ELKINS, W.Va. — Two school districts are holding public hearings this week for closure and consolidation plans due to falling enrollment.
Kristie Skidmore
The Randolph County Board of Education will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Elkins High School for the proposed closures of Coalton Elementary School and Midland Elementary School. The students would be merged into the Beverly Elementary School and Elkins Third Ward Elementary School.
In Barbour County, hearings are planned

WHITE HALL, W.Va. — The Valley Volunteer Fire Department could be looking for a new home if White Hall officials move forward with a plan to close their substation.
The department received a letter from the town dated Oct. 15 informing them their month-to-month lease will be terminated Nov. 14 and all of the equipment will have to be moved. Eakle said the town could be running out of space for their own operations, and there is a need for additional space.
“They have a very large and

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A Jefferson County woman is going to prison following her conviction earlier this year on charges she forged a public document in an attempt to fraudulently create a new business.
Kris Warner
Dana Marie Phillips, 53, was originally indicted in April by the Jefferson County Grand Jury on two felony counts of Forgery of a Public Document and one felony count of Uttering a Forged Public Document.
She pleaded guilty in September to one count of forgery. She was sentenced in

 
Eric Buzzard, Marshall County Assessor
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Marshall County Assessor Eric Buzzard is in custody after his bond was revoked.
Authorities arrested the embattled assessor Friday after it was determined he had violated a no contact order and reached out to several county employees.
The process to remove Buzzard from office is already underway after criminal charges were filed against him for embezzlement earlier this year. Buzzard is alleged to have embezzled $117,000.
The Marshall

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– Secretary of State Kris Warner presented the West Virginia Centurion Award Friday to Massullo Cleaners marking 100 years of doing business in Morgantown.
Kris Warner
According to Warner, the Massullo family’s Morgantown story began with Domenico Massullo, who immigrated from Italy and established Massullo’s Tailoring on Pleasant Street in 1925. Domenico was a tailor, and his wife, Raphael, worked alongside him.
“It’s to recognize them for their years of service and

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Marion County Circuit Judge Matthew Delligati has issued a a temporary restraining order pausing the Morrisey administration’s plan the sell the John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center to a private firm.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the sale of four state-owned hospitals in August including Manchin, Hopemont Hospital in Terra Alta, Jackie Withrow Hospital in Beckley and Lakin Hospital in Mason County to the Marx Development Group for $60 million.
Marion County attorney and State