Prosecutor Moves Forward in Removing Sheriff from office

The Calhoun County Commission meeting was once again held in the large courtroom because of the expected larger than normal audience with the matter of the Sheriff and budgeting concerns being addressed. Radio, television, print and internet News media was in attendance and watching through the live feed on Ridgeview’s Facebook page. 

The meeting was opened by Commissioner Matt Walker who read a prepared Statement from Kevin Helmick, who appeared via telephone due to illness. In the Statement Helmick said “On March 20, 2023 I called Michelle Hodge with the State Fire Marshall. Grantsville Fire Dept. is supposed to have an audit every 3 to 5 years but she couldn’t find one. On March 20th I called Ethan Hamilton with the Legislative State Funding Audit, he Stated that Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department is sending Bank receipts annually and calling it an audit. He stated that they received three tries to get information correct. I asked if it took all three tries to turn in bank receipts and Ethan said he did not want to divulge whether or not I took three tries. If they are not turning in audits and just bank receipts why are you giving them their funding. Ethan stated that he hated to shut down a small fire department.”

Commissioner Craig Arthur said that he went to Charleston to meet with Delegate Roger Hanshaw and took a proposal of stages 1 and 2 of a water expansion for Munday Road and Route 5 as well as Route 16 from Oka to Stinson.  Arthur said that there seems to be promise with infrastructure funding for water and sewer upgrades. He believes they’ll be more meetings in the future to determine funding and timelines. Also attending that meeting was Commissioner Matt Walker, the Mayor of Grantsville, Robert Petrovsky as well as Luke Peters of the MOVRC.

Walker opened the floor to Delegations at which time Sharon Gherke, Treasurer of the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department spoke. Having volunteered for the Grantsville VFD for 12 years, Mrs. Gherke said that “Helmick’s statement really hurt because she worked hard to keep the bills paid. She asked “Nathan Hamilton” of the Legislative State Funding office about any discrepancies in Grantsville’s account. Every year we have to report how we use their funding. She was told that it is random that they choose certain fire departments to require an audit. Two days later, Grantsville was chosen. The money Grantsville received in levy funds has not been audited because nothing was ever requested by the Calhoun County Commission. Mrs. Gherke said that she believes they do need an Audit and Grantsville is ready. While Arnoldsburg has found an auditing firm to do their Audit, the Upper West Fork Fire Department does not have an audit completed either. 

Helmick spoke by phone saying that  this year was Arnoldsburg’s full audit. But as for Grantsville they could not find a completed audit.

The question should be, why is Helmick so informed about Arnoldsburg’s finances, but has no problem making statements without substantiating it as truth about Grantsville VFD? Why did he go to such lengths to attempt to prove there was discrepancies within the finances of Grantsville, but not within the other departments? Why did he attempt to smear the good name of a volunteer organization that defends the citizens of Calhoun County with their lives?  Who was behind the original accusation for which Helmick said he had received a complaint from three organizations? Nobody will ever know according to Helmick because informed Mrs. Gherke when she asked  that “he doesn’t want to lose the trust of those  providing the information.” And why is it that Mrs. Gherke got an entirely different statement from the State agencies where she spoke to the same people as Commissioner Helmick? 

Mrs. Gherke asked Commissioner Walker if he knew about Kevin’s Facebook post before he made the accusations against the Grantsville VFD. Walker replied, “I’m not Kevin’s keeper.” She then asked Kevin if he contacted Grantsville Chief David Johnson about the matter to which Helmick responded. “He did not, and he didn’t have to.”

Although Commissioner’s Walker stressed how very vital he believed the fire departments were, and the last thing any one wanted was division he made no apology only saying he didn’t think Helmick should have done what he did. 

Next to speak was Eric Lupardus, representing the Citizens for Accountability. He informed the Commission that he was glad they spoke to Delegate Hanshaw and was happy that the Mayor attended. “I believe we’re making progress. Unfortunately the citizens have issues.” Those issues he listed were the County’s budget, the EMS, the Hero and Covid Money, and the issue with the Grantsville Fire Deparment. “It seems to be a recurring theme,” he said. “Helmick called the crowd troublemakers and he believed an apology was due.”  

