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Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Monday, May 26, 2025  Get ready for a celebration of all things chili, paired with live music, classic cars and more--at Wheeling's annual chili cookoff…enjoy a concert from your couch featuring some of West Virginia's most talented musicians…and the WV Hive honors a Raleigh County baker with a Survivor Bee award…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WTRF-TV – When you combine a festive atmosphere, live music, classic cars, and mouthwatering chili, you've got the perfect recipe for the 25th Annual Wheeling Feeling Chili Cookoff! The celebration takes place from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at Wheeling's scenic Heritage Port, rain or shine. Admission is free and open to the public, with chili tasting cups, beverages and event T-shirts available for purchase through the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley. Read more: https://www.wtrf.com/wheeling/wheeling-feeling-chili-cookoff-back-for-25th-year/   #2 – From DAILY304 – There are so many talented musicians in West Virginia, and the daily304 wants to shine a spotlight on each and every one of them. Every month, we introduce you to creative West Virginia artists and their original songs.  You can view the live performances on YouTube. It's a concert from your couch, and you don't even have to pay a cover charge. Sit back, relax and enjoy live music from the Folklore Stage! Read more: https://daily304.wv.gov/programs/mountain-state-music/   #3 – From DAILY304 – Leaders at the West Virginia Hive Network proudly recognize Erica Bowden and her growing business – Auntie E's Custom Order Bakery in MacArthur, W.Va. – as a shining example, exemplifying resilience, growth, and staying power, embodying the spirit of a “survivor bee” thriving against all odds. Bowden's entrepreneurial journey is marked by profound personal challenges. In 2007, she endured the auctioning of her family home and the loss of her mother, who passed away from ALS just days before Christmas.  The WV Hive's 2024 Survivor Bee Award recipient said this was a time of reckoning, and she is proud she beat adversity and is now embarking on a journey “to find herself and her true worth.” Read more: https://daily304.wv.gov/post/pressroom/from-adversity-to-entrepreneurial-success-how-auntie-es-owner-erica-bowden-became-wv-hives-2024-survivor-bee-of-the-year/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --A WVU student facing deportation is pushing back--Governor Patrick Morrisey signs the bill to increases penalties for those pushing fentanyl in the state--A Raleigh County school system employes is charged with selling school board property and keeping the profits--In Sports: Kyle Wiggs takes a look at the first round of the NFL draft 

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Spring is fast approaching, and with that, spring fire season---a WV forester provides fire safety tips…Southern Living lists some favorite beautiful places in Almost Heaven…and check out 4 ways you can support wildlife conservation in WV…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WOAY-TV – As wildfires rage in California, it's worth remembering that West Virginia's spring fire season begins March 1.  During that time, burning is prohibited during the day between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The West Virginia Division of Forestry urges residents to be mindful and aware of the impact you leave when you are outdoors. Mark Hudnall, a forester from the Region 4 headquarters in Raleigh County, shares some fire safety tips for the public. Visit wvforestry.com to learn more about fire burning guidelines. Read more: https://woay.com/west-virginia-division-of-forestry-shares-fire-safety-tips-in-anticipation-of-wildfire-season/   #2 – From SOUTHERN LIVING – There's more to the south than Gulf Coast beaches and the Smoky Mountains. As the South's northernmost state, West Virginia is home to stunningly beautiful mountains, rivers, towns, and architecture.  Discover some favorite places in the Mountain State -- from the quiet beauty of Kanawha State Forest just a stone's throw from the capital city, to the Eastern Panhandle town of Harpers Ferry with its rich Civil War history. For more travel tips and itineraries, visit wvtourism.com and start planning your Almost Heaven getaway today! Read more: https://www.southernliving.com/beautiful-places-in-west-virginia-8784347   #3 – From WVDNR – West Virginia's diverse landscape is home to 57 species of amphibians and reptiles, 70 wild mammals, 178 species of fish, nearly 300 species of birds and numerous plants and fungi.  Supporting wildlife conservation in such a biodiverse state is crucial, and it's an effort that everyone can be part of—whether you're an avid hunter, angler or nature enthusiast.  The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources suggests four impactful ways you can contribute to the preservation and flourishing of West Virginia's wildlife, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty and biodiversity we cherish today. Read more: https://wvdnr.gov/4-ways-you-can-support-wildlife-conservation-in-west-virginia/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --Testimony from the defendant in a high profile trial in Charleston--The state continues presenting evidence in the high profile murder trial of a Raleigh County pharmacist--Another day of frigid temperatures in West Virginia --In Sports: WVU falls at home to Arizona State 

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. Fore! Get your WV State Parks 2025 season golf passes today!...2024 proves to be a record-breaking year for historic preservation in Almost Heaven…and skiers rejoice as Winterplace announces its 2024 season opening dates…on today's daily304. #1 – From MY BUCKHANNON – West Virginia State Parks 2025 season golf passes are now available for purchase at select state parks.  Golf enthusiasts can secure their passes for the upcoming season at Cacapon Resort, Pipestem Resort, Canaan Valley Resort and Twin Falls Resort state parks. This year's selection includes a variety of pass types with options for unlimited play, mid-week passes, junior passes and seasonal passes to fit every golfer's needs. Additionally, for a limited time, an “Early Birdie” discount is available, with a 5% discount on purchases made by December 31, 2024. For more information or to purchase a 2025 golf season pass, visit the participating parks or check their official websites at wvstateparks.com. Read more: https://www.mybuckhannon.com/west-virginia-state-parks-announces-2025-golf-season-passes-now-available/   #2 – From WV EXPLORER – Two-thousand-twenty-four has proven record-breaking for historic preservation in West Virginia. Twenty sites, buildings, and districts were nominated to the National Register of Historic Places—the highest number in 18 years. The listings cover a wide range of historic resources in the state—from farms and cemeteries to monuments and African American sites. According to data from the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, the last time listings reached this range was in 2006 when 23 nominations were approved. Check out the story in West Virginia Explorer to learn more about historic sites in West Virginia that received nominations. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2024/12/02/west-virginia-celebrates-record-historic-preservation/   #3 – From LOOTPRESS – Winterplace Ski Resort, a popular destination for snow enthusiasts in West Virginia, has announced the official start of its 2024-2025 ski season on Dec. 14. The resort's snow tubing park is slated to open just a week later, on Dec. 21. The Raleigh County resort, known for its family-friendly atmosphere and comprehensive snow-making capabilities, promises a season filled with opportunities for beginners and seasoned skiers alike.  For those not keen on skiing or snowboarding, the resort's snow tubing park offers an exciting alternative that requires no special equipment or experience. Visit winterplace.com to learn more and book your winter adventure today! Read more: https://www.lootpress.com/winterplace-ski-resort-to-open-for-2024-2025-ski-season-on-december-14/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of CommDreaming of greens? Get your @wvstateparks 2025 season golf passes today! #YesWV @wvtourismerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Outdoor recreation projects in several southern West Virginia counties receive federal funding from the Abandoned Mine Lands program…a charcoal manufacturer featured on the TV show “Shark Tank”-- is set to open a facility in Fairmont, creating 75 jobs…and discover a winter wonderland at Canaan Valley Resort…on today's daily304.   #1 – From REGISTER-HERALD – Projects in Raleigh, Fayette, Wyoming and Nicholas counties are among 12 Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization Program projects Gov. Jim Justice recommended that will use $28.6 million in federal grant funding for economic development at abandoned mine land sites across the state. Administered by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation, the AMLER program has committed over $233 million in grant funding to assist projects all across the West Virginia coalfields, since 2016. To qualify, the proposed economic development projects must be located on or adjacent to mine sites that ceased operations prior to the signing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act on Aug. 3, 1977. Projects tapped to receive funding include the Clear Fork Rail Trail in Raleigh County, Adventures West Virginia at Adventures on the Gorge in Fayette County, Cranberry Tri-Rivers Rail Trail in Nicholas County and the Landing Strip ATV resort in Wyoming County. Read more: https://www.register-herald.com/news/local_news/nearly-29-million-in-aml-grant-recommendations-announced/article_61d6b70a-a6b4-11ef-bc9f-47e3848fd3fd.html   #2 – From METRO NEWS – State and local officials are celebrating the groundbreaking of a new economic development project associated with a popular television program. Prime 6, which has been featured on television's “Shark Tank” and its focus on entrepreneurs, is establishing a manufacturing center in Fairmont. Prime 6 produces high-performing charcoal and wood logs.  “This is a sign of the great things to come in Fairmont. We are still pushing forward with our plans of recreational development and opportunities, but the arrival of a manufacturing facility in our backyard will diversify our opportunities,” City Manager Travis Blosser said. The $35 million investment is expected to create 75 jobs in the region. Prime 6's new facility is set to begin operations in the coming months. Read more: https://wvmetronews.com/2024/11/22/officials-welcome-shark-tanks-prime-6-development-to-west-virginia/   #3 – From WV STATE PARKS – Who doesn't like a bit of chilly action when the rolling hills are blanketed with snow? You can find all that and more at Canaan Valley Resort State Park in Tucker County. Make memories and spend the perfect winter weekend with activities like skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, ice skating and hiking in the snowy woods. You can even bike in the snow with the resort's new SNO-GO ski bike rentals. SNO-GOs are bicycles fitted with three skis. A chairlift loading hook makes for easy learning, as most riders master the essential skills in less than an hour.  Once you've filled your day with outdoor adventures, warm up with a hot dinner in the Hickory Dining Room, which features a panoramic view of the valley and a cozy fireplace. Visit wvstateparks.com to book your stay today! Read more: https://wvstateparks.com/spend-the-perfect-weekend-at-canaan-valley-resort-state-park/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

