West Virginia Week in Review - April 5, 2019

Gov. Justice stocks golden rainbow trout at Babcock State Park in celebration of West Virginia Gold Rush
On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Justice helped stock the streams of Babcock State Park full of golden rainbow trout, as part of a ceremony celebrating the 2019 West Virginia Gold Rush. [View Press Release]

The week-long Gold Rush event features the stocking of about 40,000 golden rainbows in 41 lakes and 16 streams across the state – including at 15 state parks and forests – to lure in anglers and adventure seekers from all over the world to experience West Virginia's wild and wonderful outdoors. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will continue to stock the state's waters with the golden rainbow trout through Saturday, so fishing can continue over the weekend. [View More Photos]

Gov. Justice announces Northrop Grumman plant expansion project at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory bringing new jobs to West Virginia
Gov. Justice announced Wednesday that the Northrop Grumman plant in Mineral County, motivated by economic incentives provided by the state of West Virginia, will undergo an expansion over the next five years that will retain more than 1,100 jobs and create up to 500 new jobs. [View Press Release]

Northrop Grumman is the largest defense contractor and third-largest manufacturing employer in West Virginia.

First Lady Cathy Justice and West Virginia National Guard host Communities In Schools event; announce Future Leaders Program
On Wednesday, First Lady Cathy Justice visited Westside High School in Wyoming County as part of the Communities In Schools Program. The First Lady was joined by Major General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard, who announced an initiative from the WVNG to implement a Future Leaders Program in the school. The Future Leaders Program is designed to assist high schools in providing military and leadership-based curriculum, mentorship, and guidance to high school students that aid in character and leadership development and is similar to JROTC programs. [View Recap Video]

Governor honors students at Tolsia High School for winning PSA contest geared toward saving lives
On Monday, Gov. Justice spoke at a ceremony at Tolsia High School, honoring a group of students for winning first prize in the annual “No School Spirits” PSA contest, held by the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration. The statewide competition asks high school and middle school students to submit public service announcement videos that warn about the dangers of driving under the influence. [View Press Release]

Not only did the winning team receive $5,000 for Tolsia High School, but their submission will be played on TV and radio commercials during prom and graduation season this spring in an effort to stop young students from making decisions with potentially tragic consequences. [View Winning Video]

Prize money has also been awarded to the second and third place finishers. A team of students from Berkeley Springs High School were the runners-up and received $2,500. While a group from Webster County High School won the third prize of $1,000.

Gov. Justice speaks at ceremony, issues proclamation honoring 100th anniversary of the West Virginia State Police
Last Friday, Gov. Justice spoke at a ceremony at the Culture Center honoring the 100th anniversary of the West Virginia State Police. The event included the unveiling of a new WVSP history exhibit at the State Theater gallery, as well as a tribute to the 41 state troopers who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past 100 years. In honor of the significant contributions and sacrifices made by the brave men and women of the WVSP over its storied history, Gov. Justice also issued a proclamation, officially recognizing March 29, 2019 as the 100th Anniversary of the West Virginia State Police. [View Press Release]

After the Governor's remarks, First Lady Cathy Justice made her way to the Culture Center Theater stage to unveil artwork honoring the organization's anniversary. She also unveiled a commemorative state trooper glass hat, designed by Blenko Glass Company to honor the milestone. [View More Photos]

Governor signs proclamation for Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness Month in West Virginia
Gov. Justice issued a proclamation Tuesday, officially designating April 2019 as Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness Month in West Virginia. Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Urling read the proclamation inside the Governor's Reception Room. [View Full Video]

Tuesday's event also celebrated the Governor's signing of Senate Bill 72 into law. The bill creates a Sexual Assault Victims' Bill of Rights in West Virginia, declaring additional rights bestowed upon sexual assault survivors.

Gov. Justice hosts students at state capitol complex
Last Friday, Gov. Justice took time to meet with a group of students from Mt. Hope Christian Academy in Charleston at the state capitol. [View Twitter Post]

The Governor also hosted a group of students from Man Middle School in Logan County for a visit at the capitol. [View Twitter Post]

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

WVDE completes statewide tour of community forums on education betterment
From Monday through Wednesday this week, the West Virginia Department of Education hosted its final set of community forums across the state, completing an eight-stop tour that provided opportunities for teachers, service personnel, students, parents and other community members to provide their thoughts on ways to improve the state's education system. This week's forums were held at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, Wheeling Park High School in Wheeling, and Berkeley Springs High School in Berkeley Springs. [View Twitter Post]

With the forums now concluded, education leaders will compile the ideas shared at the events by members of the public and will present them to lawmakers ahead of the upcoming special legislative session on education betterment.

WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD

More than 130 soldiers return home from Kuwait deployment
This week, family and friends of more than 130 West Virginia Army National Guard soldiers welcomed their loved ones home after a nine-month deployment to Kuwait. The soldiers' mission was to support maintenance operations at Task Force Hannibal located at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. [View Press Release]

While deployed, the unit completed 17 recovery missions supporting 34 convoys, performed two haul missions supporting 5th Special Forces Group and the Kuwait Ministry of Interior, and completed 2,013 work orders. The unit also had an operational readiness rate of above 95 percent.

First responders from across the country train with National Guard at Hobet All Hazards facility
This past weekend, 23 first responders from Georgia, Virginia, and West Virginia attended the first open enrollment first responder’s course to be offered at the Hobet All Hazards Training Center in Julian. After the devastating floods that affected the State of West Virginia in 2016, emergency response agencies in the state, to include the West Virginia National Guard, saw a need to increase first responder training. [View Press Release]

Students conducted a practical exercise of a simulated plane crash on the training center’s vast property, which incorporated travel, organization of the disaster site, data collection, and extraction of victims. They also learned how to use handheld compasses, maps, GPS equipment, and physical search techniques, such as a line searches, during the two-day operations, or beginner-level course.

WVNG leaders conduct military training in Perú
Senior enlisted leaders from the West Virginia Army National Guard spent five days assisting in the training and development of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) corps for the Peruvian Army last week in Lima, Perú. Four WVNG sergeants majors taught classes and provided mentorship to the Peruvian Army NCO's as a part of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. [View Press Release]

Leadership visits troops on United States southwest border
Last week, WVNG director of operations and 77th Brigade Troop Commander, Col. Michaelle Munger, visited West Virginia soldiers and airmen who have been on the ground assisting the Operation Guardian Support task force in Arizona. The WVNG has been in the area to assist the Arizona National Guard and the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), by performing the administrative tasks, freeing up the CBP's agents to serve on the border. [View Press Release]

WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE

WVSP celebrates 100th anniversary
Beginning with a ceremony at the state Culture Center last Friday and continuing through this week, the West Virginia State Police have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the agency's creation. In addition to last week's ceremony, a new exhibit featuring 100 years of WVSP history was unveiled at the West Virginia State Museum. [View More Photos]

The exhibit will remain on display at the Culture Center through October. The anniversary celebration also featured multiple memorials to the troopers who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty to protect the state and its people.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Gold Rush week lures anglers in to West Virginia
All week, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have continued to stock streams and lakes with golden rainbow trout as part of the six-day 2019 West Virginia Gold Rush event. Anglers from all over the world visited the state this week to try to catch the rare fish. The final stocking will take place Saturday so fishermen and fisherwomen can try their hand at catching a golden rainbow through the weekend. [View More Photos]

WVDNR holds student career fair
On Tuesday, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources held a student job fair at Marshall University, where students were shown the vast variety of potential career options within the DNR. [View Recap Video]

WVDNR announces spring gobbler season opens April 15
On Tuesday, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced that spring gobbler season in the state will begin on April 15 and run through May 11. Hunters are reminded that they can harvest one bearded bird per day with a season bag limit of two. [View Press Release]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Secondary roads maintenance efforts continue statewide
This week, crews from the West Virginia Division of Highways continued recent efforts to complete as much secondary roadwork and maintenance as possible across all areas of the state, as ditching, patching and mowing work continued in several counties throughout West Virginia. [View More Photos]

East Beckley bypass paving project underway
On Monday, crews with the West Virginia Division of Highways began their work paving the east Beckley bypass in Raleigh County. Work began at the Robert C. Byrd end of the project and will make its way to Stanaford Road. The lane closures will shift throughout the day as they complete each pass. [View Press Release]

The work is expected to be completed in two weeks and will signify the completion of the project.

WVDOH opens 2019 online grant application system for non-traditional transportation projects
On Monday, the West Virginia Division of Highways opened an online grant application system for FY 2019 Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program potential projects. The application process has two phases: an Intent-to-Apply Phase and an Application Phase. [View Press Release]

HERBERT HENDERSON OFFICE OF MINORITY AFFAIRS