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DNR hears from community on Forks of Coal Natural Area “Master plan” – WV MetroNews

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DNR hears from community on Forks of Coal Natural Area “Master plan” – WV MetroNews


CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia DNR held a public meeting Tuesday evening in regard to the master plan for the Forks of Coal Natural Area in Kanawha County.

Residents were able to stop by the Claudia L. Workman Wildlife Education Center in Alum Creek and were able to comment on what they wanted to see in the future at the facility.

“Public comments are very important. It helps us gauge public interest and we are also able to help determine what is most important to the public,” said Zack Brown, the assistant chief of operations for the wildlife resources section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “I might have a certain idea that doing ‘project x’ is the most important, but if the public comes to us and says ‘No, we really need that parking lot so that we can get access to that new area across the road, then that makes sense and maybe we put that as priority one.”

Todd Schoolcraft, the landscape architect and project manager with EL Robinson Engineering Company, says the area is divided into a couple of sections, and both will be seeing improvements.

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“It’s kind of like a two-fold project. We have Forks of Coal North, which is already developed, and we’re expanding on that development and improving it. Then we have an additional plus or minus 200 acres that we’re calling Forks of Coal South that we’re now developing newly and is just coming into the park system.”

Representatives with the DNR had several different ideas they’ve floated around presented to the public on display boards at the meeting Tuesday.

Brown says some of these ideas could soon turn into long-term parts of the facility.

“We brainstormed and got some ideas of how we can help develop facilities out here,” Brown said. “This is a long-term plan that will help us as we proceed forward and as funding becomes available. It helps our foundation know what grants to apply for.”

11 ideas have been presented for Forks of Coal North. They are as follows:

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  • New trail on the Little Coal River side connecting FOC North with FOC South
  • New service vehicle access and pedestrian trail on the Big Coal River side connecting FOC North and FOC South
  • A boardwalk in the pollinator field to help users navigate the wet areas
  • An outdoor classroom near the pollinator field
  • A shelter located on the edge of the parking lot near the Yellow and Blue Trails trailhead
  • Detention pond beautification via a new rain garden/bioretention area near the main parking lot
  • An ADA accessible pathway to the top of Roof Rock
  • A trail connecting Mine Portal Trail with Yellow Trail
  • Reconfiguration of existing amphitheater
  • Closure of historic pedestrian suspension bridges due to deterioration
  • New benches and interpretive signs

10 ideas have been presented for Forks of Coal South. They are as follows:

  • School House Fire Trail Trailhead located across from existing main entrance to FOC North
  • Tree limb trimming to improve sight distances for users entering and exiting the new trailhead parking lot
  • Sorghum Patch Bypass Trail that will provide service vehicle access and pedestrians under the Corridor G bridges to FOC North
  • Gore Mountain and Jeep Trail Lookout Towers
  • Fence around the Hill property
  • Various trail improvements
  • New amphitheater/outdoor classroom located in the open field
  • The Crooked Branch Trail extension
  • Cemetery access
  • New benches and interpretive signs

Chapmanville resident Kenneth Wilson says the center is vital for the next generation in and around Kanawha County.

“This is a real educational tool for children,” Wilson said.

“We need to expand it as much as possible and put more things in here for people to see,” he continued.

Public comments for the master plan will be accepted until June 6. You can submit comments at sites.google.com/wv.gov/forks-of-coal-master-plan



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West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Daily 3 on Dec. 16, 2025

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Are you looking to win big? The West Virginia Lottery offers a variety of games if you think it’s your lucky day.

Lottery players in West Virginia can choose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Daily 3, Daily 4 and Cash 25. 

Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.

Here’s a look at Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 results for each game:

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Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

20-24-46-59-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

0-7-5

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

3-0-0-1

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Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 25 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

02-05-06-08-23-24

Check Cash 25 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
  • Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

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You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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State officials look to limit number of W.Va. youth in out-of-state placement facilities

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State officials look to limit number of W.Va. youth in out-of-state placement facilities


West Virginia is trying to bring home more than 300 children placed in expensive out-of-state treatment by the child welfare system.

Tuesday Gov. Patrick Morrisey revealed plans to create what the state is calling a home base initiative fund. It would allow for renovations and repairs to existing state buildings if it helps keep from sending troubled children to out-of-state placement facilities.

Out-of-state placements – now serving about 380 youth – cost about $156,000 per child and are undesirable due to separating families.

“We want to create a new revolving investment fund in order to make sure we’re building our existing state-owned facilities,” Morrisey said. “Those dollars are going to be used to renovate and repair existing state property by providing high acute psychiatric, neural-developmental and trauma services for kids in West Virginia.”

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Morrisey said the details still have to be worked out with the Legislature on this program which is aimed at limiting the number of West Virginia youth kept out-of-state. The governor appears ready to commit $6 million in surplus money toward the effort.

“It’s a huge problem, an expensive problem,” Sen. T. Kevan Bartlett, R-Kanawha, said. “It’s a problem that’s not reflective of our values to send kids away. We’ve got to come up with better answers to take care of kids. It’s the best that we can do. Then we’ve got to come up with something much better. I think that’s what the governor wants to do and I support that completely.”

Morrisey noted children in foster care have at least dropped a little below 6,000. While that number still seems high, Child Protective Services’ backlog has been cut by 50%. Numbers show children removed from a home for substance abuse is down 37%.

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“These are the statistics but we shouldn’t be beating our chests,” Morrisey said. “We have a lot more work to do.”



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As expected, buck harvest down significantly for 2025 – WV MetroNews

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As expected, buck harvest down significantly for 2025 – WV MetroNews


CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia deer hunters killed 33,775 bucks during the recently completed two week buck firearms season.

According to information released Tuesday by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Greenbrier County was the top county in the state for bucks in 2025 with 1,730 killed during the gun season. Second was Preston County with 1,349, Randolph County 1,198, Hardy County 1,165 and Pendleton at 1,135. The rest of the top ten counties in order were Pocahontas, Monroe, Grant, Fayette, and Hampshire Counties.’

Click here to see county-by-county buck firearms season harvests for the last five seasons.

As predicted by the DNR prior to the season, the total harvest was 18.5 percent below 2024. All of the DNR’s districts registered a decrease in harvest, with the exception of District 4 which experienced a 7.5 percent increase compared to last year. The DNR predicted the lower harvest because of a major abundance of mast in the state. The conditions were such that deer didn’t have to travel far to find adequate food and therefore were not as exposed to hunters.

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The agency acknowledged several counties along the Ohio River and central West Virginia experienced an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease in the early fall which also impacted hunter success especially in western counties of the state.

Several deer hunting opportunities remain for 2025. The state’s archery and crossbow season runs through Dec. 31, the traditional Class N/NN antlerless deer season will be open in select areas on public and private land Dec. 11-14 and Dec. 28-31, the muzzleloader deer season will be open Dec. 15-21 and the youth, Class Q and Class XS season for antlerless deer will be open Dec. 26-27 in any county with a firearms deer season.



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