Friday, May 27, 2011
EKB Capsule News...West Virginia...5-28-'11
- Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has ordered all U.S. and West Virginia flags lowered to half-staff for Memorial Day. Tomblin says flags are to be lowered from dawn through noon Monday. Tomblin calls Memorial Day one of the country's most important holidays and said West Virginians should display flags at half-staff at their homes as well. The acting governor says residents should pray for permanent peace at 11:00 A.M. Monday and observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 P.M.
- West Virginia State Police are increasing patrols for the Memorial Day weekend to keep impaired drivers off the roads. The agency said Friday that it plans nearly 90 additional DUI patrols across the state during the weekend, along with DUI checkpoints in Kanawha and Monongalia counties. State Police Superintendent Col. Jay Smithers says troopers also will be looking for aggressive and reckless drivers.
- After months of investigation, Beckley Police arrested suspected drug dealer Tony Bennett Friday afternoon and charged him with five felony charges: two counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, one count of possession with intent to deliver Oxycodone, and one count for each drug for delivery of a controlled substance. Police found marijuana, cash, and several pills between the three homes they searched on Frontlawn Avenue, Antonio Avenue and South Oakwood. When police arrested Bennett, he had $900 cash along with 77 pills believed to be Oxycontin, with an estimated street value of $2,000.
- National Public Radio and the Charleston Gazette have filed papers with the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to unseal records in a lawsuit seeking to stop next week's shareholder vote on Massey Energy's proposed $7.1 billion sale to rival coal producer Alpha Natural Resources. Attorneys for the two say that keeping the records sealed violates the public’s interest, and they claim there is no reason to seal the entire record in this case. Three institutional investors want the court to issue an injunction preventing shareholders of Virginia-based Massey from voting on the deal next Wednesday. They also want the court to seal case records. Members of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals are expected to hear the case and respond Tuesday.
- Friday, Charleston Mayor Danny Jones filed for a divorce from Sara DeBarr Jones, his wife of nearly six years. Mayor Jones married Sara in September 2005 during a private ceremony in Virginia.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:29 PM 
