Latest news with #RaleighCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Raleigh County Sheriff's Office awarded grant to increase number of DUI checkpoints
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The Raleigh County Sheriff's Office is cracking down on drunk awarded grant funding will allow for the sheriff's office to expand its resources to identify drivers who get behind the wheel after too many drinks. A recent meeting of the Raleigh County Commission saw funds secured for the department to conduct a greater number of DUI checkpoints throughout the county. Sheriff's office members said drivers should think twice before operating a vehicle under the influence.'You don't want to be in that position where you caused a fatality because you have to live with that your whole life,' says Corporal Eikost of the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. 'It's very important for you to have public safety at your main focus when you're driving.' $15,000 in grant funding approved by the Raleigh County Commission was awarded during a Raleigh County Commission meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 to allow for more frequent roadside checkpoints from the sheriff's office, which are expected to be conducted in the area over the next several months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Attorney discusses privacy of local Autism and Special Needs Registry
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The Raleigh County Sheriff's Office voluntary Autism and Special Needs Registry aims to better serve those people and understand their needs during emergencies. While some in the community asked whether the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office officials could possibly be forced to share the information with federal officials, Beckley attorney Robert Dunlap said the answer was 'no.' Dunlap addressed the concerns on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, by explaining that federal health privacy laws protect those in the registry. Beckley VFW to hold bag drive for children in the foster system 'We have HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) protections. We have federal law protections,' said Dunlap. 'There must be a court order, some sort of administrative request that meets the court order's requirement, or there must be mandatory reporting laws or explicit consent from the individual.' Raleigh County Sheriff's Office offers voluntary Special Needs Registry Dunlap added that other exceptions include a public health emergency, legal court proceedings such as subpoenas, when an agency receives federal funding and when there is a shared data agreement between agencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
It's the 100th anniversary of the State Fair of West Virginia, but how old is it?
FAIRLEA, WV (WVNS) – It is officially the 100th anniversary of the State Fair of West Virginia this year. With the event dating back to the 1920's, the history can be confusing for those who don't know about it. 'I have my own history and love for the fair. But as far as the history and all that stuff, I'm going to leave that up to the pro's.' Kara Dense, President & CEO, Experience Greenbrier Valley Thankfully, we here at 59News had a pro available to us! Kelly Collins with the Chief Executive Officer of the State Fair of West Virginia. Raleigh County Sheriff's Office offers voluntary Special Needs Registry She said the fair started as the Greenbrier Valley Fair and was first incorporated on March 19th of 1921. But the road since 1921 was not always an easy one. There were many bumps along the way. 'Unfortunately, after the 41[1941] fair, we had to cancel from 1942 to 1945 because of World War 2. And then of course we had to cancel in 2020 for the Pandemic.' Kelly Collins, Chief Executive Officer, The State Fair of West Virginia The history and business of the State Fair are over 100 years old, but this will mark the 100th iteration of the event itself. Student Loan repayment changes could impact millions Even so, no matter how old it is, this 100th annual State Fair is promised to have many surprises and smiles on people's faces. 'This area has always been a place that has really stuck out, as far as welcoming people and celebrating our rich heritage and tradition.' Kara Dense, President & CEO, Experience Greenbrier Valley Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Raleigh County Sheriff's Office offers voluntary Special Needs Registry
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Elizabeth Walker said that her 21-year-old son, Connor, is on the autism spectrum and that he has an intellectual disability. A longtime advocate for those with special needs, Walker said she would register Connor in the Autism and Special Needs Registry launched last year by the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. 'He's nonverbal, and he doesn't really have a sense of danger, so if we need fire department, police, ambulance, or whatever, come into our house, they need to be aware he may run off from them, he may become aggressive,' Walker said on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Raleigh County Sheriff's Office Special Needs Community Liaison Eric Jordan said the Special Needs Registry is voluntary and that it is available for anyone in the county, of any age, who has a special need. He said that, in an emergency, 911 operators would notify law enforcement if they were helping a person who appears on the Registry. He said the information will allow better emergency services to those on the Registry and their families. 'Some of the questions that are in the questionnaire are, do they like to wander? And if they do wander where are some of the places they like to go? Do they like to gravitate towards water?' he said. 'So little bits of information like that could help out.' Bluefield West Virginia Police Department asks for help finding missing woman Some parents of special needs children in the county expressed fears on social media about registering their children into a government database, due to comments made on April 16 by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy mischaracterized autism as a 'preventable disease' and made comments which many said disparaged autistic people, prompting some local parents to be skeptical of the local Special Needs Registry. Walker, however, said she had no fears about the goal of the local registry. 'I don't believe they have any nefarious intentions,' said Walker. 'They want to keep the citizens safe, and when you have a kid like mine who might become aggressive in an emergency situation and is unable to adequately express themselves, the first responders need to know how to react and how to respond so he does remain safe.' Jordan said the Autism and Special Needs Registry is completely local and that the information is not shared with federal health officials or others. Former War police chief and son die in car accident in McDowell County, arrest warrant issued 'The database is located at our 911 Center. Nobody has access to it,' he said. 'We don't even have access to it. The only people that do our dispatchers, and they're the ones that relay the information to us.' Jordan suggested law enforcement officers may be able to get the information, if they conducted a specific search of the database. He said, however, that the goal of the registry is to simply keep residents safer during emergencies. Jourdan said his own son is on the autism spectrum and that the registry is reassuring. 'I would know that they knew how to approach my son,' he explained. 'So, they would have his name, they would have the ability to know that he's nonverbal, that he won't try to communicate whatsoever, that the lights would probably scare him. So, they would know this stuff coming in.' The Autism and Special Needs Registry is available here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Woman dies in Coalfields Express way accident, criminal charges pending
SOPHIA, WV (WVNS) — One woman died after a two-car accident on the Coalfields Expressway in Raleigh County over the Easter weekend and criminal charges are pending. According to a press release from the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office, deputies were alerted to an accident on WV Route 121- Coalfields Expressway in the Sophia area of Raleigh County. Once on scene, the first deputy on scene, Lt. James Williams found a 'catastrophic' crash between a Toyota Tacoma and a Chevy Tahoe. The driver of the Chevy Tahoe, later identified as Baylea Bower, 24, of Bloomingrose, West Virginia was entrapped in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota Tacoma, identified as Destany Lester, 18, of Fairdale, West Virginia was severely injured and asking for help. Virginia Tech student dies in Raleigh County car accident Lester was flown to the trauma center at CAMC General by Health-Net Aeromedical Services in critical condition. Further investigation revealed that Lester was travelling south on WV 121 when she allegedly hit a guardrail before crossing both southbound lanes and the grassy median before hitting Bower head on while in the northbound lanes. Investigators believe the speed and the driver impairment on behalf of Lester were contributing factors in the accident, according to the press release. Criminal charges are anticipated once the investigation is 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
