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PARKERSBURG -- A state of emergency issued in 2022 because of staffing shortages in the West Virginia corrections system was lifted Friday by the governor.
More than 730 members of the West Virginia National Guard rotated in 17 correctional facilities since the emergency was declared in August 2022, Gov. Jim Justice said. The Guard pulled out of the facilities about two weeks ago.
"Today I am ending our long-standing emergency as the National Guard has completed its mission," Justice said, displaying the proclamation during his weekly online press briefing Friday.
Because of critical staffing shortages, the National Guard was deployed to correctional centers in supporting roles with about 350 serving at the height of the emergency.
Thirty-eight Guardsmen have been hired in full-time capacities by the corrections department, National Guard Maj. Gen. William E. Crane said.
"They're now part of the Department of Corrections," Crane said. "They've taken full-time jobs in those facilities."
The shortage of correctional officers was caused in large part by wages. Justice led efforts to increase salaries to encourage officers to not go to other states or the federal system where wages were higher.
"Do I think there's more that we will have to do in the future?" Justice said. "Probably so."
Justice opened the briefing by apologizing for being about 40 minutes tardy from the noon start time.
Among other announcements, the state was able to join together the separate weather-related events in April to obtain a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Justice said. The declaration will make available more resources for recovery, he said.
"Now we can help big time," he said.
Free fishing day will be held June 8-9, said Justice, who encouraged residents to enjoy the waters of the state and perhaps catch a fish.
"Maybe it will touch your life," he said.
A $280,000 grant from the Wing to Wing Foundation will enhance music education and provide the funds to provide new instruments to the 14 remaining middle schools, Randall Reid-Smith, curator of the Department of Arts, Culture and History, said. The $280,000 grant from the foundation was organized through Marshall University President Brad Smith, Reid-Smith said.
"It's a great contribution," he said.
Efforts started 15 years ago through the Save the Music Foundation that has provided $40,000 in instruments to 156 schools, Reid-Smith said.