(File Photo) Students and teachers protest the closure of Paden City High School in June.

During 2024 the region faced two Ohio River floods, a legal battle to keep a high school open, demolition of a historic but blighted swimming pool, re-election of a United States president deemed controversial by some and revered by others, and much more.

Following is a look back at the Wetzel Chronicle’s top stories of 2024:

Wetzel County Schools’ Closure and Consolidation Plans

Wetzel County Schools Superintendent Cassandra Porter called for the closure of Paden City High School in June, citing health concerns for students and staff because of issues surrounding the city’s water table being tainted with the dry cleaning chemical PCE.

Her decision was challenged in Wetzel County Circuit Court and Judge Richard Wilson ruled to reopen the school. Porter asked the West Virginia Supreme Court to intervene, but it ruled that the school could remain open until an appeal process was completed.

The attempted closure was protested by many in the community, some of whom claimed Porter’s plan had nothing to do with health concerns, but was rather just a method of closing the facility.

Fast forward to December, and the West Virginia Department of Education approved the school district’s plan to consolidate four high schools into two starting during the 2025-26 school year. The plan includes closing Hundred High School and consolidating it into Valley High School and closing Paden City High School and consolidating it into Magnolia High School and the New Martinsville School. The Wetzel County Board of Education voted in November to close Paden City and Hundred Thu\is year, Wetzel County students earned a proficiency at just 40.63% in English/Language arts, 35.56% in Math and 25.32% in Science. The county;s 11th graders scored proficiency at 41.54% in English/ Language arts, 14.62% in Math, and 24.62% in Science.

The move to consolidate the county’s four schools into two began in August during a work session when Wetzel County school officials made the recommendation. The staffs are expected to be combined and the new schools to have new names, colors and mascots. The School Board has plans to consolidate the two new schools into one new facility at a later date.

Public Service Commission Finds City Did Not Comply With State Law

CHARLESTON – “To ensure sufficient notice is provided,” hearings into whether Paden City and Paden City Municipal Water Works (combined the City) is a distressed or failing utility were rescheduled by state regulators Monday to January 29.

They had been set for Thursday, January 11, however the Public Service Commission of

West Virginia found the “city provided in-adequate notice to customers and did not comply” with state law in its public notification about the hearings.

As a result, the Commission will hold an evidentiary hearing beginning at 1:30 p.m. on January 29, at Paden City Municipal Building, 208 W. Main, Paden City.

Thereafter, the Commission will hold a public comment hearing beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the same location to take public comments.

On a motion from legal staff on Oct. 4,2023, the PSC agreed to consider whether the City was a distressed or failing utility.

The Commission legal staff said it discovered through investigation that the residents of Paden City for years have dealt with contaminated water from a chemical commonly used in dry cleaning called Tetrachloroethylene or PCE.

Paden City provides sewer service to 1,161 customers. Paden City Municipal Water Works provides water utility service to 1,204 customers in Wetzel and Tyler counties.

Wissmach Glass Celebrates 120 years of Art Glass

In the year 1904, President Franklin Roosevelt was our country’s President. The average life expectancy was 47 years. Our country had only 8,000 cars and 144 miles of paved roads and Paden City had no paved streets. Fortunately it had the two most important resources a new business needed, access to the railroad and abundant supply of natural gas. The glass industry needed the bulk delivery of raw materials to create the finished glass. The railroad also gave the new business the ability to ship their glass around the world. It is almost unbelievable how Paden City has changed in the years since 1904, and yet, Paul Wissmack Glass has remained a viable business.

The town of Paden City can be said to have been built on the glass industry from the early part of the century until the 1960s. Paden City Glass ceased operations in 1951. Later Corning Glass Works closed their operations.

West Virginia at one time had more art glass companies than most any other state. But foreign competition has caused the closures of all, with the exception of a few. Paden City is very fortunate that two of the three West Virginia’s glass industries are within their city limits. Marble King produces a million industrial marbles in a day’s production. Paul Wissmach Art Glass Company produces some of the finest art glass in the world. For a century now, glass to create stained glass windows has been manufactured in the facility.

