Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, this is Dave Wilson along with TJ Meadows.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Join us weekdays at ten oh six for Metro News
Talkline on this metro news radio station.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
TJ. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
That's right, Dave.
Speaker 5 (00:12):
We'll continue to examine and discuss issues important to.
Speaker 6 (00:15):
West Virginia, hold elected officials accountable, and make certain you
have a forum to make your voice.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Ery new host, same talkline.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Join us weekdays at ten oh six on this metro
news radio station and Metro News TV app.
Speaker 7 (00:29):
It's the time of the year when Friday nights are special,
and that's because Friday nights are reserved for high school football.
This is Fred Pursinger inviting you to join Dave Jekking
in me every Friday night through November twenty eight for
year number twenty four of Game Night. Every Friday night,
we'll bring you all the scores and stories from around
the state lost We'll take your phone calls and talk
(00:49):
about your favorite team. It's Game Night, presented by Match
a Mountain State Assessment of trends and community health Survey.
Visit wvmatchsurvey dot org.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Metro Midday with thirteen News and Tonight Live anchor Amanda
Barn and Metro News is Dave Allen.
Speaker 8 (01:05):
I'll deliver live, up to the minute news, spotlighting people
and communities and covering breaking news stories as they happen.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Join us as we interview newsmakers from around the state
and world. Have provided a platform for your voice to
be heard statewide.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Metro News Midday presented by Soulango Law from noon to
three on this Metro News radio station. We're talking about
(01:39):
your town. Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Welcome back to the program.
Speaker 9 (01:47):
In studio, we've got some special guests in studio and
to welcome down College. That's right, We've got the Fireman
Day in the studio, Captain Jason Quinn and Deputy Fire
Marshall Billy Lyon.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Say good morning to both of you. How are you great? Hey,
I'm doing good, doing good. Thank you very much.
Speaker 9 (02:13):
Let's see and also I left out the most special.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Guest in the room, Billy. I'll let you introduce her.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
This is Chance.
Speaker 10 (02:21):
She's our new excellant detection canine. She's a sixteen month
old black lab from the ATF.
Speaker 9 (02:27):
And I can tell you she is very very friendly.
I'll let you talk about that talk about her demeanor.
Speaker 10 (02:34):
She's Oh, she's a sweetheart. She's not a bite dog
by any means. So she's absolutely friendly, very well behaved.
We've already had some interactions with some of the kids
at daycares. They come right up love on her. She's
a sweetheart. She just sits there and loves on them.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
That's awesome.
Speaker 9 (02:50):
Okay, Now tell us what is the purpose of this
canine here with the Morgantown Fire Department.
Speaker 10 (02:57):
So an excellant detection canine is used to locate sections
to take samples from a fire scene. So if we
suspect arson, she goes through the scene and using her nose,
she'll locate places for us to take samples. We'll collect
the samples, send them to the state lab where they'll
be analyzed and verified that they are actually excellerants are
(03:18):
present at the scene. So if an excellerant's present and
we can prove it and a chemist can get on
the stand and speak for her, we can lead to
a further arrest or a conviction.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Okay, so let me get this straight.
Speaker 9 (03:31):
So chance can go to a fire scene and more
or less conduct a nasal evaluation and take you to
where these sense, are you take samples to a chemist
and now tell me how the testimony works, because how
(03:51):
do we know that the dog is certified by the court.
Speaker 10 (03:55):
Yeah, so she actually gets certified every year she goes
back for research vcation where a chemist puts out six
different odors that she's trained on different petroleum distillates, and
she has to have no false sits find every odor
every time, like every year. She has to recertify for
that and it has to be perfect or she doesn't certify.
(04:17):
If she didn't, she would have to go to remedial
training things like that. But that certification is what validates
her nose. And then the chemist whenever we send the
samples off to the state lab, they're the ones that
can speak to the chemistry because obviously she can't get
on the stand.
Speaker 9 (04:33):
So sure, sure, ye has she waggered tail a lot,
a lot of dog smiles. We've got Deputy fire Marshall
Billy alliance with us. Now, Billy, now correct me if
I'm wrong, But I believe that this is one of
only two dogs in the state and both dogs have
landed in the state really kind of just this year.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yes, Now, what why do.
Speaker 10 (04:55):
We need them so they're pretty much an invaluable tool
for accelerated. To use a harder carbon analyzer, it'd be
kind of like going off.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Through the beach with a metal detector.
Speaker 10 (05:06):
Unless you're directly on top of it, it's not it's
not going to register. She is trained to head to source,
so any slight breeze, we train her in a way
that if you orient yourself so your downwind you're in
the scent cone, she will brack it through that scent
cone all the way back to the source. So she's
kind of like a homing device to find that source
of accelerate to get you your best sample to send
(05:28):
to the state lab.
Speaker 9 (05:29):
Okay, now let's see she has already been at work
here in the north central West Virginia area. Now the
investigations active, so we can't really talk about any kind
of specifics, but what are you able to do for
those investigators down there? And what I'd like to know
is what you're able to do and then maybe does
(05:51):
she decrease the time that the results.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Of the investigation are available?
Speaker 10 (05:57):
So your odor is going to linger based on environmental
factors humidity, temperature, because everything's evaporating, everything's diminishing how much
a scene is involved, how much of the product has
been consumed, what all is left. So she's not a
and I'll be off by any means, but she is
another tool in the arsenal for finding evidence.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
So when we went down to Bilington.
Speaker 10 (06:21):
You know, we did a whole perimeter search, worked our
way in in a methodical method, going back through in
a grid search until we actually located a source.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Which we did actually locate a source.
Speaker 10 (06:31):
So we're sending that off to verify to make sure
that we can have something for them.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Now, what does she do to tip you off that
she's onto something?
Speaker 10 (06:41):
So we're looking for it's referred to as.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
A change in behavior.
Speaker 10 (06:44):
The ideal one So when they do training, when we
do certification is a sit. So she'll do a sit
stay like, she'll sit down, look up at me and indicate, hey,
this is where it is. I'll reward her, I'll pay her.
That's how she gets her her food is she's food
reward based training. And then I'll ask her to show
me as basically a reaffirmation of like, yes, this is
where it is, and she will put her nose right
(07:04):
on it, sit back down, look up at me, and
that's the target goal. Obviously, if you're in a fire scene,
burn debris everywhere, holes in the floor, there's nails, yes,
there's all kinds of debris. She'll try to sit, She'll
do her darnedest. She may get down to a hover
and she'll look up at you like, hey man, this
is as far to the floor as I can put
my bottom or I'm gonna fall down. So, I mean,
(07:26):
the well being of the dog is top priority. Like
she is, she's a good girl.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
I don't want anything to happen to her. Oh well, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
I couldn't agree with you more there.
Speaker 9 (07:35):
So then you take this sample that you have to
a lab, they analyze that, they come up with the
readout from the lab. Then the expert goes to the
court room then to.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Deliver that testimony.
Speaker 9 (07:52):
But I guess the question that I have is is
that you've mentioned training and certification. What's the difference and
how often do each happen?
Speaker 10 (08:02):
So training happens every day because that's it's a food
based reward system. So every day to get her daily ration,
she trains. So I'll go through twice a day at
a minimum, sometimes three times a day, set up a
scenario where I'll put out I have six different odors
that I'll put out in tiny droplets, whether it be
searching articles of clothing along the side of a building,
(08:25):
a crack in the sidewalk, and I will send her
on a search where we will search throughout the entire
area until she finds it. And as soon as she
finds it, she sits, she gets paid, paid, is fed.
So every single day she trains. Now certification that's through
the ATF, and that's to keep their accreditation with their ability,
so they go to that every single year they have
(08:47):
to re certify.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Okay. Now recently you were in Quantico, Virginia. Is that right?
We were in Front Royal, Virginia, the Front Royal. Okay,
tell me about that trip. What'd you do?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
It was great.
Speaker 10 (08:59):
I mean it's training. It's seven days a week, every
single day, and it's it's really to develop that habit
of like, hey, you have to train this dog every
single day, even on your days off, like every single day.
That's how she eats. You have to feed every day
and you have to develop those habits and so it
was great. I mean, we worked with some some other
(09:19):
agencies from everywhere from California, Philadelphia, which Tall Kansas, all
over the all over the state.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Okay, now the country.
Speaker 9 (09:30):
Sorry, I think there's I know there's less than one hundred.
I'm thinking there's probably around eighty or so of these
dogs nationwide.
Speaker 11 (09:38):
There's seventy five. I got that from the ATF the
other day. There's seventy five as of right now.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
Okay, thank you, So how important or I guess what
obligation comes with being one of seventy five nationwide?
