Author: rickmodesitt

VFW POST4464

rickmodesitt

Was honored to work with the VFW Post 4464 on a special project with country singer

CRAIG MORGAN.    At the end, the honor guard presented me with this bracelet. which

I will put with my “special keepsakes”.  As a Commissioner, I always had the utmost

respect for our veterans.    As Ken Merritt always state “ALL GAVE SOME….SOME GAVE

ALL”.   If elected to the Commission, our veterans will have a friend they can count on.vfw

Thank you Volunteer Fire Fighters!

rickmodesitt

Attended the Wood County Fire Board Committee meeting last night at Judge Black Annex. As former County Commissioner, I always supported needs of the fire fighters and had great respect for them…..especially those who VOLUNTEER to be a volunteer fire fighter. While Commissioner I supported obtaining life insurance for each volunteer in the county….I supported increasing their funding to help with opperating costs. If elected to the commission again, I pledge support for the men and women who serve as fire fighters…God bless each of them!

fireboard

OUR CHILDREN OUR FUTURE CANDIDATE EVENT.

rickmodesitt

forumAttended a candidate forum tonight at the Judge Black Annex sponsored by Our Children Our Future. It was hosted by Dr. Drema Mace, and was moderated by Commissioner Blair Couch. Both did a great job. While most of the discussion was geared toward legislators, the topics were good and educational. There was discussion on creating jobs….bettering paying jobs…..highways ….smoking….general health of our citizens…the opioid crisis…..mental heath assistance. I left with more knowledge and knowing many people are trying to do good things for our citizens. Thank you for the invitation to attend!

GREAT TIME AT THE ARC PICNIC ON DOWN ON THE FARM!!!

rickmodesitt

Had the pleasure to go to Belleville today to the Tim and Christina Smith Farm for the ARC annual picnic. It was great to say the least. Alot of the ARC clients were there. Some of the ARC board members (I was a previous ARC Board Member)….it was one of those events that I felt much better at the end of my day than the begining …just be mixing and mingling with these folks. As many know, my brother Gary Hellberg, was a 40 year plus employee at SW Resources. He regularl…y went on functions sponsored by the ARC (espeically the annual vacation trip….which talked about for weeks if not months)…..In any event, THE ARC, Christina, Doug Hess and the board members do a wonderful job in proving functions for these good folks who have different types of disabilities. The Arc helps provide a meaningful life for many, and more importantly ..gives these good people a VOICE to be heard. They too deserve to be heard and have their needs considered. As a previous County Commission and WV State Delegate, I always supported the efforts of SW Resources, THE ARC, and those individuals with disabilities. I know first hand the good work they do….as they did with my brother. If I am fortunate to be elected County Commissioner…I once again pledge my support to those with disabilities and the organizations who help them. The bottom line…being an elected official….at the end of the day..is about helping people. THANK YOU ARC, Christina and Doug for the wonderful work you do! God Bless !arc1

Volcano Days @ Mountwood Park

rickmodesitt

Had an outstanding day out and about in Wood County…Williamstown..Boaz…Vienna….North Parkersburg and ending at Volcano Days at Mountwood Park. As you know, Mountwood Park is a county owned park…that has had it’s good days and bad days. But the direction the County Commission set several years ago, and with the leadership of Commissioner Couch,  a GREAT bunch of volunteers and a new Park Director, the park is thriving. With the help of John Reed and many volunteers, the new RV trails system is thriving. As a past County Commissioner, I believe in tourism …I believe in good parks and recreation that provides a good quality of life for our citizens. If elected, I pledge to continue to support our Parks and Recreation opportunities, tourism opportunities and continuing the efforts to make Mountwood Park the best adventure park in the state!….vd9

