Home

The Tri-County Fair board recently announced that country singer John Foster will be headlining the 2026 fair. Foster is a country singer and songwriter from Louisiana, known for his rich classic sound and honest songwriting. As the American Idol Season 23 runner-up, he’s quickly become one of country music’s most promising young voices - blending the heart of ‘80s and ‘90s country with a modern edge that stays true to tradition.

He has been mentored by some of music’s most respected artists and has performed on the Grand Ole Opry six times, earning praise for keeping traditional country alive and fresh. Grounded in his strong Christian faith and Louisiana roots, he’s paving his own path while honoring the legends who came before him. He’s also shared the bill with Opry greats like Carrie Underwood, Mark Willis, John Conlee and Bill Anderson. Off the Opry stage, Foster continues to tour the country, playing to growing crowds with many shows already selling out. Tickets go on sale in May.

Last week, Grant County offi cially become the fi fth county in West Virginia to offer a Safe Haven Baby Box, a system designed to offer a safe place for parents unable to care for their infants.

According to the Safe Haven manufacturers, the boxes are designed to be a secure option for mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns. Designed with innovative safety features and installed on the exterior walls of fi re stations and hospitals, each box ensures the safe and anonymous surrender of infants.

The exterior door locks automatically when a newborn is placed inside, and an interior door allows medical personnel to promptly and securely retrieve the baby, ensuring immediate care and protection.

Grant County’s baby box is located at the Grant County Ambulance Building in Petersburg and will alert a health care provider if used. The box in Petersburg is the fi fth box in West Virginia and the 440th of its kind in the United States. The closest baby boxes prior to this were in Roanoke, Va., and Morgantown.

A Petersburg man is facing charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted a home care worker in the presence of his elder family member.

The incident took place in September 2025 when offi cers received a call from the alleged victim’s employer about an incident that occurred while she had been working in a client’s home.

According to a report fi led in the Grant County Magistrate Court, the female victim told offi cers that Bruce Vandevander, 68, of 217 Clifftop Dr., Petersburg (Woodland Terrace), had touched her without her permission.