I have been involved with local politics through employment: (Magistrate Assistant, Circuit Clerk Deputy) Appointment: (Magistrate Clerk) Grant funded: (Calhoun County Prevention in Schools), child of an elected official, Wife of a Town Employee and now reporting on elected officials. Decades of discovering how it all works for the good, the bad and assuredly the ugly, has not jaded me to being involved, but rather encouraged me of the need for staying alert to what’s happening and how it’s going to effect my family, now and in generations to come.
With mid-term elections just weeks away, you have current considerations for election as well as keeping yourself apprised of how your acting officials are operating in their position.
KNOW WHAT THEY’RE PAID TO DO
- Assessor
- The County Assessor is an elected official responsible for discovering, listing, and valuing all real and personal property within the county at fair market value annually. They determine the “true and actual” value of property, manage tax exemptions (like homestead exemptions), maintain tax maps, and provide certified assessed values to local levying bodies. Should a Tax Assessor fail to do their job it may result in inaccurate, unfair property assessments or missed property improvements. The staff of the Assessors office are the liaisons for understanding how your property is assessed and the importance of insuring that taxation is up to date. West Virginia property taxes are primarily used to fund local services, including public schools, county commissions, municipal governments, emergency services and regional jail bills. Your tax dollars funding your community means you should be involved with the decision making process especially in the electoral process.
- Circuit Clerk
- The Circuit Clerk is an elected official serving a six-year term, acting as the primary custodian of records, jury administrator, and fee officer for Circuit and Family Courts. They manage case files for civil, criminal, and family cases, issue legal processes, and report statistics to the Supreme Court. Other than jury duty, most citizens spend very little time, if any, dealing with the Circuit Clerk. However, the Circuit Clerk is the information station for all things court related. The Clerk and their staff should be professional and empathetic to families facing court trials and family matters. They should be ready to provide information when requested.
- Circuit Judge X 3
- West Virginia Circuit Judges are elected officials presiding over the state’s general jurisdiction trial courts, handling felony criminal cases, civil suits and appeals from Magistrate and Family courts. They manage jury trials, rule on legal motions, preside over treatment courts, and issue rulings in disputes. Calhoun is a part of the 5th Judicial Circuit which includes, Calhoun, Roane, Jackson and Mason Counties. Circuit Court Judges should be persons of a high moral standard and un-influenceable. Their decisions affect who your neighbors may or may not `be.
- County Clerk
- West Virginia County Clerks serve as the primary record-keeper, chief election official, and fiscal officer for their county, with a six-year term. They manage the recording of deeds and property, issue marriage licenses/birth certificates, conduct voter registration, manage early voting, and oversee probate matters. The responsibilities of that office are mass! When I worked for those few decades in the Courthouse, the County Clerk was often referred to as the King or Queen of the Courthouse. At that time the County Clerk had control over what might seem like trivial matters (supplies, parking, meeting spaces, events, etc.) but those trivial matters greatly effected the overall atmosphere of the building. The atmosphere of the building affected how comfortable and well cared for the general public was. If you have courthouse business, you need knowledgeable, pleasant, professional people who need to enjoy their environment.
- County Commission x 3
- County Commissioners serve as the primary governing body of the county, responsible for managing fiscal affairs, overseeing public infrastructure, setting property tax levies, and managing elections. They adopt the annual budget, hold probate jurisdiction, and oversee county property maintenance. They are often the face of your community on the County, State and National level. Their availability, involvement and willingness to make connections for the sake of encouraging economic considerations by the outside will make or break a community’s future. One of the reasons that Calhoun has landed so far down the rung for attention across the State of West Virginia is because past Commissioners did not believe their role was anything other than a County Commission meeting once a month. (Ridgeview opinion.)
