Prism Local News

Meet McDowell boosts tourism to revive McDowell County economy

Meet McDowell promotes local trails, events and lodging to attract visitors and support downtown businesses....

McDowell EDA prepares sites to attract investment, support growth

The McDowell County EDA is coordinating site-preparation funding and planning support to ready land for private investme...

Centralized meeting schedule boosts civic access in McDowell County

Region I maintains a centralized schedule of McDowell County government meetings, helping residents track hearings, PSD ...

Historic McDowell County Courthouse Anchors Welch Downtown Preservation, Tourism and Small Business

Historic McDowell County Courthouse anchors downtown Welch planning, preservation and tourism, helping protect local her...

McDowell County Library in Welch keeps vital services amid strains

Welch's public library provides books, internet and local history while branch hours vary; these services matter for stu...

Tug Fork WMA remains vital outdoor resource for McDowell County

Tug Fork Wildlife Management Area provides hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing for McDowell residents; visitors must fo...

Rediscovering The McDowell Times: Keystone’s Black Press and Coalfield History

The Library of Congress catalogue preserves The McDowell Times, Keystone’s African-American weekly (1904–1941). Its reco...

McDowell’s coal heritage draws tourists and highlights health equity gaps

Historic mines, memorials, and Homer Hickam sites attract visitors while underscoring long-term health and economic chal...

Volunteer-run food bank fuels McDowell County's fight against hunger

Five Loaves Food Bank supplies nonperishable foods and essentials to McDowell County residents, helping families free in...

Coalwood's Rocket Boys Legacy Fuels Tourism, STEM Outreach in McDowell County

Coalwood's Rocket Boys legacy draws visitors to Big Creek sites and fuels STEM outreach, bringing tourism and educationa...

McDowell wins $75,000 Ready Sites grant to spur development

McDowell County received a $75,000 Ready Sites grant for pre-construction studies. The funding aims to make local sites ...

Southern West Virginia Asphalt Seeks Air Permit for Welch Asphalt Plant

Southern West Virginia Asphalt applied for an air permit to build a hot mix asphalt plant in Welch. Residents should not...

Shortage of case managers stalls McDowell County flood recovery

A shortage of long-term disaster case managers is leaving hundreds of flood recovery needs unmet in McDowell County. Law...

Welch community profile updated to boost tourism and local services

Welch's updated community profile lists history, parks, lodging and visitor information. It helps residents and visitors...

Southern Minerals Seeks Inactive Status for Browns Creek Permit Near Welch

Southern Minerals seeks inactive status for a Browns Creek permit near Welch. Residents can review the request and submi...

Healthcare

Medicaid managed care debate could reshape McDowell health access

State briefings reviewed changes to West Virginia Medicaid, a debate that will affect McDowell County clinics, behaviora...

Education

Fundraising snapshot reveals deep needs at Mount View School

Mount View Middle High's fundraising page shows $1,690 raised and two projects funded; the figures underscore high pover...

McDowell-Pocahontas Seeks Release of $10,500 Reclamation Bond for 6.2 Acres Near Welch

McDowell-Pocahontas has asked the DEP to release a $10,500 reclamation bond for 6.2 acres near Welch after final reclama...

Free State of McDowell: How coal shaped county identity and policy

A recent feature traces McDowell's "Free State" nickname to coal-era diversity and shows why that history still shapes l...

Appalachian Power Plans Yearlong Vegetation Trimming in McDowell and Mercer Counties

Appalachian Power began a yearlong program to trim trees along 34.5-kilovolt and 12-kilovolt lines in McDowell and Merce...

Hatfield-McCoy trail traffic fuels Welch lodging and dining boom

Trail riders are increasing visits through Welch, boosting lodging, restaurants and gas sales. Officials say adding attr...

Welch prepares connector to link Coalfields Expressway by 2027

Excavation is set to begin on a Welch connector route, bringing the Coalfields Expressway into McDowell County by fall 2...

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Sizemore, Hickam Launch December Sky Pre-Production Targeting Mercer and McDowell

Kevin Sizemore and Homer Hickam launched pre-production on December Sky, a Coalwood-era film targeting Mercer and McDowe...

Kimball's Ya'Sou restaurant reopens after 2025 flood damage

Ya'Sou reopened Jan. 9 at 10 a.m., coinciding with owner Markella Balasis Gianato’s birthday and signaling momentum in K...

Education

McDowell Schools post head football coach opening at Mount View High

McDowell County Schools posted a seasonal head football coach job at Mount View High on Jan. 11; the low stipend and cer...

Education

McDowell County posts urgent head volleyball coach opening for Mount View

McDowell County Schools posted a vacancy for a head volleyball coach at Mount View High; this affects fall middle school...

Rail Maintenance Will Close Multiple Crossings in McDowell County

CSX and Southern Commercial Development will begin a rail maintenance project on Jan. 12, 2026, that will fully close ra...

Morrisey pushes permits reform to lure investment to McDowell

Gov. Patrick Morrisey outlined permitting and infrastructure plans to boost investment and jobs in southern West Virgini...