ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania man has admitted to working with an alleged gang member to sell fentanyl in North Central West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Ramon Juan Sims, Jr., 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, in September 2024, the Weston Police Department, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, and West Virginia State Police conducted a patrol of the Broad Street area of Weston, West Virginia, due to suspected drug activity. The cooperative police effort stopped driver Ramon Sims, and his passenger, Shawn Galin Whitley, Jr., while in possession of fentanyl and $2,040 in suspected drug proceeds. With assistance from the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, police lawfully searched their nearby hotel room and seized 3,750 fentanyl stamps.
Whitley, Jr., 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina, is a suspected gang member. Whitley previously pled guilty in April 2026 for his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
Sims faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office; and the Weston Police Department.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
WHEELING, WV- For the third time in this year’s playoffs, the Wheeling Nailers will take the ice with their season on the line.
The Florida Everblades became the first road team to win a game in the Eastern Conference Final Series, as they defeated the Nailers, 5-2 at WesBanco Arena on Wednesday night. Hudson Elynuik and Cole Moberg both tallied one goal and one assist for Florida, who took a 3-0 advantage in the best-of-seven set. The loss was Wheeling’s first at home in the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The game got off to a sour start, as Florida opened the scoring just 16 seconds into play. Craig Needham let a shot go from the left wing wall, which found its way into the net.
The Nailers pulled even with 7:21 remaining in the first period. Max Graham won a puck battle along the left wing wall, then made a pass to Mike Posma on the left side of the slot. Posma kept the puck moving to the right, as he set up Tiernan Shoudy for a one-time rocket from the right hashmarks. The Everblades regained the lead with 1:26 to go, when Anthony Romano whizzed in a wrist shot from the left circle off of a transition rush.
Both teams got on the scoreboard once during the middle frame. Wheeling knotted the score at the 9:02 mark, when Ryan McAllister pulled the puck off of the right wing wall, then led Brayden Edwards toward the net. Edwards deked to his forehand and slipped a shot around Cam Johnson’s left leg. 2:18 later, Florida went back on top for the third time.
A bouncing puck landed on Carson Gicewicz’ tape just outside of the crease, and he quickly lifted a shot up and into the top shelf.
The Everblades took the game to the finish line with a dominant third period, as they scored twice, while outshooting the Nailers, 16-3. Hudson Elynuik broke past the defense and slipped a backhander through Taylor Gauthier’s legs at the 6:56 mark, then Cole Moberg tossed in a shot from the middle of the blueline 1:49 later for the 5-2 final score.
Cam Johnson picked up the win for Florida, as he stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced. Taylor Gauthier made 28 saves on 33 shots for Wheeling.
The two teams will have Thursday off before the Eastern Conference Final Series resumes at WesBanco Arena on Friday at 7:10 p.m. Game five (if necessary) will also be played in Wheeling on Saturday at 7:10 p.m.
The series will then return to Florida’s Hertz Arena for game six and seven (both if necessary) on Monday and Wednesday, with both matches starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Eastern Conference Final Series are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL or visiting wheelingnailers.com.
The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.
Blondie and Billy Joel were at the top of the charts when “The Streak” began, and most kids listened to those superstars on their Sony Walkman, paid $1.12 for a gallon of gas, and loved the “Dukes of Hazzard” on their Friday nights.
If, of course, they weren’t hanging out at Rax that night.
That was back in 1980, though, when Ronald Reagan was the new American President, video arcades became popular destinations among teenagers, and the speech and debate team at Wheeling Park High won its very first state title.
And they haven’t lost the state competition since, and this year, coaches Jennifer Mathieu, Kayla Nelson, and Isabella Droginske guided this year’s team to its 46th consecutive W.Va. championship.
McKenna Gutherol, Levi Powell, Anna Contraguerro, Jerome Maynard, Brielle Dobson, and Will Medovic all attended the Tournament of Champions at the University of Kentucky in April.
“There definitely was pressure because of the streak, but I think, honestly, most of it is pressure we place on ourselves,” said senior Will Medovic. “We hold ourselves to that higher standard because of the history of our program, and we’re very hard on ourselves. That’s what it comes down to, honestly.
