Good, Bad, Ugly: OVMC Campus

Members of Wheeling Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize City Manager Bob Herron to move forward with the purchase of the expansive property once home to the Ohio Valley Medical Center and Hillcrest. The second reading will take place May 19. MPT Inc. is the owner of the properties located along Chapline Street in Center Wheeling, and the company offered the land to Wheeling in exchange for all past-due amounts owed the city. Be clear, those dollars do not include what Alecto still owes in parking fees, B&O taxes, and utility fees, and the deal will not include the Byrd Juvenile Center.

The Valley Professional Center could become a new police headquarters for the city of Wheeling.

Pros:

The Valley Professional Center would be perfect for a new, stand-alone police station;The building in which Hillcrest operate could be marketed to a system such as WVU Medicine for future psychiatric care;The “west building” is much newer than the structure that housed the original Ohio Valley General Hospital and could be marketed as an office building;The former nurses’ residence needs demolished before it collapses on its own, and that land could be developed as the future location of a new, stand-alone fire department headquarters.

City officials have toured all of the buildings including in the agreement with MPT Inc.

Cons:

There will be a cost for the razing of the nurses’ residence;A predictable debate concerning the demolition of the original OVGH will delay any new development on that hilltop property for unknown amount of time, but such a conversation could produce viable options.

This dilapidated building stands on a three-acre parcel the city has investigated for a new public safety building.

And the Ugly

One more “pro” to add: Making the deal with MPT and planning for the police and fire stations on the campus would pull the city away from the three acres along 19th Street, a property that has been an eyesore for far too long in East Wheeling. Once the agreement is signed for the OVMC campus, the city should then move forward with enforcing city codes in an effort to finally force the property owner to remediate this ugly, embarrassing land. The industrial carnage is relatively sequestered against Big Wheeling Creek and the exit ramp for W.Va. Route 2, but it has remained the first impression for northbound motorists when taking the exit to visit downtown Wheeling. These days, those areas are referred to as “gateways” and rightfully have been deemed important to the image of a community such as the Friendly City. Think about it … what does such a scene make you think each and every time about the city of Wheeling? Progress or continued decline? Read the full article

Flooding on Top of Pandemic

Many areas of the Upper Ohio Valley experienced flash flooding over the weekend after a more than three inches of rain drenched the region several times Saturday afternoon. Flooding was reported in Ohio, Marshall, and Belmont counties, but the Ohio River crested Sunday afternoon at 29.56 feet on Wheeling Island. The waterway is predicted to drop under the action stage of 27 feet by tomorrow morning. “We didn’t have issues with Big Wheeling Creek or the Ohio River,” said Lou Vargo, director of the Emergency Management Agency in Ohio County. “Where we saw the problems was along the streams and run that we have all over the county. “One call that we received was that a pick-up truck overturned along Browns Run, but thankfully we were notified that the occupants were able to get out of that vehicle safely,” he explained. “We had another truck that became trapped on a bridge along Wildlife Road (near Dallas Pike), but the water receded quickly enough that first responder didn’t have to go with the swift water team into the water to rescue them."

A lot of debris was left behind along Elm Street after several downpours drenched the city of Wheeling on Saturday.

Elm Run

For the second time in the past few years, Elm Run flowed over its banks Saturday evening along Popular Avenue and Elm Street in the Woodsdale section of Wheeling. The stream became an issue five years ago when former council representatives David Miller and Don Atkinson led an effort for emergency dredging to clear a large amount of debris that collected over a long period of time.  Several privately owned bridges are present along Elm Street, and the property owners were advised at the time to maintain the clearings beneath the spans. “It was just a case where the owners weren’t aware of the debris under those bridges because they could see the areas where it had collected,” Atkinson explained. “So, after we had it all cleared out, we told the owners about it, and we hoped that would take care of it. “That was a lot of rain and the run-off hit a lot of different areas including where we live in Dimmeydale. On Sunday, you saw those red truck from Panhandle (Cleaning and Restoration) everywhere,” he said. “It brought down a lot of mud and rocks because we were pretty saturated already, but at least a lot of people were home that evening because of the stay-at-home order so they could begin the clean-up immediately.” More than 20 crews from Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration were dispatched Saturday night and Sunday to various residences and complex throughout the Wheeling area. Each employee worked on water and mud extraction, the clearing of soaked drywall, carpet, and padding as well as cleaning the salvageable, according to Josh Contraguerro, vice president of Specialty Services. In some cases, he added, steam cleaning, disinfecting, and removing exterior debris.   Many residents of the Woodsdale neighborhood, however, believe the lumbering that took place on the hilltop between Bethany Pike and Edgington Lane is the direct cause for the flooding.

