Camden Man
Dies in Crash
On Route 33
By JOHN G. WOLFE
A Camden man lost his life in a grisly automobile accident that occurred at approximately 3:15 a.m. Sunday morning.
Michael Allen Clevenger, 23, was traveling alone, west on U.S. Route 33, near Edgewood Drive and across from the road to Sharpe Hospital when he lost control of his vehicle, striking a guardrail. Clevenger was ejected from his vehicle.
Once on the scene, the Weston Police Department, assisted by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department, pronounced Clevenger dead as a result of injuries received in the accident.
Clevenger was operating an older model Chevrolet blazer. It is believed that alcohol and speed were the contributing factors in the deadly wreck. Clevenger’s body was sent to the State Medical Examiner.
The accident is being investigated by Weston Police Chief R.D. Clem, Jr. with the assistance of accident reconstruction expert Cpl. J.P. Thomas, also of the Weston Police Department.
AreaVFD
Crisis Is
Averted
Fortunately for 281 West Virginia volunteer fire departments faced with the loss of broad form insurance coverage and thereby having to decide whether to remain open, Governor Joe Manchin announced Tuesday that the beleaguered departments will receive broad form insurance coverage through the Board of Risk and Insurance Management (BRIM) effective Sept. 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.
“I am grateful BRIM has stepped in to provide insurance coverage, and peace of mind, for our VFDs,” Gov. Manchin said. “In addition, the BRIM coverage will provide the Volunteer Fire Department Workers’ Compensation Task Force much needed time to further study all aspects of the workers’ compensation challenge affecting volunteer firefighters.”
The pending loss of broad form insurance coverage was the major topic of discussion at the Monday meeting of the Lewis County Commission. Eddie Taylor, Jane Lew fire chief, had informed commissioners that effective September 1, Brickstreet Mutual Insurance Company planned to stop underwriting “broad form” liability plans for all fire departments in the state, barring changes by the legislature and/or Governor Manchin. These plans protect fire chiefs, other fire officers and members of fire department boards of directors from liability if a firefighter is injured in the line of duty.
“Our insurance (Jane Lew) expires on that date. We will cease operations on September 1 if that happens,” he said. “If we don’t, all members of the department could open themselves up for lawsuits by those we serve. We would put our families, our homes, all of our possessions in jeopardy.” Fortunately the Governor’s announcement on Tuesday will prevent this from occurring.
Fire chiefs from Jackson’s Mill, Pricetown, Walkersville and Weston indicated that their departments would do the same if the situation was not resolved by the time their departments’ policies expired. Midway VFD had no representation at the meeting; consequently their actions in this instance are unknown.
The second issue concerned coverage for the Lewis County Haz Mat Team. The team is not responsible for cleaning up a hazardous incident; it is, however, charged with containing an spill or leak. The team, made up of individuals from each of five county departments, has special training that enables them to perform duties under hazardous conditions, i.e., chemical spills or leakages.
The Lewis County Haz Mat Team was represented by Edsel Smith, the Lewis County Haz Mat Coordinator, and fire chiefs from all departments except Midway VFD. They sought an answer to a most pressing question: as members of the team, were they or were they not covered by worker’s compensation when responding to hazardous situations around and about Lewis County and could and would the county commission assist them in securing workers compensation for members of each of the departments who are part of the Haz Mat Team.
The chiefs were: Eddie Taylor, Jane Lew; Steve Mealey, Walkersville; Kenny James, Weston; Steve Byers, Jackson’s Mill; and Tom Foster, Pricetown.
Also present were Chris Heater of G.J. Garton Insurance, the carrier of the county commission’s workers compensation plan, and Dave Camp, representative of Bill Bailey Insurance and Volunteer Firefighters Insurance Service.
Just last week the local departments learned that their policies which were purchased from VFIS do not include coverage for their members while they are working as part of the Lewis County Haz Mat Team. At Monday’s meeting, they also learned that Haz Mat Team members are not covered under the county commission’s workers compensation plan carried through G.J. Garton Insurance.
The problem is one of supreme importance because of its potential impact on the safety of the county’s citizens and businesses as well as those out-of-county individuals and companies who pass through the county on its major highways.
Commissioners asked Camp for clarification on what the policies do and do not provide and for a price quote on costs to cover the team.
Commission president Agnes Queen urged Camp to expedite their request. She said, “I am very concerned. We need to do everything to expedite this process because it affects the entire county.
“We have the interstate going through the county as well as many oil and gas companies. We never know what truck could have a major spill on I-79 and the oil and gas companies use lots of chemicals. This is an urgent situation.”
Camp promised to get together with Smith and Cindy Whetsell, the commission’s administrator, and get an answer within the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, commissioners instructed the fire departments to respond to any potential hazardous material situation in limited operations and to respond to each as individual departments.
The situation was even more interesting since Monday also happened to be the day that Gary Hall, a former Walkersville fire chief and current president of the Lewis County Firefighter’s Association, assumed his duties as the interim county commissioner.
Hall filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Robert Rinehart which was effective June 30. He was one of three candidates recommended by the Lewis County Democrat Executive Committee for the seat.
Hall made little comment during the discussion except to agree with the other two commissioners and the chiefs that compensation for the Haz Mat Team was an important issue.
In other business, the commission:
- signed a proclamation recognizing October 3, 2010 as Crop Hunger Walk Day in Lewis County. The proclamation was presented to commissioners by Rev. Carolyn Nettles, Lewis County Crop Walk Chairperson. She said that this year’s goal is 500 walkers and $20,000 raised.
- learned that the county had saved $23,850 April-June by having several individuals on home confinement as opposed to incarceration in a jail;
- learned that Dave Parks has been named PRO Officer of the Year for the State of West Virginia by the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services; and
- appointed election officials and approved th elist of polling places for the August 28 special election.
Jamboree
At Mill in
Full Swing
By JOY L. STALNAKER
Vickie Simons was selected queen and Kyle Arnold, princess, when the 2010 Jamboree at the Mill opened on Sunday.
A full schedule of activities has been ongoing since that time and the Jamboree is now in full swing.
Activities today and tomorrow will culminate an event that has been in the planning stages for many months. Organizational sponsors of the event are the WVU Lewis County Extension Service, Lewis County 4-H, Lewis County Youth Livestock Club and EQT.
The public is invited to this free event which showcases the projects of the youth in the above named organizations and recognizes all their hard work. The Jamboree also provides family friendly activities at no cost thanks to the generosity of a number of local sponsors.
Activities begin to day with a corn hole tournament at 10 a.m. A pet show and dog skill trials are among the scheduled events this afternoon. The day will culminate with the livestock shows beginning at 6 p.m.
Tomorrow’s schedule includes fruit pie and fruit dessert contests, the Jamboree Sponsors/Buyers Appreciation Dinner, musical entertainment and an awards ceremony. The Market Animal Sale begins at 7 p.m.
