WV MetroNews
The Voice of West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The American Lung Association has released the 25th annual State of the Air report.
While on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association Aimee Van Cleave said the Clean Air Act is to thank for the level of clean air in our area.
“The Clean Act, which was passed about 25 years ago, has done a whole lot to improve our air quality over time,” Van Cleave said. “Because we have stricter standards on what we’re letting out into the air we’re all breathing in.”
The report gives West Virginia a decent grade in most areas. Van Cleave said the Charleston area ranks as one of the cleanest in the country in terms of air. Kanawha County recorded zero action days for ozone or particle pollution issues.
“We know the Charleston metro area is ranked among the nation’s cleanest cities for ozone pollution, and it received an “A” grade,” Van Cleave said.
In the northern part of the state, Ohio County scored a “B” based on ozone pollution but scored an “A” in the particulate category. In Monongalia County, the grade is an “A” across the board, with zero action days in any category. The city of Wheeling was also scored well.
“The Wheeling area got their best ever level for year-round particle pollution, earning a passing grade with a “B,” Van Cleave said.
The report ranks some of the cleanest places to live as Bangor, Maine; Bristol, Tennessee; and Lincoln, Nebraska. On the other end of the scale, the report said the top five most polluted places are in California.
Van Cleave also described some of the issues causing air quality issues and areas that could be more problematic than others.
“Burning something that ought not to be in the air—that’s something we’re all breathing in, so if my neighbors are burning their trash, that will impact us,” Van Cleave said. “If we live near a warehouse that has a lot of deliveries going out, that’s going to impact us too.”
The post American Lung Association rates Mountain State air as “good” appeared first on WV MetroNews.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice is calling on fellow West Virginians to be a hero for children.
Members of the community were invited to a “Light up the Capitol” event Friday night at the steps of the West Virginia Capitol Building to show their support for child abuse victims. With glow sticks in hand, dozens of supporters were able to light up the capital city.
Misty Atkins, director of the West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice at the West Virginia State Police, put on the event. The biggest program within the Center for Children’s Justice is “Handle with Care,” a defending childhood initiative, tailored to reflect the needs and issues affecting West Virginia children. It is a statewide trauma informed response to child maltreatment.
Atkins said she wanted to “light up the capitol” to show kids that they are not alone and there are plenty of people who want to support them.
“It lets children know that their cries are not going unheard,” Atkins said. “We are all stronger if we stand together.”
April is also Child Abuse Prevention Month. West Virginia ranks third in the country for child abuse cases, according to Atkins. One in every 10 children in West Virginia may experience sexual abuse. More than 600 allegations of child abuse were made in 2023.
“We are showing current child abuse victims and past child abuse victims that we care and we’re here for them,” said Atkins.
Cabinet Secretary for the WV Department of Human Services Cynthia Persily and U.S Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Will Thompson were both in attendance.
There have been recent cases of child abuse and neglect in West Virginia. Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment in West Virginia, making up over 82% of child abuse cases.
“Together, let’s be the voice that speaks for the voiceless,” said Persily.
Persily said her staff is making sure they meet every report of child abuse and neglect with diligence. She encourages anyone who suspects or knows about child abuse or neglect to speak up and report it to their abuse and neglect hotline.
“If you see something, say something,” said Thompson.
For many years, U.S. Attorney Thompson has seen countless child abuse cases. He’s been working on them for much of his career. He applauded those in attendance Friday night for showing up and being a supporter, but also challenged those at the steps of the State Capitol Building to take the next step and make a difference in a young person’s life.
“Do something that would be positive in a child’s life,” he said. “This is something that we should be focused on 365 days a year.”
There is also an ongoing situation of children in the foster care system. There were more than 2,700 kids waiting to be adopted in 2020, according to Atkins. Of the 7,200 children in the foster care system now, 85% of those cases include drug usage.
The post Supporters “light up the capitol” for child abuse victims appeared first on WV MetroNews.
CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. — A lot of West Virginia deer hunters spend the down months of January, February, and some of the month of March wandering through the state’s hills and hollows hoping to spot shed antlers from the big buck they pursued last fall or plan to pursue for the coming season. Almost like a grown up Easter egg hunt, shed hunting has become almost as big a deal to many deer across the country as the hunt for the actual deer itself.
But there is another group of individuals who have taken the shed hunting exercise to another level. The United Kennel Club sanctions a series of competitions among what are considered shed tracking dogs.
“We travel all across the east and Midwest doing these events, but they stretch all across the country,” said Craig Boggs, President of Coal Country Shed Dogs in Chapmanville, W.Va.
There are three classifications of shed tracking dogs. The Champion Class are the most seasoned and experienced dogs. The Working Class is made up of beginner dogs in the shed hunting game. The Youth Class is for those handlers under 18 who are learning the ropes of the sport along with their animals.