Crews with Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration were out in my areas of the Upper Ohio Valley over the weekend after more than 2 inches of rain fell on Saturday. Vargo, though, explained on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY) Monday afternoon that Elm Run has a long history of flooding in the Elm Street and America Avenue areas. “It doesn’t overflow very often, but when the area gets hit like that with that much rain in that little time, it does,” he said. “Really, there’s no way for us to determine if what’s occur on that hilltop is the cause, or if it was caused by more than three inches of very hard rainfall. “I know there are residents who have said that they’ve never experienced the run-off along Edgwood Street and that concerns us, and that’s why it would be a good idea for the city to take a hard look at it so what needs done to correct can be done. Atkinson wholeheartedly agrees. “It’s definitely something that needs to be looked at right now,” the former council said. “It is the cause? I don’t know because I’m not the expert on things like that, but I believe the city needs to have those experts come in and take a hard look so everyone will know how to move forward. “If they owners of that property up there need to do some things to make it stop, then that’s what should take place sooner rather than later,” Atkinson said. “Again, that was a lot of rain that fell in a really quick, so it needs to be determined if it would have happened anyway, or if those owners need to get people back up there to make it stop.”

Property owners along Edgewood Street could be seen Sunday clearing mud from the sidewalk and driveways.

Detour Routes.

When officials of the W.Va. Division of Highways released maps for the primary detours through the city of Wheeling, Vargo joined Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard with concerns pertaining to the route utilizing National Road (U.S. Route 40) up and over Wheeling Hill. “We have seen some major slips that area after we have a lot of rain,” Howard explained. “From the very beginning of the I-70 projects, our deputies have kept on eye on it because it’s now our rainy season in the valley. If something happens along that stretch of National Road, we’ll see a big back-up of traffic immediately because of the amount of cars and trucks that have been taking so far. “So far, so good though, and we’ll keep our fingers crossed,” he said. “We usually get a decent amount of rain around here during the spring, and last year it continued through June. Let’s hope that’s not the case again this year.” Several debris barriers were erected by the DOH nine years ago along Wheeling Hill, but where the roadway intersects with Mount Wood Road where a significant project is long overdue, according to the sheriff. “We’ve seen it happen there before and I’m sure we’ll see it again,” Howard said. “The last time, a very large boulder came down and it closed one of the lanes at the top for a while before the debris was finally removed just before the I-70 projects got started. “I know the (DOH) folks in Charleston know about the issue because we were pretty clear about it during the meetings we had leading up to the beginning of the bridge projects, so hopefully we can continue getting lucky,” he said. “So far, the detour has worked pretty well with only a few issues. I do hope more of the truckers choose to take I-470 because of the concerns the people who live in North Wheeling has expressed.” Read the full article

#RealInOV - PS1

More than ever before, our little region of the world is photographed thanks to the camera most of us carry in our pockets and purses. And, when we see something new, or when we come across an issue, we snap. We also take photos of what’s beautiful, and that is why WTRF TV-7 has a daily segment for nature pictures from throughout the Upper Ohio Valley. We live in an area that experiences all four seasons and we’re surrounded by astonishing parks and a plethora of recreational opportunities. Most often, we work hard and then we play hard. We also photograph what we appreciate, like long-time businesses, mentors, and our friends and family because we want the memories as close to us as our cell phones. The following photos represent a smattering of those sentiments from around the valley, and if you would like your photos included in the future, please feel free to send them to [email protected].

It won't be long until kayakers take to Big Wheeling Creek.

