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[ledenews]

Helms Excited for Primary Tuesday

It’s never happened before so Bill Helms doesn’t know how it’s going to feel. Although he has served at chief deputy for the past eight years, it wasn’t his name on the ballot in 2012 or 2016, it was Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Cecil’s. Tomorrow, though, on Primary Tuesday in Marshall County, West Virginia, WILLIAM HELMS will be one of two names in the Democratic Primary for Sheriff. “It does feel a little weird, that’s for sure,” he said. “But I know I really want the job so I’m proud of it, too. Law enforcement was a calling for me and I’ve had a great career, and I really can’t think of a better way to spend the rest of it but serving the people here in Marshall County. “I know my county and I know the people here,” he said. “Every community has its issues and that’s the same here, too, but keeping these folks safe is what I enjoy doing and I hope the voters decide to give me that promotion.”

One of Holmes favorite campaign events was when he and his wife distributed candy on Halloween.

Policing During Pandemic

Four words. It. Was. Not. Easy. But Helms and his deputies remained on patrol each and every day and at times, they were exposed to COVID-19 while serving the citizens. “We took as many precautions that we could, but the job is the jobs, too, and it doesn’t matter who calls us for our help,” the chief deputy explained. “That’s how it works, and that is why our deputies are always out there patrolling the county. On average, they put around 100 miles per day on their cruisers because it’s a pretty big county. “During the stay-at-home order from the governor, we’ve stayed out of the office as much as possible, and that included me, too. I still performed the administrative duties that come with the position, but it gave me the time to get back out on the roads, too,” he said. “Through the years, I have done just about everything there is to do as far as law enforcement is concerned, but it is patrolling and being out there with the residents that I really enjoy.”

Helms joined these three candidates at a recent event.

It Ain’t Over

The Marshall County Health Department reported today three new positive COVID-19 cases which increases the numbers to 36 conformations and one probable case. According to the distributed press release, one individual is a female in her 30s and is reporting no symptoms.  The second individual is a male in his 60s and is reporting no symptoms. The third person is a male in his 20’s and is reporting mild symptoms.  All are currently in isolation at home and Marshall County Health Department staff will be checking in with them daily checking symptoms and temperature. As of today, eight county residents remain in isolation 8 and 29 whom have been released from isolation. That is why Helms knows exposure to the coronavirus can still take place, especially with the occurring reopenings and public gatherings. “We’re not out of the woods yet, that’s for sure,” he said. “That’s why we’re still going out our jobs being cautious and asking a lot of questions, and it’s also why we’re doing as much as we can on the telephone, too. Everyone has to be careful right now and not expect everything to just go back to normal. “I think we all adopted some things during the stay-at-home order, like washing out hands frequently, cleaning surfaces, and using the hand sanitizer, and I know I’ll continue to do those things in the future,” Helms continued. “I know we’re all anxious to get back to normal, but I do think we need to be careful for a little longer.”

Marshall County Chief Deputy Bill Helms.

The Next Four Years

Helms envisions future growth, and not just across the Ohio River in Belmont County. He believes population will increase in all Marshall County communities, too, and that is because the chief deputy feels the gas and oil industries will continue to grow because of statistics concerning past production. “What we have learned over the past 10 years is that they go where the gas and the oils is, and Marshall County is No. 1 in the state of West Virginia in both gas and oil,” Helms said. “That’s the way it works, and it makes sense if you think about it. “But that means the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office has to be ready for those things because with more people and more industry come additional issues that concern law enforcement,” he continued. “We have met with a lot of people and there have been a lot of conversations within the county about what we will need in the coming years no matter what develops in Belmont County.” PTT Global America announce 10 days ago a six-to-nine month timeline for them to make a final investment decision on a $10 billion petrochemical “cracker” facility in Dilles Bottom, an area that is directly across the Ohio River from the city of Moundsville. A plethora of properties have been purchased in Marshall County the past two years and more, Helms said, are under examination. “With the amount of work that has been performed on that property, and all of the money that company has already spent, I remain confident it will take place and that’s why I will continue preparing,” he said. “It would change the economy here in Marshall County in a lot of different ways. “When those industries first arrived, there were a lot of positives for local businesses like the hotels, the gas stations, and for our restaurants, but those folks added to some of the problems, too,” Helms added. “So, if this cracker comes in, we’ll see a lot of new faces around the community and there are positives and negatives to come with that situation.” Read the full article

