Report expected on reliability

One of the major complaints we receive at the Public Service Commission deals with the reliability of service provided by utilities.

This is a particular concern when it comes to the delivery of electric power. Nobody likes to be left in the dark, or without heat in the winter, or air conditioning in the summer.

So, the Commission is looking forward to a report to be filed by the end of this year about the quality of electric service provided by Appalachian Power Company and Wheeling Power Company.

The companies and our legal staff jointly filed a petition last year to ask for an examination of their service. They want an independent, outside auditing firm to perform the work and make its findings known to the Commission.

We agreed and put that effort in motion.

The study involves six areas for review.

The first is staffing levels to determine whether existing personnel are sufficient to get the job done. The auditors will review the usage of contract workers to supplement permanent staffing to improve reliability in areas with excessive numbers of outages.

The study will look at service centers to determine if they provide optimal coverage to customers served from those locations.

Another part will look at how the utilities manage the operations of distributing systems, including how maintenance is prioritized.

The study should identify opportunities for improving the accuracy of the estimated time that customers are told when power can be expected to return.

The study will compare each utility’s distribution to the systems of similar utilities and provide recommendations on improvement and the cost of those modifications.

The last item asks the study to make recommendations for improvements on a short-term basis of up to three years, and on a longer-term basis.

It’s going to be a big job.

We feel confident this study will produce helpful dividends for the companies and their customers. It will give us a solid road map for future developments to improve this vital service.

In earlier testimony before the Commission, the companies explained some of the problems they face concerning reliability. They inherited, in many cases, aging and extensive coal camp power lines that were not geared toward the enormous loads now carried on them. The state’s rural nature makes coverage difficult and expensive. The state has mountainous and heavily forested terrain. Severe weather conditions also handicap the company’s efforts to maintain service.

The final report submission deadline is December 15.

The submission outlines a practical, reliability-focused energy strategy grounded in engineering realities, market conditions, and West Virginia’s existing strengths as a major energy-producing state. It emphasizes affordability for consumers, grid reliability, energy security, and long-term workforce development, while cautioning against policies that mandate specific energy sources or distort competitive markets.

“West Virginia’s energy policy needs to start with a simple premise: the power has to be there when people need it, at a price they can afford,” said Kevin Poe, President of the Seneca Center. “Reliability and capacity are not abstract concepts. They are what keep homes warm, businesses operating, and communities functioning. Our recommendations are rooted in what works—not what sounds good in a press release.”

The Seneca Center’s submission supports an all-of-the-above energy portfolio, with continued reliance on dispatchable baseload generation such as coal and natural gas, expanded transmission capacity through reconductoring, and immediate action to strengthen grid cybersecurity. The document also evaluates emerging technologies—including micro nuclear reactors, geothermal energy, and rare-earth mineral recovery—based on technical feasibility and realistic deployment timelines.

“Energy policy has to follow physics and economics, not political fashion,” said Terence L. Headley, Vice President of Communications for the Seneca Center. “Intermittent resources can play a role, but they cannot replace baseload power until the technology exists to support that claim at scale. Pretending otherwise puts reliability, affordability, and public trust at risk.”

The submission also calls for long-term workforce and education planning, including expanded STEM incentives, hands-on technical training, and stronger K-12 engagement to prepare West Virginians for modern energy, manufacturing, and industrial careers.

In addition, the Seneca Center reiterates its opposition to reinstating a state-mandated Renewable Portfolio Standard, noting that previous mandates were repealed and that energy sources should compete on performance, cost, and reliability—not statutory preference.

“This is not an argument against innovation,” Poe added. “It is an argument for honesty. West Virginia can lead in energy development, but only if policy is anchored in reality and respects the assets and workforce we already have.”

The full submission has been formally provided to the West Virginia Office of Energy and is now available to the public as part of the state’s comprehensive energy-planning process.

Moorefield Boys Basketball is set to swarm through the Charlotte Hill Memorial Gym “Hive” and sting opponents throughout the Mountain State aiming to reach Charleston behind the leadership of veteran coach Scott Stutler and a trio of seniors to create that mantle of success.