“We work very hard, and we help each other all of the time. We have practices, we rehearse in front of the mirrors at home, and we ask each other for advice all of the time,” he said. “We absolutely know about streak, and that’s something we want to continue. I know that’s been one of my goals since my first year on the team, and the best way to do that is to be the best we can be.”
Senior Anna Contraguerro knew she wanted to be a speech and debate team member before she could become a speech and debate team member.
“I heard about the streak of state championships and about the pressure, and I knew I wanted to be a member. I wanted to be part of that greatness at Wheeling Park,” she said matter-of-factly. “The streak and that pressure just helped motivate me to get better all of the time, and I won the Prose Category this year, and that’s because of the work I put in with my team, coaches, and with my mom.
Will, Levi, and Anna were guests on River Talk’s “Novotney Now” radio program to discuss the team’s success with the state title and the Tournament of Champions in Kentucky.
“We were all determined to keep it going,” Anna said. “I’m sure that’s been the case for every single member of this team for a lot of years, and it’s going to be that for a long time to come.”
And senior Levi Powell knows why.
“Once you get a win, you know you can get a win,” he explained. “That’s when you know you can do it. That’s when some of the pressure goes away, but you still hold yourself to that higher standard because you’ve proven to yourself that you can be the best. That’s very important when you are competing in these events.
“Even when you finish second, you still know you deserve to be there and that a first place isn’t far away. It motivates you big time,” said Levi, the state champ in Program of Oral Interpreting. “Now that the seniors on the team have been through so many competitions, we’re able to help our younger members prepare just like we got help from the members who came before us.”
Anna and her cousin, Gabrielle Contraguerro, both collected hardware at the state tournament in March.
Practice Makes Perfect
This is the part no one reports on or discusses much, and that’s because it’s not shiny like the trophies, and the spotlight is dark when the hard work and tough love take center stage.
But it’s the preparation that makes the most difference.
“Our practices have always been a couple of hours after school for most of the school year,” Medovic explained. “We all kind of go off in our separate ways to work on our presentations, but we also have a schedule of who’s going to watch who. And when you’re not on someone’s schedule for your piece to be watched by someone, you always find other people going around and helping each other.
“We’re always asking each other if we can help because we all have our own ideas,” he said. “And we’re all open to it because it’s part of our process to improve, and we make sure our younger members learn that fact as soon as possible.”
Wheeling Park High School was founded in 1976 when three high schools were consolidated.
The practice didn’t end inside the high school’s walls, however.
“So, we only have three coaches, so a lot of it comes down to helping each other,” Powell explained. “That happens when we get together on our own time, and when we’re at practice. The team’s leaders are always helping our younger members because that’s how we learned when we were freshmen and sophomores.
“Our families help us a great deal, too,” the senior said. “My family watches my pieces, and there are also a lot of times where we’ll talk in front of walls. There’s actually a running joke that we talk to walls all the time, but that’s just us getting better and better. We talk in the mirror, we film ourselves, we listen to ourselves back. It’s just a bunch of back and forth of over and over, talking to yourself, listening to yourself, always talking and talking.”
When you win a lot, you pose for photos a lot, and the Wheeling Park team did just that event after event during the 2025-26 season.
Contraguerro works at home, too, and for very good reason.
“My mom’s very, very, very supportive of my speeches at home,” Anna said. “What she’s done for me has been very, very valuable because she is a speech and debate judge. That means that she goes to the tournaments, she watches the rounds, and she chooses the ranks. So, she provides feedback.
“She’s very much ‘in the know’ about all of the speech events,” she said. “She’s ‘in the know’ about what places in the events, so, having that resource at home is extremely, extremely helpful.”
Wheeling Park’s team travels to multiple states each year to compete against students from outside the area.
