OHIO VALLEY — From new details surrounding Wheeling’s proposed data center to a citywide water outage in Martins Ferry, several stories are making headlines across the Ohio Valley.
Residents packed Wheeling City Council Tuesday as concerns continued over the proposed data center and manufacturing campus at the former Centre Foundry site in Warwood. A representative of Silicon Foundation told council the facility is planned as a 10-megawatt data center. Residents sought an opportunity to question company representatives directly, but the representative left before public comment and did not take questions from reporters.
The local discussion comes as West Virginia leaders outline a broader strategy for data center and energy development. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, along with state legislative leaders, unveiled a 20-year plan Tuesday built around last year’s Power Generation and Consumption Act. Critics have raised concerns that costs associated with new natural gas generation could ultimately affect electric customers.
In Martins Ferry, residents were left without water service Tuesday after a morning traffic crash damaged the city’s water system. Crews began working to make repairs, but officials had not provided a timeline for when service would be fully restored.
A license plate reader alert also led authorities to a wanted person Monday night. According to the newscast, a camera flagged a vehicle in Bridgeport before authorities located it at the Circle K in Bellaire, where the wanted individual was taken into custody.
Former Martins Ferry Fire Chief William Rinderer, 72, has been sentenced by Belmont County Common Pleas Court Judge Chris Berhalter to three years in prison for a sex crime involving a child.
Meanwhile, the Columbiana County Humane Society has temporarily stopped accepting animals after a surge of nearly 200 rescues over a two-week period. The organization’s humane crime unit seized 113 animals Monday from an undisclosed location. The shelter is reducing adoption fees as it works to find homes for animals currently in its care.
On the political front, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton visited the IBEW union hall in Steubenville Tuesday, focusing on health care costs and jobs. Her appearance came one day after Democrat Sherrod Brown visited the same location and criticized costs associated with data centers as part of his campaign against U.S. Sen. Jon Husted.
Construction is also moving forward on Wheeling’s Gateway Center. The Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau finalized a $15.8 million construction agreement with Stonemile Group. Early work includes a trail connection between the Wheeling Suspension Bridge and Heritage Trail, along with hillside work needed to support the development. The construction timeline is expected to span approximately 16 months.
And one of Belmont County’s longest-running traditions is preparing to return. The Belmont County Fair will be held Sept. 7 through Sept. 13, marking the fair’s 177th year.
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