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McDowell County, West Virginia

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About McDowell, WV

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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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Panther Wildlife Management Area maps McDowell County’s rugged backcountry

Panther Wildlife Management Area maps McDowell County’s rugged backcountry

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DEP responds to 100-gallon oil spill near Eckman in McDowell County

DEP responds to 100-gallon oil spill near Eckman in McDowell County

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Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in McDowell County

Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in McDowell County

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FCI McDowell inmate gets 21 more months for weapon possession

FCI McDowell inmate gets 21 more months for weapon possession

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McDowell County plan sets long-term vision for growth and development

McDowell County plan sets long-term vision for growth and development

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Chicago man gets probation in FCI McDowell drone contraband case

Chicago man gets probation in FCI McDowell drone contraband case

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Deadly McDowell County crash kills one, injures five others

Deadly McDowell County crash kills one, injures five others

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MSHA issues imminent danger order at McDowell County mine

MSHA issues imminent danger order at McDowell County mine

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More Local News

Welch’s downtown tells the story of its railroad-era growth
Business

Welch’s downtown tells the story of its railroad-era growth

McDowell and Wyoming streets show how Welch grew from fewer than a dozen homes into a county-seat business center built for rail and coal.

Sarah Chen4m read
McDowell County marker trail reveals coal and labor history
Community

McDowell County marker trail reveals coal and labor history

McDowell County’s 37 markers trace coal, war, health care and civil rights across Welch, Ashland, Algoma and Kimball, turning the county into a driveable history map.

Lisa Park4m read
McDowell County deputies seize drugs, guns and cash in warrant search
Government

McDowell County deputies seize drugs, guns and cash in warrant search

Deputies searched a Sandy Huff home near Iaeger and said they found narcotics, firearms and cash. The sheriff’s office said more warrants were coming as the case stayed open.

James Thompson1m read
Panther Wildlife Management Area maps McDowell County’s rugged backcountry
Community

Panther Wildlife Management Area maps McDowell County’s rugged backcountry

Panther Wildlife Management Area spans about 7,820 acres along Panther Creek, with camping, hunting, trout fishing, and ridge-top access near Iaeger.

Sarah Chen4m read
DEP responds to 100-gallon oil spill near Eckman in McDowell County
Government

DEP responds to 100-gallon oil spill near Eckman in McDowell County

About 100 gallons of used oil leaked near Eckman after a storage-tank valve failed, and DEP says the spill was stopped before reaching public water systems.

Marcus Williams1m read
Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in McDowell County
Community

Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in McDowell County

A suspect is dead after an officer-involved shooting in McDowell County, and the first questions are where it happened and what led up to it.

Sarah Chen1m read
FCI McDowell inmate gets 21 more months for weapon possession
Government

FCI McDowell inmate gets 21 more months for weapon possession

A federal inmate at FCI McDowell picked up 21 more months after a weapon case behind bars, adding to a string of contraband prosecutions at the Welch prison.

Marcus Williams2m read
Chicago man gets probation in FCI McDowell drone contraband case
Government

Chicago man gets probation in FCI McDowell drone contraband case

A Chicago man got probation in a drone contraband scheme tied to FCI McDowell, where at least two other defendants later pleaded guilty in the same case.

Marcus Williams1m read
McDowell County sheriff’s department announces community outreach event
Community

McDowell County sheriff’s department announces community outreach event

The sheriff’s office will host its second “You Are Not Alone” outreach event Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McDowell County Commission building in War.

Lisa Park2m read
McDowell County grand jury returns 72 indictments in active court docket
Government

McDowell County grand jury returns 72 indictments in active court docket

McDowell County's grand jury sent 72 cases toward circuit court, a heavy docket that could ripple through Welch, Keystone, Gary, War and Northfork.

James Thompson2m read
McDowell County plan sets long-term vision for growth and development
Government

McDowell County plan sets long-term vision for growth and development

McDowell County’s plan could shape where homes, roads and utilities go, but only if leaders turn its vision into funded choices that account for flood risk and shrinking population.

James Thompson5m read
McDowell County schools regain full local control after state oversight
Education

McDowell County schools regain full local control after state oversight

At River View High School in Bradshaw, the state board returned McDowell County schools to local hands, shifting budgeting and staffing back to county leaders.

Marcus Williams2m read
West Virginia State Police seek tips on missing McDowell woman
Community

West Virginia State Police seek tips on missing McDowell woman

Troopers asked for help finding 48-year-old Laura Beth Spade, last seen in Welch since March 2025. She was later found safe.