Speaker 10 (09:53):
So we are available for response. We have regional response,
which you know, working with the state fire marks mars
within the state, and then it's really going to come
down to what the need is and how available I
can be. Like think geographically, they're trying to get the
closest person possible to get to that scene. So if
there's a national call out, it's something different, think like
(10:17):
riots things like that, where it's like, hey, we need
all hands on deck. It's a little different than hey,
this dumpster caught on fire in the.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Middle of nowhere.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
It's like, okay, well.
Speaker 10 (10:27):
We kind of have to be discriminate because we still
have a job to do in Morgantown as well as
being fire marshals in Morgantown. So sure, we can't let
our job here slide for everything, right right.
Speaker 9 (10:38):
You know, a couple months ago head Captain quinn in
and we were talking about that, and I think a
couple of years ago there was a fire where some
folks tragically lost their lives and we brought a dog.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Can you go through that, Jason, Yeah.
Speaker 11 (10:54):
We brought down Michelle from Allegany County Fire Marshall's office.
They have an ATF dog, and we had two fatalities
in an abandoned home and she brought her dog down,
ran the scene, didn't find any accelerant use. But you know,
(11:14):
now we have that in house. We don't have to
have somebody come from Pittsburgh or you know, Maryland or
wherever to come. We can do it ourselves now.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
And that not only is that good for us, but
I'm sure that surrounding communities more immediately, like Preston, Marion,
Wetzel Counties, I'm sure they've got the word that you
have that.
Speaker 11 (11:36):
Yeah, you can imagine that just being in the area
of Pittsburgh. How busy she is. So she's actually relieved
that we have that ability down here to maybe take
a little workload off of her. But you know, all
the surrounding counties now have a tool that we've never
really had around here. An interesting fact, there's seventy five
(11:59):
in the United States if you take out the state
agencies and the county agencies of the municipalities, which is
what we are, there's only twenty four in the whole
United States, and we're one of those municipalities. So we're
pretty we're very fortunate for that.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Definitely.
Speaker 9 (12:17):
Let's see, we've got Deputy Fire Marshall Billy Lyons with
us and the Fire Marshal Captain Jason Quinn with us
this morning, and Billy, when you're maybe on a road
trip taking chance to go work like you did earlier
this week, what's her demeanor like, does she know she's
going to work or what's the difference between that and
(12:42):
when you train her same thing?
Speaker 10 (12:44):
She's she has pretty much the same behavior every time.
She's kind of like a button switch, though she knows
when she's working versus when she's just out and about.
Because when we're working, you know, you put on the pouch,
you put on the gloves, on the leash, and it's
it's a demeanor change as soon as you have on
your pouch, like, hey, we're looking for food, We're looking
for evidence, i e. Food, food reward. She's focused solely
(13:09):
on finding odor. If I'm not wearing the pouch, not
we're not actively searching something like that. If it's basically
like putting on your uniform. When she puts. When I
put on the pouch and she goes on the leash
to go out there and search it, she's focused. As
soon as it's off and put away, she's just like
(13:29):
being a good old dog, like just a more like
a house.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Pet at that point.
Speaker 9 (13:32):
Now, I'm not trying to go to a dark place here.
But you're the handler, right, Okay, what happens if something
happens to you, So.
Speaker 10 (13:41):
Something would have happen to me, we would contact one
of our fellow handlers nearby. There's obviously the one up
in PA or something like that. So let's say that
I was injured or hurt or something like that. We
would reach out to another ATF canine handler and let
them take care of the dog until I was recovered,
(14:01):
or if they were unavailable, we can reach back out
to the ATF and take her back down to Front Royal.
Obviously if I'm hurt, someone else's driving her down there,
and they could maintain the dog until I was able
to come back to work.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 9 (14:14):
And then the last thing that I've got for you, Billy,
is when during training, when you're when you're training, chance,
do you use just anything burning or so what?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, because I would think that the fire would distort
the smell of yeah, it does.
Speaker 10 (14:39):
So whenever we're doing the training, I'll use the discrimination
cans for a perfect example, because that's pretty much what
we that's one of the certifications. We'll set up what
are known as distractors. So distractor is anything and everything
that you might find in a burning structure, from carpet
to wood, vinyl siding, plastic, anything that might you might
(15:01):
have found in a burning structure. I literally have a
box of all kinds of different debris that I'll set
in each can. We torch it a little bit, set
on fire to give it a good char and then
of those cans will randomly pick a few different ones
to spike with different accelerants for training purposes. So that
way she is able to discriminate between just burning material
and burning material that has accelerant present.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (15:24):
I wondered about that because I thought that all those
different smells would blur that ability. But then again, I've
talked to policemen that have told me that, you know,
when you put a pot roast on in your house,
you smell pot roast, but a trained dog would smell
the carrots and the bay leaves, and the onion and
(15:46):
the garlic and the meat.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yeah. Yeah, so her.
Speaker 10 (15:50):
A dog's nose actually has multiple chambers. One is for breathing, obviously,
but the other one is just for their sense of smell.
Of the old factory humans have, I believe it's three million,
dogs have three hundred million, So her ability to smell,
she can really discriminate between all the different ingredients and
a pop roast.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
That's great. Hey, guys, thanks a lot for coming in.
Really do appreciate it. Keep up the good work.
Speaker 11 (16:14):
We appreciate you letting us get the word out, and
we're excited to introduce her to the community.
Speaker 9 (16:18):
Now, Jason, I'm not trying to embarrass you, but did
you want to sing at Christmas Carol on the way out?
Speaker 12 (16:23):
No?
Speaker 11 (16:23):
No, okay, you would lose listeners, trust me.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Sorry, I had I don't know why I did that,
but I did it anyway.
Speaker 9 (16:31):
Light snow and twenty eight degrees in the University City.
When we come back, we're going to address a couple
of topics. One, we're going to address the warming shelter
and a possible schedule when a twenty four hour warming
shelter may be available here in the community and exactly
how many people were planning for that might use that shelter.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
And then we're also going.
Speaker 9 (16:53):
To talk about holiday celebrations here in the city of Morgantown,
because there is a tree lighting parade it's coming up.
It's going to be downtown, and we've got Morgantown Mayor
Danielle Trumbull coming in to give us all the details
that we need so we can participate. It was an
awfully cold evening, I'll tell you that, but today, believe
(17:16):
it or not, clouds and we'll warm up to near
forty degrees right now, light snow, twenty eight and it's
time to find out what's happening across the great state
of West Virginia. To do that, we'll head to the
Metro News anchor desk.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven to
sixty five eight two, fivey five. This is the Talk
of the town.
Speaker 9 (17:56):
Good Friday morning, Welcome back to the program. It is
nine thirty five. This is Talk of the town. We're
glad that you're with us in studio. We've got the
Mayor of Morgantown, Danielle Trumbull. Right now, light snow twenty
eight degrees in Morgantown. Danielle, you staying warm?
Speaker 8 (18:12):
I am.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
You know.
Speaker 8 (18:13):
I was almost late getting in here today, not because
of snow or ice or anything, but because I was
playing with Chance out in the hallway. I said, they
didn't even teach you her best trick. She can stop,
drop and roll. Big hit with the kids and the
city councilors.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
That'd be a big hit with me.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
I really feel left out that I didn't get to
see that, that's for sure. But no Chance has made
several new friends here in the building this morning.
Speaker 8 (18:37):
Absolutely. I don't want to say she's a mascot. She's
a working member of the department. But what a great
outreach tool that they have. You know, she's good for
detecting accelerants and helping with investigations, but also getting out
and educating some of the kids and stuff. That's great.
Speaker 9 (18:52):
Absolutely, I couldn't agree more with you. Let's talk about
the warming shelter if we could, because I think it's
some point this year that warming shelter will likely.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Land out at West Run. Is that the plan? What's
going on?
Speaker 8 (19:08):
That is the plan. Catholic Charities, which is located here
in town up at Hazel's House of Hope, is who
applied for the funds and said that they were going
to operate the warming shelter. They decided that their best
option was to partner with the Coalition Intended Homelessness, who
owns that West Run facility or they're operating that West
(19:29):
Run facility that the Bartlett House had. So they've partnered.
They're doing background checks on employees right now, they're filling
with furniture and supplies, and the goal is they as
of yesterday, they said that they would be open December fifteenth,
which is usually the anticipated opening date.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (19:49):
I wanted to bring that up because yes, we have
had definitely had an early blast of cold air, but
typically the warming sh the altar doesn't open until December tenth,
December fifteenth.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I think last year the twelfth sticks in my head.
