Tag: Huntington

Rader Becomes First Professional Female WV Fire Chief

Jan Rader has become the first female professional firefighter to attain the rank of fire chief in West Virginia after being sworn in as Huntington fire chief Wednesday.Jan Rader - Huntington Fire Chief

The Herald-Dispatch reports Rader has served in the Huntington Fire Department for 22 years. She had been interim fire chief since December, upon her predecessor’s resignation.

While Rader becomes the first professional female fire chief, several women throughout the state serve as volunteer fire chiefs.

Rader thanked Huntington resident Mickey Watson for changing her life in her speech at the swearing-in ceremony. Watson says he credits Rader with saving his life when he overdosed and is the “perfect example” of a leader, even attending is ceremony marking one year of sobriety.

Rader’s salary will be $76,615.

Huntington Hires Female Fire Chief

Officials in Huntington say the city has hired what is believed to be the first female fire chief in West Virginia.

The City Council approved Jan Rader’s appointment Monday. She will earn nearly $77,000.

Rader is a 22-year veteran of the department. She was promoted to deputy fire chief in 2015 and became interim fire chief in December.

Huntington Mayor Steve Williams calls her appointment historic.

Rader says she’s “overwhelmed and humbled” by the support she’s received.

February 22, 1945: Justice Chambers Wounded on Iwo Jima

On February 22, 1945, Justice Chambers was wounded in action on Iwo Jima. For his heroic efforts, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Chambers was born in Huntington in 1908 and attended Marshall College (now University) but moved to Washington D.C. before graduating. He attended law school at night, earned his degree, and worked for several federal agencies.

Chambers enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves and was called to active duty in 1940. During World War II, he took part in some of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific. On Iwo Jima, on February 19, 1945, he led his battalion on an eight-hour assault into heavy Japanese fire and captured the high ground. After being wounded by enemy machine gun fire three days later, he was removed from combat.

Chambers retired from the military as a colonel in 1946 and later served in several federal positions. He died in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1982, at age 74.

A plaque at the Wayne County Courthouse honors Justice Chambers, and the U.S. Route 60 bridge connecting Cabell and Wayne counties is named for him.

Huntington Company Challenges Sewer Rate Increase

Steel of West Virginia is challenging a sewer rate hike by the city of Huntington, saying it lacks legally required public notice.

The Huntington-based supplier of structural steel wants an injunction in Cabell County Circuit Court to block a 57 percent rate increase over two years.

It was approved 7-3 Tuesday by the City Council.

The company says it would pay more than $3 million over 10 years.

Company Vice President John O’Connor tells the Huntington Herald-Dispatch a court hearing is set for Jan. 10.

Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, who chairs the Huntington Sanitary Board, says the increase is needed to cover rising insurance and sludge removal costs.

The suit cites planned capital improvements and says the city failed to provide adequate notice under the state code for construction projects.

Political Consultant Matthew Reese Dies: December 1, 1998

Legendary political consultant Matthew Reese died on December 1, 1998, at the age of 71. His political career started in 1948, when he helped Huntington’s Maurice “Bernie” Burnside get elected to Congress.

In 1959, he was contacted by John F. Kennedy’s campaign. Reese set up Kennedy’s West Virginia headquarters in the basement of the Kanawha Hotel in Charleston. He also campaigned around West Virginia with Kennedy’s brothers, Robert and Ted. JFK’s landmark victory in the state’s Democratic primary boosted his campaign by showing that a Catholic could win in a mostly Protestant state.

The victory also was a springboard for Reese, who went on to direct Lyndon Johnson’s national get-out-the-vote drive in 1964.

During his career, Reese worked on 450 campaigns, including ones for Tip O’Neil, John Glenn, Jay Rockefeller, and Nick Joe Rahall. After Reese’s death, the Washington Post described him as “a founder and godfather of the professional political consulting business.”

Prosecutors: Man Dealt Elephant Sedative in Overdose Case

An Ohio man was accused of distributing an elephant sedative to people, which, according to federal prosecutors, resulted in about two dozen overdoses in a West Virginia city.

On Monday, prosecutors charged 22-year-old Bruce Lamar Griggs of Akron, Ohio, with distributing carfentanil and fentanyl, local news organizations reported.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carfentanil is an elephant sedative that is 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Fentanyl is an opioid used as part of anesthesia to help prevent pain.

In September, the DEA issued a public warning about the health and safety risks of carfentanil.

“DEA, local law enforcement and first responders have recently seen the presence of carfentanil, which has been linked to a significant number of overdose deaths in various parts of the country,” the DEA’s release stated. “Improper handling of carfentanil, as well as fentanyl and other fentanyl-related compounds, has deadly consequences.”

Griggs was charged Aug. 26 with heroin distribution in connection with 27 overdoses that resulted in two deaths on Aug. 15 in Huntington, West Virginia.

Prosecutors also filed a motion for a guilty plea hearing on Monday. The date for the hearing has yet to be released.

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