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GOVERNMENT
153rd annual Jefferson County Fair kicks off in Smithfield
Smithfield, OHIO (WTRF) – The 153rd Jefferson County Fair officially kicked off Monday at Friendship Park in Smithfield, Ohio. Monday marked the opening ceremonies, beginning a week full of entertainment, rides, animal shows, contests, great food and much, much more. Children up to the age of 2 and seniors over 70 get in for free, […]
Jefferson County JVS requiring students to lock up phones during class, in accordance with state law
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) — As long as students have had cellphones, teachers have had to deal with a private and easily hidden distraction from the school day. But Ohio may have come up with a statewide solution to keep kids’ eyes on the lesson at hand. In May, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill […]
Electric boating manufacturer closing West Virginia facility a little over a year after opening
BEECH BOTTOM, W.Va. (WTRF) — A little more than a year after its ribbon-cutting ceremony, Pure Watercraft in Brooke County has closed its Beech Bottom Industrial Park production facility. Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael confirmed with MetroNews “Talkline” on Thursday, citing falling short with its private capital investment....
New cell phone policy passes for Ohio County Schools students
ELM GROVE, W.Va. (WTRF) – Students at Ohio County Schools will be back in the classroom this week, and they can expect new rules when it comes to their cell phones. The Ohio County Schools Board of Education passed a county-wide policy that would prohibit all students in elementary, middle and high school from using […]
Wellsburg officials plan to address dangerous ditch
WELLSBURG, W.Va. — A drainage system is causing accidents in Duvall Heights in Wellsburg. The issue is along Pleasant Avenue where the road is deteriorating because the drainage system is directing water to a catch basin for a storm drain. Erosion is causing the road to chip away leaving a large ditch.
Resource centers call for action as more face homelessness in Steubenville
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Tuesday, members of Steubenville Council expressed concerns about the rise in homelessness in the city limits. The problem presented by Steubenville Council was an observation of seeing a sharp increase in the community’s homeless population, and local homeless shelters and resource centers have taken notice of the increase as well.
FEMA assistance deadline is September 3rd
OHIO & HANCOCK COUNTY (WTRF) – You still have time to apply for FEMA assistance if you’ve been impacted by the severe storms that struck the Ohio Valley back on April 11th and 12th. To see if you are eligible, you can stop by one of two disaster recovery centers in Ohio or Hancock County. […]
Steubenville and county collaborate on $700,000 Towers Building parking lot project
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Construction continues on the $700,000 parking lot project at the Towers Building in downtown Steubenville. Crews had to excavate an old dumping ground before building the new lot. Although it's the county's lot, it was a collaborative effort between Steubenville and the county to get it...
Electronic windows to career opportunities installed at Ohio vocational school
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) — The days of school simply being about library books and watching lectures is long gone. The internet has made information international, and a vocational school in Jefferson County is making sure it’s connected. Whether you’re networking across the world or just sitting in class, Jefferson County’s Joint Vocational School is […]
Downtown Wheeling sees major new childcare facility with Newbridge Academy
The need for childcare continues to grow in the Ohio Valley, but some relief is near, as the ribbon was cut Thursday for the Newbridge Academy for Kids in downtown Wheeling. This new resource will provide a 25 percent availability increase in local daycare, starting this fall. "We are amazed,...
Ohio County Schools welcomes personnel for the start of the new school year
ELM GROVE, W.Va. (WTRF) – Monday was the first day back to school for teachers at Ohio County Schools, and many new faces could be seen at elementary, middle, and high school levels. Some of which were recognized and officially hired for the 2024-2025 school year at the most recent Board of Education meeting. The […]
10th Anniversary of the Mountaineer Brewfest
If you want to sample some of the best beer from across West Virginia then you’ll want to mark your calendars for Saturday, Aug. 17 for the return of the 10th annual Mountaineer Brewfest at Wheeling Heritage Port. The inaugural Mountaineer Brewfest was held 10 years ago after founder...
Local 9-year-old and her “Hazel’s Heroes” honors veterans and first responders
BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO (WTRF) — Hazel’s Heroes visited the Ohio State Highway Patrol in St. Clairsville today. Hazel Koveleskie, a nine-year-old Barnesville girl, created a group that honors local veterans, police officers, and firefighters. They give them “blessing bags” filled with snacks, pens, notepads and treats. Hazel says she got the idea when helping her […]
From local news to a national spotlight, Chris Stirewalt opens up on his Wheeling upbringing
WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) – From Wheeling all the way to the television screens of millions of Americans, Chris Stirewalt is a well-known and respected political analyst for NewsNation. 7News spoke with him during an exclusive interview about his Wheeling upbringing, how he got where he is and how he’s preparing for the upcoming election. […]
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