Tucked along the Ohio River next to the railroad tracks, the business goes mostly unnoticed by those who pass through town. The building’s walls prevent those who may pass by from seeing the magic of color glasses creation. Glass begins with high quality sand that comes from Kentucky. To create the hundreds of colors, salts, metals are mixed by hand. Some glass panels are almost transparent allowing light to pass. Other glass panels are almost opaque and take on a milky undertone.

In 1903, Paul Wissmach joined Joseph Reininger to build and operate the Empire Glass Company. A year later the two men dissolved their partnership and Paul continued the operations under a new name, Ohio Valley Glass Company. Then in 1910 the name changed to; Paul Wissmach Glass Company. Sixteen years later in 1926, Paul passed away and the plant’s ownership transferred to his nephew, Alfred Vollmar. Marguerite Vollmar, Alfred’s sister, became manager, a position she held until 1987.

At the age of 100 Marguerite passed away and the company was transferred to Paul Feldmeier. Paul had been an employee for many years and understood the management of the plant. The company stayed in the Feldmeier family until it was sold in 2021 to Jason Wilburn, President and CEO and his wife, Annabelle Javier, CCO of Pittsburgh Pa.

Jason explained that he had for a good while wanted to own a family business. When he discovered the Wissmach Company was for sale, he and Annabelle saw their opportunity.

Since they took over operations three years ago, they have made changes that will help the company going forward. Recently they completed work on a bag house that will capture emission from the plant. Jason explained the million dollar addition is not required, but to be proactive to invest in.

Wissmach developed its distinct palette of colors using recipes from over the last century. Chemicals mixes with lime, soda, and silica and then heated to 2,200°F, (1,200°C) using natural gas in one of Wissmach’s 13 fire brick furnaces. Unique blends of 2 to 3 colors with varying degrees of transparency are mixed by hand before being rolled out and annealed. Annealing is the process of reheating the glass, then allowing it to cool slowly, increasing its strength.

The factory floor looks much as it did back in 1904. The process has not changed and the Paden City facility has produced millions of tons of art glass. European churches, contain stained glass created in the furnaces of Paden City.

Jason Wilburn and Annabelle Javier have a vision to grow the 120 year old factory, and keep it viable for another 100 years. They have the experience and expertise to keep this historical operation in the Ohio Valley. Paul Wissmach Glass Company will celebrate its 120th Anniversary later this year.

Ohio River Floods Twice in Two Weeks

Residents and businesses had to deal with the Ohio River flooding not just once but twice within about a two-week period. While people were cleaning up from the first flood on April 5, Mother Nature decided to dump another round of rain on the region, causing the river water to exceed its banks again. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency and FEMA was called in to provide disaster funding relief to those impacted.

Broadband Internet Dedicated in Wetzel County

The installation of 87 miles of new fiber cable was celebrated in August. More than 1,900 households in Wetzel and Harrison Counties now have the option to purchase broadband internet service thanks to the project.

The project began about five years ago via a partnership between U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., the Regional Economic Development Partnership, USDA ReConnect, Wetzel County Commission, Citynet and civil engineers Thompson & Litton.

The project was funded via $2.1 million in USDA ReConnect grant funds, matched by the Wetzel County Commission, bringing the total investment to $4.2 million. The fiber network serves a 48-square-mile area, providing high-speed internet to 1,909 households, five educational facilities, one healthcare center, and nine community facilities. Communities along this new corridor include Hundred, Knob Fork, Porter Falls, Reader, Pine Grove, Hastings, Smithfield and Folsom in Wetzel County, and Wallace, Dola, Meadowbrook and Bridgeport in Harrison County. Through RED, Wetzel County was awarded the USDA’s ReConnect 50/50 loan/grant combination, covering the entire cost of the project.

