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ANSTED (WVVA) - Two individuals were taken into custody in Fayette County after placing a false 911 call. A call was received through the Fayette County 911 Center at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday stating a pairMore >> ANSTED (WVVA) - Two individuals were taken into custody in Fayette County after placing a false 911 call. A call was received through the Fayette County 911 Center at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday stating a pairMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is asking a judge for leniency when he's sentenced Aug. 1. DefenseMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is asking a judge for leniency when he's sentenced Aug. 1. DefenseMore >> PRINCETON (NEWS RELEASE) - In July 2008, The Del McCoury Band took the stage for the inaugural show of the community's first performing arts center of its kind. One hundred and seven regular season performancesMore >> PRINCETON (NEWS RELEASE) - In July 2008, The Del McCoury Band took the stage for the inaugural show of the community's first performing arts center of its kind. One hundred and seven regular season performancesMore >> ATHENS (WVVA) - Crews responded to I-77 northbound near mile marker 17 Tuesday morning after a vehicle crashed through a guard rail and over the embankment. Only one vehicle was involved. There's no wordMore >> ATHENS (WVVA) - A woman was transported to a nearby hospital after a vehicle went off Interstate 77 and over an embankment Tuesday. The crash occurred at approximately 10 a.m. around mile marker 17 --More >> Mercer County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating an armed robbery in Green Valley Tuesday. It happened at Pop's Sports Bar on Maple Acres Road around 3:15a.m. According to dispatchers, detectivesMore >> Mercer County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating an armed robbery in Glenwood Tuesday. The Mercer County Sheriff's Office says a male entered Pop's Sports Bar on Maple Acres Road around 3 a.m. by smashingMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A Fayette County man faces charges of sexually assaulting a female patient in the psychiatric ward at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. Beckley police tell media outlets thatMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A Fayette County man faces charges of sexually assaulting a female patient in the psychiatric ward at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. Beckley police tell media outlets thatMore >> Bluefield (WVVA) -- A very small, isolated thunderstorm brought intense rainfall to the Beckley area Monday night. This slow-moving storm dumped upwards of 2-3 inches in just an hour to MacArthur, Daniels,More >> Bluefield (WVVA) -- A very small, isolated thunderstorm brought intense rainfall to the Beckley area Monday night. This slow-moving storm dumped upwards of 2-3 inches in just an hour to MacArthur, Daniels,More >> Buchanan County authorities arrest a man after finding a meth lab in his home. A narcotics task force team arrested Eddie Dwayne Green, 38, of Puncheon Camp Road Saturday afternoon. The team was executingMore >> Buchanan County authorities arrest a man after finding a meth lab in his home. A narcotics task force team arrested Eddie Dwayne Green, 38, of Puncheon Camp Road Saturday afternoon. The team was executingMore >> The Town of Tazewell is getting nearly $60,000 in state grants to hire two school resource officers. The resource officers will be placed at Tazewell High School and Tazewell Middle School. The CriminalMore >> The Town of Tazewell is getting nearly $60,000 in state grants to hire two school resource officers. The resource officers will be placed at Tazewell High School and Tazewell Middle School. The CriminalMore >>
WAR (WVVA) - Earlier this year, War Mayor Tom Hatcher was interviewed by 'Playboy' magazine for an article on the drug epidemic in his town.
In the article, Hatcher commented on his own family's struggle with addiction.
Since the article was published, Hatcher's son John has gone to prison and John's wife, Rebecca, is now charged in Tom Hatcher's murder.
Following is an excerpt from the article written by freelance journalist Vince Beiser, published in the April 2012 issue of 'Playboy.'
(Mayor Tom Hatcher's) son John has been hooked on pills for years. Hatcher has twice put him through rehab clinics in other states, with little to show for it. John, 36, is unemployed. He lives with his wife and 11-year-old son in a spare bedroom in his father's modest house. Hatcher keeps his bedroom door locked because John has stolen things to sell for pill money. "I hate living like this. I hate being an addict," says John. "But I can't shake it."
He's overdosed four times in the past few years but each time received medical treatment before it was too late. Tom Hatcher doesn't think his son's luck will last. "I think the reality is he will kill himself eventually," says Hatcher. "We see so much of this here. A lot of people say there's nothing we can do. But we can't stop trying."
See WVVA.com's previous report: 'Playboy' article causes stir in McDowell County