Stories Clicked: Crime, Politics, and Celebrities Attract Readers to NewsandSentinel.com in 2022 | News, Sports, Jobs

Dezaray Lynn Roberts, 23, appeared in Wood County Circuit Court on Dec. 19 to plead guilty to first-degree robbery as part of a plea bargain for her role in the May 17 murder of Terrance Mills Jr. submitted the letter. , 2022, Parkersburg. The story of Roberts’ arrest was her NewsandSentinel.com’s most read story in 2022. (file photo)

PARKERSBURG — NewsandSentinel.com’s most-viewed 2022 stories included reports on crime, politics, and celebrity visits to the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The site’s most viewed article was the May 20 article about the arrest in the shooting death of Terrance Mills Jr., 26, in Parkersburg. Parkersburg police found him bleeding in his 1400 block on Covert Street, and WVU Medicine said he died of his injuries in Clark.

Dezaray Lynn Roberts, 22, of Vienna, was arrested the next day on first-degree murder charges. She was arrested after police claimed she was in contact with her Mr. Mills and set up a drug deal in which two men planned to rob him. She reportedly told police she heard screams and gunshots, and she fled the scene after the men got into the jeep.

Those suspects — Justin Keel, 21, of Columbus and Donovan Tyler McCune, 23, of Parkersburg — were indicted under sealed grand jury indictments and were arrested in November. Parkersburg police knew his name on the night of the shooting, but in the interim between his arrest and his identification, he collected evidence, including cell phone records.

Roberts pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery on December 19 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. She agreed to testify when Kiel and McCune were put on trial in the spring.

A boat belonging to the West Virginia Division of the Natural Resources Police passes the stern of the Warren W. Hine in front of a bulk cargo barge on the Ohio River on July 1, after a boating accident that killed one person. (Document photo)

Next, in a September article, 66.1% of respondents to a poll commissioned by Jackson County radio station WMOV said they voted for U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) in support of the Inflation Reduction Act. I am reporting that I did not have a favorable opinion. Worried about inflation and rising national debt after opposing President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill, Manchin continued negotiations with Democratic leaders in the White House and Congress.

Part of the compromise was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) and House Speaker Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) to advance legislation aimed at reforming the permitting process for natural gas wells and pipelines, including in Mountain Valley. It was an agreement with Nancy Pelosi (D-California). Pipeline in West Virginia. But as 2022 drew to a close, it wasn’t happening.

Manchin’s seat is on the ballot in 2024, and if he decides to run for another term, potential Republican challengers include Rep. Alex Mooney and Gov. Jim Justice. A poll conducted in August showed Justice beating Manchin 49.5% to 36.2%.

A January interview with Morgantown native Don Knotts, the daughter of a beloved comedian, was the subject of the third-most-viewed article before her show at Smoot Theatre.

Karen Knotts took the stage on March 12 to share behind-the-scenes stories about her father’s career and life, sharing video clips and rare footage of Don Knotts.

Parkersburg Police search the vehicle involved in the chase from Belpré to Parkersburg after the occupants were arrested at Gomart on Camden Avenue. (Document photo)

“She really got a blast from the audience when she talked about her father.” said Felice Jorgeson, Smoot’s head volunteer. “It was good.”

Former general store in Cottageville featured in January episode of hit History Channel show “American Pickers” The series was the fourth most viewed story subject.Brad Hunt and Bruce Hunt, grandsons of Hunt’s General Store founder Lawrence O’Too “LO” Hunt welcomed Mike and Robbie Wolfe from the show to hunt for antique treasures and discuss the history of the store, which opened in the 1930s.

A feature story about the Mineral Wells couple, who live in a tiny 16-by-20-foot house, attracted the fifth most views.Andrew Florence and Angie Florence discussed their efforts to focus on needs rather than wants, use space efficiently, and live off the grid with electricity generated by solar cells and wood-burning heating.

The July 1 fatal boating accident was the subject of the sixth most viewed article. On the Ohio River between Virginia, Washington and Little His Hocking, the boat’s engine was having problems. However, a thunderstorm hit the area, limiting visibility and a barge passing through the area struck one of the boats.

Several people reportedly jumped into the river, one of whom went missing and was later found dead. The deceased has been identified as his 80-year-old Jackie Jones of Lancaster, Ohio.