Coach Stutler’s assistant coaches helping to conquer goals this year will be Eric Linville and Blake Funk.

The Yellow Jackets will be guided by seniors Brock Linville, Shawn Reed and Law Sherman showing defensive tenacity and good floor awareness creating plays on offense.

This trio will be complemented by the junior quintet of Cyrus Kump, Kail Greenwlt, Jackson Helmick, Brenden Fawley and Levi Davis who all can drill the net from the perimeter to keep opponents on their heels.

Moorefield’s defense will be solid with the sophomore duo of Edgar Cambero and Austin Arbaugh, who proved quite fast on the soccer pitch and that speed will transform on the court.

The Yellow Jackets Freshman 10 are quite familiar with success just coming off winning the Potomac Valley League Championship in back-to-back seasons and will use their dynamic skills to lend support: Matthew Iman, Edison Metheny, Luke Stutler, Hector Luna-Davy, Zakk Keplinger, Bill Ware, Reid Kump, Thomas Simmons, Brody Simmons and Vance Simmons.

Moorefield Boys Basketball will begin the season at Hampshire for an afternoon matinee in front of the student body on December 11th.

The Yellow Jackets will compete in the annual Petersburg Holiday Tournament on December 26th -27th.

Moorefield hosts cross county rival East Hardy on December 18th and visit Baker on January 16th.

The Yellow Jackets will feature an All-Mountain State field of competition this season with a few long distance rides including Pocahontas County (season finale). Doddridge County, South Harrison and Berkeley Springs.

Moorefield is ready to take the court with a swarm of talent to push forward in a deep playoff pursuit.

Coach Stutler shared his thoughts on the team and season in a Q&A session:

Coaching Philosophy – I believe in instilling a competitive culture, based on accountability, toughness and hard work.

Most rewarding aspect of coaching is seeing the growth of our players on and off the court, helping them succeed and reach goals.

Goals and expectations – Our goals and expectations stay the same from year to year.  We work hard to get better each day so that we are playing are best basketball at the end of the season.

How do you improve from last year – we are a different team than last year, we need to stay focused, be unselfish and practice and play harder than everyone else.

Team chemistry – team chemistry will take time to develop but we are off to a good start.

Senior Leadership – senior leadership has been good, we have 3 seniors and they work hard and hold themselves accountable for the energy we have in practice.

Schedule – our schedule is always challenging,  we will have to compete at a high level every time we step on the floor.

“When I took office, I inherited a $400 million structural budget gap in the upcoming fiscal year, which would grow to nearly $600 million in the years ahead if it was not immediately addressed,” said Governor Morrisey. “The fiscally conservative budget I signed tonight makes progress tackling structural gaps and begins to place us on a pathway toward financial stability in the future.

Much work remains in the next fiscal year to address budget shortfalls, but I applaud the Legislature for sending me a budget that closely resembles my original proposal and begins to address long term issues while funding West Virginia priorities.”

The budget for fiscal year 2026 is designed to provide flexibility to address future uncertainties, such as stock market fluctuations and changes to federal spending, ensuring programs will be fully funded throughout the year. In the case of a surplus, up to $100 million will be allocated to funding road maintenance and improvement projects across the state.

The budget fully funds Medicaid, senior services, and the HOPE scholarship, while making targeted cuts to spending.

These certifications are more than just accomplishments—they are tools that will allow me to give back to my community, just as support was given to me. I am living proof that recovery is possible. The old saying, “Once an addict, always an addict,” is simply not true. Just for today, by changing the people we surround ourselves with, the places we go, and the way we cope with life’s challenges, we can recover.

My own journey took a turning point on September 13th when I hit rock bottom. With nowhere left to look but up, I reached out to God, my pastor, and dear friend Daniel Taylor for help. I surrendered completely, saying, “I’m yours. I can’t live like this anymore.”

After being released from PHRJ on October 31st following a violation of a DVP, I found salvation and was baptized on November 3rd. With the guidance and support of Potomac Highland Guilds (PHG), I made the decision to seek treatment at Pyramid Healthcare. For the first time in many years, I saw life through a completely different lens—one filled with hope, purpose, and possibility.

