Cathy Justice Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Justice Seeks $1 Billion In Damages From Lender To His Companies

Justice and his wife and son are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Carter Bank & Trust, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Gov. Jim Justice and several of his companies, including the Greenbrier Resort, have sued a Virginia bank that’s one of their biggest lenders.

Justice and his wife and son are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Carter Bank & Trust, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

The Justices seek damages of $1 billion from Carter. The suit alleges that the bank engaged in a predatory scheme to prevent Justice’s companies from doing business with other banks.

It also alleges that Carter made the loans to Justice impossible to repay and that the interest on those loans were the bank’s biggest source of profit.

“Because of Carter’s significant control over their businesses,” the complaint states, “Plaintiffs have had little choice but to endure Carter’s oppression until they can escape it by paying off their loans.”

The suit says the relationship between the Justice companies and Carter fell apart after the 2017 death of the bank’s founder, Worth Carter.

By then, Justice had a portfolio of $740 million in loans with Carter to his coal, agriculture and hospitality businesses.

17 Therapy Dogs Now In W.Va. Schools Through ‘Friends With Paws’

Skye is the seventeenth therapy dog to be placed in West Virginia’s public schools through Friends with Paws. The program began in April 2022 with the first placement at Welch Elementary.

A school in the Eastern Panhandle is the latest recipient of a therapy dog through the Communities In Schools: Friends With Paws program.

Berkeley Springs High School in Morgan County received its very own therapy dog this week named Skye. First Lady Cathy Justice made the announcement in a press release Wednesday.

“I am very happy that we were able to place Skye in beautiful Berkeley Springs,” she said in the release. “I think this will be a great home for her, and I can’t wait to hear about all the ways that Skye’s presence will make a positive impact on students’ lives. This is a day of celebration!”

Skye is the seventeenth therapy dog to be placed in West Virginia’s public schools through Friends With Paws. The program began in April 2022 with the first placement at Welch Elementary.

The therapy dog program, according to the governor’s office, was launched as a way to alleviate some of the social-emotional effects of poverty, addiction and other at-risk situations in the state’s Communities In Schools (CIS) counties.

Gov. Jim Justice also noted at the time of launch that the program would help to combat the emotional effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Therapy dogs, according to the National Institutes of Health, provide a benefit in the classroom by increasing a positive mood and providing anti-stress effects on the body.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) last year produced a documentary on the Friends With Paws therapy dog project under the same name. It can be viewed for free on WVPB’s YouTube channel or through PBS Passport.

“Berkeley Springs High School is very thankful for this opportunity through the Friends With Paws program. We are extremely excited to have Skye with us to support and comfort our students,” Principal Mitch Nida said.

Friends With Paws is a partnership between the governor’s office, West Virginia Communities In Schools, and the West Virginia Department of Education.

Fifty-three of the state’s 55 counties are part of CIS.

Communities In Schools Program Expands To 53 Counties

Fifteen counties have joined the West Virginia Communities In Schools (CIS) program bringing the total to 53 counties covered.

That also brings in an additional 48 schools in Barbour, Boone, Cabell, Doddridge, Hancock, Jefferson, Marion, Mason, Mineral, Monongalia, Ohio, Pocahontas, Putnam, Roane, Tucker, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt, and Wood counties according to Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice. They announced the additions at Monday’s press briefing.

“Reaching thousands of more students with critical needs in West Virginia is so important,” Cathy Justice said. “It is what we need to do to ensure that they are on the right path to a successful future. Getting them to high school graduation and a plan for success beyond, is the best thing that we can do for them. The earlier we start, the better.”

The Justices started their CIS statewide initiative in three counties in 2018. Including today’s newly announced additions, the program serves more than 100,000 students in 260 schools across the state.

“Communities In Schools has had a life-changing impact on thousands of students in our state,” State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt said. “The relationships between site coordinators, schools, students, and families are at the core of this success. These students need support and structures that help them recover from setbacks and regain the confidence to believe they can do great things. Communities In Schools is essential to opening options and pathways for those needing hope and a vision for their future.”

“I can tell you without any question whatsoever that this program is working,” Gov. Justice said. “There are so many heartbreaking stories, from kids living in bad situations to just being hungry. There is a lot of bad stuff out there, but this program is fixing those problems. Communities In Schools is getting children on a pathway to do some amazing stuff and reach their full potential. I am so proud to be part of this program. It is unbelievable.”

CIS forges community partnerships and brings resources into schools to help remove barriers to student learning with a goal of keeping all students in school and ultimately graduating.

