MARTINSBURG — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito visited the Eastern Panhandle Thursday, making several stops in Berkeley County.
Capito, R-W.Va., first joined a roundtable discussion in Inwood, with local orchardists, officials from Berkeley and Jefferson counties and representatives from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, to discuss the future of the apple industry in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
“West Virginia has a rich history of producing apples, which is evident in communities across our Eastern Panhandle. Our orchardists have been a steadfast staple of our state and deserve our support as they work to feed our residents and drive economic development. Sitting down with them and hearing about the challenges they face is so important when it comes to formulating solutions for the future and advocating for the resources they need,” Capito said.
Capito then joined the Martinsburg Rotary Club for lunch at the Holiday Inn, where she provided club members with a brief update on what is happening inside the beltway, as well as around the country. She spoke on issues, including the budget and the southern border, before spending time chatting with individuals in attendance.
Following her meeting with the Rotary members, Capito traveled to the Berkeley County Day Report Center, where she sat down with staff for a brief conversation on the happenings at the center.
Community Corrections Director Timothy Czaja updated Capito on the construction going on at its location, sharing in a Powerpoint presentation the plans for the expansion of its offices. Czaja said that when the day report center opened in 2016, it had three employees. Since then, it has expanded to 43 full-time and five part-time employees.
“We thought our building would be good for five years,” Czaja said, adding that the renovation now will triple the space the center had. “This will get us through 10 years, I hope,” he added, saying that the renovations and addition should be completed by October of this year.
Capito asked several questions of Czaja and staffers who joined her at the table, speaking a good deal about youth programs now available through the center.
Czaja mentioned a program dubbed Catalyst that has become very successful in helping with drug use prevention and education.
“If we are going to change the culture of the state, it needs to start with our children,” Czaja said, adding that many of the youth in the program are referred through the school system, coming from homes where they have been exposed to trauma or abuse-related situations. “Some come from our juvenile drug court program, but most are school referrals,” he added, saying that the age of youth participants falls between 12 and 17.
“If we’re going to change the arc, we do need to start early,” Capito said, as she told Czaja that she would follow up on a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMSHA) grant application the center has submitted.
The grant is used most often for program support, and Czaja explained that the Berkeley County Day Report Center is one of two centers that is a licensed behavioral center eligible for the grant funds. He said that he has applied two times but has not yet been successful securing funding. Capito said that there is not enough funding to go around, but she will follow up on behalf of the center.
Capito also asked about the peer coaching provided at the center, saying that she realizes how important it is to provide encouragement to those battling their addictions and other struggles. She was disheartened to hear that the number of cases in the center has continued to rise.
“Does that scare you that the numbers are up?” she asked.
While Czaja said that yes, it does, he also said that he is encouraged by programs like those offered at the center that exist to offer support.
Following her stop at the center, Capito made her way to the newly opened Garage on King, where she met with Diego Losada, the entrepreneur behind the operation, to learn more about the business structure and see the vendors inside firsthand.
“The Garage on King is an innovative business venture that is finding success here in Martinsburg. It was great to meet with Diego to hear about the ideas that led to this operation and efforts that he and the vendors are taking to keep business moving. This is a great example of the kind of development that can be created in West Virginia, and I applaud Diego and all those involved on the success they’ve created since opening their doors this winter,” she said.