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Examiner Moorefield Examiner HAPPY NEW YEAR Miss 2016 already?2017 See our Year in Review on Page 6B Established 1845 Wednesday, January 4, 2017 OOREFIELD XAMINER MVOLUME 126 - NUMBER 1 TWO SECTIONS • 16 PAGES 94¢ E USPS 362-300 and Hardy County News Lawsuit Targets Pharmacy in Prescription Painkiller Fight West Virginia Attorney General state’s opioid prescription crisis by million to end a federal investiga- great risk of addiction and death, a The Judy’s Drug Store lawsuit violations of the state’s Controlled Patrick Morrisey’s lawsuit against dispensing nearly 1.8 million doses tion in 2014. It involved allegations devastating reality already experi- alleges it failed to identify suspi- Substance Act as well as its Con- a Grant County pharmacy alleges of hydrocodone and oxycodone, the business repeatedly filled pre- enced by far too many families and cious prescriptions or determine sumer Protection and Credit Act, it dispensed an excessive amount highly addictive painkillers, for a scriptions that had no legitimate one that must end.” whether it dispenses a suspicious along with unfair methods of com- of prescription opioids in violation three-county region of fewer than medical purpose. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in number of pills. The pharmacy petition, negligence, unjust enrich- of the state’s consumer protection 34,000 residents. “Every participant in the sup- Hardy Circuit Court, comes two purports to serve customers from ment, creating a public nuisance laws. The alleged conduct, occurring ply chain must do its part to en- weeks after Attorney General’s fil- Grant, Hardy and Pendleton coun- and intentional acts and omissions. Attorney General Morrisey from 2010 to 2016, continued de- sure proper use of these highly ing of similar allegations against ties. The Attorney General seeks civ- contends Judy’s Drug Store Inc., spite Judy’s Drug Store and sever- addictive drugs,” Morrisey said. Larry’s Drive-in Pharmacy of The eight-count civil complaint il penalties and punitive damages, of Petersburg, helped fuel the al of its employees having paid $2 “Anything less places consumers at Madison in Boone County. charges Judy’s Drug Store with along with an injunction. Do You Solemnly Swear...? Hardy County Elected and Appointed Officials Take the Oath of Office Photo by Jean Flanagan Flanked by his brother-in-law Judge James W. Courrier Jr, (second from left) and his wife Tona, C. Carter Williams takes the oath of office administered by Judge Charles Parsons with Judge H. Charles Carl at right. Williams Lucas See is Hardy County Pros- Kimberly Hartman is Hardy David “Jay” Flansler is Hardy Bryan Ward is Hardy County ecuting Attorney. County Circuit Clerk. County Commissioner. Sheriff. Takes Oath as By Jean A. Flanagan Moorefield Examiner Judge of 22nd One of the final duties Circuit Court Judge Charles Parsons per- formed before his retirement at the end of 2016 was to adminis- Circuit Court ter the oath of office to incoming elected and appointed officials. He By Jean A. Flanagan did so on Friday, Dec. 15 in the Moorefield Examiner Hardy County Circuit Courtroom. In addition to elected officials, In the presence of family, fellow barristers and about 300 appointed assistants also took the of his closest friends at the Believers Victory Center outside oath of office. Moorefield, C. Carter Williams took the oath of office as Judge They included Assistant Pros- of the 22nd West Virginia Judicial Circuit Court. ecutor April Mallow, Prosecuting Williams was elected to fill the seat vacated by the retiring Attorney Assistants Lakin Shoe- Judge Charles Parsons. Williams will serve an eight-year term maker and Jessica Liller, and Mag- which began on Jan. 1. Following an invocation by Pastor Christopher Whetzel, Wil- Jimmy Wratchford is Hardy Craig Hose is Hardy County Shawna Crites is Hardy County istrate Clerk Christy Miller. liams’ children, Alivea and Caimy, led the group in the Pledge County Assessor. Magistrate. Magistrate. Terms of office began on Jan. 1. Continued on page 6 East Hardy Early Middle To Get New Roof U.S. Attorney By Jean A. Flanagan years,” Dotson said. Now we’re having problems get- $500,000. Finance Director Veeta Moorefield Examiner A presentation was made to the ting parts for it.” Burgess said she was investigating SBA outlining the efforts made to Director of Maintenance and interest rate loan amounts for the Ihlenfeld Announces Thanks to a $3 million grant keep the roof from leaking over Transportation Steve Williams matching funds. from the West Virginia School the past 10 years. “I think our said and architect or engineer “Right now we’re being quoted work on the roof was the reason must be hired to create a Request Building Authority, East Hardy 2.95 percent to 3.69 percent,” she His Resignation they granted us the project,” Dot- for Proposal and that will be sent