Speaker 8 (20:06):
For some reason, the goal is always December fifteenth. Occasionally
they are able to get it open a few days
earlier here and there, and since it was on site
up at Age three where Catholic Charities was located last year,
I do think they were able to get it open
a couple of days earlier, but nothing significant. They weren't
open in November or anything like that.
Speaker 9 (20:23):
Okay, so in the interim, mayor, what are we doing
with folks that need to get warm?
Speaker 8 (20:29):
Yeah, so no secret around here that it's been snowy
and very cold already. So the city manager jumped right
into action. I really commend her for taking initiatives. She
opened up the Public Safety Building downtown, which you know,
people have mixed feelings about having a warming shelter at
(20:50):
the Public Safety Building, but as a stopgap measure, the
Public Safety Building has been opened for twenty four hours
a day. There's no cots or anything like that, but
certainly a place that people can get in out of
the elements if they need to. The city manager actually
emailed council last night with an update and said that
(21:12):
through that effort they've even been able to connect some
people with resources like shelter and housing. So we're very
happy that they took that on and opened that up.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
And I think that, you know, that's the direction.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
I think most of the community wants this situation ahead,
getting people help whatever they need because everybody's different.
Speaker 8 (21:36):
Absolutely, the resources that are needed are not the same
for everyone, and trying to figure out each individual case
is very time intensive, which is why they've decided that
in the last couple of years, the Warming Shelter actually
needs paid staff. They're more reliable and they're well trained
(21:57):
so that they can help to connect people with the
resources that they need.
Speaker 9 (22:02):
Okay, now, let's see, holidays are on the way.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
What is the City of Morgantown gonna do.
Speaker 8 (22:10):
We support so many of the holiday activities. Downtown is
bustling these days, and I want to just toss in
because when I was on last week, someone texted in
and said, but downtown's not safe. I don't want to
go to I had a downtown safety meeting with City
main Street, the Partnership wvu WU Police yesterday and they
(22:32):
said we meet quarterly and they said, in the last
couple of months, we haven't had any issues. There were
no break ins in the co Op Zone over Thanksgiving
break Like, it's kind of smooth sailing right now. So
if you've been a little hesitant, I think now's a
good time to come. Tonight, the Arts Council of Greater
Morgantown is doing First Friday for the Arts. That's six
to nine pm a lot of locations downtown. My favorite
(22:57):
one of my favorite events of the year in downtown
on Arts Center. During this we'll be holding a card
and ornament market. I have a real soft spot for
Christmas ornaments, Mike Okay. The tomorrow is a fun event.
Also one of my favorite events in Morgantown the Santa Crawl,
which a bunch of people dress up in various Santa
(23:20):
suits and things like that and hit a lot of
the downtown establishments there. They go from Jeans to one, two,
three to Poor Choices. But it's also used as a fundraiser.
People are encouraged to bring donations for the pantry plus
more so that kicks off at one o'clock at Jeans
tomorrow and then the main Street Morgantown Downtown Dash is
(23:42):
next Saturday, the thirteenth. There will be vendor markets at
Hoot and Howe, the co Op Apothecary. There's also a
scavenger hunt you can win prizes from some of those
downtown businesses. Follow Main Street Morgantown's Facebook page for that
Christmas parade December tenth at six o'clock down High. We're
always excited for that. You and I talked about that
(24:03):
a little last week we did. And the last things
I wanted to mention today if you're into shows, the
Morgantown Theater Company, which is a kids acting group, is
doing SpongeBob the Musical at the met this weekend. They
have several shows throughout the weekend. And then I invited
my family into town. We are going to go and
see It's a Wonderful Life by the West Virginia Public
(24:24):
Theater Group at the WU Creative Arts Center. They start
shows this weekend and go through the nineteenth. So very nice,
so many events, Mike.
Speaker 9 (24:33):
Absolutely, and just real quick on downtown. And I might
have said this the other day, but I went down
to Spruce Street to go to a meeting recently and
was talking with some of the people in the building
there and they told me that they've been seeing a
lot more police around that area of downtown and they've
(24:54):
seen a lot less of some of the things that
they saw during the summertime.
Speaker 8 (24:59):
Yeah, certainly. It always kind of chills out a little
during cold weather, so no surprise. But it is way
better than it was. And I won't say there are
absolutely zero safety issue. I mean, you go to any
of the town centers or anything like that, and you'll
run into a little bit of crime here. And they're
not saying that there's no issues, but the police are
(25:22):
quick to respond. And it's a pleasant time to be downtown.
There's lights, there's music. Get down there and it's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Come on, get out and have some fun.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
They're playing music from the speakers at the met Theater
now so you can hear holiday music walking down the street.
I love it very n we're really trying to make
Morgantown dip its toe into some festivities.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
I like that. I like that. That's good. Okay, Mayor
thank you very much for coming in.
Speaker 8 (25:49):
Absolutely appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Okay, right now, twenty eight degrees in clouds. When we
come back, got to get a preview of the Martinsburg
Morgantown Quad, a championship high school football game. That game
kicks off at noon today, We'll do that next on
Talk of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh
four point five WAJR.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
WV metronews dot com the only website you need to
stay informed in the Mountain State. Get the latest news
and sports story, information on the great outdoors, and never
miss an episode of your favorite Metro news programs and
podcast including Talkline, Hotline, sports Line, and Three Guys Before
the Game. Make a bookmark now and visit wv metronews
(26:36):
dot com first thing every morning to find out what's
happening all across the state. Wv metronews dot com.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
West Virginia Outdoors is the Mountain State's only hook and
bullet radio show dedicated to the more than quarter million
hunters and anglers across the state. Award winning host Chris
Lawrence has been tracking down hunting and fishing stories for
more than twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I'll go out on a limb because people won't like
my answer. Probably, I think there's fewer coyotes than most
people imagine. Really, because when number one, when you hear
a family group of them this time of year, the
pups are very vocal. The coyotes are getting they've been
kind of shut mouthed during the spring when they're young,
and it's like a bunch of teenagers. When they get
(27:19):
to September, mom and dad can't keep their mouths shut anymore, whether.
Speaker 4 (27:23):
It's hunting and fishing news or just compelling stories about
the enjoyment of the great outdoors. West Virginia Outdoors covers
it all Saturday mornings at seven oh six am and
for your daily fix, Outdoors Today brings you two and
a half minutes of news and notes from the woods
and water every weekday morning on Metro News, the Voice
of West Virginia.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
It's two hours of sports conversation to wrap up your weekend.
It's the City that Sunday Night Sports Line. Hey, this
is Travis Jows joined myself and Greg Hunter every Sunday
night from six oh six until eight o'clock as we
wrap up the sports weekend, we talk Mountaineers, high school,
Mountain East Conference, and the latest in the national I've seen.
The Sunday Sports Line is listener interactive. You could call
(28:03):
or text the show at three oh four Talk three
oh four. It's a perfect weekend sports wrap up on
your favorite Metro News affiliate, or watch the show at
WB metronews dot com.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
West Virginia Outdoors is the Mountain states only hook and
bullet radio show dedicated to the more than quarter million
hunters and anglers across the state. Award winning host Chris
Lawrence has been tracking down hunting and fishing stories for
more than twenty five years.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
In a stream or a river, they really like to
have a mud bank and they like to have a
place where they can dig an underwater hole as a refuge.
Speaker 12 (28:38):
That's correct. You. They have to evade predators. Now, some
prayers will chase them. There a manker and author obviously,
but they can avoid. They can avoid the coyotes, the fosters,
the bobcats, the owls, and the hawks. And that's really
the ones that probably take the most.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Of whether it's hunting and fishing news or just compelling
stories about the enjoyment of the great outdoors. Virginia Outdoors
covers it all Saturday mornings at seven oh six am
and for your daily fix, Outdoors Today brings you two
and a half minutes of news and notes from the
woods and water every weekday morning on Metro News. The
Voice of West Virginia.
Speaker 13 (29:15):
I'm Kyle Wiggs, I'm Greg Hunter and I'm Brad Howe,
and we welcome you to join us each weeknight at
six oh six for the City Net state Wide Sports Line.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
As always, will dive deep into mountaineer athletics.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
We'll cover the Mountainees, we'll cover high school sports, and
if it's happening in the world of sports, we'll.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Be talking about it.
Speaker 13 (29:31):
You can listen live and text into the show each
night at six oh six, or watch anytime on the
Metro News TV app. It's the City Net state Wide
Sports Line on Metro News.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
News in the Mountain State happens quick and for decades
you have depended on Metro News for accurate news delivered fast.
Now here's your chance to help keep your fellow West
Virginians informed. If you see news happening, become a Metro
News Hawk by texting news too three five sixty five one.
If you take a picture or video of what you see,
submit that as well. Text the word news to three
(30:06):
five sixty five one to submit your tip or story.
