Talk of the Town October 19, 2026

Well, overnight we've learned that Ike Morris, a well-known West Virginia businessman and philanthropist, has passed away.

Uh, he was the founder of Waco Oil and Gas.

Uh, he moved to the state in the early 1960s, and over the decades he's grown his business empire and expanded beyond energy into real estate, retail, and other commercial ventures to support hundreds of local jobs.

Now, coming up at 10:06, Dave and TJ, uh, they're gonna spend a few minutes with Charlie Byrd, and they're gonna be talking with, uh, Charlie about the legacy of Ike Morris.

Of course, Charlie Byrd is a recent president of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia.

Uh, state police are reporting a Fairmont man killed in a Tucker County crash over the weekend.

83-year-old Ralph Mullinex was southbound on Route 219, lost control of the vehicle, went off the east side of the road and crash, crashed.

Mullinex died at the scene.

Well, firefighters and their family members from across the state gathered at the state capitol to remember those who have given their lives battling fires.

The annual Firefighters Memorial Service was held on Sunday.

Family members of fallen firefighters were also in attendance.

Uh, surveillance footage being used to identify those responsible for the short-term misappropriation of seven piglets in Pendleton County over the weekend.

The piglets were taken Saturday morning, then returned that afternoon between 2:00 and 2:30, according to deputies.

And, uh, detectives continue to search for those responsible.

Uh, testing for TANF recipients has been extended.

Uh, that bill was initially sponsored by Mon County Delegate Geno Chiarelli.

Uh, the, the, the program will cover...

Let's see.

This is for West Virginia Works, and this supports some of the most needy families in the state.

Uh, there are about 23,300 people on the program.

About 2,200 were referred to the drug testing portion.

About 200 of those did fail that test.

Uh, now, Delegate Chiarelli says that i- this is not a means to kick people off the program or anything like that.

It's actually a means to open the conversation to what possibly, uh, people need that they're not getting as to a reason maybe why they, uh, continue to struggle with substance abuse disorder.

Now, also, over at wvmetronews.com, you'll see a piece that, uh, we put together with some sound from Mon County Board of Education President Sean Smith and the chairman of the House Education Committee, also a delegate from Monongalia County, uh, Joe Statler.

Well, overnight we've learned that Ike Morris, a well-known West Virginia businessman and philanthropist, has passed away.

Uh, he was the founder of Waco Oil and Gas.

Uh, he moved to the state in the early 1960s, and over the decades he's grown his business empire and expanded beyond energy into real estate, retail, and other commercial ventures to support hundreds of local jobs.

Now, coming up at 10:06, Dave and TJ, uh, they're gonna spend a few minutes with Charlie Byrd, and they're gonna be talking with, uh, Charlie about the legacy of Ike Morris.

Of course, Charlie Byrd is a recent president of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia.

Uh, state police are reporting a Fairmont man killed in a Tucker County crash over the weekend.

83-year-old Ralph Mullinex was southbound on Route 219, lost control of the vehicle, went off the east side of the road and crash, crashed.

Mullinex died at the scene.

Well, firefighters and their family members from across the state gathered at the state capitol to remember those who have given their lives battling fires.

The annual Firefighters Memorial Service was held on Sunday.

Family members of fallen firefighters were also in attendance.

Uh, surveillance footage being used to identify those responsible for the short-term misappropriation of seven piglets in Pendleton County over the weekend.

The piglets were taken Saturday morning, then returned that afternoon between 2:00 and 2:30, according to deputies.

And, uh, detectives continue to search for those responsible.

Uh, testing for TANF recipients has been extended.

Uh, that bill was initially sponsored by Mon County Delegate Geno Chiarelli.

Uh, the, the, the program will cover...

Let's see.

This is for West Virginia Works, and this supports some of the most needy families in the state.

Uh, there are about 23,300 people on the program.

About 2,200 were referred to the drug testing portion.

About 200 of those did fail that test.

Uh, now, Delegate Chiarelli says that i- this is not a means to kick people off the program or anything like that.

It's actually a means to open the conversation to what possibly, uh, people need that they're not getting as to a reason maybe why they, uh, continue to struggle with substance abuse disorder.

Now, also, over at wvmetronews.com, you'll see a piece that, uh, we put together with some sound from Mon County Board of Education President Sean Smith and the chairman of the House Education Committee, also a delegate from Monongalia County, uh, Joe Statler.