2020 Supports DUI Classes in Marlinton

Commissioners support 20/20’s push for county DUI class

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Pamela Pritt
Editor

County commissioners voiced support Tuesday for Pocahontas 20/20’s request that DUI classes be held in Pocahontas County.

Jud Worth and Allen Johnson represented 20/20, a small group of county residents from various backgrounds who meet monthly to discuss county issues. The group has been focused on ways to raise the graduation rate and prevent drug use in the county. The group has no funds and is not elected. New members are invited to attend.

Worth said classes for DUI offenders are now held in Lewisburg and Elkins, both long drives for some county residents. Seneca Health Services has the contract to provide the classes, he said, but has opted to not hold classes here.

The group asked only for a letter of support, he said, not funds.

20/20 will send its own letter to Seneca Health Services, he said.

“We’re demanding they step up to the plate,” he said. Pocahontas County had the largest number of DUI offenses per capita in 2007, Worth told commissioners.

County commissioner Reta Griffith said she wanted to send a courtesy copy of the commission’s letter to the state agency that oversees Seneca’s contract to provide the classes.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort has offered its Marlinton Career Center as space for the classes to meet.

Griffith said Pocahontas County offenders are at a distinct disadvantage because of the distance to Lewisburg and Elkins. She pointed out that DUI offenders lose their drivers’ licenses and have to have transportation to those cities provided for them, creating problems for those with children.

Classes meet three times a week for up to two hours.

Seneca Health Services does not cover the Elkins area, where Griffith said Pocahontas County residents have helped fill a class.

Pocahontas 20/20 was begun by Commissioner Martin Saffer last year.

Commissioners could see their regional jail spending decrease because of two grants totaling nearly $50,000. One grant will take care of transportation and a part-time driver’s salary, while the other will help the corrections program begin.

Magistrate Kathy Beverage said she supported the program and thought it could help Pocahontas County residents with rehabilitation issues. Offenders pay to be involved in Community Corrections, Beverage said, so the program has the potential to become self-supportive.