Local and area news briefs for Friday, September 11, 1998

Doddridge BOE to consolidate elementary schools

With state approval of the location site, the Doddridge County Board of Education will move forward with consolidation plans to replace the county's four elementary schools, officials said Thursday.

The site, next to the Doddridge Middle School along U.S. Route 50, was approved by the West Virginia Board of Education during its regular meeting held in Wirt County, according to Ronald K. Nichols, Doddridge superintendent.

"This certainly is good news. At least we can move forward now with our plans to build a new facility," Nichols said.

Nichols said the next step in the process is to submit a grant application to the state School Building Authority for the $4 million needed to build the school. The county's application was turned down by the authority last year because of the controversy over the middle school site.

At that time, several residents voiced their concerns that the property was not large enough and was too close to Route 50 to be safe for young children. After exploring other sites, the board voted to go back to its original plans to build next to the middle school.

According to Nichols, the new building will house 450-500 students in grades kindergarten through fourth grades.

Barnes Run to be closed

Barnes Run, Doddridge County Route 25, Avon-Big Isaac Road, will be closed from 7 a.m-7 p.m. today for resurfacing.

Alternate routes that may be taken are Doddridge Routes 48, 15 and West Virginia 18.

The closure will be between the intersections of Doddridge Routes 58 and 27. School buses and emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass.

Local man arrested on drug charges

The Harrison County Drug Task Force arrested a Clarksburg man Thursday night and charged him with three counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Police, wearing bulletproof vests and toting automatic weapons, raided the home of Roger Bunnell, 28, of 20 Bailey Street, around 6 p.m. Bunnell, who also had three outstanding warrants against him, was taken to the Harrison County jail around 7:30 p.m.

Police confiscated several ounces of marijuana, a substantial amount of cash, a revolver, and drug paraphernalia, said Clarksburg Police Chief Raymond Mazza. Other arrests will most likely be made, he said.

Cheat Lake compromise sought

Charleston (AP) -- A trail along the Cheat Lake Trail near Morgantown could double its length along both shorelines if a compromise can be hammered out.

A proposal to build recreational trails on either side of Cheat Lake has emerged from meetings between numerous stakeholders.

The 4.5-mile trail was partly planned by Allegheny Power Systems Inc. in an agreement that includes the relicensing of a hydroelectric dam on Lake Lynn outside Morgantown.

The utility is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create recreational property.