The Record Books
According to the school’s Speech & Debate Facebook page, Wheeling Park’s championship team earned the following:
10 Individual State Champions: Will Medovic, Overall Top Speaker, 1st place Informative Speaking, 2nd place Prose Interpretation; 2nd place Duo Interpretation; Briele Dobson, 1st place Declamation; 1st place Oral Interpretation of Literature; Levi Powell, 1st place Programme Oral Interpretation; 2nd place Original Oratory; Anna Contraguerro, 1st place Prose Interpretation; 3rd place Informative Speaking; McKenna Guthoerl, 1st place Poetry Interpretation; 4th place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation; Jerome Maynard, 1st place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation; Jana Schodzinski, 1st place Impromptu Speaking; 2nd place Extemporaneous Speaking; 2nd place Congressional Debate; Lilly Smith, 1st place Duo Interpretation; 4th place Declamation; and Ireland Witchey, 1st place Duo Interpretation
Several more team members contributed to the historic victory, including:
Isabella AlKhouri, 3rd place Prose Interpretation; Blair Anderson, 2nd place Declamation; 4th place Extemporaneous Speaking; Jules Burke, 4th place Public Forum Debate; Gabrielle Contraguerro, 3rd place Oral Interpretation of Literature, 2nd place Programme Oral Interpretation; Amiah Fuentes, 2nd place Poetry Interpretation; Josephine Gilbert, 3rd place Congressional Debate; 3rd place Public Forum Debate; Cash Givens, 6th place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation; 3rd place Extemporaneous Speaking; Miriam Halicki, 5th place Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Paige Jones, 4th place Public Forum Debate; Audrey Kenamond, 4th place Duo Interpretation; Siyan Lopez, 5th place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation; 3rd place Poetry Interpretation; Claire McFadden,2nd place Duo Interpretation; Gianna Mills, 4th place Broadcasting; 4th place Duo Interpretation; Flannery Muscar, 2nd place Oral Interpretation of Literature; 3rd place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation; Ava Norman, 6th place Impromptu Speaking; 2nd place Broadcasting; Khadija Rizwan, 4th place Original Oratory; Emma Seibert, 5th place Impromptu Speaking; Joeyana Strothers, 4th place Informative Speaking; 5th place Poetry Interpretation; Nathan Tyska, 4th place Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Ella Wheeler, 3rd place Public Forum Debate; Bridget Zoeckler, 6th place Congressional Debate; and Liam Curtin, 6th place Spontaneous Debate.
Team members Leah Cole, Clara Demasi, Maria Faulstick, Taylor Miller, and Mojolaoluwa Oluwadare also filled vital roles during the school year.
Novotney has always celebrated Wheeling Park High’s Speech & Debate on the radio and in print, and this year was no exception.
In mid-April, Anna, Levi, Will, and McKenna Guthoerl traveled to a national tournament at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, and each of them brought home some hardware. Anna was a semi-finalist in Oral Interp, Will was 6th Place in Oral Interp, McKenna finished in second place in Oral Interp, and Levi finished in second place in Original Oratory.
Next up is the National Speech & Debate Tournament on June 14-19 in Richmond. Va.
“We did do national qualifiers for that event, and a lot of our team is going,” Powell said. “That’s such a massive deal to us because we watched videos from NSDA, and we use all of those people as examples. To know that we’re a team that’s going to get to go compete is amazing.
“Of course, there are a lot of individual competitions, but we help each other all of the time,” the state champ explained. “There will be thousands of students from schools from throughout the country, so we’re all very excited.”
The qualifying team members are attempting to raise funds with a number of posts on their Facebook page, and Coach Mathieu explained how important support has been for Wheeling Park’s speech and debate students since the streak began.
“Wheeling Park’s speech and debate team could not keep this streak going for 46 years without all of the support that we have had this year and, in the past,” Mathieu insisted. “Of course, all of the alumni that are reaching out to encourage us, and we know this community supports, too, and the Board of Education is always welcoming and congratulatory to us and supporting us.
“And I also want to thank my other two coaches, Miss Isabella Droginski and Mrs. Kayla Nelson,” she said. “Without them, this all would have been very, very difficult so, thankfully, they were as dedicated to this team as anyone.”
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, is encouraging Hope Scholarship participants who were enrolled in the program for the 2025-2026 school year to fill out a Parent Satisfaction Survey, which is required by state law.
“Since I took office, it has been our goal to better understand why parents are choosing the Hope Scholarship for their children,” Treasurer Pack said. “It is clear parents are taking advantage of additional options within our education system to find the best fit for their child’s unique needs – and we want to learn more about that. We truly believe this data can be beneficial to conversations we are having with policy makers, the media, and the public.”
Each participating family should respond to the 13-question survey one time instead of once per student. The survey includes 12 multiple choice questions and one open-ended question for families to provide detailed feedback of their experience with the Hope Scholarship Program.
