SBCTC students Riley Swick, Madison Whetzel, Kelby Rumer and Josh Monroe work on changing out the batteries and rewiring two action tracker tracked wheelchairs for Operation Heroes Support. The wheelchairs were received February 23 and must be completed by April 21.

South Branch Career and Technical Center students have been working on projects for the SkillsUSA competition.

The SBCTC chapter of SkillsUSA includes students from each vocational area of learning and are made up from three local high schools as well as adult learning students.

WV3RF winners (front) Junior Miss - Ava Woods, Junior Teen - Addison Miley, Little Miss - Kinsley Workman and (back) Teen - Molly Kuykendall and Queen - Alaissa Martinez-Toro.

The following titleholders were crowned West Virginia Three Rivers Festival royalty in Fairmont the first weekend in March:

Queen - Alaissa Martinez-Toro

Teen - Molly Kuykendall

Junior Teen - Addison Miley

Martinez-Toro is from Moorefield and is studying at West Virginia University, aiming to obtain a master’s degree in special education to advocate for social justice as a superintendent. She was crowned by Caylie Simmons, 2024 Miss West Virginia USA & 2024 Miss WV3RF Queen.

Kuykendall is a senior at Petersburg High School with plans to become a registered nurse in a critical care environment after specializing in nurse anesthesia. She was crowned by Sophia Smith, 2024 WV3RF Teen.

Miley is from Petersburg and shows livestock at the county fair, is a member of 4-H, a track runner and on the middle school golf team. She was also a photogenic winner.

Title holders will experience the excitement of reigning over the 46th annual West Virginia Three Rivers Festival, which takes place May 22 - 24 in Fairmont.

The winners in the teen and queen categories will go on to compete for Miss West Virginia USA, and Miss West Virginia Teen USA in June.

Additionally, Miley will advance to compete in the West Virginia’s state pageant in October.

A Petersburg man is facing second offense domestic battery charges after he allegedly spit at a female victim and began dragging her across the floor.

The charges stem from an incident on Feb 17, when officers received a call at 3:13 a.m. from a concerned landlord who said their tenants were involved in a physical altercation.

When police arrived at the scene, they spoke with the male suspect, identified as Jonathan Dispanet, who met police outside.

Dispanet told the officers that he wanted to tell them what had occurred during the altercation.

He told the officers that he and the female victim had been drinking, telling them that he had been drinking vodka.

During the course of the night, the two had began to argue.

Read more: Petersburg man facing second offense battery charge after landlord calls 911

The Grant County Commission has officially selected a contractor to move forward with the construction of the new emergency medical services (EMS) building that will be located in Mount Storm.

Engineer Kirk Wilson appeared before the commission late last month to officially present a recommendation for a contractor following his participation on an evaluation committee who examined the submitted proposals.

The evaluation team included commissioner Tyson Riggleman, county administrator Michelle Sites, county EMS director Jeffrey Teter, EMS assistant director Jeremy Hottinger and Wilson.

The group met on Feb. 14 to evaluate the two proposals that had been submitted by contractors for the building.

Cannon Contracting and Excavation and Mineral Fabrication Machine Company submitted proposals for the project, including total cost estimations and project scope.

During his presentation, Wilson broke down the system the group had used to evaluate the contractor proposals.

Read more: Contractor selected for new Mount Storm EMS building

Dogs were among the top of the topics discussed during the Feb. 25 meeting of the Grant County Commission.

Issues discussed involved loose dogs that are causing a problem in Highpoint Subdivision in Maysville as well as an ongoing effort in Hardy County to rescue and rehome dogs.

The first to address the commission were representatives from the Highpoint Homeowners Association, who attended the meeting to discuss an ongoing issue the community is having with loose dogs in the area.

Terry Kimble and Patricia Arnold explained that loose dogs in that area were going onto people’s properties, including porches, and defecating and causing damage.

The pair explained that one of the dogs has even bitten a child and attacked other dogs on their property.