Straight Line Storms Cause Damage in New Martinsville

High winds and heavy rain swept through the area on Sunday evening, May 26, causing localized flooding, and taking down several trees. Reports of up to 2,000 people without power in New Martinsville alone, plus damage to businesses and homes were the result of the straight line storms that carried wind gusts of up to 90 miles an hour.

Heaviest hit was the Speedway station along Rt. 2, at the River View Plaza which had an electric pole snap in two bringing down electric wires and a transformer. Also damaged in the plaza was the Peking Buffet Restaurant which had much of its roof destroyed.

A line of Pine Trees and a large section of the privacy fence behind Wal-Mart were also destroyed. Several other areas suffered damage and were without power as well. Paden City had a large tree come down on North Seventh Avenue taking out power lines and spreading debris.

Electric crews from New Martinsville and other utility companies were quickly on the scene and restored power as soon as possible. No injuries were reported.

Historic Bruce Pool Demolished

Demolition of the historic Bruce Pool happened in September to make way for a future splash pad at Bruce Park in New Martinsville. City leaders decided to close the above-ground swimming pool in 2010 because it did not meet new safety measures related to suction entrapment avoidance. The cost estimate to bring it up to current standards was $250,000.

Until funding is gathered for the new splash pad project the site will remain a grassy one.

BOYS 2024 CLASS A STATE TRACK MEET

Magnolia’s Dubale Greathouse wins Gold in the WV Class A High Jump at the 2024 Class A State Track Meet in Charleston.

West Virginia Girls Class A 2024 State Track Meet Seven Wetzel County Girls Earn Gold Medals

The Girls 2024 West Virginia State Track Meet had some big players from Wetzel County as New Martinsville’s Jenna Blain came up a double gold winner with runaway victories in the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 15.64 good for 10 points and the 300 meter hurdles in a time 46.86 good for 10 points. She also finished third in the open 200 meter dash in a time of 27.51 to pick up the bronze medal and six more points. She ended her senior season with the Blue Eagles with 27 points in the State Track Meet to finish as the third highest scorer.

Valley High School sophomore Laken Dawson also stood out as she took first place in the long jump winning the gold with a leap of 16-10.00 good for 10 individual points. She also finished 4th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.10 good for five points.

Winning an individual gold medal was Areonna Zarco of Hundred High School who took first place in the girls Discus with a throw of 111-02 good for 10 individual points as she beat Williamstown’s Reagan Corbett who had a throw of 108-07.

Paden City High School had a gold medal winning team as the girls shuttle hurdle team finished in first place with a time of 1:08.85 good for 10 team points and individual medals for team members Katie Householder, Jocelyn Sawinski, Haven Anderson and Mady Still.

Paden City Ordered to Install Manual Transfer Switch

The West Virginia Public Service Commission in July ordered Paden City to install a manual transfer switch to provide backup power for its air stripper – the unit that keeps toxic PCE out of the municipality’s drinking water – in case of another power outage like the one that happened in 2023. The service commission issued the order on July 23, noting that it had been eight months since the city said it would install an automatic transfer switch.

In 2023 during an electrical storm, power was lost to the air stripper, allowing the PCE, aka tetrachloroethylene or perchloroethylene, to flow into the city’s water system.

The air stripper was installed to remove the PCE, which is in the city’s water source, its underground aquifer. Federal and state environmental officials have traced the source of the PCE to the former Band Box dry cleaners building, which is located adjacent to Paden City High School and its football field.

Because the water system had become tainted with PCE, the commission ordered that the city’s water customers not use or drink the water until the system could be flushed out. The process took weeks to remedy, leaving residents to rely on bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Back in January, city officials told commission members that the air stripper was still not connected to the city’s backup generator because they were waiting for the transfer switch. At that time, city officials believed it would arrive “within the next two weeks,” but apparently it did not.

The U.S. EPA continues to investigate the contamination and plans to create a plan for remediation in 2025. EPA officials say continued testing of the water shows that it is below the allowable limits and is safe to drink and use. The air stripper, they said, is working as it should. Some residents, however, do not believe any amount of PCE should be allowed in drinking water. The EPA has dubbed the chemical a known neurotoxin, kidney toxin, liver toxin and a probable carcinogen.

