Those driving down Petersburg’s Virginia Avenue will have a little more art in their travels, thanks to the beautiful work of muralist Kelson Thorne and the America 250 Mural Project. The America 250 Mural Project was a statewide initiative in which all 55 counties could submit applications to receive a grant to fund an original piece of large-scale art in their community.

The Grant County Chamber of Commerce hosted a special Meet the Candidates event to introduce the community to local political candidates that will appear on the primary election ballots in May. The event opened with a presentation by the Grant County Volunteer Fire Association .

A county fi re levy is set to run on the May ballot, asking residents to approve a relatively minor tax rate increase to assist in funding all four local fi re departments. Deputy chief of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Company, Hunter Whetzel spoke during the event and highlighted the need for a fi re levy. The levy is an effort to help bring funds to all four volunteer fi re departments in the county, including the Petersburg, Maysville, Mount Storm and Bayard volunteer fi re companies.

During last week’s reguarly scheduled meeting of the Petersburg City Council, a new municipal judge was sworn-in to offi ce.

Grace Ford, a graduate of Belmont University College of Law, took her oath of offi ce administered by mayor Gary Michael. Municipal judges preside over city courts, which have criminal jurisdiction when it comes to violations of city ordinances and similar criminal jurisdictions.

Grant Memorial Hospital has expanded the services they are able to offer locally with the offi cial opening of their new Cardiology Clinic in Petersburg. Overall, cardiology clinics offer treatment, diagnostic, and support for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, often times including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

During the opening ceremony on March 30, chief executive offi cer (CEO) John Sylvia said that by now offering this treatment in Petersburg, it will greatly reduce the amount of distance local residents will have to drive to receive high quality treatment for medical issues surround cardiology care.

Not only did GMH cut the ribbon last week, but they also welcomed their very fi rst cardiology patients that same day. This marks the beginning of enhanced, local heart care for our rural community.

“We are not a big hospital,” Sylvia said “We can’t do everything. But what we can do, we should bring locally.” Sylvia said that this vision is at the heart of everything GMH does —making quality healthcare more accessible, right in its own rural community.

GMH announced that the cardiology services will continue to grow, with plans to expand testing, equipment, and cardiac rehabilitation—building a stronger future for heart care in the region.

The ongoing hike and bike trail project in Petersburg is expected to take its next step forward this month. Robert McCalley and Sarah Moomau told the commission during their fi nal meeting in March that paving for the Petersburg Hike and Bike trail is scheduled to start in April and end in April. The project will add about two miles of trail from the Petersburg bridge toward the wastewater treatment plant, with additional access to the airport road. Also during the meeting, the commission heard an update from Grant County Ambulance director Jeffrey Teter.

A Hardy County man has been sentenced to up to 10 years for multiple violations of failing to properly update his information as a registered sex offender. John Arthur Brady Jr., 42, has a series of past convictions involving sexual crimes, including a 2010 conviction of sexual assault in the third degree, a 2013 conviction of soliciting a minor via computer and a 2023 conviction of assault in the second degree.