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McDowell County, West Virginia

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About McDowell, WV

Local News
Comprehensive local news coverage for McDowell County, West Virginia. Stay informed about government decisions, community events, healthcare initiatives, and economic development in Welch, Keystone, Gary, War, Northfork, and surrounding Appalachian communities.
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Welch, Keystone, Gary, War, Northfork and 535 square miles in southern west virginia

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McDowell County promotes heritage, opportunity in economic development push

McDowell County promotes heritage, opportunity in economic development push

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McDowell County traffic stop leads to drug, handgun arrests

McDowell County traffic stop leads to drug, handgun arrests

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McDowell County PSD website tracks water notices, bills and reports

McDowell County PSD website tracks water notices, bills and reports

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Patriot motorcycle and sports car ride set for Saturday in Iaeger

Patriot motorcycle and sports car ride set for Saturday in Iaeger

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McDowell County joins new task force targeting crimes against children

McDowell County joins new task force targeting crimes against children

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McDowell County couple charged after four children test positive for drugs

McDowell County couple charged after four children test positive for drugs

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McDowell County schools post graduation livestreams, bus change alerts

McDowell County schools post graduation livestreams, bus change alerts

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Gary residents, groups prepare lawsuit over contaminated water well

Gary residents, groups prepare lawsuit over contaminated water well

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More Local News

McDowell County deputies get new radios to improve field communication
Government

McDowell County deputies get new radios to improve field communication

McDowell County and Wyoming County deputies got 24 new radios after a grant tied to James “Boomer” Muncy, aiming to cut dead spots in the hollows.

Marcus Williams2m read
Meeting set on future of Welch Community Hospital in McDowell County
Healthcare

Meeting set on future of Welch Community Hospital in McDowell County

McDowell County’s only acute-care hospital is on the table as state leaders weigh a sale. Any change could reshape emergency access, jobs and care for 19,111 residents.

Lisa Park2m read
Tree blocks US 52 at Wilmore in McDowell County
Community

Tree blocks US 52 at Wilmore in McDowell County

A fallen tree blocked US 52 at Wilmore, slowing a key McDowell County corridor as WV511 tracked another road hazard on a route with few alternates.

Marcus Williams2m read
Gary to hold hearing on water rate increase June 16
Government

Gary to hold hearing on water rate increase June 16

Gary will ask customers to support a water-rate plan that starts at $19.31 per 1,000 gallons, as officials tie higher bills to failing tanks, leaks and system upgrades.

James Thompson2m read
McDowell County sheriff's office arrests man in juvenile sex abuse case
Government

McDowell County sheriff's office arrests man in juvenile sex abuse case

Deputies said a report involving a 14-year-old in English led to Bobby Jim Kennedy’s arrest and put McDowell County’s new child-abuse task force to work.

James Thompson2m read
McDowell schools seek bids for bus garage drainage repairs
Education

McDowell schools seek bids for bus garage drainage repairs

McDowell County schools want drainage fixed at the bus garage before water damage slows buses, racks up repairs and disrupts student transportation.

Sarah Chen2m read
Gary schedules hearing on county takeover of sewer system
Government

Gary schedules hearing on county takeover of sewer system

Gary residents will weigh a sewer takeover that could move repairs, billing and rate-setting to McDowell County PSD. The council vote follows years of state scrutiny.

Marcus Williams2m read
Gary residents, groups prepare lawsuit over contaminated water well
Healthcare

Gary residents, groups prepare lawsuit over contaminated water well

Gary families are still buying bottled water by the case as residents and advocates move toward suit over a well they say mining contaminated.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read
McDowell County promotes heritage, opportunity in economic development push
Business

McDowell County promotes heritage, opportunity in economic development push

McDowell County is branding itself as heritage and opportunity, but the real test is whether water, sewer and flood-repair money turns into jobs and a stronger tax base.

Sarah Chen5m read
McDowell County couple charged after four children test positive for drugs
Community

McDowell County couple charged after four children test positive for drugs

Four children in a Marion home tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana after a DSS referral triggered a child-abuse investigation in McDowell County.

Lisa Park2m read
McDowell County voters will choose new assessor in November 2026
Government

McDowell County voters will choose new assessor in November 2026

McDowell County will send the assessor’s seat to November’s ballot, putting property tax records, valuations and local tax bills in voters’ hands after Sherry Burton’s death.

Marcus Williams2m read
McDowell County joins new task force targeting crimes against children
Community

McDowell County joins new task force targeting crimes against children

McDowell and Wyoming counties formed a child-crimes task force that will let Tyler Sizemore and Brent Cline work cases across county lines, with help from child advocacy centers.

Lisa Park2m read
McDowell County commissioners target dilapidated buildings with cleanup grants
Government

McDowell County commissioners target dilapidated buildings with cleanup grants

County leaders are turning grant money into demolition bids, aiming to erase blight that drags on property values, safety and redevelopment.