The new CIS counties/schools announced today are:

Barbour County

Kasson Elementary/Middle School
Philippi Middle School
Philip Barbour High School

Boone County

Madison Elementary School
Van Elementary School
Sherman High School

Doddridge County

Doddridge County Elementary School
Doddridge County Middle School
Doddridge County High School

Hancock County

Weirton Elementary School
Weir Middle School
Weir High School

Jefferson County

T.A. Lowery Elementary School
Wildwood Middle School
Jefferson High School

Marion County

Watson Elementary School
West Fairmont Middle School
Fairmont Senior High School

Mason County

Point Pleasant Primary
Leon Elementary School
Point Pleasant Intermediate
Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School

Mineral County

Keyser Primary School
Keyser Middle School
Keyser High School

Monongalia County

Skyview Elementary School
Westwood Middle School
University High School

Putnam County

Buffalo Elementary School

Roane County

Spencer Elementary School
Spencer Middle School
Roane County High School

Tucker County

Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School
Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School
Tucker County High School

Wetzel County

New Martinsville School
Paden City Elementary School
Paden City High School
Magnolia High School

Wirt County

Wirt County High School

Wood County

Jefferson Elementary Center
Van Devender Middle School
Parkersburg High School

New schools in counties already participating are:

Cabell County

Highlawn Elementary School
Huntington Middle School

Ohio County

Elm Grove Elementary School

Pocahontas County

Marlinton Elementary School

Tyler County

Tyler Consolidated Middle School

WV Day Celebrations Kick Off At Culture Center

West Virginia became a state 160 years ago on June 20, 1863 in the midst of the Civil War. West Virginians participate in activities around the state to commemorate the day.

West Virginia became a state 160 years ago on June 20, 1863 in the midst of the Civil War. West Virginians participate in activities around the state to commemorate the day.

Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice kicked off the celebration at the West Virginia Culture Center along with Arts, Culture and History Curator Randall Reid-Smith and other dignitaries. The celebration included a performance of one of West Virginia’s four state song “The West Virginia Hills” as sung by the students participating in the Ambassadors Camp.

Gov. Justice read a quote from President John F. Kennedy from when he visited the state for the 100^th anniversary in 1963. He read: “It (West Virginia) has known sunshine and rain in 100 years, but I know of no state—and I know this state well—whose people feel more strongly, who have a greater sense of pride in themselves, their state and their country, than the people of West Virginia.”

Cathy Justice was honored for her work with education in the state by being made an honorary knight of the Golden Horseshoe.

Cathy Justice also announced the winner of the West Virginia Birthday Punch Contest. The contest invited West Virginians to submit an original (non-alcoholic) punch recipe, with the winning recipe being served at the celebration.

The official birthday cake of West Virginia, “Ms. Van’s Blackberry Skillet Cake” by Kim Wymer of Scott Depot which was awarded at last year’s birthday celebration was served at the reception.

The day also featured a Golden Horseshoe Reunion, open to all former recipients of the Golden Horseshoe Award in recognition of their knowledge of West Virginia history.

Easter Celebration Set For Saturday At State Capitol Complex

The Governor and First Lady will host the annual 2023 Bunny Brunch and Easter Celebration Saturday, April 8.

The event, put on by Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice, is free and open to the public.

Activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Virginia Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston.

There will be food, bicycle giveaways and other activities, including a Golden Easter Egg Hunt with prizes awarded on the grounds of the Capitol.

A petting zoo, which the First Lady said was a big hit last year, will also be making a return.

There will also be a princess storytelling, prizes, crafts and an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

W.Va. Students Invited To Enter Ornament Competition

West Virginia students in kindergarten through 12th grade may enter the First Lady Student Ornament Competition this fall.

First lady Cathy Justice is asking all students to participate in the 18th annual event. It is open to students in public and private schools as well as those who are home-schooled.

Students are asked to create a “Nutcracker”-themed ornament for a tree to be displayed at the Culture Center in Charleston during the holidays, according to a news release from Gov. Jim Justice’s office.

There will be four divisions according to grade, and a winning class will be chosen from each division. The winning ornaments will be donated in January to the West Virginia State Museum. The four winning classes will receive a gift card to help buy supplies for their class.

The ornaments and Christmas tree will be unveiled in early December in conjunction with Joyful Night.

Entries may be mailed to Elizabeth Yeager, Department of Arts, Culture and History, The Culture Center, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, WV 25305. Include phone number, email, mailing address, teacher name, school and class.

The ornaments must be received by Nov. 18.