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NEWS
P'burg plans
hydrant flush
Over the next few
weeks, Petersburg residents
may notice some unusual
activity around fire hy-
drants.
That's because the Pe-
tersburg Volunteer Fire
Company will be flushing
hydrants. This process is
needed to assure proper op-
eration of hydrants, as well
as sediment removal.
Mayor Gary Michael
said the flushing process
may cause some short-term
water discoloration.
Holiday notice
The Grant County Press
office will be closed, May 30,
in observance of Memorial
Day. All news and advertising
copy for the May 31 edition
needs to be submitted by May
26, 4 p.m. The May 31 edition
will be available atthe regular
time on Tuesday.
Union's Tiffany
Jones wins
state shot-put
title for Class A,
see page 1B
Keep in
touch
Have an idea for e story you
would like to sham, a
complaint to aport or to place
an ad, contact us at:
• News ............ (304) 257-1844
• Advartlalng...(304) 257.4833
• FAX .............. (304) 257-1691
• E.mail ...
news@grantcountyprsu.com
Or wrlto ua et: P. O. Box39
Petersburg, WV 2#847
Stir Crazy .................................. 2
Editorials ................................... 4
Obits ......................................... 6
Sports ................................ 1B-3B
Classifieds .............. , .......... 4B-5B
Student page .......................... 8B
Zoned advert00ing
supplements
this week
* American Profile
* Food Lion
* Tractor Supply
OIIII!U!!!II!!i!!j!i111
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Tuesday
May 24, 2011
Two sections
16 pages
USPS 226480
Issue 21
high water
It didn't cause problems nearly as bad as those along the flooded Ohio and Mis-
sissippi rivers, but last week's rainstorms pushed many local streams to the tops of
their banks. This was the scene, Wednesday, along the South Fork of Lunice Creek.
$1 (94¢ plus 6¢ tax)
Feds impose sentences
for drug convictions
Rohrbaugh gets 20
Several defendants with Grant
County connections, recently, received
federal court prison sentences.
The first was 32-year-old Petersburg
resident Shawn Lynn Rohrbaugh.
On May 11, Rohrbaugh was sen-
tenced to 240 months imprisonment by
federal district court judge John Pre-
ston Bailey. The sentence is to be fol-
lowed by three years supervised re-
lease.
Rohrbaugh entered a plea of guilty,
Oct. 1, to one count of an indictment
charging him with the distribution of
methamphetamine in Petersburg.
The court determined Rohrbaugh
was a "significant" meth dealer and
was found to have been involved in the
distribution of 11 kilograms of the ille-
gal drug.
Additionally, the court ordered
Rohrbaugh to forfeit the following:
2000 Ford Explorer, Eddie Bauer edi-
tion; $5,597 in currency; .40 caliber
pistol magazine and cartridges; 2006 4-
wheeler; a 5-by-10-foot utility trailer;
four surveillance cameras; two digital
cameras; Acer laptop computer; Hi-
tachi television; two X-Box 360s with
games and controllers; Playstation 3;
radio scanner with accessories; and an
audio amplifier.
Rohrbaugh is in federal custody.
Next came James Daniel Tawney,
25, Petersburg.
He was sentenced to 63 months im-
prisonment, plus three years supervised
release.
Tawney pleaded guilty, Feb. 3, to a
one-count information charging hi
with the distribution of meth in Peters-
years for meth dealing
burg.
. He is currently free on bond and will
self-report to a designated federal insti-
tution.
Tawney's co-defendant, Startisha E.
Keplinger, 22, Upper Tract, was sen-
tenced to 36 months imprisonment, to
be followed by three years supervised
release.
Keplinger entered a plea of guilty on
Feb. 3, to one count of an indictment
charging her with the distribution of
meth, also on May 31. She is also cur-
rently free on bond and will self-report
to a designated federal institution.
Stephen Blake Landis Jr., 43, Dor-
cas, was sentenced to 10 months im-
prisonment, plus three years supervised
release in another meth case.
On Feb. 24, Landis pleaded guilty to
a one-count information charging him
with the distribution of meth in Peters-
burg.
He is also currently free on bond
and will self-report to a designated fed-
eral institution.
The Rohrbaugh, Keplinger, Tawney
and Landis cases were all investigated
by the Potomac Highlands Drug & Vi-
olent Crime Task Force.
The task force includes officers with
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and
West Virginia State Police. The prose-
cutor was assistant U.S. attorney
Thomas Muckl0w.
There was also assistance from the
Mineral County Sheriff's Office.
The court also disposed of another
case with a South Branch Valley con-
nection.
See Court, page 8
Pack those bags ...
P'burg family is going to Disney World
There's been lots of rain around the South
Branch Valley, lately, but a ray of sunshine shone
brightly, Wednesday, on Petersburg's Grant
Street.
That's when a representative of the Sunshine
Foundation delivered some good news to Jacob
Hartman, a 10-year-old who suffers from pro-
found hearing loss.
The foundation is a charitable group which an-
swers the "dreams" of chronically ill, physically
challenged and abused children, ages 3-18.
In the case of Hartman, foundation representa-
tive Sylvia Sites told him he's going to Disney
World. Tagging along will be his parents, Shan-
non and Jasper, plus siblings, Jordan, 12, and
Jadyn, 6.
"It will be our first trip to Disney World," said
Shannon. "He chose to go."
While in Florida, the Hartmans will stay at the
foundation's "dream village." It is a 22-acre facil-
ity located near Orlando. There are a collection of
nine "fairytaJe-themed" cottages, plus a play-
ground, heated swimming pool and miniature
golf course.
All facilities are handicap accessible, includ-
ing the pool.
The trip dates are June 9-13.
According to Shannon, Jacob's hearing prob-
lem stems from a bout with spinal meningitis at
the age of six months. Fortunately, it is the sole
health problem left over from the serious illness.
He uses a hearing aid, a device which allows for
"moderate" hearing while in use.
When the heating aid isn't in use, his heating
loss is just about complete.
A student at Petersburg Elementary School,
Jacob is assisted by an aide, Carol Mongold.
Shannon said the hearing disability doesn't
prevent her son from enjoying a full range of ac-
tivities. For example, he enjoys playing sports of
all kinds.
Jacob is the grandson of Denver and Robin
Riggleman, Petersburg, and Ricky and Judy Wag-
ner, Elkins. He's also the grandson of Daniel and
Kathy Hartman, Franklin.
Sites said the trip was made possible by the
foundation's "Dream Come True Program." This
new program pairs volunteers with families, de-
livering Disney World packages in person.
The foundation was created 34 years ago. Its
Web site is: www.sunshinefoundation.org.
BEARER OF GOOD NEWS - Sites (right) presented the Disney
World trip package to Hartman (center) and his family.
PHS, UHS valedictorians,
salutatorians named
On June 3, Petersburg High
School's newest batch of seniors
will be walking across the stage
diploma in hand.
There are five valedictorians
this year: Will George, Aaron
Goldizen, Jennifer Hanlin, Devon
Hartmrn and Dawn Herron, along
with two salutatorians, Kyle Hin-
kle and Josh Hemperly.
George is the son of Kirk and
Kim George of Petersburg. He is a
4.0 gpa student-athlete and has
' played golf, soccer, basketball and
tennis in his four years at PHS.
Over the next three years, he
plans on attending West Virginia
See Grads, page 8