In this mini episode of ALPS In Brief, our Bar & Affinity Partner Strategist Rio Peterson sits down with Mary Jane Pickens, Executive Director at the West Virginia State Bar to discuss the importance of bar partnerships, how they create value for members, and the pivotal role bars play in the legal community. — Transcript:  Rio Lane:  All right. Hello everybody. We are back for another mini-installment of the ALPS in Brief podcast. I am your host, Rio Lane, and I am talking today with Mary Jane Pickens, who's the executive director of the West Virginia Bar. Hi.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Hey, how are you?  Rio Lane:  I'm good. How are you doing?  Mary Jane Pickens:  Wonderful. Very, very happy to be back in Montana. It's a beautiful, beautiful place.  Rio Lane:  Wonderful. Yes. Thank you for joining us. I'm happy you're here too. I love Missoula. It's such a lovely city.  Mary Jane Pickens:  It is. It's fun. We went out and just took a quick walk this morning, and it's a wonderful little place. Lots of good stuff here.  Rio Lane:  It is. It absolutely is. Yeah. So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mary Jane. What's your background, and how did you come to the Bar Association?  Mary Jane Pickens:  Well, I've done a lot of different things. When I first became an executive director, I went to one of the ABA annual meetings, and they had us a boot camp for brand new executive directors, and you had to pick out a song. It was an icebreaker thing, and they would play your song and you were supposed to jump up and say, "That's my song." And my song was Long and Winding Road by the Beatles.  Rio Lane:  Oh, nice.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Because I felt like I had had a rather long and winding road to get to the bar. I graduated from law school. I went to Ohio Northern University, so I did not go to law school in West Virginia. Came back to West Virginia because it's my home, and went into private practice in a small firm, kind of a little boutiquey... We mostly did bankruptcy work. And did that for about 15 years and decided I needed a change and had an opportunity to go to the Insurance Commissioner's office in the state of West Virginia. And shortly thereafter, became general counsel for the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner. And I was there for about 11 or 12 years. And then I went to a large firm, did mostly government relations and lobbying mostly around the insurance industry.  Rio Lane:  Yeah.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Did that for about three years. And then because I love public service, it's where my heart is, I had a chance to go back to the state and be the executive director of the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management, which provides all of the property and liability insurance for the state of West Virginia, and also simultaneously be the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Administration, which provides all the back office-y stuff and services for the rest of government.  Rio Lane:  Oh, wow.  Mary Jane Pickens:  And I was able to be acting cabinet secretary during 2016 during Governor Earl Ray Tomblin's last year, and then had a chance to go to the state bar, and that's where I am now. So it's kind of a long and winding road.  Rio Lane:  Yeah, yeah. That's really interesting. And you've been at the bar for two years?  Mary Jane Pickens:  Yes. I hit my two-year official mark on July 1.  Rio Lane:  Oh, congratulations. Congratulations.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Thank you.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. How are you liking it? Do you find it's a lot different than what you were doing before?  Mary Jane Pickens:  It is a lot different. It's still considered a state agency, but it's in the judicial branch. I've always been in the executive branch, so there's a lot of differences there. But it still is that public service feeling like you have constituents, you have customers, and you're there to help folks. And so that's what I love about it.  Rio Lane:  Yeah, that's fantastic. How do you find working with a board? Because I know you've got a board of folks that helps guide things. Yeah. Do you find that to be helpful, or do you find it's different than...  Mary Jane Pickens:  Well, we had a board at the Board of Risk and Insurance Management, but they were very different. They were rather hands-off.  Rio Lane:  Oh, okay.  Mary Jane Pickens:  So this board is a lot more engaged, which I think is a good thing.  Rio Lane:  Yeah.  Mary Jane Pickens:  We only have four quarterly meetings, but we have very, very involved officers and a very evolved executive committee. So I like it a lot. I think it's... We run the office and we do the day-to-day, but the president of the state bar speaks for the bar. So there's a little bit of separation that I enjoy, and so I feel like I have a lot of really good guidance and support and feedback from the board. I enjoyed it a lot.  Rio Lane:  That's fantastic. You find the board helpful in identifying things that the bar needs to be focusing on like new challenges that might be coming up, things that need to be anticipated?  Mary Jane Pickens:  Yeah, I do. We're on the ground, kind of on the front lines with our members, so we hear a lot and get a lot of those ideas. But our board is elected from 16 different districts all over the state.  Rio Lane:  Got it.  Mary Jane Pickens:  So they come together, and so they're bringing ideas and concerns from the lawyers in their areas because West Virginia is an oddly-shaped state. It can be... When you go to the eastern panhandle, you're almost in Washington DC, and then at Ohio and Kentucky on the other side. So the interests and concerns can be different in those different parts. So the board, I think, is very good at gathering that intel and bringing it back to Charleston and helping out with what we do in the office.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Oh, that's fantastic. It sounds like a good working relationship.  Mary Jane Pickens:  It is. It's very good. We have a really good board.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Oh, that's fantastic. So what are some of the things that maybe your members or the board has brought to your attention that are challenges that you find you're having to navigate this year and the next couple years?  Mary Jane Pickens:  Sure. We here... And I don't think this is uncommon among states. We have a lot of rural areas. We have basically a few... What we consider by West Virginia standards to be decent-sized cities. But there are a whole lot of areas that are what we would consider to be legal deserts. And I think a lot of states have the same issue. So the issues around the rural practitioner, the solo practitioner that's just out in a county where there's not that many people, we need to provide more support to those folks.  And we have put together a rural practice committee, and we're trying to address some of those things, ideally in conjunction with the law school, because the law school at West Virginia University is there to produce lawyers for the state of West Virginia, and elsewhere, but we love it when they stay. And so we're hoping to come up with some ideas to support those lawyers more that are out there actually helping the people. Another big issue, and this is huge right now in West Virginia, and I don't know how this is in other states, but we have a desperate need for lawyers to do guardian ad litem work and abuse and neglect proceedings.  Rio Lane:  Okay.  Mary Jane Pickens:  And a lot of this does come out of unfortunate circumstances around drug use and abuse and families that are really struggling. And we have a lot of children in foster care. And last year... We do regional meetings. We go all around the state in the fall, and we had judges come to all of those regional meetings and speak on pretty much whatever they wanted to talk about. Every single one of them made a desperate plea to the lawyers in the audience to consider taking on guardian ad litem work or doing abuse and neglect legal services because it's such a big need.  Rio Lane:  Oh, wow. And is that something that is funded by the state, those services? Or is it...  Mary Jane Pickens:  It can be through the Public Defender Services Agency, which is an agency I'm very familiar with because it's part of the Department of Administration. So yes, there are public defender corporations around the state that they kind of have some interaction with. And also they just handle appointed work in the public defender system. So they're involved in a lot of that, but it's not enough to meet the need. And you get into these rural counties, and a lot of times the lawyers that are in those counties are the judge, the prosecutor, and the public defender. They're the ones that are there, and you need some others out there. So it all kind of comes together. The challenges kind of overlap.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And do you find that you having a membership that's aging out as well? Is that also something that you're navigating?  Mary Jane Pickens:  A little bit. We're an old state. I mean, generally speaking. Virginia's rather old, and I don't know that it's really getting any younger. So that is a concern. One of the things that... We're planning our annual meeting for 2025, and one of our speakers that we've lined up is going to talk about generational differences and the fact that law firms and lawyers who are more seasoned need to be a little bit more open-minded about younger lawyers and what their expectations are and how to meet their needs and keep them in the state of West Virginia.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Do you find that something that the bar is having to navigate too, is new members, younger lawyers coming in and navigating their expectations and how they want to engage with the bar?  Mary Jane Pickens:  I think so, and that's something that I would like to be able to spend more time on. I don't know that we've gotten very far on that. We do have a young lawyer section, and it has its own board, and so they're kind of on the front lines of that addressing the needs of younger lawyers. But it's something that I think we do need to work on, and I think I probably need to spend more time on that.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. And it's challenging too, as technology shifts, trends shift, needs shift, etc. I mean, I think we could all safely say that upcoming generations do not engage in the same way that past older generations do. I mean, even for myself, I grew up with... I didn't have a computer until I think I was in my 20s. So yeah, it's definitely a new challenge I think that I'm hearing quite a bit about, actually, is how to navigate that. Yeah. What's your membership size? How many...  Mary Jane Pickens:  We have probably, if you counted every single type of member, we would have probably between 8,000 and 9,000, which sounds like a lot. Active in-state lawyers is probably closer to 44, 4,500.  Rio Lane:  Got it.  Mary Jane Pickens:  So we have inactives, active, not practicing. There's all kinds of different membership statuses. But the actual lawyers that are on the ground in the state of West Virginia licensed and practicing is about 4,400 probably.  Rio Lane:  Got it. Got it. Okay. And do you know how many of those are older, how many skew younger, and what that break down is? It's okay-  Mary Jane Pickens:  No, not off the top of my head, although there is a lot of interest in that kind of data, and our IT director has put that type of information together for our Supreme Court and others who have asked for it. So I think it's safe to say, even without having the numbers in front of me, that it's an older group.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Yeah. Fair enough. I want to shift a little bit, talk about partnerships. And so the bar obviously has partnerships with different kinds of organizations, sometimes vendors, sometimes different groups. What are some of the things you look for in a partner that wants to work with the bar?  Mary Jane Pickens:  I think the most important... The thing that makes the relationship, I think, the most valuable and work the best is having a really good understanding of what each other do, or each other does, I guess.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Do, does. Yeah.  Mary Jane Pickens:  And I think just using ALPS as an example, I mean, it's purely kind of by accident, but it's fortunate that I do have the insurance background. It helps a lot because I think I understand certainly the regulatory environment and what an insurance company has to do and the things that they focus on and things. And risk management. At BRIM, we were the risk manager for the state of West Virginia, so I have that mindset, so I think that helps. I think it also helps for your partner to have a good understanding of what you do as a bar, not just selling a product to your members, but understanding, again, what your challenges are, what your members need, what their expectations are. I think it's really helpful to have a partnership with an entity that understands what we do. Strategically, what our goals are, what our mission is, that sort of thing.  Rio Lane:  Yeah, absolutely. I think that kind of helps too when it comes to helping then support your members, and able to provide content or information where maybe there's gaps or that you need a little boost in.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Yeah, absolutely.  Rio Lane:  Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I always like to think about partnership as a much more dynamic... Just much more beyond, well, tell them that we're great and we'll sell to them.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Right. Right.  Rio Lane:  Yeah, it's definitely a team effort, and it's important that values and ideas align.  Mary Jane Pickens:  It sure is. And actually just last week, I got a call from a lawyer in Raleigh County, West Virginia, and he was an older gentleman, and he was closing up his practice. And so he was just looking around for guidance on, what do I do? And the state bar is an agency under our Supreme Court of Appeals, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel is there and the Board of Law Examiners also. We're separate agencies, but all combined, regulate the practice of law on behalf of the Supreme Court. So I said, "Well, why don't you call ODC, the Office of Disciplinary counsel? I'm sure they've got some guidance. I know they've got some information on succession planning on their website," but I didn't have at my fingertips specific information to give him. So I reached out to Mark Bassingthwaighte.  Rio Lane:  Yeah.  Mary Jane Pickens:  He very kindly, and less than 24 hours later, sent me some checklists and a client letter sample and that sort of thing. So I was able to very quickly turn that around and send it to our member in Raleigh County, which I think was probably very helpful. I think it was exactly what he's looking for.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I love that. I love that Mark was able to help with that.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's great.  Rio Lane:  He is. He's fantastic. Yeah, he's an incredible resource. I think we're all very lucky to have him.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Yeah.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. So would it be safe to say that your experience with ALPS as a partner has been a positive one?  Mary Jane Pickens:  Oh, it sure has. ALPS helps support our regional meetings, which are very important to us. That's our chance to actually get out of Charleston and go to these places and meet these lawyers where they are. Those are really important to us, and I think our membership really enjoys that, and ALPS helps us in that area. Chris Newbold was able to help us with our strategic planning session last fall, and we were real happy how that turned out because it's doable. I mean, we ended up with a one page, which we loved, because the one before was several pages, and it was very colorful and it had graphs and it had arrows, and it was great looking. But we ended up with something short that really, really, really focused on the things that were achievable over a reasonable period of time, and that we enjoyed that experience. So it's just all kinds of things like that as part of the whole partnership that we've enjoyed.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Oh, I'm really happy to hear that. It's very important to me that a partnership is a good working relationship, and then we're both supporting each other in success because it's not a zero-sum game. It's like, yeah, support the members, support the profession, support each other. Yeah, that's good. So I'm really glad to hear that we're doing that. Yeah. That's fantastic. So I think we've got just a couple more minutes, but I wanted to ask you, what are some, not necessarily challenges, but things that you see kind of coming up on the horizon that you predict maybe the bar or the profession has to... Will have to navigate?  Mary Jane Pickens:  Well, one of the things that is kind of swirling around out there, we're a mandatory bar.  Rio Lane:  Right, yes.  Mary Jane Pickens:  So we're not a voluntary bar. We're mandatory. You have got to be a member of the West Virginia State Bar to practice law in West Virginia. So there are the issues around mandatory bars that you all are probably familiar with. And we try very, very hard to stay on the right side of that line where what we do is germane to the regulatory job of what we do.  Rio Lane:  Yes.  Mary Jane Pickens:  But I think that there's a constant pull because we also want to do charitable events, and we want to support all of our members regardless of their backgrounds and where they come from. And some of those areas can get a little... Have been blurry in other jurisdictions and have resulted in some lawsuits and things. So I think that's a challenge for us is a mandatory bar. And we're always watching out for that because we want to serve our members and do what we're supposed to do, but we also want to make sure that we're on the right side of that doing what we're supposed to do line. So I mean, that's one of them. Some of the others, I think we've kind of mentioned the generational stuff.  Rio Lane:  Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I'm not surprised to hear that either. There's been numerous instances the last few years when a mandatory bar has run afoul of certain things and was deunified, so yeah. Yeah. And that's definitely a challenge, but yeah. Okay. Well, awesome. I think that's really all we got, all we have to chat about, and I really appreciate you coming and just chatting with me, and hearing about the bar and about the partnership and everything. Yeah. So thank you so much.  Mary Jane Pickens:  Oh, I appreciate it. This was a great opportunity. Thank you so much for asking me.  Rio Lane:  Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Happy to have you. And at some point, folks, I will be back with another little mini episode of In Brief. But in the meantime, enjoy your day.   

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Advantage Valley welcomes new board members and expands economic development efforts…WV Tourism adds two more Almost Heaven swings for scenic photo opportunities…and can you guess WV's oldest restaurant? Hint…it's in Parkersburg…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WV BUSINESSLINK – Advantage Valley, Inc. has announced the appointment of nine new members to its Board of Directors, each bringing a wealth of expertise and commitment to the region's continued growth.  In addition to expanding its board, Advantage Valley has appointed Sam Lever as the new Expanding Markets Coordinator.  The Expanding Markets program, recently boosted by a $1.6 million POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), is a three-year effort to diversify and strengthen manufacturing and business services in the region. The program's goals are to support 225 businesses, foster 200 new jobs, and attract $25 million in new investments by increasing market reach and bolstering local supply chains. Read more: https://wvbusinesslink.com/2024/11/15/advantage-valley-inc-welcomes-new-board-members-and-expands-economic-development-efforts-with-new-hire/   #2 – From REGISTER-HERALD – The West Virginia Department of Tourism has added two new Almost Heaven swings to the Mountain State, one at the Resort at Glade Springs and the other at Mason-Dixon Historical Park. The Resort at Glade Springs is a family-friendly oasis in Raleigh County offering championship golfing, spa services, on-site dining, outdoor adventures and more. Mason-Dixon Historical Park is located in Monongalia County on the border of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This brings the total number of photo-ops to 31 that can be found throughout each of the state's nine travel regions. Travelers are encouraged to share their swing photos on social media using #AlmostHeaven.  Visit wvtourism.com for more information and locations of the swings.  Read more: https://www.register-herald.com/news/life/two-new-almost-heaven-swings-tucked-within-west-virginia-s-scenic-landscape/article_e6479900-a36c-11ef-9ddb-97df538093e1.html   #3 – From CONNECT-BRIDGEPORT – Whether you're after homey Italian joints that still make pasta like nonna, old-school taverns that have served beer and bites for a century, or saloon-style restaurants with plenty of Old West spirit, America has its fair share of historic places to eat.  The folks at Lovefood.com have rounded up the oldest restaurant in each state that still serves great food today. In West Virginia, the North End Tavern can trace its roots back to 1899 when it was established as a little neighborhood pub. Since then, the Parkersburg eatery has become a local favorite restaurant and brewery with a solid fuss-free menu including a selection of well-made appetizers and sandwiches. Try the signature burger or plump for German-inspired sandwiches, such as fried bologna and smoked liverwurst.  Read more: https://www.connect-bridgeport.com/connect.cfm?func=view§ion=News&item=Web-Site-Lists-West-Virginias-Oldest-Restaurant-and-its-Going-Strong-Just-a-Quick-Trip-on-Route-50-West57413   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Weirton bed & breakfasts team up with the local CVB to showcase the work of area artists…the new Heritage Highway joins four other scenic Mountain Rides throughout Almost Heaven…and West Virginia's Paranormal Trail gets even spookier, with four more additions…on today's daily304. #1 – From WEIRTON DAILY TIMES – Weirton area residents and visitors had an opportunity to tour three local bed and breakfasts and view a variety of art recently through a collaboration of the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Rivertown Inns. Rivertown Inns is an umbrella for the three bed and breakfasts — Arabian Nights, Aunt Mary's and the Sarah Miller House — which teamed for a revival of the CVB's Art Hop event. The bed and breakfast's artistic guests were James Sulkowski, an oil painter from Canonsburg, Pa., and Devin Ashmore, a photographer from Weirton. Arabian Nights owner Danielle Thomas said of the art hop, “I think it's fantastic. I love the collaboration with the other bed and breakfasts. We all refer people to each other.” An avid baker, she suggested a cookie crawl, in which visitors would be treated to cookies and other snacks made by local bakers, could be the next event for them. Read more: https://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/local-news/2024/10/cvb-bed-and-breakfasts-showcase-local-artists/   #2 – From METRO NEWS – Governor Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby are celebrating the addition of a fifth new route for West Virginia Mountain Rides. Heritage Highway, the new name for the 194-mile scenic loop, will lead travelers throughout the state's southern region, starting in Raleigh County, down to Wyoming, down to McDowell into Mercer County and then to Beckley. West Virginia Mountain Rides is a partnership between the Tourism and the West Virginia Department of Transportation to designate and promote the state's most scenic country roads.  Ruby and Justice praised everyone, especially the Division of Highways, that worked on these scenic routes, putting them together, cleaning them and keeping them free of potholes. Heritage Highway joins Seneca Skyway, Capitol Circle, Cranberry Corridor and Birdeye Bend as a part of the rides that people can take. Ruby pointed out that they were not done adding routes to West Virginia Mountain Rides. Visit wvtourism.com to learn more about Mountain Rides in Almost Heaven. Read more: https://wvmetronews.com/2024/10/14/west-virginias-mountain-rides-add-their-fifth-scenic-route/   #3 – From WV PUBLIC – Don't look now, but West Virginia's new Paranormal Trail just got a little bigger – and a lot spookier.  In the three weeks since the West Virginia Division of Tourism launched its new West Virginia Paranormal Trail, nearly 5,000 visitors from 39 states and three different countries have already signed up. Now, the trail has added four new destinations, for a total of 18. Cryptid Mountain Miniature Golf in Morgantown is one of the new attractions. Featuring creatures like Bigfoot, Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster, the indoor course incorporates the elements of “cosmic” mini golf, including blacklight and state-of-the-art video and audio systems. Also new to the list: the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum in Sutton, the Silver Run Tunnel on the North Bend Rail Trail and the Hempfield Tunnel in Wheeling.  Read more: https://wvpublic.org/paranormal-trail-draws-visitors-to-w-va-with-spooky-attractions/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, June 21, 2024  Find a rewarding career in public safety--Jobcase has the scoop on who's hiring…Mountaintop Beverage creates hundreds of jobs with help from the WVEDA…and Raleigh County residents rally around their newest tourist attraction…on today's daily304. #1 – From JOBCASE –  Explore a stable and rewarding career with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. New opportunities and incentives are available! As a correctional officer, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring public safety, upholding public trust and contributing to a higher purpose. You'll be making a real impact on your community. The WV DCR oversees West Virginia's 11 prisons, 10 regional jails, 10 juvenile centers and three work-release sites. HIgher salaries await, along with great benefits, incentives and opportunities for advancement. Check out Jobcase.com to find out who's hiring. Learn more: https://www.jobcase.com/articles/wv-dcr   #2 – From WV EDA – According to their CEO, the huge, state-of-the-art Mountaintop Beverage facility would not exist in Morgantown without the West Virginia Economic Development Authority. Now, they're creating hundreds of local jobs and proudly introducing the biggest international brands to North Central West Virginia. Watch the video: https://eda.wv.gov/success-stories/   #3 – From WOAY-TV – Raleigh County residents are celebrating the installment of an Almost Heaven swing at the Lake Stephens Overlook. A project of the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the swings made their debut in 2022. Since then, 22 swings have been installed at scenic locations around the state, including this new one. Visitors are encouraged to snap a photo on the swings, then post the image to social media using #AlmostHeaven. Visit Southern West Virginia worked with Tourism to bring a swing to Lake Stephens. The wooden swings are hand built by the Nicholas County Career and Technical School. Visit wvtourism.com to view locations of all the Almost Heaven swings in the state.  Read more: https://woay.com/the-almost-heaven-swings-have-come-to-raleigh-county/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Tuesday, June 18, 2024  West Virginia's thriving business climate leads to major successes in economic development…Charleston Chef Paul Smith wins a prestigious James Beard Award--the first WV chef to claim the title…and the Clear Fork Rail Trail opens in Raleigh County…on today's daily304. #1 – From CHIEF EXECUTIVE – West Virginia has turned a new leaf in economic development. After notching nearly $20 billion in capital-investment commitments since 2017, the state has shown that CEOs, as well as its residents, understand West Virginia is a great place to live, work and play. “We've created a great business climate in West Virginia,” says Michael Graney, executive director of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. That's because the state boasts unique education opportunities, ample raw materials and quick access to important markets. West Virginia also has America's second-lowest workers' compensation insurance rates, the least manufacturing workforce turnover in the nation and a highly responsive economic development team that out-quicks the competition.  Read more: https://chiefexecutive.net/from-rust-belt-to-business-belt-west-virginias-transformation/   #2 – From METRO NEWS – A highly-acclaimed Charleston-based chef is now adding one of the most prestigious culinary arts awards in the country to his repertoire and making West Virginia history. Chef Paul Smith now bears the title of “Best Chef: Southeast” as part of the James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards that takes place annually in Chicago. It marks the first year a chef has ever won the award from West Virginia. Along with being the owner of three local restaurants – 1010 Bridge, Ellen's Ice Cream and The Pitch– Chef Paul Smith is also Capitol Market's Culinary Ambassador. Smith said he was grateful for everyone he helps to lead and serve on a day to day basis. Read more: https://wvmetronews.com/2024/06/10/charleston-based-chef-makes-history-as-first-ever-james-beard-award-winner-in-the-state/   #3 – From WOAY-TV – Raleigh County has a new trail that follows the old CSX Rail Line along the Clear Fork River. Parks & Recreation Authority Executive Director Molly Williams says the Clear Fork Rail Trail is not like anything we have in the county. Once completed, the trail will be 14-plus miles long. The non-motorized trail is fairly flat with a slight incline, suitable for walkers, bicyclists and horseback riders.  “You can see the different striations of the geography there. You can see the creek, you can see lush forest. All along the trail, the views change as you go about it,” Williams said. “It's just a beautiful trail. It's serene, it's quiet, it's not like anything that we have in Raleigh County.” Read more: https://woay.com/clear-fork-rail-trail-phase-1-ready-to-open/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Monday, June 17, 2024. The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding vouchers to innovators with ideas for advancing energy and sustainability…Learn why a diverse selection of manufacturers are saying #YesWV, and how the WV Department of Economic Development can assist with your business…and Lake Stephens in Raleigh County is the latest scenic location to receive an Almost Heaven swing…on today's daily304. #1 – From WV BUSINESSLINK – A new $2.1 million opportunity through the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Technology Transitions is making $100,000 vouchers available to the public. Through the Technology Commercialization Fund Open Voucher Call, a select number of vouchers, which are redeemable at one of eight National Laboratories and must be used within a one-year period, will be awarded to innovators with ideas for advancing energy, sustainability, and other lab-supported initiatives.  The selected National Lab will then provide expertise and lab validation capabilities to the awardee to help them advance their concept closer to commercialization.  Anyone interested is encouraged to attend an informational webinar on July 18 at 2 p.m. ET. Applications for the call are due October 3, 2024. Read more: https://wvbusinesslink.com/2024/06/07/100000-available-in-national-lab-assistance-through-open-voucher-call/   #2 – From WV DED – Consumers are in constant contact with products containing elements made in the Mountain State. Everything from the base polymers in cosmetics and window seals to finished goods such as spark plugs, tableware, charcoal and kitchen cabinets are made in #YesWV. The state's diverse manufacturing sector includes chemicals, biotech/pharmaceuticals, primary metals, automotive components, fabricated products, wood products and more. West Virginia's workforce ranks first in the U.S. for the lowest turnover rate in manufacturing-specific jobs. Visit the West Virginia Department of Economic Development online for assistance or to download a business assistance brochure. Learn more: https://westvirginia.gov/industries/manufacturing/   #3 – From LOOTPRESS  – Visitors to Lake Stephens will now have the opportunity to survey the overlook and take pics from one of the state's iconic Almost Heaven swings. The swing is the first to be installed in Raleigh County. The oversized wooden swings were established by the West Virginia Department of Tourism as a way to promote and encourage visitors to snap and share Instagram photos from scenic locations in the Mountain State. Swings can be found throughout the state at strategic locations including Coopers Rock State Forest, Wheeling Heritage Port and the State Capitol.  To find a swing, visit wvtourism.com. Be sure to share your photos on social media using #AlmostHeaven. Read more: https://www.lootpress.com/lake-stephens-overlook-to-become-one-of-20-viewpoints-to-host-almost-heaven-swing/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Saturday, June 8, 2024. The WV Waterfall Trail continues to grow with the addition of 3 more waterfalls; download your mobile passport, check in at the falls and earn cool prizes along the way…a unique rail bike tour opens in Clay County, showcasing 12 miles of wild and wonderful WV landscape…and a new manufacturing facility is opening in Wood County, bringing more jobs to #YesWV…on today's daily304. #1 – From THE INTER-MOUNTAIN – Gov. Jim Justice has announced that the West Virginia Waterfall has surpassed 75,000 participant check-ins. The popularity of the nation's first statewide waterfall trail continues to grow, with data showing that visitors from all 50 U.S. states and 41 countries are now joining the fun. As the summer season kicks off, the Department of Tourism is adding three more falls, bringing the total number of stellar stops along the trail to 43. The three new falls are Clear Fork Rail Trail Waterfall in Raleigh County, White Oak Falls in Mercer County and Devil's Sawmill in Clay. The trail continues to receive remarkable participation, as more than 10,000 prizes have been awarded to visitors for their adventuring efforts. Visit wvtourism.com to learn more and get your free West Virginia Waterfall Trail mobile passport. Read more: https://www.theintermountain.com/news/communities/2024/05/justice-announces-additions-to-wv-waterfall-trail/   #2 – From LOOTPRESS –  A unique rail bike experience is opening today in Clay County. Rail Explorers has announced the opening of their newest attraction, the Elk River Division, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. This unique rail bike tour offers a 12-mile round trip journey through the scenic landscapes of Clay County, along the historic Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the rich history of the railroad, which began operations in 1904. Today, visitors can explore the past as they pedal through the woods and clear waters of Buffalo Creek. The tour features many different sights, including a wrecked train car, waterfalls, and tall cliffs. Read more: https://www.lootpress.com/new-rail-bike-tour-to-open-in-clay-county/   #3 – From NEWS & SENTINEL – A Japanese company is looking forward to starting its work in West Virginia which many local and state officials said will help foster international relationships and provide a base for future development. The SOMAR North America Corp. production facility will initially employ 25 people with the potential to grow and expand in the future. The new facility is located within the Polymer Alliance Zone Industrial Park in Davisville, utilizing the 80,000-square-foot former Pactiv building, which was a plastics recycling facility. SOMAR has a wide range of products and this location will be used to manufacture an epoxy resin product used in the automotive sector for electric motors, motors for electric vehicles and hybrid cars, officials said. Read more: https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/business/2024/06/state-local-officials-tour-site-of-somar-facility/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

