Greenbrier County Story Archives - Page 2 of 11 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

State Of Emergency Declared For 6 Counties Under Flood Watch, W.Va. National Guard Deployed To Eastern Kentucky

A State of Emergency has been declared for counties in southern West Virginia. A flood watch will remain in effect through Friday.

After a week filled with floods and severe thunderstorms, Gov. Jim Justice today declared a State of Emergency for Fayette, Greenbrier, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties.

As part of the declaration, the West Virginia Emergency Management Division is mobilizing resources and personnel for emergency services.

The West Virginia Division of Highways reports that the flooding has mostly downed trees, damaged gravel roads, and caused embankment failures along the state’s roadways.

Although rain showers have dissipated, the National Weather Service anticipates 1.5 to 2 inches of rain Friday, with storms capable of producing more heavy rain. Tuesday’s Flood Watch will remain in effect through Friday evening.

Showers and isolated storms are moving toward the northern counties of West Virginia. Dry weather is expected Saturday, but on Sunday another cold front will bring showers and storms into next week.

Neighboring counties in Eastern Kentucky have suffered catastrophic flood damage where in Perry County alone, more than 30,000 residents are without power. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says at least three people have died.

Gov. Justice also announced the deployment of members of the West Virginia National Guard to support the Kentucky National Guard. Two UH-72 Lakota aircraft and UH-60M Blackhawks, along with 14 soldiers will assist in the efforts.

The State of Emergency will remain in effect for 30 days.

Popular Appalachian Heritage Series Spurs A Repeat

The first Appalachian Heritage Series was hosted at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. The workshops celebrating Appalachian heritage were so well received that the non-profit organization is already planning a repeat.

Workshops celebrating Appalachian heritage were so well received that a Greenbrier County non-profit organization is already planning a repeat for next year. The first Appalachian Heritage Series was hosted at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg.

The series included workshops meant to introduce a new generation to old traditions.

Nearly 150 students participated in 19 different classes as part of the first series. The workshops offered hands-on opportunities to learn about Appalachian arts and crafts. Spring 2022 sessions were offered during after-hours and on weekends so working people could attend.

The series also included demonstrations on topics including sausage making, woodturning, soap making, ballad singing, leather working, needle felting and basket weaving.

Students from eight West Virginia counties and five states attended classes.

Find more information about the 2022 workshops and how to apply to be a teacher next year on Carnegie Hall’s website.

ARC Supports Expansion of Recovery Programs in W.Va.

A new recovery program in Greenbrier County that gives women a place to live as they work through a recovery program received a $498,024 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

Seed Sower is a nonprofit that opened an 11 bed facility in Greenbrier County for women recovering from substance use disorder earlier this month. The program partners with Fruits of Labor, a restaurant and for-profit company providing job training and placement to people in recovery.

The ARC funds are part of the commission’s initiative to address substance use disorder called INSPIRE, short for INvestments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems.

The money is expected to support Seed Sower’s expansion in four communities across the state in the next two years.

Alderson’s Home and Business Decorating Contest Kicks Off With Annual Parade

Residents and business owners in the Greenbrier County town of Alderson can compete for eight different awards in the city’s annual Christmas Decorating Contest. It’s a friendly competition that’s been around for five years.

The Alderson Christmas Decorations judging committee hopes the competition will help the town feel more connected this holiday season. To enter, residents and businesses should have lights turned on and displays ready by 6 p.m. on Dec. 8.

The judges committee will then drive through the town to select winners for categories including best nativity, old-fashioned Christmas and best large and small businesses. Officials say more categories could be added at the committee’s discretion, even up to the day of judging.

Winners not only get bragging rights and recognition on Facebook but will also find a sign placed in their yards by Alderson Main Street, a non profit organization that sponsors the event.

Visitors are encouraged to get out to see the lights after dark from Dec. 3 to New Year’s Day. The Alderson’s Christmas Parade is set for Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. It’s also the day the lights on the Alderson Memorial Bridge will be turned on.

Country Roads Angel Network Invests in Meat Processing Plant

A Greenbrier County company plans to build a meat processing plant in White Sulphur Springs after being selected as the latest investment from the Country Roads Angel Network. (CRAN) It’s the first company located outside of Morgantown to be supported by the investor network.

CRAN plans to invest $100,000 in Mountain Steer Meat Co. Mountain Steer is the third business in the state to be supported by the network.

The first two selected were in Morgantown. Mountain Steer started during the pandemic. The company saw a need for more localized food in 2020 after meat processing plants shut down across the country. The owners hope to fill a void in the supply chain and improve food quality for consumers in the region.

Mountain Steer plans to build a new processing plant in West Virginia.

The company currently offers meats at Greenbrier County restaurants, farmer’s markets and a grocery store, according to the company website. Mountain Steer has hired one full-time and one part-time employee. The company hopes to hire a butcher and several more employees with this investment.

Mountain Steer Meat Co. was connected with CRAN as a client of the West Virginia Hive, a 12-county entrepreneurial support program of the New River Gorge Development Authority in southern West Virginia.

CRAN is made up of investors largely native to the Mountain State who now live in places across the country. According to a release, “members are dedicated to the betterment of West Virginia and hope their investments will generate various levels of positive impact.”

W. Va. Gov. Gives Up Fight For Second High School Basketball Coaching Job

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is giving up his fight to take on a second basketball coaching job in his home county.

In a letter dated Tuesday — shared with news media by Steve Ruby, an attorney representing the governor — Justice told the Greenbrier County Board of Education he was withdrawing his name from pursuing the position of coach of the Greenbrier East High School boys basketball team. Justice already coaches the girls team at the same high school.

‘The great State of West Virginia honored me with its highest honor when the people elected me twice as their governor. Other than GOD above and my family, I place my duties as governor above all else,” Justice wrote.

“And I have delivered for West Virginia and will continue delivering. I have not dropped any balls nor will I. Vacations and parties are not Jim Justice. All I do is work, and love my work, and love the people of West Virginia, especially the kids,” he added.

Throughout the two-page letter, Justice outlined his qualifications for the coaching position. He also noted that state law requires public entities hire the most qualified candidate for an open position.

“One would have to think that 20 years as head coach, 26 seasons (six boys, 20 girls), with all exemplary evaluations and incredible success should really speak volumes,” Justice wrote.

But Justice also hinted that his fight for the boys basketball coaching position had brought about criticism.

Supporters of the governor have spoken to the board in favor of him having the job, but players on the basketball team have said they want a coach fully dedicated to the position.

On Aug. 24, the Greenbrier County Board of Education voted 3-2 to reject the governor’s application for the second coaching gig. Justice then brought forth a public employee’s grievance, arguing he was the most qualified candidate to coach the boys’ team.

Now, Justice’s efforts to get the second coaching position are effectively over.

“I refuse to spend time fighting HATE. My Dad said over and over to me that you should never try to teach an elephant to sing — the elephant will never be able to do it and you’ll only frustrate yourself,” Justice wrote in the letter. “I don’t have time to be frustrated. We need to move forward. Pick a coach. The kids deserve that, and I wish them all the success.”

Last week, former state lawmaker Del. Isaac Sponaugle informed Justice of his plans to bring a lawsuit over where the governor was residing, noting Justice’s interest in the second coaching position.

A state constitutional mandate requires the governor and certain other elected state officials to “reside at the seat of government.”

After years of legal wranglings — which at one time put the case in front of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals — Sponaugle and Justice settled a previous suit on the matter in March 2021, after the governor agreed to live in Charleston.

It was unclear Tuesday evening whether Sponaugle would continue to pursue legal action over the governor’s residency in a renewed case.