In Around West Virginia today: the Fayette County derailment, a couple met in drug court, Handle with Care continues to expand, and more.
n Today marks one year since a train carrying crude oil derailed in Fayette County. Eight months after the derailment, a federal report stated that two tests by CSX's contractor Sperry Rail Service found a rail flaw at the site. The operator said he didn't visually inspect the area because he assumed the test indicated rough rail service, not a rail flaw.
Fire Chief Shannon Estep, of the Armstrong Creek Volunteer Fire Department, who witnessed the derailment, spoke to The Register-Herald. He estimated the flames reached up to 500 feet.
"I was really afraid we were going to lose people that day," he said.
n A Huntington couple bonded over their shared passion for helping other recovering drug addicts, according to The Herald-Dispatch. Zach and Kathy Melba met through the Cabell County Drug Court.
n WVNS-TV spoke to a client, the executive director and a board member at Recovery Point of Huntington about the drug addiction problem in West Virginia and how to solve it. Cary Dixon, the mother of an addict and a member of the Recovery Point board of directors, served on a panel on drug addiction with President Obama when he visited Charleston.
"The most important thing people wanted to get out there was we need help, we need funding, we need resources," she said.
n The Handle with Care program is expanding to Lewis County, WBOY reports. Police agencies that participate in the school notify schools when children are present at traumatic events, so school staff knows to make special accommodations. Police don't send details about the traumatic events, but the notices let teachers knows students may be prone to acting out, falling asleep or being easily distracted.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.