The rules of competition are aimed at recreating the scenario shed hunters may find during the months whitetail deer drop their headgear. Since it’s likely a deer could drop them anywhere at any time, the course setups vary widely from competition to competition.
“The competition is based off of time and it’s a 50 by 100 yard area, the size of a football field. It’s in open fields, in the woods, in cut cornfields, or any type of environment a deer would be in,” said Boggs.
The boundaries of the 50 by 100 yard area are marked, but within that area and unmarked are six separate zones. Five of those zones have antlers strategically hidden. The sixth zone has no antler, but competitors don’t know which one is empty. Dogs are required to search out and retrieve five antlers in the competition. They have 15 minutes to find them and bring them to the handler. The fastest time is the winner.
“There is a scent applied to each horn. It’s called “Bone Clone” and it’s reapplied every third dog in a competition,” said Boggs. “Out of the five horns, three of them can be at least halfway covered and the other two can just be laying there.”
The competition tests the skill of the dog’s nose, speed, and training because the timer doesn’t stop until the antler is actually retrieved and placed into the hand of the handler by the dog. Most of the dogs in the competition are retrievers. Boggs has a chocolate lab and a black lab, but added it’s not unusual to have a variety of dogs engaged in the competition.
West Virginia boasts three shed dog clubs. Boggs is President of Coal Country Shed Dogs in Chapmanville. The other two clubs are Elk River Shed Dogs based in Glenville and Scout An Antler Shed Dogs in Philippi. At the recent National Championship event, Travis Meadows of Elk River Shed Dogs earned the national title in the working dog class.
A competition event is being held this weekend in Dawson, W.Va. in Greenbrier County and another event is set for the first weekend in May in Barbour County.
“These dogs absolutely love this stuff and it’s fun. It’s just you and your dog and how your dog is trained and how you train your dog to retrieve. I’s just a fun family event,” said Boggs.
The post Taking shed antler hunting to a whole new level appeared first on WV MetroNews.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s 2024 Adopt-A-Highway Spring Statewide Cleanup is Saturday.
WVDEP and the state Division of Highways are co-sponsors of the event. The Adopt-A-Highway program is administered by the WVDEP’s Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP) and has a goal of improving the state’s environment by cleaning up litter on highways with the help of the public. REAP, whose motto is ‘Keeping WV Clean and Green,’ was created in 2005.
Just about any individual or group including families, businesses, churches, schools, civic organizations, government agencies and communities can register to pick up trash on almost any state-maintained roadway. Private roads and interstate highways are not included.
Nearly 3,000 people volunteered for the 2023 spring cleanup. More than 300 groups removed over 85,000 pounds of litter from over 600 miles of roadway.
Program officials provide garbage bags, work gloves and safety vests to volunteers and will take care of disposing of the collected trash. Supplies can also be picked up at your local DOH Garage.
To register, call 1-800-322-5530 or send an email to [email protected]. If you reach the REAP voicemail, please leave your name, phone number, group name, date of cleanup, number of participants, and the county where your adopted road is located.
The post WVDEP and DOH hold 2024 Adopt-A-Highway Spring Statewide Cleanup appeared first on WV MetroNews.
GRANVILLE, W.Va. — West Virginia had not played this week before Friday’s series opener against Baylor, and the Mountaineers lost their three most recent contests last weekend at Texas Tech.
So when the Bears got a leadoff home run from the game’s first batter, Enzo Apodaca, as part of a two-run first inning, an already strong sense of urgency became even greater for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia responded early in the form of each of its first four batters producing a hit, and the Mountaineers went on to score four runs in their first trip to the plate as part of a season-high run total in an 18-5 victory before a crowd of 3,712 at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
“Not just crucial to get four, but get four because they got two. That team can really hit,” WVU head coach Randy Mazey said. “If we don’t score four there and they play with a lead throughout that game and start bringing some guys out of the pen to hold a lead, that’s a whole different game. Four in the first off a guy who’s been pitching really well for them was really important.”
West Virginia (24-16, 12-7) elected to start pitcher Hayden Cooper in a Friday night spot that had previously belonged to Aidan Major.
“We prepared him as a reliever and he’s done so well as a starter, but the 100 pitch games and 120 pitch games early on, it’s hard for a reliever to do that without needing a rest at some point,” Mazey said of Major. “We’ve been waiting all season to give him an opportunity to rest a little bit and from Friday to Sunday would be nine days, which is exactly what he needed. He’ll start on Sunday.”
Cooper was shaky early, allowing the Apodaca home run to right field and a second run on a single from Daniel Altman — the game’s fourth batter.
It hardly mattered.
