CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — New CDC data shows a sharp decline in overdose deaths across West Virginia, dropping nearly 50% over a recent 12-month period. However, the report does not identify a single cause for the decrease.

Organizations across the state say progress is likely due to a combination of prevention, treatment and long-term recovery efforts.

The West Virginia First Foundation, which distributes opioid settlement funds, says it has invested heavily in those areas.

“We’ve committed nearly $40 million to over 170 projects throughout the state in those categories,” Executive Director Jonathan Board said.

Board says the collaboration among groups statewide has been key.

“It is all of us and all programs working together with a camaraderie that you rarely see in this space,” he said.

That includes recovery programs like Pollen8, which works directly with people overcoming addiction. Founder and CEO Cheryl Laws says funding has made a noticeable difference.

“There’s momentum, right? That 48% decrease with the funding that has been given is the biggest thing,” Laws said.

While progress is encouraging, Laws says continued effort is critical.

“It has to be a continuum of care. Every piece is important, from harm reduction to longer-term inpatient. I think you see more success rates with that,” she said.

Organizations say maintaining that momentum will be essential to continuing the decline in overdose deaths.

“We still need that momentum going. We just built it. We do not need to go backwards. We need to keep going forward,” Laws said.

Board agrees, emphasizing the long-term impact of the work underway.

“We understand that generations from now people will look back and ask us what we did with the time that was gifted to us. We need to make sure that we respect them,” he said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Even as a partial government shutdown continues to cause long lines and delays at major airports across the country, officials at West Virginia International Yeager Airport say operations in Charleston have remained steady so far.

Dominique Ranieri, the airport director, said TSA staffing levels at Yeager have not been hit the way larger airports have been affected.

“Here at CRW, I’m very happy to say that we are holding steady. We are not experiencing nearly the TSA staffing shortages that are hitting the major airports around the country around the country,” Ranieri said.

Airport leaders said Yeager’s smaller size has helped keep passenger volume manageable and security lines moving. They cautioned, however, that travelers could still run into problems after leaving Charleston and landing in larger cities.

Some airports have brought in Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help with crowd control, but Yeager officials said they do not think that will be needed locally.

“No, we have not heard anything about that at all. We’re in contact with them constantly, and we will, of course, support the public as well if we see any changes here at the airport,” said Paige Withrow, the airport’s communications officer.

TSA workers have not been paid since February, and airport officials said community members have stepped in with donations to help workers get by. Ranieri said the situation raises concerns about keeping TSA positions filled over the long term.

“So again, we really want this to end as quickly as possible for the folks here, but for the future security of the new fully staffed TSA throughout the country,” Ranieri said.

Airport leaders also addressed recent backlash over a partisan sign seen in the airport, saying the airport was not responsible for the message.

“TSA does have a dedicated screen that is theirs. So the airport is not affiliated with any messaging that DHS puts on that screen,” Withrow said.

Yeager officials said their concerns also include rising costs tied to international conflict. Ranieri said the recent conflict in Iran has contributed to higher jet fuel prices, forcing fare increases.

“Jet fuel, what we’re experiencing now is what they consider jet fuel shock because the prices have raised so exponentially in a short period of time,” Ranieri said.

Since the shutdown began, airports have lost more than 400 employees nationwide, according to airport officials. At Yeager, Withrow said TSA officers have continued reporting to work.

“Our officers are continuing to show up and work every day, which we appreciate in our community is also stepping up as well with donations,” Withrow said.

Airport ambassadors will continue accepting donations during the shutdown, with a drop-off area inside the airport. Airport leaders said they will provide updates if conditions change.

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – Curtis Fleming hosts Fly Rod Chronicles, promoting state tourism through fishing adventures.

“My father and mother took me down to Cherokee, North Carolina. And we went down there and stayed on the reservation. And I’ve got an actual picture of me catching my first fish. And I was two years and a month old. And then we started going somewhere in West Virginia every weekend. That it was nice. And that’s where I really got the deep, deep love,” Fleming said.

His love for fishing started at a young age and continued through adolescence.

Early mentors shaped outdoor passion

“In middle school, and they had the outdoor club. And we had some of the greatest mentors in the world. I mean, you know, Joe Leonetti, his name is up on the wall at the gymnasium in the new middle school that he wasn’t even at, you know. And like Al Lanzi and these guys would give up their time and take us all up to Spruce Knob,” Fleming said.

Originally a teacher, fishing was never far from Fleming’s mind.

“I always wanted to figure out how I could make a living at fishing and hunting. And I was a teacher, and I was working with inner city kids, and I started teaching them how to fly fish. And then I would take them to a 101 class for like a four-day weekend. And I watched these kids, these inner city kids, rough, tough kids that were getting kicked out of school and getting kicked out of their communities, thriving in the outdoors. And we would start as little as just building a fire. Here’s how you do it. I fell in love with just watching these kids get into this,” Fleming said.

From the classroom to television, he figured out how to turn it into a career. Fleming is the host of Fly Rod Chronicles, a weekly fishing show seen locally on WDTV, nationally on ESPN2 and the Pursuit Channel, and internationally on Wild TV.

“I come up with the show, the concept. I didn’t want the show to be about Curtis Fleming. I wanted it to be about my travels, the people we met, the food we eat, you know, the tourism, all the attractions. I didn’t want it just to be another fishing show. So, you know, my next sale was to go back to my wife and say, Shelly, I’m going to quit my job and start a fishing show. And I always tell people that I’m the bravest guy in the world because if any guys that I’m talking to want to go home and tell their wife they’re going to quit a good job and start a fishing show, good luck with that. But she was like, do you know anything about it? And I’m like, I’m learning. And we went out and shot a pilot, sent it in the Outdoor Channel. And they’re like, can you send us 12 more like that?” Fleming said.

The show is now in its 24th season and has over 300 episodes to its credit.

“It’s been a dream come true to be able to do this and to see where it’s grown. And hard to believe that we’ve been to so many cool destinations,” Fleming said.

Promoting West Virginia tourism

Despite his travels, Fleming’s heart is in West Virginia.

“We all have that memory of what it was like growing up here in West Virginia and how great it was. And so I really wanted to bring that into the show. And I wanted to show off our state, you know, show how great it is. I tell everyone I’ve been in 49 states and we in West Virginia, we have the biggest, largest outdoor playground in the world. I mean, it’s just what we can do here in West Virginia is amazing. That’s been one of my biggest achievements is the partnership with the state of West Virginia. Because, you know, we need to figure out different ways to bring in people. And the state saw that it wasn’t just a fishing show, that it was showing off our attractions, showing off the best food, the cool places to go. We have people coming from England, we have people coming from France, from all over the United States, just from our little TV show, coming to West Virginia,” Fleming said.

Fleming says he has no plans of slowing down.

“We just, in December, had our first granddaughter, and then we’re going to have a grandson here in a couple weeks. So I want to get four generations on the show, and I think that would be cool. So it kind of sounds like the kids don’t have a choice whether they’re going to fish or not, right?” Fleming said.

The grandkids will help Fleming continue to promote his love of fishing.

“You know, it was about getting kids into the outdoors, and it circles us back to, you know, I want to be like Joe Leonetti and Al Lanzi and the guys that were there for us. So it’s about getting everyone involved in the sport,” Fleming said.

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