Today, I am a full-time college student, working toward a degree that will allow me to assist the state with its overwhelming social services workload. But my mission doesn’t stop there. I am leading an initiative to establish the first-ever Sober/Recovery House in Hardy County—a joint effort involving incredible people who share this vision. The idea has already gained the attention of county officials, and with their support, it is now possible. Though there is still a long road ahead, I am fully committed to seeing it through.

Thank you for your time and support.

Anthony Ross

Today is my 64th birthday, which puts me one year away from signing up for Medicare.  Of course, I could be collecting Social Security already, but in consultation with my financial advisor, I am in a position to use other retirement sources and defer Social Security until I am 70.  I am curious to see what happens to these “entitlements” over the next few years.

The idea of reigning in, delegating more funding (e.g. block grants to state for Medicaid, etc) to states, if not eliminating entitlement spending is not a new idea.  I recall a conversation with a friend at the beginning of the first Trump administration.  He had worked on The Hill for his career and was at that time consulting with the Heritage Foundation.  “We can now go after entitlements like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security…” was the beginning of his conversation.

This begs the first question: is Social Security a retirement investment program?  Or, was it intended as a “widows and orphans (e.g. disabled persons)” fund to prevent the most vulnerable from living on the streets or being denied health care?

Social Security was enacted in the 1930’s as part of the New Deal when many elderly lived in squaller, were malnourished, and dying from untreated medical conditions.  Medicare was enacted in the 1960’s as part of the Great Society, to address the lack of medical insurance that people faced when they retired.

The Moorefield Examiner’s article (4-2-25, “Social Security Trustees’ Report…”) outlined the dilemma in the financial numbers.

The question is how to change directions.

Social Security and Medicare are programs that will take a generation to change.  In other words, those relying on them now do not have the resources (unless they are going to start working at a local store, gas station, or restaurant) to live without them.  Thus, changes need to be either/both merit based and age based.

Merit: these benefit could be assessed at tax reporting time, in a similar fashion to the Affordable Care Act Market Place insurance.  If someone brings in a certain amount of income (working, investments, rentals…), their benefits could be reduced on a sliding scale.

Age: at the time of Social Security and Medicare programs starting, people lived less than 5 years beyond becoming eligible.  Now, many retiring at age 65 can anticipate living 10 to 20 years.  The age at which people could begin to collect these benefits could increase with the reality of our increased life span.  Someone could be encouraged to defer collection to a higher age such as to 65, 70, and 75.

Another alternative would be to direct payroll deductions into savings accounts similar to 401k’s,  403b’s, and IRA/Roth IRA’s, which are currently optional.  We would need to do more education of employees to assure them that these funds are theirs to invest with financial advisors assistance (which needs to be monitored to keep shady people preying on vulnerable employees).  Social Security benefits could also be paid out in lump sums, again with caution against scammers. Of course, there should be a floor to the benefits with that “widows and orphans” protections in mind.

Similarly, Medicare could become both merit and age based, with incentives for people to seek alternative health insurance options until age 70 or 75.  Health Savings Accounts might be part of the option.  But, that “widows and orphans” floor should remain to protect the most vulnerable in society.

Oscar Larson

Baker, WV

Tourism serves as a vital part of the Potomac Highlands regional economy. Part of the challenge for the area’s Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus lies in creating innovative ways to bring more visitors – and their spending money – to the area.

Michele Moure-Reeves, executive director of Hardy County’s CVB, sees maps marketed to groups as an excellent way to make visiting and enjoying the area easier and more interesting for groups with common interests.

And her colleagues in Pendleton, Grant, Hampshire, and Mineral agree.

Coming out soon this spring will be a map geared to motorcyclists. Encouraged by motorcyclist websites and publications, over the past several years  increasing numbers motor to West Virginia to enjoy.

“When they come to ride,” Moure-Reeves explains, “they need a place to stay, they need a place to eat, they need a place to gas up their motorcycle.” Providing a guide to help motorcycling visitors to find what they need and also what they want in the region brings beneficial boosts for business.