Matt Walker said that “He doesn’t agree with adults calling people names. However on the other side, it was said that he (Helmick) was calling the whole crowd troublemakers. I only thought he was calling one or two. We all need to do better with dragging the county down. At least Kevin said it to the peoples face. Kevin is an adult. It’s not like he came in and said he was going to do it. We all need to do better. Walker finished with “I’m not apologizing for him.” 

By phone Helmick stated that he agreed 95% with Matt. “We’re all adults,” he said. “We all lose our tempers. There was a group that was snickering and laughing. I could have passed out gold bars and they’d still do it. I will not apologize because those same people won’t apologize either.”

Commissioner Arthur weighed in by saying “We all speak with our own point of view. I think it’s refreshing to see the county wanting to move forward. The county as a whole has to work together.”

Pauline Ferrel spoke as a part of the Concerned citizens group, questioning the $250,000 set aside for the parks and recreation in Calhoun County. Walker explained that the Commission had been discussing a few larger projects at the park and determined to see what things could be moved around to make it happen. Pauline compared what neighboring counties were doing to which Walker responded. “I don’t care what Wirt and Braxton are doing.”

Jean Simers noted to the Commissioners that in preparing the Budget she had mistakingly typed in $200,000 in a line item that should have been $24,415 as the actual amount.  The County is wanting to add an additional chair lift for access from the handicapped ramp to the upper floors of the courthouse.  They currently have one chair lift which requires a key to operate it. When questioned why nobody but Jean could operate the lift Chair, Mrs. Simers said the Magistrate Court also had a key. This was evidently not known by all of courthouse faculty who required an elderly man, who requested the lift, to struggle walking up three flights of stairs to access Circuit Court. 

Eric Lupardus spoke again saying that some of the budgeting concerns was due to Calhoun still having unmet basic needs such as fire, and water that should take priority.  He continued by saying “Since the publishing of the budget, there has been many questions raised. The county commission is responsible to explain how the funds will be spent and from what accounts. Accounts should not be padded, there is a contingency fund of $300000. Where were the town halls to allow people’s input?”  Eric also question the regional jail bill being budgeted at $500,000, the voting machines and the parks. $800,000 to $1Million dollars of money budgeted for unknown items.

Graham Knight of the Citizens for Accountability questioned the Covid Relief funds and asked if that funding had been spent for debt relief for Calhoun EMS? A matter denied by Jeans Simers saying that it had only been used for salaries of EMS and Deputy C.J. Myers. 

Knight then asked about the matter of Sheriff Warren Basnett. Saying that he personally believed that the school also holds responsibility, and at the end of the day the school is 100% responsible for the safety of the children. 

Commissioner Walker’s response was “I have no control over Mrs. Whytsell or the school system. I did go ask what Warren’s workshop was and how can you make a career out of being Sheriff. As the sheriff he could do a lecture on his career, as a principle, superintendent, I should not have to micro manage. If he was going to do gun safety, you would assume he would have guns. Should they have monitored it better?” 

Craig Arthur stated that it has to be a shared responsibility because the children’s safety should have been their number one responsibility. There has to be some checks and balances from all sides. 

Commissioner Helmick said that “It doesn’t matter who’s talking. The school should have looked a little bit deeper at what Warren was teaching, but we trust the sheriff and he’s supposed to be the responsible one. As a young kid you’re taught not to point guns and treat every gun as if it’s loaded. It’s a terrible situation that happens. I just don’t feel it’s the schools responsibility, it falls more to the sheriff because he’s a person you elect to trust.” 

Graham moved on to the issue with Calhoun EMS. He asked Matt Walker, when he was made aware that the County’s EMS did not have a medical director on staff. Walker denied knowing at all saying that he found out that the EMS license was revoked when Helmick informed him in September. He did say that he was aware of the issue of EMS not having Workers Comp and even attempted to help with the matter. But it was an oversight that he did not make the county aware of it. He said that he had talked to Dr. Staggers himself and said that she was okay with being named their medical director and assumed it was the case. 

This is all an issue for the Ridgeview News. At what point did any government agency get so lacks that they stopped issuing things in writing. Not one agency has a report on Calhoun EMS in writing. Not one. Not the DEA, not WVOEMS and now not the Calhoun County Commission. Is that acceptable to anyone? Even if those reports had said “we found nothing.” Should there not have been a report? But not one agency was willing to put their neck on the line to say what the major discrepancies  were other than unverified staff and faulty equipment. So who are we to believe? 