Dollar General Closes, to Be Rebuilt

The Dollar General in Paden City was closed and razed in September to make way for a new Dollar General Market. Construction began recently and the new store is expected to open early to mid 2025. The new store will employ between 10 and 15 people. It will offer expanded produce, refrigerated and frozen food offerings, dairy products and fresh meats.

November General Election

More than 6,000 ballots were cast by Wetzel County residents during the Nov. 5 general election. Of the 10,067 registered voters in the county, 6,203 ballots were cast.

That equates to a 61.62 percent voter turnout. On Election Day, 4,214 votes were cast and during the Early Voting period, 1,989 ballots were cast.

In the United States presidential contest, Republican former President Donald Trump beat Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris by garnering 295 electoral votes; 270 were needed to win. Harris received 226 electoral votes. Regarding the popular vote, Trump received 72,642,855 votes or 50.9 percent, and Harris received 67,958,303 votes or 47.6 percent.

Trump won the state of West Virginia and Wetzel County followed suit with Trump receiving 4,685 votes and Harris receiving 1,290 votes.

Wetzel County voters also cast ballots for other presidential contenders on the ballot: 31 votes for Chase Oliver; 21 votes for Jill Stein; and 103 votes for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. There were also 13 write-in votes.

Regarding local races, Wetzel County Prosecutor Timothy Haught, a democrat, ran unopposed and retained his seat with 4,718 votes. Haught has served as the county’s prosecutor since 2001. Republican Eric Daugherty ran unopposed for sheriff of Wetzel County, garnering 5,183 votes. He replaced Sheriff Mike Koontz who retired.

Wetzel County Assessor Scott Lemley, a democrat, retained his position after defeating challenger Republican Tim Bassett during the election. Lemley received 3,439 votes and Bassett received 2,530 votes. Lemley has been the assessor since 2013.

Paden City Cardboard Boat Races

Many sank, some floated and most all had a splashing good time during the annual Matthew Barker Boat Races held on the Ohio River in Paden City on Oct. 1.

Organized by Paden City High School, the event challenged Wetzel County students and a few schools from outside the county to construct boats that could shove off from the Paden City Park boat ramp, round a blue buoy a few yards away and then make it back to shore.

Crafted with extra thick cardboard and painted black, the boat navigated by St. Mary’s High School students dominated this year’s races and won first place in the high school division.

The event has students incorporate a few different subjects including art, math and science. This year’s theme was 1980s Arcade Games with students decorating their boats with Super Mario, Kong, Tetris, Star Wars and more. Music from the 1980s was played on a speaker during the races.

Marble King Celebrates 75th Anniversary

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Marble King of Paden City hosted a two-day event at Parlor on Main in New Martinsville on Nov. 14-15. Open to the public, the events included exhibits highlighting the company’s history and a look at the company’s iconic products and milestones. Collectors, families, and fans of all ages were invited to join in the festivities. There was also a dinner on the evening of Nov. 15. For the past 40 years, Beri Fox has led the company as its president and CEO. Fox’s parents, the late Roger and Jean Howdyshell, took over ownership of the business in 1983 with Roger managing the company many years prior to that. The marbles are used as toys and in industrial and artistic capacities around the world.

Superintendent’s Contract Approved

In March, the Wetzel County Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract with its superintendent, Cassandra Porter. Her annual salary for the first year would be $142,500. The second year’s annual salary, $151,050. And the third year’s annual salary, $160,113.

Paden City Female Wrestler Wins at State Tourney

In March, Paden City High School’s Rory Amos took top honors at the West Virginia State Wrestling tournament in Huntington. It is a first for girls wrestling at Paden City. “Rory has worked hard this past season with a focused goal to do what no one else has done and to show others, especially girls, that anything is possible,” said Head Coach Mike Shreeves.