1933 United States Executive Order 6102https://river.com/learn/terms/e/executive-order-6102/ 1987 Fox Broadcasting Co. makes its prime-time TV debuthttps://www.tvobscurities.com/2017/04/30th-anniversary-of-fox-prime-time/ 2010 Explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, Raleigh County, West Virginiahttps://www.wvpublic.org/radio/2017-04-05/april-5-2010-explosions-rock-the-upper-big-branch-mine Support the show

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, March 8, 2024. Beckley is set to become the first Inclusive Recovery City in the U.S. A Raleigh County restaurant makes Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. And runners flock to the newly designated New River National Park…on today's daily304. #1 – From REGISTER-HERALD – The collaborative efforts among organizations supporting recovery in Beckley have caught the attention of a global initiative seeking to improve awareness and support for people in recovery. Beckley is set to become the first Inclusive Recovery City in the United States. Jay Phillips, the executive director of Seed Sower, said the designation will help in further connecting recovery efforts in the area. Seed Sower is a residential recovery service provider with 45 state-certified recovery beds spread across Raleigh, Fayette and Greenbrier counties. It also offers transportation and peer recovery services and operates a Recovery Community Organization in Beckley. Its most visible partnership is with Fruit of Labor, a restaurant in Beckley with a recovery and culinary arts program that employs several of the individuals staying in Seed Sower recovery housing. Philips said the Inclusive Recovery City model aims to enhance and expand these types of collaborative partnerships. Read more: https://www.register-herald.com/news/beckley-organizations-recognized-for-recovery-effort-invited-to-global-recovery-movement/article_675dbb48-d5df-11ee-8232-577b11ff0e7a.html   #2 – From WVNS-TV – The Dish Cafe in Raleigh County made Yelp's “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” list for 2024. The Dish has been a staple in Daniels, West Virginia for nearly 11 years, serving up locally-sourced, healthy meals to its customers. “It's a very big honor for us, you know, seeing as how it was the only restaurant from West Virginia,” said Head Chef Paul Almond. The Dish offers rotating menus for lunch and dinner, and homemade desserts. Read more: https://www.wvnstv.com/top-stories/the-dish-cafe-makes-yelp-top-100-places-to-eat-in-the-u-s/   #3 – From WV EXPLORER – Since becoming one of America's newest national parks, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve has grown even more popular, especially with trail runners. What does this amazing destination in rural West Virginia have to offer? More than 70,000 acres of hikable, bikeable, raftable, and climbable public land along 53 miles of the rugged New River in the longest, deepest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. Avid runner Brandon Mehlinger says there are two trails in the gorge that every runner must experience. “Two of the best trails in the New River Gorge National Park for trail running are Long Point Trail and Kaymoor Miner's Trail,” says Mehlinger, a spokesperson for Active Southern West Virginia. If you like to plan your travel around races, the New River Gorge offers two big events — the Bridge Day 5K in October and the six-mile New River Gorge Rim-to-Rim Race in May. Both involve the stunning and much-photographed New River Gorge Bridge, which runners pass under during the rim-to-rim, Mehlinger says. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2024/02/29/new-river-gorge-national-park-west-virginia-runners-running/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

ONE FAMILY, TWO TRAGEDIES—On December 3, 2015, twenty six (26) year old Chaz Richardson seemingly vanished from his residence in Surveyor, WV. It has been said that Chaz ran into the woods after a drug induced seizure, but the true story remains unknown. In December 2020, skeletonized remains discovered in a secluded wooded area in Surveyor were positively identified as belonging to Chaz Richardson. But how did he meet his fate? And what were the circumstances leading up to his untimely end? Join the Cold Case Crew as they discuss The Murder of Chaz Richardson, an unsolved homicide from Raleigh County, WV.#ChazRichardson #ChazAlfredRichardson #UnsolvedWV #UnsolvedHomicide #WhoMurderedChaz #ColdCase #Mysterious #Unsolved #ColdCasesOfWestVirginia #ColdCasesOfRaleighCounty #MelanieMetheny #TwoTragedies #OneFamily #Homicide #Surveyor #WV #WestVirginia #2015 ____________________________________________________________________________References:Youtube:Mysterious WV- UPDATE: Missing Person Chaz RichardsonMysterious WV- Missing Person: Chaz RichardsonNewspapers:https://www.wvnstv.com/news/family-confirms-skeletal-remains-found-in-surveyor-were-of-chaz-richardson/https://charleyproject.org/case/chaz-alfred-richardsonhttps://www.register-herald.com/news/raleigh-county-man-missing-for-almost-two-years-family-and-friends-still-seeking-answers/article_241885db-ff52-5206-9ec5-3984056d0417.htmlPodcast:Status Pending: Case Overview: Chaz Alfred Richardson (2015) ______________________________________________________________________________Special Thank You's:Thank You to Our FamiliesCompute OneHale Family DentistryBrand RPMCandor Creative CompanyKevin BeattyAh-Hale CreationsMusic:abyss by Rexlambo https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3ksUw0D Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/t_VIgXsAp9I Editing:Whitney Cappellari and Audacity Website:www.coldcasecrewwv.com Support the show

In 1914 a series of massive explosions occurred in the Eccles Mine No. 5 near Eccles, West Virginia in Raleigh County, West Virginia, leaving over 180 men and boys dead, including an insurance salesman who had the bad luck of making a call on the miners that day.Today we tell the story of West Virginia's second-worst mine disaster.Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast at Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thanks for listening to our stories and sharing them with your friends.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5553692/advertisement

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Saturday, Oct. 28  Charleston's Amtrak station gets $6.4M in accessibility improvements. Make winter plans to go sledding at Blackwater Falls. And the WV Waterfall Trail gets 2 new additions…download your mobile app and go waterfall chasing!...on today's daily304. #1 – From METRO NEWS – Amtrak officials united with officials from the City of Charleston, congressional representatives and U.S Senator Joe Manchin at the Amtrak station in Charleston to announce the most recent project pulling in approximately $6.4 million in accessibility improvements.  “We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of passenger rail and be able to travel,” Amtrak Executive Vice President of Strategy Planning Dennis Newman said during the Oct. 12 ribbon cutting ceremony. The upgrades feature a new 800 foot long concrete platform with all new lighting, guardrails, signage and a storm water system, improvements which make for a more accessible, sturdier, brighter and safer surface to get on and off the train, and which comply with Americans with Disabilities standards. Other upgrades made to the station include two new entrances, a renovated waiting room and restrooms, a newly-installed fire system, a new HVAC system, and expanded parking areas with new pathways leading to the station. In addition, crack repairs were made to the building's exterior walls and a new roof and fascia were added. Read more: https://wvmetronews.com/2023/10/12/charleston-amtrak-station-welcomes-over-6-million-in-ada-accessibility-upgrades-and-improvement-projects/   #2 – From WV STATE PARKS –  Experience the thrill of racing down more than a quarter mile of fresh mountain snow on the sled run at Blackwater Falls State Park. The longest sled run on the East Coast, the sled run at Blackwater Falls State Park is a must-do every year. Create cherished memories and experience wintertime fun with friends and family at Blackwater Falls. The sled run is open mid-December through February.  Skip the line and purchase online. Better yet, book an overnight stay at the lodge or in one of Blackwater Falls' cozy cabins. Learn more at www.wvstateparks.com. Learn more: https://wvstateparks.com/things-to-do/blackwater-falls-sled-run/   #3 – From WV TOURISM –  The West Virginia Waterfall Trail has added two sets of falls, Cranberry Creek Cascades and Little Whitestick Falls, part of the newly opened Piney Creek Preserve and Recreational area in Raleigh County.  The waterfall trail has added 11 cascades over the past six months with more plans to expand in the near future. “When we announced the waterfall trail last summer, we never imagined the excitement it would generate,” said West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby.  Since its formation, the popular trail has exceeded 60,000 check-ins with visitors from 49 states & 23 countries.  Get started on your own WV Waterfall Trail. Visit www.wvtourism.com/west-virginia-waterfall-trail to download a free mobile passport. Check in and earn prizes as you go! Read more: https://wvtourism.com/release/new-cascades-wv-waterfall-trail/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Monday, Aug. 28 Officials break ground on a $10.4 million expansion at Raleigh County's airport…Learn more about aerospace-related businesses in #YesWV…and discover the natural beauty of West Virginia's old-growth forests…on today's daily304. #1 – From NRGRDA –  U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and West Virginia Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael joined local leaders – including Raleigh County Memorial Airport manager Tom Cochran – in breaking ground for the 105-acre economic development expansion. Jina Belcher, executive director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, shared her perspective: “A community's airport is a driver of its well-being and economic development potential, and today's celebration of its expansion for the recruitment of aviation and aerospace manufacturers is a bold step in the right direction.” West Virginia Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael said the state is experiencing an “economic renaissance.” He said more and more companies are interested in relocating here. “We need additional site-ready locations to accommodate this growth” he said. “This place (RCMA industrial site) is ideal for our economic development vision.” Read more: https://nrgrda.org/manchin-carmichael-join-local-leaders-in-breaking-ground-for-10-4-million-raleigh-county-memorial-airport-improvement-and-expansion/    #2 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT –  The aerospace industry is a dynamic, emerging economic sector in West Virginia. From up-and-coming high-tech innovators to established titans of the industry, the state's growing cluster of aerospace companies is fueled by an array of advantages. West Virginia is within a day's drive of 34% of the top domestic purchasing sectors of aerospace products and national defense contractors, corporations and federal agencies. Additionally, the state is in close proximity to original equipment manufacturers based in the South, including Boeing, AirBus, Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream. View an interactive map of top aerospace related businesses in West Virginia and learn why this industry says “YesWV.” Learn more: https://westvirginia.gov/industries/aerospace/   #3 – From WBOY Clarksburg – The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve celebrated the official induction of 12 acres into the old growth forest classification, but West Virginia actually has 11 other old growth forests. Old-growth forests have never been cleared or harvested by people and are characterized by large, mature trees that are usually hundreds of years old.  Although there is no giant forest of old growth like in California or Alaska, West Virginia has a handful of small pockets where old growth forests have survived, according to the Old-Growth Forest Network. To view some of these amazing trees, plan a visit to Cathedral State Park, Gaudineer Scenic Area in the Monongahela National Forest or Bethany College Parkinson Forest. You can also find old growth stands in the New River Gorge and several other state parks. Read more: https://www.wboy.com/wv-outdoors/old-growth-forests-to-visit-in-west-virginia/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

