pleasants county, wv news

Thursday, April 27, will mark 45 years since 51 workers died when one of the plants cooling towers collapsed due to green concrete, considered one of the worst construction accidents in U.S. history at the time. Bailey has lived in St. Marys since third grade. So says a single Associated Press article. ST. MARYS A bid for the Pleasants County Power Station has been pulled and the owners are looking for new interested parties. Pleasants County is part of the Third Family Court Circuit, which also includes Wood County. Sheriff Chuck Mankins said Turner was not at the scene when authorities arrived. But in recent years, theres been increased uncertainty about how long it can keep burning coal. Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison submitted a new filing Friday afternoon to the state Public Service Commission A $36 million rate increase proposed by FirstEnergys West Virginia subsidiaries to keep a coal-fired Pleasants County power plant from shuttering has provoked strong reactions. In the Bible, he said, it says we shouldnt worry about tomorrow. Written comments for Case No. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. Pleasants County has a rich history, centered in the growth of the chemical industry, said Diane Braun, executive director of the Pleasants County Development Authority. We were hoping that would be there to offset, but we havent heard anything thats going on right now.. Obviously, youve got engineers, technicians and mechanics and all these specialty jobs down there [in the plant], said Pleasants County Commission President Jay Powell. Were just trying to feed [our] family, he said. The severance tax is 3.95 percent. Not on Anteros website. A request for comment from the ODC was not returned. MORGANTOWN, W.Va.During the debate on whether or not Mon Power and Potomac Edison should buy Pleasants Power State and keep it running, whats not been discussed much is the possible accompanying closure of Fort Martin Power Station in Maidsville, outside Morgantown. Per the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure, JIC matters are confidential unless the JIC issues an admonishment or formal charges have been brought, said Jennifer Bundy, public information officer for the state Supreme Court in a statement Tuesday. At the 2010 census, the population was 7,605, making it the third-least populous county in the West Virginia issued 8 new shale permits last week, with five going to a company we had not previously heard of. During a special session called by Gov. Jim Justice participates in an economic develop announcement with Lars Scott, executive vice president of West Virginia Methanol. By Douglas Soule. Published: Sep. 20, 2021 at 12:04 PM PDT. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pleasants County, West Virginia QuickFacts Table (a) Includes persons reporting only one race (c) Economic Census - Puerto Rico data are not comparable to U.S. Economic Census data (b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories Emmett Pepper, policy director for Energy Efficient West Virginia, says the writing has been on the wall for a while about a transition away from coal power, as the country moves towards a more carbon-neutral economy. [My dad] said, Whats going on? Carr declined to comment further, only to say that the Slow Down for the Holidays program is paused pending the outcome of the various investigations. Okey Starsick, with the Parkersburg state police detachment. But that may change. MARYS, W.Va. Employees of the Pleasants Power Station are making their best pitch to save the plant and their jobs. Earl Ray Tomblin is a pro-drilling Democratan unusual occurrence. Jim Justice said Wednesday he still wants to see the Pleasants Power Plant near St. Marys saved, but it is A Bridgeport native, he worked as an intern at the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Continue reading, There was a decent number of new permits issued across all three actively drilling Marcellus/Utica states cumulatively last week. I support the ongoing effort to preserve a predictable source of electricity. Pleasants Power, located south of St. Marys and Belmont in Pleasants County near the Wood County border, was commissioned in 1979 and fully operational in 1980. What Mon Power does at the end is out of my control.. Pleasants County has a rich history centered in the growth of the chemical industry, Braun said in a press release. They worry the next possible one might devastate them. We want to try with all in us to find a methodology and a way to be able to keep that plant open.. Idling Pleasants will cost the state millions of dollars in severance tax. ST. MARYS, W.Va. (WTAP) - The two magistrates serving Pleasants County have resigned. Ill be getting more and more details. Gov. All data on this site is obtained directly from law enforcement agencies in their respective states and counties, and is public domain. Rodney Sayre, owner of St. Marys Hardware, said the announcement alone has hurt his business. Local News. The B&O tax cut will hurt West Virginia cities. Weve just been so fortunate to have [the power plant] for all these years, Bailey said. Although a target per-acre bonus amount has not been specified, Tomblin has publicly stated hed like to see a 20% royalty on any such under-the-river leases It would raise $36 million over a 12-month period, or $3 million per month. Your information regarding an ODC investigation of me is accurate, Carr said in an email Wednesday morning. The fossil fuel has had new competition from other energy sources, like natural gas and renewables. WebMARYS, W.Va. (WTAP) - One person is confirmed dead after a head-on collision Sunday morning on West Virginia route 2. We dont have specific numbers, he said, but any shutdown will obviously affect our community in jobs and taxes. Bailey has lived in Pleasants County long enough to remember life