Jessica Lilly, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Student Anxiety Spurs Concord To Hire Additional Counselor For Students

Concord University hired a second counselor after finding high rates of anxiety, loneliness and depression in students and seeing an increase in demand for counseling services.

“It’s really heartbreaking to know that our students are struggling,” Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Sarah Beasley said. “We want to be able to provide whatever services we can to help them be successful students, both on campus and off campus after they’ve graduated from Concord.”

In 2021, Concord began a comprehensive mental health initiative that included the creation of a mindfulness room, a mental health committee and educational workshops.

“We saw a real demand for mental health counseling on campus,” Beasley said. “We had a waitlist of students who needed help.”

Every two years, colleges across the country participate in the National College Health Assessment. At Concord, more than 25 percent of students scored high on the suicide behavior survey.

Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students

“We saw things like anxiety and depression, high rates of those on campus and knew we needed to get our students more help,” Beasley said. “So we were able to hire a second counselor, who also teaches within our social work program, too.”

The newly hired counselor will also teach classes within the Social Work Department.

“It’s the right thing to do to provide those services to students, but it also helps with retention,” Beasley said. “If students aren’t mentally healthy, then they’re not going to be successful in the classroom, they’re more likely to stay on campus.”

Across the country mental health needs for students are rising.

“I think most [in higher education] would say one of the number one issues outside the classroom is mental health issues,” Beasley said. “Unfortunately, we tend to see a bit higher rates of mental health issues, given the population in southern West Virginia, and some of the issues surrounding poverty and more folks here have experienced adverse childhood experiences, which can lead to mental health issues.”

The demand for more mental health services could also indicate a more accepting culture towards these services though Beasley says there’s still more work to do.

New Mercer County Hike Honors ‘Poor’ History

Mercer County leaders have repurposed 23 acres of woodland, once used for forestry research, into a recreational area. And its two miles of trails offer more than hiking. They also have a lot of history and learning opportunities.

A bridge covers a small creek along the Gardner Trails in Mercer County.

The trailhead of the Gardner Center’s network of hiking trails is located less than a mile off of Interstate 77 at exit 14. The property was once used as a U.S. Forest Service’s Forestry Sciences Laboratory.

“The foresters just like to get out in the woods,” Mercer County Commissioner Bill Archer said. “Since it was a federal government entity, you know, they spared no expense as far as rock lining all the trails out through there that are open.”

While the trail in the forest had a good foundation, Archer said the county still had to work to prepare the site for the public. The county worked to clear debris, modernize some of the signs found along the trail identifying some of the trees and soften the rock lined paths.

“We had a lot of excess wood, and we leased a wood chipper and ground [the wood] into wood chips, and my late wife recommended that we put that on the trails,” Archer said. “If we had them we might as well use them to make a nice soft trail to walk, on and it’s very safe.”

The site also has a building, once used by the U.S. Forest Service; it’s the only building in the country dedicated to honor President John F. Kennedy before he was assassinated.

Mercer County worker Everett Cole built the new horseshoe pits from excess wood along the trail.

Jeff Palmer takes care of the trails.

“I think, probably around 1911,” Palmer explains standing by the Poor Farm Cemetery trail head, “the county acquired this property, and it became what was called the Mercer County Poor Farm. People who could not support themselves for one reason or another, they ended up here. And what happened was when people would pass away, they were buried in the cemetery up here, which is now called the Poor Farm Cemetery.”

Along the right side of the trail is a set of horseshoe pits. Once overgrown, they are now restored for additional recreational use. The pits around the old iron pegs were also made from excess wood while clearing the trails.

“Here in southern West Virginia, that seems like the route,” Palmer said. “Recreation is a big thing now, and so as many [recreational] opportunities that we can offer to anybody, we try to take advantage of that opportunity.”

There are also picnic tables, disc golf and even brief botanical lessons available to visitors.

Along the hike are rectangular signs strategically perched in front of trees and elements of the forest.

“This right here is one of my favorite trees, that’s the black gum,” Palmer said. “The way I can tell it’s black gum is by the bark. The chunks of gum protrude out so far.”