You never think much of running routine errands in town, especially these days. But for the family of David Allen Fann, a mundane trip into Beckley seemingly turned into a nightmare that even today, six (6) years later, is shrouded in mystery. On the morning of June 22, 2016, David Fann traveled from his home in Amigo to the “city” of Beckley around 30 minutes away to purchase a hedge trimmer, only to be found hours later deceased and discarded along a remote hiking path at Stephens Lake. His trail can be traced through security cameras from Harbor Freight to Ollie's Bargain Outlet until 12:30pm. But what happened to David Fann? And how did he come to end up at Stephens Lake? Join the Cold Case Crew as they discuss “The Murder of David Allen Fann,” a cold case local to Raleigh County, West Virginia and the second in our Hometown Horror Series.If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the murder of David Allen Fann, please contact Crimestoppers at (304) 255-STOP. You can also submit a tip online at crimestoppersofraleighcounty.org . You can submit anonymously and are not required to give your name. #DavidFann #DavidAllenFann #ColdCasesOfRaleighCounty #ColdCasesOfWestVirginia #ColdCasesOfBeckley #LakeStephens #UnsolvedHomicide #MysteriousDeath #2016 #WVUnsolved #JusticeForDavidFann #ColdCase #Unsolved #UnsolvedWV #ColdCaseCrewWV____________________________________________________________________________________References:Youtube:Mysterious WV: Episode 42, The Murder of David Fann Newspapers:The Register HeraldWebsites:https://www.facebook.com/CrimeStoppersWV/posts/who-murdered-david-allen-fann-they-left-david-laying-on-a-walking-trail-at-lake-/1784772678322173/https://www.register-herald.com/news/detectives-seek-information-to-help-break-an-unsolved-a-murder/article_3515e18f-5a6e-57df-a5c5-f93c35606442.htmlhttps://www.wvnstv.com/archives/cold-case-remains-unsolved-as-detective-search-for-clues/https://obituaries.register-herald.com/obituary/david-fann-798426221____________________________________________________________________________________Special Thank You'sThank You to Our FamiliesCompute OneAh-Hale CreationsBrand RPMHale Family DentistryCandor Creative CompanyKevin BeattyMusic:abyss by Rexlambo https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3ksUw0D Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/t_VIgXsAp9I Editing:Whitney Cappellari and Audacity Support the show

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Thursday, July 6  Looking for a great place to live? Check out Wheeling! The city made Fortune's “50 best” list…peregrine falcon chicks take flight above Harpers Ferry…and and a solar farm is expected to bring jobs to Raleigh County--#YesWV…on today's daily304. #1 – From FORTUNE – The Northern Panhandle city of Wheeling has been ranked one of the Fortune 50 Best Places to Live for Families. A survey of 1,900 cities across the country ranked the cities on assets like health care, education, and resources for seniors--all of which can help fight isolation and build social ties.  This sparsely populated small town on the Ohio River once served as West Virginia's capital during the Civil War, and residents and visitors alike can still enjoy the historic architecture throughout. Most notable is the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, an iconic landmark and symbol of the city: Completed in 1849, Wheeling's was considered the longest suspension bridge worldwide at the time. These days, locals take pleasure in modern comforts such as Oglebay, which features an award-winning golf course, zoo, and adventure park; seasonal activities like skiing and snowboarding; as well as nearby entertainment at the Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino, and Racetrack. Read more: https://fortune.com/well/ranking/best-places-families/2023/wheeling/   #2 – From WV EXPLORER –  Three peregrine falcon chicks have successfully taken their first flights from the cliffs of Maryland Heights at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia. This is the third consecutive documented fledgling of peregrine falcons since the 1950s from this historic breeding site, according to park biologist Eric Kelley, and is the first time in more than 70 years that each chick has survived to this milestone. Peregrine falcons historically nested at Maryland Heights, but the impacts of the pesticide DDT during the 1940s through the 1960s decimated the population worldwide. It caused eggshell thinning, resulting in the eggshell breaking while being incubated. This resulted in the near extinction of the species. DDT was banned in the U.S. in 1972, and the birds have made an impressive and steady recovery.  Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars to “The Point” at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in Lower Town Harpers Ferry — an excellent vantage point from which to see the birds. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2023/06/20/peregrine-falcon-harpers-ferry-national-historical-park/   #3 – From THE REGISTER-HERALD – Plans are moving forward to convert more than 500 acres of former farmland in Raleigh County into one of southern West Virginia's first solar farms. Representatives with Enel Green Power North America attended a Raleigh County Commission meeting earlier in June to provide an update on the Raleigh Solar Farm project. Raleigh Solar, which has been in the works since 2020, will be developed on approximately 530 acres of farmland east of Interstate 64 in Beaver. Construction is expected to begin in 2024, according to Sam Judd, senior development manager for the Northeast Region of Enel North America Judd said the project represents a $90 million investment in Raleigh County, is expected to provide more than 150 local construction jobs and will produce electricity equivalent to the needs of 16,000 West Virginia households every year. There will be four or five permanent jobs once the site is operational in 2025. Read more: https://www.register-herald.com/news/construction-of-raleigh-solar-farm-on-track-for-2024/article_ef2cdb78-114d-11ee-b2d7-afbc7c6a1861.html   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

In this planet-wide, diverse movement we can call The Great Turning, one of the threads I'm personally following is medicine. I'm all in for the shift to a life-honoring, life-sustaining approach to understanding illness, treating disease, and promoting health and healing. Ruby Daniels is part of this shift, too, growing medicinal herbs and making botanical medicines at her home in West Virginia.I connected with Ruby because she's on the board of United Plant Savers. I heard her talking about protecting wild ginseng, and about her mission to change the narrative of African American relationships to woodland botanicals, and educate about the herbal traditions of African Americans, which have been practiced since the time of slavery.Ruby is the founder of Creasy Jane's Herbal Remedies. She comes from a creative and inventive family who were enslaved in Virginia and moved to the Southern coalfields of West Virginia to build a new life after emancipation. Ruby refers to her heritage as “Afro-lachian.” She spent many childhood summers in the mountains of Raleigh County, West Virginia, with her great aunt, Ruby, her grandmother, and other wise women of the community, learning about herbal traditions, God, and the plants of the mountains. After earning her Master's of Science in Herbal Therapeutics, she returned to West Virginia, where she runs Creasy Jane's, named after her great-grandmother, Creasy Jane Pack. Creasy Jane's offers custom-made herbal teas and tinctures, herbal soaps, and other topical herbal remedies. All her herbal products are formulated with a combination of Appalachian herbal traditional remedies, science and research and spirit.Listen in to our conversation to hear about:Ruby's research into how slaves in the region used herbal medicineher experiences as a Black woman in her master's degree program and in the business of herbal medicineRuby's family's history and "permaculture" lifestyle after emancipationher town's history, and herbal medicines for today's coal mining-related illnessesprotecting wild ginsengthe forest and garden botanicals she works withand more.I'm so grateful for the chance to hear from Ruby, to learn from her and to get these glimpses of how the Great Turning is moving through her in multiple ways, from making sure history is remembered to helping local coal miners with their lung health, from bringing her perspective into academic and workplace conversations to cultivating garden food and herbs. Enjoy this conversation with Ruby, and be sure to check out Creasy Jane's online shop, the research Ruby talks about, and historical photos of Ruby's family and recent photos from her garden. Links and photos are in the show notes: https://turningseason.com/episode34Register for the (free!) Great Turning Summit: https://programs.schoolforthegreatturning.com/gtsummit