Eric Lupardus asked Helmick if he had been told about the medical director issue. His response was “I have had people laughing at our Sheriff department.”

On a side bar issue Eric Lupardus mentioned that he didn’t appreciate County Clerk, Jean Simers comment “Shoot me,” with regard to her typographical error. After a short “I’m sorry,” Simers also said that she took offense to Eric’s  bringing it up saying that she “takes her job very serious. As for the budget meeting, nobody showed up. Next time I suggest all of you show up. We have nothing to hide.”

Prosecuting Attorney Nigel Jeffries lodged eleven charges against Sheriff Warren Basnett to the Calhoun County Commission. He stated that he was going to keep his remarks confined to the sheriff and the issues at the High school but since that time there have been substantially more issues that have come to light. Several other very concerning issues. As for the issue at the school Mr. Jeffries said that he completed understood Graham Knights concern about there was responsibility that could be shared by those at the school, rather than laying all the blame on Warren.  He went on to say that what happened at the school was a lack of judgement that was all too familiar. 

He informed the commission that he would be filing a motion to remove the Sheriff by weeks end. 

Following a brief description of the Sheriff’s job duties, the grounds of removing the Sheriff were

1. The fact that there were three deputies at the beginning of Warrens term there was three certified deputies which are now all gone and we currently have no certified officers for the county. Due in part what he believes is the Sheriff’s mal-administration of office. The deputies left likely in part to the Sheriff’s management. He noted that the State police is now run very thin and because of the Sheriff having no deputies he is relying on a reserve deputy and home confinement officer to take on great responsibility which creates it’s own issues. 
2. The second matter was the issue of the sale of 5 cruisers done outside state code, in a silent auction allowing one bidder to buy all five cruisers for $100 each. Those cruisers were put on Facebook Marketplace with the graphics of the Sheriffs Department still on the car and now in the hands of private citizens. 
3. Sheriff Basnett failed to properly supervise and administrate the home confinement program,  to the point that the courts now have no confidence in the program to a degree that it has been removed as an option for alternative sentencing. What the Prosecutor discovered is that the home confinement officer is not doing home visits, compliance checks, drug screens, or anything of that nature. They were not going to the homes but Basnett had certified that the Home Confinement officer had worked an 8 hour day. Jeffries knew there was an error in that fact because one or two days he knew that the officer could not have worked 8 hours because of time spent on a mental hygiene transport. There was also the issue of there being only one time that the home confinement officers marked up with 911 of being on duty in the capacity of home confinement. `
4. Sheriff is using the process server and home confinement officer to executive previously issued warrants. 
5. The Sheriff attempted to hire a pre certified deputy without following WV code. Prior to the necessary background checks, etc. the officer was given a badge, uniform and gun. When confronted by this fact the sheriff became evasive and combative.
6. Sheriff Basnett promoted a deputy to Corporal and disregarded the Civil Service process.
7. Has not insured that Civil Process was being done correctly. 
8. The sheriff is not serving suggestee executions and writs of executions issued by Magistrate Court. 
9. Sheriff Basnett attempted to be removed as a statutory conservator for a disabled person. If it had been granted the person would not have been capable of collecting their check and make sure their bills were taken care of. His grounds were baseless.
10. Failed to provide consistent and reliable Court security. 
11. The issue surround the facts about what happened at Calhoun Middle High School that on March 31, 2023, Sheriff Basnett set up a display with several firearms and drug paraphernalia, students took pictures of other students picking up the guns, pointing them at one another long enough for videos to be made. One student took a video of himself handling a gun very inappropriately, during firing the gun in the air, acting in this manner for sometime. The Drug paraphernalia that supposedly contained drug residue. The sheriff attempted to use his Tazer on a child. A Tazer is a weapon and is only to be used as a use of force. The barbs sometimes have to be removed by medical staff because they get stuck in the skin. School personnel did step in. 

Based on the total issues and now lack of trust the Prosecuting Attorney will be pursuing theses charges. 

The Commission made no comment but rather moved onto reports by various agencies. Helmick questioned whether or not they should take action, but Walker said that the Prosecutor would continue with his action against the Sheriff and then the commission would take action at a later date. 

Jason Wilson reported the activity for Calhoun EMS (story to follow).

