Speaker of the House Thompson leaving state Legislature
BY MICHAEL HUPP
Staff Writer
CHARLESTON – Longtime Wayne County politician Rick Thompson announced his resignation as the West Virginia Speaker of the House Thursday afternoon.
The Delegate is resigning next month to join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s cabinet as Secretary of Veteran’s Assistance. Thompson has been a delegate for 13 years and the speaker since 2007.
Thompson will replace current Secretary Keith Gwinn, who is retiring in mid-June due to health issues. Once Gwinn officially retires, Tomblin will then call the House into session within 10 days so that delegates can select a new speaker.
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ENTRY – Sgt. R.D. Perry points to the broken window where students allegedly entered for a senior prank. WCN photo by Diane Pottorff
High school prank turns into criminal investigation
By DIANE POTTORFF
Staff Writer
WAYNE – What started as a senior prank has now turned into a criminal investigation by the West Virginia State Police.
When Wayne High School maintenance staff arrived at work at 5 a.m. Friday, they were greeted with 1,800 styrofoam cups of water lined up down the hallway next to the office, according to Sgt. R.D. Perry. What they were not expecting was the odor of deer urine, deer intestines, motor oil, vegetable oil and blood in the hallways, classrooms and assistant principals’ office.
Perry received the call to investigate a breaking and entering and vandalism complaint at the high school about 8 a.m., he said. He said he has a list of about 20 suspects in the ongoing investigation.
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Former Wayne mayor disputes selection of poll workers
By DIANE POTTORFF
Staff Writer
WAYNE – The question of how poll workers are selected for the Town of Wayne’s municipal election came up during a special meeting Wednesday.
Former mayor and candidate James Ramey Jr. III asked Mayor Mick Sanders and Recorder Toney Atkins how the poll workers are selected.
Atkins replied he contacted the Wayne County Clerk’s Voter Registration office and received answers. “All this time, we were not doing it right,” Atkins said. “We are to operate the election under state code. Letters were sent to the Democratic and Republican committees to approve the poll workers that were chosen.”
He also confirmed the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office was contacted and stated the same.
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Delegate to be selected to replace Thompson
BY MICHAEL HUPP
Staff Writer
WAYNE – With House Speaker and 19th Delegate District representative Rick Thompson resigning next month, a replacement will have to be selected.
The Wayne County Democratic Executive Committee will hold the responsibility of choosing Thompson’s replacement. According to Chapter 3-10-5 of the state code, the committee must submit a list of three people who are Democrats and reside in the 19th District to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin within 15 days of Thompson’s resignation. The governor has five days to select Thompson’s replacement from the submitted list.
The meeting in which the committee makes the selection has to be published and open to all Democrats in the county.
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Deer crashes through store window
By DIANE POTTORFF
Staff Writer
LAVALETTE – An unusual customer made its way into the Goodwill store in Lavalette Thursday.
A deer that was apparently being chased by a dog, crashed its way into the store, according to Sgt. E.A. Blankenship with the Wayne Detachment of the West Virginia State Police.
The deer made its way through racks of merchandise as customers attempted to corral it inside one of the dressing rooms, Blankenship said.
Blankenship went to the dressing room and attempted to get the deer out.
Not wanting to leave, the deer was later forced out of the dressing room to a back door and ran into the woods, he said.
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