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Beanie Bishop posts top 40-yard dash time at Big 12 Pro Day

Former WVU cornerback Beanie Bishop clocked in with the best 40-yard dash time on the first day of Big 12 Pro Day at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.

Bishop posted identical times of 4.39 seconds in his two attempts at the 40-yard dash.

Four other Mountaineers worked out in front of NFL scouts on Day 1. Devin Carter, Noah Massey, Marcis Floyd and Malachi Ruffin represented WVU at the three-day event.

Zach Frazier, Doug Nester, Lee Kpogba and Davoan Hawkins are scheduled to compete Saturday.

West Virginia’s 2024 Big 12 Pro Day Results

Player                        1st 40                            2nd 40                           1st 20                            2nd 20

Noah Massey             4.68                              4.69                              2.72                              2.73

Devin Carter              4.66                              4.65                              2.73                              2.75

Malachi Ruffin           4.64                              4.57                              2.72                              2.71

Beanie Bishop Jr.       4.39                              4.39                              2.59                              2.57

Marcis Floyd              4.53                              4.50                              2.67                              2.63

 

Player                        1st 10                            2nd 10                           Vertical jump              Broad jump

Noah Massey             1.72                              1.65                              30                                9-10

Devin Carter              1.66                              1.70                              31-5                             9-8

Malachi Ruffin           1.62                              1.65                              35                                10-3

Beanie Bishop Jr.       1.53                              1.50                              33-5                             10-0

Marcis Floyd              1.59                              1.64                              37-5                             10-6

 

Player                        20 Shut                        3 Cone                         BP                                Height

Noah Massey             4.60                              7.45                              16                                6-3

Devin Carter              4.33                              7.05                              12                                6-3 3/8

Malachi Ruffin           4.28                              7.25                              14                                5-9 1/2

Beanie Bishop Jr.       4.15                              7.05                              –                                   5-9 1/8

Marcis Floyd              4.17                              7.04                              12                                5-11 1/2

Player                        Weight                         Arm                             Hand                            Wing

Noah Massey             234                              34 3/8                           10 1/2                           80 3/4

Devin Carter              207                              32 3/8                           9 1/4                             79 1/2

Malachi Ruffin           193                              32 1/2                           9 1/4                             75 1/2

Beanie Bishop Jr.       180                              30 3/4                           9 3/8                             71 1/8

Marcis Floyd              196                              31                                9                                  75 1/2

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Herbert Hoover improves to 10-0 with 2-1 win over Hurricane

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fifteen innings of softball produced a pair of 2-1 victories for Herbert Hoover Thursday in the Guard the Capital Invitational at GoMart Ballpark. The Huskies defeated Hurricane, 2-1 in the tournament finale after knocking off St. Albans in eight innings earlier in the day.

“I liked how we battled,” said Herbert Hoover head coach Missy Smith. “It was the same thing against St. Albans. We played a good team and we played all seven innings. When things didn’t go our way at the plate, we made some plays defensively. That’s how you win these tight ball games.”

In the nightcap against Hurricane, the Redskins opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Jaden Jones scored on a wild pitch.

The Huskies answered with single runs in the first and second innings. RBI singles from Laila Varney and Jaylee Carper gave Herbert Hoover a 2-1 lead.

Pitchers dominated the rest of the way. Hurricane’s Kate Justice struck out 11 batters in six innings while Varney struck out 10 in seven innings of work. Both pitchers allowed five hits.

“She is a big-game pitcher,” Smith said of Varney, “She likes the ball when the game is on the line. That’s not something I can teach them. They come that way. She has put in the work in the offseason to look good right now.”

Played at the home of the Charleston Dirty Birds, temporary bases and a temporary pitching circle were installed. Smith says communication on defense was important with different dimensions than a typical softball field in place.

“Defensively, you have to talk in order to be successful. They talked through the extra noise from the speakers and the extra space. They really pushed through that today.”

The Redskins fell to 4-3 while the Huskies improved to 10-0.

“We’re 0-0 going into tomorrow and are just trying to play our best softball every time we put the uniform on.”