You'll be seeing stars at these state parks and forests…Raleigh County market co-owners share the secret of their longevity…and experience the thrill of soaring through the woods on Pipestem Peaks' zipline…on today's daily304. #1 – From WV STATE PARKS – When it comes to stargazing or any kind of amateur astronomy you definitely don't want to be left in the dark. Sure, you can see stars almost anywhere, but you need a trained eye and a little bit of planning to truly enjoy the awe and wonder of the night sky. Lucky for you, West Virginia has some of the darkest skies on the east coast, making the Mountain State one of the best places in the region for stargazing. Learn about some of the best stargazing spots at West Virginia state parks and forests, including Watoga and Blackwater Falls, Seneca State Forest and others. Then visit www.wvstateparks.com to book your stay! Read more: https://wvstateparks.com/west-virginia-stargazing-2/   #2 – From WVVA-TV –  Terry Clark and Joyce Flanagan are co-owners of the Shady Side Market, making them partners both in business and in life. While sharing a business with your significant other isn't for everyone, they say they have found the secret to success. The Daniels business is in its 37th year. You can ask the pair, being a successful small business isn't easy. Over the years, Clark and Flanagan say they have seen large retailers move in and threaten their position, but they stand strong and continue to put the customer first. “A lot of times, you can't compete price-wise, but you can out-quality them,” Clark shared. “So, that's what we try to do all the time, whether it be Tennessee tomatoes, whether it be hanging baskets. Whatever we are dealing with, we try to find the best we can find to buy.” And it's that idea of “customer first” that drives them each and every day. “We work on a personal basis. We don't just bring you in, sell you something and send you away...” said Flanagan. Find more information about Shady Side Market on Facebook. Read more: https://www.wvva.com/2023/05/10/shady-side-market-daniels-welcomes-its-37th-year-business/   #3 – From NEWS LEADER  –  Imagine flying hundreds of feet in the air amidst the mountains and over the gorges in southern West Virginia. This can happen on May 27 when Pipestem Adventures opens their popular Pipestem Peaks Zipline Tours for the 2023 season. Pipestem Peaks offers breathtaking views from lines that sail over the Bluestone River Gorge three times at speeds up to 50 mph. While ziplining at 300 feet, views extend for a mile across the Mountain State. The zipline tour begins at the top of the Canyon Rim Center and works its way down to the bottom of Bluestone Gorge as you zip from one treetop platform to the next.  Visit www.wvstateparks.com to learn more about Pipestem Peaks and Pipestem's Adventure Lake and Adventure Zone activities. Read more: https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/2023/05/10/pipestem-state-park-is-an-adventurers-paradise-ziplining-mountain-biking-kayaking-wv/70198322007/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Tuesday, May 9  The WV SBDC hosts a business fundamentals seminar in Harrisville…Find out how you can use AI to write your perfect pitch…and a German company in Raleigh County is set to expand and bring in 80 jobs--#YesWV…on today's daily304. #1 – From WV SBDC –  Thinking of starting your own business? Join the West Virginia Small Business Development Center for an in-person workshop where you'll discover how to start your own business and get your business license, how to write a business plan, what a lender is looking for, and how the WV SBDC can assist in getting you lender-ready! The free event takes place May 22 at the Gen. Thomas M. Harris Museum in Harrisville. Learn more and register: https://wvsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/33442?embedded=0   #2 – From VANTAGE VENTURES –  West Virginia based InnerAction Media has just released its new SaaS software application StoryMaker – offering to help small businesses in the US write their perfect 30 second pitch – and other important marketing messages – instantly.  StoryMaker is a cloud-based, Software as a Service (SaaS), application.   “I've had the unique opportunity to interview and help thousands of business leaders over the past 35 years.  One thing most people struggle with is the question: ‘What's your 30 second pitch?'”  said IAM President and StoryMaker developer Jim Matuga.  “StoryMaker solves this basic business problem and so much more.” Read more: https://vantageventures.io/storymaker-helps-business-leaders-create-their-30-second-pitch-and-other-marketing-messages-instantly-with-artificial-intelligence/   #3 – From THE REGISTER-HERALD – A German company that set up shop in Raleigh County more than 20 years ago is now looking to invest $18 million to expand its plant and bring in about 80 new jobs. Raleigh County commissioners gave the green light to start the process of assisting Klöckner Pentaplast, a plastic manufacturer, in financing an $18 million expansion at its Beaver, W.Va., plant. The facility produces plastic packaging including clamshells for fruit and battery packaging. In 2019, Klöckner Pentaplast's Beaver facility was the company's most productive site. Jina Belcher, executive director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, Belcher said the company's goal with the expansion is to make the Beaver facility its "North American food hub facility.” As part of the expansion, Klöckner Pentaplast will be looking to use its Raleigh County facility to manufacture other products, including food grade protein packaging for hamburgers, chicken and other proteins. Read more: https://www.register-herald.com/news/plastic-plant-planning-major-expansion-in-raleigh-county/article_8c83d416-e922-11ed-876a-bbbd0fc9cef8.html   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Many assaults on the environment happen slowly and continually, almost invisibly to us: starting a car engine, buying meat at the grocery store, throwing away a plastic straw.Mountaintop removal is different. It is sudden and violent and intentionally, unmistakably destructive. Coal companies will blow off the tops of mountains with explosives in order to more easily and cheaply access the coal seams underneath vast swaths of forest, streams, and wildlife habitat. They destroy massive areas of wild land to produce a dirty energy that heavily pollutes the atmosphere with greenhouse gases. Their use of explosives also allows them to employ many fewer miners.Mountaintop removal was one of the big environmental stories in the media in the last couple decades. There were massive protests and a lot of bad press for the coal companies.Now coal production is down in the US, and dramatic and shocking stories about mountaintop removal have largely disappeared from the headlines, but mountaintop removal has not gone away. As the easier-to-access coal is mined, the amount of land that must be destroyed by mountain removal to produce the same amount of coal has increased.One report that demonstrates this is from SkyTruth, an environmental advocacy group that uses satellite imagery and remote sensing data to study environmental damage. They published a study showing that the amount of land needed to produce a unit of coal in 2015 was three times more than it had been in 1998.Vernon Haltom and Junior Walk haven't forgotten what's happening in West Virginia and Appalachia, because they live it every day. They both work for Coal River Mountain Watch, the organization previously directed by Judy Bonds, the renowned mountaintop removal activist from West Virginia, who was the daughter of a coal miner and died of cancer in 2011 at age 58.Vernon and Junior's stories are urgent environmental ones, but they are also stories about the media and how we forget and move on.This episode of Chrysalis is the first in the Chrysalis Projects series, which highlights the work of community-based environmental projects.You can listen on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms.Please rate, review, and share to help us spread the word!Vernon HaltomVernon Haltom has a BS in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace Option) from Oklahoma State University and a BA in English Education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He served six years as an officer in the US Air Force, specializing in nuclear weapons safety and security. He then taught high school English for two years and English as a Second Language to college students for four years. He began volunteering for Coal River Mountain Watch in 2004 and has served on the staff since 2005, serving as executive director since 2011. He was involved in founding the regional Mountain Justice movement in 2004, the Alliance for Appalachia in 2006, and the Appalachian Community Health Emergency (ACHE) Campaign in 2012.Junior WalkJunior Walk grew up on Coal River Mountain in Raleigh County, WV, taking part in traditional Appalachian activities such as harvesting ginseng and mushrooms. He worked for a time in a coal preparation plant and then as a security guard on a mountaintop removal site, where he learned firsthand the damage coal harvesting had on the mountains and the communities below.  He began working with Coal River Mountain Watch and other groups in 2009. In 2011 he was awarded the Brower Youth Award. Since that time his work has taken various forms, including lobbying on federal and state levels, gathering data for lawsuits against coal companies, and even getting arrested doing direct action at surface mines and corporate offices. In 2021 he was awarded a fellowship with Public Lab to help support his work monitoring the coal mines in his community via drones. Junior now serves as the outreach coordinator for Coal River Mountain Watch, monitoring coal mines in his community for environmental violations and guiding tours for visiting journalists and student groups.About Coal River Mountain Watch Coal River Mountain Watch (CRMW) is a grassroots organization founded in 1998 in response to the fear and frustration of people living near or downstream from huge mountaintop removal sites. They began as a small group of volunteers working to organize the residents of southern West Virginia to fight for social, economic, and environmental justice. From their humble beginnings, they have become a major force in opposition to mountaintop removal. Their outreach coordinator, Julia Bonds, was the 2003 Goldman Prize winner for North America. CRMW's efforts figure prominently in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s book Crimes against Nature. They have been active in federal court to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits for valley fills and made regional news with demonstrations against a sludge dam and preparation plant near Marsh Fork Elementary School. Find CRMW online: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.About Judy Bonds“Born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Julia “Judy” Bonds was a coal miner's daughter and director of Coal River Mountain Watch. Bonds emerged as a formidable community leader against a highly destructive mining practice called mountaintop removal that is steadily ravaging the Appalachian mountain range and forcing many residents, some of whom have lived in the region for generations, to abandon their homes.” - Learn more at The Goldman Environmental Prize Website.Recommended Readings & MediaSee more of Junior's drone work here and other Coal River Mountain flyovers here.TranscriptionIntroJohn FiegeMany assaults on the environment happen slowly and continually, almost invisibly to us: starting a car engine, buying meat at the grocery store, throwing away a plastic straw.Mountaintop removal is different. It is sudden and violent and intentionally, unmistakably destructive. Coal companies will blow off the tops of mountains with dynamite in order to more easily and cheaply access the coal seams underneath vast swaths of forest, streams, and wildlife habitat. They destroy massive areas of wild land to produce a dirty energy that heavily pollutes the atmosphere with greenhouse gases. Their use of dynamite also allows them to employ many fewer miners.Mountaintop removal was one of the big environmental stories in the media in the last couple decades. There were massive protests and a lot of bad press for the coal companies.Now coal production is down in the US, and dramatic and shocking stories about mountaintop removal have largely disappeared from the headlines, but mountaintop removal has not gone away. As the easier-to-access coal is mined, the amount of land that must be destroyed by mountain removal to produce the same amount of coal has increased.One report that demonstrates this is from SkyTruth, an environmental advocacy group that uses satellite imagery and remote sensing data to study environmental damage. They published a study showing that the amount of land needed to produce a unit of coal in 2015 was three times more than it had been in 1998.Vernon Haltom and Junior Walk haven't forgotten what's happening in West Virginia and Appalachia, because they live it every day. They both work for Coal River Mountain Watch, the organization previously directed by Judy Bonds, the renowned mountaintop removal activist from West Virginia, who was the daughter of a coal miner and died of cancer in 2011 at age 58.Vernon and Junior's stories are urgent environmental ones, but they are also stories about the media and how we forget and move on.I'm John Fiege, and this conversation about Coal River Mountain Watch is part of the Chrysalis Project series. Here are Vernon Haltom and Junior Walk.---ConversationJohn FiegeI was hoping that you all could start by telling me a bit about your backgrounds and how you both came to work for Coal River Mountain Watch.Vernon HaltomMy background is, I was raised in Oklahoma, went to Oklahoma State University, went into the Air Force, went back into education, got my English teaching degree, and taught English for a while in high school, taught English as a second language. Just before I moved to West Virginia, I started learning about mountaintop removal. And while I was there I saw it in person and I met Judy Bonds and began volunteering with Coal River Mountain Watch in 2004. Came on staff at the beginning of 2005, and I've been there since.When I heard Judy Bonds on the radio in 2003, she was the Goldman Environmental Prize winner at the time. She was so inspirational and so motivational that seeing the problem of mountaintop removal and seeing what the coal companies were doing to the communities was unbearable.John FiegeAnd how about you, Junior?Junior WalkYeah, so I graduated high school in 2008. Shortly before I graduated, I realized that in this country you kind of need money to go to college. And so realized I wasn't really going to be able to do that. And so I was stuck here in southern West Virginia. And like many people who are in that situation, I went to work for the coal industry. At 17 years old, I went to work for the Elk Run coal processing plant in Sylvester, West Virginia. I worked there for about six months as I graduated high school and quickly learned that that's not something I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It's dangerous work, it's difficult work, and it doesn't pay enough.And so did some minimum wage work for a while, Dollar Store, Dairy Queen, that sort of thing. And eventually, I was offered a position as a security guard on a surface mine, and I figured sitting on my butt for 12 hours a day making money, I could handle that and so I did that. I did also for about six months, but within the first couple weeks of me working up there, I felt miserable about it. Sitting up there, watching that machinery work and them tearing down the mountains and knowing that the people who live below that mine site were going through the same stuff I went through when I was a kid. Contaminated water, dust, coal trucks rumbling by your house, trains. I felt bad about putting other people through that, continuing that cycle of exploitation.John FiegeWhen you were a kid, how aware were you of that as a problem versus just your reality that you didn't question?Junior WalkWell, we had well water at my house when I was growing up and they were doing coal slurry injection on the hillside above my family's home. And so coal slurry is a byproduct of coal processing. When coal is mined regardless if it's taken from an underground mine or a surface mine, the first stop for that coal is a processing plant. And that's where it's put through a series of chemical washes to be suitable to burn in a power plant to fit within clean air act regulations. And the byproduct of that is that coal slurry. So that's everything in the coal that they're not allowed to burn and put into the atmosphere as well as all the chemical agents that are used to take those impurities out. And they dispose of that in a few different ways, but one such way is by injecting it into old abandoned underground coal mines. And that's what they were doing right above my family's home. And so our water came out of my tap red for years, and I always knew that had something to do with the coal industry.In addition to that, through my entire elementary school career, I attended Marsh Fork Elementary, which at the time, was situated directly next to a coal processing plant and a coal slurry impoundment, which is the other way that the industry disposes of this coal waste. They put it into these huge earthen dams. So when you think about a dam, you are usually thinking about concrete and steel and that sort of thing, like the Hoover Dam. But when you're talking about a dam as in a slurry impoundment, you're talking about a bunch of dirt and rubble and trees that are dumped into the face of a valley, used to create a giant berm up to the top of the hilltop almost. And that whole holler back in behind there is back filled with liquid waste. And so that was right directly next to my elementary school.John FiegeWow. And that was one of the projects that you all did in terms of relocating that elementary school?Junior WalkIt was, yeah.John FiegeWere you part of that project?Junior WalkYeah. So essentially, while I was a security guard up there, I decided to come and have a conversation with Judy, who'd I'd known ever since I was a little kid, because I went to school with her grandson. And I think she also worked with my grandma at various times at gas stations and stuff. But from there, I started volunteering with Coal River Mountain Watch while I was a security guard. And a few months down the road, I was offered a position on staff. And I started on staff at Coal River Mountain Watch in January of 2010, and that's what I've been doing ever since.John FiegeWell, could each of you also describe the mountains and forests and waterways and biodiversity in Raleigh County and the area around Coal River Mountain?Junior WalkThe topography is large valleys with a bunch of smaller valleys jutting off from it, which are known as hollers. And then each of those little hollers have hollers branching off from it, just going way back into the mountain and up to the tops. And it can feel very isolated here because it takes so long to get to anywhere else. If you think about it, if you're up in the head of a holler that's in a holler, then you've got to travel out two hollers before you even hit the main road. In a lot of places around here, it's like an hour to your closest McDonald's or Walmart or any of that stuff.John FiegeAnd what are some of your memories from childhood of being within that?Junior WalkGoing hunting with my dad and my uncle, my papa. Traveling way back into the woods either in trucks and then later on, four wheelers caught on, and we'd take those. And just being in the forest and being taught how to bring food back out, why it's important for us to take care of these places where you can do those sorts of things.John FiegeRight. Right. Well, as the production of coal has been plummeting in the United States over the last few years, it's easy to think of American coal mining and mountaintop removal as vestiges of the past, but they're not. Can you all describe what mountaintop removal is, what it's like to witness it, and what's going on right now with coal mining in Raleigh County and in the surrounding areas?Vernon HaltomMountaintop removal is still going on. It's still expanding. They don't stop. There are new permits. The Turkey Foot permit on, it's well over a thousand acres, I want to say 1700 acres, on Coal River Mountain was approved last year. The valley fill permits for that will bury over three miles of streams, and that's just part of the overall 12 square mile complex on Coal River Mountain that includes the 8 billion gallon Brushy Fork sludge dam. So the myth that it's over is just that, a myth. And that's one of the biggest obstacles to our work because it's hard to get somebody to listen about your cause if they think that your cause is over.And our backyard is Cherry Pond Mountain, the Twilight complex there is 12 square miles and the coal company operating there, they have 81 civil penalty delinquency letters since December 14th. And they're still allowed to operate, they're still getting permits renewed.John FiegeYeah, I think that's one of the dirty secrets of our environmental regulations in this country is, industry is constantly violating those regulations and often being even fined for it, if not warned about it, but they keep operating. The money they're making is so much greater than the costs of dealing with those petty violations.Vernon HaltomOne of the permits that was recently renewed, it was actually signed on April 1st, April Fool's Day, the day after the company received a civil penalty delinquency letter. And the same company also had received a show cause notice just before that. It was something that we had requested because they had so many violations within the previous year. But the corrective action is what's called a consent order, where the company agrees to comply with the regulations and the laws, but there's really no teeth involved. They tell them they have to have three consecutive days of no coal removal and they're just going to schedule that in it. It's not going to be punitive.John FiegeAnd then there are no consequences. And the threat is, we might be mad at you.Vernon HaltomNo consequences. Sometimes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection will wag their finger. On rare occasions, they will slap a wrist, but usually it's just a scowl.John FiegeRight. And if you compare it to the daily profits, it's just nothing.Vernon HaltomAnd one thing that I think it's important too, I always say that mountaintop removal is the cradle of the climate crisis. So many people think that this is just a local problem, but it's not just a local problem. The coal that's extracted from the mountains becomes CO2 and contributes to global heating. The trees, the forests that are destroyed, and it's not just the trees, it's everything in the forest, is demolished. So there's no longer a carbon sink there and the blasting dust that goes into the communities, and Junior has a video, a drone video of a blasting cloud coming from Coal River Mountain drifting down through the communities of McDowell Branch and Workman Creek at least two miles. And that is deadly. Those health consequences that have killed so many of our friends continue unabated.West Virginia DEP will not issue a violation for fugitive dust. They just never do. That is what the main culprit in over 30 health studies now that have been done. It's increasingly apparent that breathing this ultra fine silica that's like very, very fine glass that goes right through your cell membranes is not good for you. It causes cancer and heart disease and birth defects. We've lost Judy Bonds for the cancer. We've lost Joanne Webb to cancer. We've lost Larry Gibson to heart disease. We lost Chuck Nelson to heart disease. We lost Carol Judy to cancer. We lost Vicki Terry to cancer.John FiegeAnd Junior, can you talk about, having grown up in those forests and on those rivers, what is it like for you on an emotional and a visceral level to witness the mountaintop removal and these other side effects of it?Junior WalkWe've lost a lot of friends in the course of fighting against this stuff. And seeing some of these places that I've grown up digging ginseng and hunting and riding four wheelers and hiking, seeing some of these places go from these lush, almost tropical type of forests up on top of these mountains where you're never going to run into another human being, into just a bare rock face, just a vast moonscape. It's like losing a friend.John FiegeYeah. I think one thing that's difficult for a lot of Americans to recognize is that close connection to the land, because so many people in our country have lost that close connection to the land.Junior WalkCan you blame them? Look at the land that they're given. You know what I mean? Most people looks out their window and they see a big old four-lane with stop lights and billboards and gas station signs and all that mess. And it's hard to feel a connection to that. I'm lucky for where I come up at.John FiegeLucky on the one hand, and then feeling the pain of watching it be destroyed on the other. And can you all catalog for me the impacts on ecosystems, on water and air quality, on flood risk, on human health, of mountaintop removal and other coal production in that area?Vernon HaltomWhen I first moved to West Virginia in 2001, the place was flooding. Some of the communities lost several homes, and most of that was in areas near mountaintop removal. Now, there are more valley fills and more mountaintop removal coming so the flood impacts is one of the first things that propelled the formation of Coal River Mountain Watch. So many people concerned about their homes from flooding in 1998 that killed two people in Artie, West Virginia. So that's one of the first concerns. Then you have the blasting, which emits the ultra fine silica dust and other pollutants as well into the lungs of children and elderly and everybody in between in the communities. And blasting also cracks foundations, cracks walls.If you're prone to PTSD and hear these massive explosions every day, that's not helpful for your mental health. The health impacts from mountaintop removal are deadly, so there's that. There's water pollution. The valley fills that are created continue to pollute the water for decades. We don't know yet how long, because the earliest valley fills are still polluting after 30 years or so.John FiegeCan you describe what a valley fill is and how it's done and why it's done?Vernon HaltomOkay, thank you. Because a lot of people get this wrong. So when you take the top off a mountain, you use a lot of explosives and you break the rock up and then you bulldoze it out of the way to get to the coal. Well, that rock and rubble has to go somewhere. So what the coal companies do is they dump it into the creeks and streams and hollows that are the natural contours of the mountains. They compress it, they pack it down. And some of them are miles long, and the miles of streams, over 2000 miles of streams have been impacted by valley fills.John FiegeCovered up, and they're gone?Vernon HaltomThey're covered and they're gone. They're buried. They're completely buried. They're hundreds of feet under this rubble. And so that contributes to the flooding, but you also have that contributing to pollution in the water because all this rock that was segregated from the rain and the sun and the wind for millions of millions of years is now broken up into smaller chunks. If you imagine grinding your coffee and putting it in a basket to make coffee, that's a similar process. So the rain leeches through that and the various minerals and pollutants that were locked up in the rock for all those millennia are now seeping back into the streams. And we don't know how long that will last, but considering the vast scale of these, it'll be forever. You have sediment ponds at the toe of these valley fills where the treatment is done, and that has to be done forever.We've seen coal companies go bankrupt or those obligations not being taken care of, otherwise. The coal companies aren't going to be there forever. When they stop doing that, it's still going to be polluting the streams. So we've lost a large fraction of the species of fish in a lot of the streams and a large fraction of the numbers of fish too, at least a third. So that is a huge impact.John FiegeThe forest itself in the valley is covered in this rubble as well, right?Vernon HaltomIt is.John FiegeSo you have a functioning forest ecosystem in addition to the stream ecosystem that are both completely covered with dirt and destroyed.Vernon HaltomAnd they're all interrelated. The leaves that fall from the trees are processed by the bugs in the streams, and those bugs feed the fish and some of the fish and bugs are eaten by birds. And it's a whole system of overlapping cycles that is part of the beauty of the Appalachian forests.John FiegeWell, and the rest of the country often views folks in West Virginia, and especially folks from coal mining towns and coal mining families as being diehard coal supporters and extremely anti-environmental. And the industries and politicians who profit tremendously from coal production, love to use the