radioNOVO News for Parkersburg, WV 05-14-26

Good morning.A tragic accident on U.S. 50 highlighted a somber Wednesday for the Parkersburg area. Westbound lanes near Progress Ridge Road were closed for several hours yesterday following a fatal collision between a semi-truck hauling lumber and a pickup truck. Wood County 911 confirmed at least one person was killed in the crash, which brought a medical helicopter to the scene just after 1:00 p.m. State Police are still investigating the cause.In local politics, a wave of change is sweeping through the Wood County Board of Education following Tuesday's primary. Haley Meredith led the pack with nearly 7,500 votes, followed by newcomer Simon Hargus and incumbent Debbie Hendershot. The unofficial results mean Board President Justin Raber will exit the board after eight years. Both Meredith and Hargus say their first priority is improving communication between the board and local parents and teachers.The primary also saw a major shake-up in the West Virginia House of Delegates. In a significant upset, 23-year-old Walmart employee Charles Hartzog defeated long-time Finance Chairman Vernon Criss in the Republican primary for District 11. Meanwhile, 17-term Delegate Bill Anderson finds himself in a razor-thin race, trailing challenger Justin Beanard by just five votes.On the federal level, Senator Shelley Moore Capito easily secured the GOP nomination for a third term. She will face Democrat Rachel Fetty Anderson in November.