In Around West Virginia: an NAACP president opposed a nondiscrimination ordinance, a sober living home is accepting applications, a tornado touched down in West Virginia, and more.
n The president of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County branch of the NAACP says members first started to call for his ouster after he opposed an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance, The Journal reports. Members sent a letter with complaints to the national office. Hubert Smith, the president, says he will continue to serve until his term ends or the national office informs him otherwise. Taylor Perry, a member of the group's executive board, said members were upset Smith had been holding meetings with city officials without approval from membership.
n While drug and alcohol treatment in the state can be difficult to obtain for many, The Journal reports that the Oxford House in Martinsburg, a recovery home that can house eight women, has six openings. Hunter Trivett, outreach worker, says the residents hold each other accountable for their sobriety. The Oxford House also has a location in Charleston; the Gazette-Mail reported on it last fall.
n The National Weather Service says a "weak" tornado touched down in western Monongalia County during a severe storm last week, The Dominion Post reports. The tornado blew out windows and stripped roof shingles from a home on Sierra Farm Road, according to MECCA 911 Assistant Director Jim Smith.
n Tom Tracy, an Indiana man who is part owner of Freebies Fireworks, says his company will open four new locations in West Virginia since the state legalized more types of fireworks. He said one of the locations will be in Barboursville and one will be in the Teays Valley/Cross Lanes area, according to the Herald-Dispatch. The newspaper also reports that the city of Huntington is reminding residents that local law banning more dangerous fireworks is still in effect.
n A law school graduate who asked the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to overturn his misdemeanor harassment charge was unsuccessful, The State Journal reports. Matthew Calvert had not yet passed the bar when he represented himself, but he now has his degree. Calvert threatened Clarksburg police on an internet message board.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.