“Raising Houners” Hold Strategy Session

What began as a Social Media conversation in the early morning hours of March 17, soon escalated into a group of impassioned community stakeholders with a mission to back what they believe and say is a “once in a lifetime opportunity for their children.” Calhoun County currently touts the highest unemployment rate in the State of West Virginia. In an economically depressed area where the unemployment rate is currently 14.9% while the State rate is a record breaking low of 3.8%, Calhoun County’s opportunities from business investors doesn’t come by too often and hope for change had been a stranger until Crystal Laughlin Mersh returned home.

With the creation of the The 1982 Foundation and the renovation of the old Calhoun County High School into the new Calhoun County Community Center, a spark ignited throughout the county that change was possible. Crystal’s hometown of Arnoldsburg had often been viewed as a dividing line between the northern end and the southern end of the county. The 655’ers as they call themselves. But with the first large event in the fall of 2021, when over 900 people gathered onto the Calhoun Community Center’s property and the Wayne Underwood field, there was no 354 and 655 phone exchange dividing line, just a community of memories. The old High School became new source of hope.

Scroll six months forward into the construction phase of the Community Center, and a request from the 1982 Foundation to reconnect the Wayne Underwood Field back to the High School property with a new pool addition and a 1/2 million dollar investment, is viewed as hopes dashed when the Calhoun County Commission continues to deny it. Crystal’s request was met with oppostion by Commissioners, Kevin Helmick, Michael Hicks and Matt Walker, who do not believe it’s within their right to convey the property to the Foundation. This has become a disputable and controversial decision.

Sunday afternoon, at 3 p.m. at the Arnoldsburg Community Church, several of the “thirtysomethings” as well as other ages gathered into the sanctuary to strategize their fight against the Calhoun County Commission’s decision.

Lead by Kyerstan Perkins, much of the discussion began around the fact that very little attention has been paid to the politics of Calhoun County government until this matter arose. She told them “It’s time for this generation to step up.”

The group believes there has been mismanagement within the county government and a neglect of duty concerning the economy. They don’t believe it’s something that suddenly happened but goes back for decades, including the denial of allowing the FCI Gilmer Correctional facility to be built in Calhoun, which is still a source of contention regarding unemployment numbers. Another factor in question is the county’s allowance of bills, such as the regional jail bill, to go unpaid until a bail out with ARPA funds was needed. One meeting attendant questioned “What could have been done with those funds if they’d have been invested in something else?” With those thoughts on the table the group decided to work first toward getting the community to attend the Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. at the Calhoun County Community Center. It is their hopes that at that event elected and campaigning officials will join them to allow questions regarding their future plans for Calhoun County. They hope as a community they’ll be given the opportunity to share their hopes and visions for the county as well.

The results of the Community Town Hall and the next Calhoun County Commissioner’s meeting may determine their plans to go forward with additional actions.