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6 - Hinton News Tues. March 22, 2016
Submitted by John O'Neal IVearlier than the state legally could,
and it allows families to solve
My wife and I are foster parents, problems before they get out of
and adoptive parents from foster control, resulting in faster family
care. We are very familiar with the reunifications.
painful realities and shortcomings "Sometimes families who are
of our foster care system. This bill struggling in West Virginia don't
is one of the things I am most proud raise their hands for help because
of in my legislative career.- John D. they don't know what kind of help
O'Neal IV is out there, and they are afraid of
Families experiencing a short- getting caught up in the system.
term crisis in West Virginia may This often results in parents
soon have a new place to turn for bringing their children along as they
help, their own communities, thanks struggle with challenges like job
to two bills which just passed the loss, homelessness, addiction or
state Legislature with a unanimous some other crisis, and that could
concurrence. The bills are modeled result in children entering the
after a program known as "Safe government foster care system when
Families for Children" which has all the parents really need is some
successfully helped tens of short-term help. Having the option
thousand" of families across the of working with a local volunteer
country navigate temporary family to ensure their children will
problems since 2002 SB 319 and HB be well cared for allows parents to
4237 are designed to create a safe get the help they need while
haven for children in need, providing allowing them to preserve their
a stable environment that shields parental rights," said Delegate John
them from neglect while their D. O'Neal IV, lead sponsor of
families resolve issues ranging from HB4237 and a champion for the
unemployment, homelessness, legislation.
hospitalization, or even brief While foster care is a vital tool in
incarceration. One of the major protecting WestVirginia's children,
things that makes this program many social workers are burdened
different from foster care is that the with huge and unmanageable
parents retain full rights throughout caseloads, leaving children exposed.
the process and the state is These bills will allow families in
uninvolved. This enables need to connect with trained and
communities to address problems vetted host families to resolve their
"Auld tang Syne" is sung at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve
to bring in the new year.The poet Robert Burns wrote the lyrics to the
version we know. An old Scqttish tune, "Auld tang Syne" literally means
~"old long ago,' 0rsimply, ,the good old days:'
own problems, which will lighten the
load for state social workers who can
now focus more serious cases
involving abusive neglect and
physical or sexual abuse.
The bills found a lot of support in
the Legislature, with the Judiciary
Chairs in both chambers, Delegate
John Shott and Senator Charles
Trump, as well as the support of
Delegates Jill Upson, Eric
Householder, and the bill's Senate
sponsor, Senator Ed Gaunch.
"I know there are a lot of families
in cities and towns across our state
who want to help families in need
but who have been discouraged by
the lengthy and burdensome process
to become foster parents," said Sen.
Ed Gaunch, R-Kanawha, who
helped to shepherd HB4237 through
the Senate. "Now we have a new way
where they can get involved by
connecting with people in need,
provide safe care and temporary
custody for children while helping
parents address their challenges.
Through this process, not only will
families be stronger, but so will our
communities."
Delegates Mike Azinger, Lynne
Arvon, Erikka Storch, Jim Butler,
Danny Hamrick, Kayla Kessinger,
Ruth Rowan, Peggy Donaldson
Smith, Michael Ferro, and Linda
Longstreth are all co-sponsors of the
bill.
WEST END/RIVE~tVIEW
SCHOOL REUNION
Our West End/Riverview School
Reunion is set for May 13, 14, 15,
2016. We have heard from many of
our classmates but we still need
email addresses and mailing
addresses from others who are
interested.
Please send your information to
any of the following: on Facebook we
have a West End Reunion site that
you can join or send an email to
westendreunion@gmail.com or call
Mary Beth Goins Merritt @ 304-673-
7961.. ~ ............ ~
’,
The House of Delegates today appropriation funds the benefits than $2 million in surplus funds in
voted 61-38 to pass its balanced plan adopted in January by the its accounts to help close next year's
budget plan, which features no tax PEIA Finance Board, which budget gap,
increases, implements further maintains deductibles and out-of- Finally, the budget also draws a
reductions in state agency spending pocket maximums at current levels modest $31.7 million from the state's
and fully funds the Public without the "draconian" plan Revenue Reserve Shortfall Fund,
Employees Insurance Agency for the changes initially discussed last year. known generally as the "Rainy Day
coming fiscal year. * Reduces $120 million in state Fund."