Alexandra Anderson collected a pair of base hits for the Redskins while Addi Chapman and Carper each had two hits for the Huskies.

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Some notes on Easter and religion as we begin the holiday

(Editor’s note: This is a reprint of a commentary I posted last Easter.)

–West Virginians are among the most religious of any state’s population, but not the most religious. World Population Review reports that Alabama is at the top of the list with 77 percent of adults who say they are religious. West Virginia is seventh at 69 percent. The New England states of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are among the least religious states.

–The largest plurality of Christians in West Virginia—39 percent—is evangelical protestant. Twenty-nine percent identify as mainline Protestant. Six percent are Catholic. Two percent are historically Black Protestant, and another two percent are Mormon. West Virginia has a small Jewish population, only about 2,500.

–We are approaching holy time for Jews as well. Passover began at sunset on April 22nd and ends at sundown on April 30th.  The holiday is a festival of freedom commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.

–Pew Research finds that, globally, Christianity is the most popular religion with an estimated 2.4 billion adherents, representing 31 percent of the world’s population. Islam is next at 25 percent and 1.9 billion followers. Sixteen percent of adults around the globe describe themselves as secular, not religious, agnostic or atheist. Just so you know, about 600-thousand individuals are Rastafarians.

–The Easter bunny, colored eggs and candy represent the secular side of Easter. The tradition began in this country with German immigrants in the 1700s who brought to this country their stories of a rabbit that laid eggs.

–According to Marshall University research, “The first churches west of the Blue Ridge Mountains are said to have been a Presbyterian and a Baptist church in Berkeley County in the eastern panhandle.” Harpers Ferry is home to one of the oldest Catholic churches in the state. St. Peters was dedicated in 1833 and escaped serious damage during the Civil War by flying a flag indicating its neutrality.

–The “Our Lady of the Pines” Catholic church at Silver Lake in Preston County lays claim to the smallest church in the country.  It seats 12 people and the exterior measures just 24 feet by 12 feet. There is debate over whether it actually is the smallest church, but it is certainly worth a visit when traveling through the area.

–Every Christian knows there are many Bible verses about the Easter story and the resurrection. One of the most common is the simple phrase from Matthew 28:6, “He is risen.”

Happy Easter!

 

 

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Independence bests Wahama, 10-2 in the Guard the Capital Tournament

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Independence collected nine hits in four-plus innings to defeat three-time defending Class A state champion Wahama, 10-2 (5 innings) in the Guard the Capital Invitational at GoMart Ballpark.

Emma Simpson went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in for the Patriots. Ava Parks, Emma Lilly, Keandra Spurlock and Harmony Mills all drove in runs as the Patriots scored in four of the five innings.

Lilly went the distance in the circle for Independence. She allowed five hits while striking our four batters.

Fiona Van Matre went 2-for-3 for the White Falcons.

Both teams are now 6-4.

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As Yeager Airport’s Wildlife Patrol Dog turns 7, a new dog comes in to learn from him

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia International Yeager Airport is celebrating its beloved Wildlife Patrol Dog’s 7th birthday, as well as welcoming in a new pooch to learn the ropes of runway-guarding.

After starting his career as the Wildlife Patrol Dog at CRW in 2018 when he was just one and half years old, a birthday party was held for Hercules on March 27 at the Kanawha County Public Library branch in Charleston.

Yeager Airport Director and CEO Dominque Ranieri told MetroNews that library staff as well as the community love Hercules and wanted to take part in celebrating him.

Dominique Ranieri

“He is 7 years old which is a huge deal, we’re so excited,” Ranieri said. “The Kanawha County Library does a great job with getting Hercules out into the community, especially with the younger community, so we love the opportunity to be able to celebrate him with them.”

However, since Hercules is now 7, Ranieri said they have to start planning for what’s next in their wildlife control program.

In doing so, Ranieri said they just welcomed another Border Collie to join the team. And she said he’s so new they don’t even have a name for him yet, but they are currently working on coming up with one.

Meanwhile, the new Border Collie is getting acclimated and receiving training for his soon-to-be role of deterring wildlife off of the runway.

