bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com
In this Nov. 5, 2019, photo, Billy Ray Johnson Jr. is escorted out of Wood County Magistrate Court by Wood County Sheriff’s Department Detective C.P. Nichols following his arraignment before magistrate Jody Purkey. (File Photo)
PARKERSBURG A number of murder trials are pending in Wood County Circuit Court as the COVID-19 pandemic and other concerns continue to impact scheduling.
Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure recently told the Wood County Commission that all three circuit judges had murder trials set in the coming months.
Officials said the courts were going to need larger venues to accommodate a lot of people while maintaining social distancing guidelines and other health concerns during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG The Wood County Commission will hold a hearing Monday to determine if it should rescind a decision made recently to grant a variance for a property owner outside Williamstown to operate a video lottery establishment.
The commission has scheduled the matter for 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 8.
County officials took additional questions Thursday from a couple of residents who appeared before the commission earlier this week and also conferred with Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure and Wood County Compliance Officer Sarah Robinson on the matter.
Last month, the commission voted 2-1 to grant a variance to Hi-Lad Inc. of Charleston for property along Waverly Road to establish a video lottery business with Commissioners Jimmy Colombo and Robert Tebay voting in favor and Commission President Blair Couch voting against.
bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com
Wood County Fire Board Chairman Tim Robinson and Board Member Bill Summers appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday for an annual update on what the board is doing and the challenges it is facing. They are seeing more people not paying the fire fee. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
PARKERSBURG County officials are looking at ways to get people to pay their delinquent fire fee bills.
Wood County Fire Board Chairman Tim Robinson and Board Member Bill Summers appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to give an annual update on what the board is doing and the challenges it is facing.
bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG Wood County officials talked about the impact the storming of the U.S. Capitol by protesters this week has had on people.
During its Thursday meeting, the Wood County Commission talked about what happened Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., when a large group of people, many with pro-Trump attire on as well as carrying signs and flags in support of the President, stormed the building, smashed windows, gained access to a number of offices and the floor of the U.S. Senate as well as causing other damage in an attempt to disrupt the joint session of the United States House of Representatives and Senate from counting and certifying the electoral votes which would name Democrat Joe Biden as the next President of the United States.
bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG The Wood County Commission will be sending a letter of support to the West Virginia Legislature for the local Oil, Gas and Industrial Historical Association Inc. to help them secure funds for needed expenses.
The association is requesting $200,000 to pay the $150,000 balance due on a loan used to purchase Henderson Hall and a $50,000 loan that was used to develop exhibits and upgrade the Oil and Gas Museum in downtown Parkersburg. The group also operates Burning Springs Park.
“This appropriation would free $25,000 per year that will be used to grow these sites and their economic value to the region,” the association said in a written request.