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

rickmodesitt
SEE SOMETHING…SAY SOMETHING!
As you may recall, a criminal was caught on video attempting to break into my car several months ago. He was arrested and got the punishment of probation.   Obviously, I was angry.  A few weeks ago someone posted a video of a young man rolling around the parking lot of the North End Market…it was obvious he was on some type of drug.   Yesterday, a lady who lives in central part of north Parkersburg posted a video on line showing a young man inside her home. He was burglarizing the houses WHILE the occupants of the house slept.   The thief spent around 90 minutes inside that house.   Can you imagine how horrible the feeling would be to know someone was inside your house and stealing your belongings …while you were sleeping.   As a former police officer, I can say this is very dangerous.   I suspect that the theft can generally be linked back do drug abuse…..simply put, stealing to fund their addictions.     The bottom line…ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.  We must take back our communities from the scourge or drug abuse and the criminal activities associated with it.    The police can’t do it alone.   Police officers can not be everywhere all the time.  Anyone who listens to police scanners will know that often officers are ran from one call to the next.    Thus I encourage you to take this information and if you see something suspicious in your neighborhoods……REPORT IT.  Help by being the eyes and ears for the police officers who need your support.    Often times these petty thieves will simply walk down dark alleys and try car doors hoping to find a open door.  Some are more brazen and will try doors or windows of homes.   We need to help put these thugs behind bars.  We need to make our county and communities as safe as we can.   Take note of the information on this post…print it off….and report suspicious activity. Of course, if it becomes an emergency or something is happening immediately, then call 911 and request help.   SEE SOMETHING..SAY SOMETHING….we need to make our area safe again.
Rick Modesitt
Candidate for County Commissionseesomethingsaysomething

WE SHALL NOT FORGET

rickmodesitt
WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET…..SEPT 11 2001    It is hard to believe that there are many young people now….that are approaching driving age…..voting age…etc….that were alive, but unaware or have little memory  of what happened on 9/11.      I think it is important to never forget that tragic day.   Everyone remembers where they were…what they were doing ….when they learned of the attacks on Washington DC and the two attacks on the World Trade Centers.  I was at home.  I was not watching the news or TV. I received a frantic call from my fellow County Commissioner Bob Tebay.  I still remember his comments. “Are you watching TV” he asked.  When I said no, he replied  “Rick, we are under attack”   I quickly turned on the news to see the horror going on.   How could this be?  Why would some evil sick mind want to attack the United States….which is a good country…with good people and good hearts?    Over the next hours and days….we were all in a state of shock. As Commissioners, we dealt with monitoring law enforcement, 911, other emergency services, and the inflow of a substantial amount of air traffic which had been grounded at our airport.  I remember that the County Commission organized a group of veterans to come to the County Commission.  The small Commission Chambers was packed.   Each of us made some brief remarks.    Bob Tebay and Ken Merritt were both veterans.  I was not, however, my father served in the US Army during WWII.   My older half brother Gary Hellberg, who was handicapped and I helped care for until his passing, had been without his father since birth.   His father was killed in Germany by a sniper during WWII.    I understood what sacrifice meant.   As I looked over the room of veterans, some young, some old, I became emotional ….thinking of my brother’s father….and my dad…and the attack on Pearl Harbor  , as that had to be THEIR 9/11…and this was my generations Pearl Harbor.    At that time I realized this was a moment in life that I would have ever lasting respect for our military, our police, fire and emergency services.  I also have maintained the strong belief that we can not let this fade out of our memory.  This  could happen again.. We must be ever vigilant to protect our nation and our people.   As the days wore on….we discovered that we lost one of our very own Parkersburg Citizens. …Mary Lou Hague.   We also learned that at least one of the hijacked planes actually flew over the Mid Ohio Valley …right above the Wood County and Jackson County area.  The events of 9/11 clearly have changed the way we as citizens deal with life, travel, etc.  But, it is obvious that our heart and soul as a nation remains in tact.      I have a West Virginia 9/11 memorial license plate on my car…and as it states and as I hope…..”WE SHALL NOT FORGET” !   West Virginians are strong!  They are free! And, they NEVER FORGET.    God bless America. God Bless West Virginia. God bless our military and emergency responders. God bless the victims and  families of that tragic day Sept 11 2001.september-11-logo

Good people doing good things!

rickmodesitt
hess
GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS WEEKEND …..first..the THE ARC “People First Fundraiser” spaghetti dinner and silent auction….This was a fund raiser to help send folks to the People First Conference in September. This group is a self advocacy group by and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities…and they do GREAT WORK and deserve our community support. Then off to East Wood Volunteer Fire Dept to a spaghetti dinner to help raise funds for three young people who were seriously injured in a car accident. There are so many good people trying to do good things for our community. THANK YOU to all those who offered their support for these projects!