Ranieri said Hercules will take in the new pup as his wingman so he can learn everything the job entails.

“He will work with Hercules on the airfield, learn from Hercules exactly what needs to be done in keeping all of the wildlife away from the aircraft, and as Hercules transitions to just doing his marketing roles, the new Border Collie will take on the bulk of the runway work,” she said.

She said since Hercules has been serving at the airport, the wildlife population on the airfield has dropped immensely, from birds to rabbits, and even the coyotes that prey on those animals have all backed off of the airfield and the surrounding area.

Ranieri said wildlife patrol is an important task at the airport.

“It has improved our wildlife control program so much over the years since Hercules has joined us, we know it’s effective, we know that it works for the different species we face here on our fields,” she said.

She said the wildlife patrol dog allows for the aircraft to land safely and without interruptions.

Ranieri said CRW will introduce the soon-to-be Wildlife Patrol Dog to the community soon after he gets acclimated at the airport.

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Photo gallery: University defeats Bridgeport, 12-3

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Photo gallery from University’s 12-3 (5-inning) win over Bridgeport.

(Photo gallery courtesy of Joey Signorelli/www.BenQueenPhotography.com)

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Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department closes

DUNLOW, W.Va. — The Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department has voluntarily closed operations.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed Thursday that Dunlow VFD did not have a valid workers compensation insurance policy in place. The department then agreed to close voluntarily.

The closure of the Dunlow VFD is in effect until proper insurance coverage is in place.

According to Wayne County 911, there are plans in place for neighboring departments to provide coverage in the meantime.

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Tucker DeVries prepares to shoulder challenges awaiting in Big 12

(Full introduction press conference)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In a span of one week, Tucker DeVries went from competing for Drake in a first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against Washington State to sitting inside his future home venue at the WVU Coliseum, where it was announced Thursday by his father and new West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries that his son would play his senior season for the Mountaineers.

“It’s always nice when you get your first recruit,” said the elder DeVries. “I had to work hard this morning to get that one done.”

The rest of the West Virginia roster remains in question and while the recently-hired head coach will work in the near future to assemble a staff, he indicated he’d also meet with current members of the Mountaineers to figure out their plans. 

Based off that, DeVries and the staff he settles on can then work to fill out the roster, but they’ll have a strong starting point in the form of Tucker DeVries.

A two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, Tucker DeVries has 1,867 points and a scoring average of 18 over three seasons of college basketball, all of which he playing for the Bulldogs to this point.

As a junior, DeVries was the eighth leading scorer in Division I with an average of 21.6 points. He scored  That allowed him to repeat as MVC Player of the Year after scoring 18.6 points per game to earn the prestigious honor a season earlier.

He became the 11th MVC player to win the award twice after scoring double figures in 65 of 68 games over the previous two seasons.

“There’s definitely a little more target on you back the second time around,” DeVries said. “People always give you your best shot and your best defender, and as you get older, people start to figure you out a little bit more game plan wise and maybe send an extra guy or two at you the second time around. It was a fun year and I’m thankful for everything that happened this past year, but excited for a new journey.”

Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker DeVries (12) shoots against Washington State Cougars forward Jaylen Wells (0) in the second half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

There will be next to no basketball activity for DeVries as his journey at a new home begins. Only two days before his dad was introduced as the 23rd head coach in WVU men’s basketball history, Tucker DeVries underwent surgery on his right shoulder, which has given him problems at times over the last two seasons for different reasons. 

It was painful enough this time around that near the midway point of the most recent campaign, the Waukee, Iowa, native gave thought to calling it a season.

“Halfway through the year, I had to battle through some things and maybe even thought about shutting it down one or two times throughout the year,” DeVries said. “I was able to do enough to feel like I could help the team and then after the season is over, worry about fixing it and trying to get back healthy as quick as possible to get working for next year.”

As he sat front row with a sling over his right shoulder and watched his dad give welcoming remarks Thursday before taking on his first Power 5-level head coaching gig, DeVries thought of how his game will translate to a higher level when he’s able to don a Mountaineer uniform.