Because of safety concerns, the city closed the walking bridge until a private donor came forward to replace it.

The Deluxe Toy & Hobby Shop definitely lives up to its name.

Chef Gene Evans from WVNCC's Culinary Arts Department offering his advice to students prior to a public service.

The state Division of Highways erected a hard-bar system, but three weeks later suddenly closed the Wheeling Suspension Bridge.

Seeing these these signs around the Upper Ohio Valley isn't frequent, but they do exist in most communities..

The Dutton family pulled off the first "Blame My Roots" festival, and the family plans to again this coming July.

The Fort Henry Bridge was constructed in the 1950s, and is part of the Interstate 70 rehabilitation project. Read the full article

Memories of … The ‘Crick’

Those sneakers were fresh off the shelf at Pic-Way but they didn’t stand a chance against the orange coal-mine water running beneath Bethany Pike. The good news was a new pair was purchased the next day and a pair of “crick shoes” were kept in the basement. That’s right, crick. Out the crick. Float the crick. Fish the crick. And fishing has been what kids in the Upper Ohio Valley have done the most on Ohio and Belmont counties along and in Wheeling Creek. Most of the time, the poles were basement relics, but hooks were cheap and the dough ball from the Pizza Inn on Washington Avenue was maybe a dime depending on the manager on duty. And then it was under the Washington Avenue Bridge or beneath the walking bridge that connected Locust Avenue with Wheeling College’s campus. If Pizza Inn didn’t have the bait, big rocks were lifted and crawdads were collected. What ended up on those hooks usually depended on the bait, too, because the dough attracted carp and catfish, but those mini lobsters brought in the bass. It was always catch and release, though, and if the fish weren’t biting the attention turned to those rock-skip contests and treasure hunting for beer can collections. Of course, there was one day when tunneling under Wheeling Creek was thought to be a plausible venture and after some boyhood calculations, the digging began on the north shoreline in Fulton. The crick was low that day so three feet seemed deep enough. #belmontcounty #BigWheelingCreek #MarshallCounty #ohiocounty #UpperOhioValley Read the full article

Wheeling Clearing Encampments Friday

Postings took place today along Wheeling Creek reportedly today and the area will be cleared of the homeless encampments this Friday, according to a memo composed by Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger. The chief included in the memo statistics compiled over a few months. Wheeling Police and members of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department last cleared a large homeless encampment in April after a plethora of criminal complaints were found to be connected to residents of the encampment. While the encampment in question was investigated, it was found to be booby trapped. The homeless population in the city of Wheeling has been counted to be as many as 100 individuals. Youth Services System in East Wheeling has the Winter Freeze Shelter between mid-December and mid-March, and there is not an empty bed. The West Virginia ACLU already has responded via a tweet about four hours ago: "We told the city of Wheeling in April we would consider legal action if they continued to bulldoze encampments where struggling community members are living. Five months later, they've resumed those plans. Moments ago, we filed a federal class action lawsuit to stop them." This is a copy of the notice that was posted near homeless encampments in Wheeling. #BigWheelingCreek #Homeless #ohiocounty #wheeling Read the full article

Local Officials Worry about Debris Along Creeks

Officials on both sides of the Ohio River have voiced concern over the amount of debris in and near local creeks and streams, including Ohio County EMA Director Lou Vargo and Pultney Township Trustee Scott Porter. The Upper Ohio Valley has not experienced much precipitation during the summer months and creek and steams have been running for that past 6 weeks, Vargo reported. “There’s not doubt it has been a hot summer to this point,” he said. “And the extended forecast calls for the same through the month of August. We haven’t had these kinds of temperatures for a few years, and every waterway is running lower than usual. “But when we get one of those storms that dumps several inches in an hour or so, even now that could be an issue,” Vargo continued. “These (creeks and streams) can fill up very quickly depending on the storm, and we’ve seen debris cause problems in the past.” Waterways like Big Wheeling Creek are running very low this summer. Tragedy in Belmont County On June 14, 1990, more than five inches of rain fell on the Shadyside in a very short period of time, and at the time, the ground was already saturated by above-average precipitation. The result was the deadly disaster well-known as the Wegee Creek Flood. The tragedy took 26 lives, destroyed 80 homes, damaged more than 250 structures, and it’s the worst flooding event in Belmont County history. The majority of the victims were discovered in the Ohio River, and the debris created a 15-acre island. #belmontcounty #BigWheelingCreek #BrookeCounty #MarshallCounty #ohiocounty #UpperOhioValley #WegeeCreek Read the full article

