West Virginia
WV Department of Agriculture suspends poultry exhibitions and sales events – WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –As the ongoing threat of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or the bird flu rises, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture has suspended all poultry exhibitions and sales events.
West Virginia has been watching the ongoing threat since 2022 and has been working with poultry industry stakeholders and interagency partners to prepare for, if and when there was an outbreak in the state.
As of right now, the suspension, which effects exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and the sale of poultry at flea markets or auction markets, is in effect until early April. When April comes around, they will review the situation based off of the weather, temperature, and the movement of birds.
WV Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt says that they know that the outbreak is linked mostly to waterfowl and March is the biggest migration North for those birds.
There have been confirmed cases in commercial poultry operations in surrounding states and in a backyard flock in Pocahontas County, and Leonhardt said this is what led to the suspension.
“Well, it’s a continuation of the growths and it’s also that it’s earlier this year than we normally see, and we’re also seeing it in our surrounding states,” he said.
While they’ve been keeping an eye on the outbreak for three years, he says they will continue those efforts to monitor the situation
“We’re just going to keep evaluating things as we go along, and our primary goal is to protect the poultry industry, whether it be private, commercial, or backyard flocks,” Leonhardt said.
While the virus has been detected locally, federal and state wildlife agencies have confirmed that they have detected some cases in wild bird populations because of their continuous surveillance efforts.
For poultry, Leonhardt says that when the virus does infect a bird, it will most likely kill the animal. And when they finally detect that it was in fact, the bird flu, they have to make sure that the virus doesn’t spread to the rest of the flock.
“And so, what we do is depopulate the flock to prevent it from spreading outside that flock to other birds,” Leonhardt said.
While the virus mainly is transmitted from birds to birds it can transmit to people through the bird’s saliva, nasal secretions or their feces.
The Department of Agriculture has put out a list on how to prevent the spread of disease:
– Limit, monitor, and record any movement of people, vehicles, or animals on or off the farm.
-Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm.
-Avoid visiting other poultry farms or unnecessary travel off the farm.
-Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear, and other items in contact with flocks.
-Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property.
-Keep flocks away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl.
-Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian immediately.
The department encourages poultry owners to report unusual deaths in their flock, a drop in egg production, or any sick domestic birds to WVDA’s Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.
For more information regarding the virus, you can go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website here.
— Story by David Walsh, Photo gallery by Will Wotring
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Divisions I and II are going as expected after Thursday night’s opening round in the 78th West Virginia High School State Wrestling Tournament at Mountain Health Network Arena. University, seeking a third straight large school title, and Parkersburg found themselves in the top two in the standings on a night dominated by pins as No. 1 seeds would beat up on No. 4 seeds.
University started the event minus two competitors. One did not make weight and the other, who won a state title a year ago, is not competing as he’s recovering from a football injury.
One competitor delivering big for the Hawks is Maximus Fortier, a junior who transferred in from Fairmont Senior. While there, he won the state title as a freshman at 144 with a final record of 41-1. He competes at 165 now and is 36-2 after winning with a first-round pin Thursday night.
“Come down, support the team and try to win,” Fortier said of his battle plan. “Wrestle the way we know how.”
Fortier and the Hawks won the Ron Mauck OVAC title, the WSAZ Invitational and West Virginia Duals during the season. He competed in two major tournaments as well. He went 2-2 in the Ironman and won his weight class in the Powerade Tournament which attracts the top teams in the nation.
“Wasn’t ready,” he said about the Ironman. “Did my thing at Powerade. It was big.”
Fortier said support at his new school grows every day.
“They treat me like family,” he said.
Strategy for the State Tournament is simple.
“Wrestle the way we know how to wrestle,” Fortier said.
University capitalized on a strong finish in the heavier weights and leads with 47 points. Parkersburg, which finished second here last year, trails with 39.5. Cabell Midland is third with 37.5 and Huntington fourth with 32.5.
Ripley is in year two in Division II. The Vikings placed sixth a year ago. They came to town as the Region 4 winner and qualified 11 with nine taking first and the other two second. Ripley leads after Thursday with 38 points thanks to wins by pin or major fall. Independence is second with 27 and Keyser third with 25.5. Cameron is the leader in Division III with 16 points.
The tournament continues Friday with sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the girls have their state with action starting at 8 a.m. The boys begin at 10:30.
Championship finals are Saturday night at 6:30. Wrestlers are now seeded prior to the tournament and the pill breaks deadlocks.
During the season, Ripley won the West Virginia Duals, beat Herbert Hoover twice, Point Pleasant and also got wins over Parkersburg South and Huntington.
Losing to Kansas State wiped away all hope for West Virginia to make the NCAA Tournament. That seems to be the clear consensus in the Mountain State, but is there actually still a chance? Well, I guess so.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi still has West Virginia listed as a team to consider, the second team outside of the “next four out” grouping.
Lunardi’s current NCAA Tournament bubble
Last Four Byes: Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas, Ohio State
Last Four In: SMU, Santa Clara, New Mexico, Indiana
First Four Out: VCU, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati
Next Four Out: San Diego State, USC, California, Seton Hall
Next: Stanford, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona State
How is this even possible?
Short answer? I don’t really know.
My best guess as to why? Two things: the respect for the Big 12 and the opportunities left on the table, and two, an incredibly weak bubble.
Should West Virginia beat UCF on Friday, it will give the Mountaineers a 9-9 record in Big 12 play. That’s not as much of a guarantee to make the dance as having a winning record, but still, it’s an impressive mark, especially when, in this instance, they would have wins over Kansas, BYU, and sweeps over Cincinnati and UCF.
If you ask me, they still have too many bad losses for it to matter. I mean, even if they got red-hot out of nowhere and made it to the Big 12 championship game next week, is that enough? Potentially, but that’s a big IF.
The one thing WVU does have on its side is the number of Quad 1 wins, which they have five of. Virtually every other team in college basketball that has a minimum of five Quad 1 victories is expected to make the tournament. In that previously mentioned scenario, they would add at least one more Quad 1 win in the conference tournament, giving the committee something to think about.
The bubble is just incredibly weak, though. Like, how in the world is Auburn, who is 16-14 currently, the second team out of the field? Cincinnati, which WVU swept and has the same record as, is the fourth team in the “first four out” grouping.
At this point, the only path I see is for the Mountaineers to cut down the nets in Kansas City — good luck with that. We could be having a very different conversation if they didn’t lallygag their way through the first 30 minutes of the games against Utah and Kansas State.
Buckle up, Upshur County. Starting Friday, March 6, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will step up seatbelt enforcement as part of a statewide Click It or Ticket campaign running through March 23.
The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) announced the high-visibility mobilization as a warm-up to the national seatbelt campaign in May. The goal is to ensure every occupant — front seat or back, driver or passenger — is buckled on every trip.
“During this mobilization, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will be out in full force. They will be strictly ticketing drivers who are unbuckled or who are transporting children not properly restrained in car seats,” said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP.
The numbers behind the campaign are sobering. In 2023, 40% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in West Virginia crashes were unrestrained. The state’s seatbelt usage rate has also slipped — from 91.9% in 2024 to 91.6% in 2025.
Rural drivers face elevated risk despite a common assumption that country roads are safer. In 2023, 65% of the state’s traffic fatalities occurred in rural areas, compared to 35% in urban centers.
Under West Virginia law, wearing a seatbelt is required. A citation carries a $25 fine, though McNeely says the real point isn’t the penalty.
“Click It or Ticket isn’t about the citations; it’s about saving lives,” he said. “A ticket is a wake-up call. It is far less expensive than the alternative — paying with your life or the lives of your family and friends.”
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.
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