Each of the Mountaineers’ first four batters — JJ Wetherholt, Logan Sauve, Sam White and Reed Chumley — accounted for a single, with White driving in the first run and Chumley the next two to put WVU on top for good. Grant Hussey’s sacrifice fly brought in Chumley for the fourth run of the opening frame as the Mountaineers got to Baylor starting pitcher Mason Marriott early.
After Cooper worked a scoreless second, the Mountaineers garnered complete control of the game.
Benjamin Lumsden drew a base-on-balls to start the home half of the second, and after Skylar King was hit by a pitch, Wetherholt belted a three-run home run to center field. It was Wetherholt’s third home run in what marked his 16th game.
“That was his best game of the year from a swing standpoint,” Mazey said. “Solid contact both sides of the field — middle of the field, pull side. His rhythm was good and his timing was good. Maybe since he’s playing short he feels like a complete player now. Who knows, but that was really good to see him back. He and Sauve their first two times up were 4-for-4 between the two of them. That’s what the top of the lineup is supposed to do.”
Leading 7-2, West Virginia continued to take it to the Bears (19-21, 9-10) and added an additional three runs that inning on Kyle West’s RBI single and a Grant Hussey triple, with Hussey coming around to score on that play courtesy of one of four Baylor errors.
Marriott recorded only five outs and allowed nine runs, eight of which were earned, on seven hits and a walk. He was removed in favor of Mason Green, and the Bears got to within six when Zach Mazoch laced a two-out, two-run single in the third. After Cole Posey drew a walk, Cooper, who lasted 2 2/3 innings, was replaced at pitcher by Tyler Switalski.
WVU came to bat in the third leading 10-4 and matched Baylor’s two runs that inning courtesy of Wetherholt and Sauve each accounting for a sacrifice fly. The Bears again hurt their cause that inning with an error.
West, a University of Charleston transfer in his first season at WVU, blasted his 10th home run this season with one out in the fourth to make it 13-4.
“We hve confidence no matter who’s at the plate now. Anyone can do damage at any given second,” West said. “No matter who’s at the dish, confident they’re going to get the job done, and at this rate, exponentially.“
Chumley’s bases clearing triple in the seventh highlighted a five-run frame and marked the final scoring play of the night.
Apodaca and Altman had two hits apiece to combine for half of the Bears’ hit total. Marriott fell to 3-4 with the loss.
West Virginia made the most of its 12 hits and stranded only three baserunners.
Chumley led all players with five RBI, while Wetherholt drove in four runs and scored twice while finishing 2-for-3.
“You can tell when he’s locked into the middle of the field. That’s the result you get,” Mazey said of Wetherholt. “When he gets a little pull happy, he starts pulling off balls and you see some ground balls on the right side. But when he’s locked in on the middle of the field is when he’s at his best.”
Switalski was credited with the win and improved to 2-2 after allowing one run on two hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and issued one walk.
“You just have to make sure you keep your mindset right, stay aggressive and stay within yourself,” Switalski said. “Don’t let the moment get too big. Go out there and throw strikes and let your stuff play. You work on it every single day.”
The post Mountaineers score early and often against Baylor, produce season-high run total in 18-5 victory appeared first on WV MetroNews.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin spoke Friday to members of the American Postal Workers Union at their annual convention in Beckley.
Manchin fielded a number of questions about the U.S. Postal Service and he also talked about the recent decision by the USPS to change the operations at the processing and distribution facility in Charleston at Southridge to a local processing center.
Manchin said he’s still waiting for the agency to answer his request for an audit of how the decision was made.
“There’s no need for them to delay this audit because they had to make a decision. Just show us how you made this decision and we’ll tell you if the audit is going to be acceptable or not,” Manchin said.
A review of the Charleston operation began last November. A decision was announced April 2 that some operations will be heading to Pittsburgh, PA and Pennwood, PA.
Manchin wants to know why.
“Tell us why you did what you did–why you changed everything,” he said.
Manchin said he can’t be convinced that moving some of the operations to Pittsburgh will be more efficient.
“Most of Charleston (Processing & Distribution Center) serves the rural area, when you look at West Virginia as we know it and you look over in Kentucky and down into Virginia and those are all rural areas. And you tell me that Pittsburgh will be able to serve them? I don’t think so but we’ll see,” Manchin said.
Initial results from the postal service projected the loss of 26 positions at the Charleston facility with the move. Union officials have said they believe the number will be higher.
WJLS Radio Reporter Keith Thompson contributed to this story.
The post Manchin still demanding audit behind downgrading of Charleston postal facility appeared first on WV MetroNews.
GLENVILLE, W.Va. — Less than an hour after grinding out a 2-1, 10-inning win over Doddridge County in the semifinals of the Little Kanawha Conference Tournament, St. Marys had to quickly refocus on a one-loss opponent in the championship game. The Blue Devils did just that in a 4-0 win over Roane County to secure the school’s first LKC title.