The survey was distributed to Hope families via email on Tuesday, May 26. Data from the survey will be included in the 2025-2026 Hope Scholarship Annual Report which is completed by the end of the calendar year.
Since January, more than 24,000 students have started Hope Scholarship applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Of the 24,095 applications, more than 13,000 are returning Hope Scholarship recipients who submitted their Continuing Participation Confirmations. More than 11,000 are new students who applied for the program.
Treasurer Pack announced in March that all West Virginia children in grades K-12, including existing private school and traditional homeschool students who have not previously been eligible for the Hope Scholarship Program, are now eligible to apply to participate in the State’s Education Savings Account program that provides funding to students exercising school choice in lieu of attending public school full-time.
The application deadline for new students to receive full funding for the Hope Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year is Monday, June 15. Applications are available online at www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov.
A student application submitted within the following dates will receive the associated level of Hope Scholarship funding:
March 2-June 15: 100% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
June 16-Sept. 15: 75% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
Sept. 16-Nov. 30: 50% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
Dec. 1-Feb. 28: 25% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
Current Hope Scholarship students who wish to renew their participation in the program during the 2026-2027 school year have until June 15 to submit their Continuing Participation Confirmations.
The Hope Scholarship award amount varies each school year depending on the amount of state aid funding per pupil provided to county boards of education for public school students. The scholarship amount for the 2026-2027 school year $5,435.62. Scholarship funds will now be distributed on a quarterly basis.
Each year, Memorial Day arrives as the unofficial beginning of summer.
Grills are uncovered, pools open, families gather, and people travel to enjoy long weekends and celebrations. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying time with family and friends. In many ways, that freedom to celebrate is part of what makes America special, but Memorial Day must also remain something more. It is a day of remembrance, gratitude, and reflection on the sacrifices that built and protected this nation.
Memorial Day is not simply another holiday on the calendar. It is one of the most meaningful observances our country has. It is a day set aside to honor the men and women of the United States Military who gave their lives in service to our nation. Behind every flag placed at a cemetery, every name engraved on a memorial, and every folded flag handed to a grieving family is a story of courage, sacrifice, and love of this country.
The freedoms Americans enjoy every day did not happen by accident. They were defended generation after generation by ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things. Young men and women left their homes, families, careers, and dreams behind because they believed there was something bigger than themselves worth protecting. Some never returned home. Their sacrifice should never become routine in our minds.
In today’s world, it can sometimes feel like patriotism is overshadowed by division. Political disagreements dominate headlines and social media feeds. Americans often seem more focused on what separates us than what unites us. Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to take a break and remember that the people we honor did not sacrifice their lives for one political party, one ideology, or one group of Americans. They sacrificed for all of us. They served the United States of America. Is the truth and it matters.
Whether one’s travels take them to Arlington National Cemetery, they attend a hometown parade, or just simply taking a quiet moment of reflection, Memorial Day reminds us that freedom carries a cost. All the rights we exercise every day: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to vote, the right not to vote, the ability to pursue opportunities and build a future, were made possible and maintained through sacrifice. Countless Americans stood willing to defend those ideals even when it meant putting themselves in harm’s way.
For many families, Memorial Day is deeply personal. Across our communities are parents who lost children, spouses who lost husbands or wives, and children who grew up without a parent because of military service. Their sacrifice continues long after the battlefield is silent. As a nation, we owe them more than a passing acknowledgment once a year. We owe them respect, gratitude, and remembrance.
Memorial Day is also important because it connects generations. Younger Americans who did not live through wars or military conflicts may sometimes view these moments as distant chapters in a history book. However, visiting memorials, participating in a service, or learning the stories of fallen service members helps keep that history alive. It teaches future generations that freedom is fragile and citizenship carries responsibility.
In communities large and small across America, Memorial Day traditions still endure. Some towns have the tradition of having a parade. In many communities, flags and banners line the streets. Veterans’ organizations hold ceremonies. Families gather around memorials. Wreaths, flags, and flowers may be placed on the graves of those fallen. Stories may be shared. These moments matter because they remind us that remembrance is not passive. It is an active commitment to honor those who served.