Along the Gardner Hike Trails, trees and forest elements are labeled with a rectangle sign.

At one time, the forest was used to highlight the timber and types of woods that could be used for furniture after World War II. Hikers can find even more information by logging onto the website, even while they hike.

“A lot of history here and we’re working to preserve that history,” Palmer said. “When we have hikers coming up here, we encourage them to go onto our website and as they hike, they can just look at the history of this whole place.”

The interactive map and other details are available at their website.

The Mercer County Commission is working to connect another section of trails. Palmer expects the section will be open before spring 2023.

Jeff Palmer stands at one of the trail access points.

Funding Delivered For Gas Line Project In Mercer County

Gov. Jim Justice announced nearly $2 million on Tuesday in Mercer County to help bring natural gas to the Cumberland Industrial Park. The natural gas line will run under and along John Nash Boulevard.

Mercer County Commissioner Bill Archer says it’s another feature meant to attract businesses off of Interstate 77 at exit one.

“Those people who were out in the industrial park to be able to use natural gas out there,” Archer said, “It’s a very good selling point to bring in new businesses and other developments.”

Other facilities off of the exit include the New River Soccer Complex and the headquarters for the Bluefield Area Transit system.

Archer says the county will use $1 million from American Rescue Plan funds in addition to another $2 million from federal funds.

PSC Considers Appalachian Power’s Price To Contract Customer, Black Diamond Power

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is reviewing an electricity purchase agreement between Appalachian Power and Black Diamond Power that could see the power bills for customers in three counties go up.

Black Diamond Power supplies electricity to about 5,300 customers in Clay, Wyoming and Raleigh Counties.

If the company’s proposed consolidated purchased power surcharge is approved, some customers would see an increase of more than $6 on their monthly bill.

Special contract customers, such as Black Diamond, would not be affected by other surcharges imposed by Appalachian Power, including the approximately $297 million Expanded Net Energy Cost (ENEC) request currently pending before the PSC.

A public hearing is Tuesday, Nov. 1st, in Clay. An evidentiary hearing on the matter will be held Wednesday in Charleston.

Groups Collecting Prescription Drugs For Take Back Day

For more than ten years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has organized National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It’s a safe way to dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Groups across the state are collecting old prescription drugs Friday and Saturday.

For more than ten years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has organized National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

It’s a safe way to dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Groups across the state are collecting old prescription drugs Friday and Saturday.

A majority of people who abuse prescription drugs obtained them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet. To remove the hazard, groups will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids and needles will not be accepted. Vaping devices and cartridges are allowed,

The collections are also meant to prevent unused prescription drugs ending up in the trash, where they can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. It also helps to prevent unused drugs from being flushed, contaminating the water supply.

Most Sheriff’s offices will take part including Oceana Police Department in Wyoming County and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department and Crab Orchard Pharmacy. Drugs can also be dropped off at the Charleston Police Department and several pharmacies across the capitol city.

Most Sheriff’s offices will take part including in Raleigh County as well as the Oceana Police Department in Wyoming County. Drugs can also be dropped off at the Charleston Police Department and several pharmacies across the capitol city.

The DEA has created a collection site locator where you can find a location near you.

W.Va. Program Offers Stipend While Learning Computer Code

A program that trains West Virginians to write computer code now offers a living stipend. Generation West Virginia’s NewForce is offering $11 per hour for residents accepted into the program who demonstrate a financial need.

NewForce is a six-month, fully-remote, tuition-free coding school for West Virginia residents.

They are now accepting applications for the seventh group of residents looking to work in the tech economy. This is the first time the stipend has been offered.

Since the program started, 86 percent of graduates have found employment in software development within six months of graduating. The median starting salary for program graduates is $48,000 annually.

No coding experience is required.

Generation West Virginia is hosting a virtual information session, a live information session via Zoom on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

You can learn more at generationwv.org/programs/newforce/ and register for the information session here.

NewForce applications are due by Nov. 26.