James Thompson2m read
McDowell County schools post graduation livestreams, bus change alerts
Education

McDowell County schools post graduation livestreams, bus change alerts

Livestreams are up for Mount View and River View graduations, but families also need to watch bus notices and a June 9 last-day deadline.

Lisa Park2m read
Patriot motorcycle and sports car ride set for Saturday in Iaeger
Community

Patriot motorcycle and sports car ride set for Saturday in Iaeger

Riders will leave the Iaeger Volunteer Fire Department Saturday, and the annual VFW fundraiser could send weekend traffic through Welch, Princeton and Pineville.

Marcus Williams2m read
McDowell leaders demand transparency on possible Welch hospital sale
Healthcare

McDowell leaders demand transparency on possible Welch hospital sale

County leaders said they learned Welch Community Hospital sale talks from public posts, deepening fears for McDowell’s only acute care hospital and its emergency room.

Lisa Park2m read
Welch tightens billboard and sign rules on city property
Government

Welch tightens billboard and sign rules on city property

Welch is tightening who can post signs on city property and how storage buildings can be used, with the June 8 council meeting the next public chance to weigh in.

Marcus Williams2m read
Welch seeks support for McDowell Street bridge over railroad underpass
Government

Welch seeks support for McDowell Street bridge over railroad underpass

Welch says the McDowell Street underpass can go impassable 12 to 14 times a year, cutting off Route 16 access to downtown, the hospital and county offices.

Marcus Williams2m read
Severe storms bring quarter-sized hail, wind damage to McDowell County
Community

Severe storms bring quarter-sized hail, wind damage to McDowell County

Quarter-sized hail and falling trees hit Welch, Gary and War as NWS Charleston kept McDowell County under severe weather alerts.

Marcus Williams2m read
McDowell County tackles stray dog overpopulation with spay-neuter grants
Community

McDowell County tackles stray dog overpopulation with spay-neuter grants

McDowell County is using grant-funded spay-neuter and vaccination clinics to chip away at a stray dog problem residents say has left neighborhoods overrun.

Marcus Williams2m read
Valve failure spills 100 gallons of oil near Eckman, prompts response
Government

Valve failure spills 100 gallons of oil near Eckman, prompts response

A valve failure at a Diversified Energy site near Eckman spilled about 100 gallons of used oil, but crews said they contained it and protected nearby water systems.

Marcus Williams2m read
McDowell County PSD website tracks water notices, bills and reports
Government

McDowell County PSD website tracks water notices, bills and reports

McDowell County residents can use the PSD site to track boil-water notices, 2025 water reports and bills in one place. The archive shows repeated trouble in multiple communities and the cost of slow infrastructure fixes.

Marcus Williams5m read
Welch Community Hospital supports Special Olympics athletes with water donation
Community

Welch Community Hospital supports Special Olympics athletes with water donation

Welch Community Hospital staff handed out 160 bottles of water at McDowell County Public Schools’ Special Olympics event, putting the county’s only acute-care hospital in plain view for athletes and families.

Sarah Chen2m read
McDowell County traffic stop leads to drug, handgun arrests
Community

McDowell County traffic stop leads to drug, handgun arrests

Deputies say a routine traffic stop ended with suspected drugs and a handgun, leading to felony charges for Tony Ward Jr. and James Valentine.

Lisa Park2m read
McDowell County seeks engineers for next phase of Jolo waterline project
Government

McDowell County seeks engineers for next phase of Jolo waterline project

McDowell County is seeking engineers for Jolo Phase V as the project moves toward summer bidding and could bring water to 119 homes and five businesses.

James Thompson2m read
Welch Community Hospital honors nurse Tyler Simpson for compassionate care
Healthcare

Welch Community Hospital honors nurse Tyler Simpson for compassionate care

Tyler Simpson was honored for compassionate end-of-life care, a recognition that reflects the bedside standard McDowell County families count on at Welch.

Lisa Park2m read
PSC approves McDowell district takeover of Gary water operations
Government

PSC approves McDowell district takeover of Gary water operations

Gary’s water system now has a new day-to-day operator, but residents will be watching boil advisories, leak fixes and 60-day progress reports to see if service changes.

James Thompson2m read
Jennings Boyd Legacy Shapes McDowell County Basketball Identity
Education

Jennings Boyd Legacy Shapes McDowell County Basketball Identity

Jennings Boyd, a Northfork Elkhorn High School alumnus who lived from 1933 to 2002, coached Northfork to a record setting run of consecutive AA state basketball championships in the 1970s and early 1980s. His up tempo teams and long tenure left a lasting imprint on McDowell County, shaping local sports culture, youth development conversations, and community identity.

Marcus Williams2m read
Iaeger shrinks as McDowell County population falls to historic low
Business

Iaeger shrinks as McDowell County population falls to historic low

Iaeger is down to 228 residents, and McDowell County’s shrinking tax base is straining roads, schools and flood recovery in a valley built on rail and coal.

Sarah Chen2m read