Woodsdale residents learned Wednesday night Pine Avenue actually is designated as a one-way street going west, and has been since 2003.
Those present for a Woodsdale Neighborhood Association Meeting - including some who have lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years - said they were never aware of that fact. No one-way sign is placed on the street.
David Miller, councilman-elect for the 4th Ward, came upon the fact while looking into some parking-related issues on the street raised by residents. He cited an ordinance past by Wheeling City Council in 2003 designating Pine Avenue at Heiskell Avenue as one-way going west.
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Photo by Joselyn King
Wheeling police dog Hyco introduces himself to Woodsdale residents during a neighborhood meeting at Woodsdale Elementary Wednesday night.
Wheeling police officers present advised Miller to call Tim Birch, supervisor of the operations division for the city of Wheeling, regarding the lack of signage.
New Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger attended the meeting at Woodsdale Elementary School, as did Lt. Shaun Flanegin, Officer Brian Hails and police dog Hyco. Hails had Hyco demonstrate his talents for those attending. He explained Hyco is a multi-purpose dog skilled not just in finding narcotics, but also in the apprehension and tracking of criminals.
Hyco came to the Wheeling Police Department from Germany nearly four years ago at a cost of about $9,000, according to Hails. The department has a total of four police dogs.
''We have all had dogs ... or known somebody who has had one,'' Hails said. ''The dog helps in bridging the gap between us and the public.''
Schwertfeger spoke during the meeting, and noted he too was born in Germany. His father was serving on a U.S. Army base there at the time, but moved back to the Ohio Valley when he was still an infant.
Schwertfeger would go on to graduate from John Marshall High School, and play football at the former West Liberty State College. He was sworn in as Wheeling's new police chief on June 4 after more than 21 years with the Albemarle County, Va., Police Department Operations Bureau.
