Coal City News

Back in the 1950s, black gold flowed out of the mines and along the railroad tracks, and the town of Sophia was a typical, coal-based West Virginia town.

Ethel Lambert had been awake only a moment on Nov. 12 when her phone rang. The man on the other end of the line sounded desperate.

One man was hurt in a Friday morning fire in downtown Sophia. Firefighters said it appears a waste oil furnace inside AMS Oil, on Main Street in Sophia, caught on fire.

An explosion was reported in Coal City Wednesday, but authorities say only a motorcycle gas tank exploded during an outbuilding fire that was extinguished in a half hour.

The clear sunshine and bright, fall foliage were perfect backdrops to the highlight of Brenda Cole Grubb's visit to Coal City.

Raleigh County emergency dispatchers say there was a structure fire in Sullivan Wednesday morning.

Sophia Police say they are now sorting through several conflicting statements in a wreck investigation reportedly involving a pickup truck equipped with emergency red lights and a siren.

A pickup truck equipped with emergency red lights and a siren ran another pickup off the road and into another vehicle Wednesday in Sophia and fled the scene, police said.

In the midst of a severe financial crisis, Coal City Fire Chief Ryan Bragg stepped down Wednesday and State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis received a letter announcing the department would voluntarily cease and desist operations immediately.

Annita and Bill Lanham walk their son Will to Fayetteville Elementary School Wednesday during the first day back to school.

While West Virginia students headed back to class Wednesday, problems forced some Raleigh County schools to close.

While West Virginia students headed back to class Wednesday, problems forced some Raleigh County schools to close.

An ATV rider who rode into the woods after reportedly threatening to commit suicide was found eating at a Sophia restaurant after emergency service workers say they combed southern Raleigh County for about 18 hours.

Krista Hughes stole the show at Lake Stephens' Colgate Country Music Showdown. Singing her very own "Why It's Her You Chose," the 16-year-old awed judges and competitors, and took first place.

Nedra and Grayson Lilly have been married 55 years. The Coal City couple met "just out the road" from the Coal City home they've lived in since their wedding.

Two separate ATV accidents in Raleigh County over the weekend and one has left a man dead.

A 53-year-old Coal City man was killed Friday evening in an ATV accident on Whitby Road, police said.

An A-T-V ride comes to a deadly end in Raleigh County. Raleigh County Sheriff's department reports that the accident occurred on Whitby Road in Coal City around 5 oclock.

Firefighters from three Raleigh County fire departments were on the scene of an abandoned house fire on Coal City Road in Rhodell Friday evening.

Staci Hartshorn, a volunteer with AmeriCorps, helps children enrolled in the Energy Express program at Coal City Elementary School on a project.