Both the Newcastle Police Department and Weston County Sheriff’s Office are planning to purchase police dogs to serve the city and county. The sheriff’s office has one canine that will be retiring in the near future, according to Deputy Dan Fields, while the city department’s purchase will mark the...
The Newcastle City Council has voted to end the discussion on possibly dissolving the Newcastle Police Department and moving all city police services to the Weston County Sheriff’s Office.
As previously reported by the News Letter Journal, Councilman Tyrel Owens first suggested on Sept. 5 that...

Photo by Walter Sprague/NLJ
The City of Newcastle held a town hall meeting at the Weston County Senior Services center on Monday to ascertain the thoughts of the public regarding the Newcastle Police Department, and whether to keep the police force or to combine it with the Weston County Sheriffs Department. Above, Dan Bau gives support for ideas expressed by councilman Tyrel Owens to open up a preliminary discussion regarding the possibility of rolling the police department into the sheriffs department, reminding the public that the meeting was intended to find out what residents want, instead of the city making any policy and department changes.
The general sentiment shared by the public in attendance at a town hall to discuss city vs. county policing was support for the Newcastle Police Department and the continued need for their service. The meeting was hosted by the Newcastle City Council. Others who spoke encouraged the council and...
Sheriff Bryan Colvard wants to increase security at the Weston County Courthouse and the Weston County Courthouse Annex by installing a response system through AEGIX at both locations. He proposed the system to the Board of Weston County Commissioners on Oct. 17.
According to Colvard, the system...

Submitted photo
The mobile command unit of Weston County Search and Rescue set up at 532 Beaver Creek Road while searching for Garrett Tysdal, who went missing while moving cattle. Unfortunately, Tysdal was found deceased after a two-day search.
A two-day search for Weston County native Garrett Tysdal, who went missing in the Beaver Creek area while moving cows earlier this month, ended in the way family and search crews dread.
According to Scott Beachler, a member of Weston County Search and Rescue and the county coroner, the search...
The Weston County Health Services Board of Directors and the hospital’s CEO have been seeking ways to improve hospital safety and security, and recently held discussions on the matter.
At a board of directors meeting on Sept. 27, CEO Judd Dawson told board members that several staff members are...
The joint powers board to oversee dispatch operations for emergency responders is one step closer to taking over those services in Weston County after the selection committee chose Austin Baker and James Curren as at-large board members, according to Newcastle City Councilman Don Steveson. Both...
With a short staffed-police department, crumbling infrastructure and a hefty police budget, Councilman Tyrel Owens suggested that the Newcastle City Council consider holding a public meeting to discuss the dissolution of the Newcastle Police Department, with a switch to Weston County Sheriff’s...

Photo by Walter Sprague/NLJ
A juvenile driver ran a Volkswagen into the building at 1903 West Main St. on Sunday, July 30, causing extensive damage to the entry for Seven Painted Ladies Salon and Treasured Floral, as well as the interior of both businesses located in the Shelco building in Newcastle. The incident is still under investigation, and names of those involved have not been released to the public as of Tuesday.
About 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 30, a small sedan ran through the intersection at the Port of Entry in Newcastle at an apparently high rate of speed, then crashed into two businesses at 1903 W. Main St. The impact took out the front walls of two local businesses — Treasured Floral and Seven Painted...

Submitted photos
Recently retired probation officers Tonjua Gerber and Deb Sweet pictured at one of the many Upton proms they attended with former Upton High School principal Linda Crawford, teacher Matthew Parsons and a now graduated student Aidan Coberly.
Large Photo: Gerber and Sweet throwing up a peace sign early on in their careers and friendship.
Deb Sweet and Tonjua Gerber (Nagel) have been a duo for over 20 years, but that partnership has to come to an end with the recent retirements of both individuals. The duo didn’t sing, but as juvenile probation officers they did become recognizable by affecting the lives of countless kids in Weston...