[ledenews]

Helms Excited for Primary Tuesday

It’s never happened before so Bill Helms doesn’t know how it’s going to feel. Although he has served at chief deputy for the past eight years, it wasn’t his name on the ballot in 2012 or 2016, it was Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Cecil’s. Tomorrow, though, on Primary Tuesday in Marshall County, West Virginia, WILLIAM HELMS will be one of two names in the Democratic Primary for Sheriff. “It does feel a little weird, that’s for sure,” he said. “But I know I really want the job so I’m proud of it, too. Law enforcement was a calling for me and I’ve had a great career, and I really can’t think of a better way to spend the rest of it but serving the people here in Marshall County. “I know my county and I know the people here,” he said. “Every community has its issues and that’s the same here, too, but keeping these folks safe is what I enjoy doing and I hope the voters decide to give me that promotion.”

One of Holmes favorite campaign events was when he and his wife distributed candy on Halloween.

Policing During Pandemic

Four words. It. Was. Not. Easy. But Helms and his deputies remained on patrol each and every day and at times, they were exposed to COVID-19 while serving the citizens. “We took as many precautions that we could, but the job is the jobs, too, and it doesn’t matter who calls us for our help,” the chief deputy explained. “That’s how it works, and that is why our deputies are always out there patrolling the county. On average, they put around 100 miles per day on their cruisers because it’s a pretty big county. “During the stay-at-home order from the governor, we’ve stayed out of the office as much as possible, and that included me, too. I still performed the administrative duties that come with the position, but it gave me the time to get back out on the roads, too,” he said. “Through the years, I have done just about everything there is to do as far as law enforcement is concerned, but it is patrolling and being out there with the residents that I really enjoy.”

Helms joined these three candidates at a recent event.

It Ain’t Over

The Marshall County Health Department reported today three new positive COVID-19 cases which increases the numbers to 36 conformations and one probable case. According to the distributed press release, one individual is a female in her 30s and is reporting no symptoms.  The second individual is a male in his 60s and is reporting no symptoms. The third person is a male in his 20’s and is reporting mild symptoms.  All are currently in isolation at home and Marshall County Health Department staff will be checking in with them daily checking symptoms and temperature. As of today, eight county residents remain in isolation 8 and 29 whom have been released from isolation. That is why Helms knows exposure to the coronavirus can still take place, especially with the occurring reopenings and public gatherings. “We’re not out of the woods yet, that’s for sure,” he said. “That’s why we’re still going out our jobs being cautious and asking a lot of questions, and it’s also why we’re doing as much as we can on the telephone, too. Everyone has to be careful right now and not expect everything to just go back to normal. “I think we all adopted some things during the stay-at-home order, like washing out hands frequently, cleaning surfaces, and using the hand sanitizer, and I know I’ll continue to do those things in the future,” Helms continued. “I know we’re all anxious to get back to normal, but I do think we need to be careful for a little longer.”

Marshall County Chief Deputy Bill Helms.

The Next Four Years

Helms envisions future growth, and not just across the Ohio River in Belmont County. He believes population will increase in all Marshall County communities, too, and that is because the chief deputy feels the gas and oil industries will continue to grow because of statistics concerning past production. “What we have learned over the past 10 years is that they go where the gas and the oils is, and Marshall County is No. 1 in the state of West Virginia in both gas and oil,” Helms said. “That’s the way it works, and it makes sense if you think about it. “But that means the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office has to be ready for those things because with more people and more industry come additional issues that concern law enforcement,” he continued. “We have met with a lot of people and there have been a lot of conversations within the county about what we will need in the coming years no matter what develops in Belmont County.” PTT Global America announce 10 days ago a six-to-nine month timeline for them to make a final investment decision on a $10 billion petrochemical “cracker” facility in Dilles Bottom, an area that is directly across the Ohio River from the city of Moundsville. A plethora of properties have been purchased in Marshall County the past two years and more, Helms said, are under examination. “With the amount of work that has been performed on that property, and all of the money that company has already spent, I remain confident it will take place and that’s why I will continue preparing,” he said. “It would change the economy here in Marshall County in a lot of different ways. “When those industries first arrived, there were a lot of positives for local businesses like the hotels, the gas stations, and for our restaurants, but those folks added to some of the problems, too,” Helms added. “So, if this cracker comes in, we’ll see a lot of new faces around the community and there are positives and negatives to come with that situation.” Read the full article

