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Belmont County Student Selected for 2026 Ohio State Junior Fair Board

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Belmont County Student Selected for 2026 Ohio State Junior Fair Board

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — A Belmont County student has been selected to serve on the 2026 Ohio State Junior Fair Board, earning a leadership role at this year’s Ohio State Fair.

Lydia Fuchs was chosen as one of nine first-year members selected through a competitive statewide application process. The Junior Fair Board is made up of young leaders ages 16 to 20 who represent youth organizations and career-technical programs from across Ohio.

During the Ohio State Fair, board members serve as ambassadors for Ohio’s youth while assisting with livestock shows, welcoming visitors, supporting special events and working alongside fair officials.

Ohio State Fair Executive Director Adam Heffron said the Junior Fair Board reflects the values of leadership, hard work and dedication to agriculture and community service.

Board members also gain valuable leadership experience through public speaking opportunities, training events and hands-on work in various departments throughout the fair.

In addition to the newly selected first-year members, the 2026 board includes returning second-year members serving in leadership positions, including President Samantha Bader of Fairfield County and Vice President Landon Frank of Mahoning County.

Many Junior Fair Board members have years of experience participating in county fairs, exhibiting livestock and projects, attending camps and taking part in youth organizations before being selected for the statewide board.

The 2026 Ohio State Fair will be held July 29 through Aug. 9 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

Shepard Fund Awards More Than $86,000 to Support Guernsey County Organizations

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Shepard Fund Awards More Than $86,000 to Support Guernsey County Organizations

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio — Sixteen organizations and community projects across Cambridge and Guernsey County will receive a combined $86,632 in grant funding through the John W. and Edna McManus Shepard Fund.

The grants will support a wide range of initiatives, including community development, arts and culture, food assistance, housing, education and economic development.

The largest grant, totaling $10,000, was awarded to the Samaritan Center of Guernsey County to help provide transitional housing and case management services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Guernsey County Feed My People received $8,345 to continue operating its free community kitchen, while the Cambridge Area YMCA was awarded $7,500 to provide income-based membership scholarships for underserved families and individuals.

Several organizations each received $5,000 grants, including:

  • The Cambridge Band, Inc. for equipment maintenance, music library expansion, community outreach and uniform preservation.
  • Cambridge Presbyterian Church for its Backpack 500 program, which provides weekend meals to students.
  • The Cambridge-Guernsey County Community Improvement Corporation to promote the Guernsey Impact Initiative through marketing and website improvements.
  • Dickens Victorian Village of Cambridge for its historical trolley tours.
  • Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival to support festival operations, artisan demonstrations and performing arts.
  • Ohio Hills Folk Festival to continue restoration of The Country Store Museum.
  • Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio to support food pantry services in Guernsey County.
  • United Way of Guernsey and Noble Counties to help cover shipping costs for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Additional grants include:

  • Cambridge Main Street Initiative — $5,500 for website, ticketing and event planning upgrades.
  • Guernsey County Community Development Corporation — $4,455 for new interpretive signs along the Great Guernsey Trail.
  • United Way of Guernsey and Noble Counties — $4,332 in unrestricted funding.
  • Grace Pantry — $4,000 to install a vinyl wrap on its delivery truck.
  • National Cambridge Collectors — $2,500 for educational activity booklets for students.

The John W. and Edna McManus Shepard Fund was established in 1998 by Arthur E. Shepard in memory of his parents, longtime Cambridge residents John W. Shepard and Edna McManus Shepard. Since its creation, the fund has awarded more than $720,000 to projects benefiting Cambridge and Guernsey County.

Grant recommendations are made with assistance from an advisory committee that includes representatives from the Guernsey County Foundation and community member John A. Davis. The grants are administered through Community Foundations, Inc., a charitable organization that supports nonprofit organizations throughout Ohio and beyond.

WesBanco Donates $20,000 to Wheeling Area Chamber to Support Community Programs

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WesBanco Donates $20,000 to Wheeling Area Chamber to Support Community Programs

WHEELING, W.Va. — WesBanco has presented the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce with a $20,000 donation to help fund annual events and initiatives aimed at supporting local businesses and the regional economy.

