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ELKINS – The Randolph County Commission agreed to financially support the annual Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs event during its regular meeting Thursday at the James F. Cain Courthouse Annex.
Owen Peet, president of the newly established HOFNOD board, gave an informational presentation to Commission President David Kesling and fellow Commissioners Chris See and Cris Siler.
Peet said last year's event was an overwhelming success and that more than 600 kids walked through the doors of the Phil Gainer Community Center.
"We had a stellar turnout for the 2022 event," he said. "It brought together people from various organizations in Randolph County with the sole purpose of providing interactive activities for kids in our community. The message of instilling the love of outdoor recreation and dangers of drug use is the focal point for our messaging."
Peet said the Commission's continuous support over the years has helped the event become what it is today.
"Because of the Commission, the program has lasted as long as it has," he said. "The message is important not only for our kids, but for the future of our county.
"We are all blessed to live in an area that prides itself on outdoor opportunities, and this is a love that we must instill in the youth like it is instilled in many of us. We need to push for kids to stay away from drugs that have such a negative effect across our whole state. We hope that you will support us in our endeavors this year."
Kesling told Peet the Commission cares about the children of Randolph County and that HOFNOD has been something the county has looked forward to supporting over the years.
The Commission unanimously voted to provide HOFNOD with $5,000 to help with the annual event, which is scheduled for May 13. The money will be taken from the county's hotel/motel tax.
Peet said the organization wants to continue to build on what is already there and that HOFNOD is inching closer to becoming a non-profit.
"This (becoming a non-profit) will open the organization to receive more grant opportunities as well as building longevity for the organization's future," said Peet. "At this point we have identified six board members that represent the different organizations that help make up the HOFNOD event."
The HOFNOD board members include Daniel Pennington (Randolph County Sheriff's Office), Paden Vargo (U.S. Forest Service), Samantha Peet (Marketing Director of Randolph County Tourism), Kyleigh Smith (Director of Family Resource Network), Robin Miller (longtime HOFNOD member) and Peet, who is also the Development Coordinator for EPRC
"As an organization we have identified the roles that our members will take on with the board," said Peet. "We have gone ahead and submitted all the information to establish ourselves. We have filed with the Secretary of State's office and the IRS."