Standard texting rates apply. Please don't text and drive. Now
back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Well, good Friday morning.
Speaker 9 (30:32):
It is nine forty seven twenty eight degrees in the
University City. Let's welcome Dave Wilson to Talk of the Town. Dave,
Good morning, sir. How are you.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Good morning, Mike, I'm great. How are you hey?
Speaker 9 (30:45):
I'm doing fine. Thank you very much for asking. Okay, Dave.
Noon today, kickoff between Martinsburg and Morgantown for the Quad
A State Championship. I guess how did final walk throughs go?
What do you expect to see?
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Well? Teams have just arrived at the stadium about ten
to fifteen minutes ago. Practice is going well this week.
I expect to see two very good football teams today.
A lot of the talk coming into this game is
about the quarterbacks. Maddox Twig for Morgantown. He's over three
thousand totally yards this season of forty touchdowns. Same thing
for Brian Dick of Martinsburg. But it's not necessarily about
(31:25):
the quarterbacks. It's about the other guys. The quarterbacks are
going to make plays. It's can these two defenses contain
the other players on the field. For Morgantown, I'll be
stopping guys like ty Ricketts and Boston Todd, the very
explosive wide receiver. And for Martinsburg, they're going to have
to contain Carter Cooper and Isaiah Thompson as well. So
these are two very good defense. The offense is get
(31:46):
a lot of the attention, Mike, but these two defenses
are outstanding. Morgantown gives up about eleven points a game.
Martinsburg gives up about twelve points football games. So we
could have a lot of offense, but we could have
a lot of defense today, especially given it's cold and
it's spelling here in Charleston.
Speaker 9 (32:01):
Well, during the regular season, the Bulldogs were able to
knock the Mohegans off thirty four to six, But I
think those were two very different teams at a very
different time.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
So tell us what's different today.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Well, Morgantown's healthy number one. The Mohegans were in a
tough middle of the portion of the schedule there when
they went to Martinsburg. Mattox's Twig was banged up, Carter
Cooper was banged up, had an offensive lineman out that day.
So I don't think Morgantown, or excuse me, Martinsburg got
Morgantown's best shot that day. Mohegan gave up a couple
of late touchdowns. I don't think thirty four to six
(32:34):
was indictative, how tough that game was. So Number one
Morgantown is healthy and it sounds cliche, Mike, but the
old coaching had it. It's hard to beat a team
twice in the same season. Morgantown has had to do
that to get to this point, beating Spring Mills and Jefferson.
And you know, the pressures on Martinsburg. They're the defending champs.
You know they've won how many ever, I think eleven
(32:57):
championships over the last several years, so you know, really
the press on the orange sideline, not the guy in
red and blue.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Okay.
Speaker 9 (33:03):
And then one other thing that I've got for you, Dave,
is is you brought up the defenses. And I know
that Martinsburg especially has a top flight linebacking corps, and
I'm wondering how that changes the play of a dual
threat quarterback like Maddox Twig.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
Well, you just try to take away what he likes
to do best, and that's that's run the football. And
Martinsburg contained Twig in that first game. He had eighty
seven yards rushing. But again it goes back to my
taking the other guys away. If you can make one
player the central book of the offense. Make them one
dimensional that is going to work to your favorite So
(33:43):
both these teams are going to try to do that today.
Morgantown's linebackers also very good and very athletic, and they'll
need to be to contain Brian Dick on the other side.
Speaker 9 (33:50):
All right, Dave Wilson, he and John Holbritter will have
the call Martinsburg and Morgantown. The game kicks off at
noon today and of course it's a special pregame show
will kick off at eleven o six. Dave, have a
great call, Thanks for your time. Well do thanks, Mike,
absolutely take care of yourself. Right now twenty eight degrees
(34:12):
and at the top of the hour, the Pearl Harper
Ceremony will kick in on Ogle Bay Plaza on the
campus of West Virginia University. When we come back, I'm
going to talk a little bit about that ceremony, the
keynote speaker, and of course the USS West.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
Virginia that's coming up next.
Speaker 9 (34:31):
On Top of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one
oh four point five WAJR, we are.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
Talking about your town. Now back to the talk of
the town.
Speaker 9 (34:43):
A good Friday morning, just to set the football playoff
card straight. Coming up in oh let's see, just a
little over an hour eleven oh six, we'll break away
from Metro News talk Line for a special pregame program
for the Martinsburg Morgantown contest. Now that kickoff that happens
(35:06):
at noon today. Of course, that game will be live
on WAJR, and you'll also be able to get that
with the free Metro News TV app. Then coming up
tonight at seven o'clock, we've got the Clay Battel CBS
third ranked Clay Battel CBS going up against the juggernaut
(35:27):
of Wheeling Central Catholic. Now, many across the community, many
I guess across the Single A football world, believe that
Wheeling Central Catholic is just going to be too much
for the CBS. But speaking with Ethan Collins, the voice
of the CBS, he tells us that, you know what,
(35:48):
all this talk about Wheeling Central, this and Wheeling Central
that has made the CBS maybe just a little bit
meaner than they would be normally.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Plus the fact you've got that this is the.
Speaker 9 (36:03):
CB's first and only trip to the Class A Single
A championship game. Got a lot of seniors on that
team that don't want to end their high school football
career with a loss. And then you've got a lot
of underclassmen feel the same way. They don't want to
end this historic season with a loss. That game kicks
(36:25):
off at seven o'clock tonight. It too live right here
on WAJR, and right now you could go out to
wvmetronews dot com, download the METRONEWSTV app, and you'll be
able to watch the championship game action today on the
metro News TV app. Also coming up at the top
(36:47):
of the hour ten o'clock on Ogle Bay Plaza. Several
organizations that are led to by the West Virginia University
Center for Veterans, Military and Family Programs.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
They're pulling this together.
Speaker 9 (37:05):
They've also got some folks out there from Valley Health.
They have the Marine Corps detachment they're helping out with
the program today. The featured keynote speaker is a gentleman
who spent some time with ten years as a matter
of fact, with Seal Team eight, Brenton Jones. He was
a combat medic and now he's a medical student and
(37:27):
a Pat Tillman Scholar at WVU he's transitioning from the
military medical field into the civilian healthcare field, and he
believes that there are some areas where the gap between
the two can be bridged. They're holding this ceremony on
(37:47):
Ogo Bay Plaza at the site of the masked end
bell of the USS West Virginia. I've been to the
ceremony several times since I've been here in the city
of Morgantown, and many people have driven by that.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Mast and bell.
Speaker 9 (38:04):
I know I have, and haven't really thought much about
it until I think it was twenty twenty three when
I went up there for the ceremony and they were
commissioning or they were welcoming some new artifacts into the
museum there. They had a uniform, they had a program
from a Christmas Eve dinner where they actually invited the
(38:27):
families of the crew onto the ship for a Christmas meal.
They also had a life preserver. All this from the
USS West Virginia and Now. The ship was the third
and final Colorado class ship built that was built for
the United States Navy the Colorado Class. It featured a
(38:49):
significantly more powerful main battery of eight sixteen inch guns
in twin turrens now I believe the only battleship that
would be larger than this, I would believe that would
be the Iowa class of battleships. But it was built
between nineteen twenty and commission in nineteen twenty three. It
(39:11):
was commissioned in nineteen twenty three. They spent the twenties
and the thirties conducting routine training exercises, including the fleet problems.
Now as they conducted those fleet problems that provided valuable
experience for the coming war in the Pacific. Now, when
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, of course they sunk the
(39:34):
West Virginia ended up. It was moored on battleship Row
on the morning of the Pearl Harbor attack and ended
up taking several airplane launched torpedoes and ended up on
its side. However, it was rebuilt over the course of
nineteen forty three and into nineteen forty four and returned
(39:54):
to service in time for the Philippines campaign. There led
the Amica Line of battle at the Battle of the
Sargu Strait on the night of October twenty fourth and
twenty fifth of nineteen forty four. Now, there she was
one of the few American battleships that was able to
(40:17):
use radar to acquire targets and engage them in the darkness.
What they were able to do, they were able to
engage and destroy a Japanese squadron and that was the
last action between battleships in naval history. The West Virginia
(40:38):
went on to be involved in the Battle for Ewjima
and Okinawa. Of course, that ceremony gets underway at the
top of the hour Ogle Bay Plaza, and they'll also
have a commemoration for Specialist Sarah Bestrom and Staff Sergeant
Andrew Wolf, the two West Virginia National Guards members who
(41:00):
were ambushed and shot by a suspected Afghan national the
week of Thanksgiving. Metro News talk Line coming up next
on the Voice of Morgantown
Hi, this is Dave Wilson along with TJ Meadows.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Join us weekdays at ten oh six for Metro News
Talkline on this metro news radio station.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
TJ. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
That's right, Dave.