According to the chamber, the contribution will help support several signature programs, including the Main Street Bank Fantasy in Lights Parade and Leadership Wheeling.

Chamber President Jennifer Materkoski said investments in the business community benefit the region as a whole by helping businesses grow and strengthening the local economy.

Matt Drahos, WesBanco’s market president, said supporting the chamber is one way the bank gives back to the community and continues its longstanding partnerships with local organizations and businesses.

The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce said WesBanco has been a longtime partner, with the latest contribution continuing the bank’s ongoing support of the organization’s programs and events.

Marshall County Fair Opens Week of Events While Honoring Two Longtime Fair Leaders

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Marshall County Fair Opens Week of Events While Honoring Two Longtime Fair Leaders

MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. — The Marshall County Fair is officially underway, bringing a full week of agricultural exhibits, entertainment, motorsports and family activities while paying tribute to two longtime members of the fair board.

This year’s fair recognizes the contributions of Ronnie Stollar, who passed away last year, and Paul Garey, who served on the Marshall County Fair Board for 53 years.

Fair board member Amanda Ashby said Stollar played a major role in supporting youth programs at the fair, while Garey’s decades of service helped shape the annual event for generations.

The fair’s schedule includes activities throughout the week, featuring an antique tractor pull on Tuesday, dirt bike and ATV barrel racing on Wednesday, truck and tractor pulls on Thursday and Friday, and a closing concert Saturday night featuring country artist Deana Carter, along with the band Left on Read.

Visitors can also enjoy traditional livestock exhibits, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses. New this year is a stingray exhibit, offering fairgoers an additional attraction.

Livestock competitions will continue throughout the week, with the annual livestock auction scheduled for Friday. The fair also features a building filled with 4-H and FFA projects showcasing the work of local youth.

The Marshall County Fairgrounds open daily at 9 a.m. Most events begin later in the day, while the carnival typically opens at 6 p.m., except on Children’s Day when rides begin at 1 p.m. Evening track events are also scheduled throughout the week.

St. Clairsville Council Approves 2027 Budget, Continues Discussion on Employee Pay Raises

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St. Clairsville Council Approves 2027 Budget, Continues Discussion on Employee Pay Raises

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — St. Clairsville City Council has approved the city’s 2027 budget following the third and final reading of the ordinance during Monday night’s council meeting.

Council members also held a third reading of a separate ordinance that would increase annual compensation for city employees, including all non-elected, non-union personnel. A final vote on the measure was not taken during the meeting.

Mayor Kathryn Thalman said she supports the proposed pay increases and hopes council approves the ordinance in the near future.

“I’d rather see it happen sooner than later,” Thalman said, adding that council members are carefully reviewing the proposal and its financial impact while working to support the city’s employees.

Council is expected to consider a final vote on the compensation ordinance during its next regular meeting, scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m.

If approved, the ordinance would increase annual compensation for eligible non-union, non-elected city employees.

Flood Watch Issued for Much of the Ohio Valley Through Tonight

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Flood Watch Issued for Much of the Ohio Valley Through Tonight

OHIO VALLEY — A Flood Watch will take effect at 1 p.m. Tuesday for much of the Ohio Valley as forecasters warn that repeated rounds of heavy thunderstorms could produce excessive rainfall and localized flooding.

The watch, issued by the National Weather Service offices in Pittsburgh and Charleston, remains in effect until 11 p.m.

The following counties are included in the Flood Watch:

Ohio: Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe and Noble counties.

West Virginia: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel counties.

Communities within the watch area include Wheeling, Moundsville, Cameron, New Martinsville, Middlebourne, Sistersville, Woodsfield, Caldwell, Cambridge, Barnesville, St. Clairsville, Cadiz, Scio, Steubenville and Weirton, along with surrounding areas.

Forecasters say multiple rounds of thunderstorms may move over the same locations throughout the afternoon and evening, increasing the risk of excessive rainfall. Some areas could receive several inches of rain, leading to flooding in low-lying, poor-drainage and urban areas.

