BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Here is the Belmont County court docket for Tuesday, November 12 from the court website.
189 cases are scheduled.
The schedule is subject to change per the site, which states “that not all events may be represented in the event list. The court has discretion over the information displayed. Also, the user must be a party or associated with a party on the case for the event to be listed in the event list. If you do not see an event in the list, do not assume that it does not exist.”
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Here is the Belmont County court docket for Friday, November 15 from the court website.
7 cases are scheduled.
The schedule is subject to change per the site, which states “that not all events may be represented in the event list. The court has discretion over the information displayed. Also, the user must be a party or associated with a party on the case for the event to be listed in the event list. If you do not see an event in the list, do not assume that it does not exist.”
WHEELING, W.Va. – Tipping Point Development announced that the Raze demolition company has removed nearly 80 percent of the former Wheeling Inn on Main Street.
The site will be developed as the Wheeling Gateway Visitors and Heritage Center. Tipping Point says the demolition has revealed an unobstructed view of the historic Suspension Bridge for Wheeling residents, which they say is “a sight unseen in over 50 years.”
Raze is beginning to remove debris from the site, which they will transport to another location for processing. Tipping Point says the material will be repurposed as infill.
There will be heavy truck traffic entering and exiting the Main Street area. Raze has flagging crews on-site to manage traffic flow.
WHEELING, W.Va. – United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced Thursday that ten people from Ohio and West Virginia were indicted for the drug trafficking in Ohio County.
The defendants were charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia for selling fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Two of the defendants were also charged with the illegal possession of firearms.
“Continued pressure from law enforcement on drug traffickers will ensure that the downward trend in overdoses we are experiencing continues. This latest round of indictments, combined with ongoing treatment and prevention efforts, will help to loosen the grip that addiction has upon communities in West Virginia.”
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia released this list of eight of the ten individuals charged:
Antoine Blanchard, also known as “Reggie” and “Cadillac Hill,” 49, of Steubenville, Ohio, charged with the distribution and possession of cocaine and the distribution of methamphetamine;
Harold Wayne Nice, 40, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charged with the distribution of methamphetamine;
Robert Kelly Rogers, 51, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charged with the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin;
Charles Smith Rippy, 69, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charged with the distribution of cocaine base;
Stephen J. Booker, also known as “Flock,” 31, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charged with the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition;
Alyssa Marie Abrigg, 33, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charged with the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine; and
Don Speir McFarland, 30, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charged with the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Jeremy Brandon Evans, 35, of Columbus, Ohio, charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and the unlawful possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Nogay and Clayton Reid are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The cases were investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Task Force consists of personnel from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the West Virginia State Police.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – St. Clairsville Schools students honored approximately 75 local veterans with breakfast and an assembly Monday to mark Veterans Day.
Mike McKeever, St. Clairsville Middle School Principal, said the Veterans Day assembly is an annual event that students have held for more than 16 years.
It’s for our students, for our schools, for our community.
Mike McKeever, St. Clairsville Middle School Principal,
Local veterans were greeted at the St. Clairsville Schools campus Monday with a big sign of gratitude.
Students learn about patriotism and sacrifice, so the day is an important teaching tool. McKeever explained the inspiration for the Veterans Day assembly.
It’s kind of twofold. Number one is to honor our veterans, those who have served, and number two is to teach our kids basically respect for our military services and show them how important it is to us in our everyday lives and allows our kids to really learn by our community coming in like this and our veterans…teaches our kids a lot about patriotism and pride.
Mike McKeever, St. Clairsville Middle School Principal,
Students in grades 5 to 12 participated in the assembly. This year, even some elementary school students joined in as the third and fourth grade Music Makers group performed. Several middle school and high school speakers also participated as well as community members.
Approximately 70 to 75 veterans gathered at the St. Clairsville Schools campus along with their families, friends and neighbors with ties to the school.
Becca Schwertfeger, Middle School Student Council Advisor & English language arts teacher with Mike McKeever, St. Clairsville Middle School Principal in front of the Veterans’ Wall of Fame photo gallery.
