A column by Charlotte Ferrell Smith, reporter for the Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thirty-three years ago this month, I began working at the Charleston Daily Mail. I did not ride a dinosaur to the Charleston Newspapers building as I have told some of the younger reporters. However, following my job[Read More…]
Month: August 2015
Ravenswood aluminum plant to get $15M state loan
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Constellium Rolled Products, the large aluminum product manufacturer in Jackson County, may soon be expanding its business with the help of state financing. On Thursday, the West Virginia Economic Development Association — the state agency that assists businesses in acquiring financing — gave preliminary approval to a $15[Read More…]
Gazette-Mail staff restructuring complete
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Gazette-Mail has completed the consolidation of its two formerly separate newsrooms, the Gazette and Daily Mail. The newspaper underwent a re-application process with employees to determine skills and interests resulting in the best newspaper and digital coverage going forward. Every employee was provided an interview with[Read More…]
Obama, EPA going rogue on coal, oil and gas
An editorial from The Exponent Telegram CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Imagine if you will if King Fahd of Saudi Arabia declared that the most oil-rich nation in the world would no longer supply its “black gold” to the world. Can you imagine the anarchy that would take place? In the United States,[Read More…]
Parts of WVU stadium to be work zone this fall
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The sight of orange jersey walls on one side and temporary fences on the other will greet 30 to 45 percent of WVU fans — including most students — who attend games at Milan Puskar Stadium this season. On Thursday, Aug. 20, assembled media were taken on[Read More…]
Cabell County deputies sue for dog-care wages
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A federal lawsuit pits three canine handlers against Cabell County Sheriff Tom McComas, his sheriff’s office and the Cabell County Commission in a battle over unpaid overtime. The plaintiffs – Sgt. Doug Adams, Cpl. Dennis Ray and Deputy Wayne Jarrell – represent three of the department’s four[Read More…]
Green groups buying depressed coal stocks
WHEELING, W.Va. — Before President Barack Obama’s 2008 election, a share of stock in coal producer Peabody Energy Corp. reached a value of nearly $90. Recently, after several years of new environmental regulations being introduced, that stock price fell to slightly more than $1 in value. Documents filed with the[Read More…]
St. Marys hydroelectric plant to power 200K homes
ST. MARYS, W.Va. — After four-and-a-half years of work, the hydroelectric facility at the Willow Island Locks and Dam is nearing completion. The American Municipal Power (AMP) project is expected to be completed within the next couple of months, said Neil Baker, resident engineer with MWH Global. The company designed[Read More…]
Water filtering for C8 urged in Parkersburg, Vienna
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — An adviser for an environmental watchdog group says the water supplies in Parkersburg and Vienna should be filtered for C8 as new studies suggest the chemical is dangerous in smaller amounts than originally thought. “There’s no safe limit,” said Dr. Paul Brooks, a Vienna resident whose company[Read More…]
Fairmont State enrolls 20 percent more freshmen
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Enrollment at Fairmont State University is on the rise. During Thursday’s FSU Board of Governors meeting, Kaye Widney, the vice president for student services, reported to board members that enrollment numbers are looking good for the start of the 2015 fall semester. Widney said exact numbers on enrollment[Read More…]