Mapping for motorcyclists in the area is not a new idea. Moure-Reeves shared that the first came out just over a decade ago. An update came in 2018.

Road Runner, a motorcycle travel site, referred to the Potomac Highlands in 2019 as “the High Five.” Moure-Reeves stated that the organization “worked out routes for us” and also did “the layout and printing.”

The same site stated that the Potomac Highlands “is a treasure for motorcyclists, with mountains, vistas, and curves galore.” The article specifically singled out the four counties that worked together on the map,  Hardy, Grant, Pendleton, and Hampshire.

It also said “US 220 is a fan favorite” due to curves and the ability of less traveled rural routes to give riders a leisurely break from the fast paced highway. The article additionally recommended Smoke Hole Road as “a hidden gem.”

Moure-Reeves stated that the new map will offer updated and added points of interest compared to previous editions. Two new routes have been added to the old slate for a total of seven, which range from the shortest of 125 miles to the longest, a 250 mile stretch.

Because the CVBs this year decided to not charge a fee to list a business or other point of interest, Moure-Reeves stated “it’s a pretty big list” that includes restaurants, places to shop, historical sites, and much more.

Cartography for tourism will not stop with motorcyclists. The next five county map is already in the works. Civil War Trails has agreed to help the Potomac Highlands tourism promotion organizations create routes that will bring visitors to “places where battles were fought,” other related to the conflict such as fortifications, as well as other local attractions.

It will also help visitors to learn about why certain towns changed hands so many times and the fascinating tales that have come down over the years.

Moure-Reeves stated that collaboration has served as the key to regional success. She explained that most of the CVBs have single person staffs. Those staffs are supported by boards full of individuals generally busy with their own businesses or other responsibilities. When the directors come together and collaborate, the results often exceed the sum of the parts.

She expects that the motorcycle map will be ready in May and that for the Civil War in late summer.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to acquire a modern storage and viewing facility to help properly maintain the most comprehensive and diverse publicly available geological sample collection in West Virginia. This award was secured through a CDS request made by Senator Capito.

“This funding will allow the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey to relocate its sample collection to a new, hygienic storage facility at the headquarters in Morgantown,” Senator Capito said. “The Survey provides an invaluable service to a state like ours through its mapping of our varied terrain, core sampling, and educational outreach. I am pleased to see this funding awarded so that we may maintain the utmost scientific standards.”

Individual award listed below:

·      $1,980,000 for the West Virginia Department of Commerce, Geological and Economic Survey (Charleston, W.Va.) to support development of a facility to house West Virginia’s geological sample archive.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Amateurs Todd Duncan of Daniels, Ryan Bilby of Follansbee, and Bosten Miller of Hurricane join professional (p) Mason Williams of Bridgeport at the top of the leader board at to under par 68.

Sitting in a seven-way tie for fifth, at one under par 69, are Ben Palmer of Parkersburg, Alex Easthorn (p) of Ravenswood, Jack Michael of Huntington, Sam O’Dell of Hurricane, Jeff Ferrell of Fairmont, defending champion Christian Brand of Scott and Jonathan Clark of Hurricane.

As the afternoon wave began at 12:30, the temperatures began to rise into the 90s. “This is a tough test of golf,” said WVGA Interim Executive Director Chris Slack. “We’re excited that this state championship is being held back at Berry Hills Country Club for the first time since 2015 and we are looking forward to the next two days of competitive golf among our state’s best professional and amateur golfers.”

The annual Coca-Cola Shootout took place Tuesday afternoon on the front nine at Berry Hills Country Club. Coca-Cola is one of the longest standing sponsors of the West Virginia open and has been host to the Coke shootout over the last 25 years. 12-time West Virginia Open Champion David Bradshaw was victorious, winning the specialty event for the fifth time in his career.

“We are pleased to serve as the presenting sponsor for the 90th West Virginia Open Championship,” Dr. Greg Rosencrance, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals said. “Part of our mission is to support the communities we serve and we are thrilled to welcome this tournament to the Kanawha Valley this year. We wish all of the players luck as they compete for the championship this week.”

