Folks Who Shine!
HOPE - WEST VIRGINA GOES PURPLE proclamation was officially read and signed by the Gilmer County Commission. The Commissioners approved the month of September as being WV Goes Purple month in support of drug addiction recovery. Pictured from left to right are Sazal Kapoor, Payden Michael, Dr. Bruce Gorby, Lance Woodford, Roxana McAree, Dave Gosa, Larry Gerwig, Rhonda Bankirk, Jacklyn Hashman, Lora Simmons, Andy Spears, Debra Watring and Robert Watring. For the caring these human beings give to others in need and for working to help other stop and remain off drugs they are this week's FOLKS WHO SHINE!
WV History Lesson:
July 31st, 1932, Actor Theodore Crawford "Ted" Cassidy was born in Pittsburg but was raised in Philippi. He was best known for his role as Lurch on the Addams Family.
August 1st, 1921, Baldwin-Felts detectives shot and killed Sid Hatfield and Ed chambers as they approached the McDowell County Courthouse in Welch. As Matewan's police chief, Hatfield had assisted the United Mine Worker's Campaign to organize Tug Fork Miners. The assassinations set in motion and armed miners' march ending with the battle of Blair Mountain.
August 1st, 1940, Justice Franklin Cleckley was born in Huntington. IN 1994 he became the first black justice to serve on the West Virgina Supreme Cout. The Supreme Cout once referred to Cleckley's handbooks on evidence and criminal procedure as "the bible for West Virgina's judges and attorneys.
August 2nd, 2009, Golfers Sam Snead and Bill Campbell became the first two inductees into the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame.
August 3rd, 1897, A fire destroyed much of downtown Lewisburg. The town rebuilt and evolved in the next century into the hub of one of the state's major farming areas and center for education and the arts.
August 4th, 1930, Lewisburg set the record for the State's hottest temperature ever; 112. Six years later, Martinsburg would tie it.
July 31st, 1932, Actor Theodore Crawford "Ted" Cassidy was born in Pittsburg but was raised in Philippi. He was best known for his role as Lurch on the Addams Family.
August 1st, 1921, Baldwin-Felts detectives shot and killed Sid Hatfield and Ed chambers as they approached the McDowell County Courthouse in Welch. As Matewan's police chief, Hatfield had assisted the United Mine Worker's Campaign to organize Tug Fork Miners. The assassinations set in motion and armed miners' march ending with the battle of Blair Mountain.
August 1st, 1940, Justice Franklin Cleckley was born in Huntington. IN 1994 he became the first black justice to serve on the West Virgina Supreme Cout. The Supreme Cout once referred to Cleckley's handbooks on evidence and criminal procedure as "the bible for West Virgina's judges and attorneys.
August 2nd, 2009, Golfers Sam Snead and Bill Campbell became the first two inductees into the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame.
August 3rd, 1897, A fire destroyed much of downtown Lewisburg. The town rebuilt and evolved in the next century into the hub of one of the state's major farming areas and center for education and the arts.
August 4th, 1930, Lewisburg set the record for the State's hottest temperature ever; 112. Six years later, Martinsburg would tie it.
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Catch up with our Guest Columm
Hot Weather and Golden Retrievers
By: Brent Boggs
Hot weather and golden retrievers. Waldo and Buddy are two great companions for our family. However, they can't get enough attention. When they sit beside you, they're usually sitting on your feet and leaning against you. But when the temperature reaches the mid-80s and above, all they can think about is getting in the house and heading straight to the 70-degree basement, only wanting to come out for food and a stretch of their legs.
It's the only time they put their comfort ahead of pleasing their family.
Meanwhile, I can't believe that, at a time when we're all commenting on the hot, humid, mid-summer weather, the 2025-26 school year begins for students in less than three weeks. There are a couple of days' difference between the start days in Braxton and Gilmer Counties, but for students, teachers, and service personnel, the school year is fast approaching. For GSU incoming first-year students, it's even sooner, along with all college students. These are exciting times for students transitioning from high school to the college or university level. Please know we're behind you as you prepare for your eventual career field.
Likewise, our elementary, middle school, and high school students will be heading to the bus stops, walking to school, or driving to school in a few short weeks. Therefore, it's that time of year when we need to remember the bus stops, school zones, and speed limits, and to be extra vigilant for the activities of a new school year. And a special appreciation goes out to the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who are raising these wonderful children.
Opioid settlement funding for counties and cities is a windfall that brings mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is not unlike the American Rescue Plan funds, where funds were disbursed and the rules for use were unclear from the beginning, changed numerous times, and were ripe for potential unintended misuse, despite the best of intentions. How these funds are used falls to the responsibility of our cities and counties. Like ARPA funds, the usage rules often fall into numerous grey areas.
Funding will diminish over time, so what came in last year or this year may be much less in the outyears. Therefore, determining how best to use these dollars for the public interest is something that requires looking at what is needed today, and what will be the needs in a year? Three years? Five years? A decade from now and beyond? Interdiction of drugs and enforcement of drug laws is an important consideration that certainly falls within the scope of funding. Regional jail bills are about to consume even greater amounts of county budgets due primarily to the exploding number of drug-related incarcerations. Mean-while, adequate and available drug treatment is needed, as incarceration without treatment is nothing but an assurance of the revolving door of drugs, jail, release, reuse, and repeat the process. Families are torn apart. Our workforce is decimated. Children whose parents abuse drugs or are jailed are instead being raised by grandparents or other family members, who do so with great love and concern for the kids.
Local treatment options are needed, but they are expensive and exceed the constraints of most county budgets, making it challenging to implement them alone. Even if adequate treatment is set up with available opioid funds, it won'tlast indefinitely. When that money is gone, who foots the bill? The bulk of the funding for West Virginia is allocated as follows:
72.5% to the West Virginia First Foundation, 24.5% to local governments, and 3% to the state.
