by Betty Gandee
It was a packed house for the town hall meeting last Monday night. Talley Sergent met with many concerned members of the community.
Those walking away from the meeting expressed a sense of hope for the future of Clay County and West Virginia. UMWA members came out to speak with Talley about their rising concerns regarding healthcare and jobs here in Clay County. Topics ranged from how coal is down to nearly nothing, and the gas jobs that are available won’t be here for long. Harry Gerald, UMWA member, voiced his concerns on the roads that are needed to tie Clay to other counties and that would potently bring businesses to into that county.
Many teachers, including some that have already retired, came out to speak about public education in Clay. One suggestion was to invest in getting the children of Clay to trade schools in surrounding areas, as well as offering those types of programs within the county. Many children after high school have no desire to attend a traditional four-year college, and with a trade school being an option, more high school graduates could get the training they deserve. Talley believes it is important to let students of trade schools know that they are just as important as the ones that attend a four-year university, and that they have just as much to offer the community, state, and country as other students.
Dustin Fitzwater voiced his concern on the amount of EMS calls for drug overdoses and drug related issues. He says it’s a growing concern and one that is getting out of hand with several calls on the same person receiving Narcan multiple times daily. Without a day reporting center or help at any level to get these people into the appropriate facilities, it keeps EMS busy with the same people over and over again. Talley says that this drug epidemic is in every county of West Virginia and believes its time that these pharmaceutical companies are held responsible and that Clay county, as well as other counties, receives the help they need to deal with these issues.