Round two of the championship will begin Thursday morning at 7:30 with tee times off of the front and back nine. At the conclusion of play, the field will be cut to the lowest 60 scores and ties who will advance to the final round on Friday.

The WVOPEN Championship has a rich 89-year history. Legendary professional golfer Sam Snead holds the record for the most WV OPEN victories at 17. The defending champion is three-time winner Christian Brand. The WV OPEN features the best amateur and professional golfers in West Virginia.

For today’s leaderboard, visit WV Open Leaderboard. You can follow along with live scoring of the 90th West Virginia Open by CLICKING HERE.

— About the West Virginia Golf Association (WVGA): Founded in 1913, the West Virginia Golf Association is dedicated to promoting and preserving the game of golf in West Virginia. It is our privilege to protect and share the rich history of golf in West Virginia through the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame. We serve as a central source of information for our Member Clubs and generally represent the United States Golf Association (USGA) through administering the USGA Handicap System and Course/Slope Rating System, conducting qualifying rounds and overseeing amateur status matters. We introduce elementary school children to golf and safety, core values and healthy habits through the First Tee of West Virginia and develop young players through our Callaway Junior Rookie League and Callaway Junior Tour events for boys and girls under 18. We host one-day events and tournaments, which highlight the best amateur and professional golfers in the state, throughout the season for men, women, juniors and seniors. We encourage people of all ages to pursue and benefit from the opportunities for competition, camaraderie and health offered by the sport of golf. Our membership consists of 85 Member Clubs and over 11,000 individual golfers throughout the state of West Virginia.

WV Press Release Sharing

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The fifith of six statewide qualifiers for the 90th West Virginia Open Championship took place Monday at Bridgeport Country Club. Over 50 golfers hoped to qualify for 18 spots in the Championship later this month, plus two alternates.

Earning Medalist Honors with a three-under-par 69 was Noah Seivertson of Wheeling. Other qualifiers were:

• Andrew Strope of Rayland, Ohio;
• Matt Gissy of Weston;
• Brent Rhoades;
• Anthony Rogers of Clarksburg;
• Jace Lancaster of Clarksburg;
• Solas Chhin-Kreiner of Morgantown;
• Adam Gill of Wheeling
• Alex Louk of Buckhannon;
• Caleb Osborne of Tunnelton;
• Jason Grimmett of Hurricane;
• Matthew Allen of Newburg;
• Eli Lambie of Moundsville;
• Andrew Ridgway of Bridgeport;
• Brandon Lawhorn of St. Marys;

“We’re always happy to host WVGA events and the course is in great shape for these outstanding golfers,” said Bridgeport’s Head Golf Professional Mike Gervais.

Other highlights of the day included six birdies for Brandon Lawhorn and five birdies each for Mark Walker and Doug Wallace of Morgantown.

For today’s leaderboard, visit WV Open Qualifier – Bridgeport Country Club.

Qualifying concludes Thursday, July 20, at Fincastle Country Club in Bluefield, Va. For more information, please visit wvga.org.

About the West Virginia Golf Association (WVGA): Founded in 1913, the West Virginia Golf Association is dedicated to promoting and preserving the game of golf in West Virginia. It is our privilege to protect and share the rich history of golf in West Virginia through the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame. We serve as a central source of information for our Member Clubs and generally represent the United States Golf Association (USGA) through administering the USGA Handicap System and Course/Slope Rating System, conducting qualifying rounds and overseeing amateur status matters. We introduce elementary school children to golf and safety, core values and healthy habits through the First Tee of West Virginia and develop young players through our Callaway Junior Rookie League and Callaway Junior Tour events for boys and girls under 18. We host one-day events and tournaments, which highlight the best amateur and professional golfers in the state, throughout the season for men, women, juniors and seniors. We encourage people of all ages to pursue and benefit from the opportunities for competition, camaraderie and health offered by the sport of golf. Our membership consists of 85 Member Clubs and over 11,000 individual golfers throughout the state of West Virginia.