July 1st, 2022 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Times News reports  a Mineral County judge has granted the town of Ridgeley use of land over which they had been sparring with the Ridgeley Volunteer Fire Department. Circuit Court Judge James Courrier ruled Tuesday that upon paying $112,650 to be distributed to the fire department, the town will be "permitted at once to enter upon, take possession of, appropriate and use" the piece of land that formerly housed Ridgeley High School and was demolished to make way for a new fire station. The town and department split the cost of demolition of the old school, as the site was originally intended to house a new town hall as well.

While the department obtained the deed to the land through an agreement with the council under the leadership of former Mayor Mark Jones, the present council, led by Mayor Bill Shepherd, raised safety concerns about the proposed location for the fire department, saying it could endanger people using nearby businesses, including a day care, and a football field.