West Virginia coal miner as this symbol of American freedom and hard work and that type of thing. The view from the ground is always much more complicated. Can you all talk a bit about the communities in Raleigh County and the views of folks there toward coal mining and mountaintop removal and these coal companies, like Massey Energy, that profits so handsomely from this exploitation and destruction?Vernon HaltomReally quick, just let me point out part of the myth that everybody is for mountaintop removal. Consistently the polls and surveys show that people in West Virginia and elsewhere in Appalachia oppose mountaintop removal two to one. That's not insignificant. And the idea that everybody in West Virginia works for the coal industry is also a myth. Less than 3% of West Virginia's workforce works for the coal industry. Less than half of 1% works in mountaintop removal. Some of that's clustered in specific places. There are a lot more teachers than there are coal miners in West Virginia.Junior WalkThings are always a lot more complicated than they initially seem from the national headlines, at least in most cases. And definitely, there isn't like a homogenous view that everybody in southern West Virginia shares about the coal industry. Opinions and political beliefs and everything else is just as diverse down in here as they are anywhere else. Sure, you've got people who are die hard coal industry supporters that whether they work in the industry or somebody in their family does or not, they're still going to believe whatever the right wing news media shoves down their throat about the coal industry and all that. But then you also have a lot of people who don't feel that way about it.The vast majority of people around here are apathetic about the coal industry because whether that apathy stems from just not thinking about it that much, or whether that apathy stems from a defeatist attitude of, oh, the coal industry, that's the people who have the money and the power and they're going to do whatever they want. That's probably different on a person by person basis. But then you also do have a segment of the population here who are vehemently against stripping the land. Even if they think that the economic benefits of the coal industry and of the past underground mining and stuff like that have been worth it, they'll still draw the line at mountaintop removal or surface mining.John FiegeSo one thing I see over and over again and all across the country, different industries, is this argument that industry tries to make, that the people in the communities where these polluting and destructive activities happen, they want that to go on. They want those jobs, they want the economic activity, they're supportive. The people who are against it are outside agitators or urban environmentalists or professional activists. All these terms you hear thrown around. And I was just wondering if you all could talk about that a little bit and this image that industry often tries to paint of the division between people from the community who are supportive and people from outside the community who are in opposition.Junior WalkFor sure. And I'll say that around here, the vast majority of the good paying coal mining jobs do not go to people who live directly around those coal mines. These people drive in an hour down into here to work, and when they get done working, they get to go back home and turn on their tap water and it comes out clean. They get to send their kids to school somewhere that ain't in danger from being too close to coal operations. They get to drive on roads in their little cul-de-sacs and middle class subdivisions and not have to be worried about getting flattened like a pancake by a coal truck.Those are the people who benefit from the coal industry. It ain't the people who lives in the trailer park right below the big strip mine who are now dealing with a bunch of runoff water and a bunch of dust and everything else.John FiegeAnd those micro differences of different communities is completely lost in the national conversation about these things, I think.Junior WalkAbsolutely.Vernon HaltomOne of the things in West Virginia is you have so much of the industry propaganda infiltrating the schools, even on Earth Day, Alpha Metallurgical Resources hosted kids from Clear Fork Elementary School onto their mountaintop removal site. They had big banners, their trucks. All that's really fun and cool if you're a kid, but Clear Fork Elementary is also within a mile of three mountaintop removal sites and a fourth one if Alpha gets their permit for that one. So there's that support, sometimes locally, but I think the people who are often opposed to it are intimidated, either intimidated by violence or intimidated by opinions of somebody's cousin's nephew's brother-in-law who happens to work for the industry.John FiegeAnd coal supporters often claim that shutting down coal production will destroy communities that grew up around coal and the economies that support them. What do you all make of those claims?Junior WalkI think if the coal industry brought prosperity and economic vitality for southern West Virginia, we wouldn't be some of the poorest counties in the entire nation. And I think that's the only argument that needs to be made about that.John FiegeRight. Well, y'all have mentioned Judy Bonds already, but she's such a big figure. She's the founder and director of Coal River Mountain Watch. She won the 2003 Goldman Environmental Prize. Her unofficial title is The Godmother of the Anti Mountaintop Removal Movement. I know you both knew her and worked with her. Can you tell me a little bit more about her and just her personality and what role she played in bringing these issues to the national stage?Vernon HaltomI first met Judy in 2004. I first heard her voice on the radio in 2003 after she won the Goldman Environmental Prize. She was not tall. What she lacked in stature, she made up with in heart and passion. She was brave. There's a story of her chasing a bear off because it was intimidating her dog. She used her grandson's track shoes to throw at the bear. She was from a coal mining family. I was one of the people who helped carry Judy's casket to her grave in her backyard. She was the last person out of Marfork Hollow in the community of Packsville, that used to be there before the coal industry made it unbearable to live there.She cared deeply about her family. That's what got her into activism, seeing her grandson standing in a stream holding dead fish. I traveled some with Judy. Driving her car, you had to remove the pillow and scoot the seat back so that you could actually get behind the steering wheel. She loved her community, she cared about her community, even the people that wished her ill. And one of my sons middle names is Jude, and that's for Judy. She had such a huge impact on thousands and thousands of people that her shoes were hard to fill and nobody's tried to fill them and nobody can. But her loss from cancer from breathing mountaintop removal dust for all those years is a huge loss.Junior WalkI was real lucky to know her when I was a kid. My mom actually volunteered with Coal River Mountain Watch in 1998 right after everything was started up. She didn't do it for very long or anything, but I can remember going in there as a kid and they had big pieces of butcher block paper, essentially, on a easel, and she'd let me draw on them and stuff. And it's one of the first places I ever messed with a computer at, was at the old Coal River Mountain Watch office there. The one story that really sticks in my mind about Judy and me is, so when I was about eight years old, this is around '98, there was a community meeting at the old Pettus School, which doesn't exist anymore. Now, it's a parking lot for coal mines. I went there, my mom brought me there when I was a little kid, and I remember standing up and asking Judy if they want to blow up the mountains, why don't we all just hold hands around the mountains and they can't? I was a little kid.And then years later, you fast forward and I started working for Coal River Mountain Watch and all that. And there's this one point in time Judy looks at me and she said, "Junior, do you know you're the first person to ever bring up direct action to me?" Referencing all the way back to that. And that ain't something I talk about an awful lot because that's kinda unbelievable. When I first started working for Mountain Watch and stuff, the actions and all that had been going on for quite a few years-John FiegeReally?Junior Walk... from when I was a teenager and stuff. And I wasn't involved in any of that, so it's crazy to think.John FiegeWow, that's amazing. And Judy's known for doing this non-violent direct action. And at this point, I know you all are doing a lot of monitoring work on foot with GPS and with small planes and drones. Can you talk about the various strategies that Coal River Mountain Watch uses and how they relate to the work the organization has done historically?Junior WalkYeah, you pretty well hit the nail on the head there as far as our current strategy, which is the monitoring work, either going up in flights with one of our partner organizations, South Wings, in small aircraft to monitor these mines or with drones or on foot and just hiking around in the mountains and trying not to get seen by security guards. And yeah, I'd say over the years, Coal River Mountain Watch has employed a lot of different tactics, and we've had a lot of different campaigns to the ends of trying to be a nemesis to the coal industry. That's always been our main goal is to be as much of a pain to the coal industry as humanly possible. And so whatever projects we can figure out to work on to meet that goal, that's what we do.And over the years, we've done everything from lobbying in the state capital in Charleston, in Washington, DC, gathering scientific data from lawsuits, traveling around and telling the story of how coal mining has affected our community at various universities or events and things like that, to doing direct action work, getting arrested, doing tree sits and blockades and things of that nature.John FiegeAnd what has changed? I know you were doing more direct action before. What has changed? Has the political environment changed? Do you feel like other tactics are more successful now? What's the thinking there about the shifts in emphasis?Vernon HaltomA lot of the shift in emphasis is the myth that the coal industry is over. In 2015, it was in pretty much every major media outlet that King Coal was dead when Alpha Natural Resources, at the time, requested bankruptcy relief. That was taken as a sign that it was over. And we had allies who said it was essentially over. That's the quotation from their fundraising letter. And some of the minor victories, I call them minor victories, in lawsuits were over-hyped, I think. So a lot of the energy from direct action campaigns went to other related issues, pipelines, fracking and things like that.John FiegeAnd Junior, you went to Marsh Fork Elementary School. What was it like, one, to be there? What did you notice about going to school there? And then secondly, what was it like to then witness this fight as you got older and became an adult and then started working with Coal River Mountain Watch that was doing all this work with Judy around relocation?Junior WalkYeah. So I went to Marsh Fork Elementary from kindergarten through sixth grade, and that would've been from 95 until 2001. And yeah, I can remember dust in the playground, just like when you'd be let out for recess, if you was the first one over to the slides and stuff, there'd be a layer of dust just laying on everything.John FiegeAnd that was silica dust?Junior WalkIt was coal dust.John FiegeIt was coal dust.Junior WalkFrom the processing plant.John FiegeBut the ultra fine silica, that would be more in the air then-Junior WalkIt would be. And that's more from-John FiegeOh, that's from the mountaintop removal.Junior WalkBlasting. Yeah, exactly. Which there is a mountaintop removal site directly behind the processing plant beside the old school, but it wasn't active yet at the time I went there.John FiegeGotcha. So this was straight coal dust?Junior WalkYeah, it was just coal dust. So it got worse after I left, essentially. And I do remember the first silo that they built there, right directly behind the school. It's the only one that they actually built, but it was there when I was a kid, and I can remember the noise of them loading train cars. So imagine a train pulling through a tunnel in the bottom of a massive silo and then just a bunch of coal dropping into each one of those cars every few seconds. It was difficult to concentrate on anything.John FiegeWell, I'm sure that Joe Manchin's kids had to deal with the same stuff in their school-Junior WalkOh yeah.John FiegeDon't you think?Junior WalkGuarantee you that. Is that his daughter's the one that hiked up the price of EpiPens a while back? Yeah, no, I bet she's breathed all kind of coal dust in her life, huh? So from the time I got out of elementary school until I graduated high school, there was two kids that I went to elementary school with that had had cancer by the time we graduated high school, and one of them passed away. And I've had other people that I went to elementary school with who since then until now have passed away. I don't even know how many, but more than a couple. There was a girl that was in my grade that just died, I think last year-John FiegeWhoa.Junior Walk... from cancer. And I solidly blame the coal operations that we were going to school next to.John FiegeWow. And what's it like to see the school moved later and then to begin working for the organization that was responsible for that?Junior WalkTo know that the kids that would be going to school there now have a safe, clean school that they can go to just a few miles up the road from that one. It's amazing. That, to me, even though I was only involved a little bit right at the very end, that's still one of the proudest things I've ever been involved in in my life.John FiegeWell, and just makes it so much more powerful having gone to that school yourself. That's really an incredible story.Vernon HaltomYeah, I guess the sad thing is the new school is two miles from the Eagle 2 mountaintop removal permit. So when they get around to that portion of it, there's kids going to be endangered from that too, if the wind's blowing from the correct direction.John FiegeRight. And I think when people think of coal mining, they think of that, you dig a tunnel in the mountain and you go down there and the coal is there and you knock it off and you put it in rail cars and you send it out. Can you talk just a bit more about why they're doing this mountaintop removal? I know you mentioned it's cheap, but why is it cheap and why are they having to go for these thin sections of coal in the mountain now?Vernon HaltomIt's cheaper because it takes fewer people. If you go and watch a mountaintop removal site, you may see just a handful of people. There will be a guy driving that truck, a guy driving that truck, a guy driving that bulldozer, a guy driving that bulldozer, a security guy and a few people operating the explosives. So the energy and work that used to be done by miners is now done by explosives. And the explosive equivalent of 20 Tomahawk missiles is pretty substantial even though the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection calls that a small blast. It does a lot of damage and it breaks up the rock, and then you just scoop it up, push it down the valley, or push it onto another section of the mountaintop removal site and then scoop up the coal. It's fast and efficient. It's the low hanging fruit of getting to the coal.And if they want to come back later, they just spray some of those grass seed and fertilizer over it and call it good until they want to come back to it. The companies get a variance. They have all these variances, all these regulations and laws that they get the approval to violate, essentially, and they're not able to comply with the regulations. They can't even maintain a ditch. Right now they have a very bad open violation on Coal River Mountain because their ditch failed. The ditch that's supposed to catch the runoff and the sediment, and it's just too steep. And the laws of physics still apply in West Virginia regardless of what the coal industry and the DEP think.John FiegeAnd what's the danger of company abandonment and bankruptcies and all of that, thinking about these issues?Vernon HaltomA lot of the companies had what was called self-bonding, where they themselves guaranteed the money to fix up any reclamation if they were to abandon it. And that's not a good idea. And there are also other companies, insurance companies or what have you, that a company can get their reclamation bond through. But so much of mountaintop removal is subject to failure with too many bankruptcies or too many companies abandoning their obligations, that there is a real potential that the actual cleanup costs could fall on the taxpayer. And frankly, West Virginia taxpayers can't afford it. The state budget already gives more to the coal industry than they get from it.John FiegeWell, in the context of all this, Judy Bonds had to deal with continual threats of violence toward her, as have so many other people who've worked to stop mountaintop removal, like Larry Gibson, well-known activist who was working right near there. How much do you still encounter violence or threats of violence in this work?Junior WalkI'll say, when I first come on staff at Coal River Mountain Watch in 2010, before Judy would start her car, she'd have me go around and look at the underside of it with a mirror to make sure that there wasn't nothing going to surprise her when she started her car. And I think that since then, between the coal industry just generally not employing as many people as they did in 2010, as well as the shift of attitude of a lot of the local people after the Upper Big Branch mine explosion and the drop off of attention from the national news media about surface mining here in West Virginia as an issue. Also, something that's went away with all that has been a lot of the real visceral threats of violence and stuff from the other side, from the coal industry supporters. And that's not to say that it don't still happen, because it most certainly does. And I'm real careful anytime I leave the house just to remember that there are people around here that would rather see me dead. But in recent years, it hasn't been as bad as what it was at the height of the resistance to surface mining here.John FiegeAnd how about you, Vernon? What have you seen?Vernon HaltomBack in 2009, in June of 2009 when we had the big rally at Marsh Fork Elementary School and the protest and the march down to the preparation plant, pretty much everybody had their lives threatened then. My life was threatened, my wife's life was threatened. Judy Bonds was sucker punched. It leaves an impression that regardless of where you are, am I safe here? When is it coming? You're always looking over your shoulder. And some people get treated for post-traumatic stress disorder. Well, when that trauma and that stress is ongoing, there's that concern, that anxiety, that it could happen. And there's also the concern and anxiety for ongoing mountaintop removal. It's a violent process. It kills people.John FiegeWell, what is y'all's vision of what a future Raleigh County or a future West Virginia could look like and how the communities there could find themselves in a much better place than what they have to endure currently?Junior WalkI do not care. It's not my problem what the future is going to look like around here. It's not my problem how a coal miner is going to make their truck payment that they went out and financed some ridiculous big old truck. You know what I mean? That's not my responsibility to come up with what a future's going to look like here. Just because I'm the one that's standing here saying that what's going on now is a problem and it needs to stop, that don't put the burden on my shoulders to tell these people what they're going to do next.John FiegeAnd Junior, is there a world that you want to live in there? For example, do you imagine, hope for, dream of a world without the coal industry operating? Or do you have a vision, not to speak for everybody there or the coal miners or anything like that, but for yourself? What would you like to see there that would be better for you?Junior WalkThe only thing I could see to make this area a better and more livable place is to do away with the coal industry, to stop them from operating completely like 10 years ago, and we haven't done that. They still get to do what they want, and it still makes this place miserable to live for most people or for a whole lot of people. And yeah, I would love to see what this area would look like without the exploitation of the coal industry. I'm sure we would be just fine. The vast majority of the people that live in these communities around here are all retired or disabled. The coal industry dissolving overnight isn't going to affect them. It's going to affect the people, like I said, driving in an hour every day. And whatever happens to them and their cul-de-sac and gated communities, I could care less.John FiegeRight. And why have you stayed?Junior WalkWell, I've stayed here because this is where my family is. Like I was talking about, I've traveled all over the country. I've been to almost every single one of the lower 48, and I've never found anywhere else that I'd rather live. This is a beautiful place. I'm lucky to be from here.John FiegeWhat keeps you going through this difficult work?Junior WalkWell, for me, personally, I'll say that I still feel like I owe it to the people who took me under their wings when I was first starting out in this stuff. Judy Bonds and Larry Gibson, Chuck Nelson, Sid Moye. There's many people that really put a lot of faith into me and put a lot of effort into molding me into who I am today. And I'll be eternally grateful for that. And I still owe it to them and to their memories to keep doing this work until it's done, until there is no more coal industry in southern West Virginia, because that's what they asked of me. And so that's what I'm going to keep doing.And then on top of all that, you can't live around here and see the way that people are exploited and the things they're expected to live through and live with and be okay with and not stand up and say something about it. If you can sit there on your hands and keep your mouth shut just to protect your paycheck from seeing some of the things I've seen, then you're not a good person, and I try to be a good person.Vernon HaltomThe persistence, I think, is something that Coal River Mountain Watch is known for since we started so long ago. We tend to be stubborn and we tend to be bulldogs in the sense of hanging on and sticking to it. I think our passion is seeing it through and not walking away from it. And that's something we do for the love of friends and family that aren't able maybe to take that stand or who would like to, but for whatever reason are intimidated by the threats of violence. But when you have family members who have died from it and you see it, or you stand in it, or you breathe it, or you feel the dust in your teeth, it's gritty. You become a part of it and it's more infused into you. And it's very much a battle, not just for the community, but for the sake of the planet. What happens in West Virginia affects people in the low-lying islands in the Pacific. It affects people impacted by hurricanes.John FiegeAnd you hinted at this idea earlier of, if we can't stop mountaintop removal, what hope do we have of dealing with these big global issues of climate change? It feels like such low hanging fruit and so obvious that if you're going to start somewhere, let's start with that.Vernon HaltomExactly. There's no better low hanging fruit in the climate crisis battle than mountaintop removal.John FiegeNot only do we not need coal anymore, but we don't need to destroy mountains to get to it.Vernon HaltomWe don't need to destroy mountains and kill people to profit a few coal barons who control the state legislatures and much of the government itself. That wealth has power, and the people who breathe air and drink water have very little power in comparison. But eventually, there are more of us than there are of them, and we'll eventually outlast them. We've gone through how many iterations of Alpha Natural Resources, Alpha Metallurgical Resources, and whatever company name they're going to pick next year, that we'll eventually wait them out.John FiegeWell, what do you all hope that listeners can take from this conversation and your stories, and how can they get involved and support some of the work that you're doing at Coal River Mountain Watch?Junior WalkIf there's some big problem in your community that you feel passionate about, do something about it. First and foremost, do whatever you can, devote your life to it. But don't just let injustice stand because when you're quiet about it, everybody else is going to be too. It only takes one person to stand up and raise hell about it for other people to get brave. And then the second part that I'd like for people to take away from this is that these issues that we deal with down here in southern West Virginia related to the coal industry, they are just one issue in a sea of similar problems that goes on around this nation and around the world when poor people get exploited by wealthy people. And that's really the root issue that we're dealing with here, is the exploitation of this land and the people who live on it by wealthy interests that live elsewhere.And this issue here, it's not the capitalist system that we live under gone wrong by any means. It's the capitalist system that we live under going directly 100% according to plan. This is their plan. We live on a planet of only a set amount of resources. And the capitalist system that we live in is based upon this concept of exponential growth of more and more and more and more, consume, consume, consume, consume. And those two facts are going to eventually come to a head. Both of those can't coexist, and that's what they're trying to make happen right now, globally. And that's just not how that works.Vernon HaltomI'd like to echo what Junior said about tackling the challenges in your own backyard. There's something everywhere that people can be plugged into and have that local voice. If somebody wants to help, if they want to help our organization specifically, it's CRMW.net. We're always underfunded. There's more work to do than we have time to do.John FiegeJunior, one more thing I wanted to ask you. Could you talk a little bit more about the drone work you've been doing and more about what it is you're filming and what impacts either you're hoping it's going to have or that you actually seen it have already?Junior WalkFor sure. So I've been using drones to film and document these mine sites since about 2016. And generally, the idea is you fly the drone, you find something that they shouldn't be doing or that's messed up on their site that they're going to have to fix. You take that information to the DEP, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and then you make them make the coal company fix whatever it is that you found. And so generally, the fines and stuff that they get are just a slap on the wrist. They're factored into the cost of doing business. But what really hurts them is when we find stuff that they then have to take workers and equipment away from actively mining coal to then go to a different section of the site and repair, and that's what really hurts them economically. And in our hope, that is what will make it less economically feasible for them to keep their operations open.John FiegeGreat. And have you seen results from that?Junior WalkTo some extent, for sure. We've definitely had to force, or we've been able to force coal companies to have to go back to sections of their site that they're pretty far away from and fix crumbling high walls or dig stuff out of a sediment ditch. And I don't think I'm wrong in assuming that, yeah, we've been able to cost them a pretty penny.John FiegeWell, Vernon, Junior, thank you so much for joining me today, and thank you for all this amazingly difficult, but important and vital work that you're doing. Thank you. Thank you for keeping at it.Vernon HaltomThank you, John, for providing us a platform to tell the story and let people know.Junior WalkYeah, I appreciate you. It was great talking to you.---OutroJohn FiegeThank you so much to Vernon Haltom and Junior Walk. Go to our website at chrysalispodcast.org where you can find out more about Coal River Mountain Watch and the legacy of Judy Bonds. Plus, see some of Junior's drone footage of recent mountaintop removal operations.This episode was researched by Lydia Montgomery and edited by Brodie Mutschler and Sofia Chang. Music is by Daniel Rodríguez Vivas. Mixing is by Juan Garcia. If you enjoyed my conversation with Vernon and Junior, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Contact me anytime at chrysalispodcast.org, where you can also support the project, subscribe to our newsletter and join the conversation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.chrysalispodcast.org

