Single-point entry and trained officers to bring long overdue protections and updates at suggestion of Sheriff

At a recent meeting of the Grant County Commission, Sheriff Steve Wratchford presented a detailed proposal aimed at enhancing security measures at the courthouse. The proposal comes in light of recent disturbances and growing safety concerns within the facility.
“We must prioritize safety and not settle for less,” Wratchford stated, referencing the potential liabilities that could arise from inadequate security measures. He highlighted two recent security incidents that underscore the urgency for reform: one involving a disruptive individual who caused a scene before fleeing, and another incident where a man with mental health issues required police intervention after entering the courthouse.

Read more: Grant County Courthouse to tighten security after recent incidents

By Ty McClung 
West Virginia University
On a warm summer day in late May, about 100 people are waiting for their turn to go inside the Neighborhood S.H.O.P., located in the annex of Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia. 
Inside the S.H.O.P. – which stands for Showers Healthcare Outreach Program – they will find resources like naloxone, clothing, first-aid supplies, food, showers, and people offering services from rental to legal assistance. Director Derek Hudson says the no-barrier organization aids almost 2,000 people a month.

Read more: ‘Not in the Political Appetite’: Despite decades of research, W.Va. counties are not spending...

A Grant County man is facing multiple charges after he escaped from the back of a police cruiser, fled into the woods and discarded his ankle monitor along the way.
The incident occurred on  the afternoon of June 4 when officers with the Grant County Sheriff’s Department received  a call from the area of North Fork Highway about a possible probation/parole violation. 
Members of the probation and parole office received a tip that their parolee, Blake Michael Juker, 23, of 4534 North Fork Highway, had violated his supervised parole terms and conditions by possessing a firearm. The officers investigating the case noted that Juker had made threats toward law enforcement that he would kill them. 

Read more: Man arrested for escaping from back of police cruiser

During their June 26 meeting, the Grant County Commission discussed briefly the possibility of expanding the courthouse campus through the purchase of the Main Street United Methodist Church, located directly next to the existing courthouse facility. 
The commission said they had been informed that the church was likely to have their final service in the coming weeks and could potentially be looking to sell the building. 

Read more: County discusses expanding courthouse campus

New project to open on Valley Street in space leased from SRRDA

West Virginia University Medicine Grant Memorial Hospital (GMH) announced last week that work is underway to open a Rapid Care Walk-In Clinic in Petersburg on Valley Street. 
In cooperation with the Grant County Commission, the former Halterman building has been added to the existing lease agreement between the county and GMH. 

Read more: GMH to open Rapid Care Clinic while renovations are done on Urgent Care

A Petersburg woman is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing a leased vehicle that she had borrowed from a friend.

Veronica Danielle Tingler, of 514 Franklin Pike, Petersburg, has been charged with grand larceny after the alleged victim reported his leased 2021 Ford Escape Sport ECO stolen to the West Virginia State Police.

According to the police report filed on the incident, the victim told officers that he and Tingler were friends and that she had been having trouble with her older vehicle.

To help her out, he offered to let her use his vehicle for a week in October 2024.

The victim told officers that they had originally agreed to let Tingler use the vehicle for the next week but he had explained to her that the SUV was a rental so he would need it back after that time.

The victim told officers that he had multiple conversations with Tingler about needing to return the vehicle, explaining that he would get in trouble with the rental company if the SUV was not returned soon.

Read more: Petersburg woman charged with grand larceny for stealing a rental vehicle she had borrowed from a...

 Grant County’s former ambulance director has filed a lawsuit claiming he was removed from the position due to whistle-blower retaliation and discrimination following an incident in which an ambulance driver illegally pulled a concealed firearm and physically punched a suspect during a domestic violence incident.

Robert Funk worked as the county’s Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) since August 2017 until February 2024 when he was removed from the position.

In the first section of his complaint, which was filed last month in the Grant County Circuit Court, Funk described an incident in 2020-21 when Grant County Ambulance was contacted by Grant Memorial Hospital and requested a mental hygiene patient be transported out of the county. After the transport, Funk contacted the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services and was advised not to transport mental hygiene patients in the future.

Read more: Former ambulance director files suit against the county, claims retaliation (Issue surrounding a...

 Grant County Schools will be hosting the Charleston Clay Center’s Clay2Go Outreach Exhibit, a large exhibit that offers interactive education and experience with scientific concepts.

Grant County Superintendent Mitch Webster said he saw the exhibit on display in another area and was impressed with the scientific interactivity and quickly began working to bring it to Grant County.

“There was a long wait list and a lot of work that goes into something like this, but I came back and went to Ms. [Linda] Carlson and asked if she would take this on and get it arranged, and she did, and I greatly appreciate that,” Webster explained.

Read more: Interactive science exhibit comes to Grant County from Charleston