Speaker 5 (00:12):
We'll continue to examine and discuss issues important to.
Speaker 6 (00:15):
West Virginia, hold elected officials accountable, and make certain you
have a forum to make your voice.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Ery new host, same talkline.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Join us weekdays at ten oh six on this metro
news radio station and Metro News TV app.
Speaker 7 (00:29):
It's the time of the year when Friday nights are special,
and that's because Friday nights are reserved for high school football.
This is Fred Pursinger inviting you to join Dave Jekking
in me every Friday night through November twenty eight for
year number twenty four of Game Night. Every Friday night,
we'll bring you all the scores and stories from around
the state lost We'll take your phone calls and talk
(00:49):
about your favorite team. It's Game Night, presented by Match
a Mountain State Assessment of trends and community health Survey.
Visit wvmatchsurvey dot org.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Metro Midday with thirteen News and Tonight Live anchor Amanda
Barn and Metro News is Dave Allen.
Speaker 8 (01:05):
I'll deliver live, up to the minute news, spotlighting people
and communities and covering breaking news stories as they happen.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Join us as we interview newsmakers from around the state
and world. Have provided a platform for your voice to
be heard statewide.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Metro News Midday presented by Soulango Law from noon to
three on this Metro News radio station. We're talking about
(01:39):
your town. Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Welcome back to the program.
Speaker 9 (01:47):
In studio, we've got some special guests in studio and
to welcome down College. That's right, We've got the Fireman
Day in the studio, Captain Jason Quinn and Deputy Fire
Marshall Billy Lyon.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Say good morning to both of you. How are you great? Hey,
I'm doing good, doing good. Thank you very much.
Speaker 9 (02:13):
Let's see and also I left out the most special.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Guest in the room, Billy. I'll let you introduce her.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
This is Chance.
Speaker 10 (02:21):
She's our new excellant detection canine. She's a sixteen month
old black lab from the ATF.
Speaker 9 (02:27):
And I can tell you she is very very friendly.
I'll let you talk about that talk about her demeanor.
Speaker 10 (02:34):
She's Oh, she's a sweetheart. She's not a bite dog
by any means. So she's absolutely friendly, very well behaved.
We've already had some interactions with some of the kids
at daycares. They come right up love on her. She's
a sweetheart. She just sits there and loves on them.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
That's awesome.
Speaker 9 (02:50):
Okay, Now tell us what is the purpose of this
canine here with the Morgantown Fire Department.
Speaker 10 (02:57):
So an excellant detection canine is used to locate sections
to take samples from a fire scene. So if we
suspect arson, she goes through the scene and using her nose,
she'll locate places for us to take samples. We'll collect
the samples, send them to the state lab where they'll
be analyzed and verified that they are actually excellerants are
(03:18):
present at the scene. So if an excellerant's present and
we can prove it and a chemist can get on
the stand and speak for her, we can lead to
a further arrest or a conviction.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Okay, so let me get this straight.
Speaker 9 (03:31):
So chance can go to a fire scene and more
or less conduct a nasal evaluation and take you to
where these sense, are you take samples to a chemist
and now tell me how the testimony works, because how
(03:51):
do we know that the dog is certified by the court.
Speaker 10 (03:55):
Yeah, so she actually gets certified every year she goes
back for research vcation where a chemist puts out six
different odors that she's trained on different petroleum distillates, and
she has to have no false sits find every odor
every time, like every year. She has to recertify for
that and it has to be perfect or she doesn't certify.
(04:17):
If she didn't, she would have to go to remedial
training things like that. But that certification is what validates
her nose. And then the chemist whenever we send the
samples off to the state lab, they're the ones that
can speak to the chemistry because obviously she can't get
on the stand.
Speaker 9 (04:33):
So sure, sure, ye has she waggered tail a lot,
a lot of dog smiles. We've got Deputy fire Marshall
Billy alliance with us. Now, Billy, now correct me if
I'm wrong, But I believe that this is one of
only two dogs in the state and both dogs have
landed in the state really kind of just this year.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yes, Now, what why do.
Speaker 10 (04:55):
We need them so they're pretty much an invaluable tool
for accelerated. To use a harder carbon analyzer, it'd be
kind of like going off.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Through the beach with a metal detector.
Speaker 10 (05:06):
Unless you're directly on top of it, it's not it's
not going to register. She is trained to head to source,
so any slight breeze, we train her in a way
that if you orient yourself so your downwind you're in
the scent cone, she will brack it through that scent
cone all the way back to the source. So she's
kind of like a homing device to find that source
of accelerate to get you your best sample to send
(05:28):
to the state lab.
Speaker 9 (05:29):
Okay, now let's see she has already been at work
here in the north central West Virginia area. Now the
investigations active, so we can't really talk about any kind
of specifics, but what are you able to do for
those investigators down there? And what I'd like to know
is what you're able to do and then maybe does
(05:51):
she decrease the time that the results.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Of the investigation are available?
Speaker 10 (05:57):
So your odor is going to linger based on environmental
factors humidity, temperature, because everything's evaporating, everything's diminishing how much
a scene is involved, how much of the product has
been consumed, what all is left. So she's not a
and I'll be off by any means, but she is
another tool in the arsenal for finding evidence.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
So when we went down to Bilington.
Speaker 10 (06:21):
You know, we did a whole perimeter search, worked our
way in in a methodical method, going back through in
a grid search until we actually located a source.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Which we did actually locate a source.
Speaker 10 (06:31):
So we're sending that off to verify to make sure
that we can have something for them.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Now, what does she do to tip you off that
she's onto something?
Speaker 10 (06:41):
So we're looking for it's referred to as.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
A change in behavior.
Speaker 10 (06:44):
The ideal one So when they do training, when we
do certification is a sit. So she'll do a sit
stay like, she'll sit down, look up at me and indicate, hey,
this is where it is. I'll reward her, I'll pay her.
That's how she gets her her food is she's food
reward based training. And then I'll ask her to show
me as basically a reaffirmation of like, yes, this is
where it is, and she will put her nose right
(07:04):
on it, sit back down, look up at me, and
that's the target goal. Obviously, if you're in a fire scene,
burn debris everywhere, holes in the floor, there's nails, yes,
there's all kinds of debris. She'll try to sit, She'll
do her darnedest. She may get down to a hover
and she'll look up at you like, hey man, this
is as far to the floor as I can put
my bottom or I'm gonna fall down. So, I mean,
(07:26):
the well being of the dog is top priority. Like
she is, she's a good girl.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
I don't want anything to happen to her. Oh well, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
I couldn't agree with you more there.
Speaker 9 (07:35):
So then you take this sample that you have to
a lab, they analyze that, they come up with the
readout from the lab. Then the expert goes to the
court room then to.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Deliver that testimony.
Speaker 9 (07:52):
But I guess the question that I have is is
that you've mentioned training and certification. What's the difference and
how often do each happen?
Speaker 10 (08:02):
So training happens every day because that's it's a food
based reward system. So every day to get her daily ration,
she trains. So I'll go through twice a day at
a minimum, sometimes three times a day, set up a
scenario where I'll put out I have six different odors
that I'll put out in tiny droplets, whether it be
searching articles of clothing along the side of a building,
(08:25):
a crack in the sidewalk, and I will send her
on a search where we will search throughout the entire
area until she finds it. And as soon as she
finds it, she sits, she gets paid, paid, is fed.
So every single day she trains. Now certification that's through
the ATF, and that's to keep their accreditation with their ability,
so they go to that every single year they have
(08:47):
to re certify.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Okay. Now recently you were in Quantico, Virginia. Is that right?
We were in Front Royal, Virginia, the Front Royal. Okay,
tell me about that trip. What'd you do?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
It was great.
Speaker 10 (08:59):
I mean it's training. It's seven days a week, every
single day, and it's it's really to develop that habit
of like, hey, you have to train this dog every
single day, even on your days off, like every single day.
That's how she eats. You have to feed every day
and you have to develop those habits and so it
was great. I mean, we worked with some some other
(09:19):
agencies from everywhere from California, Philadelphia, which Tall Kansas, all
over the all over the state.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Okay, now the country.
Speaker 9 (09:30):
Sorry, I think there's I know there's less than one hundred.
I'm thinking there's probably around eighty or so of these
dogs nationwide.
Speaker 11 (09:38):
There's seventy five. I got that from the ATF the
other day. There's seventy five as of right now.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
Okay, thank you, So how important or I guess what
obligation comes with being one of seventy five nationwide?
