Drug Courts One Option In Reducing Prison Overcrowding FAIRMONT -- As in many other states, the prison population in West Virginia is increasing quickly. Although violent crimes are on the decline, the population of West Virginia's prisons is quickly outgrowing the capacity of the state's facilities, according to Joe Thornton, deputy secretary of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, which is the agency that oversees the Division of Corrections. Currently the state has room for 5,000 prisoners in state prisons. However, there are now 6,200 inmates who have been sentenced to terms in state prisons, Thornton said. That means there are 1,200 prisoners who should be confined to state prisons but are instead sitting in regional jails awaiting transfer to prisons when a bed opens up. [continues 906 words]
Students Warned To Be Wary Of Drugs And Those Who Sell Them MONONGAH - Some special visitors came to Monongah Elementary Tuesday to encourage students to stay off drugs. West Virginia State Police Trooper John McDougal, Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Todd Cole and Fairmont Police Cpl. Donnie Neal, the city DARE officer, spoke to students Tuesday afternoon. It's all part of this week's drug-awareness activities. This week is red-ribbon drug awareness week. Activities are held all week long in schools all over Marion County and the state to warn children of the dangers of drug abuse. [continues 160 words]
FAIRMONT -- Undercover officers with the Three Rivers Drug Task Force seized pipes, bowls, water bongs and other items "designed to be used primarily for smoking drugs" from a Fairmont tobacco store on Tuesday, city police said. In executing a search warrant at the Smoker Friendly Store at 915 Country Club Road, the officers seized "over 75 marijuana bowls or pipes, approximately 18 water bongs, sets of digital scales, screens, rolling papers and other items," Fairmont Police Chief Mark Hayes said. "No one has been charged at this time, but arrest warrants will be obtained as the investigation continues," the chief said in a statement issued Wednesday. [continues 201 words]
Three Fifth-Graders Win Bicycles As Part Of D.A.R.E. Essay Contest FAIRMONT -- Three local fifth-grade graduates proudly wheeled brand new bikes out of the Fairmont City Police Department headquarters Monday as a reward in the academic D.A.R.E. program's annual essay contest. "We had some really good essays in there, but these guys surpassed," said county D.A.R.E. Officer Don Neal of the prize winners. As part of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program held each year within area elementary schools, students were given a final assignment to write an essay about what they learned in the course, how it was helpful to them and why they plan to say no to drugs and alcohol in the future. Then, these essays were evaluated by Neal, the Fairmont City Police Chief and the F.O.P. president, and the best three were chosen to receive brand new bikes as prizes. [continues 420 words]
Testimony In Case Involving Penn's Murder Resumes On Monday Jarring tales of drug use and violence by students at a small college. Testimony about lockboxes stuffed with hundreds and even thousands of dollars and derringers and other handguns. And murder, with one drug dealer allegedly shooting another. It sounds like a Hollywood script, but the setting is Fairmont, home to 6,000-plus students at Fairmont State College. A Marion County jury of five men and seven women is hearing from a mini-parade of fresh-faced collegians. [continues 1219 words]
