Author: Shyla Parsons

Police Arrest Man After Python Escapes in Morgantown, W.Va.

Officials called off the search for a python that escaped last month in Morgantown. Morgantown police have arrested the snake’s owner. 

According to Morgantown police, the owner of the snake was arrested on June 26. Nineteen-year-old Shane Stevens, of Morgantown, was charged with allowing an animal to run at large. 

Police received a call about a 15-foot python escaping Steven’s truck on May 30. 

The owner exited the vehicle, allowing the snake to escape into the woods. It was last seen on a hillside near Listravia Avenue. 

The official search ended weeks later, and the snake has still not been found. 

Stevens has been released on a $100 bond. 

Police ask anybody encountering the snake to immediately call 911. 

Courtesy Patrol: New Sponsor Along W.Va. Turnpike

The West Virginia Parkways Authority announced that State Farm is sponsoring the Courtesy Patrol program along the 88-mile stretch from Charleston to Princeton.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice says in a news release that his goal is to have people from all over using the turnpike every day, making the well-being of these motorists a top priority. 

He says he is excited to work with State Farm to make the safety patrol program better and give peace of mind to those traveling through West Virginia. 

The free, state-run program has been renamed the WV Turnpike State Farm Safety Patrol. It helps stranded motorists with flat tires, minor engine problems and other issues.

It is expected to attend to more than 9,000 incidents annually. 

State Farm sponsors similar programs in 19 other states.

Local Foods Featured at State Park Dinners

A series of nine Farm-to-Table dinners are being planned at state parks across West Virginia. The series of events, planned between June 15 and September 12, is aimed to source more ingredients from local farmers.

Several state agencies and organizations are collaborating on the series, including the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources, and the West Virginia Farmers Market Association.

This is the second year the series of Farm to Table dinners will take place.

The dinners will take place at state park restaurants, putting locally grown foods and products on the menu from June to September.

Several of the events will have themes such as “Hoedown on the Hill” at the Chief Logan State Park and “Pickin-Pull” at the Pipestem park in an effort to teach people about their local foods.

Full list of Farm-to-Table events:

National Park Tourism Boosts S. W.Va. Economy

A National Park Service report released Sunday, details the economic benefits to Southern West Virginia last year. According to the report, tourism to the region’s national parks helped spur the economy by almost $70 million.

More than 1.3 million visitors explored the New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River and the Gauley River National Recreation Area in 2018.

Economic benefits from the tourism affected spending and jobs in the region, which includes Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh and Summers counties.

According to the National Park Service report more than $60 million was spent in these communities. Additionally, this spending helped support 847 jobs.

Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the New River Gorge National River, said for every $1 invested in the National Park Service $10 is returned through national park tourism.

“We are happy to be a part of helping to sustain so many local communities,” Watts said.

The report also cites lodging expenses as the largest portion of visitor spending, with food expenses being second.

National trends show that the majority of money created through national park tourism is spent within 60 miles of a park.

More information and interactive data can be found at the National Park Service website.

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