Early Middle School will get a new said. “Those rates are only good son said. out for bid. The project will be ad- United States Attorney William roof and HVAC system. Hardy for 60 days and we really can’t do The EHEMS roof has been a ministered through a construction J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today County Superintendent Dr. Mat- financial drain on the system for consultant, on staff at the SBA. anything until we know how much that he will resign his position on thew Dotson made the announce- a long time. Numerous patches “It would be perfect to have it we need.” December 31 after having served ment during the Dec. 19 Har- have been done on the roof and lined up to do while school is out “We really won’t know that un- the Northern District of West Vir- dy County Board of Education according to BOE president Nan- of session,” Williams said. til we send out the RFP,” Dotson ginia for more than six years. meeting. “This will benefit Hardy cy Hahn, “The HVAC system was Hardy County Schools must said. “Serving as United States At- County Schools for the next 25 - 30 outdated when it was installed. provide matching funds of up to Continued on page 6 torney has been the most reward- ing and exciting experience of my professional career,” said Ihlen- feld. “I feel blessed to have been Moorefield Pays For Water Plant Engineering a part of a talented team of crime fighters and community problem By Hannah Heishman likely rise again by approximately but that depends on whether mon- After the meeting, Gagnon also solvers, and I’m proud of all that Moorefield Examiner $2, but probably not until 2019 or ey is approved at Federal levels answered some questions regard- we’ve accomplished.” During Ihlenfeld’s tenure, pros- 2020, to cover increasing costs to The oldest of the town’s two wa- ing the Main Street waterline proj- William J. Ihlenfeld, II The Moorefield Town Council built the plant. Water rate increas- ter plants will be torn down. The ect. Recently, the Department of ecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Of- fice have successfully litigated and Detroit that were bringing voted to pay $100,000 to Gwin, es cannot occur until the plant is newer water plant will be gutted, Highways did patchwork on Main many types of cases but none more controlled substances into West Dobson & Foreman, the engineer- complete. but re-used. The infrastructure Street, which is also federal Route than drug crimes. Federal prosecu- Virginia. Doctors, pharmacists ing firm responsible for the new Water rates will also increase for around the plants will remain. 220. Further patching will likely tions in the Northern District since and other medical professionals Town Water Plant, at their meet- Pilgrims, which is the primary wa- Both of these plants must remain continue as needed. 2010 have disrupted or disman- involved in the improper prescrib- ing on Dec. 20, 2016. ter user in Moorefield. operational around the clock un- The Town needs to lay water- tled drug trafficking organizations ing or dispensing of painkillers In discussion, Lucas Gagnon Gagnon anticipates construc- til the new plant is completed and lines along the road, which would from places such as Baltimore, have been charged and convicted, Continued on page 6 said that Town water rates would tion starting in the spring of 2017, on-line. Continued on page 6 Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago CONNECT www.MoorefieldExaminer.com WEATHER Source: National Weather Service On Facebook On Twitter @MoorefieldExaminer News: @MoorefieldEx Sports: @HardyCoSports AWARDED for GENERAL EXCELLENCE in ADVERTISING — 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 & 2016 AWARDED for GENERAL EXCELLENCE in EDITORIAL — 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 & 2016 2 - MOOREFIELD (WV) EXAMINER, Wednesday, January 4, 2017 O PINION MY UNBASED OPINION It’s 2017. I’ll be writing wrong Trump becoming President statement is a different key. He date on checks for at least a month. Trump. There’ll be so much kick- bangs it then listens for discord. Happy Better now because I do more with ing and squalling, particularly No, or very little comment may Y cards, machines and computers B from folks who want to take every- mean we’ll not see that key adjust- than I used to. They do dates cor- DAVID O. thing new President says literally. ed much. A big outburst or hul- rectly automatically. HEISHMAN They are going to be so confused labaloo of discord may mean more Time to take Big House Christ- by differences between what’s said immediate and radical adjustment mas lights down. I might leave the and what’s done. I think it’s time is necessary. flag floodlight out front, at least to trust new administration not to That’s where his growing list of until lawn mowing and hay making become a loose bunch of wander- high powered advisors come in.
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