Speaker 10 (09:53):
So we are available for response. We have regional response,
which you know, working with the state fire marks mars
within the state, and then it's really going to come
down to what the need is and how available I
can be. Like think geographically, they're trying to get the
closest person possible to get to that scene. So if
there's a national call out, it's something different, think like
(10:17):
riots things like that, where it's like, hey, we need
all hands on deck. It's a little different than hey,
this dumpster caught on fire in the.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Middle of nowhere.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
It's like, okay, well.
Speaker 10 (10:27):
We kind of have to be discriminate because we still
have a job to do in Morgantown as well as
being fire marshals in Morgantown. So sure, we can't let
our job here slide for everything, right right.
Speaker 9 (10:38):
You know, a couple months ago head Captain quinn in
and we were talking about that, and I think a
couple of years ago there was a fire where some
folks tragically lost their lives and we brought a dog.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Can you go through that, Jason, Yeah.
Speaker 11 (10:54):
We brought down Michelle from Allegany County Fire Marshall's office.
They have an ATF dog, and we had two fatalities
in an abandoned home and she brought her dog down,
ran the scene, didn't find any accelerant use. But you know,
(11:14):
now we have that in house. We don't have to
have somebody come from Pittsburgh or you know, Maryland or
wherever to come. We can do it ourselves now.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
And that not only is that good for us, but
I'm sure that surrounding communities more immediately, like Preston, Marion,
Wetzel Counties, I'm sure they've got the word that you
have that.
Speaker 11 (11:36):
Yeah, you can imagine that just being in the area
of Pittsburgh. How busy she is. So she's actually relieved
that we have that ability down here to maybe take
a little workload off of her. But you know, all
the surrounding counties now have a tool that we've never
really had around here. An interesting fact, there's seventy five
(11:59):
in the United States if you take out the state
agencies and the county agencies of the municipalities, which is
what we are, there's only twenty four in the whole
United States, and we're one of those municipalities. So we're
pretty we're very fortunate for that.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Definitely.
Speaker 9 (12:17):
Let's see, we've got Deputy Fire Marshall Billy Lyons with
us and the Fire Marshal Captain Jason Quinn with us
this morning, and Billy, when you're maybe on a road
trip taking chance to go work like you did earlier
this week, what's her demeanor like, does she know she's
going to work or what's the difference between that and
(12:42):
when you train her same thing?
Speaker 10 (12:44):
She's she has pretty much the same behavior every time.
She's kind of like a button switch, though she knows
when she's working versus when she's just out and about.
Because when we're working, you know, you put on the pouch,
you put on the gloves, on the leash, and it's
it's a demeanor change as soon as you have on
your pouch, like, hey, we're looking for food, We're looking
for evidence, i e. Food, food reward. She's focused solely
(13:09):
on finding odor. If I'm not wearing the pouch, not
we're not actively searching something like that. If it's basically
like putting on your uniform. When she puts. When I
put on the pouch and she goes on the leash
to go out there and search it, she's focused. As
soon as it's off and put away, she's just like
(13:29):
being a good old dog, like just a more like
a house.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Pet at that point.
Speaker 9 (13:32):
Now, I'm not trying to go to a dark place here.
But you're the handler, right, Okay, what happens if something
happens to you, So.
Speaker 10 (13:41):
Something would have happen to me, we would contact one
of our fellow handlers nearby. There's obviously the one up
in PA or something like that. So let's say that
I was injured or hurt or something like that. We
would reach out to another ATF canine handler and let
them take care of the dog until I was recovered,
(14:01):
or if they were unavailable, we can reach back out
to the ATF and take her back down to Front Royal.
Obviously if I'm hurt, someone else's driving her down there,
and they could maintain the dog until I was able
to come back to work.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 9 (14:14):
And then the last thing that I've got for you, Billy,
is when during training, when you're when you're training, chance,
do you use just anything burning or so what?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, because I would think that the fire would distort
the smell of yeah, it does.
Speaker 10 (14:39):
So whenever we're doing the training, I'll use the discrimination
cans for a perfect example, because that's pretty much what
we that's one of the certifications. We'll set up what
are known as distractors. So distractor is anything and everything
that you might find in a burning structure, from carpet
to wood, vinyl siding, plastic, anything that might you might
(15:01):
have found in a burning structure. I literally have a
box of all kinds of different debris that I'll set
in each can. We torch it a little bit, set
on fire to give it a good char and then
of those cans will randomly pick a few different ones
to spike with different accelerants for training purposes. So that
way she is able to discriminate between just burning material
and burning material that has accelerant present.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (15:24):
I wondered about that because I thought that all those
different smells would blur that ability. But then again, I've
talked to policemen that have told me that, you know,
when you put a pot roast on in your house,
you smell pot roast, but a trained dog would smell
the carrots and the bay leaves, and the onion and
(15:46):
the garlic and the meat.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yeah. Yeah, so her.
Speaker 10 (15:50):
A dog's nose actually has multiple chambers. One is for breathing, obviously,
but the other one is just for their sense of smell.
Of the old factory humans have, I believe it's three million,
dogs have three hundred million, So her ability to smell,
she can really discriminate between all the different ingredients and
a pop roast.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
That's great. Hey, guys, thanks a lot for coming in.
Really do appreciate it. Keep up the good work.
Speaker 11 (16:14):
We appreciate you letting us get the word out, and
we're excited to introduce her to the community.
Speaker 9 (16:18):
Now, Jason, I'm not trying to embarrass you, but did
you want to sing at Christmas Carol on the way out?
Speaker 12 (16:23):
No?
Speaker 11 (16:23):
No, okay, you would lose listeners, trust me.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Sorry, I had I don't know why I did that,
but I did it anyway.
Speaker 9 (16:31):
Light snow and twenty eight degrees in the University City.
When we come back, we're going to address a couple
of topics. One, we're going to address the warming shelter
and a possible schedule when a twenty four hour warming
shelter may be available here in the community and exactly
how many people were planning for that might use that shelter.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
And then we're also going.
Speaker 9 (16:53):
To talk about holiday celebrations here in the city of Morgantown,
because there is a tree lighting parade it's coming up.
It's going to be downtown, and we've got Morgantown Mayor
Danielle Trumbull coming in to give us all the details
that we need so we can participate. It was an
awfully cold evening, I'll tell you that, but today, believe
(17:16):
it or not, clouds and we'll warm up to near
forty degrees right now, light snow, twenty eight and it's
time to find out what's happening across the great state
of West Virginia. To do that, we'll head to the
Metro News anchor desk.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven to
sixty five eight two, fivey five. This is the Talk
of the town.
Speaker 9 (17:56):
Good Friday morning, Welcome back to the program. It is
nine thirty five. This is Talk of the town. We're
glad that you're with us in studio. We've got the
Mayor of Morgantown, Danielle Trumbull. Right now, light snow twenty
eight degrees in Morgantown. Danielle, you staying warm?
Speaker 8 (18:12):
I am.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
You know.
Speaker 8 (18:13):
I was almost late getting in here today, not because
of snow or ice or anything, but because I was
playing with Chance out in the hallway. I said, they
didn't even teach you her best trick. She can stop,
drop and roll. Big hit with the kids and the
city councilors.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
That'd be a big hit with me.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
I really feel left out that I didn't get to
see that, that's for sure. But no Chance has made
several new friends here in the building this morning.
Speaker 8 (18:37):
Absolutely. I don't want to say she's a mascot. She's
a working member of the department. But what a great
outreach tool that they have. You know, she's good for
detecting accelerants and helping with investigations, but also getting out
and educating some of the kids and stuff. That's great.
Speaker 9 (18:52):
Absolutely, I couldn't agree more with you. Let's talk about
the warming shelter if we could, because I think it's
some point this year that warming shelter will likely.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Land out at West Run. Is that the plan? What's
going on?
Speaker 8 (19:08):
That is the plan. Catholic Charities, which is located here
in town up at Hazel's House of Hope, is who
applied for the funds and said that they were going
to operate the warming shelter. They decided that their best
option was to partner with the Coalition Intended Homelessness, who
owns that West Run facility or they're operating that West
(19:29):
Run facility that the Bartlett House had. So they've partnered.
They're doing background checks on employees right now, they're filling
with furniture and supplies, and the goal is they as
of yesterday, they said that they would be open December fifteenth,
which is usually the anticipated opening date.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (19:49):
I wanted to bring that up because yes, we have
had definitely had an early blast of cold air, but
typically the warming sh the altar doesn't open until December tenth,
December fifteenth.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I think last year the twelfth sticks in my head.
