From left: Commission president Kristie Tenney; Alicia Bosely and Addie Helmick with Centers Against Violence; and commissioners Sam Nolte and Terry Cutright.
From left: Commission president Kristie Tenney; Alicia Bosely and Addie Helmick with Centers Against Violence; and commissioners Sam Nolte and Terry Cutright.

Local organization brings awareness to stalking, human trafficking

BUCKHANNNON – A representative from Centers Against Violence said 7.5 million people are stalked every year in the United States.

Addie Helmick presented the January 2021 Stalking Awareness Month proclamation to the Upshur County Commission during their Jan. 14 meeting.

“Stalking is definitely very dangerous, but between January and December, I only had 18 clients that had stalking issues get help or get a protection order,” Helmick said. “Stalking goes along with domestic violence — once that victim leaves their abuser or their partner, they break it off or they go their separate ways, but that other person intends to stop them.”

Helmick believes there are more victims of stalking locally, but the pandemic may have impeded them from seeking help.

“I feel like there were more stalking victims out there, but they just didn’t come forward because of COVID, or maybe they didn’t think that we were open because of everything shutting down,” Helmick said.

Helmick read the proclamation, which notes that most people are stalked by people they know.

“The majority of victims are stalked by someone they know, and three out of four women killed by an intimate partner have been stalked by that partner,” Helmick said. “Many stalking victims lose time from work and experience serious psychological distress and lost productivity at a much higher rate than the general population. Many stalking victims are forced to protect themselves by relocating, changing their identities, changing jobs and obtaining protection orders.”

The proclamation also outlines the importance of training law enforcement to respond appropriately to stalking.

“Criminal justice systems can enhance the responses to stalking by regular training, assertive investigations and prosecution of the crime,” Helmick said. “Law and public policies must continually adapt to keep pace with new tactics used by the stalker. Communities can better combat stalking by adopting multidisciplinary responses by teams and local agencies and organizations.”

Alicia Bosely, sexual assault advocate with Centers Against Violence, presented the commission with a Human Trafficking Awareness Month proclamation.

“Human trafficking erodes personal dignity and destroys the moral fabric of society,” Bosely said. “It’s a threat to humanity that tragically reaches all parts of the world, including Upshur County, where people of every age, gender, race, religion and nationality are devastated by this grave offense. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we affirm our unwavering commitment to eradicate this horrific injustice.”

The proclamation notes that as many as 24.9 million people are trapped in a form of modern slavery around the world.

“We remain relentless in our resolve to bring perpetrators to justice, to protect survivors and help them heal and to prevent further victimization and destruction of innocent lives,” Bosely said. “The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 criminalized human trafficking at the federal level, and West Virginia amended anti trafficking legislation in 2017, creating a task force against human trafficking.”

According to their website, Centers Against Violence provides “advocacy services to adult and child victims of domestic and sexual violence and stalking; emergency shelter; outreach services; legal assistance for domestic violence petitions, custody, and divorce proceedings; prevention education programs within the schools and community organizations; awareness activities; emergency transportation; and healthy relationship and support services for adult victims, teens, and young children.”

The agency covers Upshur, Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Braxton and Webster counties. Reach the Upshur County office at 304-473-0700 or call their headquarters at 304-636-8433.

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

Buckhannon man held on $100,000 bail after being arrested on multiple drug charges

BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was arrested Saturday after several illegal substances were allegedly found in his residence. Bryan Shaw, 41, of Buckhannon, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Buckhannon City Council approves $6.5 million-dollar budget prioritizing public safety, infrastructure

BUCKHANNON – City council passed the largest budget in Buckhannon’s history Tuesday, with the two largest allocations once again earmarked for public safety operations and infrastructure maintenance, respectively. At its March 14 meeting – rescheduled from March 16 due to […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Police arrest man they say was the driver in 2022 pursuit that ended in a wreck with two people ejected

BUCKHANNON – A Rock Cave man was arrested for allegedly fleeing from police officers in a vehicle, injuring himself and a passenger. Elijah Carpenter, 27, of Rock Cave was arrested Thursday for fleeing from an officer and fleeing or attempting […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Softball Lady Bucs get one-hit by Lincoln’s Haller in season debut

TENNERTON – For their season opener, the Buckhannon-Upshur softball Lady Bucs ran into one of the top pitchers in the state in Lincoln’s Delaney Haller. Haller was the Big 10 Conference Pitcher of the Year last season and was captain […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Baseball ‘Cats get home doubleheader split with ABU

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan baseball team split with the Alderson Broaddus Battlers Monday, winning 7-2 in the first game and losing 7-0 in the second game. The bats were alive in Game

Inexperienced tennis Bucs fall in first two outings of 2023 season

BRIDGEPORT – The Buckhannon-Upshur tennis Buccaneers dropped their first two outings of the year last week. They opened their season at home last Thursday with a 7-0 setback to Robert C. Byrd and then went to Bridgeport Saturday and dropped […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Lady Buc netters open season with win over Robert C. Byrd and narrow loss to John Marshall

BRIDGEPORT – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc tennis team is off to a 1-1 start to the season and was just an eyelash away from being a perfect 2-0. The Lady Bucs hosted Robert C. Byrd last Thursday and won a […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Working in service: WVU research reaches all of West Virginia

Breakthroughs and research expertise nurtured at West Virginia University extend far beyond its labs, experimental sites and classrooms. In fact, WVU research efforts are unique compared to most universities, according to Vice President for Research Fred King. “While

Fairmont State University selects 2023 Presidential Scholarship winners

Three incoming Fairmont State University freshmen have been selected as the recipients of Fairmont State’s premier academic scholarship, the Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship. Sophie Stuart from Jefferson High School (Charles town, W.VA), Hailey Jordan

WVDEP hosting students on World Water Day

CHARLESTON, WV – In an effort to enrich students’ understanding of the importance of clean water, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is hosting a water education event for area grade schools on