Oct. 21, 2005
 
UPLAND NEWS BRIEFS: Tazewell Men Sentenced for Narcotics Distribution; Woman Pleads on ID Theft Charges; Disaster Evacuation Law Changes Made; FSA Office Closure Plan Scrapped; WV Trooper Honored for Lifesaving
 
Compiled By William Paine
Bluefield News Network Writer
 
Tazewell, VA (BNN) -- David Lee Webb, 33, of Jewell Ridge pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of narcotics in Tazewell County’s Circuit Court Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005. Webb was out on bond when for the same charge when the County Sheriff’s office used informants to buy Oxycontin from him on two separate occasions. Judge Teresa Chafin sentenced Webb to serve 8½ years for his crimes.
 
Daniel Stroupe, 39, of Pocahontas faced similar charges on the same day in the same court. Stroupe also pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of Oxycontin and was sentenced to serve one year and nine months in prison. Both men must undergo 5 years of supervised probation after their release.
 
Weaver Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft
 
Princeton (BNN) -- Alesha Weaver pleaded guilty in Mercer County Court Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005 to taking the identity of another person and forgery of a credit card. Weaver stole the identity of Brandon Billings. On July 22, 2005, Weaver tried to use a forged credit card at the Belk store in the Mercer Mall. Weaver received suspended sentences of 1-4 years for the i.d. theft and 2-10 years for forgery with the credit card. After suspending sentences for theft and forgery, Judge Frazier then gave Weaver 1-3 years probation for her crimes. She must pay for court costs and perform 200 hours of community service.
 
Multi-State Evacuation Plans Required Under New Law
 
Washington, DC (BNN) -- Following the disaster relief debacle created by hurricane Katrina, President Bush signed into law Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005, federal legislation that requires the formulation of multi-state evacuation plans. Under the bill, the Department of Homeland Security will work with state and local governments to develop evacuation plans in case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Plans must include the pre-positioning of necessary items including food, water, medicine, and communications equipment.
 
FSA Office Closures Scrapped for SW Virginia
 
Washington, DC (BNN) -- Six local Farm Service Agency offices will not be closed as planned. The offices serving eight Virginia County’s, including Alleghany, Buchanan, Carroll, Grayson, Henry, Patrick, Smyth, and Tazewell Counties as well as the City of Galax had been marked for closure as part of the Bush Administration’s “FSA Tomorrow” plan. Perhaps as a result of heavy lobbying from lawmakers representing rural states, the Bush Administration decided to set aside the plan that would have closed nearly 700 FSA offices across the country. The Farm Service Agency was set up in 1994 to help stabilize farmers’ incomes, conserve natural resources, provide credit to new or disadvantaged farmers, and aid in disaster relief and recovery. All existing FSA offices will remain open until further notice.
 
WV Trooper D.C. Havens III Honored for Lifesaving
 
Charleston, WV (BNN) --Trooper first class, D.C. Havens III received the State Police Medal for Lifesaving at a ceremony earlier this week in Charleston. In July of this year, Havens provided emergency medical care to a driver he found pinned under his vehicle. Havens’ actions likely saved the drivers life. Though the accident victim died two weeks later as a result of his injuries, the driver would have died on scene if Havens had not acted.
 
This is Trooper Havens’ second lifesaving medal: In 2002 he resuscitated a 31-year old attorney who collapsed at his home. The attorney recovered from this episode and is still alive today.