Local News
Lester firefighters cope with gas tanker
A stuck gasoline tanker tied up Lester firefighters for more than eight hours early Wednesday morning after treacherous road conditions caused the truck to lose traction going up a large hill and slide backward into an embankment, a fire official said.
Assistant chief Gary Taylor said the department was dispatched about midnight to check and evaluate the truck’s situation in the “S” curves on W.Va. 305 in Surveyor. Firefighters found the truck against an embankment and unable to move. He said although the tank was empty, the situation was still dangerous because of the highly flammable fumes coupled with the possibility of other drivers sliding into the tanker while trying to navigate around the stuck truck.
Firefighters had a wrecker dispatched to the scene, along with a Division of Highways snow plow, to assist with attempts to free the massive vehicle. The truck, from Eagle Transport, had just made a delivery to a gasoline station in Glen Daniel and was traveling toward the turnpike, Taylor said.
While waiting for the wrecker and snow plow to arrive, firefighters directed traffic around the truck in an effort to navigate other vehicles away from the tanker.
About 7:45 a.m., they learned the tow truck had been delayed. However, the DOH continued to scrape and treat the hill with abrasives and salt until enough of the ice and snow had melted for the tractor-trailer to regain traction and continue up the hill on its own. Firefighters followed the truck to make sure it had no further problems in its slow trek to enter the turnpike at MacArthur.
Firefighters were back in their station shortly after 8 a.m.
- Local News
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22 dogs euthanized in Summers County animal cruelty case
Twenty-two dogs have been euthanized after Summers County authorities say they found the dogs “sick and in distress” and living in “disgusting” conditions.
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Owner of Beaver Hardware optimistic about future of business
Julie Mills lost everything in her warehouse at Beaver Hardware when weekend floodwaters damaged the inventory in the almost century old store.
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Health care provider to receive federal funds
Community Health Systems Inc., has been awarded $1.8 million in federal funds to help citizens of Raleigh, Fayette and Wyoming counties continue to receive quality accessible health care at affordable costs, said U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall on Monday.
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Public meeting set
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a public meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Summers County Memorial Building, 97 Park Ave., Hinton, to provide the latest information about the Bluestone Dam.
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DEP seeking public comment on impaired streams, lakes
The Department of Environmental Protection has developed a draft list of West Virginia’s impaired streams and lakes.
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SCHOOL CLOSINGS and DELAYS
Click HERE to go to the West Virginia Department of Education with up-to-date school closings and delays by county.
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Beckley to host SkillsUSA state leadership competition
Beckley will play host next weekend to 540 students from throughout West Virginia competing in the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference.
- Calendar — Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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Beckley woman dies in Woodlawn Avenue fire
A Beckley woman died Monday night in a fire at her home in the 300 block of Woodlawn Avenue. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, according to Beckley Fire Department Chief Kevin Taylor.
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Crews still working to reopen major road artery
A portion of Airport Road in Beaver closed by flood damage since early Saturday should re-open this morning, DOH officials say.
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22 dogs euthanized in Summers County animal cruelty case