Perhaps one of the most powerful aspects of Memorial Day is that it calls Americans back to gratitude. In a fast-moving world filled with constant complaints and frustrations, gratitude can sometimes be difficult to find. Yet on Memorial Day, we are reminded there are still countless reasons to be thankful. We can be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy, thankful for those who defended them, and thankful for the country we call home.
America is not perfect. No nation is. I would challenge it remains a country built on extraordinary ideals and defended by extraordinary people. Memorial Day is a reminder that the American story has always been written by individuals willing to sacrifice for future generations they would never meet.
As we celebrate this Memorial Day weekend with family cookouts, ball games, vacations, and communityevents, we should also take time to remember why this holiday exists in the first place. Fly the flag proudly. Attend a local ceremony. Visit a veterans’ cemetery. Teach children what the day truly means. Pause for a moment of silence. Say thank you for all that you enjoy.
Most importantly, remember the fallen not simply as names from history, but as Americans who gave everything so the rest of us could live in freedom.
That sacrifice deserves more than one day of remembrance. Memorial Day remains one important opportunity for a grateful nation to say, together, we will never forget.
WHEELING, W.Va. – May 26, 2026 – In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month, Wheeling Heritage is celebrating a major milestone in its ongoing preservation efforts with the completion of the first round of the Wheeling Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program.
Historic preservation is one of the four pillars of Wheeling Heritage’s mission and plays a key role in revitalizing Wheeling’s neighborhoods, downtown buildings, and historic character for future generations.
In 2021, Wheeling Heritage received a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant through the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, to launch the Wheeling Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program. The initiative was created to support the redevelopment of historic commercial properties downtown and encourage catalytic revitalization projects throughout Wheeling’s urban neighborhoods.
Through the first round of funding, $712,500 was awarded to support historic renovation projects across Wheeling. Funded projects include the 1400 Block ($200,000), Waterfront Hall ($100,000), Smart Centre ($25,000), 106 14th Street ($40,000), 722-724 Main Street ($50,000), Bridge Tavern ($75,000), 1306 Events ($30,000), 76 15th Street ($75,000), Vigilant Books and Coffee ($50,000), and the former Kepner Building ($67,500).
“As most people who work in historic preservation know, there is always a gap in funding,” said Scott Schenerlein, executive director of Wheeling Heritage. “This grant has been instrumental in helping continue the work of keeping our historic neighborhoods and our downtown moving forward. We are grateful to the National Park Service for selecting us not once, but twice.”
The successful initiation of our program led Wheeling Heritage to receive additional support from the National Park Service in 2023 for a second round of subgrants. Round 2 properties were selected through a competitive application and committee review process, and these preservation projects are now underway.
BRIDGEPORT – Bridgeport Exempted Village School District rolled out the blue and black carpet for visiting elementary, middle and high school students during Bring a Friend to School Day May 19. Bridgeport students were encouraged to invite a friend to “shadow” them through the day’s activities and so experience life as a Bulldog as they look to the next school year.
Bridgeport Middle School Principal Anne Haverty Lawson said the middle school had 43 visitors. She added they could enjoy the extra, enriching educational activities such as the “medical detectives” course.
“Our teachers do an excellent job of welcoming the visitors,” she said. “I hope everybody feels welcomed at Bridgeport Schools.”
Fifth grade science teacher Jordan Sieber had a variety of activities for the guest students. One task called on them to draw on their astronomical knowledge to “design” a planet, and consider factors such as whether theirs should be an inner or outer planet, a gas giant or ringed.
“We like to showcase some of the things we do in our classrooms,” she said. “I like that they’re doing hands-on projects today. I like that they’re incorporating the things that we’ve learned previously and using creativity and their imagination to create something of their own.”
She added the visiting students have taken to the activities.
“Our guests today have definitely been jumping right in and participating with the classmates they came with,” she said. “It’s going great. They seem like they’re having a really great day at Bridgeport.”
Bailey, herself in her first year at Bridgeport Schools, wanted to show her new school to her friend, Zane.
“The teachers are my friends,” she said. Bailey said the school has sparked her interests. “I love math.”
Zane was having was having a fun time.
“I wanted to see what it was like,” he said. “I like it.”
Hunter invited Gio, who had been a Bridgeport Elementary student.
