Tag: Benwood

School Shut Down By Fire to Move

A grade school displaced by a massive church fire in Benwood will permanently move to Moundsville and receive a new name.

The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register reports Saints James & John School has operated at the former St. Francis Xavier Grade School building in Moundsville since a March 30 fire destroyed the adjoining St. John Catholic Church.

The school’s new name will be All Saints Catholic School and it will reopen at the former Xavier school next fall.

According to the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, the poor condition of the school building’s exterior components, in addition to the fire damage, factored into the diocese’s decision not to reopen the school in Benwood.

Diocese spokesman Bryan Minor says the school will continue to teach 80 students in preschool through eighth grades.

Cause of Fire to Benwood Church Undetermined

A state investigator says the cause of a fire that destroyed a church in Benwood can’t be determined.

Assistant state fire marshal Jason Maltic tells media outlets that the fire began in the right corner of the rear of the roof area. But the cause can’t be determined because of the extent of damage.

The fire occurred Monday at St. John Catholic Church. An adjacent school sustained smoke and water damage.

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston spokesman Bryan Minor says the diocese is awaiting the results of an engineering report before deciding what to do with the property.

Fire Destroys 140-year-old Catholic Church

 Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a 140-year-old church Catholic church in Benwood.

The fire occurred just before 9 p.m. Monday at St. John Catholic Church. No injuries were reported.

Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell says a school attached to the church sustained minimal damage.

The Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, says he was saddened by news of the fire.

The church was built in 1875.

Murray Energy Expanding Coal Prep Plant in Benwood

Murray Energy is expanding its coal preparation plant in Benwood.

Construction of a new coal processing facility is underway at the Ohio County Coal Co. prep plant.

Murray spokesman Gary Broadbent tells The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register that the $45 million project will increase the plant’s coal processing capacity by 38 percent.

The project is expected to be completed by late spring.

The prep plant employs 66 workers. Ohio County Coal’s Ohio County Mine employs 733 workers.

Benwood Councilman Left Off Ballot Declared Winner

  A Benwood councilman whose name was left off the ballot has won his re-election bid.

The City Council unanimously voted Monday to declare Curtis Mele the winner in the May 13 municipal election.

Mele had contested the election after another councilman was mistakenly listed as the candidate in his district. He was unopposed in his bid for a third term.

Mele says he’s happy to put the matter behind him.

Unopposed Benwood Councilman Left Off Ballot

 A Benwood City Council member didn’t have any opponents in this month’s election. But his re-election is in doubt after his name was mistakenly left off the ballot.

Curtis Mele is one of four council members who were unopposed in the May 13 election.

The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register reports that the ballot mistakenly listed Councilman Chuck Terry as the candidate in Mele’s district. Mele’s name didn’t appear on the ballot.

Mayor Ed Kuca says City Attorney Eric Gordon has sought advice from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office on how the city should proceed.

Secretary of State’s Office spokesman Jake Glance says the election results have been certified. He says a court likely would decide the matter.

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