Speaker 8 (20:06):
For some reason, the goal is always December fifteenth. Occasionally
they are able to get it open a few days
earlier here and there, and since it was on site
up at Age three where Catholic Charities was located last year,
I do think they were able to get it open
a couple of days earlier, but nothing significant. They weren't
open in November or anything like that.
Speaker 9 (20:23):
Okay, so in the interim, mayor, what are we doing
with folks that need to get warm?
Speaker 8 (20:29):
Yeah, so no secret around here that it's been snowy
and very cold already. So the city manager jumped right
into action. I really commend her for taking initiatives. She
opened up the Public Safety Building downtown, which you know,
people have mixed feelings about having a warming shelter at
(20:50):
the Public Safety Building, but as a stopgap measure, the
Public Safety Building has been opened for twenty four hours
a day. There's no cots or anything like that, but
certainly a place that people can get in out of
the elements if they need to. The city manager actually
emailed council last night with an update and said that
(21:12):
through that effort they've even been able to connect some
people with resources like shelter and housing. So we're very
happy that they took that on and opened that up.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
And I think that, you know, that's the direction.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
I think most of the community wants this situation ahead,
getting people help whatever they need because everybody's different.
Speaker 8 (21:36):
Absolutely, the resources that are needed are not the same
for everyone, and trying to figure out each individual case
is very time intensive, which is why they've decided that
in the last couple of years, the Warming Shelter actually
needs paid staff. They're more reliable and they're well trained
(21:57):
so that they can help to connect people with the
resources that they need.
Speaker 9 (22:02):
Okay, now, let's see, holidays are on the way.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
What is the City of Morgantown gonna do.
Speaker 8 (22:10):
We support so many of the holiday activities. Downtown is
bustling these days, and I want to just toss in
because when I was on last week, someone texted in
and said, but downtown's not safe. I don't want to
go to I had a downtown safety meeting with City
main Street, the Partnership wvu WU Police yesterday and they
(22:32):
said we meet quarterly and they said, in the last
couple of months, we haven't had any issues. There were
no break ins in the co Op Zone over Thanksgiving
break Like, it's kind of smooth sailing right now. So
if you've been a little hesitant, I think now's a
good time to come. Tonight, the Arts Council of Greater
Morgantown is doing First Friday for the Arts. That's six
to nine pm a lot of locations downtown. My favorite
(22:57):
one of my favorite events of the year in downtown
on Arts Center. During this we'll be holding a card
and ornament market. I have a real soft spot for
Christmas ornaments, Mike Okay. The tomorrow is a fun event.
Also one of my favorite events in Morgantown the Santa Crawl,
which a bunch of people dress up in various Santa
(23:20):
suits and things like that and hit a lot of
the downtown establishments there. They go from Jeans to one, two,
three to Poor Choices. But it's also used as a fundraiser.
People are encouraged to bring donations for the pantry plus
more so that kicks off at one o'clock at Jeans
tomorrow and then the main Street Morgantown Downtown Dash is
(23:42):
next Saturday, the thirteenth. There will be vendor markets at
Hoot and Howe, the co Op Apothecary. There's also a
scavenger hunt you can win prizes from some of those
downtown businesses. Follow Main Street Morgantown's Facebook page for that
Christmas parade December tenth at six o'clock down High. We're
always excited for that. You and I talked about that
(24:03):
a little last week we did. And the last things
I wanted to mention today if you're into shows, the
Morgantown Theater Company, which is a kids acting group, is
doing SpongeBob the Musical at the met this weekend. They
have several shows throughout the weekend. And then I invited
my family into town. We are going to go and
see It's a Wonderful Life by the West Virginia Public
(24:24):
Theater Group at the WU Creative Arts Center. They start
shows this weekend and go through the nineteenth. So very nice,
so many events, Mike.
Speaker 9 (24:33):
Absolutely, and just real quick on downtown. And I might
have said this the other day, but I went down
to Spruce Street to go to a meeting recently and
was talking with some of the people in the building
there and they told me that they've been seeing a
lot more police around that area of downtown and they've
(24:54):
seen a lot less of some of the things that
they saw during the summertime.
Speaker 8 (24:59):
Yeah, certainly. It always kind of chills out a little
during cold weather, so no surprise. But it is way
better than it was. And I won't say there are
absolutely zero safety issue. I mean, you go to any
of the town centers or anything like that, and you'll
run into a little bit of crime here. And they're
not saying that there's no issues, but the police are
(25:22):
quick to respond. And it's a pleasant time to be downtown.
There's lights, there's music. Get down there and it's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Come on, get out and have some fun.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
They're playing music from the speakers at the met Theater
now so you can hear holiday music walking down the street.
I love it very n we're really trying to make
Morgantown dip its toe into some festivities.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
I like that. I like that. That's good. Okay, Mayor
thank you very much for coming in.
Speaker 8 (25:49):
Absolutely appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Okay, right now, twenty eight degrees in clouds. When we
come back, got to get a preview of the Martinsburg
Morgantown Quad, a championship high school football game. That game
kicks off at noon today, We'll do that next on
Talk of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh
four point five WAJR.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
WV metronews dot com the only website you need to
stay informed in the Mountain State. Get the latest news
and sports story, information on the great outdoors, and never
miss an episode of your favorite Metro news programs and
podcast including Talkline, Hotline, sports Line, and Three Guys Before
the Game. Make a bookmark now and visit wv metronews
(26:36):
dot com first thing every morning to find out what's
happening all across the state. Wv metronews dot com.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
West Virginia Outdoors is the Mountain State's only hook and
bullet radio show dedicated to the more than quarter million
hunters and anglers across the state. Award winning host Chris
Lawrence has been tracking down hunting and fishing stories for
more than twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I'll go out on a limb because people won't like
my answer. Probably, I think there's fewer coyotes than most
people imagine. Really, because when number one, when you hear
a family group of them this time of year, the
pups are very vocal. The coyotes are getting they've been
kind of shut mouthed during the spring when they're young,
and it's like a bunch of teenagers. When they get
(27:19):
to September, mom and dad can't keep their mouths shut anymore, whether.
Speaker 4 (27:23):
It's hunting and fishing news or just compelling stories about
the enjoyment of the great outdoors. West Virginia Outdoors covers
it all Saturday mornings at seven oh six am and
for your daily fix, Outdoors Today brings you two and
a half minutes of news and notes from the woods
and water every weekday morning on Metro News, the Voice
of West Virginia.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
It's two hours of sports conversation to wrap up your weekend.
It's the City that Sunday Night Sports Line. Hey, this
is Travis Jows joined myself and Greg Hunter every Sunday
night from six oh six until eight o'clock as we
wrap up the sports weekend, we talk Mountaineers, high school,
Mountain East Conference, and the latest in the national I've seen.
The Sunday Sports Line is listener interactive. You could call
(28:03):
or text the show at three oh four Talk three
oh four. It's a perfect weekend sports wrap up on
your favorite Metro News affiliate, or watch the show at
WB metronews dot com.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
West Virginia Outdoors is the Mountain states only hook and
bullet radio show dedicated to the more than quarter million
hunters and anglers across the state. Award winning host Chris
Lawrence has been tracking down hunting and fishing stories for
more than twenty five years.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
In a stream or a river, they really like to
have a mud bank and they like to have a
place where they can dig an underwater hole as a refuge.
Speaker 12 (28:38):
That's correct. You. They have to evade predators. Now, some
prayers will chase them. There a manker and author obviously,
but they can avoid. They can avoid the coyotes, the fosters,
the bobcats, the owls, and the hawks. And that's really
the ones that probably take the most.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Of whether it's hunting and fishing news or just compelling
stories about the enjoyment of the great outdoors. Virginia Outdoors
covers it all Saturday mornings at seven oh six am
and for your daily fix, Outdoors Today brings you two
and a half minutes of news and notes from the
woods and water every weekday morning on Metro News. The
Voice of West Virginia.
Speaker 13 (29:15):
I'm Kyle Wiggs, I'm Greg Hunter and I'm Brad Howe,
and we welcome you to join us each weeknight at
six oh six for the City Net state Wide Sports Line.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
As always, will dive deep into mountaineer athletics.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
We'll cover the Mountainees, we'll cover high school sports, and
if it's happening in the world of sports, we'll.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Be talking about it.
Speaker 13 (29:31):
You can listen live and text into the show each
night at six oh six, or watch anytime on the
Metro News TV app. It's the City Net state Wide
Sports Line on Metro News.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
News in the Mountain State happens quick and for decades
you have depended on Metro News for accurate news delivered fast.
Now here's your chance to help keep your fellow West
Virginians informed. If you see news happening, become a Metro
News Hawk by texting news too three five sixty five one.
If you take a picture or video of what you see,
submit that as well. Text the word news to three
(30:06):
five sixty five one to submit your tip or story.
