Oct. 14, 2005
 
UPLAND NEWS BRIEFS: BHS Teen Dies, Felony Charges Filed; Bluefield, VA Annexes Land; Second Chances Helps Prisoners; Drug Arrests in Mercer County; Princeton Changes Streets
 
Compiled By William Paine
Bluefield News Network Writer
 
Bluefield, WV (BNN) -- An incident involving a casual lift from Bluefield High School’s lower parking lot led to the death of a 17-year- old boy and felony charges against the driver.
 
Clifton Owen Jr., 19, of Bluefield was driving down Cumberland Road when he picked up four teenagers. Two sat in the back seat and two rode on the trunk of his 1995 Nissan Altima. While driving both students fell from the back of the car and both were injured. The more seriously injured boy was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center where he died Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2005. He will undergo an autopsy today at the state medical examiners office in Charleston. The second boy was released from Bluefield Regional Medical Center.
 
Owen was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving a death -- a felony. More charges may be levied at the February meeting of the grand jury.
 
Bluefield VA Annexes 815 Acres
 
Bluefield, VA (BNN) -- Bluefield Virginia officially annexed 815 acres of new territory Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005. Now the 740 acre Saint Clair Property, Crescent View Apartments(12 acres), Graham Recreation Park and 45 more acres running north to the state line are all within the corporate limits of Virginia’s Tallest Town.
 
As a result of this, Bluefield has hired two new police officers. Additional revenue resulting from the annexation will generate $49,000, but the two police will cost the town about $70,000. Town Manager Todd Day says that revenue potential from the new territory will easily cover the $21,000 cost of the annexation.
 
Second Chances Helps Recently Released Convicts
 
Bluefield, WV (BNN) -- The Second Chances Project was first conceived by the late Judge Bivens 25 years ago to help integrate recently incarcerated people back into society. Union Mission Director Craig Hammond Runs a shop called Second chances located on the bottom floor of the West Virginia Hotel off Commerce street in Bluefield. Everything in the store has been donated by area businesses and proceeds go towards helping recently released convicts, as Hammond explains.
 
“It might be the deposit for the water bill in a new apartment, it might be steel toed shoes for a new job, a host of different things. And by the way, it’s very difficult for a convicted felon to even get a job,” he said.
 
Three Arrested on Drug-Related Charges
 
Princeton, WV (BNN) -- Following a nearly 3 month investigation, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force in conjunction with the Princeton Police and Mercer County Sheriff’s office arrested three individuals on drug related charges.
 
In the last several weeks, Law Enforcement reportedly made drug buys at 704 Harrison in Princeton. Late Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2005, police arrested Miles Parker Jr. for possession with intent to distribute hydromorphone. Danny Ruble, who lived at the residence was arrested for probation violation. Following more leads police executed a search warrant at the Comfort Inn and arrested Adre King of Mount Gideon, OH for delivery of hydromorphone. Ruble and Parker are at the Southern Regional Jail. King made his $50,000 bond and is presumably in Ohio.
 
Princeton Council Changes Streets, Renames One
 
Princeton, WV (BNN) -- The Princeton City Council approved street changes for safety and business reasons in its meeting Tuesday night, Oct. 11, 2005. Council approved the name change of Parks Street in the northwestern part of city to Valley Street. Princeton 911 director Bobby Hoge requested the change because the street was being confused with Park Avenue, a major residential thoroughfare. The council also approved a plan to create 80 slanted parking spaces in the East Mercer Street business district. To create these spaces, Mercer and Straley streets will be changed from two-way to one-way traffic. Neither the Princeton police nor fire chiefs think that there will be safety issues.