Mustang to employ 100 By DAVID HEDGES Publisher - Mustang Survival’s expansion into Roane County is expected to employ up to a hundred people within a year. And that may just be the start. “A hundred (jobs) is just a milestone. It could go beyond that,” Mustang CEO Bob Askew said at a ceremony Thursday at Mustang’s plant in Elizabeth that included official announcement of the expansion by Governor Joe Manchin. “Another hundred jobs, that’s pretty special,” Manchin told the audience that included Mustang employees and local officials from Wirt and Roane counties. Manchin praised the employees at the Wirt facility for making the expansion happen. “You made it . . . [Click for Full story] INSIDE NEWS STORIES Teacher arrested for soliciting student A Walton middle school teacher and coach has been arrested on charges of soliciting a minor. Michael W. Brohard, 31, was arrested after the alleged victim’s mother intercepted text messages . . . [ Full story ] New Reedy principal’s time in Kanawha Co. included controversy The new principal at Reedy Elementary School had a controversial stint as an assistant principal in Kanawha County. Debra Santer battled with faculty, parents and administrators and had repeated meetings . . . [ Full story ] Fourth will feature beach, band, booms The local celebration of Independence Day will feature a beach party, a band concert and the traditional fireworks display. Spencer’s municipal pool will offer free swimming Friday from noon until . . . [ Full story ] [media file] County’s first case of swine flu reported Roane County has its first reported case of swine flu. The case involves a teenage boy who did not require hospitalization and is being treated at home, according to Dr. . . . [ Full story ] Settlement in $75 million case approved A settlement in a class action lawsuit that could be worth at least $75 million was approved in Roane Circuit Court last week. The case known as O’Dell vs. Nationwide . . . [ Full story ]

Governor Joe Manchin speaks at Mustang Survival in Elizabeth while plant manager Greg Stover (left), Mustang CEO Bob Askew (behind Manchin) and vice president Ken Gulick listen. Photo by David Hedges Vote on the Issues! Should the Black Walnut Festival return to having a concert featuring a headline act? Click here and add your vote to our On-Line Poll SPORTS PAGE Little League baseball stars go 0-3 in pool play With one game to go, Roane County’s 11-and-12-year-old Little League baseball all-stars stood 0-3 in District pool play. Roane lost their first game at South Charleston’s Little Creek Park, falling . . . [ Full story ] Local Obituaries Otmer Ray Elmore Otmer Ray Elmore, 73, of Looneyville died Friday, June 26, 2009 at his home. He was born in Roane County, a son of the late Joseph Otmer . . . [ Full story ] News Archive Sports Archive Local Obituaries Archive

State Police accident reconstructionists investigated a wreck on U.S. 33 Tuesday that claimed the life of a Spencer woman and her grandson. Authorities said a hydraulic lift being towed by a dump truck landed on a Toyota Camry driven by the victim. Photo by David Hedges

The woman was identified as Kathy Saunders of Stover Fork Road. Police did not release the name of her grandson, although published reports identified him as Cole Christian Saunders.

Another grandson, this one eight years old, was airlifted to a Charleston hospital. He was identified by the same reports as Dillon Greathouse. He was listed in fair condition Wednesday morning at CAMC General Hospital, a hospital spokesman said.

Police said the helicopter that flew him to Charleston landed in a field next to the accident.

The 8-year-old who survived was riding in the front seat of the vehicle, police said, while the 4-year-old was riding in the back seat, behind the driver.

The driver of the truck, Harry Dewayne Cox, 49, of Spencer, did not appear to be injured, according to police.

The accident occurred around 9:30 a.m., just east of the intersection with Reedyville Road.

Trooper S. E. McCullough of the State Police detachment in Spencer said Cox was driving a Mack dump truck with a tagalong trailer pulling a hydraulic manlift.

Cox was headed east while Saunders, driving a 2006 Toyota Camry, was traveling in the opposite direction.

McCullough said the truck’s load shifted and struck the top of the Saunders vehicle.

Authorities were unsure what caused the load to come off the truck. A team of three State Police accident reconstructionists spent most of the day at the scene conducting an investigation.

An emergency worker at the scene said the lift had reportedly been rented in Nitro and was being hauled to the former Goodrich plant in Spencer to assist with repairs to the building.

The dump truck was registered to Cox Well Service of Spencer.

Traffic on U.S. 33 was rerouted across Reedyville Road until sometime after 5 p.m., when the team finished its site work and the vehicles could be moved. Traffic continued to be diverted until almost 8 p.m. while cleanup progressed.

State Police said the investigation into the accident was continuing.