- Family Law Judge
- West Virginia family law judges are elected officials presiding over domestic cases, including divorce, parental responsibility (custody), child support, alimony, and grandparent visitation. They conduct hearings, issue final orders, approve parenting plans, manage evidence, and oversee domestic violence civil protective orders, excluding child abuse/neglect cases. Most people don’t give this position a second thought unless they’re directly involved, and while most people will not ever have the opportunity to meet the Judge outside the court, knowing the character and nature of the rulings of that judge will be important if you’re the one who ends up in Family court. The law governs the decision making, but a Judge’s personal belief system will certainly play into their decisions.
- Magistrate x 2
- West Virginia magistrates are elected judicial officers responsible for handling initial criminal proceedings, issuing warrants, setting bail, and presiding over small claims civil cases and misdemeanor trials. They operate 24/7, with on-call duties for emergency protective orders and search warrants, ensuring legal procedures are followed at the local level. Magistrate court decisions affect a community in a great many ways. Their decisions related to a high or low bond, conviction and dismissal rates, etc. determines how seriously criminal behavior is. Low bonds, dismissals and plea bargaining could allow criminals to lose their concern of penalty and be more apt to follow through on future criminal behavior. Your community and family safety is in their hands.
- Prosecutor
- A County’s Prosecuting Attorney is the elected chief legal officer for their county, responsible for prosecuting all criminal violations (felonies and misdemeanors), representing the state in juvenile/abuse cases, and acting as legal counsel for county government officials and boards. They are mandated to investigate crimes, present evidence to the Grand Jury, and handle county civil litigation. In conjunction with Judges and Law Enforcement their abilities define justice for your community. The salary of Calhoun’s Prosecuting Attorney is nearly $100,000. Although they are “mandated” to investigate, present evidence, etc., it is their decision whether or not they earn their keep by serving their community through high integrity, fairness, and a commitment to justice. The number of prosecutions, and convictions should be compared to the arrests. While an arrest doesn’t mean guilt, you can be assured that out of a number of arrests, there is probably some guilt. If there is not convictions there is an issue on one side or the other of the arrest.
- School Board x 5
- I’ve made it quite clear from Ridgeview’s position how very frustrated I am with the current state of Calhoun County School System. Current enrollment continues to decline, parents and students are opting for virtual learning rather than in school, home schooling is encouraged with the Hope Scholarships and the fault is laid at the feet of the parents while the school takes no responsibility for it at all. (Again, Ridgeview’s opinion). Because of the fear of retaliation on my own children and grandchildren, I will not go into the details of the antics of the current school administration but I will say that mean girls, selective budgeting and do as I say, not as I do is alive and well. It was unfortunate that there was no consideration for new School Board members due to the lack of community interest. Anyone who doesn’t march to the beat of the school’s drum and brings attention to things that should not be is marked as a troublemaker and no longer considered of value.
- West Virginia county school board members, usually a five-member elected body, are responsible for overseeing district policy, budget approval, and hiring the superintendent. They must fulfill 12 hours of annual training and act in the public’s best interest by setting goals, evaluating school performance, and managing property. Ridgeview’s complaint of the School Boards performance is that they have been a rubber stamp, questioning nothing nor accepting responsibility when things go wrong. Managing property? No they don’t. The school facilities have not been taken care of and damaged without accountability. Students refuse to go to the bathroom for their entire day in school, choosing to wait until they get home. Unhealthy and unacceptable, and yet never addressed as to the reason why.
- Sheriff
- West Virginia’s County Sheriffs are elected officials serving dual roles as the county’s chief law enforcement officer and treasurer. Key responsibilities include patrolling, investigating crimes, serving court orders (bailiff duties), managing prisoner transportation, issuing concealed weapon permits, and collecting county/state taxes. While we would all love to live in the Andy Griffith Show era of Sheriff-ing, we are no longer anywhere near that era, the requirements of a Sheriff in a county, even as small as Calhoun County, is the bravery of a soldier, the administration skills of a bank president, a few Sherlock Holmes skills and of course the integrity of Andy Taylor. All County officials should have the ability to connect with community with understanding for the culture of Appalachian people.
Are those standards too much to ask from them and us?
