Attendance at tonight’s Town Hall Meeting indicated that there is significant community interest in prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery of the drug abuse epidemic.

 

A large number of individuals occupied seats at the Bridgeport High School auditorium for the public forum which began at 6 p.m.

 

Opening the meeting was Stephen L. Morris, assistant director FBI, CJIS Division, who provided some background behind the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, the group which sponsored tonight’s event.

 

“One of the programs we have conducted over the last 10 years is the Citizens Academy, a program that is basically held throughout the country,” Morris said. “We hand select community leaders  - pillars of the community to come one night per week to learn about the FBI as an organization and what it does in West Virginia – an inside perspective and an opportunity for us to demystify the FBI. Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen 100 individuals plus go through the program and from that the Citizens Academy Alumni Association.”

 

That group, Morris explained, is committed to being engaged in the community and making it better. The FBI has extensive interaction with drug and narcotic activity through bank robberies, gangs and various other initiatives.

 

John Stogran of the FBI Citizens Alumni Association then took the floor to introduce keynote speaker, William J. Ihlenfeld, II, United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia. With an extensive law background, Ihlenfeld – who resides in Wheeling – was appointed to his present position by President Barack Obama in 2010.

 

He said he didn't expect tonight's forum to provide all the answers, but to be an important step in preventing and intervening the drug abuse epidemic and the treatment and recovery of drug abusers. 

 

Part of Ihlenfeld’s address is captured in the video below. Providing background for this presentation is a more extensive explanation of heroin. That video will be shared at a later time on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Following Ihlenfeld’s presentation, a panel discussion took place featuring the following individuals (pictured):

 

Jo Anne McNemar, coordinator, Harrison County Prevention Partnership; Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker; Superintendent of Harrison County Schools Dr. Mark Manchin; Lou Ortenzio, state representative, Celebrate Recovery and Kathy Paxton, director, Division of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, West Virginia Bureau for Health & Health Facilities.

 

After addressing some predisposed questions, the floor was open for public inquiry and input. Prior to the formal presentation, the lobby outside the BHS auditorium featured an expo where area organizations provided displays and handouts. Included, among others, were Celebrate Recovery, the YMCA of Harrison County, RAZE and Bridgeport Emergency Services. 

 

See photos by Tyler Maxwell of Ben Queen Photography and read additional information HERE.