He averaged no fewer than 13.9 points over three seasons at Drake, shot 43.7 percent for his Bulldogs’ career, made 250 three-pointers and averaged at least 4.6 rebounds each year, including 6.7 in the most recent season.

“The next step is learning to play with the physicality and speed of the Big 12,” DeVries said. “It’s certainly going to be an adjustment for anybody, but no matter how good you are, there’s always room for improvement somewhere. Trying to get healthy, get back to work and doing whatever I can to expand my game to help the team and help this team win a lot of games and be part of it.”

With his home for his final college season now settled, DeVries can turn all of his attention in the near future toward getting healthier as he acclimates to new surroundings.

“Recovery shouldn’t be too long,” he said. “Just had to fix some things that occurred about halfway through the year.”

As a whirlwind of March winds down, Tucker DeVries is welcoming a new opportunity and his next challenge, while he hopes to show he can duplicate past success at the highest level of college basketball.

“Being at a higher level, there’s going to be more expectations,” he said. “We’re both excited for that and ready to give everything we can to fulfill those expectations and get to where we need to be.”

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PEIA examines financial effects of new law meant to ensure local pharmacies get fair reimbursements

The Public Employees Insurance Agency is examining the potential financial effect of a bill requiring pricing and payment transparency from pharmacy benefits managers.

That is expected to increase costs for PEIA. The agency is also expecting increased costs from a separate requirement to reimburse providers at 110% of the Medicare reimbursement rate.

Brian Cunningham

“In practical terms, what that means and what we’ve projected is about a $6.2 million hit to the plan,” said PEIA Director Brian Cunningham.

Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 453 into law this week. PEIA’s Finance Board discussed its effects Thursday afternoon during a regular monthly meeting.

The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from reimbursing certain pharmacies or pharmacists less than the national average drug acquisition cost for a prescription drug or pharmacy service.

An aspect of the bill’s requirements is a comprehensive pharmacy business intelligence study and analysis to determine what, if any, changes can be made. The final report is due to legislators by the end of the year.

“We are already working to ensure that every bit of this code is complied with,” said William Hicks, the general counsel for PEIA.

The policy got a big push after the owner of regional pharmacy chain Fruth demonstrated receiving lower reimbursements through PEIA than what big national chains were getting.

The effects of the bill are meant to apply only to pharmacies registered with West Virginia as their business headquarters.

On the cost, Cunningham said, “There are a lot of factors that go into that, not the least of which is the portion of specialty drugs that are dispensed at those domestic West Virginia pharmacies. As that portion of specialty drugs increases that are dispensed at West Virginia pharmacies, then that number also potentially increases.”

He described “a very delicate balancing act. And that balancing act is to keep care, as much as possible in-state — dispense at West Virginia pharmacies. However, the more successful we are at that, the more we risk a financial hit.”

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Barbour County woman sentenced after death case sent back to circuit court by Supreme Court

GRAFTON, W.Va. — A Barbour County woman, originally convicted on a murder charge,  was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter following the shooting death of her husband in their Moatsville home.

Carli Reed

Carli Reed was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in state prison and must serve at least one-third of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Motions for alternative sentencing and giving credit for time served while in home confinement were denied.

Reed was charged with first-degree murder in 2019 after the shooting her husband, Marcus Fagons, as he lay in bed.

Reed was found guilty of second-degree murder in September 2020 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. That conviction was reversed by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals because the judge failed to instruct the jury that the shooting could have been an accident. Instead of a new trial, Reed agreed to plead guilty to volunteer manslaughter.

“This was a very difficult case with a lot of legal and evidentiary issues after the jury verdict was overturned on appeal,” Special Prosecutor Michael Parker told MetroNews. “My thoughts are with the victim’s family, and my hope is that the resolution of this case with the sentencing hearing today will give them at least some closure.”

During the investigation, Reed told investigators from the state police that she believed Fagons was talking to other girls, and a verbal altercation erupted. After the argument, Reed told investigators she shot Fagons while he was sleeping with a pistol that was on the nightstand.

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