Ham, Bacon and Egg Sale

On March 8, the Wetzel County FFA and 4-H held their annual Ham, Bacon and Egg sale. The 56th annual event drew about 500 competitors, buyers, and family and friends. FFA students from Hundred, Valley, Paden City and New Martinsville High Schools entered their prize farm products to be judged and auctioned off. In the past, ham and bacon were put up for bid based on the weight of the product. This year the items were auctioned off to a variety of bidders In 2023 the auction brought in $97,144. The 2024 event brought in $99,265.

Rotarians ‘Rise Against Hunger’

Local Rotary Clubs of Glen Dale, New Martinsville, Moundsville and Wheeling packaged 30,000 meals to help the worldwide fight against hunger on March 16, aka Rise Against Hunger event. “We’re humbled today by how many area peo- ple showed up for this event. It’s just awesome,” said Larry Blalock, a member of the New Martinsville Rotary. The event lasted about two hours.

Basketball Players Recognized by WV Sports Writers

Six local basketball players were recognized in April by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2023-24 season. Named to the 2nd Team All State Class AA team was Magnolia’s Hayden Pyles. Also named from Magnolia to the Honorable Mention All State Team Class AA was Kingston Christian. Class A All State Honorable Mention Players included Gavin Derby from Valley, Mickey Guerra from Paden City, Colt Sandy from Hundred and Brady Strode, Tyler Consolidated.

Retired Teacher Wins Book Award

Wetzel County resident and retired teacher Jan Thornton Jones announced in April that her latest book, “Angel In City Park” won Best Children’s Book for all four regions of the Regional Book Festivals. The Regional Book Festivals are comprised of the Great Northwest Book Festival, the Great Southwest Book Festival, the Great Southeast Book Festival and the Great Midwest Book Festival.

Back Home Festival

In June, the award winning Back Home Festival took place in New Martinsville. The festival featured 18 musical acts during a three-day period. It attracts thousands of people each year. In addition to music, there are vendors, food and camp sites available. 2024 acts included: Sierra Hull, The Wailers, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Grateful Grass, the Davisson Brothers Band, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Mama Said String Band, John Welton & the Awakening, Shapes, Oyo, Ezra Hamilton, Zuffalo, Option22, Ananga Martin, Bucket of Puppies, Sara Hulse Band, The Pussyfooters and Justin Bucher.

Town And Country Days

The Town and Country Days festival was held in August. Elizabeth McDonald was selected as the 2024 Miss Town and Country Days. Lorelei Morgan was named Miss Teen and Madison Greathouse was named Miss Pre-Teen. Little Miss Town and Country days was Adalynn Blake.

In addition to the queen contests, fairgoers enjoyed displays, track events, music and fair food. Local singer Justin Bucher also performed.

Paden City Labor Day

Hundreds of people gathered for the annual Labor Day Parade in Paden City. The parade featured 110 units, including various union locals, politicians and marching bands.

Paden City High Marching Band Wins Competitions

The Paden City High School Marching Band had an eventful competition season. It received the Honor Band designation for both parade and field show at the Oil & Gas Festival, along with a top soloist award for Evelyn Hatcher.At the Parkersburg South competition, the band secured first place in Class Red for auxiliary, percussion, field commander and band.

The band also excelled at the Ripley Viking Festival, earning Class C awards for first place field commander, first place band, and outstanding soloist Aaron Trader. It also won divisional awards for first place in music, visual, and were named Division 2 grand champions.

Al-Janaby Acquitted on All Counts

A jury found Abdul Kahar Al-Janaby, 43, of New Martinsville not guilty of sex-related crimes against a child during a trial held Dec. 9-11. The verdict was rendered in Wetzel County Circuit Court on the evening of Dec. 11 by the jury consisting of five women and seven men. It took the jury about four hours to make their decision regarding the unanimous verdict.

Witnesses were called to testify by both the defense and state including the alleged victim in the case and Al-Janaby. Al-Janaby was originally indicted last May on 24 felony counts of sex-related crimes against a child. The state conceded that six of those counts should be deleted and not considered by the jury. The jury then considered 18 counts instead.