Donnie Pitts reported on the recent progress of the Calhoun County Park Board. With the $50,000 provided previously by the Calhoun County Commission bids were accepted for a full HVAC unit that will both cool and heat the upstairs and downstairs of the Park Barn, new flooring and acoustic tiles, lighting and kitchen appliances were purchased. Still to come is roof repairs that should be done in May. 

Jasmine Tingler, a Calhoun Middle High Student requested and received permission from the park to plan an astronomy event at the park. April 29th, Jasmine has planned  presentations from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and viewing from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Mr. Pitts encouraged the community to come out and support the youth interest in astronomy. 

Other upcoming County Park events will be a Youth Trout Fishing Day, Kite Festival offering free kites to youth who attend and the Independence day Music Festival. 

As for the $250,000 funding from the Calhoun County Commission, Mr. Pitts addressed the parks having been budgeted so much money. Prior years of funding from the Calhoun County Commission averaged *$15,650 annually from the years 2009 to 2022. The current cost of operating the County owned park is $8,000 annually. For Reference, costs of neighboring counties were provided. 

*CORRECTION: $15,650 was in fact the total County contributions for the 13 year period. The total average of contributions and reimbursements for the 13 year period was $2847.52.

• Braxton County’s Holly Grey Park is their only county owned park. Purchased with money from the US Corp. of Engineers it is funded by hotel/motel tax in the county that brings in $35,000 to $45,000 annually. They also have 8 leases for the park making payments for park use such as fairs, 4-H, etc. They have a manager that is given a small salary and free housing and in total the park has received $455,000 in 13 years. 
• Gilmer County Recreations center is funded by a levy that provides $30,000 to $35,000 annually. 
• Ritchie County has 1 park of Ball fields that they provide $40,000 annually to. 
• Wirt County does not own the Park in Town but rather the Development Authority, but the Commission contributes $20,000 annually in support of it’s expense. 

Mr. Pitts said that when that is put into perspective, Calhoun is  way behind other counties. 

We’re not upset about what people are saying but he wanted the community to fully understand what’s happening. In conclusion he announced that the park had received a donation of a $25,000 dome and telescope from a Gilmer County resident adding more to the Stargazing Opportunities. 

Kevin Helmick  thankedDonnie Pitts for his volunteerism of over 20 years. “We love all of our volunteers and fire fighters,” he said.  “I have big plans to try to help the parks this year. We got a complaint about someone getting an apple an orange and a Walmart card. I just want people to think about what we’re doing.” 

Commissioner Walker, reporting for Calhoun FRN announced that Drug Take Back Day for Calhoun County would be on April 21st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the FRN office on Main Street. 

Shelia Burch, reporting for the Little Kanawha Area Development Corp updated the Commission on the plans of the Dollar General Corporation to close the Grantsville Store. She said as much as they tried, with many offers for property and help, the Dollar General Corporation had no interest in continuing to operate in the area. 

She also updated the Commission on the Continued effort of the Mt. Zion and Pleasant Hill PSD’s to consolidate stating that MORVC had recently sent in 76 applications for grant funding, 12 of which were for Calhoun County. She added that the two PSD’s continue to meet in open meetings with a goal to connect their systems to water from neighboring counties. “We have one system, managed by three different entities, and we want the entire county to benefit from this project.” 

Commissioner Walker, thanked all County residents who helped with the recent County Clean up of local highways. He then announced that the organizer of the event, Cabot Recycling, was struggling financially. He said that he feels it is a valuable asset to the county and suggested the provision of  $8,000 to help get them through the coming months. The matter was approved by the other commissioners. 

Other expenditures approved was $2,000 to assist in stocking the County Park with fish, the provision of AED’s for each park to have at their ball fields and lastly another transfer from the Regional Jail Fund of $90,000 to be given to the Upper West Fork Park to stop flooding in the area with work on the river bank running in front of the Park. 

The meeting adjourned following payment of bills. 

Ridgeview News Publisher’s Note: Calhoun County Commission meetings continue to harbor unwarranted contentious and condescending attitudes by Commissioner’s Walker and Helmick. It was noted not only by the residents, but guests attending. While they accuse residents and current issues with the Sheriff being the black eye to the community, they too are an embarrassment with the attitude that Calhoun’s people are peasants to be tolerated, not heard. Helmick’s warrantless investigation against the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department is a pathetic use of power and should be a concern to any organization who may find themselves in opposition to him in the future.