In Around West Virginia: a drilling company alleges it overpaid West Virginia counties millions of dollars, a man who can no longer play banjo decides to make them instead, Appalachian art is showcased at West Virginia University, and more.
n Statoil, a Norwegian shale driller, says that several counties in the Northern Panhandle owe the company millions of dollars, according to The Intelligencer/ Wheeling News-Register. The company says it overpaid Marshall County $350,000 in property taxes due to a "clerical error," and has filed a civil suit. The company also says Ohio County owes $2.9 million and Wetzel County owes $1.4 million.
n At the Appalachian String Band Festival in Fayette County, The Register-Herald spoke to a Toronto man who began making banjos after he lost his ability to play the instrument. Bill Rickard lost both an arm and a leg in an accident. "Although I can't play, I have as much fun building instruments and hearing other people play as I did playing," he said.
He has been attending Clifftop for 10 years.
"I believe this is the best festival in the world," he said.
n A Cabell County jury found Douglas Neumeyer guilty on five counts of sexual abuse and one count of sexual assault. Neumeyer, 48, of Milton, abused a 10-year-old girl in 2007.
The Herald-Dispatch reported that Neumeyer's family, the victim's family and jurors were crying.
Assistant Prosecutor Sharon Frazier said the verdict would allow the victim to move on to the next phase of her life.
"We haven't talked much about [her] rights," Frazier said. "Her right to grow up a carefree child, a right to not feel ashamed [about] what had happened to her, to go through her teenaged years and feel good about her body, and her right to go to [family gatherings] at Christmas and not feel uncomfortable. She has a right to come here and be heard."
n Ramona Lampell, a coal miner's daughter and former model, used to showcase Appalachian art at exhibits in Beverly Hills and East Hampton. West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports that her collection now has a home at the Art Museum of West Virginia University.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.