During a night when Bridgeport City Council recognized dozens of youth for success as student-athletes, Mayor Mario Blount talked about a new program unveiled yesterday that could protect them, as well others slightly older and younger.

 

Blount said the Bridgeport Police Department teamed up with the West Virginia State Police Crimes against Children unit (ICAC), the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Department to kick off the PROWL program. PROWL is an acronym for Predator Ready Organized Watch Location). It was part of a relatively light agenda in front of a packed house.

 

“The program is similar to a community watch program,” Blount said. “The goal of the program is to provide training to communities for adults and children about sexual predators.”

 

Along with unveiling the program yesterday on opening day of the Little League season at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex, those gathered also sang the praises of Bridgeport Lt. Gary Weaver. Weaver, who also handles detective work for the department, has played a key role in arresting 21 individuals that were targeting children in Bridgeport.

 

“The number of arrests  we’ve had over the past year, to be quite honest, is a number I don’t think any agency in the state has been that successful,” said Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker of the efforts by his department and the agencies listed above in general and the efforts of Weaver in particular.

 

While that discussion focused on trouble areas for youth and efforts to combat those areas, the rest of the evening belonged to Bridgeport’s youth on a positive front. Not one, not two, but three Bridgeport Middle School teams were recognized for winning Harrison County Championships this past year. Blount called all three groups to the front during the Council meeting

 

The BMS basketball team, which captured the title for the first time in a decade, was the first group to be honored. Coach David Wray and Assistant Coach Douglas led the team of Emily Riggs, Carly Miller, Lacy Bryant, Rory Marple, Kaitlin Smith, Victoria Harbert, Kenzie Koon, Katelyn Stanley, Ashley Goots and Jordan Cole to the title.

 

The Bridgeport Middle School Danceline captured, which won its third consecutive county title this year, was the second group recognized. Coach  Jennifer Dodrill was on hand as her team members of  Victoria Catania, Jaryn Dodrill,  Taylor Frame,  Sophie Lopez, Kimmie Morris, Erica Balon, Sydny Guy, Megan Murray,  Madison Hess,  Grace Ebert, Kaylee Smith, Madelyn Lalama, Sophia Duarte, Rachel Reppert, Alyssa Dent, Maggie Lane, Heather Burd and Madison Smith were honored.

 

The final group was the BMS wrestling program. First-year coach Jeff Hathaway and Assistant Kenny Eddy led the team to their third straight title as well. The coaches, along with Maverick Eddy, Cooper Hineman, Josh Osborn, Andrew Kelley, Kevin Prunty, John Thomas, Jimmy Secreto, James Ramsey, Addison Courtney, John Luke Massie, Josh Wojciecowicz, Logan Crayton, Noah Lafferty, Noah Drummond, Andrew Barlow, Bensen Bassell, Jeremiah Dolan, John Merica, Dylon Murphy and Marina Salinas were all part of the championship team.

 

BMS Principal Carole Crawford was also on hand. She commended the coaches and the athletes for doing an excellent job and for the students for also excelling in the classroom.

In other business this evening, Council:

 

- Appointed Ryan Haws to the Bridgeport Board of Zoning Appeals. He was unanimously selected.

 

- Learned that Council will officially lay the levy rates for the upcoming fiscal year Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m.

 

- Heard from City Manager Kim Haws that design work on a stormwater/sewage project impacting James Street, Meadow Lane and Stout was 90 percent done. He also said work on Compton Park, including the replacement of water lines and storm drains as well as removal of an old retaining wall, continues.

 

- Council went into executive session both before and after the meeting. No decisions were made from the session.

 

- Check back tomorrow for a gallery of students, coaches and more from tonight’s meeting.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:Pictured above is Chief John Walker, while Mayor Mario Blount is pictured in the middle during the presentation of one of three proclamations. The bottom photo is part of the standing room only crowd that managed to get seats.