Ravenswood City Council approves water tariff increase
Barbara Layton
Reporter
The Ravenswood City Council along with mayor Josh Miller voted to approve the necessary water tariff increase, as a result of Senate Bill 234 adopted in 2015 by the West Virginia Legislature requiring a specific amount of reserve funding in both water and sewer funds, during Tuesday nights City Council Meeting.
“A PSC (Public Service Commission) order released Feb. 24, 2020 changed the way this reserve fund was calculated and led to the proposed tariff increase so we could meet the requirements of those unfunded mandates,” Miller said. “To be able to move forward and keep on track in replacing our aging infrastructure we must comply with the Bureau of Public Health’s recommendations provided to us in a sanitary survey from 2017. The Bureau of Public Health is funding this water project.”
Feeding Jackson County during COVID-19
Barbara Layton
Reporter
Partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), local organizations, such as the Jackson County Hunting Heroes (JCHH), Jackson County Ministerial Association (JCMA), Jackson County Community Foundation (JCCF), and local churches have been able to feed many individuals, as well as fill food pantries in both Jackson and Wood Counties.
The Parchment Valley Conference Center in Ripley, directed by Reverend Frank Miller, recently hosted a free food give-away in the parking lot of one of the center’s facilities.
“I just want to feed people,” Miller said.
Volunteers from local churches, organizations, and the community boxed up food and loaded up vehicles as they drove through the line.
Bethel Baptist Church opens food pantry
Barbara Layton
Reporter
Bethel Baptist Church located at 640 Pleasant Valley Road in Given is excited to be able to announce they are starting a food pantry.
Members of the church, led by Pastor Jeff Halstead, realized back in October 2020 that the Lord was lying on their hearts the need to open a food pantry for those in need in southern Jackson County. Following a few donations from members and other local individuals, the church began to research other avenues in obtaining food for their pantry.
Unable to obtain government funding, it was decided to try for non-profit status by applying for a 501c3 license from the IRS. Unfortunately, their initial application for non-profit status was denied and they were informed they would need to reapply with additional information.
Police K-9 retires after six years of service
Barbara Layton
Reporter
Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryan Varney will soon be missing his partner of six years. Zamba, a German Shepard police dog, has been by Varney’s side since she first joined the force as a puppy.
Chosen to partner with a police K-9 due to his exceptional work ethic, Varney was fitted with Zamba and sent to Pine Grovel Kennel in Reedsville, Ohio, for six-weeks of training in narcotics protection and patrol.
Since receiving her training certificate, Zamba has accompanied Varney on many assignments in their custom fitted police vehicle. With the push of a button, the vehicle doors will open and at Varney’s command, Zamba gladly joins him on scene.
Local organizations make national headlines with FEMA
Barbara Layton
Reporter
Jackson County Hunting Heroes (JCHH) recently partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to feed those in need in the Jackson County and Wood County areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with the Jackson County Ministerial Association (JCMA), over 10,500 meals have been distributed to local food pantries, and local churches, including Hispanic ministries across West Virginia since the onset of the virus in March 2020.
“When FEMA saw the need and how successful Jackson County volunteers were in distributing this food, they called me and said they had fresh food, frozen burgers and chicken, and such. I was authorized to go down to one of the military bases to load up a couple of trailers for local distribution and fed over 500 individuals,” Parchment Valley Conference Center director Reverend Frank Miller, also a member of the JCMA said.