before the power plant. The program also solicits monetary donations and fundraisers. A request for comment from Nutter was not returned, while contact information for Taylor was not immediately available. Delegate Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, voted no on the House resolution. The students are going to have a greater financial need in order to go to college if their familys income is reduced.. CHARLESTON Gov. Pleasants County Schools ; Belmont Elementary School ; An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia. So when a land records rooms becomes congested, you know its not long until leases are signed and drilling begins. Explore Explore . The very first thing that happens is researchers must locate who owns a given property, and then landmen head into the field to get them to sign a lease. CAD cited two primary reasons: Pleasants has better pollution scrubbers and better access to coal supplies. Pleasants County Sheriff Chuck Mankins said two deputies from his office and a St. Marys Police officer were at the scene. A spokesperson for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals could neither confirm nor deny ODC or JIC investigations in Pleasants County. The PSC said the Mon Power/Potomac Edison interim temporary solution for Pleasants Power was reasonable. Beyond its 154 direct employees, the power plant employs thousands of temporary union workers during its maintenance periods, as well as coal miners in the Northern Panhandle who help supply the plant. Starsick said he did not have information at this time on why Brewer began shooting. Jim Compressor Station Reduces M-U Flows to Gulf Coast, Southwestern Energy 1Q Added 13 M-U Wells, 23 Haynesville Wells, CNX 1Q Production Slides, Profits Soar on Derivatives, Sue-and-Settle: DRBC Bans Conventional Fracked Water Road Spreading, PIOGA Responds to Bill Raising Bonding Rates for Conventional Wells, WVU & NNE Drilling Test Well for CCS, Geothermal Energy, EPA Continues to Delay Approval of Class VI CCS Injection Wells, Other Stories of Interest: Mon, May 1, 2023, EQT 1Q Tug Hill on Track, Rice a Fan of Electrify the World. Lets give FirstEnergy/Mon Power the time necessary to complete their review and I will monitor the progress going forward.. Yesterday the Pennsylvania database we use to locate information on new permits issued was throwing an error. I would question why they feel they would need to do this, considering the fact that during the cold snap in December of 2022 they were close to mandatory rolling blackouts, from my understanding. Instead, the companies submitted a request to the PSC to approve its interim plan to keep Pleasants Power functional, along with a $36 million temporary surcharge for Mon Power/Potomac Edison residential, commercial, and industrial customers in North Central West Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle. Both Nutter and Taylor resigned their magistrate positions on Aug. 13. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Normally we issued these updates on Wednesdays. Thats sure to give the nutters in the WV Sierra Club heartburn. In fact, it was one of the lowest overall number of permits issued in recent memory. Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, gave a brief floor speech in favor of the resolution on the day it passed the Senate. We are especially pleased to welcome West Virginia Methanol to our commercial community. We have an incredible manufacturing base and a great workforce training program thats going to produce a lot of good for our beautiful state, Justice said. But lets face it, those same people are our Boy Scout leaders, there are coaches, there are deacons in our churches.. Coal prices have recently been over $100 a ton. None of the 51 workers on the towers scaffolding at the time survived the collapse. CHARLESTON On the eve of a deadline set by two FirstEnergy subsidiaries, the West Virginia Public Service Commission gave its approval Monday for the plan that will The land records room at the Wood County, WV Courthouse has not seen a lot of oil and gas lease researchyet. PLEASANTS COUNTY, W.Va. (WTAP) - The future of the Pleasants Power Station has seen much public debate since FirstEnergy announced its intentions to shut the plant of Environmental Protections (DEP) Division of Air Quality held a virtual meeting yesterday to address public comments on the project. Not just [to] soften the blow, but to put a plan into place to create economic activity that will help long term.. Shortly after, Mr. Steve Adams can be reached at sadams@newsansentinel.com. As a nonprofit newsroom, we depend on readers to fund our work. The victim of a fatal fire in Nicholas County was an elderly woman who lived alone. CHARLESTON Two magistrates in Pleasants County have resigned and the county prosecutors office is under investigation over a holiday program designed to wipe away misdemeanors in exchange for hefty fees that some are calling Santa-Gate.. 1 / 3. Proposed rates from West Virginia American Water could mean more expensive water bills. Search . Continue reading, Some exciting news to share! He joins us from the Pleasants County Humane Society!. CHARLESTON A filing by the West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel seeking the suspension of Pleasants County Prosecutor Brian Carrs law license confirms WebGov. Pleasants County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Carr confirmed Wednesday his office is under investigation by the West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel for its participation into the Slow Down for the Holidays program operated by the St. Marys Police Department and Pleasants County Sheriffs Department. He said, Weve known for many years that the coal-fired power plants in West Virginia will eventually shut down, and that its only a question of when. ST. MARYS The Pleasants County Solid Waste Authority will hold its annual