“This is huge,” said St. Marys head coach Lacy Riggs. “This was goal number one on our list for the year.”
After pitching six relief innings in the semifinal, Cali Masters allowed just three baserunners against the Raiders. She struck out 14 batters, walked one and yielded just two hits.
“Her riseball was working well and her curveball was working well. And her changeup worked well also.”
St. Marys broke a scoreless stalemate in the third inning. Breanna Price circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run after hitting a liner into the corner in left field.
“I was confident. I thought for sure she was going to make it.”
The Blue Devils added a pair of runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth as part of their nine-hit attack.
“I was a little bit concerned about our bats. We didn’t hit well in game one. But we came out and seemed to bounce right back from it.”
Masters, Price and Zoey Winland each had a pair of base hits for the top-ranked Blue Devils (23-1).
Roane County starter Mahailey Nicholson struck out eight batters while tossing a complete game. Piper Harlan had both of the hits for the No. 5 Raiders (19-2). Roane defeated Wahama, 6-2 in the semifinal round.
Both the Raiders and the Blue Devils will open double-elimination sectional play next week.
The post Masters near perfect as St. Marys claims first LKC Championship with 4-0 win over Roane County appeared first on WV MetroNews.
WHEELING, W.Va. — Photo gallery from Weir’s 4-1 win over Indian Creek, Ohio in the OVAC 4A Championship game.
(Photo gallery by Teran Malone)
The post Photo gallery: Weir wins OVAC 4A title with 4-1 victory over Indian Creek appeared first on WV MetroNews.
Zach Frazier made history throughout his storied West Virginia career, starting 46 games and 37 consecutively at center, while earning All-American honors twice and All-Big 12 Conference status on three occasions.
On Friday, Frazier became West Virginia’s highest draft pick in eight years when he was selected in the second round with the 51st overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A native of Fairmont who excelled on the gridiron and as a wrestler at Fairmont Senior High School, Frazier enjoyed a decorated four-year career with the Mountaineers, and won’t have to go far to begin his professional career.
The wait is over
@zfrazier54
@steelers pic.twitter.com/jJbfsNQLlA
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) April 27, 2024
“I just know how much offensive line means to the Pittsburgh Steelers, their long tradition of having great o-linemen and great offensive lines,” said Frazier. “It’s special. They already went to the offensive line in the first round. It’s special. I am excited.
“They’re getting a hard worker who is going to give everything he has to the organization to win football games. I couldn’t be more excited.”
“We’re extremely excited to bring Zach into the program,” said Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. “It is rare when you find a guy with that kind of pedigree and the amount of snaps he has in college. Certainly with his background in wrestling, he has been a high-achiever his whole life.”
He played extensively in his first college season, starting nine of the team’s 10 contests at left guard. Frazier went on to be named a freshman All-American by several national services.
Ahead of the 2021 season, he moved to center, where Frazier would spend the rest of his time at WVU.
Sixteen times throughout the course of his Mountaineer career Frazier was named the team’s offensive lineman of the week and he allowed one sack in a West Virginia uniform.
Getting the call from Coach T
@zfrazier54 pic.twitter.com/DGT7aLSlpx
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024
Frazier’s career ended one game earlier than it otherwise could have when he suffered a fractured fibula in the regular season finale at Baylor, forcing him to miss the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina. He recovered quick enough to participate in some drills at the NFL Combine eight weeks ago.
Frazier is the first WVU player taken in the second round since quarterback Geno Smith was chosen by the New York Jets in 2013. He is West Virginia’s highest draft pick since safety Karl Joseph went in the first round in 2016.
.@pat_fry5 announced the pick of @zfrazier54
: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/d3oS3OnlVi
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024
Frazier becomes West Virginia’s 45th player picked in the last 20 drafts, including the fifth offensive lineman over that time.
He is the second alumnus of Fairmont Senior to be drafted in the last two years, joining his former high school and college teammate Dante Stills with that honor. Stills, a defensive lineman, was a sixth-round selection of the Arizona Cardinals a year ago.
Frazier’s selection ensures West Virginia’s had at least one player chosen in 20 of the last 22 drafts. The two years the Mountaineers didn’t were 2006 and 2022.
The post Zach Frazier drafted by Steelers in 2nd round appeared first on WV MetroNews.
WHEELING, W.Va. — Photo gallery from Morgantown’s 4-3 win over John Marshall in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference 5A Championship game.
(Photo gallery by Teran Malone)
The post Photo gallery: Morgantown wins the OVAC 5A title, 4-3 over John Marshall appeared first on WV MetroNews.