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Opening date announced for new Harman school

HARMAN - The Harman Education Association has made two major announcements this week in preparation for its new Christian microschool scheduled to open in the former Harman K-12 School building this fall. The new school will host its first day of classes on Sept. 8, officials announced, adding that Rev. Brad Spencer has been named the school's administrator. Spencer brings 26 years of ministry experience to the school, including stints in missionary work, seminary teaching abroad, prison chaplaincy, and the public school system. "We are delighted to announce that Brad Spencer will be ...

Beverly couple facing child abuse charges

BEVERLY — A Randolph County couple is facing multiple felony charges after a child in their care was allegedly found bound by zip ties in a bath room. Licha Faye Ortiz, 54, and Manuel Ortiz Jr., 69, are each charged with one count of child abuse creating serious risk of bodily injury or death and one count of conspiracy, both felonies. Both are currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, each on a $150,000 cash-only bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate Mike Dyer. According to the criminal complaint, filed by Trooper Andrew C. Jordan with the Elkins Detachment of the ...

NWS confirms Randolph County tornado

GANDY — The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down in Randolph County near Gandy on July 21, the night severe storms caused flooding throughout the region. The NWS said the tornado hit at approximately 6:55 p.m. and was on the ground for close to a minute. "There was an EF1 tornado confirmed in Randolph County with estimated peak winds of 95 miles per hour," National Weather Service Meteorologist Harrison Sincavage told The Inter-Mountain Wednesday. "The trek length was 0.9 miles, so almost 1 mile, and the width was 250 yards or about two-and-half ...

Elkins man sentenced on federal child sex abuse charge

BALTIMORE, MD – A federal judge sentenced an Elkins man to more than two decades in prison for child sex abuse crimes, officials said. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Donald Robert Wilt Edwards, Sr., 30, of Elkins, to 25 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting a minor, the United States Attorney's Office of Maryland announced in a press release Wednesday. According to the press release, U.S Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore ...

Man sentenced for 2025 Halliehurst break-in

ELKINS — A Randolph County man was sentenced this week to one to 10 years in prison for a felony charge and one year on a misdemeanor charge after breaking into the Halliehurst Mansion on the campus of Davis & Elkins College in 2025. Keith Lance Ray, 36, was sentenced Monday by Randolph ...

Sentencing set for Elkins cemetery owner

WHEELING - A sentencing hearing has been set for the owner of the Elkins Memorial Gardens cemetery, who defrauded hundreds of customers, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced this week. Jeffery Phares, 65, of Fayetteville, is set to be sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 10 in Wheeling Federal Court before U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey.. Phares pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March and admitted to “misleading victims who placed orders for grave markers, accepting their money, sending design approvals and then using the funds for his personal use.” It was indicated in March ...