From left, Karen Knotts and her father Don Knotts. Karen talks about her father and his role as Barney Her Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show” on her March show “Tied Up In Knotts” at the Smoot Theater in Parkersburg. Did. (Document photo)

The incident is under investigation by the US Coast Guard, which was investigating the involvement of commercial vessels. The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources was the lead agency for the deaths, and a final report was not immediately available this week.

A report that a Wood County grand jury indicted 82 people in May was the seventh most-viewed article. The indictment included Parkersburg resident Joseph Michael Wolfe, who was 26 at the time, and was charged with seven counts of unjustifiable endangerment with the use of a firearm. In August 2021, he allegedly fired multiple shots after getting into a fight at his 7th Avenue bar in Parkersburg, but no one was attacked.

In August of this year, Wolfe pleaded guilty to one count of charges and the other counts were dismissed as part of a plea bargain. He was sentenced to five years in prison on his December 13th, and was given a five-year suspended sentence.

Also among those charged were Marietta resident Megan Cheyenne Roach, then 29, and Dylan Lee Riley, then 35, over drug arrests in two separate cases. , was the subject of the eighth most-viewed article.

Court documents show that Roach and Riley stopped for a power outage on the Robert Byrd Highway near Interstate 77 and were found with controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. They maintained in his May three counts each of possession with intent to carry a controlled substance and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to carry it, as well as a means to store the controlled substance. were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to Roach was also charged with maintaining a vehicle for storing or selling controlled substances.

In the 1930s, Lawrence Otto “LO” Hunt opened a general store in the Cottageville. His grandchildren had the chance to film an episode of “American Pickers” there, which aired in January 2022. (file photo)

In August, Roach pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally possessing less than 5 grams of the controlled substance fentanyl (included in a minor crime) and one count of conspiracy. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison, suspended for 4 years from her 13 years.

That same month, Riley pleaded guilty to controlled substance possession, methamphetamine possession, and conspiracy. His sentence continued in his October while he was in an inpatient substance abuse treatment program.

The story involved that then-35-year-old Kyle Roger Johnson was killed at Mineral Wells after an accident in Parkersburg on February 2nd after about 15 grams of methamphetamine was found in his car. It also included arrests. He waived his September preliminary hearing, but no charges have been filed at this time, according to Wood County Magistrate’s Court records.

The ninth most-viewed article focused on the state of West Virginia receiving its second round of funding from the U.S. Relief Plans Act, with an allotment of $677 million totaling $1.3 billion. $50 million. Funds were allocated to broadband expansion efforts, and a $250 million Economic Enhancement Fund was created to support infrastructure projects that were over budget due to rising costs (the Parkersburg Utility Board, through which asked for help in improving wastewater treatment plants). Childcare stabilization payments, such as by health and human resources departments.

Cities and counties have also received millions of dollars in ARPA funding. This can be used to assist the public health response to COVID-19. Make up for lost public sector revenues. Funding water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. Address the negative economic impact of the pandemic. Offer premium wages to essential workers. The funds must be allocated by 31 December 2024 and used by 31 December 2026.

The Hunt’s General Store building is shown in a contemporary photograph in the Cottage Building. (Document photo)

An August article about a police chase that began in Belpre and ended in Parkersburg rounded out the top ten.

50-year-old Michael Westfall of Coolville was arrested after being chased. In the chase, Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard and Chief of Staff Mike Deam West were assisting near Virginia 95 and Gihon Road when they were involved in an accident in a vehicle not involved in the chase. did. Belpre police officers attempted to pull over Westfall after automated cameras alerted the department when a car reportedly stolen from Athens County entered the city from Parkersburg.

The chase eventually reached Camden Avenue, where it crashed into a guardrail and endured two flat tires before stopping at the Gomart on the 1800 block where Westfall was arrested. He was charged in November with two counts of running away with reckless indifference, inflicting bodily injury, and possessing a stolen vehicle, and is being held at Marshall County’s Northern Regional Jail.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

Angie Florence and Andrew Florence pose in front of a small house in Mineral Wells. Amish craftsmen made the shell and finished the interior. (Document photo)

The living room and kitchen of Angie Florence and Andrew Florence’s tiny house in Mineral Wells. The couple are also trying to go completely off-grid and not rely on utilities.