Carper under federal investigation; family searching for missing man; and more Kanawha Valley news, events and obits

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper is under federal investigation after alleged misconduct.Photo byKanawha County Commission

It’s Friday! Today is July 21. The weather forecast in the Kanawha Valley is looking great this weekend. There’s a lot going on, so get out and support your community and enjoy the sunshine if you can.

Your weekend weather:

• Friday: 🌩️Slight chance of thunderstorms. High in the 80s.
• Saturday: 🌤️ Mostly sunny. High in the 80s.
• Sunday: ☀️Sunny. High in the 80s.

Here’s what you need to know to start your weekend. Have a good one!

NEED TO KNOW

Kanawha Commission President Kent Carper is under federal investigation after alleged misconduct at Daniel Boone Park in Charleston.

• What to know: In May of this year, Carper was accused of exposing himself to a woman while parked at a public park in Charleston. Days after the incident, Carper had a stroke and also underwent quadruple bypass surgery. While hospitalized, his daughter released a statement about the park incident saying, “My father's illness and his apparent confusion have been misinterpreted as being something inappropriate.”
• Other allegations against Carper have since been made. He's been accused of emailing a county employee – the wife of one of the CPD patrolmen who responded to the alleged Daniel Boone incident – and offering her a new job within hours of the police responding. Carper is now under both state and federal investigations. At the time of this writing, no charges have been filed against him.

ALSO: The Kanawha County Sherrif's Department needs help finding a missing man from DuPont (Belle area). Family members say James Allen “Jimmie” Fleck, 38, has not been seen nor heard from since June 27. In addition to DuPont/Belle, Fleck has ties to the Cross Lanes, Nitro and Dunbar areas. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 304-357-0556. For more info or to view an identification photo, visit the KCSD Facebook page.

WEEKEND READS

• WV State Police: Feds investigating hidden camera in women’s locker room
• Manchin files amicus brief backing Mountain Valley Pipeline in Supreme Court
• Opinion: What does spelling have to do with effective communication?

ICYMI

• South Charleston council ups police entry pay, appoints board members
• Kanawha school board approves infrastructure projects, hears book complaints
• Beer festival, table tennis highlight July 21 weekend events in Kanawha Valley

IN MEMORIAM

• Lynda Withrow Ahmad, 59, of Charleston, died July 14, 2023.
• William "Billy" Russell Bowen, 63, of Charleston, died July 16, 2023.
• Barbara Conley, 81, died July 13, 2023.
• Howard K. “Coach D” / “Skeet” Daniels, 83, of Charleston, died July 16, 2023.
• Michael Wayne Hudgins, 55, of Charleston, died July 12, 2023.
• Frances Arlene Lloyd, 80, of Clendenin, died July 19, 2023.
• Janet Fern Rhodes, 68, of St. Albans, died July 18, 2023.
• Flora Mae Vance, 70, of Cross Lanes, died July 17, 2023.

Kanawha Valley Update is published each weekday morning on NewsBreak.