West Virginia First Foundation has its board appointed by the Gov-ernor. Since it's regional, rural counties will have little if any control over the bulk of the funds. Local government funding, which includes counties and municipalities varies widely. The final three percent to the state... well, that's unclear where it will go.
As a long-time former legislator and current county commissioner, I've been involved in similar discussions on multiple occasions. 1 know that any programs or initiatives require a dedicated revenue stream to ensure long-term success and continuity. We.need to think outside the box and explore multiple ways to make decisions that ultimately benefit our citizens, today and tomorrow. After all, the opioid funds represent thousands of shattered lives, broken homes, overdose deaths, and a generation of kids that were often denied the parental influence they needed. I'd gladly give it all back if we could turn back the clock and see all of the tragic consequences of opioid abuse and addiction reversed. We owe it to all of the above to make informed, solid decisions as we move forward.
As I conclude this week, Jean and I are taking a little time to go on the road and spend some long-overdue time together. By the time you read this, we hope to be back home, and seeing how long it takes Buddy and Waldo to forgive us for being out of town for a few days.
You can reach me by mail at my home office: 151 Park Street, Gassaway, WV 26624. For those with Internet access, my email is [email protected].
Remember those who served and gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. Each day, take the opportunity to thank our Veterans for their service. Remember the men and women currently serving in the military — at home and abroad-and keep them, their families -lies, and all our first responders in your thoughts and prayers. Until next week, take care.
By: Brent Boggs
Hot weather and golden retrievers. Waldo and Buddy are two great companions for our family. However, they can't get enough attention. When they sit beside you, they're usually sitting on your feet and leaning against you. But when the temperature reaches the mid-80s and above, all they can think about is getting in the house and heading straight to the 70-degree basement, only wanting to come out for food and a stretch of their legs.
It's the only time they put their comfort ahead of pleasing their family.
Meanwhile, I can't believe that, at a time when we're all commenting on the hot, humid, mid-summer weather, the 2025-26 school year begins for students in less than three weeks. There are a couple of days' difference between the start days in Braxton and Gilmer Counties, but for students, teachers, and service personnel, the school year is fast approaching. For GSU incoming first-year students, it's even sooner, along with all college students. These are exciting times for students transitioning from high school to the college or university level. Please know we're behind you as you prepare for your eventual career field.
Likewise, our elementary, middle school, and high school students will be heading to the bus stops, walking to school, or driving to school in a few short weeks. Therefore, it's that time of year when we need to remember the bus stops, school zones, and speed limits, and to be extra vigilant for the activities of a new school year. And a special appreciation goes out to the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who are raising these wonderful children.
Opioid settlement funding for counties and cities is a windfall that brings mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is not unlike the American Rescue Plan funds, where funds were disbursed and the rules for use were unclear from the beginning, changed numerous times, and were ripe for potential unintended misuse, despite the best of intentions. How these funds are used falls to the responsibility of our cities and counties. Like ARPA funds, the usage rules often fall into numerous grey areas.
Funding will diminish over time, so what came in last year or this year may be much less in the outyears. Therefore, determining how best to use these dollars for the public interest is something that requires looking at what is needed today, and what will be the needs in a year? Three years? Five years? A decade from now and beyond? Interdiction of drugs and enforcement of drug laws is an important consideration that certainly falls within the scope of funding. Regional jail bills are about to consume even greater amounts of county budgets due primarily to the exploding number of drug-related incarcerations. Mean-while, adequate and available drug treatment is needed, as incarceration without treatment is nothing but an assurance of the revolving door of drugs, jail, release, reuse, and repeat the process. Families are torn apart. Our workforce is decimated. Children whose parents abuse drugs or are jailed are instead being raised by grandparents or other family members, who do so with great love and concern for the kids.
Local treatment options are needed, but they are expensive and exceed the constraints of most county budgets, making it challenging to implement them alone. Even if adequate treatment is set up with available opioid funds, it won'tlast indefinitely. When that money is gone, who foots the bill? The bulk of the funding for West Virginia is allocated as follows:
72.5% to the West Virginia First Foundation, 24.5% to local governments, and 3% to the state.
West Virginia First Foundation has its board appointed by the Gov-ernor. Since it's regional, rural counties will have little if any control over the bulk of the funds. Local government funding, which includes counties and municipalities varies widely. The final three percent to the state... well, that's unclear where it will go.
As a long-time former legislator and current county commissioner, I've been involved in similar discussions on multiple occasions. 1 know that any programs or initiatives require a dedicated revenue stream to ensure long-term success and continuity. We.need to think outside the box and explore multiple ways to make decisions that ultimately benefit our citizens, today and tomorrow. After all, the opioid funds represent thousands of shattered lives, broken homes, overdose deaths, and a generation of kids that were often denied the parental influence they needed. I'd gladly give it all back if we could turn back the clock and see all of the tragic consequences of opioid abuse and addiction reversed. We owe it to all of the above to make informed, solid decisions as we move forward.
As I conclude this week, Jean and I are taking a little time to go on the road and spend some long-overdue time together. By the time you read this, we hope to be back home, and seeing how long it takes Buddy and Waldo to forgive us for being out of town for a few days.
You can reach me by mail at my home office: 151 Park Street, Gassaway, WV 26624. For those with Internet access, my email is [email protected].
Remember those who served and gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. Each day, take the opportunity to thank our Veterans for their service. Remember the men and women currently serving in the military — at home and abroad-and keep them, their families -lies, and all our first responders in your thoughts and prayers. Until next week, take care.
Myra’s Musings!
Check out her column in this week's edition!
Check out her column in this week's edition!