Encampment Fires Pose Problems

City safety officials are working with state agencies to determine the best way to address recent fires under one highway bridge and along Big Wheeling Creek behind the Boury Lofts in downtown Wheeling. Wheeling Fire Chief Larry Helms confirmed on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY) Monday that two fire investigations are ongoing because it is possible the incidents involved retaliatory actions on the part of some of the city’s homeless population. “We have had some fires under some of the bridges and in the tent cities,” Helms confirmed. “Sometimes when you are investigating these kids of fires, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly has started them. Right now, we have two ongoing investigations where we are not really sure what started them, but there is a chance at least one of them could have been retaliatory because of disputes that have taken place among some of those folks. “With one of them, we at least suspect that because of information we’ve collected from some people,” the fire chief explained. “We’re still looking into it, and we continue to question people about them because, in these kinds of temperatures, a fire in the areas where these tent cities are could end up being a very bad situation.” Wheeling's firefighters do training that teaches them how to be safe in wooded areas. #BigWheelingCreek #Homeless #interstate70 #OhioRiver #TheWatchdog #wheeling #wheelingfiredepartment #wheelingpolice Read the full article

Encampment Fires Pose Problems

City safety officials are working with state agencies to determine the best way to address recent fires under one highway bridge and along Big Wheeling Creek behind the Boury Lofts in downtown Wheeling. Wheeling Fire Chief Larry Helms confirmed on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY) Monday that two fire investigations are ongoing because it is possible the incidents involved retaliatory actions on the part of some of the city’s homeless population. “We have had some fires under some of the bridges and in the tent cities,” Helms confirmed. “Sometimes when you are investigating these kids of fires, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly has started them. Right now, we have two ongoing investigations where we are not really sure what started them, but there is a chance at least one of them could have been retaliatory because of disputes that have taken place among some of those folks. “With one of them, we at least suspect that because of information we’ve collected from some people,” the fire chief explained. “We’re still looking into it, and we continue to question people about them because, in these kinds of temperatures, a fire in the areas where these tent cities are could end up being a very bad situation.” Wheeling's firefighters do training that teaches them how to be safe in wooded areas. #BigWheelingCreek #Homeless #interstate70 #OhioRiver #TheWatchdog #wheeling #wheelingfiredepartment #wheelingpolice Read the full article

Howard Prepared for Four More Years

When Tom Howard was elected as Ohio County Sheriff in 2016, he faced competition in the primary and in the general election. For the recent June 9 voting, Howard did not face a challenger in the Democratic primary, and no one ran in the Republican primary. The sheriff is well aware the Ohio County Executive Republican Committee could produce a candidate for the ballot in November, so for now, he’ll simply enjoy the 5,000-plus votes he collected although unopposed. “If that’s what happens, I’ll be OK with it because when I filed, I didn’t know who else might,” Howard explained. “It’s been a busy four years, but we all worked as a team to get a lot accomplished, and I am very proud of that. I’m looking forward to the next four years.” Howard and Schultz work with local companies for donations, including Southwest Energy. It’ll Be Fun, They Said The sheriff of Ohio County, per state code, is the official collector of county taxes and select a chief deputy to manage the law enforcement operation. In Ohio County, though, Howard is very involved with his chiefs and deputies when it comes to fighting crime. There have been shootings, a murder, more than a hundred overdoses thanks to persistent drug trafficking, traffic issues and fatal accidents, the pros and cons of the gas and oil industries, and, oh yeah, something called a coronavirus pandemic. #BigWheelingCreek #ohiocounty #ohiocountyema #OhioCountyHealthDepartment #OhioCountySherrif #OhioRiver #UpperOhioValley Read the full article