Marcus Williams1m read
MSHA issues imminent danger order at McDowell County mine
Business

MSHA issues imminent danger order at McDowell County mine

MSHA ordered an immediate work stoppage at a McDowell County mine after inspectors found a hazard serious enough to endanger miners on the spot. The county has already seen one mine draw eight citations in a federal impact inspection.

Sarah Chen2m read
Traffic control changes added at McDowell County bridge after crash
Government

Traffic control changes added at McDowell County bridge after crash

Temporary traffic controls and a 15-ton limit were added at McDowell County's Dennis Harvey Roberts Memorial Bridge after a collision damaged the crossing.

Marcus Williams2m read
$50,000 Powerball ticket sold in McDowell County
Business

$50,000 Powerball ticket sold in McDowell County

A $50,000 Powerball ticket was sold at Welch Bantam Market in McDowell County. The winner has 180 days from the drawing to file a claim with the West Virginia Lottery.

Sarah Chen1m read
Grant funding set for projects in McDowell and Wyoming counties
Government

Grant funding set for projects in McDowell and Wyoming counties

McDowell County is again in line for water and road dollars, including about $3.3 million for four water projects statewide and 37 paving jobs announced last year.

Marcus Williams2m read
Body of missing McDowell County man found in creek
Community

Body of missing McDowell County man found in creek

A missing McDowell County man was found dead in a creek, turning the search into a death investigation. The medical examiner now handles the next steps.

Marcus Williams2m read
McDowell County man arrested on felony juvenile-related charges
Government

McDowell County man arrested on felony juvenile-related charges

A McDowell County man was arrested after an investigation into alleged sexual abuse involving a minor, and felony charges now put the case before the courts.

James Thompson1m read
Welch parking garage claims title as nation's first municipal one
Government

Welch parking garage claims title as nation's first municipal one

Welch’s four-level parking garage still serves downtown, but its bigger claim is a plaque inside: first municipally owned parking structure in the U.S.

James Thompson2m read
Deadly McDowell County crash kills one, injures five others
Community

Deadly McDowell County crash kills one, injures five others

A two-vehicle crash on US Route 52 in Iaeger leaves one person dead and five others hospitalized, putting McDowell County road safety back in focus.

Sarah Chen1m read
McDowell County town marks first memorial to Black World War I veterans
Community

McDowell County town marks first memorial to Black World War I veterans

Kimball’s World War I Memorial still stands as the first U.S. memorial to African American veterans of the war, built after 16 Black veterans pushed McDowell County to act.

Marcus Williams2m read
Indian Ridge trail system draws riders to McDowell County hotspots
Business

Indian Ridge trail system draws riders to McDowell County hotspots

Indian Ridge near Ashland links McDowell riders to Northfork, Keystone and 400-plus connected miles, steering business toward local fuel, food and lodging.

Sarah Chen4m read
FCI McDowell staff member tests positive for COVID-19 in Welch
Healthcare

FCI McDowell staff member tests positive for COVID-19 in Welch

A staff member at FCI McDowell tested positive for COVID-19, putting Welch's federal prison back under scrutiny as families watch quarantine and visitor rules.

Lisa Park2m read
Flood watches posted as McDowell County faces another wet stretch
Community

Flood watches posted as McDowell County faces another wet stretch

Flood watches covered McDowell County through Sunday morning as heavy thunderstorms threatened low-water crossings, back roads and access in a county scarred by the 2025 floods.

Marcus Williams2m read
McDowell County crackdown leads to 56 traffic and criminal violations
Government

McDowell County crackdown leads to 56 traffic and criminal violations

Checkpoints and saturation patrols across McDowell County turned up 56 violations, including seat belt, license and criminal offenses, in a joint safety crackdown.

James Thompson1m read
McDowell County Schools seeks bids for bus charging station project
Education

McDowell County Schools seeks bids for bus charging station project

McDowell County Schools opened bids for a bus charging station in Welch, with proposals due July 28 and completion due within 150 days.

Sarah Chen2m read
Bradshaw couple received nation’s first food stamps in 1961
Healthcare

Bradshaw couple received nation’s first food stamps in 1961

Bradshaw’s Alderson and Chloe Muncy got the nation’s first food stamps in Welch, then spent them on two watermelons. McDowell County became the launch point for modern SNAP.

Evie Marsh2m read
McDowell County among areas pushing state to fund water upgrades
Government

McDowell County among areas pushing state to fund water upgrades

McDowell County is still waiting for clean water while lawmakers eye a $370 million surplus. State leaders named no dollar for local systems, even as residents face foul, discolored tap water.

James Thompson2m read