The Petersburg Hike and Bike Trail is one step closer to being fully funded following an announcement from Gov. Jim Justice’s office awarding the project $617,542. These funds will fund the third phase of the project. This phase will construct approximately 1,267 feet of paved trail along the levee system from Main Street to the Grant County Airport.

Grant County’s award was announced among 35 other grant awardees, totaling $13.9 million through the Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program, funded by federal and local contributions.

Administered by the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH), this program supports towns, cities, and counties in developing and enhancing sidewalks, lighting, walking paths, rail trails, and more.

Transportation Alternative grant applications were evaluated by a committee of WVDOH representatives, while the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants were reviewed by the RTP Advisory Board. This board includes representatives from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, West Virginia Department of Tourism, local businesses, city and convention bureaus, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Read more: Petersburg Hike and Bike Trail receives $617,542 in grant funds for Phase III

 The Grant County Commission received an overall positive report from Cerrone Associates, the company performing a health check on the county’s water systems. However, the report did show several areas for improvement.

According to Dominick Cerrone, the study focused on Mountain Top Public Service District (PSD) and the Grant County PSD.

For the MTPSD, the company noted a low fire flow in select areas around Route 42.

This impacts the county’s ability to install fire hydrants in that area. However, markers for operating pressure, station run times and tank levels were all in healthy ranges.

Read more: County hears water “health check” update

 The Grant County Office of Emergency Management and 911 is looking to take a leap forward in technology in the near future as they discuss moving to the NextGen 911 company and system.

“We have been looking at this company for a couple of years now,” said Peggy Alt, the Grant County Office of Emergency Management and 911. “We have been watching what has been going on in the state and I think it is time we make our move.”

The new system will update the way callers can contact 911, including being able to send photos and videos.

“A large majority, and really West Virginia and the world, are still operating on a 40-plus-year old, copper wire-line, camera trunks, old telephone system to deliver 911 calls to the 911 center. But as we all know, we carry around these little computers in our pockets at all times now,” explained Priscilla Sarabia, a NextGen representative. “And when an emergency happens, there is so much information that is trying to get delivered to our 911 centers but it cannot all be recieved because we are operating on outdated technology.”

Read more: Grant County 911 discusses major system tech upgrade (Will be able to text, call, video chat and...

Grant County voters made statewide waves at the voter polls last Tuesday, with over 73% of the county’s registered voters casting their ballots. Overall, the county had the highest voter turn-out of any county in the state. In total, 5,592 Grant County citizens cast their votes in the election. 

Turnout started historically high during this election’s early voting. In total, 2,335 citizens cast their ballots during the early voting period with another 149 submitting their vote via absentee ballot. 

County Clerk Lora Bennett issued a thank you on Nov. 6, commending the poll workers and county employees who helped to ensure the election went off both securely and professionally. 

Read more: Grant County boasts highest voter turnout in West Virginia (Fire levy fails by just 1% after...

The Grant County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting on Halloween to welcome Grant County’s newest business - Potomac Valley Nails. 

The locally owned business opened their doors last month, and offer everything from manicures and pedicures to permanent jewelry, candles, wax melts, lotions and beard care. 

The business, owned by Circleville native Kaitlyn Lantz, brings together Lantz’s skill as an artist and her love of nails. 

“All my art I do on nails is hand-drawn,” Lantz explained. “I do not use stamps or stickers.”

Read more: Grant County Chamber of Commerce welcomes new business to Petersburg

Last week, a man who was injured while deer hunting was rescued from a remote part of Grant County by helicopter and transported to the hospital for treatment. 

The incident occurred last Tuesday, when rescue units from the Maryland State Police (MSP) responded to a call concerning a hunter who was injured after falling out a tree stand. 

MSP said that units in Grant County responded to a “remote area on a mountain for an injured hunter who fell from a tree stand” around 7 a.m.

Local rescue crews requested that MSP’s Aviation Command assist with an aerial hoist rescue.

Read more: Maryland police perform aerial rescue in County

 The Petersburg City Council confirmed last week that this year’s Trick-or-Treat event will be held on Halloween night (Oct. 31) starting at 6 p.m.

The council asked that anyone interested in participating leave their porch lights on to let trick-or-treaters and their families know which households will be giving out sweets this year.

The announcement came during the council’s regularly scheduled Oct. 7 meeting.

Read more: Petersburg announces Trick-or- Treat date (Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.)

 Grant County’s former ambulance director has filed a lawsuit claiming he was removed from the position due to whistle-blower retaliation and discrimination following an incident in which an ambulance driver illegally pulled a concealed firearm and physically punched a suspect during a domestic violence incident.

Robert Funk worked as the county’s Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) since August 2017 until February 2024 when he was removed from the position.

In the first section of his complaint, which was filed last month in the Grant County Circuit Court, Funk described an incident in 2020-21 when Grant County Ambulance was contacted by Grant Memorial Hospital and requested a mental hygiene patient be transported out of the county. After the transport, Funk contacted the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services and was advised not to transport mental hygiene patients in the future.

Read more: Former ambulance director files suit against the county, claims retaliation (Issue surrounding a...