BELMONT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

August 10, 2026

THURSDAY 11:02 p.m. — A caller reported a suspicious male walking up and down Moores Run Road in Bellaire. An officer responded but did not locate the individual. 9:18 p.m. — Several officers and units from the Bellaire Police Department served a felony search warrant at an address in Bellaire. Damon Gregory Pernick was taken into custody and booked into the Belmont County Jail on charges of failure to appear regarding no driver's license, possession of methamphetamine, possession of crack cocaine, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, illegal manufacturing of drugs, ...

Buckeye Boosters help band start another year

August 10, 2026

RAYLAND — Parents and other supporters of the Buckeye Local High School Band stepped into the kitchen Sunday to help ensure its members have everything they need to perform for their school and the community at large. The Buckeye Local Band Boosters once again served up chicken dinners to ...

PUCO takes steps to limit data center power cost increase

August 9, 2026

Ohio power regulators are taking steps they say are designed to protect large electric customers from paying higher rates because of data centers. Under a new order by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, data-enter customers will have to give AEP Ohio, a large power company, notice when they plan to ramp up electricity usage so other large customers don’t see power bills increase because of the increased demand from data centers. “Upon receiving notice, AEP Ohio will procure energy to serve the customer through separate stand-alone auctions or spot-market purchases, with the ...

Woman accused of killing 1-year-old daughter pleads not guilty by reason of insanity

August 8, 2026

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The Belmont woman accused of killing her 1-year-old daughter last week pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the case Friday. Autum Sky Palmer, 20, also known as Autum Stotelmyer entered the plea Friday morning in Belmont County Common Pleas Court. Palmer is charged ...

Local child’s wish brings hope, awareness through MrBeast philanthropy project

August 8, 2026

STEUBENVILLE — A Jefferson County child’s battle with a rare illness has become part of a story reaching millions of viewers around the world, bringing attention to the power of hope, support and the impact of a simple wish. Four-year-old Neiko Boni was among 100 children selected to have ...

Jacobsburg man arrested on rape charge

August 8, 2026

JACOBSBURG – A Jacobsburg man was arrested Wednesday on a rape charge, and the Belmont County Sheriff's Office is seeking more information from the public in the case. Trenton Heath, 20, was taken into custody on Wednesday following an investigation into an incident and charged with rape, a ...