Home

The Grant County Board of Education has released a positive update on their annual student test results, with the local area outperforming the state average in both math and English.

In a decisive move addressing the ongoing opioid crisis, the Grant County Commission this week voted to formally join both current and future opioid-related legal actions — including West Virginia’s newly launched lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Express Scripts, one of the nation’s largest PBMs, has been named as a key defendant in the case.

At the most recent Petersburg City Council meeting, Joshua Clayton addressed the zoning challenges he has encountered in his effort to open a sober living home for men within the city limits. He is interested in a rent-to-own property at 36 Water Street in Petersburg.

State Police and Sheriff’s Deputies collaborate in case involving stolen truck and property damage

A local man is facing multiple felony charges following a string of vehicle-related incidents occurring between July 11 and July 12, according to police reports filed by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Police.
The initial incident occurred on the evening of July 11, when Deputy T. Feaster of the Grant County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of property destruction and an attempted vehicle theft at a residence on Big Run Road, located just off Jordan Run in Grant County.

On August 8, 2025, Sergeant J.C. Earle of the Grant County Sheriff’s Department executed a traffic stop on a Honda CR-V in Petersburg. The driver was identified as Jeffery Lance Will from Keyser, and the front seat passenger Robert VanMeter from Petersburg. During the traffic stop, Sergeant Earle requested Grant County Deputy Sheriff/K-9 Officer T.M Harding and his K-9 partner, Lyza, for an exterior sniff of the vehicle. Upon receiving a positive indication, a probable cause search was led by additional members of the Grant County Sheriff’s Department (Deputy C.L. Southerly, Harding, E. Nazelrodt).

A local man is facing multiple charges stemming from an alleged domestic incident reported months after it occurred.
The complaint was filed by a female at the Moorefield State Police detachment on June 6, accompanied by a 15-year-old juvenile who witnessed the events.
According to the complaint, the incident took place on March 28, 2025, at the woman’s apartment on 100 Wildlife Drive. She stated that her former boyfriend, Zakerrie Shears, had picked her up from work and took her to Petersburg.

Grant County deputies were called to the scene of an accident on August 26 at the 900 block of Union Highway on Scherr Mountain for a reported two-vehicle accident.
During the course of the investigation, officials determined that a semi-truck loaded with round hay bales was traveling southbound toward the Laurel Dale intersection at a speed that was greater than reasonable. While negotiating a right-hand turn, the semitruck overturned, causing the hay bales to come loose from the trailer.

Board reviews test data, sets clear priorities to prevent setbacks and support steady growth

At the recent Grant County Board of Education meeting, Director of Federal Programs Vanessa Harlow shared updates from the state’s regional rollout of literacy and numeracy initiatives for elementary schools. This is the third year the state has hosted the rollout, which provides counties with guidance on implementing new strategies in local classrooms. Harlow explained that while last year’s literacy and numeracy teams met monthly, the information did not always reach teachers.
To address this, the district will follow a more intentional communication plan. Meetings will still be held each month, but teachers will now receive updates through after-school sessions, half-day substitute coverage, and targeted staff meetings.