Latest news with #RobbieMorris
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Night of Giving: Fundraising gala benefits St. Joseph's Hospital and WVWC
ROANOKE, – WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital and West Virginia Wesleyan College hosted a gala Friday evening at Stonewall Resort to raise money for both institutions. The gala featured both live and silent auctions, accompanied by music from No Bad JuJu. Proceeds from the event will benefit both nonprofits, with all funds raised being evenly divided between the hospital and the college, with the hospital's share directed to its foundation. 'We bring a lot of services to the people of Upshur County and the surrounding counties—things that they don't have to drive 45 minutes or an hour and fifteen minutes to get—they can now get in Upshur County at St. Joseph's Hospital,' president and CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital Skip Gjolberg said. 'It's more than just raising money. It's really creating community engagement. And, if we raise a lot of money, great, but if we create a good community, a good closeness with our community, that is really what this is about.' Officials with St. Joseph's Hospital said the foundation board will meet soon to assess the hospital's needs and determine the most effective use of the money. 'St. Joseph's Hospital is very important, not only to Buckhannon and Upshur County, but our entire region. And, the resources that we will raise here this evening will help provide services to people in our area,' Sen. Robbie Morris, R-Randolph County, said. 'St. Joseph's is so important, not only to the healthcare industry, but just our community as a whole, providing jobs, providing community support to a lot of different organizations. So, it's really important to make sure that they not only succeed but thrive.' UHC honors donors and their families for National Donate Life Month Both St. Joseph's Hospital and WVWC take pride in hosting the gala, which they said not only raises crucial funding but also provides a sense of unity and celebration, ensuring that everyone participating has an enjoyable time. 'This gala celebrates two really great organizations, and from West Virginia Wesleyan College's standpoint, it is celebrating a college that I believe is the finest academic institution in West Virginia. We've been here for 134 years. Bigger is not always better. If you want to support a college that cares about teaching and cares about West Virginia, support West Virginia Wesleyan College,' president of West Virginia Wesleyan College James Moore said. Moore stated that the college is always eager to collaborate with organizations that share its commitment to the community. He emphasized that healthcare is a critical component of the work at WVWC and expressed appreciation for the partnership with the hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate committee advances two school safety bills: armed guards, panic alarms
Feb. 25—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — The Senate Education Committee sailed through two school safety bills Tuesday morning. One resurrects the West Virginia Guardian Program. The other would require public schools to install a panic alarm system. SB 450 is the Guardian bill. It would permit a county school board to contract with former (it specifies retired in a separate section) law enforcement officer to provide security on school campuses. The Guardian would be authorized to carry a weapon after meeting specified requirements. The bill spells out required training and testing. The Guardian would not be a law enforcement officer and have no power to arrest. The bill would require a potential Guardian to pay $50 for a permit from the county sheriff. The sheriff would use the money for the permitting program. Any surplus funds at the end of the fiscal year could be used for other law enforcement purposes and operating needs of the sheriff's office. County participation would be voluntary, subject to available funding. No state money would be provided. The committee approved the bill without discussion. It goes next to Finance. Last year, the House and Senate had competing versions of this bill. The House version would have allowed public, charter and private schools to employ armed security officers who were former law enforcement officers. The Senate version, like this year's, would have the Guardians as contractors, But it was slightly more expansive, including honorably discharged veterans. The competing approaches went to conference committee on the last day of the 2024 session but went unresolved before the session adjourned. Panic alarms SB 434 would require each public school — including charters — to have on campus a wearable panic alarm system. Each employee would be trained how to wear and use the alarm. The alarm would be tied to the local emergency alert system to be able to transmit 911 calls and mobile activations, and to initiate campus-wide lockdown notifications. The bill would require local law enforcement to have access to campus security data, including cameras, maps and access control. Sen. Robbie Morris, R-Randolph, asked how much this will cost and who will pay for it. Committee counsel said the bill doesn't specify. Further discussion indicated that if the state doesn't provide money it would fall to the counties. Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, offered a successful amendment to specify that the bill only applies to public schools. That leaves it optional for private schools. SB 434 also heads to Finance.