“I think he’d fit very well here for all the activities that we have,” Hunter said.
Gio was impressed with the class structure and range of activities, along with the chance to exercise his creativity.
Ann-Marie invited her friend Cianna
“I just want to let her know it’s a safe place here and she’s welcome to Bridgeport Schools.”
Cianna enjoyed the artistic activities.
“It’s good,” she said.
Bridgeport Elementary School Principal Kamaron Sabinski was happy to share all the school could offer with the nine visiting elementary students.
“I’m very excited about having other students come and visit our incredible school, to be able to spend the day with the nicest, kindest, most responsible children, able to see the innovative lessons that occur in our classrooms and enjoy some of the festivities that we have going on today.”
Fourth grade teacher Morgan Brunner said the day was doubly special, since the visitors got to observe the fourth-grade promotion where students celebrated completion of their elementary education and prepared to enter middle school next school year. The promotion included videos of high points of the final year.
“It’s really nice because they can come here and see what we do in fourth grade,” she said. “It’s great that they got a little bit of an insight.”
She introduced the students to STEM activities.
“A lot of hands-on learning. A lot of collaboration with friends. It’s really important at the end of the school year to keep that going into middle school so they can keep those friendships.”
Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher said nine visiting high schoolers shadowed his students.
“Just a nice day for us to showcase the really great things about Bridgeport,” he said, adding the district has many appealing features. “The biggest thing, I think, is the culture and the atmosphere of how our staff and teaches and everyone cares for their students and knows their students and has good relationships with their students.”
Sophomore Adelyn Canter invited junior Parker Conter and showed him the classes and educational tools, along with some fun end-of-the-year activities.
Parker appreciated the Bulldog culture.
“So far, I like it. It seems like there’s a lot going on, and it’s a very happy place and the teachers seem really nice,” he said. “I think they do a lot for the students here, and it’s very impressive.”
There were times during his three years as a member of the House of Delegates when Bill Flanigan sparred hard with his fellow lawmakers over proposed policy because of a little something called the state’s Constitution.
He warned them, too.
And now that he’s been elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals, Flanigan is looking forward to the day when he and his High Court colleagues have the chance to correct those mistakes (while maybe making that “neener-neener-neener” sound) while interpreting state code the way it was intended.
“I’m looking forward to being able to apply the laws as the legislation determines them to be applied. Not how I want them applied, but how they are intended to be,” Flanigan insisted. “I’ve offered amendments to laws I believed were unconstitutional, and some of those amendments were accepted, and some of them weren’t.
He wanted to meet as many people as possible during his campaign. and Flanigan came away with a much better understanding about his beloved state.
“I’m looking forward to the time when one of those laws comes before us,” he said. “It will give me the chance to help get it right. I think that’s probably one of the coolest things I’m going to be able to do.”
That’s why he campaigned the way he campaigned. Flanigan visited all 55 counties in West Virginia and didn’t hide his love for the state or for its people while attending a plethora of “Meet and Greets” hosted by both Republicans and Democrats. He ate all the chicken and roast beef dinners, and, yes, shook every extended hand and kissed baby after baby while meeting all the people and answering all the questions – the ones he’s allowed to answer, anyway – so he could have the chance to officially fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Beth Walker in June 2025.
Along the way, he advised everyone he could to review his legislative career as a check into his character, and people were impressed, Flanigan still believes, that a candidate for the Supreme Court would travel to all corners and valleys of the state. In fact, he credits those trips for his decisive, 114,828-82,477 victory over appointed Justice Thomas H. Ewing on May 12th.
At least a few times each week, Flanigan was a guest on Wheeling area radio, and most often he’s was on the air while driving across the Mountain State.
“I hope people voted for me because of my honesty, and because I’m very upfront with everyone,” the Justice-elect said. “My voting record as a legislator speaks to my ideals and what I stand for without me having to say a word because of the restrictions we’re under when speaking publicly and to the media.
“I’m hoping that (voting) record helped residents quite a bit when it came to voting for me because I’m proud of my work as a lawmaker. It allowed them to believe that I’m going to stay on point and stay with what the law is,” he said. “That was always my main concern because most amendments I put on bills dealt with keeping a law constitutional, and that was something that was always been important to me and always will be.”