Standard texting rates apply. Please don't text and drive. Now
back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Well, good Friday morning.
Speaker 9 (30:32):
It is nine forty seven twenty eight degrees in the
University City. Let's welcome Dave Wilson to Talk of the Town. Dave,
Good morning, sir. How are you.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Good morning, Mike, I'm great. How are you hey?
Speaker 9 (30:45):
I'm doing fine. Thank you very much for asking. Okay, Dave.
Noon today, kickoff between Martinsburg and Morgantown for the Quad
A State Championship. I guess how did final walk throughs go?
What do you expect to see?
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Well? Teams have just arrived at the stadium about ten
to fifteen minutes ago. Practice is going well this week.
I expect to see two very good football teams today.
A lot of the talk coming into this game is
about the quarterbacks. Maddox Twig for Morgantown. He's over three
thousand totally yards this season of forty touchdowns. Same thing
for Brian Dick of Martinsburg. But it's not necessarily about
(31:25):
the quarterbacks. It's about the other guys. The quarterbacks are
going to make plays. It's can these two defenses contain
the other players on the field. For Morgantown, I'll be
stopping guys like ty Ricketts and Boston Todd, the very
explosive wide receiver. And for Martinsburg, they're going to have
to contain Carter Cooper and Isaiah Thompson as well. So
these are two very good defense. The offense is get
(31:46):
a lot of the attention, Mike, but these two defenses
are outstanding. Morgantown gives up about eleven points a game.
Martinsburg gives up about twelve points football games. So we
could have a lot of offense, but we could have
a lot of defense today, especially given it's cold and
it's spelling here in Charleston.
Speaker 9 (32:01):
Well, during the regular season, the Bulldogs were able to
knock the Mohegans off thirty four to six, But I
think those were two very different teams at a very
different time.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
So tell us what's different today.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Well, Morgantown's healthy number one. The Mohegans were in a
tough middle of the portion of the schedule there when
they went to Martinsburg. Mattox's Twig was banged up, Carter
Cooper was banged up, had an offensive lineman out that day.
So I don't think Morgantown, or excuse me, Martinsburg got
Morgantown's best shot that day. Mohegan gave up a couple
of late touchdowns. I don't think thirty four to six
(32:34):
was indictative, how tough that game was. So Number one
Morgantown is healthy and it sounds cliche, Mike, but the
old coaching had it. It's hard to beat a team
twice in the same season. Morgantown has had to do
that to get to this point, beating Spring Mills and Jefferson.
And you know, the pressures on Martinsburg. They're the defending champs.
You know they've won how many ever, I think eleven
(32:57):
championships over the last several years, so you know, really
the press on the orange sideline, not the guy in
red and blue.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Okay.
Speaker 9 (33:03):
And then one other thing that I've got for you, Dave,
is is you brought up the defenses. And I know
that Martinsburg especially has a top flight linebacking corps, and
I'm wondering how that changes the play of a dual
threat quarterback like Maddox Twig.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
Well, you just try to take away what he likes
to do best, and that's that's run the football. And
Martinsburg contained Twig in that first game. He had eighty
seven yards rushing. But again it goes back to my
taking the other guys away. If you can make one
player the central book of the offense. Make them one
dimensional that is going to work to your favorite So
(33:43):
both these teams are going to try to do that today.
Morgantown's linebackers also very good and very athletic, and they'll
need to be to contain Brian Dick on the other side.
Speaker 9 (33:50):
All right, Dave Wilson, he and John Holbritter will have
the call Martinsburg and Morgantown. The game kicks off at
noon today and of course it's a special pregame show
will kick off at eleven o six. Dave, have a
great call, Thanks for your time. Well do thanks, Mike,
absolutely take care of yourself. Right now twenty eight degrees
(34:12):
and at the top of the hour, the Pearl Harper
Ceremony will kick in on Ogle Bay Plaza on the
campus of West Virginia University. When we come back, I'm
going to talk a little bit about that ceremony, the
keynote speaker, and of course the USS West.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
Virginia that's coming up next.
Speaker 9 (34:31):
On Top of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one
oh four point five WAJR, we are.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
Talking about your town. Now back to the talk of
the town.
Speaker 9 (34:43):
A good Friday morning, just to set the football playoff
card straight. Coming up in oh let's see, just a
little over an hour eleven oh six, we'll break away
from Metro News talk Line for a special pregame program
for the Martinsburg Morgantown contest. Now that kickoff that happens
(35:06):
at noon today. Of course, that game will be live
on WAJR, and you'll also be able to get that
with the free Metro News TV app. Then coming up
tonight at seven o'clock, we've got the Clay Battel CBS
third ranked Clay Battel CBS going up against the juggernaut
(35:27):
of Wheeling Central Catholic. Now, many across the community, many
I guess across the Single A football world, believe that
Wheeling Central Catholic is just going to be too much
for the CBS. But speaking with Ethan Collins, the voice
of the CBS, he tells us that, you know what,
(35:48):
all this talk about Wheeling Central, this and Wheeling Central
that has made the CBS maybe just a little bit
meaner than they would be normally.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Plus the fact you've got that this is the.
Speaker 9 (36:03):
CB's first and only trip to the Class A Single
A championship game. Got a lot of seniors on that
team that don't want to end their high school football
career with a loss. And then you've got a lot
of underclassmen feel the same way. They don't want to
end this historic season with a loss. That game kicks
(36:25):
off at seven o'clock tonight. It too live right here
on WAJR, and right now you could go out to
wvmetronews dot com, download the METRONEWSTV app, and you'll be
able to watch the championship game action today on the
metro News TV app. Also coming up at the top
(36:47):
of the hour ten o'clock on Ogle Bay Plaza. Several
organizations that are led to by the West Virginia University
Center for Veterans, Military and Family Programs.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
They're pulling this together.
Speaker 9 (37:05):
They've also got some folks out there from Valley Health.
They have the Marine Corps detachment they're helping out with
the program today. The featured keynote speaker is a gentleman
who spent some time with ten years as a matter
of fact, with Seal Team eight, Brenton Jones. He was
a combat medic and now he's a medical student and
(37:27):
a Pat Tillman Scholar at WVU he's transitioning from the
military medical field into the civilian healthcare field, and he
believes that there are some areas where the gap between
the two can be bridged. They're holding this ceremony on
(37:47):
Ogo Bay Plaza at the site of the masked end
bell of the USS West Virginia. I've been to the
ceremony several times since I've been here in the city
of Morgantown, and many people have driven by that.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Mast and bell.
Speaker 9 (38:04):
I know I have, and haven't really thought much about
it until I think it was twenty twenty three when
I went up there for the ceremony and they were
commissioning or they were welcoming some new artifacts into the
museum there. They had a uniform, they had a program
from a Christmas Eve dinner where they actually invited the
(38:27):
families of the crew onto the ship for a Christmas meal.
They also had a life preserver. All this from the
USS West Virginia and Now. The ship was the third
and final Colorado class ship built that was built for
the United States Navy the Colorado Class. It featured a
(38:49):
significantly more powerful main battery of eight sixteen inch guns
in twin turrens now I believe the only battleship that
would be larger than this, I would believe that would
be the Iowa class of battleships. But it was built
between nineteen twenty and commission in nineteen twenty three. It
(39:11):
was commissioned in nineteen twenty three. They spent the twenties
and the thirties conducting routine training exercises, including the fleet problems.
Now as they conducted those fleet problems that provided valuable
experience for the coming war in the Pacific. Now, when
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, of course they sunk the
(39:34):
West Virginia ended up. It was moored on battleship Row
on the morning of the Pearl Harbor attack and ended
up taking several airplane launched torpedoes and ended up on
its side. However, it was rebuilt over the course of
nineteen forty three and into nineteen forty four and returned
(39:54):
to service in time for the Philippines campaign. There led
the Amica Line of battle at the Battle of the
Sargu Strait on the night of October twenty fourth and
twenty fifth of nineteen forty four. Now, there she was
one of the few American battleships that was able to
(40:17):
use radar to acquire targets and engage them in the darkness.
What they were able to do, they were able to
engage and destroy a Japanese squadron and that was the
last action between battleships in naval history. The West Virginia
(40:38):
went on to be involved in the Battle for Ewjima
and Okinawa. Of course, that ceremony gets underway at the
top of the hour Ogle Bay Plaza, and they'll also
have a commemoration for Specialist Sarah Bestrom and Staff Sergeant
Andrew Wolf, the two West Virginia National Guards members who
(41:00):
were ambushed and shot by a suspected Afghan national the
week of Thanksgiving. Metro News talk Line coming up next
on the Voice of Morgantown
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.