The budget outlines $4.2 billion
agency spending, compared to last "While this budget uses one-time
in General Revenue Fund year's budget, measures to address our structural
expenditures, plus additional * Provides an additional $29 budgetgap, this plan will give us the
spending from various special million to the State Road Fund for time over the coming year to take a
revenue sources, including federal maintenance, contract paving and hard look at our state agencies and
funds, Lottery proceeds and the secondary road work. determine if there are programs,
State Road Fund. With the * Provides $2 million for divisions or other measures that]can
additional special and federal volunteer fire department workers' be cut, consolidated or reorganized,"
revenue accounts, the budget directs compensation premiums. Nelson said. "With the collapse of
$12.65 billion in expenditures over * Fully funds the $470 million in our energy industries, we have a
the next fiscal year, which begins required contributions toward the severe structural imbalance in our
July 1. state pensions system's long-term long-term budget and a 60-day
"This is a sound, responsible unfundedliabilities, legislative session is simply not
spending plan that funds our
Efficiently leverages stateenough time to properly study
government without putting dollars to help return nearly $4.5 whether there are ways we can
additional tax burdens on our hard- billion in federal funds to state significantly streamline how our
working citizens," said House
programs, government operates."
Speaker Tim Armstead, R- At the beginning ofthe legislative "The bottom line is our tax base
Kanawha. session, lawmakers were faced with simply cannot afford the amount of
"This budget balances our needs closing a nearly $480 million budget government we're asking them to
to properly fund government, while gap for the coming fiscal year. pay for at this time," Speaker
dealing with the gaping hole in our Through a combination of cuts and Armstead said. "It is our goal as
revenue collections that have been supplemental appropriation bills lawmakers to spend the next 10
caused by the economic collapse of that have already passed thismonths closely studying our tax code
our energy industries," said Finance session, legislators had already and how our state operates to see if
Committee Chairman Eric Nelson, reduced that projected gap tothere are ways we can make
R-Kanawha. approximately $102 million, government more efficient and
Among its provisions, the House To close that remaining gap, the restructure our tax code to diversify
budget bill: House budget sweeps roughly $72.9 our economy and promote growth."
Provides an additional $43.5 million of unused funds sitting in The budget, amended into Senate
million to PEIA for state employee special revenue accounts. The House Bill 269, now goes to the Senate for
health insurance plans. This of Delegates will also transfer more further consideration.
Notice
CALL ACWP
If you see a dog in a neglectful or
abusive situation please ACWP. If
you see a stray dog on the road,
especially one that you've never seen
before, please call ACWP. If you have
a litter of puppies and would like
them to be placed in homes that are
pre-approved as responsible pet
owners than please call A CWP. The ,
number is: easy to remedies, 8~-: ,j
WV4-PETS. ~,
With peppers, bigger might not be better, especially if you like them
hot. Generally, the smaller th~ pepper, the hotter, and none of the
'hott f :p ) Psiri the' Wb ld is more than three Inches long.
Paid Political Advertising
m
It has been an honor to serve as your mayor for the past seven years. I have done so with honesty and integrity that this office deserves. Together we have made our town
a safer and better place for all of us to live. I hope between now and May 10, I will have the opportunity to see each of you but we all know but that's not possible. Therefore,
I would like to take this time to tell you about myself, the progress the city has made in the past seven years, past seven years and our vision for the next four.
As most all of you know, I was born and raised in Hinton and have spent my entire life here. My parents, Chelsie and Helen Blankenship raised me to love thy neighbor, be
a person others will respect and most of all trust in God. I am the proud father of five and grandfather of seven, I have tried to teach them the same values. For the past thirty
-six years, I served this community in the banking industry before retiring last May to serve as your full time mayor. I'have had the privilege of being elected to the BOard of
Education and many of you have trusted me with your children and grandchildren as a high school, middle school and youth sports coach. Also, I once wore the orange and
black myself and am very honored to be a member of both the Bobcat football and basketball Hall of Fame. I am a member of the First Baptist Church and civic organizations
such as Elks and Kiwanis clubs. Currently I am a volunteer with Hinton Little League. I have had the tremendous privilege of serving our community for most of my life, and
I would be honored to continue service as mayor for the next four years. I am most proud of what we have accomplished in our great city since 2009:
New Fire Station New swimming poo'l and basketball court at our waterpark -
New fitness center State of the art daycare center
Renovated freight depot New fleet of vehicles and equipment for our police department
Ladder truck for fire department Partnered with County Commission for new JAWs of Life truck
Recently purchased street sweeper Goldcoast sewer project
Brooks/Barksdale sewer project Skateboard park
Renovated Little League Park Commitment to paving our streets and avenues
Drug testing for all employees Wage and salary scales for all employees
Increased pay for all employees Implementation for purchase orders for accountability
A cleaner and more beautiful city Orderly council meetings with set agenda
And the vision and plans we have for our cities future:
Revitalization of Front and Commercial streets from the train depot and freight depot
This would include but not limited to: Community center Amphitheatre Motel
Renovated section foreman house Commercial kitchen and bathrooms for freight depot
Walking trails Retail stores Improve and repair city sewer system
Create parking lot fox passenger depot Purchase and installation of generator for an emergency
shelter at the fire station Vision and dental care for city employees
Please VOTE this election and let's continue what we began in 2009.
Re-elect Joe Blankenship on May 1 O, 2016 as your mayor.
True leader with proven results
Paid for by Joe Blankenship