| By Bob Weaver
The West Virginia State Police Detachment is returning to Grantsville after the agency closed the detachment in late 2016, saying the closure was related to saving money.
There will be a public reception in appreciation of the State Police on Friday, January 26th at 5:00 p.m. at the Calhoun County Senior Center in Grantsville.
The public is invited to meet the state troopers that will be serving the county in the newly reopened detachment.
Invited special guests include the Colonel Jan Cahill of the WV State Police and the cabinet secretary for the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety Jeff Sandy
Light refreshments and appetizers will be served by volunteers and community members.
Commission president Kevin Helmick said, "We'd like to thank officials and citizens for their efforts to return the detachment, and offers of detachment space in convincing the State Police to return."
The agency also closed two other state detachments.
Company Commander O. S. Starsick said up to four officers would be operating out of the Calhoun courthouse, where the Calhoun Commission issued space with no rent.
Sgt. Starsick said, "I'm happy to see it reopen and make coverage go smoother."
The detachment is expected to be operational in January.
Circuit Judge Anita Ashley and House of Delegate member Roger Hanshaw
were instrumental in convincing the agency to return to Calhoun, officials said.
Judge Ashley experienced first hand while being in the county problems with coverage for the court and coverage for the county.
The State Police still has a shortage of officers and resources to cover West Virginia, an issue that is expected to be on the hot burner in the 2018 legislature.
Assigned as local Grantsville commander is Sgt. J. J. Weekley, with other officers Cpl. J. B. Hunt, Trooper 1st Class D. C. Moore and Trooper C. Crane.
Sgt. Starsick said the agency would be seeking a Memorandum of Understanding with the Calhoun Commission for the free courthouse space already in use.
The Calhoun Commission made numerous efforts to prevent the closure of the detachment and have continued to support efforts to bring the detachment back.
Since the detachment closure, coverage for the county had often been spotty, sometimes with no officer on duty for a day.
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