Saturday, May 14, 2011
EKB Capsule News...West Virginia...5-15-'11
- Ballots were cast from 6:30 A.M.- 7:30 P.M. Saturday in the special gubernatorial primary after those still standing in line were given the opportunity to vote. Voters chose from a field of 14 candidates, including six Democrats and eight Republicans. With just about 50 percent of the precincts in, Senator Manchin released a statement shortly after 9:00 P.M. congratulating Acting Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin on a win. The Democratic Party issued a statement just before 9:00 P.M. House Speaker Rick Tompson, (D-Wayne), stayed close behind Tomblin for most of the night. Former Secretary of State Betty Ireland delivered a concession speech congratulating Morgantown businessman Bill Maloney for winning the Republic nomination. Tomblin, Maloney and Mountain Party candidate Bob Henry Baber will face off in a special election on October 4th to see who will serve the remaining term of former Governor Joe Manchin who won the special Senate race last year to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd.
- Joseph Gibson, 19, of Charleston is set to testify against his friend, 18 year old Shane Peck, when Peck's trial begins Monday. Gibson has pleaded guilty to breaking into a home in Big Chimney and tying her up, but he claims Peck was responsible for severely beating 79 year old Geraldine Gibson. Gibson says he acted as a lookout while Peck wrestled with Geraldine Gibson. Joseph Gibson says he and Peck went to the victim's home after they heard she had morphine. After tying the victim up, Gibson said Peck demanded to know where her safe was, but Geraldine Gibson said the safe belonged to someone else, and she didn't know where to find the key. Gibson faces up to 17 years in prison when sentenced July 7th. Joseph Gibson and Geraldine Gibson are not related.
- Randy Allen Estep, a man accused of stealing more than 400 pounds of cables from Frontier Communications and causing a phone outage in Coalburg last September, has been indicted on felony charges of transferring stolen property and damage or destruction of public utility property.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:27 PM 
