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In the Courts

Parkersburg recycling lawsuit continues despite new contract

PARKERSBURG – The plaintiff in a lawsuit over Parkersburg’s suspension of curbside recycling is asking a judge to prohibit the city from entering into a contract for a subscription-based program with Rumpke and order the reinstatement of curbside recycling. Parkersburg resident Walt Auvil filed the lawsuit in July after the city suspended its curbside recycling service in May, citing manpower issues. In an amended complaint filed 10 days later and a motion filed March 27, Auvil, an attorney, says the city has violated state code requiring cities with a population of 10,000 or more ...

Couple sentenced for concealing body for nearly two years

WHEELING — Two people were sentenced Friday to prison terms of up to five years for concealing the remains of a man whose body went undiscovered for nearly two years, authorities said. Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney Shawn R. Turak said Christopher Riley and Sara Riley were sentenced Friday by David Sims in Ohio County Circuit Court. Each received a sentence of not less than one year nor more than five years following their convictions for concealment of a deceased human body. Authorities said the victim, Andrew Downs, died June 15, 2021. A missing persons report was filed with an ...

West Virginia Democrats seek recusal from justice

CHARLESTON – The state Democratic Party is now calling for the chief justice of the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals to recuse himself from cases involving data centers represented by House Speaker Roger Hanshaw. Hanshaw represents Fundamental Data LLC, the developers of a data center in Tucker County where there is opposition to the project, and MGS CNP 1, an affiliate of Fidelis New Energy that was involved in a generating facility for nearby data centers in Mason County. Chief Justice Dan Greear was Hanshaw’s chief counsel before his appointment to the Intermediate ...

Magistrate Court records

Wood Magistrate PARKERSBURG — The following cases were released by Wood County Magistrate Court on April 1: * Tyler Edward Mackey, 11 Shepard St., Parkersburg, was arraigned on a charge of destruction of property and released on a $500 surety/cash bond. * Rebbecca L. Payton, 119 Dempsey Ave., Parkersburg, was arraigned on charges of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), having no MVI and released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond. * Robert Nathan Castillo 1701 20th St., Parkersburg, pleaded guilty to a red light violation and fined $181.48. He had a charge of ...

Magistrate Court Records

PARKERSBURG — The following cases were released by Wood County Magistrate Court on April 2: * Jade Alicia Bokulich, Belpre, was arraigned on a charge of domestic battery and released on a $2,000 surety bond. * Michael David Thomas, 1807 23rd St., Parkersburg, was arraigned on charges of having no proof of insurance and having expired MVI and released on a $500 personal recognizance bond. * Amanda Elizabeth Howell, 36 New Pear Tree Court, Charles Town, was arraigned on a charge of making a false report of an emergency and released on a $500 personal recognizance bond. * Julie ...

Mid-Ohio Valley water systems getting share of $65M DuPont settlement

MARIETTA - Local water systems will receive millions of dollars from a $65 million settlement with DuPont over the release of "forever chemicals" into the Ohio River. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and state Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue announced the $65 million funding distribution from the environmental restoration settlement reached in 2023. Due to legal appeals, funding from the settlement had been delayed, according to a release from the state. The settlement stemmed from the lawsuit filed by then-Attorney General DeWine against DuPont in 2018 for the accusation of ...