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W.Va. Division of Forestry working to contain fires

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W.Va. Division of Forestry working to contain fires


CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Kevin Arnold, a regional forester with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, said fires in the state haven’t been this bad in more than three decades.

“1991 was the last time we had something similar to this. We generally have fires every fire season but not to this magnitude just because of the drought,” Arnold said.

The Cora Volunteer Fire Department in Logan County said they’ve taken 43 calls for brush fires since Halloween. Many counties said the recent rainfall has helped, but Arnold said it wasn’t enough.

“That little bit of wind we had today dried out what little bit of rain we got in this area out completely, so it’s just as dry as it was last Wednesday.”

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Arnold said the majority of fires are currently contained, but people should use caution even if the state’s burn ban is lifted.

“We haven’t had significant rainfall in a long time. If you don’t absolutely have to burn something just don’t burn it. Wait until we get some you know some snow or something this winter or whatever and do it.”

Arnold said crews have worked everyday for nearly two weeks with help from local fire departments to create firelines– a barrier created to stop the spread of these fires to local homes and neighborhoods. He said there is still a concern for fires to spread until there is more consistent rainfall.

“We need a couple inches or so to start with to get the groundwater back. All the smaller streams and stuff are dry. Usually by this late in the fall they got a little bit of water in them.”

The Division of Forestry said recent fires in Mingo County still need to be contained and crews from Northern West Virginia will be available to help since they saw more rainfall.

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West Virginia

2026 DL O'Neal talks West Virginia visit, offer

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2026 DL O'Neal talks West Virginia visit, offer


Cleveland (Oh.) Benedictine 2026 defensive lineman Tyrell O’Neal had been in contact with West Virginia for several weeks but made the decision to come to campus to get a first-hand look at the school.

O’Neal, 6-foot-3, 270-pounds, was impressed with the atmosphere overall but was excited when he found out that the Mountaineers were jumping into the mix with a scholarship offer.



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Deadspin | Sharp-shooting West Virginia doubles up Iona

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Deadspin | Sharp-shooting West Virginia doubles up Iona


Oct 23, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Darian DeVries talks to media during the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Javon Small scored 23 points to propel West Virginia to a wire-to-wire 86-43 victory over Iona on Wednesday night in Morgantown, W.Va.

Small also had five rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Mountaineers (3-1), who atoned for a humbling loss Friday at rival Pitt in which they trailed by as many as 31 points.

Jonathan Powell provided West Virginia with an instant jolt of offense, scoring all 11 of his points less than 10 minutes into the game. Tucker DeVries contributed 13 points, three steals and three blocks while Amani Hansberry added 10 points and nine rebounds.

The sharp-shooting Mountaineers shot 51.8 percent from the floor and made 15 of 31 3-pointers (48.4 percent).

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James Patterson scored 12 points and Luke Jungers added 10 points for Iona (1-4) of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which committed 21 turnovers. West Virginia turned those mistakes into 26 points.

The Mountaineers held the Gaels’ top threat Dejour Reaves scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting. Reaves entered averaging 15.5 points per game.

Iona made 23.7 percent of its shots from the floor and 5 of 19 (26.3 percent) from deep in the teams’ first-ever meeting.

DeVries opened the scoring with a 3-pointer before Powell took over to put the hosts ahead by double digits.

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Moments after he entered the game, Powell scored on a fastbreak slam after a DeVries steal and then drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 10-0 that gave West Virginia a 21-7 lead less than seven minutes into the game.

Moments later, Powell added another trey, giving him 11 points in a span of 2:41 as the Mountaineers took a 27-12 lead.

Small took charge later in the half. His two 3-pointers highlighted a 12-0 surge that increased West Virginia’s lead to 39-17 with 6:55 left before halftime.

After the Mountaineers missed seven straight shots, Small delivered a three-point-play and followed with a triple to stretch the lead to 45-22 at the half.

From there, Iona never whittled the deficit to less than 21 points. West Virginia maxed out its lead at 82-38 when reserve Jake Auer drained the first of his two 3-pointers with 2:56 left.

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–Field Level Media



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Long snapper Austin Brinkman understands his role

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Long snapper Austin Brinkman understands his role


West Virginia long snapper Austin Brinkman is used to going unnoticed.

Largely because he accepted a long time ago that if he stays incognito to the majority of people watching the games it means that he was doing his job on the field.

“You kind of look at it as a good thing because if you mess up you know that’s going to be what’s talked about and you know that if things are kind of silent or you’re not getting much praise or you’re not getting talked about that’s the best thing that can possibly happen,” he said. “Because you know you’re doing your job.”

But those on the team, and in football circles, have been paying close attention to what the redshirt senior has done at his position this season. Jeff Koonz, who served as the special teams coordinator prior to moving over running the defense, has seen the progression of Brinkman firsthand.

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“Austin has developed a true understanding of how important he is to the impact of our punt and field goal teams. He came here to be the long snapper, and he was recruited to come here and do that, and he knew he had a job. But I think what he has developed is being elite early, really helps us,” he said. “And me being consistent really, really helps us and really it sets up our entire scheme.”

Brinkman is a lead by example player on the roster and has put a lot of time not only into improving his craft but his body. That could eventually lead to an opportunity at the professional level and it’s something that Koonz has heard from those from the NFL this season.

Being a long snapper is a lot like a pitcher where you either have the dimensions, speed and accuracy or you don’t, and Brinkman has taken his game to a higher level this season.

“He loves football, not just snapping,” Koonz said.

It’s something Brinkman has been preparing for early in the life as his father taught him about the position and then during his freshman year of high school he realized he was capable of handling it. Then as a sophomore, Brinkman started taking the role more seriously which has led to where he is right now.

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But it’s still surprising to him how far it’s taken him on the football field.

“I thought I had a chance but the level I’ve gotten and where it’s gotten me you couldn’t convince me in a million years this is where I would be if I was back there,” he said.

When he arrived on campus in Morgantown Brinkman initially believed he could possibly make an impact at another spot such as tight end, but quickly realized he was best utilized for his abilities snapping.

“I wasn’t mad about that at all,” he said.

Brinkman is one part of a unit on special teams and while he’s overlooked at times plays a key role in the success of the overall operation. There isn’t a lot of difference between snapping for a punt or a field goal outside of the distance so it’s a slight adjustment in how you mentally go about it.

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As part of his effort to improve, Brinkman spent a lot of time this off-season working on getting the laces right, the rotation of the ball and the catch point of the holder. And while he has performed well at the college level and is focused on that for the time being, admittedly keeps his eyes on a possible future at the spot.

“It’s definitely gone through my mind, and I try not to look too much into. I try to just go day-by-day, week-by-week because that’s something I struggled with early in my career looking to the future,” he said.



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