Marshall University, professor express regret over grades flap

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -—Apology letters were sent to the daughter of state Treasurer John Perdue after a tentative settlement was reached in a privacy lawsuit she had filed.

Emily Perdue received an $81,250 settlement last year over the lawsuit that claimed Marshall University and a professor violated her privacy by leaking information about her grades.

The Sunday Gazette-Mail reported Marshall Senior Vice President F. Layton Cottrill Jr. sent Emily Perdue a letter in late October stating Marshall’s regret that the situation caused any hardship to her and her family.

Perdue’s former professor, Laura Wyant, also wrote a similar letter.

The newspaper last week obtained copies of the letters that weren’t released at the time of the settlement. It says Perdue declined comment on the letters.

St. Mary’s Medical Center employee receives state award for nursing leadership

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Debra Parsons, RN, director of emergency and trauma services at St. Mary’s Medical Center, has been selected by the West Virginia Center for Nursing as a recipient of the 2010 Excellence in Nursing Awards in the leadership category.

This is the second consecutive year a St. Mary’s employee has been selected for the award, which honors nurses who exemplify excellence in their field.

“Debbie is a leader who not only inspires others, but brings out the very best in those she works with,” said Libby Bosley, vice president of patient services at St. Mary’s.

“Her devotion to our patients and her commitment to finding newer and better ways to care for them is truly outstanding. It is an honor to work with her.”

The mission of The West Virginia Center for Nursing is to enhance and strengthen nursing excellence to optimize the health and health care of all West Virginians through strategic workforce planning, education, research and nurse practice development.

Police: Man says he traded meth for stolen car

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia state police say they pulled over a man who told them he used methamphetamine to pay for the car he was driving.

State Police in South Charleston say Jerry Wayne Means said he gave a woman two grams of meth for the car.

WSAZ-TV reports that Means was pulled over on U.S. 119 on Saturday night in the car, which police said had been reported stolen. He was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, delivery of a controlled substance and other counts.

Means was being held Sunday at the South Central Regional Jail. Jail records didn’t indicate whether he had an attorney.