Dr. Donna Martin, getting ready to speak at last week’s commission meeting.
By SEÁN O'DONOGHUE Managing Editor HAMLIN - Recently elected Lincoln County Board of Education member, Dr. Donna Martin, quizzed the Lincoln County Commission last week about various anomalies pertaining to an approved grant, which she had originally written in the application phase. The discussion came during the public comments section of last Thursday morning's regular session of the commission in Hamlin. Martin told the commission of her involvement in various community organizations. She said that through one of those organizations, the Lincoln County Friends of the Arts (FOA), over a year earlier, she had applied for a Community Participation Grant through the office of Senator Ron Stollings (D-Boone). She said that she subsequently received an award letter from Stollings in January, 2008, for a $10,000 grant for FOA. She noted that the letter said the only other notification she would receive about the grant would come from the state agency administering the grant requesting the project information needed for fulfillment of the grant. She said that she kept waiting and that she never received anything. She then said she "was contacted by someone who thought, perhaps, this grant application came into the county commission and was somehow altered." [more]
Willis charged with murder, malicious wounding
Stephen Willis
By RON GREGORY Staff Writer HAMLIN -- State Police from the Hamlin Detachment have charged a Sias man with one count of murder and one count of malicious wounding in connection with an early Friday, August 22, incident at 198 Big Creek Road near Hamlin. Stephen Willis, 56, of Sias, is charged with shooting and killing his nephew, Stephen Linville, 36, of Sias. The two had argued over a property dispute for more than a day, according to witnesses. After arguing about the land on Thursday, the two again argued Friday morning as Linville waited near Willis’ home for a ride to work, according to sources at the scene. Eventually, the dispute became physical, according to First Sergeant M.L. Watts of the Hamlin Detachment. As the fight progressed, Willis pulled a .38-caliber revolver out and shot Linville in the torso, killing him instantly, officials said. Willis then shot Linville’s friend, Ronnie Wade, who Linville was apparently planning to ride to work with. According to the police report, Wade and Linville lived at the same residence on Big Creek Road. Linville was pronounced dead at the scene. A HealthNet helicopter took Wade to St. Marys Hospital in Huntington, officials said. Linville’s body was taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Charleston. Officials at the Lincoln County 911 Center said officers were dispatched to the scene of the reported shooting at 7:51 a.m., Friday. Trooper S. Bartram of the Hamlin Detachment and a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy were the first to respond, according to the officials. "His uncle told him he'd kill him today," said a witness of Willis’ comments on Thursday evening. The source said when the nephew was waiting to be picked up for work this morning, "his uncle took a gun and shot him." Officers called a "Code Black" distress signal as ambulances raced to the scene. "Code Black" indicates that a death has occurred. "When Ronnie (Wade) saw what had happened, he got out of his truck and the uncle shot him in the chest," said a neighbor. Wade, said to be in grave condition, was airlifted to the hospital at about 9 a.m. An ambulance brought the second victim to a landing site at the Lincoln Primary Care Center near Hamlin. A neighbor said the uncle, "was sitting on his porch after shooting his nephew. He didn't seem very upset." Watts told the media, however, that the uncle went to a neighbor’s house and asked that they call 911. The family member said another relative "went to the end of the road and blocked if off after Steve shot him." Willis was arraigned at the Lincoln County Courthouse Friday afternoon. At press time, Willis remained incarcerated in the Western Regional Jail at Barboursville. Lincoln County Circuit Judge Jay Hoke set Willis’ bond at $100,000 for murder and $50,000 for malicious wounding. Hoke was out of town Monday but a court spokesperson said he did not believe Willis had arranged bail in the case.
AUG 25 • the facts on this story is not all accurate, Stevie Linville was not waiting on a ride to work,he was driving and Ronnie wade was riding with him. While leaving for work they had forgotten to take the drill that they needed and so turned to go back and get it, that is when Steve Willis stopped them and started the argument. Willis had been planning this for a day or two.