electronics recycling collection from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Earth Day, at the Momentive Finally, West Virginia issued just 1 permit for new shale drilling last week. Get our in-depth reporting delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Now that the country is reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change, these plants will likely shut down even sooner. On Monday, the West Virginia Public Service Commission gave Mon Power and Potomac Edison the go-ahead to negotiate a deal to keep the Pleasants plant from shutting down next month. One other delegate replied but said he didnt feel familiar enough with the full issue to be able to comment. And I hope that this company invests in the community as well, he said. As a result, the company plans to sell or close the plant next year. Copyright Weirton Daily Times | https://www.weirtondailytimes.com | 114 Lee Ave., Weirton, WV 26062 | 304-748-0606. MOUNT LOOKOUT, W.Va. The victim of a fatal fire in Nicholas County was an elderly woman who lived alone. Pleasants Power, located south of St. Marys and Belmont, is a 1,300-megawatt coal-fired power plant. The plant in Pleasants County is designed to produce 900 metric tons of high-purity methanol from natural gas each day. Mankins said Turner and Hause lived together. See All News . Zuri is a beagle-mix and is about 6 months old. Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323. According to the direct source, the JIC determined that Nutter and Taylor acted improperly in accepting the agreements between the Prosecutors Office and defense attorneys for dismissing the misdemeanor charges. Beyond its 154 direct employees, the power plant Any additional costs would have to be brought to the PSC in a new rate case. The multiplier effect of those jobs is enormous. Jim Justice the next year, lawmakers rushed to approve $12.5 million in annual tax breaks to help keep the plant alive. CHARLESTON Two magistrates in Pleasants County have resigned and the county prosecutors office is under investigation over a holiday program designed to wipe All Rights Reserved by Recently Booked, 10 people were booked in the last 30 days, (Last updated on 5/1/2023 11:22:59 AM EST). I will allow my legal counsel to address any further requests for comment, and I will continue to serve the people of Pleasants County in the fair administration of justice.. They also argue that it could cost ratepayers more in the future to keep the plant compliant with current environmental rules and regulations. Janet Kunicki/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Listen The debate over the Pleasants Power Station isnt just about the Please reload the page and try again. Hes running for county commission in the upcoming election, and calls the area a modern- day Mayberry, referring to the quaint and friendly town from The Andy Griffith Show.. ST. MARYS The Pleasants County Solid Waste Authority will hold its annual electronics recycling collection from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Earth Day, at the Momentive Performance Materials Plant, 10851 Energy Highway, in Friendly. In 2019, Gov. Douglas Soule is a Report for America corps member who covers business and economic development. In fact, Tomblin is so pro-drilling, hes looking to lease the land underneath the Ohio River for drilling! He wouldnt reveal any names, but said there have been three kinds of groups interested in the plant: companies that want to repurpose the facility as a hydrogen power plant, coal companies interested in keeping the plant powered by coal, and groups interested in doing the same but using the electricity for cryptocurrency mining. The PSC is accepting written and online public comments. But Im glad we have a delta rather than before when all we had before was were considering it. Now weve at least got a delta.. Forms . Operating under the banner of West Virginians for Energy Freedom (WV4EF), they argue it is unfair to keep the plant open on the backs of ratepayers. First, we point out that Mon Power and Potomac Edison havent committed to buying Pleasants or closing Fort Martin. CHARLESTON On the eve of an evidentiary hearing to decide whether ratepayers will have to shell out more money in order to keep the Pleasants Power plant idling, supporters and detractors of plan made their voices heard Thursday. The entire community was left in shock and mourning, with no choice but to keep moving forward. Continue reading, A healthy number of permits were issued to drill new shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region last week. After the exchange of gunfire, emergency personnel noticed the cabin was on fire as well, Starsick said. The town of fewer than 2,000 sits on the banks of the Ohio River in Pleasants County. UPDATE: Arrest made following fatal Pleasants County wreck, Local man sentenced to 2-3 years in prison after pleading guilty to four charges, Belpre City Council holds special meeting, Tuesday fundraising campaign aims to uplift Mid-Ohio Valley nonprofits, Belpre Volunteer Fire Department files lawsuit against City of Belpre and fire chief, Gov. Continue reading, West Virginia doesnt let any grass grow under their feet when it comes to the drilling industry. Online comments can be submitted at psc.state.wv.us by clicking Submit a Comment on the PSC homepage. She is listed in the North Central Regional Jail as a pretrial felon. Breaking News. View today. A company spokesman denied an interview request and did not respond to emailed questions. Superintendent Michael Wells said if the plant closes, the Cana Turner, 21, was allegedly behind the wheel of the car when it wrecked on Henry Camp Road. Woods County Clerk Mark Rhodes says hes been told researchers have descended on neighboring Pleasants County (northeast of Woods) and that the crowd of researchers in Pleasants will migrate south to Woods in about six months.