Today on MetroNews This Morning:--A former A-B professor gets jail time for a fatal boating accident--Governor Jim Justice reacts to the charges against former President Donald Trump--Memorials held in Raleigh County for those killed at UBB 13 years ago.--In sports, a big crowd for last night's WVU-Marshall baseball game in Charleston and Huggs gets a big one out of the portal.

We are SO thankful to be able to bring you this DEEP DIVE on our Tammy Jean Daniel episode. This episode delves deeper into the relationship between Tammy and Gene, gives additional information about the night June 2, 1987 and allows the listener a deeper insight into the beautiful person Tammy was in life. WV Locals SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. Let's bring Tammy Home. In the early morning hours of June 2, 1987, twenty four (24) year old Tammy Jean Daniel was dropped off at her residence in Stanaford, WV after a night out at the El Cid Club in Beckley. The residence was locked and en lieu of waking her sleeping husband, she told her mother that she was going to sleep in a tent that had been set up on their lawn. Reluctantly her mother left, but when she returned only moments later, her daughter was gone. Tammy Daniel was never seen again. Efforts to reach their daughter were dismal and fraught with more questions. What fate befell this beautiful blonde haired young woman? Join the Cold Case Crew as they discuss “The Disappearance of Tammy Jean Daniel,” a 1987 Cold Case local to Raleigh County, West Virginia. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the disappearance and murder of Tammy Jean Daniel (Hensdill) please contact Crime Stoppers at (304) 255- STOP. You can also submit a tip online at www.crimestoppersofraleighcounty.org . You are not required to give your name and are able to remain anonymous. #TammyJeanDaniel #TammyJeanHensdill #ColdCasesOfWestVirginia #ColdCasesOfRaleighCounty #WVUnsolved #UnsolvedDisappearance #UnsolvedHomicide #MysteriousDisappearance #SuspiciousCircumstances #WhatHappenedToTammy #JusticeForTammyDaniel #ColdCase #ColdCaseCrew________________________________________________________________________________References: Books: “West Virginia Unsolved Murders” by George and Melody Bragg. Gone But Not Forgotten: The Search For Tammy Jean Daniel . Pages 67-69. 1992. “West Virginia Cold Case Homicides” by George Bragg. A Garden of Tears. Pages 103-104. 2007.Newspapers:The Register HeraldWebsites:https://charleyproject.org/case/tammy-jean-danielhttps://unsolvedappalachia.org/tammy-jean-daniel/https://www.facebook.com/teamsapswspcoldcases/photos/a.359340697576906/1312890745555225/?type=3___________________________________________________________________________________Special Thank You's Thank You To Our FamiliesThe Hensdill Family Brand RPMAh-Hale Creations Compute OneKevin BeattyCandor Creative Company WV State PoliceRaleigh County Sheriff's DepartmentMusic:abyss by Rexlambo https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3ksUw0D Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/t_VIgXsAp9I Editing:Whitney Cappellari and Audacity Website:www.coldcasecrewwv.com Support the show

1933 United States Executive Order 6102https://river.com/learn/terms/e/executive-order-6102/ 1987 Fox Broadcasting Co. makes its prime-time TV debuthttps://www.tvobscurities.com/2017/04/30th-anniversary-of-fox-prime-time/ 2010 Explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, Raleigh County, West Virginiahttps://www.wvpublic.org/radio/2017-04-05/april-5-2010-explosions-rock-the-upper-big-branch-mine Support the show

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Thursday, March 16  Rev your engines! The Friends of Charity Auto Fair returns to Raleigh County in July…Toyota WV is seeking skilled maintenance workers for its Buffalo plant…and Rock Springs Business Park gets a new tenant -- bringing 75 jobs and creating 25 more -- #YesWV…on today's daily304.     #1 – From WVNS-TV – The Friends of Charity Auto Fair is back for another year! Hospice of Southern West Virginia will host the charity event on July 14-15 at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport. This is the 18th year the event is being held and the fifth Hospice has hosted, alongside Brian's Safe House. “It's a really great event for the whole community,” said Angel Blankenship, director of public relations for Hospice of Southern West Virginia. “We have people from all over who are involved and bring their cars in.” The event averages about 500 cars each year. For those interested in registering their cars for this year's event, a signup will take place May 20th outside Marquee Cinemas, the same day as the next “Fast and Furious” release. Read more: https://www.wvnstv.com/top-stories/friends-of-charity-auto-fair-returns-for-18th-year/   #2 – From WSAZ-TV – Toyota West Virginia Plant President David Rosier talks about job opportunities at the Buffalo manufacturing facility.  The plant's 2,000 member team produced over a million engines and transmissions last year. They are seeking skilled maintenance team members at a starting range of $32 to $37 an hour plus excellent benefits. “I truly believe what makes Toyota different is our core value of respect for people. We encourage diversity and inclusion. But also, we invest in people. We care about people and we want them to be able to grow their careers throughout their time with us,” Rosier said. Watch the video: https://www.wsaz.com/2023/03/09/toyota-west-virginia/?es_id=ff8cfcff59   #3 – From REVIEW ONLINE – After many years of redevelopment and marketing efforts, the long-vacant site of a former Hancock County pottery soon will have a new tenant. Heavy Iron Oilfield Services, LP will relocate its operations from Canonsburg, Pa., to the Rock Springs Business Park in Chester, which once was the home of Taylor, Smith and Taylor Pottery. The relocation involves a long-term lease with the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, which owns the property. The new tenant will bring 75 jobs with it as part of the relocation, with a plan to add 25 new jobs. Read more: https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2023/03/rock-springs-business-park-to-have-its-first-tenant/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --Governor Justice signs the state income tax cut into law--A double-fatal wreck in Raleigh County results in murder charges--There are concerns from stake holders about plans to split the DHHR into three separate agencies--In Sports, the girl's state tournament continues and the boys regionals are underway.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Thursday, March 2  A Raleigh County mine service weathers difficulties to come back stronger than ever…Every business has a story--what's yours? Trade reps want to help you become a better exporter…and discover the hidden treasures of Moundsville…on today's daily304.    #1 – From THE REGISTER-HERALD – Falcon Mine Service, a provider of cutting tools, drills, and bit products, started serving the West Virginia coal mining industry in 2001.  Founder Darrell Green began the business as a one-man show and built a strong multi-million-dollar business, despite battling cancer twice. Along the way, he met Clint Henderson and realized they had common interests. Their partnership led to business expansion, and they began selling wear parts instead of just bits. In 2021 the business suffered a huge blow when Green passed from COVID-19. His daughter, Amanda Green, and wife, Ceretha Green, worked with Henderson to continue Green's legacy. It started with three key relationships: Workforce West Virginia directed them to WV Hive, which in turn connected them with Robert C. Byrd Institute. Among the three, Falcon now had the support it needed. The business purchased a CNC lathe machine so workers could begin manufacturing parts. This enabled them to hire a machinist. “Prayerfully, our goals are to continue with the mining industry, to vertically integrate the business to be our own manufacturer, and to hire another machinist so we can continue to expand,” Amanda Green said. By reconsidering their business, finding more economical sources for supplies, and producing items for themselves, the small but mighty team on a hilltop in Midway did over $3 million in sales last year. Read more: https://www.register-herald.com/news/state_region/following-devastating-loss-falcon-continues-service-to-mines-while-looking-at-new-horizons/article_46ae5ad8-b191-11ed-88e5-bb1044a0e0b5.html   #2 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – When you have a global economy that trades in attention where you're up against a million competitors, is it any wonder that businesses have trouble getting customers to notice? If only you had a way to get people's attention. But here's the truth: Trying to get your customer's attention in a noisy and crowded marketplace is a losing battle. Instead of focusing on ways to grab their attention, the key to success is to find ways to keep it. And that's where storytelling can help. A clear narrative that communicates your business' story in such an emotionally resonant way, will not only help you connect with potential customers on a deeper level, it will do wonders for building trust and loyalty and, if all goes well, drive more sales. Contact the West Virginia Department of Economic Development to learn more. Our trade experts want to help you tell your story, become a better exporter and enjoy business success.  Read more: https://westvirginia.gov/trade-talk-how-storytelling-can-help-you-clarify-your-message-and-become-a-better-exporter/?_hsmi=247780915&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_kBewFM9iRIR1-aR1cKmokKaViY_Cnzy7siRJZistLt-9Uz0n6e0PeH4RUtSQ9zVmur0LZxtgmtXk_ZcF-ixwxzbynjQ   #3 – From PITTSBURGH MAGAZINE – The city of Moundsville, clinging to the northwestern edge of West Virginia along the Ohio River, appears similar to plenty of neighboring towns. There are dozens of main streets like this — Rust Belt towns with a lot of history and hometown charm. That's how Moundsville appears at first glance, at least. Unlike many similar places, Moundsville has a half-dozen destinations hidden in plain sight — unexpected treasures that you'll be stunned to find in this particular corner of the world.  The most remarkable of these marvels is, undoubtedly, the Palace of Gold, the centerpiece of the community of New Vrindaban. The Grave Creek Mound — which gives the city of Moundsville its name — is a burial mound built by the area's indigenous population sometime around 200 B.C.E.  Look east from the top of the mound, and you'll see an imposing, stately structure: The former West Virginia Penitentiary, now the site of historical tours, haunted attractions and filming locations. The aptly named Grand Vue Park (grandvuepark.com) offers treetop villas and views of the region — observed while hurtling down a zipline on one of eight adventure courses.  Start planning your Almost Heaven getaway to Moundsville. Check out www.visitmoundsville.com to learn more. Read more: https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/getaway-the-surprising-treasures-found-in-moundsville-west-virginia/?fbclid=IwAR0Ei0lm4zWMRW2iGhQw2VgCQF09-gHvo2MqufyiwKfeVq0sUPInAe7oUiw&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023..02.23+Industry+Newsletter&utm_content=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pittsburghmagazine.com%2fgetaway-the-surprising-treasures-found-in-moundsville-west-virginia%2f%3ffbclid%3dIwAR0Ei0lm4zWMRW2iGhQw2VgCQF09-gHvo2MqufyiwKfeVq0sUPInAe7oUiw   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

A gruesome murder right here in Raleigh County, West Virginia. A random victim, a female perpetrator. Both of these aspects make this case a rare and unusual occurrence. Ronald Lee Browning was murdered and lacerated beyond recognition. After a string of robberies on the same street in Beckley brought police to the scene, a woman was arrested and admitted to the crime: 19-year-old Camille Browne. How and why did she do it?

