Tag: Martinsburg

WVU Medicine Offering Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing

West Virginia University Medicine on Wednesday opened drive-thru coronavirus testing sites for pre-screened patients.

The sites will be in Morgantown, Parkersburg, Bridgeport, Wheeling, and Martinsburg, according to a WVU Medicine news release. They will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week.

Patients need a referral from a physician in order to have a sample collected at one of the sites to “ensure only the highest-risk patients are identified and receive the appropriate medical intervention,” the release said. Results will be ready in about three to four days.

Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday announced West Virginia had its first person test positive for the virus. He said the person was in the state’s Eastern Panhandle but did not require hospitalization. All 50 U.S. states now have confirmed cases.

Justice had warned that it was only a matter of time before a confirmed case would be documented in the state. He and state health officials have repeatedly expressed frustration over limited testing nationwide.

He has ordered bars, restaurants and casinos in the state to close with the exception of carry-out food services. Schools statewide are closed until at least March 27, under an earlier order from Justice. A state of emergency is in effect for all of West Virginia.

State officials say that, as of Wednesday, 137 people have been tested for the virus, with 122 negatives, 14 tests pending and one positive.

Both Justice and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin have noted the virus could be especially damaging in West Virginia because of the state’s elderly population and high percentage of people with existing health problems. About 20% of West Virginia residents are age 65 and older.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority recover in several weeks. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe illness, including pneumonia.

VEXIT: Gov. Justice Taps Jerry Falwell, Jr. To Call On Va. Counties To Join W.Va.

With the help of the son of a famous televangelist, Gov. Jim Justice plugged a proposal for counties in Virginia to join West Virginia. The pitch for secession is part of an ongoing effort in the West Virginia Legislature now dubbed “Vexit.”

Jerry Falwell, Jr. is a lawyer, Baptist, president of Liberty University and the son of televangelist Jerry Fallwell, Sr. He joined Gov. Jim Justice in Martinsburg Tuesday to announce their shared support of counties leaving Virginia for West Virginia. The two touted Gov. Justice’s ties to President Trump.

Falwell pointed to Virginia’s Gov. Ralph Northham and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly proposing gun control legislation as a reason for these invitations to be taken seriously. 

“While there will likely be a robust debate about how cities and counties could leave their home state of Virginia, one thing is absolutely certain,” Falwell said. “Many counties are taking a long hard look at escaping the barbaric, totalitarian and corrupt democratic regime in Richmond that is trampling on individual rights throughout the state.

Gov. Justice echoed Falwell’s sentiments. 

“If you’re out there, no matter where you may be, Virginia, or wherever you may be as an individual or as a business or whatever,” Justice said, “West Virginia is waiting for you with open arms.”

The West Virginia Senate adopted a resolution that invites Frederick County, Virginia to join the Mountain State. Frederick County officials have said they are not interested in becoming a part of West Virginia. A proposal in the House of Delegates would open that invitation to additional counties in Virginia. 

The Virginia General Assembly would have to approve counties that voted to leave the state, and Falwell mentioned Congress may need to become involved — similar to West Virginia’s secession from Virginia in 1863. 

Gov. Justice acknowledged that would be a longshot and the process leaves many unknowns. 

“We don’t know all the intricacies that are going on, and we surely don’t know whether or not this can run across the finish line,” Justice said. “And we all know there may be difficulties in making it run across the finish line. However, we all know this: if there’s people or there’s businesses or there’s counties that are discontent, we want the world to know just how welcoming West Virginia is. And so that’s our role.”

Clorox Plans New Manufacturing Facility In West Virginia

The Clorox Company says it plans to build a new manufacturing facility that would employ 100 workers in West Virginia.

Company officials told The Journal that they took the first step in the process of locating to the area by filing draft plans with the Berkeley County planning commission. Plans call for the plant to be located in the Tabler Station Business Park.

“We’ve been excited about everything we’ve seen in West Virginia,” said Michael Holly, Clorox vice president of product supply.

It would be the third Clorox manufacturing plant in the state.

