West Virginia State

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - West Virginia State Police will conduct sobriety checkpoints from Saturday, Nov. 28, at 9 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 29, at 3 a.m. The checkpoint will be at one or both of the following locations: o U.S. 11 south at the intersection with Shenandoah Street, in front of Club Zero and Tri-County Rentals. Alternate routes of travel are Interstate 81 when approaching from the north and south, W.Va. 9 and Wheatland Street when approaching from the north, and Tablers Station Road and Lawn Street when approaching from the south.

If you're a state employee who has an idea how West Virginia can cut its costs, Gov. Bob Wise says he'd like to hear from you. Please help if you can, because saving money now may save state employee positions later. The governor's decision to seek input directly from state employees indicates two things - the serious conditions of the state's finances and his apparent lack of confidence that state agency chiefs can do the job all by themselves. The fiscal facts of life are not pretty.

A fire that caused extensive damage to a historic home along W.Va. 45 (Martinsburg Pike) early Thursday near Shepherdstown remains under investigation, Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Daniel Henderson said. No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported about 1:30 a.m., according to Henderson. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office, according to Henderson. Built in the 1830s, the red brick home at 6433 Martinsburg Pike was part of Rock Spring farm, Jefferson County Historical Society spokesman Curt Mason confirmed.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has appointed circuit judge Donald H. Cookman of Hampshire County to replace former West Virginia State Sen. Walt Helmick, who resigned to become the state's next commissioner of agriculture. “Throughout his years on the bench, Judge Cookman has dedicated himself to the people of the 22nd Judicial Circuit and I'm confident as a State Senator he will continue to serve West Virginians well,” Tomblin said in a news release. Helmick resigned from his 15th Senate District seat last week, but his four-year Senate term does not expire until 2014.

The crowd lining South Potomac Street in Hagerstown grew anxious Friday night awaiting the first of a series of bike races to begin the three-day Tour of Washington County. Rhythmically pounding on the metal gates that separated them from a .0.8-mile course through downtown streets, the spectators produced a sound that would soon not be heeded by the cyclists in the women's open race. At least according to the cyclists. “Some people say it's like tunnel vision - I guess that's the best way to describe it,” said cyclist Rik Lee, noting the focus a race requires that causes a rider's surroundings to fade away.

Two Martinsburg brothers are among the many Eastern Panhandle students who qualified Wednesday for the West Virginia State Math Field Day in April. David Zollinger and Robert Zollinger took first place in their age groups to qualify for the state competiton. In addition, their brother, Matthew, is an alternate for the state competition. There were approximately 250 students in grades four to 12 who competed in the Regional Math Field Day at Potomac State College in Keyser. Participants represented Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton counties.

HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. --A 33-year-old Shepherdstown, W.Va., man who was shot twice Monday night was in stable condition Tuesday at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson, W.Va., West Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. W.J. Scott said. Joseph C. Bovee was being treated for gunshot wounds in his lower abdomen and left wrist, Scott said. Brian Paul Grinnan, 26, of Harpers Ferry, was charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment and was being held Tuesday in Eastern Regional Jail on a $75,000 bond, according to jail records and police.

PREP WRESTLING HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The 61st annual West Virginia state tournament began Thursday night with 32 area wrestlers in first-round bouts at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Action continues today and concludes Saturday with the championship finals at 6 p.m. First-round results involving area wrestlers: Class AAA 103 - Dirk Bauer (Wheeling Park) p. Mya Miller (Hedgesville) 1:53; Kyle Bratke (Parkersburg) p. Andy Stotler (Martinsburg) 1:29. 112 - Zachary Larkins (Greenbrier East)

A 55-year-old man is accused of trying to bribe a West Virginia State Police trooper after allegedly failing field sobriety tests, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records. Paul Tilman Chaney was arraigned Saturday by Magistrate Jim Humphrey on two felony counts of bribery of a State Police trooper, driving under the influence second offense and driving revoked for DUI first offense, according to court records. Court records list Hagerstown and Falling Waters addresses for Chaney, who was detained by Trooper Z.S. Conner early Saturday in the Walmart parking lot in Spring Mills, according to court records.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com Walking slowly down the steps of the governor's plane, West Virginia State Trooper R.J. "Bobby" Elswick was welcomed home Friday afternoon by a large crowd that included many state troopers, sheriff's deputies and rescue workers. Elswick, who was once not expected to live, was all smiles as he greeted members of his family and fellow officers. Elswick was shot once in the head in October while responding to a report of domestic violence.