Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory honored two officers this week for being "instrumental" in a large drug arrest.
"It was a major case involving quite a substantial amount of cocaine," Gregory said during Thursday's Buckhannon City Council meeting.
Patrolmen Nick Caynor and William Courtney were recognized with a Meritorious Police Duty Award, the highest award that can be issued by the police department. The two officers each will receive a Medal of Valor to wear on their uniform.
"I like to recognize good work when good work's been done," Gregory said.
Winston Irons, of Clarksburg, was cited with multiple drug charges Oct. 5, 2011, during a traffic stop at Buckhannon Crossroads in Buckhannon. Caynor and Courtney investigated, and they recovered 3.6 ounces of cocaine, 27.3 grams of marijuana and $7,569.25 in cash. Irons was arrested and charged with having the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Following the investigation, Irons was found guilty in federal court this July. Caynor and Courtney worked with federal investigators and prosecutors from other counties to help with the case.
"Through their actions and diligence, (Caynor and Courtney) exhibited a valuable police service, demonstrating special faithfulness, attention to duty and perseverance over an extended period of time," Gregory said.
He also announced that Meade Street will be turned into a one-way street for today and Sunday only, "to help facilitate the move-in process for students of West Virginia Wesleyan."
The Buckhannon Police Department is working with the Street Department and West Virginia Wesleyan College security for the street change. Meade Street will be one-way from College Avenue to Camden Avenue.
West Virginia Wesleyan College will host the Bobcat Fair, with local businesses and agencies informing new students via vendor booths of what the city has to offer. The city police will have a vendor table at the fair.
The Upshur County Convention and Visitors Bureau was designated as the operation and management authority for the conference center that will be built as part of the new Buckhannon Armory.
The center will be located on Brushy Fork Road.
Council unanimously voted to approve Ordinance 367, amending the existing housing enforcement ordinance including the registration of uninhabitable property, and registration of vacant buildings, registration fees and the procedures for administration and enforcement. The ordinance will become effective Sept. 15.
The director of Stockert Youth Center, Deborah Brocklemann, spoke to council about after-school programs provided through the youth center. She said the After School Kids Program, which is geared toward elementary-age children with working parents, offers a safe and supervised environment where kids can go until parents are available to pick them up. It will resume Aug. 27.
A new program starting in September will be Zumbatomic Classes for kids ages 4 to 12, a fitness program geared toward increasing focus, self-confidence, boosting metabolism and improving coordination. Classes begin Sept. 5.
To learn more, parents can call the youth center at 304-473-0145. A newsletter outlining programs and activities of the youth center will be distributed with back-to-school materials.
Council also voted to apply for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Covered Electronic Devices Grant. The city has a recycling program for electronics, accepting laptop and desktop computers, monitors, hard drives, modems, plug-and-play devices, printers, scanners, copiers, commercial telephone equipment, fax machines and more. The grant request is to purchase a semiautomatic pallet wrapper and supply of stretch-wrap film to reduce labor and better secure electronics placed on pallets and currently secured with a stretch wrap by hand.