In the early morning hours of June 2, 1987, twenty three (23) year old Tammy Jean Daniel was dropped off at her residence in Stanaford, WV after a night out at the El Cid Club in Beckley. The residence was locked and en lieu of waking her sleeping husband, she told her mother that she was going to sleep in a tent that had been set up on their lawn. Reluctantly her mother left, but when she returned only moments later, her daughter was gone. Tammy Daniel was never seen again. Efforts to reach their daughter were dismal and fraught with more questions. What fate befell this beautiful blonde haired young woman? Join the Cold Case Crew as they discuss “The Disappearance of Tammy Jean Daniel,” a 1987 Cold Case local to Raleigh County, West Virginia. If you or anyone you know has fallen victim to domestic abuse, the time is NOW to get help. National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233Locals to WV:  http://www.wrcwv.orgTo report a tip regarding the MURDER or DISAPPEARANCE of Tammy Jean Daniel (Hensdill) we urge you to contact CRIMESTOPPERS OF RALEIGH COUNTY at (304) 255-STOP. You can even submit a tip online at www.crimestoppersofraleighcounty.org . You are not required to give your name and are able to submit anonymously. #TammyJeanDaniel #TammyJeanHensdill #ColdCasesOfWestVirginia #ColdCasesOfRaleighCounty #WVUnsolved #UnsolvedDisappearance #UnsolvedHomicide #MysteriousDisappearance #SuspiciousCircumstances #WhatHappenedToTammy #JusticeForTammyDaniel #ColdCase #ColdCaseCrew________________________________________________________________________________References: Books: “West Virginia Unsolved Murders” by George and Melody Bragg. Gone But Not Forgotten: The Search For Tammy Jean Daniel . Pages 67-69. 1992. “West Virginia Cold Case Homicides” by George Bragg. A Garden of Tears. Pages 103-104. 2007.Newspapers:The Register HeraldWebsites:https://charleyproject.org/case/tammy-jean-danielhttps://unsolvedappalachia.org/tammy-jean-daniel/https://www.facebook.com/teamsapswspcoldcases/photos/a.359340697576906/1312890745555225/?type=3____________________________________________________________________________________Special Thank You's Thank You To Our FamiliesBrand RPMHale Family DentistryAh-Hale Creations Compute OneKevin BeattyCandor Creative Company Music:abyss by Rexlambo https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3ksUw0D Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/t_VIgXsAp9I Editing:Whitney Cappellari and Audacity Website:www.coldcasecrewwv.com Support the show

Two have been arrested for allegedly torching a Raleigh County church. A murder trial gets started today in a Marion County Courtroom. State Treasurer Riley Moore gets a response from large lenders who say they are not boycotting investment in the fossil fuel industry. State officials say it's just a matter of time before the latest Covid sub-variant gets a foothold in West Virginia. In Sports, an Assistant on Bob Huggins' staff at WVU has landed a head coaching job. Joe Brocato is in for Kyle and will have that story and all the day's sports. Those stories and more in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

An historic church in Raleigh County burned to the ground over the weekend and investigators believe it was arson. The names of the six people killed in that helicopter crash in Logan last week have been released. State Lawmakers could be headed into a special session to refine the state's abortion law--crafted in the 1800's--which is now the relevant law again following the overturning of Roe v Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. In Sports, Joe Brocato is in for Kyle Wiggs and will report on the four newest commitments to WVU football. Those stories and more in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

State lawmakers will return to the capitol today to continue work on several pieces of legislation in special session. There is more concern about the proposed reforms which could cut services at three of West Virginia's V-A hospitals. State officials say revenues continue to come in strong for West Virginia in the month of April. Potomac State has a new leader and a New York theater company will bring an off Broadway production about the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster to Raleigh County. In Sports, the latest MetroNews High School baseball rankings are in---Kyle Wiggs is back at the sports desk today. Those stories and more in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

On September 7, 1977, Margaret “Margie” Dodd was en route to her home in Shady Spring when she was abducted from an Amoco Service Station in Beaver, West Virginia. Despite fast action by witnesses and police, Margie's case has remained cold for the last 45 years. In 1993, a set of skeletonized remains were discovered on Bolt Mountain but they wouldn't be identified as Margie Dodd until 24 years later in 2017. Join the Cold Case Crew as they share “The Murder of Margaret “Margie” Dodd,” a cold case local to Raleigh County, West Virginia and let us know what's YOUR theory? We are a very interactive group, check out our blog that has been posted to our website www.coldcasecrewwv.com . We share pictures, newspaper clippings, images of the area pertaining to the case. Be sure to like, share and follow us for updates. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the abduction and murder of Margie Dodd please call Crime Stoppers at (304) 255-STOP. You can also submit a tip online at www.crimestoppersofraleighcounty.com . You are able to submit anonymously.#MargaretCelesteDodd #MargieDodd #ColdCasesOfWestVirginia #ColdCasesOfRaleighCounty #UnsolvedMurder #BeaverWV #ShadySpringWV #WestVirginia #1977 #CardinalStateBank #AkronOhio #Akron #MargaretCelesteHoran #Margie #Dodd #ColdCase #ColdCaseCrew References:Books: “West Virginia Unsolved Murders” by George and Melody Bragg. The Missing Bank Teller. Pages 60-66. 1992. “West Virginia Cold Case Homicides” by George Bragg. The Missing Bank Teller. Pages 89-91. 2007.Newspapers:The Raleigh RegisterThe Beckley Post HeraldWebsites:West Virginia Metro News:https://wvmetronews.com/2017/07/18/remains-confirmed-in-decades-old-dodd-case/West Virginia Record:https://wvrecord.com/stories/511300534-widower-files-suit-against-raleigh-co-sheriff-over-investigation-of-wife-s-remainsPodcasts:Ohio Mysteries PodcastSpecial Thank Yous:West Virginia State PoliceCandor Creative Company Kevin Beatty Fancy NancyKaitlin BlackburnBrand RPMAh-Hale CreationsThank you to our Families Music:abyss by Rexlambo https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3ksUw0D Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/t_VIgXsAp9I Editing:Whitney Cappellari and Audacity Website:www.coldcasecrewwv.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/coldcasecrew)

The Lewisburg Chocolate Festival returns this month … business leaders and entrepreneurs look for new ways to compete in a pandemic world … and a global manufacturer expands in Raleigh County. – on today's daily304, listen here…

1933 United States Executive Order 6102https://river.com/learn/terms/e/executive-order-6102/1987 Fox Broadcasting Co. makes its prime-time TV debuthttps://www.tvobscurities.com/2017/04/30th-anniversary-of-fox-prime-time/2010 Explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, Raleigh County, West Virginiahttps://www.wvpublic.org/radio/2017-04-05/april-5-2010-explosions-rock-the-upper-big-branch-mine 

Everybody loves a good mystery, though typically at the end of the story the string of clues leads to a concrete ending. This story has no such ending, at least not without your help. Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens disappeared on October 1, 1993 after dropping her husband off at work. At the conclusion of the day, it would appear as though she had simply vanished . The events that follow weave a web of confusion that continues to confound police to this day. Join the Cold Case Crew as they share Cherice's story in hopes that YOU hold the missing key to unlocking the DISAPPEARANCE of CHERICE GWINN STEPHENS. A Cold Case local to Raleigh County, West Virginia. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the disappearance and murder of Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens call Crime Stoppers at (304) 255- STOP. You can even submit a tip online anonymously at www.crimestoppersofraleighcounty.org . We are a very interactive group, check out our blog that has been posted to our website www.coldcasecrewwv.com . We share pictures, newspaper clippings, images of the area pertaining to the case. Be sure to like, share and follow us for updates and more Cold Cases. And don't forget to let us know YOUR theory! #AngelaChericeGwinnStephens #ChericeGwinnStephens #ChericeGwinn #1993 #UnsolvedDisappearance #UnsolvedMurder #ColdCase #ColdCasesofWestVirginia #RaleighCounty #WestVirginia #ColdCaseCrew #JusticeForCherice References: Newspapers: Register HeraldCharleston GazetteWashington TimesWest Virginia NewsNews:WVNS:https://www.wvnstv.com/archives/cold-case-raleigh-county-family-continues-to-search-for-answers/https://www.wvnstv.com/archives/state-troopers-search-for-leads-in-24-year-old-cold-case/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhagVm9k25LMveEXeQChKABlogs:https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/8ampw6/unresolved_disappearance_angela_cherice/https://charleyproject.org/case/angela-cherice-gwinn-stephensPodcast(s): The Killers CrawlspaceCrime Chats Special Thank You's:The West Virginia State Police Paula HagerSherry GwinnCarminunch JuniorCandor Creative CompanyKevin BeattyThank you to our families Music:abyss by Rexlambo https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3ksUw0D Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/t_VIgXsAp9I Editing:Whitney Cappellari and Audacity Website:www.coldcasecrewwv.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/coldcasecrew)

West Virginia is going to see some serious weather over the next 24 hours ranging from flooding rains to ice,sleet,and snowfall. A Raleigh County man is convicted of murder. The state's revenue collections are running well ahead of projection for the fiscal year. Governor Jim Justice will join Governors from Virginia and Tennessee today in a conversation with the White House about a waiver for vaccine mandates on rural hospital workers. We'll also get updates from the Legislative Session. In sports a number of the state's top high school football players from this past season have signed letters of intent where they plan to play college football. Kyle Wiggs will have a rundown of the list and all of the day's sports. Those stories and more in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

On November 8, 1973 Patricia “Susie” Richmond set out to run errands in Beaver, WV and never returned home. Two weeks later her body was discovered badly decomposed, stabbed to death in a remote section of Plum Orchard Lake. It's been 49 years since her murder and her murderer(s) are still at large. Join Ashley, Beth and Whitney as they re-tell Susie's story recalling facts about the case, raising questions and diving deep into one of Raleigh County's oldest cold cases: The Murder of Patricia Sue Brogan Richmond. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the murder of Patricia Sue Richmond, please call Crime Stoppers at (304) 255- STOP. You can even submit a tip online at www.crimestoppersofraleighcounty.org . You are not required to give your name and are able to submit anonymously. We are a very interactive group, if you have any thoughts regarding the case check out the blog that has been posted on our website (www.coldcasecrewwv.com) . We share newspaper clippings, maps, images of the areas pertaining to the case. We would love to hear from you and let us know what's YOUR theory. References:Books:“West Virginia Unsolved Murders” by George and Melody Bragg. Brutal Plum Orchard Murder Still Unsolved. Pages 70-73. 1992. “West Virginia Cold Case Homicides” by George Bragg. Death on Thurmond Mountain. Pages 85-86. 2007.Newspapers:The Raleigh RegisterThe Beckley Post HeraldBlogs:http://darkmatter69.blogspot.com/2019/10/can-you-help-solve-murder-of-patricia.htmlSpecial Thank Yous:Several Reliable Anonymous SourcesWest Virginia State PoliceBeckley PDCandor Creative Company Kevin Beatty Fancy NancyThe Perry SistersCompute One (for website help) Thank you to our Families Music:abyss by Rexlambo https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3ksUw0D Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/t_VIgXsAp9I Editing:Whitney Cappellari and Audacity Website:www.coldcasecrewwv.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/coldcasecrew)

Raleigh County collaborative kitchen supports food entrepreneurs and small businesses … experts offer tips on applying for a business loan … and WV born musician John Ellison continues to rack up honors.

A Raleigh County deputy is involved in an overnight shooting. A vigil in Charleston in memory of a teen victim of gun violence. Masking in schools continues to be a growing concern as Covid cases increase Governor Jim Justice has been slow to issue another mask mandate, but is ready to offer another vaccine incentive program. A West Virginia soldier who served in Afghanistan is sickened by what he's seeing there now. West Virginia firefighters head to Minnesota to help with forest fires. In sports, preparations continue for the Mountaineers and Thundering Herd ahead of the football season opener. Those stories and more in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

A gas leak is blamed for an overnight explosion in Raleigh County which damaged a building and sent one to the hospital. The National Guard needs a check from Washington soon to reimburse expenses from the January 6th response to the U.S. Capitol. The Purdue Pharma settlement may not be the benefit many believed it should have been for West Virginia. Attorneys in the landmark opioid case believe they've made a strong case as they prepare for closings. Former Huntington Mayor Jean Dean has died and with the pandemic on the wane, home improvement scams are on the rise this summer. In Sports, Herd That and Best Virginia win in the TBT with more games in Charleston today. Those stories and more in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

The skeletal remains of a young female were located off of a highway in Gregg County, Texas. Based on the condition of the remains, it is believed she had been deceased for at least two years prior to the date of recovery. She was between 17 and 25 years old, Caucasian, and had an un-repaired cleft palate. Ongoing genealogy work by the DNA Doe Project reveals she may have relatives in Raleigh County, #WestVirginia. Other areas of interest are Patrick County, #Virginia and Surry County, #NorthCarolina. Surnames of interest include Bowman, Niten/Knighton, Grey and Jessup. The two ways the public can help develop these efforts is by sharing this post across social media expanding the reach of this information; and as comfortable, anyone originally from the noted geographical areas could upload their DNA into GEDmatch or Family Tree DNA to increase the chances of identifying this female. Please contact the Gregg County Sheriff's Office at 903-236-8400 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST if you have any information that could help identify this female. Additional information: www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMU/1225447/1/screen --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindofanimmigrant/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mindofanimmigrant/support

The West Virginia Small Business Development Center names a new business navigator ... learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species … and a Raleigh County factory is named plant of the year – on today's daily304, listen here…

Messes Are A Part of Life If you've spent time with toddlers, you know that messes are a part of creativity and life. During the pandemic, many parents are juggling working from home while also watching after children -- which can sometimes lead to messes. Producer Roxy Todd sat down with author David Perri to discuss his book “Messy Larry,” a book about a larger-than-life bear named Larry who learns that it's okay to make messes and mistakes. Growing Up In The Mountains Author Cynthia Rylant has written more than 100 books since she began a professional career as an author -- from picture books, easy readers, chapter books, and even novels. She is the recipient of the Caldecott Honors for her book “When I Was Young in the Mountains.” Rylant was raised in West Virginia and spent time with her grandparents in Raleigh County, which inspired her beloved book. This week, we talked with Rylant and learned more about her childhood and heard her read an excerpt from “When I Was Young in the Mountains.” “The Princess And The Pea” With An Appalachian Twist Those familiar with Bil Lepp's storytelling style know he writes in a way best heard aloud. Lepp is a storyteller who has won the West Virginia Liars' Contest five times. This week on Inside Appalachia, we hear Lepp read his newest book “The Princess and the Pickup Truck.” The book is based on “The Princess and the Pea,” with Lepp's own personal twist on the classic tale.  Storytelling As A Connection To History Lyn Ford is a professional storyteller who grew up in Appalachian Pennsylvania and spent many summers in East Liverpool, Ohio. Many of Ford's stories are adapted from folktales she heard as a child. Ford identifies as Affrilachian, a term that combines African American and Appalachian identities. She said because history books don't often include African American history, she didn't begin learning about it until she found some of her aunt's books. In this week's show, we hear Ford telling one of her stories “The Old Woman and Death,” at the Timpanogos Storytelling Institute in Utah in 2016.

Raleigh County and Beckley join forces to recruit remote workers, the WVDNR upgrades its licensing and game check system, and WV State Parks offers a cabin discount to ATV riders on the new Cabwaylingo trail system – on today's daily304, listen here…

Decades after HIV was first discovered, there's still discrimination. In this week's episode of Inside Appalachia, we hear from several people here in Appalachia who are living with HIV.  Elena Eimes recalled being harassed at Walmart, after a customer learned she has HIV. “That hurt so bad. [I was] So embarrassed. And that woman really thought she was warning everybody,” Eimes said. “The biggest fear that someone with this infection has is doing it alone,” said Carl, who lives in Raleigh County, West Virginia. He said it's been a struggle telling friends and family he has HIV because of the stigma against people with the disease. We also look back at why a needle exchange program in Charleston, West Virginia, was shut down in 2018 amid public outcry. Three years later, the city is now at the center of the most alarming outbreak of HIV in the nation. 

West Virginia's Raleigh County, known for its scenic Appalachian landscapes, became the backdrop for a shocking crime. In 2019, Michael Cochran died suddenly, and his wife, Natalie Cochran, was later convicted of running a $2 million Ponzi scheme. The fraud, inspired by War Dogs, deceived friends and family, leading to her 2020 conviction for wire fraud...For Exclusive Insights and Behind-the-Scenes Content, Become a Patron!Unlock a world of exclusive content and insider access by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/HousewivesOfTrueCrime, or at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/housewives-of-true-crime.Dive deeper into the intriguing world of true crime with us!Show Your True Crime Passion with Our Exclusive Merchandise!Visit https://shop.housewivesoftruecrime.com/ to check out our unique collection and grab your favorites today!Discover the Ultimate in Beauty with 5Crimes Cosmetics!Elevate your skin and hair care routine with our exclusive line of 5Crimes products.Visit us at https://fivecrimes.com/ to explore our range and embrace the beauty revolution with 5Crimes.Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@housewivesoftruecrimeFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/housewivesoftruecrime/?hl=enFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@housewivesoftruecrime?lang=enJoin our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/669722783461628/Clink Clink

West Virginia's Raleigh County, known for its scenic Appalachian landscapes, became the backdrop for a shocking crime. In 2019, Michael Cochran died suddenly, and his wife, Natalie Cochran, was later convicted of running a $2 million Ponzi scheme. The fraud, inspired by War Dogs, deceived friends and family, leading to her 2020 conviction for wire fraud...For Exclusive Insights and Behind-the-Scenes Content, Become a Patron!Unlock a world of exclusive content and insider access by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/HousewivesOfTrueCrime, or at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/housewives-of-true-crime.Dive deeper into the intriguing world of true crime with us!Show Your True Crime Passion with Our Exclusive Merchandise!Visit https://shop.housewivesoftruecrime.com/ to check out our unique collection and grab your favorites today!Discover the Ultimate in Beauty with 5Crimes Cosmetics!Elevate your skin and hair care routine with our exclusive line of 5Crimes products.Visit us at https://fivecrimes.com/ to explore our range and embrace the beauty revolution with 5Crimes.Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@housewivesoftruecrimeFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/housewivesoftruecrime/?hl=enFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@housewivesoftruecrime?lang=enJoin our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/669722783461628/Clink Clink