[ledenews]

Scott Porter - Life a Little Off Center

He works and he lives life the way he loves. That’s what Scott Porter does. Porter is willing to represent, too, just as he does for his and his families little nook called Neff, Ohio, a community of less than a thousand people outside of Belliare in Belmont County. He is a American veteran, and he’s been employed in everything from the exterminating business to municipal government, but Porter is cooking up a surprise for the folks in the Upper Ohio Valley. But that’s his announcement to make when Porter is good and ready to do so. This husband and father of two daughters left here like so many others have once finished with high school, but Porter returned like so many have. There’s something about this valley, Porter insists, and that is that it draws back the departed who truly loved growing up here.

It were Porter was raised and it is where he lives today.

What are the best aspects involved with living in Neffs, Ohio?

I left the area when I joined the Air Force back in 1982. I returned 13 years later and traveled to a few other states to work for a few months at a time, but I missed the small-town atmosphere of Neffs. With approximately 900-or-so residents in the Neffs area (if all the dogs are on the porch) we know and look out for each other. We have a safe community, and we know what the children are up to and what rules most parents have for their kids.  An evening stroll through the streets may take a little longer as we stop to converse with folks on their porches. And it’s not unusual to smell the aroma of a bonfire on the evening walk. 

As a trustee of Pultney Township, what are the most prevalent issues you and your colleagues have faced during the past few years?

As an elected trustee for Pultney Township, the past few years have been frustrating. Frank Schaffer, Mark Cervelli, and myself are the elected officials of Pultney Township.  We have two Federal Disaster Declaration starting in 2018 and 2019.  The federal government, or FEMA to be specific, has drug their feet on providing funding to repair our embankment failures. Pultney has over $8 million in damages. The regulations provided under FEMA have created a quagmire of paperwork to complete these projects. The 15 entities are affected in Belmont County, and a quick solution is not in the near future. In the meantime, we have roads that are closed with no foreseeable timeline as to when we can reopen them to traffic. 

Porter also enjoys the most rural parts of Belmont County where the hum of interstate and highway traffic is far away.

In your opinion, how has Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

Governor DeWine’s administration was on top of things when COVID-19 became an issue and acted appropriately. As time went on, I began to see the effects on the small businesses in our area. I am in agreement that we need to reopen but we must use caution in what is going to become the new normal. The township has taken a hit on the budget due to COVID-19, and the cuts in Columbus will affect our local government funding.  My fellow trustees and I have met with the fiscal officer and had to enact some cuts to our employee health benefits, reevaluate our paving projects for 2020, and reduce maintenance on our grass maintenance as long as it does not interfere with the safety of the residents nor travel lanes on Pultney Township roads.

PTT Global America announced over the weekend a final investment decision will not be made until the first fiscal quarter of 2021. What could such a development mean for Pultney Township?

Pultney Township most likely will see effects from the 2021 PTT Development. While the PTT development is physically located in the neighboring township of Mead, Pultney could see an increase in commercial development as well as revenue from all ancillary businesses that follow after the development. We are funded by property taxes, so any increase in development could increase collections of county property taxes. 

Porter very much enjoys the small-town feel of Neffs.

As a father, what do you worry about most when it comes to the economy in the Upper Ohio Valley?

I have been fortunate that my children have selected careers in the health care field. Cierra 27, our oldest, works for WVU Medicine and Taylor, 25 is getting ready to graduate from BM Spurr’s School of Nursing. Both can, if they choose to stay in the Upper Ohio Valley, should be able to acquire gainful employment. My son-in-law is a coal miner and I worry about his ability to remain in that field until retirement. I left the area in 1982 due to economic conditions. Enlisting in the Air Force took me out west to Nevada. After my enlistment ended I stayed in Las Vegas for another eight years. Missing the small-town atmosphere of the Ohio Valley, I returned and started my family here in Neffs. Our young residents have opportunities to gain knowledge through higher education that will allow them to remain in this area whether through a secondary education system, apprenticeship in our trade unions, or enlisting into the armed forces. There is training available depending on their choice of career.  I worry that more will leave this area for the bright lights of the larger cities.  We need to balance the equation of retirees and low-income with livable wage jobs in these parts of Appalachia. Economic challenges are the most worrisome I see right now for our Upper Ohio Valley. Read the full article