CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha Valley Water Treatment Plant from West Virginia American Water Company has reached an impressive milestone.
Members of the company as well as local and state officials helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of the plant in Charleston on Tuesday. The Kanawha Valley Water Treatment Plant went online on December 13, 1973.
“Over the past five decades, the Kanawha Valley Water Treatment Plant and our water quality team have earned an excellent reputation for providing high-quality water service to thousands of families and businesses across the region,” said Rob Burton, president of West Virginia American Water. “As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we also look to the future, renewing our commitment to strengthening the communities served by this plant.”
Kanawha County Commission President Lance Wheeler
It’s the state’s largest water treatment plant, serving almost 302,000 customers in Kanawha, Putnam, Boone, Logan, Lincoln, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Roane, Jackson and Mason counties. The plant was originally constructed to combine the Charleston, Belle and Nitro water treatment plants.
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“Over 300,000 people on a daily basis get their drinking water from this facility,” Burton said.
President Burton expressed his appreciation to the many employees of the company and the community partners who were also in attendance to mark the significant achievement.
“Across the whole state, we have about 330 professionals that work for West Virginia American Water every day to deliver water,” Burton. “It really takes a group effort to be successful in supplying water service to any community, let alone one of this size, so we appreciate the partnerships very much.”
Kanawha County Commission President Lance Wheeler said the water company is setting the standard in water service, not just in the state, but across the nation.
“This plant stands as a testament to innovation, resilience and the dedicated individuals who share the same goal as the Kanawha County Commission to help ensure public water to every household,” said Wheeler. “We believe they are doing the best that we have seen in our lifetime and in the nation.”
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During Tuesday’s anniversary celebration, West Virginia American Water also presented a check of $10,000 to the Charleston Institute Chapter of the Links
The Kanawha Valley Water Treatment Plant is located within Charleston’s historic Triangle District. Charleston City Councilwoman Jennifer Pharr said the city and the water company are partnering together on some resurgence efforts that are underway for the district.
“We’re grateful for our partnership with West Virginia American Water that will support a historic marker paying homage to the Triangle District and continued investment in cultural programming,” Pharr said.
The West Virginia Mountaineers (10-3) welcome the Maryland Terrapins (10-5) to Kendrick Family Ballpark Tuesday afternoon the first encounter between the two programs since 2023 and the first meeting in Morgantown since 2018. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
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The Mountaineers captured their fourth consecutive series of the season after taking two of the three games from Columbia over the weekend. West Virginia sophomore Matt Ineich and senior Brodie Kresser both blasted grand slams during the series. Ineich lifted WVU in game two with a walk-off grand slam in the 10th in game two, and Kresser ignited a 16-1 rout, capping a six-run second inning in the series finale.
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Gavin Kelly leads West Virginia at the plate with a .436 batting average with a Big 12 leading nine doubles. Ineich and senior Paul Schoenfeld has raked in a team-leading 16 RBI apiece, while senior Matthew Graveline has clubbed a team-high three home runs.
On the mound, West Virginia is expected to start sophomore David Hagen. The right-hander has made four appearances on the season, including one start. He last started in the home-opener against Ohio where he pitched two scoreless innings and recorded a strikeout to collect his first win of the season. He holds a 1.00 ERA with five strikeouts on the season.
After starting 3-4, Maryland is 7-1 in its last eight games. The Terrapins won two of three at UNC Wilmington in the season opening series, followed by a midweek win against Georgetown before getting swept at Louisiana. The Terps bounced back with a pair of midweek wins versus Delaware and swept a one-win Wagner team.
Junior Brayden Martin is batting a team-best .443 to go with four doubles and 12 RBI. Redshirt freshman Ryan Costello leads the Terps in home runs (9) and RBI (21) and is third in batting average at .328, while freshman Ty Kaunus has a team-high seven doubles and has .269 batting average.
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Maryland is scheduled to start freshman Nic Morlang. The right-hander has four appearances on the season, including four starts. He allowed five earned runs in his appearances, coinciding with his two starts, in six innings of work. In his last two appearances in relief, He’s allowed one earned run on five hits.
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West Virginia leads the all-time series 8-5, including a five-game winning streak over Maryland.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a series of parties in Morgantown over the weekend.
Morgantown police officers, West Virginia University Police and state police responded to reports of overcrowded parties, underage drinking, physical altercations and multiple injuries.
Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffie said several citations were issued for open containers and underage consumption.
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Two large parties were dispersed and six arrests were made without incident.
None of the reported injuries are believed to be serious or life-threatening.
The Morgantown Fire Department assisted in the operations.
Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.
Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.
“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.
Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.
