Drought affects farms across the region
Farmers report ongoing drought conditions with springs and wells running low. Witt notes some wells dried last year but this year water supplies are moderate and tobacco crops benefit from balanced rainfall. Groundwater remains a concern as rainfall totals stay uneven and river flows decline. Regional indices show moderate drought across the Southeast, including Southwest Virginia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Witt
Harris
Mike Harris
Virginia Tech
Tazewell
Palmer
University of Virginia
U.S
Virginia
Youths paint town yellow in Mercer County program
Summer Youth Work Program in Summers and Mercer counties hires 125 youths aged 14 to 21 for projects at Glenwood Park Spanishburg Fairgrounds and Mercer County Airport. Crews paint curbs in Princeton under supervisor Josh Caldwell as part of classroom and work training aimed at building employability and self esteem.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Summers County
Keaton
Mercer County
Josh Caldwell
Center Street
Princeton
Caldwell
J.T. Thomas
Thomas
Princeton Middle School
Drema Shireman
Bluefield
Mike Goins
Tempy Bennett
Susan Hudson
Pat Murray
Hudson
Department of Parks and Recreation
Bowen Field
Fire Department
Feds propose mine dust rule changes to boost sampling
An advisory committee backed tougher dust control reviews by MSHA. Six full-shift samples will replace eight-hour sampling, with area-specific analysis and miner observers allowed. UMWA reacts cautiously while Main McAteer notes five-year development. Public comment runs to August 24 before finalization.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Q Msha
United Mine Workers
Joe Main
Clinton
Main
McAteer
Millionaire convicted in ex-wife murder for hire scheme
Texas millionaire Allen Blackthorne was found guilty of interstate conspiracy to commit murder for hire in the slaying of Sheila Bellush, whose body was discovered in Sarasota in 1997 as her quadruplets crawled nearby. The verdict follows the guilty plea of hit man Jose Del Toro Jr. in Florida. Blackthorne faces life without parole.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Antonio
Texas
Allen Blackthorne
Sheila Bellush
Florida
Jose Luis del Toro Jr
Bellush
Sarasota
Fla
Blackthorne
Mar
Shals
Gene Smith
Richard Lubin
Vancouver, Wash
International Rehabilitative Sciences
RS Medical
del Toro
Sammy Gonzales
Daniel Rocha
Gonzales
Jamie Bellush
Mr. del Toro
Teachers Voice Concerns On Merit Pay In West Virginia
Teachers from Bluefield Summers County Mountain View Talcott Mabscott and Crescent Elementary express worries about merit pay. They fear favoritism narrow testing focus and politicized results while noting varied student backgrounds and the need for fairness and research before adoption.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frances Cromer
Bluefield Intermediate
Europe
Colorado
Summers County
Tom Hutchison
Hutchison
Mountain View
Bob Pomphrey
Pomphrey
Talcott
Karla Tabor
Tabor
McKinney
Drexel Sammons
Crescent Elementary
Raleigh County
Also Mentioned on This Page
A-1
Feds
Ohle
Ougla
Brick Street
Tammy McKinney
Mabscott Elementary
Ula
Country Power Equipment & Buck Store
Mercer Street
Lal &Renders Salon & LT
Old Bluefield Road
Fai
Tye
Yamaha
Portin Ince
Wvms
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!