Residents are encouraged to monitor the latest weather forecasts and be prepared for possible Flood Warnings if conditions worsen. Never drive through flooded roadways, as water depth and road conditions can be difficult to judge.

Ohio EPA Withdraws Proposed General Permit for Data Centers

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Ohio EPA Withdraws Proposed General Permit for Data Centers

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it will not move forward with finalizing its proposed general permit for data centers under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

In a community notice dated July 21, the agency said the decision followed a review of a significant number of public comments submitted during the public comment period.

Ohio EPA emphasized that public participation played an important role in its decision-making process and said it carefully considered the feedback it received before deciding not to finalize the proposed permit.

Instead of adopting a statewide general permit, the agency said it will continue using the individual NPDES permit process for proposed data center projects.

According to the notice, individual permits are considered the most appropriate path forward at this time and will continue to require the same rigorous environmental standards and review process currently in place.

The announcement comes amid increased public attention surrounding proposed data center developments across Ohio, including projects that have prompted environmental and community concerns in several counties.

No additional changes to the state’s permitting process were announced.

Wheeling Miners Head Coach Arrested on Felony Strangulation Charge

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Wheeling Miners Head Coach Arrested on Felony Strangulation Charge

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. — The head coach of the Wheeling Miners has been arrested and charged with felony strangulation.

According to court records, 46-year-old Christopher Iris McKinney is charged with strangulation, suffocation, or asphyxiation. The case stems from a report filed on Friday, July 17.

McKinney posted a $2,500 bond on Monday and was released. As of Monday, a pretrial hearing had not yet been scheduled by the Ohio County Magistrate Court.

Additional details about the allegations have not been released. The case remains under investigation, and more information is expected as it becomes available.

Guernsey County Residents Encouraged to Attend Data Center Town Hall

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Guernsey County Residents Encouraged to Attend Data Center Town Hall

GUERNSEY COUNTY, Ohio — Residents concerned about a proposed industrial data center development are being encouraged to attend a public town hall meeting later this week to learn more about the project and ask questions.

The meeting, co-hosted by the Guernsey County Commissioners and the Guernsey County Farm Bureau, is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, at 6 p.m. in the Buckeye Trail High School Auditorium in Lore City.

Organizers say the meeting will focus on the proposed data center project and its potential impact on the county. Community members will have an opportunity to hear a presentation from the Ohio Farm Bureau’s director of energy and local government policy before participating in a question-and-answer session.

Ahead of the meeting, residents involved in the community group “Guernsey County & Ohio: Data Center Developments” said they submitted a list of concerns and infrastructure-related questions to county commissioners and State Rep. Adam Holmes so officials would have an opportunity to review them before the event.

The proposed site developer has also been invited to attend, along with state and local elected officials.

Residents who are unable to submit questions at the meeting are encouraged to send their concerns in advance through the community’s online question form.

Organizers say they hope a strong turnout will give residents an opportunity to voice concerns, ask questions and learn more about how the proposed development could affect Guernsey County.

Former Steelers Running Back Le’Veon Bell Arrested on Child Support Warrant

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Former Steelers Running Back Le’Veon Bell Arrested on Child Support Warrant

CANTON, Ohio — Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was arrested Sunday in Canton on a warrant related to unpaid child support.

Bell, 34, was taken into custody on July 19 and is being held on behalf of another agency. Reports indicate the warrant originated in Michigan, where the child involved in the case resides.

According to Bell’s attorney, the former NFL player owes more than $50,000 in child support and has experienced financial difficulties since his professional football career ended.

Bell had been scheduled to appear at Belden Village Mall in Canton on Sunday for a public meet-and-greet and autograph signing event.

A Reynoldsburg native, Bell began his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted in 2013. He later played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before his final NFL season in 2021.

In 2025, Bell’s name was removed from the football stadium at his alma mater, Groveport Madison High School, after he and his brother were ordered in a civil case to pay $36 million to a woman who alleged they sexually assaulted her as a child. Neither brother responded to the lawsuit, resulting in a default judgment. Neither was criminally charged in connection with those allegations.

The child support case remains ongoing.

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