Obituary that missed the print edition:

Roberta Jean Ward

Roberta Jean Ward, 83, of Bristol, Tenn., (formerly of Craigsville) passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025, after a long illness. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend devoted to her family and her faith.

Roberta spent many years in retail work and management, retiring from Lowes after a long and dedicated career. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Richard Ward; sons, Ralph Bailey (Mary), Jeff Bailey (Tracy), Brett Bailey (Angel), and Myron Ward (Cathy); brother, Roscoe Gene Fields; 10 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roscoe and Lillian Field;and sisters, Roxie Crabtree and Tina Swiss; and son, Tim Ward.

A Celebration of Life will be held September 6, 2025, at the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Craigsville.

This obituary was lovingly written by the Ward family.

Memories and condolences may be shared at oakley-cook.com

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Former youth pastor faces additional charges

John Radcliff, 58, a former youth pastor, of Nettie, who is charged with sexually assaulting children in Nicholas and Harrison counties over the course of many years, now faces similar additional charges in another county.

Radcliff was indicted last week by a Lewis County grand jury on 47 charges that reportedly involved eight victims between 1987 and 2003.

 

 

 

Mia Bailey crowned Nicholas Co. Potato Festival Queen

Mia Bailey, 20, of Beckley, second from left, was crowned the 2025 Nicholas County Potato Festival Queen on Saturday evening, July 19, in the pageant at the Summersville Armory and Convention Center Arena. First runner-up was Alexah Terry, 19, far left, of Charleston and the second runner-up and Miss Photogenic was Ava Johnson, second from right, of Huntington. Brianna Canfield, far right, was Miss Congeniality. Additional information on the pageant winners and the Potato Festival Teen Queen division winners will appear in an upcoming edition of the Nicholas Chronicle.

 

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100th annual Nicholas County Fair underway

The 100th Annual County Fair got underway on Wednesday evening. July 23, and continues through Saturday evening, July 25.

In addition to carnival rides, games, vendors and food trucks and exhibits each night, there is also a quilt show and art show along with demonstrations by master gardeners in the red barn.

Entertainment will be provided by Rockhouse Road at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Restore the Broken at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, The Reunion Band at 5:30 p.m. on Friday followed by Preston Cooper at 7:30 p.m. and Almost Journey on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Tractor Show will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Livestock Show at 4 p.m. and Livestock Sale at 7 p.m.

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Courthouse Plumbing Renovation project to be rebid

By Ray Corbin
News Editor

The Nicholas County Commission, on Wednesday, July 18, voted to reject the lone bid received for the Courthouse plumbing renovation project and rebid it as two separate projects.

The Commission also received a visit from State Treasurer Larry Pack, heard concerns about flooding in the Nicholas County Community Corrections Day Reporting Center building, received state grant funding assistance for a community center in the county and heard an update of grants.

Present for the meeting were Commission President Craig Chapman, Commissioner Garrett Cole and Commissioner Gary Roberts Jr.

Courthouse plumbing project bid
Commissioner Cole advised that the bid-opening for the Courthouse plumbing renovation and upgrading project was held the previous day and only one bid was received, which was from CDC LLC of Glen Ferris, W.Va., in the amount of $454,000.

The bid was advertised to include the plumbing fixture upgrades, removal and replacement of sanitary lines and water supply line, installation of a new back flow preventer, installation of a new basement water-proofing system and installation of new flooring.

Cole said it was felt by Thrasher Group, engineers for the project, that is was too big of a job for one bid and should be scaled back into two projects so that there would be more bidders with more competition and a lower cost.

Courthouse Maintenance Manager Mike Moore recommended bidding out the plumbing section, which would include the sanitary line above the tax office on the first floor of the Courthouse and replacement of the plumbing fixtures as one project and the basement water-proofing system and drain lines in another project.

The Commission voted to advertise for the plumbing portion of the project to include replacement of the plumbing fixtures and water lines and the drain line above the tax office in one bid and the water-proofing and drainage system issues in the basement of the Courthouse in the other bid.

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Upcoming Events

• NCHS Class of 1961 reunion: Saturday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. at Shoney's, Summersville (Dutch Treat). Call Libby Worlledge or Bert Grose for additional information.

• The Gad-Sparks reunion will be held Saturday, Aug. 2 at the Nicholas County Senior Center at 151 Sids Way, in Summersville. Bring your favorite dish to share with others.
• Lockwood Community Reunion: Sunday, Aug. 3, beginning at 1 p.m., with potluck meal (paper goods and plastic utensils provided) Fairview Baptist Fellowship Hall, 13330 Turnpike Rd. Contact Judy Brown Ball, 304-872-6205, or Bert Grose, 304-561- 8250, for more details.
• Olive Branch Baptist Church of Nettie will be having Homecoming Aug. 3: Sunday school, 10 a.m., Preaching, 11 a.m., dinner afterwards. Special singing by The Facemires. Pastor Stewart Stover welcomes everyone.

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