According to Crimegrade.org, Calhoun County as a whole received a “C” grade for being a safe place to live. Crime Grade’s property crime map highlights the safest areas in Calhoun County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow.
The C- grade indicates that the rate of property crime is slightly higher than that of the average US county. Calhoun County ranks in the 35th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 35% of counties but less safe than 65%. This analysis applies only to Calhoun County’s official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The Cost of Crime in Calhoun County, WV
The total projected cost of crime in Calhoun County for 2025 is $632,552. This translates to approximately $113 per resident and $292 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.5% of the median household income in Calhoun County.
These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 75.4%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 19.0%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 5.6%
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Calhoun County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
| Crime | Cost to Calhoun County | Cost per Calhoun County Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Theft | $32,385 | $6 |
| Burglary | $98,174 | $18 |
| Theft | $482,172 | $86 |
| Arson | $19,821 | $4 |
| Total Cost of Property Crime | $632,552 | $113 |
The Intangible Cost of Property Crime in Calhoun County, WV
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects.
All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of property crime in Calhoun County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Calhoun County.
| Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roane County, WV | B | B+ | B- |
| Gilmer County, WV | C+ | C | B |
| Wirt County, WV | A+ | A | A+ |
| Braxton County, WV | C+ | C | C+ |
| Ritchie County, WV | B | B- | A- |
| Clay County, WV | B+ | B | B+ |
| Jackson County, WV | B+ | B+ | B+ |
| Doddridge County, WV | B- | B | B |
| Lewis County, WV | A- | B+ | A |
| Wood County, WV | B | A- | A- |
About the data:
CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.
All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.
Other data provided to Ridgeview News was the Budget and History of Regional Jail expenses.
The current expenditure levels suggest that incarceration rates are not aligned with recent public safety trends, including multiple murders over the past year. The budget data indicates that fewer individuals are being sent to prison than may be necessary and that bonds are lower than needed allowing the release of persons that are not suitable for a low level release.
Budget History and Expenditures:
- 2022/2023: Budgeted: $260,000 | Spent: $216,015
- 2023/2024: Budgeted: $233,000 | Spent: $232,847
- 2024/2025: Budgeted: $425,000 | Spent: $175,022
- 2025/2026: Budgeted: $362,000 | Spent through February (66%): $140,845
- 2026/2027 (Estimate): $225,000
This article was written with facts as well as opinion of the Ridgeview News Publisher. Over the past few weeks I have become more vocal than before and I’m not planning on that to change. While I, who am a Christian conservative, will listen to the opinions of anyone and value them as a child of God, I will no longer ignore the commentary of individuals who disagree with my style of reporting. You have the right to hate me, (provided you don’t claim you’re a Christian)
Matthew 5:46-48 KJV – For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
I do not hate anyone, nor am I a person with a vindictive nature, else there would be a lot more personal opinions on Ridgeview. I report the News as has been done in Calhoun County for over a Century. I report the good and the bad. I rejoice over the good, and I often weep over the sad. What one person calls “gossip” such as the courthouse news, is information that I have requests for if it’s not there.
So shut your pie hole that’s it’s gossip. In one of my many, many, career experiences, I also worked for the Calhoun Chronicle. I am sad that the Publisher of the Calhoun Chronicle has opted to let Editor Gaylen Duskey go, who had more knowledge in his pinky than most reporters of this present age have in their entire body. It saddens me that those who counted on a printed source of news are now going to be limited to what a person who doesn’t live in the county provides. That will likely be a handful of liberal minded stories or items sent in as a press releases. The Chronicle has been a valuable pillar of information in Calhoun County that the citizens depended on. I love the aspect of online news because it can be updated within minutes and allows the community a chance to prepare if need be for something important or of concern. But the weekly paper was a tangible news source that you could hold, read and cut out for a scrap book or the fridge. It’s my prayer that it will return to it’s glory days.
Questions, Comments? Feel free to post so long as foul language or derogatory comments are left out.