“We have tried to address it,” they explained, “but there isn’t a whole lot we can do about it. We send out letters and try to let them know about leash laws but it has gotten to the point that we are telling people that they need to call the sheriff’s department or the dog catcher.”

Commission president Kevin Hagerty explained that the county does have a dog ordinance and did agree that the best course of action is to contact the non-emergency 911 office and the county dog catcher.

Kimble and Arnold explained that one of the dogs had been caught and an image of the dog was shared in an online community chat asking to whom the dog belonged. However, when no one in the community claimed the dog, they then contacted the county dog catcher. Following this, the person who owned the dog claimed it.

Read more: County discusses animal rescue efforts, issues surrounding loose dogs

WIC offers nutrition education and healthy foods to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum individuals, infants to age 1, and children to age 5.

Either parent or a designated guardian can bring a child to appointments. Call (304) 257-4936 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Grant County WIC, 23 Hospital Drive, Petersburg, is open Mondays and Thursdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The offi ce will be closed March 28 for quarterly staff training.

WIC is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

A Petersburg woman is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing a leased vehicle that she had borrowed from a friend.

Veronica Danielle Tingler, of 514 Franklin Pike, Petersburg, has been charged with grand larceny after the alleged victim reported his leased 2021 Ford Escape Sport ECO stolen to the West Virginia State Police.

According to the police report filed on the incident, the victim told officers that he and Tingler were friends and that she had been having trouble with her older vehicle.

To help her out, he offered to let her use his vehicle for a week in October 2024.

The victim told officers that they had originally agreed to let Tingler use the vehicle for the next week but he had explained to her that the SUV was a rental so he would need it back after that time.

The victim told officers that he had multiple conversations with Tingler about needing to return the vehicle, explaining that he would get in trouble with the rental company if the SUV was not returned soon.

Read more: Petersburg woman charged with grand larceny for stealing a rental vehicle she had borrowed from a...

Sydney Nazelrodt (BHB), Mark Wright (BHB), Jason Hicks (BHB), Charlie Maddy (President, BHB), Amy Dean (PHG), Mike Landis (Executive Director, PHG) (back), Steve Kitzmiller (PHG), Darlene Casto (PHG), Sue Alt (PHG and BHB), Heather Bergdoll (PHG), Angie Zirk (BHB), Teresa Ely (BHB), and Rachel Stark (BHB).

Last week, The Burke & Herbert Bank Foundation announced a $75,000 donation to Potomac Highlands Guild in support of their efforts to combat substance use disorder in the Potomac Highlands region.

According to a press release given by the foundation, this funding will specifically aid in the expansion of the CravAlert system, a patient monitoring tool designed to provide real- time support for vulnerable and high-risk individuals during critical mental and behavioral health transitions.

Substance use disorder is a persistent challenge in the Potomac Highlands region, affecting individuals, families, and the broader community. The CravAlert system, made possible through the efforts of the Potomac Highlands Guild represents a transformative step in addiction recovery—harnessing wearable technology, real-time data monitoring, and peer recovery coaching to help prevent relapse and save lives.

“Recovery isn’t just about treatment; it’s about sustained support, timely intervention, and giving people the tools they need to succeed,” said Charlie.

Maddy, President of Burke & Herbert Bank, “CravAlert is a game-changer because it allows for proactive care, not just reactive responses. We are honored to support Potomac Highlands Guild in this effort to empower individuals on their recovery journey.”

For years, Potomac Highlands Guild has been a leader in providing mental health and addiction recovery services, offering hope to individuals and families across the region. Their work is critical, and this partnership aims to expand their reach and effectiveness in addressing the growing need for comprehensive substance abuse and recovery support. “Potomac Highlands Guild is a pillar in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, specifically in Hardy, Grant, Pendleton, Hampshire, and Mineral counties offering essential health and recovery services, and we are proud to stand alongside them in this mission,” said Maddy.

“I would like to thank Burke and Herbert Bank with providing us a grant that will help us continue our project and for a lasting partnership in helping the communities we serve,” said Mike Landis, Executive Director of Potomac Highlands Guild.