After much debate and multiple farmers sharing their opinion on the subject, the Grant County Commission voted last week to extend farmer contracts on the land at the Grant County Airport and Grant County Dog Pound from one year to two years. The two pieces of land in question are owned by the county but contracted out to local farmers through a bidding process each year. These farmers then harvest the hay from the land for their own usage. The conversation came from a request surrounded the soil quality of the land, with a farmer saying it would be more productive and healthful for the land if it was fertilized.

After years of delays, Lawrence “Grasshopper” Puffenbarger’s trial started in Hampshire County Circuit Court on Monday, February 23.

The delays resulted mainly from scheduling confl icts, pretrial legal motions and personnel changes, including the appointment of a new prosecutor.

The trial was moved from Pendleton County to Hampshire County to ensure fairness, given local publicity and concerns about impartial jurors.

Day One of Trial

Puffenbarger was being charged with three counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse. West Virginia State Code §61- 8B-7 defi first-degree sexual abuse as subjecting another person to sexual contact without their consent, when the victim is younger than twelve years old, or when the defendant is in a position of trust, authority, or supervision over a child. This charge refl ects the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the legal standards involved.

New Petersburg Dairy Queen owners Rachel and Steven Schetrom with former owners Ray and Edna Dixon-Blum.

After more than 20 years, the Dairy Queen in Petersburg is now under new ownership.

Built over 70 years ago by the Sites family, the Dairy Queen has been a steadfast place for not only a quick bite to eat, but also family celebrations for decades.

“In the beginning, it was just a little walk-up Dairy Queen,” explained Ray Blum, who has owned the restaurant for 21 years. “Then, over time, they added more pieces, like the dining room and kitchen. Then when we bought it, we added a drive-thru.” Despite his career starting with the United States Forest Service, Blum has run multiple restaurants, including managing Pizza Hut and later opening Ponderosa Steakhouse before fi nally purchasing Dairy Queen.

Lawrence “Grasshopper” Puffenbarger’s jury trial is set to run this week in Hampshire County Circuit Court. This follows more than two years of pretrial proceedings. Puffenbarger is charged with several felony counts of fi rst-degree sexual abuse involving juvenile victims. He has pleaded not guilty and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The Grant County Commission has been engaged in an ongoing discussion about potentially extending the length of time two pieces of county-owned land are contracted to local farmers for hay harvesting. The topic concerns county-owned land near the Grant County Airport and the Grant County Dog Pound.

Both areas are put out to bid each year, with the highest bidder winning the right to harvest the land for hay for the season. The conversation, which started as a simple request, highlights just how much science and experience goes into the work of a farmer.

During the Jan. 27 commission meeting, one of the farmers requested the county consider extending the length of time the bids are submitted for from one year to up to three or fi ve years. The idea being that if the farmer who wins the bid is guaranteed a longer harvest time from the land, they would be able to fertilize the soil. This would not only increase their harvested yield but also improve the overall health of the land.

A former West Virginia Division of Natural Resources(DNR) offi cer has pleaded guilty to multiple hunting-related charges originating from a series of wildlife violations during the 2025 deer hunting season, according to Grant County Magistrate Court records.

On February 18, Daniel Raymond Alt admitted to several misdemeanor charges brought by the DNR. These included illegal possession of wildlife, hunting deer after legal hours, using artifi cial light while hunting, and hunting from a vehicle.

The felony drug case against Earlie Thomas Wimer is moving forward after a Grant County Circuit Court judge ruled that evidence from a search of Wimer’s home is admissible at trial. Wimer was indicted in November 2025 on one count of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, a felony under West Virginia Code.

The indictment alleges that on or about June 27, 2025, Wimer possessed about one-half ounce of methamphetamine, along with digital scales, plastic bags, and zip ties, indicating intent to distribute. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on November 17, 2025.