Bill missed his wife and family during his two months on the road visiting all 55 counties in the state of West Virginia.
That was the plan – just be Bill – but it wasn’t easy because Flanigan is a family man.
“I’ll admit it. I had some tough days during the campaign because I was out there all alone, living out of hotels. I missed my family so much,” Flanigan said. “And it was difficult to get a real meal because I didn’t really have the time to eat at the different functions and events because I was busy trying to speak with everyone. There were a lot of nights at 9 p.m. when I would realize I hadn’t eaten anything.
“Then there were other days when I attended three different dinners and had eaten far too much,” he said with a smile. “I know one of these days I’ll be able to get back to my routines with my diet and working out, but nothing will be normal again thanks to the voters of West Virginia.”
And now he goes to work, and even though Gov. Patrick Morrisey has yet to schedule his swearing-in ceremony, Flanigan has visited Charleston to meet future staff members, to interview prospective clerks, and to gather a lay of this new and exciting land.
Flanigan was elected to fill the final two years remaining on retired Justice Beth Walker’s term, and then he plans to run for re-election.
“The job description is that we’re going to be sitting on top of the West Virginia court system. We make the decisions from the top down,” Flanigan said. “We will be reviewing the lower court systems to make sure the laws were applied correctly underneath, and I want to see a better consistency in our courts.
“I’ll be one of five, and we’ll sit down together, listen to arguments, and we’ll make the decision on whether the law was followed the first time correctly. And if it wasn’t, we will remand it back down with a new order saying, ‘This is what we think you need to look at’,” he explained. “We get to look at what’s preserved that was objected to or appealed, and that’s really what we’re limited to.
“It’s about our Constitution. That’s the job. And I can’t wait to get started.”
The Eastern Conference Finals are coming to Wheeling for the first time in 10 years, and we need YOU at WesBanco Arena to bring the energy.
The Nailers return home for the biggest playoff matchup in years.
Game 3 – Wednesday, May 27 at 7:10 PM Game 4 – Friday, May 29 at 7:10 PM Game 5 – Saturday, May 30 at 7:10 PM (if necessary)
This is playoff hockey at its best!
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Sheriff Mike Dougherty reports that on Monday, May 26, 2026, at approximately 12:55 a.m., Marshall County 911 received a call reporting a male subject attempting to force entry into a residence located on Dragon Highway in Cameron, West Virginia. During the incident, the suspect allegedly discharged multiple rounds into the occupied home.
Because the residence is located within the Cameron city limits, the Cameron Police Department initially responded to the scene. Deputies from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist. While officers were en route, Marshall County 911 advised responding units that shots had been fired at the residence.
Upon arrival, officers observed apparent bullet damage to the front of the home and located numerous spent 9mm shell casings along U.S. Route 250. Investigators later determined that approximately fifteen rounds had been fired into the residence, which was occupied by fifteen individuals at the time, including multiple juveniles.
The suspect was identified as Matthew Horn. According to witness statements, Horn had reportedly been involved in a verbal dispute with family members earlier in the evening before arriving at the residence. Witnesses stated that after attempting to gain entry into the home, Horn allegedly fired multiple rounds toward the residence while family members, including children, sought shelter inside.
Deputies and officers from the Cameron Police Department began searching the area for the suspect vehicle, described as a silver or gray Chevrolet Equinox. Officers later located the vehicle on Adams Hill Road and detained Horn without incident.
During the investigation, officers recovered a Taurus PT809 9mm handgun from the vehicle. Following Miranda warnings, Horn allegedly admitted to discharging the firearm into the residence. Evidence collected at the scene included spent shell casings, projectiles recovered from inside the home, and the firearm believed to have been used in the incident.
Matthew Horn has been charged with:
-15 counts of Wanton Endangerment with a Firearm
-15 counts of Attempted Murder
-11 counts of Child Abuse
Creating Risk of Substantial Injury or Bodily Harm
Horn was transported to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office for processing before being lodged at the West Virginia Northern Regional Jail.
Due to the number of juveniles present during the incident, Child Protective Services was notified and will conduct follow-up as necessary.
Sheriff Dougherty would like to commend the responding deputies and officers from the Cameron Police Department for their quick response and coordinated efforts in bringing the situation under control without further injury.
