on longer but retire sooner.
Lawmakers and Kanawha County Commission members joined emergency officials and telecommunicators Tuesday afternoon at Kanawha County Metro 911 to watch as Governor Jim Justice sign the Statewide 911 Retirement bill, the first of its kind in the state and in the nation.
“I mean, when it really boils right down to it, you’re heroes, you’ve done so much for this great state it’s unbelievable, and every single day, you step up and you do things that are unimaginable for us that don’t do it,” Justice said to telecommunicators at Tuesday’s bill signing.
Kanawha County Metro 911 Director John Rutherford said the bill creates an all new retirement system for 911 dispatchers and telecommunicators that allows them to retire as early as the age of 50 after 20 years of service. 
He said being a public safety employee can be a highly stressful job– from shootings and police pursuits, to performing CPR and saving lives– adding that this makes the turnover rate for the job to also be very high.
However, Rutherford said that this bill will help to encourage emergency personnel to stay at the job.
“This will enable us to tell an employee, ‘stick with us another ten years, you’ve got experience, you can save lives, you can keep our citizens safe, stay with us,’ and that enables us to do that,” Rutherford said.
Rutherford has been with Metro 911 for 12 years, and he said prior to the bill, he had only seen three people retire from the job.
During the signing ceremony, Rutherford recognized Senator Eric Nelson, one of the many lawmakers there at Tuesday’s event, who had been a longtime advocate of bill.
He also recognized the Kanawha County Commission for their longtime support of the bill, as well. Rutherford particularly wanted to recognize Commissioner Kent Carper who had worked closely with him for over 30 years. He said in that time, Carper had always supported the improvement of the county’s’ public safety standards through the Public Safety grant, and awarding funding to the volunteer fire department, police and EMS.
Rutherford said they have all been working with legislators to pass the bill for a total of 7 years, and now that it’s finally passed, it changes everything.
“When they answer the phone now you’re going to have an experienced employee who can give you instructions on how to stop the bleed, how to do CPR, keep police officers safe during pursuits by relaying information, it changes everything about public safety, makes it better and improves the profession,” Rutherford said.
Derek Johnson has been an employee at Kanawha County Metro 911 for 16 years. He was one of the many 911 telecommunicators at the event Tuesday who was more than happy to see the governor’s pen hit the paper to sign the bill.
Johnson said the job has always struggled with retention as employees have to deal with people on their worst days, something not many can do for decades on end. but he said this bill should help improve retention rates and boost overall workplace morale.
“With the old retirement system we did have, you would have to work until you were 62 before you could retire, this enables, once you get 20 years of service, age 50, you can retire, draw, and enjoy life, and after 20 years, you’re ready,” he said.
He said the role has vastly improved for all of them now.
“It takes it from being a job to a career, because you can come in, you can do 20 years, and a have a good retirement to look forward to at the end of your career,” Johnson said.
Rutherford said their 911 council is now in correspondence with other states’ 911 centers who are reaching out to them wanting to know the details of the retirement plan highlighted in the bill in hopes to implement something similar in their state.
He said the bill goes into effect January 1.
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MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — A Hardy County magistrate has dismissed criminal charges against Allegheny Wood Products President John Crites II.
Crites, whose 50-year-old company closed its doors earlier this year because of financial problems, was charged with two felony counts of obtaining goods under false pretenses in connection logs delivered to the company’s yard near Moorefield.
Two loggers, Mark Rexrode and Victoria Dyer, claimed checks used to pay them bounced because AWP’s account with United Bank had been frozen.
Magistrate Shawna Crites, no relation, heard testimony during a preliminary hearing last week and found there was no probable cause to forward the charges to a grand jury. Both criminal counts were dismissed.
MORE read court documents here
Crites claimed the bank forced the company to close its doors.
“The bank declared a default and froze its operating accounts. For valid reasons, people are angry. Yet, a company not paying bills after a bank seizes its money doesn’t rise to the level of a criminal case,” Crites’ attorney Isaac Sponaugle said heading into the hearing. “This is a civil matter. Creditors are trying to use the criminal justice system to skip line in the federal civil action. The criminal charges should be dismissed.”
Following the dismissal, Sponaugle said Crites feels vindicated.
“The Magistrate Court dismissed the case for lack of probable cause. Allegheny Wood Products has a 50-year history of paying their bills on time. He hopes all vendors with valid claims get paid in the federal civil action. He does not want that history tarnished any further. With that said, John Crites, II, is not a criminal and the court confirmed that. He looks forward to resolving this matter completely in federal court,” Sponaugle said.
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