Holly said the Berkeley County site offered existing infrastructure, easy access to Interstate 81, access to a “great, skilled and capable workforce” and rail access.

The plant is expected to be operational by 2022 and hiring could begin next year, said Eric Fetterman, Clorox project manager for the Tabler Station facility.

State officials praised the announcement.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am that Clorox is exploring this expansion opportunity in West Virginia,” Gov. Jim Justice said.

“We’ve seen time and time again that commitments like these enhance the local economy and further develop our workforce,” Secretary of Commerce Ed Gaunch said.

UPDATE: Eastern Panhandle Christmas Incidents

Two incidents in the Eastern Panhandle that occurred over the Christmas holiday have seen some resolution.

On Dec. 21, a train derailed in Harpers Ferry damaging a footbridge that is part of the Appalachian Trail. No injuries were reported. The footbridge remains closed, according to the National Park Service. But all areas that were temporarily closed due to the derailment, such as John Brown’s Fort, have now reopened.

On Dec. 23, residents and businesses were evacuated within a half-mile radius of downtown Martinsburg because of a chemical mix up near a sewage treatment plant. Sodium hydrochloride and ferric chloride mixed during a tanker offload, according to Berkeley County officials.

 

Emissions from the incident were said to cause “mild respiratory irritation” without delayed or long-term effects.

 

The evacuation was lifted Christmas Eve, according to the Berkeley County Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

December 25, 1937: Statesman Newton Baker Dies at 66 in Cleveland

Statesman Newton Baker died in Cleveland on Christmas Day 1937 at age 66. The Martinsburg native earned a law degree in 1894 and practiced law briefly in his home town. In 1896, he became private secretary to U.S. Postmaster General William L. Wilson, a native of Charles Town and former president of West Virginia University. After a year in Washington, Baker resumed his Martinsburg law practice before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as city solicitor and mayor. 

In 1916, he was appointed secretary of war by President Woodrow Wilson. Baker oversaw U.S. military involvement in World War I. While General John J. Pershing dealt with military decisions, Baker built up a massive army and acquired essential supplies. He also brought the industry of war to West Virginia, including the Naval Ordnance Plant in South Charleston and a large munitions factory in Nitro. World War I ended before either facility had been completed. 

After leaving office in 1921, Newton Baker returned to Cleveland, where he practiced law and served on various boards. He also worked in the administrations of Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover.

Evacuation Lifted In Martinsburg 24 Hours After Accidental Chemical Mixture

Updated on Jan. 2, 2019 at 1:40 p.m.

The evacuation for the .5 mile radius surrounding the Sewage Treatment Plant at 500 E. John St. was lifted on Dec. 24, 2019.

All streets were reopened and residents were free to return to their homes, according to the Berkeley County Homeland Security and Emergnecy Management.

In a statement from the agency, residents were encouraged to open doors and windows to allow air flow and the dissipation of odors.

Fire and police units were stationed in various neighborhoods to assist residents.

Original Post:

An area surrounding a wastewater treatment plant in West Virginia was evacuated Monday in response to an accidental mixture of chemicals, police said.

A one-half-mile radius in Martinsburg was evacuated after the chemicals mixed during a tanker offload, Berkeley County Public Safety said on Twitter.

Two people who were at the scene were taken to a hospital, said Lora Lipscomb, public information officer for West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, but she was not sure whether they were injured or taken as a precaution.

A school set up as a shelter had 153 people early Monday afternoon, she said.

Officials went door-to-door and wore gas masks as they notified homes and businesses of the evacuation, news outlets reported.

Gov. Jim Justice ordered West Virginia’s State Emergency Operations Center to partial activation in response. State and local services responded as well as units from several Maryland locations.

Authorities were investigating the chemicals’ effects, Lipscomb said.

Emissions from the plant should cause only “mild respiratory irritation” without delayed or long-term effects, Berkeley County Public Safety said. Anyone with nausea and vomiting was advised to seek immediate medical attention.

The agency was monitoring the gas and sent a chemical release response team to neutralize it.

“The evacuation will be in place until further analysis can be completed to confirm the dispersal of the chemical, and that the area is safe to enter,” the agency said.

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