Saturday, April 30, 2011
EKB Capsule News..West Virginia....5-1-'11
- Jeffrey Allen Acord, 46, of Sandstone, who pleaded guilty to three counts of negligent homicide in connection with three drownings on the New River earlier this month will avoid jail time, but will have to pay a total of $1,080.42 in fines and court fees. On April 3rd, Accord was operating a jon boat headed upstream on the New River near Meadow Creek when the boat flipped after one of the four other passengers stood up. Acord and another man swam to shore safely, but the three other men drowned.
- Mary Bowles, 67, was arrested Thursday evening at a residence in the Hinton area of Summers County and charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Cathy Jo McCoy. McCoy's remains were found on Hix Mountain last month after she was last seen in Hinton in 2004.
- The special primary election for governor is scheduled for May 14th, but early voters began casting their ballots Friday. Early voting runs until May 11th.
- Charleston Police arrested 61 year old Charles Bumphas Friday after witnesses say Shaminique Prosper was crossing the street at Washington and Rebecca Streets on Charleston's West Side when she was struck by a car, knocked to the ground and run over by the tire. Witnesses tell police Bumphas stopped, got out of his car, and then got back in and took off. Prosper was taken to the hospital with a broken leg. Bumphas was taken to South Central Regional Jail on charges for failing to render aid to an injured person and driving on a revoked license. He was placed on a $5,000 cash-only bond.
- Late last week, Gary Belcher of Prichard was charged with fourth-offense cruelty to animals and violating an order that he was not to have dogs on his property for five years. Seven dogs were taken from his home. Nearly one year ago, 90 malnourished dogs, horses and mules were taken from his home.
- Cabell County and Steel of West Virginia plan to challenge Huntington's new 1 percent occupation tax. John O'Connor with Steel of West Virginia says the lawsuit will challenge the tax's constitutionality and the way it was approved through the state Home Rule Board. The new tax is part of a tax reform package adopted by Huntington City Council to replace its user fee.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:30 PM 