Becca Schwertfeger, Middle School Student Council Advisor and English language arts teacher helps students organize the event and the Veterans’ Wall of Honor.
My role here is the Wall of Honor, which pictures or displays over 650 pictures of active and retired veterans throughout the country, along with some overseas veterans right now. And I also head up our gift bags that we give all of the veterans that attend our. breakfast.
Becca Schwertfeger, Middle School Student Council Advisor and English language arts teacher
Schwertfeger said the veterans’ gift bags contain a deck of cards, a key chain, some snacks, some baked goods, some pins, and a bracelet. She called these gifts “little things” to show that students honor the veterans’ sacrifice.
The prinical said Schwertfeger and her students do a wonderful job organizing the Veterans Day assesmbly.
I just want to thank Mrs. Schwertfeger and her students for all the work they’ve done helping us prepare for today’s veterans’ assembly. They do a tremendous amount of work and the kids are directly involved under her leadership
Mike McKeever, St. Clairsville Middle School Principal,
Students pack the St. Clairsville High School gym for the annual Veterans’ Day Assembly.
Following a breakfast in the school cafeteria, the veterans were honored with a patriotic assembly in the school gym which was filled to capacity with students and staff appreciative of the veterans’ service to our nation.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – The Belmont County Commissioners approved the hiring of two people for county jobs during Wednesday’s regular meeting.
Edman Braun, a full-time Eligibility/Referral Specialist II at the Belmont County Department of Job & Family Services, will take a full-time job as a Children Services Case Manager effective November 12.
Shelby Thomas will take the role of part-time dispatcher for Belmont County 911 effective Nov. 11.
Commissioners approved a motion to enter into a roadway use maintenance agreement with Gulfport Appalachia LLC effective Nov. 6 for water transfer activity at 0.75 miles of CR 102 (Stumptown Road) at the West Transfer.
They also approved a road use maintenance termination agreement with Blue Racer Midstream LLC initially approved March 4, 2024. The action is based upon the recommendation of Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively for the following roads:
0.69 miles of CR 114 (Fairview Road)
0.79 miles of CR 120 (Douglass Road)
0.56 miles of CR 70 (Pultney Ridge Road)
Lively reports that Blue Race Midstream completed needed repairs to the roads.
Commissioners also entered into a vehicle maintenance agreement with the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities involving oil changes and servicing for Belmont County Senior Services vehicles. Echemann explained that the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides good service for the county.
BELLAIRE, Ohio – Village of Bellaire Police Chief JJ Watson updated council members on October developments in the department at council’s Thursday evening meeting.
Watson said the department had 466 calls in October and arrested 14 adults.
Two properties were torn down through the land bank program. They were at 3492 and 3498 Belmont Street.
Bellaire officers completed weapons drills and NARCAN training in October.
Watson reported that Officer Probst resigned and refunded the $2,469 memorandum of understanding money from his position to the village.
Brian Watson will move to the lieutenant poistion on Dec. 1.
The village council personnel committee supported Derek Peck’s application to move from a part-time to full-time officer.
Watson also said his department also worked on a recent felonious assault case with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office that resulted in arrests.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – A Martins Ferry resident questioned Belmont County Commissioners about the status of the closed Blaine Hill Bridge at Wednesday’s regular meeting.
Richard Hord told commissioners the bridge has now been closed for months but the public has not been updated concerning when it would reopen. Hord said travel from the Martins Ferry and Bridgeport areas to St. Clairsville is now very difficult with the bridge being out of commission.
ODOT closed the bridge totally August 5 due to deterioration and drivers ignoring closed signs and going the wrong way up the bridge facing oncoming traffic. ODOT had previously closed the bridge to westbound traffic beginning July 3.
Motorists remain inconvenienced by the bridge closure and resulting traffic snarls in the Bridgeport area.
Commissioner J.P. Dutton told Hord that the bridge is an a vital transportation and economic artery in Belmont County.
Commissioner Jerry Echemann said he would check with his contact at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) about the bridge.
River News Network also contacted ODOT Wednesday, and an official there said the agency is finalizing information for an update to be released within the next week.