Town Hall Meeting Well Attended and Well Received

Even with a postponement and another cold weather day, it didn’t deter the citizens of Calhoun County from supporting the Town Hall Meeting Hosted by The 1982 Foundation and Ridgeview News. Around 70 people were packed into the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department Meeting room to listen to what was spoken by guest speakers and two area candidates.

Preacher Roger Carter opened the meeting with a prayer, blessing and request for God’s presence in the event. First on the agenda to speak was retired Judge Larry Whited.

Larry opened by acknowledging the Veterans that were in the crowd and once again welcoming Vietnam Veterans home. He spoke candidly about his own time in the service and desiring to return home to Calhoun County. When arriving on a military base as a young man in his twenties, he said there was a sign that welcomed them with an acronym for PRIDE. ”Professional Results in Daily Efforts.” That sign reminded him of the people of character and hard workers of home. That’s what Calhoun is, and that’s what will make ”this” group of people successful, were his words of encouragement. The 1982 Foundation has an acronym for Pride as well: “ PEOPLE REBUILDING IMPROVING DEVELOPING EXPANDING opportunity in Calhoun County. He reminded those in attendance that the rights we have in America have no meaning without our voting. We need to be mindful of who we vote for and how many terms they serve. We need fresh blood in office and the youth attending the Town Hall would be a great start he said.

Larry closed with a quote from Ben Franklin, ”Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Shelia Burch was second to speak to the crowd about the Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation and the the BEI Zone (Business Enhancement/Incubator Project that will be housed in the Calhoun County Community Center. A business location that will offer temporary office space and use of equipment to local businesses starting up or having issues. Collaboration opportunities and business assistance and advice will be available. Within that facility will be child care services, food vendors, meeting rooms, fitness and outdoor planning spaces. Broadband will be available to those who visit the facility. BEI will focus on program to gain access to capital and funding needs.

Shelia spoke of several youth in Calhoun County who have already shown the potential of being up and coming entrepreneurs and how exciting this is for those of us who are going to be a part of it through the work of the 1982 Foundation. Her words of encouragement moved the crowd as she reminded us that Calhoun is a community of believers who take care of each other and the Town Hall was a great example of it.

Robin Hughes spoke of her vision for the 1982 Foundation, or rather her vision for Grantsville because of it. She imagined a day in the near future when the crowds would be arriving at the Bed and Breakfast, milling about the old School grounds, eating lunch in the cafe and dropping their kids off at the day care center. She said she could see the traffic backed up in town because of new business and events that the town would host because of the tourism that would come into the area. The soup kitchen and the office spaces would be filled with activities and businesses and the excitement of it all brought her to tears. Someone from the audience shouted ”Maybe we’ll finally get that stop light,” and the laughter exploded.

Event Co-organizer and somewhat of a Town hero at present because of the hope she has brought was next up to speak. Crystal Laughlin Mersh. Crystal now lives in the Arnoldsburg area having returned from travels across the world only to discover what she really desired was to be home. In Calhoun County. But the Calhoun County she returned home to wasn’t the same as the one she had left. There was a loss of hope that caused her a deep sadness. She knew she wanted to do something, but until the school came up for sale, she didn’t know what that was. She now knows that she returned home to re-build the school and offer opportunity. She came without an agenda, contrary to the rumors. She came without financial trouble, contrary to the rumors. She brought suspicion for the current powers that be, but she’s squelched that too. ”I have no secrets,” she told the audience. ”Access to the Government is a right, but only if you get involved, and that what we’re doing today.”

She opened the floor for questions, such as ”How long until the Community Center is done?” ~ Phase one will hopefully be completed in 2023, and the entire project by 2024.

“If the county says no to the Underwood field, will there still be a pool?” The answer was a swift, ”No.” The reasoning of which was that the pool would need to work in conjunction with the center, and it couldn’t if it were elsewhere.

Question 3 was ”What can we do to help?” ~ Email, Call, get answers and sign the petition to let the Commissioners know how the citizens feel. Everyone is impacted by the decisions of three people.

Crystal told the eager listeners that “Calhoun has an image problem. We’ve set a bad narrative in the past and its time to change that. Women at a recent leadership conference ask her how she had made such an impact on Calhoun. They had tears in their eyes as she told them ”It’s what houners do, we work and we help each other out.”

The final part of the meeting was ”Meet the Candidates.”

Two of the County Commission Candidates were there, Jacob McCumbers and Craig Arthur. Michelle Sears and Brenda Ball had previous obligations.

Ridgeview News was moderator for this portion with questions from both the audience and the Ridgeview:

Contrary to the police presence (which was not requested but appreciated) the candidates were quite supportive of one another and both answered questions off the cuff extremely well.

Question 1: If elected, what will you do to bring small business to Calhoun and help promote economic growth?

Jacob: Commissioners have never ask what businesses the county needs, or what the businesses of the county need. Calhoun needs grant writers and broadband. Stinson Grocery is closing because of supply issues created by broadband issues. Also their inability to accept EBT payments have caused them to have to shut down. They need help.

Craig: This is the 3rd time I’ve ran for office and I’ve learned a lot from talking to people in Calhoun county. We need input from Calhoun County as to what they need. We need grant writers and we need to work together.

Question 2: How will you help existing small businesses?

Craig: I’ll get out and listen to the businesses. The lack of internet will get addressed and we’ll grow broad band service.

Jacob: Broadband. Internet speed has to be addressed. When the school was virtual because of the virus, I had only 4 of the 12 students in my class on line. Likely because of access.

Question 3: What is the Main objection of a county commissioner:

Jacob: Business, taxpayers, being open to the community with meeting times available for working citizens.

Craig: Maintain the courthouse, make sure they’re good stewards and getting the community involved in the decisions. Being available to the people. You can’t represent them if they’re not there.

Question 4: What are your thoughts/opinions on how Commissioner Helmick has handled himself and his actions?

Jacob: I voted for Helmick the first time he ran for office. But six years later I did not. And six years after that, I did not. What you have is what you’re going to get. Not one time has he came and ask me anything.

Craig: Your heart and your fruit shows who you are.

Question 5: Why would you not want a new business in Calhoun County?

Craig: The county is use to being controlled and they’re intimidated by growth. Jobs bring tax revenue. We should want it.

Jacob: Our population has shrunk to 6,221. Our school will house 1,400 students but we don’t have that in the community. We’ve got to get business in the county or we’re facing another consolidation of schools.

Question 6: How will you manage representing us in Charleston with your current jobs?

Craig: I’ve been praying about that. If God leads me to, I’ll quit and substitute teach, which will free up my time to go to Charleston and deal with legislators.

Jacob: I have a family, I can’t quit teaching, and I believe that’s where I’m supposed to be. But if I need to take off from school to go to Charleston, I will. And the summer will give me more time to do it as well.

Question 7: If you were given a one million dollar grant, where would you use it in Calhoun county?

Jacob: I pass by the Drive Inn Theatre and I feel that our youth are really missing out. I’d start there. Then I’d work on getting adequate food and water into the county. I make sure there was water available down the hollows of Calhoun.

Craig: I’d put the million dollars toward business endeavors like the 1982 Foundation and the Economic Development Corp.

Question 8: What is Calhoun’s most important Asset

Jacob: People coming together and helping each other when they have a need.

Craig: Calhoun people have empathy. They support one another.

The meeting closed at about 4 p.m.